Disclaimer: Yami No Matsuei is not mine. I would suggest you surf the web to find out who really owns them, if you still don't know who they are.

The final chapter... If I were to continue it would have to be a new arc because we are now leaving the asylum behind.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed my previous chapters. ^___^

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Muraki was drawing power from this sacred place. This sanctuary. It would seem to the casual observer that he was praying. Eyes closed in deep meditation but he was really searching with his spiritual sense for that special someone... for his Tsuzuki-san.

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"Tsuzuki?" Hisoka called softly as he entered the room.

He saw that the hospital bed was empty and terror seized his heart until he heard a low whimper. He found that his partner was sleeping at the desk. He was hunched over the table with his wings bandaged behind him.

Damp violet eyes opened with a look of confusion. "Hisoka?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Better." Tsuzuki sighed wearily. "I'm still a little tired." He tried to suppress a yawn.

"Why aren't you in bed?"

"It's just hard to sleep with these-" he motioned to his wings "in that."

The bed was too narrow for Tsuzuki and his wings.

'Who is the baka now?' Hisoka told himself silently.

-----

He smiled as he watched his prize. The wings were still there. His friends were undoubtedly trying to get him back to normal. He pulled a single dark feather from his pocket. He began to stroke it between his fingers. He lifted it to his lips.

What would it be like to call him now?

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"They are operating today and Tsuzuki will stay in the infirmary until he makes a full recovery." Hisoka announced as he nursed his coffee mug.

"Well then tell him to hurry back. He is such a slacker. " Terazuma said who had been listening most attentively.

"Don't worry Hajime-kun he'll be back soon." Wakaba smiled.

"Who would worry about him?" He asked pointedly.

"When can we see him?"

"Watari said tomorrow." Hisoka answered nonchalantly. He looked towards Tatsumi's office. He saw the secretary's profile outlined at the door. He sighed deeply. Tatsumi had been burying himself in work to compensate for his guilt about hurting Tsuzuki. 'I should talk to him.'

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Tsuzuki knew he was dreaming. He had to be. Watari had told him they would start the operation soon and then fitted the mask over his face. He had to be dreaming. How else could he explain being in this void, floating.

"Tsu...zu...ki..."

It was just a dream that voice echoing in this emptiness.

He wasn't floating. He was falling.

He couldn't stop.

Falling in a downward spiral.

'Help me!'

He knew he was already asleep but he also getting drowsy in this dream. He couldn't see anymore.

"Don't worry I have you." He had stopped falling. His rescuer had arms around his waist, but he couldn't see who was holding him. "Your safe."

The dream continued but all he could grasp were fleeting sensations and impressions.

Someone very powerful had him...

Light feathery touches...

A kiss?

Nothingness.

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Tatsumi heard the knock. He knew who it was. He didn't need empathy for that. Even before a hand knocks on his office he could identify people by their footsteps. It was Hisoka. He knew that. He walked softly but with purpose. Watari had a bounce to his step. Tsuzuki – Tsuzuki would drag his feet or come running –

This was not the time to think of Tsuzuki.

The secretary took a moment to compose himself before letting Hisoka in. He had to be strong.

"What is it Kurosaki-kun?" 'I am a busy man.'

"What do you plan to do about Tsuzuki?" Hisoka was terrified at addressing the shadow master so directly but he knew if he didn't he wouldn't be able to ask at all.

Tatsumi's eyes narrowed and Hisoka froze.

"Apologize." Tatsumi said as his eyes and voice softened.

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Tsuzuki woke up to find Watari and Hisoka talking. He tried to sit up.

"He's so stubborn!" Hisoka said and then turned to see Tsuzuki awake. "Tsuzuki?!"

"Your awake!" Watari squealed.

"Hisoka? Watari?"

"How are you feeling?"

'Lousy. Like hell. Miserable.' "I'm fine." The lie came out by habit.

"BAKA!" Responded the teenager out of habit. He bit his lip. How could he say something so uncaring? He blushed embarrassed at his carelessness

"You are so cute." Tsuzuki curled his lips into a smile but he was still drained. Why did he feel so drained?

Watari offered to get Tsuzuki some food.

