A/N: Be thankful people; I'm ignoring my dinner to start on this chapter.
(^ - ^)
Hcbenitez-san: Thank you! It's always a treat getting new readers for my fic! Keep on reading and I'll keep on updating every night! Well, until the story finishes anyway. (^ - ^)
Ice-Phoenix: Thanks for the vote! Sorry that Muraki couldn't stay longer though. He has an appointment to keep with Akuma! *giggles maliciously*
Warning: Kyo Getting Destructive! Plus, A Startling Revelation!
Disclaimer: *Kelly holds a conversation with her Kyo plushie* Really, I was the one who came up with the idea for YnM. Seriously! But I can't draw for crap so I gave the idea to Youko-chan. . . . you don't believe me, do you Kyo? *Her Kyo plushie looks back at her with blank button eyes*. Oh, I forgot you can't talk.
CHAPTER 9: WHAT THE HELL??
He was really learning to hate this part. All this, ooh, I'm floating in the darkness and there's things trying to grab onto me in the dark, that kind of thing. It was getting seriously passe. Very old news. He'd been through it for a nearly a week the last time and though time wasn't really a concept here, he was getting so bored, he nearly yawned.
I wonder who came up with the idea that when people get stuck in this mind- numbing limbo, that it would be really funny if we get them chased by unidentified things and then you'd start running but you never really get anywhere. Real funny, that one.
Haha.
Fine, since you're being so disagreeable about it, his subconscious complained, try this one on for size!
Once again, he was in that alley, crucified against that damp, slimy wall with the pentagram acting like some kind of sick halo around his body. And once again, he felt Akuma's breath hot on his face, his cold lips brushing against his, and, this was the part he had managed to block out during the actual encounter, but which his subconscious now cheerfully reminded him, the feel of that knob on the tip of Akuma's walking cane teasing slow circles against his chest, and drifting gently downwards. . .
In the confines of his mind, Kyo screamed in rage.
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(JuuOhCho, Shokan Division, Hospital Room no.2, well, really, how many hospital rooms were you supposed to have anyway when you're supposed to be dead and virtually indestructible in the first place?)
"Why did he moan like that?" Tsuzuki leaned over the bed, peering worriedly at Kyo, who was still out cold, curled up in the fetus position. The boy had been out of it since they brought him back yesterday night and it was now noon the next day but Kyo still showed no signs of waking up.
True to his words, the pentagram that Akuma had locked them in yesterday had blocked Kyo's healing powers and they had watched in total helplessness as Kyo bled on and on. Thankfully, he had passed out from the pain not soon after but the blood continued to flow from his mouth and the gaping hole that had decorated his chest.
Akuma didn't lie either about the pentagrams fading, doing so after 15 minutes however. Each slow minute that passed drove them crazy as they tried with all their might to break free first. But Akuma's magic was strong. Stronger even, than Tsuzuki's it seemed.
When the pentagrams disappeared, Kyo had slid down onto the ground with a boneless thump and they rushed over to him, Watari reaching him first and turning him gently over from where he lay face down.
Watari's expert fingers skirted the edge of the wound lightly and he frowned. "It's not starting yet."
They knew he meant that Kyo's body hadn't started to heal yet and worried looks passed between them. "Do you think he lied?" Hisoka asked, his voice hushed.
Watari shook his head impatiently. "I don't know, but we better get him back quick. It's not doing him any good either, lying in the cold like this."
And so, with Tsuzuki and Tatsumi holding Kyo up, they had disappeared from sight and reappeared moments later at the hospital wing. Watari had quickly cleaned Kyo up and bandaged his wound carefully. Afterwards, he came out of the room he had put Kyo in and faced the three who had refused to go until they found out how Kyo was doing.
"It's finally starting, his healing powers," he announced.
They all sighed in relief.
"But it's slow though, probably the bastard's magic disrupted it quite a bit, so it'll probably take him a day to fully recover. Now I suggest all of you go home, change into some dry clothes and get some rest. You can see him tomorrow."
Tsuzuki and Hisoka nodded wearily and left together, hand in hand. Tatsumi has stayed behind however, and gave the blond a small, tired smile. "I'll keep you company, if you don't mind."
Watari gave him a startled glance but an instant later, a bright smile lit up his face. "Yokatta. Do you have any spare clothes in the office?"
The secretary, like all of them, were drenched to the skin. He looked in distaste at his suit which was dripping water on the floor and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "No, I don't. I'll go home first then and-"
He was stopped by the blond locks flying every which way as Watari shook his head enthusiastically. "You don't have to. I got plenty of spare shirts and slacks in my lab. Though," he studied the now blushing man before him thoughtfully, "I think my slacks won't fit you. . ." He clapped his hands in sudden delight. "I just remembered! I still got an old pair of track bottoms! I'm sure it'll fit you, it's too long for me. So how about it?"
Tatsumi smiled in appreciation. "Sounds great."
The next day (Tatsumi had went back home early that morning to change), they were all gathered around Kyos's bed, waiting for him to wake up. The others; Terazuma, Wakaba, Saya and Yuma had just got back from their own mission and had promised to stop by after getting a change of clothing and some food. Kacho himself had popped in from time to time to check on Kyo, but the boy kept on sleeping.
