[Multi-chapter] The Watches Series: Affinity (4/??)
Title: The Watches Series: Affinity
Authors: syunikiss1990
Beta: andreja1989 <-- as always arigatou ♥
Pairing: SakurAiba
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Rating PG-13
Disclaimer: No, we don't own anything... We're just Border Watch's glaziers
*MASTERPOST*
He just loved the way how he could finally think clear again. He almost couldn't believe it had only been around two weeks that he had been the Treaty, it felt so much longer. The pain he had felt, the constant flashes of parts of the Treaty in front of his eyes, but everything seemed unimportant compared to where he was right now. In the apartment the top of the Border Watch had arranged for him and the most important person in his life: Aiba Masaki. At the same time he felt something was completely wrong in his seemingly ideal picture.
He couldn't get himself over the fact that his lover was the most sacred and important thing in this whole world. When he had been the Treaty he had never thought about it this way but that was probably because he hadn't been able to think straight with the Treaty inside his body. His body hadn't been able to handle it and he had missed to see the big and important picture of it at the time. But now he was supposed to be the protector of this man he loved and in a way admired as something sacred at the same time. Somehow it felt so wrong to long for a single kiss or a soft touch from the person who he has thought was someone like a God. Unreachable and sacred, someone who was way more important than his own life.
“Sho-chan, are you listening?” Aiba's voice brought him back to earth. For a few seconds he stared blankly at the man in front of him before he realized he had no idea what the younger man was talking about.
“I'm sorry, I... do you think you can stay here alone for a while, I need to do something.” He could see in the taller man’s eyes that he saw through his lie but he really needed some time alone to get his mind straight again. Without really waiting for an answer he grabbed his coat and went out of their new apartment, leaving a confused Aiba behind. He would explain and apologize when he would get back, it was a better thing to do than staying here and have a chance to say something he didn't mean.
He walked through the city aimlessly but before he realized he was standing inside the main hall of the building where the office of the Border Watch was located. Strangely he felt the calming effect it always seemed to have on him straight away. He pulled up his shoulders and decided he could just as well stay here to get his thoughts clear again. Happy he had his own office here, he walked to the elevator, staying here in the main hall would only give questions while he could pretend to work in his own office without anyone noticing something. He was wrong. Only a few minutes after he had sat down in his comfortable chair, somebody stepped inside his office.
“Sakurai-san? I thought I wouldn't see you here for a long time, aren't you supposed to keep an eye on the Treaty?” Sachiko asked confused. Sho sighed.
“I... yes I'm supposed to do that but I needed to get something here.” He picked up one of the documents on his desk and slightly waved it before realizing he had picked up a folder for a circus which was around three weeks ago which he had wanted to go to. Sachiko laughed softly and he quickly put it down again, his cheeks turning slightly red.
“Look I don't need to know why you are here but you look like you could use some distraction. Want to go for a drink?” Sho thought about it for a minute. Maybe the girl was right, he could use some distraction. There was no use in sitting here in his chair staring into space, that wouldn’t bring him much farther apart from getting his thoughts straight. At the same time, getting his thoughts straight was the one thing that scared him the most at the moment. What if he made up his mind and it would end up in the worst way possible? Maybe it would be impossible for him to guard Aiba and with that the Treaty, since it felt like some kind of drug to be with him. He felt like he couldn’t live without the presence of the man but at the same time it felt forbidden to touch him. After all, why would a mere Border Watch officer be allowed to have his hands on the most sacred person anyone could think of? Stand aside loving him…
“Sakurai-san?”
“I’m sorry. I would love to get a drink, let’s go.” Sakurai followed the girl outside to a small café close to the office. They settled down in one of the corners which provided them enough privacy to talk about anything without having to worry about being overheard. Not that he really wanted to talk about anything work related but somehow he felt like Sachiko was waiting impatiently until he gave her a sign she could ask him something. He avoided her gaze for a little while but when the small waitress gave them their ordered drinks he finally looked at the girl in front of him, giving her the space she wanted.
“So, the protector of the Treaty? That is a pretty important job, isn't it?”
“I think you can say that. It still feels a bit weird though, since I’m not used to this kind of jobs.” Sachiko nodded as if she understood and as if her curiosity was filled, but Sakurai knew better than that. Something else was clearly bothering the new Border Watch officer but he saw she was unsure if she could ask him about it.
“You know we are in the same Watch right? You can ask me anything you want if you need help with anything.” She looked a bit surprised but Sakurai’s words gave her the final push she needed.
“How come Aiba-sama became the Treaty? I heard you found him and noticed he was the perfect vessel. But why Aiba-sama?”
“We found out he has a closed mind while we were interrogating him about the case I was on. You know, the case with all three Watches.”
“Of course I know, everybody knows about that case. But what do you mean with interrogating? Was Aiba-sama involved in this case?” Sachiko looked at him a bit confused. It made Sho realize Aiba's and with that the new Treaty's real identity wasn't out in the open. Probably for the reason of his role in the case with Ohno. He looked at the girl across him, wondering if it would be a good idea to tell her the truth or not but he came to the conclusion she might be new in the Watch but she could most certainly be trusted. On the other hand, what did it matter that Aiba had been involved, he had never known the real objective of Ohno, therefore he was innocent, at least in his eyes.
