author's rants is at the bottom.
* * * * *
Standard disclaimer applied
Warnings: Muraki x Tsuzuki, some angst, lemon in parts (maybe, not so sure about
it anymore...), PG-13 -- NC-17
Special thanks to Tiggy for beta effort, Anita for her encouragements, and everybody
who review. Thanks minna... *hugs*
* * * * *
Cold Flower
Part 4
Tsuzuki didn't know where Muraki had teleported the two of them. The next thing he knew, he was standing in the middle of the living room of a house. The place was nice and warm, with walls painted in cream-colored paint and the floor covered with a crimson colored rug. In one corner he could see a small but elegantly designed fireplace; while in another wall there was a big, thick glassy door that faced a small backyard. Tsuzuki could see the green lawns and small traditional pond; bushes of Red Queen roses were planted in every corner of the garden.
He wondered if this was where Muraki had lived all this time, and that would mean that he was in... Tokyo?
"Here we are, Tsuzuki-san. Do you like our home?" Muraki asked suddenly, removing his white coat as he did so and threw it carefully onto the sofa.
Tsuzuki walked to the glass door and slid it open. He felt the warm breeze wash his face and he closed his eyes as his nose caught the fragrance of the roses. The next thing he knew, Muraki had helped him to open his coat and removed it from his shoulders, throwing it on top of his own coat on the sofa.
"Is this your home?" Tsuzuki stared at the pond. Muraki's hands rested on his waist, holding him from behind. He could feel the doctor's warm breath on his neck.
Muraki smiled against the smooth neck and nipped it gently. "No, this is our home, Tsuzuki-san."
"Are we in Tokyo?" he asked again, biting his lip as Muraki started to kiss and suck at his skin, "...are we?"
"No."
Muraki let him go at last. Strange, Tsuzuki thought dimly, he almost felt a loss as the other man released him. He turned to face Muraki, who had started to put his coat back on "No? I thought you lived in Tokyo?"
"I do," Muraki smiled, his eyes turning to slits. "But I told you that this is not my home, Tsuzuki. This is ours."
"You're confusing me," Tsuzuki frowned. "Where are you going?"
Muraki took the dark coat in his arms and helped Tsuzuki to put it back on. "We're going shopping, so you can buy something to wear tonight, and also some clothes for the next five days."
Tsuzuki fastened his coat himself and with a puzzled expression followed the doctor to the door. "Where are we going tonight?" He raised his eyebrows; stepping outside he saw Muraki's car waiting for them.
"My friend's holding a party, and you're going to be my date, Tsuzuki." Muraki smirked and opened the door for him. The violet-eyed shinigami slid into the passenger seat.
"Oh," was his only comment as he stared out of the window blankly. The truth was that he couldn't think of anything else right now. He barely cared where Muraki would take him that day or maybe tonight, barely cared what the doctor planned to do with him for the next five days. His mind was filled with the thought of a certain green-eyed boy. How was his partner doing in Meifuu? Was he completely healed yet? Was he asking about him? Hisoka...
A hand squeezed his suddenly and Tsuzuki almost jerked at the touch. He looked down to his lap before finally lifting his face to see Muraki's. He thought he saw the silver eye turn grim for a second, filled with disappointment. Muraki's eyes were now facing towards the windscreen, hands on the steering wheel.
"I don't want you to think about anybody else but me for the next five days, Tsuzuki-san. Is that too much to ask?"
The shinigami started, felt his face warm with color. Why did Muraki's voice sound so... disappointed? So... sincere... as if he really did care about what he thought? About who he was thinking of?
"Can you do that, Tsuzuki-san?"
Tsuzuki felt his lips tremble. Why was he feeling guilty now? For thinking about Hisoka when he was with Muraki? But he nodded at the question. "Okay..."
The smile was back on Muraki's face, and Tsuzuki couldn't believe that his heart felt a little eased by it. He turned his face away, looking to his own window as Muraki started the engine and drove away from the garage.
Along the way, watching the streets and lines of shops, Tsuzuki realized that they were still in Nagasaki. They'd never gone too far from the city. The place where they first met. He didn't know why Muraki took him here; was it really something to do with his friend's party as he said earlier?
The car stopped in front of a shop that seemed like an expensive kind of boutique to Tsuzuki. Muraki opened the door for him and Tsuzuki could feel his face flush as a couple watching them started giggling. Muraki just smiled and held his hand as they entered the shop.