When Kyo had moaned in his sleep though, it was already noon and Watari hurried over. He felt the boy's temperature and was pleased to note that he wasn't getting a fever. "I think he'll be waking up soon," Watari announced.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Kyo's hands twitched lightly on the blankets covering him and he moaned again, tossing his head around restlessly. With a light flutter, his eyes opened slowly, blinking as they adjusted to the bright light, and fastened on the first thing he saw. Which was Tatsumi by the foot of his bed.
"Wow," he murmured sleepily. "Déjà vu."
"Good afternoon to you too, Kyo-san," the man smiled.
Watari leaned over him and flashed a penlight in his eyes, gauging his pupils' reaction. He nodded in satisfaction and smiled down at Kyo. "How are you feeling?"
Kyo groaned, "Like I've been run over by a truck." He sat up slowly, wincing at the sore feeling lingering underneath his bandages as Watari fluffed up his pillows for him, so that he could lean back in comfort.
"Your wound healed up nicely enough. Give it a few more hours and you'll be good as new," Watari said brightly.
Kyo grunted. He wasn't really sure about the 'good as new' part but anything was better than having that hole permanently tattooed on his chest. "I'm hungry," he declared.
"That's good to hear. I'll fix you some lunch in a little bit. Try not to move around too much and I'll probably let you get out of bed after you eat something," Watari promised.
Kyo brightened at that and was about to beg for some chocolates for desert when the door burst open and the Hokkaido pair bounced in, shopping bags in hand. The ominous words of 'Pink House' glowed menacingly from each bag. And there were at least 3 of them in each girls' hands.
Hisoka backed away from them slowly, fear written across his face, and he carefully positioned himself behind Tsuzuki. Please let them ignore me, he prayed fervently.
"Konnichiwa!"
"Aah! Kyo-chan's awake!"
"Yokatta!" It was that two-part chorus again.
"More déjà vu," Kyo murmured.
"We got something in here to cheer you up, Kyo-chan!" Yuma held up a hand filled with the Pink House bags.
Sweatdrop.
"Ano. . .," Kyo started but he was cut off by another excited squeal from the girls.
"Yokatta! 'Soka-chan's here too! We can do a twosome then!"
Hisoka buried his face in Tsuzuki's back and sobbed out, "Help me, Tsuzuki!"
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Watari wandered up and down the halls of the Shokan offices, peering into various offices. His question of "Have you seen Kyo?" was met with blank looks and shrugs. Finally, it was Hisoka who suggested that he try the dojo.
Watari sighed, Kyo could at least have given it a few more hours before starting to move around so much. But the boy had seemed a little distracted during lunch just now, he remembered. He had a faraway look in his eyes and often, his hands would clench momentarily on his fork, as though recollecting something that maddened him.
As his steps took him nearer to the dojo, he could see a light shining beneath the doors and a furious 'thwack! thwack!' coming from within. He must be practicing his kendo then, Watari thought to himself.
He opened the door slowly so as to not disturb Kyo and it was after a few paces inside before what he saw finally registered and he stopped dead in his tracks, mouth hanging open.
Kyo wasn't exactly practicing his kendo. He seemed more in the process of systematically destroying a bamboo practice dummy with a shinai*, a furious expression on his face and oblivious to the fact that the dummy was seriously sagging to one side from the abuse it was receiving.
Looking around, Watari saw another dummy lying on the floor all bent and twisted and looking seriously kicked around in some places.
Watari wondered whether it was safe for him to call out to Kyo when a sudden crack resounding in the air showed him that Kyo had broken his shinai and the boy threw it aside to join a pile of other broken ones. There were at least 3 others.
Kyo seemed to have given up on the shinai though and was looking around for something else to vent his apparent fury on when Watari finally spoke up.
"Ano. . . Kyo? What happened? Are you okay? How's your wound?"
With surprising speed, Kyo whirled around and seeing Watari, simply STALKED over to him, that furious expression on his face not lessening one bit.
"What happened? What HAPPENED???" Kyo was practically yelling in Watari's face. The scientists's mouth, if possible, dropped open even further. He had never seen the boy this outraged before. "I'll TELL you WHAT happened! AKUMA! THAT BLOODY BASTARD IS WHAT HAPPENED! IF I SEE HIM AGAIN I WILL PERSONALLY RIP HIM TO PIECES AND FEED HIM TO THE SHARKS! I WILL-"
"KYO!" Watari shouted back. It was the only way he could make the boy hear him over his own shouting. "Calm down!" He ordered. "Take a deep breath, c'mon, that's it, deep breath, there you go," he patted Kyo's back reassuringly. "Feeling better?"
Kyo nodded, his head down and chest heaving.
"Now can you tell me what's wrong? Did that Akuma guy did something else to you?"
That seemed to set Kyo off again. His head snapped up and his eyes were *blazing* as he hissed at Watari. Actually *hissed*.
"Did he DO something? You ask me, DID he DO something?" If looks could kill, Watari would be sporting some fluffy pair of wings and strumming on a harp by now.
"Er, yes?"
Kyo actually spluttered as he tried to convey just HOW upset he was at what exactly it is that Akuma did. "He-he-he-he-HE!"
