Whoo, I was writing this and had to stop myself from making the chapter any longer. 9_9; Anyway, it's a good stopping point, don't you think? I love this chapter. Especially the phone conversation. Sue me, I like weird Watari humor. *grins* So here ya go, folks! I know I promised lots of Tatari in this chapter, but I didn't expect to have to cut it this short. Have no fear, every thing I intended to put in this chapter will be in the next one, I guarantee it! ^__^ And I'm glad so many people like 'Letting Go.' Let me again state that it has nothing to do with this fic whatsoever. Really. I don't usually write (or read, for that matter) stories under 1,000 words, but it just came to me.

LinaLau - Don't worry, I won't let them kill you. You're too nice and talented to die. ^_~

Kara Angitia - *smirks as she anticipates the hand puppets* Oooh, Tatsumi's gonna get it! Go Kara! *throws on a cheerleader outfit and dances in circles*

Tysoyo Kalli - Thank you! I'm very glad you follow the story. ^_^ It makes me feel all fuzzy knowing of more people that like it.

Konnie-chan - LOL. Nope, no depressive mood here. Just...I dunno, I like angst. Maybe I'm a bit too preoccupied with it. And I have no idea why I'm torturing Tsuzuki and Hisoka so much... *sweatdrop* Hopefully this chapter will make that slightly better. Rest assured, 'Letting Go' isn't a continuation of your fic, it was just somehow inspired by it. Of course, I still encourage a sequel *nudgenudge* I dunno, I've been thinking lately of lots of storylines and, of course, angsty stuff. Maybe since I wrote that I'll ease up on the innocent character torturing, ne. ^_^;; Good luck studying, hon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tatsumi was in the middle of filing that week's budget papers when someone knocked at his office door.

"Come in," he said absently, not looking up until the door creaked open. Tsuzuki came in, sitting in the chair across the desk quietly. It wasn't like him to just enter a room without some sort of ruckus...especially the secretary's office.

"I messed up again," he whispered, violet eyes downcast.

Tatsumi set the papers aside, focusing his attention on his co-worker.

"What did you do? I would normally assume you 'accidentally' shredded your budget expenditures again, but I doubt you'd be this upset if that were the case."

"I made him mad," the younger Shinigami said.

The Kagetsukai sighed, adjusting his glasses in irritation.

"What did you do to Kurosaki-kun?"

Tsuzuki blinked mournfully, his expressive eyes taking the edge off of the look he was receiving from his friend.

"I uh...I made a joke."

Tatsumi's eyebrow rose. Getting Tsuzuki to confess to something was akin to pulling teeth with rusty pliers, he had learned.

"About?"

He watched the younger man fidget and felt some of his irritation melt away at the sight.

"ThethingwithTouda," Tsuzuki mumbled.

Tatsumi's eyes widened slightly. 'He really is an idiot, then. What a foolish thing to say.'

"Tsuzuki...let me get this straight: You made a joke about your trying to kill yourself to the person who risked his life to save you?"

The younger Shinigami nodded, not able to look Tatsumi in the eyes.

"He's really mad... It's always my fault, isn't it?"

The Kagetsukai closed his eyes and sighed deeply, a headache forming behind his eyes already.

"No, Tsuzuki-san. You simply have to learn some tact."

He opened his eyes, only to meet violet pools of worry.

"What do I do, Tatsumi? How do I make it better this time? He kicked me out... I think he was gonna cry..."

The secretary watched his friend for a moment, taking in the sweet, yet heart-wrenching look in his beautiful eyes, the depth of his concern and love for his teenage partner. Watching him, Tatsumi knew that if he were ever in grave danger, Tsuzuki would rush to help him, no matter the cost. But, his heart reminded him, Tsuzuki's eyes didn't linger on him like they lingered on Hisoka. He couldn't coax nearly as many genuine smiles from the violet-eyed man. Looking at Tsuzuki, Tatsumi could see how he had once fallen deeply in love with him, but he also saw the reasons why he needed to let go of that love.

"Tsuzuki-san," he said, attempting to sound aggravated, "Kurosaki-kun will undoubtedly forgive you. Perhaps if you did something he would appreciate...such as your paperwork, he would forgive you all the sooner."

Tsuzuki was silent for a minute, the wheels in his head obviously turning. He blinked once, and the light was back in his eyes as if it had never left.

"I know! I'll write him a poem! Do you think he'd like that, Tatsumi? I'll say how sorry I am and-"

"Fine," the secretary said rather curtly. "Do so. In the meantime, get back to work."

The younger man's smile wilted slightly, but he forced it back in place, nodding happily before bounding out of the room

***********

Ring ring ring.

"Hello?"

"Hiiiii, honey! How's Bon?"

Tatsumi sweatdropped, staring at the phone blankly for several seconds.

"...He's resting. Watari, what-"

"So everything's okay with Tsuzuki?"

Sigh.

"No, he managed to upset Kurosaki-kun yet again."

"Did you check on Hisoka afterward?"

Tatsumi paused, confused.

"Why would I do that?"

He could almost hear Watari shrug.

"I bet he passed out again."

The secretary would have been concerned, but the scientist's nonchalant tone reassured him. He sighed, setting his pen down atop the neglected budget papers.

"Watari...I thought you went home to rest?"

There was nervous laughter on the other end of the phone.

"Ahh, well...I thought up this great experiment and why are you calling me Watari?"

Tatsumi closed his eyes against the headache Tsuzuki had brought on.

"I'm a bit stressed right now, 'Taka."

The blonde emitted a satisfied hum.

