WARNING: MANGA/ANIME SPOILERS

Parings: TsuSoka (Tsuzuki x Hisoka).
Disclaimer: I own a blender, but not Yami no Matsuei. I wouldn't mind trading, though.

Title: What If We Could
Author: EggDropSoup

Chapter 3.

"Are you stupid?" Hisoka stared at Tsuzuki like he was crazy.

"Come on, Hisoka. Don't be mean." Tsuzuki's voice reproached him. "It'll be fun."

"No."

"But if we don't, it'll be a waste of such a wonderful party!"

"You're the one who didn't want to come in the first place." Hisoka crossed his arms.

Tsuzuki gave him a sad smile. "That's true. But when you said you'd come with me, I knew that everything would be alright."

The sincerity in that statement made Hisoka's defiant stance ease up a bit.

"So please, Hisoka? Dance with me, and then we'll go." Tsuzuki looked through the glass door into the ballroom; all the other guests were still absorbed in the party. "No one will see us out here anyway."

Hisoka sighed. "Is it really that important to you?"

"Yes!" This time Tsuzuki flashed him a smile that was more dazzling than the last. And Hisoka felt all his resistances tumble down.

"…Fine."

"Eh?!" Tsuzuki must have been hearing things.

"But just one dance."

"Really? You're actually going to dance willingly?!" Tsuzuki raised a hand over his brow and glanced around. "Is Meifu freezing over or something?"

"Shut up!" Hisoka glared irritably at him, his cheeks flushing a bright pink. "Are you gonna keep talking or are we gonna dance? I don't have all night!"

He held out his hand and roughly tugged Tsuzuki toward him.

Hisoka put an arm around Tsuzuki's shoulder and as they clasped their other hands together, they began to gradually move in time with the music.

At first Hisoka refused to look Tsuzuki in the face. Maybe it was out of embarrassment or he was uncomfortable, Tsuzuki didn't know. But as they swayed together, he felt more and more relaxed as he danced with Hisoka. It was like the world itself had stopped and the only thing that mattered was the two of them there and now. Their movements became more fluid, easier. And as Hisoka turned curious green eyes up at him, he knew that Hisoka felt it too. Whatever tension that had been surrounding them before, had disappeared.

They each unconsciously moved closer to the other. And despite the chill in the air, Tsuzuki felt very warm. Hisoka's eyes took on a thoughtful look and he licked his lips nervously. Tsuzuki had never seen him so anxious.

Then Hisoka turned his green eyes on Tsuzuki again, this time looking more serious and determined and just as Tsuzuki was about to ask what was wrong, the arm on his shoulder pulled him downward as Hisoka's lips captured his.

When they were touching like this, Hisoka could feel everything coursing through Tsuzuki's unguarded mind. The kisses were no longer slow and steady but hard, fast. With every gasp, the flick of a tongue, and the tightening of Tsuzuki's arms around his waist; he could feel it all. But which were his feelings and which were Tsuzuki's? Hisoka couldn't tell. As he stayed there, in Tsuzuki's arms, he couldn't feel a single dominant or unique existence. It was like both their emotions had muddled together to form a single entity. Tsuzuki wasn't hiding anything from him, he was allowing Hisoka to explore everything he was. He was opening his heart up to Hisoka.

They broke the kiss momentarily to meet each other's eyes. Through the blur of excitement, Tsuzuki saw nothing but his reflection. "Hisoka…" His voice sounded like a groan.

Hisoka tugged Tsuzuki's arm and started in the direction of the door to the ballroom. "Let's go."

"Go?" Tsuzuki took one step and stopped. He tried to pull his hand from his partner's grip, but Hisoka's hold on his hand held firm.

"Yeah. We danced. You said we could go after that."

"But…" Everything was moving faster than Tsuzuki could register. "Shouldn't we talk? I mean we just…We just—"

"No. We're not going to talk." Hisoka pulled at his arm again. "For years, I've listened to you talk, telling everyone that I was just you're partner." His green eyes seemed illuminated in by the moonlight. "I'm tired of talking."

"Okay. So you don't want to be my partner?"

His eyes narrowed. "No."

Tsuzuki felt his blood run cold as panic overtook him. "Then…then why—I thought—"

"Tsuzuki." Hisoka raised a hand to Tsuzuki's face.

"Hisoka…?"

Tsuzuki saw his jaw tighten; his eyes narrowed further. "Come on, we're going." Hisoka dropped his hand and grabbed Tsuzuki by the arm, leading the way out into the ballroom, ignoring the blatant looks of the other guests as he proceeded out the door.

"Where?" Tsuzuki stumbled after him.

"To my apartment."

Tsuzuki suddenly stopped moving. Hisoka turned halfway around to look back at him. Tsuzuki's gaze met his – Hisoka didn't seem to be asking any questions. Instead, he stared at Tsuzuki with that focus and certainty he had always had when he was explaining the details of one of their cases. That same look from the day Hisoka had finally accepted Tsuzuki as his partner.

But the sullen, distant boy who had been forced to be his partner was and wasn't the one holding his hand. Hisoka was different now, for some reason… But his eyes still shined as bright and beautiful as they were the first time they met.

Tsuzuki swallowed against the burning sensation in the back of his throat. "All right. B-but wh—"

Hisoka's green eyes sparked and it stopped Tsuzuki's blood from circulating through his body. The look his partner gave him was dangerous.

"Idiot." Hisoka leaned forward to whisper in the elder shinigami's ear. His breath warmed the skin of Tsuzuki's neck as he spoke. "Nothing I ever do seems to get through that idiot brain of yours. So listen up and listen good."

"I'm going to redefine the extent of our partnership for you."

To be continued.

Additional Notes:

Hohoho~ Bet this update wasn't expected so soon. Last time was a whole year. I'm so embarrassed. Thanks so much for the lovely reviews for the last two chapters! All the positive feedback encouraged me to continue.

The Seme-vote is closed! Thanks to everyone who voted!