YnM Fanfiction
"Two of a Kind"

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Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

07222001

Author's note: This is the temporary 21212 hit gift story for Xue. Thank you for claiming the counter hit! With this fic, I have laid down the foundation to evolve the Watari-Shinigami plot line. However, I would prefer to wait what happens in the canon manga first before continuing this series.

21212 Gift Story Request: Story where Watari gets involved with Touda, Byakko or Souryuu. Fic category is at author's discretion. It's bound to be humorous...

Two of a Kind
Written by Yen

Byakko was in the library inside Tenkuu. In a remote and dark corner, he had cleared a shelf of its books and was dozing atop the shelf. His tail curled and uncurled lazily. The others would never dream of searching for him in the library since his peers didn't consider him as an intellectual.

Byakko wished he had thought of hiding in the library sooner instead of going off to far away distant mountains for his naps. Of course, he had Tenkuu's word of honor that the building shikigami wouldn't reveal his hiding place to the other shikigami, especially Souryuu.

"Byakko-samaaaaaa...." The White Tiger's ears twitched at the familiar call, and he rolled over just as a smiling Tenkou appeared around a bookcase. She was the only other shikigami who knew of his new secret hideaway.

"Tenkou-hime." Byakko smiled at her then yawned, sharp fangs barring.

"Did Byakko-chan have a good nap?" He heard the scrape of a chair being pushed near his shelf. When he finished yawning, he saw that Tenkou had stood on the chair's seat to reach him. "Did Byakko-chan have a good nap?" Tenkou repeated; her sweet young face was inches from his. Byakko blinked when Tenkou reached over to press his nose before he could answer.

"Ow!" Byakko pretended his nose was hurt, holding it with protective care and giving her a hurt expression. Then, he chuckled and extended his own finger to press Tenkou's nose in return.

While Tenkou giggled, Byakko rolled to his back and extended his arms up to stretch long and as best as he could on the narrow shelf.

"Father is looking for you," Tenkou informed helpfully, elbows on the shelf, chin in her hands, as she watch Byakko enjoyed thoroughly the simple exercise of stretching.

"What does he want?" Byakko gestured at her to move so that he could get down from the shelf.

"I don't know," answered Tenkou as she jumped down to the floor then turning to Byakko, who landed nimbly beside her. "But he's been looking for you since morning."

Byakko just shook his head at that and yawned again before going into another stretch. Her being here to tell him simply meant that her father's temper was near boiling point and that Byakko better report to Souryuu very soon.

"All right. All right, I'll go see your father." Byakko gave Tenkou a fond pat on her head. "Thanks for the warning, Tenkou-hime."

"You're welcome, Byakko-sama, and you better hurry to papa."

"Okay. I'll see you later." Byakko waved goodbye to her before going off to find Souryuu.

Tenkou sighed with relief as she watched him go then turned around to the books, which Byakko had removed from the shelf that he usually naps on. She had to arrange these books back on the shelf.

Eyes closing, she took a deep breath and concentrated. The air around her began to shimmer and currents began to form. Her jaw trembled as she fought to keep control of the streams of air she had created. Since she was a water element, it was not easy for her to control wind energy.

She bit her lower lip. Mother and Kijin can do this... The books began to tremble then lifted slowly, buoyed up by the air currents.

Sometime later, outside, Tenkou leaned back against the closed library doors. She was utterly exhausted. Just putting books back on a shelf was enough to drain a great deal of her energy.

Suddenly, she felt the panel behind her shudder just the slightest bit, and instinctively she looked up to the arched ceiling of the hallway. "Ojiisama," she called out respectfully, addressing Tenkuu.

The building around her rumbled softly. "Ojousan," Tenkuu replied in a deep tone, then continued in a lighter tone, "You did well using water to control wind."

Tenkou's cheeks flushed at the praise, and she shook her head, looking back down. "Wind drains me quickly," she said sadly.

"Not surprising..." Tenkuu murmured, "Wind drives water, blows out fire and washes away earth. Do not be disheartened for simply, wind dislikes to be controlled."

Tenkou's chin lifted. "But father... mother..." She trailed off in sad confusion. Her mother was a pure wind element but had been submissive to her father. Their firstborn, Kijin, her brother, was much more of wind than water, but like their mother, was wholly obedient to Souryuu.

Tenkuu was slow in replying. "... It is difficult to explain..." Then, he just fell silent. Tenkou felt that the ancient shikigami was as confused as she was.

