[04][xxxHOLiC] Little one

[grassangel]

Title: Little one

Theme: 04, 'digging the weeds, who could ask for more?'
Series: xxxHOLiC
Characters/Pairings: Watanuki, Yuuko (possible implications of past Clow/Yuuko)
Rating: PG

Note: The bonsai tree is supposed to be another item reference as xxxHOLiC seems to be full of them.
The mother tree referred to is the cherry tree Clow had in his garden, which was seen by Sakura in Cardcaptor Sakura in one of her dreams.

 

Watanuki was dusting the store room again. It was amazing really how often he had to clean it and at how many objects he could swear he hadn't seen in there before.

It was another one of those times in fact, he thought as he spotted a shelf full of objects he was sure hadn't been there on Thursday, the last time he had cleaned in here.
The shelf held the expected assortment of boxes, which he simply dusted and didn't look inside; assorted objects, which he had to dust carefully and a-

He blinked at the beautiful bonsai tree in front of him.
It was a blooming cherry tree, almost exactly like the ones in the park, although a bit more gnarled and bent and dust had collected a bit in the wrinkled bark, making it look a little grey about the edges.
The tree was in bloom though, miniature blossoms gracing its branches, fallen petals gracing its roots. It was stunning and he wondered how it had survived in the store room, unwatered, for such a long time.

He decided to carry it out to Yuuko, who would probably give him a non-answer as to why it was in the store room and ask him to put it back again.

"Yuuko-san, I found this in the-" he was practically assaulted as Yuuko cooed over the small tree.

"Oh, where have you been little one! I had been wondering where you were and I had looked all of the place for you. I was certain I had placed you in one of the back rooms but you were in the store room all along. How have you been doing? Do you need to be fed?"

She stopped her banter when Watanuki stuttered at her, "Ah, Yuuko-san? I was wondering what it was doing in the store room..."

Her eyes blinked owlishly at him for a moment before her face was taken over by a large smile.
"It was hiding from me. Just like its previous owner! Really the little thing ought to be ashamed by hiding itself away from me. Are you ashamed, little one?" She tickled it along its trunk, finger rubbing along it.

"But is it all right?" When Yuuko stared at him in a manner that said 'of course it is silly', he rephrased it.
"What I meant was, ah, how could it not be watered for such a long time?"

"It's just as strong as its mother is, aren't you?" Her answer was directed more at the tree than at Watanuki and didn't really answer his question.

"Yuuko-san, you didn't answer the question..." He cast his eyes about for a place to put the plant down temporarily, deciding that a side table would do for now until Yuuko answered his question.

"It was a cutting taken from a much larger cherry tree with vast magical powers. The owner of the garden was kind enough to raise it for me and give it as a gift." She winked at Watanuki, smiling happily before her reply took on a more playful tone. "He was a down right narcissist but he always gave me the most wonderful gifts. This is possibly my favourite out of all of them." Her finger stroked the rim of the plant's tray, moving in small circles as it went.
"Even though I had to search night and day for an equivalent gift, it's my favourite; even if it does remind me of him."

Yuuko seemed to trail off there, her hands constantly fussing over the plant while Watanuki just looked on.

"Ah, I'll go continue cleaning the store room then." Smiling uneasily, he slipped out of the room, leaving Yuuko fixated on the small, beautiful bonsai full of memories.