Disclaimer: Don't own 'em

"What's your problem anyway, Hisoka, huh?!" Tsuzuki asked loudly as his partner walked away from him the third time that day. "What could I have possibly done to offend you?!"

"Like you even have to ask!" Hisoka spat, not looking over at Tsuzuki as he walked off and into a public square, which was bustling with activity. Hisoka must have thought Tsuzuki wouldn't bother him here. He was wrong. Tsuzuki's yells were twice as loud, catching even the deafest person in the area. Eyes from all angles looked at them, whispering among themselves, something about lover's quarrels. Tsuzuki growled. He could easily catch up to Hisoka, but he didn't want to anger the boy even more than he was.

"Will you stop walking already and talk to me?!"

Hisoka refused. Tsuzuki caught up enough to him, grabbing him back by the arm and swinging him around to face him. To his surprise, Hisoka's eyes were flashing with anger as he growled.

"What is the big—"

"Couldn't get enough of him, could you?!" Hisoka spit irately.

Tsuzuki's eyes went wide, violet orbs quivering.

"Hisoka..." Tsuzuki breathed, but then was shaken out of his now weak grip and left alone in the middle of the square with his head down and a single, lonely tear falling down his right cheek. The crowd no longer bothered with him and went about their daily regimen, although he did catch a few wandering eyes.

His fists balled shakily as he took in a shuddering breath.

"Hisoka...I'm so sorry..."



Tsuzuki's feet took him to the front doorstep belonging to Hijiri Minase. Taking in a deep breath, he knocked twice and stepped back. Two seconds later, the door was opened by a smiling boy, no older than Hisoka. Even their identical looks puzzled him. However, this wasn't a time to be thinking of that. This probably wasn't the best place to go either. If Tsuzuki lost Hisoka, this was the only other option.

"Did you tell him?" Hijiri asked, sitting on the couch directly across from Tsuzuki.

The entire time, Tsuzuki had his eyes trailing away from Hijiri's and staring at some random object.

"Tell him?" Tsuzuki asked quietly and dumbly, finally catching the path of his eyes.

Hijiri rose and walked over to Tsuzuki, placing a warm hand over his forehead. "Are you feeling sick? Maybe you should lay down."

"I feel fine," Tsuzuki said instantly, shifting his head away slowly, just enough so that his hand wasn't touching him any longer.

"I don't believe you," Hijiri said, taking back his hand and sitting beside him.

Instead of fighting back, Tsuzuki sighed and prepared to speak.

"I didn't say anything to Hisoka...but I know he knows."

Hijiri looked almost shocked. "You're not going to take it all back, are you? I mean, we're still—"

"I don't know, okay? I just don't know what's going to happen. I don't know why I did what I did."

Hijiri's heart sank. His face scrunched up with hurt and tears threatened his eyes.

"You...Tsuzuki...you said you..."

Tsuzuki stood, not being able to handle this any longer. He was deeply mixed up. Just because of one little fight a few weeks back with Hisoka, he has to go give his closest friend the time of day, even driving him to the point of saying he loved him.

"I know what I said Hijiri and I'm sorry," he said, turning quickly on his heels to the deeply saddened face. "Even though Hisoka wants nothing more to do with me it seems, I still love him. I'm sorry. I only want to make him happy."

Hijiri clenched a fist to his chest and stared downwards. "You should have thought about that before you came to me the way you did," he said, speaking almost inaudibly.

Tsuzuki let out a breath of air. This was going to be as hard as he thought after all.

"Look—"

"Don't tell me to look at anything, you two-timing player! Goddamn it Tsuzuki, I let you take my virginity from me! For what, so it can be stomped on?! I never would have let you take me if I knew you still loved HIM!"

There was nothing Tsuzuki could do. Hijiri was right; he was nothing but a player. He didn't deserve anyone. Hell, even at times, he didn't even think he still had a right to be on the planet!

"I'm sorry," Tsuzuki repeated in a small tone. "Even though Hisoka and I have more fights than a married couple, we still love each other. Although now I'm wondering if the love is only one sided, but I'm sure it's still there." Their eyes met. "If I could take it back, Hijiri, I still wouldn't. I won't lie, I do love you, but Hisoka makes my world complete. Without him...I'd be dead. He told me to stay with him and I would do anything to fulfill that wish. He just...hurt me so much that one time, I couldn't...handle it anymore. It's not like I wanted to get back at him...I just felt hurt all over and it would just not go away. It still hasn't, and it won't until he forgives me. I know it'll take much more than an apology, but in order to make it a start, I need to forget about our relationship, and that night."

Hijiri sniffed back a series of sobs. "But...you just said you wouldn't take it back."

Tsuzuki smiled almost invisibly. "I don't, and I won't."

Hijiri sank into his arms and took in his warmth. Just when he had thought he had a chance at a relationship, his world collides with another after the same thing.



Muraki eyed the individual before him with suspicion, yet, glee, pushing up his glasses. He was in the same place he met Tsuzuki for the first time, that's how the individual knew where to find him.

"For what do I owe the pleasure?" he inquired with a deep smirk. "I'm surprised your honey Tsuzuki's not with you. He would be awfully mad if he found out you were talking to a murderer."

Hisoka ignored the sarcasm and kept a straight face.

"Your very presence sickens me, Muraki, even now. You have no idea how much of a relief was to us when we saw that building collapse with you inside. You and that...disgusting project! Only to find out that you made it! How...why?!"

As much as Muraki would be thrilled to have Hisoka before him, ready to plot some evil plan to use him as bait to trap his beloved, he wore a sort of frown on his angelic face.

"Somehow I get the feeling that this isn't a social visit, Kurosaki," he said, folding his arms and eyeing the boy. "And you're too dumb to pull off any cowardly attacks while I'm not looking, so what are you doing, standing there and talking to me like so?"

He grinned when Hisoka lowered his head. "Ah yes...love quarrels no doubt. So you decided to make me your escape route, is that it?"

Nothing.

"Well, I'm not questioning. I would like to know why I'm the target however."

Hisoka hated Muraki. He hated him for everything he was worth! Even though he loved Tsuzuki with all of his heart, all good things came to an end. There was no other choice for him to make. At least maybe with Muraki, he might feel somewhat wanted, although it would be a much crueler want. There was enough hate in Hisoka's heart to get even with Tsuzuki in some way. What he wouldn't give to watch him suffer, just like he had to suffer when saw every touch of detail that went on in Hijiri's room that fateful night.

He looked up into Muraki's beautiful silvery eyes with every ounce of hate he could cook up.

"I wish to join forces with you, Muraki Kazutaka."

tbc