She sighed softly then walked forward to the intersection a few paces ahead of her. The hallway crossing it would lead her to the main entrance. Suddenly, a shadow fell across it, its owner was moving swiftly, and Tenkou paused when Touda strode by.

Instinctively, she pressed close to the wall, not wishing to be seen by him. Touda was a fire element shikigami, direct opposite to her water nature. It wasn't anything personal. Tenkou was simply naturally repulsed by him just as she felt an instant attraction to water and wind elements. With earth, she was neutral.

Tenkou peered around the corner just in time to see Touda go inside the main computer room. Curiosity tugged at her, and she couldn't help but wonder why Touda had gone in there.

In the main computer room, Touda frowned as he reviewed the data on the shinigami who had summoned him in such an unexpected manner. On the screen in front of him was an image of the light-haired man. Touda stared at the friendly grinning visage. There was nothing in the database about the power the shinigami Watari possessed.

His hand tapped on the computer touchpad. Perhaps the information he was looking for required a higher access code. Though he was one of the strongest twelve in Gensoukai, Touda was still on probation, for the other shikigami didn't wholly trust him yet.

... I need someone to- He froze. He could feel an opposite energy behind him. Abruptly, he turned around just as Tenkou ducked her head back.

Outside, heart pounding, Tenkou leaned against the wall, trying to calm herself. Stupid, she said to herself, of course, he could sense you. Did he see me? I don't think so, but I'm not sure... I better go.

Suddenly, she felt him coming near and fast. Before she could bolt, Touda walked into the hallway and smiled at her slightly.

"Tenkou-sama," he greeted respectfully while Tenkou fought to keep from staring at him.

"T-touda-san..." Tenkou blushed in embarrassment, uncertain on how to address him. He had been one of Disgraced Ones.

Touda didn't look bothered by his plain title. Instead, much to her surprise, he kneeled down before her and said, "Ohimesama, I would like ask a favor from you."

Much later, Byakko listened intently to Tenkou who relayed to him most of what happened in Tenkuu after he left to find Souryuu. After she finished, he scratched his head in puzzlement.

"Touda was looking for information on a shinigami..." Byakko mused thoughtfully.

Tenkou nodded. "His name is Yutaka Watari. Maybe Tsuzuki-chan knows him."

Byakko agreed. "Yes, we should ask him. After all, there are only a very few active shinigami."

Tenkou then said, "This shinigami seems to have a special power. According to the locked files, he has the power to give life to drawings."

Byakko blinked, then his face lit up. "I think I know this shinigami. He must be the one who pulled Tsuzuki and me from the book world."

Tenkou paid keen attention. "The world where there was a girl Tsuzuki?" Her eyes shined. Of all the stories that Byakko told her, this was her favorite. She sighed with envy. "I wish Tsuzuki-chan would summon me much more often," she complained glumly.

"Now. Now, Tenkou-chan," said Byakko, patting her head. "You know what happened the last time Tsuzuki summoned you." He grinned sheepishly, remembering. "Tsuzuki really had it from Souryuu. You know that your father is very protective of his little girl."

"It's not fair," Tenkou muttered. Then she lightened up and said to Byakko, "You should tell Touda you know the shinigami he's been researching about. It seems to be a very important matter to him. He wouldn't tell me why he's so interested in this shinigami, but he might tell you."

Byakko chuckled. "Of course, if he tells me, I have to tell you too."
Tenkou gave him a brilliant smile.

However, it wasn't until the next morning, that Byakko managed to locate Touda. The latter was staying closed by to Tsuzuki, who was feeling sad that Hisoka still didn't understand that a shikigami was much more than a beast to be captured in order to gain more power.

Right now, Hisoka was nowhere to be seen, but Souryuu and Suzaku were there with them. Suzaku was bickering with Touda. Byakko approached Souryuu with a greeting and was about to greet the others when 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.

A while later, Byakko was still waiting for Touda to reappear. He had a bad feeling he knew what had happened to the black fire shikigami. He jumped when the air in front of him suddenly shimmered. Then, there was a flash so bright that he had to look away. When he looked back with watering eyes, he saw that Touda was in front of him.

"Touda, what happened?!" Touda kept quiet and though he had a mask on, Byakko knew Touda was staring back at him with narrowed eyes. Finally, he said, "Souryuu's daughter told you."

