Cat-chan: This is it... this is my final chapter... I feel like crying! Not because it's particularly sad in any way, but just because I've been working on it for so long... and it's just finally over. I'm crying now. Please enjoy the final chapter of Roses for the Dead! -runs off crying-
Hisoka: .
Tsuzuki: Aw... this is the end?
Hisoka: Well, you know what they say... it could just be the ending of a beginning.
-Tsuzuki blinks at Hisoka, then tackles him-
Tsuzuki: Waaii! 'Soka's so cute when he's insightful!
Hisoka: Baka.

Chapter 27: Roses for the Dead

The sun warmed the foliage and gardens surrounding the JuOhCho building. Soft rays of sunlight had finally managed to break free from their dark prison and diminished all traces of the dark, foreboding clouds that threatened to envelope them. Now the wind blew lightly, caressing the sakura petals that drifted down from the trees. They covered the grass in small, petite flurries of pinkish-white rain, collecting in little clumps. The occasional ripples in the lake seemed to be the only disturbance of the picturesque scene displayed for any luck, wandering beholders that day. Hisoka was one of the chosen lucky ones.

Casually leaning his back against the trunk of a sakura tree, he stared listlessly out at the liquid surface that trembled in the light breeze while tiny pink petals gathered in his lap. It calmed him, having no disturbances and only the languid pace of his train of thought to keep him company. Small company that it was. A hint of a smile played at his lips as he imagined his partner reprimanding him for thinking too much again. Sighing with contentment, emerald optics slipped shut as he allowed his mind to drift with no destination.

It was a nice feeling. He hadn't been this at peace since the night he and Tsuzuki had gone out for dinner. How long ago had that been? Quite some time, he believed, he had not kept track of time all that well since the incident with Setsuko's curse. His body tensed involuntarily. Hisoka quickly regained his composure and shook that thought away. He would not think about that. Thinking about that only served to make him depressed. If he was depressed, then Tatsumi wouldn't allow him to leave the infirmary. And he desperately wanted to leave the infirmary, for more reasons than one. First, he hated hospitals. Bad memories associated with them. Second, living with Tsuzuki did not seem like such a terrible idea. After all that had happened, the empath wasn't so sure he wanted to be too far from the man for a long time. Safety and reassurance was with Tsuzuki, so without him there was nothing.

"You'll catch cold sleeping out here. And I really don't think you want to end up back in the infirmary, ne Hisoka?"

Clouded emerald optics blinked open sleepily. He hadn't been aware that he had dozed off until Tsuzuki brought it to his attention. Stretching from his position, he winced at the crack in his neck from napping sitting up like that. Absently, he wondered how long he had been sleeping for. It was then that Tsuzuki's words registered in his brain. He was definitely slow today.

Lifting his gaze to his partner towering over him, Hisoka clarified on what he had told him, "You mean, I don't have to sleep in the infirmary anymore?"

"Nope!" Tsuzuki beamed, "It took a lot of convincing on my part, Watari's too, but Tatsumi finally gave in. From now on you'll be staying with me, partner!"

He looked back to the lake, "That's good. I'm glad."

The happy mood that had entered Tsuzuki toned down a notch when he saw the slump that the boy had fallen into. Well, no one would've noticed it at first glance, but Tsuzuki had an innate way of reading his partner just by his posture or tone alone. He plopped down beside the empath and tried to catch his gaze. Hisoka didn't acknowledge the new position the brunette had taken up.

"You don't sound glad. You sound tired, or sad. You're not still thinking about what happened are you?" Tsuzuki pried, frowning just in case the boy was thinking about what had happened.

Hisoka turned on the man and glared, "Well, it's not something you can forget so easily, you know." he hadn't meant to sound so hostile, but all the frustration inside him was building up. "You wouldn't know. You weren't there. You didn't see her die." Seeing Tsuzuki wince, Hisoka wished he could take back the words.

"I know Hisoka… and I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you… or Setsuko…" he whispered solemnly, hanging his head.

Hisoka stared at his dejected partner, "Baka, don't even start with the guilt-tripping."

