Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei is the creation of Matushita and associates. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.

FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com

Category: Yami no Matsuei

Title: An illusion is nothing more and nothing less, at first glance.

Rating: PG-13

Summary: A post-Kyoto fic. Tsuzuki accidentally drinks one of Watari's potions. The potion seems to take Tsuzuki's memory making things even more complicated for an ill Hisoka. To make things worse Tsuzuki believes Hisoka to be a girl.

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Chapter Two

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Hisoka served Tsuzuki lunch in silence. He took a seat as far away as he could. After a lot of thought, he knew what he would say to the purple-eyed shinigami. Tsuzuki often took things to heart and he didn't really want to confuse the man more than he already was. Aside from that, well Tsuzuki was not the brightest of the bunch. He might not have been warned as to what he was . . . . . "I'm an empath."

The sound of Hisoka's voice caused Tsuzuki to stop mid swallow. An empath? "Can you see things, like a fortuneteller?"

Hisoka looked away. "No. Not exactly, I can sense thoughts, feelings. Sometimes I can look into people's minds. Though not everyone's." After some hesitation he finished his rehearsed speech. "I'm sensitive to other peoples emotions, especially yours. I can sense you from far." Hisoka paused then not wanting to continue but rationalized that these were things the real Tsuzuki already knew so it didn't matter. "You and I. We've . . . . synchronized. So it's . . . ."

"Are we lovers?"

Hisoka felt his face burn in embarrassment. "Baka-yarou." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. The blush worked itself down his neck and turned a darker shade. "I . . . We're partners." He stuttered as he glared at the older man.

A smile touched the older man's lips. Hisoka had become flustered all too quickly. "So I haven't tried anything? Or you haven't let me?" His face took on a thoughtful look as he focused on jade-eyes, which flashed with fury.

Hisoka's mouth dropped open just the slightest before he shut it close. "I'm going to bed." He rose knocking his chair back. Not caring enough to pick it up he made a dash for his room.

Tsuzuki laughed. It felt natural for him to flirt with the blond. Thought he had been right about the temper. He was sure that if he'd been standing closer he would have been slapped. He finished his meal, knowing the jade-eyed shinigami would get over it. If he was correct in his assumptions the blond would try and act like nothing had happened. Tsuzuki ate his meal and Hisoka's too, no point in it going to waste.

Hisoka stomped into his room, locking the door to behind him. "Baka-Yarou." The man had no shame. "Tsuzuki-baka." If it weren't for his amnesia he'd have been wearing the plate he was eating on. "kisama." He tossed himself onto the bed and closed his eyes. Despite been a shinigami and never again been able to age a day beyond the moment of his death, he had a feeling that Tsuzuki could make him go gray. Gray before the age of twenty-five. That was life with Tsuzuki. He frowned at himself. His heart was still racing from the embarrassment. He got up and took his sleeping pills. It was the only way he could avoid the nightmares sometimes. And with Tsuzuki here . . . . well . . . . He didn't want the fool rushing into his room after he woke up screaming.

He set his clock for six. He still had to make dinner. He opened the window, allowing the room to grow colder again. He slept better in cold weather. He yawned feeling sleep at the edge of his consciousness. Tsuzuki had become bolder in his flirting over the years. At least this Tsuzuki didn't touch him. "Baka-yarou."

*************

Tsuzuki popped a jellybean into his mouth before he turned the page to a magazine he'd found. Well not really found more like dug out. It had been very well hidden in the compartment of the coffee table.

10 ways to him to notice you.

Could his flirting mean something more.

Tips to make him fall in love with you.

Soft locks for the winter season.

There were plenty more one-liners to catch the eye but the only ones' he'd be reading would be the ones pertaining to their situation. He smirked while he read some of the tips. Honestly why would Hisoka need this? Some of them just made him laugh.

Tsuzuki's eyebrow rose in interest.

05. Small touches:

Men seem to pick up subconscious hints from woman whenever there is physical contact between them. If he is not yet aware that you have feelings for him then a sure way to get the hint across is by initiating small touches. Fixing his tie at work. Brushing your fingers over his when you borrow a pencil. If that is still too much well then you might want to try something a bit more indirect. You can simply pick up a particular article from his desk and touch it distractedly (or fondle it, which ever you prefer) but please 'Don't make it obvious.' You'll kill your chance or worse. Men are easily distracted but their attention perks at the mere allusion of sex. The touching will help encouraged their already overactive imagination. So remember, 'keep it subtle.'

