15. Amiss
'You don't have to worry anymore...I'm resigning.'
Tsuzuki tortured himself as he continued to play back the last words he had heard from his partner before the boy had taken off just hours earlier.
He could only assume the worst and believe that the boy intended to not only resign as a Shinigami, but to cease to be an employee of EnMaCho entirely; to simply lie down and die, as he originally would have.
The back of his hand hastily wiped beads of frustration from his brow before they were permitted to venture further down his agonized features as helplessness gripped his chest at knowing how thorough Hisoka was. Tsuzuki was certain his partner would have already obtained authorization for such a serious request.
Tsuzuki's breath caught as his eyes noticed the sweat that glazed his fist. He felt himself slipping into a panicked trance as his mind instantly transformed the transparent liquid into crimson.
Concealing his fist in an anguished embrace, a collapsing sensation overtook his chest as the ominous chill of depression desensitized his nerves; he realized that he had created a world so unbearable that someone would want to die simply because Tsuzuki himself existed within it.
Just when he was sure he had made progress with his partner on their last case, Tsuzuki had ended up destroying all chances of them working anything out. His heart was paying the price for his head's stupidity as his chest painfully protested in recognition of how easily this all could have been avoided. He knew now that it was all because he was too scared to confront the issues the case had raised.
When he had decided to ignore the subject, and in the process push away the one person who had willingly forfeited their way of life to help him, his problems had just kept getting progressively worse as they piled atop one another.
Just when Tsuzuki was confidant that the situation had become so severely perilous that it could only get better, his luck found another way to punish him.
He was certain his partner would leave once the case was completed, and then he would be responsible for Hisoka's final death.
'I know that no one can stand to work with me, but just when I think I've found a partner who can put up with me, I end up killing him!' his mind shouted in a crazed panic of disbelief that boarded hysterics.
Tsuzuki sensed sanity slowly becoming foreign to his mind as he yearned to exile himself from reality, to surrender to the depression that waited knowingly patient.
At the sudden piercing sound of a throat clearing in a highly exaggerated manner, Tsuzuki hesitantly returned to the starlit earthen landscape around him. Self-consciously reinstating his manners, he turned to the figure walking with patient worry beside him.
"Thanks for coming out tonight," Tsuzuki said distantly, while failing miserably at forming a smile. His attentive gaze was fixed on the endless rows of passing streets as they walked through the familiar town their assignment had frequently taken them.
His motives for coming out tonight were desperate and simple. He silently cursed himself for not following the boy in the first place, as he ventured a desperate glance down a moonlit street to his left, eyes tracing knowingly over each sliver-trimmed object. A harsh wind whipped brunette wisps in front of searching eyes that disregarded a glossy shine to the landscape, evidence that they had missed a previous rainfall.
"I am glad to be of service," the angel reassured the reticent man with concern blatantly lacing his tone. Ingethel was thankful that Tsuzuki had made the effort to communicate, though an eerie quietness soon consumed the duo once more.
Unable to further stomach the crushingly thick atmosphere the awkward silence created, the angel ventured an inquisition about the demeanor of his lackluster associate.
"Tsuzuki-san, something depresses you," he boldly offered, and with a short sigh, timidly adding the straightforward question to which he knew was troubling the man, "...and is there a reason for Kurosaki-kun's absence?"
Slightly taken aback, Tsuzuki's expression momentarily revealed the pain he had attempted to conceal as clear memories of the incident back at the infirmary surfaced with fierce intensity.
Mentally caging the emotions before the angel could get a clear read, Tsuzuki reassured the being with a smile that was tired at best, since forcing such feelings had recently become an unbearable chore. "Oh," he attempted to sound nonchalant, but an ache beneath his ribs effectively broke his voice, "I'm fine. And Hisoka just has some personal matters to attend to." Tsuzuki answered in the most truthfully vague manner he could, praying the angel would not feel the fear of being caught resonating of his unusually introverted aura.
Trench coat laden shoulders strained with tension as the man struggled to conceal his disturbed reaction with fraudulent friendly sentiment.