"But you just said-"

He brushed him off, "Forget what I just said. I was just mad that's all. Frustrated and confused. I want to be happy like I promised her, but… it's just so hard… I don't know if I can…"

"Hisoka?" Tsuzuki was puzzled by the boy's words, his mood swings were also adding to the effect of losing his usual composure when it came to Hisoka. The empath was speaking of some kind of promise he had made. What promise was that? Tsuzuki could not recollect any promises Hisoka had made other than the one that said he would not die. He would've contemplated this further if it weren't for the depressed funk he had descended into at the words his partner spoke. "C'mon 'Soka, cheer up. You're got to get past this. As shinigami, we are going to be faced with many more deaths. Believe me."

Hisoka frowned, "Yeah… and look what happened to you. You tried to kill yourself."

One step forward, two steps back; that's always how it was with Hisoka. The statement hit a sore spot in Tsuzuki, old wounds opening once again to bleed pain and guilt. Not only did the words hurt, but the empath's tone stung too. The brunette shivered and flinched away from his partner, raking a hand through his hair. Hisoka saw this reaction out of the corner of his eyes, feeling guilty for once again hurting the man. He really hadn't meant to say that, honestly.

Tsuzuki sighed heavily, brow furrowing in contemplation, "Hey… is that what's been bothering you? That you'll end up like I did?"

"No…" Hisoka's voice was soft and full of shame, Tsuzuki had to strain to hear it, "It's not like that…"

Amethyst eyes slipped shut as he suppressed a groan, he could feel a headache coming on. For once, it was him that was thinking too hard. "Then what is it Hisoka?" he sounded exasperated and slightly annoyed, "I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong. And darting around the subject like this isn't helping either of us!"

"I don't want to burden you with my petty problems. You have enough to deal with as it is. And don't get all hypocritical on me." Hisoka replied, drawing his knees up to his chest.

Tsuzuki opened one eye to glance at his partner, "It wouldn't hurt for you to lose your own hypocrisy too. I swear! I honestly don't understand why your mind works the way it does!"

"It's the only thing you know how to do. It's how you grew up."

"I'm sorry…"

Tsuzuki's head quickly whipped around when the boy vanished from his peripheral vision. Hisoka had switched from leaning against the tree trunk in a huddled position to lying down on the grass with his back facing Tsuzuki. He wasn't moving at all except for a steady breathing. Amethyst eyes took in the form of the boy. Since Hisoka had turned his head away, all Tsuzuki could really see was his back. But there. He caught the slight movement, it almost wasn't there. But the shoulders shook ever so slightly. Hisoka was crying.

All annoyance in his eyes vanished, replaced with sympathy and concern, he no longer sounded irritated when he spoke either, "Aw, come on now… don't cry. I know you're sorry 'Soka. It's okay." Hisoka didn't appear too comforted by that, Tsuzuki couldn't help but smile at the stubborn youth, "Hisoookaa…" He poked his back playfully, "Hiiiisooooookaaa-chaaaan!" At the use of the affectionate pet name, Hisoka turned to glare at his partner who was grinning like the idiot he was. The brunette's grin failed him when he saw the crystalline tears that leaked from emerald pools, staining the pale cheeks where they streamed down. He held his arms out to him, "Come here…"

Hisoka hiccupped, then flung himself into the waiting embrace, clinging tightly to the man. "Tsu… Tsuzuki…!"

"I'm here, Hisoka." Tsuzuki murmured into wheat tinged locks, "I'm not going anywhere."

Silent sobs wracked the boy's body, only allowing some gasps for air to be emitted, "I-I was so scared! I didn't know what was happening! Y-you weren't there! And-and then-! And then M-Muraki! And S-setsuko! I didn't want her to die! I didn't-! I didn't want to lose anyone again! I-it was so s-scary and cold… a-and you weren't coming… and the sakura and the roses and the feathers… I wanted to die! I wanted to… b-because… you were gone and Setsuko was gone and you'd be mad. I didn't want you to be mad… mad at me for letting her die…"

"Hisoka…" Tsuzuki swallowed the lump of emotion that gathered in his throat, eyes stinging and arms tightening around his frail partner.

"Y-you're not mad, right? Tsuzuki?" he felt childish for asking him that, but he needed to know. Tsuzuki's shields were too great to allow him to get any look at all at his emotions.

The brunette grasped Hisoka's shoulders and forced him to look him straight in the eye, "Never. I could never be mad at you for something that wasn't your fault to begin with. Hisoka…" he gently thumbed away the tears that hadn't stopped leaking, "… thank you. Your confession means a lot to me. Thank you so much for letting me see how you felt. Don't ever feel ashamed for letting someone see that or see you at your weakest. Alright?"

