The omake chapter. w00t. I don't particularly like most of it, but it could be worse, and I said I would post it. If nothing else, maybe it'll inspire an MST.
At any rate, thank you all so much for reviewing, and I'm very sorry about the waiting. The fact that I even got this posted is amazing, considering I hadn't finished a long story in about three years. If you will excuse me, I am going to celebrate with a bag of wintergreen mints and some anime...or maybe I'll just sleep for once.
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"'Soka-chan!"
Hisoka looked up from the patch of garden he had been watering. A particularly large lily was blocking his view of the porch and its occupant, so he gently pushed aside the flowers, unintentionally framing his face. He looked expectantly at Tsuzuki as the mage bounced off the porch and waded into the flowerbed.
"We need to go shopping!" Tsuzuki grinned broadly. Hisoka blinked.
"Shopping? Where? The only place near here is the village, and they--"
"Lets go to Border!"
"Tsuzuki, Border is four days' travel from here--in the opposite direction. We don't have time." He resumed watering the plants.
"But 'Sokaaaa! We both need new clothes! Look at this!" To illustrate his point, Tsuzuki tugged at his dark gray tunic.
"Looks fine to me," Hisoka responded, sparing an appraising glance for the fabric. There was nothing wrong with it at all, unless you counted slightly worn seams, but it wasn't severe wear and tear by any stretch of the definition.
"It's supposed to be black!"
"...Oh. Are all your clothes like that?"
"If I say yes can we go shopping?"
"If you say yes, you can wear dark gray in the mountains."
"But your clothes are a mess too!" Tsuzuki pointed to Hisoka's outfit, a green tunic and undyed pants covered with dirt and grass stains. The dragon glared.
"This is what I wear to garden. My other clothes are all perfectly fine."
"Please, 'Soka-chan?"
Pulling the puppy eyes routine was a low blow, and Tsuzuki knew it. However, low or not it was usually effective. The trick was in getting Hisoka to actually look at him. He thought for a moment as Hisoka spoke.
"I am not hiking four days out and four days back just because you think I need new clothes. That's eight days we'd lose! We need to find that Gate and close it."
"Pretty!"
"Hm?"
"The lilies! They're so pretty. They're the same pale color as your skin, 'Soka-chan. ...Mm." He nodded decisively. "'Soka-chan is pretty too!"
"Idiot, just what are you--" Hisoka spun to face Tsuzuki and was immediately caught by large, tear-filled violet eyes.
"Pleeeease come shopping with me?"
"...Fine."
Tsuzuki's face changed instantly to an overjoyed smile. His tail wagged at top speed as he darted around the lily to glomp Hisoka.
"Thank you 'Soka!"
"Yeah, yeah. Tell me, how are you going to pay for anything? You don't have any money."
"Yes I do."
Hisoka blinked. "You do?"
"Of course! You know how people come by to see me for help sometimes? Well some of them pay me."
"I'm surprised someone like you would accept payment."
"I usually don't, but some of them were very insistent. One woman even baked a few coins into a pie for me, then left before I could return them."
Pouring the last bit of liquid from his watering can over a small rosebush, Hisoka sighed and shook his head.
"We're leaving tomorrow? I guess it'll be okay--especially if it's on the way."
"On the way to where?"
"To the mountains!"
"There aren't any mountains in that direction."
"Tsuzuki...!"
"We'll leave as soon as you change into something suitable." Tsuzuki stepped carefully out of the garden, grinning over his shoulder at Hisoka.
"You've got to be kidding."
"Nope. I'm all set to cast the spell!"
"Spell? You never mentioned a spell!"
"It's a new one I just learned; a transport spell. We'll be at Border in the blink of an eye!"
"Absolutely not! I refuse to be a guinea pig for your magical experiments!"
"I've tested it!" Tsuzuki whined, letting his newly re-appeared ears droop. "Do you really think I'd use a spell on you that wasn't safe?"
Hisoka sighed in response. "I suppose not." He made his way out of the flowerbed, fondly brushing the leaves of certain plants as he passed. Tsuzuki smiled, watching him.
"I almost get the feeling that you like my garden better than you like me, 'Soka-chan." He smiled, teasing, as the dragon joined him on the porch.
"Idiot." Hisoka paused to give him a quick kiss on the cheek as he walked into the cottage. "I do."
"How can you be so cold?" Inside, however, Tsuzuki was laughing. Joking was something new Hisoka had discovered, and seemed to enjoy.
It didn't take long for Hisoka to return, dressed in a fresh green top and pale blue pants. He looked at Tsuzuki doubtfully.
"You're sure this'll work?"
"Completely! It's mostly focus. I've been testing it on little things around the house, and they all went exactly where I wanted them to."
Hisoka eyed Tsuzuki suspiciously. "What kind of little things?"
"Oh, you know," Tsuzuki began to sound a little nervous. "This and that."
"You bastard! So that's why I couldn't find my clothes after my bath!"
"I left you the towel!"
"No wonder you were so damn smug when I came out!"
"Can I help it if I think you're cute?"
"You can help acting on it you pervert! Remind me why I still live with you."
"You and I both know that you put up with me because you love me. Now come here so I can cast the spell."
Hisoka obeyed, muttering under his breath in dragon speech; something that never failed to amuse Tsuzuki.
"Give me your hand. I need to be in contact with you to transport us."
"Why?" Hisoka asked, offering his hand anyway. "You didn't have to be in contact with my clothes."
"No..." The mage took hold of Hisoka's hand, and pulled the dragon close, wrapping his arm around the slim waist. "...but isn't it more fun this way?" He winked as Hisoka hissed another of his draconian insults.
