Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei, and I am sad to announce that this is a fic that is different than what I usually write. It will be more emotional, more frightening, and you will possibly cry. The pain and reality in this story will shock you and hit you right where it hurts… deep in your hearts! A warning to you… if you like Tsuzuki very much, or I you have a weak heart, do not read this.

"Ooh! Hisoka, I want that one!"

"Get whatever you want and lets go already. Tatsumi will not be happy if we're late for work again!"

"Yeah, yeah…"

A typical morning. Tsuzuki and Hisoka had stopped at one of their favorite bakeries on their way to work. Yes, even the kid liked it, because they served good hot cocoa, and we all know why Tsuzuki liked it. At the time, Hisoka was glaring at him from the front counter as the amethyst-eyed man was making his selection.

"Hisoka, can I get it, please?"

"I said it was fine, didn't I?"

"Oh, right…"

Tsuzuki pointed to the one he wanted, and stood up. As he did, he let out a deep breath and put a hand to his head.

"What's the matter?"

"Hm? Oh, nothing… I didn't sleep so well last night, and I've got a headache…"

"By the looks of it, it's pretty bad."

"No, I'll be okay…"

"Maybe. You have been more irritable, lately. Is it the Kyoto case that's bothering you, still?"

Yes, that could be it. Tsuzuki wasn't sure, himself, anymore. The Kyoto case was hard, and it tested them all, but that was over two months ago. No, that wasn't it. what bothered him… was the fact that Muraki may have survived. Tsuzuki had stabbed him deeply, but even Hisoka was convinced he had survived… a part of him was screaming. He should have made sure that evil man had died, he thought. He didn't even notice as Hisoka stuck a tray of cupcakes in front of him until Hisoka cleared his throat. He jumped and looked at the irritated boy.

"Do you want to go home?"

"What?"

"You wont be able to get any work done if you're planning on being like that all day, so there would be no point in bringing you in."

Tsuzuki playfully frowned ad took his sweets. He faked a hurt expression.

"Hidoi…! Why do you have to be so cruel to me?"

"Whatever…"

Hisoka rolled their eyes and they were off. The walk was slow, as Tsuzuki had to ogle every other sweet shop on their way. Yes, it was a typical morning… Hisoka tried to balance holding his cocoa and a large file he had been studying as he walked. Tsuzuki was ahead of him, and seemingly lost in thought again, and the boy kept a fir watch on him.

When he tried to get a drink through the straw, however, the files slipped from under his arm. Cursing to himself, he turned and kneeled to get them. Tsuzuki hadn't noticed and kept on walking. Hisoka quickly gathered some of the papers that had fallen out, but when he set a hand on the file, a paler hand landed on his own. It was bigger than his, and he thought a passerby had stopped to help him. However, as soon as their skin touched, Hisoka panicked. He knew the feel of the skin, he knew the thoughts his empathy was picking up, and he was terrified… because he knew who the hand was connected to. Slowly, he looked up, trying to clear his throat and keep his heart steady, but it all fell apart as he locked eyes with dark, sinister silver orbs.

His heart was racing, and he was stiff and numb all over. The cruel doctor was smiling down at him, but it wasn't a pure or innocent smile in the least.

"My… do you need a hand?"

Hisoka's voice caught in his throat. Where was Tsuzuki? Why hadn't he noticed that he was no longer at his side? He wanted to call out, but what would that do? Tsuzuki was still probably the one the doctor wanted, and could he risk leading his partner into the man's clutches?

Tsuzuki hadn't noticed at all. He was, again, lost in thought. He was staring ahead without really seeing anything, and he occasionally picked up a treat from his tray and popped it into his mouth. He did notice when he only had one left. He stopped and stared at it for a long time. It was a cookie with green icing on it, and it reminded him of his partner. Closing his eyes and smiling, he turned his head.

"Hisoka, do you want the last one?"

Receiving no reply, he opened his eyes. Hisoka was nowhere in sight. He remained calm at first, but trying to find his partner in the large crowd that had formed walking down the street wasn't easy. It only made him more worried when he looked far behind him and saw his partner staring blankly at the last person Tsuzuki had wanted to see.

Hisoka was standing now, having been pulled to his feet by the stronger man. Maybe Muraki wasn't so strong, but Hisoka felt weak every time he was around. The man had a firm hold on his thin wrist, and he brought it to his lips to tenderly place a kiss upon the shaking hand.

