Disclaimer: I don't own Yami No Matsuei
Background Information #1: Here is a run-down of Tsuzuki's Shikigami in their human forms, since they're mentioned in this chapter and show up next chapter. Some info might be a little off, but I don't have volumes 10 and 11 so I'm free tweak them a little bit. (Speaking of tweaking, I have to change Hisoka's birthday. October 20th makes him a Libra. Do you know how NOT a Libra Hisoka is?)
Suzaku—The Red Phoenix, who obviously controls fire. She has a fiery personality to match, though those around her love her and call her "Neechan". She adores Tsuzuki to the point of disobeying his orders if it means protecting him. (She also has a Hisoka complex not unlike Saya and Yuma, though much milder.) She and Touda hate each other and swordfight every day (UST, anyone?).
Byakko—The White Tiger who controls wind. He is very young, carefree, a slacker, and likes to nap.
Seiryuu—The Blue Dragon who controls water. He is very stern and extremely respected. He is also irrational and a superstitious stick. He doesn't like Hisoka because he believes he is a harbinger of doom.
Genbu—The Black Turtle who controls Earth. He is very old, loves money, and gets kicked around a lot.
Touda—The Flame of the Serpent whose fire can kill the dead. He's a real bada—s, however, he is extremely loyal to Tsuzuki and obeys his orders to a T. Touda never acts alone and refuses to do anything Tsuzuki doesn't order him to. He and Suzaku hate each other and fight daily.
Rikugo—He can stop time and specials in astrology. He is very scholarly and friendly, though he doesn't appear to get along with Seiryuu. He has six eyes.
Kijin—The Thunder Emperor ("Rai Tei") who controls water, and is also a diviner. He is Seiryuu's elder child, though very gentle, unlike his father.
Tenko—The Ocean Queen ("Kai Ou") who controls water. She is Seiryuu's younger daughter, and is very shy and cute. (Her name roughly means "Little angel"!)
Taimou—The Kishujin whose power allegedly deals in restricting things. She has no face.
Kouchin—The Court Musician whose power lies in her instrument, a Biwa. She has a Hisoka complex much like Suzaku's.
Tenku and Daion—A building called "Ojisama" and a cooking pot, respectively.
Background Information #2: For anyone who doesn't know, Kagan Kuroshungei is Terazuma's Shiki, but it's a parasytic type who posessed him. Because of Kuro, Terazuma can't be touched by women or he'll turn into a monster dog. Only Wakaba can touch him with her fude scrolls.
Much-Needed Information Or I'll Make Up My Own Answers: How did Ruka (Tsuzuki's sister) die?
Shout-Outs:
ffpanda – The first reviewer! Major thanks and love to you!
jennamarie – I'm glad you like the witty banter. I love it, too. (That's why I write it! )
Rogue Kyne – Hmm…I actually wasn't too concerned with dom/sub. I've actually always been able to see either proposing to the other. (Tsuzuki doing it is a lot shorter and a bit more humorous—though both end up with Hisoka being glomped ). In fact…I don't really understand why the concept of seme/uke is so popular. But that's probably just my thing. In any case, you'll see Hisoka and Tsuzuki switching back and forth a lot.
The multiple pairings is just something that I do. I really can't stand anyone being left out. I actually got criticized for it in one of my HP stories. (By the way, I agree with every one your assessment of Harry Potter couples, although I have a soft spot for Viktor/Hermione because they were really cute in the movie. And I also live in a world where if Harry and Hermione aren't with each other, they're gay except for Hr/V, of course.)
I'm just going to make something up about Ruka when the time comes if no one knows. SPOILER ALERT – This will be in the chapter where Tsuzuki and Hisoka discuss the guests and note how neither one's biological family is going to be there. BIGGER SPOILER ALERT – Hisoka is going to inform his family of the engagement.
Happygreendragon – I'm surprised everyone thinks Tsuzuki would look good in a dress!
Lynn: Ah, faithful reviewer and lovely best friend. Finish the Manga quick so you can understand it all!
Side Note #1: This story isn't purely focused on Tsuzuki/Hisoka. The others are going to have a lot of show time for themselves. This story is a lot of fluff/angst mixed in with only a bit of plot, if any.
Side Note #2: No one commented, but I just want to clarify: In Meifu, same-sex marriage is legal. More accurately, it's not illegal. There's no law one way or another about it.
