He lay on the flat, warm ground, listening to the wind, watching the clouds in the ageless sky. Around him, in the desert-like landscape, nothing moved. Tsuzuki had no idea why and how he had ended up in GensouKai, and why here of all places, so far away from the places his shikigami usually frequented. He only knew that he felt incredibly at peace at the moment, and it had a lot to do with the silent, dark presence at his side.
Touda sat cross-legged next to him, dark coat moving in the breeze, and he hadn't spoken a word in hours. It wasn't really necessary.
Tsuzuki glanced at the most dangerous shikigami he called a friend -- and now his balance. Like himself, Touda had had no choice. Enma-Daiou had forced the subject, unleashing Tsuzuki's true power. The raw force had searched for its counterweight and had found it in Touda.
So much alike, so very much in need of a partner, so very lonely in its life. Two wounded souls had finally acknowledged their attraction and found peace, fitting together like pieces of a puzzle, interlocking -- inseparable. Touda couldn't erase decades of guilt, shame and pain, self-inflicted as well as from the outside, but he could ease it, help it start healing.
Visored eyes suddenly looked at him, picking up on the old memories of a childhood spent in misery, in despair, with growing self-hatred, to the time Tsuzuki had given up on himself. Tsuzuki smiled a little, raising one hand to clasp Touda's. The gesture was accepted without protest, and the shinigami closed his eyes, the contact making him relax.
He didn't want to return to Meifu. Enma-Daiou had done something to him that would have consequences and that would probably be visible to the others. All of them were shinigami and they would feel it, they would be aware of it.
He didn't want to be different! He had always been different and now… now even more so.
No, please… Why had Enma-Daiou done it? Why?!
Agitation flooded through him and his stomach clenched. Tsuzuki tried to calm himself and felt Touda's presence move like an inky cloud, cool and soothing and so very, very solid. Tsuzuki shuddered a little and his mind relaxed under the touch.
He now had the darkness inside him out in the open, readily there for him to use. He had a measure of control because Touda guided him, restrained him, or completely froze the lethal force inside him if necessary.
He also felt more stable, no longer threatened by the darkest of memories, though they still teased his waking mind now and then. Still, there was something warm and very solid he could lean on. Someone who understood, who had been there, who had seen it all.
How long would this peaceful feeling last when he returned to Meifu?
Tsuzuki felt something inside of him trickle with despair.
"You have all the time you want," Touda rumbled softly, picking up on his thoughts once more.
"Tatsumi will probably cut my pay for staying away from work," he sighed.
"I doubt it."
Amethyst eyes opened and Tsuzuki suddenly sat up, running a hand through his hair. A slight shiver went through him.
Too much had changed within such a short time. His attempt to end his life as a shinigami hadn't been that long ago and even though a lot had happened since then, taking his mind off matters, his meeting with Enma-Daiou had brought up all that old pain once more.
He wasn't human. Had never been, would never be. Part of him had demonic blood in it and this part was what made him both so terrifyingly strong and incredibly weak. He had been called names as a child, beaten, shamed and worse. He had hated himself, his eyes, his very existence, but he had never found a way out. As a shinigami he had pushed his human life away, but it had always come back to haunt him one way or another. And when Muraki had entered his life…
Tsuzuki shivered a little and his peace was disrupted by the tremors from within his soul. He felt Touda's presence close in, wrapping itself so carefully around him, he had to smile. The shikigami had never shown such tender care for him, at least this openly, and it was a new experience.
"I always cared for you," Touda murmured softly, tightening his hold.
"I know."
And he was so thankful for it.
"We all care."
He swallowed. Not just the shikigami who were his pride, but also his friends in Meifu. He needed them all, but what now? What now that he was truly different?
"You're not different from before."
Tsuzuki closed his eyes. "Maybe."
Touda forced him to look into the visored eyes, two fingers under his chin, unconsciously mimicking a gesture of Enma-Daiou's not long ago.
"No, not maybe. Really. What Enma-Daiou did was disgusting and underhanded, but he only freed your soul to finally seek what it needed, to use your potential which we are all aware of. You're not different, Tsuzuki Asato."
"Thanks," came the soft whisper. "I'm sorry to be such a burden at times." He lowered his eyes.
Touda snorted. "Stop that!" His voice was sharp, laced with anger.
Tsuzuki winced. "Sorry."
Shit, his emotions were all over the place, going up and down, and the darkness inside him roiled with it. Touda's power responded, calming him, and Tsuzuki moaned softly. It was a strange touch, reigning in the dark side but also encouraging it to stay out of the closet.
