Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei. If I did, Muraki and Tsuzuki would be together.
A/N: Thanks so much for the positive reviews! It certainly does motivate me to keep going. The sweets were appreciated and eaten with gusto! Now, enjoy!
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Wearily, Muraki removed the surgical mask and rumpled scrubs, tossing them into a bin. It had been a long and complicated procedure, taking all morning and most of the afternoon. But by all accounts, it was a success.
The silver blonde made his way back to his office.
Four hours
Four hours until his shift was over. Four hours until he indulged in a hot, relaxing bath. Four hours until he could light the dozen or so white candles in the master bedroom.
Tonight, Muraki had decided to pamper Tsuzuki with a deep, relaxing massage. He smiled. Scented oils, white candles, and soft music would fit nicely into his plans of soothing and comforting Tsuzuki after his long day at work.
It would further prove to the guardian that their relationship wasn't based solely on sex and that there was more to sex than the physical act. Something he intended to teach the guardian more extensively. But for now, he wanted to look after Tsuzuki's well-being, see that the brunette was cared for and happy.
The noise from his cell phone interrupted the doctor's thoughts. Reaching for it, he frowned slightly at the message:
On stakeout
Will see you when over
Take care
A
Muraki sighed heavily, his spirits deflating. Well, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Tsuzuki did mention that this eventuality was likely to occur. He had just hoped it would be later rather than sooner.
The silver blonde typed his lover a response:
Will count the minutes
Be careful
K
All of the doctor's carefully-laid plans crumbled into so many pieces.
Muraki leaned against the leather chair. He would fill the hours by working double shifts, as he unable to bear that cold, empty house, much less a cold, empty bed in the long nights ahead.
The silver blonde picked at his food despondently, his appetite gone.
Perhaps after Tsuzuki's assignment was fully over, he could simply make the necessary phone calls to reinstate all the arrangements.
Yes. That would do. It would have to.
In the meantime, to work.
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Tsuzuki drew his hand across his brow.
He had been stationed for surveillance at the suspect's apartment entrance while Hisoka covered the rear. At one point, Tsuzuki tailed the suspect to a fast-food place all the while keeping a careful distance and taking meticulous notes.
He and Hisoka were to rendezvous in an hour to compare those notes and switch posts.
The brunette shoved his cool hands deep into the pockets of his trenchcoat. The day was turning out to be much colder than he anticipated as his thin silk shirt wasn't providing him with enough warmth.
His lips twitched upward. A memory of Muraki's arms around him last night reminded him of how incredibly warm he could get!
Argh!
He shook his head, his dark bangs falling this way and that. Only thinking of his lover was a distraction he could ill afford to indulge in right now! But, alas, he couldn't help it. Especially to the matter of what to do for Valentine's Day.
As he marked the days off, he became more and more at a loss as to what to do. It depressed him to think that with his paltry income all he could just about afford was a relatively inexpensive dinner, a movie (no popcorn), and about half a dozen yellow roses.
Damn.
Tsuzuki rubbed his hands together in frustration and to keep warm. He could ask Tatsumi for a pay advance. But the thought of being in that much debt for who knows how long, didn't appeal to the guardian at all.
He leaned against the building, the slighty breeze ruffling strands of hair from his resolute face.
No.
He would have to make do with what he had. He would think more on it later. Right now his entire focus had to be on the case at hand.
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A few hours later in Meifu, Tsuzuki sat in the stark white breakroom with a notepad and a cold cup of tea in front of him. Piles of crumbled up papers scattered the floor and table around him.
Scribbling a couple of lines, he shook his head, ripping the sheet and wadding it up in exasperation. Tossing it over his shoulder, the brunette slumped in his seat, defeated.
He just couldn't seem to come up with an idea as to what to give Muraki. Everything was so expensive!
The doctor was an elegant and wealthy man. He was used to the very best money could buy. Wine, food, clothes...
It seemed hopeless.
The guardian winced at the thought of how the doctor would react to receiving third-rate chocolates or eating at a second-class restaurant.
"He'll laugh," Tsuzuki thought miserably.
"He'll laugh and then he'll leave me."
Suddenly, his vision blurred. He quickly bit his lip to keep the wave of despair from overwhelming him.
"Hey, Tsuzuki!"
The brunette blinked, wiping at his eyes.
"Watari?"
The scientist bounded into the room, all pep and fizz and blonde hair.
"You and Hisoka taking a break?" he asked, his bright eyes twinkling behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
Tsuzuki nodded.
"Yeah. In fact, I should be going back in a few minutes," he then noticed the large white box tied with a velvet red bow in the blonde's hands. "What have you got there?"
