Yami no Matsuei

Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei. But I still hope!

A/N: Hi all..! Very sorry for the delay in posting. Enjoy!

Tsuzuki swallowed a mouthful of heady wine, placing the glass back down carefully. Then he picked up his chopsticks and took a moral of the juicy salmon and placed that in his mouth, chewing slowly, not really tasting.

Muraki ate his own meal just as carefully, a bit of rice and fish, a sip of wine, his actions measured and careful.

There definitely was a heavier and quietier atmosphere this night. The day started out gloriously enough what with the weather, natural wonders, passionate coupling. But with every passing hour they were keenly aware that this would be their last night of their honeymoon and back to reality in the morning.

For Tsuzuki, it seemed more than that. Everything seemed more grounded here. More real and authentic. Getting in touch with nature somehow transfered to getting in touch with their true selves...that sense of play...values...their commitment to each other. Day by day here on this small far-off destination, the two men solidified their union all the more. Just when they felt they couldn't strengthen their bond, a new element would show, a new understanding.

Now, they were going back home. Back among people and work and traffic and paperwork...

"Kazutaka..."

Muraki met his husband's shimmering violets. "Yes, Asato?"

Tsuzuki spoke from his mind and heart.

"I feel like, well, like we're going from our own little world to, to an alien world. That all this beauty and tranquility will be left behind and that our days here." He shook his head, sighing in frustration. "It doesn't make sense, I know. And I know honeymoons don't last forever. And that it would eventually end, but." He gave a helpless shrug, his face sad.

"That's not true," Muraki interjected, shaking his head and reaching for the brunet's hand in support. "Our honeymoon will last forever. I mean this sincerely, beloved. In fact, I..." he stopped.

"Kazutaka?"

Muraki's face seemed determined, as though he had come to a decision.

"We need to talk more about this, Asato. So I suggest we finish dinner and go to bed. We can talk more comfortably there."

Tsuzuki nodded. "All right, Kazutaka."

The two men settled into their favorite sleeping area, the large canvas hammock, strewn with pillows and a light cover. The deepening night sky, cool breeze, and chirping cicadas had a soothing effect on them both. Now, to get the matter at hand.

Tsuzuki shifted himself closer to his husband, looking at that much-loved profile.

"Kazutaka, this has been the most incredible, fantastic, wonderful, every superlative I can think of, honeymoon," the brunet smiled, kissing the silver blond's smooth cheek.

Muraki chuckled and ran his fingers through dark hair. "For me as well, beloved."

"And now that we have to leave," Tsuzuki stopped, his throat constricting. "I don't know why it affects me so much to leave. It was a honeymoon trip. And now it's over and it's back to reality and all that goes with it. And I get that but I feel like we're leaving something behind."

"I think I understand, Asato. We're starting a new chapter as a married couple. A new adventure. But going back to what I once did, I am resisting it," Muraki explained, kissing Tsuzuki's temple. "We have talked about this before. My work at the hospital. I have been there for a few years and I've trained as a doctor for, well. It would seem half my life. Perhaps more, considering how this career was chosen for me."

Tsuzuki looked up at his husband.

"I have been wanting something else. I'm trained in medicine. It's all I know. But the bureaucracy of the hospital...the endless red tape just to get a procedure done has discouraged me. Much more than I realized."

"It can't have been easy, Kazutaka," Tsuzuki murmured. "I know how frustrated you've been with that aspect of your job. To want to help patients only to be blocked by higher-ups and their politics."

"Indeed," Muraki gently massaged his husband's scalp with skilled fingers. "Too many years dealing with that nonsense. And now I feel it is time for a change. To leave the hospital and put my skills to better use."

"How so?" Tsuzuki shifted in the hammock to better see his husband.

"In a way that I have not thought of before until recently. Another way to help."

He titled the brunet's chin up with his fingers.

"By capturing and sending wayward demons back to the underworld before they cause havoc in the human world before they kill innocent people," Muraki explained.

Tsuzuki perked. "Do what Meifu is doing right now, you mean?"

"Yes and no. Correct me if I am wrong, beloved, but isn't it a guardian's job to contain and capture demons in order to take back to the underworld or purgatory? There, they are subjected to everlasting hell and damnation."

