"I'm not a child!!" Hisoka growled as his partner advanced on him, obviously worried.

"I never said that…" Tsuzuki immediately interjected.

"But you act like it! You always treat me this way…so just stop!"

"Hisoka…"

"I…am…not…a child…" Hisoka turned his back on his partner as he walked over to his desk and sat down, mussing around in the stack of papers piled upon his desk that were probably never going to get done.

"I just don't want you to get hurt 'Soka…"

"Dammit Tsuzuki! Will you give it a rest! Yes…I look sixteen…but I am twenty-three years old!!" the younger shinigami screamed, spinning in his chair to face his partner once more. "Just stop trying to protect me…you almost lost us the case because you were so wrapped up in my safety…kami-sama…why in the hell do you care so damn much?!"

"Because…" the older man blushed.

* 'Oh no…he's gonna say it…' * Hisoka thought to himself.

"Just forget about it…" the blond spat hurriedly as he turned his chair back around once more to his desk, a light blush crossing his features.

"Hisoka…I wouldn't protect you if I didn't…value…you. That doesn't mean I think you're a kid. You protected me from Touda…that didn't mean you thought I was helpless. Its just that…well…sometimes we all need a little help, no da…"

At the mention of the incident with Touda, Hisoka stiffened uncontrollably. Perhaps Tsuzuki was right. Perhaps if Tsuzuki hadn't of intervened, the demon would have been too much for him to handle.

            "Baka…" was the only reply Hisoka offered. Tsuzuki giggled…

            "You are an adult Hisoka-chan…a very, very beautiful adult…full-grown if I've ever seen it…"

Hisoka's eyes went wide and a scarlet blush covered his face. Tsuzuki approached the chair he sat in from behind and draped his arms around Hisoka's neck and shoulders.

            "Shut up Tsuzuki! SHUT UP!!" Hisoka squealed like a little girl.

            "But…." Tsuzuki continued, "You'll always be MY baby!"

And that was it…Hisoka exploded in a flurry of case files as he turned around to punch his partner…only to find himself captured in a tight, warm embrace…his feet dangling in the air as his lips were claimed in a salty-sweet kiss by the amethyst-eyed angel before him. Time seemed to slow down to a near standstill as Tsuzuki pulled away, leaving Hisoka flushed and gasping for breath.

            "Tsu…Tsuzuki…" Hisoka panted out.

            "Hai, koibito?" he asked, giving his best grin as he kept his hold on the boys' waist.

            "Don't call me baby…" was the last whisper to echo the room before Hisoka gave himself over to Tsuzuki's warm embrace, kissing the man once more.