Ingethel only winced as depression slowly clouded over his associate's normally effervescent irises. Suddenly stopping underneath a flickering streetlamp, the angel clenched identical delicate fists at his sides.
"Tsuzuki-san, I beg your honesty! The reality of your mood is quite apparent!" he demanded in sudden exasperation.
Quickly torn from his ominous thoughts by the angered tone, disbelief crossed Tsuzuki's features as he turned back to the angel.
With an equally shocked expression, the angel stared back at the man before his angelic features began to soften to a humble somberness in the moonlight, his dilated gaze falling to the cracked sidewalk beneath him. "I am sorry. I just..." the angel began to amend himself.
He was cut short by a pair of scrutinizing eyes accompanied by an apprehensive tone. "Are you feeling okay?" the brunette asked in concerned curiosity.
"Yes, Tsuzuki-san," Ingethel said, a slight smile found its way to his lips as he noted the role reversal in their conversation.
"Then what's wrong?" Tsuzuki's face expressed all the worry he was able to afford the angel. After the previous events of the day, his own insecurities forced the brunette to make an extra effort not to expunge anyone else from his life.
"I guess I just feel comfortable with you," Ingethel stated timidly as he noted the surprised expression his companion offered him in return.
Confused eyes prompted the angel to explain himself further. "I feel as though it is unnecessary to pretend to be perfect around you. I can act in a manner true to my heart," Ingethel finished to his own satisfaction, giving himself a slight, triumphant smile at the genius of his description.
With his right fist to his lips, Tsuzuki furrowed his brow for a moment and trained his eyes in contemplation and finally stated, "So... you show you like me, by being mean to me?"
The angel smiled sheepishly at the seemingly absurd revelation. "I suppose so." Ingethel's explanation suddenly seemed rather foolish compared to the Shinigami's basic, yet undeniably correct logic.
"Then Hisoka must be really comfortable around me." Tsuzuki muttered under his breath as he remained in his meditative mood.
And with the mention of the infamous partner, the conversation was yet again slain by Tsuzuki's distracted and depressed temperament.
With a light, sympathetic sigh, the angel gently bent down in order peer up into the brunette's pavement-fixated gaze. "Please Tsuzuki-san, tell me what has happened in regards to Kurosaki-kun," the angelic voice prodded softly.
Although the Empath's abilities and serious manner made the angel uneasy, especially on this particular case, Ingethel really did hold the boy in high esteem. He would have never persuaded Hisoka to go out alone if he had believed the young Shinigami would not come back alive.
Opting to consider his response to Ingethel's question carefully, Tsuzuki involuntarily fixed his expression in deliberation as he finally answered, "I don't think Hisoka will be working with us on the rest of this case."
"Why? What has occurred?" The angel asked in a concerned tone, though it was laced with elation that went unnoticed by Tsuzuki. The angel silently mused that if the boy were there now, he would have picked up on the selfish emotion.
"I really don't want to talk about it." Tsuzuki stated harshly, immediately regretting the tenor of his voice as the angel apprehensively withdrew.
The only person Tsuzuki wanted to speak with was currently absent.
Ingethel relaxed once more, reinforcing his calm tone as he began, "I understand Tsu..."
Stopping mid sentence, Ingethel's tranquil angelic features were quickly tainted with a grim expression as he suddenly became aware of their surroundings once more.
'Finally' his mind apprehensively declared as he swallowed hard.
Turning his back to Tsuzuki, the angel suddenly tensed in determination as his aqua eyes flashed with repressed rage.
Tsuzuki stared at the angel in wonder as a pair of shimmering alabaster wings sprang gracefully from the angelic back and tore through the small white jacket.
Ingethel's expression became stoic as the glorious white wings glided forth from his shoulder blades. The fluffy white jacket now hung limp and destroyed around delicate arms, sending numerous down feathers dancing tenderly through the brisk night air.
"Ingethel?" Tsuzuki questioned cautiously, observing the being's peculiar behavior.
