This is my first fic to be posted on here. I just want to thank anyone who actually takes the time to read this. It is greatly appreciated. :) Hope someone finds this story amusing!

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The Yami No Matsuei Cinderella story.

Once upon a time-- alright no the beginning of this tale must be a bit more creative…

Our story begins in Meifu the land of the dead. Quite cheerful, no? It was a beautiful day, the sakura trees were in full bloom naturally, and as always our beloved Shinigami's from the summons department were hard at work. We then get a nice close-up of everyone's favorite Shinigami doing what he does best. Within the office we have Kurosaki Hisoka finishing up some paperwork, while his partner Tsuzuki Asato is in deep slumber dreaming of only he would know what.

Hisoka grunted to himself and contemplated whether it was worth the trouble to wake the ol' goon up. Before he had a chance to decide if it would be wise or not, there was a knock outside their office door. As soon as the person knocked they made their way inside. The Shokan division's secretary, Tatsumi Seiichirou smiled at Hisoka. As well as Tsuzuki even if he was asleep on the job. But there was really nothing new there.

He adjusted his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looked down at the loudly snoring Tsuzuki, "Sleeping again on the job I see."

"I was just about to wake him."

"Not to worry Kurosaki, I'll have the honors," Tatsumi leaned over Tsuzuki's sleeping form and whispered into his ear. "Tsuzuki…"

Hisoka scoffed, "I don't think that's going to work."

Tsuzuki shook his head and mumbled, "Apple pie… cheesecake… strawberries…Mmm."

"Of course."

The smaller boy rolled his radiant green eyes as he crossed his arms. "Oi, what an idiot. Leave it to someone like Tsuzuki to not only fall asleep on the job, but be dreaming about desserts. Blegh."

Tatsumi let a slight chuckle escape him as he tried calling out to the procrastinating Shinigami once more, "Tsuzuki, wake up. Now is not the time to be napping." Once again ignored, Tatsumi decided to take more drastic measures. He gripped hard onto the man's hair and pulled him away from the desk, "I said Asato, to get up."

Tsuzuki squealed loudly and tears rolled down his cheeks, "Alright, I'm up! I'm up!"

"Good. I will be docking your pay for the amount of slacking off you did today. And the day before, as well as the day before that, and so forth."

The man that was crying a couple of seconds ago had just sprouted puppy ears and a tail, as well as puppy paws. He shook his head and placed his paws together and begged relentlessly to the secretary. "Please Tatsumi! I'll be good! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to fall asleep!"

Hisoka sighed and leaned back on his chair, he was not about to partake in this ridiculous argument. It was always the same thing, and it was in all honesty getting on his last nerve. Even though he cared about his partner, there were just times that he wanted to ring his neck.

"This is what you always say Tsuzuki-san. Why don't you prove it to me instead of saying you will… and continue doing what you're not supposed to do after I leave."

Tsuzuki pouted and looked down, "Okay Tatsumi. I will, I promise." He then looked up at him with wide amethyst eyes, "I don't mean to upset you. Never on purpose anyway."

Tatsumi sweatdropped as he stared into Tsuzuki's eyes. That boy was his one weakness. Everyone feared the shadow master and his way of maneuvering the authority of the summons department. But whenever his old partner would look at him with those eyes, he couldn't take it. He gulped and smirked as he placed a hand over his shoulder, "I know you don't. But regardless, try to keep your promise this time around. Alright?"

Tsuzuki nodded and gave the supposedly cold and careless man a big tight hug around the middle. "Thank you Tatsumi! I love you!"

"Aye… This seems all too familiar."

Both Tsuzuki and Tatsumi looked over at Hisoka questioningly.

"What do you mean Hisoka?"

"I mean, Tsuzuki… It's always the same thing between you two. You do something wrong, Tatsumi threatens you in more ways than one, you say sorry and he forgives. End. It gets kinda redundant and boring."

"Does that bother you Kurosaki-kun?" Tatsumi said puzzled.

Tsuzuki snorted and made his way towards Hisoka with a cheeky grin, "Are you, dare I say… jealous? Hisoka?" He almost giggled at the mention of the word.

Hisoka merely scoffed once more, "You are an idiot Tsuzuki, a complete fool."