"Yes?" Watari asked encouragingly. He rubbed the boy's back some more. He seemed to have trouble breathing again.
"He TOUCHED me! With his CANE! AND HE KISSED ME! AND NUZZLED ME! NUZZLED! DO YOU HEAR ME? NUZZLED!"
Watari winced. "Yes, I heard you. So that was what he was doing, talking to you so close like that. . ."
Kyo's eyes narrowed dangerously. Watari felt suddenly a whole lot more nervous now than when Kyo was shouting his head off. "I have never," he bit off each words separately, eyes flashing again, "let ANY MAN touch me. EXCEPT TAKA. Taka was the first one I ever let close and he will be the ONLY one I'll let touch me. If I EVER see that bastard again, he'd wish that Enma himself was the one passing judgment on him instead of ME."
"But look on the bright side! At least he didn't do more!"
Kyo was hissing again.
With a last glare at Watari, he stomped back towards the decidedly sorry- looking practice dummy and started to destroy it methodically with his bare hands.
Wow, looks like Kyo knows wushu too, Watari noted with some surprise. He had seen the art played a couple of years back on the television and Kyo looked quite good doing it. His kicks and punches were fast and fluid and just *brimming* with savage grace.
Wisely, Watari decided that Kyo should really be left alone to work his frustrations out and he beat a hasty retreat for the exit.
"Watari-san?"
He turned around slowly, afraid that any sudden moves might provoke the younger man to doing something rash.
Kyo was regarding him quite calmly as he said, "Tell Tatsumi-san that I'll replace the dummies and the shinai with my paycheck and not to worry about it, will you?"
Watari nodded and said with a bright smile, "I will! You can count on me!"
"Thank you." With a nod at his partner, Kyo turned back and proceeded to show the dummy just how strongly he felt about any other male touching him except his beloved Taka.
Watari fled.
________________________________________________________________________
(A few days later)
Everyone was once again gathered in the meeting room. Watari sat down beside his partner and Kyo flashed him a smile. After his show of outrage in the dojo, Kyo had calmed down and apologized nicely to Hisoka for destroying most of the shinai. True to his word, he had replaced all the damaged equipment almost immediately afterwards and Tatsumi had forgave him nicely also.
Konoe looked up from the Akuma case file he was flipping through and harrumphed loudly. After a minute, everyone settled down and gave him their full attention.
"So, any new leads?"
Silence.
Sigh. "Watari-san?"
"Me and Gushoushin have been trying to find out anything about this Akuma guy based on the description we have now but it's not turning up anything," Watari shrugged. "We'll keep looking though."
"Aa," Konoe rubbed his eyes tiredly. The old man seemed even more hassled lately and had been closeted in meetings with Enma-sama for hours every day.
"Are you okay, Kacho? You look worn out," Tsuzuki asked, concerned. He and Konoe were the oldest employees in JuuOhCho and he felt it was only right to ask. Besides, the man was like a father figure to most of them.
Kacho sighed again. "EnmaDaioh is getting worried about this. . ." He waved his hand around, "this Akuma. He seems to be a little too familiar with us Shinigamis. Your experience recently proves that he seems to be as skillful in putting us through hell than as Muraki ever was. Perhaps even better. Have you managed to track down Muraki instead?"
More head shaking. "He seems to be able to cloak himself and Muraki quite well from our trackers. There's been no trace of either him or Muraki," Tatsumi answered.
"Well, Enma-sama knows how important the Shokan Division is and as most of us is currently tied up with the Akuma case and the fact that he doesn't want to lose any of us-
"Probably 'cause it'd be too expensive to replace us if that happens," Tsuzuki muttered to Kyo, who choked back his laughter. Despite being Gods of Death, they still had the lowest wages in the entire JuuOhCho and Enma- sama had given no sign that there'd be a payrise for any of them in the near future. Maybe when hell freezes over.
"-he has seen fit to recruit a new Shinigami to help with the workload. The new guy has medical background so he'll be able to help Watari out in the patching up department, which we seemed to be experiencing a lot lately."
"Not my fault," Kyo murmured to Watari.
"We have to be ready for the possibility that this Akuma might come up with other new and interesting ways to kill us, *again*, so I'll leave it to you, Watari, and the new guy, to help us prepare for it."
Watari saluted him smartly. "So where's the new guy? And what's his name?" Watari paused. "Wow, déjà vu again."
Kyo nodded his head sagely. "It's been going around a lot lately."
Konoe looked a bit embarrassed at the question. He cleared his throat and said apologetically, "He was supposed to arrive here today and I can't tell you his name because they lost his file during processing-
"That can happen in Meifu too?" Kyo asked Watari softly.
"Bureaucracy."
"Ah."
"-but the Gushoushin are taking care of it and-ah, yes, thank you."
One of the Gushoushin, the younger one, had entered the office, carrying a file and he passed it to the Chief. He flipped it open and said, "Ah, yes, his name is-"
Again he was interrupted as the door opened again and the older Gushoushin floated in announcing, "The new Shinigami, Kacho."
Kyo turned around in his chair, prepared to give a welcome as warm as the one he had gotten when he first arrived here himself. The arrival of a new Shinigami had come as something of a surprise to everyone so Watari didn't have any cupcakes to celebrate the occasion. Thankfully.