"They are," Tsuzuki said softly. "By the time the demon has created chaos they're pretty much beyond saving. It's been more important to save humans which is understandable in the human world. And more often than not, a demon will be destroyed "

"Yes. But I have always wondered why not find these demons before they become a menace, before they become dangerous and harm humans?"

"This very point was brought up before," Tsuzuki sat up a bit. "Before I first started. We were told there wasn't enough guardians to roam the world in search of those demons."

"Yes. So my question to this is: Why not us?"

Tsuzuki blinked.

"Us? You mean, you and me go find these wayward demons before they go rogue?"

Muraki grasped the brunet's arms. "Yes. Exactly."

Tsuzuki digested this.

A vision formed in his mind. He and Muraki tracking down troublesome demons...traveling over the globe...and they would be helping their own kind. Helping them get back to the underworld or receive energy to make the journey or anything they could do in order to prevent catastrophes in the human world. Something that Meifu didn't have the time or resources to do. It was something that would have real purpose for Tsuzuki. Not just destroying but doing what he could to prevent that step.

"A purpose," he murmured.

Muraki nodded. "Yes, beloved. A purpose." The silver blond was excited at the new prospect. He sat up. "Asato, this could mean a whole new life for us. No time clocks. No schedules. We would be helping our own kind and in turn, helping humans. Our life can be our own. We would only answer to ourselves."

Tsuzuki's brows knit in thought. It sounded like the answer to what he had been feeling so strongly these past few days. Well, longer than that. It was discussed and planned as a move they would pursue later. But later was now. What had they been waiting for? It was as Muraki said. A new life as a married couple.

"Asato?"

Tsuzuki shook himself, focusing on Muraki's concerned and beautiful face and reached his decision, his heart resolved.

"Kazutaka. A life with you and a life with a purpose. I thought my work at Meifu was that purpose so many years ago when I first started. And it was. But...but, like your dealings at the hospital, it's been overwrought with bureaucracy and endless paperwork and just the day-to-day desk work which I know needs to be done. But I feel more useful battling the wayward demons. The footwork of a case."

Muraki nodded and took Tsuzuki's hand.

"I've always loved that part of the job. But to reach demons BEFORE they hurt innocents and if we worked together to help our kind. Kazutaka!"

Violets brightened.

"Let's do it! Let's not wait for the 'perfect' time or five years from now or anything! Let's just go ahead and do this!"

Muraki laughed and hugged his husband.

With that settled, they settled into the hammock, making plans, the excitement evident in their voices.

Muraki laughed and hugged his husband.

With that settled, they settled into the hammock, making plans, the excitement evident in their voices.

"Asato?"

"Yes?"

"Your co-workers. Will they understand your decision? Will you have much trouble?"

Tsuzuki was silent for a few moments. Muraki's lips brushed against his temple.

"I know they'll take my decision hard," Tsuzuki spoke slowly. "They may not understand. I've been with the bureau for so many years. Hisoka and I were just starting to click as a team."

Muraki rubbed his cheek against his husband's soft hair.

"Watari will understand. He's more open-minded. He was the first to approve our relationship."

"Indeed," Muraki murmured, remembering how enthusiastically the bouncy blond shook his hand upon hearing of his and Tsuzuki's engagement.

"But Tatsumi," Tsuzuki bit his lip. "He'll be so hurt, I think. He's been sensitive about...us."

"Yes, he has," Muraki's eyes hardened. "So much so that he has not been able to let go of his feelings towards you thus affecting those around him. Which I may add, goes against his so-called professionalism that he values so highly."

"He has accepted my being with you to some extent, Kazutaka," Tsuzuki argued. "Yeah, I admit he's been a pain in the ass over certain things. But he knows I won't tolerate his bad mouthing you." Violets glittered.

Muraki's expression softened. "My fierce protector," he whispered, causing Tsuzuki to blush adorably. "That secretary is the least of our concerns. So out of mind he goes."

Tsuzuki chuckled then reached up to kiss the silver blond's cheek.

"Out of mind, partner."

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N: Hope that satisfied to some extent. Stuff got in the way and I couldn't post this in a timely manner. But here it is, warts and all..! Thanks so much for reading and please review! Need the motivation! Until next time! :)