"Is that a yes? Eh? Eh?" He smiled and glomped Hisoka as he snuggled against him. "You can tell your partner! Now come on tell me if you're jealous!"

"BAKA! GET OFF ME TSUZUKI!"

Tatsumi chuckled to himself as he began to walk out of the office, "I'll leave you two to work then. Tsuzuki-san, I do hope you can keep that promise." He then walked out and closed the door behind him. Which then brought Tsuzuki back to his senses, and Hisoka to retaliate by slamming all the unfinished paperwork over Tsuzuki's head.

"OWW! What did you do that for!"

"Just a reminder of all the work you still need to get done."

"Bah, you're so mean to me Hisoka," He then pouted once more, although to Tsuzuki's disadvantage Hisoka was not one to fall for any of that.

The door to their office was once again opened. This time their visitor was none other than the Shokan divisions mechanical engineer, Watari Yutaka. He smiled brightly at the pair and walked over to them. "Hey you two, guess what!"

Hisoka and Tsuzuki asked in unison, "What?" One more enthusiastic than the other.

"I brought back some goodies!"

Tsuzuki was even more intrigued at this point, "What kind of goodies, Watari?"

The blond grinned wide and showed off the bottle of sake and a box that contained six mini assorted cakes. "You still have a sweet tooth, don't you Tsuzuki?"

"I do hope you don't think that Tsuzuki is going to fall for-" The younger Shinigami took a quick glance at his partner, and his mouth had already been watering. Once again, he had been proven wrong to overestimate him. Watari waved the box of cakes in front of Tsuzuki taunting, the sweet smell of freshly baked cakes drove the boy insane.

He rushed over to Watari, and right when he was about to grasp onto the box it was pulled away. Which caused him to fall onto the floor and make a very loud thump sound. "Watari… now you're just being cruel."

"You didn't even say please, and I actually didn't hear a thank you either."

Hisoka sighed, "I wouldn't completely trust this offering of his anyway. How do we not know this is not another one of your experiments?- Then again, I know it is but this bubble brain here as yet to figure it out."

"Hey!" Tsuzuki retorted back a little offended.

"Well, I never! Last time I offer you guys anything."

"Why don't you try one of the cakes?"

Watari shook his head making his long wavy hair shift from side to side, "I'm not hungry."

Hisoka wasn't buying it, "Uh huh."

"Fine, I'll try one!" Watari opened the box and stuffed a mini cake into his mouth. After swallowing it almost whole, he chugged down some of the sake. A burp escaped him and he flushed slightly, "See, nothing." But not that much after did he begin to shrink. Although it was nothing like when Tsuzuki and him turned to kiddy shinigami. He blinked and stared up at the gigantic forms of his co-workers. Watari squeaked loudly, "See! I'm perfectly fine!"

Tsuzuki pointed and laughed at the six-inch tall Watari, "You sound like a chipmunk, how cute!"

"Don't mock me! You were the ones that were supposed to try it out damnit!" All that was heard were more repetitive high pitched squeals.

"Suits you right," Hisoka crotched down and picked up the shrunken Watari.

"Now once again, it's up to us to get you out of this mess. Correct?"

Watari grunted and nodded to himself, "My sex-change potion has failed again." He sniffled as he looked over at the box of cakes, that were about four times his size now. "And they were expensive cakes too, Tatsumi is going to kill me…"

"The Gushoshin might be first if their chicken bird instincts decide to kick in," Tsuzuki snorted.

"Uh," The blond gulped and hid behind Hisoka's thumb and 003 perched itself on the young boy's hand as well. Watari looked over at his once petite pet owl and his eyes widened at it's newfound size. At least to Watari anyway… 003 blinked back and poked it's tongue out.

"Watari, 003 does recognize you, right?"

Tsuzuki was trying his best not to burst into yet another fit of laughter as he approached them. "Well, for Watari's sake let's hope so. Ooh, speaking of sake!" He reached and grabbed onto the sake bottle, and took large gulps from it, "Ahh…"

"Tsuzuki, that wasn't such a good idea!" Watari shrieked as loud as his six-inch high self possibly could.

