YnM Fanfiction
"Connection"

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Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

4-29-2001
Gift Story for 11111 Counter Hitter, Thay. Thank you!

Author's note: This is the second gift story for counter hit 11111. Thank you, Thay! Request: Watari & Touda fanfic. Or Watari & Tatsumi fic. Drama, serious plot with slight shonen ai implications. It depends on interpretation.

This is sequel to Betwixt. Please read that fic first.

Connection
Written by Anonym aka Yen

The Kurosaki estate was impressive. Spanning hills, forests and lakes, it included farms tended by villagers whose homes clustered along a small well-tended road leading back to the main highway and leading forwards to the old ancestral home of the Kurosaki clan.

A considerable number of rivers and streams ran through this particular estate, making the lands within it so fertile that farmers vie for tenantship. Each year, the heads of families gather at the Kurosaki home to renew their contracts with the head of the family, Nagare.

This year, things were a little different.

"But, Tatsumi-san, this is the same contract used from the time of my grandfather."

"That's why it has to be changed, Yonda-san," replied Tatsumi. He adjusted his glasses and looked up from the document to the villager standing on the other side of the table. Behind him, there were dozens of people standing in line and waiting for their turn.

Tatsumi placed down the contract and leaned back in his chair. He barely heard the protests and excuses the farmer made in defense of the outdated agreement. Why in the world did I ever agree to this...

"Because he offered you a commission," said a familiar voice cheerfully. Startled both Tatsumi and Yonda looked aside to see Watari wave at them.

"Hello, Tatsumi-san! How's it going?"

"Wa- Sensei..." Tatsumi stood up. "Please excuse me, Yonda-san," he said to the farmer before saying to Watari. "Sensei, is there something I can do for you?" His tone was respectful, controlled. Fortunately his role was becoming easier to play the more time they spent here trying to do their mission.

"No. no." Watari sat on the table. "Please don't let me disturb you, Tatsumi-san."

Too late. Tatsumi almost sighed. Instead, he walked away from the desk, his hand making a small come hither gesture at Watari.

"Sensei." Tatsumi turned to see one of the farmers approach Watari. "Could you please come to the village and see my wife? She's been complaining of aches in her stomach."

"Yes, please do." Another villager came forward. "My son has been sick in bed for three days."

"One of my cows is ill. Please examine her."
"Idiot! He's a doctor, not a veterinarian."
"My grandmother is going blind."
"I have a rash on my shoulder."
"Please come to my house. My daughter has not eaten for days."
"Mine too!"
"I asked him first!"

The entire room broke into chaos with Tatsumi calling for silence futilely.

***

"I'm sorry, Tatsumi..." Watari twiddled his fingers worriedly. He kept his head down and winced, anticipating Tatsumi's wrath. They were back in their room. Tatsumi had managed to calm the farmers down by promising that Watari would visit the village the next day. Contract renewal had been postponed to tomorrow as well.

"Never mind." Startled by the very mild rebuke, Watari lifted his head and stared at Tatsumi, who indeed look quite calm.. ... Oh no. I finally drove Tatsumi over the edge, thought an alarmed Watari.

He warily watched Tatsumi who said, "You better prepare yourself for tomorrow, Watari-san." Tatsumi then looked suspiciously pleased. "You have a lot of patients to tend to."

Watari blanched. "I'm an engineer, not a doctor!" Fortunately, he had made their room soundproof.

Tatsumi shrugged. "In this case, you are a doctor."

"And you're suppose to be my assistant," Watari countered, "That means you have to come with me to the village tomorrow."

Tatsumi shook his head. "I have contracts to renew tomorrow, besides, this is your fault. You were suppose to stay with Rui-san."

Watari shivered. "I'm scared to be alone with her."

"Have you found out anything new from her?" Asked Tatsumi.

"No... She hasn't even woken up when I'm there with her."

"Very well then. You must use your visit to the village tomorrow to gather more information from the villagers about the Kurosaki family."

"... You planned this all along, didn't you, Tatsumi-san."

Tatsumi answered, "I make good use of opportunities as they come, Watari-san.

"... And that includes me..." Watari looked hurt.

