+ Kitto, Kitto, Sonno Mama part 2 ++
+ http://clik.to/shiine
There was a large tray of fruits, Tsujiri green tea packages, red bean dumplings, and two empty cups. It was about seven in the morning, the air still a little too cold for his comfort. Tsuzuki pulled at the sheets and covered his head before opening his eyes once more and blinking, wondering if he was dreaming. But the smell of food…
"Tatsumi…?" He mumbled, rubbing at his eyes. Tsuzuki sat up and stared at his bedside; only Tatsumi would be in the office this early, and as always the man brought him his breakfast. He yawned, intent on going back to sleep, when he noticed a small note on his food tray.
*I'll be spending a few nights in Kyoto to wrap things up. Watari-san will be there if you need anything. Be well, Tsuzuki-san, and don't forget to go through the files about the case so that you can finish the paperwork faster. - Tatsumi*
"Files?"
Sure enough, where he found the letter was a diskette, Tatsumi's neat kanji spelling 'Tsuzuki Asato' on the label.
"Working an unwell man, that Tatsumi!" Tsuzuki pouted. He folded the letter and placed it on the tray, popping a dumpling in his mouth. Homemade by Tatsumi himself most probably – although he didn't look it, Tatsumi certainly knew his way around the kitchen.
He remembered when they were still together, where Tatsumi made dinner and they'd eat quietly in his small kitchen. Sometimes Tatsumi would hold his hand, or after he would play a little tender music, humor him a little and dance through a song or two, maybe heat up some sweet sake. And when Tatsumi held his hand, tugging him slowly towards his room…
"Oh Enma…" Tsuzuki sighed, closing his eyes. Self-pitying charged memories and regrets were unstoppable for him, and all he did was eat a dumpling… his mood could only go downhill from here, he was sure.
So many years had past, but somehow nothing ever changed when it comes to those, those "forbidden feelings", as he once told Mitani-sensei. There was Terazuma, who held him while he cried and let him be the first to have him, and there was Muraki, who took him as he lay semi-conscious in his underground lab. He had not exactly been on the lookout for intimacy, and a lover was someone also more like family for Tsuzuki, a companion and a soul mate, someone who would give him strength. Tatsumi had been all that.
Funny how long ago it seemed, that whenever he thought of Tatsumi he still skipped that one night they parted. There was never an argument, or an explanation in Tatsumi's part. He had simply said that he would not be accompanying Tsuzuki on their present mission, or on the next. He couldn't bear turn around, hearing Tatsumi's dismissal; there was no formal commitment between them that he could raise, anyway. They were simply partners, and whereas he and Tatsumi had been in more intimate terms come evening, it was simply something that came with their business relationship… or so he tried to believe. It was easier to accept rather than think that he had done something to lose Tatsumi's lov… iya, not that… Tatsumi's affections.
"Yo."
Tsuzuki opened his eyes slightly, grimacing at the sunlight. He hadn't heard the bathroom door open. "Hisoka?"
Hisoka placed a hand on his forehead, brushing his bangs upwards. "I felt your… angst…" His eyes were uncharacteristically soft, fingers lingering over the strands silky hair despite the slight reprimand in his tone of voice.
"Aa." Tsuzuki knew he would get a scolding. Hisoka was the type who'd get mad for things like this, when he felt that Tsuzuki was punishing himself. But he still smiled at his seemingly humorless partner, thinking how young he looked with his hair still wet and combed neatly and his pretty, almost feminine face brighter in pale orange pajamas. He waited for him to get annoyed by the mere fact that he was staring.
But Hisoka was quiet beside him, simply staring back as well, as if reading his face. For a moment he thought he looked almost sad, and Tsuzuki realized that Hisoka must have been sensing his earlier feelings of grief.
"Ne, Hisoka," Tsuzuki said quietly, losing all pretense of merriment. The thought struck and soon it was out of his mouth in not so many words.
"You don't have… feelings for me, do you?"
Hisoka blinked, before his cheeks blossomed bright and pink. His reply was a quiet stutter. "Na… boku… desu ka?"
"We're partners, but if I kiss you now, you won't kiss me back." Tsuzuki tugged at his wrist, seeing Hisoka's astonishment disarm him, and pulled the boy in his arms.
Hisoka clenched his fists, the strange words barely forming any sense as the first light of deep-rooted, long restrained emotions rushed into him; doubts, more doubts, and a peculiar anger directed to himself – Tsuzuki was shaking in his arms and wetness stained the front of his shirt.
"Ma… matte, Tsuzuki…" Hisoka clutched Tsuzuki's shoulders, regaining himself. Tsuzuki's emotions were too sudden, almost stunning him and overtaking any instinctual displeasure or discomfort he may have at the situation, and they *hurt*.
"But there was more to us, wasn't there?" Tsuzuki murmurred, his pajama top slipping off his shoulders.
More to them… by the time Hisoka could move he also knew what Tsuzuki meant. Tatsumi.
