Disclaimer: I don't own Yami no Matsuei. And I'm tired of having to say it!

Warnings: Read previous chapters, they're all there.

Fragile Doll

Chapter 4

Tsuzuki and Tatsumi waited nervously in Tsuzuki's case, and patiently in Tatsumi's case, at the designated location. Broken pillars and pieces of rubble were all that was left of the former lab; nothing remained of it's contents-there was no insight left into horrors that had went on here.

Even though he knew the lab could not hurt him, and if Muraki did try to do something he had Tatsumi and his twelve Shikigami to protect him; Tsuzuki couldn't help but feel worried. The area they were standing in, it would have been the center of the lab had the building remained standing, was exposed, you could be seen everywhere but could see hardly anything and the shadows in the surrounding area were so thick!

Pausing Tsuzuki went back over this piece of thought, the shadows. . . of course! That's why Tatsumi had picked this place. The Summons department secretary was an adept shadow master and with so many shadows around them it was like having an army behind them. This made Tsuzuki feel slightly more safe but did nothing to alleviate his nervousness.

"Tsuzuki-san, please do not act so worried." Tatsumi said looking at Tsuzuki and offering him a kind smile. "We are quite secure in this area." Tsuzuki was pretty sure Tatsumi had thought he, that is Tsuzuki, had already figured out why he, that is Tatsumi, had chosen this very spot to wait for Muraki in. "I can assure you we will get Kurosaki-kun back."

Tatsumi's words caused little to lighten Tsuzuki's nervousness but he offered Tatsumi an appreciate smile non-the-less. "Sankyuu Tatsumi!" He said throwing himself into the older man's arms.

"Tsuzuki-san, if I had known you were going to be throwing yourself into another man's arms I would not have arranged this meeting." A sickeningly amused voice said from a nearby pillar.

Tsuzuki and Tatsumi turned towards the sound of the voice, both their faces arranged into angry scowls. or angry lack of expressions in Tatsumi's case. "Give Hisoka back Muraki!" Tsuzuki cried angrily, trying to restrain himself from attacking Muraki.

Muraki smiled that annoying and creepy smile he was so well known for. "But I have come to bring him back as promised Tsuzuki-san. In fact he's right here with me."

"If he's there then return him to us!" Cried Tsuzuki angrily. "Unless of course you're lying."

"Tsuzuki-san I'm struck. You're cruel words wound me beyond repair." He gestured behind him. "I assure you the boy is right here behind me, you may retrieve him once I leave."

Tatsumi, silent during this whole time was silent; something about Muraki's smug smile and the glint in those cold eyes unnerved him. Something smelt fishy. As Tsuzuki continued to yell at Muraki Tatsumi's assuredness that something was wrong only grew, Muraki was hiding something. "Tsuzuki, that is enough." He said finally, needing to speak to Muraki, they needed to find out what was really going on.

Tsuzuki looked up over at Tatsumi startled. "But Tatsumi-"

"We have no time for this." He turned to Muraki. "If you are going to leave then leave so that we may get Kurosaki-kun back."

Grinning Muraki offered them an extravagant bow. "Very well I shall take my leave of you; until we meet again my dear Shinigami." And with a flurry of petals, causing both Shinigami to cover their eyes, he was gone

Immediately Tsuzuki tried to run towards were Muraki had been, however he was kept from going anywhere by Tatsumi's hand on his arm. "Tatsumi! Let go I need to get to Hisoka!"

Tatsumi shook his head. "You cannot Tsuzuki-san, this may very well be one of Muraki's traps; we will proceed with caution." He summoned up his shadows and sent them to scout around the area to check for any traps that could be detected. When there was no obvious evidence of any traps, Tatsumi nodded to Tsuzuki and the two Shinigami proceeded to the pillar cautiously.

When they rounded the corner they were surprised by what they saw. Lying on the ground was a small doll with pale porcelain skin, curly blonde locks and bright green eyes that almost seemed a live. Around the dolls neck was a small string with a card on it addressed to Tsuzuki.

"That bastard!" Tsuzuki yelled punching the pillar. "He lied to us!" He continued to beat at the pillar until his knuckles bled, unconcerned because he knew they would heal soon after.

While Tsuzuki was going about releasing his anger on the pillar, Tatsumi was cautiously approaching the doll, just as he brushed his fingers against one porcelain cheek there was a roaring sound and a shikigami dragon appeared from seemingly nowhere and charged at him. Skillfully Tatsumi dodged back and summoned a wall of shadows to deflect the blast of energy it sent at him. "Tsuzuki-san!"

Even before Tatsumi yelled his name Tsuzuki was already in action summoning forth one of his twelve Shikigami. "I call upon the Twelve God's who protect me come before me phoenix of flame; Suzaku!"

Suzaku appeared before them in a burst of red-gold flame. The Phoenix Immediately attacked the dragon upon her master's command. Bright bursts of flame emerged from her mouth as she sent it at the dragon. And within minutes the battle was over, the dragon dissolved and Suzaku returned to her own realm.

Both Shinigami stood there adrenalin rushing through their veins, we nothing more appeared they allowed themselves to relax. Once again Tatsumi slowly approached the doll and when nothing happened he picked it up looking it over with curiosity. It appeared to be a relatively normal doll; it wore a green kimono that had a light rose sash, and small slippers on her feet. Truly nothing out of the ordinary. . . but the eyes kept drawing his attention to them, there was just something off about them, something odd.

Before he could study it further Tsuzuki took the doll from his hands. "Did that bastard think he was funny leaving us a doll? He must have had a great laugh when he planned all this out." He took the card from around the dolls neck and thumbed it open.

Written in neat kanji on the card was a note from Muraki.

My dearest Tsuzuki-san. This is Arcane, I hope you will take the best care of her; she's very special to me. -Muraki.

Scoffing Tsuzuki was about to smash the doll when Tatsumi stopped him. "This doll could be used as evidence, do not break it."

"Fine then you take it." Tsuzuki said shoving the doll into Tatsumi's hands. "I'm going to look around and see if there's anything else that could be considered a clue." He walked off to look around the former lab, his fear of it forgotten in his anger at what had just happened.

Tatsumi sighed looking down into the eyes of the doll he now held. He frowned; he could have sworn the doll's eyes seemed to be radiating anger. He shook his head; no it was just his imagination. Holding the doll in his arms he followed after Tsuzuki, intent on making sure the over active Shinigami didn't do anything stupid.

TBC

A/N: I know another short chapter - but I'm doing what I can with what little time I can; exams this week and I just started a new job, so I'll be super busy. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter though, it was fun to write.

A one shot to the first person who figures out why I called the doll Arcane. It's all tied into the plot, and yes there is a plot.