With his free hand, Tsuzuki reached into a pouch hanging from his belt and withdrew a small cloth packet. Hisoka stared at it curiously as the mage explained.
"This is just to make the spell easier. It's a mixture of powdered herbs and stones that heightens this particular type of magic."
"You're absolutely sure this is safe?"
Tsuzuki grinned. "I love you, 'Soka." With that, he opened the packet and tossed it into the air, letting the wind scatter its contents as he pictured the outskirts of the town and shouted: "Border!"
The wind picked up around the two, and the forest blurred into nondescript browns and greens. Hisoka closed his eyes. There was a feeling of motion provided by the spell, and without his sight he could almost imagine that he was flying.
The feeling didn't last, and he felt regret swell within him as all became still once more. He swayed slightly, and took his arms off Tsuzuki--when had he hugged the man?--keeping his eyes closed as he regained his sense of balance.
"Uh oh...."
That was not something he wanted to hear. He turned to look at Tsuzuki, ready to pin the mage's ears back if the spell had gone wrong. The tirade died on his tongue as he stared at...himself.
"Um...'Soka-chan?" Hisoka watched with shocked calm as his body sprouted kitten ears and a matching tail and stared up at himself sorrowfully. "I think something may have gone slightly wrong...."
"Tsuzu...ki...?" The voice that spoke was deeper than he was used to, and definitely not the dragon's voice.
Hisoka's voice answered guiltily from Hisoka's mouth. "Yes." Suddenly his leaf green eyes were overflowing with tears, and the kitten ears drooped. "I'm sorry!"
"Stop that," Hisoka said, automatically. "I look stupid." He looked down to see if he was really who he thought he was. Dark gray met his eyes. He raised a hand, which was covered to the wrist in dark gray. He tugged at his bangs, staring at the chocolate strands with the same calm-before-the-storm attitude that had settled over him.
"Oh, wow! 'Soka-chan, look! They come out as a cat now!"
Hisoka looked to his body, which now housed Tsuzuki. He watched as his good hand reached up to pet the soft feline ears that had sprouted from his hair.
"How do you do that?" He still sounded oddly calm, which was probably what alarmed Tsuzuki.
"Are you okay, Hisoka?" Wide green eyes stared into shocked violet as Tsuzuki studied himself. "You look pale--I mean, I look pale--well, it's you in there, but it's me, so.... Are you okay?"
The violet eyes finally snapped into focus as Hisoka's brain caught up with the switch. Flocks of birds on the edge of the forest took flight, and people outside near the woods looked into the trees as an enraged shout echoed through the air.
"YOU IDIOT!"
})({
"-owowowowowow-"
"Would you shut up?! You've been doing that for the past five minutes!" Tsuzuki and Hisoka emerged from the trees on the path that led to Border. The village itself was only a few minutes walk away.
Tsuzuki rubbed Hisoka's ears, and looked up mournfully. "But it hurts! You never told me you had such sensitive hearing!"
"How do you think you could never sneak up on me, idiot?" The mage's eyes, usually so soft, were hard amethysts with Hisoka's anger behind them. "And would you stop walking?!" Hisoka reached out to grab his own arm.
Tsuzuki pouted at him with the dragon's face, something that Hisoka took a severe dislike to.
"Cut it out. Transport us home. Maybe that'll reverse this."
"But we're here now. We may as well just go shopping, and go back at the end of the day like we'd planned."
"I want my body back, mage."
"Please, 'Soka?"
"Cats weren't made for pouting." The smug smile on his face told Tsuzuki that his trump card had been trashed.
"Fine." Tsuzuki scowled in a way that was almost as forbidding as Hisoka's scowls. "I refuse to go home until I get some new clothes. I'm here, and I need them."
"All right. We'll get your damn clothes, then we'll go home." Hisoka stalked off towards the town. "Let's go!"
"Right!" Tsuzuki bounced along beside his disgruntled apprentice. As they approached the town, he latched onto his arm, and reached up to give Hisoka a kiss on the cheek.
"Knock it off!" Hisoka snarled.
"If you keep pretending to be more angry than you really are you're gonna get a headache."
"What are you--my empathy. You've got my empathy! That's why it feels so blasted empty here!"
"Hmmm...yeah, I guess empty is a good way to put it. Do other people's emotions always get all mixed up with yours?"
"Sort of. The better I know someone, the easier it is to separate their feelings and mine, but in places like this...." He glanced at the smaller figure. "You're going to have a hard time. I don't suppose you know how to shield at all?"
"Shield?"
"Yeah. I learned that if I focus right, I can sort of...not block out, but dampen the emotions of others."
"Oh. I guess I could try it. Is it hard? How do I do it?"
"I can't explain. The only reason I figured it out was because I needed it so badly that it just started happening."
"Oh well. I guess I'll just have to be careful."
"You," Hisoka informed him, "are going to end up with a headache."
"You're always so pessimistic, 'Soka. You should lighten up." He grinned mischievously, and poked a place on his side that he knew to be ticklish. Hisoka gave a sort of surprised squeak, and glared at Tsuzuki.
"I'll get you back for that later."
"I look forward to it."
Hisoka shook his head as they entered the town. "Where do we go for clothes?"
"This way! This way!" Tsuzuki took off, leaving Hisoka to trail behind.
Following his teacher's lead would prove to be highly counterproductive as he led them into, not a clothing shop, but a bakery. Once inside, he darted about, staring at all the different cookies, cakes, pies, and candies with unconcealed excitement.
