I'm all about Tsuzuki and Tatsumi so…
Pairing—T&T
Disclaimer—I only own my destiny (and truthfully that seems to be shared with my boss, my boyfriend, and family). None of us have any claim to YNM or its characters however…
Thanks for the feedback—Literary Eagle and LaDiDaanFan!
Reviews are always appreciated.
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Tsuzuki finished his tea and set his cup down with a satisfied sigh. "The blossoms are blooming nicely" he noted to his companion.
"When have you known them not to?" Tatsumi shrugged, sipping his half-finished tea. Tsuzuki even drank his tea too quickly…but no one else was here watching them so Tatsumi kept that chastise to himself.
Tsuzuki laid down on the blanket, putting his arms around his head as he stared up at the sky. He glanced over at Tatsumi, watching him for a moment before looking at the blue horizon once more.
Tatsumi's eyes were much more beautiful.
Tsuzuki was glad that they took time out for late afternoon tea more often. They used to do it all the time when they were partners, and Tatsumi did make himself more available for awhile after the whole Muraki thing…Tsuzuki shuddered as Muraki invaded his thoughts.
"What's wrong?"
"Just thinking" Tsuzuki answered.
Tatsumi stared at the other. He wished that Tsuzuki would even try to confide in him…but he realized that was his own fault. Of course, that was before he finally admitted, albeit only to himself, how in love with Tsuzuki he was. It had been somewhat difficult to keep those emotions inside lately. Ever since Tsuzuki threw him that surprise birthday party, the two spent more and more of their free time together. They had tea whenever possible, they went out to dinner now and again—though usually Tatsumi just invited Tsuzuki, or rather Tsuzuki invited himself, over and cooked for him...going out to dinner was expensive after all.
Tsuzuki had even started asking Tatsumi to join he and Watari for drinks after work whenever they went. Though Tatsumi would never admit to it, Tsuzuki was right; Watari did seem to be a light weight. He always left the two of them alone after two drinks or so. One time, Tatsumi could have sworn that Watari actually smirked at them…like he knew something…but in the end Tatsumi chalked it up to the sake playing tricks on his eyes.
"I have a surprise for you" Tatsumi reached into his pocket.
Tsuzuki leaned up, his violet eyes shining. He loved surprises! "Ooh!" Tsuzuki took the small box of cookies from Tatsumi's hands. "Thank you!"
Tatsumi nodded and placed his cup down. He could hear Tsuzuki tearing the box open…then he could hear Tsuzuki stuffing his face. Tatsumi sighed deeply, but just stared at the sky.
"Mpfth…."
"When you speak with your mouth full, I cannot understand you" Tatsumi glanced in Tsuzuki's direction. Tsuzuki closed his mouth, his eyes following suit as Tatsumi wiped a few crumbs away. As always he blushed from the touch, even as he prayed Tatsumi was thinking it was from embarrassment….
Swallowing, Tsuzuki tried again. "Here."
Tatsumi eyed the last cookie. "I may have it?"
"Yes."
Tatsumi smiled briefly. He took it, broke it in half and popped one half in Tsuzuki's mouth before taking a bite of his piece.
"Mpth...pthmm…mpth…."
"I cannot understand you"Tatsumi reminded Tsuzuki.
This is nice, Tsuzuki repeated to himself.
"The blossoms are beautiful" Tsuzuki stated aloud.
"Hm" Tatsumi nodded, biting another piece of his cookie.
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Hisoka looked at Watari, and before Watari even had a chance to tell him to do so, Hisoka turned on his heels, heading back the way they came. Watari looked at Tatsumi and Tsuzuki for a moment before following Hisoka. As they had gotten into the habit of doing whenever they saw Tsuzuki and Tatsumi together, they would have their tea elsewhere.
Perhaps he should give up on his sex-changing potion for a bit and work on a love potion to make those two speed up the process of what was obviously happening. At least obvious to him. But he didn't have another 100 years to be wasting on those two snails.
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Tatsumi walked past Watari's lab. He knocked, peaking in.
"I'm so glad you're here…would you like to be…"
"No" Tatsumi answered before Watari could finish asking. He was no guinea pig. "I just dropped by to let you know I approved your expenses."
"Great! More funding. So what about Tsuzuki?"
"Most were denied as usual. He thinks that he can slip in a spa or bar in with a whole bunch of other notices, and I won't pay any attention. When will he learn?"
Watari watched Tatsumi "Hm"
"You have been smirking a lot lately."
Watari's smile grew. "I do not know what you mean. Are you headed home?"
"Yes" Sometimes Watari was aggravating.
"I'll see you on Monday then" Watari chuckled.
"What?"
"Step outside your box." Watari went over to the door, closing it on Tatsumi. What the hell did that mean? Tatsumi stared at the door a minute and then headed back upstairs. As soon as he opened the door to the main floor, he found Tsuzuki waiting for him.
"I only got back half of what I asked for!"
"Hisoka received all he asked for" Tatsumi nodded, breezing out the door.
"I know!" Tsuzuki ran, catching up with him. "Why is that?"
"Because Hisoka's expenses are legitimate, while you are way too frivolous."
"But…" Tsuzuki whined. "I really needed to go to that spa."
"Why?" Tatsumi asked. He made the mistake of turning to look at Tsuzuki and was almost blinded by cuteness at Tsuzuki's full on 'puppy look'. "We will cover the spa" Tatsumi mumbled and Tsuzuki smiled, suddenly back to normal.
"Thank you" he began walking by Tatsumi's side.
Tatsumi didn't even bother to ask why. Obviously Tsuzuki was inviting himself over for dinner.
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"So good." Tsuzuki patted his full stomach, closing his eyes.