"And why-" Silence. Nothing else came out of Tsuzuki's mouth. Until… The last thing he needed was his tummy to grumble, but it did. And soon he found himself in quite an uncomfortable position. He looked around and noticed everything around him was a lot smaller than he was. Including Hisoka! His knees were bent towards him from lack of space, and he felt the top of his head reach the ceiling. And it hurt! "Oww!" As Tsuzuki shouted, the sound reverberated around the small office.

Hisoka's eyes couldn't have possibly gone any wider, and he fell back at the sound of Tsuzuki's obnoxious booming of a voice. "Shut up! The ministry is going to fall into shambles if you don't!"

"WAH! You're always so harsh Hisoka! It is not my fault!"

"Yes it is, you should've known better than to drink Watari's sake!" Hisoka growled.

Tsuzuki began to cry and large tears began to fall onto smaller innocent bystanders below him, "It is not!"

Hisoka's right eye twitched and he was incredibly surprised he hadn't popped a vein yet. He ducked any of the humongous tears falling onto the floor and hid under their desk.

Watari clung onto Hisoka's thumb, "AGH! Tsuzukizilla is going to eat me!" He then realized he should be more worried about 003. The little owl eyed him and he could've almost sworn he heard it say 'Lunch'. He gulped and squeaked again, "I swear this will be the last time I use you two as guinea pigs!"

"It better!" Hisoka managed to shriek back at the miniature Watari.

Footsteps were surprisingly heard from outside as yet another member of the Shokan division waltzed in. This time around it was none other than Terazuma Hajime, "What is all the ruckus, I can hear you all yapping insistently from outside! It is annoying and-" He stopped when he looked up and saw a jumbo sized version of the most annoying co-worker ever. He jumped back and his eyes bulged out, "What the hell is this!"

A young light-brown haired girl with each eye of a different color walked in soon after Terazuma. She smiled sweetly and waved to everyone inside the office. "Hiya! Have any of you seen Saya or Yuma? We were all going to have a girl's day- Oh my! Tsuzuki! You're huge!" She then yelped hiding behind her partner.

Terazuma still had a very comical looking expression plastered on his face, which actually resulted in Tsuzuki to stop crying. He now laughed but as the sounds echoed back making the room shake a little, he took it as a cue to stop that as well. "I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble."

"You're not completely to blame for this," Hisoka finally crawled out from under their work desk and gave mini Watari-- who was still holding onto the boy's thumb for dear life- one of his classic glares.

Mini Watari squeaked and tried not to make any eye contact with 003 in the process or Hisoka for that matter, "Hey, don't blame it all on me! Besides, this was all in good fun ne? I had to liven it up a little around here, right?" He chuckled nervously.

"What is all-" Tatsumi's eyes widened and couldn't help but stare at the oversized Tsuzuki. "WATARI WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!"

Watari gulped and hid best to his ability, "Hey kid, could you like use your other hand to hide me?"

"No. But I could use my other hand to squish you," Hisoka spat back equally annoyed.

"Fair enough…" the blond scientist sweatdropped and feared what the shadow master could ever have in mind for punishment.

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After yet another one of Watari's various experiments going completely awry, Tsuzuki had wanted to take some time to look for a book in the library. The only problem was that in order for him to get to the library, he would have to get by the Gushoshin. They were rather not fond of him at the moment, and probably never again. The library was destroyed in two separate occasions. Once when he was possessed by Sagatanus--not his fault!-, and the other was when Terazuma decided to take their argument inside instead of out. The newly constructed library was the one to suffer the consequences in the end. Leaving both Gushoshins very displeased and at the verge of attempting to kill Tsuzuki over and over even if he was already dead. It was decided that Tsuzuki was not to step foot in the library for anything. Maybe if he begged enough he could be accompanied by someone responsible. Of course Watari was out of the question. Although no one that fit the category was around and he wanted to check a certain book out. He hadn't read any fairy tales since he was a boy. He missed them, fairy tales always had a happy ending. Something that was nothing like the real world. In the real world people had to take their chances, and those who lucked out and got a happy ending was well… lucky. But unfortunately not everyone had said luck.

