This is a surprise gift-fic for the Last Unicorn, I think I promised one somewhere...

Thanks for all the encouragements Gillie!

The Beauty of Roses

The shears in his hands closed with a loud 'snick' and Tsuzuki flinched as the large heavy bloom fell to the ground with a soft thud.

"Hisoka?"

The youth looked up from the bush he was pruning. "Hey." Re-opening the long shears, Hisoka targeted another rose that was beginning to show signs of wilt.

Tsuzuki found himself tensing as the sharp blades were positioned on either side of a slender stem and he closed his eyes in anticipation of the 'snick' of the steel closing.

"Tsuzuki?"

Tsuzuki re-opened his eyes to find that Hisoka had withdrawn the shears and was watching him with mild concern and curiosity.

"Are you okay?"

Tsuzuki's gaze flickered to the rose blooms that lay scattered on the ground, and then back to his partner. "I'm fine." He swallowed heavily. "I didn't know you grew roses."

"I don't!" Hisoka blushed slightly. "Or at least I didn't, but Wakaba brought them over, and helped me plant them." The blush deepened. "She said they would make my house 'prettier'," he said with some chagrin, gesturing to the rose bushes that now stood to either side of his front door.

"Oh."

Hisoka raised a brow at Tsuzuki's lack of enthusiasm. "You don't like them?"

"No! No, they're pretty, it's just… Well, I guess I don't care for roses much."

"I thought you were into gardening?"

"I am! I just don't like the way you have to kill some roses in order for other to bloom, the symbolism disturbs me, I guess."

Hisoka regarded him with mild incredulity. "That's kind of silly."

"What?" Tsuzuki asked wide-eyed.

"The flowers aren't individual living things; they are all part of one larger living thing. When they get too big, you trim them down, the same way you would cut your hair or fingernails, and that doesn't hurt you, does it?"

"No…" Tsuzuki agreed slowly.

"And it doesn't hurt the rose bush either, it's part of the care it requires to remain healthy and happy." Hisoka ran his fingers over the petals of a newly opened rose. "It looks happy, doesn't it?"

Tsuzuki nodded slightly, watching the pale hand move delicately over the bright flowers.

"Anyways," said Hisoka, standing up and brushing off his jeans. "I think I've been here long enough for today. Do you want to go out and get some dinner?"

Tsuzuki visibly brightened. "That sounds nice."

Hisoka stooped and picked up one of the fallen blooms and making his way over to Tsuzuki., he fed the stem through his surprised partners' buttonhole, leaving the bloom to rest over his heart. "Now it looks happy," he declared, blushing furiously at his own boldness. Ducking his head to hide his red cheeks, he turned and started away from the house.

Tsuzuki stared after him for a moment, then looked down and ran his fingers lightly over the soft red petals, for once simply appreciating the beauty of the rose.

"Hisoka! Wait for me!"

And the one who gave it.