Ryu was stunned for a moment, then screamed his fury and powers gathered around him like a storm, hurtling at the Lord of Hades.
Enma looked calmly at the attacker, then raised one arm, palm outward, and from one second to another the power dissipated, the storm quieted, and Ryu collapsed like a puppet where the strings had been cut. Enma walked over to the motionless figure, pity and something hard to describe on his ethereal face. When he looked at Tsuzuki, the shinigami felt an old anger rise, but he squelched it.
"What did you do to him?" he demanded.
"Nothing. He'll be fine when he wakes," was the calm answer.
Two pairs of likewise inhuman eyes met and Tsuzuki felt himself bristle. Enma smiled briefly, a smile that was so calculating, so full of knowledge and manipulation, Tsuzuki felt like throwing up.
Then those eternal eyes fell on Rikugo, who had frozen in shock, drawn between being with his injured master and going to his lover. Enma smiled more and then, with another shift of energy, he was gone.
Tsuzuki stumbled to his feet, covered in dust, feeling his leg protest the movements, and he waved off Rikugo's help.
"Go to him," he coughed.
And Rikugo did, with his shinigami in tow.
Ryu was out cold, but alive. Well, as alive as beings like them could be. Rikugo knelt next to him and pushed back some of the black strands, feeling the dried blood flake off.
"Gods, Ryu... why?" he whispered. "What happened?"
"He lost it," Tsuzuki answered softly.
He didn't know the depth of what had happened between the two men, but he understood that it had touched something so deep, Ryu had lost himself in his rage and pain, and he had attacked whatever had opposed him.
The onyx eyes glistened suspiciously. "Ryu..."
"We need to get him to an undamaged room, if there is such a thing.".
"There is," a gravelly voice answered and Watson bowed a little as three pairs of eyes turned to look at him. "Let me show you the way."
Rikugo had little effort lifting the lithe form and he followed the gnome.
Watson led them to a room at the far end of one wing that was truly undamaged and Rikugo placed his precious cargo onto the white linen. His second eyes opened and he scanned, concern etching lines into his face.
"What happened to you, Ryu?" he whispered, caressing the stained and bloody face.
Healing energy gathered and he pressed one hand lightly against the ripped shirt. Tsuzuki was perfectly aware of what was happening and he quietly waited. He felt a touch from Touda through the bond, checking him since the serpent had felt the powers flare.
:A few bruises, that's all. Already healed: Tsuzuki reassured him.
:He got you in the leg:
And demon injuries took a bit longer to heal.
:It's okay:
He had no qualms and wouldn't hold it against Ryu. Something had cracked under the pressure, had given in, and Tsuzuki knew how powerful such emotions were. He had experienced despair so deep it overrode everything else, too.
Touda wrapped himself more tightly around the soul he was bound to and Tsuzuki smiled, complete in his trust of the shikigami who could strike him down with one thought should he ever want to.
Rikugo sat back with a soft exhalation of air, almost a sigh. He closed the red, inhuman eyes and one hand reached for the lax one of his lover.
"Rikugo?" Tsuzuki asked carefully.
"It'll take time," the astrologer answered, tiredly looking at his master. "If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here, Tsuzuki."
The shinigami smiled warmly. "You're needed here."
It was settled like this. Rikugo had asked his master's agreement and Tsuzuki had given it.
"The others have arrived," Watson startled him and he turned to the servant.
"What?"
:With all the energy discharges coming from this place, something or someone had to pick it up: Touda remarked dryly.
Tsuzuki nodded slowly, glancing around the ruined palace. "I'll meet them outside. Rikugo..."
"I'll take care of Ryu."
Another nod, then Tsuzuki walked downstairs to intercept whoever had arrived.
° ° °
The palace had taken another round of rather extensive damage, this time inflicted by Ryu himself. He had targeted specific areas, though. Tsuzuki stood in the debris-littered basement area that had held the Count's private collection once. Now it was a burned, torn down and utterly destroyed section of the palace, nothing more. Just like the study, the library, and many other rooms that could be seen as Ryu's personal places.
:He struck out at what he hated most: Touda murmured, still very much present in Tsuzuki's mind and soul.
