Fingers were brushing over his bare skin, leaving a fiery trail behind before they dove lower, slipping behind the waistband of his pants, making his hips twitch. Tsuzuki groaned, grabbing the wandering hand and stopping it before it could start to move any further.

Opening his eyes he met the puzzled green ones of his partner.

"Asato?" Hisoka asked.

Of course he would know.

"Hisoka, I... I want you... "

"Apparently." There was a ‘tell me something else, idiot' expression in the young face.

"Geez, would you cut that out?" Tsuzuki felt himself flare. "I want you like... I want to know how..."

Green eyes widened and Hisoka pulled back his hand.

"You want me to take you?" he asked tonelessly, and Tsuzuki nodded.

He had wanted to bring the subject up much earlier, but it had never been the right time. He remembered only too well how much time had passed by until their first shy kiss, remembered the feeling of Hisoka's naked smooth skin under his hands or how it had felt when he had been caressed by his lover's hands.

It had been a large step for the both of them, widening their trust into one another far enough to explore each other's body, to allow themselves to finally let go, let the other see layers of themselves that had been hidden deep inside.

Tsuzuki remembered how Hisoka had been the one initiating the last step, encouraging him, coaxing him, in fact seducing him into taking him. It had been so wonderful, so awesome to finally be with his lover, to see those huge green eyes mist over with desire instead of pain, feeling him tremble as Hisoka had taken his face into his hands, kissing him with all he was worth.

‘I know you're not him,' he had whispered harshly, ‘I feel you, Asato.'

And he had given Hisoka everything of him, every little bit he had been able to, was able to, everything he would ask and everything he wouldn't because he was too stubborn or too proud.

Tsuzuki knew Hisoka had been a loner but hurt, remembered how Hisoka had whimpered in his arms as Touda's hellfire had started to lick at them, and it had been words of love and loneliness – Hisoka would go where he would go, and if that meant death, so be it. It had been the last piece in the puzzle to finally open Tsuzuki's eyes to the fact that he indeed had fallen in love with his partner.

Now he wanted to give Hisoka himself.

"I want to feel you inside me, koi."

"Asato..."

It seemed to be one of those rare occasions when Hisoka was speechless.

"Hisoka, you know how much I want it." He ran a caress over one pale cheek. "You can feel it as much as I do. Please..."

"Asato..."

Oh, Enma's name... do I still have to tell you how to seduce someone, Tsuzuki?

The dark rumbling voice startled him and Tsuzuki nearly yelped. Instead he mentally whirled around, facing the bond to his shikigami that he had all but forgotten.

Touda!

The one and only. Now, if you're not going to get some action tonight, I certainly don't plan on missing it the fire serpent continued, smirking.

Touda! he growled, embarrassment flooding him.

Too much information. Way too much information about two of his shikigami!

You said that before. I have a very enticing young man here who definitely isn't shy on that subject...

Images flooded across the link and Tsuzuki fought his reaction to the eroticism, the emotions, the primal feelings...

Since when are you letting Byakko on top? he finally called.

Tsuzuki's face grew beet red as he realized what had just slipped him – he really had no idea about his shikigami's love life and there were some things he really really didn't want to know about it, either.

I at least am going to get any tonight. You on the other hand... was the lazy reply, accompanied by what could be a purr.

Could snakes purr?

Oh shuddup!

Touda laughed in his mind before he softly closed down the connection, and Tsuzuki returned his attention toward the young man he had in his arms.

"Touda, hm?"

Hisoka had once told him he was able to sense the serpent's presence within him. In the beginning it had been painful and Tsuzuki had felt bad about it, but over time and maybe because Touda had changed so much as well, things had become... normal.

Right...

His shikigami sending porn across the link was normal?

It's not porn, Tsuzuki. It's education.

He slammed the link shut, but not before feeling Touda's amusement.

"Yeah. Now... alone at last."

Hisoka stroked over his skin, his expression thoughtful.

"You really want this?" he asked quietly.

"Yes."

"Asato..."

"Hisoka, I love you. Very, very much. I want this, and I want it with you."

Hisoka pulled him into a deep, sensual kiss and Tsuzuki went with the flow, giving himself to the emotions he felt.

°

Tsuzuki lay in the arms of his lover, feeling numb and over-sensitive in one. He was breathing hard, skin slick with now drying sweat, and gentle hands stroked over that hot skin, soothing instead of arousing.

Hisoka kissed his shoulder and neck, keeping in fully body contact, hands never stilling. Tsuzuki finally caught one of those hands and interlaced their fingers.