"Hai…" Hisoka shifted in his seat, resigning himself to offering Tsuzuki a little comfort. The halls, the offices, the gardens… strange sentiments floated and passed through his body whenever he roamed JuChoOh these days. Tatsumi was a source, as Tsuzuki, the certainty of something rekindled between them whether relished or bitterly repressed evident with every part of the building. He let Tsuzuki sob on his shoulder for a few minutes, his eyes wandering to the food tray by his bedside.
"This is embarrassing" Tsuzuki murmured. Hisoka thought perhaps he was chuckling to himself, sensing Tsuzuki regain himself. Violet eyes looked up to him and Hisoka swallowed hard, feeling something in him respond – it seemed that no matter how many times he saw Tsuzuki's tears he could never get used to them.
"Aa, it is." He replied, veiling both concern and relief with his statement, but not with his actions as he wiped at damp cheeks with his thumbs. He noticed Tsuzuki's hands clenched at the hem of his pajama top and he slapped over the knuckles. "And your tearing my pajamas, baka."
It was always amazing; Tsuzuki eyes still sparkled somewhat with tears but he started laughing, cheerful and easy to please as ever, as if he wasn't sobbing just minutes ago. But Hisoka wasn't bothered, because he knew it wasn't pretense. Tsuzuki was happy, his feelings earnest and pleasant, and very grateful. He could easily predict his partner's next words.
"Thank you, Hisoka." Tsuzuki said, calm smile sincere and kind and beautiful. Oddly Hisoka found the urge to smile back irresistible, but he shook his head and forced a scowl instead, his eyes falling on the food tray.
"Now what is this doing here?" he scolded, pointing to the sweet pastries. He carried the plate, intending to take it outside.
"Ee~h…?" Tsuzuki started batting his eyelashes like mad, pointy pup ears beginning to wiggle out of the sides of his head. "Hi-so-ka-chan…"
"If you want to heal properly you have eat properly," was the steady reply.
Now Tsuzuki's face was stricken. "But!!!!"
"I'll be taking these to kanchou."
Hisoka almost yelped as Tsuzuki dove to his torso, clinging for dear life while he begged for his dumplings – this from a recuperating man!
"Uwahhh… Hisoka!!!"
"Urusai, king of sweets!"
"Demoo~o, demo, DEMO!!"
"I'll get you a decent meal so let go!"
"Waaa~ah!!! Hidoi ga, Hisoka!! Soshite suki desu!!"
"#^%&!!! I said LET GO!!!" *whack whack whack*
~ + ~
"He didn't have to hit me so hard…" Tsuzuki pouted adorably, sitting up as Watari took his dinner tray from his bed. The chemist chuckled as Tsuzuki complained and Hisoka sat right cross him reading a book, ignoring the ranting. It was almost nine in the evening.
"Well, you never learn." Watari teased, placing the empty plates on his cart. They had eaten together and chatted over nonsensical things, much with Hisoka's disregard, for over two laugh-filled hours. 003 perched on his shoulder as he excused himself to go back to his work, Tsuzuki cheerily kissing his cheek as a little boy would his mother after dessert and Hisoka at least waving goodbye.
Watari gave Hisoka's head one final, contempt-met shuffle.
The color on Tsuzuki's cheeks had already returned, Watari thought to himself, pushing the cart outside to the merry sounds of Tsuzuki's never-ending goodnights and sweet dreams and Hisoka's hidden glances. He glanced back at their door before he went around a corner, smiling to himself. It was easy to see why Tatsumi cared so much for the shinigami.
"Tonight's gonna be a long one," Watari dramatically said to 003, a little in the mood for whining. With Tatsumi away he had been left to take care of extra documents that seemed to never stop reemerging on the kanchou's out box. Although very strict and unrelenting at work, these same qualities made working with Tatsumi very efficient, and they'd breeze through three or four folders easily before midnight for sure had he been there. And the perhaps after…
Or perhaps not. Watari flatly refused to accept that his main appreciation of Tatsumi's abilities were sexually-biased, and that that was the real reason he thought of the man so fondly tonight. But it was, wasn't it? It had been such a long time, and really, there had never been anyone else. After he died Watari had been oddly loyal to Tatsumi; it wasn't just for the sex, but he also could not call their relationship a loving one. Very affectionate, maybe. Very intimate.
But he did not love Tatsumi, at least not in the way Tatsumi loved Tsuzuki. It was just… oh, why was he even analyzing these things! It wasn't that he missed Tatsumi, only the thought of what they would be doing had he been here, and not Tsuzuki-engrossed, was making him reminiscent. Or horny would be a better word, Tatsumi would surely say. Watari closed the door behind him and decided he could afford a few more minutes of sulking, switching off the lights and moving around in the darkness with mere sense.
There always seemed to be more folders on top of his table than he remembered leaving; Watari scooped the ready mess and stacked them to the left side of his desk, ignoring them for now. He just wanted a clear surface to lay his head against, he decided, and walked towards the laboratory's small refrigerator. From inside he retrieved a bottle of beer, Tatsumi's, behind numerous canisters of nasty looking potions.
