Cat-chan: Finally! -pants- Hisoka gets very scary when he's mad. -snickers- but at least I got the picture!
Setsuko: Nii-san will be mad at you.
Cat-chan: Aw, he'll never know.
Setsuko: But he already does. -looks over- Here he comes now!
Cat-chan: Uh-oh, I wasn't here! -runs off-
Hisoka: STEPHANIE! Setsuko, have you seen that idiot fanfic writer?
Setsuko: Hai, but she wasn't here she says.
Hisoka: Baka.
Tsuzuki: Wait up 'Sokaaa! We still need to introduce the next chapter!
Hisoka: Fine. We'll go catch that hentai later.
Tsuzuki: Okay! Here is chapter 12!
Setsuko: Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Sunrise, Sunset

Tsuzuki set Hisoka down upon his bed gently, not wanting to awaken him once he had fallen back asleep. It had pained him greatly to see his partner so vulnerable and weak in his arms, clinging to him and crying softly. Crying as if it were a sin to do so. The brunette cringed, then quickly reinforced mental shields as Hisoka began to writhe in discomfort.

Brushing dampened bangs back, he hushed the whimpering boy and tucked the covers around him tightly. This gave Hisoka some sense of security, for he snuggled deeper into the warm depths of the blankets. Tsuzuki smiled sadly, his hand lingering on his forehead. The innocent and fragile appearance of the boy was rarely seen by him, only when he slept. Tsuzuki desperately wanted to bring out that calmed, peaceful expression his partner wore now more often, when he was awake no less. It seemed that whenever he was awake the boy was yelling, crying, or being distant.

Even if it was selfish of him, Tsuzuki wanted Hisoka to look at him and trust him. He wanted those captivating emerald optics to see him and only him, he wanted to be the most important person in Hisoka's life. What happened in Kyoto had proved a little of that, the boy was not going to live as a shinigami without him, he was willing to die for him. That had to count for something.

Tsuzuki leaned his head forward, brushing his lips lightly against dark, honeyed locks. He lingered there for a moment, relishing in the intimacy that they shared, even if only for a second and even if Hisoka was sleeping through it. He breathed in the scent of vanilla that seemed to follow the boy no matter what, despite his distaste for sweets. When the content sigh reached his ears and he felt Hisoka nuzzle his head closer to Tsuzuki's chest, the man reluctantly pulled away. He didn't want Hisoka to wake up and get all flustered now did he.

"Tsu-chan, will nii-san be alright?" mocha eyes gazed up into amethyst with worry flashing in them.

Tsuzuki offered a reassuring smile to the girl, "Yeah, he'll be just fine. Right now he needs to rest." He leaned back and stretched lazily before getting up off the bed, "Come on 'Suko-chan, want me to show you my garden?"

"Ah, okay." she nodded shyly, casting one last glance at Hisoka's peaceful form before following the violet-eyed shinigami out of the room.

She immediately latched onto Tsuzuki's arm, receiving a small chuckle and pat on the head. He led her out to his living room; an old-fashioned couch, two mismatched armchairs, a television set, an old record player, a book shelf filled with every kind of literature imaginable, a variety of plants, and a coffee table that was covered in takeout boxes, newspapers, and other strange oddities. Setsuko stumbled over some of the litter that dwelled on the floor, side-stepping the broken arm of the couch. Tsuzuki was apparently comfortable in this environment, not that Setsuko wasn't either. She honestly preferred messy places to clean ones, it made her feel more at ease.

The violet-eyed shinigami led her out back where the garden was located. It was small, but it took the breath from the girl as she gazed at the floral arrangements in awe. A rainbow of color burst forth from the garden, bringing life wherever it's beam touched. A beautiful little garden, containing almost every flower ever imagined. Lilies, lilacs, larkspur, daffodils, daisies, orchids, peonies, chrysanthemums, carnations, and so on. The entire garden flourished. The green of the leaves was darkened and healthy, drops of dew that had yet to evaporate lingered on the leaves and petals. Each group of flower was organized into a neat little row, some shrubbery off to the side. Snapdragons bordered the garden along with iris and aster buds.

