[Multi-chapter] The Watches Series: Affinity (6/??)
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 was not supposed to fall asleep on the couch and most certainly not to fall asleep alone. Or wasn’t he alone? He couldn’t remember he had covered himself with a blanket but he was lying warmly underneath one. When he slowly opened his eyes he noticed he was alone but he heard some noises from the bathroom. Had he been that tired after their activities that he had fallen asleep so fast that he never noticed Aiba coming back? He was sure he had been waiting for the younger man to come out of the bathroom after he suddenly left but he had fallen asleep when it took longer than expected. He knew he hadn’t fallen asleep right away but what had taken the younger man so long to return? The door of the bathroom opening got him out of his thoughts and quickly he sat up, looking at the figure coming out of it.
“Good morning Sho-chan.” Aiba said cheerfully when he saw the older man was awake. He muttered a sleepy ‘morning’ back as his mind still tried to wrap around everything. Instead of the boxers he had seen his lover last in, he was wearing one of his oversized sleeping shirts now. Of course it was possible he got those on before he came back to Sho but it still bothered him. Stretching his body he got up and after he picked up his boxers and put them on, he faced the younger man, deciding it would be better to face him about it right away and not ruin their trip to Shanghai with it.
“Masaki, about last night…”
“I’m really sorry Sho-chan. I really thought it would be okay if I would go out with company from the Border Watch, I never realized Sachiko-san was still a newbie. I just thought that if she had accompanied you to Kyoto it would be okay for me to go out with her.” Why did he avoid his gaze and bring this up again? Why did he suddenly look so small as if he tried to get away from him at this moment while he had been so cheerful just a few seconds ago?
“No, I should say I’m sorry for that. I overreacted. You couldn’t have known she was still new.”
“I could have asked…” Sakurai laughed softly, finally making Aiba look at him in confusion.
“Why would you even think of asking someone a question like that?” Aiba smiled back weakly. Sho sighed and stepped forward, pulling the taller man in an embrace.
“Look, we are both new in this. You are not used to all these rules and I'm not used to protect someone every single second of the day. We both need to grow into it but I'm sure we'll get through.”
“I'll just try to get used living in this cage...” Aiba softly muttered in his shoulder. Grabbing the other man’s shoulders he pushed him away a bit so he could look into his eyes.
“That is not what I want. You will be unhappy by doing that and that's the last thing I want. I got too overwhelmed in my feelings because I want to protect you from everything that I forgot to look or listen to you.”
“I don't blame you. You have your job to protect me because I'm so important to the world. Of course you would want me to stay in a safe place so I won't get into trouble and bring the world in danger.” He hated that sad look in the taller mans eyes that was present most of the time since he became the Treaty. Smiling slightly he leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his lips.
“Yes and no. I want you to stay in a safe place but the fact that you would bring the world in danger isn't the main reason I want you to. I want you in a safe place so I know I won't lose you, because I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me. To you, not to the Treaty.” Finally a smile and a faint blush appeared on the younger man’s face. Grinning widely he placed another soft kiss on his lips.
“Now that's better. Shall we have some breakfast? I'm starving.” Aiba giggled and freed himself from his tight embrace.
“That's your own fault, you wouldn't let me make you dinner last night by attacking me.” The last part of the sentence was much softer and slower than the beginning, as if the younger man suddenly realized he made some kind of mistake by saying this. Sakurai looked at his figure quickly disappearing in their kitchen and remembered what he had wanted to ask him in the first place. Slowly he followed Aiba to the kitchen, a bit lost in thoughts. Somehow it felt like the man was trying to avoid the subject, even though he hadn't said anything about it yet.
“Aiba-chan? Why did you leave so suddenly last night? Did I do something wrong?” For a second the movements of Aiba froze, but he continued preparing the breakfast almost right away like nothing happened.
“No, you didn't do anything wrong. Really, it was amazing, especially since you made me wait for so long since we returned.”
“But then why?”
“I had to use the bathroom. That's not really weird is it?” The taller man turned around to face him and when he saw Sho was within reach he grabbed him behind his neck and kissed him almost brutally. Even though his breath was taken away by the kiss, it was too desperate and it made Sho certain the man was trying to hide something.
