Author: J.J.
Warning: It's an AU and it's BASED ON THE MANGA... it's unbetaed, it contains some OOC, some use of Japanese words (the Dictionary is at the bottom), a bit of sappiness, some spoilers...
Notes: This work is based on the manga even if it makes perfect sense even if you haven't read it. After all this story is placed before the series start so it shouldn't be a problem.
About the characters... Tsuzuki and Touda are a bit different from the original because this fic is placed back in their past. I'm supposing they and their relationship changed with time.
Warning over notes: This fic is filled with notes. You will find them at the bottom. Each time you see a number between brackets it means there's a note connected to the word/sentence that preceded it. Many of them explain references to other series, to YnM manga only or YnM anime only facts for who didn't get to read the manga or see the anime, explain apparently illogical things or warn you there's an explanation for illogical facts but that you'll get it later. However I suggest you to read the notes AFTER you finished the fic unless the word/sentence connected to the note is really troublesome for you to understand. Anyway the fic should be still understandable without the notes. Notes are merely extra explanations for who wants to know more or search for spoilers.
Disclaimer:
"Yami no Matsuei" belong to Matsushita Yoko. I'm merely using her characters because I love them... especially Touda, Tsuzuki and Hisoka... -
Ehy, Do I own something here? Oh yes, I own the plot and a sensible heart which would surely break if you give me harsh reviews... so please be honest but nice ok?
Thanks: To Candy-chan who encouraged me to write this! Thank you a lot!
Summary: 1936. GenSoKai. A city had been burned. Completely. Touda is suspected, Tsuzuki is trying to fix things while Kotaro and Kojiro are there to complicate the mess.
"It's 'bout as bad as it could be
Seems everybody's buggin' me
Like nothing wants to go my way--
Yeah, it just ain't been my day
Nothin's comin' easily
...
Up--up--up--
Can only go up from here
Up--up--up--Up
Where the clouds gonna clear
Up--up--up--
There's no way but up from here
...
When everything is goin' wrong
Don't worry, it won't last for long
Yeah, it's all gonna come around
Don't go let it get you down
You gotta keep on holding on."
(Shania Twain - "Up!")
The Tsukaima led them to a nearby city, way bigger than the one they've been previously. As soon as they were there Touda cursed himself. He had wanted to go with Tsuzuki to protect him. He hadn't considered that the fact he was with Tsuzuki could put Tsuzuki in serious troubles.
He had been recognized. And he wasn't welcomed in the city.(1)
He doubted those Shiki could be a problem for him but placing Tsuzuki in the middle of a mob wasn't his idea to protect his master. As the other Shiki started circling them he tensed, ready to fight.
"Be calm," Tsuzuki had whispered to him simply. Tsuzuki looked perfectly calm as if he was totally unaware of what was happening, walking quietly through the way, hands in his pockets. Yet Tsuzuki knew perfectly well what was happening. He knew the gazes that the people were giving to them and what was going through their mind. As a child he had been often a victim of other children's hate and diffidence and had learned to recognize them first glance.(2) Yet he wasn't scared. He was too used to them to be scared. He didn't care what was going to happen as long as they didn't try to hurt Touda. So Tsuzuki kept himself calm and walked with the confident look of who had all the right to be there and nothing to worry about. He knew that look made people wonder, wonder if maybe he really had the right to be there and while they were wondering they wouldn't dare to attack. Touda was following him but the Shikigami looked definitely more wary and threatening. However as no one seemed to dare to attack them, Tsuzuki though that, maybe, they could do it without troubles.
He realized he had been too optimist when a man blocked their way.
Touda tensed. Tsuzuki stared calmly at the man, Shikigami really, as if he couldn't really understand why he had felt the need to stop them.
"You... you're not welcomed here!" the other stated with rising anger. Others were coming closer, silently supporting that Shiki and finding courage in his action. Tsuzuki blinked innocently and tilted his head.
