Chapter 6: To Relive and Start a New Beginning

"Someone told me, love would all save us. But how could that be? Look what love gave us. A world full of killing, and blood-spilling. That world never came."

Hero; Nickelback

Tsuzuki had returned to the death site within minutes. He stood in front of Lucifer for the longest moment and kept completely silent. It hurt too badly to cry. He had killed two people that he loved in one night. How could he possibly forgive himself for this?

Hisoka lowered the fuda as he saw the dark clouds began to coat the Vampire's Moon. The empath wiped the trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve and got back onto his feet. He walked over to Watari and helped him back up and allowed him to use his body as support. Watari was the one who had taken the most hits after throwing all those threats at Lucifer to keep him away from Hisoka.

"Is it over . . . ?" Watari asked. His voice was rugged and it was almost hard to tell what he was saying. He looked up at Hisoka with his blood-covered face. His eyes asked the same exact question.

"Yes." Hisoka said simply. He scooped Watari in his arms and bounded down from the Tokyo Tower with him, leaving Tsuzuki there in peace. "It's safe once again."

Tsuzuki touched Lucifer's cold cheek and pushed a shock of hair away from his face so that he could lay a gentle kiss on his forehead. "May you rest in eternity of a dream that we never woke up from." He reached up to his own neck and jerked off a chain necklace with a cross on it. He sat it down next to his dead partner and left. Not looking back for anything.

At the end of that day, he returned to the Hall of Candles to speak with the count and keeper of lives.

"So you want to bring the boy back after you killed him?" the invisible count asked him. He looked down at Tsuzuki whose face had gone rock hard. It looked as though he was about to break out into tears. "You know what you're going to have to face, right?"

"Yes. And I'll take full responsibility for my actions." The Shinigami kept his head down. The count had never seen such a down Tsuzuki in his life.

"Then you know I'll be asking a favor of you, won't you?" he said playfully. One arm went about his waist and he pulled him close. "I want you to cry for me."

"Cry?" he asked. His eyes quickly moved to look at him. They were already forming water that would soon become tears within seconds.

"Yes. Even the strongest people should cry every now and then. It'll only make you weaker if you don't let your pain out." The invisible man reached over and stroked his hair back. He pressed Tsuzuki's head into his chest, allowing the Guardian of Death to let his tears loose. "That's right." He spoke softly. He heard him give out a sob. He started to rock back and forth, holding him close.

Tsuzuki cried for about an hour then pulled away from the count. He rid his face of the tears he had shed and smiled back up to him in return for his kindness. "Thank you."

"Not a problem." He stroked his cheek then guided him back up the stairs and the candle that sat all alone in the corner of the room on the fourth floor. Hijiri's candle. He reached back in his pocket and pulled out a special lighter that ran on water from the river of Styx and with one flick from the while with his thumb, the flame in the lighter lit up. He barely taped the half-burnt wick and it lit a flame taller than any other flame had burned. "That wasn't really what I wanted you to do, you know. But it was worth it. I'll collect my real prize tonight." He said playfully and turned to walk out. Tsuzuki felt a little too playful hand grab his butt as the nobleman passed him. It made his back straighten up in an instant.

"Tsuzuki!" he heard Hijiri's familiar voice call out to him from behind.

"Hijiri . . . " Tsuzuki's voice was joyful and carefree as he said his name. The sound of Hijiri's voice gave him a little more happiness. He turned around to see the boy once more, back from the dead. "I told you I'd keep my promise."

"I knew you would." He rushed up and rubbed his face into his chest.

"How was Heaven?" he asked, brushing back the newly reborn Hijiri's hair with his fingers.

"No better than here." Hijiri said honestly. "But the odd thing is . . . " he looked up to him and pointed to the used-to-be fogged up eye. It was crystal clear now! Tsuzuki could see the beautiful dark green in them. "I can see now."

"That's great!" the Shinigami smiled with a blissful laugh. He was cheering up already.

As the sun went down, Tsuzuki had gone to visit the lake before paying of his debt to the grabby nobleman. He watched the normal sun go up and the normal moon replaced it. The moon wasn't red. But it was full and bright as can be tonight. He could hear the gentle waves of the ocean beating up against the sand and the hum of the playful breeze dragging it to the shore. He pulled out a piece of paper out of his cloak and looked at it. It was a photograph of Tsuzuki and Lucifer. They were smiling and having the time of their lives at a restaurant. He let go of the picture and allowed the wind to grab hold of it and take it for him.

What happened? He looked down and noticed something odd on his hand. It was a freckle from where Lucifer had kissed his hand the other night. He smiled a little then shoved his hand into his pocket. Guess you really were an angel . . .

"Tsuzuki." He heard Hisoka say. He felt the boy walk behind him and stop next to him. "I'm sorry about what happened . . . " he glanced up at him with a comforting smile, trying to cheer him up the best he could.

"It's all right. I'll get over it . . . hopefully." He kept his gaze out in front of him.

"I know he was your old partner and all–but I'm your new partner." He nudged Tsuzuki's shoulder with his elbow to try and grab his attention. "You got that?" he waited for his partner's answer but didn't get one. He just shrugged and pulled something out of his pocket. "Get over it. Here." He held out the object and waited for him to take it before the boy turned to leave.

Tsuzuki took it and examined it. It was a picture of him and Hisoka and for once, they were getting along. He was ruffling Hisoka's hair while he was trying to enjoy his sweet potato. He smiled and laughed at the humorous photograph then turned around to look at Hisoka as he walked away. "Thanks. That's just what I needed." He turned back around to look up at the moon in the sky.

The moon brings out the vampire in each of us. Stained in blood, the vampire rages on. Until the day he himself is devoured.

Or until that vampire can find the will to live and return to the light once again.