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: Consoling…hmm.

Chapter 6

Tatsumi had a whole list of pet peeves. Sure it included things like finding used candy wrappers on the floor (usually Tsuzuki), the last bit of coffee being taken without the pot being refilled (if he ever found out who, they were in for it), the copier jamming because someone had put too much paper in (Terazuma did not mix well with machines), people sleeping on the job (several people were suspect not just Tsuzuki on this one), going over budget (sadly a long list), but most of all, people who didn't do their work.

Considering the last, and most important rule, it could be counted as a feat of pure good will that Tatsumi did not yell at the workers in Watari's lab upon returning. Did he not request Tsuzuki and Hisoka? Swallowing the annoyance in his throat, Tatsumi at least observed that Wakaba was busy cleaning, and Terazuma was attempting to be as unassuming as possible and that was with Tsuzuki in the same room. Tatsumi decided to take it for the good instead of the bad.

Tsuzuki was trying to make some tea, but was having trouble getting the Bunsen burner to light. Hisoka was standing silently as usual, but was throwing thoughtful glances Watari's way every now and then. Watari himself was working on something on his computer screen, but seemed distracted. Tatsumi was sure that however well-intentioned the extra company was, it was probably serving as more of a disruption that help in this case.

Setting his briefcase down on a counter he cleared his throat. "I believe I requested Tsuzuki and Hisoka's assistance."

Wakaba set down the mop, now finished, and pouted, "After a memo like that of course we wanted to help too! Watari is our friend!"

Tatsumi couldn't contain his frown. "As unsettling as the situation may be, there is still work that cannot be neglected. If you could please return to your desks, I'm sure Watari will keep you updated as we figure things out."

Terazuma walked out without needing to be persuaded, but Wakaba gave her best glare before stomping to the door. Pausing, she called sweetly over her shoulder, "Watari if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask!"

Watari gave a small smile, "Thanks for everything Wakaba."

Hisoka waited for her to leave before speaking. "I didn't sense anything from the window, or anywhere else in the lab. Nothing abnormal anyway."

Tatsumi sighed. "Thank you for trying. I suppose this might be more difficult that I first hoped."

Tsuzuki beamed as he finally got a flame to light under a flask of water, but then scowled when it flickered out. He clearly didn't have the right amount of gas turned on. "Tatsumi we can still help right?"

Tatsumi's frown deepened. "Until we have anything further to go on it would be best if you returned to your duties. I've informed the Chief of the situation and he has only given leave for Watari."

"But that isn't fair!" Tsuzuki complained, "Someone should stay with Watari!"

Tatsumi shifted uncomfortably. "I'll stay. You two go back to work. I'm perfectly capable of working the accounts from here," he said definitively.

Tsuzuki sputtered slightly, looking like he wanted to say something, but Hisoka was gripping his arm and hauling him towards the door, "Yes sir," he cut off his partner's gaping.

Watari sat impassively during his commands. Tatsumi hoped that this meant he wasn't too disappointed to be left with only him. It was possible that he did want more company, but he couldn't allow all of the Shokan division's shinigami to be away from their cases at once. Not wanting to voice his concerns, Tatsumi pulled up a chair to the other side of Watari's desk, and opened his briefcase.

Watari watched him carefully and then smiled. "Thank you. I wasn't really sure what to tell them, but I'd rather work on finding her than mope around."

Tatsumi set some files down on the empty space in front of him before meeting Watari's eyes. They were sincere. "You don't mind me working here do you? Regardless, some quiet company might not be so distracting."

"No I don't mind. I asked you to come back." He lowered his eyes. "You came back."

Tatsumi thought he should say something. It seemed important to do so, but he wasn't sure just what it was that should be said. "Of course…it wouldn't be fair for you to be alone, and I'm sure that I can work in here as well as my office, unlike the others."

Watari glanced at his screen. "I thought that I could look back over my log. I always keep detailed entries about what I do everyday so I can keep track of research and any sort of patterns that I might not notice otherwise…but I can't find anything that is useful."

Tatsumi felt a bit surprised to hear of the detailed documentation from Watari. He'd certainly never thought of the scientist as organized. He'd seen his notes from experiments, and even his case reports had a hard time trying to stay in one stream of thought. "What have you been doing the last couple of weeks?"

Watari frowned. "I didn't have much time to experiment." He wiggled his mouse, and scrolled up the page. "I was dealing with that last case remember…the guy who hung himself." Tatsumi thought that the fun chatter during lunch seemed ages ago. "Before that was the woman who ate herself to death." Watari frowned. "Then over the last week I've been busy analyzing samples for Wakaba's case…and verifying some files."

Tatsumi adjusted his glasses. "I'm sure if there is something there, you will be able to find it."

Watari rubbed his temple with his fist. "One would hope."

Tatsumi clasped his wrist gently and squeezed, pulling it down from his temple. "How are you feeling?" Watari blinked at him, in a somewhat surprised fashion.