"Miss!" Tsuzuki began rattling off his order to the startled girl behind the counter. "I want one of those and one of those and three of those and--" Hisoka cut him off.
"Tsuzuki, we're here for clothes. Only. Not sweets."
"But 'Soka!"
Hisoka kept Tsuzuki's voice low as he spoke. "No buts. You aren't putting any of that junk into my body!"
"It's not junk," Tsuzuki hissed back.
"No."
A honey-colored eyebrow raised in challenge. "How are you going to stop me?"
Hisoka gave him a look that meant he had just said something particularly stupid. He patted the small purse of coins hanging from the mage's belt.
"I have the money."
Tsuzuki sniffed, letting tears fall from Hisoka's lime eyes. "How mean...."
"You're still too old to be acting like a child. Lets get what we came for so we can go home." Hisoka made it two steps toward the door before he felt a tug at his belt. He spun to see Tsuzuki holding up the purse, a triumphant smile spread across his face.
"I knew I'd be able to sneak up on you someday! And now for some apple pie!"
"Tsuzuki! Give that back, you idiot!"
"Here now!" Hisoka looked up to see a large man enter the room from a door in the back. "What are you doing yelling at that child?"
"He isn't a child," Hisoka snapped. "He's--" He was silenced as Tsuzuki clamped a hand over his mouth.
"I'm his apprentice. I'm sixteen. Master Hisoka really is very nice to me, he just doesn't want to let me spoil my appetite." Tsuzuki grinned wickedly at the scowl on his face. "But one piece of pie couldn't hurt, right, Hisoka?" He moved his hand away.
"...Just one."
Tsuzuki smiled at the man, who retreated back into the kitchen, satisfied with the explanation. The girl behind the counter cut a slice of apple pie, trying to hold back giggles. Hisoka retrieved the purse from Tsuzuki and paid for the pie. His teacher skipped to a table near the front window to enjoy his treat.
"You really should smile more," Tsuzuki informed him as he sat down. "Smiles suit me best."
"You aren't supposed to compliment yourself."
"It isn't a complement. It's the truth."
"Hurry up and eat."
Tsuzuki complied happily.
They left the bakery minutes later, and Hisoka was relieved to note that the next store they entered was actually the clothing store.
"Pick some stuff out," he ordered. Not that the store had much to offer. It was relatively small, being in such a small town. The only reason they even had a clothing store in addition to a tailor was because the village attracted traders since it was one of the few places to find goods from the Forest of Shadows.
Tsuzuki bounced about, choosing tunics, pants and cloaks, mostly in black, though a few of his choices were blue, and one was a deep purple. He handed the pile to Hisoka and smiled.
"All set?" He turned to take the pile to the cashier, but Tsuzuki stopped him.
"You have to try them on."
"I what?"
"You heard me." Tsuzuki sprouted his cat ears, and a playfully twitching tail. "I want to know everything fits."
Hisoka growled in dragon speech.
Tsuzuki blinked. "Do that some more, too."
"Do what more?"
"Speak dragon."
"Why?"
"Well..." Tsuzuki twiddled his fingers in a way that told Hisoka whatever was coming would probably be something he didn't want to hear. "It's such an odd language, and you move your tongue around so funny to make some of the sounds, and you happen to be a really good kisser, so I thought--"
Hisoka turned scarlet and ducked into a changing room. Moments later, Tsuzuki winced, recognizing a particularly vicious swear Hisoka had interpreted once that was now likely directed at him.
The pile of clothes he had picked out had been rather large, so he realized that his apprentice would be in the changing room for a while. With nothing else to do, Tsuzuki began looking through the clothes for something fit for a pale, fair-haired teenager.
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Hisoka emerged from the dressing room frazzled, and none too happy to note that the shop was missing a certain mage-turned-dragon boy. He looked around, finally spotting a person near the back who may have seen his errant companion. He approached the girl, who was checking her reflection in a mirror near one of the changing rooms.
"Excuse me, miss, have you seen--" The girl spun, and Hisoka nearly choked.
"'Soka-chan! Doesn't it look nice on you?" Tsuzuki spun, modeling the pale green dress and matching sunhat for his shocked apprentice.
"...."
"'Soka-chan?" Tsuzuki 'eep'-ed and backed away as anger rolled off Hisoka in waves.
"Get. It. Off. NOW!"
"Okay!" Tsuzuki ducked back into the changing room, and switched clothes faster than he ever had in his life, despite having one arm in a sling.
As soon as he stepped out into the store again, Hisoka buried him under the mountain of clothes he had picked out.
"They fit. Buy them. I'll be outside." He turned, tossing the coin pouch over his shoulder to land on top of the pile, and walked out of the shop.
Tsuzuki sighed as he watched him go. He had really hoped that Hisoka would enjoy himself today. It had taken a lot of work to look up the body-switching spell and make the powder, but he had hoped the results would have been worth it. Unfortunately, Hisoka wasn't having fun at all.
It took a considerable amount of time for the shopkeeper to total up the cost of his clothes and fold them into bags. By the time Tsuzuki had finally left the shop, his worry had increased. Hisoka would definitely be angry after such a long wait.
Walking out of the store, he spotted his body sitting hunched on a nearby bench next to a white box. Tsuzuki approached carefully, dragging the bags one-handed, and hoping Hisoka wouldn't scold him. He sat down on the other side of the box, watching his apprentice carefully.
Purple eyes remained focused on the ground as Hisoka spoke.
"Sorry."
Tsuzuki blinked. "Eh?"
"For yelling at you. I've just been a little nervous today."
"Why?"