He admired those people with the will to live, to move on and make something of themselves in the land of the living. Even if they knew they were not to last forever, they still made the best of it. Those that had enough hope and faith to continue living. Something he lacked when he was alive. He hated it. If others were able to go on, why couldn't he? It had been centuries since, but he still thought about the times he had spent with his sister. Doing the things he liked best. It was so much fun. He had to stop feeling nostalgic, he had to stop thinking so much. Thinking was always the cause of everything. That's why he was widely known for his slacking behavior and carefree style. If he dwelled, everything was capable of falling apart again. He didn't want anything to fall apart again.

Tsuzuki sighed and finally made his way to the library, immediately stopped by Gushoshin younger. "Hi Gushoshin! What brings you around these parts?"

The younger Gushoshin arched a feathery brow, "Tsuzuki-san, you know you're not allowed in unless you bring Hisoka. Or a responsible adult."

"Aww, but Gushoshin… I personally think I'm old enough to go into the library by myself. If I don't need anyone to accompany me to the restroom, I think I'm capable of being able to-"

"-You know, now that you mention it. There was that one time the count asked if he could accompany you to the rest-"

"That's besides the point!" Tsuzuki turned beet red. "We all know how the count is, so he doesn't count. Haha, pun! Anyways, please Gushoshin!"

The flying chicken shook his head, "Nope."

"If I tell you the book I want could you find it for me? I promise to bring it back in perfect condition and on time!"

"Well," Gushoshin younger scratched the top of his head and thought about it for a second. "I guess that would be okay. But you better keep that promise!"

"I will! Thank you so much Gushoshin!"

He coughed and nodded, "So, what book is it you're looking for Tsuzuki-san?"

Tsuzuki looked down and blushed a little, "Actually it's a children's book. Does the library have those?"

The Gushoshin looked back at Tsuzuki a bit surprised, what would someone like Tsuzuki want with a children's book… Although he already did agree to doing him the favor, so there was no turning back now. "Of course we do. Any one in particular you want?"

"Not really, the first one you find!" The boy let his excitement get the best of him and he once again sprouted his infamous puppy ears, paws and tail. He wagged it from side to side and smiled wide.

"Alright, give me a sec!"

"Thank you again Gushoshin! This means a lot to me."

The Gushoshin then floated towards one of the aisles in the library in search for the children's books. There were bound to be at least a couple. He stopped when he finally found one, and since Tsuzuki didn't have any particular in mind the better. "Is Cinderella okay, Tsuzuki-san?"

"That's perfect Gushoshin!"

"Good," He made his way back to Tsuzuki and handed him the book.

Tsuzuki took it and hugged the book close to his chest, "I cannot thank you enough Gushoshin. I just wanted to read something not so dreary and on the less depressing side. Considering our line of work, it's almost impossible to stay optimistic."

"Tsuzuki-san! Even for you?… You're usually really happy go lucky."

"Even for me," Especially for me. "But promise, next week you'll get the book back in perfect condition. Good as new! Thank you again Gushoshin!" He darted towards the exit and continued to hold the book close to him.

Gushoshin then smiled slightly, "Ah Tsuzuki-san. You weirdo."

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"I'll see you tomorrow Hisoka!"

"Baka, okay… until tomorrow Tsuzuki."

With the said Tsuzuki made his way out of the ministry and went straight home. He was ecstatic about the book he had borrowed from the library. He wasn't into reading books much, unless he was in the mood. Or if he had to for an investigation and had no other choice. But this time around, he was just in need of something different from what he's had to read up for investigations. Even if it was a silly children's book, he was a kid at heart so there wasn't really anything too odd about it. He didn't even get the chance to tell Hisoka. Although he was sure he would just roll his eyes or mock him. Hisoka usually read bigger books, literature, and all that important mumbo jumbo. If Tsuzuki were to tell him that he was going to go home to read a children's book, Hisoka would most probably taunt him. Not that it mattered but still. Now Tsuzuki was just being silly. Silly, silly…

He finally made it to his apartment, and let a satisfied smirk escape him. "I'm home… but I still have to cook." Tsuzuki loved to cook, ever since his sister Ruka taught him. Regardless if he wasn't the best cook, he still enjoyed preparing special dishes for his friends. No matter if they preferred consuming rat poison, or something along the lines. He walked over to the couch and stopped in his tracks when he saw someone sitting on it. "AGH!" Tsuzuki fell backwards and hurt his bum in the process. "W-what a-are you doing h-here… Tatsumi?"

