Title: "Chronicles of a Shinigami - BOOK I"
Author: LegolasLover2003 aka Ashley
Category: Anime - "Yami no Matsuei"
Genre: Angst/General
Rating: PG-13 (T)
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...
Author's Note: I'm running a contest with this chapter! See the NOTES at the end of this chapter for details!
Curses are a funny thing really.
At times, they can be interesting to study, particularly when they're of no consequence to oneself.
But it's a different story when the curse is on your head or, worse, affecting someone you hold close.
Ever since I learned about Hisoka's curse, I've devoted quite a bit of my time to coming up with a way to either break it… or damped it.
As of now, no luck.
Whatever magic Muraki used, it's the strongest I've ever seen…
And now my own hair's turning colors!
In fact, I'm pretty sure that there are more than just a few people here who are far from happy with me being here… Sugita-dono among them.
Sometimes, I annoyingly wonder, why Enma-sama hasn't gifted us with stronger ofuda…
Chronicles of a Shinigami – BOOK I
Chapter IV
The First Lotus
"How long?" Watari asked, frowning as he studied the lines on the younger shinigami's skin.
Hisoka sighed, "All day actually. I… I haven't told Tsuzuki about it yet, but…"
The two were seated in the guest rooms which had been granted to the scientist.
Watari, for his part, had one hand typing away on a keyboard and the other gently probing Hisoka's exposed back. The scientist was dressed comfortably in a, what he could only term as his personal favorite color, coral red, yukata. His long and curly hair, now mixed shades of black and gold, was pulled back into a high ponytail. As usual with the man, his hair wasn't staying put.
Sitting in front of him, shirt off, was an obviously uncomfortable Hisoka. In truth, Hisoka felt rather guilty really… It wasn't like him to go to another with his problems… especially anyone but Tsuzuki. However, the young man knew that this was one of Watari's hobbies after all.
Besides…
"He's not ready to hear it?" Watari asked, amber eyes glued, for the moment, to his computer screen.
Hisoka nodded. "Physically he's fine. Mentally… well, he's stable finally, but the fear's still there." The younger shinigami sighed. "Watari-san… boku wa…"
After stumbling over the right words for a moment, Watari's voice cut off the attempted sentence.
"Just blurt it out."
The teen blinked. "Ee?"
Smiling, the blond looked back to him. "Look, just blurt it all out to Tsuzuki in one long sentence. Don't sit there looking for the right words or the easiest way to tell him." The scientist laughed. "He'll look at you like you're crazy I guess, but… well… I think Tsuzuki would rather you were honest with him, Bon."
Hisoka sighed, "We keep having this conversation, don't we?"
Nodding, Watari handed the young shinigami a computer printout. "Give that to the chief. I've been keeping him updated as far as Muraki is concerned, and the appearance of your curse is definitely calls for another update." The blond sighed softly. "Just you, me, and the chief know about my updates, Bon. Don't tell Tsuzuki or, heaven forbid, Tatsumi. Wakatta ka?"
"Hai…" Hisoka whispered, taking the sheet of paper and looking it over.
"Now," Watari began with a smile once more. "I need you to ask the Gushoushin to get me some intel on this shrine's head Kannushi, Sugita, and a complete family history and background check." The man's smile remained. "I want everything… ancestry, spiritual power, political influence… everything."
Hisoka nodded, "Hai…" soon however, the youth looked rather perplexed by this. "But, why target the target for investigation?"
The smirk on the scientist's face said it clearly. "Because, Bon… I think he's the one turning my hair black with a curse."
After Hisoka had gone, Watari felt rather confident.
Of course there was this new mystery where Bon's curse was concerned, but just being able to ponder over the sneaking suspicion that this new case could be related to Muraki, made the shinigami strangely more at ease. So far however, the missing priests, priestesses, and monks had been a totally isolated incident. Combine it with some corpses drained of blood however, and it certainly had a typical Muraki feel to it.
Reaching up, Watari gently stroked 003's tummy, smiling at the bird on his shoulder, "So… think we should scout out the premises before dinner?"
The tiny owl hooted and, with a soft laugh and a quick glance around to make sure he was alone, Watari phased out of the realm of sight for humans and took to the sky.
He headed toward the tallest tree in the area, a rather old cedar. Carefully, the blond shinigami stood atop the tree's highest branches. He kept one hand around the hem of his yukata; knowing that a strong gust of wind could topple his precarious balance and… to be honest, Watari really didn't feel like becoming a kite. His other hand was busy trying to keep unruly hair out of his eyes. Once that was finally accomplished, Watari literally had a bird's eye view of the temple grounds and surrounding forest.
Including, a rather stubborn head priest.
"Why in the hells did he think cursing me a good idea?" the scientist fumed to the brown owl who was comfortably nestled against his neck. "I'm here to help, and the bastard…"
Right at that moment however, Kannushi Sugita's dark eyes locked onto the shinigami's amber gaze. Without so much as a muscle twinge, the priest flung a spell out… a spell that slammed into Watari's chest. The scientist was thrown backwards, plummeting through the air, and a few stray branches, to land unceremoniously in a thorny holly bush.
"KUSO!" came a rather loud shout as Watari materialized, obviously stuck in a bush, in front of the priest.
He was covered in small scratches, but already they were beginning to heal. Bits of leaf and thorns were lodged in his already unruly hair.
The scientist would have to wash it again…
"Don't do that." The priest spoke coldly, his gaze fixed on the shrine's guest.
