YAMI NO MATSUEI - DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS

KYOTO FILES REVISITED

Chapter Twenty - What It All Means

To the Reader

For those who are not familiar with Yami no Matsuei (YNM) or Descendants of Darkness, this anime/manga series is shounen-ai (guy/guy relationships or suggestions of such). This entire fan fiction has a PG-13 rating due to its content, and keeping in line with how the actual anime and manga are rated.

For more information, I refer you to Theria's and Sakura Crisis' website. Theria's site is an awesome resource for Yami no Matsuei and Yu-Gi-Oh fans, Sakura Crisis' scanlations are one of the best out there so far. I give them credit and acknowledgement since their sites served as a reference for me to further understanding the series.

A rough three weeks had passed since the Kyoto case came to a close with Tsuuri Troy's death...

During those fateful weeks, Hisoka, Watari, and Tatsumi took turns keeping Tsuzuki company during the day and the three were together at night in Tsuzuki's apartment. Chief Konoe did his part by visiting Tsuzuki every night after work.

From not saying a word or staring outside from his apartment window, Tsuzuki started making small conversation with whoever he was with at the time. Whenever Hisoka was with him, he skimmed through Troy's journal while Hisoka read a book...each one being with the other in silence. At night, his three companions took places inside his bedroom and slept to keep him company...giving him the freedom to gaze at his peers as they slept and at times sweep the unruly hair away from Hisoka's eyes.

After the first grueling week and unknown to the others, Tsuzuki lay in his bed at night and cried to let out the pain in his heart. For every second that he was left alone, he pondered about multiple ways of ending his agony. Whenever those morbid impulses entered his mind, he also thought about Hisoka and the others.

As the weeks passed, Tsuzuki showed small but hopeful signs that he was coping from taking his retrieval's life.

When those three weeks had passed, Tsuzuki returned to work.

Tsuzuki was greeted in the morning by an amicable Wakaba who baked apple pockets to welcome him back, surprised that Hisoka had finished his reports and paperwork, and treated by everyone as if he had not been gone for three weeks. Whenever he could not muster a half-smile as the workday progressed, he stepped out of the office and sought refuge underneath the sakura trees.

Today was also the end of Tatsumi 's three weeks of wondering as to why Lord Enma wanted to speak with him...

Once he returned to his office from Enma's chambers before noon, Tatsumi walked past every co-worker without a word and closed the door behind him. He sat in his ergonomic chair with financial statements before him, eager to bury himself in work but unable to do so. After drinking his umpteenth cup of coffee, his shock gave way to his momentum for work. Although he picked up his pace as he worked on his projects, his thoughts kept drifting on whether he made the right decision.

For the second time since Tatsumi had been the Shokan Division's secretary and EnmaCho's financial officer, he turned down a sizable promotion. In spite of Tatsumi's respectful decline of the position, the Lord of Death granted Tatsumi a raise and reassured the secretary that the promotion would be given to him once he changed his mind in the near or distant future.

When Enma asked Tatsumi as to why he chose to turn down such an opportunity for the second time, Tatsumi said that he would rather stay with the Shokan Division since there was still plenty of work needed to be done. Hearing the response as he sat unseen behind the raised dais, Enma smirked in silence since he knew that Tatsumi had selfish and selfless reasons as to why he had foregone the promotion.

The Lord of Death knew Tatsumi well, and had a contradictory viewpoint about the latter.

Just as Enma did with Chief Konoe, he trusted Tatsumi but was also aware that the same trustworthy employee could become a dangerous enemy if pushed to the extremes. Throughout the decades, Enma rewarded Tatsumi by granting him political leverage within JuOhCho and Meifu, delegating him as his emissary for certain bureaucratic and fiscal matters, offering him promotions, and giving him raises and bonuses when it was warranted.

