Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei. But I can dream.

A/N: Hi again! I'm glad to post this in a timely manner. Enjoy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Tsuzuki came out of the steamy room, tucking his shirt into his trousers and tossing the damp towel into the hamper. Catching a whiff of bacon cooking, the brunette smiled and made a beeline towards the kitchen.

"Kazutaka?"

Muraki, dressed casually in dark dress pants and a crisp white shirt, turned around, his hands holding two plates laden of bacon, eggs, and potatoes. Smiling affectionately at his beloved, he set the warm plates down.

"You can't start your day without sustenance, Asato," he declared.

"Wow! This looks great!"

Glancing at the kitchen clock, he bit his lip, debating whether or not to take the chance.

"Don't worry, Asato. You have some time. Please sit," the doctor held out a chair expectantly.

Nodding, Tsuzuki plopped himself down and grabbed a fork, waiting for the doctor to be seated.

"Good," the doctor replied, pleased. He unfolded his napkin and placed it in his lap.

"Go ahead, Asato," he prodded gently, amused the guardian held himself back.

Tsuzuki scanned the delicious fare: crispy bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, hashed brown potatoes, thick slices of toast slathered with creamy butter, tall glasses of sunny orange juice and fresh strawberries swimming in cream. The guardian marveled that the doctor was able to whip up all this so fast.

With great exuberance the brunette dug into his meal, making small noises of appreciation.

"Mmmm," Tsuzuki managed, mouth full.

The doctor smiled warmly. It did his heart good to see his beloved enjoying it so. Setting his tea down and dabbing at his mouth, he remarked innocently, "This is nice. It wouldn't matter if you were a few minutes late, ne?"

The dark-haired man eyed his lover warily, still eating.

Muraki continued, ignoring the guardian's pointed stare.

"You've put in such a long day yesterday. I'm sure your co-workers would understand if you came in an hour or two later, ne?"

Not getting an answer, the pale man calmly took a sip of his tea.

Muraki shrugged. "Besides if you found yourself running late, you could simply teleport to Meifu."

Tsuzuki paused, his forkful of potatoes poised halfway to his mouth. Frowning, he shook his head.

"No. It's not allowed. We are forbidden to use magic unnecessarily outside of Meifu," he recited with authority.

"Really?" Muraki raised the china cup to his lips. "How annoying."

"Hmph. I think you just like to get me into trouble," his lover observed, while focusing on his toast.

The doctor set his cup down.

"On the contrary, Asato. If you were to teleport, we could take our time in the mornings," glittering silver eyes met wide violet orbs. "We could make our 'good mornings' more...memorable."

Tsuzuki eyes bulged at the silver blonde's heated remarked. Blushing furiously, Tsuzuki again went to what he did best. Outraged indignation rather than addressing the shivers that ran up and down his spine and the heat pooling below his belt.

"What?! It's not allowed! I mean...well, once...once in a while...NO! Dammit, Kazutaka!" he bellowed.

Completely unaffected by the guardian's outrage, Muraki laughed behind his napkin as he leisurely dabbed the corner of his mouth. He never seemed to get tired of seeing his beloved so adorably flustered.

Tsuzuki immediately went back to the business of eating as a way of avoiding his lover's molten gaze and to keep his mind off those erotic images burning into his brain.

The doctor decided it would be wiser to keep the conversation on safer ground as he didn't want to be the cause of Tsuzuki choking on his breakfast.

But, alas, for Muraki, the meal ended too soon. After a few minutes, the guardian, patted his stomach in appreciation as he rose from his seat.

"Thank you, Kazutaka, for breakfast. I can just about make it if I leave now," he stated, slipping into his dark trenchcoat.

Muraki nodded, rising as well.

"Of course. I'll see you to the door, then," he stated quietly, unable to keep a seed of disappointment from his voice.

Tsuzuki went ahead slowly. It didn't seem to matter whether it was this morning or yesterday morning or ten mornings' ago. The dark-haired man felt a depression come over him at their separation. Logically, they would see each other again that evening, but emotionally, that was a whole other matter.

The brunette's heart couldn't help but throb uncomfortably as he took those steps toward the front door. Once there, he turned to face the silver blond, all set to say "good-by" or a even a cheery "see you" but the words stuck in his throat.

All he noticed was how beautiful his lover looked, standing there, a few feet away, looking so solemn.

