Disclaimer: YnM © Yoko Matsushita-Senpai

Note: WELL! Chapter 1 was a success! Glad for the reviews, really I am! But enough about me and my happiness, onto chapter two, shall we?

Chapter 2: Love and Chaos

It had been about two hours since the embarrassing shower encounter, and Tsuzuki was still pondering over the whole thing. Without knowing what to do, he decided it was best to ask Nohma a few questions. Knowing what he was to ask her, he began searching for her. He did find her, in Watari's lab even. But the spectacle that lied before him made Tsuzuki gawk for a moment.

Watari was taking off his lab coat, his shirt soon following, in the most appealing way possible. Sitting on a nearby table was the red-headed female, a devious grin on her face. Tsuzuki quickly caught the young woman's attention; "Uh, Nohma...?"

Nohma blinked, looking to Tsuzuki in immediate response. "Oh, Hey Tsuzuki! What's up?" Her mental hold on Watari was broken, and as such, Watari panicked over the fact the his shirt was off, and he had no idea how it happened. Nohma pretended not to notice, however.

Tsuzuki cleared his throat and motioned for Nohma to follow him. "I want to talk to you."

The woman blinked, but shrugged. "Uh, sure," She muttered shortly, following after the shinigami, leaving Watari confused and half naked in his lab. Once they were in the hallway, Nohma was her normal chipper self. "Soooo, whatcha want?" she asked nonchalantly.

Tsuzuki glanced at her. "I know you had everything to do with what happened earlier."

"Yup, all me." She gave a chibi-like smile. "You two are just so cute together!"

"So why didn't you make him go 'all the way' with me?"

Nohma stared, than smiled. "The kid is confused, trying to figure out what he feels and you're the same?"

Tsuzuki's murasaki orbs widened. "How did you-?"

Nohma placed a finger ion his lips, silencing the older shinigami. She had almost a sad smile on her lips. "Let's just say I've had relationships before; I know this kind of stuff happens," she told him simply. She then took her finger off and continued. "I had control of that kid until the moment he kissed you, then I released him." At Tsuzuki's perplexed look, she explained further. "Let's just say...I was bringing his feelings to the surface." She then ran off, waving exuberantly.

"Oi, Nohma!" Tsuzuki knew she couldn't hear him. Instead, he stood in the hall, thinking it through. Bringing his feelings to the surface, huh? Then that means... Tsuzuki's cheeks turn ed a bright pink, gasping slightly. Does that mean he's always felt that way! He stood in a daze. All he could see was the rare smile Hisoka flashed once in a blue moon. He felt his heart begin to pound rapidly in his chest; he held a hand to his chest. He chuckled softly. "Can't deny the truth, I guess...I lov-" Tsuzuki was interrupted by footsteps hurdling down the hall.

"Oi! Tsuzuki! We got a job!" Watari jogged in place beside his friend when they met. "Konoe needs us in the briefing room!"

"Oh, right, be there in a minute." Watari nodded and continued running to the briefing room. Tsuzuki focused on his heart for a moment. Hope it's the same... The then followed after the path Watari had taken.

"Watari here and accounted for!" The scientist announced as he burst in, literally jumping into a chair. But he didn't realize that he had, in fact, landed in Tatsumi's lap.

The secretary stared at Watari for a moment. "...Can I help you, Watari-san?"

Watari blushed faintly, standing and placing himself in the chair beside Tatsumi. "Heh heh, nope. I'm peachy..."( ----LIE! LIE!) Soon, hisoka stumbled on in, hopping to get this over with soon. He said nothing to the other two, dropping into a vacant seat boredly. Tsuzuki arrived quickly after. He wandered in sitting beside Hisoka nonchalantly. He put an elbow on the table, placing a hand beside it-although he didn't realize Hisoka's hand was there as well.

The two stared at each other for a moment, memories of the incident earlier coming to the surface. At this, they shifted away from each other, a flush very evident on his cheeks. Konoe and Nohma came in as well; Nohma sat in the center of the room, and Konoe took to the front. The chief looked at everyone in turn, "Alright, everyone pay attention. You got a job to do. It seems a number of souls have gone missing from the final resting place."

