Mixed emotions had always been something he seemed to be subjected to. For every positive thing there was always something negative and unwanted that grounded his happiness and kept him level. Of course he knew that such was life. It could never be simply wonderful all the time. Life was full of pain and sorrow and the pursuit of happiness was all relative.
Today had been his first at the Tokyo metropolitan Police department. Three months ago he had had the great fortune of being introduced to man he had instantly aspired too.
Megure Juzo.
He had heard of the inspector and even seen him on TV but he had never thought that he could actually meet him. He had offhandedly mentioned to one of his instructors at the policing academy that if he could be hired anywhere his first choice would be at the TMPD.
The next thing he knew he was standing in front of the highly respected inspector wishing that he could look remarkably promising. Apparently his instructor was an old friend of the inspector's. The two talked politely and briefly while he waited with his back rigid against the wall of the academy shooting range.
When the older man wearing a large orange coat and a matching orange hat turned toward him it was all he could do to try and look less intimidated than he felt.
"Takagi Wataru-kun."
At the sound of his name he stepped forward with a slight bow and bravely met the esteemed officer's dark eyes.
"Yes sir."
Takagi nearly flinched, fearing he had made a mistake when the inspector raised his brows in an almost sceptical manner.
Never the less he kept himself straight and his eyes focused, he so desperately wanted to impress the keibu.
He had worked hard to become a police detective. His determination and perseverance all through his training had landed him the number one spot in his graduating class. Even so he was told that his chances of being hired in a major metropolitan district were low. The Tokyo metropolitan police division one was especially prestigious.
Not to mention that he had worked full time to pay for his education. His parents could never have afforded it though they did everything they could to help him.
"I am inspector Megure, the chief detective of the TMPD violent crimes unit."
As if Takagi had no idea who he was. But then again the inspector probably knew that introducing himself was unnecessary and merely a formality.
Takagi thought about mentioning that he knew exactly who he was but decided against it fearing that it may come off as shallow flattery.
If Megure was anything like Takagi had heard, he probably didn't put any value into such words.
"You have the top ranking in your class correct?"
He nodded a jolt of positivity running through him.
Could it be that he had a chance…?
"Well, show me what you can do."
At first the young man just stood there staring before he registered that the inspector was holding a Government Issue pistol out to him.
Upon his realization he instantly stepped forward and took the firearm hoping to whatever god there might be that the inspector didn't notice his hand shaking.
He stepped passed the man he would do anything to serve under and met the eyes of his weapons instructor. Takagi nodded back when his teacher dipped his chin encouragingly.
This was it. This was his chance to land a position under a man he had only dreamed of working for. Megure-keibu was everything a policeman should be, everything that he wanted to become.
He stepped up to the box and aimed his gun at the paper target. He had shot through the dead center countless times until it became effortless.
So why was it now that it seemed like the most impossible thing in the world.
He breathed in and took the shot.
He missed.
Not even close to the center of the target.
He heard the inspector cough behind him and he was sure he heard his instructor mumble something quietly under his breath.
He nearly succumbed to panic but he breathed in again and steeled himself. He wouldn't, he couldn't fail now after how much he had sacrificed to obtain the career he wanted.
He fired again, the last four bullets in a row.
He nearly exclaimed his relief when each one pierced right through the center one after the other.
He turned as his instructor chuckled approvingly almost terrified to look the other man in the face.
"Did I tell you the boy can shoot or what?"
Takagi was sure his ears flushed at the praise but he kept himself silent.
The inspector seemed to be staring at the target deep in thought.
"Not bad." He finally answered and Wataru could have sworn he sounded impressed.
Three days after that he had been contacted directly by Megure and offered a position.
It had been the first time in his life that he could honestly say there were no mixed emotions. There was only bliss. The first thing he did was call home to inform his parents. Nothing meant more to him than the pride in their voices. After that he had gone out to celebrate with friends.
His love for life only soared further when he managed to pique the interest of a gorgeous blond.
It had also been satisfying to inform his multiple bosses that he had been hired and would no longer need to work for them. It was a relief, especially since some of the work he did wasn't exactly wholesome.
The sour face of the owner of the private social club he worked at hadn't exactly made him feel good.
"I can't believe this Puppy-chan. After four years you're suddenly abandoning me."
"Komo-san, You know I'm grateful for everything you've done for me but getting a job as a detective was the whole point of everything I've been doing." Takagi sighed as he poured an expensive brand of gin into a crystal glass.
The older man scoffed, "Fine, but what am I going to do with your clients. When they find out you're quitting do you have any idea how much money I'm going to lose?"
Takagi gave the eccentric man an uncertain smile as he unscrewed the cap off the bottle of tonic. "You have other servers, I'm sure you'll manage."
Takagi nearly dropped the tray full of drinks when his boss slammed his hand down onto the marble counter top.
"Puppy-chan! You know that half these woman only come here to see you."
"What? That's redic-."
"NO it isn't! You're Saturday regulars had a conniption the one time you were sick and couldn't make it into work.
"Komo-san."
"This is actually horrible. How am I supposed to stay in business?"
"Komo-san…Don't you think that's a little dramatic?" Takagi said timidly as his flamboyant manager downed a shot of whiskey.
"Dramatic? How am I being dramatic!"
Takagi backed away quickly toward the door that led out into the large lounge area. "I better get these drinks to the clients they've been waiting for over ten minutes."
"Oh yes you do that! And while you're at it why don't you mention to them that you're leaving, then you'll understand."
"I'm sure they won't care as long as you have one of the others take my shift." He called as he pushed out the door.