They stared at each for several moments, their eyes speaking volumes with only the loud ticking of the antique clock in the hall, seeming to match their beating hearts.

Muraki broke the spell first, walking toward the guardian, stopping in front of him. He reached to pluck at the smaller man's suit jacket where he carefully tucked something into the lapel. Looking down, Tsuzuki saw that Muraki had placed a red rosebud in the buttonhole.

Cupping the delicate chin, the doctor tilted the beautiful face up.

"Tonight, Asato?" the pale man murmured, his eyes soft and glimmering.

Tsuzuki, mesmorized by silver pools, felt his cheeks grow warm, his mouth dry.

"Yes," he mouthed, unconsciously letting his eyelids slide shut, his lips part slightly.

Muraki smiled a bit. He studied his beloved's perfect features thoughtfully. Glossy dark bangs hanging this way and that, thick lashes laying on ruddy cheeks, sumptuous lips trembling endearingly.

The doctor's smile faded. Moving his hand to cradle the side of the guardian's face, he pressed his smooth cheek against his lover's.

Tsuzuki's eyes fluttered open.

"Kazutaka?"

"Asato," Muraki sighed longingly.

What is wrong with me? Let Asato go. Let him walk out that door. Be reasonable. I'll see him again tonight. He said so.

The doctor sighed softly again, pressing his lips against the warm cheek, once then twice.

"Tonight," he repeated, taking a step back.

If I touch him again, I'll never let him go.

Tsuzuki nodded. He turned on his heel, reaching for the handle, then stilled. Suddenly he spun around, startling Muraki. Taking three strides purposely towards his lover, Tsuzuki grabbed the broad shoulders and delivered a full kiss to the surprised man.

Falling back, Tsuzuki grinned happily.

"Tonight," he promised firmly.

Without waiting for an answer, Tsuzuki threw open the heavy door and trotted down the wet path, his trenchcoat flying behind him.

Muraki watched until his beloved was out of sight. Then slowly closed the door with a resounding click, which seemed to echo throughout the large room as if emphasizing the emptiness of the place. He rested his forehead against the cold wood, eyes closed.

After a minute, he pushed himself away and walked to the master bedroom to retreive his cell phone, his footsteps sounding hollow throughout the hallway. Once there, he paused at the doorway, staring at the rumpled bed. Shaking himself mentally, he strode to the nighttable, grabbed the phone and punched a couple of buttons.

Irritation flashed across his handsome face at the number of messages listed. Well, if anything, today's workload would keep his mind busy until this evening, better than brooding away the hours.

So resolved, Muraki went about getting ready for work.

--------------------------------------------------

Once at Meifu, Tsuzuki did, indeed, make it on time. At least, that's what he thought. Sitting down at his desk, already diving into the paperwork for the day, he was greeted by a stoic Tatsumi.

"Oh, good morning, Tatsumi," the guardian replied, in the process of gathering the necessary forms from a folder.

"Tsuzuki-san, do you realize that you are five minutes late?" the secretary inquired blandly.

"Really? My watch must be a little slow. Sorry about that," the brunette responded, looking up at his co-worker expectantly.

"I'm sorry, too, Tsuzuki-san. We've discussed this. I'm afraid I'm going to have to dock you an hour's pay" he sighed, making a mark on his clipboard.

"What!? For five minutes!" Tsuzuki shot up from his chair. "You can't be serious, Tatsumi! It's just a couple minutes!"

"You know our policy, Tsuzuki. Any deviation from policy results in consequence. Now, please see the Chief in his office on an entirely different matter," Tatsumi retorted indifferently.

Tsuzuki frowned deeply and stood in front of the taller man squarely, his arms crossed.

"Hmph! You'll find, Tatsumi-san, that too much "policy" isn't an entirely good thing. The need to be flexible is just as important," Tsuzuki sniffed. "Excuse me."

Tatsumi blinked in surprise at the brunette's retreating back. He fully expected Tsuzuki to argue and plead his case, even resort to crying. But this...

Puzzled, the secretary followed behind his co-worker to the Chief's office.

---------------------------------------------------------------

At Tokyo General, Muraki spent his morning busy with his usual duties.

Whether filling out prescriptions or checking a patient's vital signs or studying an X-ray, no one would have guessed the doctor's mind was not entirely on his task. Even keeping his full attention at the quarterly staff meeting was a challenge. Muraki had to struggle to at least look interested. Always in his thoughts was his violet-eyed guardian.