Watari blinked at Konoe. "So, the people are dying, but they never make it here?"

"Exactly, that's exactly it. The reports are largely coming from the local cemetery in Okinawa."

Tsuzuki snapped out of his daze, blinking at Konoe. "Do we know what's causing this?"

"Of course not, that's why I'm sending you, Kurosaki, Watari-san and Nohma-san." Everyone thought it was odd that Nohma was going, but said nothing. "Oh, also, I have been informed by Bernhart-sama that two of his cadet's will be joining you; he wants to see how they will handle this first mission."

Watari stood up excitedly. "Alright, let's go!" He headed out the door, as did Hisoka. Hisoka passed Tsuzuki, but never said a word to him. Nohma was already tying her hair back, stuffing her head into her helmet as she walked. Tsuzuki was about to follow them when Konoe called him back.

"Tsuzuki, I'd like to have a word with you..."

At Konoe's tone, Tsuzuki assumed the worst. Oh no! He found out about the bathroom thing and told the count! I'm in DEEP shit! "Uh..w-w-what is it...?"

"Tsuzuki...what do you think of this soldier who's monitoring us?" Konoe asked in concern.

Tsuzuki was completely thrown off, but answered honestly. "W-well, uh...she's nice...she's not horrible company..." Yeah, but she's the only reason I'm in such a mess with hisoka!

Konoe sighed a sigh of relief, sitting calmly in a chair. "At least I'm glad to hear that. Ever since we joined forces with those Spectral Eliminators, I've been suspicious about them."

Tsuzuki too sighed, his body ceasing to shake. Yes, another bullet dodged by Asato Tsuzuki... "But what did you want to discuss with me, chief?"

Konoe because more serious, pulling Tsuzuki so only he could hear. "I want you to figure out as much as possible about them. Honestly, I don't trust them. Don't let them know what you're doing."

"What do you want me to find out?"

"Anything; How they got their powers, how the tamed Touda's flames, and their intentions. Just report to me any information you can get."

Tsuzuki considered it. "...If I do this, can I get a raise?"

Konoe sighed, but agreed. "I'll increase it tenfold."

Tsuzuki jumped up. "Okay! I'll do it!"

When Tsuzuki left, Konoe shivered. "Tatsumi will have my head when he hears about this..."

When Tsuzuki met up with the others, the other two soldiers were there as well. Nohma looked over. "Where were you? We've been waiting for a minute and a third!"

"...Going...to the bathroom, Nohma."

"Oh."

The two cadet's saluted Tsuzuki and spoke in unison. "Sit, private and corporal Gemini reporting for duty, sir! We've been given instruction by our commander that you will lead us in this mission; what are your orders, Sir?"

Tsuzuki wasn't used to such behavior, but dealt with it. "Um...okay. Follow us and try to stay...discreet..."

The soldier's saluted again, and stood behind the rest of the group. "Sergei?"

"Yeah?"

The two soldiers looked at each other. "How the hell are we supposed to be discreet when we've got flamethrowers on our arms?"

The walk to the cemetery was long, and arduous, and again, Hisoka avoid all verbal and mental contact with his partner. "...Oi, Hisoka...?"

"We're here!" Watari exclaimed. They all stopped, observing the grounds, as they walked to the center, Nohma muttered, "Ech...this place looks like any other cemetery to me...dark and spooky..." They had to agree; overall, it was pretty quiet. Although Hisoka would have disagreed. Every step Hisoka took gave him more of the final thoughts of the lingering spirits. The sum of all the thoughts gave him a pulsing headache. Not being able to bear it anymore, he fell to his knees, covering his ears in agony, though it didn't help.

"Hisoka!" Tsuzuki ran over. "Oi, Hisoka!" The younger felt Tsuzuki's worry, and soon, only Tsuzuki's thoughts filled his head. Good...he's snapping out of it...that scared me... Feeling slightly better, he looked up at his partner. He was about to say something when Nohma interrupted.

"Heads up!" She yelled to the two.(How they knew it was her when she has her voice changer on...I don't know...-.-; -A/N) The two shinigami looked up to see a ferocious, spider-eyed, demon wolf getting ready to pounce on them. Tsuzuki clutched Hisoka tighter; Hisoka didn't move out of fear.

