Another late update…I'm getting sloppy.

Hiyami: Mr. Clueless gets an update this round, don't worry. More lovey doveyness all around again. Not much TaTari unfortuneately, but keep your eyes peeled in the next two days or so, I should have something nice and M rated coming soon. Will definitely be up by next update. Unfortunately since he still looks like Hisoka in my head, I can't bring myself to harm Hijiri too much.

Neina: I look like him and you keep hurting me.

Yes, but your mine. I can hurt you as much as I please.

All: sadist.

Anyway, Neina will not die. So glad you like her so much XD

jennamarie: Yes, yes they are. So much drama!! And it's not letting up!! The rock lets up on the hard place a little this round, but I have a feeling it's going to roll back soon enough. Hijiri doesn't make trouble this round. In fact, he's actually useful.

laustic: Yeah, feeling better, but my work load has not let up. I think it's actually getting larger . Yeah, Hisoka can be pretty scary when he's jealous. Hope I didn't OC him this chapter, but I liked how it went in my head so I gave it a shot. Hope you like this chapter!

Evol-chan: Can't really say what's going on myself. The story keeps changing. That's an interesting theory, but I still need to use that last one you gave me. Hope you like this one!

DesertQueen: (snarfle) Arigatou. I don't mind if their infrequent, just review when you can. It's always a pleasure to hear from you. I suppose trilogies can be quite evil. But really I treat this like one really long story so hopefully it won't turn on me.

Well, enjoy!! I'll be trying to type the next one in the mean time. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for Pace Yourself if you like lemon and Tatari :D It shall be posted with in the week and be a nice M for everyone (mostly me, but you know…)

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Hokuto sighed as he watched his wife rest on the bed, her labored breathing the only sound in the room. Neina's fever was still burning strong and beads of sweat were collecting on her temples. Sometimes her brow would crease as if in pain and he would reach out to stroke her hair tenderly and submit as many comforting feelings as he could to soothe her.

He'd seen her on her deathbed a thousand times. Poison, curses, wounds from bullets, blades and beasts…In their line of work there was rarely a time when one of them wasn't fighting for their life. But they didn't mean it got easier to watch the one you love in pain.

Setting his eyes on the garish bruise that was weaving the network of red roots. He kept the rage he felt at the mysterious Red Phantom guarded from her but allowed it to simmer beneath the surface. He didn't like anyone touching Neina but him (Hisoka was an obvious exception) but the fact that he harmed her ensured that he was going to be in a lot of pain very soon.

Hokuto sighed and wiped more of the sweat away. He wished there was something he could do to make this easier on her…

With a jolt he smiled and rose. Opening the door, he caught a passing stage hand and inquired as to where what he wanted was. Grinning he walked back in and gently shook her. "Neina! Neina, love, wake up! I have a surprise for you."

Neina moaned and slowly cracked her eyes open. The process looked almost painful. "…Kuto? What is it?" Her voice was thick and raspy, but not in the sexy way she could sometimes manage.

He smiled as comfortingly as possible and smoothed her hair back once again. "I have a surprise for you. Do you think you could stand being moved?"

She blinked and pushed herself up to swing her legs over the side of the bed. She pulled herself up and kept herself on her feet by sheer force of will. "Nein, are you okay? You sure you can walk?"

She nodded but swayed dangerously at the movement. "I can-I…" He gasped as her legs buckled and she fell. He was under her in a second, pulling her close. This was painful, not only for her but for him as well. His strong beautiful dragon was suddenly flickering like a candle. It felt like a fragile part of him was being tossed about.

"We'll just be a little while, then you're coming straight back here to rest," he whispered as he lifted her bridal style into his arms and grabbed one of the blankets before rising. She grunted something he knew meant 'quit treating me like an invalid.' But he didn't miss the smile on her face as she closed her eyes and cuddled into his embrace.

Walking through the halls he came to a door the stage hand had said was the dance studio. He was glad to find the door ajar and just had to push it open and kick it close. He stepped as smoothly as he could across the floor so as not to jostle her. "Keep your eyes closed," he said quietly. He sat her down on a seat and arranged her carefully as he sat next to her. She felt the blanket he'd taken drape across her shoulders. "Okay, open them."

Neina opened her eyes tiredly but blinked in astonishment at what she saw. They were sitting before a grand piano in a darkened dance studio. One wall was completely mirrors with a parallel bar screwed in and the piano was situated into one far corner.

Hokuto smiled and stretched his fingers. "It's been a while but lets see if I remember anything." He fitted his fingers into the keys and began to flit them over the expanse of white and black. Music, light and airy like the very emotions she felt in the air vibrated in her ears gently. The melody wasn't exactly a walking tune but neither was it a lamentation. She smiled as she let it wash over her.

