A/n: So my next chapter. I don't have a lot to do today so yay! XD shit, I just came up with a kick ass plot twist…hang onto your kimono boys and girls, it's gonna be a bumpy ride! Wheee also watch out soon for a Tatsumi x Watari one-shot "Masochists to Which I Cater"

Follow Me

''

Tsuzuki was beginning to catch on that something wasn't right when Tatsumi let him have all the deserts on the menu and never ordered any real food.

He was starting to feel like this may be his last meal and looked up at Tatsumi who was simply watching him with a soft smile.

"Okay…"

Tatsumi tilted his head but never broke his gaze.

"I'm sorry, I just feel like watching you. You're so cute when your sugar happy."

Tsuzuki whimpered at this and Tatsumi sighed, closing his eyes.

"You're not buying any of this are you?"

Tsuzuki shook his head and Tatsumi continued.

"Alright then. This is either an old case or our white haired demon is at it again."

Tsuzuki froze, suddenly feeling scared and sick.

"What does he have to do with this?"

Tatsumi shook his head.

"All I know is that the woman knew him for several years. The last recorded phone call was seven years ago, shortly after she gave birth to her daughter."

Tsuzuki was quiet for a moment.

"What about the father? Who are we taking the girl to?"

Tatsumi read over the file on the girl and handed Tsuzuki the black and white photo of her.

"The father in unknown but there is a children's home. I'm sorry to say that we'll be taking her there unless we can find out who the father is. In which case we are instructed to take her to the father first."

As Tsuzuki stared at the photo he shivered.

"Tatsumi…what color are her eyes?"

Tatsumi looked back at the description.

"Silver."

Tsuzuki nodded.

"And the hair?"

Tatsumi looked up.

"Black. It says here she's very pale. Tsuzuki, you don't look well, are you okay?"

He shook his head as he dropped the picture.

"I…don't know enough yet to say. If my hunch is right though, we'll have to take her back to the Ministry."

Tatsumi was silent as he thought about Tsuzuki's words and shook his head.

"There are any number of reasons she could have silver eyes. I'd think she'd inherit more of her father's genes and it says here that the mother has light brown hair. In any case we should be going."

Tsuzuki nodded.

''

The two arrived at the small house near the beach and found who they could assume was the woman they were looking for.

She was hanging sheets to dry.

Tsuzuki smiled softly as he watched her.

It reminded him very much of his older sister Ruka.

A memory of a time so long ago fluttered about in his mind like the butterflies that tortured his vision in the hospital.

Tatsumi glanced at the name again.

"Tsukitori Ukyou?"

Neither expected her reaction to them.

Her eyes grew wide as she gasped, pointing at Tsuzuki.

"You're him!"

He rushed forward, catching her as she fell.

Tatsumi stared in shock as Tsuzuki settled her to the ground, gently patting her cheek.

He looked up at Tatsumi with concern.

"Get the door for me, she feels very hot. We need to get her inside."

The secretary nodded quickly and was thankful that the door wasn't far away.

He held it open as Tsuzuki carried her in.

After setting her on the couch he noticed a small figure standing in the call that led to the back of the house.

The small voice made Tsuzuki smile despite his worry over the woman.

"Did mommy fall asleep again?"

He knelt down to the girl of seven and nodded, staring into her beautiful eyes.

"Just a for a few minutes. I'm a friend of your mommies. What's you're name? I'm Asato."

The girl nodded and her next words scared both men.

"I recognize you from the picture in mommies room. My name is Bara."

Tatsumi knelt beside Tsuzuki with a soft smile.

"That's a very pretty name, for a very pretty girl. Does your mommy fall asleep a lot?"

She nodded.

"She went to the doctor a while ago and he gave her medicine that makes her tired."

Tsuzuki nudged Tatsumi as the woman began to come around.

Tatsumi stood and reached out his hand.

"Why don't you come help me finish the laundry while your mommy and her friend talk?"

She glanced to her mother who was just sitting up.

"Yes dear. The time has come that I told you about."

She nodded silently and took Tatsumi's hand.

Tsuzuki stood slowly and turned to the woman.

"How is it that you know who I am?"

She closed her eyes and laid back.

"I found a picture of you in my former fiancé's baggage right before he left me seven years ago."

Tsuzuki was quiet for a moment.

"So you know who the..."

She nodded.

"He doesn't though. Please take her to him."

Tsuzuki nodded silently with a soft smile.

