Here it is, the much-anticipated sequel to my hit fic Be Thy Noble. I can't tell yet whether this fic is going to be really long or just long. I've written a couple of chapters already, but I'm just posting one at a time to pace myself. I'm hoping I can reduce the stress factor this way. I have a good feeling about this fic, though. I've been enjoying writing it since the first sentence, so hopefully my enthusiasm shows in the quality. As always, updates will take no longer than a week per chapter. I hope you guys enjoy the fic. Let me know what you think!
Chapter 1
"It is not!" Tsuzuki whined, blinking his large puppy eyes.
"It is so."
"Noooo, it's not!" he argued.
Tatsumi gave him a chilly look.
"Tsuzuki-san, if you continue to insist that you did not go over budget..."
"But I didn't! I swear, you gave me 5,000 extra yen! Don't you remember?"
The Kagetsukai glared at his former partner, long tired of that game.
"If that is true, then you won't mind my taking 5,000 out of your next budget allowance."
Tsuzuki paled, his jaw hanging open. He shook his head faintly, as if in denial.
"B-but...but..."
The older man silently took the budget report from the other man, tucking it neatly underneath his arm. He took one last glance at Tsuzuki, then walked swiftly back into his office. The violet-eyed man stood desolately in front of the door, sulking.
"You're so mean!" he told the door, sticking his tongue out. He kicked the tile floor lightly, not yet willing to go back to "working."
"He may be getting laid now, but he's still the same Tatsumi we all know and fear."
Tsuzuki jumped slightly, whirling around to face the owner of the lilting voice. Watari leaned against the wall, grinning. He tipped an imaginary hat to his friend and winked.
"Can't you do anything to persuade him?" Tsuzuki asked hopefully.
The blonde shook his head.
"Sorry, but even I don't have any influence when it comes to the budget. He still threatens to cut my funding if stuff keeps blowing up." He fished around in his coat pocket, pulling out a small bag and handing it to the other man.
"Here. This might make you feel a little better," he said.
Tsuzuki cautiously opened the plain white bag, his eyes widening joyfully as he pulled out a small pastry.
"I'd love to talk more," he said as he stuffed it into his mouth, "but I should get back to work."
"Uh huh," Watari replied knowingly. Ever since Tsuzuki had confessed his feelings to Hisoka a month earlier, the older Shinigami was rarely found away from the boy's side. The best part of it, Watari thought, was seeing Hisoka's blush every time his violet-eyed partner brushed against him. He smiled at the image, watching his friend bounce down the hallway. He turned his attention to the door in front of him. Pulling a crumpled paper out of his pocket, he opened the door, not bothering to knock.
Tatsumi sat at his desk, glaring.
"Does no one knock anymore?"
Watari grinned, taking a seat.
"I hardly think you need privacy around me, Seii. I brought my budget report," he said, handing the paper to the other man. The Kagetsukai took it reluctantly, raising an eyebrow as his eyes scanned over it.
"...Why are there bunnies drawn in the margins?" he asked, silently counting to ten. He looked expectantly at his partner, only to receive a shrug in reply.
"Um, I dunno. But aren't they cute bunnies? See, that one is munching on some grass, while the other reclines in the hot springs..."
"I get the point," he replied curtly, smoothing out the paper and setting it aside.
"Anything else before I kick you out of my office?"
The blonde smiled.
"Just curious whether we're going to my place or yours tonight."
Tatsumi sighed, adjusting his glasses.
"My place, as always. I'd rather not walk into that disaster you call an apartment again," he grumbled.
Watari nodded, standing up. He leaned over, risking a quick kiss on his lover's cheek before rushing out like a whirlwind. The secretary stared at the door wistfully for a moment. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden pain in his head. 'This...can't be a normal headache,' he realized as the shadows in the room jumped violently. He shook his head, trying to ward off the pain. Preparing to stand, he noticed with a shock that his hands were bound to the chair by shadows. He tried to order them away, but failed.
"Stop fighting it," a disembodied voice hissed softly. A large, vaguely human-shaped shadow formed beside him, edging slowly closer. Tatsumi felt panic rise inside him as the figure grew nearer. Still struggling, he was overtaken by the shadow and fell into unconsciousness.
"Mou...this is so boring!" Tsuzuki whined, laying his head on the break room table. Beside him, Watari nodded his agreement.
"Too true. Who would've thought that you'd want Tatsumi to come yell at you?" he mused, poking his friend.
"Anything beats this boredom," the older Shinigami grumbled. "Is he sick or something? I haven't done anything all day and he still hasn't come out to kill me!"
Watari smiled.
"Hey, you think you're worried? I blew up two things today, after all. Maybe he is sick... He did seem a bit pale when I left him earlier."
"Watari, what did you do to him?!" Tsuzuki cried, jumping up. "Can't you keep your hormones in check at work? This place will fall apart if you wear him out!"
