A/N: Many thanks for the reviews! You guys are very kind. I do hope I continue to keep your interest. And I hope to keep posting regularly but as the New Year has started so has new responsibilities. So for now: Enjoy!
"Was this where it happened, Tsuzuki?" the blonde scientist asked, adjusting his glasses and peering to the space in the living room.
Tsuzuki bit his lip, his eyes blurred and his chest constricted painfully recalling the scene that happened so recently.
Why? Why did this have to happen? Was this his fate? Never to be happy, always be alone?
"Tsuzuki?"
"Yeah! Umm, right here," Tsuzuki shook himself to the present, raking his hand through his unkempt hair. "A huge crack jolted through the house and there was a flash of intense blue light and the barrier surrounding Kazutaka was incredibly strong! It threw me across the room a couple times. And then...then he...he was gone."
After sitting in the dark room replaying the horrible scene over and over, Tsuzuki forcefully pulled himself out of the black cavern lest he fall in too far. His last image of Muraki screaming his name with arms outstretched only to vanish in thin air took great will on the brunette's part not to succumb into hysteria. So he called his friends, struggling not to sob uncontrollably. How easy it would be to curl into a ball and withdraw into darkness. Never to feel this incredibly sharp stab of despair or this dull throbbing ache of loneliness. To call down Touda and end it all would be all too tempting. But...
He's alive.
Two words. Tsuzuki chanted those two words repeatedly if he was going to be of any use to his lover in his time of need.
He's alive.
Deep down, the brunette knew that if his lover were truly dead he would have felt it. Deep in the core of his being he would have felt a yawning black void in the pit of his soul, a piece of himself ripped away never to be recovered.
He's alive.
Dressed in rumpled jeans and a sweater he went over the night's events to his fellow Shinigamis what had taken place a couple hours before in a voice surprisingly calm.
Watari, with little 003 perched on his shoulder, made a pot of coffee and reassured the brunette as best he could but it was clear no amount of comforting words would help. Tsuzuki was distraught and he had every right to be so. The other Shinigami had never come across this sort of abduction case before in recent memory and now they were doing their level best to come up with a plan.
The brunette's shoulders slumped but he started when Watari slapped his back forcefully nearly knocking him to the ground.
"It's good that you called us. With all of us on the case, we're sure to come up with something, Tsuzuki," the blonde scientist reassured.
Looking around the comfortable room he noticed no broken furniture or cracked walls. Books were still on the shelves, vases filled with flowers sitting on the tables. Nothing out of the ordinary. Watari frowned. Usually when there was something as dramatic as Tsuzuki described there would be signs of a struggle or burns marks on the surfaces or even the smell of sulfur or some other noxious odor lingering. But there was nothing.
"Tsuzuki, you say it happened at about 3:15? How is it that you guys were in this room at that hour?" Watari asked from the far side of the room still running his hands along the smooth walls, concentrating on feeling for any give.
"Oh! Well, Kazutaka is working on an important case and he's doing research on the suggestion that I gave him..." the brunette sniffed, his voice lowering, the memory of his beautiful lover smiling and thanking him for his help flashed in his mind.
"I...I woke up and saw that he wasn't there and...and looked for him and found him in here...on the computer. Then he was done and we were going to go back to bed. He was here and I was over here on this side of the couch."
Tsuzuki swallowed hard. He was on the verge of crying again. He couldn't help it and he refused to talk about Muraki in the past tense as though...
Needing to do something, he joined the blonde and ran his hands over on the wall opposite his friend.
"I see," Tatsumi murmured, his piercing blue eyes stern.
With his hands outstretched he silently commanded his shadows to the far corners of the living room and study area, the black tendrils slithering over furniture and up walls over every corner. Leaving nothing to chance, Tatsumi sent the shadows out further to the kitchen and bedroom and balcony. Next he would send them out on the garden and roof and attic.
"Are you finding anything, Tatsumi?" the brunette asked hopefully.
He sounded so forlorn that the secretary was tempted to make up a lie and tell him that he did pick up a fleeting trail, a scant spiritual print. Anything to cheer up the brunette and see him smile again. Clearing his throat, he knew he couldn't do that. It would only be worse for him in the long run, in the off-chance Muraki couldn't be found.
"No, Tsuzuki. My shadows are detecting nothing at this point. It's almost as though it never happened," he said. Tsuzuki needed to know the whole truth.
