YnM Fanfiction
"Someone to Care for..."

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Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

05122001
Release Fanfiction for 15000 hit mark

Author's note: It is said that one needs to suffer in order to be truly inspired. While sick in bed with a piece of maalox in my mouth, this story came to me.

Someone to Care for...
A YnM fanfic by Anonym aka Yen

His hand shook slightly, and Tatsumi frowned at it. It stilled, and he shrugged and continued writing. He had a lot of paperwork to go through today. Later this week, budgets for each department would be released, but they would be held if the proper documents were not ready.

He heard the door open but ignored it. He didn't have time to waste. In the back of his mind, a distracted thought surfaced. Maybe it was time he requested for an assistant. Even though there were only 18 shinigami in the Shoukan Division, too much paperwork piled up for one accountant to handle especially since Konoe loathed red tape and delegated the mind-numbing task of paper pushing to Tatsumi.

I should get a raise... Tatsumi thought idly then made a mental sigh. Recently, all their salaries were cut and incentives done away with. There might not be a company trip for the members of Shoukan for a long time.

Those idiots... Tatsumi paused in his work; a muscle in his cheek twitching with remembered anger and overwhelming irritation. Why did they have to fight in the library. In the newly rebuilt library of all places!

His hand clenched tight, and Tatsumi barely felt the pen bend under the pressure. He was absolutely infuriated. And to add to the problem, Watari recently had a mishap in his laboratory as well. ... I am surrounded by idiots.

"Tatsumi-san," he heard someone say behind him.
"Yes, what is it," he replied somewhat snappishly.
"It's lunchtime. Let's go to the cafeteria."

Tatsumi calmed his expression before turning in his seat to Hisoka standing behind him. The young shinigami had a thoughtful look on his face, and his green eyes met Tatsumi's gaze squarely. He was one of very few individuals who could stand up to Tatsumi. But then, he had not done anything to upset Tatsumi, unlike many others.

Tatsumi hesitated before shaking his head and answering, "No, I'm not hungry. Go ahead without me."

"You've been working too hard, Tatsumi-san," replied Hisoka. There was a hint of steel in his tone. "You tell me to take it easy, yet you do not take your own good advice."

Tatsumi stared at Hisoka silently before sighing and standing up reluctantly. Hisoka was as stubborn as he was, and he was in the right this time. He dropped the ruined pen in the trashcan before following Hisoka out of the office.

***

"Where is Tsuzuki, Kurosaki-kun?" Tatsumi asked conversationally as they choose their lunches from the cafeteria selection. There didn't seem to be anything remotely appealing to his taste.

Hisoka placed a bowl of soup on his tray before saying, "He and Wakaba-san are in Chijou attending a pastry convention."

Tatsumi gritted his teeth. "They should be working," he muttered.

"It's their lunch break," Hisoka reasoned softly. Tatsumi didn't notice Hisoka looking at him askance. Tatsumi was quick to be irritated these days.

"Oi." Both of them turned to see Watari walking towards them with a grin on his cheerful face and 003 perching on top of his head. "Anything good to eat?" He asked, grabbing a tray and standing next to Hisoka.

Hisoka pointed at the chicken sandwiches. "Those look good," he said to Watari, who nodded enthusiastically. While Watari ordered, Hisoka glanced to Tatsumi, who still hadn't chosen anything for his lunch.

Watari peered at Hisoka's tray. "The miso soup looks good too. I'll have that as well." He looked over to Tatsumi's empty tray. "Ne. Tatsumi-san, empty air isn't a nutritious and balanced meal," he said teasingly.

Tatsumi looked towards them, and Hisoka feared he might react negatively to Watari's joke. He was surprised to see that Tatsumi had a quiet look of amusement on his face. He was even smiling slightly and asked, "What would you recommend, Watari-san?"

***

Hisoka seated himself beside Tatsumi, still staring dubiously at Tatsumi's tray. Soup, sandwiches, rice, siomai & a tall glass of milk. Sukiyaki was cooking on a portable frying unit in the center of the table. Watari had ordered enough food to feed Tsuzuki.

"I've noticed you've been working too much, Tatsumi-san," said Watari who was seated in front of them. Hisoka looked at Tatsumi, agreeing with Watari silently. Tatsumi did look tired.

"I'm behind schedule," muttered Tatsumi, who was poking at his food unenthusiastically. He and Hisoka were both surprised when Watari took Tatsumi's chopsticks, picked up a siomai from his plate and held it near Tatsumi's mouth.

