Into Shadows, Chapter 1 : Declarations.
"Good afternoon, Tatsumi-san," said Muraki in his usual silky tones.
The figure in the corner stepped partially from the shadows.
"Good afternoon, Doctor Muraki," said the man politely.
The hospital break room was empty, aside from the two men, one wearing white from head to toe, the other dressed in an immaculate brown suit. The small room was dimly lit. The blinds were closed against the afternoon sunlight. There were a couple of couches and some magazines on a table. There was a small counter with a coffee machine, cups, and some supplies for tea.
The man in white was standing beside this counter, calmly preparing a small cup of tea.
The man in the brown suit took afew steps forwards. His approach was slow and silent, but not cautious. Rather, he seemed threatening, like a hunting cat.
"You can see me," he stated.
"But, of course. You've been following me around the hospital all day. To what do I owe the pleasure? It has been some time, Shadow Master."
Tatsumi's brown hair fell gracefully around his face, but his blue eyes flashed behind his glasses. He barely moved, but somehow, it seemed like the room around him became darker.
"Indeed. You seem to be doing well, doctor."
Muraki shrugged lightly.
"Still recovering. And how is my dear Tsuzuki-san?"
"That is not your concern."
"Ah, very well. Then, let's talk about you. I am not going to believe for a second that you are interested in my welfare. So tell me, why are you really here?"
"I would think it was obvious. You have come after Tsuzuki-san and Kurosaki-kun for the last time. I am willing to forget the many problems you have caused the Ministry and the unspeakable crimes you have committed, but you have haunted two of Enma-cho's employees throughout their afterlives. And I cannot allow that to continue!"
"Ah, I see. So, you have come to kill me," Muraki said in his silkiest tones.
The shadows flared under Tatsumi's hand.
"Yes, I have."
Muraki softly adjusted his glasses on his nose, a slight smile on his lips, seemingly completely unaffected.
"Did you hear me, Muraki?"
The man in white chuckled so softly, it was barely audible.
"I heard you. Forgive me if I don't believe you. You could have killed me a dozen times already."
The black shadows attacked, grabbing the man by the arms and legs in an inescapable hold.
Muraki laughed outright at this.
"Really,Tatsumi-san? Here? In the hospital? Surrounded by humans?" he chided the man who held him prisoner.
"They cannot see me in this form," Tatsumi said matter-of-factly.
"No, but they can most certainly see me. You want to rip me apart with your shadows, stain the room with my blood in such a public place?"
Muraki tipped his head and squinted. His mismatched silver eyes flashed as he regarded Tatsumi.
"It seems like a rather rash action, especially coming from you. I took you to be more subtle."
The shinigami glared at him, tightening the shadows around his arms, and wrapping one around his throat.
"Oh, believe me. You will simply disappear into my shadows. But this ends today. I will do whatever it takes to stop you!"
He thought of Tsuzuki and Hisoka. The green-eyed teenager would never recover from what Muraki had done to him, both before and after death. Tsuzuki was still recovering from the events in Kyoto, when Muraki had driven him to lose his sanity. He had nearly been lost to oblivion.
Tatsumi vowed that they would never be hurt by this man again.
Suddenly, a blast of blinding white energy slammed into his body, throwing him backwards.
Tatsumi crashed into the wall behind him with a cry of pain.
His concentration shattered, the shadows relaxed, and Muraki was free.
"Dammit!" he cursed.
He got to his feet, slightly stunned from the force of the blast.
Meanwhile, Muraki stood there peacefully, composed as ever.
Tatsumi glared at him with cold blue eyes, furious that the sorcerer had caught him by surprise with that spell.
"Yes, I knew of my dear, sweet Tsuzuki's suicidal tendencies, but I had no idea you were equally as suicidal," Muraki continued casually, as if nothing had happened.
"I'm not! Wait. What are you talking about?" Tatsumi stammered.
He was momentarily confused.
"I was not aware that shinigami are allowed to decide who is granted life and death."
"We are not," Tatsumi stated curtly with a nod.
"Ah, then I am right."
"What's your point?"
"You come here alone, with no backup. Aren't shinigami supposed to work in pairs? Thereby, I take it this is not an authorized mission. Just how do you think Enma will react to a rogue shinigami?"
Tatsumi knew the answer, of course.
Shinigami who decided to bring death to someone before their appointed time were immediately stripped of their immortal guardian status and given Final Judgment.
Honestly, he had not thought of it until that exact moment.
He had simply acted, impulsively, which was unlike him.
This afternoon, Tsuzuki had, once again, fallen asleep at his desk instead of finishing his reports, and Tatsumi had walked in on him when he was having a nightmare. He heard Tsuzuki mutter something mostly inaudible, but he could catch enough words to realize that he was dreaming about Muraki's experiments and Touda's inferno that had nearly devoured him.
Tsuzuki was terrified, and tears slipped quietly from beneath his lashes. He was mumbling spells in his sleep, and he wouldn't wake, despite Tatsumi's best efforts.
The sight of his former partner in such agony all over again was the final straw. He had left the office immediately after work with one thought in mind… to kill Doctor Muraki.
Speechless and lost in thought, Tatsumi stared at his enemy in silence for several seconds.
"Killing me would most certainly bring consequences," Muraki finally reminded him.
"And I will accept the consequences of my actions," said Tatsumi firmly.
Muraki nodded.
"That is both very responsible and very brave of you. But it is also quite misguided, Tatsumi-san. You are risking the end of your existence to have your revenge."
"I will protect…"
"I'm sure Tsuzuki won't see it that way."
Once again, Tatsumi was speechless.
Muraki smirked.
"Did that touch a nerve?" he purred.
"Don't," Tatsumi warned him tensely.
"Don't what?" Muraki asked him innocently.
"Don't try to manipulate me, Muraki. It will not work."
"I wouldn't dream of it. I am merely pointing out the truth. You think you are protecting him? How do you think Tsuzuki will feel when you are no longer there for him? Will he feel betrayed when you abandon him completely?"
Tatsumi froze.
Muraki smiled at him.
"You may kill me, but sacrificing yourself will only make him suffer."
The brunette shook his head, regaining his composure.
"No. He has Kurosaki. He will be fine, no matter what happens to me. I will do what I must."
Muraki had distracted him long enough. With a wave of his hand, he lifted the shadows off the floor, throwing them around the white sorcerer. One more wave of his hand wrapped the shadows around the pale man's throat.
Without hesitation, Tatsumi proceeded to strangle him.
The break room door opened, light from the hall spilling in through the open door. Several nurses entered, and one of them flicked on the light switch in passing. Fluorescent lights flashed on.
Instantly, the lethal shadows evaporated.
Tatsumi flickered and took a step back into the darkened corner.
Muraki took a breath and adjusted his glasses.
"Doctor Muraki, are you all right?!" said one young nurse who had stepped through the door.
She seemed to be worried by the doctor's appearance.
"Quite all right, my dear. Just finishing my tea."
With that, he finished his tea, and set the cup down gently.
"You're needed in OR 4 right away, doctor," she told him politely.
"Very well. Thank you, Miyuki. I will be right there."
The girl left, and the door closed behind her.
Muraki strolled to door calmly and paused with his hand on the knob.
He didn't turn back to look at the shinigami standing in the corner.
"I have to go. I have a patient to attend to. Meet me tonight, on the roof, at sunset. We will continue our discussion then."
Then, he left, and the door shut softly behind him.