PLEASE READ "Essential Notions Concerning DiHydrogen Monoxide" It explains why Tsuzuki and Hisoka are late for work and it's cute to boot...

Author's Notes:

I took ketsuki's advice and left the previous piece I wrote as a one-shot with a sequel..

This story will be much more involved, and be part case-fic also with many fluffy and angsty moments.. though there's plenty of humor elements dribbled in.

Ehren: walks in putting up a sign that reads "WARNING: Watch out for burning, flying feather pillows" leaves

Yeah, that about sums it up.

Warning: If you don't like Yaoi/Shounen-ai or fluff, you may want to leave. Now. As in press the little back button on your browser, since you will not enjoy guy with guy romance and/or fluffiness that may be rampant.

I am generally inspired by fanart or drawings I see on the net of most all things pertaining to Yami no Matsuei. Some of you may recognize ideas or places that only are viewed through visual arts not a part of the manga or anime. I have a tendency to do this without meaning to. I'll apologize beforehand if you feel I have wrongly stolen from you.

Okies... I got the name of the sequel from the Roman God of beginnings and endings and of doorways: Janus. He is portrayed as having two faces, one looking forward and the other continuously looking backward in time. He symbolizes the coming of the New year after winter solstice and Christmas. Hence his name is the root word for January. Hehe. I found this out in my English class while I was looking through the glossary of Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Think of this story as two certain peoples in a maze, caught in the past, but looking towards the future. Does that help? (And FYI he's one of my favorite characters on Chrono Trigger.. XD )

I like putting poems before each chapter... I think I'm going to continue doing so.

On Sundays I watch the hermits coming out of their holes
Into the light. The cliff is as full as a hive.
They crowd together on warm shoulders full of rock
Where the sun has been shining, their joints crackle.
They begin to talk after a while.
I listen to their accents, they are not all
From this island, not all old,
Not even, I think, all masculine.

They are so wise, they do not pretend to see me.
They drink from the scattered pools of melted snow:
I walk right by them and drink when they have done.
I can see the marks of chains around their feet.

I call this my work, these decades and stations —
Because, without these, I would be a stranger here.

-- Studying the Language, by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin

Tsuzuki and Hisoka made it to the office in considerably later than usual. Well, considerably late for Hisoka as he had never been late before, excepting those brief bouts of actual sleep where his alarm clock failed to wake him up.

Currently, Tsuzuki was whistling some commercial jingle Hisoka recognized from TV, skipping about with a bright smile on his face.

Yet, that was not what Hisoka was so irritated with.

Hisoka was annoyed by the sudden slanderous thoughts of other people that bowled over him.

What is it with everyone and office scandals? It's not like I never came to work late with Tsuzuki—

That's what the problem was Hisoka realized with a start. He had always come to work on time. Tsuzuki always stumbled in late by himself, and, if he didn't show after an hour, Tatsumi sent Hisoka to go retrieve the tardy fool.

Hisoka was miffed by that realization, shoving his hands in his pockets. He didn't like the feeling that he was being manipulated. Glancing a little towards Tsuzuki, he stated, "I need some coffee." And turned towards the break room, ready to pick up some pastries for his partner.

"Okay. I'll be in the office!" Tsuzuki cheerfully continued his way to their shared desk area.

Hisoka's jaw nearly dropped. Nearly.

Wha-what's wrong with him? No request for dessert? And he feels genuinely happy.

It couldn't have been that tiny kiss Tsuzuki had given him, could it? Was that why?

A sudden blush came over him as he brushed his cheek absently, but at someone's cutoff laugh he quickly brought his hand down, getting angry with himself.

What is wrong with me? Why the hell didn't he overload me when he did that?

This couldn't have been some weird side-effect of what he did last night was it?

Stopping, Hisoka opened his mouth, twisting his head to look over his shoulder to say something to his partner now they were in safer territory, or so Hisoka thought.

Seeing that Tsuzuki's back was to him, he snapped his mouth shut, feeling someone's nosiness brush annoyingly against his perception.

Wakaba.

He glared, posture straightening.