At the same time, these perks were also Enma's way of keeping Tatsumi under his close watch...just as he used leniency as a hook to keep Tsuzuki trapped in his realm. Believing that one should keep friends close but potential enemies even closer, Enma would not even be the least bit surprised if Tatsumi also knew these fundamental facts and was not bothered by it. As far as the two were respectively concerned, the professional relationship that they shared posed a mutual win-win situation - Enma had never seen JuOhCho and EnmaCho's finances in better shape until Tatsumi assumed the fiscal and financial responsibilities, and Tatsumi was energized in handling such matters.

As the Shokan Division's second-in-command for the majority of his afterlife, Tatsumi enjoyed the advantages of being a junior boss. First, he was high enough in the organizational ladder to enforce policies and gain access to privileged information. At the same time, he was low enough in the JuOhCho's hierarchy to maintain an ear within the organization's grapevine. The years of hard work and sacrifice paid off for Tatsumi as he gained greater trust from his superiors and amassed more political clout within Meifu. This professional and political advantage, along with his innate shrewdness and dark powers, made JuOhCho's lower employees whisper about him and divisional chiefs fear his wrath.

And now, Tatsumi was preparing to leave for a special task...one of the sweet rewards from maintaining Enma's good graces.

Hearing a knock at his door and being interrupted from his train of though, Tatsumi said, "Come in!"

Tsuzuki opened the door, peeked inside, and saw Tatsumi arranging his paperwork in neat piles. He noticed a half-open leather briefcase being loaded up with paperwork to be taken home...the array of newly-sharpened red, blue, and lead pencils sitting in its rectangular ceramic holder...and the coffee mug resting near the computer monitor - already washed and ready to be used the following workday.

It was only four-fifteen in the afternoon.

"You're leaving early?" asked Tsuzuki with a raised eyebrow and a curious frown as he sat down on a chair across from the secretary.

Now saving the files in his computer and turning off the machine, Tatsumi replied without looking up, "I have a couple of work-related errands to do before I go home."

Long silence transpired between Tatsumi and Tsuzuki...each one anticipating what would happen next, wondering who would make the first move, or pondering as to who would say the first word.

Tatsumi observed Tsuzuki at the corner of his eye. Judging by the thoughtful look on Tsuzuki's face, he knew that the shinigami came in his office for more than a casual chat. As the tense-filled silence between them became more unbearable, the secretary finally asked while picking up another file to take home for the weekend, "Is there something that I can help you with before I leave, Tsuzuki-san?"

"I'd like to thank you, Tatsumi..."

The secretary pushed the manila folder inside his briefcase before gazing at the new arrival. "Thank you? For what?"

"If it weren't for you, Hisoka, Watari, and the Chief..."

Tatsumi let out a deep sigh and then asked while leaning his hands against his desk, "Tell me, Tsuzuki-san... Do you still feel guilty about Tsuuri-kun's death?"

Taking in a deep breath and then letting it out, Tsuzuki turned grim as he told Tatsumi, "I wished that fate would've been much kinder to Troy. I wished that others would've been kinder to him. He didn't get to live his life and enjoy it, no matter how gentle he was or how hard he worked for a better future. He deserved much better than being ostracized by everyone, or dying so young."

"Tsuuri-kun's at peace now, Tsuzuki-san. What he needs from us now are our prayers. From the beginning, he knew that we were sent to retrieve him. For the short time that we knew him, he opened up to us and trusted us as his friends. He wouldn't want to see anyone being guilt-ridden over his death."

A bittersweet smile escaped Tsuzuki's lips, as he carded his hands through his dark hair. He then leaned against his chair as he responded, "Whenever I think about Troy, I couldn't help but think about the child we retrieved in Kyoto so many years ago. I also can't help but think about how my past was when I was still alive."

Once he put the last pile of paperwork in its place on his desk, Tatsumi closed his briefcase, placed it on the floor, and sat on his chair. He said in a calm voice as he let out a heavy sigh, "I don't blame you. You could compare Troy to the child we retrieved years ago...open-hearted, accepting, betrayed and deprived by the world around them. They both died before their time, but nonetheless accepted their fate willingly. They both told you not to feel sorry about their deaths."

Tsuzuki stared straight into Tatsumi's eyes. Although Tsuzuki had heard the gist of those words decades ago when they were still partners, this was the first time that Tatsumi's words pierced his heart.