A strangled cry escaped the brunette and he quickly turned his face to the wall, his hand pressed against his mouth to stifle any sobs that threatened to come forth.
Kazutaka, where are you? Please, please come back. Come back to me.
Shooting a reproachful look at the secretary, Watari was by Tsuzuki's side in an instant laying his head on the dark-haired man's shoulder. 003 hooted softly and gently preened the chestnut hair, giving her own brand of comfort to the distressed guardian.
"Tsuzuki," Watari wanted to say so much more. That it would be all right, that they would find the doctor and not to worry. But the words would seem hollow, at least to the blonde's ears. Watari knew how much Tsuzuki loved Muraki, it was so evident in the way his violet eyes softened whenever he spoke of the doctor, the way his voice turned husky full of affection, and how a smile lit up his beautiful face. And Watari was equally glad that the doctor loved his friend just as much if not more, taking such exceptional care of the sweet-natured guardian. So for Tsuzuki's happiness and well-being Watari vowed to do all he could to find Muraki.
"I...I'm sorry," Tsuzuki gulped, squeezing his eyes shut.
Don't cry! Not now.
"It just feels...like a...nightmare. And that...any minute Kazutaka...will..."
Tsuzuki stilled. He had to get hold of himself! He felt like he was slowly drowning and if he didn't get a firm grip he would lose it all together. These next few hours were critical as the sooner they gathered information while it was fresh there stood a better chance of helping Muraki. Logically, he understood that, but his heart...his heart felt as though it was slowly bleeding.
"I'm all right," the brunette straightened himself, wiping the excess moisture from his eyes with the back of his hand. "Really. If...if there is no spiritual essence to trace maybe...maybe Hisoka could pick up on any emotional traces?"
Watari nodded his head, blonde hair flying and 003 flapping her wings to stay on the scientist's shoulder. He should have suggested that sooner.
"Sure! I'll call him," pulling out his cell, Watari punched speed dial, going to the other side of the room to make the call.
Tatsumi approached the brunette warily, he wanted to bring up another angle but given his friend's fragile state, he was reluctant to do so. However, all possibilities had to be explored.
"Tsuzuki?"
The guardian looked up, his violet eyes blinking.
"Yes, Tatsumi?"
"You understand we must look at all sorts of potentialities. That being the case, what of the doctor's enemies? An enemy of Muraki's could be behind this, exacting revenge from a past wrong. Do you agree?" the secretary asked pointedly. He hoped he didn't come across as unfeeling, Watari had often warned him that he had that tendency to sound that way. But from the way the brunette flinched, Tatsumi could see he had failed.
"Yes. It could be an enemy of Kazutaka's. I'll go to Meifu and look through the criminal files for the names of all those who were associated with...with Kazutaka's dealings," he stated quietly.
The brunette's heart sank but he wasn't about to show that to Tatsumi. To him it seemed as though Tatsumi was sounding just a little too sanctimonious in bringing up the doctor's bloody past. He had bristled and immediately wanted to come to Muraki's defense but Tsuzuki couldn't waste his emotions there, having already done so when he and the doctor first started seeing each other. He needed all his strength to find out what happened to Muraki. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, it did make sense.
"Hisoka will be here in a few minutes. I gave him a summary of what's happened," Watari remarked, pocketing his phone. He eyed the two men staring at each other and sensed the tension in the room had been turned up a notch. He frowned. "Did I miss something?"
"I suggested to Tsuzuki that there is the possibility that it could be the work of an enemy of Muraki's and should be looked into," the secretary stated, taking off his glasses and cleaning them. Putting them back on his nose, he turned to the blonde. "Tsuzuki agreed and it will be his assignment to go through Muraki's files."
"Okay. Yeah, that's one way to go," Watari nodded, but inside he was fuming. Dammit, Tatsumi! Watari was going to have a serious talk with his boyfriend about being tactful. Tatsumi means well, but his style of delivery always seemed to miss the mark. He sighed. And to have Tsuzuki go through the doctor's files and relive his murderous past! What was the secretary thinking?! Watari loved the man, but sometimes he wondered if the secretary possessed any sort of diplomacy in his past life let alone as a Shinigami.
"Tsuzuki, I've been thinking," the blonde had decided to bring what was niggling at him now and as a way to get the brunette to get his mind off of Tatsumi's brisk manner. "After what you've described, I can't help but think that maybe Muraki was the intended target, that maybe this wasn't a spontaneous abduction."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tsuzuki stared at the scientist.