"You are no burden. You are what you are and you have to accept it!" Touda growled, glaring at him.
Tsuzuki swallowed.
There is no guilt and shame in your existencea voice whispered inside his soul. We are all imperfect beings. Take strength from that, Tsuzuki
"Touda…" he stammered.
The shikigami smiled almost tenderly and Tsuzuki answered it shakily.
"Thank you for everything."
Touda nodded briskly.
Both men sat together, Tsuzuki finding his peace again by the other's closeness. He felt having to apologize for this… connection, for something neither had a chance to test and agree to, but Touda's reaction was predictable. And to be completely honest, he liked it. It had never been so harmonious to touch the resonating force inside him.
"This will take some getting used to," he murmured. "Sorry that it had to happen to you."
Touda glowered at him for the repeated apology and Tsuzuki sighed sadly. Finally the shikigami placed a metal-clad hand onto Tsuzuki's neck, stroking it lightly. Goosebumps rose on the soft skin.
"This is not unpleasant for me, Tsuzuki. It's easy to get used to."
Amethyst eyes regarded him carefully, hopefully. "Really?"
Touda gave him a smile so unlike his usual ones, Tsuzuki felt warmth curl inside him.
"Yes, really."
"Thank you," the shinigami breathed.
Touda didn't answer, he just briefly tightened his grip in reassurance. Tsuzuki was not alone any more. He had never been, he had friends, but his soul had always been lonely. Now it felt the echo of another soul, so much like himself, and they took strength from each other.

"He what?!"
The strong, female voice resounded in the palace and Byakko tried not to wince. His feline hearing was cringing from the noise.
"How could he? With that cold-blooded snake!"
The owner of the voice was a tall, black-haired woman with fiery eyes and the same fiery attitude and temper. Suzaku, Protector of the South, Phoenix shikigami, and one of the twelve Divine Commanders serving Tsuzuki, stared at the hapless tiger, who was her equal in rank and power.
Byakko just shrugged. "It happened. If you're asking me, it had to happen, Suzaku. I mean, look at the echoes of their powers…"
"Tsuzuki is nothing like that snake bastard! He's a caring human being!"
There was nothing good between Touda and Suzaku. She hated him with a vengeance, especially since the episode in Kyoto. Touda had been ready to follow Tsuzuki's order to kill him. Suzaku had never forgiven him that.
"Tsuzuki is warm and kind and…" She stopped as a presence registered on her senses and the female shikigami turned around, dark eyes widening. "Tsuzuki!"
Dressed only in his black pants and white shirt, tie and jacket lost somewhere, hair tousled, Tsuzuki Asato looked young and vulnerable and sweet. It was a deceptive façade. Behind that innocence lurked a strength that each and every shikigami respected and had witnessed before.
Suzaku threw her arms around the shinigami, hugging him closely. "Are you all right?" she asked.
He returned the hug, smiling a little. "Yes."
Her eyes flew over his body and she almost patted him down as if to look for hidden injuries.
"He isn't hurting you, or is he?"
The smile stayed. "No, Suzaku. Touda would never hurt me."
Her manicured fingers caressed his face and the Phoenix nodded sadly. "I know. I just wish… I just wish it could have been me. I love you, Tsuzuki. You know that. We all do, but for this to happen to you with Touda… He's the most incompatible of all of us!"
"It's okay." He caught her hand, covering it with his as they rested against one cheek. "I'm fine. I appreciate your love, your strength… without all of you I would never have made it to this day…"
She shook her head, features soft and gentle. Anyone seeing her now wouldn't believe that this was the feared warrior and Divine Commander of the South. Tsuzuki brought out the softer sides – in all of them.
"No. You do have our abilities and powers at your command, but it's the master's power that shapes a shikigami, not the other way around. The strength of your heart is reflected in our battle skills."
Black and amethyst eyes met, and Tsuzuki's eyes reflected his soul-deep gratitude.
Byakko watched silently from where he sat on a low wall, smiling to himself. He felt the gentle waves of power around their friend, and there was no mistaking the harmony. Suzaku might not appreciate who was now balancing Tsuzuki, but it worked.
Tsuzuki wrapped his arms around her, pulled her close, resting his head against her, and Suzuki did the same.
"Thank you, Suzaku," he whispered.
"You're more than welcome."
"I love you, too."
Her smile was warm, happy and without reservations.