Neglecting to respond, the angel stared fervently toward one of broken lampposts that lined the darkened street several yards ahead of them. The ambiance of another presence lingered disgustingly thick through the angel's senses.
Tsuzuki shot a richly dilated gaze in the direction of the darkness that consumed his winged companion's interest.
The man's curious expression soon mirrored the angel's antagonistic features as a pair of narrowed eyes suddenly shown menacingly from the camouflage of the shadows atop the rusted streetlamp. An elegantly broad silhouette balanced atop the rusted perch, large wings extending to slowly consume its figure.
Predatorily descending to the ground in a graceful pounce, the creature stood erect before decisively sauntering forth from the darkness far enough to allow one of the few functioning streetlamps to emphasize his derisive expression.
The dark creature fixed his cynical gaze on the young angel, "Ingethel."
"Semyaza," Ingethel shot back with equal contempt that lacked the Seraph's arrogance.
Tsuzuki began to stride defiantly to Ingethel's side, readying his position for the impending battle. However, the delicate fingers that rose with tension to the sound of the Shinigami's approach halted him.
"Tsuzuki-san..." Ingethel's wing bearing back to his comrade, the angel spoke with controlled urgency mingled with a composed wrath. "...Please keep your distance." His hand dropping as he sensed the compliance of the man's will.
"Wait..." the angel master purred with seductive mirth as he regarded the brunette, "...Please, stay. I do so enjoy Ingethel's friends." He finished calmly with a sarcastic smirk, gazing back to Ingethel in order to gauge his predictable response.
Tsuzuki, already having enough suggestive remarks to last him the rest of eternity, respectfully heeded Ingethel's advice for remoteness and stepped back several yards to one of many darkened alleys, a summoning chant ready in his throat lest it be needed later.
The pain of the Seraph's comment wrenched the smaller celestial's chest as he seethed at the comment. "You took away the only one who ever cared for me!" Ingethel shamelessly allowed his fervent hatred to ensnare his angelic features.
"It is no fault of mine that you were not regarded kindly by your brethren," Semyaza factually chimed in reply.
"But it is your fault that the only one who did, has fallen," Ingethel furiously hissed as the lighthearted manner the angel master conducted himself grated his nerves further.
"Azazel chose to follow me!" The Seraph roared as his composure momentarily unbridled itself.
"You were his angel master, to refuse a direct order from you would have been treason!" Ingethel frantically screamed as if his words were simplistically obvious.
"And the others? Do they matter? You do know my entire host also fell. Is your affection so selfish that you disregard them?" the Seraph casually crossed his arms across his chest, "I myself was subject to that unnatural punishment, I have paid my debt." Pausing momentarily, he added softly, as if it were an after thought, "And you? Have you atoned for your transgressions? ..."
Confidence betrayed the small angel as dread consumed his tense figure.
"...As I recall..." Semyaza set his expression in mock contemplation before continuing, "it was you who released me."
To Be Concluded...
This is the page for new releases in August by
Unless something else has decided to call itself 'Descendents of Darkness,' this should be Yami no Matsuei (the only thing I find odd is that it does not specify that it is volume one.) I found this out through my yahoo group, -proceeds to shamelessly plug a terrific yahoo group- it's a great group, if you would like to join, go (underscore)no(underscore)matsuei/
(I hope that makes sense, you have to put the underscores in by yourself -smiles-)
SapphireDragon: The above information is for you because you asked -smiles-. When you do register on , you have to make sure to tell me who you are so I can read your stories -smiles- . Lastly, yeah, Isee your reviews all over the place. I like reading reviews because it is a good way to understand what readers respond to -smiles- and your reviews are everywhere; keep up the highly appreciated work! -smiles- -smiles-.
A special thank you to Chiharu-san (Chiharu Ylliana) for your amazing editing skills.
Thank you to all my readers for getting this far, and thank you reviews: Yanagi-sen, SapphireDragon, Neru, E-san, MysteryKid, and Kamikakushi. Knowing that this story inspires you to review makes writing it worthwhile -smiles-.