Side Note #3: The title of this chapter refers to the actual meaning of the word ("good news"). It has no religious overtones whatsoever.
Gospel
"Now, say it back to me. How are we going to tell everyone that we're engaged?"
"We are going to wait until the end of the workday, ask everyone to come to the break room, and tell them our news in a calm and orderly fashion," Tsuzuki recited like a bored schoolchild.
"And how are we not going to answer any questions about any ceremony we may or may not be having?" Hisoka prompted.
"We are never going to say "We don't know" because otherwise they'll be on us like a dog on a three-legged cat."
"Good boy." Hisoka patted his head.
"I'm not too fond of your newfound sense of humor," Tsuzuki complained. "It's mean."
"Well, if you don't like it we can just break the engagement."
Tsuzuki pouted. "See? It's that sick kind of joking that really gets me."
"Did I just hear that correctly?"
Hisoka nearly jumped out of his skin and whirled around at the sound of a female voice. His hand flew to his heart and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw who it was. "Oh thank Heaven, it's just you, Tsubaki-hime."
"What did I hear about an engage—"
"Shh!" Hisoka hissed at her. "We don't want anyone to hear."
"But you are?"
"Yeah!" Tsuzuki yelped excitedly before Hisoka could say anything, and then clasped his hands over his mouth as his fiancé glared at him.
"Oh…my…" Tsubaki broke out a grin and launched herself on Hisoka, planting what qualified as a smooch on his cheek before wrapping her arms around his neck and crushing his head into her collar. "Hisoka! I can't believe it…Hisoka!"
"Shh, please," Hisoka begged, managing to disentangle himself from her grasp. "I don't want anyone to know until the end of the day."
"Hisoka wants to tell everyone when works ends so they won't bother us today, and plus they'll have the night to absorb it so they won't bother us as much as they might tomorrow," Tsuzuki put forth helpfully.
Tsubaki's face was colored bright pink. Her hands flew to her cheeks. "I…I can keep a secret." Her countenance changed quickly at the statement, but she managed to shake off the reminder of Muraki immediately. She grinned and looped her arms around Hisoka's in a friendly squeeze, and then hugged Tsuzuki and kissed his cheek. She liked him; he didn't begrudge her for what happened between herself and Hisoka, and even teased them gently about it from time to time.
"But Tsubaki-hime, what are you doing here? You don't work here."
"I'm applying," Tsubaki explained. "Someone from Sector 3 is passing on and I want the position."
"Have you told Eileen yet?" Tsuzuki asked.
"No, I want to wait until I get the job, if I do," Tsubaki said. "Oh…if you have a…" she glanced around and saw no one approaching "…ceremony, can I bring her?"
"Uh-huh!" Tsuzuki said, looking positively giddy, to match Hisoka's, "Sure, of course."
"Okay." Tsubaki overturned her arm and looked at the slim blue watch on her wrist. "Well, my interview is in ten minutes so I'd better get going."
"Good luck," Hisoka and Tsuzuki said simultaneously. Tsubaki had to smile at the unanimity.
"Thank you. And act like you aren't acting natural!"
With a small wave of her hand she hurried off.
"Hmm…that's some good advice, Hisoka," Tsuzuki said. "Act like we're not acting natural. But doesn't that just mean to act natural?"
"…I suppose it does, if you play around with the connotation of the word "act"."
"So, how do we act natural?"
"Act like we normally do."
"So, I start the whining, and you start the yelling, and then I start the kissing, and you start the blushing-and-smacking furiously?"
Hisoka thought back to their last workday. The picture Tsuzuki painted actually seemed pretty accurate. He had to give a small smile.
"I suppose so."
"Then let's start. Hisoka…" Tsuzuki paused, looking thoughtful. "I can't think of anything to complain about."
"Idiot."
"Don't make fun of me!"
They pushed open the door to Juohcho and walked in and out of the vestibule and into the main hall as of old.
"You're so mean, Hisoka."
"Please don't whine at me at work, Tsuzuki."
"Oh, so you'd rather I do this?"
And Tsuzuki promptly pulled Hisoka's face to his own and planted his mouth on his fiancé's.
"Tsuzuki, not at work!" Hisoka yelled, smacking Tsuzuki's arm. Both of them heard faint snickers of a coworker catching sight of their little spectacle. A sound they heard on a regular basis.
