Disclaimer: I don't own Yami no Matsuei or any of the characters. ;-;
Author's notes: this is a warm up story for a much longer story that I'm writing. It takes place right after Tsuzuki became a Shinigami. Please feel free to leave comments if you wish. Thank you!
...This is Good bye
"Tsuzuki?" Haji stode before the shinigami, eyese wide in amazement.
Tsuzuki swallowed hard, wondering what he should say to his old friend. After all, it's not every day you see a person whoy you thought was dead walking around and talking.
But he didn't have to answer. A few moments later Haji spoke up again, his voice full of fear and wonder.
"I thought you were dead..." he grabbed Tsuzuki's wrist for a moment, as if testing it to see if Tsuzuki was really there, that he wasn't just a ghost.
It was real all right. Haji could feel the skin, warm to his touch and pulsating with life. Life that shouldn't be. After all, Tsuzuki was dead! He had seen the men bury the man himself. He, like the rest of Tsuzuki's small family had all mourned over the rotting corpse now lying in the grave. So how could this be...?
"But you..." Haji found his voice again, "I saw it." His eyes were narrowed, almost as if he was angry. "I saw them bury you with my own two eyes! So how can it be that you're here before me!? How!?"
Tsuzuki wasn't sure how to answer.
Inside his head thoughts began to stir. Should he lie and tell Haji he was a alive, that he really wasn't dead or should he do the more cowardly deed and run away?
"Haji," he began weakly, then cleared his throat and tried again.
"Haji," he said, in a much clearer voice. "What you saw was true," he bowed his head, keepting his amethyst eyes out of Haji's sight.
"I am dead," he admitted stonily."
"Then how?" Haji voice echoed, "How are you here, standing before me?"
His voice grew impatient, "And how is it that I can touch you? You feel human, you look human! If it hadn't known any better I wouldn't even have thought you were dead!"
Tsuzuki smiled sadly, but didn't answer.
Instead, he touched the man's shoulder gently, and whispered, "Tell her. Tell my mother that I love her...and that I'm sorry."
Haji stared at him, feeling the tears start to form in his eyes, "But Tsuzuki..."
But Tsuzuki just continued to smile.
"I've turned a different leaf now. I'm no longer the same Tsuzuki Asato, no longer even a part of your world anymore. I'm not dead, but I'm not alive either, and that's why I have to go." He fought to hold back the tears threatening to form, "It's time for me to say good-bye."
Haji flet his heart buckle up within him. Tsuzuki leave them? Even in death, it was always said that the spirit of the deceased continued to live on, watching over the their loved ones and protecting them. But what Tsuzuki was saying....
But what could he do but accept it?
Haji nodded sadly.
"All right then," he replied, not looking at Tsuzuki's face.
Tsuzuki smile again, only things time it was genuine, just like Haji had remembered it, back when Tsuzuki was still alive.
It took him all he had to keep from looking up at the man who had once been his friend.
"I won't forget you, Haji," Tsuzuki whispered, "nor will I forget the kindness you have shown me."
By the time Haji looked up, Tsuzuki was gone. Gone again, but this time it was for good.
He felt a tear drop wetten his cheek, but he did not wipe it away.
"Are you finished," Tatsumi came up from behind Tsuzuki, nearly startling the shinigami out of his wits.
"Tatsumi?" Tsuzuki replied, startled. Then his face became grave. "Im ready," he replied, his voice barely audible.
"Then let's go," Tatsumi smiled encouragingly at his new partner, "Let's go to Juohou."
the End