"If it had been spontaneous, how could Muraki been zeroed in on so fast?" the blonde continued slowly, piecing it together in his own mind as he talked. "And...and gotten through your security barrier without both of you knowing about it beforehand? I mean, one of you would have detected somebody or something was tampering with the barrier, right?"
Tsuzuki frowned, nodding.
"That's true. Kazutaka reinforces the barrier each night and together we reinforce it in the morning. If there had been dent or rip or any kind of disturbance we'd have known about it. Then...then that means that Kazutaka was supposed to be captured, doesn't it?" the brunette's heart pounded a bit at that new insight.
Tatsumi bowed his head, his arms crossed in front of him.
"It would seem that way. Whoever or whatever instigated this kidnapping had most likely planned it. It could very well have been planned months in advance in order to learn of the barrier's weaknesses if any. Perhaps even stalking the doctor of his routine at the hospital and around the residence. If that is the case, time would have meant nothing to this person to get what they wanted."
"Kazutaka's life?" the brunette whispered, swaying a bit unsteadily on his feet.
Then this person was holding his lover prisoner. Perhaps this person or persons plotted this for a long time. All this time, while Tsuzuki was happily residing in their home, unaware of any kind of danger just past their doorstep, their haven of safety. All the while the brunette and his lover ate at the dining table, cuddled in front of the fireplace, strolled in their garden, made love, this person looked on with hate and revenge.
Tsuzuki shuddered. Now his strong lover was taken. And now this enemy was probably planning all sorts of torture; horrific, painful ways to make his love suffer. Muraki could be beaten, whipped, chained to the wall without food or water, anything!
No!
With an anguished groan Tsuzuki dropped his face in his hands. Images of his angel's beautiful pale skin ripped and torn into bloody strips while Muraki begged for his life was too horrible to contemplate.
Watari scowled at the secretary while wrapping his arms around the brunette's trembling body. He knew Tatsumi raised some key points, but to say it so coldly like that. Seeing the blonde's look, Tatsumi's flushed, quickly looking at his shoes. He recognized that look, he was going to get quite a tongue lashing before this day was over.
"If only it had been me," the dark-haired guardian whispered thickly into his hands, his voice shaking with sudden emotion. "If only it had been me that was taken instead of...instead of..."
Suddenly, Tsuzuki lifted his head his violet eyes wild. "Then they could be torturing me instead of my lover!"
Watari, taken aback by his friend's passionate outburst, blinked, then gripped the brunette's slim shoulders, shaking him a bit.
"Tsuzuki, don't say that! Come on now, you got to hang in there, please!" the blonde insisted, rubbing his friend's shoulders. "You need to be focused on this, we need you. Muraki needs you!"
That did it. Tsuzuki grew still, his violets hard with new resolve, his back stiffening.
Kazutaka needs me. I'm no good to him carrying on like this.
Cold rage seeped into his chest, replacing the despair and the brunette took a deep breath grounding himself. Yes. Rage. Hot and white and all encompassing filled his veins, his brain, his soul. And he accepted it. Whoever was responsible for this...outrage, whoever DARED tear his beloved from him will pay. If whoever so much as lays a finger on Muraki, Tsuzuki vowed to rip that creature apart, every limb would be torn asunder leaving nothing recognizable.
Watari and Tatsumi watched their friend's violet eyes change to granite, the slender body rigid, the fists shaking at his side. First, it was Tsuzuki's despair and now it looked as though they would need to reign in his fury. With glances at each other their mutual fear was evident. Tsuzuki needed the anger but it needed to be leashed for the time being. Both Shinigamis saw the danger. If this investigation progressed day by day and lead to a dead end either by nothing turning up as to the doctor's whereabouts or, even more catastrophic, his death, then nothing they could do could prevent Tsuzuki's total annihilation of himself.
It was something they always feared. For Watari, though he was happy for Tsuzuki finding at last the unconditional love and security he so desperately craved, underneath that happiness for his friend, there was a deep underlying worry. A worry of knowing that if anything threatened to take away that joy that it would mean the end of Tsuzuki.
Tatsumi touched the brunette's shoulder gently, his brows knitted.
"Tsuzuki. Look at me, please," the secretary entreated softly. Once those violet eyes focused on him, Tatsumi's face softened.