"I can't...read anybody. I feel like I don't know what's going on around me. I guess it puts me off balance." He nudged the box toward Tsuzuki. "Here."
"What is it?" Hisoka didn't answer, but Tsuzuki hadn't really expected him to. He opened the box, grinning hugely to see that it contained a delectable-looking apple pie.
"Thank you Hisoka!" Tsuzuki scooted closer to hug him, appreciating how Hisoka's body fit right under his chin.
"Don't be so cuddly," Hisoka muttered. "You'll spoil my reputation."
"You don't have a reputation here. You can be yourself!"
"How can I be myself in your body?"
Sparkling green eyes peered up at Tsuzuki's face. "Hisoka is Hisoka. Always."
For a moment, surprise registered on the older face, then one of Hisoka's tiny, unsure smiles appeared. The expression was a far cry from Tsuzuki's joyous grins, but nevertheless, the mage took pleasure in the change.
"I told you I looked better with a smile."
Hisoka reached over and ruffled his honey blond hair, smoothing it over with his fingers afterwards.
"Mmm...." Tsuzuki hummed with pleasure, closing leaf green eyes and leaning into the touch. "That feels nice.... I'll have to remember to do this more often."
"...Idiot."
Tsuzuki responded to the feeling, rather than the word. "I love you too, 'Soka."
For several minutes, neither moved except for Hisoka running fingers through his soft hair. It really was nice, he decided, not being bombarded with the emotions of others for once. He was completely separate from everyone. The only thing about it was that after being used to feeling others' emotions, the emptiness left in their stead was sort of...lonely.
Hisoka jumped as Tsuzuki snuggled closer to him, tucking his head under his chin. He looked down into his own bright green eyes, wondering why the other had shifted.
"You aren't alone." Hisoka blinked as Tsuzuki offered him a reassuring smile. "I'm right here with you. I won't leave you. So why are you lonely?"
"I...I'm all alone inside." He tapped the side of his head. "It's the first time I can remember when I didn't feel anyone but myself. I can't even get the slightest hint of what you're feeling."
Tilting his head, Tsuzuki asked, "Isn't it better?"
"Well, in general I could get used to it but...."
"But...?"
"I don't like not being able to feel you." He ducked his head, trying to conceal a blush behind untidy chocolate bangs. "Your presence is always so...so...I don't know. Without it...it's like you're not really here almost."
"Do you want to go home now?"
"Please."
"You sure you don't want to enjoy it a bit longer? Your arm sort of hurts, you know."
"I'll deal with it."
"All right. Take out the packet of powder in that pouch on my belt, would you? And stand up."
Hisoka did as he was told, reaching for the bags as Tsuzuki leaned against him.
"I'm going to have to use my body for this. My magic didn't transfer. Put your arm around me, and hold the powder in the other hand. I'm going to use your empathy to sort of merge us, so that I can cast the spell with my magic, but from your body. All you have to do is throw the powder when I tell you to."
Hisoka nodded and pulled his body a little closer to make it easier for Tsuzuki. Some of the townspeople were staring, which made him uneasy, but Tsuzuki was already working on the spell, so it was too late to move to another location. Plus, the thought of what could happen if the spell went awry was worse than the thought of a few stares from people he may never even see again.
Hisoka looked down at his face to see that it finally bore a serious expression. Tsuzuki was focused on the spell and drawing magic to cast it. He felt the mage's presence within his mind, and he in turn peered into Tsuzuki's to see what he was doing mentally for the spell.
"Now!" The call was sudden, and Hisoka threw the packet into the air automatically. The wind picked up and the world blurred, just as it had the first time, and a few seconds later, Hisoka found himself in the middle of the flower gardens with Tsuzuki.
He looked up at Tsuzuki, glad to note that he was looking at the mage's body. Then, just to be sure, he looked down at himself. He brushed his own pale hand over his shirt, and cast, and then reached up to touch his face. He sighed in relief as his empathy registered Tsuzuki. He was definitely back in his own body.
Hisoka scowled, and reached up to swat Tsuzuki's head. The mage automatically grew hurt puppy ears and began leaking tears.
"What was that for?"
"Because you switched us on purpose, you idiot! I saw it when you merged us!"
"But Hisoka...!"
The dragon continued to scowl, absently rubbing his jaw.
"Hey, why are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Rubbing your chin like that."
"It hurts. All that smiling you did must've stretched my face out funny."
Tsuzuki laughed. "Doesn't that mean that you should smile more to get used to it?"
"No. It doesn't. It means that you're going to promise to never do that again if you want this back." Hisoka snatched the apple pie he had bought.
"Never ever again?"
"At least not without permission."
"Okay, okay. Fine. I promise. Can I have the pie now?"
Hisoka rolled his eyes, and held out the box.
"Just a sec." The dragon watched as Tsuzuki dropped his bags and removed his cloak to spread it over the grass. "Let's have a picnic!" He dropped onto the cloak, grinning, and patted a spot next to himself. "Sit down."
Nudging the bags of clothing further aside, Hisoka complied. He handed Tsuzuki the pie, watching with amusement as the mage opened the box and cut a slice with a small belt knife.
As Tsuzuki munched on the pie, Hisoka shifted so that he could lean against the mage's shoulder without being in the way. He yawned and shut his eyes, completely relaxed.
Tsuzuki smiled down at him and closed the box. He pulled the dragon carefully into his lap, wrapping his arms around him comfortably.
"Hey, 'Soka-chan...wanna see if all that talking you did in dragon while trying on clothes had any effect?"
"Idiot."