The new guy seemed hesitant to step in, probably shy, Kyo thought, when the Gushoushin beckoned him in again. He stepped forward, into the room and Kyo was ready with a smile. When he saw who the new guy was though, the world seemed to be suddenly at a standstill.
White noise roared in his ears as he stared at the new recruit in shock and stunned disbelief, and dimly, he was aware of Watari beside him choking in surprise and that Tatsumi had jumped up and was rubbing his back soothingly.
This was a joke, Kyo thought wildly to himself. A big fat joke. A really not funny joke. Without realizing it, he had stood up and crossed the room on shaky legs to stand before the new Shinigami who was around his height, perhaps a bit taller.
He was still staring, he knew it, and everyone was looking at him strangely, while Watari continued choking and Tatsumi continued to rub his back. He still couldn't believe it though. Not even with the proof standing only a few inches away from him, as large as life and just as warm, it seemed.
The white noise was softer now as he finally managed to swallow the large lump that had stuck in his throat for the past couple of minutes and he opened his mouth to say;
"Taka?"
________________________________________________________________________
As Kyo and the new guy, whom Kyo seemed to know and had called 'Taka', continued to stare at each other, Watari finally managed to stop choking and he nodded his thanks at Tatsumi. "Chief," he croaked out, "Why didn't you warn us?"
"I told you, they lost his file! I don't even know his name yet," Kacho flipped through the file hurriedly and stopped at a certain page. "Ah yes, Matsumada Takashi, 28 years old. . . Kyo knows him?" He asked Watari.
For once, the scientist seemed ready to jump up and strangle his own boss. "Read his background portfolio. It should be in there," he managed to choke out instead.
Kacho did so and his mouth moved soundlessly as he read the file. At a certain point, his eyes widened in shock and he said, "Oh dear."
"What is it?" Tatsumi whispered. He didn't know exactly why he was whispering but the occasion seems to call for it. Everyone was still sitting in their seats and nobody moved, as the air around those two simply crackled with unspoken tension. Perhaps they were enemies when they were alive? Tatsumi wondered.
For an answer, Konoe passed him the file instead. Tatsumi took it and as he read it, that same look of incredulous shock crossed his face. "Oh dear," he repeated.
He looked up from the file, wanting to say something, to apologize to Kyo for not being warned in advance about this when Watari kicked his foot, *hard*, under the table and hissed at him, "Shh! Don't say anything yet!"
Kyo continued to just stare at him. At Taka. Taka.
The sensei smiled at him, that same smile which radiated warmth and was only a hint of the love he felt for the 18 year old boy before him. "Kyo."
Kyo felt that same, delightful shiver run down his back at the sound of his name on Taka's lips. How he loved it when Taka called him like that. It used to drive him crazy with anticipation at all the hidden promise that one syllable contained and apparently, still does.
He raised a hand hesitantly, afraid that it was all really a dream and that when he touch it, it will disappear and he'll wake up again in his too big bed. His hand stopped just before Taka's face, unsure of whether he was ready to know the truth.
Taka made the decision for him though. He took Kyo's hand in his own and rubbed the palm over his cheek and kissed it softly. "I missed you," his voice was as soft as his kiss.
Kyo's eyes filled with tears as he realized that it wasn't a dream after all. That he won't wake up soon and it won't turn out to be just another wishful thinking. His other hand reached out to touch Taka's face, the other still held softly by Taka and he touched each feature lovingly. The high, graceful cheekbones, that same, silky light auburn hair that in certain lights, some parts looked as whitish-gold as cornsilk and just as soft. He still wore the same style of glasses which Kyo had teasingly pointed out that it made him look like Superman in disguise. "It really is you," Kyo whispered, finally.
Taka nodded. "You promised me that you would never leave me, remember? I'm here to help you keep that promise."
With a small gasp, he hurled himself into the older man's arms and buried his face in his chest, shaking uncontrollably. This was where he belonged. All those nights spent tossing restlessly, unable to fall asleep, was because it was in these strong arms was where he truly belonged. Death and the afterlife had no real meaning to him without those same arms holding him close at night. Taka's arms held him tightly close and he stroked his hair lovingly.
No, he won't cry here. There'd be plenty of time for that later.
The others didn't really understand what was going on but they knew it was a private moment that should not be on public scrutiny. Obviously, Kyo and this Taka were more than just good friends and they were happy for the boy. He deserved some happiness. They were just about to get up slowly and quietly leave the room though, when Kyo pulled himself from the hug and glared at Taka, eyes red but dry and said;
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
~to be continued~
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A/N: How was it?????? Oh, Kyo and Taka are together again! *Kelly breaks down in hysterical sobs and wipes her tears dry with her Muraki plushie.* I'm so happy for them! I really am! Anyway, it's pretty obvious when the lemon part is coming, so please, minna-san! Help! Any clues on how to start? Any suggestions for the lemon scene setting? Who should make the first move? Who should be on top- never mind. You know what I mean! ^ o ^ Just help me!
*Shinai= bamboo practice sword. I got the translation from Akasha again. . . I'm sorry I didn't ask you. Again! *bows* Hontoni!
