Hisoka opened Tsuzuki's door and when he placed a hand on his partner's arm, the emotions of the distraught Shinigami flooded over him. Images of earlier that night tumbled uncontrollably into his mind.
/A young girl for whom they had come to take away stared at them with crystalline blue eyes. They sparkled with life and at the same time fear.
"I don't want to go away. What'll happen to Mommy? And to Daddy?"
Tsuzuki's eyes sparkled with unshed tears for a few moments before he was able to strike the blow. The child then went on to Meifu, from where the child was missing./
Hisoka was able to lead Tsuzuki inside the small apartment enough to shut the door. Once the door had closed, Tsuzuki slid to the ground in a sobbing ball. Hisoka's empathy nearly caused him physical pain as he approached, but he refused to acknowledge it and wrapped his arms around his partner.
"What have I done?," Tsuzuki choked out.
/A field full of bloody roses stretched out before him. Voices crying for mercy echoed in his ears.
"I'm sorry... I did what I could"/
Hisoka could do nothing for his partner as Tsuzuki fell deeper and deeper into his own mind. As Tsuzuki got lost in another time, his shielding broke down and pounded at Hisoka. Hisoka was left with no choice but to open full to the older Shinigami. Another scene flashed before Hisoka's eyes and another, faster and faster they came.
/"This concludes our contract, Hijiri Minase.../
/"There is nowhere you can run. Everyone despises you," the Devil snarled at Tsuzuki./
/"Leave me alone," Tsuzuki cried as he ran from people as a young child./
/"If I win, you will be my prize," Muraki said suggestively as the cards were being shuffled./
"Tsuzuki? Tsuzuki? You have to come back. There are people who care about you like Tastumi, Konoe, and Watari. But, most of all me. I *NEED* you to come back; I don't want to be alone again," Hisoka whispered in Tsuzuki's ear.
/Touda slithered through the crumbling remains of Muraki's lab. Tsuzuki raised his arms to accept the serpent's gift of eternal rest./
"No! Tsuzuki!," Hisoka cried out as he felt Tsuzuki's consciousness fade as he allowed himself to disappear within his own mind.
/Tsuzuki, his eyes blank, sitting against the wall - waiting for his destruction to come. Himself, wrapping his arms around his partner, begging Tsuzuki to live for himself./
Hisoka felt a stir of Tsuzuki's consciousness and then a moment later he felt arms wrapping around his body.
"Hi...so...ka...," Tsuzuki managed in between the sobs wracking his immortal body.
"Hai, Tsuzuki-san? I'm here. It's okay," Hisoka whispered in Tsuzuki's ears as he started to settle down within the safety of Hisoka's arms.
Tsuzuki looked up at him with tear streaked eyes and whispered, "Aishiteru... Hisoka-kun." A moment later, Tsuzuki's eyes fluttered shut and he drifted off to sleep.
"I will live for you as long as you live for me. Aishiteru, baka...," Hisoka said softly as he kissed Tsuzuki's forehead and watched him sleep.