"I'm…" Watari shook his head. "I don't know. I feel so out of sorts without her here…," he swallowed. Tatsumi slid his fingers from around his wrist, and held them lightly over Watari's clenched hand as he saw those amber eyes glisten slightly. "I guess I'm still a little shocked," he admitted.

"You're doing fine," Tatsumi assured. "We'll find her."

Watari took a calming breath, before coyly looking down at their hands. Tatsumi began to draw his back, but before it was out of reach, Watari turned his hand caught his. He squeezed Tatsumi's hand in a mimicked gesture of moments before, but this time it caused Tatsumi to feel like something warm was slipping down his chest. Watari tried for a real smile, "You saying that means a lot."

Letting go of his hand, Watari turned determinedly back to his computer screen. "It has to be in here somewhere. I just have to think with a clear head."

Tatsumi allowed Watari to get into his work, but the files in front of himself were unable to hold his interest, and he found it difficult to concentrate. The thought of Watari's hand around his, and how warm and smooth it felt, was oddly distracting.

((insert break))

Towards the end of the work day Watari was considerably paler. He'd been working incessantly, eyes scanning his computer screen at an unprecedented rate. Tatsumi was impressed if he was actually taking in any of the words he was reading. Still, his pallor complexion and minor quivering of his mouse hand, convinced Tatsumi that it was time for him to take a break.

"Watari-san, you've been at that for hours. Perhaps we should break for dinner. Its nearly six." Tatsumi as an example, closed the file folder he'd been reviewing.

Watari's eyes paused in their up down movement, but didn't pull away from the screen. "I'm not very hungry. You can get something without me."

"I'll rephrase. Working yourself too hard won't solve anything, and you hardly ate enough at lunch. A break and some food will do you some good, not to mention that you look like you could use it." Tatsumi stood up and pulled Watari's rolling chair back away from the key board.

Watari scowled up at him, but then softened. "I suppose your right." He rubbed at his temples yet again, and Tatsumi wondered just how bad his headache must be.

"I'd also advise taking something for that headache," he added as a command.

Watari laughed ruefully. "It wouldn't help. Once one of these gets rolling, I can have it for hours or even days. Nothing helps." Tatsumi tried to remember if he ever saw Watari rubbing his temples in that tell-tale sign before.

"Does it happen often?"

"Oh no. I haven't had a migraine in a while actually. I guess I was bound for one with a day like this." Watari stood up, and Tatsumi noticed the sway as Watari first got his footing. He didn't look well at all, but Tatsumi could hardly blame him. Watari glanced at the open window yet again, the one motion that had broken his steady reading in intervals over the last five hours.

"I'll know if she returns. Its safe to get something to eat," Tatsumi reminded him.

"Of course," Watari conceded.

Tatsumi walked across the lab to where a washer and dryer were stationed. Opening the dryer, he fished Watari's coat out, and folded it over his arm. Returning to where he left him, Tatsumi draped the coat over Watari's shoulders so he could put his arms through. It was still raining after all. "I know a good place," Tatsumi volunteered. "Since you got lunch, it will be my treat."

Watari smiled as he buttoned his coat. "Wow, you must really want to cheer me up if you're willing to spend money."

Tatsumi was relieved to hear the joke, letting it show on his face. "I think dinner is the least I can offer," he supplied truthfully. Tatsumi never felt he was good at comforting people. He'd failed his mother terribly when he was alive. Then Tsuzuki had come, and he had put forth much effort trying to save the grieving man. He'd failed again, perhaps even worse than with his mother, and after that he'd outright avoided situations like these. He just wasn't adequate to handle other's emotions, when he so little dealt with his own.

Watari looked at him knowingly. "I'll let you lead the way then," Watari said as he laced his fingers through Tatsumi's so he could teleport them out. He couldn't help enjoying the feel. As a stray thought he wondered if Watari must use lotion. He'd once heard Watari complain that scientist suffered from dry hands since they had to wash them so much during experiments. Watari's hands were soft like a woman's, but the fingers were much longer and the grip was more firm, like a man's.

Tatsumi shook himself from his thoughts, and teleported them out of the lab, hoping Watari didn't notice the slight reddening of his cheeks.

((insert break))

Tatsumi watched as Watari pushed the food around on his plate. It was spaghetti, and Tatsumi knew for a fact that Watari loved Italian cuisine. He'd mentioned it before in passing, and Tatsumi had stored the fact away. He did have a talent for cooking, and entertained the idea that someday he would try his hand at Italian food just to see what the scientist thought.

Watari wasn't lying about not having an appetite. He'd hardly eaten anything, and not for a lack of trying. If his complexion was anything to go by, Tatsumi would venture to guess that he was on the verge of being ill. Tatsumi tried not to worry too much, as he was susceptible to doing. True Watari hadn't eaten much today, but Shinigami could hardly die from that alone, and Watari was under enough stress that it was understandable.

