[Multi-chapter] The Watches Series: Avidity (15 - FINAL)
Title: The Watches Series: Avidity
Authors: syunikiss1990 & tsuchi8562
Beta andreja1989 <-- Thank you so so so much!
Pairing: Matsumiya
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: We own nothing but the plot. Oh, and the club is ours...
*MASTERPOST*
“We are gathered to witness the exchange of the Treaty from Border Watch officer Sakurai Sho to the newly trained vessel Aiba Masaki.” The voice of the head of the Border Watch was bored and monotone, exactly how Takeo felt at the moment.
“Present head of the Light Watch, do you vow that no attempt to interrupt the exchange will occur from the side of the Light?” Seitou looked into the eyes of the head of the Border Watch for a moment, vowing the asked both mental and verbal to the other man.
“Present head of the Dark Watch, do you vow that no attempt to interrupt the exchange will occur from the side of the Dark?” He repeated the action of the head of the Light Watch. Of course he wouldn’t do anything to interrupt, it wasn’t worth the trouble.
“Any objections to this exchange can be stated now or will stay silent forever.” The woman waited for a short while, looking at the four other men in the room. A small room inside the Border Watch but closed to curious eyes. Some things were not supposed to be seen by others, the exchange of the Treaty was one of them. Only the heads of the Watches were allowed to witness it, in order to make sure everything would be done properly without any attempt from either of the sides to change something in favor for their Watch. Takeo always thought only the head of the Border Watch would be enough to do that but they seemed to think even that was too dangerous.
The power of the Treaty is an amazing one. It doesn’t exist in words written on paper, nobody really knows what’s inside. Nobody except the one who keeps it safe but only at the time that person keeps it safe. The words disappear from you the moment the Treaty is passed on. Even though nobody knows exactly what’s inside, everybody who is inside the Watches, who swears loyalty to the Watches, is bound by it. At the moment you are about to cross the line you can feel it inside.
But the exchange of the Treaty is also unusual. Passed on through a kiss, lips sealing the words inside. It is the only time the words of the Treaty can get out of someone’s mouth, flowing into the body and mind of the person who gets kissed by the one who holds the Treaty. It may seem easy, just a kiss and you can pass it on but the participants need a certain state of mind to be able to pass it through. Without the right intention the words can’t pass over to the other body. At the moment the exchange starts the one who holds it must be a hundred percent sure to pass it on, just the slightest doubt will make it impossible.
“Sakurai Sho, are you ready to pass the Treaty on?” The eyes of the Border Watch officer never left the eyes of the vessel when he nodded, as if he was making sure he was completely ready for it. Or could it be something else?
“Aiba Masaki, are you ready to receive the Treaty and with that the vow you will keep it save and protect it with your life until you can pass it on?” Another nod but this one was a bit more doubtful. To hold something this important inside, to protect it with your life, it wasn’t nothing. There were only a few people in the world who were able to do this and right now he was the only one known of. He didn’t have a choice, even though he was thought to believe he did have one. It works best if you make the body of the Treaty believe it was done on free will, without any force. Takeo laughed under his breath.
“Please start the exchange.” Aiba looked a bit puzzled at the man in front of him but leaned in when Sakurai moved forward. When their lips met the room fell completely silent, as if any sound was turned off. Even though nothing visibly happened Takeo could feel the power of the exchange in his veins. It didn’t take long before the strange feeling disappeared and he smiled cheekily. If you would ask him, that kiss lasted longer than really needed. This could be interesting.
“Takeo-sama? Please keep your schedule free tomorrow, I have a feeling you will be needed for something.” Seitou said when he walked by the head of the Dark Watch as he left the room. He smiled. He didn’t need to ask what it was about, he had the same feeling the other man probably had. With one last quick glance at the new Treaty and the Border Watch officer he followed the head of the Light Watch out of the small room. The Treaty was exchanged, he was no longer needed here. Whistling a soft tune he walked out of the building which was still way too light and see-through to his liking, on his way back to his own dark office where his usual work waited for him.