The blonde glared, sticking out his tongue.
"Get a grip, you spaz. I didn't do anything to him...today. Sheesh. I just gave him my budget report and left."
The brown-haired man visibly wilted, falling back into his chair with a thud.
"Oh. Maybe...maybe someone should go check on him? I wonder if Hisoka would do it? He's the only one Tatsumi-san doesn't yell at all the time..."
"Hisoka's doing your paperwork again, you idiot. Plus, I'm not the one dating him!" a voice grumbled from the other side of the door.
Watari sighed, standing.
"Damn it, Bon's right. All right, I'll go. But if I'm not back in five minutes, I'm either dead or having my naughty way with him."
"Eww. In that case, don't expect anyone to come check on you," Tsuzuki groaned.
Watari walked down the hallway toward the secretary's office, absently running his hand across the wall. 'This is kinda strange... If he's sick, I'm not letting him work himself to death! I'll drag him home if I have to,' he decided. With that determination, he marched into Tatsumi's office, careful not to bang the door against the wall. The chair, which was facing the window, slowly swiveled around until the Kagetsukai's eyes met Watari's.
"What can I do for you?" he said languidly.
The blonde blinked, his resolve faltering at the intensity of the gaze he received.
"We, uh...we wondered if you're sick," he said. "You've been holed up in here all day!"
The Kagetsukai smirked slightly.
"Sick? Not at all. I've simply been catching up on some work. Between Tsuzuki-san's stupidity and your laziness, there's a backlog."
Watari frowned, slightly hurt by the tone of the statement.
"Well...I'll see you tonight then..."
"Actually, I would prefer to be left alone tonight," Tatsumi said.
The scientist's shoulders stiffened.
"Fine. I'll go tell the others that you're okay, then," he replied with fake cheerfulness. Closing the door softly behind him, the blonde rubbed his eyes. He walked slowly back to the break room, only to meet Tsuzuki in the doorway.
"Is he okay?"
Watari stared at his friend, a slightly haunted look on his face.
"He says he's fine. But Tsuzuki...there aren't any shadows in the room."
The violet-eyed man gasped.
"Huh? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. At first, I thought I was seeing things, but the shadows are gone. And Tatsumi...he's..."
"He's what?!"
The scientist smiled weakly, shaking his head.
"He's fine, Tsuzuki. He's just busy with our paperwork," he lied.
The man in the doorway hesitated, obviously not convinced.
"Well...if you say he's okay..."
The blonde nodded reassuringly, patting his friend on the shoulder.
"I think I'm gonna go play around in the lab," he announced, relishing in the look of fear that passed over Tsuzuki's face.
"I really hope I'm wrong," Watari mumbled to himself, practically diving into the computer chair in his lab. 003 came to perch on his shoulder, hooting softly in response to his obvious distress. He hurriedly perused the computer database, biting his lip until it nearly bled. 'Shit...not finding anything. Why do Kagetsukai's have to be so fucking rare? Gah, this is getting me nowhere. Maybe I'm just being paranoid? Uh no, Watari, shadows just don't disappear for no good reason. And maybe he's just in one of his moods, but Seii certainly was curt with me back there. It's too suspicious to let go...' He had decided not to share his suspicions with Tsuzuki, given the man's overly-emotional nature. 'Besides, what could he do? It's best that I find out what the hell I'm talking about before I go sharing theories with the others! Maybe...ah! That's right, the Gushoushin might have a book that'll help.' He jumped up, forgetting about the database as he rushed to the library.
"What do you mean there's nothing like that here?!" Watari screeched. The Gushoushin brothers exchanged a nervous glance.
"As you said yourself, Watari-san, there isn't much detailed information regarding Kagetsukai," one of them bravely explained.
The scientist stood for a moment, willing his anger to dissipate. 'It won't do any good getting mad at them,' he reasoned. Still, it was tempting to wring one of their chicken necks. He rushed out of the library, not having acquired any useful information to help him formulate his theory. Stepping back into the lab, he froze. Tatsumi stood beside his computer, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed imposingly over his chest.
"Doing some research on me, 'Taka?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
Watari closed the doors nervously, not sure if he wanted a clear exit or privacy more.
"Uh, well..."
The Kagetsukai's lips curled into an emotionless smile.
"You always were too smart for your own good. Tell me then, being the master sleuth that you are, what's wrong with this picture?"
The blonde frowned deeply. 'Besides that cocky little smirk on your face, you mean?'
"...There aren't any shadows."
Tatsumi nodded once.
"And what could possibly steal a Kagetsukai's shadows?"
The scientist shifted uncomfortably, suddenly wishing he'd left the doors open.
"...A creature made of shadow."
"Bravo. Would you care to take a guess at what this means?"
Watari narrowed his eyes, wishing his suspicions had been wrong.
"It means...Tatsumi's been possessed."