Wataru rolled his eyes as he heard his manager's slurred cursing. He was sure he heard him say something along the lines of "you'll see."
As it turned out Komo had been completely right. His customers always asked what he was up to (though he doubted they actually cared) and when he informed them happily that he would be leaving the response he got was nothing short of a temper tantrum.
The women that came to the club were older, wealthy and powerful. Or at least their husbands were. They came in groups and for hours they would sit and gossip about many things, Who was having an affair with whom, why so and so was this or that, and above all else how much they hated their husbands.
Takagi had never particularly enjoyed the work but it paid incredibly well and money was not something he had the privilege of turning down. To them he was a pretty little toy that would serve drinks and smile pleasantly at whatever they said to him. He nodded at all of their vacuous view points and grit his teeth at their gossip which most of the time was about other clients.
The more unwholesome part of the job surfaced when they would seek opportunities to touch him however they pleased. Most of the women were satisfied with murdering his dignity by pulling his suit away to slip large tips into his pants. But some also insisted on grabbing, pinching and even hitting him.
Wataru had to wonder if this was what having too much money did to people.
What he absolutely hated more than anything was when they asked…for additional services. It wasn't often but it still happened and it happened even though these women knew he was trying to become a police officer.
Some of them would go about it by buying him gifts in advance to hint at what they wanted and others would simply take the blunt approach.
When he responded by telling them that he was studying law enforcement they would simply laugh as if it were the most amusing thing they had ever heard. And they would mock him, telling him that he was far better suited as their favourite pet, and how ridiculous and stupid he was to pursue such a career.
Takagi had just come to expect it of the wealthiest women in Tokyo. They tended to have altered perceptions of reality to begin with so it wasn't hard to see why they would even demand what they did.
Of all his clients though there was one woman who was certainly more consistent than the others. She was the only one who had managed to convince him to come home with her. But of course he would never have agreed if she had asked him for sex. She was much more interested in his companionship. For whatever reason she insisted that he visit her regularly and when he did she not only paid him for his time but seemed to listen to him as well. She was younger than the others but you could see it in her eyes that she was just as lonely. She was married to the most powerful business man in the Tokyo but it was obvious that she had no love for her husband and even more apparent that her husband cared little for her.
This was why the 22 year old could never understand the idea of an arranged marriage. Thankfully his parents had never attempted one.
At first Takagi was uncomfortable with the visits but the way she pleaded with him left him with little choice. Besides, he needed the money, it was incredibly difficult to live in Tokyo. They had made an agreement that their relationship while entirely non-physical was not something that would be perceived well for either of them. They met in an odd secrecy that made the young man feel guilty even though he didn't really have a reason to be.
If he was being completely honest with himself he didn't really want to stop seeing her. She treated him very well and had helped him numerous times. If he needed something she tended to find out about it and make a point of acquiring it for him. She was also a good support when the stress caught up with him.
He had noticed of course that if she touched him she did so with great trepidation almost afraid to frighten him. Around the time he graduated she seemed to get particularly affectionate. It was also around that time that he refused to accept payment for their visits. He had finished school after all and he was managing with the work he did.
The first time he had refused her payment he had noticed a change in her. This was when their relationship took a more personal turn. Takagi wasn't really sure what he was doing when he broke up with the blond he had met and he wasn't sure why he was excited to tell her either.
She was a few years older than him and she was married but he couldn't deny that he had developed feelings for her. It had become very apparent to him that she felt the same way.
When he confessed his feelings to her she had kissed him almost instantly. He wasn't sure how they had ended up on her bed but he hadn't protested when she undressed him. Nina could read him quite well. She knew he was an affectionate person who enjoyed foreplay more than he should. Especially for a man his age.
He knew his inexperience was obvious to her especially when he moaned at only the slightest touch. But she seemed to enjoy his sensitivity rather than be annoyed by it.
He felt he had been incredibly unimpressive his first time but she had only laughed and pulled his naked body to hers when he tried to apologize. Nina insisted that he had been wonderful and that he had quite a natural talent. He doubted she was being honest but he had smiled and held her back anyway.
It was enough for him that he had made her happy.
After the first time they slept together often. It had occurred to Takagi that it was an affair but he considered her marriage a farce just as much as she did. Her husband didn't seem to know she existed and Wataru was certain that he was no more faithful to their union than she was.
Their relationship continued to deepen and at the point where he was hired by the inspector they had even been discussing the possibility of her divorcing her husband.
It all came crashing down on his first day at the MPD.
He had no idea how he had fallen in love with Satou Miwako right on the spot.
Takagi had tried to deny it at first. He tried to tell himself that the only one he wanted was Nina but by the end of his first week at the MPD their relationship was virtually over.
He had never wanted to hurt her. Ever. She was a wonderful woman. When he told her she had smiled even as tears slid down her face. Wataru knew that she truly had cared for him when she selflessly let him go. It hurt him more to know that she was so willing to make it as easy as possible for him.
The last thing he promised her was that if it didn't work out he was to come back to her.
I'm still alive apparently. I am almost done the last chapter for Wataru ½ I swear! Bond is nearly complete too.
The idea for this story has been brewing for a while. I didn't want it to be a part of my BIG STORY as I am still waiting for some cannon information on Takagi's past.
I'm very frustrated right now with the lack of love for Satou and Takagi from Gosho. I hope he brings Miwako back soon.
The darker atmosphere of this story probably reflects the frustration I am feeling for the manga right now. Plus, I wanted to make an interesting reading experience where my favourite detective is not so completely innocent.
AND I feel like Miwako needs to go to war for Wataru.