Tsuzuki grinned, correctly interpreting Hisoka's response as an invitation, and set about enjoying a much better treat than apple pie.
At any rate, thank you all so much for reviewing, and I'm very sorry about the waiting. The fact that I even got this posted is amazing, considering I hadn't finished a long story in about three years. If you will excuse me, I am going to celebrate with a bag of wintergreen mints and some anime...or maybe I'll just sleep for once.
})({
"'Soka-chan!"
Hisoka looked up from the patch of garden he had been watering. A particularly large lily was blocking his view of the porch and its occupant, so he gently pushed aside the flowers, unintentionally framing his face. He looked expectantly at Tsuzuki as the mage bounced off the porch and waded into the flowerbed.
"We need to go shopping!" Tsuzuki grinned broadly. Hisoka blinked.
"Shopping? Where? The only place near here is the village, and they--"
"Lets go to Border!"
"Tsuzuki, Border is four days' travel from here--in the opposite direction. We don't have time." He resumed watering the plants.
"But 'Sokaaaa! We both need new clothes! Look at this!" To illustrate his point, Tsuzuki tugged at his dark gray tunic.
"Looks fine to me," Hisoka responded, sparing an appraising glance for the fabric. There was nothing wrong with it at all, unless you counted slightly worn seams, but it wasn't severe wear and tear by any stretch of the definition.
"It's supposed to be black!"
"...Oh. Are all your clothes like that?"
"If I say yes can we go shopping?"
"If you say yes, you can wear dark gray in the mountains."
"But your clothes are a mess too!" Tsuzuki pointed to Hisoka's outfit, a green tunic and undyed pants covered with dirt and grass stains. The dragon glared.
"This is what I wear to garden. My other clothes are all perfectly fine."
"Please, 'Soka-chan?"
Pulling the puppy eyes routine was a low blow, and Tsuzuki knew it. However, low or not it was usually effective. The trick was in getting Hisoka to actually look at him. He thought for a moment as Hisoka spoke.
"I am not hiking four days out and four days back just because you think I need new clothes. That's eight days we'd lose! We need to find that Gate and close it."
"Pretty!"
"Hm?"
"The lilies! They're so pretty. They're the same pale color as your skin, 'Soka-chan. ...Mm." He nodded decisively. "'Soka-chan is pretty too!"
"Idiot, just what are you--" Hisoka spun to face Tsuzuki and was immediately caught by large, tear-filled violet eyes.
"Pleeeease come shopping with me?"
"...Fine."
Tsuzuki's face changed instantly to an overjoyed smile. His tail wagged at top speed as he darted around the lily to glomp Hisoka.
"Thank you 'Soka!"
"Yeah, yeah. Tell me, how are you going to pay for anything? You don't have any money."
"Yes I do."
Hisoka blinked. "You do?"
"Of course! You know how people come by to see me for help sometimes? Well some of them pay me."
"I'm surprised someone like you would accept payment."
"I usually don't, but some of them were very insistent. One woman even baked a few coins into a pie for me, then left before I could return them."
Pouring the last bit of liquid from his watering can over a small rosebush, Hisoka sighed and shook his head.
"We're leaving tomorrow? I guess it'll be okay--especially if it's on the way."
"On the way to where?"
"To the mountains!"
"There aren't any mountains in that direction."
"Tsuzuki...!"
"We'll leave as soon as you change into something suitable." Tsuzuki stepped carefully out of the garden, grinning over his shoulder at Hisoka.
"You've got to be kidding."
"Nope. I'm all set to cast the spell!"
"Spell? You never mentioned a spell!"
"It's a new one I just learned; a transport spell. We'll be at Border in the blink of an eye!"
"Absolutely not! I refuse to be a guinea pig for your magical experiments!"
"I've tested it!" Tsuzuki whined, letting his newly re-appeared ears droop. "Do you really think I'd use a spell on you that wasn't safe?"
Hisoka sighed in response. "I suppose not." He made his way out of the flowerbed, fondly brushing the leaves of certain plants as he passed. Tsuzuki smiled, watching him.
"I almost get the feeling that you like my garden better than you like me, 'Soka-chan." He smiled, teasing, as the dragon joined him on the porch.
"Idiot." Hisoka paused to give him a quick kiss on the cheek as he walked into the cottage. "I do."
"How can you be so cold?" Inside, however, Tsuzuki was laughing. Joking was something new Hisoka had discovered, and seemed to enjoy.
It didn't take long for Hisoka to return, dressed in a fresh green top and pale blue pants. He looked at Tsuzuki doubtfully.
"You're sure this'll work?"
"Completely! It's mostly focus. I've been testing it on little things around the house, and they all went exactly where I wanted them to."
Hisoka eyed Tsuzuki suspiciously. "What kind of little things?"
"Oh, you know," Tsuzuki began to sound a little nervous. "This and that."
"You bastard! So that's why I couldn't find my clothes after my bath!"
"I left you the towel!"
"No wonder you were so damn smug when I came out!"
"Can I help it if I think you're cute?"
"You can help acting on it you pervert! Remind me why I still live with you."
"You and I both know that you put up with me because you love me. Now come here so I can cast the spell."
Hisoka obeyed, muttering under his breath in dragon speech; something that never failed to amuse Tsuzuki.
"Give me your hand. I need to be in contact with you to transport us."
"Why?" Hisoka asked, offering his hand anyway. "You didn't have to be in contact with my clothes."
"No..." The mage took hold of Hisoka's hand, and pulled the dragon close, wrapping his arm around the slim waist. "...but isn't it more fun this way?" He winked as Hisoka hissed another of his draconian insults.