As gentle and as intent as he possibly could, Tatsumi told Tsuzuki, "You and I know that the shinigami who retrieved our souls felt the same way as we are feeling now. When our retrievals told us not to feel guilty about their deaths, they recognized the fact that we were not cold-blooded murderers but emissaries performing a necessary task. Let us honor their memories by applying the valuable lessons that they taught us in their lives and deaths. We need to understand that as long as we blame ourselves over their fates, their souls and ours would never be at peace."

After moments of thoughtful silence, Tsuzuki said as he opened his eyes, "You've always been a good and patient friend to me, Tatsumi. I don't know how to thank you."

Interlacing his fingers and resting his elbows on his desk, the secretary stared into expressive amethyst eyes...the same ones that he loved, was saddened over, and feared. "You don't have to thank me or any of us. However, are you really going to be okay?"

"I'll be okay, although it'll take time. I still have one more loose end to tie up." Tsuzuki gave Tatsumi an amiable nod, and then stood up. "Thanks for the talk. It helped a lot."

"Tsuzuki-san..."

Tsuzuki stopped, once he heard Tatsumi call his name. His right hand rested on the doorknob, as he turned around to face Tatsumi.

"If you ever need anything, just let me know. You know where to find me."

With a slightly lighter heart and a warmer smile, Tsuzuki told the secretary, "I'll remember that. Thanks again, Tatsumi. Have a good evening..."

A consoling grin escaped Tatsumi's lips as he replied, "Same to you, too, Tsuzuki-san. I'll see you tomorrow."

After giving a slight but amicable nod, Tsuzuki closed the door behind him and walked back to his desk.

Tatsumi's transfixed and melancholic gaze stayed long after the doors were closed. As he looked at his wall clock, he thought, "It is I who should thank you, Tsuzuki-san. I wanted to believe in what I just told you. What is more important to me is that you believe in it. I'll always be there for you, but I must watch over you from a distance. Trust me that I'll do everything to set matters right whenever it involves you or those who we both care about...starting from the time I step out of my office door..."

"What does this mean?"

Tatsumi looked straight into Chief Satori's eyes as he said, "As stated in the memorandum and the projected cash flow statements in your hands, you and the Advocate Division Chief are given notice about your groups' budgetary cuts for the next five fiscal years. Aside from this, your respective salaries will also be docked for the next five years. These changes will take effect immediately."

The Peace Preservation Chief's eyes gave Tatsumi dagger looks as he yelled at the top of his lungs, "You have no right to do this to me!"

Without changing his matter-of-factly tone, Tatsumi told the chief, "As the secretary and financial advisor for EnmaCho and JuOhCho, EnmaDaiOh-sama has authorized me for many years to enforce any financial-related policies and actions. Our lord already gave you two a verbal warning never to question his decisions regarding Tsuzuki, or any other ideas that seem unfavorable to you. You were warned of the consequences should any of you dare oppose him again. You two did not listen, and now you two will pay."

Tossing the report in his trash can, Chief Satori said, "This report only reflects cuts for the Peace Preservation Bureau and the Advocate Division! Bullying my organization and other Divisions is unacceptable!"

"It doesn't matter whether you throw or file what I just gave you. Everything stated in the memorandum will be enforced for five fiscal years, especially the thirty-five percent reallocation of your groups' respective budgets to the Shokan Division and your salary cuts. Your five-year, thirty-five percent salary cut will be divided up to increase Shokan Division staff salaries - starting with Chief Konoe's and Tsuzuki-san's salaries."

The Peace Chief snorted, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Your full cooperation is expected and encouraged. If you excuse me, I have other official matters to carry out for my Division and EnmaDaiOh-sama." The secretary turned his back and then walked away, clutching the handle of his briefcase as if he was strangling the arrogant Chief's neck.

"You self-righteous and smug piece of shit!" screamed Chief Satori as he flung a lead crystal ashtray towards Tatsumi.

Tatsumi's servant shadows sprung out...catching the hard object in mid-air long before the ashtray could hit their master.