The serpent was keeping an eye on things and Tsuzuki was glad for the company. No one else had been allowed to enter the damaged building, not even Hisoka who didn't know a thing about what lay underneath so many protective layers.
:Yes: Tsuzuki replied sadly.
Ryu was sleeping and Rikugo wasn't swayed from his side, using healing energy and his simple presence to calm the upset mind that was very much aware of outsiders in the palace.
Rikugo had explained it to Tsuzuki throughout the first hours when the two men, master and shikigami, had sat with their patient.
"The Palace and Ryu are bound together," the astrologer had said softly. "He is the master of the building, he knows every corner, every stone, every little niche. And the building is of magical proportions, aware in a degree, aware of its master, and they function together. It repairs itself when damaged, taking its likeness from its master's mind. Ryu's mind furnishes each room, creates what you see. The Palace just does what he wants it to look like."
It explained why the many repaired rooms were so empty. There was no color to the walls; just plain white. The windows had window panes, but no curtains. There wasn't a single piece of furniture or decorative elements. Watson wasn't worried about it at all, so Tsuzuki tried to ignore the strange rooms.
° ° °
It took a while for Ryu to recover, but he did. The Palace began to repair itself with increasing speed and things healed. He kept to himself, speaking little, and while Rikugo was there, in the Palace, he tried not to be so needy. But he was. He wanted his lover close, he needed the warmth and tenderness, but the memories of what had occurred wouldn't let go.
So he pushed him away.
It hurt so much to do so.
Ryu tried to lose himself in that void of nothingness that had served him so well for two thousand years.
Never feel on the inside. Only show them a façade.
He laughed brokenly.
To hell with the façade!
He had lost it.
Completely.
The demonic power he had 'inherited' from the sadistic creature that had made him into who he was today -- what he was -- had broken through. Ryu knew there was a small shred of sanity still inside him that kept him from totally giving in, because if he ever did... he knew that there would be no going back.
Except with Enma-Daiou's intervention.
And like right on time, Enma had once again stepped in and stopped him before it could have gotten really ugly. For a few decades the Lord of Meifu hadn't had to do that; Ryu had been in control of his facilities. But now... faced with the loss of his lover, of someone he had grown so attached to...
Ryu sighed deeply and gazed at the mask he held in his hands. His stomach churned and he wrapped his free arm around it, almost protectively.
This was him. No one else. This was his life and his identity.
No!
The voice yelled at him from somewhere deep inside and he actually flinched at its anger.
No, he wasn't just Enma's toy anymore. To be used... to be controlled.
He was Ryu. Rikugo was his lover. His partner... he was his... his alone...
He inhaled sharply at the thought.
And I'm a monster. I'm a demon, a creature from Hell. Pure-bred despite the way I look. I'm the enemy.
Red eyes looked at the Palace, knew that the astrologer was there. He could pinpoint his location exactly. And he was staying. Because of him.
Something inside Ryu whimpered in need.
And I love a shikigami...
He fought the tears and bit down on his conflicting emotions, on his own loss and the positive emotions that wanted to swamp him.
° ° °
Tsuzuki hesitantly walked into the Palace, taking the open doors as a good sign. It meant the Count wanted him here, or at least tolerated him. As usual, the place was overwhelmingly large and Tsuzuki felt the presence of the millions upon millions of candles, felt their life, their aura, and he knew that if he strayed from the main rooms he might just end in another nightmarish vision brought on by his own soul.
He shook himself.
Ryu was, like not otherwise expected, around the back, sitting in the winter garden.
Wearing the mask.
"Ryu?" Tsuzuki queried softly.
The mask turned, the half-face looking at him, and the gloved hands made a little inviting gesture.
"Hello, Tsuzuki. May I offer some tea?"
He gazed at the invisible man, fighting his initial reaction to yell at him to take the mask off. Instead he sank onto the other chair and nodded.
"Sure."
As if on cue, Watson served a cup. It was as usual one very delicately crafted piece of China, looking expensive, one of a kind, and so very fitting to the place here. Tsuzuki sipped at the green tea with its slight flavor of apples, looking at the Count.
"What brings you here?" the master of the Palace asked.
"You."