Tatsumi adjusted his glasses and stood up from the couch, "It's good to know that you're back to your regular size."

The other shinigami laughed, "It was quite uncomfortable, but leave it to Watari."

"It looked uncomfortable," Tatsumi smiled, he loved to see Tsuzuki happy. If only Tsuzuki could always have a smile on his face, a real one. Not any of those fake ones he puts on for the rest of his friends and co-workers.

"So, why are you here Tatsumi? You didn't really answer my question."

"I guess I just wanted to stop by, and see if everything turned out alright. But as long as I'm here, how about me making dinner."

Tsuzuki beamed and nodded anxiously, "That would be absolutely wonderful Tatsumi! You know how much I love your cooking! Yay! And here I was worried I was going to have to cook today."

"We both should be thankful you're not."

"Hey! Tatsumi… Pffty."

He chuckled as he made his way to the kitchen and caught a glimpse of the book Tsuzuki was holding. "A book? I thought you were banned from the library…"

"Oh, this?" Tsuzuki lifted the book and smiled once more. It had such a pretty cover as well, bright colors decorating the center with pink and blue pastel hues. While the edges were gold plated. "Gushoshin let me borrow it, I asked if it was okay to request a certain book and have them bring it to me instead of stepping inside the library. I just had this urge to read some sort of fairy tale. And this so happened to be the first the younger Gushoshin spotted." He proudly showed off the cover to Tatsumi.

"A fairy tale? Aren't you a little old to be reading fairy tales Tsuzuki-san?"

Tsuzuki pouted slightly, "No one is ever too old to read fairy tales! Would you like to read it with me Tatsumi?"

Tatsumi shook his head as he took out some fresh vegetables from the fridge, "I'll have to pass Tsuzuki-san, after dinner I'm afraid I have to go back home. We do have work tomorrow, and you can't afford to be late."

"Oh, but Tatsumi…"

"And a good amount of sleep is essential as well. As long as the sleep doesn't take place in the office like today."

The puppy ears appeared once more, and Tsuzuki bowed his head slightly embarrassed at remembering how he fell asleep at work. Then again it always would happen, but he didn't want to disappoint Tatsumi again. He simply nodded, "Alright, alright. I'll just see if I can get some reading done before officially going to bed!"

"That is perfectly fine, as long as you show up in time for work."

"I will Tatsumi, promise."

Tatsumi smiled and nodded, "Good, now let's get dinner ready."

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It had become eerily quiet, but the silence soon ended with Tsuzuki letting a very happy sigh escape him. "Thank you so much, Tatsumi. The food was delicious."

"I'm glad Tsuzuki-san," Tatsumi said picking up the plates and going to take them over to the sink.

Tsuzuki immediately got up from his seat and made his way up to his ex-partner, "No, no Tatsumi you've done enough. I'll wash the dishes."

He chuckled and gave a nod, "Very well. I guess then I should be heading back home."

The plates were placed inside the sink, and Tsuzuki turned towards the other man. For some reason he felt a little disappointed at hearing those words. He knew Tatsumi was to leave after dinner, but deep down Tsuzuki had some false hope that he would stay a little longer. He indeed loved the company, especially if it was Hisoka, Tatsumi or Watari. His best friends that he cared for very much. "I guess…"

Tatsumi noticed the look of disappointment on Tsuzuki's face, although he wasn't sure why. He mentally shrugged it off and took hold of the book he had showed him earlier. Finally taking a glance at the cover and opening it up. "Cinderella, huh? What an interesting choice from Gushoshin's part."

"It was the first he spotted, I really don't mind. I just wanted something to read and all. It looks like a cute story."

"You've never read the story of Cinderella? It is a very popular children's fairy tale."

Tsuzuki shook his head, "Nope, not yet. Lucky for me Gushoshin picked that one out then." He finished off cheerfully with a smile that only someone like Tsuzuki could manage. The one smile that could make the deadpan secretary soften up just a tad. The one smile that could make him smile back in return. The only person that has ever seen that side of Tatsumi.