The handsome secretary turned around and faced Chief Satori, his cold eyes narrowing and a deep frown indenting his forehead. As the shadows held the hard object, Tatsumi pushed his glasses back in silent rage. "Your vile mouth, crude behavior, and explosive temper are the reasons why you're in this mess in the first place. You've already crossed the line by disrespecting EnmaDaiOh-sama, Chief Konoe, Tsuzuki-san, and the entire Shokan Division with your unfounded words and backstabbing."

"You'll never frighten me into submission, Tatsumi Seiichiro!"

The shadows wrapped themselves around the lead crystal ashtray, gripping the object with such vise-like pressure until it shattered...sending its slivers flying in different directions. As Tatsumi remained transfixed and unfazed from watching his shadows' work, Chief Satori kept his eyes closed and arms crossed in front of him to deflect any fragments coming his way.

As Tatsumi's calculated footsteps came closer towards him, Chief Satori opened his eyes behind his crossed arms. For each step that Tatsumi took closer to him, Satori walked backwards until his back leaned flat against the wall.

Shards of crystal further cracked against marbled floor, as Tatsumi's calculated footsteps continued their approach towards Satori. Once he stood before Satori, Tatsumi leaned his left hand on the wall while his right hand held his briefcase. As he closed the distance between him and the chief, he deadpanned, "I'm not as kind as EnmaDaiOh-sama or Chief Konoe, nor am I as forgiving as Tsuzuki-san. I also don't waste my efforts in frightening people. I just do what I believe is right without any reservation."

Placing his hands down and mustering the last amount of courage left in him, Chief Satori spat, "What makes you think that I'll do what a lowly secretary tells me?"

Tatsumi's azure eyes gleamed behind his glasses as he gave a piercing glare that froze Chief Satori's blood. "Appearances can be deceiving. If I were you, I wouldn't try this lowly secretary's patience. My formal position within EnmaCho and JuOhCho doesn't limit me to what I could carry out professionally and personally against you. Keep up with your oaf-like behavior, especially around and towards any member of the Shokan Division, and you'll see more than a budgetary cut, a salary slash, and a demotion in your future. I'll make sure of that."

Chief Satori met Tatsumi's angry gaze. Seeing such eyes stare back at him confirmed as to why Tatsumi was considered one of the most dangerous denizens in Meifu...a shinigami turned junior boss whose shrewdness made some of those superior to him quake in fear...a cold and calculating man whose explosive temper and vengeful tendencies were concealed under a facade of rigid professionalism...a shadow master whose supernatural strength could rival Tsuzuki's own array of mastered and latent powers.

Observing Chief Satori's uncouth demeanor melt before him, Tatsumi told the now-intimidated man before he turned around and left, "You might get away with disrespecting everyone including EnmaDaiOh-sama, but no one ever gets away from disrespecting me without any dire consequences. For your own sake, you could start by apologizing to Chief Konoe and Tsuzuki-san. Good day, Chief. "

Another week had passed since Tatsumi confronted Chief Satori.

A half-mile from JuOhCho's offices underneath one of the blooming sakura trees nearby the vast lake, Tsuzuki offered some yellow roses and stood before an unmarked grave. This had been the fourth time that he took the longer route home to stop by the grave and pay his respects to Troy.

As the shinigami prayed for Troy's soul, he also pondered about the matters bogging down his brain and heart for the past months.

After the Shokan Division retrieved Troy's body and soul, Tsuzuki took with them Troy's diary. He also kept the two journals that they found in Troy's home. During sleepless and guilt-ridden nights, he read entries from his latest retrieval's diary. He could not recall how many times he had read Troy's journal, especially the last entry made in it...

It was the commencement speech that Hisoka delivered in Troy's behalf on graduation day, all written out in the young man's journal a few weeks before his death...

Standing before the grave as his eyes glistened from held-back tears, Tsuzuki's mind recalled the words from Troy's poignant speech that Hisoka read weeks ago. Tsuzuki most especially remembered the lines that penetrated deep into his soul since that day...