"Really?! Oh! Yes!" Eyes shone in delight.

"Don't get up! You're still recovering!" Warned his partner.

Tsuzuki remembered his wings and turned to find them gone. He sighed in relief. He sat there and all he could feel was his emotions, no one else's.

"Now lie back. You are supposed to be resting."

Tsuzuki smiled back but his face suddenly changed as he saw himself in the mirror.

"Tsuzuki?"

"No it's nothing."

"Tell me."

"I just thought my eyes would look different too." He said with a hint of disappointment. 'They are still the same color.'

"You look fine. Baka"

Tsuzuki was blank for a moment before what Hisoka left unsaid finally registered in his mind. 'He doesn't see me as a monster.'

"Thank you Hisoka!"

Watari knocked. He returned with a fully loaded tray.

Tsuzuki smiled and was doing his puppy eyes without being aware of it. "Thank you!" He reached for the spoon but dropped it clumsily.

"I'll feed you." Hisoka said as he rolled his eyes. His partner's sheer delight for something as simple as food was beyond Hisoka, but a welcome change from a face drowning in tears or the face that looked back at them while he was a captive. He wondered what Muraki could have said to his partner. He shook himself out of his trance as he continued to feed his partner. "How is it?"

"Delicious!"

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Muraki was watching again. No one in Meifu ever caught on how he got so much information on the shinigamis.

He knew the empathic abilities he gave his most desired shinigami were temporary, but he was satisfied with the encounter for now. As long as he was alive they would meet again, and he had no plans of dying just yet. He planned to continue.

Tsuzuki.

It didn't matter to him if they found away to fool themselves with their 'normal' life.

He knew the truth. The truth doesn't change even if no one believes.

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"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come at all." Tsuzuki tried to make it sound like a joke but Tatsumi could see that his friend was hurt by his absence... his intentional absence.

"I didn't mean to hurt you -"

"I know you have work." Cut in Tsuzuki quickly

"That's not what I meant." The secretary said firmly as he sat down. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

"It's okay. I understand." Tsuzuki tried to smile but was intimidated by Tatsumi's silence and the darkness in his eyes.

Everything seemed to be touched by the heavy silence.

"Well... I... uhm... I need to ask you something very important."

"Can't it wait until tomorrow?" If the shadow master had been in a different mood he might have actually found this funny. Normally it was Tsuzuki who put things off for tomorrow.

"Can you stay with me tonight?"

"I don't think that is appropriate."

"Please! I really need to talk to you."

'How can I win against you when you use those eyes?' Tatsumi knew he would be kicking himself later but – "Alright."

Tsuzuki smiled but weariness overcame his features.

"Tsuzuki-san?" There was a touch of alarm in the secretary's voice as he caught his friend, steadying him.

"I need to know what happened with Muraki."

"I don't think you should worry about that."

"I have to know... How is Hisoka? Did Muraki hurt him... did he ... when I lost him -"

"Shhh. Don't worry about him. Your partner is stronger than he looks. He's more worried about you."

Tsuzuki was silent allowing the words to sink in. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

Tsuzuki pouted a little.

"Tsuzuki-san I'm sorry for hurting you."

"Oh that?" He bit his lip nervously. "That's nothing. I wanted to have them cut off anyway. I know you didn't mean to hurt me."

"Tsuzuki-san ... I-"

The secretary had a hand on his shoulder as he shuddered from the memory. "I'm glad they are gone."

Tatsumi drew his chin to look him in the eyes. "Tsuzuki-san. You shouldn't cry."

Tsuzuki finally managed to calm down. "I'm sorry."

"Now go to sleep." Ordered the shadow master as he tucked him into bed. "Clear your mind and go to sleep. I'll be right here if you need me."

"Arigato Tatsumi."

The shadow master kept watch that night. 'What is it that you dream about Tsuzuki-san?' He marveled at the face before him. 'He looks so young this way.' A slight whimper from Tsuzuki set the secretary on edge, he took his hand. "I'm right here."

The patient relaxed and smiled as he slept.

"Pleasant dreams Tsuzuki-san."

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Tsuzuki woke up to breakfast with his favorite shinigami.

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OWARI

04-08-04