[Multi-chapter] The Watches Series: Affection (8/??)
Title: The Watches Series: Affection
Authors: tsuchi8562
Beta: andreja1989 <-- as always arigatou ♥
Pairing: MatsuMiya, Sakuraiba (side pairing)
Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Romance
Rating PG-13
Disclaimer: We own nothing... We just designed J's apartment
*MASTERPOST*
“Excuse me, but what do you mean by getting my memories back?” Ninomiya was confused. Most probably because the guy called Aiba stormed his apartment at 2 AM and started his hilarious speech about some Watches, Treaty and his past. Kazunari didn’t understand anything from this, because this Masaki guy was spitting the words with the speed of light, not leaving any place for questions.
“I mean, to remember everything, your cooperation with Matsumoto-san, Haishin Yuuichiro’s case and Ohno-san!”
“Masaki, please slow down or let me bring out everything.” Sakurai, who was sitting silent until now, interrupted his boyfriend. Nino knew that there is something more between them than a simple friendship, it was visible at a first sight.
“Can somebody, ANYBODY tell me what’s going on here?”
“Yes, I am sorry Ninomiya-san. Let me explain everything again, this time slower. Please, forgive Masaki, he is hotheaded…” Sho bowed gently and after a small sigh he started his story. Or more exact - Kazunari’s story.
In the next hour the smallest man’s eyes grew bigger, when he was enlightened by the Border Watch’s officer about things he didn’t even suspect that exist. This whole tale sounded like a cheap fantasy book; the eternal war between good and evil, some balance and a Treaty… Ninomiya got confused when the names appeared, trying to understand and accept the things he just heard, but that was beyond his imagination.
“Let’s assume that the whole story is true… What do you expect me to do? How can I help J?”
“You knew Yuuichiro the best; also you worked with Matsumoto. You may have the key to that case…”
“C-can I think about it? Understand, you are talking about throwing my life upside down…” Kazunari sighed and looked through the window. Aiba wanted to say something but was shut up by Sakurai.
“I understand, we will give you time but please, don’t delay your decision. We need your help. Matsumoto needs you…” Sho left his card on the table and left with Aiba.
He doesn’t need me at all. Ninomiya thought and lay down on the couch. His mind was in mess trying to put all pieces of puzzles in one picture. In a way everything had sense: the mysterious Jun’s job, his tattoo, the secret badge, the inlay on his door. But there was one question that didn’t seem to have any logical answer. Why Matsumoto got involved with a relationship (more or less) with him? Jun had to know Nino, his memories wasn’t erased (assuming that this whole incredible story is true). Were they lovers before? Neither Sakurai nor Aiba mentioned it before but they didn’t have to know about it. According to their tale Ninomiya and Jun were enemies. Forbidden love? Kazunari laughed on a thought and sit up, reaching for the beer can.
“Sounds like a fucking fairy-tale...” The man smirked and drank a big gulp. Probably that was the moment when he decided… Not because of his “great love” to Matsumoto, but out of simple curiosity. He wants to understand why he ended up with that pretty diva and, what was more important - finally become equal. Nino somehow felt through all those months that he is losing in a way with Jun; something wasn’t right in their relationship and it wasn’t only because of all of those secrets. Matsumoto seemed more powerful and… majestic than Kazunari and the older man didn’t like it. Now he had the ace in his sleeve - he could become the same and that was the weight that tipped the scale on the right side. Without hesitating, he grabbed his phone and dialed Sho’s number.
“I’ll do it.” Those were the only words he said before hanging up. Nino was sure that it was enough and when the Border Watch’s officer will be ready, he will call him back with the instructions. Now all he needed was a nice dose of sleep. He covered with the blanket when birds were already chirping.
***
Why does it have to be a forest? Kazunari didn’t like it at all, not only because he was wet from pouring rain but also because it was still in the middle of the night and he was still waiting for the only person who could perform the ritual - Sakurai. Finally, after fifteen minutes black car appeared, turning off its light as soon as they entered the forest.
“At last!” Nino mumbled, covering better in his coat. “I thought that I was stood up!”
“Sorry, I couldn’t get here earlier, you know - work. Are you ready?”
“I am freezing! And yes, let’s get over with it.” I want to remember my previous experiences with that freakin’ princess. He added in his mind. He truly wanted to understand everything better, so without any complains he followed Sho.
“Where is your pet?” Kazunari asked when the silence started to be unbearable.
“My who?”
“Aiba… where is he?”
“Masaki is at home, this is the ritual that can be performed only by one person. We just have to reach the perfect place…”
“Why does it always have to be forest?” Ninomiya asked. “In every freaking sci-fi movie forest just has to appear…”
“Normally we’re doing it in our headquarters. I can’t say that we do it often, I myself wasn’t even a witness of the ritual, but I read about it a lot. I wrote an essay about…”
“Wait! You never done this before?!” Nino froze and looked at the back of the latter.
“No, I didn’t. But I know only one person who did it and she is not from Tokyo. Please try to understand that this isn’t a common thing. Officers with erased memories don’t come back to service. Never. There is no need for that. You are an exception. Please, trust me. I may not know the practice but I know theory very well.”