Watari hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged. Even Tatsumi allowed himself to drink inside his office, as long as it wasn't working hours. Overtime didn't count, so… Just one wouldn't hurt.
~ + ~
Smooth, and careful. Warm hands drifted over he side of his cheek, nudging him awake, and from somewhere sounding very, very far away he heard a series of whispers.
"Watari…"
So heaven help them… the husk of hot breath washed over his ears and suddenly he knew the words weren't from afar but were in fact coming from someone very near, the reality of the hand now on his shoulder clicking with the sensation stirring inside him from too much alcohol and the feverish midnight air he knew all too well. Tatsumi…
As an arm hooked over his waist Watari knew Tatsumi was kneeling, trying to pull Watari over him, and at the very instant the thought touched his mind Watari found the next step to be irresistible. With less balance and more enthusiasm he shifted all his weight to Tatsumi's direction, pulling the man's shoulders towards him and locking their lips together. They fell down over the floor.
Automatically Watari's lips sought purchase of wherever they came to contact with, feeling Tatsumi respond with ferocious urgency as the shinigami's hands seemed to try to stroke him everywhere at the same time, a constant sound escaping his throat as Watari further meshed their mouths together. It was all just movement and dizziness for him, barely registering what Tatsumi was saying.
Rough hands caught his fists and suddenly Watari found himself flipped harshly on his back, the back of his head hitting painfully against the hard floor. "Watari!!!" Came the strangled voice.
The first sound Watari could come up with was something more of a pained moan, his head feeling dizzy enough as it was – he did not need to have it banged against the floor. And then he felt Tatsumi's sitting weight from his torso lift, leaving him there.
Without a warning Watari's world exploded, bright white invading his eyes, alcohol and lust and sleep all in havoc as he covered his face. Someone had turned on the lights.
"Tatsumi, ahou!"
Watari rubbed his at eyes angrily, feeling more drunk than ever as he caught glimpse of a very, very, very red face. Tatsumi was picking something from the floor, whatever it was, and no matter how blurred Watari's vision seemed it was evident that he was flushed crimson. Tatsumi blushing?
"Tatsumi?" Watari pushed himself up on one hand, attempting to sit straight, when he finally caught a clearer image of the man wiping the floor in front of him. How strange – Tatsumi never wore pajamas to the office…
Violet eyes constantly cast down to the floor glanced up at him and Watari felt alarm bells ring from all around his head. Violet eyes tried in vain to avoid him.
Violet eyes?
"Tsuzuki?"
Tsuzuki laughed nervously, hands continuing to wipe off spilled beer from the floor – only now it was completely dry. "Aa, Watari, I was just, uh…"
*Oh Enma*
Watari felt the blood someway drain from his face, if such a thing was possible. Did he just harrass Tsuzuki… while calling out Tatsumi's name?
*Oh Enma - strike me with lightning please*
Tsuzuki's hands were shaking. "I was going outside for a walk… I f-found that," he explained, pointing towards a piece of paper nearly crumpled beside them, "Outside in the hallways, and i-it looked important, and…"
Suddenly he felt more sober than ever. Watari reached for Tsuzuki's shoulder and pulled the shinigami to his arms, at a loss for any explanations. Tsuzuki deserved the truth, or perhaps, the story behind the truth. He had nothing to be guilty about – no doubt that his current, or should he say past, "arrangement" with Tatsumi wouldn't bother Tsuzuki if he'd know about it in the future, and surely he'd find out about it someway, only perhaps this wasn't the best way for him to find out! And Tsuzuki was having enough insecurities with Tatsumi as it was – now was also not the best of times, but apparently he had no choice. Better to say it now than have Tsuzuki assume he had already been replaced by the secretary.
Or that Watari fantasized about Tatsumi! Not that he didn't, but!
"Asato," He murmured against Tsuzuki's hair, hovering between such strange sentiments – none of which he could give a name to. It seemed oddly silent and bright now, in the heart of midnight. What was he doing caught in such a tricky situation?
Tsuzuki was shaking his head. He pulled back slightly, eyes that were never afraid to show tears looking at Watari with incredible candor. "I…"
Watari placed a finger over his lips, smiling. He remembered the other night with Tatsumi; there was no reason for him not to hint at Tatsumi's confessions if it would finally push the two together! Not to mention help him out of his current situation. "You're very lucky, Asato."
"Watari?"
"Promise me you won't get mad." Watari stroked the man's cheek, intent on having his way and not letting Tsuzuki ask or even speak. "And I will tell you."
Tsuzuki looked adorably confused. "Tell me…?"
"Just in case it crossed your mind, I'll make it clear right away that Tatsumi and I are not lovers, Tsuzuki."
Tsuzuki blinked.
Watari smiled.
Tsuzuki blinked again.