"Oh. We didn't know this city is off limit to foreigners. We're really sorry," he replied calmly bowing politely his head in apology. The Shiki and the people around them stared. They didn't expect calm and politeness. Could it be they were wrong? Could it be they mistook the one with this foreign for...
"No... that's not..." the Shiki stammered, "It's not you! He..." he said motioning to Touda "He's a criminal who's here to burn everything! He has to leave!" Tsuzuki regarded him as if seriously touched by his little speech than frowned and his look became the one of one who couldn't understand what the other was saying.
"If he's who you said he is..." he started hesitantly. "Why hadn't he attacked you yet?" The other stared at Tsuzuki, speechless. Touda mentally signed with satisfaction a point for Tsuzuki. The Shiki however refused to be deterred by logic. Now that he had found the courage to face them in order to protect his city and was under everyone else's gaze he couldn't back out from it. That guy had to be the one everyone feared and if he wasn't... well it wouldn't matter.
"Nonsense," he stated shacking his head. "He's him and I'll kick you two out of here!" Tsuzuki's position didn't change exteriorly but in his eyes there was the glint of who's ready to fight. He wasn't really looking forward to it but he knew when a person couldn't be stopped with words. Touda frowned. He had the feeling Tsuzuki wanted to face that Shiki alone. Okay, so Tsuzuki owner the twelve ShinSho but that didn't mean it was healthy for him to go around fighting other Shikigami.
In the meantime the Shikigami moved toward them. Tsuzuki calculated mentally which spell he would do better to use to get the best effect without hurting someone. Touda prepared himself to follow whatever order Tsuzuki could give hoping it wasn't 'stand back'. The moment was interrupted by a shout that fended the air.
"What in the world are you doing to the Puppy!" a tall, large Shiki shouted as he pushed away the others around them to reach the place in which they were.
"Kuroshiro? I'm so glad to see you!" Tsuzuki exclaimed, immediately recognizing him.
"Puppy! What are you doing here? And with such company!" he added throwing a glare to Touda. Touda glared back, annoyed. Kuroshiro was Tsuzuki's partner's Shikigami and due to this he knew Tsuzuki by longer than any of Tsuzuki's Shiki and was kind of affectionate to him. To complicate the things further he was a Fire Shiki with an independent temperament and no sympathy for authority.(3) "Does that airhead of Natsume know you're here? And what's that stupid Ryuzoku of yours thinking, allowing you to go around alone in this forgotten land?"
"I'm not alone!" Tsuzuki complained immediately, avoiding carefully to answer to the first two questions.
"As if he could count!" the other spat rudely. Kuroshiro had nothing against Touda personally. He just didn't like people out of his clan and he had many reserves on his clan members too. He would have given the same reply had he seen Tsuzuki with Byakko or SoRyu or any other Shikigami Tsuzuki owned. Really, Natsume was the only one he respected, in his own way of course, and that was why he had allowed the Shinigami to master him. Somehow he had developed a liking for his master's partner, this young Shinigami who was so affectionate and kind and that needed so much affection and care like a little puppy. He wouldn't exchange Natsume for Tsuzuki but to protect his master's partner as well as his master had became a second duty to him. Besides it pleased Natsume as well.
When Kuroshiro had heard Tsuzuki owned the twelve ShinSho his first action had been to go on Tenku-Kyuu to make sure Tsuzuki's Shikigami were 'acceptable'. SoRyu had been deadly offended by the fact that a Shikigami of a lower class had came to question him over his ability to protect his master and so had been the others and only Tsuzuki's intervention had avoided a battle.
Kuroshiro however still insisted in his not respectful behaviour and in mothering Tsuzuki every chance he got, no matter if Tsuzuki's Shiki were present.
"Kuroshiro, please!" Tsuzuki called and the Shikigami felt his heart melting at what looked exactly like a puppy's look.
"Kuroshiro. Who're they?" the other Shiki asked suspiciously. Kuroshiro wasn't a ShinSho but he was a high class Shiki and quite important in that zone. No one would dare to go against him.
