Hello! This was my first fanfic, I am revamping it. Please review! The lack of reviews was why I stopped it last time. Then again, you might want me to stop again J

A little bit of shounen ai (TsuzukixHisoka).

Italics thoughts

% memories

Disclaimer: I don't own the Yami no Matsuei characters or the Yami no Matsuei story. They belong to their rightful owner. I have made up Aki, Gracie and Akira, hopefully from the top of my mind.

FAMILY TIES-Part 1

Hisoka. Where is he? Are they going to kill him? Caught by surprise, how stupid of us. Spells.

The thoughts revolved in Tsuzuki's feverish head.

Watari was mad with concern. Tsuzuki, whatever spell they have used in him, he is in bad shape. And Bon? His mind dind't want to admit it- but he was probably lost. Searching for a word of confort, Watari glanced at the shinigami that stood by the door of Tsuzuki's infirmary room.

Aki Hidetoshi, 19 years old, tall, brown hair below her shoulders, beautiful in her customary purple dress, boots and leather jacket. One of Tsuzuki's old partners, the only one who had lasted for a long time. Years before, she had requested and obtained a transfer to the Spell department, the most competitive department of Enma chuo, for mysterious reasons, which had been the cause of many gossips. One thing was sure: she had not left because fed up of her partner. She had always been very fond of the guy and they maintained a friendly relationship, unlike just about any other partner Tsuzuki had had. It was no surprised she looked pained and worried too. But she seemed resolved.

Aki caught Watari's look, then, to his surprise, strode out along the corridor. What is she up to? He wondered.

Aki's swift moves were quickly intercepted by her own partner.

Wait. Said the voice in her head. I am coming with you, said Gracie-chan.

Her partner Gracie Ozaki, a strong empath, stood a few feet behind her. Half English, with dark red hair below her ears and 14. A dog-collar around her neck, black shorts and a crimson red top, her normal uniform.

I am breaking the rules, and you should not get involved. I am not allowed to go. Aki responded briskly. Aki and Gracie rarely spoke outloud.

I asked Kacho for leave to go. For both of us. She doesn't want to lose you either. Again. So all is legal, and I am coming with you, no question. A soft feeling enveloped Gracie's words. Aki felt a squeeze around her heart. "Let's go".

"He is still concious, but won't last very long." "What a feat, killing a shinigami, our power is growing."

Hisoka could barely register the words in the background. I got caught, by these people, not even half as powerful as Muraki. And Tsuzuki? I hope at least he is fine. Like that time, the images in his mind were all about Tsuzuki. His kindness, his face, his thoughts, his tortured soul. But this time, to die with him in his heart and mind seemed like the right thing. Things were different now. Please, let him be OK.

The men were preparing their last attack. He greeted himself goodbye.

"What?!" The robed men cowered, as in the cold and dark church one of the stained-glass window burst and shattered. In its frame stood a 14-year-old girl, flowing like an angelÉ or rather like a demon, with her collar and all and her burning eyes. Her hands were moving in position for shikigami summoning.

The leaders shot orders quickly."She's come to rescue the boy, well girl, it is too late. Fend her off". As they chanted to fend her off, the main portal burst and shattered.

"A distraction?! Attack the boy and kill him" Before the robed men could act Aki had appeared and was standing between them and Hisoka.

"From ancient Greece, weave your web of proctection, Come forth, Aracne" No sooner than the shiki appeared to protect the woman and the boy, all the windows had burst and the church was falling into pieces. Or so it seemed . The illusion was sufficient to make them flee. Too much rumble is not a good thing. The young girl's lips curled into a sneaky grin. Then she joined her partner.

Hisoka had been vaguely aware of the commotion, slowly slipping into unconsciousness. Whoever she is, they were right, it is really too late. But then the woman's words pierced his mind: Hisoka, hang on in there, I won't let you die, not again.

Aki, thought Hisoka, but how the hell did I know, I have never met her. Tsuzuki mentioned her once. Seems so long ago He realised their minds were synchronized. I must be unconscious. She wanted him to hang on, but how, his body, even with his healing powers, was really giving up this time. How?

I will keep hold of you, until you are recovered I won't let you go. Why, why does she care so much? He could feel her worry and her love, love by someone he'd never seen before. A scene became apparent in his mind. In the dark, a crimson pool and by its shore a tall beautiful woman smiled at him. "Hi. Hisoka, I prefer setting some scenario. I hope you don't mind. Hang on in here. I can keep you alive until your body recovers. I will fight death with you. This is my gift. Protection." her words to him and to herself meshed. "Ironic I couldn't protect you, my child back then though.

Your child?! Me?! All the memories of his mother were of Rui, they were unpleasant and painful. Who was this woman?

"Are you surprised? I am opening my mind to you, so you'll soon understand it all. I can't keep you from knowing". Suddenly Hisoka felt like he was drowning again, like when her words first had surfaced in his mind. Drowning in the blood red pool. Aki dived in and came to the rescue.

Gracie approached her partner, already knowing that the boy was faring bad.

"He's going. I have to save him." The words died in Aki's throat.

I know. Go. I will take care if you faint. I will call to have them get the three of us. Thought Gracie.

Aki turned, a painful grateful look on her face. She tore a piece of her dress and Gracie helped her tie together her hand and that of the boy, already laced. "The physical contact must never be broken." Or he dies. Again. Panic filled Aki within seconds.