"Tsuzuki. We'll find Muraki. We'll do everything possible to bring him back to you. Whoever is responsible will be brought to judgment. I promise you. What's needed now are clear heads and sound thinking," the secretary spoke softly and evenly, his sapphire eyes warm. He meant what he said. Tsuzuki meant the world to him and seeing him suffering so, that someone was hurting his friend this way, made him see red. Indeed, it took all of his years of repressed emotions not to go barreling down to the underworld and demand answers.
Watari's golden eyes widened, not expecting such a thing from Tatsumi. Perhaps all my scolding has been paying off, the blonde thought warmly. He would have to praise his boyfriend later, kiss him extra hard.
Tsuzuki looked the taller man, blinking.
"Tatsumi," he whispered.
The words the secretary spoke to him cut through the darkness, comforting and easing him. Certainly they were words he never would have expected from his superior in a million years. He was always under the impression Tatsumi hated Muraki and hated that Tsuzuki was in love with their former nemesis. There had been feelings of jealousy and animosity, feelings Tsuzuki had thought had long been put to rest, especially now since the secretary was involved with Watari. But the resentment was still there because now and again, Tatsumi would make a comment, a glib remark about the doctor, knowingly or unknowingly Tsuzuki never knew and it would cut through the brunette, hurting him deeply. He was grateful for Watari's influence, though. With the blonde's love Tatsumi seemed to be coming around, though not as fast as Tsuzuki would have liked.
But now here was the secretary, firm in his promise to find this enemy and bring him to judgment, those blue eyes piercing in their conviction. Tsuzuki smiled weakly and nodded.
"Thank you, Tatsumi. I appreciate that," the brunette said, feeling a ray of hope pierce through the dark fog.
"Tsuzuki, are you all right?" Hisoka's voice interrupted each man's musings. The green-eyed youth looked anxiously at all three men, rushing to his partner's side.
"Did you find out anything?" Already he was picking up on emotions of despair, anger, loss, frustration, hope..so many feelings swirling thick in the air.
The dark-haired guardian looked at his young partner, amethyst eyes sad, shaking his dark head.
"No, Hisoka. Tatsumi and Watari have swept the area and haven't come with any spiritual residue or impressions," the brunette replied. "Now that you're here, would you make an assessment, please?"
The youth nodded, glad to be of use.
"Right. I'll start in the study, it happened there, ne?" he asked, pulling off his jacket and tossing it to the couch.
"Yes, Bon. We'll stand out of your way," Watari remarked, pushing Tatsumi off to the side.
Hisoka stood quietly, head bent. For several heartbeats the green-eyed guardian stood stock-still not moving a muscle. The three other men, stood just as still and watched as the boy slowly lift his head and walk in a small circle, his hands slightly raised to his sides. The emerald eyes wide and unseeing he began.
"There's...there's such rage here. I expected that...but this...such a dark rage. I never...experienced this kind of fury...and the fear underneath...a terrified sense of...loss...helplessness..."
"Oh!" Tsuzuki clasped his hands in front of him, tears burning the back of his eyes. Having experienced the scene firsthand and going through his own range of emotions at the time and now to hear what his lover had been going through, clawed his heart anew.
Kazutaka!
"Wait." Hisoka frowned suddenly and went back over one spot, raising his head he closed his eyes, the frown deepening. The other guardians stared transfixed, afraid to breathe. A minute, then two, now five. Tsuzuki had stopped counting after five. Finally, the boy opened his eyes, his face perplexed.
"Well, Bon? What happened? What did you pick up?" Watari asked, not wasting time. They all huddled around the younger guardian eager for news.
"I'm not sure," the boy said slowly. "I mean, I expected to feel high levels of rage, fear from both Tsuzuki and the doctor given what's happened, but...but this...this other feeling that I sense shouldn't be here at all. I mean, I know it isn't Tsuzuki's feeling or the doctor's so it must be from the one who did this..."
Tsuzuki gasped, his heart leaping. A break!
"What feeling, Kurosaki?" Tatsumi interjected, asking first.
Hisoka looked at his dark-haired partner, confusion written on his features.
"Glee."
"Glee?" Tsuzuki blinked. "Like glad, happy?"
Hisoka nodded slowly, there were traces, mere threads. That's why it took him so long to reply before, he had to be sure among all the other strong emotions in the area that he got it right. Tsuzuki was depending on him.
"Yeah. Something like giddy joy...triumph," the boy looked at the older man, gaging his reaction which seemed calm at the moment. "I know it's vague, Tsuzuki, but that's the best I can describe it. The emotional energy is faint. Whoever or whatever has the doctor was gleeful at capturing him, that it worked and glad that you're suffering because of it."
