Title: Killing Me Softly
Author: ThisbeCeyx (formerly known as yukie-chan)
Rating: PG (ratings will go up as the story progresses)
Genre: AU, Romance, Drama, Angst
Pairings: Tatsoka, Tatsu
Warnings: Hisoka is very psychotic in this one and Tatsumi is a little OCC.
Note: A longer chapter, enjoy!
An exasperated Tatsumi was ushered to a certain crimson tent, which was made from silk, as he had earlier noted, while a whining Tsuzuki was pushing him in. As soon as he had crossed the said threshold, he abruptly took off his glasses, probably to fend off his irritation from his partner's antics.
As he looked straight however, there was a mass of blurred colors due to his weak eyesight. His eyes raveled in the lightest shades of wheat and the palest of ivories. Putting back his spectacles, it had been a mass of lightly bronze locks that was brushed into perfection and skin that had been probably too basked in the darkness to mold such pale complexion.
Tsuzuki was busy talking animatedly to the boy who was seated in a black velvet cushion. But he was currently being ignored as Tatsumi had later concluded, the boy never made any sign that he had registered what the older man had said. From where he was standing, the only thing that he could view was the boy's back, where a translucent piece of cloth hung from his garments.
The secretary suddenly felt a surge of emotions, though unsure of the underlying cause of this resentment. He shook his head momentarily and walked his way to the unnerving couple. With every step he took, something was pulling him down, making him want to shout and show the world of his sudden outburst.
Jealousy.
Gods, he hated that word. So much wounds from the heart that he had thrown and left behind… The insatiable desire he so abhorred was coming back at him, in full blast. His crucified self being burnt and flayed alive; it was what he had wanted. Wasn't it? As reparation for something that could not be undone? Especially by his human, bloodstained and nailed hands?
"Tatsumi!" a familiar voice whined from his once unhearing ears. He momentarily regained his composure and to save him his dignity, he straightened up his tie and said, "Tsuzuki-san, we have to head home. Its late and we have to report to the chief."
An accusing pair of emerald eyes eyed him, the boy was now standing a meter away in between the pair, "He's just making an excuse. Jeez, for blacking out like that. You must have been some kind of a crackpot or something."
Somewhere in the background, Tsuzuki was flashing a whiteboard that said, "There's no work tomorrow! Its labor day, remember?"
Surprised as Tatsumi was, his older partner walked his way to the young teen and placed an arm around his slim shoulders, "Na, that's Tatsumi-san. It's a golden rule for our department to never piss him off. Really scary, that man…" Tsuzuki mocked his partner's dominant posture and made a notion that was quite funny but was mocked back by the uneasy silence between the two.
Hisoka walked his way to the unmoving Tatsumi, raising his hand to brush the few locks that had strayed away from his ear to his forehead, his gaze unflinching.
It was then jade met the sky.
"So, just as I had suspected. That goofy guy wasn't Tatsumi at all. Master should have known better. I knew he seemed doubtful at first but," his pale hand tracing the side of the secretary's face. "This… This is what I have always wanted."
Almost immediately, strong and capable arms caught the offending feminine ones in a tight grip. Tatsumi regretted the loss of that light feather touch but he would not succumb into something that he would regret later on. "You," his cold stare maiming its victim on the spot. "Will not touch me unless I tell you to," he released that smooth hand but not before he had inhaled a scent of oils and flowers from the boy's skin.
The offender looked amused; much to Tatsumi's second surprise and smiled manipulatively, "Whatever you say. Anyway, you did say that we have to go home for work tomorrow, right?"
He's supposed to be a whore or something of the like, right? And he's not supposed to boss me around and act like a total brat, Tatsumi noted before his sudden realization. "You're NOT coming with us, kid. Stay here where you belong," a sudden flash of anger and hurt flashed through emerald orbs but then chased away by another smirk.
"Oh, so you're planning to leave me here… Let see… If I was my Master I would think that you are quite undeserving and rude to return such merchandise that I myself had offered to you. Whereas, if you let me stay, I would think that you are quite the thankful and deserving type and I would look forward to start another business with your company," Hisoka mocked, his hips swaying seductively and hands on his thin waist.
A little inu sat between then, his head on his knees, sobbing at being ignored for too long. His grubby paw was encircled on his legs and ears drooped down. When he later discovered that neither party was paying any attention to him, he got another whiteboard and scribbled, "Fine. Ignore me."
An abashed Tatsumi passed the dancer, their shoulders touching when the young one held his hand. He felt them calloused and since the older man was quite a head taller than him, Hisoka leaned his head on his shoulder instead,
"I've been waiting for you… My Messiah."