"Did you ask her to promise not to tell anyone?" Byakko countered.

"No." Touda's lips twitched. "I knew she wouldn't give me a promise of silence."

Byakko's patience was at an end, and he was beginning to panic. "Touda, let's go somewhere private, please."

In his study, Byakko paced back and forth in front of Touda. He was at a complete loss.

"How could he summon you..." He shook his head. "It's impossible-" Then he paused. "... But he was able to bring Tsuzuki and me from the book world. That means he has power to create gates between dimensions."

Touda tilted his head. He had never heard of this book world, but something else that Byakko said eased his guilt of having allowed another shinigami to summon him. If Tsuzuki and Byakko were also affected by Watari's energy, then I truly had no choice, thought Touda. This one's power is a unique magic.

In front of him, Byakko shivered nervously. "It never occurred to me," he murmured, "and it is dangerous." Amber eyes stared at Touda. "If a demon learns of this shinigami's power and what it can do." He shook his head in disbelief. "He can summon a shikigami from our world without consent."

"... It isn't as dangerous as it sounds," said Touda. "He can summon, but he has no power to issue commands. In fact, he barely seems to understand his own talent."

"That makes it even more dangerous," said Byakko, "to have a skill with so much potential and to not understand it. If this shinigami isn't watchful, his own power can be turned against him." Now, he really looked worried. "Imagine if a demon possessed him like what had happened with Tsuzuki. Shikigami could be kidnapped from Gensoukai!"

Touda understood that danger all too well, and he felt a flash of respect for the White Tiger. He hadn't expected Byakko to see the danger so quickly. Though, he should have recognized it when Watari pulled Tsuzuki and him from the book world, wherever it is.

"We have to tell the others," Byakko was saying. His tail was twitching in increasing panic. "We have to do something before it is too late." He turned towards the door. "The shinigami must be guarded."

Touda stopped him before he could go to the door. "No," he said in such a harsh tone that Byakko whirled back in surprise. "Tou-"

"The shinigami must be guarded..." Touda repeated softly. "If the others ever find out, they'll imprison him like they did me."

Byakko blinked at him. "... Touda, that's totally different..." His eyes narrowed then closed. "You turned traitor on both sides of the war. Watari isn't you."

He didn't see Touda's humorless smile. "You don't know him as well as I do, Byakko. Even Enma had additional measures done to make certain that he can control this particular shinigami."

Byakko's eyes snapped open. "... What do you mean, Touda?"

"Think, Byakko. If he can pull people from different worlds, he can do the opposite thing."

"... This is not good." Byakko said weakly. "We really have to have to tell the others, especially Souryuu."

"No," Touda was insistent. "You will not tell anyone about this, Byakko."
"But Touda-"
"Give me your word of silence, Byakko."
"Touda, this is too dangerous to be kept quiet!"
"I will guard Watari."
"..." Byakko was dumbfounded. "... You can't do that!"
"Why?"

"Because you're Tsuzuki's shikigami. You can't have two masters, Touda!" Byakko protested

"Do you want Tsuzuki to know you don't care about his friends, Byakko?" Touda said insinuatingly.

"... That's a mean thing to say." Byakko glared at Touda. "Of course, I care about Tsuzuki's friends."

"Then, give me your promise that you won't tell anyone about this."
"Touda, we have to tell the others."
"We will not tell anyone."
"Watari will be better protected if we tell the others."
"I will handle it."
"Touda-"
"Byakko, I will not let him suffer the way I did."

"... We're not going to impri-" Byakko broke off when Touda grabbed his hand and placed it on his mask.

"Take this off."
"W-what?"
"Take this mask off. You have the power to do it, Byakko."
"... What are you trying to say, Touda?"

Touda let Byakko's hand fall from his mask. "I'm free as long as I can be controlled. Watari cannot be controlled, Byakko."

"... Touda..."
"Promise me, Byakko. Give your word of silence on this matter."
"..."
"Byak-"

"All right. All right, Touda... I promise. But you better keep Watari safe. I want your promise in return, Touda."

"I promise to keep him safe, Byakko."

To be continued...

Author's note: From this story, I can go into a Watari-Touda or Watari-Byakko story without too much confusion. ^_^;; Can even manage Watari-Souryuu too, and they would all be plausible. The plot line is that flexible, and I enjoy writing stories where everyone *likes* Watari. For now though, I would like to wait for Matsushita-sensei's ideas first.

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