A/N: Oh my gosh... I totally forgot about the territory part... meow... been away from YnM too much I guess.. well she just HAD to discontinue it... X too... haish... anw thx for pointing tt out CPV-Phantoms-CTFA....

In Death...

[An X/1999 and Yami no Matsuei crossover fic]

Disclaimer: same as chapt 1

Chapter 8

Subaru looked at the sakura petals that had been arranged in the form of a pentacle in the center of his room and sighed. A few days ago, when his blood was still boiling, he would have genuinely been upset by the display. Now, however, he really could not be bothered.

After their fight at the Sakura three days back, Subaru had been receiving 'gifts' everyday. They generally came in the form of Seishirou-related mementos. A veterinarian's coat today, a dead puppy tomorrow, a bloody golden eye the day after. At first, it had unnerved and irked him, which was surprising since he had thought himself beyond emotions. After all, he had simply watched from a side as Kamui died at the hands of Fuuma. It was not his dilemma of choosing between his loyalties as a Seal or Angel that stopped him. He simply had not cared, letting the boy that had become like a brother to him die.

Now, it became clear to him that his emotions had not died. They had simply refocused themselves on only one thing: Seishirou.

It was after he came to terms with this that Subaru realized his stupidity. The saying that people only saw what they wanted to see was certainly right. He only saw all the events of the past week as another elaborate scam by Seishirou only because he wanted to. The real Seishirou would never go into a partnership. When he taunted him, it was always personal, intimate, never through the hands of another.

Subaru did not know whether he should be happy or sad at this piece of information. On one hand, he did not care for the torment. On the other, the torment meant that Seishirou still bothered with him, that he had not been discarded for another more captivating toy.

In any case, he was impressed with Muraki's information network, having found out so much on his past with Seishirou. For his trouble, Subaru decided he would go along with whatever game he was playing and display the expected reactions. It would be highly impolite to let such hard work go to waste.

Funny how I'm starting to think like Seishirou-san, Subaru thought with a bitter smile gracing his face. Wonder how he'll take it if his once-favourite toy were to be destroyed by someone else's hand...

With that lingering thought, Subaru went into an extended display of shock, quivering and object smashing. It was not like any of his material possessions meant anything to him anyway.

'Che... I really I shouldn't have let Tsuzuki and Hisoka handle this case, however busy Wakaba and Terazuma may have been.' Kanoe-Kachou mumbled under his breath. No matter how he grumbled at Tsuzuki's inefficiency or concurred with Tatsumi's opinion of him as the bane of Enma-cho, he still cared too much for Tsuzuki than was good for him. Then again, everyone did. Even Terazuma, though he was loathe to admit it.

For Kanoe, he had seen the helpless and fragile boy (despite his abilities and age, one just can't think of him as a 'man') grow slowly in the past seventy odd years. How long had it been since Tsuzuki would look at everyone with an awkward smile that did not quite reach his eyes? Kanoe could not really remember. That Tsuzuki was not even recognizable as the clumsy oaf that was now constantly eating big chunks out of the Enma-cho budget. Gone was the shaky upward curve of his lips, having been replaced by a genuine blinding grin. The look of guilt that constantly haunted his eyes had also been shed to make way for the new radiance that shone at the littlest of pleasures. Chocolates, sweets, flowers, the sun, anything. Perhaps most remarkable was how he managed to keep his innocence even when he killed everyday to survive. He had chosen to deal with it differently, no longer drowning himself in anguish and self-loathing. Though Tatsumi always thought he had let Tsuzuki down, Kanoe knew otherwise. It had been after he left that Tsuzuki realized his distress was affecting everyone around him and had made the necessary adjustments. At first, the smiles had been forced and overly enthusiastic. In time, they had toned down and become a uniquely-Tsuzuki smile that one had to bite down fiercely on one's lips not to smile back in return.

In his own way, he had become the protected little prince of Enma-cho.

And Heaven help anyone who dared to mar the perfect glow this prince radiated. Not even Enma-dai-oh would be allowed to hurt him. Kanoe had no idea what his plans for him were, only that they were there, and he could only hope for the best.