"Ready, aim, FIRE!" A stream of black flame shot from behind them at the demon. The shinigami looked to see one of the cadets' flamethrower tip entrenched in the flame. "You guys might want get up-looks like we got a fight on our hands!" Tsuzuki and Hisoka stood up, noticing that they were surrounded by several demon dogs; a few larger demon dogs were standing in the back. The group made a circle, their back s to one another defensively.

"What are these things?" Nohma asked.

"Soul stealers," Tsuzuki replied. "They can only survive on the souls of the dead..."

"And they're still hungry, huh?"

Watari stood beside Tsuzuki. "Tsuzuki, they can't have my soul yet!" he exclaimed in a panicked voice. "I'm still using it!"

The older glanced at the younger. "Watari, I've never seen you fight, but you're going to have too now."

"Damn it Tsuzuki, I'm a scientist, not a fighter!" The demon's circled, one leaping for watari. IN panic, Watari pulled a random vial from his coat, throwing it. The demon swallowed it, and exploded, letting the swallowed souls free.

TSuzuki got excited. "How did you do that Watari-kun!"

Watari revealed the many test tubes filled with chemicals. "Just in case," he yelled, a devious grin on his lips.

"Well, now that everyone 'cept blondie over there can fight...LET'S ANNIALATE THESE FREAKS!" The two Gemini soldiers fired their weapons, and Nohma controlled a demon, making attack it's comrades. Tsuzuki had summoned Byyako, Watari was lunging vital chemicals at the beasts, while Hisoka stood in the middle of it all to avoid conflict. Some of the larger demons began to stand in a odd pose, inhaling excess air, concentrating it to a beam of souls, and released it-their target: Hisoka. Tsuzuki noticed and took the blast himself. It knocked the wind out of him. When a worried Hisoka ran over, tsuzuki gave him words of reassurance, than continued fighting.

However, after literally an endless amount of demons, and more coming, fatigue was beginning to show in the group. "Why won't they stop coming!" Nohma panted. "Where are they all coming from!"

"Oi, Tsuzuki-kun! Summon another shiki!"

Tsuzuki nodded. "All I need to do is-" He stopped, seeing a figure coming from behind the demons. The figure leaped several feet in the air; Tsuzuki focused on the figure noting they wore a Spectral Eliminator outfit and a cape... "It's Bernhart!"

Bernhart then began to release an attack. "In the name of all that is powerful, please lend me your strength to smite thy enemies and cast them back to the abyss whence they came!" A strong light started to surround Bernhart's clenched fists, his cape splitting into two, forming what appeared to look like wings. Everyone gazed in awe at the spectacle...except Hisoka.

The younger's midori orbs widened as he stared up. It wasn't bernhart he saw in the spectacle. No, it seemed to be a fleshy demon, ready to destroy everything. However, he never said a word.

"HEAVEN TO EARTH STRIKE!" Bernhart's fist swung down, and an onslaught of meteors began to rain from the sky, disintegrating the demons below. Then silence fell and the dust cleared.

"Impossible," Hisoka muttered to himself. "I just-"

"Did you say something, Hisoka?" Tsuzuki asked.

"Uh...no..."

Bernhart landed gracefully. The Gemini soldiers and Nohma saluted. "Commander Bernhart, Sir! Glad you came to save us, sir!" Bernhart chuckled. "At ease soldiers..." He glanced at Hisoka, feeling the strange stare. "You need attention. You seem...distraught..."

"..uh..I'm fine..."

Tsuzuki walked up to Bernhart. "Heh, Arigatou. We would have been toast."

"No I must thank you. You kept my soldiers alive long enough for me to arrive." He glanced at the Gemini's. "You need more training. You were less prepared than I thought."

The two pouted. "Aw, not again..."

The Commander looked to Nohma. "You seem well. How are things at the department?"

"Permission to speak freely sir?"

"Permission granted."

Nohma jump on Tsuzuki. "The department is so freaking awesome! I love it there! Everyone is so nice and the food's great and I feel at home there!"