"Muraki-san!" A well-dressed woman greeted the doctor as they entered the shop and smiled widely, revealing her white teeth. "Long time no see. Are you here for Matsuoka-san's party?"
Muraki smiled and bowed elegantly. "Your store is always my first choice to shop, Isabelle..." He took the lady's hand and kissed it.
The woman named Isabelle chuckled delightedly and then smiled as she saw Tsuzuki. "And this is...?"
"Ah, this is Tsuzuki Asato, a friend of mine. He's the main reason why I'm here today, Isabelle. Can you show him some of your best collections?" The doctor smiled to Tsuzuki and pushed him lightly towards Isabelle.
"N-Nice to meet you, Miss. Isabelle..." The shinigami stuttered, not knowing how to act in front of this elegant lady. Isabelle's lips curved into a warm smile, "Your body is quite proportional, Tsuzuki-chan!" She beamed, "...have you ever thought to be a model? I could use you in my place if you're interested."
Tsuzuki 's eyes widened, his face flushing. He turned in Muraki's direction and saw the other man start to laugh. "I'm so sorry, Isabelle, but Tsuzuki already has a job he couldn't leave, ne, Tsuzuki-san?"
The violet-eyed man eeped and nodded vigorously at Muraki's remark. Isabelle pouted playfully. She took Tsuzuki's hand in hers and half-dragged him to the back chambers, saying that she would try to persuade him about the job by showing him her best collections. The shinigami threw a pleading face to Muraki, but the only response was a sweet smile from the doctor.
"You should try this one, Tsuzuki-chan!" Isabelle showed him a very beautiful tailored black suit. Tsuzuki was more amazed with the price tag that she forgot to hide. Isabelle chuckled lightly, "don't worry, I'll give you a big discount. But even if I didn't, I'm certain that Muraki would end up buying this tux for you..."
"Huh?!" Tsuzuki could feel his face flush for some reason, "...M-Muraki?"
Isabelle winked, "Hai. You're going to be his date for the night, right? You have to look better than any of the other guests at the party. Sensei has lots of fans, you know? They don't even care that he's engaged..."
The shinigami started, swallowing hard. "Engaged?" Tsuzuki could even feel his heat beat faster. What the hell was happening to him anyway? It wasn't his business whether Muraki had a fiancée or not... And all this time he thought...
"Oh," Isabelle's eyes widened, caught in surprise. "You didn't know? Ah, chotto -- gomen, I mean, Tsuzuki-chan. I thought..."
Tsuzuki took the tuxedo and smiled, "It's okay... It's not like I..." He stopped on his words. Why was it so hard for him to continue? He finally smiled after a long silence and walked to the dressing room. "I'll be right back."
* * * * *
Muraki flipped the newspaper and started to browse the science columns, to see if there were any new developments. But his mind wasn't really in the mood for anything right at that moment. Well, except for a certain violet-eyed shinigami. He sighed, and put the newspaper aside. He wondered what was taking Tsuzuki so long inside with Isabelle. A smile crossed his face as he imagined his violet-eyed shinigami being forced to try every tuxedo she had in the store just to see what suited him the best. He should buy shoes for the party too, not forgetting buying some clothes he could wear for their five days together.
Five days... Why was he starting to regret asking only five days of the shinigami? Shaking his head, he tried to think about something else when Isabelle appeared from the room, alone.
"Isabelle," Muraki called to her. "Where is Tsuzuki?"
The woman wore a strange expression, rushing to his side almost hastily. Muraki could see her eyes were filled with regret as she stepped closer. "I'm so sorry, Muraki-san. I think I said something wrong to Tsuzuki, I..."
"Yes?" Muraki frowned, not following one bit what she was talking about.
"I mentioned your fiancée to him, and he... I don't think he knew about Ukyou-san..."
Muraki was stunned for only a brief moment, and then said, "That's okay, Isabelle, he would have found out sooner or later. It's okay, really..."
"Demo..." The woman still seemed troubled. "You really like him, don't you, Muraki-san? I can see it in your eyes, you can't fool Isabelle here! Me and my big mouth!" she kept cursing herself.
The doctor chuckled, eyeing her with a smile glinting in his eyes. "Daijoubu, Isabelle. Between me and Tsuzuki-san, it is merely... business."
"Eh?" The woman startled, "I thought… Muraki-san, you really like him, don't you?"
