YnM Fanfiction
"Over Glasses"

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Disclaimer: YnM belongs to Youko Matsushita-sensei.

3-31-2001
Gift Story for 6789 Counter Hitter, Layla. Thank you!

Author's note: 6789 Gift Story for Layla, Thank You!
Request: Watari fic with a little of Tatsumi. Fic category at author's discretion.

Let's see what happens.

Over Glasses
Written by Anonym aka Yen

The office was quiet now. Placing down his pen, Tatsumi leaned back in his chair and stretched long, easing muscles tired from sitting too long at his desk. Fortunately, he was alone. He could let himself relax.

An explosion suddenly rocked the building. Off balanced, his chair was knocked back to the floor bringing him along with it. He wound up tumbling backwards and ending face flat on the floor, feet in the air and his glasses, broken.

***

"WATARI!!!"

Covered in soot, Watari faced Tatsumi. He held the stunned 003 in front of him for protection.

"Ah, Tatsumi-san, I thought you already went home. You really shouldn't work too much. It's not healthy."

Tatsumi's hands clenched into fists, and Watari feared he would clobber him.

"It's all right, Tatsumi-san!" Watari gestured around frantically. His laboratory was in shambles. "The damage is only cosmetic-"

"You are not getting a new lab," growled Tatsumi. He then shook his broken glasses at Watari. "What is with you, idiots?! We're already way in the red! The department has to pay for a new library again, and you have to go destroying more property because of useless experiments! Am I the only sane person around here?! I am sick! Sick, I tell you, of-"

Watari was waving a fan in Tatsumi's face. "Calm down. Calm down," he said soothingly. 003 was also helping on the other side as best as he could with his small wings and gentle hoots.

But Tatsumi just glared at Watari and turned away.

"Useless!"

***

Back at his desk, Tatsumi threw his broken glasses into the trash can. Fortunately, he had a spare at home.

His temper was still boiling, and he knew he couldn't continue his work here tonight, especially with that idiot in the same building.

He took out his briefcase, opened it and hurled his papers and files into it. He would have to work at home this time otherwise his timetable would be ruined.

***
**
*

"... Hold still, 003." Watari bit his tongue, concentrating hard in tying a ribbon around 003's neck. It wasn't easy. 003 had a very short neck.

"Mhmmph. There. That does it." 003 fluttered in front of Watari's face with a nice blue bow around his neck and with a somewhat disgruntled expression.

"Eh... Did I tie it too tightly, 003?" Watari asked.

"What are you doing here?"

Watari jumped and whirled about to see Tatsumi. "Ack! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"You're the one standing in front of my door," retorted Tatsumi. It looked like he had just arrived. He held his briefcase in one hand, and the other cradled a large brown bag against his chest. He was still testy. "And you can forget it. I am going to report your mishap."

"But everything's fine, I tell you!" Watari clasped hands together, eyes turning weepy. Kachou Konoe would still be sore over the library incident. "I even cleaned up my lab. It looks brand new, I swear!"

Tatsumi didn't believe him. Watari had one last chance to lighten his mood. His hand dug into the voluminous pocket of his lab gown and whisked out a package. With both hands, he presented it to Tatsumi, bowing.

"Here. This should cheer you up. (I hope)."

He could imagine Tatsumi frowning as he took the package from his hands. Watari lowered his hands and peeked as Tatsumi unwrapped it.

Tatsumi's expression slowly turned blank. In his hand was a pair of glasses.

Watari smiled with pride. "They're yours."

"... How did you get them? The stores are all close at this time."

"No no, they are your glasses. I retrieved your broken pair from the trash can and made you a new pair from them. I'm such a genius!" Watari beamed at Tatsumi and continued in a teacher's tone of voice, "We must recycle what we can. I couldn't do anything about the frames since they were bent beyond repair, but the lenses were still usable. One of them was cracked so I had to grind it a bit. Anyway, I still had to trim them, because they were too big for my frames.

Tatsumi blinked. "... Your frames?"

Watari pointed at his own face. "Yup, those are my frames. It was my fault that your glasses were broken, and I can get new ones tomorrow. Besides, you need glasses more than me."

"My eyes are just as good as yours," declared Tatsumi, "Besides, I have spare glasses."