Watari looked up at him as if the man were mad. "Do what?" he snapped angrily, trying to dislodge himself from his thorny seat.
The priest's frown deepened… if possible.
"Curse."
Watari's mouth opened, closed, then opened again before he could finally find the right words. "You THREW me out of a tree!"
Shrugging, Sugita walked past the scientist and continued down the forest path. "I sensed a presence. You could have very well been the culprit of these murders."
Without another word, let alone an apology, the Kannushi left.
Still stuck in the bush, Watari was incensed… he was so angry in fact, that his lithe body was shivering with rage.
"First my hair…" he spoke coldly, "Now this…"
Quickly, closing his eyes and trying to focus on something outside of his rage, Watari was able to calm down.
At least enough to finally stand.
"I think that was enough scouting for now." The scientist spoke, carefully trying to dust off his yukata.
003, for her part, worked at picking the leaves and thorns from his two-tone hair.
The duo headed back to the guest rooms.
Watari sighed to himself as he traversed the forest paths, heading toward the main temple compound.
In truth, he was utterly frustrated…
First off, he was pissed, and that was hardly something that the scientist was comfortable with.
Second, his hair, something he prided himself on, even though he complained about the long locks, was being screwed with by an unhelpful and snobbish priest.
Third… well, third was that he really didn't have any leads in his case and the shinigami knew that if something didn't break soon in the case… well…
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft hoot from 003 on his shoulder.
Watari smiled, "I know… it's not like me to get angry, ne? That man is just so… so infuriating, girl. I can't help it."
Another hoot, one of agreement this time, caused the scientist to laugh softly.
Slipping into his guest room, the shinigami was just in time to grab his furiously ringing cell phone from next to the futon.
"Moshi moshi?" Watari spoke calmly, no hint of his earlier ire at all in his Kansai accent.
Soon however, the scientist blinked in sudden surprise.
"Ta… Tatsumi?"
Tsuzuku... (To Be Continued...)
TRANSLATIONS:
Boku wa = I (masculine, though childish)
Ee = Huh?
Wakatta ka = Understand?
Hai = Yes
Kuso = Damn it
Moshi moshi = Hello (for the telephone)
NOTES:
The title of this chapter "The First Lotus" refers to Hinduism and the four Lotus petals of the Muladhara. Yoko Matsushita has stated in the manga that Watari's favorite color is "Coral Red" (it's in the end drawings from English volume 6, see below the NOTES section for what the bio says), and that color is directly linked to the Muladhara or "Root Chakra". There are four Lotus petals of the Muladhara, and this first one deals with one of the following bases… can you guess which one? Sexuality, Stability, Sensuality, and Sense of Security. All four Lotus petals will be revealed for Watari in this story, each corresponding with an event in the titled chapter. Whoever guesses first which of the four is right… and tells me a Japanese name (has to be a real Japanese name, not one made up please) that they would like used as them, gets PUT INTO the story in the next chapter! Anyone else who guesses right gets a noted kudos in the next chapter as well! So hurry! GUESS! I need a name for a character in the next chapter, and this is your way of helping me, hehehe. It's like an on-screen walk-on only… well… for fanfiction!
Now that one Lotus is revealed… it's time for a break in the case soon… ne?
On a side note, all of the Shinigami can be linked to a Chakra by their favorite color… but for the purposes of this story (of Book I), only Watari's color and Tatsumi's color (Globeflower Green) will play any big part.
No real other notes this time really… It was a shorter chapter but I liked leaving it where it was, with Tatsumi on the phone, hehe. Watari's pissed… a very scary thing (see the character profile for why, hehe). Seriously. I sometimes wonder if he's stronger than he acts (we'll soon see, won't we?).
Don't forget to review for the chapter! I'm going to TRY and get a chapter out every Monday, or at least every other week if I fail to accomplish it on Mondays.
WATARI'S OFFICIAL CHARACTER PROFILE:
This is for those who don't know what it says, this comes from the drawings at the end of American Volume #6… (Note: The English version, when translating his name, puts his first name FIRST, as opposed to the Japanese tradition (and the kana shown below) of last name FIRST.)
わた り ゆたか
亘 理 温
Yutaka Watari
Date of Birth: 4/18/1953
Birth Place: Kyoto
Blood Type: O
Hobby: Research
Favorite Food: Italian Food (Pasta)
Favorite Color: Coral Red
Motto: Smiles are Free.
Behind the Scenes:
He was designed to be a Kansai character who's really nice and fun to be with – someone you'd want as a friend. He hasn't changed at all since I created him. (I designed him with a clear vision in mind, so I never had to change him.) But he really is a good guy. I hope people wish he was their friend. That would be very gratifying (seriously). So why is his hair that color? Because a long time ago, he was swimming to build up his stamina, and the chlorine bleached his hair. That's my crazy explanation.
Drawing Notes: (Right to Left, Top to Bottom – In Order)
When angered, he's even scarier than Tatsumi. / Of course I am. / Look out! / He looks like he could make chemical or nuclear weapons. / Whatever.
Character Image:
The picture is a black & white sketch of Watari with goggles on his forehead and a BFG (Big F***ing Gun) under his left arm. 003 is hovering next to his head and right hand, and 001 and 002 are at his feet. He's wearing his trademark turtleneck with shirt over it, labcoat with sleeves rolled up, gloves that have open fingers, and dark long pants.