"O-okay." Hisoka was still shaking, but it subsided when Tsuzuki drew him back into the embrace. "C-can we go home? Together?"

Tsuzuki placed a tender kiss atop the boy's head, "Sure, 'Soka. Let's go home."

"So… was that your plan all along?" Tatsumi nearly jumped, startled by the sudden voice behind him. He whipped around, tearing his gaze from the window. He'd been so busy… observing… that he hadn't heard the genki scientist enter his office with the faithful owl on his shoulder.

He adjusted his glasses and hid the faint smirk that had found it's way onto his lips, "I have no idea what you are talking about Watari-san."

"C'mon!" Watari flung an arm around his money-hungry friend, winking playfully, "Don't tell me that you didn't purposely keep bon in the infirmary, despite me telling you a week ago that he could leave, just so Tsu would wonder why bon was still there, get concerned, and ask you if bon could live with him. That just screams 'Tatsumi-ish scheme right here'."

Tatsumi arched an eyebrow, this time not hiding his amusement in Watari's theory, "Alright, you caught me. But can you really blame my actions?"

"Nope! It's much better than what I was planning to do with the two of them!" Watari sang out with 003 hooting in unison.

The secretary removed the blonde's arm from his shoulder, "And what would that have been?"

"Simple!" he beamed, "I would've gotten them both drunk and locked them in the storage closet. And I mean, if that didn't work then I don't know what would've. So yes, my plan was brilliant, but… I must admit that your scheme seems a lot more… gentle than mine did. Probably better for bon's sake."

"I was just doing what I thought was best for Tsuzuki, luckily, Kurosaki-kun just made that all the more easier." Tatsumi agreed.

Both shinigami looked back out the window, catching a final glimpse of the two partners in the sakura grove. Hisoka was leaning against Tsuzuki as they teleported way, looking both exhausted and at peace. His partner mirrored that expression, yet more tenderness shone in his smile, or that might have been a plea for some dessert. Tatsumi's smile didn't fade, but the gleam in his eyes vanished when the pair did. He grunted, then made his way to his desk. Watari watched curiously, coming to a quick conclusion and hopping over to the secretary.

"Ne, Tatsumi-chan!" the genki scientist grinned deviously, "I think my storage closet idea would like some experimenting with, don't you?"

Tatsumi looked incredulously at the blonde, "I suppose so, but you don't have any alcohol on you, do you Watari-san?"

"A mad scientist always comes prepared!" Watari cheered, pulling out a bottle of vodka from out of no where.

Tatsumi sighed, but continued to smirk in amusement. Letting Tsuzuki and Hisoka find peace with each other couldn't be all that lonely for the secretary. He'd always have that genki scientist to cheer him up when he needed it. "Well then, let's go find you some guinea pigs."

"I've already found one!" he tugged on his friend's sleeve, receiving a slight blush from him as a result, "Come on Tatsumi! It'll be fun!"

There was no room for argument, Tatsumi quickly realized once Watari dragged him down the hall and shoved the both of them into the storage closet. A few bumps and clatters could be heard ("Where's the light?" -Watari "There is none!" -Tatsumi). In fact, Terazuma and Wakaba found themselves in an odd circumstance when neither of them could find anyone in the office. The copper-haired girl indeed paused at the storage closet, wondering what was in there that could be making such noise, but Terazuma dismissed it as mice. Then he dragged her home. So, all in all, it was another unproductive day a JuOhCho.

Well, maybe not totally unproductive on Tsuzuki and Hisoka's part...

Owari

End Note: Hmm, I'm not too proud of the ending... I guess I just wanted to give it an end where it could seemingly just stop or have the possibility of continuing into a sequel or something. I do have a good idea of a sequeal, but I don't know. It depends on what my readers like. I'm so proud of the story overall though! I think it did great, but I hope that no one was disappointed. If anyone is confused with anything, just e-mail me and I'll answer the best I can. And for all my reviewers, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. When I felt that this story wasn't doing so well, I'd read a review and feel so much happier with it and myself. You all made this story possible. Your reviews made me laugh, quirk an eyebrow, smile, and squeal like the fangirl I am. Again, I just thank you all so much and I hope that if I write any other fics (which I hopefully will) that you'll be the first to see it and review to it.