A/n: So my next chapter. I don't have a lot to do today so yay! Hehehe, there's more to this little girl than meets the eye…just wait until Muraki finds out what he's up against. Not this chapter though. Also watch out soon for a Tatsumi x Watari one-shot "Masochists to Which I Cater"

Follow Me

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!"

Oriya rushed to him and helped him sit as his legs gave out. Muraki's eyes were wild with fear as he stared up at Tsuzuki.

"Ukyou…is dead?"

Tsuzuki nodded.

"She was very sick. We should talk alone."

Muraki nodded and Oriya helped him stand.

Tsuzuki sighed deeply as Muraki stumbled.

Being the kind man that Tsuzuki was, he caught a hold of him and allowed Muraki to help balance himself on him.

"What happened to your strength?"

He growled.

"What do you care? You just killed the mother of a child I didn't know I had and now you've come to drop her off here."

Tsuzuki resisted the urge to shove him into the wall and instead pushed open the bedroom door rather roughly.

"You have no couth Muraki. I wanted to talk alone so the child wouldn't hear any of that."

Muraki attempted a chuckle at this but he'd broken three ribs when Tatsumi sent him into the wall.

"I'm sure she knows what's going on. Ukyou was never a fool."

Tsuzuki helped the man to sit on the bed in the dark room and stood back.

"She knew a lot more than you think she did Muraki…she knew about Hisoka."

His eyes widened in genuine shock as he stared up at Tsuzuki.

"Hi…soka?"

He nodded.

"And Tsubaki, and Satomi, and me. She had a picture of me that she'd stolen from you on her bedside table."

Muraki wasn't sure what to say to this so Tsuzuki continued.

"She said she wanted to keep anything that you loved because it reminded her that there was a good place in your heart. I could have told her she was wrong. That you don't love me or anyone else…but I'm not like you Muraki. I didn't have the heart to be cruel to a dyeing woman on her last day."

Muraki found a short burst of strength that he used to drag Tsuzuki down next to him, though not without pain.

Tsuzuki's breath caught in his throat as he suddenly realized how they were laying.

"I love Ukyou! She has been my sanity since I was nine years old you can't possibly understand that so don't you dare tell me I have no heart at all! I've just lost faith in humanity…"

Tsuzuki attempted to untangle himself, but Muraki took his hand and wrapped his arm around Tsuzuki's waist.

White silk flowed about them and Tsuzuki suddenly felt his heart pounding as Muraki's lips closed in over his.

"Except for you Tsuzuki-san. You're all I have left now."

Tsuzuki pushed away and stood.

"No…now you have a child to take care of."

Muraki stared at him.

"How am I expected to just jump into being a father on the same day that I found out the only love of my life is dead?"

Tsuzuki took a deep breath.

"Did you really love her Muraki? I mean so much that you would die for her?"

Muraki closed his eyes, shakily clutching at the sheets, desperately fighting off his own tears.

"If it would make her happy I would do anything."

Tsuzuki almost felt sorry for him as he looked down on the pathetic form.

"I can't figure out why, but she's convinced you'll do it. So if you really love her than you're do what it takes to keep that child safe…a child that you created. I can't leave here until you decide."

Muraki sat up slowly and looked down.

"If it was Ukyou's last wish that I keep our daughter…than that's what I'll do. I'm just…afraid I won't be a good father."

Tsuzuki looked away.

"If you keep on this way you won't be. If you keep after Hisoka, and me we'll have to kill you and then she'll have no one. If she ends up with Oriya he'll…"

Muraki stopped him, eye glowing briefly.

"If Oriya even thinks about putting her that whore house I'll kill him where he stands."

Tsuzuki smiled inwardly at this.

'Well there, you're in the right direction.'

"I'll be keeping my eye on your Muraki. If you screw up even once, I don't care what happens to me, I'll kill you and take her away. I will know every time she cries, every scrape and scratch…just remember that I will know what is happening."

Muraki smirked.

"How do you plan to do that? Move in?"

Tsuzuki growled as he pulled out a fuda and Muraki sighed as it turned into a beautiful white bird with piercing purple eyes.

It fluttered onto Tsuzuki's finger for a moment.

"He'll watch your every move and tell me everything I need to know. From now on, this is your daughters best friend."

Muraki shrugged.

"I'm not inclined to hurt my own flesh and blood Tsuzuki. I'm not a total loss just yet."

Tsuzuki glanced at him oddly.

"How can you be sure she's yours?"

Muraki closed his eyes with a deep breath.

"Only I could have given her those eyes. An unfortunate side effect of my family genes; pale skin and silver eyes. It's remarkable that she has such black hair. Truly a wonderful child in deed. What is her name?"