Our hearts need to give room for the people that come and go in our lives.
They make our world more colorful with their dreams, hopes, smiles, and love.
They cleanse and refresh our souls with their tears of compassion, joy, and sorrow.
They light the darkest corners of our hearts with hopes of a bright future and a fruitful life.
They are our strength and protection in our most desolate hours.
They also see the best in us and what we could be, especially when we do not recognize it for ourselves.

They, in their sheer imperfection, serve as a living reminder of the best and worst within us.
They are the source of our growth as we journey through life.

See them for the invaluable gems that they are.
No matter what happens, cherish them with all your heart, mind, and soul.
As opportunity permits, tell them how precious they are to you.
You need them in your life as much as they need to hear those words from you.

Readily embrace those wonderful people and never let them go.
The same loved ones who make life worth living are also the ones who are worth dying for...

A familiar voice interrupted Tsuzuki's thoughts as its owner said while approaching the grave and joining the dark-haired shinigami, "I now know what Troy really meant to tell me moments before he died. I wish that Troy was still alive for me to thank him. I still don't know why he left that box behind for me, especially since I don't think that I deserve it. When I read his speech and opened that box, I felt his presence. He said everything that he needed to say on graduation day, although he wasn't physically there to do it. "

"Troy's words came alive that day, and he has you to thank for that," replied Tsuzuki, as he gave Kurosaki Hisoka a light smile. "As to the gift that he left behind for you, he believed that you should keep them for him. He passed them on to someone who is worthy of them, and who would cherish them just as much as he did other than you?"

As the two of them stood side by side, the elder shinigami glanced towards his younger partner from time to time without saying anything.

The handsome young man sighed while he crossed his arms over his chest to keep warm. He kept his transfixed gaze at Troy's grave, but acknowledged that he read Tsuzuki's thoughts as he remarked, "I'm fine. You should worry about yourself first. Why are you always more concerned about other people's welfare rather than your own well-being?"

"You're my partner, Hisoka. No matter what happens, I'll always be concerned about you."

Silence filled the air and lingered as one waited for the other to make the first move or remark.

Feeling his partner's myriad and conflicting emotions, Hisoka said, "You're not the only one who worries. We were worried about you, too. I was worried about you, and I still am..."

"I know..."

"Only you...someone who had been through what Troy had gone through, could possibly relate to him. You and he almost suffered the same fate."

A half-smile escaped from Tsuzuki's lips. "So did you...from your family and Muraki, to make matters much worse."

"I guess so..."

"You're much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Hisoka. You stayed sane throughout the time that your family ostracized you. You even withstood three years' worth of torment in Muraki's hands. Now, you're beating all the odds against you by enhancing your gifts. I'm very proud of you."

"Would you have been happier for me, if I was still alive?" asked a tightlipped Hisoka, trying to understand the elder shinigami's sentiments. This very moment was not the first time that he read these very emotions from the elder shinigami - lament due to failed aspirations, wishful thinking, and deep-rooted melancholy.

Caught off-guard, but was nonetheless reminded that his young partner was an empath, Tsuzuki sighed and then responded with silent certainty, "When you did that commencement speech for Troy weeks ago, I was so happy to see you up there. Even though we were still undercover, I treated that day as if it were your own graduation. At the same time, I felt sad. I wondered how different our lives would've been if you were still alive today and we had never met."

After a brief pause and a sideways glance towards Hisoka, Tsuzuki continued as his eyes lit up, "You, Kurosaki Hisoka, would have been doing that commencement speech as you graduate top of your class. You would've lived a successful, fulfilled, and long life. If you did, I know that you would've made most of your dreams come true. You deserve so much more than living the afterlife of a shinigami. However, my thoughts end up the same every time...being grateful that fate made us partners, and that I wouldn't have it any other way."

Resting his eyes at the blue-green lake as the first signs of dusk began to tease the sky, Hisoka told his partner in sadness, "There are times that I feel cheated. If I had lived, I would've been the seventeenth head of the Kurosaki household. My father introduced me to a life of training and discipline, and death would've been the only honorable way out from a fate chosen for me. Even in death, I didn't even have a choice since Muraki did that for me."