"The Puppy is my master's partner. You'd better not even dare to dream to scratch him. The other is..." he paused and looked at Touda frowning. "... One of his Shiki," he ended dismissively. Those idiots would never beat Touda, not even if they joined forces. He didn't care much about them but the city was a comfortable place to go to buy food and the Puppy wouldn't like to witness a battle between Shikigami. Plus he was sure the Puppy would cry should that worthless Shiki of his be hurt and he didn't like to see the Puppy cry. "Puppy, you're coming with me. We'll have lunch together," Kuroshiro stated planning to drag the puppy away from the crowd, in a safer place.
Tsuzuki cheered enthusiastically at the idea of a free meal and followed happily Kuroshiro, dragging Touda with him.
Touda frowned. Kuroshiro shouldn't dare to order Tsuzuki around. Touda couldn't stand to Kuroshiro for the mere reason the Shikigami behaved like he was also one of Tsuzuki's Shiki. It was insulting to have Kuroshiro trying to take care of Tsuzuki in the familiar manner only Tsuzuki's Shiki should have been allowed to use. Plus Kuroshiro knew sides of Tsuzuki he didn't and that somehow irked him. He didn't like to not know something about Tsuzuki.
Tsuzuki knew that Kuroshiro behaved with a familiarity that was considered not proper by any of his Shiki. He couldn't help but allow it.
He had met the Shiki in his first days as Shinigami in a mission. Natsume Sempai had summoned him and Tsuzuki had immediately been caught by him. He hadn't seen in him a powerful Shikigami, just a beautiful wolf looking creature and had immediately tried to be friend with him. He liked animals and they usually, differently from other people, liked him back.
Kuroshiro had been stunned at seeing that young Shinigami trying to cuddle him and treating him in such an affectionate manner. Natsume had found funny that someone could like a bad temperamental creature like Kuroshiro. Kuroshiro had snorted at his master but somehow had found himself liking the newborn Shinigami that was caressing his fur so gently and could scratch that spot behind his ears so well...
A puppy, that was what Tsuzuki had been to Kuroshiro, too weak and defenceless physically, magically and psychologically at the time he had met him to be left alone, so he took on himself the duty to protect him along with his master. Natsume had the good sense to appreciate it. The Puppy however had grown fast, faster than he had expected, surpassing his expectations and gaining a power no Shinigami had in such early stages and conquering the twelve ShinSho.(4)
Kuroshiro wasn't happy with it. Natsume said that the power would protect Tsuzuki but in Kuroshiro's opinion too much power in the hands of such a young puppy would turn into more troubles than help.
He wasn't happy with Tsuzuki's Shiki either. They were too important and too filled with duty to take care of the Puppy properly, too sure of their own abilities and too little used to deal with humans to understand how the Puppy felt.
Kuroshiro had no idea how to catalogue Touda. The Shikigami had meant trouble right from the first moment in which he had set a foot in the imperial court. Too powerful for his own good, too aggressive and totally unable to relate with others. He was on his own most of the time and when someone dared to cross his path... well, that someone usually didn't last long. Kuroshiro was sure that the KouTei KouRyu had something in mind when he took Touda under his wing and in the same time he suspected the Ryuzoku to be involved in the mess Touda caused during the last war but he wouldn't put his paw on it. He didn't like Ryuzoku, no matter if they were the KouTei KouRyu, and that could influence his opinion. Kuroshiro hadn't approved caging Touda but he hadn't been able to come up with a smarter idea to deal with such a dangerous guy and anyway it wasn't his place to chose what to do with him.(5)
Yet he had seen how Touda hung around the Puppy now. Touda cared for the Puppy, in his own way of course, but he did and that for Kuroshiro was enough. He frowned, wondering how that new mess was going to develop. He had heard about the burned cities and once they were seated he planned to address the topic to Tsuzuki.
