A/n: blame it on my girlfriend. She got me into this pairing.

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A Kiss is Just A Kiss...Right?

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Hijiri was oddly happy to see Hisoka again.

Even though the circumstances were by no means happy.

He had died just after graduating high school and had been determined to become a shinigami, which he had successfully done.

To his slight disappointment, he'd been paired with Tatsumi, a man he'd only met in passing.

But he was close to Hisoka and that's all that mattered.

He'd not yet fully admitted to himself that he was in love with Hisoka, but he was quite sure he was at least crushing over him.

Just two weeks after his permanent arrival in Meifu, Hijiri's luck turned for the better when a special case dictated he and Hisoka would have to partner up.

It went horribly and both finished exhausted.

Hisoka took it a lot harder than Hijiri though and with reason.

The case was a murderer who had refused to move on and was still killing even after his death.

Hijiri had opted to be the bait for this, however when the man spotted Hisoka he lunged.

One touch from this man sent him into psychic overload and Hijiri had watched in horror as Hisoka fell to the floor with a soft moan.

He had to take action as the murderer began to advance on Hisoka, prepared to 'murder' him.

Single-handedly he had taken the man down out of sheer anger that he'd harmed Hisoka.

Once back in Meifu, Hijiri sat vigilantly by the blond, hoping he would wake soon.

Tsuzuki explained that Hisoka sleeps to sort information and his fainting was a result of too much given to him all at once.

Nonetheless, Hijiri refused to leave his side for three days until Hisoka finally woke.

He took the blonds hand and without even thinking, gently brushed his bangs out of his eyes.

"Hisoka..."

The name was whispered in a breath and he was suddenly aware of Hijiri's emotions and slowly sat up.

"You...pulled me out of that nightmare."

Hijiri was silently confused by this until Hisoka pulled his hand away.

"Please don't look at me like that Hijiri-san...I'm okay."

Hijiri gave a sigh and closed his eyes.

"I was scared to death you know."

Hisoka continued to stare at him.

"I know. And I know what you want to say so just say it."

Hijiri blinked a moment before looking back into matching emerald eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Hisoka took a deep breath.

"Don't play with me Hijiri-san. I know what you want to say."

He repeated this with emphasis on the second word and Hijiri's eyes widened.

"What forces me to sleep, also forces me to know how everyone around me is feeling."

Hijiri looked away, afraid to look into the other boy's eyes.

"Hisoka I..."

He couldn't seem to find the words but Hisoka refused to let him drop it.

"It's easy to see...even Tsuzuki sees it...but before i decide I have to know for sure."

Hijiri looked up with conviction and took a deep breath but didn't open his mouth.

Instead, he pulled Hisoka closer and kissed him, eyes sliding closed.

Hisoka was shocked for a moment but soon closed his eyes too and found himself blissfully drowning in Hijiri's soft kiss.

The violinist turn shinigami slowly pulled away and stared into Hisoka's face, waiting for some kind of reaction.

When one finally came, Hijiri was elated.

Hisoka spoke so softly he was barely heard.

"Hijiri..."

Hijiri leaned closer, closing his eyes again.

"Hisoka..."

Hisoka took Hijiri's hand gently, never opening his eyes.

"Kiss me again..."

And Hijiri obliged him, wrapping his arm around Hisoka's waist to better hold him in the kiss.

As they broke away for the second time, Hijiri spoke softly and they stared at each other for a long moment.

"Hisoka...I love you."

This time the words rolled off his tongue like water and Hisoka smiled softly, pulling him down next to him.

"Lay with me for a while?"

Hijiri smiled back and nodded.

"Anything for you Hisoka."