Watari's face fell. "... Oh, I see." More than a little disappointed, he scratched his head, embarrassed. He was sure he could have at least made Tatsumi smile a little. "Oh, well, I guess I better go back then. Ja, Tatsumi-san." He moved past Tatsumi, and 003 landed on his shoulder.

"Ne. Matte, Watari-san."

Watari turned back and was quite surprised to see Tatsumi smiling at him.

"Have you had dinner?" Tatsumi asked as he picked up his things.

"... Iie. I forgot about dinner." Watari was feeling more than a little peckish.

Tatsumi sighed as he handed the bag to Watari. "Your experiments will be the death of you, Watari-san. (And we're already dead.)"

Watari chucked. "At least I'll die happy in my work." He peered into the bag as Tatsumi searched his pocket for his keys.

"... Caviar?!" Watari fished out the jar and peered at it's label with disbelief. "Nani?! How much is your salary, Tatsumi-san?!"

"Do you want dinner or not, Watari-san?"

"... It is not fair. I have worked longer than you..."

Later...

"Do you think it needs more pepper?"
"No, it's just right."
"Really...? I think it needs more pepper."
*sigh* "Tatsumi-san, why do you even ask..."

003 blinked sleepily, untucking his head from underneath his wing. The little bird looked around and spotted them at the stove.

"How about this? What do you think of it?"
"... It's good. Very tasty."
"Good."
"... Tatsumi-san, when are we going to eat?"

003 fluffed his feathers a bit before taking off to land on Watari's shoulder. He hooted, and Watari glanced at him.

"... 003 is hungry too."
"Just a few more minutes then it will be perfectly done."
"It smells perfect already. (This is torture...)"
"I'm the cook, Watari-san. You go wait at the table."
"I'm so hungry..."
"There's a bowl of peanuts."
"We ate them all already."
"Watari-san, behave. This will take longer if you keep bothering me."
"... All right. All right."

Head down, Watari shuffled off with 003 hooting sadly. "I know, 003," he muttered, "Tatsumi's so mean."

"I heard that."

"I mean that Tatsumi's so keen on cooking," said Watari loudly. "Tsuzuki is going to be so envious when I tell him I ate dinner at Tatsumi's house."

He heard Tatsumi chuckle. "Whatever."

Out of the kitchen and the hearing range of Tatsumi's ears, Watari looked around the dining room. His eyes lit up, and he headed to the well stocked bar. Compared to the rest of them, Tatsumi did live in more luxury.

His home even looks better than the Chief's... Watari hummed as he looked through the wine list. Can't believe he even records how many glasses he drinks... He certainly likes European stock. Oooh! Glenlivet. Now, that's impressive.

***

"Watari-san," Tatsumi called out as he removed his mitts, "dinner's ready." He felt more than satisfaction as he beheld the contents of the trolley. Fit even for the Emperor of Japan. He frowned when he heard no answer from his guest.

"Watari-san." ...

***
**
*

He felt terrible. A heavy lump suddenly jumped from the pit of his stomach, and Watari lurched forward, his eyes opening to watch himself retch into a plastic basin. Someone began pounding his back with a little too much force.

When he was done, Watari leaned back, trembling. He was uncomfortably drenched in his own sweat and was thankful for the coolness of the silk robe he was wearing. His eyes opened again, and he turned his head sideways to see Tatsumi wringing water from a towellete.

Watari was surprised when Tatsumi began cleaning him, wiping away the sweat from his forehead, face and neck. He then dropped the small towel into a ceramic basin and considered Watari carefully. "How do you feel?"

Watari licked his dry lips before saying, "Not so good." He winced when Tatsumi turned irritated.

"Idiot! It's ten times stronger than sake!"

Watari waved frantically with one hand while the other held his aching head. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please don't shout anymore! Aie..." Even his own shouts made his headache worse.

"I can't believe you drank the whole bottle... Do you know how expensive it is?!"

Watari was in hell. "Gomen... gomen, Tatsumi-san. I'm so sorry. I'll pay for it, I promise."

"There is no way you can afford another bottle," said Tatsumi steely, eyes glinting.

Watari was insulted enough by Tatsumi's words to sat up slowly with indignation. "Yes, I can!" He grimaced when the pain in his head doubled. He let himself fall back against the cushions. "... Don't worry, Tatsumi. I'll buy you another bottle. I give you my word as a scientist."

