A/N: Thank you all for your wonderful feedback! Both Lara and I are very happy that you still follow the series, that you still like what we do with the characters.

Emrysrei: Rikugo will have a main role soon. He will be one of the main characters in Bete Noir, alongside Byakko, and he'll have the starring role in Phoenix (with another character I won't name yet... this will be either a shock or a surprise for you...). Suzaku hasn't been pinned down for a main role yet. Sorry... As for Sohryu and Rikugo, their relationship is as volatile as it is special, and there will be more steps in that development in later stories.

Silverfox1: the genders are so undetermined, we thought we'd try something new smirks.

PJ Zatken: always looking forward to your comments. You're one of our most steady reviewers. Thank you!

Now on to the next part...

Rikugo had recovered, but it had taken a while for him to be strong enough to take care of himself. Genbu had been the one who had taken him in, had arranged for the servants to take care of their lord, and after a week the astrologer was finally strong enough to stay awake for more than an hour and truly understand what was going on around him, though his powers were far from back what they had been. It would take more time and a lot more patience for him to be able to use his abilities again.

It was due to his weakness that he didn't feel the approach of the highest of the four Gods. When he turned away from his study of a chart, his way to keep himself occupied, he nearly had the shock of his lifetime.

What little power he had flared, but it was laughably weak.

"I apologize for coming unannounced," the sky dragon said softly.

Rikugo calmed himself, drawing a deep breath. He gathered his thin shields and readied himself for whatever came now. Sohryu's visits never held any social value.

"What do you want?"

Blue-gray eyes studied him and Rikugo felt himself bristle.

"We need to talk," Sohryu finally answered.

"I don't think so," the astrologer replied and turned, walking away, cursing his took weak body.

Sohryu had been slightly shocked to see how bad Rikugo still looked. The proud Commander was thin, pale, the long hair not in his usual braid. It was simply bound back in a pony tail. That the earth dragon hadn't felt his approach confirmed Sohryu's suspicion that the other's powers were still too weak, and he was rather vulnerable at the moment. It explained why he didn't leave his palace and if at all, only ventured as far as Genbu's realm. It was where he felt safe--

-- and Sohryu was a dangerous intruder into that safety.

"Rikugo," he called softly, following the other.

The slender shoulders stiffened.

"Please hear me out."

Onyx eyes met his blue-gray ones. He could read the reply in there. It wasn't like Rikugo had enough leverage, power-wise, to throw Sohryu out. And if push came to shove, Sohryu was still his superior.

"Then talk," was the flat reply.

The dragon smiled a little and walked over to the seating arrangement, making an inviting gesture. Rikugo hesitated, then followed slowly.

Sohryu had thought long and hard about how to start this conversation, how to bring across what he felt, what he needed Rikugo to know, and how to mend a relationship that had never run on an even keel ever since Sohryu's rise to leadership, the representative of the Emperor.

So he began, his words soft, measured, his eyes holding the ones of his political opponent, of a man who had nearly died trying to save Touda...

° °°

The bond was like a leaky sieve, a large net that didn't hold much back. Both Tsuzuki and Touda were clearly aware of their other half's thoughts and emotions and both tried their best to work on the most rudimentary shields. Since both were confined to the hospital, nothing much exciting happened, but brief surges of emotions when their lovers came by translated immediately.

Still, they were sleeping more than being awake and too weak to do more than eat when they were conscious. Self-repair had begun and with each day, Touda grew stronger, and with him Tsuzuki.

Shields were getting better by the day and Tsuzuki was allowed to leave the medical wing after another two days, with serious orders to take it easy.

:How's Rikugo?': Tsuzuki asked.

He was back home, in his own four walls, and while he was too weak to do much, he could at least take care of the basics – and there was always Hisoka who had effectively moved in for the time. Not that they didn't spend time at each other's apartment anyway.

:Recovering: was the calm answer. :His energy levels are almost back to normal and he's his usual self: A chuckle was added to the last statement.

:Good to hear: Tsuzuki said, stretching lazily on the couch.

