Love and Hate

Ch.1

New Assignments

"I...I can't feel...anything anymore. My legs won't move. And..."

Muraki's eyes widened. Tears suddenly formed in his frightened gaze.

"Sa- Saki..."

Then he beheld the large case that had once held his half-brother's ever smiling head. It was gone. All that was left was a streak of blood along the glass casing. Had the serpent fire destroyed it? Had...Tsuzuki...

"Mr. Tsuzuki...damn you!!!!!" he screamed through angry sobs.

"Good morning Tatsumi!" Tsuzuki said with a bright smile.

Tatsumi nodded and tipped his glasses. "Good morning Tsuzuki."

"So any new information on this new case?" the cheerful shinigami requested, sprawling his long legs over an office chair.

"Well um...I don't know. Watari thought we had a lead, but it's a really strange case..." Tatsumi said, looking over a set of papers in his hand.

Tsuzuki stopped. "Do you think...Muraki might...?" he started.

His eyes were wide and he was obviously upset. Tatsumi smiled and laughed nervously.

"Oh no of course not! Don't you worry about Muraki alright?" he said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"He's still alive you know..." Tsuzuki said, gazing out the brightly lit window beside him.

A large rose bush was blooming right beside it and he could see the morning dew still on the bright crimson leaves. One day, Mr. Tsuzuki, I'll bring you a million roses. The memory was still vivid in his mind. Muraki standing there, smiling his familiar beaming smile, offering Tsuzuki a large bouquet. It had actually been rather flattering. Muraki may have been sick and psychotic, but he sure knew how to make Tsuzuki blush. And perhaps for some time, Tsuzuki had been attracted to Muraki as well...

"Good morning Tsuzuki!!! Good morning Tatsumi!!!" a cheerful voice rang out in Tsuzuki's ear as Watari bounced into the room and promptly hugged Tatsumi.

"Good morning Watari!" Tsuzuki replied, forgetting Muraki in an instant.

Tatsumi nodded in response and Watari frowned.

"What? Not even a 'hello'? I wake up early just to tell you good morning and all you do is brush me off like that. Well, I am not one to be neglected like-..." Watari was interrupted by Tatsumi's sudden laughter.

Watari glared and Tatsumi laughed even harder. "You know you can be pretty cute when you're all uptight like that." he said kindly.

Watari turned his head, his cheeks bright red. "Hmph."

"So Watari, I hear there's a new case we have to look into now. What is it?" Tsuzuki asked eagerly, trying to sidetrack Watari from Tatsumi's teasing.

It worked. Watari excitedly practically jumped at Tsuzuki; proud of the simplicity of this new case. "Yes there's a new case! And it's such an easy one to complete! Wow, I'd do it myself if I wasn't busy here..."

Tatsumi interrupted. "What are you kidding? You got squeamish at pictures taken at your own death. I doubt you could be a field worker if you tried."

"Would you two lovebirds keep your noise down, I was trying to sleep after all." a cold voice demanded, the door to the library swinging open.

Watari and Tatsumi instantly fell silent as a very grumpy Hisoka entered the room. Tsuzuki laughed. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot about you two! So how long have you been together now?" he asked.

Watari paused to think. "Well um technically or officially?

"I think they mean officially. Because the first option only had to do with a little bit too much drinking on your part." Tatsumi said.

Tsuzuki and Hisoka sweat-dropped. "Uh..."

Watari laughed. "Oh don't worry, not that much happened. We just..."

Tatsumi clapped a hand over his mouth. "Better to leave that to the imagination." he said quickly.

At that moment, the Gushoshin twins flew into the room, each holding a folder.

"Guess what guys! The boss just met with The Count yesterday and we've got two new missions!" said the one in the red hat.

"Yeah, the first is the one that Watari and Tatsumi were investigating and the second is a mission for Tsuzuki and his partner." said the one in the blue.

"Hear that Hisoka? Better rest up then..." Tsuzuki started before the blue Geshoshin silenced him.

"Oh no. I'm sorry Hisoka, but there's been someone else assigned to Tsuzuki for this mission."

Tsuzuki nearly fell over. "What?! Hisoka...are you...leaving me?" he questioned, pouting and rubbing his eyes.

"Don't look at me; I didn't know anything about it." Hisoka said flatly, crossing his arms.

"Oh. Then...who arranged it?" Tsuzuki asked.

The door opened and in walked their boss. There was someone tall standing behind him. Someone...in a white coat.

"The Count took it upon himself to devise this partnership. Say hello to your new partner: Kazutaka Muraki.