Tsuzuki shook his head. That is not how men were. Well not all of them. He wouldn't get excited over handing Hisoka a pencil. Still he found the article interesting so he kept on reading.

Hisoka's eyes narrowed as he passed behind the couch on his way to the kitchen. Tsuzuki was way too quiet plus the feeling of amusement was strong. Was he reading something? Hisoka made and effort to look without coming closer. He sighed quietly when he couldn't. Continuing on his way to the kitchen, he still had dinner to prepare.

A sizzling sound reached his ears way before the smell wafted into the living room. He looked at the clock on the shelve 6:15pm. He rose ready to dash into the kitchen when he remembered the magazine. He set it back where he found it. 'No need to get yelled at.' he thought. There was a reason it was hidden away.

He pranced into the kitchen happy to see Hisoka, who was too preoccupied in stirring and frying to heed him any notice. "You'd make a cute housewife."

Hisoka half turned, glaring daggers at Tsuzuki.

"Did I say that out loud?" Tsuzuki thought.

Hisoka turned, beating the chicken in the pan as he stirred. Tsuzuki watched uneasily, surely Hisoka wouldn't do him bodily harm. "So I was wondering . . . well how do I get money?"

"Just get your pay from Tatsumi." Hisoka said as he stirred the noodles. "On second thought I'll get your pay. Kami knows you'd spent it before you ever got home and then what would you do for groceries." Hisoka muttered as he drained the vegetables before he turned to Tsuzuki. There was an unreadable expression there. Hisoka looked away he didn't want to know what it meant. Unconsciously though he reached out with his senses but Tsuzuki was shielding again. Hisoka served their plates without further comments.

"You look better." Tsuzuki commented over dinner.

Hisoka nodded and continued to pick at his food.

"Could we go get my pay tomorrow?"

Hisoka refrained from asking what he needed it for. Instead he nodded. "Aa, after lunch."

The remainder of the meal was mainly silent. Hisoka was never one for too much talk unless it was to admonish his partner.

*************

Tsuzuki was very excited. Any more excitement and he'd be skipping down the street.

"You're never this happy when we go to work." Hisoka commented as Tsuzuki came all too near again.

"Maybe because we aren't going there to work today." Tsuzuki said as he slowed his pace to match his partners. He kept his gaze dead ahead as he began, "I had this . . . . dream . . . . though not a dream." He paused for a moment. "You were recovering from something, the details are fuzzy but I was there in the infirmary. You wouldn't wake up. I pleaded . . . . but you wouldn't wake up." Tsuzuki felt strangely disconnected now that he retold the dream but it hadn't been so when he woke up in the middle of the night. He'd been crying in his sleep as far as he could tell. "When did this happen?" He asked as he turned to look at Hisoka who had his face turned away.

Hisoka remained quiet for a long time. "About a year ago." He said finally, unwilling to elaborate.

"I said things to you." Tsuzuki began but was halted by a freezing glare.

Not a second later they saw one of the feathery twins sweep out in front of them. "Tsuzuki-san how nice to see you." Gushoushin greeted.

"Hi." Tzusuki responded cheerfully, he hadn't noticed they'd arrived at Enma Cho.

Hisoka made his way into the building quickly finding Tatsumi and asking for the idiot's pay.

"So he's fine." Tatsumi inquired after handing over a plain white envelope to Hisoka.

"Yes." Hisoka answered thoughtlessly. "He's remembering slowly." Hisoka scowled. "Though I would have rather had Watari mix something else up to return his memories."

"Yes, but we know the dangers in doing that. The odds were not in our favor." Tatsumi responded.

"Hisoka!"

"Where are you Hisoka!!"

Tatsumi hid a smile at the boy's discomfort. "My regards to Tsuzuki. If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting." With that Tatsumi was gone.

Hisoka turned and headed back down the hall. He stopped short of Tsuzuki running him down. "Let's go." He said as he walked around the purpled-eyed man.

Silence hung between them until they reached a park still several blocks from Hisoka's home.