All traces of weariness on Setsuko's face vanished as she beamed at the little patch of beauty. "Wow, Tsu-chan! This is your garden? It's beautiful!"

"Thank you, 'Suko." he chuckled, bending down beside the soil that held the flowers in tightly, "Gardening has always been a hobby of mine, even when I was alive. There's just something about knowing that something depends on you so it can live, that you matter to something. That you can bring about this beauty with just a little bit of tender love and care."

She nodded, "Hai, Okaa-san thought that too. She had a garden, she took very good care of it. There were lots of pretty flowers in it. She would tell me how raising flowers was like raising children, it needed to be loved in order to grow…" She trailed off for a moment, then smiled sadly, "I guess she was wrong though. I still grew…"

"'Suko-chan…"

"No, it's okay." the normal grin was back, "I understand a little better now, why she had to do that. Don't worry about it. Hey, how come you don't have any roses?"

Tsuzuki flinched inwardly, but let no trace of discomfort show in his expression, "Bad memories. I don't consider roses to be very beautiful any more." For numerous reasons.

"Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to bring up anything bad." Setsuko searched the brunette's face, hoping she had done nothing to upset him, "Your garden's still much prettier without them."

He nodded, eyes lingering on a single white lily for a long moment. The two sat in silence, taking in the languid pace of the afternoon. Bathing in the little warmth that the sun provided as it slowly began it's descent. It's descent into darkness… Tsuzuki shuddered, resulting in Setsuko casting him a questioning glance.

"Nani?" she blinked, tilting her head to the side, honey locks falling over her shoulder.

The man shook his head, "It's nothing."

There was another lapse of silence, before the child cleared her throat and attracting Tsuzuki's attention, "Nii-san, he- …. His parents didn't like him either, did they?"

Violet orbs blinked in a sudden confusion, "How did you…?"

"I could sense it, a familiar sadness came from him. Also, when he looks at me, it's like he's seeing someone else or just trying to stop something from happening. It sounds kinda strange to explain it in words, but I think he sees something in me that's similar to what he sees in himself maybe. Do you think so?" Setsuko's hand darted out to stroke a flower petal that had fallen.

Tsuzuki contemplated this, the child was very insightful for her age, when speaking again his voice was low, "Hai, I do. Hisoka's very particular when it comes to trusting others since his family betrayed him, hating him and locking him away from the rest of the world because of his empathy. But something else happened, and we don't think it happened to you. Both Hisoka and I were surprised to see how easily you came to trust us. Even after what you've already gone through…"

"Well it makes sense doesn't it? I mean, you didn't give me any reason not to trust you." she stated simply, as if it solved everything.

The brunette smirked, tussling the light brown hair that belonged to her, "I guess it does."

"Nii-san! You're okay!"

Verdant depths shifted up towards the direction of the voice. He had sensed the two returning, not to mention heard their loud chatter. Hisoka sighed from his position in one of the old armchairs Tsuzuki possessed. The boy had awakened shortly after the departure of his partner and the child, feeling the need to be somewhere he could be seen immediately upon their return. Just so he would know they hadn't done anything stupid.

With his knees tucked up under him and blonde head leaning against one of the arm rests, Hisoka managed to imitate a kitten perfectly. The sun's waning beams were positioned in just the spot that could warm his back and cast a golden halo through his hair. With a book spread out upon his lap, it was clear that he had only been reading to pass the time, nothing out of ordinary. His face gave no expression other than mild annoyance and exasperation at the newfound energy that was not radiating throughout the room, but that did not stop the two cheerful newcomers to dampen their spirits.

Setsuko bounded over to his side, beaming at him with a small bag in hand, "You're okay, right nii-san?"

"Hai, I'm fine." he muttered, eyeing the two bag holders suspiciously before returning to his book, "Where'd you two go?"

"Aww! 'Soka was worried about us!" Tsuzuki cooed, going chibi-inu on the empath and glomping him, while the boy could only glare at the puppy.

