YnM Fanfiction
"Temporary"

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Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

06092001

This is the 17000th hit gift story for Sky Goddess. Request: A Watari fic, serious with funny moments. Shonen ai or yaoi is okay. Must include 003. Excuse the wrong spellings and grammar mistakes. Too tired to spell check.

Note: This story takes place during the Gensoukai Arc, Tatsumi & Watari's case in the Kurosaki estate. Please read Betwixt & Connection first.

Temporary
YnM Fanfiction Written by Anonym aka Yen

I wonder
Should I tell you
How I feel
Though I shudder
To change anew
What is real

***
Tatsumi squinted at his writing, placing down the pen to take hold of the document. He held it nearer to the table lamp and scrutinized it. He wasn't sure of the amount he had just written. He then frowned and redid the calculation.

... The Kurosaki family is very wealthy. Tatsumi leaned back in his chair, index finger tapping against his chin; his expression, thoughtful.

... They are too wealthy.

*hoot*

Tatsumi was startled when 003 landed on the desk in front of him. Watari's little owl looked at him then waddled forward a bit before taking off only to land on top of Tatsumi's head.

*hoot*
***

The doors are closed
But the windows are opened

***
I'm never ever going to do that again. A tired Watari thought as he plodded towards his and Tatsumi's room. He had just spent the day playing village doctor.

That Tatsumi, Watari thought grumpily, he could have at least come with me. I'd like to see him be midwife to a cow. ... At least they let me go home after that, but I'll never get this smell off me!

Even the maids in the Kurosaki home was avoiding Watari or at least staying upwind of him.

"Sensei." He turned to see Miya standing a discreet distance away from him. "The bath is prepared. You should clean yourself now." Then, she bowed respectfully and walked away quickly.
***

I see myself alone
Among uncountable others

***
With 003 still on top his head, Tatsumi lowered himself into the steaming water and made a pleased sound. 003 made a soft hoot and hunkered down in his hair, drawing a mutter from his host.

"You better not drop anything," he grumbled, eyes rolling upward, but he couldn't see the little bird. They were in a private bath reserved for family or honored guests. Though it wasn't the communal bath used by the household help, the hallway adjacent to it was still busy with maids moving to and forth on their chores or stopping to giggle and gossip within hearing range of anyone using the bath.

Many a time Tatsumi had heard things not meant for men's ears, though considering how forward the women in this household were, perhaps he was intended to hear. Tatsumi was embarrassed by it all. Watari, on the other hand, was enthusiastic and was keenly attentive, treating the attention like one of his many experiments and inventions.

Suddenly there was the sound of many footsteps running then it became quieter with the sound of only one set of feet coming. Both heads turned when the panel slid open and Watari stepped inside.

... "Phew!" Tatsumi's nose wrinkled at the disgusting smell from Watari. Higher up, 003 hooted a greeting, little wings flapping with welcome, but he stayed atop Tatsumi's head.

Watari waved at them before shutting the panel behind him. Then, he began taking off his clothes, casting each article aside carelessly except for the last sock which he aimed at Tatsumi, who yelled when it smacked into his face.

"Watari!" Tatsumi pulled the stinky sock off, flinging it back at Watari who caught it easily. 003 balanced precariously as a furious Tatsumi stood up with the intention to strangle Watari. He froze when Watari handed him a brush and a bar of soap.
***

I hide behind a smile
As heavy as a frown

***
"Ouch! Not so hard!" Watari winced, reaching up to rub at the raw spot on his shoulder where Tatsumi had scrubbed too hard.

Tatsumi answered by dumping a bucket of water on him. While Watari sputtered, about, he began working shampoo into his hair. It had become Tatsumi's personal agenda to unstink Watari.

As thick suds slid down, Watari tried in vain to keep them out of his eyes. They began to sting and Watari bend down to scoop water from the barrel and splash it into his eyes. He almost swallowed water when Tatsumi dumped another bucket on him.

"Are you trying to drown me?!"
"Sit back down, and just close your eyes."
"I think I'm clean enough already."
"I think not."

Watari slid and almost fell when Tatsumi grabbed his arm and pulled towards the bath.

"Get in."
"But I'm not clean yet!"
"No one's going to use it after you so get in."
"What about you?"
"I'm done for tonight. ... Just get in!"
***

The foolish game I play
For secrecy's sake I pay

***
Suds fell off and bubbles floated away when Watari started to smell nice. An exhausted Tatsumi pulled his arms out of the water and stared with tired irritation at Watari who had dozed off while he had been washing him.

*hoot*

Tatsumi rolled his eyes up to 003 peering down at him. The owl had been on his head throughout the whole cleaning process.