With his free hand, Tsuzuki reached into a pouch hanging from his belt and withdrew a small cloth packet. Hisoka stared at it curiously as the mage explained.
"This is just to make the spell easier. It's a mixture of powdered herbs and stones that heightens this particular type of magic."
"You're absolutely sure this is safe?"
Tsuzuki grinned. "I love you, 'Soka." With that, he opened the packet and tossed it into the air, letting the wind scatter its contents as he pictured the outskirts of the town and shouted: "Border!"
The wind picked up around the two, and the forest blurred into nondescript browns and greens. Hisoka closed his eyes. There was a feeling of motion provided by the spell, and without his sight he could almost imagine that he was flying.
The feeling didn't last, and he felt regret swell within him as all became still once more. He swayed slightly, and took his arms off Tsuzuki--when had he hugged the man?--keeping his eyes closed as he regained his sense of balance.
"Uh oh...."
That was not something he wanted to hear. He turned to look at Tsuzuki, ready to pin the mage's ears back if the spell had gone wrong. The tirade died on his tongue as he stared at...himself.
"Um...'Soka-chan?" Hisoka watched with shocked calm as his body sprouted kitten ears and a matching tail and stared up at himself sorrowfully. "I think something may have gone slightly wrong...."
"Tsuzu...ki...?" The voice that spoke was deeper than he was used to, and definitely not the dragon's voice.
Hisoka's voice answered guiltily from Hisoka's mouth. "Yes." Suddenly his leaf green eyes were overflowing with tears, and the kitten ears drooped. "I'm sorry!"
"Stop that," Hisoka said, automatically. "I look stupid." He looked down to see if he was really who he thought he was. Dark gray met his eyes. He raised a hand, which was covered to the wrist in dark gray. He tugged at his bangs, staring at the chocolate strands with the same calm-before-the-storm attitude that had settled over him.
"Oh, wow! 'Soka-chan, look! They come out as a cat now!"
Hisoka looked to his body, which now housed Tsuzuki. He watched as his good hand reached up to pet the soft feline ears that had sprouted from his hair.
"How do you do that?" He still sounded oddly calm, which was probably what alarmed Tsuzuki.
"Are you okay, Hisoka?" Wide green eyes stared into shocked violet as Tsuzuki studied himself. "You look pale--I mean, I look pale--well, it's you in there, but it's me, so.... Are you okay?"
The violet eyes finally snapped into focus as Hisoka's brain caught up with the switch. Flocks of birds on the edge of the forest took flight, and people outside near the woods looked into the trees as an enraged shout echoed through the air.
"YOU IDIOT!"
})({
"-owowowowowow-"
"Would you shut up?! You've been doing that for the past five minutes!" Tsuzuki and Hisoka emerged from the trees on the path that led to Border. The village itself was only a few minutes walk away.
Tsuzuki rubbed Hisoka's ears, and looked up mournfully. "But it hurts! You never told me you had such sensitive hearing!"
"How do you think you could never sneak up on me, idiot?" The mage's eyes, usually so soft, were hard amethysts with Hisoka's anger behind them. "And would you stop walking?!" Hisoka reached out to grab his own arm.
Tsuzuki pouted at him with the dragon's face, something that Hisoka took a severe dislike to.
"Cut it out. Transport us home. Maybe that'll reverse this."
"But we're here now. We may as well just go shopping, and go back at the end of the day like we'd planned."
"I want my body back, mage."
"Please, 'Soka?"
"Cats weren't made for pouting." The smug smile on his face told Tsuzuki that his trump card had been trashed.
"Fine." Tsuzuki scowled in a way that was almost as forbidding as Hisoka's scowls. "I refuse to go home until I get some new clothes. I'm here, and I need them."
"All right. We'll get your damn clothes, then we'll go home." Hisoka stalked off towards the town. "Let's go!"
"Right!" Tsuzuki bounced along beside his disgruntled apprentice. As they approached the town, he latched onto his arm, and reached up to give Hisoka a kiss on the cheek.
"Knock it off!" Hisoka snarled.
"If you keep pretending to be more angry than you really are you're gonna get a headache."
"What are you--my empathy. You've got my empathy! That's why it feels so blasted empty here!"
"Hmmm...yeah, I guess empty is a good way to put it. Do other people's emotions always get all mixed up with yours?"
"Sort of. The better I know someone, the easier it is to separate their feelings and mine, but in places like this...." He glanced at the smaller figure. "You're going to have a hard time. I don't suppose you know how to shield at all?"
"Shield?"
"Yeah. I learned that if I focus right, I can sort of...not block out, but dampen the emotions of others."
"Oh. I guess I could try it. Is it hard? How do I do it?"
"I can't explain. The only reason I figured it out was because I needed it so badly that it just started happening."
"Oh well. I guess I'll just have to be careful."
"You," Hisoka informed him, "are going to end up with a headache."
"You're always so pessimistic, 'Soka. You should lighten up." He grinned mischievously, and poked a place on his side that he knew to be ticklish. Hisoka gave a sort of surprised squeak, and glared at Tsuzuki.
"I'll get you back for that later."
"I look forward to it."
Hisoka shook his head as they entered the town. "Where do we go for clothes?"
"This way! This way!" Tsuzuki took off, leaving Hisoka to trail behind.
Following his teacher's lead would prove to be highly counterproductive as he led them into, not a clothing shop, but a bakery. Once inside, he darted about, staring at all the different cookies, cakes, pies, and candies with unconcealed excitement.
"Miss!" Tsuzuki began rattling off his order to the startled girl behind the counter. "I want one of those and one of those and three of those and--" Hisoka cut him off.