Now, a nurse was explaining the latest change in schedule and the pale man would nod now and again and interject when necessary.

"Is that all right, Sensei?"

Muraki blinked.

"Pardon?"

"I asked if it was all right if you could take Tenzen-sensei's shift tonight. He found a conflict in his hours and since you have taken night shifts before..." the nurse explained.

"I'm sorry, no. This evening I have plans," Muraki retorted smoothly.

"Oh? All right. I'll let Tenzen-sensei know. Thank you, Sensei," the nurse took her leave, wondering what kind of plans could the handsome doctor have as he always seems to be working late and with whom?

Muraki made his way back to his large office, setting his clipboard down. He spread out the small lunch he made for himself on the grand cherry wood desk and opened the blinds of the large window, letting in the grey afternoon light. Sinking into the soft leather chair, he leaned back, sighing.

He studied the grey overcast sky, wondering what Tsuzuki was doing right now. Alone, he was able to indulge his thoughts solely on his lover. He smiled, remembering how upset the violet-eyed man was at breakfast, practically choking on his toast.

"So easily embarassed," the doctor mused, chuckling.

Tsuzuki's shyness and the adorable way he blushed endeared him all the more to the pale man. So much so, that the doctor couldn't resist teasing him relentlessly. Especially on matters of sex.

Muraki broke into a grin when he recalled one such night when Tsuzuki turned five shades of scarlet when Muraki had suggested to his lover that he wanted to see him touch himself.

"What?!" the dark-haired man cried.

"I want to see you pleasure yourself, Asato. It would please me very much," he had whispered, his large hands running up and down Tsuzuki's thighs.

The poor Shinigami stammered and looked as though he would die right then and there, but when he lifted his eyes, they were glowing with longing and desire. Coupled with his pink cheeks, Muraki's heart practically broke through his ribs.

"Asato," whispered the silver blonde closing his eyes in bliss at the memory.

Tsuzuki's hand hesitant at first then slowly stroking his jutting cock, his eyes cast downward in embarrassment. The doctor encouraging his lover to look at him and only him. The brunette's half-lidded glazed violet eyes locked with Muraki's heated silver stare as his fist moved faster and faster along his hot, dribbling erection.

Muraki barely able to stand the sight of how incredibly sexy his lover looked: thighs spread wide, pumping himself madly, his pants and moans music to the doctor's ears. And, Muraki, beside himself with lust, tore his lover's hand away only to grasp the engorged cock himself, fisting it savagly.

The doctor bit his lip. He would have Tsuzuki pleasure himself tonight and then, this time, ravish him senseless. Perhaps in front of the fireplace. Yes. The golden glow from the firelight dancing over the curves and planes of his beloved's naked glistening body would look exceptionally lovely.

Suddenly his cell rang.

----------------------------------------

Tsuzuki walked down the hall, shoulders slumped. He managed to find his way to his desk and sat down, his focus dazed.

Hisoka slowly came up beside his partner, frowning slightly. Sitting at his own desk across the brunette's, Hisoka waited. Finally, he couldn't take the silence.

"Tsuzuki? Are you okay?"

The brunette started. He blinked and focused at the youth across from him.

"Oh! Sure, Hisoka! Just thinking about how to proceed with our case. Did you want to get started on the background info first?"

The green-eyed boy studied the older man. Although he could easily probe Tsuzuki's psyche to get to the bottom of matters, out of respect for Tsuzuki, he refrained.

Abruptly, Hisoka stiffened. A wave of disappointment/sadness emanated from the violet-eyed man, causing the boy to bow his head slightly, shivering.

"Hisoka?"

Hisoka cleared his throat, all business.

"It'll be a tough case, Tsuzuki. A lot of long hours. Chief said he was counting on us to catch this guy," the slender youth watched the brunette's features carefully.

"I understand that, Hisoka! If anything, I should be concerned about you. It's your first big assignment," Tsuzuki replied. "We have to work hard as a team."

The boy snorted.

"Ch! I know that! I'm up for it!" he paused, noticing Tsuzuki's far-off look, a ghost of a smile playing on the older man's lips, not quite reaching his eyes.

"Tsuzuki?" he prodded softly.

"Huh?"

"You-you know you can talk to me, right? I mean, if something's on your mind?" the boy offered, hopefully.

Tsuzuki's smile became more pronounced.