When his partner didn't release him, Hisoka proceeded to smack him upside the head, "Baka. I just wanted to make sure you weren't harassing anyone."

"Mou… Hisoka can be soooo mean," the brunette pouted, rubbing the sore spot on his head, "We were just out buying some dinner!" Tsuzuki could see the boy open his mouth to reprimand him about expenses, but he beat him to it, "Well, you can't cook in your condition, you two wouldn't eat my cooking anyway, and 'Suko-chan's too young to cook. So buying dinner was our only option, right 'Suko-chan?"

The girl nodded happily, "Right Tsu-chan! But don't worry nii-san, we got you something you'll like. No sweets, I promise! Tsu-chan knew what you'd want anyway."

She held out the bag in her hands to Hisoka, who looked at it for a while before cautiously taking it into his own hands. Taking out it's contents, he was surprised to see a container of beef stew. Although beef stew wasn't exactly his favorite, he was touched that his partner had even remembered that he liked stews and other traditional meals. Blushing faintly, he muttered a quick 'thank you' before rising and walking over to the table. Tsuzuki had already placed the other two bags on the wooden surface and was emptying them of their contents. Hisoka was not surprised to see many desserts there.

The violet-eyed man caught the youth's look, "I bought some earlier, but I didn't get to eat them because somebody fell asleep at work and I had to carry them home. Get my drift, Hisoka?"

The blush that deepened on his cheeks only served to say that he knew his idiot of a partner was teasing him again. Managing to glare at him before sitting down, Hisoka considered throwing out a rebuttal, but that would only serve to show as being ungrateful. Which he wasn't. The relief that had greeted him when he awoke in Tsuzuki's room could not be described. The man could've taken him back to his own home, but he didn't and that was what mattered.

"Does nii-san not like the stew?" concerned mocha eyes looked up at him, he blinked in surprise, not sensing her come up behind him.

The empath shook his head, "Ah, no, I like it."

"But you haven't eaten any of it yet." she pointed out.

"And I will."

"How do you know you'll like it?"

"I just do."

"Really?"

"Hai."

"You sure?"

"Hai."

"Okay then."

Setsuko flashed him that characteristic smile of hers and Hisoka sighed. She was almost as bad as Tsuzuki, almost. The child had a little more knowledge of when enough was enough than his partner, she would at least back away when she could see he was agitated. Yet the ability to see right past his barriers was still there. He began to wonder if he really was that easy to read.

Tsuzuki on the other hand, was chuckling to himself. That little exchange was just so cute! Nearly everything the two of them did was cute; Hisoka because he was Hisoka and everything he did was cute and Setsuko because she was so young and innocent. But he couldn't deny that the two of them seemed to fit. He wondered if onlookers would think that he fit with them too. The brunette couldn't be sure… although it wasn't like he had ever belonged with others before.

"Tsu-chan, do you like your food?" Setsuko asked him after swallowing one of her ramen noodles.

He smiled warmly at her and nodded, "Yep, it's great 'Suko-chan. How's yours?"

"Good!" she beamed, glad to have gotten a smile to replace the sad look the brunette had taken on, "Tsu-chan? Nii-san? Do you want to go to the park and watch the sunset? Okaa-san took me to see it all the time. It was really nice and peaceful. I think you'd like it. Please?"

"Sure, sounds great, 'Suko." Tsuzuki nodded, then turned back to his dinner, wondering if his partner would join them.

"Yeah, sure." came the soft reply from the blonde.

Amethyst optics met emerald for a split second before both focused back on the meals before them. Mocha eyes darted back and forth between the two, sheer joy shining in their dark hues. Even if it had only been two weeks, the girl was not completely oblivious to the relationship between the two. It was comforting, to know that there were still some traces of family left in this world.

The descending sun glowed with a multitude of colors, the sky painted with shades unlike it's normal pale blue tinge. Bursts of bright orange highlighted the horizon, with yellows circling around the hot orb. Pale purples and pastel pinks and blues stretched overhead. In the east the darkened violet colors seemed to begin their ascension to engulf the heavens. The faint outline of the moon could be made out, a few stars shining and blinking down at them. The air was cool, no longer the warm, languid temperature it had been earlier that day. In the land of the living it would only be blankets of white and chill winds, here in Meifu there was the ever-present sensation of spring.