"Good?" he asked.

"It's lovely…"

He smiled warmly at her wondrous whisper. Switching tracks he began into a song he knew she would recognize right away. She gasped and looked at him in surprise. "Our first kiss," he said simply. "I think this makes this our song, huh?"

"One of them…and I still say that kiss doesn't count." He chuckled as she leaned into him.

Softly he began to sing the words, though his rough unpolished voice was nothing compared to hers. Still, he knew she could feel the emotion in it.

"There's a somebody I'm longing to see

I hope that she turns out to be

Someone who'll watch over me.

I'm a little lamb whose lost in the wood

I know I could, could always be good

To one who'll watch over me.

Although I may not be the man some

Girls think of as handsome

But to her heart I'll carry the key.

Won't you tell her please

To put on some speed

Follow my lead

Oh how I need

Someone to watch over me.

Won't you tell her please

Tto put on some speed

Follow my lead

Oh how I need

Someone to watch over me."

He continued playing it without singing but didn't miss the kiss she'd given his cheek when he'd finished. "When did you learn this? You said you'd never heard it then."

"Good memory, as usual." He leaned in and tapered off into a slower melody he'd been taught to practice on. "I was learning it for our anniversary. Because no matter what you say, that kiss did count. Even if I didn't know what I felt then, I know that's when the seed was planted in me to love you."

"…you're such a sap."

"You love it."

"Never said I didn't."

She gasped and clutched at her shoulder. "Neina!" The piano forgotten he turned to her and took her in his arms. She whimpered pitifully and curled into him.

"H-hurts…" Her death grip in his shirt lessened until she slumped slightly in another faint. He looked around frantically for help when his eyes fell to the wall of mirrors. A figure in a red cloak stood regarding them stoically. Hokuto glared hard enough to practically melt the mirror itself.

"You bastard!!" he yelled. "Why are you doing this?!! Leave her alone!!" The figure stood still, the shadow of the hood obscuring any chance of seeing his face. A moment later and he turned and disappeared into the darkness. Hokuto would've leapt straight through the mirror to throttle him if his wife's small form wasn't already relying on him to hold her steady. Hoisting her up, he had only a second to react and throw the blanket over them before the wall exploded in shards of glass.

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Tsuzuki frowned as he looked at his drink. Nothing seemed to be going right that night. Neina was ill, there was a mad phantom running around and Hisoka was mad at him for reason he didn't even know. He was running the conversations they had had that day through his head and trying to figure out if he had made some mistake somewhere to upset him but he couldn't figure out anything. He groaned again and folded his arms on the table to make a suitable pillow for his aching head.

"Tsuzuki-san, did you drink too much?" Hijiri asked as he came in. He straightened his bow tie carefully with a smile at the miserable looking shinigami.

"Getting ready to go out?" he asked, completely ignoring the jib.

"Yep, I've got about twenty minutes. Which I think is just enough time to play councilor and ask what's wrong?"

"Nothing, just thinking."

"Yeah, and that's how I know something's wrong. You thinking is a dead give away."

"Hey!" he narrowed his eyes at the snickering older-younger man. "Geez, you've changed. What happened to the nice, polite young man I remember?"

Hijiri was silent a moment but the smile never left his face. "You've changed too, you know. You may still be a sugar addict with a heart of gold, but you seem…lighter now. Happier. And I know who to thank for that too I believe."

"Huh?"

He smirked and leaned in. "You and Hisoka sure have gotten close, huh?" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Tsuzuki felt himself flush.

"I, eh, wha?"

He laughed and leaned back again. "I thought so. Considering the looks you two kept throwing each other I seriously began to doubt your partnership was still exclusive to the workplace."

"It…it's that obvious?"

He shrugged. "Eh, only probably to someone who knows you two like I do."

"And…you're okay with that?"

"Why not? You're both happier than I've ever seen you. I think you're good for each other."

Tsuzuki blinked at the matter of fact statement and smiled rather wistfully. "You think?"

"No, make that I know you're good for each other. I can tell that from the fact that after he was so moody earlier you're just a bundle of insecurity and worry."

"You an empath now?"

"No, I'm just observant. You've been stirring that same cup of coffee for the past hour and fifteen minutes."

He flushed and pushed the cup away. With a sigh he nodded. "Yeah, I guess I've got it pretty bad."