"Thanks, Hisoka. I'll remember that," the guardian answered quietly.

"Well, come on! Let's get started," Tsuzuki quickly busied himself by stacking file folders together.

"You take these and I'll look up the list of names on the database."

Hisoka, realizing his partner was not ready to talk, got down to business as well. Grabbing the files he began organizing the papers. He would just have to trust that Tsuzuki would keep his mind focused on the job ahead and get on with it.

"Right," he stated.

-------------------------------------------------------

For the rest of that morning, the two Shinigamis dilligently pulled papers, cross-referenced, checked and double-checked the multiple stacks of reports.

As Hisoka was the faster typist, they agreed he would enter the data on computer while Tsuzuki alphabetized and pulled the necessary references.

Soon, lunch rolled around and Hisoka offered to go to the cafeteria to bring back ramen and tea.

The brunette sighed heavily. So much work ahead. Even though for the past five hours he labored straight through, the image of his silver-blonde lover was always there, in the back of his mind. Tsuzuki stared at the piles of folders not really focused on them, his fingers absently playing with the velvet petals of the rosebud in his suit lapel.

He had to phone Muraki and tell him about tonight and the nights ahead. That he would be unable to meet with him. Disappointment flooded Tsuzuki whole body anew, blurring his vision. He thought about just showing up to the doctor's house after work, no matter how late.

But that was just it. He didn't know how late and Muraki would be sleeping and the doctor had work the next day and he didn't want to disturb his rest.

Reaching for his cell, he hit the speed dial. He almost wished he would get the voice mail to just leave a message, coward that he was.

One ring, two rings...

-----------------------------------------

Muraki frowned, irritated to be interrupted during his daydream. But upon reading the number, grinned in satisfaction.

"Asato?" voice full of affection, Muraki leaned back into the chair and turned toward the window.

"How are you?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine, Kazutaka. How are you?" the guardian's voice was low, a bit wistful.

"Well, thank you. But I'll even better this evening. I've decided we should go to that new restaurant I've told you about. And perhaps, afterward, a walk along the lake. How does that sound?"

The doctor's long tapered fingers fiddled with a pencil, passing it back and forth casually between each digit.

"I'm-I'm sorry, Kazutaka. It's just that I-I won't be able to make it tonight," the brunette replied softly.

Muraki's fingers tightened around the pencil.

"Asato?" he whispered.

"There's a new case. The Chief just assigned it to us this morning. He expects us to work around the clock on this one. All night and-and maybe the next few days. I'm-I'm not sure. I'm sorry, Kazutaka," the brunette's voice began to tremble.

Disappointment washed over the doctor, sagging his frame.

"It's all right, Asato. Don't upset yourself. I understand," the pale man's voice was flat, even to his own ears. "Another time, perhaps."

"I don't know how long this one will take. The paperwork alone will tie us up for a while. It'll be," the doctor heard the brunette swallow in his ear. "It'll be a few days before I can see you."

Muraki sighed. Straightening a bit in his chair, he tightened his grip on the cell.

"Then I will see you when your assignment is over, Asato," his voice sounding steadier than he actually felt.

"Kazutaka?" his lover whispered, puzzled.

Muraki closed his eyes.

"I have a patient waiting, Asato. I'll speak to you again, ne?"

Several heartbeats passed. The yellow pencil snapped between the doctor's fingers abruptly.

"All right. I'll call you again," Tsuzuki's voice low, detached.

"Good-bye."

Muraki lowered the cell phone, dropping it to the floor, his lover's sad voice resonating in his brain.

The pale blonde sat straight up, focusing in the various tasks before him. There was the meeting with a patient's family to discuss changes in diet, there were medical journals to sift through, the afternoon rounds. And now Tenzen-sensei's night shift...

Kazutaka...

Muraki's eyes widened.

"Asato," he whispered.

It was no use. Tsuzuki's voice sounding hurt and confused at the cold way he ended their conversation weighed heavily on his heart. Why did he do that? Anger? Hurt? Disappointment? All of the above?

The doctor took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Dammit! There was no reason to hurt his beloved that way! None!

Muraki retrieved the phone from the floor. Quickly punching the various buttons, he nodded in satisfaction when it was done. Then he sent the message.

"I'll make it up to him. I will. I don't want him sad."

TBC

------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Cookies, anyone? Thanks for reading, hope you liked it.