Tsuzuki made a soft "Hee!" sound in his throat and pulled Hisoka into a hug. "How was that?" he whispered in his ear.
"You have more skills than we give you credit for," Hisoka whispered back.
Tsuzuki made a face and then pushed Hisoka back. "Forgive me, love?"
"Whatever," Hisoka said with a roll of his eyes.
Tsuzuki slipped his hand into Hisoka's, interlacing their fingers, and squeezed it, smiling. That was natural, too.
"Tatsumi, do you think Tsuzuki is acting more hyper than usual?"
Tatsumi looked up from some files he was poring over to see Watari standing over him, chewing his lip. "You think so too, huh? What tipped you off?"
"He hasn't made a pilgrimage to the vending machines yet, but he's bouncing in his seat like Kazusa-chan did when she had to go to the bathroom when she was younger. And Heaven knows Tsuzuki uses the facilities when he needs to no matter what's happening, so it's not that…"
"Kurosaki-kun is a little off, too," Tatsumi added. "When he was yelling at Tsuzuki this morning for making a scene, he didn't seem to have his heart in it."
Watari sighed. "Do you think it's sad that we're even discussing this? Tsuzuki could have had more sugar than normal this morning. And Bon could just be in a really good mood."
"But you don't really believe that."
"Yeah, I don't. They're hiding something."
"But you're not going to pester them about it."
"No, because if I ask Bon he won't tell me, and if I ask Tsuzuki, he'll tell me and then Bon will be mad at him and me."
"That's prudent of you."
"Compliments from Tatsumi, and so early in the morning? Tsuzuki and Bon aren't the only ones acting odd today."
"Don't you have work to do, Watari?"
"There, at least one of you has returned to normal," Watari said jokingly. "And yes, I do."
003 flapped her wings, batting Watari's hair. He made to brush her off his shoulder; she took flight and then perched again. He attempted to remove her again and she once more flew away and landed. The event manifested itself a third time and this time 003 returned preening and obviously victorious. Watari sighed.
"Watari, work."
"Oh, if you're so concerned, why don't you just do it yourself?" Watari threw out flippantly, not really a challenge. "You're going to run yourself into the ground with your workaholic ways. Wow, that was some fine use of alliteration…"
003 hooted loudly and took wing from Watari's shoulder to settle on Tatsumi's. Precociously she nibbled on his ear. Tatsumi made to shoo her away, and the stunt she pulled with Watari was repeated, once, twice, three times.
"003, stop being a brat," Watari chided as the owl began circling Tatsumi head triumphantly.
"You should really train your bird better," Tatsumi advised.
"If I ever get around to training her at all," Watari muttered as 003 took flight and this time came to rest on his head, rooting through his hair with her beak. "All right, so what are we going to do abut Tsuzuki and Bon?"
"Absolutely nothing. If something's wrong, they'll tell us."
"Tatsumi, you're no fun. The whole point of not being able to ask them directly is to use sly detective work to figure it out."
"Watari, you are, quite simply, insane."
"Good, that means I'm not off my game," Watari said dismissively.
"And I wouldn't risk bothering Kurosaki-kun about it," Tatsumi advised as Watari began to take his leave.
"Yes, yes, I'll be a good and unobtrusive little mad scientist," Watari called back, flicking his hand above his shoulder in lieu of a wave.
Tsubaki sighed as she left the interview, shutting the door behind her. She had just spent the last half hour highlighting all her negative qualities in order to convince the high-ups that she'd make a good Shinigami. Taking a job at Juohcho could yield international work, and if taking the post meant seeing Eileen more often…
"Tsu-ba-ki-chan!" a chorus of girls' voices rang out, and the debutante was nearly knocked on her stomach as Saya and Yuma collided into her back.
"We came all the way from Hokkaido to see you, darling!" Saya crowed, as they unanimously planted wet, sloppy smooches on Tsubaki's cheeks. "And Hisoka-chan and Tsuzuki, too!"
"Have you seen the little lovebirds today?" Yuma asked.
"Oh, um, yes," Tsubaki said.
"You stuttered! You have a secret!" Saya said.
Tsubaki blinked. "What?"
"Ooh, and it's a big one, you can't let anybody know!" Yuma added.
"But I…adda…wibba…what?"
"Spill the beans, sweetie, you know we'll get it from you sooner or later!" Saya teased, snuggling into Tsubaki's shoulder.