"Hisoka..."

"I'm not angry about being dead, Tsuzuki. I'm angry because I didn't die in my own time and in my own terms. Muraki robbed me and the gods that privilege by putting this curse on me. However, it's moot to think of such things now."

Tsuzuki turned around, leaned against the sakura tree, and faced the young man. "I owe you an apology all this time. I'm sorry for being so selfish and unfair to you."

Hisoka frowned, gazing into his partner's amethyst eyes as they took a deeper shade and glossy sheen. "How could you claim to be selfish? No one asks you to do it, but you're the one who puts everyone's welfare before your own."

Without saying a word, Tsuzuki closed his eyes and took a deep breath...

The empath was left speechless as Tsuzuki's emotions flooded and filled his heart, mind, and soul. His eyes glimmered and his body trembled while he fought for control, although he did not show any outward signs of struggling. He wanted to hear what his elder partner had to say during this long-overdue conversation between them. Nonetheless, his eyes never removed from Tsuzuki.

Conscious and careful not to overwhelm the young man, but could not help his emotions from potently seeping though, Tsuzuki said, "Thanks for always being there for me. You may not believe in promises, Hisoka, but I hope that this one would mean something to you. I'll be more open to you from now on."

After the long silence between them, Hisoka murmured as he stared into Tsuzuki's eyes, "Y - You'll do that for me?"

Tsuzuki's eyes and face beamed such an innocent, disarming, and reassuring smile before he told the young man. "It would take time, but please be patient with me. I'll do my best to keep my word, most especially because I made a promise to you."

"Tsuzuki..."

This time, Tsuzuki closed the distance between him and Hisoka as he initiated the hug between them. For the first time since their partnership, a silent Hisoka relented without a fuss. As the sakura petals fell like pinkish-white snow and began to blanket the ground, their embrace tightened and served as warmth from the cool lakeside breeze.

During the many months of pondering since he and Hisoka survived Touda's flames in Kyoto, Tsuzuki realized the biggest ironies in his afterlife. First, he was granted care and friendship by someone who had been hurt and betrayed by those closest to him. Secondly, in spite of their respective shortcomings, the young man in his arms taught him to hope, trust, and love once more. Third, he now truly knew that beneath the empath's constant and open refusals for help, affection, or protection was someone who looked up to him...needed him to exist...wanted to be by his side...craved for his trust.

That hug between Tsuzuki and Hisoka said everything that both of them needed to hear from each other, and much more...

What touched and scared Tsuzuki the most was the fact that if he ever lost the will to exist for himself or for anyone else once again, Hisoka would once again be willing to die along with him. Tightening his embrace around Hisoka, Tsuzuki's tears flowed more freely. As he kissed his young partner on the forehead with such heartfelt gentleness and passion, he mused as he closed his eyes and the tears flowed freely from him, "I don't know what you see in me, but I'll live for you. As long as you need me, I'll always be by your side. I promise this to you, Hisoka..."

Hisoka's heart ached in silent joy while the tears continued to stream down his cheeks. As he kept his eyes closed, the young man felt the wave of emotions from his partner...the strongest that he had ever felt from him since they have known each other, and the warmest feeling of love and security that he had ever experienced in his life and afterlife.

Once Hisoka finally let go of his emotional shield, Tsuzuki felt the subtle tremble from his younger partner's body...prompting him to hug Hisoka as if he was covering his partner with protective and nurturing wings.

Not wanting their moment together to end, Tsuzuki and Hisoka broke off their embrace and sat on a blanket of sakura petals underneath the huge tree. Tsuzuki rested his back against the big tree. Hisoka leaned against Tsuzuki, positioned in such a way that he could either lean against Tsuzuki's chest and rest his head against sturdy shoulders or give room for Tsuzuki just in case he wanted to wrap Hisoka with a protective and comforting hug. A sense of peace resided in the core of their beings as they viewed the setting sun as it kissed the calm lake in comfortable silence.

"Tsuzuki?"