"Tsuzuki, we're here for clothes. Only. Not sweets."
"But 'Soka!"
Hisoka kept Tsuzuki's voice low as he spoke. "No buts. You aren't putting any of that junk into my body!"
"It's not junk," Tsuzuki hissed back.
"No."
A honey-colored eyebrow raised in challenge. "How are you going to stop me?"
Hisoka gave him a look that meant he had just said something particularly stupid. He patted the small purse of coins hanging from the mage's belt.
"I have the money."
Tsuzuki sniffed, letting tears fall from Hisoka's lime eyes. "How mean...."
"You're still too old to be acting like a child. Lets get what we came for so we can go home." Hisoka made it two steps toward the door before he felt a tug at his belt. He spun to see Tsuzuki holding up the purse, a triumphant smile spread across his face.
"I knew I'd be able to sneak up on you someday! And now for some apple pie!"
"Tsuzuki! Give that back, you idiot!"
"Here now!" Hisoka looked up to see a large man enter the room from a door in the back. "What are you doing yelling at that child?"
"He isn't a child," Hisoka snapped. "He's--" He was silenced as Tsuzuki clamped a hand over his mouth.
"I'm his apprentice. I'm sixteen. Master Hisoka really is very nice to me, he just doesn't want to let me spoil my appetite." Tsuzuki grinned wickedly at the scowl on his face. "But one piece of pie couldn't hurt, right, Hisoka?" He moved his hand away.
"...Just one."
Tsuzuki smiled at the man, who retreated back into the kitchen, satisfied with the explanation. The girl behind the counter cut a slice of apple pie, trying to hold back giggles. Hisoka retrieved the purse from Tsuzuki and paid for the pie. His teacher skipped to a table near the front window to enjoy his treat.
"You really should smile more," Tsuzuki informed him as he sat down. "Smiles suit me best."
"You aren't supposed to compliment yourself."
"It isn't a complement. It's the truth."
"Hurry up and eat."
Tsuzuki complied happily.
They left the bakery minutes later, and Hisoka was relieved to note that the next store they entered was actually the clothing store.
"Pick some stuff out," he ordered. Not that the store had much to offer. It was relatively small, being in such a small town. The only reason they even had a clothing store in addition to a tailor was because the village attracted traders since it was one of the few places to find goods from the Forest of Shadows.
Tsuzuki bounced about, choosing tunics, pants and cloaks, mostly in black, though a few of his choices were blue, and one was a deep purple. He handed the pile to Hisoka and smiled.
"All set?" He turned to take the pile to the cashier, but Tsuzuki stopped him.
"You have to try them on."
"I what?"
"You heard me." Tsuzuki sprouted his cat ears, and a playfully twitching tail. "I want to know everything fits."
Hisoka growled in dragon speech.
Tsuzuki blinked. "Do that some more, too."
"Do what more?"
"Speak dragon."
"Why?"
"Well..." Tsuzuki twiddled his fingers in a way that told Hisoka whatever was coming would probably be something he didn't want to hear. "It's such an odd language, and you move your tongue around so funny to make some of the sounds, and you happen to be a really good kisser, so I thought--"
Hisoka turned scarlet and ducked into a changing room. Moments later, Tsuzuki winced, recognizing a particularly vicious swear Hisoka had interpreted once that was now likely directed at him.
The pile of clothes he had picked out had been rather large, so he realized that his apprentice would be in the changing room for a while. With nothing else to do, Tsuzuki began looking through the clothes for something fit for a pale, fair-haired teenager.
})({
Hisoka emerged from the dressing room frazzled, and none too happy to note that the shop was missing a certain mage-turned-dragon boy. He looked around, finally spotting a person near the back who may have seen his errant companion. He approached the girl, who was checking her reflection in a mirror near one of the changing rooms.
"Excuse me, miss, have you seen--" The girl spun, and Hisoka nearly choked.
"'Soka-chan! Doesn't it look nice on you?" Tsuzuki spun, modeling the pale green dress and matching sunhat for his shocked apprentice.
"...."
"'Soka-chan?" Tsuzuki 'eep'-ed and backed away as anger rolled off Hisoka in waves.
"Get. It. Off. NOW!"
"Okay!" Tsuzuki ducked back into the changing room, and switched clothes faster than he ever had in his life, despite having one arm in a sling.
As soon as he stepped out into the store again, Hisoka buried him under the mountain of clothes he had picked out.
"They fit. Buy them. I'll be outside." He turned, tossing the coin pouch over his shoulder to land on top of the pile, and walked out of the shop.
Tsuzuki sighed as he watched him go. He had really hoped that Hisoka would enjoy himself today. It had taken a lot of work to look up the body-switching spell and make the powder, but he had hoped the results would have been worth it. Unfortunately, Hisoka wasn't having fun at all.
It took a considerable amount of time for the shopkeeper to total up the cost of his clothes and fold them into bags. By the time Tsuzuki had finally left the shop, his worry had increased. Hisoka would definitely be angry after such a long wait.
Walking out of the store, he spotted his body sitting hunched on a nearby bench next to a white box. Tsuzuki approached carefully, dragging the bags one-handed, and hoping Hisoka wouldn't scold him. He sat down on the other side of the box, watching his apprentice carefully.
Purple eyes remained focused on the ground as Hisoka spoke.
"Sorry."
Tsuzuki blinked. "Eh?"
"For yelling at you. I've just been a little nervous today."
"Why?"
"I can't...read anybody. I feel like I don't know what's going on around me. I guess it puts me off balance." He nudged the box toward Tsuzuki. "Here."
