YAMI NO MATSUEI – DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS
THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP…OR NOT?
Chapter Two: Skirting from the Truth
Tatsumi was caught off-guard for a minute with Watari's coy yet cryptic words. His cool, piercing blue eyes rested on his companion. If there was anyone in his life or afterlife who he found mysterious, it was Watari.
Before he was able to open his mouth and ask the other for an explanation, the maître d' arrived with a genial smile escaping his lips. "Good evening, gentlemen and welcome to Château Badeau. Please follow me to your booth."
003 sulked due to the glare that the maître d' had given her, which was already a customary behavior that she had expected from this particular server. She nonetheless followed her master and Tatsumi. Her expression of contempt towards the server simply demonstrated as she flapped her wings to fly from Watari's shoulder to Tatsumi's shoulder, in the process purposefully annoying the snooty waiter.
The waiter did his best to be gracious since Watari had talked to him about the issue. As much as Watari was calm and reasonable during the entire conversation, and had been a gracious patron for the past few years, the waiter sensed that there was something about Watari that he should never dare cross.
Moreover, the restaurateur advised the same waiter to treat Watari and 003 warmly since he recognized how some patrons doted on Watari's owl while the scientist gave his praises about the establishment and the food. The waiter followed the advice given to him, especially since Watari normally left him a generous tip.
After Tatsumi and Watari have placed their orders, Watari asked 003 gently as she remained perched on Tatsumi's shoulder, "When are you going to forgive him? He's leaving us alone. In fact, he's been nice."
003 ruffled her feathers, her way of expressing her annoyance.
"I never knew that you know how to get upset," said Tatsumi to the owl, finding the tension-filled rapport between 003 and the maître d' rather amusing. "I think that he's more afraid of you and Watari-san."
The two shinigami chuckled inwardly as 003 seemed to have protested over them making light of her annoyance towards the waiter.
Tatsumi smoothed the owl's feathers to appease her, doing the repetitive gesture with gentleness. The only reason why he stopped momentarily was when he noticed how Watari was looking at the two of them, prompting Tatsumi to ask, "What?"
Straightening his glasses and being casual about the observation, Watari said, "It's nice to see your gentle side."
A sarcastic chuckle escaped from Tatsumi's lips along with a glint of suspicion lighting up his eyes. He continued stroking the owl with his fingers until she hooted her satisfaction, prompting him to stop as she quietly settled on his shoulders once more. "Gentle side? What chemical fumes or potions have you been inhaling today…and what are you really up to?"
"The raise that we just got after decades of not having one has a greater giddy effect than any fume or potion," Watari replied, his focus still staying on Tatsumi.
Tatsumi was about to say something, but their order came. Deciding to hold on to the comment that he was about to make, he watched Watari make a little plate of food and drink for 003. He did not start his meal until Watari was ready to do the same.
The meal was uneventful, save for comments and observations passed back and forth about how wonderful the food and ambiance were among other things.
A couple of hours later, the two men walked out of the restaurant and headed towards the shops. On their way to the next shop, a quaint place that sold porcelain dolls and other fine china, Tatsumi told Watari, "I'm hoping that our next dinner or lunch together would be…that it'll be more…."
"More what?"
"At ease…. Comfortable…"
Watari's eyes went wide and then blinked. "I don't know what to say."
Tatsumi sighed a bit, not wanting to make Watari feel bad and thinking that his candid statement and his intentions have been misconstrued. "I'm sorry, but that's how I feel. I didn't –"
"No, it's not that. No offense was taken at all."
A surprised Tatsumi asked, "You're not offended at all?"
"Not the least bit. I'm just surprised that you want to do this again. We'll be more comfortable with each other outside of work."
The secretary was caught off-guard once more with the comment then relaxed a bit. "Let's walk to the park. We'll get a lovely view of the trees and the city from a certain spot."
As the two slightly changed their direction, this time with Tatsumi leading, Tatsumi said as he noticed that he and Watari were now away from the crowd, "I'm having a good time, Watari-san, and the night's still young. I guess we know each other too well at work, but we don't know each other very much personally."
"We have many things to clear and talk about," was Watari's quiet reply, with him finding some comfort from the tension-filled air by stroking 003's feathers as they walked.
Tatsumi glanced at Watari, noticing the other's quiet yet strong resolve hidden behind an amiable and non-threatening demeanor. There had been many moments of contention between them especially during the past year, the culmination of it being the time that they almost lost a suicidal Tsuzuki at Kyoto. "I suppose so…."
Closing his eyes momentarily, the guilt that Tatsumi harbored since then burdened his heart.
Although the memories welled up for just a couple of minutes then went back to the inner recesses of his heart and mind, the secretary remembered vividly that he only intended to save Hisoka – not Tsuzuki. He also knew that the only reason he was able to save Tsuzuki was because Hisoka would not let go of Tsuzuki. Given the situation at hand, Tatsumi could only do either one of two options – save both or save none.
So Tatsumi did what he deemed to be best, and that was to save both. He also deemed it best to watch, protect, and love his partner from a distance. He knew that Tsuzuki needed him, and in a way he needed Tsuzuki. He also knew that if he became closer emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to Tsuzuki just as they did before that such a relationship would destroy them both.
"Better this than before. They're better off for each other. I wouldn't be able to handle him…and us," was Tatsumi's closing thought before letting out a subtle sigh and focusing on the present and Watari.
The two eventually reached the park and the area that people normally called Lovers' Bridge – a small wooden bridge nearby sakura trees and a man-made lake where lovers frequented to relax either under the sunny blue skies or the calming night skies while gazing at the nearby hustle and bustle of the city.
Once they have found a spot on the bridge, 003 hooted a bit as if she had asked Watari permission to roam freely for a couple of minutes. Her hoots became more animated as Watari happily gave his consent.
However, silence returned once 003 left – leaving Tatsumi and Watari alone.
The two shinigami had thoughts that were running in their minds during the silence. Nonetheless, the silence between them was different…more comfortable…substantially less threatening than earlier.
"Tsuzuki and I used to hang out here most of the time whenever we had assignments," said Tatsumi, thinking aloud. "We came by here last year again. So much has changed."
Watari did not say anything, yet his silence and the gaze that he gave Tatsumi spoke much louder than any other word of acknowledgement or sympathy.
After another long period of silence between them, Tatsumi dared to ask Watari, "What have you been thinking of lately?"
"The Division…Tsuzuki…all of us… You know that Tsuzuki and I are good friends. What you did means a lot to him."
A pursed-lipped, rueful smile escaped from Tatsumi's lips. "I didn't do anything. You know better than that."
Keeping his gaze at the calm waters and sensing the guilt subtly laced in Tatsumi's words, Watari's reply was, "You wanted to respect his wishes to die. You understood the reason behind his wish. You also know that Bon's safety and happiness are important to him. You did all of that when you saved them. Tsuzuki and I may be goofy and giddy in different ways, but we both know better than that. You did the right thing. Isn't it time for you to recognize that?"
"And you gave up that promotion to watch over us…over Tsuzuki…"
That was when Tatsumi countered, "Yes, and no…."
Tatsumi turned around to face Watari, his back and elbows resting on the bridge's railing. "Yes, I chastised and placed Chief Satori in his place because of Tsuzuki and the Shokan Division. The man is a hypocrite and a bully."
With his gaze intently resting on the blonde scientist, Tatsumi gathered up as much courage as he could to tell the other, "I say no because I gave up the promotion to watch over everyone…most especially over you."
End of Chapter Two
Normal Disclaimer
I do not own Yami no Matsuei and its lovable characters. However, I do own this fic and Chief Satori and other original characters.