P.S: Kyo could get pretty violent when he's pissed off, did you notice? Review! Ja ne!
Hcbenitez-san: Thank you! It's always a treat getting new readers for my fic! Keep on reading and I'll keep on updating every night! Well, until the story finishes anyway. (^ - ^)
Ice-Phoenix: Thanks for the vote! Sorry that Muraki couldn't stay longer though. He has an appointment to keep with Akuma! *giggles maliciously*
Warning: Kyo Getting Destructive! Plus, A Startling Revelation!
Disclaimer: *Kelly holds a conversation with her Kyo plushie* Really, I was the one who came up with the idea for YnM. Seriously! But I can't draw for crap so I gave the idea to Youko-chan. . . . you don't believe me, do you Kyo? *Her Kyo plushie looks back at her with blank button eyes*. Oh, I forgot you can't talk.
CHAPTER 9: WHAT THE HELL??
He was really learning to hate this part. All this, ooh, I'm floating in the darkness and there's things trying to grab onto me in the dark, that kind of thing. It was getting seriously passe. Very old news. He'd been through it for a nearly a week the last time and though time wasn't really a concept here, he was getting so bored, he nearly yawned.
I wonder who came up with the idea that when people get stuck in this mind- numbing limbo, that it would be really funny if we get them chased by unidentified things and then you'd start running but you never really get anywhere. Real funny, that one.
Haha.
Fine, since you're being so disagreeable about it, his subconscious complained, try this one on for size!
Once again, he was in that alley, crucified against that damp, slimy wall with the pentagram acting like some kind of sick halo around his body. And once again, he felt Akuma's breath hot on his face, his cold lips brushing against his, and, this was the part he had managed to block out during the actual encounter, but which his subconscious now cheerfully reminded him, the feel of that knob on the tip of Akuma's walking cane teasing slow circles against his chest, and drifting gently downwards. . .
In the confines of his mind, Kyo screamed in rage.
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(JuuOhCho, Shokan Division, Hospital Room no.2, well, really, how many hospital rooms were you supposed to have anyway when you're supposed to be dead and virtually indestructible in the first place?)
"Why did he moan like that?" Tsuzuki leaned over the bed, peering worriedly at Kyo, who was still out cold, curled up in the fetus position. The boy had been out of it since they brought him back yesterday night and it was now noon the next day but Kyo still showed no signs of waking up.
True to his words, the pentagram that Akuma had locked them in yesterday had blocked Kyo's healing powers and they had watched in total helplessness as Kyo bled on and on. Thankfully, he had passed out from the pain not soon after but the blood continued to flow from his mouth and the gaping hole that had decorated his chest.
Akuma didn't lie either about the pentagrams fading, doing so after 15 minutes however. Each slow minute that passed drove them crazy as they tried with all their might to break free first. But Akuma's magic was strong. Stronger even, than Tsuzuki's it seemed.
When the pentagrams disappeared, Kyo had slid down onto the ground with a boneless thump and they rushed over to him, Watari reaching him first and turning him gently over from where he lay face down.
Watari's expert fingers skirted the edge of the wound lightly and he frowned. "It's not starting yet."
They knew he meant that Kyo's body hadn't started to heal yet and worried looks passed between them. "Do you think he lied?" Hisoka asked, his voice hushed.
Watari shook his head impatiently. "I don't know, but we better get him back quick. It's not doing him any good either, lying in the cold like this."
And so, with Tsuzuki and Tatsumi holding Kyo up, they had disappeared from sight and reappeared moments later at the hospital wing. Watari had quickly cleaned Kyo up and bandaged his wound carefully. Afterwards, he came out of the room he had put Kyo in and faced the three who had refused to go until they found out how Kyo was doing.
"It's finally starting, his healing powers," he announced.
They all sighed in relief.
"But it's slow though, probably the bastard's magic disrupted it quite a bit, so it'll probably take him a day to fully recover. Now I suggest all of you go home, change into some dry clothes and get some rest. You can see him tomorrow."
Tsuzuki and Hisoka nodded wearily and left together, hand in hand. Tatsumi has stayed behind however, and gave the blond a small, tired smile. "I'll keep you company, if you don't mind."
Watari gave him a startled glance but an instant later, a bright smile lit up his face. "Yokatta. Do you have any spare clothes in the office?"
The secretary, like all of them, were drenched to the skin. He looked in distaste at his suit which was dripping water on the floor and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "No, I don't. I'll go home first then and-"
He was stopped by the blond locks flying every which way as Watari shook his head enthusiastically. "You don't have to. I got plenty of spare shirts and slacks in my lab. Though," he studied the now blushing man before him thoughtfully, "I think my slacks won't fit you. . ." He clapped his hands in sudden delight. "I just remembered! I still got an old pair of track bottoms! I'm sure it'll fit you, it's too long for me. So how about it?"
Tatsumi smiled in appreciation. "Sounds great."
The next day (Tatsumi had went back home early that morning to change), they were all gathered around Kyos's bed, waiting for him to wake up. The others; Terazuma, Wakaba, Saya and Yuma had just got back from their own mission and had promised to stop by after getting a change of clothing and some food. Kacho himself had popped in from time to time to check on Kyo, but the boy kept on sleeping.