As Kuroshiro ordered the food he took notice of how Tsuzuki was carelessly holding Touda's hand as if this was a common occurrence. Touda hadn't complained about it at all which, hadn't the situation be different, would have been an amazing fact. Kuroshiro smirked. Tsuzuki behaved most of the time like a naïve, little puppy but he knew there weren't good relations between them and, in that small gesture he affirmed that, even if he was following Kuroshiro around he was closer to Touda. Kuroshiro smiled down at the Puppy. Smart boy, he could be proud of him.
He entered in argument as soon as they were alone.
"I've heard of what had happened to the cities..."
"Cities? Wasn't it one?" Tsuzuki asked paling. The Puppy had never took well news about death and destruction...
"Two cities with the one burned yesterday night," Kuroshiro informed him "And I hope you've heard also how they had been destroyed..." Tsuzuki's expression turned serious, determinate. Kuroshiro knew that expression. The first time he had seen it he had been surprised. It was the look of a man who would do what he had chosen to do and wouldn't be stopped, no matter what. After that day he had watched the Puppy with a new respect.
"It wasn't Touda if that's what you're implying," Tsuzuki said simply. Kuroshiro tilted his head. The Puppy wasn't the type to use this sort of lie so the Puppy should believe it was the truth. Was it really or had the Puppy merely been charmed by some carefully constructed lies and misplaced trust? The Puppy however seemed to read his thoughts.
"And he was with me yesterday night," Tsuzuki added as if challenging Kuroshiro to call him a liar. Kuroshiro sighed.
"Puppy... don't take me wrong but this thing is a damn mess and I would prefer you to keep out of it."
"I'm already involved Kuroshiro. You saw how's the situation, do you really think I can stay out of it?"
"Puppy..." he sighed. No, Tsuzuki won't stay out of the situation, not even if Kuroshiro tied him to a bed and sat over him. "Fine, how do I get you out of this mess?"
"Any idea about who could have been?"
"Besides the obvious?" he asked giving a glance in Touda's direction. The Shikigami wasn't paying him any attention or more likely pretending not to. "No, none at all but I'll keep my eyes open just for you. I'll also tell the others to do the same, just to be sure." With 'the others' Kuroshiro meant the other tree Shiki under Natsume's command. "You should go back to Tenku-Kyuu Puppy, it's not really safe to wander around here with the... company you kept."
"I'm perfectly capable to keep him safe," Touda warned in a growl before Tsuzuki could say something. It was the first time he had spoken. Kuroshiro smirked as he felt the thrill of the challenge, his blood boiling at the thought of a fight between the two of them and he was sure Touda had felt him too. They were Fire Shikigami after all and Fire Shikigami tended to resolve all their problems with a fight. Kuroshiro knew he shouldn't declass a Shikigami in front of his master, he knew it quite well and yet he couldn't help it. He trusted few and, in his own way, he was a worrier. He didn't trust the Puppy with any of the ShinSho and he couldn't avoid making his point every chance he got. Touda knew it and somehow took it as an offence even more than the others, even more than SoRyu. The Fire Shikigami's characteristic possessive instinct from which many Jyazoku were spared flared in him every time Kuroshiro went close to Tsuzuki and Touda didn't seem to be able to hide it as well as he usually did with Tsuzuki's other Shiki.
Kuroshiro didn't mind. He found it funny. He would have liked to challenge Touda. He knew better than to try. Placing Touda in trouble would make the Puppy sad and, if Touda would take his challenge seriously, he could end up not being able to answer to Natsume's summons for a long while at best.
So, instead of challenging the younger Shikigami he simply gave him a piece of advice. Sort of.
"You attract troubles like a magnet. Maybe you can keep him safe should someone attack you but I doubt the Puppy is looking forward to being involved in a bloody, burning mess."
Touda frowned and clenched his fists. Tsuzuki placed a hand on Touda's before the Shikigami had the chance to reply.