Tatsumi rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm glad you've regained your cheerful spirits, Watari. You had been acting peculiar lately."

"Don't change the subject," Watari complained, "You've changed too." (You've mellowed down)

"Look who's changing the subject," retorted Tatsumi, "Ever since we failed to hack into Mother Computer (I didn't want to do it), you've done absolutely nothing to help finish this mission."

"Yeah, right." Watari glared at Tatsumi. "Who's the one trying to make a profit around here. You're suppose to be my assistant, not Nagare's accountant."

"At least I'm doing something instead of just moping around for failing to do something illegal."

"Are you always going to put that one-time hacking against me. You wanted information."

"You didn't get anything, and we almost got caught."

"Fine! From now on, we do everything your way!"

Suddenly, Watari shoved Tatsumi aside and headed for the door. "Tsuzuki's lucky you're not his partner," muttered Watari before he left.

"... Watari-san..." Tatsumi stood motionlessly looking after Watari, his expression, surprised.

***

Baka! Watari walked quite recklessly through the porchway, almost crashing into a group of maids who were carrying his and Tatsumi's dinner.

"Sensei!" One of them exclaimed as he passed by without noticing them.

He always criticizes my every action. Just like them. I know what I'm doing. Why can't they just understand that and leave me be. I can take care of myself. I can do anything alone.

***

"Sensei is heading towards the lake, Miya-san?" Tatsumi didn't notice the steaming dishes in front of him. He barely noticed their delicious aroma.

"Yes, one of the gardeners saw him. ... Tatsumi-san, it's dangerous at the lake."

His eyes narrowed. "... Why is it dangerous?" He asked, but Miya just shook her head, saying, "I don't know why either, but Master told us never to go there."

"You've never been there?"
"Of course not! I would never go against Master's wishes! ... Tatsumi-san, please don't tell anyone, but a year ago, one of the maids went there to meet her lover." Miya's expression was a mixture of indignation, sorrow and fear. "We never saw her again, and the man, who's from the village, came back insane."

"... Did the police investigate about this?"

"No, no. The village elder decided not to pursue this case." This time, Miya looked angry. "He said that Sana probably ran away. Claimed that Sana had always said she wanted to go to the city."

"And what about her lover?"

"... He died soon after." Guilt made Miya look away. "No one would help him. ... Nobody wanted to be cursed as well."

***

Watari took off his glasses and rubbed at his eyes. He was embarrassed to find them wet.

... I can't believe I lost my temper, and in front of Tatsumi, of all people. Watari replaced his glasses, blinking to clear his eyes. He was standing on the shore of a large beautiful lake. The breeze began to blow against him. It carried a water-washed flowery scent.

Lovely... Watari suddenly felt very tired. His knees seemed to buckle under his own weight, and he sat down heavily.

Sleep.
... But I don't want to sleep.

Dream.
Heh. I haven't dreamt for a long time.

Why?
... I don't want to.

Preoccupied, Watari didn't notice that the water near him had began boiling.

Rest.
I'm sitting, aren't I.

Die.
... Huh?

Water burst and drenched Watari as a large serpentine form rose from the lake. Watari blinked. Touda...?

It wasn't Touda. It had a woman's face that smiled cruelly; it's long nails clicked together purposely. Watari's jaw fell.

"... You're real?"

The Yatonokami nodded, it's eyes glinting with evil intention.

***

Touda suddenly stumbled, falling heavily against Tsuzuki and knocking him down to the floor. Suzaku was not happy.

"TOUDA!!!"

Byakko yelled, "Neesan, you'll hit Tsuzu-!"

"TAKE THIS!" Fireballs exploded around Touda and Tsuzuki.

"... Ahhhhhhh! Tsuzuki!"

A large glob of water suddenly appeared and dropped, putting out the fire. Suzaku ran in and fawned over Tsuzuki, who just looked stunned, wet but unburned. Apparently Touda had protected Tsuzuki. However Touda was nowhere to be found.

Byakko scratched his head. "... I think Suzaku-neesan finally did in Touda."
Souryuu just harrumphed.