Bernhart chuckled. "Excellent. Stay about...two more weeks, then we'll send in 'screamer'."

"Yes sir."

The commander and his cadets left. once they were out of sight, Nohma took off her helmet.

"Who the hell is 'screamer'?"

"Like Bernhart said at the meeting..." Nohma attempted to imitate Bernhart's voice, "'You'll find out everything on a need-to-know basis'." She smiled, following after Watari to leave. "Well, c'mon guys. Let's get out of here. It's giving me the creeps."

"Coming!" Tsuzuki ran after her. This left Hisoka to think for a moment over his vision. "Oi! Hisoka! C'mon!"

"Hai!"

"Man, that was intense," Nohma yawned, stretching. "I need to rest, okay?"

Tsuzuki nodded. "Alright, we'll be quiet." He watched Nohma run up the stairs.

"Oi, baka..."

TSuzuki looked to see Hisoka; he knew it was Hisoka anyway, only Hisoka got his attention by saying 'baka'. "Hai? Nani desu ka?"

Hisoka looked a bit awkward. "I don't trust these eliminators...something's not right..."

"Hmm?" Tsuzuki blinked. "Nani?"

Hisoka looked at him seriously. "You remember that attack Bernhart-san used?"

"Hai."

"Something was off about it..." Hisoka bit his thumb nail, thinking it over again. "Right before it was released...I saw something."

"Saw what?"

"A..." The younger swallowed nervously. "...A demon..."

"!" Tsuzuki's eyes widened. "A D-Demon?"

"I don't know for sure, but I felt it. My eyes might be messed up, but I know my abilities aren't-I definitely felt a demon OTHER then what we were fighting."

Tsuzuki remember to tell Konoe and started to walk out. "Thanks, Hisoka! I'll be back!" He ran to the chief's office, and told Konoe everything that had happened.

Once the whole mission had been relayed to the chief, Konoe had one thing to say: "...HE COULD UNLEASH AN ATTACK LIKE THAT! A MERE MORTAL DID THAT!" At Tsuzuki's nod, Konoe looked fearful, and was so nervous he had to take a seat. "Shit...this isn't good. How the hell can an average human defeat an entire army of demons in one attack!"

"Ano, Konoe-sama?" When the shinigami had gotten the chief's attention, he cleared his throat. "There's something else, too. Hisoka said he saw something. He told me that he saw a winged demon just before the attack was released."

Konoe looked concerned. "...A demon?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but HIsoka has no reason to lie. We can trust him and his psychie."

Konoe was now officially troubled with a capital T. "This is REALLY bad; just who the hell did we join up with-better yet, what?" He rubbed his temples. "Let me know if you find out more."

Tsuzuki nodded and left, slightly troubled. ...I hope Hisoka's vision and psychie was, for once, wrong... He headed to his room, only remembering once he'd reached the door about Nohma. Oh yeah...she's sleeping... He opened the door silently, only to discover Nohma wasn't asleep.

The young woman was sitting on the bed, head hanging low. In her hand was an open locket, a picture of a brown-haired man inside it. A few tears slid down her face as she muttered, "I wish you were here Tiri," in a choked whisper. The sight made Tsuzuki retreat, only to be stopped by Nohma's voice. "I know you're there, Tsuzuki-san..." She looked up at him, allowing a few more tears to leave footprints down her face.

Tsuzuki felt uncomfortable. "It's just...you looked upset...I didn't want to..." He glanced at the locket, sitting beside Nohma.

"He was my last boyfriend. We were going to get married and have a family, but..." Nohma swallowed hard, blinking back a few more tears. Taking a shaky breath, she continued. "He died...at work..." She looked at Tsuzuki, somewhat full of pride. "He was a police officer, y'know..."

Tsuzuki blinked at her. "How did you-?"

"Silly." She wiped her face. "Everyone asks me that when they see it."

"Must be hard facing it alone..."

Nohma nodded. "When I'm not working...I think about him...He was my pride...my comfort..."

Tsuzuki hugged her close.

"Nani?"

"I want you to know...we all became shinigami because we have regrets...we couldn't leave yet. None of us will turn you away." He pulled away, smiling at Nohma. "Come to any of us if you need to talk, ne?"