"We'll do just fine Kuroshiro, thanks for your help," he said in a kind yet firm tone. Kuroshiro felt tempted to groan. The Puppy protected that Shiki too much. Touda might have been innocent and adore Tsuzuki for all Kuroshiro cared but he had no the basilar idea about how to take care of people. He was a Jyazoku for crying out loud! His race didn't even bother to raise their children! They've no clan, no family concept, nothing! Loyalty alone didn't help if he couldn't understand what his master needed! And Tsuzuki gave too much free reign to all his Shikigami. Kuroshiro was sure one of those days one of those idiots would disobey to Tsuzuki's order just because he though he knew better!(6) And he won't even mention how SoRyu tried to order the Puppy around!
"Puppy... I want you to stay in one piece, do you understand it?" he said gently. Tsuzuki nodded, smiling cheerfully.
"I'll do, don't worry! We've to go now! Maybe we'll meet later!" Tsuzuki commented standing. Touda stood as well and followed silently his master. He didn't bother to say goodbye.
Kuroshiro frowned as he saw the two of them leaving. No, the Puppy won't take good care of himself if left alone. Tsuzuki didn't know how to do it and even more important he didn't care to do it. Kuroshiro knew how Tsuzuki had been when he joined Enma-Cho. He remembered those empty eyes that lacked completely of the will to survive. With time the Puppy had got better but Kuroshiro wasn't a fool. Who had been Death's lover once will be charmed by her forever.
He couldn't follow Tsuzuki, he was sure that for his Shiki's sake the Puppy wouldn't allow him that, it would be highly offensive to allow a lower Shiki to protect him when he was with one of his own, so the best Kuroshiro could do for him was to turn each rock of GenSoKai in search of another possible culprit. And he would do better to involve each Shiki he knew because it wasn't going to be easy.
Thirty minutes after, Touda and Tsuzuki were still trying to track down the Tengu. They were at the border of the city, waiting for Tsuzuki's Tsukaima to locate the Tengu again. During the whole mess happened when they had set a foot in the city they had lost track of them and Tsuzuki had decided to not mention the fact to Kuroshiro. Even if the Shiki had probably understood Tsuzuki was there to investigate it was better if he had no idea about their exact situation. Tsuzuki was sure he won't be pleased to know it.
"Touda... are you done sulking?" Tsuzuki asked finally him turning to glance at his silent companion.
"I do not sulk," Touda stated coldly.
"You do," Tsuzuki affirmed in a cheerful tone. "Kuroshiro was only trying to help. You shouldn't mind his words much," he added trying to brighten the situation.
"I'm perfectly capable of protecting you," the Shikigami muttered glaring at the ground.
"I've never doubted it. Kuroshiro knows it too. It's just the way he is. Overprotective. Like Suzaku-neesan." Touda turned to look at him.
"Would you prefer to be... free of my presence?" he forced himself to ask. He didn't like the idea but if it was what Tsuzuki wanted... "Maybe another..."
"No," Tsuzuki cut him immediately, his gaze now serious and attentive. "If you want to leave it's okay, I'll understand but what you're suggesting it's just plain stupid. I don't want you to leave. Not if you want to stay," he said firmly.
"I attract troubles," Touda admitted. He had never cared much about it but now that it could damage Tsuzuki... Tsuzuki grinned at him.
"Me too. We make a good pair!" the man exclaimed cheerfully. That got Touda to almost smile.
"Idiot," he said simply.
"Meanie," Tsuzuki replied automatically, still smiling at him.
Touda didn't consider leaving ever again.
JJ's Notes:
1. Why Touda had been recognized when before he had not? The city was bigger and he was merely more 'popular' in it.
2. In Vol. 7 Tsuzuki said that when he was a child other children used to pick up on him.
3. Yes, Kuroshiro doesn't exist in the canon. I made him up. For who's curious is name means 'Dark Ruling Wolf'. He's a Shiki older than Touda but less powerful. However he still looks young physically.
4. I assume that Tsuzuki, in his first Shinigami days, was still messed up by what had happened in his past and didn't knew Jujutsu at all. However I do think he had learned everything quite fast, gaining a strong power, partly also due to the fact he's not fully human.
