YAMI NO MATSUEI - DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS
THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP… OR NOT?
Chapter Fourteen - A Bloody Night for a Lovers' Spat
Tatsumi's burning azure stare was focused at the sight of Watari talking to Miyazawa Ran. He felt as if his fever had returned, but the heat coursing throughout his body was more due to his blood boiling rather than a relapse.
Nonetheless, Tatsumi's temperament appeared cool and collected although there were minor signs that he was still recovering from the flu. He softly smiled and returned to the table that Watari and he had reserved.
Watari and Ran were startled, with Watari smiling back at Tatsumi while knowing from the gleam in Tatsumi's eyes that Tatsumi was not happy.
Ran, on the other hand, did not know Tatsumi as well as Watari did. All that he saw was a tall, handsome, and distinguished-looking gentleman who still looked very attractive even with glasses on.
The blonde scientist felt flustered. Even though he saw that Tatsumi had a soft smile, he just hoped that his lover would not be upset about seeing Ran at their table. At the same time, he did not want Ran to feel awkward or get intimated with Tatsumi's subtle yet effective way of scaring the hell out of people through his reserved mannerisms.
But Tatsumi and Watari were in for a surprise when Ran stood up and placed his hand above his heart. He bowed before Tatsumi and told the secretary in a friendly and apologetic tone, "I'm so sorry for intruding, Tatsumi-san. My name's Miyazawa Ran…or Ran for short. I just wanted to say 'hi' to Yutaka and to meet you as well. I'm pleased and honored to meet you. I'm also glad to see you well."
"He's calling him Yutaka?" pondered Tatsumi was he was inwardly caught off-guard with how casual Ran and Watari had become in such a short period of time.
Although the green-eyed monster called jealousy came creeping upon Tatsumi's heart, Tatsumi bowed before Ran to return the warm and cordial greeting that he received from the young man. "I'm please to meet you, too. Please sit down."
Ran smiled back and told Tatsumi and Watari, "Thank you, but I have to beg off for today. I have a couple of deadlines that I must meet for a project. I took a walk to clear my head and I saw Yutaka. I just had to say hi and chat with him since he's been really nice to me."
Tatsumi nodded and so did Watari, the two giving the young man their respective smiles. By this time, Tatsumi let out a more relaxed sigh and said, "Then we'll see each other at the party."
Ran's friendly smile was charming and disarming. "Yes. I'll see you both at the party."
After bowing before the two undercover shinigami, Ran bade farewell and left the restaurant.
"Ah, just in time," said Watari as the order that Tatsumi and he had placed finally arrived, the fragrant aroma of the food making his mouth water.
As the server placed his order before him and took care of serving Tatsumi, Watari noticed the familiar linen envelope resting on the table by Tatsumi's left. He then asked while his gaze rested on the envelope, "Seii, what's that?"
Following where Watari's gaze was focused, Tatsumi replied as he set the linen napkin on his lap, "I bumped into Kowabara in the men's lounge. We had a short talk and he invited me to go to the company party. He's here dining with someone as well."
Watari blinked, getting caught off-guard with the latest development. "You just bumped into him in the men's lounge and you're all chummy with him now? How did that happen?"
After taking the first sip of his soup which gave him some comfort, Tatsumi held the small bowl away from him and replied before taking another sip, "He thought that I was the son of one of his now-deceased business mentors. He apologized for the mistake. At least it's good that he invited me so that he wouldn't suspect why two strangers are there for the party. Ran invited you. He invited me. We could both remain as close to the truth as possible while our investigation's ongoing. It's just a blessing that the Gushoshin managed to create a thorough cover for both of us without us having to change our names."
Something bothered Watari about Kowabara's invitation to Tatsumi, but he chose to remain quiet about it as he began eating his food. He then concentrated on the fact that Tatsumi was at least eating something and being able to hold it down for a change, consoling and placating the petty nagging going on inside his head.
--
The night of the big party for Kowabara Gaming finally came. The biggest ballroom inside the Santa Lucia was reminiscent of Victorian England's gaslit lamps, light fog, and cobblestone roads.
As many well-known guests ranging from business mavericks within the gaming industry to celebrities came dressed in their finest Victorian England garb, Tatsumi and Watari had no problem blending in as the two walked in and showed their invitations.
The two shinigami were impeccably dressed in black tuxedos, black hats, satin capes, ornate canes, and white gloves which were reminiscent of a proper Victorian gentleman's garb during a night at the theater. Tatsumi looked dashing as he fit the profile of a formal, well-to-do, and shrewd businessman. An equally-handsome Watari exuded a confident air of creative and technical professionalism.