"Tatsumi isn't interested in anyone but you." Watari stood up, looking around. He distinctly remembered imposing a one-bottle limit, but apparently he had gone through a significantly larger amount of alcohol that night. Having his hair down and his ribbon wrapped around his left wrist meant he had probably been doing impressions of some of his favorite Jpop singers, and with 003 nowhere in sight…
"Why are you saying that?" Tsuzuki asked, sounding truly, sincerely confused. "You said I shouldn't get angry…"
"I may have pre-empted his grand confession." Watari pointed out, imagining Tatsumi's chagrin if he would hear Watari referring to his feelings for Tsuzuki that way. The thought almost made him chuckle.
"Yutaka…" Tsuzuki sounded like he was in awe.
Watari knew, though, that he couldn't just get away that easily – he still had to explain why he had been moaning Tatsumi's name despite claiming that there was nothing between them. "I will admit that I find him very…" He paused, thinking. Sensual? Dominant? Engaging?
Exhausting…?
Too revealing!
"… nice." Watari decided nervously. God how was he gonna start?
*Nice in bed.*
"I guess it's not good to get drunk while doing someone else's paperwork, ne?"
Now Tsuzuki snapped back to genki-ness. "Is that your excuse?"
Watari felt pure dread ball up in his stomach.
"Watari, omae!" All of the sudden Tsuzuki was jumping towards him, making them stumble back to the floor as puppy Tsuzuki happily glomped the scientist.
"Tsuzuki!"
This time Tsuzuki was the one to shush him, eyes suspiciously bright. "Ne, Watari."
Watari knew that tone of voice. Tsuzuki was very serious now.
*Hell.*
Tsuzuki was smiling like the Cheshire cat, wriggling happily on top of him. Watari decided right away this was *not* the best thing for his still intoxicated, meddlesome libido. "Thank you."
"Are…?" Something wasn't quite right… yet.
Tsuzuki patted his head, and just like that, the situation had reversed. Suddenly Tsuzuki was the one in control. "I already know the truth about you and Tatsumi."
Watari opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"So was really no need to say all that, ne?"
"…"
"Ne!"
Still, no sound. Watari could only press his lips together, waiting. Tsuzuki couldn't possibly saying that…
Tsuzuki started chuckling. "Kyoto, Hisoka and I were taking a walk in the garden. You should have seen 'Soka-chan's face!"
Watari's eyes widened. The hot springs place… And there he was assuring Tatsumi that no one else was still awake at that time of the night! So much for his elaborate garden fantasies!
"You saw…" Watari choked out. He and Tatsumi couldn't sleep that night, and had decided to look for a twenty-four hour convenience store out of sheer boredom. But the fresh air and the loveliness of midnight somewhat brought them to their knees, literary, in one of the hidden corners of the garden. And so…
"And the boy, too!"
Watari's head was reeling… until this and that clicked together and he found himself feeling like an idiot. "You know already! And you made me do all that explaining!"
"I didn't ask you to!" Tsuzuki singsonged, pinching both Watari's cheeks. Watari looked so different without his glasses.
"But…" He couldn't help it; one thought of Tsuzuki's frightened, flushed face earlier and he felt sorry again. "But you looked so shocked, and…"
Tsuzuki laughed, but his cheeks pinked a little. "Na, you did just molest me, you know. Didn't you think I'd, iya, react to that?"
Watari froze. "Oh."
"Yes, oh." Giggles.
Gah! Watari clamped a hand over his own mouth to prevent himself from screaming. All this was making him dizzy again! He grabbed Tsuzuki's arm, pulling the shinigami up. Anymore of this fiasco and he might have to pass out.
"Alright, alright, this has stretched out long enough. You get some rest…"
Tsuzuki's eyes sparkled. "Watari, waii!!! That's so sweet of you!" And then he pouted. "But what about you? I'm not leaving you…"
"I'm sharing your bed in the infirmary and that's that. Tomorrow we'll wake-up with no memory of this." He instructed, tapping Tsuzuki's nose with his finger. Tsuzuki started nodding profusely.
"Hai hai!!!" Tsuzuki agreed, words and mirth muffled by a sudden yawn. He was feeling very tired now, senses beginning to recall what time of the night it was. "Won't sue for sexual harassment!" He cheerily announced, raising a hand. "I forgot everything you said already!"
He let Watari cling on his arm with both hands, amazed at how the scientist ignored the fact that Tsuzuki was still slightly injured but amused by it nonetheless. Although often dynamic and spontaneous in nature it was rare for him to see the man it such a smashed state. Watari seemed, curiously, quite capable of being serious when he was drunk though; well, at least he seemed so a while back. And when he said…
Tsuzuki paused, making Watari halt with him as well. "Maybe not everything you said…"
Watari steadied himself with a hard tug on Tsuzuki's arm, then blinked up at the statement. He opened his mouth in query but then closed it as if realizing the answer himself.
Surprising Tsuzuki Watari cupped his cheek with his entire palm, their noses almost bumping as he drew their faces nearer. "Aa. Of Tatsumi. Don't forget that part."
Tsuzuki kissed Watari's cheek, smiling. "And don't you forget that I said thank you."