That got him a moment of silence and despite being unable to truly see the man, Tsuzuki knew those red eyes were widening a little.
"I'm flattered," the Count said, voice a little strained.
"I just wanted to see how you are."
"Fine."
Miserable, Tsuzuki translated, setting the cup down.
"Ryu?"
It drew a flinch.
"Could you... take off the mask?"
"Why?"
Tsuzuki smiled slightly. "Because I'd like to look you in the eyes."
"You are."
"Ryu... please?"
He knew he had power over the man. Frightening as it was, the emotions Ryu held for him had never really lessened, though their intent was different. The man was protective and he was needy. Tsuzuki felt bad for playing with that particular feeling, but he had to make sure Ryu was okay.
A gloved hand rose shakily, cupping the mask and pulling it slowly off. Tsuzuki looked at the man underneath the shield, met the blood red eyes, and he smiled.
"Thank you."
"Now what do you want?" Ryu asked tonelessly, placing the ancient mask onto the table. His hands were still shaking slightly.
"What happened wasn't your fault. I just wanted you to know."
Ryu looked away. "It was my fault, Tsuzuki. I lost it over the prospect of never seeing Rikugo again. What does that tell you?"
"You're in love."
The simple answer had the other's head come up sharp. "W-what?"
"You love him. And Rikugo loves you. It's that simple. You misinterpreted something and you reacted from under stress. I know that, Ryu. I did so before. I was ready to kill myself because my emotions overpowered me."
A shudder ran through the lithe frame and Ryu's face became slightly paler. Tsuzuki rose and walked around the table, then crouch down beside the older man.
"Ryu... I don't blame you for what happened. Because I know the intensity of emotions. And it shows that Rikugo is good for you. You love him."
Gloved hands balled into fists. Tsuzuki placed a hand over them.
"Rikugo... he went through a lot and he found what he needed to go on in you."
A harsh laugh escaped the pale lips. "No, Tsuzuki. I'm not what he needs. I'm..."
"You are the man he loves. Everything else is not important. It wasn't to Rikugo and I bet he Saw a lot before you were even aware of it."
That drew another tremor.
"I've known him for close to sixty years, Ryu. He's... he's been there for me, gave me safety and love, and I know what it feels like to be around him. You feel it and you let your guards down, but he won't take advantage of it. Never. Let him stay there... in you."
Red eyes met amethyst, two demonic forces gazing at each other. "You're different, Tsuzuki," Ryu finally said. "You're his master. I'm... I'm not sure what I am. I lost it over something like this and... I hurt you. I'd never do that. Never... At least I thought so until the demon took control and I woke up to the knowledge that I nearly killed you."
Tsuzuki's hands tightened over the Count's. "You didn't kill me. You just grazed me, Ryu. Nothing more. Like I said, I understand these rampaging emotions. I understand despair. I've been there and no one was able to pull me back... until Hisoka."
"I doubt having Enma-Daiou knock you out compares," was the soft whisper.
The shinigami cupped one pale, too cold cheek. "No, it doesn't. But there is someone who wants to be there for you, too. Let him."
Ryu swallowed heavily.
"Don't push him away because you will regret it. Please?"
"Asato..."
Tsuzuki smiled softly. "I want you to be happy, Ryu. You deserve it."
"I always hurt the ones I love..." was the whispered reply.
"No, you don't. You never hurt Rikugo. You never hurt me..." Tsuzuki gave the red eyes a smile. "It only smarted a little and that doesn't count, Ryu. You don't hurt anyone by loving them. You only hurt them by... turning away. By refusing them."
"I hurt a great many people, Tsuzuki. Because I was selfish. I robbed them of love and life-energy and in the end their lives..."
The slender man, so much older than Tsuzuki, so much more damaged and jaded, began to tremble for real now. Tsuzuki didn't hesitate. He gathered him into his arms, felt the warmth emitting from the living, breathing soul, and he listened to the broken moan that turned into a quiet whimper of despair.
He listened to the stumbling words that detailed the past of a man he was only now truly getting to know, and his heart ached for him. Ryu was clutching at his clothes, hanging on as if for dear life, and he let him. He let him ride it out and Tsuzuki knew he would do everything in his power to make him happy. He so much deserved it.
tbc...