The two circulated in the room.
The servers, all of them dressed up as Victorian England bobbies, made sure that the flow of fine liquor, drinks, and hors d'oeuvre was bountiful as the festivities took a fuller swing.
After an hour of circulating, the two met at their agreed-upon spot.
"Nothing out of the ordinary so far," whispered Watari while doing his best to look as if he was just idly chatting with Tatsumi.
"Nothing here as well --"
"Ah, Seiichiro! I'm so glad that you came to the party!"
Tatsumi glanced sideways and smiled. He gave a bow before Kowabara and then once the respectful pleasantries were done, he said, "Kowabara-san, thank you for the invitation. I came with a guest -- my good friend and business associate Watari Yutaka."
This time, it was Watari's turn to smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kowabara-san. Seii-kun here has spoken very highly of you."
Kowabara chuckled and gave Watari a bow. He then said, "Don't believe in everything that they say, Watari-kun. But am I correct to guess that you're an engineer?"
"Yes, I am an engineer -- a software engineer. Seii-kun and I are really flattered. We did not expect to be invited at this party."
Kowabara then got distracted, a smile escaping from his lips as he prompted someone to approach them. Once that person approached them, Kowabara told Watari and Tatsumi, "Speaking of engineers, here is my best and brightest thus far. Gentlemen, this is Miyazawa Ran."
Watari smiled as he saw Ran, the younger man being so handsome in a tuxedo. He found the young man charming, and he did notice as Tatsumi and he walked in the ballroom that others found Ran to be charming as well.
Little did Watari know that Tatsumi was silently watching him, the secretary not being blind or unfeeling about Watari's seemingly inconspicuous observation of Ran's movements since their arrival.
"We've met already, Kowabara-san," said Ran with a respectful smile after he gave Watari and Tatsumi a bow. "I invited Watari-san to come to the party. He was really helpful when I first arrived at the ship."
"What a coincidence. I invited Seiichiro here because I thought that he is the son of one of my well-respected mentors. I guess I need a new pair of glasses. Nonetheless, it was an auspicious mistake. Meeting good people is always a blessing."
Once again, Kowabara's attention got diverted as an old friend waved at him from afar. He then told his three companions, "I need to say my hellos to the guests. Please excuse me, and enjoy the party. I will return to you before the evening ends."
After he gave a bow to bid his leave, Kowabara went to his friend.
When they were away from Kowabara's earshot, Ran told Tatsumi, "He's got the hots for you, Tatsumi-san. I guess it's not bad, considering that Kowabara-san is a good guy and a nice boss."
This time, it was Ran whose attention got diverted as he saw a co-worker prompting him to prepare for the formal opening of the party. He then smiled apologetically to Watari and Tatsumi. "I'm sorry but I have to start with the ceremonies. I'll be back every now and then to see how you're both doing."
Watari nodded with a genial smile. "It's all right. Seii and I will keep each other company, and you have a ballroom full of fine guests. Don't worry about us. We intend to have fun tonight."
Another impatient co-worker flagged Ran to come to them.
"Go, Ran-kun. We'll be fine.," said Tatsumi to the young software engineer.
Ran then waved goodbye and sprinted towards his co-workers, being able to smoothly navigate his way through the many bodies currently occupying the ballroom without causing a single klutzy mishap.
Tatsumi glanced at Watari, the secretary being able to confirm that Watari had a pursed-lipped smile. He asked, "What?"
The blonde scientist inwardly chuckled, his quiet tone laced with a bit of sarcasm. "I was right. Kowabara has the hots for you. See, I'm not deluded."
Closing his eyes for a couple of seconds as he took in a subtle yet deep breath and then exhaled, Tatsumi replied, "Oh, come on. Do you see me getting so preoccupied with him…just like someone we know?"
Watari's eyebrow rose as he frowned. "I am not preoccupied! Why are you making a big deal that Ran and I talk every now and then? We're in a case."
"That's exactly what I mean. We're in a case and Kowabara's a suspect. Stop hinting that I have the slightest interest in the man. Curb your jealousy since we're at work."
"That's the pot calling the kettle black. You're the unreasonably jealous one. You're getting all angry for nothing. Ran's just a kid and he's nice. Just because I'm nice means that I'm interested in going to bed with him?" deadpanned Watari as he made the discussion between Tatsumi and him seem just as if the two were just casually chatting.