The elder man's response was a downward glance, amethyst eyes prepared to meet emerald ones. When he saw that Hisoka did not look but rather kept his gaze at the sunset and the lake before them, Tsuzuki gently smiled...his mind wandering for a moment as he saw how the waning light played around with the color of Hisoka's blonde hair. Letting out a subtle sigh of contentment, he withheld a chuckle as he imagined Hisoka calling him a sentimental fool for humoring such ideas in his head.

The young man, even though he captured a full read on Tsuzuki's current thoughts and feelings, did not call him an idiot or a fool. Looking up to his partner, he then asked, "After all that we've been through, especially after this case, are you going to be okay?"

As his left arm protectively wrapped around Hisoka in a one-arm embrace, Tsuzuki responded as his eyes glistened with tears of hope, "It'll take time, Hisoka. God willing, everything will be all right..."

From a distance, Tatsumi stood behind a sakura tree and observed the poignant scene between Tsuzuki and Hisoka. Happy and sad over what he saw, he mused, "Although I know that you're going to be okay, I'll always be there for you...even if it must be from a distance for our sakes."

"This isn't the way home for you, is it?" hinted an amicable voice coming from behind him and accompanied with a series of soft hoots from an owl.

Tatsumi blinked his eyes before he turned around and saw Watari with his customarily genial smile. After clearing his throat, he told the scientist, "I was about to visit Tsuuri-kun's grave, but I didn't want to bother them."

"I see..." mumbled Watari without acknowledging that he saw the hidden sadness in Tatsumi's eyes, or protesting when Tatsumi motioned him to walk away with him from where they stood. He walked side-by-side with the secretary as the latter took the longer path home, the two following the path of the lake and the rows of sakura trees.

The two men walked in silence...the only sounds were their light footsteps against concrete blanketed with sakura blossoms, the soft hoots from 003, and the gentle breeze blowing against the trees and the water.

Watari eventually let out a sigh and remarked, "I'm glad that this case is over. I'm also happy for Tsuzuki-san and Bon. It's about time that Tsuzuki-san gets a partner that would stick with him."

Tatsumi was still in deep thought and had dug his hands inside his pockets. "So am I... They compliment each other, and Kurosaki-kun has what it takes to stay with Tsuzuki-san."

"By the way, what did you do to Chief Satori? After your visit to his office, he's been so nice to everyone - especially with Tsuzuki and Chief Konoe."

In a nonchalant tone, Tatsumi asked, "Don't you like it when other division chiefs give respect to our division?"

"I do, but we're talking about Chief Satori. As long as I could remember, he's the Shokan Division's number one detractor and one of Tsuzuki's major backstabbers. That fact about him makes me wonder as to what caused him to change overnight. Sweets, compliments, and flowers for the Division...the only thing that the nut hasn't done so far was to go on one knee and propose marriage to Tsuzuki and Chief Konoe."

After waiting, but not receiving either a response or a reaction from Tatsumi, Watari's eyebrow rose higher than it did before as he pried, "How true is it that EnmaDaiOh-sama offered you Chief Satori's position, but you turned it down? You could've been the new Peace Preservation Chief, bearing the same rank as Chief Konoe..."

Glancing at his companion, Tatsumi remarked, "I'm not confirming or denying anything."

"It figures. You wouldn't leave us for anything. The same sneaky sadist who tricked me into doing that autopsy on Doctor Kawasawa would also love torturing poor salaried employees with long-winded fiscal policies," said the scientist with a teasing chuckle.

Tatsumi simply shook his head and smiled, digging his hands deeper into his trench coat pockets while thinking about how good it felt to serve Chief Satori his just desserts. His thoughts, however, then lingered to matters and scenarios that played in his head for many decades...matters that he would definitely observe more closely.

The two became quiet once more, until Watari nonchalantly asked, "Speaking of autopsy, you still owe me for that stunt of yours."

With a sly gleam in his eyes, Tatsumi commented, "Although you're the first one who did the trickery by trying to get what you want, I'll play along with you. How do you plan for me to rectify this injustice that I've done against you?"