"Good choice. It does have a happy ending, just like you wanted is that right?"

"Yes. A happy ending," Tsuzuki looked down a little lost in thought. The mention of a happy ending, what Tsuzuki always wanted.

Tatsumi stared at him concerned, "Tsuzuki-san, is there something wrong?"

He shook his head, "Nah Tatsumi, just me thinking again is all."

If Tsuzuki only knew how Tatsumi felt for him, all he wanted was to protect him with all his might. Anything to keep his precious Tsuzuki safe. He seemed to have that effect on a good amount of people. Tsuzuki just gave off that vibe, of vulnerability. Especially to his closest friends, but no one should underestimate him. He was indeed considered one of the most powerful shinigami in Meifu. But he would always let his heart get in the way, the reason why he dumped Tsuzuki in the first place. They could've probably still been partners today. It was just such an emotional roller-coaster for Tatsumi; he couldn't stand those beautiful amethyst eyes welling up with tears whenever they had a case. His shadows began to stir behind him, and he knew immediately it was definitely time to go. You're not the only one thinking too much, Tsuzuki-san… He closed the book and put it on top of the kitchen counter, "I do presume I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early, hmm?"

Tsuzuki nodded happily, "Yes sir!" He gave a quick salute and smiled.

Tatsumi chuckled, "Until tomorrow then, Tsuzuki-san." He turned to the exit of the apartment, and before Tsuzuki got to say anything else to the shadow master he was gone. He could've sworn he felt something as he walked out, but it was most probably his imagination. "Till tomorrow, Tatsumi…"

He sighed and made his way towards his book, "I guess it's just you and me tonight!"

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After Tsuzuki finished washing the dishes he made his way into his bedroom to change. He pulled out his light green pajamas and put them on. Then plopping onto his bed with the book in hand. He knew it was a little passed his bedtime but he at least wanted to get through the first chapter. Upon opening the book he felt a slight chill, why he had no clue. The windows were obviously closed so there was no way it was coming from outside. He mentally shrugged and began to read the first chapter to the story.

He was already sucked into the fantasy world, so to speak. The characters seemed so real to him and he immediately favored Cinderella most of all. She was pretty, had a heart of gold, and deserved much more than what she was getting from her stepmother and stepsisters.

Tsuzuki then exclaimed, "But that's not fair! Those brats!" Then he realized he had gotten too into the story. He wasn't liking those stepsisters, but naturally the reader is not supposed to like them. Or the stepmother at that. He let a yawn escape him as he noticed the time, and Tatsumi's words echoed in his mind.

"We do have work tomorrow, and you can't afford to be late."

"But, I don't want to… go to," Tsuzuki yawned again. "To bed…" Before he knew it he had fallen back onto his bed and snuggled up against one of his fluffy pillows. Without even bothering to pull the covers over himself, and the book was lying on top of his chest.

Tatsumi…

He found himself yawning once again and letting his mind just… stop thinking. It was easier than he thought it would've been. Tsuzuki at that moment had no worries in the world. All he had in his mind were the previous scenes that occurred in the book he was reading. Cinderella had just gone downstairs to make breakfast for her annoying stepsisters. Finally, the boy was sound asleep. Now until tomorrow he didn't have to worry about anything else. Nothing to worry about at all.

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It was a brand new day and the sky was a very lovely shade of light red and orange, still with a slight hint of purple from the night before. Tsuzuki was still sound asleep, tossing and turning from time to time. Suddenly out of nowhere two tiny bluebirds made their way into his room through the window, that was not left open previously. They flew towards Tsuzuki's bed and perched themselves on his pillow, chirping insistently in the process. Tsuzuki had turned over to his right and got comfortable on his bed again. The birds though persisted and continued to chirp, and one pecked at the boy's forehead. That only caused him to stir a bit and then resume sleeping.

