Title: "Chronicles of a Shinigami - BOOK I"
Author: LegolasLover2003 aka Ashley
Category: Anime - "Yami no Matsuei"
Genre: Angst/General
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to "Yami no Matsuei" though, I do have all 4 US dvds, both OSTs, the Drama CD, the Summer Vacation CD, and all 11 published US volumes (plus the Hana to Yume publications)... I don't own IT itself. I wish I did though... cause I'd be hanging out with Watari all day, man. Might stalk Muraki... don't know... I haven't decided if his sociopathic-ness scares or intrigues me yet...
Most of the time, our missions come through fax.
Usually, those faxes are then placed into their respective mailslots.
Mine, of course, would be filed under 'Watari Yutaka: 6th'.
Simple… direct… and provided that I just happened to check the bullpen once a day… I might find a mission waiting for me.
For it to actually be delivered to me however… well… that's rare.
And when that happens, as Tatsumi would say, 'Time is Money'…
Chronicles of a Shinigami
BOOK I
Chapter II
The Mission
"Kyuuketsuki? Tatsumi, you can't be serious!"
The Meifu secretary pushed his glasses up just a fraction, leveling the scientist with an ice blue stare. "Have you known me to be anything but?"
Watari frowned, "Tatsumi, there hasn't been a Kyuuketsuki since Nagasaki. Which, we learned, wasn't a real Kyuuketsuki anyway and just a pawn of Muraki. Why Kyoto? Why now?"
"Those are questions you're being sent to answer, Watari-san." Standing from his desk, Tatsumi moved around its end and around Watari, heading for a filing cabinet across the room. In his hand was a rather large manila folder. "I take it you read everything in the file?"
"Hai. Hai." The scientist replied, waving away Tatsumi's skepticism, a look that Watari was used to receiving by now, "Bodies drained of blood. People missing. All Buddhist monks or Shinto priests and priestesses."
Tatsumi nodded, putting his file away and closing the cabinet. "Anything else?"
Sighing once more, Watari nodded. "Only the priestesses had their blood drained. Monks and priests have gone missing. Where one dead body turns up, a priest or monk disappears."
"And you don't think this cause for alarm?" Tatsumi asked, turning and looking directly at the Meifu scientist.
Watari nodded, "It's a bit strange, yes… but I'm not ready to say that the culprit is a Kyuuketsuki. What about a Kappa? Surely there are water sources near many of the sites."
"You're the one familiar with Kyoto, Watari-san. Not me." The secretary reached into his jacket, producing a small book and handing it to Watari. "Meal expenses need to be limited to sanzen-en a day. Since it's you, and not Tsuzuki, I can trust you'll do that."
Watari took the booklet.
It was common knowledge throughout the department that the scientist ate very little. Granted, there were times that even Watari could give Tsuzuki a run for his money where food was concerned.
At least good food.
Or Tatsumi's food…
He pocketed the booklet in his lab coat before sighing, "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Afraid not."
Watari sighed, "And I was in the middle of a new potion too…" turning, the scientist made his way to the door.
However, Tatsumi's voice stopped him. "You'll be staying at a Shinto temple, Watari-san. It's all been arranged, so housing expenses won't be necessary for you to keep track of."
This made Watari turn slightly, looking at the secretary. "A Shinto temple?"
"Hai."
The younger shinigami shrugged, "Good thing I never really was a very religious man. Blame science, not me." He smiled jokingly before asking another question, "I don't have to pretend to be a priest, do I?"
For a moment, Tatsumi said nothing.
Blinking in surprise, Watari saw a strange light flicker over the kagetsukai's eyes, before the image passed and the man looked as normal as before.
"Iie. You just have to be yourself."
Watari laughed slightly, a bit put off by the look… until he suddenly realized what it was that Tatsumi had been thinking.
Smirking lightly, Watari turned and headed for the door. "At least I don't have to pretend to be a miko," he joked, waving at Tatsumi as he left the room.
The secretary watched him go, a bit dumbfounded that Watari had been able to read his exact thoughts, before returning to his own work.
Yawning and stretching his arms up over his head, Watari sighed as he went through his desk one last time.
Everything the shinigami could possibly need would be taken on this mission.