+ Owari part 2 ++
+ E-mail all comments for niichan to Kaede Shu, cherrysoftness@schuldich.zzn.com ++
+ http://clik.to/shiine
There was a large tray of fruits, Tsujiri green tea packages, red bean dumplings, and two empty cups. It was about seven in the morning, the air still a little too cold for his comfort. Tsuzuki pulled at the sheets and covered his head before opening his eyes once more and blinking, wondering if he was dreaming. But the smell of food…
"Tatsumi…?" He mumbled, rubbing at his eyes. Tsuzuki sat up and stared at his bedside; only Tatsumi would be in the office this early, and as always the man brought him his breakfast. He yawned, intent on going back to sleep, when he noticed a small note on his food tray.
*I'll be spending a few nights in Kyoto to wrap things up. Watari-san will be there if you need anything. Be well, Tsuzuki-san, and don't forget to go through the files about the case so that you can finish the paperwork faster. - Tatsumi*
"Files?"
Sure enough, where he found the letter was a diskette, Tatsumi's neat kanji spelling 'Tsuzuki Asato' on the label.
"Working an unwell man, that Tatsumi!" Tsuzuki pouted. He folded the letter and placed it on the tray, popping a dumpling in his mouth. Homemade by Tatsumi himself most probably – although he didn't look it, Tatsumi certainly knew his way around the kitchen.
He remembered when they were still together, where Tatsumi made dinner and they'd eat quietly in his small kitchen. Sometimes Tatsumi would hold his hand, or after he would play a little tender music, humor him a little and dance through a song or two, maybe heat up some sweet sake. And when Tatsumi held his hand, tugging him slowly towards his room…
"Oh Enma…" Tsuzuki sighed, closing his eyes. Self-pitying charged memories and regrets were unstoppable for him, and all he did was eat a dumpling… his mood could only go downhill from here, he was sure.
So many years had past, but somehow nothing ever changed when it comes to those, those "forbidden feelings", as he once told Mitani-sensei. There was Terazuma, who held him while he cried and let him be the first to have him, and there was Muraki, who took him as he lay semi-conscious in his underground lab. He had not exactly been on the lookout for intimacy, and a lover was someone also more like family for Tsuzuki, a companion and a soul mate, someone who would give him strength. Tatsumi had been all that.
Funny how long ago it seemed, that whenever he thought of Tatsumi he still skipped that one night they parted. There was never an argument, or an explanation in Tatsumi's part. He had simply said that he would not be accompanying Tsuzuki on their present mission, or on the next. He couldn't bear turn around, hearing Tatsumi's dismissal; there was no formal commitment between them that he could raise, anyway. They were simply partners, and whereas he and Tatsumi had been in more intimate terms come evening, it was simply something that came with their business relationship… or so he tried to believe. It was easier to accept rather than think that he had done something to lose Tatsumi's lov… iya, not that… Tatsumi's affections.
"Yo."
Tsuzuki opened his eyes slightly, grimacing at the sunlight. He hadn't heard the bathroom door open. "Hisoka?"
Hisoka placed a hand on his forehead, brushing his bangs upwards. "I felt your… angst…" His eyes were uncharacteristically soft, fingers lingering over the strands silky hair despite the slight reprimand in his tone of voice.
"Aa." Tsuzuki knew he would get a scolding. Hisoka was the type who'd get mad for things like this, when he felt that Tsuzuki was punishing himself. But he still smiled at his seemingly humorless partner, thinking how young he looked with his hair still wet and combed neatly and his pretty, almost feminine face brighter in pale orange pajamas. He waited for him to get annoyed by the mere fact that he was staring.
But Hisoka was quiet beside him, simply staring back as well, as if reading his face. For a moment he thought he looked almost sad, and Tsuzuki realized that Hisoka must have been sensing his earlier feelings of grief.
"Ne, Hisoka," Tsuzuki said quietly, losing all pretense of merriment. The thought struck and soon it was out of his mouth in not so many words.
"You don't have… feelings for me, do you?"
Hisoka blinked, before his cheeks blossomed bright and pink. His reply was a quiet stutter. "Na… boku… desu ka?"
"We're partners, but if I kiss you now, you won't kiss me back." Tsuzuki tugged at his wrist, seeing Hisoka's astonishment disarm him, and pulled the boy in his arms.
Hisoka clenched his fists, the strange words barely forming any sense as the first light of deep-rooted, long restrained emotions rushed into him; doubts, more doubts, and a peculiar anger directed to himself – Tsuzuki was shaking in his arms and wetness stained the front of his shirt.
"Ma… matte, Tsuzuki…" Hisoka clutched Tsuzuki's shoulders, regaining himself. Tsuzuki's emotions were too sudden, almost stunning him and overtaking any instinctual displeasure or discomfort he may have at the situation, and they *hurt*.
"But there was more to us, wasn't there?" Tsuzuki murmurred, his pajama top slipping off his shoulders.
More to them… by the time Hisoka could move he also knew what Tsuzuki meant. Tatsumi.