"We~ell, I can think of a few things to do that would relieve stress..."

The Kagetsukai rolled his eyes at his boyfriend's immaturity.

"I am not coming over tonight, 'Taka."

"Oh don't be a pervert. I was talking about you taking a hot bubble bath!"

The normally stoic man blushed, grateful that his partner couldn't see it.

"I...I knew that."

"Uh huh. But you're coming over tomorrow, right?"

Tatsumi hoped he wasn't walking into another one of the scientist's verbal traps.

"Yes, we already agreed upon that."

"Good. Well, I've got to go now. There's a really itchy feather stuck in my pants."

The secretary blinked, shaking his head slowly.

"Taka...I won't even endeavor to ask why. Once again, good-night."

"Nighty night, honey!"

Watari made a smacking noise with his lips right before the line went dead. For some reason, the eccentric conversation they had just shared relaxed Tatsumi.

"I think I need new friends," he mumbled half-heartedly.

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

Things were unusually tense at the office the next day.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tsuzuki asked, following behind Hisoka worriedly.

The boy paused to glare at him.

"I said I'm fine, baka!"

Tsuzuki pouted, his concern for his partner not abated by any reassurances.

"Ne, 'Soka?"

The blonde rolled his eyes.

"What now?"

"I wrote you a poem."

"...What?!"

The older man cleared his throat, standing very tall. He produced a rumpled piece of paper from his pants pocket. Hisoka blanched, noticing that all eyes were on them.

"Ahem...

Your eyes are like watermelons,

Your skin is like cream.

Your frown is like grapefruit,

Your anger is...like steam..."

Terazuma could be heard snickering derisively in the background. Tsuzuki paused self-consciously before continuing.

"...You act like you don't like me,

But I know that you care.

That's why, Hisoka, for you,

I'll always be there."

Hisoka stared at his partner in shock and awe. Although it was extremely embarrassing to have the entire office hear that, he was touched by Tsuzuki's well-meaning attempt at poetry.

"Tsuzuki..."

The older man's eyes met his, hope cautiously shining in them.

"That was..."

"Horrible?" Terazuma suggested before being smacked by an irate Wakaba.

Hisoka shook his head numbly.

"That was...beautiful..."

Tsuzuki's eyes widened, his heart speeding up. He was so sure he had made a fool of himself, but Hisoka actually liked it? He wasn't angry for embarrassing him?

"You...you really think so, 'Soka?"

The boy nodded, smiling slightly. Tsuzuki looked at him with imploring eyes.

"Do you forgive me, then?" he asked timidly.

Hisoka sighed, uncomfortable with all the witnesses hanging around.

"Yes," he murmured.

Tsuzuki's shoulders slumped with relief. He had an overwhelming urge to kiss his young partner then, but wasn't willing to risk screwing up again. Instead, he simply stepped closer to the boy, until they were practically touching.

"Thank you," he whispered in the boy's ear softly.

Hisoka's eyes closed, his cheeks stained with pink.

***********

All of the Shokan division had seen the exchange between Tsuzuki and Hisoka, expect for one. Tatsumi sighed softly, once again trying to finish sorting through the budget papers. Never mind that the rest of the division was goofing off - someone had to do work. Even his excitable boyfriend was out there...doing something. Tatsumi was admittedly curious as to what had everyone's attention, but he refused to allow that curiosity to tarnish his unshakable reputation. It would take more than a little distraction to make him stop working. Unfortunately, that larger distraction he required came bounding into his office in a whirlwind of blonde, wavy hair and white fabric.

"Seii! Oh my god, you won't believe what Tsuzuki just did. He's either brilliant or a lot stupider than I thought! He wrote a poem for Hisoka. A poem!"

Watari sighed dramatically, twirling toward Tatsumi so that his head could rest on the man's shoulder. He looked up at him innocently.

"Isn't that the sweetest thing you've heard of? Of course, he had to incorporate food into it, of all things... But still, I think he knocked Bon off his feet this time, and not literally!"

The secretary smiled at his partner's enthusiasm. He hadn't forgotten his promise to go to the man's house that night.

"What time do you want me to come over, 'Taka?"

Watari blinked, coming out of his reverie.

"Huh? Oh. Let's see...I get off work at 8...you usually stay until 1, don't you? But not today, so that doesn't matter. What about...10:00? That gives me time to get the place tidied and wash my hair."

Tatsumi nodded in agreement.

"That sounds fine to me. I suppose I will have to go home after normal business hours for once, hm? Such sacrifices I make for you," he joked.

The scientist reached up, grabbing the older man's chin and tilting it toward him. He lowered his lips to those of his partner, savoring the warmth that he was met with. Tatsumi closed his eyes, his hands absently reaching up to stroke the man's soft hair. Watari made a soft mewling noise, pressing their lips together with decided ferocity. The Kagetsukai could feel his face flush as his blood recirculated itself.

"Taka..." he breathed, gently moving the man away from him slightly. The scientist pouted, his lips swollen and red. Tatsumi felt his breath catch in his throat at the erotic sight.

"Heeeeey..." the younger man whined softly, "no fair. I wanna kiss you..."

The secretary cleared his throat, mostly to distract himself.

"Not...not in the office, 'Taka. Anyone could walk in right now..."

The blonde smirked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Do you really think I care?"

Tatsumi laughed.

"Believe me, I understand your...eagerness, but save it for a more appropriate time."

Watari grinned, running his hand down his boyfriend's tie playfully.

"Oh? Like...tonight, perhaps?"

Tatsumi's face reddened slightly, but he gave a barely perceptible nod.

"Exactly," he whispered.