Disclaimer- in spite of my near constant wishing, I still do not own Yami no Matsuei or any of the bishies contained therein. I am merely borrowing them for a short span of time. And doing things to them that would make Hisoka KILL me...gomen Hisoka-chan!

As always, reviews are loved, and really do make me update faster. I am not just saying that. Thank you amazing people who are reading this and leaving me reviews. Makes me feel all warm and snuggly inside.

-Fireun

"BON!" Watari called out, waving happily. When the boy only sped up his pace in acknowledgement a small frown crossed Watari's usually sunny face. Jogging a little, Watari gained on the retreating shinigami. "Bon! Wait up! I need to talk to you!"

"I would rather not right now, Watari. I am tired; it has been a long day." Hisoka's voice was tense, his usual curt method of communication taken to a whole new level. When the scientist reached out to touch his shoulder, Hisoka whipped around, glaring. "I am not in the mood today, Watari!"

Watari blinked. Hisoka's face was cherry red from blushing, which mostly ruined the death glare his eyes were trying to hard to produce. "Are you still feeling ill? You didn't look so great at the office today. Perhaps something from the lab..."

"It would be more likely to kill me than cure me." Hisoka snapped, trying his damnedest to get the scientist to go away. Before I end up doing something weird like try, or try to kiss him too. GAH! What the hell is WRONG with me today?! Watari's face fell, and Hisoka experienced a moment of victory before the blond shinigami's face broke into another beaming smile.

"That's ok. You said you weren't sick anyway. Just tired." Resting his chin in his right hand for a moment he tapped his index finger against his cheek once or twice before speaking again. "Your being so tired wouldn't have anything to do with Tsuzuki, would it?"

The scientist appeared serious, but Hisoka felt a small twinge of amusement, and his scowl grew even deeper, a wonderful accompaniment to the blush he couldn't seem to get rid of. "Sure, I am tired, as always, of being the partner of such an idiotic slacker!" Apparently a flip answer was not going to get him out of this conversation, for Watari only smiled.

"You realize, bon, that we are all just as likely to be concerned about you are we are about Tsuzuki. You are not carrying yourself in your usual way. This is cause for concern. Tsuzuki is more depressed than usual. Another cause for concern. To all appearances, the two things are related. Why else would you be avoiding the poor man as if he were made of...well....one of my failed potions?"

'Why did I tell Tatsumi I would do this again? Bon looks like he is either going to implode on the spot or choke me to death. That really is a remarkable purple his face is turning. I wonder if it is ire or embarrassment. I would think the muscle tension would be from anger, but once can never be too sure. Hmm...I wonder if that fist is intended for me. It looks like it, from the way he is slowly lifting it, and I am sure that death glare is purely on my behalf...Though he really should just get the hint and go give Tsuzuki a hug or something. It would make everyone's life easier. Aha, yep, that fist is for me. Just as I thought.'

Fuming, Hisoka threw a punch. Finally something he could unleash some of his confusion and stress onto. Watari took the attack with good grace, almost casually ducking to the side and stepping back a few feet. It was the other mans honest concern that caused Hisoka's backside to meet up with the ground for the second time in one day. The part of him that was very angry was quelled by the part that was begging for an explanation.

Watari winced as Hisoka turned his wide eyes up at him from where the boy had sat with a graceless thud in the middle of the pathway. He had never seen the poor thing look so utterly...defeated.

"Watari? Could we talk?"

Byakko nudged his master awake, grinning at the blearily happy look in deep purple eyes as Tsuzuki yawned and stretched. "If you don't want to miss eating some dinner today, you might want to think about moving."

"I had the most wonderful dream Byakko!" Tsuzuki beamed a sunny smile at his Shikigami, eyes gleaming as he came fully awake. "I was kissed! And then he took me out for ice cream! Chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and TWO cherries! And there was SO much whipped cream...!"

Byakko snorted a laugh that was threatening by the second to become a full out guffaw. "Tsuzuki, you are indeed a rare person." He waited until the Shinigami was done frolicking around in pure joy before standing and stretching. "Dinner?"

"Dessert?"

"You are impossible. Dinner first, then dessert." A wicked thought crossed the gods mind. 'That could work...' He made sure to put on his best 'innocent kitty' face before speaking again. "Why don't you see if Hisoka has had dinner yet? Company is always better for meals, and he worked hard today. He could most likely use the cheering up!" Byakko watched a progression of emotions move through purple eyes, and had to stifle a triumphant grin as Tsuzuki settled on a sort of cautious excitement.

"That is a good idea. I feel bad about leaving him alone all day. He must be livid with me..."

"Well, that is decided. If you don't mind, I will return home now. I have been gone quite some time and I need to think of some reason apart from pillow that you summoned me for such a span of time."

Tsuzuki grinned apologetically, thanked his Shiki, and ambled off to find Hisoka. 'Now where would he want to eat...'