When Kyo had moaned in his sleep though, it was already noon and Watari hurried over. He felt the boy's temperature and was pleased to note that he wasn't getting a fever. "I think he'll be waking up soon," Watari announced.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Kyo's hands twitched lightly on the blankets covering him and he moaned again, tossing his head around restlessly. With a light flutter, his eyes opened slowly, blinking as they adjusted to the bright light, and fastened on the first thing he saw. Which was Tatsumi by the foot of his bed.
"Wow," he murmured sleepily. "Déjà vu."
"Good afternoon to you too, Kyo-san," the man smiled.
Watari leaned over him and flashed a penlight in his eyes, gauging his pupils' reaction. He nodded in satisfaction and smiled down at Kyo. "How are you feeling?"
Kyo groaned, "Like I've been run over by a truck." He sat up slowly, wincing at the sore feeling lingering underneath his bandages as Watari fluffed up his pillows for him, so that he could lean back in comfort.
"Your wound healed up nicely enough. Give it a few more hours and you'll be good as new," Watari said brightly.
Kyo grunted. He wasn't really sure about the 'good as new' part but anything was better than having that hole permanently tattooed on his chest. "I'm hungry," he declared.
"That's good to hear. I'll fix you some lunch in a little bit. Try not to move around too much and I'll probably let you get out of bed after you eat something," Watari promised.
Kyo brightened at that and was about to beg for some chocolates for desert when the door burst open and the Hokkaido pair bounced in, shopping bags in hand. The ominous words of 'Pink House' glowed menacingly from each bag. And there were at least 3 of them in each girls' hands.
Hisoka backed away from them slowly, fear written across his face, and he carefully positioned himself behind Tsuzuki. Please let them ignore me, he prayed fervently.
"Konnichiwa!"
"Aah! Kyo-chan's awake!"
"Yokatta!" It was that two-part chorus again.
"More déjà vu," Kyo murmured.
"We got something in here to cheer you up, Kyo-chan!" Yuma held up a hand filled with the Pink House bags.
Sweatdrop.
"Ano. . .," Kyo started but he was cut off by another excited squeal from the girls.
"Yokatta! 'Soka-chan's here too! We can do a twosome then!"
Hisoka buried his face in Tsuzuki's back and sobbed out, "Help me, Tsuzuki!"
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Watari wandered up and down the halls of the Shokan offices, peering into various offices. His question of "Have you seen Kyo?" was met with blank looks and shrugs. Finally, it was Hisoka who suggested that he try the dojo.
Watari sighed, Kyo could at least have given it a few more hours before starting to move around so much. But the boy had seemed a little distracted during lunch just now, he remembered. He had a faraway look in his eyes and often, his hands would clench momentarily on his fork, as though recollecting something that maddened him.
As his steps took him nearer to the dojo, he could see a light shining beneath the doors and a furious 'thwack! thwack!' coming from within. He must be practicing his kendo then, Watari thought to himself.
He opened the door slowly so as to not disturb Kyo and it was after a few paces inside before what he saw finally registered and he stopped dead in his tracks, mouth hanging open.
Kyo wasn't exactly practicing his kendo. He seemed more in the process of systematically destroying a bamboo practice dummy with a shinai*, a furious expression on his face and oblivious to the fact that the dummy was seriously sagging to one side from the abuse it was receiving.
Looking around, Watari saw another dummy lying on the floor all bent and twisted and looking seriously kicked around in some places.
Watari wondered whether it was safe for him to call out to Kyo when a sudden crack resounding in the air showed him that Kyo had broken his shinai and the boy threw it aside to join a pile of other broken ones. There were at least 3 others.
Kyo seemed to have given up on the shinai though and was looking around for something else to vent his apparent fury on when Watari finally spoke up.
"Ano. . . Kyo? What happened? Are you okay? How's your wound?"
With surprising speed, Kyo whirled around and seeing Watari, simply STALKED over to him, that furious expression on his face not lessening one bit.
"What happened? What HAPPENED???" Kyo was practically yelling in Watari's face. The scientists's mouth, if possible, dropped open even further. He had never seen the boy this outraged before. "I'll TELL you WHAT happened! AKUMA! THAT BLOODY BASTARD IS WHAT HAPPENED! IF I SEE HIM AGAIN I WILL PERSONALLY RIP HIM TO PIECES AND FEED HIM TO THE SHARKS! I WILL-"
"KYO!" Watari shouted back. It was the only way he could make the boy hear him over his own shouting. "Calm down!" He ordered. "Take a deep breath, c'mon, that's it, deep breath, there you go," he patted Kyo's back reassuringly. "Feeling better?"
Kyo nodded, his head down and chest heaving.
"Now can you tell me what's wrong? Did that Akuma guy did something else to you?"
That seemed to set Kyo off again. His head snapped up and his eyes were *blazing* as he hissed at Watari. Actually *hissed*.
"Did he DO something? You ask me, DID he DO something?" If looks could kill, Watari would be sporting some fluffy pair of wings and strumming on a harp by now.
"Er, yes?"
Kyo actually spluttered as he tried to convey just HOW upset he was at what exactly it is that Akuma did. "He-he-he-he-HE!"