"He's changed too you know." He looked up with a confused look. "Hisoka. He's changed too. He doesn't scowl nearly as much and he's actually…happy. Maybe not bouncing off the walls, but then again that kind of Hisoka would be scary. More like he can finally be in his own skin and not put up a front anymore. That was always one thing that bothered me about him, he was always keeping everything inside to the point I was sure he was going to burst. But now he's actually opening up and letting things out. And I know that must be your doing. And if something's upset him," he reached out and patted his hand. "I know you're going to find a way to make it better."

He slowly smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Hi—"

"HIJIRI!!!" They both jumped as the annoyed snarl called him. "Get your ass to the wings now or so help me I will feed your violin to the incinerator!!"

"Kotoko," he sighed. "Like I said before, she's a woman delivering a baby during these performances. See you later Tsuzuki."

"Hijiri," he started and the violinist paused. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"That…that I can't return you're feelings. What you said back then, when Sagatanatsu almost devoured my mind…it meant so much and now I feel like I'm just throwing it in your face by saying I'm in lo—"

"Tsuzuki, what're you talking about?"

"Huh?"

"Tsuzuki, how would I be able to get into you're mind? Aside from my eye being a demonic contract I've never had any kind of spiritual power."

He blinked. That had never occurred to him in all these years. "B-but…you were there, and you said you loved me…"

Hijiri flushed. "I…I what?! Tsuzuki, I…" He sighed and shook his head. "Tsuzuki, I did love you back then, I won't lie. But it's been years since then and as rarely as we get to see each other…My feelings have moved on. I do still care about you, very, very much, but not in the way you think. Not anymore."

"HIJIRI!! I HAVE A HAMMER AND YOUR VIOLIN!! YOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS!!!"

"Gotta go, talk to Hisoka, see if you can work it out bye!!"

Tsuzuki blinked and he was gone, yelling for Kotoko to put the hammer down. He's right…he couldn't have been able to get into my head…so then who…? His eyes widened and he felt his heart skip a beat. Could it be…?

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Hisoka sighed as he rested his back against the wall. There was nothing much to do in this situation besides wit and watch the mask. And as the mask wasn't doing any tricks it was a bit boring. Witch left the empath with too much time to think.

Maybe…maybe things are moving to slow for Tsuzuki. We've been going out for almost half a year now and haven't gone beyond kissing and a few careful touches. What if that's not enough?

Could I…go further? He flushed and hid his face in his hands. Oh god I sound like some love struck highschool girl about to loose her virginity!! Gah!!

"Hisoka? Is something wrong?"

The empath quickly got his blood flow under control and looked up to see Tsuzuki standing in front of him. Hisoka turned his head away with a small scowl. "No."

He sighed and knelt down before the blonde. "Hisoka, what's wrong? Why are you so upset suddenly?"

"I'm not upset," he muttered.

"Yes you are. You won't even look me in the eyes."

"…Is Hijiri performing now?"

"Yes. He just got on stage. Why?"

"Just figured, you know, since you're not together."

"What? We've barely seen each other in the last…Hisoka, are you jealous?" Tsuzuki asked incredulously. It was preposterous to him that the petite blonde could be jealous and of Hijiri no less. But the slight tingeing of his cheeks told him all he needed to know. Still, his nature could not be denied.

"I am not jealous."

Tsuzuki did not need to be an empath to know he was lying. The fact that he still had his face turned away was proof enough. He couldn't help a smile come to his face at the thought that Hisoka was jealous over him. "Hisoka, why would you be jealous?"

His face finally turned to him, though it was contorted in annoyance. "I said I'm not jealous!"

"Hisoka, answer the question."

"I'm not jealous!!" He stood up and made to walk out the door on the opposite side of the room. "I'm going to check on my mom, so just drop—" He paused as Tsuzuki's hand reached out and gripped his upper arm, not hard of course but enough to stall him and send a buzz through his empathy that made him pause. Looking up into his eyes finally he saw the seriousness burning with in them and shuddered.

"Answer. The. Question." Tsuzuki said in the most commanding voice he could manage. No way in hell was he letting Hisoka get away with dismissing this!

Hisoka gulped, his jealousy being replaced by sudden fear. "It's n…nothing, really Tsuzuki, I'm just being stupid—" He gasped as the hand gripping his arm moved down to his wrist and pulled him forward. Tsuzuki's other hand cam up and ensnared him around the back. He tensed for a second at the sudden embrace but soon relaxed as the soothing feelings of affection came filtering in, mixed with a few waves of worry.

"Tell me. I won't laugh and I will never think any less of you."

Hisoka waited half a breath before burying his head in Tsuzuki's shoulder. "…I'll never change…"

"What?"

