14. Care.

T: This chapter was a nightmare for me to write as it had no want to co-operate with me; this is something that has no baring on the story but that I wanted to share! Warnings remain the same and I still own nothing you see here other than the plot bunny!

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After leaving the hospital he had gone on a long walk in order to clear his head and re-focus his mind.

He now understood the basic structure of the case yet there was so much lurking in the shadows that either contradicted his knowledge or added complex layers to the case that he had no hope of solving on his own.

"It seems you've made a mess of things yet again." The voice comes from just over his shoulder and, heart in his mouth, he says,

"You shouldn't creep up on people, Tatsumi-san," as he turns to face his companion.

"You should be more aware of your surroundings." The other counters, only the faint lifting of one corner of his mouth as sight that he is teasing.

"Why are you here?" He enquires after a moment of silence.

"Given the sudden increase in risk in this case Kanoe Kaichou thought is prudent for you to have 'back up'."

"In other words he sent you to spy on me." The accusation is fuelled more out of frustration than anything else and the hurt that words cause the sectary has him guiltily informing the other, "I'm sorry, Tatsumi-san, it's this case…"

"How about talking things through with me over a cup of tea?"

"There's this little bistro just around the corner that makes the most sublime lemon tart!"

"I do not think that you're budget will stretch to such an extravagant dessert." It is the traditional responds from the other and, pulling his face into a 'puppy dog' expression, he retorts with the traditional enquiry of,

"Could we not forgo the budget just this once?"

"No."

"Please, Tatsumi-san, for me!"

"Just this once then."

"Sank you, Tatsumi-san!"

…………………………………………………………………………………..

"…that's the extent of things."

There is an unreadable expression on the sectary's face and, concerned, he enquires, "Is something the matter?"

"It is nothing."

The words are, very clearly, a lie, yet over the years that he and Tatsumi have known one another they have adopted a 'no pushing' policy, thus he flashes the other a self conscious smile and enquires,

"Any thoughts?"

"You need to re-focus your investigation back onto the doctor and the murders; need to find out the other's motivation and, more importantly, if he is working alone."

He knows that Tatsumi is correct, knows that he needs to determine why Muraki has been using innocent lives to prolong his time on earth in the hopes that such information might hold the key to destroying the other and yet…

To learn such information he would either have to see the doctor again or placate Kurosaki Nagare's vanity for long enough that the other would tell him what he knew.

Neither are prospects that sit well with him, something that must register on his face for, kindness in his voice, Tatsumi enquires,

"Would it, perhaps, be better if I followed that particular line of questioning?"

"I think it might…" he trails, wishing to validate the statement and yet having no desire to lie further to the sectary.

"Then you may consider this case firmly in my hands and return to the Mefu safe in the knowledge that you did your best."

Tatsumi's face is fixed still in a kindly smile and yet he can not help but feel that the words are intended as some form of goad.

He knows that he should simply ignore this bate, that, though it might not be moral, it was the best decision for him to step away from the case.

Something, however, prompts him to inform Tatsumi,

"I'm not going anywhere," the conviction in his voice eliciting a smile from the other.

"Good, for no matter what it is about this case that has you so very frightened, you are not a coward, nor are you one to simply stand idle as an innocent is killed without purpose."

There is a long span of companionable silence after that, one Tatsumi eventually breaks with an enquiry of,

"Can I be of any help to you in this investigation?"

"You can talk to the doctor for me and, while you're doing as such, I shall talk to his 'accomplice',"

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T: Review? Next chapter wed.