Tsuzuki continued to wander the halls of the old building, as he had nothing else to do. An hour before, he had passed a few men and women from the search party on the way home. They saw the tired, weary look on the brunette's face and gave him a heartfelt pat on the shoulder as they passed. Somehow, that managed to frustrate Tsuzuki. They were giving up, and comforting him… but they had NO idea what was really going on. They didn't know him very well, and they knew even less about Hisoka, and how frightened he would be out on his own…

The older shinigami had made a promise to his partner, never to leave him all on his own in the dark, but that's what he was doing. He was breaking his promise, and he wondered if he could be forgiven. If he were his partner, he wouldn't forgive himself, and he wasn't wasting any time in getting to that. He walked right past the cafeteria, and straight into the lounge. He needed time to think, but was never given the chance. The moment the door opened, Tatsumi looked up from his coffee.

Tsuzuki was struck solid as a rock for a moment, locking eyes with the secretary. Tatsumi took the opportunity to look Tsuzuki over and check his condition. He was tired, hungry, sad, worried… and just a tad frustrated. Tatsumi sighed.

"Well, you're not looking well at all."

That wasn't what he needed right then. He didn't want or need Tatsumi mothering him, and he wasn't in the mood for a lecture. Though, he seemed to forget why he had wandered into the room to begin with. He stood still for a moment with a detached look, and then it came to him. Coffee.

Walking over to the half-empty pot, he poured himself some. It was cold and disgusting, but all the better to help keep him awake until another pot brewed. Tatsumi sat there watching Tsuzuki torture himself until he just couldn't stand it any longer. He set down his book and rose to his feet. Walking up behind Tsuzuki, he forced the man to turn, stole his cold coffee, and looked him right in the eyes.

"Stop it."

Tsuzuki didn't understand. Tatsumi was usually very clear with what he was getting at when you talk to him. He wasn't the type to ask such an open and random question. Although, maybe it wasn't so random. Tsuzuki still wasn't in the mood to think or accept anything.

"Stop this. Stop hurting yourself for what happened."

Oh, that's a little more specific. It annoyed him. He was a grown man, and here he was being assaulted by soft words. He could do whatever he wished! He wasn't a baby. Roughly, Tsuzuki freed himself from the others' hold and started back for the door. He was almost there when the other took hold of his shirt sleeve.

"Let me GO, Tatsumi."

When there was no response, Tsuzuki turned again, planning a retaliation, only to be pinned by Tatsumi's icy glare. The brunette started, and had no other choice but to stare right back. However, what was more frightening was the way Tatsumi had mixed a concerned expression with an angry one. Faintly, he could register a hand falling on each shoulder and being pulled into a warm embrace.

He was lost to the world. He could no longer tell where up or down was, or what was going on. His world was a blur, and there was nothing but darkness. The inky black was, in a way, comforting, and Tsuzuki found himself starting to drift. However, in that blackness, he saw Hisoka. The dark was Tatsumi's area of expertise, but Tsuzuki recalled that when he first met Hisoka, there was a strange, lonely darkness in those eyes. Hisoka.

Tatsumi sensed Tsuzuki relax for a moment before tensing up again, and he let his friend do, lowering his shadows. Tsuzuki was still so alert after all that time staying awake. He could see the exhaustion in his face, and more so that Tsuzuki was warming up to the idea of sleep. His tactic had worked. He made Tsuzuki a little more tired, hoping that it would convince the older man to rest.

When he stepped back, Tsuzuki felt cold. Cold and tired. His cold coffee was abandoned on the table, and he no longer wanted it. His eyes were growing heavy, but Tsuzuki didn't want them to be that way. How could he sleep knowing is partner was lost and probably hurt? Still, Tatsumi looked at him and patted his shoulder.

"Go home, Tsuzuki. Sleep. Kurosaki would tell you the same. You must have faith in his will and his strength."

"I feel… like it would be betraying him."

"It isn't. You can't expect to find him if you aren't at your best. Now, go on home."

Tatsumi turned Tsuzuki around and moved his towards the door. The other man took control after that and walked out.

--

Kannuki was right. It was raining. Tsuzuki was stuck under the downpour, but he didn't mind getting wet. Hit only helped to shake him into awareness. Though, his clothes were soaked and would need washing, and he would have to take a hot shower to prevent catching a cold. Hisoka was always irritated whenever Tsuzuki was careless enough to get sick, but every time, he would sit with the man until he was well again, even if it was only, as he had said, to scold him for being an idiot.

He was told to go home, but home was the last place Tsuzuki wanted to go. He wasn't eager to saunter back to a cold and empty apartment that hadn't been touched in over a week. Instead, he let the rain awaken him more and took a short walk through the suburban area. It was quiet and empty. People were inside their homes, safe and warm, and probably sleeping. The thought made Tsuzuki tired again, and he shook it from his thoughts as he wandered on.

Things were not the same with Humans as they were with shinigami. They could both feel pain, loneliness and get sick, but shinigami healed faster, and were near impossible to kill. Absently, he started thinking about that monster he and Hisoka were trying to catch. To think there was so much life left in it was amazing… then again, in his experience, he knew that creatures were their most fearsome when they are backed into a corner, at their last moments. Maybe the foul thing was already dead. Tsuzuki didn't care. He WANTED it dead, after what it had done. But the thought of it having come to an end made him worry more. What if it hurt Hisoka, or ate him?

Okay, so Hisoka wasn't the type to get eaten, but there was always that possibility. Tsuzuki had stopped in the middle of the road to think. Then, suddenly, he heard a voice. He wasn't sure if it was in his head, or not. Was he losing it? Then, the voice spoke again.

"Idiot."

That wasn't his imagination! Whirling around, he caught the sight of a mop of sandy blonde walk around a corner. He recognized that hair, and broke into a run. Maybe he was just imagining things, but when the voice continued to speak, he was filled with hope.

"Man, you're in a mood today, kid!"

"Don't call me kid!"

"Hisoka… Hisoka, Hisoka, Hi-"

Tsuzuki rounded the corner to see none other than his partner pout and walk into someone's house with another boy. He was okay, aside from a bandage placed around his forehead. The best thing was, he was alive. Tsuzuki yelled his name before he disappeared inside. Hisoka stopped mid-step and looked around, before holding his head and going inside. That must have been where he had been staying for the past week!

Overjoyed, Tsuzuki memorized the address and went home to call Tatsumi. The rest of that day and all that night, he had the best sleep he had ever gotten. Hisoka was okay!

…Or… was he?