Muraki smiled instead of answering. Isabelle shrugged, not understanding anything about what the man was thinking. And suddenly the door to the dressing chamber opened slightly and then Tsuzuki stepped outside. He looked hesitant as he made his appearance, dressed in the expensive tuxedo Isabelle had chosen for him.
Scratching the back of his head, he lifted his face to see Muraki's. "So? How do I look?"
Muraki couldn't believe the small gasp that he made as he saw his shinigami enter the room wearing the tuxedo. He looked more than elegant. He always knew that Tsuzuki was beautiful, one thing that attracted him the most, but seeing him like this now almost made him want the other man for the rest of his life instead of five short days.
"Well?" Tsuzuki made a face, wrinkling his forehead even more.
Muraki walked to him, staring from head to toe with amazement. "It's perfect, Tsuzuki-san... You look so perfect in black. Just the way I knew you would..."
"Kakkoii!" Isabelle chimed and rushed to the young shinigami, "...Now we just have to find you the perfect tie and the shirt! Oh my! I forgot the shirt for you!" The woman almost ran to the back chamber once again.
"It's too expensive," Tsuzuki finally spoke as Isabelle disappeared through the door, eyes searching for the doctor's hesitantly. "It's really not for me..."
Muraki chuckled lightly, hands lifting to brush at some fluff that rested on Tsuzuki's shoulders. "There's nothing too expensive for you, Tsuzuki-san. If you like the suit, I'll take it."
"Eh? Demo..." His words were stopped by The doctor's finger over his lips. The shinigami took a step back, releasing himself from Muraki's demanding gaze and looked away, a faint color creeping up the violet-eyed man's cheeks.
Isabelle was back with an armful of expensive shirts. Smiling widely, she shoved them into Tsuzuki's arms. "Here, my very best collections just for you, Tsuzuki-san. Just tell me which one suits you the best!" She smiled proudly.
"Huh? But... Muraki..."
Muraki took half of the pile of shirts and sorted them one by one critically. He pulled out a white silk shirt and showed it to the shinigami. "What about this one, Tsuzuki-san? It's perfect for the suit you have..."
The violet-eyed man eyed the insanely high price tag and gulped. "Uhm--let me see the other shirts first..." he said meekly.
"Okay, then..." Isabelle smiled, "just call me when you have made your choice." She left the two of them and went to the other corner to greet some new costumers.
"Come sit here with me, Tsuzuki-san." Muraki sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to him. The shinigami obeyed him, sitting with arms full with shirts and started sorting them out, the price tag always the first thing he checked. Muraki chortled and pulled him closer by the waist, before placing a kiss on his cheek.
Tsuzuki jerked away, his face crimson, "Don't do that again, we're in public."
"Oh?" Muraki made a face. "So is it okay to do that if there's no one around?" He winked.
The shinigami hissed and started to pay attention to the shirts again. "They are all too expensive..."
"Which one do you like?" Muraki took one of the shirts Tsuzuki held in his arms, "What about this one?"
"Uhm--no."
"You're not a very good liar," Muraki chuckled and saw Tsuzuki blush at his remark. The shirt was another silk shirt, the color was ivory and it looked even more expensive than the first shirt Muraki had showed him. "If you want this one, let's take it." He nodded and almost hurriedly called for Isabelle.
"Muraki...!" He tried to refuse but Isabelle had rushed to their side and taken the shirt, smiling widely and complementing his taste in clothes.
"We're also going to need a tie," Muraki said suddenly. "I want it to be violet, a color that matches Tsuzuki's eyes perfectly."
Tsuzuki gasped in surprise, but Isabelle had dragged him to the tie corner and showed him a tie that suited Muraki's request. "This is perfect for you, Tsuzuki-chan!"
"We'll take that." Muraki said hastily before Tsuzuki could reject the silken tie and gave the woman his credit card. The doctor saw the shinigami's jaw dropped as he saw the price on the receipt, eyeing Muraki nervously afterwards. Muraki just smiled sweetly, trying to assure him that everything was being taken care of.
"The next thing we need is a pair of shoes, Tsuzuki-san." He said calmly.
* * * * *
As they walked back to Muraki's car, Tsuzuki still couldn't believe that he had purchased a bag of expensive clothes bought only to attend a party with the doctor. Tatsumi would be enraged to know that amount of money was spent just on clothes. That would really make sense because even ten years of service at the bureau would barely pay for the suit.
