Back in his lab, Watari darted too and fro between the computer and a bubbling beaker.  003, annoyed at having been left behind, circled his head hooting and chirping sternly at her human.

 

“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t take you along.  You know Tatsumi-san didn’t appreciate it when you reorganized his pen cup.”

 

003 made what could only be called a rude remark, earning her a scandalized look from Watari.

 

“003, where have you picked up such expressions?!”

 

The little owl took her human’s momentary stillness as a chance to land on his shoulder, nipping lightly at his ear with her beak. 

 

Watari couldn’t help laughing softly as he reached up to rub his finger across the soft feathers on the owl’s breast.

 

“All right, all right… you’re forgiven.  Just don’t use that sort of language again.  It’s not ladylike.”

 

Watari was turning back towards his computer when movement in the doorway of his lab caught his ever-wandering attention and he looked up.

 

“Hey there, Hisoka!”  Watari called out cheerfully before the youngest Shinigami had a chance to retreat.

 

Hisoka, who had been contemplating a timely withdrawal, frowned as he stepped back into the doorframe.  The teenager had a guilty look on his face, which only meant his expression appeared a tad more defensive than usual.  However, Hisoka could have saved himself the trouble.  His frown was lost on Watari, who threw himself down onto his desk chair and kicked a lab stool close to his desk in an invitation.   If Tatsumi’s dark moods washed over the scientist like water off a duck’s back, Hisoka’s age-enhanced short temper didn’t stand a chance.

 

Hisoka drove his hands into the pockets of his jeans and scuffed his way into the lab.  A minor explosion from one of the beakers startled the youth, and he looked quickly over at Watari. 

 

Watari beamed maniacally. “I was wondering when that was going to react!  Don’t look so concerned Hisoka, I’m sure it’s safe.”

 

“You’re…sure?”

 

“Well… mostly certain.”

 

“Ah, comforting that.”  Hisoka said in a dry tone as he moved quickly past the smoking beaker to the stool Watari had positioned for him.

 

Perching a slender hip on the stool, Hisoka crossed his arms over his slim chest and started down at the older man.  Though working with Tsuzuki had steadied the young Shinigami to a degree, Hisoka still found little use for small talk and preferred to address his concerns directly.  Surprisingly, in Watari he’d discovered a kindred spirit in that the scientist had a certain blunt manner of his own and seemed to appreciate it in others.

 

“Did you talk to him?”

 

“Tatsumi-san?  Yes, just got back in fact.  He and I have an investigation!”

 

Hisoka blinked and rocked back a little.  Watari sounded almost thrilled at the prospect and Hisoka knew the elder Shinigami was not a big fan of fieldwork.  For that matter, Tatsumi-san was not officially listed as an active agent.

 

“You…you do.”  There was a pause, then a blunt. “Why?”

 

Watari grinned. “Because ‘somebody’ has to do it.”

 

Hisoka frowned.  He sensed nothing but honesty from Watari, after all…Watari spoke the truth… but at the same time there was a sense of something deeper.  However, before Hisoka could delve further, Watari’s deep gold eyes flashed brightly and he bounded to his feet with a delighted cry.

 

“You know, I think my experiment worked!”

 

Hisoka nearly reeled back from the rabidly gleeful emotions that washed over him.  The blast was not particularly unpleasant, but it did cause the younger Shinigami to erect the shields he was learning to control, effectively shutting him off from Watari’s emotions.

 

Turning on the stool, Hisoka studied Watari’s back as the other man swayed gracefully back and forth in front of the table, grabbing up bottles and test tubes.

 

He did that on purpose! Hisoka thought to himself with a sense of dismay. He knew I was reading him, and he purposefully pushed me out.  Huh.

 

003 chirped softly as she landed on Hisoka’s shoulder, drawing his attention from Watari.  Distracted by the little bird, he reached up and stroked a finger between her ears.

 

It had been Hisoka who had dug Watari out of his lab earlier in the day.  He had stopped by to talk about some computer files he needed access to.  Watari’s exuberance at being able to show off his programming skills had briefly overwhelmed the young empath.  Watari had been apologizing to Hisoka when the youth had brushed it off with a casual comment.

 

“Really, it’s all right.  It’s a relief in fact.”