"How is it that you're fiancé came across a picture of me. And how do you know what I am?"

She took a deep breath.

"I know everything that's happened to you in the last six years. I know about the church, and the ship, and what happened in Kyoto. Tsuzuki-san, I love him very much. I know he's done evil things, I know he's heartless toward most…but he's only ever been good to me. He bought me this house. He's pain all of my doctor bills…he really loves me and I know that he'll take care of our daughter."

Tsuzuki was silent for a few moments.

He didn't want to believe what he was hearing.

This human knew every case involved with Muraki.

She knew he was there to take her to her death.

"What…is his name?"

She looked up at him, eyes pleading.

"Kazutaka. Muraki Kazutaka. Please take her to him! I know everything he's done, but I also know that he will love her. He will take care of her."

Tsuzuki stared at her.

"You want to put your only daughter with a…"

He stopped himself from saying what he'd done to Hisoka and sighed deeply.

"I'm afraid it isn't up to me now. I will have to speak to my higher ups. We'll all go to the Ministry together and see what we can sort out."

She took his hand gently, and kissed his palm.

"Thank you so much."

Tsuzuki stared down at her, the prospect of putting a mere child with that monster, eating at him.

"Why…do you think he'll be good to her? Do you know what he did to my previous partner? Do you know how many women he's killed?"

She nodded.

"I took it upon myself to find out everything. But if you could just see the way he looks at me. When he tells me he loves me…he means it. He told me once that if we had a child he'd stop his evil ways just to protect us."

Tsuzuki looked away, pulling his hand back.

"You'll forgive me if I can't believe he'd be kind to another human being without motivations that get him a head."

She nodded.

"Please trust me when I say that he will not hurt her."

He looked back to her.

"I wish I could…but it's out of my hands. Can you walk?"

She nodded and he helped her stand slowly.

"Wait."

He stopped as she clung to him, her legs too week to support her thin frame.

"I want to look out at the ocean once."

He helped her over to the kitchen window and she came to tears.

"That's where he proposed. It took a long time for him to give in. it took him so long to love me back but when he finally did, it was so beautiful."

Tsuzuki sighed.

"You make him sound so nice. I guess he's kind to those few he loves."

He looked over at her with a soft smile.

"It's time to go now."

She nodded.

"I'm ready."

''

Tatsumi took care of the business of Ukyou and was now watching Bara while Tsuzuki spoke to the Chief.

Konoe closed his eyes tightly.

"I know, Tsuzuki. But those are the orders."

Tsuzuki was livid.

"If you don't recant that order than I'll be forced into drastic action! I refuse to place that child with him! He's no more of a father than he is sane! You can't honestly expect me to stand by and let Muraki kill her!"

Konoe stood, slamming his fist on his desk and stared Tsuzuki in the eye.

"If they were my orders I would and believe me I've already spoken to Enma-sama about this!"

Tsuzuki was silent.

"Enma-sama gave you this order?"

Konoe nodded and fell back into his chair.

"Yes Tsuzuki. I don't know what motives he has, but it's top priority that this girl goes to Muraki. I'm sorry Tsuzuki, but it's that or you lose your job. There are severe consequences that you are facing if you don't."

Tsuzuki thought quietly for a moment.

"Okay."

Konoe nodded.

"Than go and finish this. The quicker you get this done, the easier it will go. I don't want this anymore than you do…but it has to be done."

Tsuzuki nodded silently and left. He looked up at Tatsumi and shook his head.

"Enma-sama gave us the orders…She belongs to Muraki."

He smiled softly as the girl spoke.

"Tsuzuki-san. Can we go see daddy now? Please?"

He nodded, holding back tears.

"Let's go."

''

They arrived at the door of the Mibu family home and knocked softly.

Oriya was shocked as he answered to find the two shinigami.

"We're here on business with Muraki. Don't worry, we're here to deliver a message from Ukyou."

Oriya nodded and showed them in.

He stopped the child as she immerged from under Tsuzuki's coat.

"I think you have a tag a long Tsuzuki-san."

Tsuzuki shook his head.

"She's also our business."

Oriya was caught completely by her eyes.

"Child, what is your name?"

She wrapped her arms around Tsuzuki's waist under the intense gaze.

"Tsukitori Muraki Bara, sir."

The four looked up suddenly as Muraki stumbled out of a room.

His kimono was as disheveled as his hair and he looked to be in much pain standing there.

The look of shock was only matched by his shaking body and he fell to his knees.

"I…have a daughter!"