10. Interaction.
T: Warnings and disclaimer remain the same.
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"What would you like to know?"
"Actually I couldn't care less about the case or his involvement in it. All I want to do is push him as far out of life as it possible and then try to erase the memory of his existence from my mind."
"Then why are you here?"
"I couldn't help feeling that you might wish to talk the thing through with someone and as your usual 'shoulder' is being kept out of the matter; I thought I'd volunteer my services."
"Why is Hisoka being 'kept out'?"
"Because I know how he'd react to the news…because it's better that he hears of this affair later once it's been cleared away and he's unable to 'make his mark' upon it."
"He'll little like that you've kept something so very important hidden away."
"That's true enough and yet that's something only I need to worry about, isn't it?" There is a smile still on his lips and yet the thing has become tainted with a false edge that she knows that she is, in part, responsible for.
Guilt setting like led in her heart she searches out the charisma 'skills' that she had acquired from her former boss and, smiling a compelling smile, she says,
"Forgive me for being a little prickly, Tsuzuki-san and for using your issues to distract your mind a little."
"Of course, Tsubaki-kun, but for your sake rather than for the sake the gentle 'pressure' that you are placing on me to do as such." His smile has again become a true thing and, running a hand through his hair, he remarks, "I genuinely wish to be your friend, Tsubaki-kun and so, as my reason for being here is distressing you enough that you're resorting to such tactics to drive me away, it's best that I 'leave you to it.'"
He is on his feet before she gains courage enough to ask him to stay and, gesturing towards the chair he has just vacated, he enquires,
"Would you like it back?"
"No, that's alright, I'll steal Hijiri's." She remarks as she rounds her partner's desk, settles into his chair and turns to face the elder Shinigami. "The truth is that I'm not certain if I'll be able to cope with seeing him…of exposing myself to the risks hidden within such a 'reunion'."
"It's better that you don't think things through too thoroughly, Tsubaki-kun. You know as well as I that he'll use your worries to undermine you and thus it's better that you push them to one side and focus on something else."
"Do you think that Hijiri-kun will understand, Tsuzuki-san? That he'll still consider me an ally even after he knows what it is that I have done?"
"I believe that he has a great capacity for forgiveness, but I can not say that that trait shall prove enough" Tsuzuki responds before enquiring, "You care a great deal about his opinion of you, don't you, Tsubaki-kun?"
"Of course, he is my partner, after all." The elder Shinigami's smile deepens into something truer than she has ever seen from him before and, a little of the tension drifting from her, she enquires,
"Have you found any 'secret eateries' recently?"
……………………………………………………………………………
"It took a little more effort that I initially believed it would, however, I finally secured your file," Watari remarks as he gestures in the general direction of his computer, "It's little more than diary extracts and I thought it was another layer of encryption until I found a reference to the 'villain' of the piece."
"It seems we're going to have to commandeer your computer for a little while, Watari-san."
"Don't worry about it Hi-kun, I'll take my work outside for an hour or so!" The scientist responds before gathering a random collection of objects into his arms and breezing out of the space.
"I'd forgotten how energetic he could be," Hijiri remarks as he settles himself down in front of the computer.
"The novelty will wear off soon enough." She responds as she comes to sit next to him.
He laughs a little at this comment and then, concentration pinching at his eyes; he begins to read the text on the screen.
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T: Apologies for the shortness of the chapter…this seemed the only sensible place to put a break in! Next chapter wed/thurs, review?