'You could not have helped it. It is Tokyo's peak season and Kyushu is quiet as a mouse. Besides, hadn't Tatsumi sent a message back saying that the case was almost finished and they would be back by tomorrow?' Even so, Kanoe could not help the building trepidation he was feeling as he waited for their return.

Putting Muraki aside, he still had his reservations of the ex-Sakurazukamori. He really did not want any complications right from the beginning of his partnership with Tsuzuki and Hisoka.

'Well, they'll be back tomorrow. Tomorrow...'

'Where're you going?' Tatsumi asked absently from where he was seated reading the papers. He was lounging in the shared room of Tsuzuki and Hisoka. Sakurazuka-san was not there to join them. In fact he was hardly ever seen except when he was needed for the case. He often went for solitary excursions around the city and always returned looking extremely displeased at something. His aid during the case was invaluable of course, but his aloofness was just a little disconcerting to Tatsumi, who did not have much trust of him in the first place.

'The grocery shop down the street. The store at the hotel doesn't sell Meiji chocolate milk,' Tsuzuki gave a pout.

Tatsumi smiled inwardly at the childishness Tsuzuki exuded, though he'd be damned if he showed it on the outside. 'I do hope you remembered that your budget is thirty yen per meal for three meals only, and you've already used up your allotment today.'

'Aww, but Tatsumi... I'm still a growing boy, and I can't sleep without my daily fix of Meiji chocolate milk. They're the best!' Tsuzuki gave a full-powered display of his puppy-dog eyes.

'I'd like to see you grow,' Tatsumi snorted but relented anyway. After all, no one on this planet could resist the full onset of Tsuzuki's puppy-dog eyes.

'Hey get a cup of black coffee for me on the way,' Hisoka called out from the bed.

'Tsk tsk tsk, so young and such oujiisan-like tastes already. You should drink milk too!'

'Yare yare.'

'Maa... Out of kindness I'll get you your coffee, but you will be drinking milk next time.' Tsuzuki said determinedly before bounding out of the room.

Tsuzuki was in a good mood. The case was more or less tied up, the hostility Hisoka felt for Sakurazuka-san had diminished a little when he had proved to be of help. Of course, Tastumi's company was always a plus, if only for the treats he can weasel out of him with the threat of tears.

Bound bound bound, Tsuzuki went.

'My my, fancy meeting you here, my Tsuzuki-san,' an all too familiar voice drawled.

The bounding came to an abrupt halt.

'What a coincidence indeed,' Tsuzuki replied testily.

'Please do not narrow your eyes so, it denies one the pleasure of seeing those beautiful amethyst gems. Though that look of determination in your eyes does have its allure.'

'Shut up. What are you doing in such a place anyway? It is not high-class enough for a distinguished person such as yourself to be in.' The underlying accusation was all too obvious.

'One should not be so presumptuous. I had not come to antagonize you. Your being here comes as a complete surprise to me. A pleasant surprise of course.'

Tsuzuki's only reply was his smoldering eyes, speaking of murder without words.

'Do not look so distrustful, I am engaged elsewhere and will be on my way. A pity that I cannot enjoy your company longer. Now that I know you're in the area, perhaps I shall come visit.' With that, the silver-haired man turned to leave, but not before throwing back a mocking look of promise at the still seething shinigami.

A/N: sorry for the late update but i've been having this damned block that hasn't really left me as is evident... the story seems to be going on a downward spiral... and i really wanted it to turn out well too... anw was too lazy to write Muraki's toying in detail... felt it to be a bot redundant.. maybe i'll add it in next time... in any case that was jus the prelude to Muraki's plan... to disturb Subaru... Realised Seishirou hasn;t been getting much air time... shall try to remedy that next chapt... Does meiji have chocolate milk by the way? Dunno cos it's one of the only jap food brands i noe... like their ice-cream tho... oh and can anyone tell me Kanoe's full name? it's enma-dai-oh rite? not v sure... correct me if i'm worng k?

oh yeah... editted some of my stuff in front... nth major... jus a few gramatical errors and inconsistencies... if you've read thus far u dun hafta read again... jus tot i'd let you noe... :D

Yamatoforever: soon... hisoka will have a little session with Seishirou in either the next chapt or the one aft it...

anw... R&R thanx...