 

“A relief??”

 

“Yeah.  I was just in Tatsumi-san’s office and it was like I was sensing him from the far end of a deep tunnel.  I was afraid something was wrong with the way I was applying the shields.” 

 

“You mean you couldn’t sense Tatsumi?”

 

“No. I mean yes… yes I could sense him but like… you know like I was hearing him from a long distance, all static like and faded.”

 

“Huh… really.”

 

Watari’s intention to speak to Tatsumi almost immediately had danced across the scientist’s emotions, leaving Hisoka to wonder what he’d said to make Watari so intent.  Hence, when he found the scientist back in his lab, he’d given in to a well-hidden curious streak and stopped by to inquire.  Of course, now he had more questions than before.  Like why would Tatsumi-san and Watari-san be undertaking a field investigation? 

 

“Watari-san.”  Hisoka spoke in a low, knowing tone.

 

At the lab table, Watari exhaled a soft breath.  He should have known better than to try to dodge Hisoka.  The boy was too perceptive, with or without his empathy.  

 

“Yes, Hisoka?”  The blonde’s voice was subdued.

 

When the scientist didn’t turn, Hisoka slid off the stool and walked over to the table, standing beside Watari; taking his immortal life in his hands as the blonde continued to mix chemicals together.

 

“Tatsumi-san only goes out into the field when he’s trying to protect one of us.”

 

Hisoka would sense an evasion if Watari tried one at this point, so the older Shinigami choose the wisdom of silence as he carefully measured liquid into a test tube.

 

Hisoka stood there, staring at 003 as the little owl settled on the far side of the table.  When he spoke next, his voice was thoughtful.

 

“And you’re going to protect ‘him’.”

 

Watari’s lips curled upwards.   Yes, the boy was too damn perceptive by far.

 

“Shinigami work in pairs, Hisoka.  As you say, Tatsumi-san is no longer an official agent of the field, so he has no permanent partner.”

 

Hisoka shook his head; his green eyes still slightly dazed as his agile young mind worked on what his empathy was reporting to him. 

 

“There is more to it… than that.”  Hisoka spoke almost to himself.

 

This time, Watari’s smile was toned down but achingly genuine as he set the test tubes into a holder and turned towards Hisoka.  The scientist was careful not to touch the young man, but he passed a hand in front of Hisoka’s face, trying to draw the youth’s attention to him.  As soon as those bright emerald eyes were focused on his face, Watari lowered his hand and spoke in a low serious tone that sounded frighteningly like Tatsumi.

 

“Hisoka, I’m going to do something rare to unheard of for me and ask that you leave this alone for the time being.”

 

Hisoka blinked, stunned not so much by the words but by the tone the older man used.  Used to Watari’s absentminded mannerisms, the younger Shinigami found the intense focus of fathomless amber eyes unnerving.  It was too much like facing the Kagetsukai’s laser-like blue eyes.  Behind the eyes and the tone of voice, however, Hisoka could feel Watari’s genuine need for understanding in the matter. 

 

“Very well.”

 

As if a switch had been thrown, Watari broke from his unnaturally still pose and was once again a whirlwind of activity.  Grabbing up the smoking beaker, he turned towards Hisoka with a bright smile on his face.

 

“Now, would you mind taking a sip of this?  I promise, it won’t hurt.”

 

Hisoka felt the blood leave his face as he took a step back.

 

“Ah… well…. You see I promised Tsuzuki that I’d… I’d…” Hisoka cast about for a suitable excuse and when one wasn’t coming he shook his head and scampered around the far side of the table.

 

“Excuse me, Watari-san, I just remembered something I…” Hisoka motioned towards the door with his hands and then dashed on through the open portal without finishing either of his sentences.

 

Left, standing in the middle of his lab, Watari watched the youth’s less than dignified retreat, waiting until Hisoka had cleared the door before he grinned impishly.

 

“You know 003, sometimes it’s useful to have a reputation as a mad scientist.”

 

Watari saluted the little owl with the beaker and then took a sip of the liquid himself.

 

“Hmm… just as I thought.  Food coloring didn’t spoil the taste of the Darjeeling.”

 

Perched on a bit of glass tubing, 003 gave a small chirp, which sounded suspiciously like an owlish giggle.

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