"So Muraki was the intended target?" Tatsumi asked the youth, eyes narrowing.
"Well, that could be. I mean, the doctor's aura probably fit the pattern of this summoning. Anybody else who tried to interfere would be rejected."
Tsuzuki nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I got thrown to the side twice trying to reach Kazutaka," the brunette winced in memory at the hard jolts he received.
"Also, too, it just a faint trace I'm getting. Like trying to figure out what is being whispered in a room full of screaming voices. I'm lucky that I picked up on that faint whisper," the youth continued.
"Kurosaki, are you able to discern who or what it was that took Muraki?" Tatsumi asked.
"Not really. Just that the force used to come to this dimension was powerful and swift." Hisoka answered, wishing he had more hopeful news. He hated to see those gentle violet eyes clouded with sadness. The brunette had been listening, deep in his own thoughts and Hisoka wondered what his partner was thinking but out of respect refrained from probing the guardian's thoughts. Besides, he needed all his empathic powers focused on the crime scene.
"Maybe it's more than one entity we're dealing with," Watari said, tapping his nose in thought.
"Another point to consider," Tatsumi murmured.
"So what do we do now?" Tsuzuki asked looking at his friends. He was ready to get started on a task, the sooner the better.
Tatsumi pushed his glasses along the bridge of nose.
"Tsuzuki and I will return to Meifu and get in touch with our scouts and send them down to the underworld. See if there are any changes such as a demon using excessive power outside of Hades. Kurosaki, you continue to sweep the area. Get as much detail as you can to what you pick up and write them down however small. We can't afford to ignore anything," Tatsumi doled out the assignments, his eyes glancing at each one of them.
"But, I'd like to stay here, Tatsumi! Maybe I can help Hisoka," the brunette protested. Truth be told, he didn't want to leave the last place he saw Muraki. Especially since Hisoka could convey to him the other emotions his lover last held.
But Tatsumi was shaking his head firmly.
"Tsuzuki, I need you to delegate to the demonic scouts what they are to look out for. You're the most powerful Shinigami. I need your authority to press the urgency of this matter to them," the secretary said, arms crossing his chest. He was glad that Tsuzuki nodded, however reluctantly. He next looked at the long-haired blonde.
"Watari will research Muraki's data banks," the secretary didn't go further not wanting to bring up the reason why from the pained look on the brunette's already strained features. Watari picked up on it immediately and nodded.
"Right," he agreed, turning to Hisoka. "Bon, take as long as you need to. We should all meet here in a few hours and compare notes, ne?"
"Good idea," Tatsumi said.
Tsuzuki rubbed his eyes wearily. Summoning the scouts, seeing them in groups and in some cases one at a time and getting them organized took up most of the day. Some returned early, too early only to say they found nothing and it took all of Tsuzuki's restraint not to hurl them back to Hades with orders for them to look again.
Now all four guardians were meeting in the brunette's kitchen eating a meal made by Watari and comparing notes. Tsuzuki could barely taste what looked to be a delicious chicken dish in front of him. He had declared he wasn't hungry but his friends insisted he eat and proclaimed that he couldn't leave the table without finishing his plate, making him feel like a child. But they cared about him so he couldn't get too upset. Picking up his chopsticks, he forced down a sliver of meat and listened intensely to Hisoka's findings.
"I stayed in that spot for hours and let's see," the green-eyed guardian look through his notes. "Glee, triumph, excitement and...umm, lust."
Tsuzuki perked up, nearly dropping his dish.
"Lust?" he echoed.
Hisoka nodded, his cheeks growing pink.
"Well, desire...like a...a sexual..,umm..." the boy cleared his throat hard, looking down. Despite him thinking he was mature he was still too damn uncomfortable about these sorts of things. Luckily, his colleagues were not in a frame of mind to tease him.
"Interesting," Tatsumi muttered. "Another angle to consider."
"But, wait, Tatsumi-san!" Hisoka interrupted. "While I stayed in that specific spot where the abduction occurred there's also the possibility that these may be leftover traces from Tsuzuki and Muraki themselves. Glee is what I picked up only because it intermingled with the other strong emotions and it came first. These others that I described resulted from sitting there for a long while."
Watari sighed heavily.