5. Before being imprisoned Touda had been doing the 'dirty work' for the KouTei KouRyu. When he had been arrested for attacking friends and foes during the last war the KouTei KouRyu abandoned him.
6. Which it's exactly what happens in the 'Kyoto Arc' when Suzaku kills Mariko ignoring Tsuzuki's orders.
JJ's Extra Notes:
This fic is mainly based on Touda and Tsuzuki. However I inserted this chapter that features Kuroshiro, an original character, merely to give an external point of view over the two. It's fairly logical that Tsuzuki knew his partner's Shikigami and I wanted someone who wasn't Tsuzuki's Shiki and yet knew him and his Shiki to express some opinions about them. Differently from Tsuzuki's Shiki he has a more complete picture of Tsuzuki because he knew him from almost the beginning. Also, differently from them who likely didn't have many previous master or maybe none at all because too powerful for being easily mastered he had known more masters and therefore have a better perspective of what a human is. He's also neutral over Touda not supporting but not condemning him either.
Kuroshiro is just my way to talk over the problems about the relationship between Tsuzuki and his Shiki. Please bear him.
Dictionary:
ChiJou: Land of the Living
Enma: "Demon of Darkness". Ruler of the Land of Dead
Enma-Cho: "Office Enma". In the 5th district of JuOhCho. It's ruled by Enma himself and controls only Tokyo's territory. It hosts the Shokan-ka
GenSoKai: "Illusory world". It's where Shikigami reside and it's a mirror copy of ChiJou located in JuOhCho network
JiGoku no Kuro no Honoo: Black Fire of Hell
JuOhCho: "Ten Kings Office". Meifu's bureaucratic organization ruled by Enma. It's in charge of judging the deceased in Japan
Jyazoku: "Snake Race" or "Member of the Snake Race"
KouTei KouRyu: "Golden Emperor Golden Dragon". The highest authority in GenSoKai
Meifu: Land of the Dead
Ryuzoku: "Dragon Race" or "Member of the Dragon Race"
Sempai: "Older Workmate" or "Older Classmate"
Shiki: Short for 'Shikigami'
Shikigami: "Ceremonial God". Summoned creatures with two forms (usually one is animal looking while the other is human looking) that live in GenSoKai
Shinigami: "God of Death", "Death God". Nickname for the Shokan-ka workers
ShinSho: Divine Commander
Shokan-Ka: "Summoning Division". Division in Enma-Cho that deals with summoning the dead to appear at court. It enters in action only when the souls of the dead don't go spontaneously to Meifu
Tengu: "Heavenly dog". A race of winged Shikigami who're in charge of the Suzaku gate
Tenku-kyuu: "Sky Palace". Tenku's title
Tsukaima: "Familiar Magic" or "Messenger Magic" or "Useable Magic". A summoned creature created with a Fuda specifically for a determinate purpose (pursuing targets, carrying messages, attacking enemies, spying)
Replies to reviews:
To Everyone who reviewed: Thank you! You're a great encouragement for me!
To Silverfox1: I do think somehow Touda and Tsuzuki had some of the most cutest moments that Matsushita-sensei ever drawn. I tried to do the same even if obviously I'm not as good as her. Well... I guess that in nature birds and snakes are enemies as well since snakes eat birds' eggs... Technically Phoenixes hated dragons too in Japanese myth. I guess it's birds vs. reptilians...
To Candy-chan: Sure you're worthy to be mentioned, you've helped a lot! I'm glad you like this new chap!
To ThisbeCeyx: I'm glad you like the dialogues... I was afraid I used them a little too much... Well... technically Hisoka hadn't joined Shokan-ka yet... and I would really love to have some explicit Touzuki... but it would mess with my universe continuity. sighs. One day I'll manage to write a fic in which I pair them together... Sadly they don't interact much in this chap... but they'll definitely do it in the next!
To maria: I'm glad you like this fic, Touda is one of my fave chara! You'll know who's the responsible in the next chap!
Send me your comments!