"I do hope they have electricity… or this is going to be a problem…"
"Going somewhere?"
Obviously startled, Watari looked up from his desk. At first, a smile appeared on the scientist's face. A smile that soon gave way to a frown.
"Tsu-Zu-Ki. I thought I told you to stay in bed!" Watari replied quickly, moving around the obstructing furniture to advance on the elder man.
Tsuzuki frowned, "Wakatta yo… demo…"
With a sigh, the scientist put his hands on his hips, watching the amethyst-eyed shinigami and waiting for an explanation.
"Well when Hisoka told me you had a mission… I mean, so quickly after our last one well… I just…" sighing and holding out his hand, the blond could easily see what had brought Tsuzuki into his lab.
Ofuda scrolls.
"I thought you could use a little extra power. That's all." Tsuzuki replied, almost sheepishly.
For a long moment, Watari studied the other shingiami. Really and truly studied him. Tsuzuki's usual cheerfulness was gone, replaced by an almost fearful demeanor that obviously didn't suit the happy-go-lucky man.
"Tsuzuki…" Watari found himself whispering, his amber gaze softening considerably. Reaching out, he took the offered ofuda and put them in his jacket pocket. "Arigatou, Tsuzuki. I guess I've been a bit too hard on you, ne?" the man asked before throwing one arm around the elder shinigami's shoulders. "Look. How about, when I get back, an all expenses paid crab dinner? On me?"
Asato's eyes lit up like fireworks and he turned, looking at the blond scientist as if he were crazy. "Ho… honto ni?" he asked, obviously amazed at such generosity.
"Of course. You and me, though I suppose Bon can come along too. He doesn't eat much, after all." Watari winked playfully.
Well… at least until Tsuzuki full out tackled him. After a few moments of 'Arigatou' and nuzzles as if the elder shinigami were a puppy getting a treat, Tsuzuki smiled. "And here I thought you were angry with me." He spoke happily, helping his co-worker up off the tile floor.
Frowning slightly, Watari shook his head. "Of course not. When have I ever been mad at you, Tsuzuki?"
Seeming to consider this, Tsuzuki didn't notice as Watari re-adjusted his jacket and tried to tame the wild blond hair that the hyper-active shinigami had messed up.
"Well…" Tsuzuki started ticking off things on his fingers. "Terazuma's mad cause I keep turning him into his shiki… The Hokkaido twins are mad because I wouldn't let them dress Hisoka up in the latest summer fashions… Hisoka's mad because I got us both banned from the library… Gushoshin-tachi are mad because I blew up the library… Chief's mad because I forgot his cake the last time… Tatsumi's… well, I think Tatsumi's got a long list of 'mad' reasons at the moment…" at this, Tsuzuki frowned, obviously feeling rather guilty still about the entire incident in Kyoto. "Oh! I guess you and Wakaba-chan are the only ones NOT mad at me."
Smiling, Watari nodded. "See? Besides, how could I be angry at my best lab rat?" the scientist teased before heading back toward his desk.
Laughing slightly, Tsuzuki smiled again. "Hai hai. Chotto… you're not going to make me drink anything in the near future, ne?"
"Nope."
"Youkatta…" Tsuzuki sighed before glancing at his shoulder.
Without his realizing it, 003 had perched just beside the amethyst-eyed shinigami's neck, nuzzling him softly.
"Arigatou, 003." He whispered, reaching up and ruffling her feathers.
Turning, Watari smiled as he watched the two. After a moment however, he spoke up, hating to break the peaceful picture. "You'll watch over 001 and 002 for me, ne?"
"Hai." Tsuzuki replied with a nod. "Hisoka and I'll make sure they're not lonely. I think 002 likes Hisoka actually. I caught him following Hisoka around the other day."
At this, Watari paled slightly. "You um… you might want to keep 002 away from Bon. He um… well, let's just say it's mating season and he's got an eye for cute things. I didn't exactly program them to ignore their seasonal urges… if you catch my meaning."
Silence reigned in the lab for about thirty seconds… before both jovial shinigami burst into uncontrolled laughter.
'Tomeru! Tatsumi, kaette!'
'Take me instead!'
'What could you possibly have to offer me?'
'My soul.'