"…How…?"
"Never underestimate the Hokkaido girls!" Yuma and Saya recited together, before meeting each other's gazes and giggling hysterically.
"…I just…you two are amazing."
"Thank you!" Saya said.
"We are rather amazing, aren't we?" Yuma said, winking. She slung her hand over Saya's head and pulled the slighter girl into her chest, as Saya wrapped her arms around Yuma's waist. Yuma stuck up her index and middle fingers on her free hand, completing the pose with a Victory sign. "Now tell us your secret!"
"It's not my secret," Tsubaki said. "I promised I wouldn't tell."
"Ooh, it's about Tsuzuki and Hisoka, isn't it?" Yuma stated more than asked. "Well, come along, Saya, we have to go get it out of them!"
"Wait!" Tsubaki yelled as Saya and Yuma began to scamper off down the hall. The two Hokkaido Shinigami stopped in their tracks and turned to face the flustered, flushed Tsubaki.
"What is it, sweetie?" Saya asked.
"You're going to know the secret at the end of the day," Tsubaki said. "But please don't bother Hisoka or Tsuzuki about it, okay? I'm the only one who knows, and I promised I wouldn't tell anyone."
Saya and Yuma looked at each other. Tsubaki held her breath.
"Okay!" they chirped together, and all the oxygen flew from Tsubaki with an audible "whoosh".
"But we will know by the end of the day, right?" Yuma tacked on.
"You swear it, right?" Saya added.
Tsubaki nodded, her mouth dry. "Yeah."
"Yay!"
"But you have to swear not to tell," Tsubaki reminded them.
"Cross our hearts!" the two girls exclaimed, putting their hands on each other's sternums. "Sealed with a kiss!" they pinned on, giving each other a quick peck on the lips.
Tsubaki sighed. The Shinigami job would also mean sometimes working with these two. As much as she adored the girls, much like one would adore hyperactive little sisters, working with them was not a welcoming prospect.
"Tatsumi, the Hokkaido girls are acting weird, too."
"Watari, you do know that their irritating behavior is standard for them, right?"
"Yeah, but there's something else about them that's wrong today."
"You don't suppose you're just paranoid, Watari?"
"You don't suppose you're just ignorant, Tatsumi?"
"…Watari, your bird…"
A sigh. "003, please don't sit on Tatsumi's head."
"Hoot!"
"Hajime! Hajime? Hajime…oh, you're sleeping," Wakaba said aloud to herself.
Her partner was kicked back in the reclining position on a chair, his feet up on the desk and his hands behind his head, akimbo. The last remains of a burnt-out cigarette were hanging in his mouth, and his shoes were untied. His eyelids were shut lightly, and the weightlessness of his breathing through his nose and half-open mouth indicated a catnap, though Wakaba knew that if it were truly just catching forty winks, he would have woken up when he heard her calling. Kagan Kuroshungei must be asleep, as well, which meant that Terazuma would not be waking up anytime soon.
"Kuro, you really shouldn't let Hajime fall asleep at work. It's dangerous," Wakaba chided, setting the two Bento she had brought for their lunches on the desk. "Especially with a cigarette in his mouth. Do you want to set the whole building on fire?"
Careful not to make skin contact, she extracted the cigarette from Terazuma's mouth and tossed it in his ashtray. Pulling one Bento towards herself, she opened the package and began poking at the meal with her chopsticks.
"Neh, Hajime, aren't we having great weather?" she asked the sleeping man. "I feel like something good is going to happen." She paused and watched the snoozing form's chest rise and fall.
"I talked to Kotaro and Kojiro today."
Terazuma's ear twitched agitatedly, and Wakaba smiled.
"Get this, Kojiro is actually trying to ask out another Shiki. Seiryuu's niece-in-law, Natsuko. It's very sweet to hear him talk about her. He tells me she's very pretty."
Terazuma's ear twitched again, but he did not seem irritated.
"Neh, Hajime, would you ever tell me that you think I'm pretty?"
Terazuma's ears lay flat out on the sides of his head.
"Kuro must be hungry," Wakaba said, changing the subject. "Should I wake you up using magic?"
Terazuma's ear twitched once again.
"I'll take that as a "yes", Hajime." She materialized an o-fuda scroll, muttered a quick incantation, and slapped it on his forehead. Terazuma awoke with a start, sitting straight up in his chair with an audible gasp.