"It's my Valentine's Day present to Tatsumi. Since he isn't here, I thought I'd hide it in the lab. A genuine jade tie pin AND," the blonde whipped out a slimmer white box with a flourish, "A hand-silk tie courtesy of Armani!"
Watari sighed dramatically. "It took me over three months to save for them, but it'll be worth it to see the look on his face when he receives that clasp he's been wishing for and a designer tie to boot!"
"Tatsumi is pretty easy to buy for?" the dark-haired man asked casually.
Watari brushed away some of the papers, not commenting on it, and plunked himself in the metal chair next to his friend.
"Well, not at first," he chuckled. "On our first Valentine's, I gave him red satin pajamas and coconut massage oil!" the bespectled blonde shuddered. "Things were definitely chilly between us for awhile.
"But you worked it out, ne?" Tsuzuki retorted pointedly. "You're still together."
Watari nodded in agreement, golden locks bouncing.
"Well, yeah. I had to get to know Tatsumi better. Know his likes and dislikes. But that's how a relationship is."
"Yeah," the brunette said quietly, looking down at his hands.
"What's wrong, Tsuzuki?" Watari asked, concerned. "You've been a bit mopey lately."
"I'm just having trouble figuring out what to get Kazutaka," the guardian sighed. He brushed his hand over the crumpled up papers. "I just don't have enough money to get him something nice."
"Hmm," the blonde frowned. "Well, has he hinted for anything in particular?"
Tsuzuki shook his head frantically, his features pinched with anxiety.
"No! He has everything! He can buy whatever he wants! Whatever I get him will just pale in comparison! He'll wonder what he ever saw in me and-and decide he doesn't want to be with me!" the brunette's eyes filled with hot tears, his hands clenched into fists in his lap.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Tsuzuki!" Watari held up his hands.
"For goodness' sake, why would you think that?" the blonde scrambled for his pockets and fished out a large hankerchief, offering it to the distressed guardian.
Tsuzuki plucked at the starched piece of cloth gratefully, wiping at his eyes.
"Has he ever said anything to you to make you think that?" the scientist prodded gently, watching his friend's face for any hint of trouble.
Muraki, if you've hurt him...
But, the dark-haired man shook his head emphatically.
"No. He's never said anything like that. It's just...Watari, he's treated me so wonderfully these past few weeks. He's given me so much. Not just the clothes and the nights out, but-but he's been so caring, so attentive." Tsuzuki sniffed, lifting his head and looking his friend straight in the eye.
"And I just want to give him something to show him how much he means to me. That I appreciate all that he's given me."
"Tsuzuki..." Watari whispered.
The blonde couldn't help but be affected by the brunette's firm words. How Tsuzuki's violet eyes fired with determination, how his posture stood straighter when he talked about his lover.
Clearing his throat, Watari fully faced his friend.
"Tsuzuki, you're going about it all wrong," the scientist announced firmly.
"Huh?" Tsuzuki's glistening violets blinked in confusion.
"You're overthinking this! You're too wrapped up in trying to figure out what kind of material gifts would please Muraki.
Show him how much he means to you by letting your heart do the talking," the blonde enthusiastically confirmed, grabbing ahold of Tsuzuki's hands and squeezing them.
"My heart do the talking?" the brunette repeated.
"Yeah! Listen to your heart! Heart-felt gestures mean alot. If Muraki is the kind of man that you say he is, it'll mean more because of the effort you've put into it. Not how much it costs."
Tsuzuki swallowed, slowly nodding as the words sank in. His slender brows knotted in concentration.
"I could...I could cook him a romantic dinner," he suggested tentatively.
"Good, good," Watari encouraged his shy friend, nodding his blonde head vigorously.
"Oh, but my cooking," the brunette interjected woefully. "My cooking skills aren't all that great."
"That's true," the scientist agreed, deftly ignoring Tsuzuki's raised brows. "But don't worry! I'll help you! I may even have a couple of recipes that even you can pull off!"
"Hey!" the brunette retorted indignantly.
Watari laughed at his friend's glare.
"Sorry, Tsuzuki! But the faster we face facts, the faster we'll be to solving your problem, ne?"
Tsuzuki surrendered, giving the bouncy blonde a smile.
"Thanks, Watari. I do appreciate your help."
Indeed, Tsuzuki's spirits were lifting. Maybe it wasn't hopeless!
"That's right, Tsuzuki! Cheer up!" Watari encouraged, happy to see his friend perk up a bit. "Between the two of us, I'm sure we can come up with something!"
"Right!"
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Muraki stared out his office window.
Meetings, reports, X-rays...
The day just seemed endless. Why hadn't he noticed it before? Always he filled his hours with routine, working until late at night and falling right into bed only to begin again. He never realized how lonely he had been. Or maybe he had and tried not to dwell on that fact by filling in those long hours with work.