Tsuzuki smiled a little.

"Bara…she's seven."

Muraki smiled softly at this.

"Ukyou's favorite flower. It's…alright Tsuzuki…I'll make sure she's safe."

Tsuzuki nodded silently and left the room.

It was extremely hard to leave her there, but she seemed to be okay with it.

Of course he was sure Ukyou wouldn't have told her any of the horrible things she'd learned so the child was going into this only knowing what little good side her father had.

He hoped that she'd never see the ugly side to him that was so prominent.

He hoped that Muraki would treat her with the kindness he'd shown her mother.

He looked up into Tatsumi's eyes, fighting back tears as Oriya took the girl in to see Muraki, and whispered.

"Take me with you Tatsumi. You have to take me. I can't leave on my own. I can't do it."

Tatsumi sighed deeply and took Tsuzuki into his arms, transporting them back to the Ministry.

Tsuzuki knocked softly on Konoe's office door and entered.

"Mission complete sir. I'll have the report on your desk at the end of the day."

Tatsumi placed his hand on Tsuzuki's shoulder.

"I'll do it if…"

Tsuzuki brushed him off.

"I really need to be alone right now and if I don't do something I'll lose my mind."

''

Try as he may, Tsuzuki was unable concentrate and Tatsumi stood silently in the doorway watching him.

He knew Tsuzuki wouldn't be able to do it, but he didn't want to stop him from trying either.

He was thankful when Tsuzuki finally set the pen down and gave up.

"Alright Tatsumi. What's your suggestion? And don't say sex either because I'm really not in the mood for that."

Tatsumi chuckled slightly and walked up to him.

"No Tsuzuki. Just some food…and maybe a solid shoulder to cry onto?"

Tsuzuki looked up at him with sad eyes.

"You know me too well. I just hate myself or this."

Tatsumi wrapped his arms around him and kissed his head.

"Let's go get a snack and I'll help you finish the report when we come back."

Tsuzuki nodded, standing and wrapping his arms around Tatsumi tightly.

Tatsumi smiled softly, heart fluttering for a moment.

"Tsuzuki."

The violet eyed man looked up, tears glistening in them.

"Yes Tatsumi?"

Tatsumi leaned down and kissed him softly.

"Just I love you, that's all."

Tsuzuki smiled softly and nuzzled his face into Tatsumi's neck.

"I love you too."

''

Later that evening Tsuzuki had cried out his tears for the time being and now sat quietly across from Tatsumi who was just finishing the details of the case.

Without even lifting his head or opening his eyes, he spoke softly.

"Tatsumi."

The secretary looked up, pausing from the last page.

"Yes Tsuzuki?"

Tsuzuki swallowed, his throat scratchy and dry from crying so much.

"I'm…so cold."

Tatsumi quickly finished the page and stood.

"I'm done. Let's go."

Tsuzuki stood slowly and leaned against Tatsumi as they walked back to Tsuzuki's house.

"I want to sleep in my garden tonight."

Tatsumi frowned at this.

"It's chilly, you'll catch cold."

Tsuzuki shook his head.

"Not if you're with me. We'll pull the sheet and blanket and pillows out."

Tatsumi sighed.

"How are we going to get up for work? The alarm didn't wake us last time remember?"

Tsuzuki closed his eyes.

"Tatsumi…I have an alarm on my cell phone. I need this."

Tatsumi stopped him.

"I know what this is really about Tsuzuki. I saw the way that you looked at her. She's not your sister."

Tsuzuki looked down.

"I know that Tatsumi. She just…reminded me of her. Sometimes I just need to remember the few short good years that I had with her. Please do this for me?"

Tatsumi sighed as he looked into Tsuzuki's hurt eyes and nodded.

"I'll take you to lunch tomorrow."

Tsuzuki smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Tatsumi as they approached his door.

"Thank you Tatsumi."

Tatsumi smiled down at him and opened the door, allowing him to walk in first.

"I have one condition…"

Tsuzuki frowned.

"Yes?"

Tatsumi kissed him softly and led him back to the couch.

"W cuddle for a few hours first."

He smiled as Tsuzuki blinked confused purple eyes at him.

"You mean like just lay together? With our clothes on and not go to sleep?"

Tatsumi chuckled.

"Yes Tsuzuki. Some times I just want to hold you closely…sometimes I need kissing to be just that."

Tsuzuki smiled widely and pulled Tatsumi down onto the couch, snuggling into him.

"Okay than. But just until bed and then…"

Tatsumi silenced him with a deep kiss.

"I promised Tsuzuki, I mean it."

Tsuzuki closed his eyes with a warm smile, floating gently in Tatsumi's warm arms and soft kisses.