"Yo, girly boy! I wouldn't—OOMPFT! Oi! Wakaba! What's the big idea?"

His glare raked over a grinning Wakaba to an irate Terazuma as Hisoka turned into the curiously empty break room.

"Shhh, Kuro-chan!" She giggled at the angry Terazuma who predictably fizzled out, shrugging his shoulders.

Pouring out some coffee into one of the Styrofoam cups provided, on a sudden whim Hisoka picked up two donuts along with napkins, though he had no inclination of eating them.

He never did well with the taste of sugar.

Without his authority, his mind drifted back to last night's puzzling and very disturbing.. whatever the hell it was.

Stepping outside the break room, he quickly hid his face from the rebellious pink creeping back onto his face, sipping the black, unsweetened coffee, glancing both ways still not understanding why Kachou at least wasn't here, but grateful that he didn't have to listen to another's gossiping minds.

He left, not noticing the tiny, floating camera that followed him.

Tsuzuki for once didn't have problems doing his paperwork. He usual did; the tediousness of it boring a naturally restless person like himself to tears.

There. Finished one already! Ha!

He rocked back into his chair, biting the pen he held in his hand thinking.

The things you learn...

He wanted to hug Hisoka senseless; He had realized that Hisoka's problem wasn't with Tsuzuki himself, but in his own inability to take the initiative with affection.

To Tsuzuki, knowing how Hisoka was, it made perfect sense as to the reason for it, and of course Tsuzuki just wanted to kick himself for not realizing it sooner.

He still hasn't made peace with his own feelings for me. Of course he wouldn't do anything. Maybe, hanging around me long enough is a sure way of overcoming that though..?

Tsuzuki wasn't too sure, but that kiss he gave Hisoka would have met with something much harsher than a slap if it had been a year ago. Or even a day ago. He felt strange about what had made him act so spontaneously, especially around Hisoka. He always treaded softly with words and actions around people; no matter how loud and childish he acted he was acutely aware of what he was doing at all times, and of how people reacted.

Sitting up, he leaned back over the reports he was supposed to be filling out and pulled out a Post-It note to doodle on.

So… Hisoka liked Science and Technology magazines?

Tsuzuki was giddy. Finally having something new to surprise Hisoka with.

All I have to do is subscribe him to one of the... Tsuzuki sighed wearily. Of course, I don't have any money.

Tsuzuki crossed that tidbit off of his immediate things-to-surprise-Hisoka-with list, relocating it as the second priority on the list of things to do with Hisoka once he saved enough money.

And, oh. He was saving. Really. He just never really wanted to before. Well he did once. But that was decades ago. For much the same reason too.

What he was saving wasn't much. Just a few coins here and there, sometimes even a leftover 100 yen bill.

He promised himself that he would start caring about his after-death life again. He had purpose.

He knew it wasn't going to be easy; after so many years of self-neglect, it was downright difficult, but now he no longer really felt the need to drown himself in sugar; he wouldn't need to eat so much expensive junkfood.

If he could only sleep more often with Hisoka.

Doing so would knock out several problems all at once.

Tsuzuki, having had nightmare-less dreams, would have had enough sleep to actually be cheerful and awake without needing a sugar buzz all the time, while Hisoka getting more sleep equated a happy, less-inclined-to-snap-at-Tsuzuki's-perceived-clumsiness partner.

Hisoka might even become less cold.

As nice as that sounds, I think that's a personality trait rather than a side effect of too little sleep... Ah well. Tsuzuki smiled at the thought anyway.

In spite of this, saving money was second priority to staying on Hisoka's good side.

After getting enough, he was planning on splurging it all to treat him to an American-style breakfast; though Tsuzuki wasn't sure how well the heavy food would settle with Hisoka as he refused to eat any rich foods that Tsuzuki offered him.

Of course, most of it was rich chocolate, and he doesn't seem to like sugar... Maybe I should bring him to a more traditional restaurant instead…

The door clicked shut, and a wrapped pair of his favorite type of donuts— triple fudge covered with sprinkles— were laid neatly on his desk.

Tsuzuki chibified. "Ahh! 'Sokaaa! Sankyuuuu!"