***

"You!" Yatonokami pointed its claws at Touda whose coils surrounded and protected Watari. The shinigami was unconscious and badly wounded. Watching Yatonokami carefully, Touda lowered his head to examine Watari.

"So this is the shinigami who released the traitor Touda," said Yatonokami in a sibilant hiss. Touda didn't bother to correct it, nudging Watari to try to wake him up. It was angered by Touda's inattention.

"This is my domain, Touda! If you interfere further, I will kill you!" Behind it, the lake's surface began to sputter, the water seemed oddly thick. Touda ignored the pitiful display of power. Infuriated, Yatonokami lunged at them and slammed into a kekkai protecting Touda and Watari. It flung itself back as the barrier began to burn with black fire.

Hurt, it screamed at them incoherently before diving back into the lake.

Touda waited until the water was calm before shifting to his human form. After making sure his kekkai was still intact, he turned his attention to Watari. He frowned when he found that Watari was not breathing. His expression darkened, seeing that Yatonokami had slashed deep into the shinigami's chest.

I must resuscitate him. Touda quickly positioned Watari out flat on the ground, placed both the shinigami's hands on his ruined chest and bend over to open his mouth.

***

Watari woke up, coughing. He felt someone steady him, strong hands slipped under his back and helped him sit up. His eyes opened to see Touda, whose face was scant inches away from his.

"... Touda." Watari was stumped. Vaguely, he noticed that Touda was hugging him.

"You've been poisoned," stated Touda, "I have to burn the poison away." He sounded like he was warning him.

"Uhm-" Watari screamed when black fire suddenly engulfed him.

***

Tatsumi paled when he heard the faint scream. It was from the direction of the lake. ... Watari!

***

"Are you all right?" Touda asked. Watari was cowering on the ground, trembling. He didn't look all right.

"F-fine." Watari grimaced, forcing himself up. He managed to stand only to fall down again. Touda caught him before he hit the ground, and Watari reddened.

"T-thanks, Touda." He almost winced at how shaky his voice sounded. He tried to ignore that Touda was holding him very close.

"We seem to be connected, you and I." Watari jumped at that statement and yelled, "What?!"

Touda returned his stare. His head tilted slightly before answering, "You summoned me."

"... I did?" ... How did that happen... "... I didn't mean to..." Watari avoided looking at Touda directly.

Touda seemed to frown. "You didn't summon me?" He asked Watari, who ducked his head down, saying, "I guess I did, but I seemed to have summoned you unconsciously."

"... I see."
"I'm sorry, Touda. I didn't mean to involve you."
"The point is mote. I am now involved. Yatonokami has challenged me, and I have invaded his domain. It will come after you for it thinks I am your shikigami."

"Oh," said Watari faintly, and he shivered with repulsion and fear, and he blushed fiercely when Touda pulled him closer against him, asking if he was cold. Touda seemed very protective, and Watari was warmed by the shikigami's concern.

"You must summon me when it appears again," said Touda in a rather demanding tone. Watari stared blankly at him, wondering if he would have to carry a sketch of Touda around with him all the time. He suddenly saw himself pulling Touda out of a sheet of paper while the Yatonokami waited for him to finish summoning.

Touda was very surprised when Watari laughed, grabbing at Touda for support as glee unbalanced him.

"... You're just like Master Tsuzuki..." Touda observed slowly.

Watari coughed, clearing his throat and grinned at Touda. He was not going to deny that statement and asked, "How are those two anyway? What kind of shikigami did Hisoka get?"

Before Touda could answer, he shimmered away, leaving behind a disappointed Watari. "Nuts," he said.

"WATARI!!!" He whirled around to see Tatsumi crashing through the foliage. The other shinigami suddenly halted, stared at Watari and yelled, "Pervert! Put your clothes back on!"

(to be continued)

--;; When I finished writing this, I realized that I forgot all about 003.
The sequel to this will be written (soon or later) whether there's a request for it or not. It's too much of a to be continued story rather than a one-shot. Thay-san, I hope you like it, and I did try to make it serious, but Watari attracts funny moments even when it's suppose to be serious. He is indeed the Genki Shinigami.

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