He felt the older man cringing from the contact and pulled away. "Sorry," he said quietly, his head bowed down and lips slightly curled. Tatsumi, being the gentleman that he was, walked a few inches away from him and called out, "You win." He proceeded to walk under the silken sleet of the tent.
Hisoka turned his head towards the other man, catching a glimpse of his back and slightly ruffled chestnut hair. A smile shaped his thin lips that was painted with gloss and walked towards the exit.
Meanwhile, an Inu was sobbing, fountain of tears gushing from his amethyst eyes. He stood up on his feet when he barely heard Hisoka's footsteps as he was busy doodling new words on his whiteboard, "Tatsumi, Blanche! You people are sooo mean! Meanies!"
He dashed out of the tent himself, his tail wagging as he caught a naughty sight of Hisoka's legs when he placed himself inside Tatsumi's waiting car.
Blanche.
White.
He was everything Tatsumi hated.
Low life.
No pride.
No decency.
No heart.
No honor.
He woke up from his stupor, his lids heaving with exhaustion. He slightly bent his head to get rid of the cramps that he was starting to feel on his neck. As he turned whatsoever, he caught sight of a still shadow across his bed. His unwavering gaze and curiosity led his hand to pick up his spectacles from the coffee table.
It was Blanche, as Tatsumi later learned from his partner who was unwilling to leave last night. He was practically begging him to let the boy stay in his apartment instead. After the sad puppy eye look, he was finally left in peace when he suddenly shuddered at the thought of sharing his home with Blanche.
Sure enough, the boy was pretty and interesting but he just didn't know how to spend a decent night without having to argue with the said teen. Fortunately for him, the boy had fallen asleep on the couch from the tiring festivities most likely. He walked up to his room as well and fell on his bed, fast asleep and not even bothering to change into his sleeping wear. His black tie was draped carelessly on the table and had three buttons down open without even realizing it.
Tatsumi called out to the boy, rather hesitantly, "Why are you here?". He had absolutely no intention of sounding to harsh and rude. He only meant to ask why the teen was still up but blame it on his irritation to get the best of him.
"I couldn't sleep after I woke up." He fought the urge to continue, "The night is cold and it haunts me…in my dreams… where the only real thing that I can see is myself. I don't want that. Tatsumi… save me… "
The older man seemed satisfied with his response and sat up, pulling away the covers from his russet sheets. He gazed at his wristwatch which he had not bothered to remove when he had fallen asleep.
It was 5:05 in the morning.
Hisoka practically had his knees brought up to the level of his chest and his back on the wall. He still wore the same outfit that he had last night but with the absence of the veil and the exuberant emerald-gemmed tiara on his bronze hair. He couldn't particularly study his face because of the dim light but took no interest whatsoever.
He stood up and straighten his comforter and walked his way to the bathroom in his black socks, leaving his blue slippers and Hisoka unnoticed. He run his fingers through the metal faucet and whirled it open, feeling the cold tap water on his hands. He bowed down, after taking off his glasses and placing it on his breast pocket uncaringly and refreshed his tired and slightly sleepy face with the cool liquid.
Tatsumi raised his head and through blurred vision, he extended his hand to reach for the powder blue towel with some sort of embroidery on the upper right side. It was however met by a smoother feel of slick skin and viridian cat-like eyes.
"You ignore me… Why?" Hisoka's breath was hot on his damp face, his chin still dripping from excess moisture. The boy's eyes were blank as usual and the darkness gave an inhumane yellowish glow on his pale face. His hand raised from his side and closed in their gap to dry the wetness on Tatsumi's dripping chin.
A gentle dab from the young man sent chills in his spine. There was something in the way that the boy's eyes shone; almost as if pleading or probing to save him from something that he couldn't quite decipher. Jade orbs were shimmering with unsolved riddles and silent clandestine pleas; probably only he, Tatsumi Seiichirou, had been the only one allowed to see.
The dancer averted his eyes unconsciously, perhaps, to center his attention to the latter's wet countenance. As he had finished, he discarded the slightly soggy towel near the sink and smiled at his new 'master' sadly. He looked away and started to stroll away from the older man ever so gracefully.
Tatsumi's bewildered sapphires found themselves locked on Hisoka. Oddly but apt, the shadows that loomed behind the boy's back made similar connotations as that of black wings. It had probably been a mere figment of his overwhelmed imagination; with the gushing spring morning breeze blowing the pomegranate tree near his window.
A beatific voice jostled him out his thought though the boy never faced him, "I'll go to the kitchen, ne? I'll look for something to prepare for breakfast."