'You don't have to worry anymore...I'm resigning.'
Tsuzuki tortured himself as he continued to play back the last words he had heard from his partner before the boy had taken off just hours earlier.
He could only assume the worst and believe that the boy intended to not only resign as a Shinigami, but to cease to be an employee of EnMaCho entirely; to simply lie down and die, as he originally would have.
The back of his hand hastily wiped beads of frustration from his brow before they were permitted to venture further down his agonized features as helplessness gripped his chest at knowing how thorough Hisoka was. Tsuzuki was certain his partner would have already obtained authorization for such a serious request.
Tsuzuki's breath caught as his eyes noticed the sweat that glazed his fist. He felt himself slipping into a panicked trance as his mind instantly transformed the transparent liquid into crimson.
Concealing his fist in an anguished embrace, a collapsing sensation overtook his chest as the ominous chill of depression desensitized his nerves; he realized that he had created a world so unbearable that someone would want to die simply because Tsuzuki himself existed within it.
Just when he was sure he had made progress with his partner on their last case, Tsuzuki had ended up destroying all chances of them working anything out. His heart was paying the price for his head's stupidity as his chest painfully protested in recognition of how easily this all could have been avoided. He knew now that it was all because he was too scared to confront the issues the case had raised.
When he had decided to ignore the subject, and in the process push away the one person who had willingly forfeited their way of life to help him, his problems had just kept getting progressively worse as they piled atop one another.
Just when Tsuzuki was confidant that the situation had become so severely perilous that it could only get better, his luck found another way to punish him.
He was certain his partner would leave once the case was completed, and then he would be responsible for Hisoka's final death.
'I know that no one can stand to work with me, but just when I think I've found a partner who can put up with me, I end up killing him!' his mind shouted in a crazed panic of disbelief that boarded hysterics.
Tsuzuki sensed sanity slowly becoming foreign to his mind as he yearned to exile himself from reality, to surrender to the depression that waited knowingly patient.
At the sudden piercing sound of a throat clearing in a highly exaggerated manner, Tsuzuki hesitantly returned to the starlit earthen landscape around him. Self-consciously reinstating his manners, he turned to the figure walking with patient worry beside him.
"Thanks for coming out tonight," Tsuzuki said distantly, while failing miserably at forming a smile. His attentive gaze was fixed on the endless rows of passing streets as they walked through the familiar town their assignment had frequently taken them.
His motives for coming out tonight were desperate and simple. He silently cursed himself for not following the boy in the first place, as he ventured a desperate glance down a moonlit street to his left, eyes tracing knowingly over each sliver-trimmed object. A harsh wind whipped brunette wisps in front of searching eyes that disregarded a glossy shine to the landscape, evidence that they had missed a previous rainfall.
"I am glad to be of service," the angel reassured the reticent man with concern blatantly lacing his tone. Ingethel was thankful that Tsuzuki had made the effort to communicate, though an eerie quietness soon consumed the duo once more.
Unable to further stomach the crushingly thick atmosphere the awkward silence created, the angel ventured an inquisition about the demeanor of his lackluster associate.
"Tsuzuki-san, something depresses you," he boldly offered, and with a short sigh, timidly adding the straightforward question to which he knew was troubling the man, "...and is there a reason for Kurosaki-kun's absence?"
Slightly taken aback, Tsuzuki's expression momentarily revealed the pain he had attempted to conceal as clear memories of the incident back at the infirmary surfaced with fierce intensity.
Mentally caging the emotions before the angel could get a clear read, Tsuzuki reassured the being with a smile that was tired at best, since forcing such feelings had recently become an unbearable chore. "Oh," he attempted to sound nonchalant, but an ache beneath his ribs effectively broke his voice, "I'm fine. And Hisoka just has some personal matters to attend to." Tsuzuki answered in the most truthfully vague manner he could, praying the angel would not feel the fear of being caught resonating of his unusually introverted aura.
Trench coat laden shoulders strained with tension as the man struggled to conceal his disturbed reaction with fraudulent friendly sentiment.