“Yes, Aiba was involved in it but it doesn't really matter now anymore.”
“How?”
“He turned out to be the messenger boy of Ohno but had no idea what it was all about.” Sachiko slowly nodded and sipped her drink.
“So you knew he was involved with Ohno who was trying to destroy the Watches but he was still chosen to be the next Treaty?” The way she put it did seem a bit illogical but Sakurai knew better.
“As I said, he didn’t know about Ohno’s real objective. On top of that, it’s not easy to find someone with a closed mind like him who is a perfect vessel, so we couldn’t let him slip through our fingers. Who knows what could have happened if we hadn’t found him with all these circumstances lately.”
“So he became the Treaty because it’s convenient?” Sakurai had to suppress the feeling to start yelling at her.
“Of course not. Even before the previous Treaty was killed Aiba was already send to Kyoto for his training. We would never have done that if we knew he couldn’t be trusted.” Sachiko slowly nodded.
“I understand, I believe you. I’m sorry for asking such stupid questions, it’s just that everything is so new and still a bit unreal to me. It is hard to understand everything.” Sakurai smiled warmly at her.
“I know, I have been through that too. Everyone has to go through that.” They sat and drank in silence for a while after that. Sho lost himself in his own thoughts again, thinking about everything Sachiko had just said. He could understand her confusion about their choice on Aiba for the next Treaty but he knew Aiba was the best thing that had happened to their Watch in a long time. Or was this just his own opinion? Did his own colored vision on Aiba make it impossible for him to look at everything from a neutral view? The way he was supposed to look at everything? But did that really mean his love for the man was bigger than his loyalty to the Treaty? Could he really love the man who was holding the Treaty without being bothered by it? Somehow that still seemed impossible. Was it worth trying? Was it…
“Scary how the balance of the world can depend on the life of one single person.” Sachiko whispered, breaking Sakurai’s trail of thoughts.
“It is, but as long as we are here to protect that person with our lives there is nothing to be scared of.” Sachiko smiled and stood up.
“Thank you for your time Sakurai-san, it was very helpful talking with you. I’m sorry, but I have to go back to the office, I still have some work to do.” Sho smiled and nodded, saying goodbye and leaving the small café on his own shortly after as well. He had finally made up his mind, realizing how he really felt about everything. Now he only had to talk to Aiba and hope he would understand.
“I'm back.” Sho called out when stepped inside their new, shared apartment as he was taking his shoes off. When he didn't get any response he left his shoes in front of the door and hurried inside the apartment, afraid something had happened. After rushing through almost every room in the apartment he found the younger man in his bedroom, curled up and breathing softly and regularly. Without making any noise he slowly stepped closer, seeing the man was indeed asleep. The movement of the bed as he sat down on the edge made Masaki stir in his sleep, slowly opening his eyes as Sho reached out to remove some disobedient wisps from his face. Even in the darkness of the room the small sparkle which lit in the younger mans eyes was visible.
“I’m sorry I woke you up, you must be tired.” Masaki smiled warmly and shook his head.
“I’m fine, I just got bored and fell asleep without noticing. I’m glad you are back.” The words made Sho feel even guiltier for leaving the other man alone. Of course he would get bored in this apartment, without having a chance to go out by himself. His own belongings, as well as Sho’s, still had to arrive and even the TV would get boring if you had to stare at it the whole day. Sho smiled apologetically.
“I’m sorry I left just like that. I just… I needed some time to think. Get some things straight.” Masaki set up straight, properly facing him with a curious look in his eyes. Sho took a deep breath before he continued.
“It’s scary. At some point I thought I was mistaking my feelings, feeling like I only admired you because of the Treaty. I have been learning about it for so long, protecting it with my life. Ever since I joined this Watch I was learned the Treaty is the most sacred in the whole world, that it can’t be touched by anything or anyone without having to go past the ones who were protecting it. I wondered how I could ever touch you, think the thoughts I was thinking which were not appropriate for someone who is protecting this most cherished person without feeling guilty. Without feeling like I was betraying everyone of the Border Watch and everything I have learned.” Masaki was still watching him in silence but Sho noticed the slight sad look in his eyes which appeared while he was talking. Smiling gently he grabbed the taller man’s hand and searched for his eyes.
“But then I realized something. I fell for you even before you became the Treaty, even before I knew you would become the new Treaty in such a short time. I fell for you as a person and even though I know that it will be hard I want to stay at your side and not only as your bodyguard.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Aiba’s lips, which was returned immediately. As much as he wanted to let himself be carried away by the kiss, a soft grumbling noise made him pull away. An embarrassed smile appeared on the taller man’s face and he smiled.
“I’m terrible at taking care of you! Get dressed, we are going to get you some dinner.” He was already on his feet next to the bed when he felt a hand tugging his sleeve.
“Can’t we order something? I don’t feel like going out.”
“Sure, what do you want?” Aiba pulled up his shoulders as he crawled out of his bed.
“Anything is fine, you can choose.” Sakurai smiled and reached for the dressing gown to cover the almost naked body of the taller man which he only noticed now he had stepped out of the bed. If he would walk around like that he didn’t know if he could control himself and he did feel like it was his responsibility in some way to make sure Aiba would take care of his body good enough. And having sex while the younger man was feeling hungry was not taking care in his opinion.