***
“Are you sure? Maybe you only need a longer vacation? That can be arranged…” Seitou was leaning against the wall in the hallway of Border Watch headquarters staring at Ninomiya. Since he received the bad news and the resignation letter from one of his best officers he couldn’t sleep. It was like hitting of a lightning. The Light Watch chief came earlier on purpose; he wanted to talk with Nino and try to convince him to stay.
“No, Excellency. I made the right choice. I am truly sorry that I let you down but this is the only thing I am sure of.” The younger man cleaned his throat and paused for a longer while. “I made far too many mistakes that can affect…”
“You think that I don’t know that?! Ninomiya, who do you think I am, a blind kid in the mist?!” Seitou raised his voice for the first time since he became the most important person in Tokyo’s Light Watch, so he took a deep breath. It’s not the best idea to act that harsh in this building. “I know about your small… affairs. You’ve sinned, that is true. I can’t cover it, that would affect us even more but I can hire you the best defender… I’m sure that this can end only with degradation…”
“No, Excellency…” Kazunari repeated and smiled gently. “I appreciate it, but… It’s not only about The Light Watch’s good. I don’t know myself what I should do with my future. I am tired of my current life… I believe that The Watch will be better without me, the rotten apple… I am really sorry, Seitou-sama…” Nino bowed deeply and the older man could swear that he saw some tears in his eyes but he couldn’t assure himself about that. Kazunari was taken to the room for preparations to the operation.
“Isn’t it hard to watch your best employee to walk away just like that?” Familiar voice sounded close to Seitou’s ear.
“I believe that it is not your business, Takeo.” The Light Watch chief didn’t add any honorific on purpose. They knew each other so well and for so long that he knew he can allow himself to do that. “What are you doing here anyway? It’s early…”
“Calm down… I had few things to talk about with the top… I am not your enemy… At least not in that case, I really pity you, you know. Losing such good employee must be really tough…”
“Shut up already…” Seitou had enough. Of course Takeo felt sorry but because he is also losing something right now - an opportunity to weaken the Light Watch by accusing their best officer of having intimate relationship with the Dark Watch worker. Takeo wouldn’t lose anything valuable then, just a mere, insignificant worker but he could hit his enemies with a great power. Calm down… It’s not the time for this… The man scolded himself and went in the room, sitting in the chair that was prepared specially for him.
The chamber was big and cold, with huge tank made from glass filled with water. Except Seitou there were only few people: Takeo, Heiko-sama - the chief of the Border Watch, Sakurai - as the contractor and, of course, Ninomiya. The Light Watch officer was almost naked, only with a small white towel wrapped around his hips. Sho attached some electrodes to Kazunari’s head and made sure that the impulses will go straight to the memory centre in cerebral cortex. Silence was filling the room; nobody didn’t dare to say a word, when finally the only woman, the chief of the Border Watch, asked with concerned voice:
“Are you ready, Ninomiya-san?” It is unusual that an officer, no matter from which side, wants to have his memories erased. Seitou heard that it is painful process…
“Yes, Excellency. I am ready.” Kazunari never sounded that convincing. His eyes met his boss’s while he was already swimming in the tank. He shivered and had goose bumps - a sign of the cold water. The chief of the Light Watch wanted to stop it, he truly wanted to stand up and shout that it shouldn’t be done this way; that vacation is enough but he also knew that this is Ninomiya’s choice, so nothing can be done. Soon the lights inside the room dimmed and Kazunari, submerged completely, released some air bubbles. It was obvious that he felt huge pain but he tried to hide it probably because of his superior. That didn’t make Seitou calmer, quite opposite - he couldn’t watch his employee and friend in this state, but he promised himself not to turn his gaze away. This is his punishment for being too tolerant superior and letting Ninomiya do whatever he wanted. The Light Watch officer was struggling with invisible monster that was invading his awareness and after a short while everything ended. Unconscious Kazunari was taken away to another room, where his new identity will be applied. New life, new documents, new past. So that’s it? The Light Watch lost his best officer… This means a new beginning for Seitou as well. The old man stood up, bowed to the Border Watch chief and left, without looking at his natural enemy.