Ingethel only winced as depression slowly clouded over his associate's normally effervescent irises. Suddenly stopping underneath a flickering streetlamp, the angel clenched identical delicate fists at his sides.
"Tsuzuki-san, I beg your honesty! The reality of your mood is quite apparent!" he demanded in sudden exasperation.
Quickly torn from his ominous thoughts by the angered tone, disbelief crossed Tsuzuki's features as he turned back to the angel.
With an equally shocked expression, the angel stared back at the man before his angelic features began to soften to a humble somberness in the moonlight, his dilated gaze falling to the cracked sidewalk beneath him. "I am sorry. I just..." the angel began to amend himself.
He was cut short by a pair of scrutinizing eyes accompanied by an apprehensive tone. "Are you feeling okay?" the brunette asked in concerned curiosity.
"Yes, Tsuzuki-san," Ingethel said, a slight smile found its way to his lips as he noted the role reversal in their conversation.
"Then what's wrong?" Tsuzuki's face expressed all the worry he was able to afford the angel. After the previous events of the day, his own insecurities forced the brunette to make an extra effort not to expunge anyone else from his life.
"I guess I just feel comfortable with you," Ingethel stated timidly as he noted the surprised expression his companion offered him in return.
Confused eyes prompted the angel to explain himself further. "I feel as though it is unnecessary to pretend to be perfect around you. I can act in a manner true to my heart," Ingethel finished to his own satisfaction, giving himself a slight, triumphant smile at the genius of his description.
With his right fist to his lips, Tsuzuki furrowed his brow for a moment and trained his eyes in contemplation and finally stated, "So... you show you like me, by being mean to me?"
The angel smiled sheepishly at the seemingly absurd revelation. "I suppose so." Ingethel's explanation suddenly seemed rather foolish compared to the Shinigami's basic, yet undeniably correct logic.
"Then Hisoka must be really comfortable around me." Tsuzuki muttered under his breath as he remained in his meditative mood.
And with the mention of the infamous partner, the conversation was yet again slain by Tsuzuki's distracted and depressed temperament.
With a light, sympathetic sigh, the angel gently bent down in order peer up into the brunette's pavement-fixated gaze. "Please Tsuzuki-san, tell me what has happened in regards to Kurosaki-kun," the angelic voice prodded softly.
Although the Empath's abilities and serious manner made the angel uneasy, especially on this particular case, Ingethel really did hold the boy in high esteem. He would have never persuaded Hisoka to go out alone if he had believed the young Shinigami would not come back alive.
Opting to consider his response to Ingethel's question carefully, Tsuzuki involuntarily fixed his expression in deliberation as he finally answered, "I don't think Hisoka will be working with us on the rest of this case."
"Why? What has occurred?" The angel asked in a concerned tone, though it was laced with elation that went unnoticed by Tsuzuki. The angel silently mused that if the boy were there now, he would have picked up on the selfish emotion.
"I really don't want to talk about it." Tsuzuki stated harshly, immediately regretting the tenor of his voice as the angel apprehensively withdrew.
The only person Tsuzuki wanted to speak with was currently absent.
Ingethel relaxed once more, reinforcing his calm tone as he began, "I understand Tsu..."
Stopping mid sentence, Ingethel's tranquil angelic features were quickly tainted with a grim expression as he suddenly became aware of their surroundings once more.
'Finally' his mind apprehensively declared as he swallowed hard.
Turning his back to Tsuzuki, the angel suddenly tensed in determination as his aqua eyes flashed with repressed rage.
Tsuzuki stared at the angel in wonder as a pair of shimmering alabaster wings sprang gracefully from the angelic back and tore through the small white jacket.
Ingethel's expression became stoic as the glorious white wings glided forth from his shoulder blades. The fluffy white jacket now hung limp and destroyed around delicate arms, sending numerous down feathers dancing tenderly through the brisk night air.
"Ingethel?" Tsuzuki questioned cautiously, observing the being's peculiar behavior.