The grass was not dry beneath them, but springy and fresh, nicely cut and displaying it's green hues with pride. The park was nearly empty, no one daring to emerge from their scheduled afterlives to indulge themselves in the wonders of a sunset. One of the few pleasures in the world of the living that the dead could simply not take away. The sunrise remained as well, not that anyone was ever up to see it. Sunrises came too early, no one could ever share it's beauty that early.

Taking a deep breath, Tsuzuki leaned back on his arms that kept him propped up, legs sprawled out against the greenery. Beside him sat Setsuko, her knees tucked beneath her and shoulders leaned forward only a tad. Hisoka was on the other side of her, sitting cross-legged with his elbow propped up on his knee, his chin resting in his palm providing his head some support. All three had their attentions focused on the horizon, the sinking sun now only a faint glow of yellow and pale orange, the black of night taking over.

"Where does the sun go?" Setsuko broke the silence with her inquiry, shifting her gaze from the horizon to Tsuzuki and then to Hisoka.

Emerald eyes clouded over with thought, violet eyes brightened at this question. A smile graced the brunette's lips, a puzzled frown knit in the empath's brow. Nothing was said for a moment, the girl sighing at the lack of an answer and refocused her attention on the fading streaks of light and color peaking over the horizon.

"The sun goes to sleep, 'Suko-chan." Tsuzuki finally spoke, causing the other two to look up in surprise, "Everything needs rest, even big and powerful deities like the sun. It disappears for a little while to regain it's warmth, light, and energy, reappearing again at dawn to provide hope and reassurance. That's what my sister would tell me anyway…"

Hisoka had opened his mouth to retort, something along the lines of that being a silly thought and that scientific fact overruled it, but closed it at the last part of his partner's explanation. Setsuko beamed up at the brunette, but he wasn't looking at her. His amethyst hued eyes were trained somewhere far away, somewhere the girl couldn't see and where Hisoka couldn't follow.

"Your sister must've been nice. She sounds real smart, too." the child replied softly, "I like that answer better than Okaa-san's."

Before Tsuzuki could even form an answer to that, Hisoka beat him to it, "What did she say?"

"That questions like that weren't worth answers."

Silence plagued then once more, the last of the sun's golden beams fading away beneath the horizon. Tsuzuki began humming, something to fill the sad quiet between then. He sat up and crossed his legs like his partner had done and looked towards the girl. She was still staring at the distant sky, mocha eyes once unfocused darted to him when the brunette lightly pat his lap. A gesture for her to come and sit. Setsuko stared in bewilderment, then slowly, she crawled over to Tsuzuki and curled up in his lap. Hisoka watched them out of the corner of his eyes. His partner picked up on this and winked at the boy, still humming the little song.

"All things bright and beautiful… eventually die…" the whisper that came from the child was faint, but it didn't go unheard. There was just no answer either could give her; it was true.

The three continued to gaze at the remnants of the day's source of warmth and light, sitting there long after dusk faded and the darkness of night engulfed them.

Reviews!
1. lunarkitty14: Heheh, sorry to have kept you waiting lunarkitty! Updates will come as fast as possible along with the little 'Soka and Tsuzuki scenes! Hooray!
2. ffpanda: Thank you! Your reviews are much appreciated!
3. Hazel-Beka: Yes, 'Suko-chan is very kawaii! I was hoping she'd come off that way. And I love how you thought of the devil and angel shoulder thing! lol, awesome. Thanks for reviewing!
4. Kalili: I know what you mean, I'm always trying to hide this stuff from both parents. I'm glad you like it though! I take no offense to you thinking that Setsuko might be annoying, I'm trying to keep her from seeming either annoying or Mary-Sue-ish. Thanks for reviewing though!
5. karin1004: Yesh, Tsuzuki and Hisoka are the bestest! Thank you for reading!