"You can have the rest boxed if you aren't hungry," Tatsumi said kindly. From the relief on Watari's face he was sure that he'd been afraid to offend the man (since he was paying) by not being able to finish.

"You're being awfully nice," Watari said in a humorous voice. That is it would have been humorous, if it weren't for fatigued sound of sickness in it. Tatsumi thought it was time that they leave.

"That isn't so strange is it?" Tatsumi asked off-handily as he paid for their bill and asked for a take-home box.

Watari looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, but you usually only do this kind of stuff for Tsuzuki." Tatsumi tried to figure out what Watari was trying to say by that, but his expression was perfectly blank.

He didn't know if he should be offended or embarrassed by that remark. He'd heard whisperings before in the office; that he showed favoritism to Tsuzuki. The gossip had actually been more than that, but he didn't feel inclined to hear everyone else talk about his past feelings for the shinigami. It had been difficult enough coming to terms with what he felt for him now, that the rumors weren't much help.

Especially since people were determined to see them for more than what they were. True he had once thought he loved Tsuzuki, but really it had been tainted so much by his guilt for failing to save his mother from her pain, and his longing to help ease his partner's unyielding guilt, that it never led to anything. Afterwards, he'd looked back at the whole partnership with regret. He'd made so many mistakes, and only ended up hurting Tsuzuki in the end. He did love Tsuzuki, but now it was more as a protector. He was in a position now to protect Tsuzuki from the outside world, but it would only be Hisoka who would be capable of protecting Tsuzuki from himself. In the end, Tatsumi's guilt over his mother, and Tsuzuki's over his past deeds, only resulted in them tearing each other apart, in a painfully destructive manner, even as they tried to help each other.

Tatsumi eyed Watari patiently. "I do this kind of stuff for friends," Tatsumi corrected.

"Really? I've reached that status?" Watari's gaze was actually hopeful, and Tatsumi wondered just what he'd assumed them to be before, if not friends.

He didn't want to acknowledge whatever bizarre mood the scientist had found himself in. Whatever it was, it was making Tatsumi edgy. "Come on lets head back. You look like you need to lie down."

Watari didn't protest, but Tatsumi wasn't sure if he would be so agreeable once they got back to the lab. Tatsumi led them out of the restaurant, and onto the rainy sidewalk outside. He began walking towards the alley they'd used to teleport in unseen when they'd arrived.

It was only because Watari was following close, that Tatsumi had any warning, before Watari began to collapse behind him. He was just quick enough to catch the blonde before he hit the ground.

Looping his arm around the other's middle, he hauled Watari up against his chest. Watari groaned into his jacket's collar, muscles shakily trying to bare his weight and failing. Tatsumi shifted his grip enough to draw Watari's face away from his chest. The gaze that met his was a little hazy and pained, his mouth forming a grimace.

"I thought you weren't looking well…," Tatsumi spoke mostly to himself. "Hold on."

Allowing Watari's head to fall back to his shoulder, Tatsumi used his free hand to bend beneath his knees, the other securely around his waist. Showing strength he rarely used, Tatsumi lifted Watari into his arms and continued quickly into the alley ahead of them.

Tatsumi found it odd how lean a build Watari hid under his many layers of clothes. Under a coat and two turtlenecks was a slender waist, and smoothly defined muscles. It wasn't that he was thin, but he had the trim muscle structure of a swimmer. Strengthening his hold, Tatsumi teleported them back to the lab.

He was grateful for Wakaba's housekeeping earlier, because the bed was perfectly made in the backroom, and it only took a bit of awkward maneuvering to pull back the comforter, before setting Watari down on top. A willowy hand gripped Tatsumi's shirt sleeve for balance, as Tatsumi unbuttoned his coat, for a second time. "I'm sorry Tatsumi. I'm being a real pain today," Watari said faintly.

"Don't be ridiculous. You can't help it if you aren't feeling well. Its just the day getting to you." Tatsumi knelt down, and slipped the shoes from Watari's feet. Straightening, he guided the other to lay down in the bed, removing the blonde's glasses just as his head hit the pillow. It couldn't be helped that he was still wearing his day clothes, but at least they were the comfortable sort the scientist usually wore. Pulling the comforter over him, he watched Watari relax into the mattress.

"You shouldn't be so nice to me," Watari said sounding a little out of it. Tatsumi was sure at this point that he didn't even know what he was saying anymore. Watari continued in the same whisper, "or I won't want you to leave."

Tatsumi stared down at the half asleep man with a sort of trepidation. It was another weird comment in the day, and Tatsumi didn't know what he meant by it. Watari wasn't feeling well, he reminded himself, but smiled anyway. Watari was right after all, he scarcely ever indulged a soul besides Tsuzuki, and here was someone he regarded as important, sick and in need of his help.

"Don't worry," Tatsumi pacified him. Watari's eyes were already shut, and he was sure he couldn't hear a word he was saying. "You shouldn't be left alone tonight."

AN: So cute. At least I'm finally getting somewhere. Sigh.