"Thank you" Tatsumi stood, taking his and Tsuzuki's plates into the kitchen. Tsuzuki sat for a moment and then stood. He should probably offer to clean…he wandered around the living room. Next time.
Tsuzuki found himself going down the hall. Though they were spending more time together, it still had been awhile since he went into Tatsumi's bedroom. He wondered if it was as clean as the last time…of course it was he noted as he looked at the sterile room. One could probably have a surgery in this room it was so spotless.
Tsuzuki moved from the doorway, walking inside.
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Tatsumi left the kitchen to find the dining room empty…as well as the living room. Tsuzuki's shoes were still here, so he had to be somewhere. Tatsumi walked down the hall, and stopped as he saw Tsuzuki in his room.
Sitting on his bed.
As inviting as the vision looked, right now Tatsumi's anger was forefront. "Who told you that you could come in here?" Now he would have to make his bed all over again…
Not to mention the fact that Tsuzuki's scent lingered in the room now. Tatsumi would never be able to have a peaceful night's sleep with…
"I thought you would throw it away." Tsuzuki asked quietly, and it was only then that Tatsumi noticed the framed picture Tsuzuki was holding. Tsuzuki had taken it himself during Tatsumi's birthday, after he had told Tatsumi that there would be no pictures. But he couldn't resist the chance to be 'forced' to lean in so close to Tatsumi as required for him to take the picture of both of them at the same time.
Tatsumi snatched the picture of Tsuzuki leaning against his shoulder and placed it face down on the desk. He had to stay focused on his anger, and maybe Tsuzuki would run away in fear before he started wondering why that picture was on nightstand. "I definitely did not give you permission to go through my things!" he snapped.
"Why did you keep it?" Tsuzuki asked, wondering if maybe…just maybe…
Tatsumi didn't answer, as, as sometimes happened around Tsuzuki, how quick mind was unable with a viable excuse. It was so unlike him to have personal items, and he was worried of what Tsuzuki might be thinking.
"Tatsumi?"
"It is a nice enough photo, so I kept it" Tatsumi finally answered. "You may have it if you…"
"My copy is in my room too." Tsuzuki admitted, the statement causing Tatsumi to look at Tsuzuki.
"Why do you have one?"
"I asked first" the teasing words came out straight and calm however and Tatsumi knew that Tsuzuki would not be budged until he felt he had a satisfactory answer. An answer Tatsumi wasn't about to give.
The two men stared at each other, neither of them budging. Finally, Tatsumi sighed deeply and left the bedroom. After a moment Tsuzuki followed; he found Tatsumi staring out the window next to the door.
"What were you thinking of today?" Tatsumi glanced at Tsuzuki before looking out the window once more.
Tatsumi moved until he was standing next to Tatsumi. "When?"
"When we were having tea"
That seemed to be an odd question to Tsuzuki, but he thought back. "The tea was yummy."
"Not then"
"Umm…the flowers were pretty?"
Tatsumi sighed and suddenly Tsuzuki realized what he was asking. He stared out the window, whispering finally, "Muraki…I just started thinking of Muraki. I wonder when that will stop."
"I…" Once more Tatsumi found himself at a loss for words. "…don't know. However, you may talk about it with me…sometimes…"
"Sometimes?" Tsuzuki smiled that beautiful smile. "Don't you worry!" he answered, "I know that you don't like it when I'm upset and I have Hisoka to…." Tsuzuki's eyes fluttered closed as he suddenly found Tatsumi's lips on his. It only took a moment for the shock to leave him, but it had only taken a moment before Tatsumi had pulled away.
"I…"
"I like the photo, and that is why I kept it" Tatsumi opened his front door. "Make sure you're on time tomorrow"
"But…"
Tatsumi started down the hall, Tsuzuki staring after him. He debated…but…it was only a kiss. Like a kiss between friends. No big deal.
Tsuzuki touched his mouth, leaving Tatsumi's place and closing the door behind him.
The taste of him lingered…more wonderful than any of the sweets that Tsuzuki had ever had.
But it was just a kiss…a quick kiss…and it was Tatsumi…it couldn't actually 'mean' something.
Tsuzuki stopped at the corner, turning around, part of him wanting to go running back, to ask Tatsumi if…
No…it was just a quick, simple kiss.
Nothing more….Tsuzuki ran his fingers across his lips again.
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The door had closed. Tsuzuki had left. Tatsumi opened his eyes, grabbing the picture and looking at it.
That was uncharacteristic, 'outside the box' as Watari would say.
But Tatsumi hadn't wanted to hear Tsuzuki speak of sharing his thoughts with Hisoka at that moment, and he didn't have any deserts in his pocket.
So outside the box he went to do something that he was sure would shut Tsuzuki up.
Just because Tatsumi had wanted to kiss those soft lips of Tsuzuki's for years was beside the point…Tatsumi sighed, even as a smile lightened his eyes. Those lips were almost like silk…he could have kissed them for days, maybe months. Yet, he had to pull away before Tsuzuki had a chance to realize what was happening. While he still had a chance of backpedaling under the guise of Tsuzuki making too much out of just one simple moment.
That is what he would tell Tsuzuki if he ever brought it up, even as he doubted Tsuzuki would. Do not make such a big deal out of one simple moment.
And maybe in another hundred years or so he would step outside that box, and kiss Tsuzuki again. Until then, he'd knew that he'd be dreaming have to about that one so-called 'simple' moment.
For days…maybe months.
A/N—I needed Tatsumi to step out the box so to speak to move it a bit forward (I just really wanted Tatsumi to be the one to initiate a kiss first; as 'simple' a moment as it may have been).