"So the other traces are ones that have been here since Muraki and Tsuzuki lived here. That will definitely interfere with trying to pinpoint the entity's exact location or motivation."
"Kurosaki, you've done all you can here. You'll be joining the research team," Tatsumi instructed, finishing his tea.
Hisoka nodded and looked at his older partner. Tsuzuki had been staring at his plate, forehead puckered.
"How about you, Watari?" the brunette asked, his voice quiet. He knew his friends wanted to spare his feelings about this part of their investigation but it was inevitable and it was important.
The blonde cleared his throat casting a quick glance at Tatsumi who nodded.
"Yes, well, this is where it gets complicated. Most of the doctor's victims are deceased. The ones that are alive are mentally unstable and/or physically incapable," the blonde plowed on doing his best to ignore his friend's mouth set grimly. "However, there may be relatives of those victims that have decided to exact their revenge on the doctor. And if we explore that route than there could be hundreds of names to look up. One person could have so many siblings and children and cousins and parents...not to mention spouses!"
"It's a long list," Tsuzuki observed, lowering his eyes. He couldn't delude himself any longer about this part of his lover's past. He had always been afraid that a vengeful soul would come back to haunt Muraki thus involving Tsuzuki. And Muraki himself had brought up that very point to the brunette, protesting early on that he shouldn't be involved with a mortal with such a sinful past. Tsuzuki remembered how he told his lover it didn't matter, that he still wanted to be with him. And it was too late as far as Tsuzuki was concerned. He was deeply in love and no amount of arguing or protesting or reasoning from his fellow Shinigami would sway him from his decision to love and be with Muraki.
Now, he had to face and deal with the doctor's history. But he still loved Muraki deeply. Much more, in fact. That would never change.
"Well, you see the dilemma," Watari finished lamely, picking at this plate.
"Then the research needs to be delegated to other Shinigami in the department given the enormity of the project," Tatsumi stated. "We'll have to work around the clock, keep careful findings in a main data bank and cross-reference the victims' name with dates and addresses."
Tsuzuki nodded, aware that his friends were watching his movements.
"Tsuzuki, it would be best if kept in contact with the demon scouts. I have a feeling they'll need constant supervision and if left to their own devices won't expedite this assignment," the secretary added.
The dark-haired guardian nodded again. It was somewhat of a relief, not having to go through those files. He felt a immense sense of gratitude toward Tatsumi.
After the meal, all went to back to Meifu and for the next several hours tackled their respective assignments. It close to two in the morning when Tsuzuki was called in Tatsumi's office. The brunette had just seen how much progress Watari, Hisoka and the others had done and was dismayed to see how much more needed to be covered. Now he stood in front of the secretary's desk, his eyes gritty, a slight throb in his temple.
"You wanted to see me, Tatsumi?" he asked, closing the door behind him.
Tatsumi looked up from his computer, swiveling his chair around.
"Yes, Tsuzuki. I'd like you to take a few hours and get some sleep," Tatsumi held up his hand upon seeing the brunette open his mouth to protest. "That's an order, Tsuzuki. You need to take care of yourself. It won't do to have you run down and exceed your limits. Errors, fatal errors can result."
The brunette sagged not having the energy to put up a fight. It was true, he was tired. Emotionally, physically he was completely worn through, it was a wonder he wasn't asleep on his feet right now.
Sleep. Closing his eyes and waking up the next morning, waking up from this nightmare. Waking up and seeing his lover laying beside him, gorgeous and smiling and unharmed.
"Yes, Tatsumi," the brunette softly replied.
"One of the rooms has been made up for you," the secretary continued, glad to see the guardian taking his advice.
Tsuzuki frowned.
"I think...I think I'll go home, Tatsumi," the brunette said quietly. It seemed important to be home, in case the entity made another appearance.
"What? Tsuzuki, it would be better for you to remain here where you'll be safe. We don't know if the entity will take you as well," the blue-eyed man explained calmly.
"Then isn't that all the more reason for me to be home? If it does show up it can take me to Kazutaka," the brunette quietly argued. His heart began to quicken, he was hoping for that very eventuality.
Tatsumi shook his head, taking his glasses off. He sighed deeply as though irritated. Tsuzuki straightened his back, he wasn't going to back down on this point. He was tired but determined to have his way in this.