“Why didn't you come back then?” He asked as soon as they broke apart. Again his gaze was avoided and the younger man’s eyes slightly widened when he looked at something Sho couldn't see.
“Oh we are running late! We need to be at the airport in an hour already.”
“Masaki...”
“You can get dressed first; I'll make us some sandwiches to take with us.” Not finding enough strength to resist, Sho let himself been pushed out of the kitchen towards the bathroom. What was Aiba hiding? Now he knew for sure the younger man hadn’t returned from the bathroom and he had indeed been waiting for him for a long time before finally falling asleep. But what was the reason? When he looked at the small clock in the bathroom he realized Aiba was right, they were running late for their escort to the airport. Sighing he decided to let last night go for a while and focus on getting to the airport in time. Just when he wanted to close the door he heard a familiar tune coming from somewhere near the couch. Quickly he started to search for the source of it and finally spotted his phone half under the couch he had spend the night on. Without looking at the caller’s id he picked up.
“Sakurai, your trip is postponed. We need you and Aiba-sama in the office as soon as possible.” The voice of the head of the Border Watched said before he could say anything. Confused he looked at the kitchen where he could still hear the noises of Masaki preparing their breakfast, as if the other man would come out and explain it to him, which of course didn’t happen.
“Of course but why? Has something happened?”
“Ohno heard Aiba is back in Tokyo and demands we reopen his case. He claims his Trial wasn’t fair because of the absence of one of the main testifiers.” Sho looked at Masaki who came out of the kitchen towards him, looking confused.
“You will receive more information when you get here. Just make sure you two are ready to leave as soon as possible, a car is on its way.” Without waiting for a confirmation the woman had already hung up the phone. Frowning Sho looked at the phone in his hand before looking at Masaki again.
“Change of plans, we are needed at the office. Ohno is reopening the case and he wants you to testify. I’m not sure what he hopes to accomplish by that but we don’t have much choice.”
“He wants me to testify? Why?” Sho pulled up his shoulders, just as clueless as the other man.
“I have no idea. All I know is that a car is on its way to pick us up, so we have to hurry.” Masaki nodded and hurried back to the kitchen while Sho quickly changed. By the time they were ready the car from the office was already waiting for them outside the apartment building. They were handed some files to read on their way and Sho found out it wasn’t much different from the first time, except this time Aiba had to testify and Ninomiya would be absent. Luckily the ex Light Watch officer had been smart enough to write his testimonies regarding this case down, so Ohno couldn’t do anything about this in his advantage. When they arrived at the building of the Border Watch they noticed a very familiar figure walking in front of them. The man turned around when Sakurai called for him and he waved slightly as he waited for them to come close enough to exchange greetings.
“Good morning Sakurai-san, Aiba-sama.”
“Matsumoto-san, you look tired.” Sho said. The Dark Watch officer smiled weakly.
“I’m really busy since the promotion. There are a lot of different cases that need my attention. I have been working all night and when I finally thought I could get some sleep I got called that this bastard wants to open his case again. Do you have any idea why?” Sho slowly shook his head and next to him he noticed Masaki was doing the same.
“I have no idea what he wants to accomplish with it. He was already found guilty and I don’t think that Aiba-sama can make a difference.”
“I think it’s only in his disadvantage if I testify, now that I know what he was really up to.” Masaki said. The three of them started to walk to the court inside the building, walking into the head of the Border Watch who just wanted to enter the room.
“You are already here. Thank you for coming so fast.” The three of them bowed in front of her before Sakurai asked:
“What is the reason he wants to open his case up again? Doesn’t he see it’s a lost one for him, no matter what he tries?” The woman sighed.
“He says it isn’t complete if Aiba-sama didn’t testify. Maybe he believes he is on his side? Anyway, he requested to reopen it and seeing his arguments he has a right to do so, we couldn’t refuse.” They followed her inside, seeing Ohno was sitting in front of the judge’s desk already and some people had gathered to witness. It appeared they were the last ones to arrive as the door was closed by one of the guards after they stepped inside the hall and the judge came in from the room behind her desk. After the official greetings and introductions Aiba was requested right away to come forward and take place in front of the judge.