Light was falling through the large window front and played over his casually dressed form. There were rare times when Tsuzuki didn't wear his trademark shirt white and black suit with a long, flowing equally black coat. Right now, the black jeans and white t-shirt were a variation of it.

:Tell him to take it easy, okay:

Touda flowed around him like an inky, silky piece of the void himself, but so warm and gentle, it was like a lover's caress.

:I will. Take your own advice, Tsuzuki. Rest and get well:

He smiled and hugged his shikigami. :I will:

The connection was closed and Tsuzuki blinked, getting back to reality. He looked into a pair of green eyes in a young face that currently gave nothing away. Hisoka regarded him calmly, probably very much aware of his conversation with Touda. He had told Tsuzuki once that he could feel the connection, could feel Touda's presence whenever the fire serpent came to the forefront. In the beginning it had hurt, but by now it was as much part of Tsuzuki as was everything else.

"Hey," Tsuzuki said, smiling softly.

He held out one hand and Hisoka took it, letting himself get pulled to his lover's side. Their lips met and Tsuzuki kissed him questioningly.

"You okay?" he asked as they separated.

"Yes. Getting better each day. So's Touda. He says Rikugo's okay, too." Happiness swung in his voice.

Still, the expression in the young face was slightly worried.

"Hisoka?" Tsuzuki stroked over the smooth skin of one cheek. "Something wrong?"

"Touda contracted a computer virus," the young shinigami said, sitting back, facing Tsuzuki who now pushed himself up in a cross-legged position as well.

"Yes?"

"It's a virus that he received from his interface with the Meifu main computer system because he helped Watari build the Key. The virus that came from Watari's system didn't affect Watari's computer any more than just a few glitches, but it nearly killed Touda."

"Touda's not a computer," Tsuzuki argued. "He just became part of it for the work he did."

"Yes, he did. So why did it almost kill Touda but Watari's computer just glitched on a harmless level? Watari told me that the virus wouldn't have done nearly as much damage as it did in Touda. He's analyzing it at the moment."

Tsuzuki frowned. "You think it was intentional?"

Hisoka sighed. "Maybe. Something about this is so wrong, Asato. So very, very wrong. The virus came from Meifu and attacked Touda. Why? Watari's system is the best and he doesn't know how the bug could have gotten in. Why attack Touda? Why not anyone else?"

Tsuzuki was silent, thoughtfully gazing at the other shinigami. "I don't know, Hisoka."

Hisoka ran a hand through his long strands. "It doesn't feel right," he murmured.

Tsuzuki pulled him into a gentle embrace. He trusted Hisoka's feelings – not just because he was empath but because the younger man was usually right. Right now, though, he didn't have the mental strength to think about this.

:We'll look into this: Touda whispered.

:Later: was the murmured answer.

When they were all more rested.

°

Their love-making had been slow and intense, both surrendering to their emotions, to their partners, to themselves. Hisoka had moved with his lover, had moaned softly as Tsuzuki had entered him slowly, deeply, had lovingly kissed and nipped at him, his hands so incredibly gentle. Climax had been a long, deep rush and Hisoka had clung to the taller man, had felt the power the slender form harbored, had dug his fingers into the deceptively frail and vulnerable form.

"I love you," Tsuzuki whispered as he cradled the younger man close, running his fingers through the tousled hair, over the hot skin.

"Love you so much." He buried his head against the softness.

Hisoka gazed at his lover, smiling gently, his face, usually so emotionless, warm and loving in its expression.

"I love you, too."

And they needed each other. Hisoka knew he was sharing this special person with a lot of people, first of all Touda, then the other shikigami serving their shinigami master, and even a whole realm. But he found he didn't care because Tsuzuki was his lover, his partner, and it meant more to him than a lot of things.

He felt safe, protected, loved.

He felt warm.

Tsuzuki snuggled closer, pulling a blanket around them. He was drifting off to sleep and Hisoka's own body and mind surrendered to the pleasant exhaustion as well.

°

In GensouKai, Byakko lay curled up around his lover, too. Touda was sleeping, exhausted from their love-making, and Byakko couldn't suppress the still continuing feeling of happiness. Purring, tail wrapped around them both, he reveled in the warmth of their shared body heat.

tbc...