"I thought you were going to buy suits too?" Tsuzuki asked as soon as they entered the shoe shop.
Muraki threw him a knowing glance and smiled. "No, today is only for you, Tsuzuki-san. I have my suits at home already."
"Oh," he nodded and followed the doctor inside. Muraki spoke to the man that seemed like the owner and the next minute Tsuzuki was seated in a chair, boxes of shoes from many famous brands surrounding him. "And you want me to pick a pair of shoes from all these?"
"I like those black ones, they would go perfectly with the suit. What do you think?" Muraki pointed one pair out and Tsuzuki could only nod. The price was another record for Tsuzuki, he'd never even seen more than fifty thousand yen with his own eyes before, and now Muraki had spent more than that just to get him ready for a party.
"What do you think about lunch?" Muraki asked at one point and Tsuzuki could hear his stomach growling for food. He just hoped that the doctor wouldn't hear it and nodded his agreement.
The restaurant was another luxurious place Tsuzuki thought he would never visit in his entire life. Muraki ordered him the food and for his satisfaction -- sweet dessert.
"What a nice day, isn't it, Tsuzuki-san?" Muraki asked him as the violet-eyed man started to eat his next spoonful of ice cream. Tsuzuki nodded and wiped the cream from his lips. "Ah, you missed one spot, here." Muraki took his own napkin and wiped the cream from the corner of Tsuzuki's mouth.
The shinigami started, but didn't do anything to stop the other man, not after what Muraki had done for him today. But some part of him was saying that it was not because of the dessert. He saw Muraki's smile; it was so reassuring. He almost believed that this person in front of him was not the same person who had killed so many people in his life. Not the person who killed Hisoka.
Hisoka...
"There's that face again." Muraki stated, eyeing him carefully. "Tsuzuki-san, you're not thinking about someone else, are you...?"
He was startled by the sudden admission, "Yes, I was, but it's not like you're not thinking of someone else when you're with me..." Tsuzuki didn't know why he sounded so... jealous as he said the words. He knew that Muraki would understand what he was talking about. Isabelle must've told him about their little conversation.
"Ah," Muraki sighed. "It's about that fiancée of mine, isn't it?"
"So you're not denying it." Tsuzuki's voice was on the edge, "It is true then."
Muraki smirked. "Are you half expecting that it was a lie? Ne, Tsuzuki-san, you're jealous?"
Tsuzuki could feel his cheeks burning. No, of course not, what a joke it would be if he did feel jealous over the doctor's fiancée. He didn't even like him. In fact, he hated him. So why would he have to feel jealous?
"No," Tsuzuki retorted, trying to be casual. "But you said that I can't think of someone else when I'm with you, when you're thinking of someone else yourself..."
Muraki chuckled and leaned into his seat. "I'm not thinking of anyone else when I'm with you, Tsuzuki-san..."
Tsuzuki saw the silver eye brighten, filled with something he could only describe as sincerity. There was no other word to call the soft expression on the doctor's face.
"Mu..." His words stopped as Muraki put his fingers on his lips. It was that warmth again that caught him by surprise. How was it that someone that was supposed to be so cold, could be so warm?
"Only you, Tsuzuki..." And before the shinigami could utter a word of denial, Muraki leaned his body forward, catching his chin in one hand and brushing his lips lightly over Tsuzuki's.
Violet eyes snapped open, wanting to pull away but the next thing he knew Muraki had sat back into his seat and was grinning at him, licking his lips. "You taste adorably sweet, Tsuzuki."
The shinigami was lost for words for a long minute, staring into Muraki's eyes. The good thing was that the restaurant had a private chamber for the two of them so no one was watching the kiss. He didn't know why he felt something lifted from his shoulders after what Muraki said to him. Relief... What the hell was he thinking?
Only you, Tsuzuki...
He closed his eyes briefly. Ignoring Muraki who had started to light his cigarette, Tsuzuki took another spoonful of his cold ice cream, trying to ignore the burning sensation on his lips that left by the doctor's kiss.
-tbc-
Hi, sorry it took so long to update because my computer just crashed and I can't do anything for a few days. I think it's a karma thing... Besides all that, something happened and made me a little discourage to continue and finish writing this fic T__T I'm so sad... the part 5 will be out soon. I probably try to write something else after that, and see if I could bring my mood back... *turns into fetal ball*