Disclaimer: Finally the last chapter! Fluff upcoming :D The usual stuff applies. Thank you so much to everyone who's reviewed and given so much encouragement...unfortunately I don't really write detailed, lemon-y yaoi. ^^;; Hope you enjoy it just the way it is!

Kurosaki Hisoka & Tsuzuki Asato

#05 happy endings

"How much can you remember?"

It seemed he had been awake for a long time, yet unable to think or percieve with any coherence, before he answered. He looked up at morning light resting on his face, and turning on his side, found himself with a glorious view of the Enma-chou courtyard from the colossal windows. Aside from the sounds of birds outside and the turning of a book's pages, there was a calming silence. He buried his head in the pillows: his emphatic powers were a bit hazy now for he could only recognize Tatsumi's presence from his voice.

"...Enough I think, like one of those passing nightmares where all the crappy things get pushed out of memory and only the important details remain." Saying so much at once made him suddenly out of breath. "Tatsumi-san... How long--? Where--?"

The chief's secretary came into view, slowly as if behind a mist. He sat still on a bedside chair, a thick paperback novel in his hands. As he turned a page, his eyes shifted easily from the book to Hisoka and gave a brief smile.

"Eight days. Watari's recovery room. I've made sure no one else got in except Tsuzuki and I because I knew you'd be disturbed by most others. We gave you a few drugs to keep you sedated when you started convulsing. Your emphatic powers may be diminished for a while, we can't tell how long, but in good time you'll be perfectly fine." Hisoka closed his eyes and opened them again. He couldn't remember it all, no he couldn't. The only thing clear in his head was a pale, evil-eyed spidery woman cackling at him, dark memories, and Tsuzuki...Tsuzuki battling for him, his face etched with a look of utter pain, blood trickling from his mouth. And the knowledge that he had been the root of all this. He opened his mouth to speak but Tatsumi reached a hand out and closed it.

Hisoka pushed it away. "I've caused so much trouble, haven't I?"

"None of this is your fault. Don't worry about anything."

"But..."

Tatsumi interrupted him with a light touch to his hair, and flashed him the warm kind of smile he usually only bestowed on Tsuzuki. "No guilt-tripping can change or help anything. No one blames you Hisoka." He then closed his book with a snap and stood up. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some paperwork to finish. Tsuzuki will probably be awake shortly and he'll be so furious with himself for falling asleep."

Hisoka looked at him quizzically but he had already gone out the door. He was about to settle back down when he glanced at his side and felt his heartstrings twinge.

His partner was curled up at his bedside, breathing very softly. It was touching to watch him there, so obviously worn out from worrying about him. Hisoka touched a finger to his temples, not believing that he could not feel anything of Tsuzuki's emotions... that his senses seemed so numbed. On an impulse, he reached for Tsuzuki's hand and pressed it to his cheek. Slowly, hazily, an image came to him; the picture of his own face, and so many pretty colors. He felt tears piercing his eyes.

"Is this the real world now, Tsuzuki? Am I in the real world?"

Tsuzuki moaned a little, and stirred from his sleep. He blinked, his face so adorably puffy, (though Hisoka would never have admitted it), and rubbed his eyes and suddenly caught himself staring at Hisoka, his Hisoka, awake and looking at him with such bright, wet eyes. Drowsily, he mumbled. "Gods...Soka, you're so beautiful..."

His partner reddened. All of a sudden, as if reality had only just registered in his mind, Tsuzuki's eyes went round as plates and lunged at him squealing with happiness. Hisoka felt the wind knocked out of him, reeling from the sudden weight of his partner glomping him amidst repeated cries of "Hisoka's awake!! Hisoka's awake!" He shut his eyes. Amazingly, his empathy wasn't assaulting him like it should have, considering the obvious intensity of Tsuzuki's affection and concern. It almost felt a little nice.

"Baka!" He managed. "Get off me." Realizing his folly, Tsuzuki instantly repented and uttered several apologies. After a moment of awkward silence, he pressed a little closer to Hisoka. His eyes were observing him with the same calm demeanor he always had, his face so smooth and white. His eyes were deep deep pools of green. Feeling bold, he reached out, pulled him towards him. He didn't resist, letting those strong arms encircle him.

"I was so worried about you...I'm so glad you're okay now."

"...I know."

Hisoka felt blood rush to his face again. Tsuzuki was laughing, and to him the sound of it was like wind chimes. "Awww Hisokaaaa~ you're so kawaii! That's why I love you so much!" The embarrassment was killing him. Hisoka gave him a fearsome glare. "Baka, shut--"

Tsuzuki cupped his face with one hand and gingerly spreading apart his lips, pressed his own upon them. Hisoka's eyes widened and then his gaze softened. He felt the warm tingling sensation of his candy tongue, the heat of his mouth. So much love and warmth emanating from the older shingami that even his temporarily weakened empathy could pick it al up, sweep him away. When after a long moment they broke apart, Tsuzuki touched his forehead to his, and kissed his partner's closed eyelids.

He grinned. "Excuse me, now what were you saying?"

It was scary, even, to care about a person this much. Stars of tears were trickling down his face. To feel such love for him in this moment of moments. Even, if he was such a stupid baka.

"Do you love me?" He said, sounding a little pissed.

"More than anything." Tsuzuki answered, his voice going low like it did when he truly, deeply meant his words. He lifted a hand and gently brushed away those pretty, sparkling tears.

"Then shut up and kiss me again."

Never let me go...Always, always...I want to be where you are.