Communion

Watari slowly filled two test tubes with his gender change formula and corked them. He sighed happily. Only a bird lover like himself would have noticed that 003 was a boy yesterday. He had only made enough of the antidote for her, though he had left notes on how to make more in plain sight, in an overdue library book in Wakaba’s apartment. He would save his greatest potion for another day. He had already decided on his test subjects. Well, it was more of a prank than a test really.

Over the years, his smile had frayed around the edges. He still made the effort to be Tsuzuki’s best friend. He didn’t hate Tsuzuki or even resent him much. He did hate that his beautiful friend was nearly always the center of attention. Even his most outrageous and annoying potions and inventions had never gotten him more than seven consecutive minutes of Tatsumi’s wrath. He wasn’t afraid of the shadow master, even at his grouchiest. It was nice to be noticed.

He checked his watch with a little smile and settled behind his desk to take notes. He could type quickly, but preferred to write things out longhand. Everything seemed more tangible in ink. He often wished that he could get and keep a tattoo about his afterlife, but long before it was finished, the ink would simply ooze out of him and his body would heal. He knew from experience.

He furiously jotted down notes about widely different topics: the pros and cons of speaking frankly with Tatsumi, what made Tsuzuki happiest, new ideas for potential solutions to Terazuma’s problem and bon’s curse.

He would get the bare minimum of sleep until he solved these riddles. He could exist on four hours a night for awhile. Then he could rest. He would use all of the magical and scientific means at his disposal and accept the repercussions.

Enma Daioh had expressly forbidden him from practicing demonology, the only magical discipline that he had mastered. Yes, he had caught Tsuzuki in a magical snare once to prove he was a demon, but that was twenty years ago and he hadn’t known that it would hurt.

He had immediately released him and apologized.

Watari pulled off his gloves and walked towards 003. She was sitting on her perch watching him with large intelligent eyes. He petted her soft feathers and she hooted.

“No girl, it’s for the best.” He whispered gently. “I’m going out with a bang. Hmm, I wonder when-”

Tatsumi barged into the lab. Watari spun around with a cheeky grin.

“Was there something you wanted, Tatsumi-san?” He asked.

The irate secretary spent the next ten minutes raging and pacing. Watari was fluent in Japanese of course, though his family had spoken English at home. He rarely even heard his native language outside of karaoke bars nowadays. Still, he was finding it difficult to follow what Tatsumi saying, probably because he was speaking backwards.

“I’m having trouble understanding you. I probably should have made an antidote.” Watari teased and Tatsumi actually shook him. He laughed. Bribing Yuma into drugging the man’s coffee with his new talk backwards formula was well worth the expense. Tatsumi would remember this (and him) for decades. “Hmm? Please tell Daioh-sama I apologize for ruining his meeting.” He fished the antidote from the pocket of his lab coat and handed it to Tatsumi. “Oops, I guess I forgot that I did make an antidote. Pretty silly, ne?”

The secretary quickly drank the blue goop.

“I’m cutting your funding until you have to pay to work here!” He growled.

“Feel free.” Watari turned around and walked back to 003. “I always get plenty of money for my lab, even when you take it all away.”

“How do you do that anyway?”

“Free blowjobs for the Count if you believe common gossip.”

“I don’t.” Tatsumi said.

“Good.” Watari laughed as 003 settled herself in his hair. “I was already getting the funding I wanted before that rumor started. I‘m not saying I wouldn‘t, just that I haven‘t.”

“Don‘t say mean stuff about yourself, sensei.” Tatsumi said, but the blonde only shrugged. “There’s a feather in your hair.”

“I’ll take it out later. I don’t want to disturb 003.”

“I could get it.” Tatsumi offered. "I'll be careful."

“Please.”

The Elder Gushoshin appeared.

“My brother sent me an urgent message.” He said. “The Queen Camellia’s about to sink.”

“I...” Tatsumi forgot what he was going to say. “I’m sorry I shook you, Watari-sensei.”

“It’s okay. Go save Tsuzuki.”

The scientist sat at his desk and began writing. Tatsumi walked out of the lab without saying goodbye. It was for the best that Gushoshin interrupted them. He might have kissed the blonde if he had stayed any longer.

He knew that his feelings were not one sided, but he didn't trust himself. He had done things in the past that frightened him, his last night with Tsuzuki worst of all.

Tsuzuki had only been trying to make him mad so that he would play harder. He always pushed. Tatsumi had once enjoyed the older shinigami’s playful cruelty. He headed towards the helipad with a heavy heart.

He was lonely and he loved Watari, strange ways, annoying potions and all. The energetic blonde had been cheerful even on the day he died and became a shinigami. Of course, he’d still been drunk from dying of alcohol poisoning, but as Tatsumi would soon realize, Watari was always cheerful.

The next day Watari had been pretty much the same as the first, though thankfully less inclined to sing. Tatsumi had been in a funk and snapped at him for being annoying.

Watari had only winked and said. “Smiles are free.”