[Multi-chapter] The Watches Series: Affinity (FINAL)
Title: The Watches Series: Affinity
Authors: tsuchi8562
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*
“Sho-chan, stop it… I…” Masaki couldn’t finish the sentence because his lips were sealed in a heated kiss. After so long time without touching and making love they were insatiable but this time Aiba wanted to do it in a different way. Since they could experience their second first time, every night ended in madness, exhausting dance in the sheets and even if it was extremely pleasurable, the taller man wanted to take it slow and romantic, like before. Of course, this time without side effects such as incredible, burning pain in his chest.
“Don’t want it?” Sakurai gasped, looking at his lover’s swollen from kisses lips.
“I want, but not like that. You still owe me a romantic dinner and slow dancing… SAKURAI-SAN!!!” Masaki just had to push his beloved one away and frown, other ways just didn’t seem to work. “Now you have to go and give back the damn report you were working on for the past week and I believe you have to go to the office and talk about your promotion, right? Go there and in the meantime I’ll make some delicious dinner, light some candles and prepare some music. When you come back everything will… Sho, can you please stop trying to get inside my pants when I am talking to you?!” Aiba wasn’t mad at all, he just dreamed about simple spending time with the older man, not necessarily in bed. The Border Watch’s officer pouted and then laughed, pecking the latter’s cheek and getting ready to work.
Since last few weeks everything was perfect; all problems disappeared along with the Treaty. Nila was highly guarded by Indian Border Watch, but because she couldn’t do her job as the most important creature in the world, the European Headquarters started to get interested in the methods used by officers from Delhi. This case didn’t concern Masaki but he was worried about the young girl that was saved from the death to jump in, maybe even worse life. Sho opposed any contacts between the younger man and the Indian woman but Aiba managed to talk with her over the phone a couple of times. She seemed to be happy, although you’ll never know - vessels can hide everything in their minds so well that you can’t know what’s the truth and what’s not. Because Masaki didn’t want to lie to his lover (not that he couldn’t, he was still the vessel, an empty one though), so he shared with Sakurai everything. He was scolded and forced to promise that he will not do it ever again. Sho was just worried that Saad can try to do something, since he wasn’t pleased that his step-mother didn’t burn with his father’s body. All of this didn’t matter anymore, their new life has begun, full of happiness and calmness and Sho didn’t want it to be spoiled by Aiba’s concern about some stranger. Masaki himself thought different; he had some kind of strange and inexplicable bond with Nila. As vessels they knew and understood more than any other officers from all three sides and their relationship could be described as brother and sister. Soon enough few officers from the top of the top brought Indian girl somewhere to south Europe and Aiba lost any chance of contact.
“Masaki are you listening to me?” Sakurai pouted cutely and the taller man finally paid attention to his lover. “I said that I will be back in maximum three hours.”
“Yes, I heard you. Take care…” The younger one smiled and when he was left alone, he started to make a grocery list for the dinner. The idea of preparing his favorite mabou tofu died on the way and Masaki decided to make simple pasta because it won’t take long and he wanted to prepare himself for the night. After long shower and treating his skin with some coconut body lotion he decided to finally go to the store. Three hours may be long but it is still a limit and finally after waiting in line for ages he was back home, unpacking the groceries when sudden fact hit him. Of course he wanted to eat some fancy (more or less) dinner but he also had plans consisting whipped cream and melted chocolate and no matter how hard he looked for it, sadly for him, he couldn’t find it. Aiba checked the list again and sighed; the needed things weren’t there and if he wants the evening to go his way he has to have them. That means another trip to the konbini and wasting even more time. Fortunately making pasta takes not more than twenty minutes, so he still has time. Cursing himself for being such an airhead he almost crawled downstairs, tramping to the store. The weather didn’t invite for walks. The heat was pouring from the clear blue sky, burning the asphalt and people’s skin and the air was thick. When he reached the store and put his hand on the knob he suddenly spotted a familiar silhouette with the corner of his eye. The next second it disappeared, but Masaki was so curious who could that be that he looked around and spotted the person once more, on the other side of the street. It was a man, slightly leaned forward wearing a hat and a coat. His clothes were strange; who normally wears a trench in sweltering heat like this? Aiba also could swear he knows that person, even if he couldn’t see his face clearly. Something told him that he should follow that man and, as if he had a lot of time, he did, kept safe distance and observed. The mysterious person wandered without any destination around city and just after a longer while Masaki recognized the man in front of him when he took of the hat, fixing his hair. Haishin Yuuichiro - the officer from Light Watch, the one that was selling the information to him before Aiba was recognized as the vessel. The man escaped from the chase and now, after such a long time he popped out like a rabbit from the magician’s hat right in front of him. The Light Watch ex-officer was standing still, as if he was waiting for someone or something and the ex-holder of the Treaty wondered what he should do. Probably calling Sho would be the best and the most reasonable way but when Masaki reached to his pocket he remembered that his phone is laying peacefully on the kitchen table, charging. It was supposed to be a quick visit in the store, not pursuit of a criminal! The nearest public phone was on the other side of the street, there was no way Aiba will manage to call anybody. Yuuichiro can leave the place any second. Fortunately another familiar man appeared out of nowhere, also observing Haishin from afar. This time Masaki didn’t have any problem with recognizing the person - it was Matsumoto Jun from The Dark Watch. It seemed that the problem is already solved but even if the officer was so close to catching the culprit he didn’t move an inch, only watching Yuuichiro. The scene looked ridiculous: two men standing not so far from each other, espying third one. Or maybe it was quite normal for the Watches’ workers?