"Yes?" Watari asked encouragingly. He rubbed the boy's back some more. He seemed to have trouble breathing again.
"He TOUCHED me! With his CANE! AND HE KISSED ME! AND NUZZLED ME! NUZZLED! DO YOU HEAR ME? NUZZLED!"
Watari winced. "Yes, I heard you. So that was what he was doing, talking to you so close like that. . ."
Kyo's eyes narrowed dangerously. Watari felt suddenly a whole lot more nervous now than when Kyo was shouting his head off. "I have never," he bit off each words separately, eyes flashing again, "let ANY MAN touch me. EXCEPT TAKA. Taka was the first one I ever let close and he will be the ONLY one I'll let touch me. If I EVER see that bastard again, he'd wish that Enma himself was the one passing judgment on him instead of ME."
"But look on the bright side! At least he didn't do more!"
Kyo was hissing again.
With a last glare at Watari, he stomped back towards the decidedly sorry- looking practice dummy and started to destroy it methodically with his bare hands.
Wow, looks like Kyo knows wushu too, Watari noted with some surprise. He had seen the art played a couple of years back on the television and Kyo looked quite good doing it. His kicks and punches were fast and fluid and just *brimming* with savage grace.
Wisely, Watari decided that Kyo should really be left alone to work his frustrations out and he beat a hasty retreat for the exit.
"Watari-san?"
He turned around slowly, afraid that any sudden moves might provoke the younger man to doing something rash.
Kyo was regarding him quite calmly as he said, "Tell Tatsumi-san that I'll replace the dummies and the shinai with my paycheck and not to worry about it, will you?"
Watari nodded and said with a bright smile, "I will! You can count on me!"
"Thank you." With a nod at his partner, Kyo turned back and proceeded to show the dummy just how strongly he felt about any other male touching him except his beloved Taka.
Watari fled.
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(A few days later)
Everyone was once again gathered in the meeting room. Watari sat down beside his partner and Kyo flashed him a smile. After his show of outrage in the dojo, Kyo had calmed down and apologized nicely to Hisoka for destroying most of the shinai. True to his word, he had replaced all the damaged equipment almost immediately afterwards and Tatsumi had forgave him nicely also.
Konoe looked up from the Akuma case file he was flipping through and harrumphed loudly. After a minute, everyone settled down and gave him their full attention.
"So, any new leads?"
Silence.
Sigh. "Watari-san?"
"Me and Gushoushin have been trying to find out anything about this Akuma guy based on the description we have now but it's not turning up anything," Watari shrugged. "We'll keep looking though."
"Aa," Konoe rubbed his eyes tiredly. The old man seemed even more hassled lately and had been closeted in meetings with Enma-sama for hours every day.
"Are you okay, Kacho? You look worn out," Tsuzuki asked, concerned. He and Konoe were the oldest employees in JuuOhCho and he felt it was only right to ask. Besides, the man was like a father figure to most of them.
Kacho sighed again. "EnmaDaioh is getting worried about this. . ." He waved his hand around, "this Akuma. He seems to be a little too familiar with us Shinigamis. Your experience recently proves that he seems to be as skillful in putting us through hell than as Muraki ever was. Perhaps even better. Have you managed to track down Muraki instead?"
More head shaking. "He seems to be able to cloak himself and Muraki quite well from our trackers. There's been no trace of either him or Muraki," Tatsumi answered.
"Well, Enma-sama knows how important the Shokan Division is and as most of us is currently tied up with the Akuma case and the fact that he doesn't want to lose any of us-
"Probably 'cause it'd be too expensive to replace us if that happens," Tsuzuki muttered to Kyo, who choked back his laughter. Despite being Gods of Death, they still had the lowest wages in the entire JuuOhCho and Enma- sama had given no sign that there'd be a payrise for any of them in the near future. Maybe when hell freezes over.
"-he has seen fit to recruit a new Shinigami to help with the workload. The new guy has medical background so he'll be able to help Watari out in the patching up department, which we seemed to be experiencing a lot lately."
"Not my fault," Kyo murmured to Watari.
"We have to be ready for the possibility that this Akuma might come up with other new and interesting ways to kill us, *again*, so I'll leave it to you, Watari, and the new guy, to help us prepare for it."
Watari saluted him smartly. "So where's the new guy? And what's his name?" Watari paused. "Wow, déjà vu again."
Kyo nodded his head sagely. "It's been going around a lot lately."
Konoe looked a bit embarrassed at the question. He cleared his throat and said apologetically, "He was supposed to arrive here today and I can't tell you his name because they lost his file during processing-
"That can happen in Meifu too?" Kyo asked Watari softly.
"Bureaucracy."
"Ah."
"-but the Gushoushin are taking care of it and-ah, yes, thank you."
One of the Gushoushin, the younger one, had entered the office, carrying a file and he passed it to the Chief. He flipped it open and said, "Ah, yes, his name is-"
Again he was interrupted as the door opened again and the older Gushoushin floated in announcing, "The new Shinigami, Kacho."
Kyo turned around in his chair, prepared to give a welcome as warm as the one he had gotten when he first arrived here himself. The arrival of a new Shinigami had come as something of a surprise to everyone so Watari didn't have any cupcakes to celebrate the occasion. Thankfully.