"It's certainly been a while… did you miss me?"

Hisoka couldn't speak. His mind was bank, and he was quickly losing whatever grasp he had on his sanity. He knew Muraki wasn't dead… he knew it, but he still didn't want to believe it. He didn't remember where he was or what was going on, until he heard Tsuzuki yell.

"Hisoka!"

Tsuzuki ran trough the crowd, not caring who he knocked over in the meantime. He got to Hisoka's side in record time and pulled him out of the doctor's grasp. Funny… Muraki hadn't been holding on tightly at all, and Hisoka could have gotten away. But, Tsuzuki knew how much the evil man affected his partner. Hisoka was still in a daze as Tsuzuki pulled him to his chest and touched his cheek.

"Hisoka…?"

He snapped out of it, and looked up at Tsuzuki with wide, frightened eyes. Hisoka was hurting… he was shaking and paling. Tsuzuki glared out front as Muraki began to chuckle to himself.

"Muraki…"

"Well, well… neither of you have changed at all since Kyoto! I'll have to try harder next time if I want to break you. I enjoy seeing that…!"

"Muraki, haven't you already done enough? Why don't you go and find another hobby to pursue?"

"Why? You're far more interesting than any LIVING specimen…"

"Damn you…"

Tsuzuki let go of Hisoka and started walking towards Muraki. He winced, and held his arm.

"What's wrong? Does your arm hurt? I can take a look, if you want!"

Tsuzuki swung at him, and missed. It seemed so easy to move out of his range. Hisoka stood back and watched. His partner was moving sluggishly, and already, after the first few swings, he looked to be out of breath. Hisoka was worried. Despite the obvious risks, like being overwhelmed, Hisoka chanced letting his shields down a bit. Once he did so, he was shocked at the different kinds of emotions Tsuzuki was feeling at that one time. He was sad, angry, guilty that he didn't get there sooner, and he was remembering how much trouble Muraki ad caused him both. Something bad was going o happen… he knew it.

"What's the matter, Mr. Tsuzuki? Can't you even land a single punch? I'm starting to think you're missing on purpose!"

"Damn you!"

"How pathetic… Do I have to kill someone before you'll take me seriously?"

His gaze drifted to Hisoka, and the boy gasped.

"No!"

In a lightning fast move, Tsuzuki's foot swung up and hit Muraki in the chest. The doctor coughed and wasn't prepared for the next blow to his jaw.

"Muraki… you're the worst person I've ever met, and I hate your guts! You've hurt Hisoka, Maria Wong, and countless others!"

He just kept hitting him, and it looked like Muraki had stopped fighting, then.

"I swear I'll make you pay!"

Muraki fell backward onto a bench, and Tsuzuki stepped foreward with darkness in his eyes. He held up his fist, but when he brought it down, Muraki had vanished. His fist crashed into the wood bench. He glared at the bench, as if Muraki had tainted it. The crowd that had formed dissipated, ad Hisoka walked up behind his partner. He wanted to touch his shoulder, but before he had the chance, Tsuzuki growled and hit the bench again. He just kept hitting and kicking it, and it scared the poor boy. Even with his shields up, his partner was projecting dangerous waves of anger.

Finally out of breath, Tsuzuki slumped over and tried to regain his composure. Hisoka stood next to him and tried his hardest to speak.

"W-what… what was that all…"

"Sorry… I couldn't hold it back… All of that anger had been building up and…"

Tsuzuki stood up, and he felt dizzy. He didn't finish what he was saying. He stumbled back a bit onto the sidewalk before falling to his knees. Hisoka shouted to him and fell beside him. Tsuzuki's breathing was short and ragged, and he was grasping his chest so hard that his nails were digging into flesh and drawing blood.

"Tsuzuki!"

"H-Hisoka… my chest feels so tight…and I'm feeling pain all through my arms…! I-it's hard to breathe, Hisoka…! It hurts! It hurts so much…!"

"H-hold on! Hey! Someone help!"

"Hi-i…"

"Don't talk!"

With a final inhale, Tsuzuki fully collapsed onto Hisoka's lap and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. The boy tried shaking him, but there was no response.

"Someone help! Get me a cell phone quick!"