'Use me however you will, but leave Tatsumi alone!'
'And if I kept Tatsumi Seiichirou? What then, Watari Yutaka?'
'Then, with everything I have… with every ounce of strength that I possess… I WILL kill you.'
As lightning flashed, piercing the sky, amber eyes snapped open.
Drenched in sweat, Watari Yutaka bolted upright in his bed. It took the man a few moments to even begin to comprehend that what he had felt, what he had just experienced… was a dream.
"Yume ka?" Watari whispered, curling his legs under himself and running a hand down his face.
Lithe fingers came away moist, and Watari suddenly realized that he was crying.
The scientist tried to rationalize things out. In truth, he was still shaken up about the recent events in Kyoto. That, coupled with a lack of rest, his rational mind told him, were obvious catalysts.
They had very nearly lost Tsuzuki to Touda's flames.
And if Hisoka hadn't saved the amethyst-eyed shinigami, Watari feared, they would have lost Tatsumi as well.
'Tsuzuki… I've known you now for half a century. I left you standing in the cold. I hurt you again and again. I never had a kind word for you. Tsuzuki… life for you… is torment, isn't it? The truth is… I hated you… I had no idea how to handle you… being with you annoyed me so much… and yet comforted me. Eternal sleep… if that's really what you want, what right do we have to stop you? Let your death be my punishment… Tsuzuki… You had no idea, did you? For all the pain… I caused you…'
'Pull yourself together, you idiot! What're you babbling about? Stop talking nonsense!!'
'Watari!!'
'I understand Tsuzuki's desire to die… and I know that you want to respect his wishes. But… you're both just running away!! Forget about what Tsuzuki wants, that doesn't matter. What do you really want to do? What do you want to do, Tatsumi?!!'
Sighing, Watari pulled his knees up to his chest. Still covered in his tan bedspread, the scientist could hardly see at all. Glasses on the bedside table, long golden hair sprawled around his face as his mind drifted back to that day.
"I guess I'm still scared of losing them both." Watari noticed that 003 had inched her way over to his lap, staring up at the shinigami in confusion. "Gomen." The man whispered, smiling softly and reaching out one finger to gently stroke her breast feathers. "Tsuzuki's still recovering… and Tatsumi's being such an ass about everything that… I guess I just don't know what to do for once. Bon's the only one I can count on to NOT fall apart, I think."
The tiny owl seemed to ask what was wrong by a tiny 'hoot'.
Shaking his head, Watari frowned. "It's nothing, baby. Just… I had a nightmare I guess. I'm a little worked up lately. Not enough sleep… and here I am going back into the field tomorrow." The scientist sighed and closed his eyes. "I must be crazy."
003 'hooted' in agreement, which made the young shinigami laugh.
"Bad dreams aside, I really do need to try and get some sleep, ne?" he asked his companion.
Another 'hoot' left the owl and she moved away to settle herself down on the bed's other pillow. Tucking her beak beneath a wing, 003 fell asleep again.
Watari yawned, turning onto his side as he lay down once more. His legs curled up slightly, the scientist tried to fall asleep again. Try as he might, the shinigami couldn't dismiss the notion that his nightmare could have been an indicator of some dark storm on the horizon.
With doubts, mission details, and the thought of cryptic forbidding warning signals swirling in his mind… sleep, never found Watari Yutaka again that night…
Tsuzuku... (To Be Continued...)
TRANSLATIONS:
Hai = Yes
Iie = No
Miko = Shinto Priestess
Kyuuketsuki = Vampire
Sanzen-en = 3,000 Yen (Japanese Currency)
-san = Mr. / Mrs. (suffix)
Kagetsuaki = Shadow User. Refers to Tatsumi's ability to command shadows
Shinto = Japanese religion (separate from Buddhism, though Buddhism has influenced areas of Shinto due to a slight merging between them throughout time)
Kappa = a water spirit.
Wakatta yo = I know
Demo = But
Ofuda = Scroll with magic words inscribed on them. Used for spells and shields (etc.)
Arigatou = Thank you
-ne = Sentence ender. Used to ask the listener if they agree or understand (usually)
Honto ni = Really?
Chotto = Wait a second
Youkatta = Thank goodness
Yume ka = A dream?