"Hai…" Hisoka shifted in his seat, resigning himself to offering Tsuzuki a little comfort. The halls, the offices, the gardens… strange sentiments floated and passed through his body whenever he roamed JuChoOh these days. Tatsumi was a source, as Tsuzuki, the certainty of something rekindled between them whether relished or bitterly repressed evident with every part of the building. He let Tsuzuki sob on his shoulder for a few minutes, his eyes wandering to the food tray by his bedside.
"This is embarrassing" Tsuzuki murmured. Hisoka thought perhaps he was chuckling to himself, sensing Tsuzuki regain himself. Violet eyes looked up to him and Hisoka swallowed hard, feeling something in him respond – it seemed that no matter how many times he saw Tsuzuki's tears he could never get used to them.
"Aa, it is." He replied, veiling both concern and relief with his statement, but not with his actions as he wiped at damp cheeks with his thumbs. He noticed Tsuzuki's hands clenched at the hem of his pajama top and he slapped over the knuckles. "And your tearing my pajamas, baka."
It was always amazing; Tsuzuki eyes still sparkled somewhat with tears but he started laughing, cheerful and easy to please as ever, as if he wasn't sobbing just minutes ago. But Hisoka wasn't bothered, because he knew it wasn't pretense. Tsuzuki was happy, his feelings earnest and pleasant, and very grateful. He could easily predict his partner's next words.
"Thank you, Hisoka." Tsuzuki said, calm smile sincere and kind and beautiful. Oddly Hisoka found the urge to smile back irresistible, but he shook his head and forced a scowl instead, his eyes falling on the food tray.
"Now what is this doing here?" he scolded, pointing to the sweet pastries. He carried the plate, intending to take it outside.
"Ee~h…?" Tsuzuki started batting his eyelashes like mad, pointy pup ears beginning to wiggle out of the sides of his head. "Hi-so-ka-chan…"
"If you want to heal properly you have eat properly," was the steady reply.
Now Tsuzuki's face was stricken. "But!!!!"
"I'll be taking these to kanchou."
Hisoka almost yelped as Tsuzuki dove to his torso, clinging for dear life while he begged for his dumplings – this from a recuperating man!
"Uwahhh… Hisoka!!!"
"Urusai, king of sweets!"
"Demoo~o, demo, DEMO!!"
"I'll get you a decent meal so let go!"
"Waaa~ah!!! Hidoi ga, Hisoka!! Soshite suki desu!!"
"#^%&!!! I said LET GO!!!" *whack whack whack*
~ + ~
"He didn't have to hit me so hard…" Tsuzuki pouted adorably, sitting up as Watari took his dinner tray from his bed. The chemist chuckled as Tsuzuki complained and Hisoka sat right cross him reading a book, ignoring the ranting. It was almost nine in the evening.
"Well, you never learn." Watari teased, placing the empty plates on his cart. They had eaten together and chatted over nonsensical things, much with Hisoka's disregard, for over two laugh-filled hours. 003 perched on his shoulder as he excused himself to go back to his work, Tsuzuki cheerily kissing his cheek as a little boy would his mother after dessert and Hisoka at least waving goodbye.
Watari gave Hisoka's head one final, contempt-met shuffle.
The color on Tsuzuki's cheeks had already returned, Watari thought to himself, pushing the cart outside to the merry sounds of Tsuzuki's never-ending goodnights and sweet dreams and Hisoka's hidden glances. He glanced back at their door before he went around a corner, smiling to himself. It was easy to see why Tatsumi cared so much for the shinigami.
"Tonight's gonna be a long one," Watari dramatically said to 003, a little in the mood for whining. With Tatsumi away he had been left to take care of extra documents that seemed to never stop reemerging on the kanchou's out box. Although very strict and unrelenting at work, these same qualities made working with Tatsumi very efficient, and they'd breeze through three or four folders easily before midnight for sure had he been there. And the perhaps after…
Or perhaps not. Watari flatly refused to accept that his main appreciation of Tatsumi's abilities were sexually-biased, and that that was the real reason he thought of the man so fondly tonight. But it was, wasn't it? It had been such a long time, and really, there had never been anyone else. After he died Watari had been oddly loyal to Tatsumi; it wasn't just for the sex, but he also could not call their relationship a loving one. Very affectionate, maybe. Very intimate.
But he did not love Tatsumi, at least not in the way Tatsumi loved Tsuzuki. It was just… oh, why was he even analyzing these things! It wasn't that he missed Tatsumi, only the thought of what they would be doing had he been here, and not Tsuzuki-engrossed, was making him reminiscent. Or horny would be a better word, Tatsumi would surely say. Watari closed the door behind him and decided he could afford a few more minutes of sulking, switching off the lights and moving around in the darkness with mere sense.
There always seemed to be more folders on top of his table than he remembered leaving; Watari scooped the ready mess and stacked them to the left side of his desk, ignoring them for now. He just wanted a clear surface to lay his head against, he decided, and walked towards the laboratory's small refrigerator. From inside he retrieved a bottle of beer, Tatsumi's, behind numerous canisters of nasty looking potions.