"Open your mouth, Tatsumi-san," said Watari encouragingly. Hisoka almost choked on his own lunch while Tatsumi stared at Watari with a bemused expression.

"I'm not a child, Watari-san," said Tatsumi wryly.

Watari grinned. "Be a good boy, and eat your food, Seiichirou-chan."

Tatsumi said, "I can feed myself, Watari-san. (Don't call me Seiichirou-chan.)"

"Listen to Uncle Watari, and eat the delicious siomai, Seiichirou-chan."

Hisoka could sense all eyes in the cafeteria trained on their table. After several moments of watching Watari wave the siomai before his eyes, Tatsumi finally grabbed Watari's hand and took back his chopsticks and the siomai, which he popped into his mouth and chewed. "Happy?" He asked Watari, who nodded with a pleased expression, looking just like a doting uncle.

Hisoka could barely believe what he had just witnessed. He was still numb with disbelief when Tatsumi paled and placed his hand to his mouth. He then lurched to his feet and stumbled away from the table.

"Tatsumi-san?" Concerned, Hisoka stood up to follow him then stopped when Watari's hand clamped on his shoulder. He glanced back to Watari who shook his head, saying, "You stay here. I'll go after him."

"But-" Hisoka stepped aside when Watari pushed passed him and went after Tatsumi, who had gone to the commode.

***

"Here, drink this." Tatsumi grimaced, but obeyed Watari, swallowing the thick creamy medicine with a look of repulsion on his face. A little of the solution trickled down from the corner of his mouth, and he wiped it off with an irritated swipe.

"Is he all right, Watari-san?" Asked Hisoka, who was standing behind Watari. The three of them were in Watari's laboratory. Tatsumi was lying down on the couch, and Watari was trying to keep him there.

"He'll be all right if he stays put," Watari said in an uncharacteristically stern tone. He gave Tatsumi a warning look when the latter tried to sit up again.

Hisoka shifted uncertainly. "What's wrong with him?"

"There is nothing wrong with me," Tatsumi said tersely.

"Yes, there is," countered Watari, then he turned to Hisoka. "Tatsumi-san has the beginnings of a full-blown ulcer." He glanced back to Tatsumi. "Trust me. They are not at all pleasant."

"... Ulcer?" Hisoka repeated faintly while Tatsumi insisted he was fine. "Besides, even if I do have an ulcer as you call it, I can heal myself," said Tatsumi.

However, Watari folded his arms and shook his head. "Our bodies can withstand aging and the dangers we face in our line of work, but not over exhaustion. You're abusing your own body, Tatsumi-san."

Tatsumi's eyes glittered with anger. "I am fine!"

"No, you aren't," Watari said with narrowed eyes, "You couldn't even eat one small siomai without throwing up."

"It must have been bad."

"Heh. Chef would chop you up into pieces if he heard you say that."

"I tell you I am fine!" Tatsumi pushed himself up and swung his legs over the side of the couch. Suddenly, he doubled over.

"No!" Watari yelled. "Not on the rug!!!"

***

"Tatsumi-san is sick..." Tsuzuki had a woebegone expression on his face. Beside him, Wakaba looked very worried too. Both of them were carrying brimming shopping bags, while behind them, Terazuma carried a stack of boxes which piled up to his chin. The trio had just arrived before quitting time.

Hisoka unfolded his arms, his disapproval at their very late return vanishing at the genuine concern in their eyes. "It isn't serious (yet), and Watari-san is making sure that Tatsumi-san take it easy for a while.

***

"I don't think this is necessary..." Tatsumi trailed off weakly, his eyes closing. He was in the ward, seated in one of the beds. The large spacious room was empty except for him and Watari.

His eyes opened when he heard the sound of a drawer opening, and he saw Watari taking a set of hospital clothes from it. "... I am not wearing that."

"You want to sleep in your clothes?" Watari tossed the garb to him, and Tatsumi immediately pushed it off his lap.

"Tatsumi-san, don't be stubborn."
"I am not sick."
"Yes, you are, and you will get worse if you don't listen to me."
"You're not a doctor, Watari-san."
"And neither are you, now lie down."

It was only the insistent increasing pain in his stomach that convinced Tatsumi to lie down. He did feel better when he did that and jerked when he felt the bed move. Glancing aside, he saw Watari holding the bed's control. Soon, the bed had reclined up to a 45-degree angle.