"How about a movie, my treat." Tsuzuki said putting an arm around his jade-eyed partner.

Hisoka glared through the blush. Trying to shrug off the older man before his thought and feelings seeped through. "No." He was forced to say through clenched teeth when Tsuzuki didn't let go.

"Why?"

"I'm still sick." Hisoka hated to have to use that as an excuse. He hated to make himself look weak in front of him but the man was persistent. Over time he had grown more forceful, not taking 'no' at face value anymore. Instead Tsuzuki had began to dig until he was coerced into saying 'yes. '

"Then we'll rent something." He moved Hisoka with him as he spotted the video store. All the while Hisoka struggled trying to get free. He drew his fist back knowing it would hurt him more than the baka-yarou he had for a partner.

Tsuzuki drew Hisoka closer as they walked. The shield on his emotions was the strongest he had ever created as far as he knew. 'It has to be,' he told himself. It was the only way he could touch his jade-eyed partner without hurting her.

Hisoka glared for a long moment. In the new embrace Tsuzuki had pinned his arm in. He couldn't move anything other than his legs. He turned his face away after a moment, the feeling of contentment slowly seeping through. The feelings was light and it invaded his thoughts slowly making him feel like the emotion was his.

Tsuzuki grinned as they made their way into the video store. Several people milled around looking for movies, some only half glancing at the new comers. He stopped in the middle of the store reading a sign of the new releases. He read the sign twice before heading to the new release section. "So what do you want to see?" Tsuzuki asked they walked down the section.

Hisoka didn't answer.

"Come on, if you don't help me pick something you'll be forced to watch what I pick out." Tsuzuki said looking down.

"I usually am. Let me go." Hisoka said as he began to struggle again.

Tsuzuki let go, feeling the loss of warmth as it wrenched itself away. He began looking through the movies, half-glancing at the titles. Hisoka didn't seem keen on public displays.

'I usually am.' Hmm, that only meant she usually let him pick out the movie. It wasn't as fun if she refused to participate. He picked up the first two movies he could reach both of which seemed to have a dark theme. 'Something to go with my mood,' he thought dryly. He made his way to the counter, followed by Hisoka at a distance.

"Do you have your card sir?"

Tsuzuki looked at the man then at Hisoka. "Do you have my wallet?" He asked.

Hisoka looked a bit embarrassed. "Yes, it's at home though."

Whatever anger Tsuzuki had felt melted away at seeing the blush. "Do you have a card?" He asked gazing down at the engaging emerald eyes.

Hisoka nodded pulling out a white card with numbers but no name. 'Odd,' Tsuzuki thought.

"Are you Tsuzuki-san or Kurosaki-san?"

Tsuzuki's eyebrow rose in interest, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately. They were both under the same card.

"Kurosaki, Hisoka." Was the irritated response.

Tsuzuki waited till they left the video store before he spoke again. "So what do you want to eat?"

"Whatever's fine."

"Do you always let me decide everything?" Tsuzuki asked walking closer to Hisoka.

Hisoka turned and looked at him crossly. "No, only the things that don't matter." He responded callously before he quickened his pace.

*************

Tsuzuki sat comfortably on the couch his feet on top of the coffee table until Hisoka came back.

Hisoka walked into the living room, on one hand he carried a bowl of popcorn filled to the brim while in the other he carried two sodas. He set everything down before his hand slapped Tsuzuki's feet off the table.

"You're mean." Was the sullen statement followed by a pout and tearful purple eyes.

"Yeah, yeah write me a book." Hisoka responded sitting on the couch a good distance away from his partner.

Tsuzuki smiled. He pushed 'play' on the remote before he set it between them.

Hisoka waited patiently to see what Tsuzuki had rented. The Watcher. He frowned, hadn't he read something about this movie? There was something . . . . he couldn't remember though. He was becoming as bad as the King of sweets.

Hisoka sat comfortably at the end of the couch, tucking his legs underneath him. His head tilted to the side. The American film wasn't half-bad. 'I wonder if it's based on a book,' he thought as he continued to watch.

His eyes widened at a particular phrase spoken by Keanu about three quarters of the way into the film. Was Tsuzuki aware of the under current in the film? Is that why he brought it? Hisoka chanced a glance at Tsuzuki, who for all sense and purpose seemed thoroughly perplexed.

