Mystery Illness

Author: Trans

Pairing: WatarixTatsumi

Warning: Not really sure yet. Yaoi of course, and hopefully some hanky-panky at some point. A tad of angst never hurts…

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei  although I DO have my very own Watari plushie.

AN: ok, so this chapter is rather short. In fact with my other fan fictions I usually did ten pages a chapter. However shorter, faster chapters makes more sense for this fic. Anywho, now that things are rolling, the next chapters should be much longer.

Chapter 2

Watari teleported directly into the living room without taking off his shoes or jacket, and slumped down onto his couch. The sofa, like a lot of things in his apartment was old and worn, but it had the comforting affect of softly stuffed fabric, and the smell of tea he spilled on it…however many years ago. There was a patch on the armrest where 003 had once picked that stuffing out, and in-between the couch cushions were scraps of papers and a run-away pencil or two. Watari had a large living room, but it looked a lot smaller with its many book shelves and the odd inventions that were declined by the Shokan division. The cozy atmosphere usually calmed Watari after a long day of work, but today he was too worried to notice.

003 was still imbedded in his collar, her large eyes shut, feathers sticking out in odd directions. She was even more ruffled than usual. Carefully prying her from his lab coat, Watari held her close to his face to examine her, and she opened one eye reluctantly. "You know, I won't get a wink of sleep if you stay like that. Will you let me give you some food or medicine?" 003 fluttered her wings in irritation, and more than a few feathers cascaded to the ground. Watari's eyebrows furrowed.

It wasn't molting season. She was seriously sick to be shedding…Watari sighed dejectedly again. Why was she being so difficult?! Watari felt nearly ill himself. What would he do if she didn't get better?

And of course he'd practically run out on Tatsumi. Usually having the secretary visit him would be more than a welcomed surprise. Especially at that time of night. Tatsumi wasn't the most socially inclined of people, but he was pleasant company. Also there was the fact that Watari had made it his most recent conviction to try to get closer to the uptight man. It wasn't only to protect his cut-back budget, but because Tatsumi had seemed even more disconnected since Tsuzuki had been paired with the newest Shinigami, Hisoka. It didn't seem like jealousy, in fact, Tatsumi had confided that he was rather pleased that Tsuzuki had found such a hard-working partner, one that could finally curb his spending habits. Still, Tatsumi wasn't the type to make personal friends, and Watari thought that was a shame. The man worked too hard, and said too little.

That was why he felt particularly guilty now. Mission in mind, Watari had been working hard to become more friendly with the other Shinigami, occasionally bringing him coffee, and walking out of the building with him at night. It wasn't much, but enough for small conversations, and enough apparently, for Tatsumi to have come checked on him tonight. Watari, even a sick and tired Watari, was not so stupid as to not realize that Tatsumi had no sound reason to have been there.

The lab was far out of the way of the secretary's nightly patrols of the offices. Besides it was only nine, a little early for Tatsumi to be closing shop, as sad as that is. Watari hadn't left his lab since arriving that morning; perhaps Tatsumi had become worried. The thought brought a little warmth to Watari's upset stomach.

If it had been any other night, Watari would have been pleased by the company, but tonight he didn't feel well, and he really didn't want to worry Tatsumi more than necessary. Hopefully the secretary would just assume he was tired.

Peeling himself out of his lab coat, and kicking off his shoes, Watari picked them up, and walked back towards his front door. Setting the shoes on the tatami mat, and his coat on the hook my the door, he tiredly shuffled back to the kitchen. There he filled his kettle with water and set it over the burner. He could use some tea about now. If things didn't start looking up, he'd think about adding some brandy to that tea.

003 was now cozy on his shoulder, gripping his hair in her beak for balance, and taking a doze. Watari couldn't be sure where she'd picked up her mystery illness. It had been over a week since she'd been to ChiJou, and here in Meifu there weren't any bird flus he was aware of. He hadn't been working on anything hazardess in that time, although 003 was more than intelligent enough to know not to eat anything Watari created. No, he'd been doing some research for a case Yuma and Saya were working on. Then yesterday…003 just didn't eat her breakfast.

He'd noticed right away, after all with such a small body 003 had a fast metabolism, and usually gobbled down her fair share. He'd coaxed some medicine then, and she even had lunch with him, but later than night, she'd seemed more tousled than usual. And today had been a horror. She refused to eat a thing or accept any medicine.

Watari noticed his water had been to a boil for a while, and tipped it into the two mugs on the counter, stirring the contents slowly. Then he opened one of the kitchen drawers and took out a small bag of owl treats.

Taking the two mugs to the living room, Watari settled back in. He took a long sip of his own tea, relaxing with a sigh. It had been a very long and stressful day. "Tomorrow," he mused, "had better not suck so much."

Untying the bag of owl treats he dipped one in the untouched mug, waiting until it got soft. Fingering it gently at 003's beak, she peeked an eye open. "Please eat? Tatsumi will not be happy if he finds us in such a state two days in a row. Think of all the work we are slacking on." Watari chuckled lightly. Apparently the mention of the secretary was enough for 003, because she opened her beak and accepted the owl treat, hooting in thanks. If it was any other time, Watari would have teased her for it.

"No problem girl. Eat a few more, and we'll get some shut-eye."

So for the next half hour, Watari drank his tea, and 003 accepted everyone of her owl treats. Finally, finishing his own cup, which was slightly cold now, Watari packed up the owl treats. Smoothing out the feather's on his girl's head with his fingers, he got up an stumbled to his bedroom.

His room wasn't much, in fact it was considerably lacking in both furniture and decoration, but in reality, Watari usually slept in his lab. There was a separate room from his office and everything, where he had a nice bed, and extra clothes. When at home, Watari preferred the couch, but wanting to stretch out a bit more, he made his way to their bed.

Stripping in a somewhat clumsy fashion, he curled into his blankets with much appreciation. 003 found her spot in the extra fabric of his pillow case, and hooted sleepily. "Good night. Hope you feel better in the morning…," Watari trailed off with a yawn.