Neglecting to respond, the angel stared fervently toward one of broken lampposts that lined the darkened street several yards ahead of them. The ambiance of another presence lingered disgustingly thick through the angel's senses.
Tsuzuki shot a richly dilated gaze in the direction of the darkness that consumed his winged companion's interest.
The man's curious expression soon mirrored the angel's antagonistic features as a pair of narrowed eyes suddenly shown menacingly from the camouflage of the shadows atop the rusted streetlamp. An elegantly broad silhouette balanced atop the rusted perch, large wings extending to slowly consume its figure.
Predatorily descending to the ground in a graceful pounce, the creature stood erect before decisively sauntering forth from the darkness far enough to allow one of the few functioning streetlamps to emphasize his derisive expression.
The dark creature fixed his cynical gaze on the young angel, "Ingethel."
"Semyaza," Ingethel shot back with equal contempt that lacked the Seraph's arrogance.
Tsuzuki began to stride defiantly to Ingethel's side, readying his position for the impending battle. However, the delicate fingers that rose with tension to the sound of the Shinigami's approach halted him.
"Tsuzuki-san..." Ingethel's wing bearing back to his comrade, the angel spoke with controlled urgency mingled with a composed wrath. "...Please keep your distance." His hand dropping as he sensed the compliance of the man's will.
"Wait..." the angel master purred with seductive mirth as he regarded the brunette, "...Please, stay. I do so enjoy Ingethel's friends." He finished calmly with a sarcastic smirk, gazing back to Ingethel in order to gauge his predictable response.
Tsuzuki, already having enough suggestive remarks to last him the rest of eternity, respectfully heeded Ingethel's advice for remoteness and stepped back several yards to one of many darkened alleys, a summoning chant ready in his throat lest it be needed later.
The pain of the Seraph's comment wrenched the smaller celestial's chest as he seethed at the comment. "You took away the only one who ever cared for me!" Ingethel shamelessly allowed his fervent hatred to ensnare his angelic features.
"It is no fault of mine that you were not regarded kindly by your brethren," Semyaza factually chimed in reply.
"But it is your fault that the only one who did, has fallen," Ingethel furiously hissed as the lighthearted manner the angel master conducted himself grated his nerves further.
"Azazel chose to follow me!" The Seraph roared as his composure momentarily unbridled itself.
"You were his angel master, to refuse a direct order from you would have been treason!" Ingethel frantically screamed as if his words were simplistically obvious.
"And the others? Do they matter? You do know my entire host also fell. Is your affection so selfish that you disregard them?" the Seraph casually crossed his arms across his chest, "I myself was subject to that unnatural punishment, I have paid my debt." Pausing momentarily, he added softly, as if it were an after thought, "And you? Have you atoned for your transgressions? ..."
Confidence betrayed the small angel as dread consumed his tense figure.
"...As I recall..." Semyaza set his expression in mock contemplation before continuing, "it was you who released me."
To Be Concluded...
This is the page for new releases in August by
Unless something else has decided to call itself 'Descendents of Darkness,' this should be Yami no Matsuei (the only thing I find odd is that it does not specify that it is volume one.) I found this out through my yahoo group, -proceeds to shamelessly plug a terrific yahoo group- it's a great group, if you would like to join, go (underscore)no(underscore)matsuei/
(I hope that makes sense, you have to put the underscores in by yourself -smiles-)
SapphireDragon: The above information is for you because you asked -smiles-. When you do register on , you have to make sure to tell me who you are so I can read your stories -smiles- . Lastly, yeah, Isee your reviews all over the place. I like reading reviews because it is a good way to understand what readers respond to -smiles- and your reviews are everywhere; keep up the highly appreciated work! -smiles- -smiles-.
A special thank you to Chiharu-san (Chiharu Ylliana) for your amazing editing skills.
Thank you to all my readers for getting this far, and thank you reviews: Yanagi-sen, SapphireDragon, Neru, E-san, MysteryKid, and Kamikakushi. Knowing that this story inspires you to review makes writing it worthwhile -smiles-.