*****

Tokyo Center: 3:00 P.M. the following day

"Aiee XD thank you so much for the shrimp fried rice, Soka-chan! I love the Capital. So much good food." Tsuzuki expertly whittled away at the pile of food in front of him. Hisoka could only watch in amazement. This was the third time today. The youth sighed; the Chief was going to have a fit when they received the food bill. "So, Hisoka. Where do we start looking for the solution to these problems?"

"Well, I still think our best bet is to find the Sumeragi. The most powerful magics in Tokyo are controlled by his clan. None of the other onmyoujitsus come close." Hisoka reached for the iced tea sitting by his wrist. Tsuzuki laughed.

"You think that the Sumeragis aren't matched anywhere?" His normally bright eyes took on a feral gleam. "Well, maybe this is a bit before your time, but there's another clan, much more secretive. The Blossom Star Estate, the Sakaruzakamori. Nobody really knows who exactly is in the Blossom Star, but everyone important knows it exists."

"What exactly do they do?"

"They're assassins. Political assassins mostly, on contract, but sometimes they kill for fun too."

"Oh, can I hire them to kill Muraki-san?"

*sweatdrop* "No, I want to bring him down. But being assassins is only their superficial function. They have a far more important role in our context, in the use of magic." Tsuzuki had grown serious; not the depressed nostalgia of his past or the façade of soberness that he wore for Hisoka when he was hungry but pretending not to be, but genuinely concerned for the matter at hand. The crystalline eyes focused on a nonexistent point, the keen intellect that was hidden behind the careless personality was coming out.

"The Sumeragi clan has had the most influence in the high Tokyo circles for some generations now; and it was assumed that the Sakurazukas were rivals for their power; the light versus the dark. But there is something that only a few people know, maybe not even the Sumeragis themselves. The Blossom Star Estate was meant to act as a counter, a balance if you will, to the energies contained. It was rumored that before the Battle of the Apocalypse, that the Sumeragi and the Sakaruzakamori would be evenly matched for the first time, but that hasn't been confirmed." Tsuzuki finished his rice and got up.

"Uhhh Tsuzuki-san?" Hisoka followed his lead out of the vendor's parasol. "If the Sakaruzakamori is so secretive and dangerous, why are we looking for him?"

"I never said we were looking for him. But now that you mention it, it's probably a good idea that we do." Hisoka looked up at the taller Shinigami. Something was bothering him, he he never acted this way. Reaching out with his powers as an empath, he reached into Tsuzuki's ether to taste his emotions.

Sakura swirled around a foggy darkness. Hisoka caught his breath involuntarily. Ahead, he could dimly see a body, lying prostrate on its side unnaturally. There was a gaping maw in the body's back, blood oozing out like Jell-O in a straw. Hisoka had to shake his head; Tsuzuki never stopped thinking about sweets. The panting breath as the emotion ran towards the body; rolled it over, and the flaccid face was drained of life. The ground shook, and the image blurred over and the world turned on its head. Roots a tree a sakura tree bent over the body.

Hisoka coughed into his hand and staggered out. Going into Tsuzuki's mind was always a dangerous proposition. He knew something about the Sakaruzakamori that he wasn't telling. His partner looked back, the concerned look hiding the emotion roiling beneath. The piercing eyes glared at Hisoka, the softened. "Do you know where we are?"

Hisoka's cheeks burned; Tsuzuki knew that the boy had entered his mind and was mildly upset. He started to apologize, then saw that the older Shinigami didn't want to talk about it. "No."

"Ueno Park. The Sakaruzakas hold this place sacred; no other onmyouji dares to tread here. We're in danger right now, but not much so. So long as we keep our identities secret, we'll be safe. Let's stake this place out."

"Hai."

In spite of Tsuzuki's words, Soka-chan was perturbed. There had been another image, another connection, another feeling that had come with Tsuzuki's.

The pale skin stood against the shock of black hair like it didn't belong on the same head. The eyes were closed, but then opened. One eye, a deeper emerald than his own, stared back with a bland emotion that was only surpassed by the empty stare of the other eye; blind, gray, lifeless. The figure's brow creased, a red pentagram flashed into existence so suddenly that Hisoka fell back, stunned, and the figure dissolved into a flurry of sakura.

*****

Subaru's Apartment: 9:18 PM later that day

He sat there sitting on the edge of the bed in a nameless apartment in a nameless part of the city. It was where he stayed when he wasn't at home. His coat was lying on a coat rack in the corner, the black shirt neatly folded next to him. And so he sat there, watching the ash fall slowly from his unsmoked cigarette. It was so common these days, to just sit there catatonic and motionless. He didn't even think, or feel, or react. Something had been taken away from him when Kamui had given himself to the world; the only other person he imagined being remotely close to since Sei-san died. Maybe this is what it was like to be the Sakaruzakamori. Maybe this is what it was like to be alone. But it wasn't just that

Please remember, there are still ones to protect! Subaru!

Hokuto's voice cried out again, surging forth from memories long buried. There wasn't anyone else to protect. His final friend, his last love had passed away, and though he could still feel the Kamui in his heart, Kamui was no longer with him For a few seconds, the shell cracked and a single tear fell from the colorless eye onto the floor.

If you thought about it, you would never have the guts to kill anyone. Because you are very kind.

His eyes shot open and he shook his head violently. No! He was the Sakaruzakamori, immune to such emotions.

Ahh, you're so cute, Subaru-kun. "Stop it!" he snarled to no one in particular and held his head in his hands. He felt another pressure in his head, of a different kind. A single sakura petal floated from the ceiling unbidden, and he realized that he had certain obligations to meet, regardless of personal troubles. The Sakura was hungry

He grabbed his coat, shut out his personal demons and started his slow walk towards Ueno Park.

*****

Ueno Park, 10:12 P.M.

Tsuzuki was napping on a park bench, sprawled over a few square meters with a content look on his face. Hisoka was standing in a hostile position against a nearby shade tree, keeping watch for anything suspicious. There weren't that many people in the park, not this late on a weekday. He stretched out with his emotions, trying to brush nearby auras to get a sense of their purpose. He expanded his awareness, and encountered a seething barrier powerful emotions kept painfully intact. The presence of the spirit was powerful, but he couldn't quite place the location. It was relatively nearby though.

"Tsuzuki, wake up." He prodded the prostrate figure with his toe. Tsuzuki mumbled something incoherent and didn't move. Hisoka's small amount of patience wore out; he grabbed the nearest container of liquid and dumped it on his head. Tsuzuki sputtered and sprang to his feet, screaming something incoherent.

"Quiet, I think someone is coming." Tsuzuki shut up fast, and began scanning the area for anything suspicious.

*****