Watari walked over to his feet, saying, "I just want you to stay here overnight for observation." Tatsumi almost kicked at Watari when he removed his shoes. He winced when the pain in the pit of stomach increased.

He heard Watari tsk, saying, "Bad emotions will only make it worse." Tatsumi glared at him, imagining how good kicking Watari in the behind would make him feel. He did kick at Watari when he tried to take his socks off and regretted it when Watari grabbed his ankle.

"Watari, don't you dare tickle me!"
"I think what you really need right now is a good laugh."
"Wata-"

***

"Is that Tatsumi-san...?" Wakaba had her ear pressed to the door, as did Tsuzuki. Behind them, Terazuma grumbled, "Can't we just go in?"

Wakaba straightened and turned to her partner. "Hajime-chan, we don't want to barge in on them."

Terazuma's expression seemed to soften at her regard, then he shrugged and muttered. "Then, let's knock first."

Facing them, Hisoka smiled slightly before knocking. The laughter from inside died down, and Watari's voice called out cheerfully, "Come in!"

***

"Tatsumi-san, we have something for you!" Tsuzuki chirped happily, presenting Tatsumi with an opened box full of chocolate chip cookies. They were still warm, and their rich aroma was sweet temptation.

"Is it all right for Tatsumi-san to eat pastries, Watari-san?" Wakaba asked. She also had a package.

Watari nodded, taking a cookie and biting into it. "(Yum!) Dairy products are best for Tatsumi-san right now since they are alkalic."

"Al-ka-lic?" Repeated Terazuma, who also took a cookie and munched into it.

"Yup! Tatsumi-san must have a milk diet for now."

Tatsumi looked vaguely disgusted. "I don't like milk." He only took a cookie, when Tsuzuki looked disappointed that he didn't get one immediately.

Watari ignored Tatsumi and nudged Hisoka. "You better eat a cookie too. You're skinny as a reed." After a few moments, Hisoka took a cookie too. Watari stared at Tatsumi and Hisoka and slowly, under duress, both ate their cookies. Tsuzuki was pleased.

"Eat another one, Tatsumi-san." Tsuzuki took a cookie and held it near Tatsumi's mouth. Tatsumi's eyes gentled, and he lifted his hand to grab Tsuzuki's wrist. He pulled his hand nearer and bit into the cookie, his eyes locked on Tsuzuki who looked back at him with a sweet fond expression.

"They're just like you, Tsuzuki-san," murmured Tatsumi softly. Behind Tsuzuki, Wakaba's face was a little red while Terazuma had turned beet red.

"We'll see you later, Tatsumi," said Terazuma, grabbing the package from Wakaba's hands and shoving it into Watari's. Then, he tugged at his partner's sleeve, who slowly followed him out of the ward. "Get well soon, Tatsumi-san," said Wakaba with a warm smile before leaving.

Hisoka looked after them with an amused expression, then turned to Watari. "I better go home too."

"You better go home too, Tsuzuki-san," said Tatsumi, releasing his hand. "I'll be all right," he added reassuringly for Tsuzuki looked worried.

"Okay, Tatsumi-san." Tsuzuki placed the box of cookies aside and then said, "Promise me you'll get well soon." Purple eyes looked seriously at Tatsumi, who nodded slowly, saying, "It is not very serious." Tatsumi glanced aside to Watari who said, grinning, "Don't worry, Tsuzuki-san. I'll be here to keep an eye on him."

Tsuzuki smiled back at Watari, then he and Hisoka left. Watari clapped his hands together and rubbed them briskly. "All right then, Tatsumi-san, let's get your clothes off."

"I'm not wearing that thing, Watari."

***

That Tatsumi is such a... Watari paused in his rifling through Tatsumi's closet as he tried to remember an appropriate word to describe Tatsumi's insistence that Watari get his night clothes from his home.

After a few moments, he gave up and continued searching. The things I do for friendship...

Still... He stopped again and slowly breathed in and out deeply. It did little to ease the tight knot in his chest. Baka... he thought to himself. Why do you feel this way... Feeling so lonely.

He straightened, eyes closing. He remembered the way Tatsumi looked at Tsuzuki. ... Gentle, so gentle. How can he look so gentle? ... I wish someone would look at me that way.

... I wish I have someone to care for me. And someone to care for.

Owari.

Endnote: I hope you enjoyed reading this story. I felt better after writing it.

Flames, comments, suggestions, corrections? My email address is y_no_m@yahoo.com