"I'll never change. Never. Not ever. I'm stuck like this forever!!" He pushed himself back enough to look up at Tsuzuki with near panic etched into his face. "I'm always going to be sixteen!! Always this short!! Always this young!! Always!! And Hijiri…he…he's grown up now…" His gaze fell again, staring at the inconsequential second button of Tsuzuki's dress shirt. "He looks grown up…he looks good…hell, he's handsome! And I can't help but think you two look good together because he's not so short or so young…I'm never going to look like that…"

He couldn't take it anymore. Tsuzuki quickly cupped the blonde's cheeks and forced his face up. "Hisoka, you're perfect the way you are! I don't care about that! I don't!!"

"Yes you do!!"

"No I don't!! Why would you say that?!"

"Because why else don't you want to have sex with me?!!"

Tsuzuki let go as if stung and stared at him with his mouth wide open. "I-you…What?!!"

"Every time we get close to taking it farther, every time, you stop and pull away with some lame excuse and throw up your shields like some kind of concrete wall. Why else would you do that if it wasn't because…because you were disgusted by this…stupid body of mine?!! Because I'm—"

Hisoka never finished his self decimating rant. The moment the last sentence left his mouth Tsuzuki grabbed him and threw him against the wall with his hands on either side of his head. He gasped and that gave the older man the perfect opportunity to slip his toungue into his mouth. The gasp turned into a moan as the muscle roamed around, slipping against his cheeks and teeth and his own tongue as if mapping out the cavern in the greatest detail. Tsuzuki's leg went between the teen's and pushed them open enough that he could step into them and press their hips flush against each other. A whimper escaped the smaller male as he ground their hips together. Tsuzuki growled at the sound and nibbled on the boy's lower lip.

All of this was new and wonderfully exciting, but the real sensory overload came when he probed straight through Hisoka's shields. Green eyes flew open from battling the physical aspects he was being assailed with when lust and love and the desperate need to give and receive flooded through him. But god he wanted more of it! The emerald orbs were eclipsed once again as he pushed up and tried to reciprocate the kiss and the actions as best as he could. He began shaking with the impact of it, not used to the suddenness of it.

Tsuzuki, feeling the fine tremors running through his love, forced himself to disengage the kiss and the motion of their hips. Hisoka whimpered even more pleadingly at the loss and opened hazy eyes to stare up at smoldering amethysts. Both of them were panting and Tsuzuki looked like he was just barely restraining himself from continuing.

"Don't…ever…say that…again," he hissed. Hisoka shivered again, the commanding tone sending even more heat through him by his own instincts. "There is nothing and no one I want more than you. I don't care about your age and I would never want you to look any different because I find you to be perfect as you are. The reason I pull back is for you, not because of you. You aren't ready for what I want to do."

Hisoka flushed at the words and took a deep breath. "What…what if I think I'm ready?"

Tsuzuki smirked and pulled him into a tight, gentle hug. "You aren't. And this definitely isn't the time or the place now, is it?"

Hisoka couldn't help but feel disappointed but for once Tsuzuki was being the logical one. He sighed and put his own arms around him. "Yeah…Um, sorry about before…about being…you know."

"Jealous?" Tsuzuki asked with a grin.

"Don't push it, baka, I won't be so placated forever."

"Right, sorry. You know, I wouldn't mind pulling a double shift and staying here with you."

Hisoka felt one of his small real smiles playing at his lips. "Yeah, that sounds—" There was a sudden obnoxious tone and both pulled away to look at Tsuzuki's coat pocket. "Like you're phone."

Tsuzuki reached into his pocket and pulled it out. "It's Watari. Maybe he's found something out." He flipped it open and pressed it to his ear. "Hey, Watari, what—"

"Tsuzuki!! I know what the Phantom is doing!! You have to go find Neina ASAP, she's still in danger!!"

"What?! Watari, calm down and explain a little clearer," he said. "What's this about Neina being in danger?" he caught the worried Hisoka's eyes and motioned for him to go check while he stayed with the mask. Hisoka was gone in a heart beat.

"It's not poison and it's not exactly a curse. More like a spell. The phantom is draining her life force for—"

There was a sudden crash from down the hall. "Hold on, Watari, something's happened!" He rushed out the door and looked around the hall.

"Ts…Tsuzuki…" He whirled and sucked in breath when he saw Hokuto leaning heavily against the wall. He had various cuts along his back and arms, though not bleeding bad enough to worry. It was his next words that sent a cold lump down to the pit of his stomach. "Neina…Neina's gone!"

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I just can't resist cliffies XD Keeps y'all coming back for more!

REVIEW and SUGGEST.

And please don't kill me, there were a thousands of ways I could've ended that chapter. The first one actually had me knocking Tsuzuki out and putting him in danger, so just be thankful I reworked it!