Tatsumi looked like he wanted to argue further, but gave up, throwing up his hands. "... Why...?" He shook his head. "I never realized that you had a drinking problem."

"I have a gambling problem," murmured Watari. Then he shrugged, resting more comfortably against the cushions with a slight smile. "Fortunately, I usually win."

Tatsumi looked at him. "Gambling is better than drinking. At least, you can win. There are no winners in drinking."

Watari's smile widened then turned quizzical. "Why then do you have a well-stocked bar?"

Tatsumi looked troubled and turned away, silent. Curious, Watari wanted to probe further, wishing to know more about his colleague.

"... Never mind, Tatsumi-san. Forget that I ask." Watari sat up again, gingerly this time and moved his legs over the side of couch. He paused when Tatsumi said, "For a scientist, you gave up so easily. Aren't you curious about me, Watari-san?"

"... Of course, I am." Watari gave Tatsumi an uncertain smile. "I didn't want to pry. I do want to know, because I am your friend."

Tatsumi's eyes flickered with an emotion that seemed sad and angry. "... My father liked to drink even though we were poor. He blames it."

Watari waited for him to continue, but Tatsumi suddenly stood up from his chair, picked up the basins and stalked to the kitchen. Watari almost called out to him and tried to stand up instead. He fell to his knees, hands slamming against the low coffee table.

Idiot! Idiot! Why did you have to drink all that wine?!

He managed to stand just as Tatsumi emerged from the kitchen with a tray of food. He frowned when he saw Watari and said, "Sit. You look ready to fall down.

Watari didn't argue and fell back into the couch. He gave Tatsumi another puzzled look when the tray was placed over his lap.

"You'll have to eat it even though it's too rich a dish for breakfast. It doesn't keep well over half a day."

Watari felt bile rise in his throat as the pungent smell invaded his nostrils. "Uhm... Tatsumi, I don't feel so good..."

"Watari-san, I slaved over it. You will eat it."

*ulp*

***
**
*

"Are you sure you are well enough to work, Watari-san?"
"I am. I am. Don't worry about me, Tatsumi-san."
"... You do not have to go in today, besides your laboratory has to be repaired."
"I tell you, the damage is only minor. Just a few broken test tubes, beakers-"
"One broken electronic microscope."
"How did you know about- I mean, it just needs a little repair..."
"It's coming out of your salary."
*sob* "But, Tatsumi-san... I still have to replace your-"
"Never mind about it."
"... Tatsumi-san..."
"I wanted to prove that drinking could not control me even if I drink often. I control myself. It will never control me like it did my father, who blamed it for all our troubles."
"..."
"It is a useless exercise."

...

"Tatsumi-san, I want to explain. I don't have a drinking problem. ... Don't look at me that way. I just possess a very high tolerance to alcohol. It doesn't affect me as quickly as it does most people. Your wine tasted good."

"... Is that your excuse?"
"Let's have a drinking match. I'll prove it."
"... Nevermi-"
"I am not like your father, Tatsumi."

"I will not hurt you."

Tatsumi looked at him doubtfully, then turned away to look at JuuOuChou. He stopped as did Watari and looked up to the blue sky framed by the silvery canopies of the trees lining the path towards the building. He murmured something Watari couldn't hear.

"... Tatsumi?"

"... I don't mean too!"

"It's perfectly normal, Watari-san. Don't worry about it." With that, Tatsumi left Watari, who stood still, mutely watching the other shinigami go.

... What did he mean by that..? "... Tatsumi, wait for me!"

...
The End?

Author's note:

Uhm. Layla, This seems to be more a Tatsumi fic than a Watari fic. Gomen. Timeline of this fic is between book 6 and book 7. Not much of Watari's past was yet revealed. I didn't foresee it would turn serious nor did I intended a serious fic for Watari. Otherwise, I would have chosen sometime in the Gensoukai arc. Wanted a happy go lucky fic. Well, I hope you still like it.

I think this can be continued. Like Kyuuketsuki, sequel is only by counter hit request. It has to be, just in case the sequel's category is shonen ai, yaoi or both. A Watari x Tatsumi or Tatsumi x Watari fic will not be easy to visualize for me.