The birds were growing a bit impatient and hopelessly continued their chirping. Without warning Tsuzuki had pulled the pillow from underneath his head, and aimed it at one of the bluebirds. Lucky for him he had amazing aim. The bird was momentarily squashed and Tsuzuki chuckled, "Serves you right for spoiling peoples best dreams you know." He then noticed that he wasn't in his bedroom, at his apartment. This room was completely foreign to him, and why he was conversing with birds was beyond him. Then again… it's not something new. "Where am I?"

Both birds gave each other quizzical looks, then the bird that hadn't been squashed by Tsuzuki's pillow spoke. "Um, in your room?"

Tsuzuki looked horrorstricken and jumped back, "AGH! You can talk?"

"It's your dream you idiot! I mean… chirp…"

"This is so trippy…"

"You haven't seen anything yet. Ahem, so what were you dreaming about?"

The utterly confused shinigami blinked, "Isn't this- Uh…"

"Do we birdies have to do everything?"

He blinked again. "Um…"

"Let's try this again. What were you dreaming about, Tsuzuki?"

The boy decided to finally just play along, even if those two creepy talking bluebirds were… creepy. Then it hit him, quite literally. A book that was on a small shelf above the bed had slipped and fallen on top of his head. "Oww- what the?" He then looked at the name of the book and froze, it was the book the Gushoshin let him borrow. Now it made perfect sense. This was a dream after all, so it was just best to go along with it to his best ability. Now that he finally realized, he was more at ease. So he finally answered the birds back, "Yeah, um I'm kinda not going to tell you."

"Ooh, Francesca I think the boy had a naughty dream and that's why he doesn't want to tell us."

"You know Frederico, I think you're absolutely right. With more reason we have to figure out what it was about!"

Tsuzuki stared at them with confused wide eyes, who would name their birds Francesca and Frederico? Those birds were getting more and more strange by the minute. But then by impulse or other he replied to them, "I can't. Because if you tell a wish, it won't come true."

Both birds oohed and ahhed, then one whispered to the other, "Oh yeah, definitely a naughty dream."

A sweatdrop appeared above Tsuzuki's head and he smiled, "Really, after all a dream is a wish your heart makes."

The two birds had a feeling it was about time the main character was to break into song. But before he had a chance to do so he was interrupted by a loud obnoxious voice shrieking out his name, "TSUZUKIRELLA!" Or so he thought…

"Huh…? That's not my-"

"Tsuzukirella! We want our breakfast now!"

"Yeah get your lazy ass off your bed and make us our breakfast!"

Tsuzuki couldn't believe his ears, he couldn't have possibly heard right. He shook his head and got up from bed as he looked over at the birds, "And here I thought I was the one to get up first before they would start nagging."

Frederico shrugged and perched itself on Tsuzuki's shoulder, "Well, you're not that easy to wake up you know."

"Those voices sound oddly familiar… Well, I certainly cannot start the day without a nice hot shower." He walked over to what was supposed to be his bath, he slightly worried. It was unlike having a bathroom with a shower. It was just an extra wall tall and wide enough to cover someone behind it. Tsuzuki shrugged and took off his clothes and walked over to it. When he least expected it a bunch more of those bluebirds soaked a sponge into a bowl of cold water. Then all of them lifted it up and squeezed the water from the sponge onto Tsuzuki's body. Tsuzuki squealed loudly and shivered, "Holy hell that's flippin' cold!"

"Can we say shrinkage? I mean… chirp, chirp." The other birds nodded and agreed.

Tsuzuki blushed furiously, "Now that's enough!"

"TSUZUKIRELLA! What's taking the brat so long…"

"This is so annoying, now where is my- ah good." He dried himself off and began to slip on a decent pair of slacks. "Much better, now where are my-"

A knock was heard at his door. Tsuzuki semi-grunted and continued looking for a shirt, "Come in!" He assumed it was probably one of his stepsisters, but when the door opened up he was sadly mistaken.

"Tsuzuki-san, what is taking you so long? My daughters are waiting impatiently for their breakfast. As well as I. And you don't want an angry stepmother on your case, now do you?"

When Tsuzuki had finally found a shirt and was about to slip it on, he saw the figure by the door. The shirt immediately fell onto the floor and his jaw dropped. "M-m-Muraki?"

"I would prefer the term, stepmother."

Tsuzuki fell over and fainted leaving yet another loud thud to echo across the room.

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