The secretary's eyes narrowed, his azure eyes glinting dangerously as he gazed back at Watari. "I haven't even thought about you and Ran going to bed until you brought it up just now. I'm not angry. This is not angry. You don't want to see me angry, Yutaka. Now could we just concentrate on why we're here in the first place? We're at work right now."
Watari gave Tatsumi a death glare. "You're not the only one who knows how to get angry. I'll be circulating in the ballroom. After all, we're working. Clear the dirt inside your paranoid mind by the time I return."
Without waiting for Tatsumi's response, an inwardly annoyed Watari began walking away from Tatsumi but stopped as three different chimes consecutively rang to grab everyone's attention. Everyone then went to his or her designated table since the program was about to begin.
Watari purposefully sat at a table away from Tatsumi because he was still upset while Tatsumi stayed at their designated table.
An all-smiling Ran went up the lively-decorated stage and stood behind a podium, the young man pushing away his shyness and nervousness and being able to look and sound at ease as he said, "Welcome to this special night hosted by Kowabara Gaming. We hope that you're enjoying the party. Without further delay, please help me welcome the man who spearheads such innovation in the gaming industry…that latest innovation being The Sleuth of Sussex… Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our esteemed Chairman and head innovator…Kowabara Senji."
Applause filled the room, the audience in high spirits along with Ran who respectfully stepped aside to give way for Kowabara's entrance. "Underneath your seats are markers as to what roles you will be playing tonight. Please grab the envelope taped underneath your chair."
After Kowabara gave everyone in the room time to look at the card inside the envelope, he said, "It is up to all of us to reveal who the villain is. The only one who knows who the villain is would be the villain himself. Now please raise your hand if you have a gold pin on your card."
Everyone looked around the room and soon, Tatsumi held up the card.
Kowabara smiled knowingly, which inwardly irked Watari because it seemed as if Kowabara was tickled about anything that had to do with Tatsumi. Kowabara then told Tatsumi, "Keep your hand up, Seiichiro-kun. Now for the rest of you, who has the silver pin on your card."
Watari blinked and pouted. He really did not want to play this game but nonetheless he held up the card because he had the silver pin.
Kowabara said before he led the audience to a loud applause, "Congratulations, gentlemen. You two will take the lead for tonight. Please come up and join me."
Once the applause died down, the two shinigami saw Ran holding a deerstalker cap and a matching black cape in one hand while he held a stethoscope with the other hand.
Kowabara then said on the microphone, "My good young friend Seiichiro Tatsumi will play the dashing Count Radcliff Reiley, Lord and Sleuth of Sussex Street for this evening's festivities. Watari Yutaka here will be his loyal and equally astute assistant, comrade, chronicler, and co-investigator Doctor John Wilkins. Miyazawa Ran here will play Anthony Crowder, Count Reiley's trusted young manservant and Doctor Wilkins' apprentice."
Ran helped Tatsumi don the deerstalker and cape while he handed Watari the stethoscope with a smile. He was just happy because his work was being celebrated today.
Then all the lights in the ballroom flickered and died, the loud gasps heard audibly along with sounds of panicked people shifting in the seats.
"Please stay calm and stay in your seats," said Kowabara as he held on to the podium and did his best to have his eyes adjust in the darkness.
Then the lights flickered and went back on after three minutes, laughter from one of the tables filling the ballroom as a panicked woman clung on to her husband and then giggled hysterically as her husband reminded her that it was all just a game.
One of the guests -- the one who Kowabara was talking to a while ago -- now lay face down on the marbled floor. His head lay on a pool of thick crimson liquid.
Tatsumi and Watari walked away from the stage along with Kowabara and Ran, the four running towards that table.
Tatsumi crouched and his eyes narrowed as he turned the man over. His eyes went wide and his heart raced, especially when he found out that the man no longer had a pulse.
Not only was the man's throat slit across but his eyes were now gone…those eyes carved out of their sockets.
"He's...dead..." murmured Tatsumi.
As soon as Tatsumi said those words, the doors to the ballroom all closed. Metal materialized and barred the doors shut.
Fog suddenly filled the ballroom along with a heavy dark aura.
Sinister laughter then echoed throughout the ballroom, the screams of the many mingling along with it as that voice said, "Let us play a game, shall we?"
Soon, the fog became heavier and darkness engulfed the entire ballroom which rendered everyone unconscious.
End of Chapter Fourteen
Normal Disclaimer
Yami No Matsuei (Descendants of Darkness) and its characters are copyrighted properties of Matsushita Yoko. This fan fiction and the original characters that appear within this fan fiction belong to PJ Zatken.