Tsuzuki shut the tv once the film was finished. "It was odd, don't you think?"

'No, the guy's obsession was like Muraki's with Tsuzuki,' Hisoka thought darkly.

"Hisoka?"

"I'm going to bed?" Hisoka said as he got up.

Tsuzuki watched her leave. There was something there, a lingering emotion of something. Why couldn't Hisoka be more open? It really frustrated him. He picked up the soda cans and the empty bowl. He cleaned up knowing Hisoka would appreciate it even if she didn't express it.

He got ready for bed still thinking about the film. They say love is blind, so does that mean that it's all right then . . . . to love another man? For some reason the thought troubled him. He propped his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling for a long time.

*************

"Yamero !!!!"

The horror filled scream had him running before he realized what he was doing. He tossed the door open and rushed to her side.

Hisoka squirmed on the bed. A look of anguish distorted her usually calm features.

"Hisoka!" Tsuzuki said shaking her lightly.

"Wake up!" He shook a bit more.

"Hisoka!" Tsuzuki shook her a bit rougher. Panic, began to rise in the pit of his stomach, moving through his veins until it squeezed his heart.

"Baka-yarou, it's a trap." Hisoka whispered hoarsely.

"Hisoka." Tsuzuki lifted her of the bed hugging her close. He sat her on his lap then slowly he began to rock them. "Come on!" He yelled into the elfin face. "Wake up!" The fear and anger running inside him was strong. Strong enough to penetrated through the nightmare Hisoka had been trapped it.

Hisoka pulled in a mouth full of air, coughing when it appeared to be more than his lungs could handle. He was shaking. It had been horrible. To hurt him was one thing; he was used to it but to hurt Tsuzuki, forcing him to watch. His hand unconsciously grabbed fistfuls of the other mans' pajama top. He hadn't had one of these dreams in a long time.

Tsuzuki breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't ask any questions instead he hugged the small body closer to him. It broke his heart to hear the small whimpers. He could feel Hisoka's tears soaking through his shirt. Was it that bad? He knew Hisoka didn't easily cry. How? He wasn't sure but he felt it to be the truth.

Hisoka fell back into reality gradually. Slowly he came to realize he was been held. He moved away knowing to whom the protective arms belonged to. "Tsuzuki." He began feeling embarrassed, stupid sleeping pills.

Tsuzuki watched her draw back, the insecurity in her eyes lasting only a brief second before it was hidden. He bent his head low capturing Hisoka's lips. He ran his tongue on the lower lip wanting access to the small little mouth, always so curt when responding to his flirting. Tsuzuki felt a shudder of yearning flow through the small body in his arms before he was roughly shoved back.

"No." Hisoka said not meeting Tsuzuki's eyes as he scrambled off the others lap.

"I don't understand." Tsuzuki began but Hisoka kept shaking her head no. "Why?" He asked as he stood and looked down on her.

"I need to rest Tsuzuki, I'm still sick and the sun isn't even up yet." Hisoka made his excuses as he drew the covers around himself. The cold air wouldn't leave him now. He began to shiver so he drew the blankets tighter against himself. It was just the flu, nothing more.

Tsuzuki stepped closer feeling her forehead. Her eyes where closed for what ever reason though he felt they were so, to keep him out. "All right Hisoka. I'll leave but if you need anything call me." Tsuzuki left reluctantly. He didn't want to leave at all.

The purple-eyed shinigami dragged his feet as he made his way back to his room, biting on his lip; he tasted the saltiness of his Hisoka's lips. He'd kissed her; the urge had been strong after she'd opened her eyes. He'd been so afraid she might not have . . . .

He'd kissed her not just out of curiosity or because the moment was right. No, there were feelings involved, strong feelings. 'Love is an illusion.' Hisoka's voice rang in his ears. The jade-eyed shinigami had said that to him once. "Is it?" He'd retorted. Hisoka had become upset and walked off. He remembered that. It had happened this year . . . . sometime in the springtime.

Was she closed off to the prospect of love? She sounded like she might be. Tsuzuki made his way to his bed. His head turned left, aware he'd left the door open. He could hear better this way.

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. I know its smaller that the first but not by much. I don't think it'll matter since I've posted all four parts. You won't have to wait to see what happens ^_~