Watari hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged. Even Tatsumi allowed himself to drink inside his office, as long as it wasn't working hours. Overtime didn't count, so… Just one wouldn't hurt.
~ + ~
Smooth, and careful. Warm hands drifted over he side of his cheek, nudging him awake, and from somewhere sounding very, very far away he heard a series of whispers.
"Watari…"
So heaven help them… the husk of hot breath washed over his ears and suddenly he knew the words weren't from afar but were in fact coming from someone very near, the reality of the hand now on his shoulder clicking with the sensation stirring inside him from too much alcohol and the feverish midnight air he knew all too well. Tatsumi…
As an arm hooked over his waist Watari knew Tatsumi was kneeling, trying to pull Watari over him, and at the very instant the thought touched his mind Watari found the next step to be irresistible. With less balance and more enthusiasm he shifted all his weight to Tatsumi's direction, pulling the man's shoulders towards him and locking their lips together. They fell down over the floor.
Automatically Watari's lips sought purchase of wherever they came to contact with, feeling Tatsumi respond with ferocious urgency as the shinigami's hands seemed to try to stroke him everywhere at the same time, a constant sound escaping his throat as Watari further meshed their mouths together. It was all just movement and dizziness for him, barely registering what Tatsumi was saying.
Rough hands caught his fists and suddenly Watari found himself flipped harshly on his back, the back of his head hitting painfully against the hard floor. "Watari!!!" Came the strangled voice.
The first sound Watari could come up with was something more of a pained moan, his head feeling dizzy enough as it was – he did not need to have it banged against the floor. And then he felt Tatsumi's sitting weight from his torso lift, leaving him there.
Without a warning Watari's world exploded, bright white invading his eyes, alcohol and lust and sleep all in havoc as he covered his face. Someone had turned on the lights.
"Tatsumi, ahou!"
Watari rubbed his at eyes angrily, feeling more drunk than ever as he caught glimpse of a very, very, very red face. Tatsumi was picking something from the floor, whatever it was, and no matter how blurred Watari's vision seemed it was evident that he was flushed crimson. Tatsumi blushing?
"Tatsumi?" Watari pushed himself up on one hand, attempting to sit straight, when he finally caught a clearer image of the man wiping the floor in front of him. How strange – Tatsumi never wore pajamas to the office…
Violet eyes constantly cast down to the floor glanced up at him and Watari felt alarm bells ring from all around his head. Violet eyes tried in vain to avoid him.
Violet eyes?
"Tsuzuki?"
Tsuzuki laughed nervously, hands continuing to wipe off spilled beer from the floor – only now it was completely dry. "Aa, Watari, I was just, uh…"
*Oh Enma*
Watari felt the blood someway drain from his face, if such a thing was possible. Did he just harrass Tsuzuki… while calling out Tatsumi's name?
*Oh Enma - strike me with lightning please*
Tsuzuki's hands were shaking. "I was going outside for a walk… I f-found that," he explained, pointing towards a piece of paper nearly crumpled beside them, "Outside in the hallways, and i-it looked important, and…"
Suddenly he felt more sober than ever. Watari reached for Tsuzuki's shoulder and pulled the shinigami to his arms, at a loss for any explanations. Tsuzuki deserved the truth, or perhaps, the story behind the truth. He had nothing to be guilty about – no doubt that his current, or should he say past, "arrangement" with Tatsumi wouldn't bother Tsuzuki if he'd know about it in the future, and surely he'd find out about it someway, only perhaps this wasn't the best way for him to find out! And Tsuzuki was having enough insecurities with Tatsumi as it was – now was also not the best of times, but apparently he had no choice. Better to say it now than have Tsuzuki assume he had already been replaced by the secretary.
Or that Watari fantasized about Tatsumi! Not that he didn't, but!
"Asato," He murmured against Tsuzuki's hair, hovering between such strange sentiments – none of which he could give a name to. It seemed oddly silent and bright now, in the heart of midnight. What was he doing caught in such a tricky situation?
Tsuzuki was shaking his head. He pulled back slightly, eyes that were never afraid to show tears looking at Watari with incredible candor. "I…"
Watari placed a finger over his lips, smiling. He remembered the other night with Tatsumi; there was no reason for him not to hint at Tatsumi's confessions if it would finally push the two together! Not to mention help him out of his current situation. "You're very lucky, Asato."
"Watari?"
"Promise me you won't get mad." Watari stroked the man's cheek, intent on having his way and not letting Tsuzuki ask or even speak. "And I will tell you."
Tsuzuki looked adorably confused. "Tell me…?"
"Just in case it crossed your mind, I'll make it clear right away that Tatsumi and I are not lovers, Tsuzuki."
Tsuzuki blinked.
Watari smiled.
Tsuzuki blinked again.
