Library
A/N: This is my first fan fiction and I've never been much of a writer, so don't suspect to much. I often get tired of stories with a lot of drama, so I thought I'd write something calmer. Admittedly, this is more of a tribute to the library in my town than anything else. Aren't libraries just wonderful? – Pan-Kirjava
Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei belongs not to me, but to Yoko Matsushita. I don't own any libraries either.
Tsuzuki was bored. He had made a horrible mistake today: he had agreed to Hisoka's request to visit a library a few blocks away from the café where they had eaten lunch. And now it had come to this.
Hisoka sat across from him at a rectangular table the library staff had set up just to convince Tsuzuki's young partner to stay and read for a while, ensnaring poor Tsuzuki within the library trap. He couldn't understand the attraction of such a place – nothing was going on! The building was utterly silent, and an old librarian had shushed him harshly when he had tried to hum. He groaned loudly, inviting another glare from the librarian, and shifted impatiently. Hisoka glanced up from his book. "What?" asked the pair of green eyes which looked at him with mild annoyance. "I'm bored, Hisoka!" Tsuzuki cried. Hisoka blinked in amazement. "You are?" Tsuzuki nodded emphatically. "It's too quiet. What's so interesting about this place?" Hisoka was silent.
After a few minutes, Hisoka spoke again. "It's relaxing." Another long silence. "And… a library has the answer to everything." Tsuzuki blinked. "Everything?" Hisoka nodded. "Think of any topic and a library will definitely have information about it." Tsuzuki paused and thought for a moment. "So you come here to learn about everything?" He shook his head. "Lots of people. Not me."
"Oh…" Another silence followed as Hisoka went back to his book.
Tsuzuki opened his mouth again. "Hisoka?"
"Hmm?" He looked up from his book. "Why do you come here?" Hisoka sighed and put down the book. "Close your eyes, Tsuzuki."
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Tsuzuki shot him a confused look but obeyed. "Now clear your head and listen." Still wondering what Hisoka was getting at, he shifted into a more comfortable position and opened his ears.
At first there was nothing; to Tsuzuki it seemed as if the library had no sound at all. But slowly, he began to hear it. The soft rustling of pages being turned, the quiet murmur of voices coming from a nearby table, and the muted sound of leaves rustling in the trees outside. It was so peaceful; nothing in the world could possibly be this peaceful… Suddenly, the scent came to him. It took him a moment to identify it, and the realization came to him. This was the smell of lovingly used books! Tsuzuki had never realized it would be so pleasant…
He found himself drifting towards sleep, blanketed by the sound and smell of the library. Suddenly he was startled to hear someone speak to him. "Well?" Tsuzuki opened his eyes and looked at Hisoka in wonder, searching for words that would express his realization. "Let's stay here a little longer," he said finally. Lips turning slightly upward, Hisoka nodded and settled back into his book contentedly