Nohma thought for a moment, but then gave the most cheerful smile Tsuzuki had ever seen. She giggled, pushing her self up and walking to the door. "Arigatou, Tsuzuki-kun!"

Tsuzuki watched her leave. "Another good deed done, I suppose...Hmmm...What was I doing before the mission again...?" Memories of the shower flooded the man's mind, and he had an immediate nosebleed. Next thing he knew, he was cleaning blood off the carpet with tissue up his nostrils.

And low-and-behold, Watari just happened to walk by Tsuzuki's open door and notice the blood. "Oi, Tsuzuki! What happened?"

"Nowhere..."

Watari gave a knowing grin as he walked in, sitting on his senpai's bed. "Were you thinking naughty thoughts? Naughty thoughts about a certain blonde-haired, green-eyed shinigami?"

Tsuzuki looked at Watari. "It wasn't you."

Watari smiled. "Personally, I'm glad it wasn't." The scientist winked. "But am I right?"

Tsuzuki tried hard to defend himself, he really did, but relented. "...Hai...Aw, I can't help it! Ever since this morning I haven't been able to control it!" And so, Tsuzuki told Watari the whole story about Hisoka, Nohma's mind control, and the shower. When it was all over, he sighed.

"Hm. Tough situation, ne? You just need to figure out how to talk it over with Bon, ne?" When Tsuzuki nodded, watari thought about it, his finger tapping against his chin. "Well...if Nohma-chan's the cause...shouldn't she fix it?" He smiled. "So go talk to Nohma-chan!"

Tsuzuki smiled. "Arigatou Watari-kun! Why the hell didn't I think about that!"

As Tsuzuki ran out to look for Nohma, Watari sat on the older shinigami's bed. Once he was out of sight, Watari's usual cheesy grin faded. "Hmm. If only my predicament was that simple to solve..." He stared at the floor for a moment before standing up and leaving the room. He and Tatsumi crossed paths In the hallway, but not a word was said when their hands accidentally brushed one another.

Meanwhile, Tsuzuki was throwing open random doors, not caring about the conciquences, looking for Nohma. After a while, however, he flung the bathroom door open, finding Nohma standing in front of the mirror, shirtless. When the door opened, she smiled. "Hi Tsuzuki!" She turned to face him. "Say, which boob's bigger, do ya think? Looking's okay, but if you touch, you're dead."

"Nohma put a shirt on!" Tsuzuki yelled, covering his eyes. "I need to talk to you!"

Nohma blinked, then smiled, grabbing a shirt on. "Okay. What is it?"

"I know we cleared up that you're the cause of the incident earlier."

"Yup."

"But because of you're manipulativeness, Hisoka won't talk to me! And you've got to fix it!"

Nohma snorted. "Puleeze. Is that all? Don't worry, I got everything covered." She then walked out.

Tsuzuki had every right to be worried. In the meantime, he began day-dreaming about Hisoka. Of course, it was only a matter of time before his dreams were interrupted.

"Tsuzuki-san."

"Hm?" Tsuzuki looked up to see Tatsumi at the door. "Nani?"

"Konoe wants everyone from our department in his office."

Tsuzuki nodded. He forced himself off the bed, heading to the chief's office. When he arrived, he saw not only Tatsumi, but Hisoka, Watari and Nohma in the room.

"Ah, good, you all have arrived." The chief smiled at them. "I have just realized something important." Everyone stared at him. "You all...haven't had a vacation in a long time. I have decided that you shall all take a vacation. All expenses are paid for."

Tatsumi's glasses slid off his nose. "D-d-demo! Sir, the budget! The BUDGET!"

Konoe wasn't concerned. "You too deserve a vacation, Tatsumi."

Watari literally bounced over. "Can we go to Nara!" At Konoe's nod, Watari glomped Tatsumi. "Yes! I've been DYING to go to Nara!" When Tatsumi cleared his throat, the younger released him, a faint blush on his cheeks.

Only TSuzuki seemed to notice that the only one NOT surprised by the situation was Nohma. This CAN'T be good...