The new guy seemed hesitant to step in, probably shy, Kyo thought, when the Gushoushin beckoned him in again. He stepped forward, into the room and Kyo was ready with a smile. When he saw who the new guy was though, the world seemed to be suddenly at a standstill.
White noise roared in his ears as he stared at the new recruit in shock and stunned disbelief, and dimly, he was aware of Watari beside him choking in surprise and that Tatsumi had jumped up and was rubbing his back soothingly.
This was a joke, Kyo thought wildly to himself. A big fat joke. A really not funny joke. Without realizing it, he had stood up and crossed the room on shaky legs to stand before the new Shinigami who was around his height, perhaps a bit taller.
He was still staring, he knew it, and everyone was looking at him strangely, while Watari continued choking and Tatsumi continued to rub his back. He still couldn't believe it though. Not even with the proof standing only a few inches away from him, as large as life and just as warm, it seemed.
The white noise was softer now as he finally managed to swallow the large lump that had stuck in his throat for the past couple of minutes and he opened his mouth to say;
"Taka?"
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As Kyo and the new guy, whom Kyo seemed to know and had called 'Taka', continued to stare at each other, Watari finally managed to stop choking and he nodded his thanks at Tatsumi. "Chief," he croaked out, "Why didn't you warn us?"
"I told you, they lost his file! I don't even know his name yet," Kacho flipped through the file hurriedly and stopped at a certain page. "Ah yes, Matsumada Takashi, 28 years old. . . Kyo knows him?" He asked Watari.
For once, the scientist seemed ready to jump up and strangle his own boss. "Read his background portfolio. It should be in there," he managed to choke out instead.
Kacho did so and his mouth moved soundlessly as he read the file. At a certain point, his eyes widened in shock and he said, "Oh dear."
"What is it?" Tatsumi whispered. He didn't know exactly why he was whispering but the occasion seems to call for it. Everyone was still sitting in their seats and nobody moved, as the air around those two simply crackled with unspoken tension. Perhaps they were enemies when they were alive? Tatsumi wondered.
For an answer, Konoe passed him the file instead. Tatsumi took it and as he read it, that same look of incredulous shock crossed his face. "Oh dear," he repeated.
He looked up from the file, wanting to say something, to apologize to Kyo for not being warned in advance about this when Watari kicked his foot, *hard*, under the table and hissed at him, "Shh! Don't say anything yet!"
Kyo continued to just stare at him. At Taka. Taka.
The sensei smiled at him, that same smile which radiated warmth and was only a hint of the love he felt for the 18 year old boy before him. "Kyo."
Kyo felt that same, delightful shiver run down his back at the sound of his name on Taka's lips. How he loved it when Taka called him like that. It used to drive him crazy with anticipation at all the hidden promise that one syllable contained and apparently, still does.
He raised a hand hesitantly, afraid that it was all really a dream and that when he touch it, it will disappear and he'll wake up again in his too big bed. His hand stopped just before Taka's face, unsure of whether he was ready to know the truth.
Taka made the decision for him though. He took Kyo's hand in his own and rubbed the palm over his cheek and kissed it softly. "I missed you," his voice was as soft as his kiss.
Kyo's eyes filled with tears as he realized that it wasn't a dream after all. That he won't wake up soon and it won't turn out to be just another wishful thinking. His other hand reached out to touch Taka's face, the other still held softly by Taka and he touched each feature lovingly. The high, graceful cheekbones, that same, silky light auburn hair that in certain lights, some parts looked as whitish-gold as cornsilk and just as soft. He still wore the same style of glasses which Kyo had teasingly pointed out that it made him look like Superman in disguise. "It really is you," Kyo whispered, finally.
Taka nodded. "You promised me that you would never leave me, remember? I'm here to help you keep that promise."
With a small gasp, he hurled himself into the older man's arms and buried his face in his chest, shaking uncontrollably. This was where he belonged. All those nights spent tossing restlessly, unable to fall asleep, was because it was in these strong arms was where he truly belonged. Death and the afterlife had no real meaning to him without those same arms holding him close at night. Taka's arms held him tightly close and he stroked his hair lovingly.
No, he won't cry here. There'd be plenty of time for that later.
The others didn't really understand what was going on but they knew it was a private moment that should not be on public scrutiny. Obviously, Kyo and this Taka were more than just good friends and they were happy for the boy. He deserved some happiness. They were just about to get up slowly and quietly leave the room though, when Kyo pulled himself from the hug and glared at Taka, eyes red but dry and said;
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
~to be continued~
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A/N: How was it?????? Oh, Kyo and Taka are together again! *Kelly breaks down in hysterical sobs and wipes her tears dry with her Muraki plushie.* I'm so happy for them! I really am! Anyway, it's pretty obvious when the lemon part is coming, so please, minna-san! Help! Any clues on how to start? Any suggestions for the lemon scene setting? Who should make the first move? Who should be on top- never mind. You know what I mean! ^ o ^ Just help me!
*Shinai= bamboo practice sword. I got the translation from Akasha again. . . I'm sorry I didn't ask you. Again! *bows* Hontoni!
P.S: Kyo could get pretty violent when he's pissed off, did you notice? Review! Ja ne!