"Do you have any plans this evening?"

The surprised secretary glanced sideways, but still managed to hide his emotions from his customarily calm voice. "No, I don't. Why do you ask?"

Choosing not to answer and placing his right hand close to his shoulder, Watari playfully coaxed 003 to perch on his hand. Once the bird was secured, the scientist brought his hand in front of him and gave the owl gentle strokes with his left index finger...eliciting a soothed hoot from his pet.

Once his thoughts traveled towards eager curiosity, Tatsumi stopped walking and glanced sideways to his left. With a slightly raised eyebrow, he asked the scientist, "Are you inviting me to go out with you tonight, Watari Yutaka? Is this your idea of payback?"

"The answer to both of your questions is yes," responded a half-smirking Watari without any hesitation as he continued playing with 003. "Every payday, I go to Chijou, have dinner, and hang out for a couple of hours. Once in a while, I go out with Tsuzuki and Bon. Tonight, I'm by myself. I could definitely use good company. Plus, everyone in the Shokan Division - including Tsuzuki - finally got a raise after all these years. Such a miracle calls for a celebration, especially since I know that you have something to do with it..."

After the silence between them, Watari looked up. As his probing gaze met Tatsumi's semi-curious expression, Watari continued, "Are you interested in hanging out with me and 003 tonight, Tatsumi Seiichiro?"

A more genial smile graced Tatsumi's lips, as he resumed their walk. "Where do you plan to go tonight?"

"I haven't decided yet. Do you have a place that you'd recommend?"

Tatsumi shook his head as his response.

As 003 cooed, Watari suggested, "Let's meet in my apartment an hour from now. We'll talk about it, once we're ready to leave."

"All right. I'll see you at seven," replied Tatsumi with a nod. Although confused from Watari's upfront invitation, he was willing to see what would happen next during and after this innocent evening. He breathed in deeply, recalling the slow but sure signs of Tsuzuki's recovery from despair and seeing Hisoka become more emotionally available towards the man that he loved and spurned decades ago.

Thinking back on the promotion that he forsook for the second time, the peers that he had loved and did his best to protect, and the innocent evening with Watari, Tatsumi mused with a smile as a new feeling of peace resided within him, "Yes, I made the right decision to stay with them..."

While Watari and Tatsumi continued their walk, Tsuzuki and Hisoka stayed at the lake for another hour before they went out to dinner at Chijou. As each of the four enjoyed the moments with good and trusted company, each one knew that more obstacles lay ahead in the future.

For now, however, those worries did not matter to the four shinigami.

What mattered to them now was enjoying each irreplaceable moment with the one they emotionally and spiritually felt closest to - no matter how fleeting those moments might be, no matter how fickle the peace that moments such as these brought them.

They, however, did not know that their troubles...much more than what they just went through ...were just beginning...

End of Chapter Twenty / End of Kyoto Files Revisite

Normal Disclaimer

Yami No Matsuei (Descendants of Darkness) and its characters are copyrighted properties of Matsushita Yoko. This fan fiction and the original characters (Troy Tsuuri, Yuta Tsuuri, Aiko Ikuru, Senji Kota, Misawa Tia, and Principal Yamada) that appear within this fan fiction belong to Zatken.

The depiction of Ashtarote and Sargatanas in this fan fiction belong to Matsushita Yoko, although these two are found in demonology and mythology books.

The depiction of Abigor in this fan fiction also belongs to Zatken, although Abigor is found in demonology and mythology books.

Author's Notes

Bon, which means kid, is Watari's endearing way of calling or referring to Hisoka.

Chijou is the term the series use for the mortal world or the world of the living.

Okey dokey, folks...this marks the end of Kyoto Files Revisited and the beginning of a new sequel to this story. There are still a couple of questions left behind by Kyoto Files Revisited that the sequel would answer. Because of the content and issues contained within the sequel, I most probably will give it an R-rating once I post it.

I hope that you've enjoyed reading Kyoto Files Revisited, as much as I enjoyed writing it. Keep an eye on the new story, and thanks a million for your constructive reviews and encouragement.