Gracie had never seen her partner do this, after all she'd done it only once before, long become Gracie had become a shinigami and her partner. But she was competent and she trusted Aki more than anybody she'd ever met, in her life and in her afterlife, so, as she looked at the woman get concentrated, she got ready to send a message.

Back in Meifu, Tsuzuki's condition had improved. Watari looked relieved.

"Hisoka.." A painful whisper looking for hope.

"Aki has gone to get him. Trust her, she'll be back with him". The boy on the door reassured him. Tsuzuki found it hard to focus on him. It was Akira Noda, also from the Spell Department. Suddenly the boy's look clouded. He cast a spell to amplify the image forming in his head and show it to the two shinigami."It's Gracie." We used his empathic trace to track him and found him, but he is really bad, Aki is using all her strength to keep him alive, and she's fainted. Come and get us quick. "prepare 2 beds". Tsuzuki's heart was pounding, but he just knew Aki would save Hisoka, just like she'd done for him along time before.

Hisoka and Aki were laying on matching beds, both listless, their hand still together, when Tsuzuki had enough strength to visit. Still in contact, his life is still in danger.

They had come back a few hours before and Gracie was sitting backwards on the chair, staring worriedly at her partner. Tsuzuki had once only met before. After her son's death, me and Aki have never been able to communicate in the same way, we grew apart. I wonder what they are saying to each other, those two.

"She's rescued him from drowning and she's talking him into fighting a bit more. I have only had a glance at what's going on, it's kind of private" Gracie said. Tsuzuki registered this with surprise. Gracie never talked. To anyone. That was common knowledge in Meifu. She smiled drily as she read his thoughts. But you are.. different. Aki trusts you. He heard in his head.

Back at the pond that didn't really exist, Aki and Hisoka were on the shore again. In the background, scenes from his and Aki's memory played like on a screen. Both of them were struck and both of them were crying. "you, my mother?! But.. how?" "Another one of the well kept horrible secrets of your family, like the killing of the first children if female. Your father picked me up from the streets and kept me as his lover. I lived in the basement. I had died inside years before. Or so I thought. After four years I got pregnant. And the light switched back on and I ran to save your life. Not far, not fast enough" her voice broke "he found us and killed me, but at least he didn't kill youÉ or so I thought" she strated crying "it's all my fault, my freakish gift passed on to you and Rui's envy that I had given the family the long sought heir fueled her hatred, with your father compliance..." "Stop. I have seen it. I know. How you tried in vain to lift the curse and got hurt, how you loved me from afar" How you got me to partner up with Tsuzuki.... maybe the greatest gift of all.

%Flashback, an office in Meifu.

Konoe-kacho: "Tatsumi-san, who should we entice to be Tsuzuki's new partner?"

Tastumi:"uhm, let's look at the results of the new recruits' test on the board".

Standing in front of the board, Yamada (spell dept)kacho: "so what do you think about this boy, Aki, really we might even give him a job offer"

Aki:" you really think so... this Kurosaki-kun, would be the first new recruit to get an offer from us"

Tatsumi, his attention brought to the name: "uhm, surely gifted". %

"It wasn't hard. But my kacho didn't want me to have contact with you at first, I was in such shock, and well, I knew you needed love and care. Just like he knows how to give. And he is just the best one to learn the business from too. I would know. Obviously we had backup plans of bribing Tatsumi, but it wasn't necessary at all.

"You need to come back for me. But even more so, you need to come back for him, Hisoka, especially after you asked him to live for you. By the way, he is in the room. He is worried about you."

Gracie got up and made for the door. "You might want some time alone." Tsuzuki, his face full of concern, approached Hisoka's bed and sat on the side of the boy. So frail, so young, so beautiful. To lose himÉ the thought gave him the shivers. And yet he had failed to protect him again. "Gomen, Hisoka, that I let you get caught and hurt again. I never seem to learn. But I beg you, don't, don't die. Don't leave me" Tears came to his eyes.

"My conscience can surface just so that we can see and hear it" explained Aki, Tsuzuki's words echoing in the void.

Tsuzuki touched the boy's face with his hand and leaned towards him "Because I love you" he whispered as he moved to kiss him.

If I was there to hear this... thought Hisoka, and Aki smiled, while Hisoka regained consciousness.

The soft caress of Tsuzuki's lips on his was the first thing Hisoka felt. It lasted but a moment. When Tzuzuki moved away, he opened his eyes and saw him blushing and suddenly bear hugging him. "Oh you're well, I was so worried!! I have to call Watari!" he said then left in a rush. But he had felt it, the fear running thorough Tsuzuki's body, the fear that Hisoka may have felt the kiss and the disgust at himself- how could I think for a moment Trying to make sense of it all, he brought his hand to his lips, the lingering feeling of the kiss still making his heart pound. His eye caught sight of Aki, who had got up, made for the door and turned to look at him. I don't see, I don't hear, I don't talk. Her voice said in his head. But I will see you again won't I? You do need to learn to control your empath powers.. I could teach you. "I would love you to," replied Hisoka, a smile lighting his lips, while the woman left

For those who might have read my only other work-of-art (NOT): yes, I can only invent female characters. And they might turn out to be all the same. But, hey, I do it for my own fun