Asato...
Now his dark-haired lover was filling those empty hours. Filling his house with warmth and smiles. Filling his soul with forgiveness and healing. Filling his heart with tenderness and love.
It was the difference between night and day.
No longer did he dread coming to an empty, cold manor, the silence deafening all around him. No longer did he have his meals out in anonymous decandant restaurants to avoid sitting at that massive gleaming mahagony dining table with only his servant for company.
Now his hours were filled with his lover's endless chatter and laughter and divine energy.
His beautiful Asato...
Such a difference, he thought. Such a wonderful difference. Had anyone told him a month ago that Tsuzuki Asato would willingly become his lover, he would have called them a damned liar.
He chuckled lightly. Perhaps Tsuzuki would have called that person much worse for even suggesting such a thing.
But that was then.
Now, Muraki stared out to the gray sky, missing his lover, his plans on hold and waiting for the phone call that would tell him Tsuzuki was all right and that the mission was accomplished.
The doctor smiled. Dinner out, dancing, perhaps that new play in town...Yes. Anything his Asato wanted.
Although...
Muraki had noticed Tsuzuki being a bit hesistant with his gifts of late. Oh, he enjoyed them, no doubt about that. Tsuzuki's lavender eyes practically popped out of his head upon receiving his latest gift of that deep red cashmere sweater. His lover thanked him profously then proceeded to squeeze the life out of him and rain his face with sweet kisses.
THAT the doctor enjoyed tremendously. But, afterward, the brunette expressed his concern that the doctor was spending so much on him. A subtle remark.
But, now, it niggled at him and so it was something to address in the future. It was easy to be generous with Tsuzuki. See the brunette beauty dressed smartly, eating well and pampered lavishly.
His lover would never want for anything, never want to be with anyone else.
Because I can buy him so much.
Yet, at times, the silver blonde would feel a seed of anxiety deep inside, triggered by something Tsuzuki would inadvertenly say.
Indeed, just last week when the guardian casually mentioned how Tatsumi-san inquired about his weekend plans, if the brunette was free for a few hours.
At the time, Muraki's chest constricted, his hand balled into a tight, shaking fist.
A casual remark.
And yet...why did he react so strongly, almost violently to that casual remark?
Because you're afraid.
Muraki started.
No.
You're afraid Asato will come to his senses, realize what a colossal mistake this all is, a farce and a joke, and leave.
Leave you behind.
And alone.
Alone once again.
NO!!
The doctor gripped both sides the leather arms tightly, his fingers pressed deep into the soft leather. He closed his eyes, bowing his silver head down almost to his chest, struggling to fight down the wave of panic that threaten to consume his shivering frame.
No.
Taking deep breaths, the doctor regained a bit of semblance. He concentrated on his breathing, and raised himself up. Still breathing deeply as he focused on the overcast grayness, the dull clouds passing slowly overhead.
That won't happen. I won't let it happen. It won't happen as long as I continue to show him all that I can offer him.
I love you, Asato. So much.
A slight movement caught the corner of his eye. Blinking, he turned the chair, fully facing the window. There. A flurry of wings. A bird. A silver-tipped swallow to be more precise.
Muraki's eyes followed the winged creature as it flapped in front of him, hovering against the glass. Mesmerized, the pale doctor watched as it darted to and fro as though asking to be let in. Before the doctor could decide what to do, it disappeared.
The silver blonde stood up from his chair.
What the...?
The sound of flapping wings was heard clearly behind him. Muraki turned around to find the swallow flying in front of him.
Without thinking, Muraki stretched out his hands to the little thing and was pleasantly surprised when the creature landed in the cup of his palms. But even more surprising was when it vanished in a puff of violet smoke, a piece of parchment in its place.
Astonished, Muraki stared at the stiff paper, bringing it closer to inspect it. Elegant black script inscribed the cream-colored paper and as he read it, a smile broke across his beautiful features.
He smiled even wider as he read it again. Indeed, it seemed as though his whole face lit up, so delighted he was.
Just a moment ago, he felt so despondent, despairing and out of control over the future and now...This changed it all. This simple bit of paper. This card having that kind of power.
Yes, he would lose control if he were to accept, but it was different, this loss of control. He was leaving it entirely in another's hands, hands that he had trusted so far with his whole heart. So losing some control was exciting in a way.
Yes.
He could feel that excitement thrumming through his veins, making them sing and that smile, which turned into a full-fledged grin, threatening to split his face in two, it was so wide.
I'll be waiting, Asato. Then you'll know the depth of my heart.
I'll be waiting.
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A/N: I vow to post in a timely manner. I really want to see what happens next, don't you?