Having no other choice but to accept and graciously eat Hisoka's unplanned gift, Tsuzuki grabbed the donut about to eat, when his partner's strained monotonous voice sounded.

"It was surprising that there was a whole dozen left this late in the morning."

Wait.. a whole dozen?

Shocked Tsuzuki quickly took the donut away from his mouth immediately suspicious. He looked up at Hisoka, concerned with that strain he heard.

Flushed with a sickly cast, Hisoka held his hand to his temple scowling.

"Yeah.. I thought it was weird too… "

"Hisoka..?" Tsuzuki frowned, dropping his chibi-ness and stated the obvious. "You don't look too good."

"The…. coffee.."

Hisoka's half-full cup slipped out of his hand as his eyes rolled back, his jaw slack.

His partner jumped up catching him before he fell over, not caring about the cup of hot coffee that fell from limp fingers tumbling and spilling onto the ground, staining a spot on the carpeted floor with a rich dark color.

"Hisoka!"

Noticing (and grateful) that he had gained weight since the last time he held him, Tsuzuki gently laid him down on the ground away from the wet spot created by the coffee spill; giving him his lap as a pillow, Tsuzuki took some papers to fan Hisoka a bit.

A pained murmur sounded from him as he shifted, and suddenly there were several loud rips.

Curious purple eyes blinked down surprised at how Hisoka's long-sleeved shirt looked tight on him, and how his jeans were suddenly too small for him; the seams pulled to the breaking point, most splitting completely.

Strands of denim stretched uselessly, but enticingly, across his hips and then nearly all the way down the side of his legs.

Before his brain could stop and think of what that meant, there was another shift and a tiny whimper and the shirt tore to pieces stretched and straining around Hisoka's form.

Tsuzuki was having trouble keeping him still.

Oww… Hisoka's insides felt like they were rearranging themselves and his whole body was aching. Bones and joints grinding painfully.

He winced, trying to focus on something other than the pain.

His mind dimly registered the tearing sounds as his clothing falling apart; a comforting hand stroked hishair and then he realized he was in Tsuzuki's lap.

/It's alright, I'm here. /

Blushing, Hisoka sat up dizzily, trying to blink away the fuzziness. He was eyelevel with Tsuzuki.

His partner wanted to say many things... too many. He was projecting thoughts one after another.

Hisoka felt he was momentarily lopsided, as if his inborn Empathy had gotten much more acute to the point that even strong thoughts were bothersome.

Covering part of his face at the sudden pain that appeared in his head, he stumbled to his feet, leaning against the wall. He felt very tired, and he found that his balance was offf.

Another loud tear and he was suddenly very cold and vulnerable. His shaking, wooden legs suddenly not being able to hold me up anymore, he fell back into warm arms feeling the strain the muscles through the dress shirt at holding him up.

Concern. Comfort.

/Hisoka/

"I won't let you fall. I got ya."

Hisoka was hefted up.

Tsu..zuki?

He blinked again finally able to clear his eyesight.

Tsuzuki was looking down at him worriedly.

/ Uh-ohhh... /

"Tsuzuki. What do you mean 'Uh-oh'? What's wrong?"

He didn't like that look.

"I didn't say anything.." Tsuzuki tried to keep the slight alarm out of his voice to no avail at how much older Hisoka looked.

Hisoka with an annoyed look stood up pushing him away, still wobbly.

He opened his mouth to yell at Tsuzuki, but his jaw went slack again when he noticed he was looking at the top of his brown-haired head.

"Hi, Hisoka." Tsuzuki looked up grinning sheepishly. Hisoka kept staring.

Taking advantage of his confusion, Tsuzuki took his coat from the back of his chair putting it on his shoulders now that his clothes were definitely ruined. "You can borrow this, since your clothes are all messed up!"

He smiled cheerfully at Hisoka, just then noticing a peculiar whirring sound. He took a book and smashed the thing. It sounded like a metallic crunch, but he didn't care enough to get too distracted from Hisoka's dilemma. His eyes kept drifting down to glance a look, but knowing the disaster this would cause with his empathic partner, he managed to keep his eyes steady on his face and thought mostly about sweets.