"Tsuzuki, please. Be reasonable. We don't know what type of entity it is we're dealing with. If it, indeed, did show up, it would seem unlikely to take you to Muraki. It could take you to another location. It could kill you. We just don't know. I'm asking you, Tsuzuki, to stay here for now for your own safety" the secretary pressed. Didn't Tsuzuki see that? Tatsumi, as always, berated himself for being harsh but it was for the brunette's own good.
"I can handle it, Tatsumi. I need to be home. I'll take my chances with whatever shows up," his violet eyes flashed a bit dangerously.
Tatsumi wavered at the intensity of Tsuzuki's determined gaze. When the guardian made up his mind he could be quite headstrong. And he had to keep reminding himself that Tsuzuki was the most powerful Shinigami in all of Meifu, though it was hard sometimes as the brunette looked so helpless at times. Tatsumi sighed again. He didn't want to fight with him as the brunette's nerves were frazzled enough. And Tsuzuki was able to take care of himself. But the secretary only wanted to keep the guardian safe. Perhaps a compromise.
"Tsuzuki," Tatsumi tried again, softening his tone. "If that is your choice then I insist that Watari accompany you. We must adhere to the rule of Shinigamis working in pairs, ne?"
Tsuzuki nodded, relieved that Tatsumi saw it his way. And even if he didn't, Tsuzuki would have still gone, that was for certain.
"All right. I'll leave now. See you in the morning, Tatsumi."
And with that he was gone.
Tsuzuki stared at the empty bed.
Numbly, he walked over to it. Had the bed always been so big? Turning away he walked to the doctor's amoire. Opening the heavy oak doors he stared listlessly at the rows and rows of clothes. Slowly, he ran his hand along the many suit jackets hanging there. There were the usual white jackets but there were black, deep brown, charcoal, colors that Tsuzuki had suggested and picked out. He remembered vividly the various trips they took to the tailor. How carefully the brunette selected the varied range of fabrics, so pleased that his lover valued his opinion and how Muraki had modeled the finished suits for him looking so elegant.
"Wow! You look quite dashing, Kazutaka! See? I knew you could wear something other than white."
"You think so, Asato?" Muraki pulled Tsuzuki close, nibbling his ear. "However, it is all because of your excellent taste."
Biting his trembling lip, Tsuzuki took a soft white shirt from off the hanger, fingering the lapel. Bringing it close to his face he could just catch the familiar scent of roses and sandalwood. He breathed deeply, the subtle fragrance penetrating into his brain bringing so many memories sharply into focus.
Beloved
"Tsuzuki!"
Quickly Tsuzuki put the shirt back on the hanger and shut the doors, wiping his eyes.
"Watari?"
The blonde entered the room, a small suitcase in hand.
"Hey, Tsuzuki, you okay?"
"Yeah, Watari. Here, let me show you to your room," the brunette hurriedly walked past the scientist down the hall, pointedly ignoring his friend's concerned gaze. Flipping on the wall switch, Tsuzuki made himself busy by turning down the bed's comforter, closing the drapes, opening the door to the adjoining bathroom all the while filling the silence with forced chatter.
"I hope the bed's comfortable enough for you. A new mattress was put in a month ago. I think the alarm is set for 7:30. The bathroom's all stocked with soap and shampoo and personal stuff so don't worry if you think you've forgotten something. Oh! And there's some books by the nightstand in case you wake up in the middle of the night. Kazutaka picked the titles...which are his...favorites," Tsuzuki speech faltered. He turned his face from Watari struggling his composure.
"Is...is there anything else I can get you?" he asked the blonde softly.
"No. I'm fine. Don't go to any trouble, okay?" A slight pause. "Tsuzuki...do you...do you want to talk?" the blonde offered, placing a comforting hand on his the smaller man's shoulder. Tsuzuki flinched and shook his head forcefully.
"No, I'm pretty tired, Watari. I want to get an early start tomorrow. Good night," abruptly the brunette strode out the room closing the door behind him to ensure that the blonde wouldn't follow him.
Once in his own room, Tsuzuki undressed throwing his clothes in a heap and pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms. As he reached to turn off the lamp, his hand stilled.
At the amoire, he pulled out Muraki's shirt pulling it on his slim frame, buttoning it up, his hands rubbing the soft fabric. Going back to the bed he slid to his lover's side and curled his legs up to his chest. With a choking gasp, the dam broke and Tsuzuki buried his face into the pillow sobbing fitfully.
TBC
A/N: Thanking in advance for your reviews. I really appreciate the time you guys take in leaving one as it helps me to keep going. Until next time!