“You sounded like a horny virgin boy… Okay, I trust you… Just hurry, I am freezing.” Ninomiya passed Sho by and walked slowly, hearing nervous laugh behind him. He didn’t knew where exactly he should go now, but with Sakurai’s instructions soon both of them were standing in front of old hut, somewhere in the middle of a clearing.
“We’re here. Let’s go inside and prepare everything. I want to go back before dawn.” The Border Watch’s officer sighed and went in the building. There was no electricity there, so they lit the candles and cleaned the floor a bit, putting a futon and a pillow next to the fireplace.
“It looks like a secret date. Nee, Sakurai-san… It’s my first time… Be gentle…” Kazunari blinked innocently few times, trying not to laugh.
“I know you are nervous, Ninomiya-san, but you can cut the stupid jokes out. It won’t help me in any way, considering the fact that I have to focus. One careless move and you will become a vegetable…”
“WHAT?!” The younger man sat up and looked at the latter, shocked. “Listen, you didn’t say anything about…”
“Calm down, it was a joke. See what stupid fooling around can do? In the worst case you just won’t get back your memories. Now, relax, lie back down and close your eyes. Don’t worry virgin boy, I’ll be gentle…” Sho smirked and sat next to Kazunari. Nino took a deep breath, loosened up his muscles and waiting for further instructions.
“Relax, clear your mind from every thought. Even your breath with mine. In and out… In and out…” Sakurai’s voice was calming; you could even risk a statement that it was soothing. When he stopped thinking about anything, the Border Watch’s officer’s voice became quieter and lower, invading his mind and creating images, weaving threads in big rug; putting the pieces of puzzles in the right place. Slowly, minute after minute Kazunari started to remember everything - from his admission to service, through his forbidden affairs to Haishin’s case and his dangerous relationship with Dark Watch’s officer Matsumoto. Every single piece of memories came back with great force, squeezing his lungs, not letting him to breathe, so he opened his eyes wide and coughed hard.
“Are you okay, Ninomiya-san?” Sho’s concern voice came like from the distance.
“I… am fine… Grey one…” Kazunari smirked and tried to calm down his breath. He understood everything now; his feelings towards Jun and his reasons behind the resignation from work in Light Watch. All become clearer now and thus it made Ninomiya mad. How could Jun do it to him?! How he can simply hit on him in that fucking bar, knowing his past and true identity? Matsumoto used him only because he liked having sex with him. He liked it so damn much that he stayed with him for over a year. The fact that practically Jun couldn’t say a word about Nino’s past didn’t matter; he shouldn’t have even talked to him, not mentioning getting involved in relationship! To think that he fell for such a scumbag!
“Love…?” Ninomiya whispered and closed his eyes.
“Did you say something?” Sakurai looked at the latter and gave him a bottle of water.
“N-no, just… I feel dizzy a bit.”
“It’s normal. Your brain is defending itself, it received far too many information at once. You should go back home and rest… I…”
“Sakurai-san, take me to the Border Watch’s jail. I need to see Matsumoto.”
“Are you crazy?! How can I bring a civilian inside the headquarters, not mentioning the jail! We can’t tell anybody that you got your memories back! God, I don’t even want to think about the consequences…”
“You want me to help that stupid kid? I have to talk to him! The sooner the better! Sakurai-san, I understand that you can’t do anything… But please, just take me back to Tokyo, I’ll figure out myself how to get in.”
“I’ll take you home and that’s it.”
“Sakurai-san…”
“I said I’ll take you home. I won’t be responsible for your other actions.”
“Thank you…”
“Let’s go. I have no time for this.”
***
The Border Watch’s headquarters looked exactly the same. No wonder - why change something that looks perfect? Kazunari sneezed and put a hood on; the rain finally stopped pouring, but wind didn’t seem to stop. Nino just changed his clothes and rushed to the place when his lover was held. He had to go inside, not matter what but he didn’t have any clue how to do it. He can’t just walk in and ask for a meeting with a man suspected for murder! In the eyes of the Watches Ninomiya was still a simple civilian. Suddenly, a stupid idea hit him; it was irrational and illogical but it was the only thing he could do. Without hesitating he went inside the building and simply punched the first person he saw right in the face. This was tricky because he wasn’t sure he's going to share a cell with Jun. Kazunari didn’t even know if they will put him in Watch’s jail at all! They could simply call the police or just throw him out. That’s why he shouted a silly thing about keeping balance. It could be considered as a threat to the Treaty, but also could be a simple remark about the fight they just had.
“Take him to the interrogation room…” The punched man said to some guards.
“We can’t… Remember, we have fifteen people to interrogate… Suburbs riot…? We also have only one free place… You know, with that crazy guy…” The guard whispered and Kazunari observed the conversation, amused.
“Fuck… Okay, lock him in, we can’t take such risk, he may know something. Listen, mister…” The man turned to Nino. “You’ll spend the night here… We’ll talk in the morning.” Before Kazunari could react in any way he was taken to the jail and thrown to a dark cell. His hand hurt, he unfortunately punched the guy with his left hand, which was weak after a fracture long time ago.
“Damn, I always forgot…” He mumbled and rubbed the palm, wincing and hissing a bit.
“Who’s there?!” A familiar, but tired voice sounded in the small room. Ninomiya couldn’t help but smile.
“Yo, Cinderella. Missed me?”