"What is it?" Hisoka didn't answer, but Tsuzuki hadn't really expected him to. He opened the box, grinning hugely to see that it contained a delectable-looking apple pie.
"Thank you Hisoka!" Tsuzuki scooted closer to hug him, appreciating how Hisoka's body fit right under his chin.
"Don't be so cuddly," Hisoka muttered. "You'll spoil my reputation."
"You don't have a reputation here. You can be yourself!"
"How can I be myself in your body?"
Sparkling green eyes peered up at Tsuzuki's face. "Hisoka is Hisoka. Always."
For a moment, surprise registered on the older face, then one of Hisoka's tiny, unsure smiles appeared. The expression was a far cry from Tsuzuki's joyous grins, but nevertheless, the mage took pleasure in the change.
"I told you I looked better with a smile."
Hisoka reached over and ruffled his honey blond hair, smoothing it over with his fingers afterwards.
"Mmm...." Tsuzuki hummed with pleasure, closing leaf green eyes and leaning into the touch. "That feels nice.... I'll have to remember to do this more often."
"...Idiot."
Tsuzuki responded to the feeling, rather than the word. "I love you too, 'Soka."
For several minutes, neither moved except for Hisoka running fingers through his soft hair. It really was nice, he decided, not being bombarded with the emotions of others for once. He was completely separate from everyone. The only thing about it was that after being used to feeling others' emotions, the emptiness left in their stead was sort of...lonely.
Hisoka jumped as Tsuzuki snuggled closer to him, tucking his head under his chin. He looked down into his own bright green eyes, wondering why the other had shifted.
"You aren't alone." Hisoka blinked as Tsuzuki offered him a reassuring smile. "I'm right here with you. I won't leave you. So why are you lonely?"
"I...I'm all alone inside." He tapped the side of his head. "It's the first time I can remember when I didn't feel anyone but myself. I can't even get the slightest hint of what you're feeling."
Tilting his head, Tsuzuki asked, "Isn't it better?"
"Well, in general I could get used to it but...."
"But...?"
"I don't like not being able to feel you." He ducked his head, trying to conceal a blush behind untidy chocolate bangs. "Your presence is always so...so...I don't know. Without it...it's like you're not really here almost."
"Do you want to go home now?"
"Please."
"You sure you don't want to enjoy it a bit longer? Your arm sort of hurts, you know."
"I'll deal with it."
"All right. Take out the packet of powder in that pouch on my belt, would you? And stand up."
Hisoka did as he was told, reaching for the bags as Tsuzuki leaned against him.
"I'm going to have to use my body for this. My magic didn't transfer. Put your arm around me, and hold the powder in the other hand. I'm going to use your empathy to sort of merge us, so that I can cast the spell with my magic, but from your body. All you have to do is throw the powder when I tell you to."
Hisoka nodded and pulled his body a little closer to make it easier for Tsuzuki. Some of the townspeople were staring, which made him uneasy, but Tsuzuki was already working on the spell, so it was too late to move to another location. Plus, the thought of what could happen if the spell went awry was worse than the thought of a few stares from people he may never even see again.
Hisoka looked down at his face to see that it finally bore a serious expression. Tsuzuki was focused on the spell and drawing magic to cast it. He felt the mage's presence within his mind, and he in turn peered into Tsuzuki's to see what he was doing mentally for the spell.
"Now!" The call was sudden, and Hisoka threw the packet into the air automatically. The wind picked up and the world blurred, just as it had the first time, and a few seconds later, Hisoka found himself in the middle of the flower gardens with Tsuzuki.
He looked up at Tsuzuki, glad to note that he was looking at the mage's body. Then, just to be sure, he looked down at himself. He brushed his own pale hand over his shirt, and cast, and then reached up to touch his face. He sighed in relief as his empathy registered Tsuzuki. He was definitely back in his own body.
Hisoka scowled, and reached up to swat Tsuzuki's head. The mage automatically grew hurt puppy ears and began leaking tears.
"What was that for?"
"Because you switched us on purpose, you idiot! I saw it when you merged us!"
"But Hisoka...!"
The dragon continued to scowl, absently rubbing his jaw.
"Hey, why are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Rubbing your chin like that."
"It hurts. All that smiling you did must've stretched my face out funny."
Tsuzuki laughed. "Doesn't that mean that you should smile more to get used to it?"
"No. It doesn't. It means that you're going to promise to never do that again if you want this back." Hisoka snatched the apple pie he had bought.
"Never ever again?"
"At least not without permission."
"Okay, okay. Fine. I promise. Can I have the pie now?"
Hisoka rolled his eyes, and held out the box.
"Just a sec." The dragon watched as Tsuzuki dropped his bags and removed his cloak to spread it over the grass. "Let's have a picnic!" He dropped onto the cloak, grinning, and patted a spot next to himself. "Sit down."
Nudging the bags of clothing further aside, Hisoka complied. He handed Tsuzuki the pie, watching with amusement as the mage opened the box and cut a slice with a small belt knife.
As Tsuzuki munched on the pie, Hisoka shifted so that he could lean against the mage's shoulder without being in the way. He yawned and shut his eyes, completely relaxed.
Tsuzuki smiled down at him and closed the box. He pulled the dragon carefully into his lap, wrapping his arms around him comfortably.
"Hey, 'Soka-chan...wanna see if all that talking you did in dragon while trying on clothes had any effect?"
"Idiot."
Tsuzuki grinned, correctly interpreting Hisoka's response as an invitation, and set about enjoying a much better treat than apple pie.