“Aiba Masaki-san, do you swear by the Treaty that every word you will speak in this chair will be the truth and the truth only.” Aiba laughed softly.
“Seeing I am the Treaty I don’t think it’s possible for me to lie, but yes I swear.”
“Very well. Could you please tell us what you had to do with the suspect Ohno Satoshi?” Aiba thought about it for a moment.
“Not much really. I never met him before, I only got orders and calls from him for deliveries and messages. I only made sure everything he asked of me was done, which was no more than making those deliveries and making sure the right messages would go to the right person. Most of the time I was unaware of the content of these, the only time I was allowed to see them was with Ninomiya-san’s file.” The judge nodded and looked at the papers in front of her.
“Did you have any idea of the real objectives of Ohno Satoshi?”
“I had no idea at all. I only got orders to make those deliveries and swear to keep quiet about everyone involved but was never trusted with enough information about the real objectives.”
“Is it true that you were ordered to get information from the Light Watch officer Haishin Yuuichiro who was the main informant of Ohno Satoshi?”
“Objection” Ohno said loud enough to make the hall go completely silent. “The way you are asking this is too subjective.”
“Denied Ohno-san, please keep quiet.” Ohno muttered something but stayed silent after a dangerous glare from the judge.
“Yes, I was ordered to meet Yuuichiro-san but I had no idea he was involved in the Light Watch. I didn’t know about the Watches at all in that time. I met with him several times and every time the envelopes got thicker and he was paid more, so I’m guessing the information which was sold was getting more every time.”
“This isn’t solid enough. I want Yuuichiro to testify as well.” Ohno said with a smile.
“Ohno-san, I think you are informed enough to know that Yuuichiro-san has disappeared right after we caught you.”
“So you still haven’t found him?” Sakurai found the evil smile on his face really disturbing and even though he didn’t want it, it sends shivers down his spine. Next to the judge he saw Aiba move in his chair a bit, clearly uncomfortable as well. The fact that Yuuichiro had disappeared wasn’t new to Sakurai but he was just as surprised as Ohno that he still hadn’t been caught. Normally the Watches found someone they wanted to find pretty fast.
“I find the lack of evidence and few people who are involved who are present a bit disturbing. If you would ask me, you don’t have a solid case here to keep me behind bars. I want to be released until you have a fully solid case against me. You have no right to keep me in prison, you are not even legalized to do this.” A wave of mutters washed through the hall. Sakurai looked at the judge who was clearly trying to keep calm under the accusations of Ohno.
“Ohno-san, we have written testimonies of everyone who was part of your gang. Everything was written down before their memories were erased. We have witnesses in this audience, namely Border Watch officer Sakurai Sho and Dark Watch officer Matsumoto Jun, who saw you murder an innocent woman and attempt to destroy the Treaty. It’s solid enough prove of your guilt, everything pleads you guilty, what are you trying to accomplice with this?”
“I want you to see through your own lies. The balance of nature can’t be kept by humans, it must be in nature’s own hands.” A mad spark lit the man’s eyes as he spoke and truly set on fire when the judge loudly exclaimed ‘enough’, making him look like a madman. Sakurai couldn’t stop the thought that he was happy this man would stay behind bars the rest of his life, he clearly had no idea of the danger he caused the world by his statements. They must be happy they caught him on time, if you could still call it on time when the life of the previous Treaty was lost.
“Ohno Satoshi, your case has been overlooked again, new testimonies have been heard. The previous sentence of life-long imprisonment in the Border Watch prison, without any chance to get released because of good behavior will stay intact. If you don’t have anything useful to say you will be taken away.” Ohno smiled and looked Aiba straight in his eyes.
“I have one useful thing left to say your Excellency.” Even though the last part was said with much sarcasm the judge nodded her head.
“I want to say to Aiba-sama that I hope he will be happy in his new role as body of the biggest lie created in this world. I hope, with all my heart, that he will see through and destroy it or that he may fall apart while protecting it. I hope it’s worth every single sacrifice you will have to make.” The shocked expression in Aiba’s eyes made Sakurai close to jumping on his feet and hit the man in his face but luckily the guards were faster and dragged the small man out of the hall, back into his little cell deep within the Border Watch where he would have to stay the rest of his miserable life.