Fallen Angel

Shadow Master Tatsumi stretched his aching back and glanced at the
clock on his desk, blinking when he realized it was almost past office
hours - and he hadn't seen neither hide nor hair from his lover the entire
day. Thinking of it - ever since 003 had returned a week ago Watari had
been a little laid back, silent. He had thought that after the reappearance
of the little owl Watari would return back to his old cheerful self, but
something seemed to be on his lover's mind still, and it worried the Shadow
Master. Tatsumi shut down his computer and left his office, heading toward
the direction of the lab with every intent to drag his lover out of there.

It was empty.

Oh no, Tatsumi thought, remembering only too well how he had
found Watari the last time.

Just when he was about to leave a large red envelope with his name on
it caught his eye. Frowning Tatsumi picked up the envelope, reading the
card that it contained and frowned even deeper. After a short glance at
his watch the Shadow Master decided to do what he rarely did - teleport
home.

 

 

Exactly two hours later an elegantly dressed man with intense blue eyes
stepped out into the streets of New York, looking aroud as if he were searching
for somebody. He raised one eyebrow as a black carriage stopped in front
of him, the driver greeting him.

"Mr. Tatsumi?"

"Yes?"

"If you'd get in, sir, I'll get you to your destination."

"Thank you."

The ride through the evening streets of New York was rather peaceful,
though Tatsumi wished he'd had his lover at his side. It didn't take too
long before the carriage stopped at a large hotel and its name alone made
Tatsumi's bookkeeper heart ache.

"This is your destination, sir," the driver said.

Tatsumi thanked the man and wanted to get out, but the door was already
pulled open by the uniformed man who was standing guard at the hotel's
entrance. Tatsumi nodded his thanks, entering the large lobby.

It was a dream of mahogany, expensive carpeting, marble and glass. Uniformed
employees moved purposefully through the reception hall, showed guests
to the elevators, carried luggage and helped out those who wanted some
touristy ride, a cab or a limousine.

"Mr. Tatsumi, sir?"

"Yes?"

Tatsumi turned and came face to face with a man in his mid-forties in
a clean-cut black suit with a matching, maroon tie and a whit eshirt. His
dark blond hair was combed back and the smooth face suntanned. Blue eyes
smiled at him.

"I'm Roger Thomas, the manager. Welcome to the Regency, sir. Your baggage
has already arrived. This is Henry, our lift boy. He will accompany you
to your destination. Henry, the penthouse."

Tatsumi felt overwhelmed as he thanked Thomas. He did his best to suppress
his surprise at all of this, just went with the flow, but he would certainly
have a word or two with a certain shinigami about wasting money.

Henry was a young man, maybe early twenties, with a ready grin and bright
brown eyes. Like all employees he was uniformed. Henry showed him to the
elevator and accompanied him to the penthouse, which could only be reached
by inserting a key in a lock inside the elevator car.

Very exclusive.

Very... expensive.

Tatsumi pushed away that thought. The book keeper was off work.

But damn if this didn't cost Watari a fortune!

 

 

 

Tatsumi closed the door of the penthouse behind him and only then took
the time to look around, take in his surroundings. The suite was large,
to say the least, almost as big as his entire apartment combined with Watari's.
There was a couch three times as big as his own, a bar at the far end of
the room, a desk with an integrated computer screen. The entire suite spoke
of taste and wealth.  What the hell was his lover thinking?! Speaking
of which - where was Watari?

"Yutaka?"

No response.

Stepping further into the room Tatsumi caught a flash of movement -
curtains shifted by a soft evening breeze, due to the wide open balcony
doors.

Tatsumi went out onto the balcony, following the faint sound of - violin
music? Blinking, the Shadow Master recognized the sound of his favorite
violin concert, and he followed it around the corner - who had ever heard
of hotel balconies so large they had corners - and stopped dead in his
tracks at the sight that greeted him.

"Seii."

There, bathed in the soft lumiscence of the setting sun, stood his lover.
Dressed in black pants and jacket over an anthracite silk shirt, the stubborn
strands of long golden hair tied back in a pony tail, only a few strands,
still refusing to obey, were moving slightly with the breeze. The balcony
was lit by what appeared to be hundreds of candles, creating an unearthly
- and quite intimate - atmosphere. It was breathtaking. Golden eyes were
looking at him with an unreadable expression, as Watari handed him a glass
of Champagne.

"Taka, what ... ?"

"Shh ... " Soft lips brushed over his as Watari claimed his lips gently,
and he could taste a faint trace of Champagne.

"Starting without me?"

"Just a little. I'm glad you came, Seii. Let's eat."

It was then Tatsumi noticed the elegantly laid out table in the middle
of the balcony, the fine china, the sparkling cystal ...

"Taka, what's this all about? You don't have that much money to waste
... "

"I don't want to talk about money right now, Seii. Please, take a seat.
The soup is getting cold."

"Tak..."

Watari sealed his lips with another kiss, gently pushing him into the
chair.

"Please, Seii. I want to do this. I've been thinking about this for
quite some time now, and I want you to enjoy the evening."

And Tatsumi couldn't do anything but obey.

 

 

Eyeing his dessert cautiously Tatsumi hesitantly took his spoon. It
had been a delicious menue, starting with a light clear ox tail soup, followed
by snails in herbal butter, steamed salmon and vegetables with an excellent
Chardonnay, Coq au vin accompanied by a tasty Pommard, and was now ending
with a light Crème brulée and Amontillado Sherry.

"You're looking suspicious, Seii. What's wrong? The dessert won't jump
you."

"No." He put his spoon aside, regarding his lover. "Taka, this is a
wonderful evening, and I enjoy it very much, but I'd enjoy it even more
if I'd know what this is all about. You're not going to ask for my hand
in marriage, are you? Because my father's long time gone now."

Watari laughed, but the sound made something inside Tatsumi shiver with
suspicion.

"Yutaka ... "

"All right." Watari was serious all of a sudden, looking at him with
huge golden eyes, the lights of the candles bathing him in a soft light
and making the golden depths sparkle. Tatsumi was ready to eat him.

"I love you, Tatsumi Seiichirou. Happy anniversary."

Anniversary?

"Anniversary?"

Watari smirked mischiviously.

"Don't tell me you of all people forgot? One year today, Seii. I'd never
have believed you'd stand me for a month, let alone ... one year. And after
everyting that happened during this time, you've been with me through the
proverbial good and bad times ... no, I don't ask you to marry me, Seii,
but ... how about the honey moon? This suite is ours until Sunday night."

"Taka ... I don't know what to say."

"How about 'yes'?"

"Yes."

Tatsumi stood, and Watari almost flew into his arms, lips meeting his
halfway.

"I love you, Watari Yutaka. Never forget that, will you? Now, about
this honeymoon idea of yours..."

The cool night breeze extinguished the last candle while a little fluffy
owl the size of a tennis ball landed on one of the chairs, turned its head
toward the still open balcony doors and clicked its beak in satisfaction
at the soft sighs, gasps and exclamations of two people making passionate
love.