Ah, okay. Some of you are going to murder me for what happens in this chapter (especially considering how the chapter ends). Heh heh. Just enjoy the suspense, since you'll find out in the next chapter what happens in this situation. I can't say anything more or I'll spoil it. It's almost comical (to me, anyway) how the demon keeps randomly popping up behind people. But bear with me, because I can't think of any other way for him to show up each time. And who all is reading this? Besides the very few who actually bother to review, I have no idea. If you enjoy it, take just a minute of your time to review and tell me so, okay? Really, just one or two words will do. But c'mon, give me some reviews if you're reading. Otherwise, I don't think you love me anymore! Really, it only takes a minute to review. And speaking of reviews:

Schatten Wolfendorf - Heh heh, I like hurt/comfort. I'm glad you liked the chapter, and thank you for being one of the few that bothered to review!

libby - Good point. Let's see...the only thing I can think of to explain that away is that Tatsumi is probably really hard to read (at least in all the fanfics I've ever read), so the demon could have used that to his advantage to be less detectable to Hisoka? Maybe.

Chapter 3

"You should have told us," Hisoka said firmly, glaring at Watari. The scientist looked away guiltily, nodding.

"I know, Bon. I wanted to confirm my suspicions first, though. We should inform Konoe-san immediately. I want you two to be careful, okay? Whatever it is that's possessed Seii, it's powerful. Really powerful," he said.

"You should be careful, too," Tsuzuki added quietly.

Watari looked at him for a moment. He took off his glasses, wiping them with his shirt.

"The demon told me that Seii is aware of everything that's happening. He's trying to use that to hurt Seii. However, do not let any personal feelings deter you. We have to stop this demon. Right now, he's interested in having a bit of fun. We need to destroy him before he gets bored and takes us all down."

Tsuzuki stared at him in horror.

"Are you saying we should hurt Tatsumi?!"

The blonde gave him a harsh look.

"Only if necessary, Tsuzuki. But if we have to hurt him in order to get rid of the demon, then yes. I'm sure Seii will understand. Now, you two get out. I need to think."

Tsuzuki and Hisoka left the lab and walked outside in contemplative silence. The violet-eyed man kept casting glances at his partner, worried at the boy's sullen expression.

"...'Soka?"

The boy sighed, refusing to meet his concerned gaze.

"I'm fine, Tsuzuki."

He frowned, not convinced.

"If it makes you feel better, that demon's full of crap," Tsuzuki said softly.

Hisoka stopped, shrugging.

"It doesn't matter. We have to focus on the task at hand."

The older man put his hand on the boy's shoulder, leaning down. Softly, he placed a quick kiss on his partner's lips. When he pulled back, he could see the blush spreading across Hisoka's cheeks.

"I wonder if Watari-san's okay," the boy said suddenly.

Tsuzuki frowned, his own thoughts following a similar line.

"He's a strong person...I'm sure he can handle it," he said, wrapping his arm around the boy's slender shoulders.

Watari found himself walking to his lover's office and opening the door. He looked around the darkened room for a moment before flipping the light switch. He squinted against the harsh artificial light that flooded the room. Sitting down in Tatsumi's executive chair, he closed his eyes. 'I'm lonely already...' he thought solemnly. 'I'm so used to being with him every day now, it's so odd...not sleeping next to him...' He sighed, looking at the paperwork organized neatly on the desk. 'I hope Konoe-san doesn't forbid me to help exorcise this demon. I guess the others have probably told the chief about it by now. Someone will come looking for me any minute to tell me there's a meeting. I keep telling Tsuzuki and Bon to focus, but what am I doing? Sitting in Seii's office sulking.' He stood, taking a deep breath. 'It's best if they don't find me in here. That would be too pathetic.' Walking to the door, he took one last look at the office before switching off the light.

"All right, so you're telling me that Tatsumi-san has been possessed by a demon?" Konoe sighed, feeling a headache forming. "Where is he now?"

"Um...he kinda disappeared. Teleported away...we don't know where," Tsuzuki responded glumly.

"Did he say anything of significance?" the chief went on, looking at Tsuzuki and Hisoka. Seeing the bewildered looks on their faces, he turned expectantly to Watari. The scientist sighed, lowering his eyes.

"He said that Seii is aware of everything that's happening. He claims he's doing this to amuse himself," he replied quietly.

Konoe looked at the man closely. He was all too aware of Watari's relationship with the division secretary, thanks to gossips like Tsuzuki, Saya, and Yuma.

"Tsuzuki-san, Kurosaki-kun...I want you two to try and locate the demon. Do not confront him at this point, but relay any information you uncover immediately." He waited for the men to nod, then addressed Watari.

"I want you to continue investigating the nature of the demon and any possible weaknesses or strengths. Report your findings immediately as well," he ordered.

The blonde nodded quietly.

"Well then," the chief said, standing unceremoniously, "that's all for now. Get back to work!"

Watari sat in the break room, sipping stale coffee. On the table in front of him, 003 hopped around anxiously.

"What is it girl? If you're begging for coffee, you can forget it."