"Tatsumi isn't interested in anyone but you." Watari stood up, looking around. He distinctly remembered imposing a one-bottle limit, but apparently he had gone through a significantly larger amount of alcohol that night. Having his hair down and his ribbon wrapped around his left wrist meant he had probably been doing impressions of some of his favorite Jpop singers, and with 003 nowhere in sight…
"Why are you saying that?" Tsuzuki asked, sounding truly, sincerely confused. "You said I shouldn't get angry…"
"I may have pre-empted his grand confession." Watari pointed out, imagining Tatsumi's chagrin if he would hear Watari referring to his feelings for Tsuzuki that way. The thought almost made him chuckle.
"Yutaka…" Tsuzuki sounded like he was in awe.
Watari knew, though, that he couldn't just get away that easily – he still had to explain why he had been moaning Tatsumi's name despite claiming that there was nothing between them. "I will admit that I find him very…" He paused, thinking. Sensual? Dominant? Engaging?
Exhausting…?
Too revealing!
"… nice." Watari decided nervously. God how was he gonna start?
*Nice in bed.*
"I guess it's not good to get drunk while doing someone else's paperwork, ne?"
Now Tsuzuki snapped back to genki-ness. "Is that your excuse?"
Watari felt pure dread ball up in his stomach.
"Watari, omae!" All of the sudden Tsuzuki was jumping towards him, making them stumble back to the floor as puppy Tsuzuki happily glomped the scientist.
"Tsuzuki!"
This time Tsuzuki was the one to shush him, eyes suspiciously bright. "Ne, Watari."
Watari knew that tone of voice. Tsuzuki was very serious now.
*Hell.*
Tsuzuki was smiling like the Cheshire cat, wriggling happily on top of him. Watari decided right away this was *not* the best thing for his still intoxicated, meddlesome libido. "Thank you."
"Are…?" Something wasn't quite right… yet.
Tsuzuki patted his head, and just like that, the situation had reversed. Suddenly Tsuzuki was the one in control. "I already know the truth about you and Tatsumi."
Watari opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"So was really no need to say all that, ne?"
"…"
"Ne!"
Still, no sound. Watari could only press his lips together, waiting. Tsuzuki couldn't possibly saying that…
Tsuzuki started chuckling. "Kyoto, Hisoka and I were taking a walk in the garden. You should have seen 'Soka-chan's face!"
Watari's eyes widened. The hot springs place… And there he was assuring Tatsumi that no one else was still awake at that time of the night! So much for his elaborate garden fantasies!
"You saw…" Watari choked out. He and Tatsumi couldn't sleep that night, and had decided to look for a twenty-four hour convenience store out of sheer boredom. But the fresh air and the loveliness of midnight somewhat brought them to their knees, literary, in one of the hidden corners of the garden. And so…
"And the boy, too!"
Watari's head was reeling… until this and that clicked together and he found himself feeling like an idiot. "You know already! And you made me do all that explaining!"
"I didn't ask you to!" Tsuzuki singsonged, pinching both Watari's cheeks. Watari looked so different without his glasses.
"But…" He couldn't help it; one thought of Tsuzuki's frightened, flushed face earlier and he felt sorry again. "But you looked so shocked, and…"
Tsuzuki laughed, but his cheeks pinked a little. "Na, you did just molest me, you know. Didn't you think I'd, iya, react to that?"
Watari froze. "Oh."
"Yes, oh." Giggles.
Gah! Watari clamped a hand over his own mouth to prevent himself from screaming. All this was making him dizzy again! He grabbed Tsuzuki's arm, pulling the shinigami up. Anymore of this fiasco and he might have to pass out.
"Alright, alright, this has stretched out long enough. You get some rest…"
Tsuzuki's eyes sparkled. "Watari, waii!!! That's so sweet of you!" And then he pouted. "But what about you? I'm not leaving you…"
"I'm sharing your bed in the infirmary and that's that. Tomorrow we'll wake-up with no memory of this." He instructed, tapping Tsuzuki's nose with his finger. Tsuzuki started nodding profusely.
"Hai hai!!!" Tsuzuki agreed, words and mirth muffled by a sudden yawn. He was feeling very tired now, senses beginning to recall what time of the night it was. "Won't sue for sexual harassment!" He cheerily announced, raising a hand. "I forgot everything you said already!"
He let Watari cling on his arm with both hands, amazed at how the scientist ignored the fact that Tsuzuki was still slightly injured but amused by it nonetheless. Although often dynamic and spontaneous in nature it was rare for him to see the man it such a smashed state. Watari seemed, curiously, quite capable of being serious when he was drunk though; well, at least he seemed so a while back. And when he said…
Tsuzuki paused, making Watari halt with him as well. "Maybe not everything you said…"
Watari steadied himself with a hard tug on Tsuzuki's arm, then blinked up at the statement. He opened his mouth in query but then closed it as if realizing the answer himself.
Surprising Tsuzuki Watari cupped his cheek with his entire palm, their noses almost bumping as he drew their faces nearer. "Aa. Of Tatsumi. Don't forget that part."
Tsuzuki kissed Watari's cheek, smiling. "And don't you forget that I said thank you."
+ Owari part 2 ++
+ E-mail all comments for niichan to Kaede Shu, cherrysoftness@schuldich.zzn.com ++