At the loss of words, the secretary replied, "Yeah. You do that."
A silent pace with light steps then he heard the oaken door creaking open then finally closing in.
"Black wings, eh? I must be out of my mind… he's just trying to get into bed with me and steal my money… Just like any other whore…," he thought to himself as he uncharacteristically unbuttoned his polo impatiently before drowning himself in a fiery splash.
That's right.
Just like any other whore.
The whole day at work had been painfully unbearable, with a hyper Tsuzuki bouncing like there's no tomorrow, a playful Watari who had been practically trying to invent a useless automated pen that intelligently do all the paperwork and Terazuma having a nervous breakdown, threatening everyone in the office after being 'accidentally' touched by the chief's daughter, Wakaba. Everyone was in high spirits, well, maybe except Terazuma; the both of them shared condolences from quite a bad day.
Just as he had enough of this madness and it was time to check out and go home, he heard another of Tsuzuki's 'How's Blanche doing?', 'Can I come with you?' and 'Could I stay over at your place tonight?'
Tatsumi was in a fit of uncontrollable anger; no, not jealousy, he was sure of that. He stormed out of the office, his paperwork stacked neatly on the table and ignoring the poor inu who got his head stuck in his partner's waste basket which was filled with glue-slick paper.
Closing his mind from Tsuzuki's muffled wails, Watari's a bit too 'enthusiastic' voice which was advertising his 'new' invention and Wakaba' girlish sqeaks. Thank the gods that Terazuma had probably gone home earlier since no one could stand his unfathomable curses and temper.
He teleported his way home, got his keys and went straight to the kitchen, indulging himself in a cold bottle of Gatorade to ease off his stress. From the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar white shirt that he had lend Hisoka earlier before going off to work. A slight shudder came from the man as he inched his way towards the boy.
Virtually, Hisoka hadn't moved an inch ever since Tatsumi had left. He wore the same expression, same empty eyes and same position. He mentally wondered if the boy made any effort to make himself a decent meal or maybe do something interesting like watch TV or whatever.
He hadn't really expected this.
'Just… Just stay here, okay?', he remembered himself saying those words before leaving him. 'At least he paid attention," he tried to make himself more comfortable with the situation.
Just as what had happened earlier in the bathroom, the boy broke his chain of thought by saying, "You hate me… I can see it in your eyes so don't hide it. You're disgusted by the way your friend showed his interest in me, right?"
Those once empty, soulless orbs suddenly burned, looking up at him and continued, "But… Have you ever thought of people like me? Do you think we actually like this…?"
Tatsumi opened his mouth to speak and mouthed out, "Well, you're still alive and capable. You could change things. If only you made the right decisions." Now, that really sounded so funny, he didn't really know what to say as he always seem to have his voice caught up in his throat with this devilish archaic being.
Hisoka leaned in, slightly elevating his toes and whispered to his ear, "Sometimes, its not that we're blinded by vices or otherwise… Sometimes, its just the only choice we have."
The most beautiful.
Seductive.
The ugliest.
Misunderstood.
Tatsumi had suddenly had this urge; no, he had this pang of wanting and need for this boy in front of him. He hated him but still, he wanted him. Disturbing but true.
The abrupt silencewas followed by abrupt change of atmosphere.
"Would you like some miso soup? I'll prepare beef brisket bowls tonight!"
"That…would be nice. Just don't…never mind. Do what you want. I'm taking a bath."
Author's Notes:
Actually, I think this one turned up pretty well. Dunno… maybe the length of it or something. Anyway, I would like to point out that Muraki would definitely play a minor role in this fic. Though I did, at some point, enjoy this pairing, its TOO canon and am getting quite tired of it. So, it leaves you to guess who was this 'he' that Hisoka keeps talking about. I'm evil. Also, I'm done with next chapter which is going to be an interlude, just have to type it up.
Replies to Reviews:
BLK Angel of Destruction: Thanks! Nice to hear that.
Fairren: There yah go! Its longer too! XD
My Bloody Hell: Thanks. Chocolate is good.
Real-circus: Thank you so much for your compliments! And also same to you for making my day!
VampiregirlED: Nice to know that you're enjoying the story so far and for bothering to give me a review! Thanks!
BlackWolf22: Thanks so much!
Eve: Naah, I probably wont put much details in explicit scenes if ever I do decide to work on one. Thanks for the review!
Beautifulelf1: Thanks, you probably see more of Hisoka's insane tendencies on his chapter! More Tatsoka action! Weee!
Reviews and constructive criticisms appreciated. Flames will be given to Hisoka to practice for his next fire dance. Thank you for reading!