He watched the owl until she began to settle down, preening her feathers in boredom.

"I know how you feel, girl. I wish I had feathers to clean..." he mumbled.

"You do have that lovely golden hair of yours," a voice behind him said.

Watari spun around and stood, only to find the demon smirking at him.

"Oh, it's just you. And here I was thinking it might be someone important," he said snidely. Tatsumi-kage only smiled in response, further provoking the scientist.

"What do you want now? Unless you're just here to check out my ass. If that's the case, you're wasting your time."

The demon's eyes, no longer filled with the warmth of his lover, stared coldly at him.

"I want to hurt you," Tatsumi-kage said. "Killing all of you isn't nearly enough...I want you to suffer first. The greater you suffer, the more fun I get to have. There's nothing better than tormenting someone in front of their lover. Possessing the Kagetsukai makes it quite convenient, since I don't even have to worry about restraining him."

Watari swallowed hard, trying to formulate a quick plan of action. He didn't want to cause harm to Tatsumi's body, but he wasn't about to just stand still while the demon attacked him. 'Of all the times to be reminded how shitty my powers are,' he lamented. The demon stepped forward, forcing Watari to retreat as he struggled to come up with a plan. He didn't realize how far they had gotten until his back hit the cold wall. Startled, the blonde looked up, meeting calculating blue eyes. The demon leaned forward until their noses nearly touched.

"Because you're so special to the Kagetsukai, I'm going to go easy on you. All I'm going to do for now...is rape you."

Watari's eyes widened as he finally realized that he was trapped. With Tatsumi-kage's arms on either side of his shoulders, the only option would be to duck underneath. However, he doubted he could manage it, since the demon's chest was pressed against his own. The blonde's heart raced as he felt lips ghost over his cheek. 'Shit...this can't be happening...no way...gotta think, brainiac... Well, at least it's Seii's body and not some stranger. Then again, that makes it worse, damn it!' He tried to push the demon back, only to find himself pinned more firmly against the wall.

"If you yell for help, I'll kill you right here," Tatsumi-kage warned him. He stood still as firm hands removed his lab coat, then began on his shirt. Out of the corner of his eye, Watari saw 003 fly up to the demon, squawking furiously. Tatsumi-kage paused, raising a hand to hit the owl. She made a small noise and half fell, half flew over to the table, ruffling her feathers. Not wasting an opportunity, Watari shoved his knee rather awkwardly into the demon's stomach, making a dash for the door. The creature grabbed his upper arm painfully, pulling him to the floor. The blonde kicked and struggled, tearing his shirt in the process.

"You're going to regret this," the demon growled, hitting him across the face with a closed fist. The scientist lay stunned for a fraction of a second, but it was enough time for the demon to crawl atop him, effectively pinning him. A heavy sense of dread settled in the blonde's stomach. 'I guess this is it, then. Damn it, he was right...knowing that Seii is aware that this is happening does make it hurt more...'

He looked up in surprise when Tatsumi-kage cried out. 003 fluttered by the demon, pecking sharply at his face. All the blood drained from Watari's face as the creature grabbed 003 by one of her wings, dangling her in the air. With a look of sheer malice, he crushed the tiny owl's wing, slinging her away with as much force as he could muster. The bird slammed into the wall with a sickening thud, bounced off and fell unmoving to the floor.

"NOOOO!!!" Watari screamed, shoving the demon off of him. He scrambled up and ran to 003, barely able to see past the burning tears in his eyes. Resisting the urge to pick her up, he leaned over her protectively. His shaking hands hovered over her unsurely, and he bit back a sob at the sight of small bones protruding from the owl's wing. Turning his upper body slowly, Watari stared in disgusted horror at the demon, who was now standing and watching the scene.

"How...how could you? How could you?! How could you do this....?!" he screamed thickly, shoulders hunching over as he began to sob. Tatsumi-kage stared at him blankly for a moment.

"...'Taka? I..."

The blonde's eyes widened at the pained look that passed over his lover's face. The expression left as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the scientist slack-jawed.

"Seii? Seii..."

The demon narrowed his eyes, turning away sharply before teleporting away just as Tsuzuki, Wakaba, and Terazuma burst into the room.

"What happ- Oh my god..." Tsuzuki began, staring at the tiny owl in horror. Wakaba gasped, her hands covering her mouth as if she would be sick.

"Is she dead?" Terazuma asked bluntly, trying to hide the concern he felt.

Watari shook his head and shrugged.

"I...I don't know..." he whispered, wiping some of the tears from his eyes.

Terazuma shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable.

"We should get her to the infirmary or something..." he mumbled. Wakaba stepped forward to pick up the bird, but the scientist touched her hand gently. Taking a deep breath, he eased the owl into his palm, extremely careful not to jar her bloody wing. Tsuzuki leaned down and steadied Watari as he stood.

"C'mon," the older Shinigami said gently, guiding him from the room. Wakaba looked up at Terazuma, concern and pain filling her eyes. He hesitated, then wrapped an arm cautiously around her covered shoulder, turning off the light as they left the room.