His mouth had snapped shut.

Tsuzuki noticed the signs of him about to yell again, but Hisoka seemed like he didn't know what to say. His lips kept parting and closing.

Seeing as how his pants were now just tantalizing strips of cotton draped down and around his muscular frame and his too small, ripped underwear left nothing to the imagination, Tsuzuki again had to firmly tell himself to look elsewhere.

Thinking of eating a whole plate of Tiramasu with a heavy amount of whipcream on top to distract himself from peeking, Tsuzuki directed him to sit down, but Hisoka wouldn't hear any of it. His face had flushed apparently noticing Tsuzuki's attention as he unconsciously pulled the too small jacket tighter around himself.

There was a flurry of steps and Watari stepped in with a hop and a satisfied grin on his face.

Hisoka glared at Watari.

Giving Watari a strained smile, Tsuzuki cut Hisoka off with a cheerful grin before Hisoka exploded at him.

"Watari... What did you slip into the coffee?"

"An aging potion!" He beamed at Tsuzuki.

Hisoka burst out. "I'm … old now!"

"No, no. no! You're older."

Watari had a contemplative look on his face.

"I'd say about twenty-three or so…"

Hisoka's glare could make an arctic seal cold. "Change me back."

No! Tsuzuki wanted to say, but he kept the dopey grin on his face and thought about freshly made apple pie.

Watari flailed his arms around, trying to forestall Hisoka's wrath.

"It's temporary! Only temporary! Lasts precisely ninety-six hours! I saw no need to make an antidote for something that isn't permanent!"

Hisoka towered over Watari, nearly as menacing as Tatsumi, minus the sharp glare from glasses. "A hundred hours of being like this. Would be four days of my life wasted, and a lighter pocketbook for new clothes."

Watari's sweatdrops multiplied.

I had no idea how like Tatsumi he could be. It would almost be frightening if Tsuzuki wasn't clinging to him like that.

"Err… Bon…. It's not that bad. I thought you wanted to look older..? You always complain that you always have to go undercover as a student, and that Tsuzuki treats you like a kid." Watari suddenly smiled, winking. "See, now Tsuzuki just can't wait to get all over you!"

Hisoka's eyes widened looking over his shoulder, and felt faint.

Watari saw the perfect opportunity and slipped out of the room unnoticed

Puppy-child Tsuzuki smiled sweetly, continuing to nuzzle against Hisoka.
'Soka-chan, preettyyy!"

"TSUZUKI GET OFF OF ME!"

Tsuzuki went flying, thrown off, tears at the corner of his eyes.

"Waaaaaaa!"

Hisoka clapped his hands, dusting them off.

"Idiot. Now Watari-san--!"

He looked around angrily. Where did he go?

But his search ended in vain when his partner attached to his hip and started whining piteously. "'Sooookaaaa! Hidoiii….! Why're you being soo meaaaan..?"

Why did those tear-filled eyes affect him more now?

Hearing random inner-mumblings from Tsuzuki about different sweets he liked to eat while clingling to him, Hisoka blushed angrily looking at him, trying to pull the coat more securely around himself, silent.

Tsuzuki stepped back with a serious grin on his face.

"I knooooow! 'Soka is being grumpy and mean 'cause he just wants some new clothes… C'mon! Let's go see Tatsumi!"

Hisoka squeaked nearly toppling over from the overenthusiastic Tsuzuki's pulling.

"Bakaaa! Let go of me, I'm going to fall over!"

"Then I'll catch youuu! -heart-"

Hisoka's eye twitched, wrenching his poor strangled right arm away.

"I'd smash you flat."

"So, at least I would have a broken your fall. Hee."

Hisoka turned away, intent on going to Tatsumi's office, wondering why Tatsumi hadn't already reprimanded them for being late. Tsuzuki was starting to give him the creeps for some reason.

"And then, Hisoka would give Tsuzuki all the sweets in the world—!"

Tsuzuki blinked looking up realizing that Hisoka had just walked out on him; He jogged to catch up to his partner's long strides.

"Yo! Hisokaaa! Waiiit for meeee…"

TBC.