“Matsumoto, do something…” Aiba whispered, gluing his eyes to the dark officer but the latter didn’t move an inch. In the meantime Haishin received some big envelope. Shaking his head Masaki put his sunglasses on, put his hair more on his face and prying for Yuuichiro not to recognize him he took deep breath and started to walk straight on. He didn’t know why he did it; he just had the feeling that this time the Light Watch mole will try to destroy the Treaty in a more successful way. Without second thoughts he hit Haishin with is shoulder and bowed quickly, running across the street and disappearing in the nearest post office. Matsumoto didn’t seem to pay attention to Masaki, still staring at the fugitive. But that wasn’t the real reason why Aiba was scared and mad at the same time. He noticed in the quite thick envelope some pictures. At least on two of them he spotted Nila probably somewhere in the European city. He knows where she is and that means that he can try to destroy the Treaty again… Masaki cursed his phone and with slight hesitation he reached for the public phone and dialed Sho’s phone number.
“Masaki, where are you? I came home and you are not here… I was worried…”
“Sho-chan, we have troubles… Yuuichiro is back in city. The guy from the Dark Watch is observing him but he doesn’t do a thing and I saw he has Nila’s pictures and… and…”
“Calm down. Where are you?”
“Not far away, on the post office… Shit, he is going somewhere and that damn Matsumoto doesn’t do a thing! I have to go Sho-chan, I can’t let him run away again. I’ll call you later…” Aiba let the handset fall, registering some incoherent words and left the building, being careful to keep the safe distance between him and Yuuichiro. Jun didn’t appear anywhere in sight, so Masaki could count only on himself. He can’t allow this man to hurt Nila. Not only because she was the balance keeper but because during the conversation, during the training and in the middle of the exchange he started to consider himself as her guardian. No matter how silly it sounded, he truly felt this way and now he followed dangerous man alone without any plan in mind. The thought that he doesn’t have his phone hit him for the second time and when he noticed that they are reaching some old building without any phone within a radius of at least a mile he started to be scared. Of course he could just knock the man down and wait god knows how long for some help but that was out of question. Although Masaki was strong and his punch could slay even a big stalwart man he can’t just wander around Tokyo with unconscious man thrown over his shoulder and reach by foot to whichever Watch’s headquarters. He didn’t have any choice though, so without hesitating he came out of his hiding place and was ready to throw a punch when suddenly he was pulled back by some strong arms. Aiba’s mouth was covered with somebody’s hand and his back hit the wall of some laystall.
“What the fuck are you doing here?! Who do you think you are? Some kind of freaking superhero!?” That voice… Masaki knew it and when he managed to push the aggressor a bit away he recognize the face without any problems.
“Unlike you, Matsumoto-san I am doing SOMETHING! You were just standing and staring like dull! But I am happy that you are here, we can catch him now…”
“No, Aiba-san. WE won’t do a thing. You are going home, I won’t allow you to destroy my plan, not when I am so close… Go back to your boyfriend.”
“But…”
“No buts! I am so close to finding the true identity of The Dark Priest that I will do anything to get you out of this, even if it considers murderer, so please go home and forget about everything you saw!”
“I can forget but I called Sho-chan and told him…”
“You idiot! Now all Watches are alarmed! Shit, I don’t have time for this… You, go back home NOW!” Jun ran towards the Yuuichiro, sneaking at first, then fixed his T-shirt and went slowly to Haishin, waving as if they were close friends. Masaki frowned and sighed, torn between return home and big curiosity. What that Dark Watch officer wanted to do? And who the hell was that Dark Priest? So many questions but no answers. Sakurai will ask about the mole and Aiba won’t be able to say a thing… Suddenly he saw Nila’s face in front of his eyes. So trusting, fragile and delicate… No, he has to do something to protect her. At least he can eavesdrop a bit, it won’t hurt, right? When he finally made his decision and almost crawled to the place where both men started the chat. He landed in the middle of the conversation.
“Did you really see the Dark Priest?” Yuuichiro asked, without taking the cigarette from his mouth.
“I have shown you the proof, haven’t I? Now cut the crap and give me the photos.”
“Not that fast, kitty…” Haishin smirked when he saw angry sparks in Matsumoto’s eyes. “I still don’t trust you…”
“Want me to show you the proof again?” Jun smirked and pulled down his T-shirt’s collar exposing a chain tattoo - three black links intertwined just under his ear. “See clearly? Three. Not like you, seven… You are a mere messenger boy, nothing more. Now give me those damn pictures.” The Dark Watch officer was apparently mad when he almost torn the envelope from the latter’s hand. “Good boy… Now, I heard that you have the honor to meet the boss himself in a month from now…”
“I believe it’s not your business…”
“Well, it is mine, since I am higher rank… I want to attend the meeting.”
“You’re crazy. Why don’t you arrange your meeting yourself?” Yuuichiro became more suspicious. Masaki bit his lips and tried to understand a thing from the conversation. Nila’s face appeared again and distracted Aiba, he noticed that both men are going inside the building in the last moment. He decided to follow them, since he thought that hearing only half of the chat is useless. Maybe he will understand more and in the worst case he will help Jun… He didn’t know how yet though. Suddenly he heard a gunshot and then a thud. Then complete silence surrounded him and Aiba was afraid to move. What happened inside? When after around ten minutes nobody came out from the building Masaki decided to go inside. No matter what will happen this silence was far too disturbing to ignore it. As soon as he came inside he gasped from shock. Yuuichiro was lying dead on the ground, holding the hole that used to be his heart not so long ago and not so far Matsumoto, barely conscious with gun near his hand. Aiba rushed to the Dark Watch’s officer and knelt beside him.
“Matsumoto what did you do?!” He shouted, not sure if he should shake the man, considering the wound on his head.
“N-ninomiya…” Matsumoto mumbled before he passed out. The quiet rustling somewhere in the back was the only sound that broke the silence.