He felt pleasantly tired and exhausted.

Warm.

Very... pleased.

"I love you," he murmured and Hisoka gave him such a rare, gentle smile, one that was only shown to the older shinigami in the privacy of their home.

Well done, grasshopper Touda whispered and Tsuzuki was too tired to feel embarrassed. He had probably dropped the shields of the bond.

So be it.

Revenge.

Hisoka let him snuggle up, held him as he fell asleep, cocooned in the arms of his lover and the blanket of their bed.

° ° °

In GensouKai, Touda grinned to himself, feeling as pleased as his master.

"Finally! It was about time!" he muttered as he got up.

Byakko stretched, very much cat-like, and shot him a quizzical look. "Don't tell me… they really did it?"

"Yep. Congratulations are in order."

Byakko smiled widely, tail dancing. "Want to send some flowers?" he teased.

Touda picked up a pillow and threw it at his naked lover. Byakko caught it, laughing. The fire serpent was relieved that the two shinigami had finally taken the last step and by the gentle waves emitting from the sleeping man, he didn't regret it. He felt good. Touda's smile grew warmer, deeper. Tsuzuki feeling so good, so at peace with himself, was a very good feeling for him in return.

A pillow hit him square in the face.

"You're day-dreaming," Byakko snickered as he darted past him.

Touda growled, completely caught off guard, and made a grab for the younger shikigami, but missed. He heard Byakko's laughter from the bathing room and followed him, slower, with more dignity.

Yes, things were good.

° ° °

Tatsumi rubbed his burning eyes before he slipped his glasses back on, looking tiredly at the pile of papers and files that were currently occupying his desk. He was tired, hell, he was beyond tired. But if he gave in to that he would start to think, start to dream again. A slight knock on his door pulled him back from his musings and he answered it. The sight of the blond head that peeked through the partially open door made his heart skip a beat.

Watari...

"Watari, what can I do for you?" Tatsumi asked as levelly as he could muster.

"Heard you're playing work animal again and thought you'd like some coffee," Watari answered. There was a hint of apprehension in his voice as he put a steaming mug in front of Tatsumi.

"Thank you."

"Then again you look as if you had more than enough caffeine. Maybe I should've brought you some tea in..."

Watari's voice trailed off and Tatsumi saw the wince, as the man in front of him crumpled slightly.

"Coffee will suffice, thank you. Is there anything else?"

Damn, he knew he sounded like a cold hearted bastard but he just couldn't stand to see that gentle soul suffer, the pain in those beloved golden eyes. Watari seemed to slump at his words and shook his head.

"No-"

"If you'd excuse me then..."

Flipping open a file that was next to him Tatsumi stared at the words, not really seeing a single one of them. The sound of the door being closed made him wince. Inhaling deeply he reached for the mug noticing the tremble of his fingers – and froze. He wasn't alone.

"Watari..."

"No! I have enough of this. I refuse to stay a victim, goddamnit, and we will sort this out." Watari stalked over to his desk, sitting down in the chair in front of it and crossed his arms. "We will talk, and we will do it now. "

The sheer force behind the words shocked Tatsumi. He stared at the blond shinigami.

"Yutaka..."

"Listen. What you did was... I can't tell you how it was for me. I know that you're not responsible for it. I will have to work on this, but... Seiichiro, I still love you, and I miss you."

"Taka, I miss you, too. If there's anything I can do..."

"As a matter of fact there is. Today is Friday. You know the Tokyo Ran Club at the corner of 5th? Be there at eight, sharp."

Tatsumi watched wide eyes as his lover rose and walked to the door, still not quite able to grasp what exactly was going on.

"Oh, and Seiichiro? Dress nicely."

Watari closed the door of his lab behind him and leaned against it, his heart hammering in his chest. Damn, all he had done was talk to his lover and invite him - no, rather order him on a date. He had stated he didn't want to stay a victim any longer, and boy, wasn't that the truth. He had had a lot of talks with Tsuzuki - and Hisoka, for that matter - and all the things his friends had told him had actually helped. A bit. Now it was time to act on it, if he wanted his lover back, and if he ever wanted himself back. Watari slid down the closed door, resting his head on his knees, waiting for the tremors shaking his body to subside. There was a soft hooting sound and 003 landed on one knee, huge owl eyes full of worry.

He gave her a watery smile and stretched out a shaking hand, petting his little shikigami.

"Don't worry, 003. I have no idea how, but I'll manage. I want him, I know that now. And I only needed one year to understand how much."

tbc...