"... You didn't do anything, did you?"
***

Loneliness is a cloak worn
A shield for cowards born

***
Head on his pillow, Tatsumi, eyes barely open, watched Watari, cross-legged on the floor, comb his hair. He had been at it for an hour already, just drying and combing.

"... You should trim your hair," Tatsumi said to Watari.
"You should grow your hair long," Watari replied, concentrating on a tangle.
"... Watari, tell me what's wrong-"
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's dandy."

"Liar," Tatsumi muttered, sitting up and frowning at Watari, who didn't bother to look back at him. "Something happen at the lake yesterday."

"Nothing happened," said Watari immediately.

"Don't lie to me," said Tatsumi testily, "You're hindering this case by not telling me everything."

Watari paused his combing. "... It's always work with you, isn't it Tatsumi," he said softly, and Tatsumi blinked, suddenly uncomfortable at the sadness in Watari's voice.

As he watched, Watari straightened, squaring shoulders back purposely then turning to Tatsumi. His eyes were oddly weary as his head tilted slightly. "I guess this is where I try to make you lighten up. Ne, Tatsumi-san?"

... Huh? "... What are you talking about?"

"As the cheerful one, I have to make serious Tatsumi loosen up," said Watari frankly. Tatsumi was so surprised by the answer that he reacted slow when Watari bonk him on the head with his pillow. "Let's have a pillow fight," said Watari listlessly, pounding Tatsumi with weak unenthusiastic blows.

... He's insane, thought Tatsumi, who was worried rather than irritated over Watari's actions. With ease, he took away the pillow from a barely protesting Watari. "I think it's time for you to go to sleep," said Tatsumi, tossing the pillow back to Watari's futon. Why are my partners always children, he thought with long suffering grace.

He winced when Watari crossed his arms and shook his head stubbornly. ... Maybe he drank that youth tonic of his again...

"Go to sleep, Watari."
"No, I will not not."
"Stop being childish and go to sleep."
"Will not."

Now, Tatsumi was getting irritated. "Watari, I don't have time for this!"
"I'm not sleepy," retorted Watari stubbornly, "Go to sleep if you want to!"

***

What's wrong with me... Watari thought sadly, fingering the comb in his hands. He absent-mindedly pulled the strands of his hair tangled in it. ... I hate this. Feeling so alone.

He glanced back at Tatsumi, who had gone to sleep ahead. His back was towards Watari. On a rafter high above, 003 roosted, sleeping as well, his little head tucked under a wing. Watari hadn't bothered to switch on the lab hologram.

Not real. Just like the smiling mask I usually wear. Watari turned back, bowing his head, staring at his crossed legs. He tossed the comb aside and placed his hands on his knees. Outside, it began to rain.

... I don't have anyone to talk with. A chilly breeze wafted through the room, making Watari shiver. His nostrils twitched. The wind was heavy with the scent of soaked grass and timber. Watari couldn't help it. He sneezed.

... "Watari, will you please go to sleep." He turned to see that Tatsumi had rolled over on his back. The other man sighed, rubbing his forehead, then sat up, looking over to Watari. He had a sleepy grumpy expression on his face.

Watari shrugged. "Gomen Tatsumi. I didn't mean to wake you up." Then he turned back to the shut panels to watch the faint shadows of falling rain. Suddenly, the shadows vanished. Watari felt something grab him, lifting him up then dumping him back first on his bed. Before he could fight back, Tatsumi's shadows covered him, keeping him flat on the bed with only his head free to move.

"Tatsumi, let me go!"
"Just go to sleep, Watari!"

***

"Are you asleep yet?"
"Nope."
"... Will you just please go to sleep."
"Not til you tell your shadows to release me."
"They're staying til you fall asleep."
"I'm not sleeping til they're gone."
"Watari!"
"You're not sleeping either. You need to concentrate to control these things."

Watari smirked as a very tired Tatsumi collapsed back on his bed. It wouldn't be long until Tatsumi had to relinquish command of his shadows.

"Too bad you can't make them sing a lullaby," gloated Watari. He suddenly choked when a shadow tightened around his throat. "T-tat-su-mi-"

"Don't make me, Watari..."
"Go-men-"
"I'll let you go if you promise to go to sleep."
"-A-greed."

Watari swallowed air frantically when he was released. It was unwise to fool around with Tatsumi.

"Go to sleep," Tatsumi muttered as he pulled up his covers. Watari followed obediently, covering himself with his own blanket.

***

"Watari, you're still awake, aren't you?"
"No."
"... What am I suppose to do with you..."
"Read me a bedtime story."
"... I'm glad this partnership is temporary."
"..."
"Watari?"
"Go to sleep, Tatsumi."

***

To be continued.

Almost. Almost, but not just quite yet. I'm feeling sorry for Watari these days.

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