"Oh, Kannuki, it's you," Terazuma said, scratching the back of his head. "I don't know where Kuroshungei's been getting his energy from, but he crashed a few hours ago and I couldn't stay awake."
"He's probably hungry after his nap," Wakaba said, pushing the Bento towards Terazuma. "Bon appetit, Hajime."
"Oh, thanks, Kannuki," Terazuma said, unwrapping the container and poking the chopsticks into the pool of rice. "Hey, by the way, were you talking while I was asleep?"
"Just some chitchat," Wakaba said. "Like…isn't the weather nice? I love sunny weather. It makes me feel like something good will happen."
"Are you expecting something?"
"Oh, not really…but I would like for Tsubaki to get the job in Sector 3. Her interview's today. Plus, Watari's been putting around a rumor that Tsuzuki has been acting weird, but not the "we're breaking up" weird. More like the "I'm about to burst keeping this secret from you" weird."
"Tsuzuki is weird one way or another," Terazuma said mercilessly, earning him a poke on the arm from Wakaba's chopsticks. "But at least he's not dumping the kid."
"Tsuzuki dump Hisoka? When Hell freezes over." Wakaba smiled brightly. Terazuma gave a half-smile back. Wakaba was cute when she smiled. "It makes me very happy to see how devoted they are. Just goes to show that no matter what you came from, you can be happy, you know? I think that's why I decided to become a Shinigami. I wanted to be happy."
"Most people become Shinigami for that reason," Terazuma allowed, putting another cigarette in his mouth and reaching for his lighter.
"Hajime, please don't smoke? It ruins my hair."
"You and your hair," Terazuma grumbled, but tossed out his unlit cigarette.
"Hajime, why did you become a Shinigami?"
"Why? I dunno." He stabbed his rice with his chopsticks. "Same reason as you, I guess."
"Have you been happy since you began living in Meifu?"
"I don't know." He covered half his face with his hand, instinctively pantomiming holding a cigarette to his mouth. "What's with all the questions, anyway, Kannuki?"
"No reason," Wakaba said, shrugging to try to emphasize her point. "Just…wondering."
"Hisoka, do you think they're catching on? Watari's been around to talk to me at least five times today. Normally he won't come out of his lab for all the gold in China."
"The Harpies have been swarming around me all day, too," Hisoka said, leaning in close so everyone else was out of earshot. He could feel the eyes staring at him as both of them, opposite each other, leaned across Hisoka's desk in order to talk.
"Just two more hours and we can tell everyone." Tsuzuki drummed the table with his fingertips excitedly. "I'm about to explode with anticipation, Hisoka."
"Please don't. It'll be inconvenient for the janitorial staff to get your entrails out of the carpet."
"You're a sadist."
"Then you're a masochist."
Tsuzuki's expression dropped. Hisoka instantly knew that was the wrong thing to say. They argued every once in a while, usually over Tsuzuki's bouts of depression, and the word "masochist" was no stranger to their heated, albeit few and far between, words.
"If I'm so sadistic, why do you stay with me?" he quickly amended.
"Well, because I love you, duh," Tsuzuki said. "If I'm so masochistic, why do you stay with me?"
"Well," Hisoka said, taking Tsuzuki's one hand in his own two, "because I love you, duh."
Tsuzuki broke out in a wide grin. All thoughts of the troublesome word were dropped with that effortless stretching of face muscles. Tsuzuki reached out with his free hand and brushed Hisoka's bangs to the side, and then kissed his fiancé's forehead.
"Two more hours, eh?" Hisoka stated.
"Yep. Two more hours and we go public."
It had been, Konoe mentally noted, an unusual day. Watari was acting social, Saya and Yuma were more hyper than usual, that Tsubaki girl was hanging around the office chewing her lip, Wakaba was sulking somewhere, and even Tatsumi seemed a little agitated—probably by all the odd behavior in the office.
It had all started with the rumors about the odd behavior of his Sector 2 employees. Konoe did not want to pry into their lives and so had ignored any nagging thoughts of entertaining curiosity about them. If it was something serious, Kurosaki would report it.
"Hey, Kachou? Can you come to the break room?"
Konoe glanced over to see Tsuzuki practically dancing where he stood.
"What for?" Konoe asked.
"Well, haven't you been curious as to what our "secret" is?" Tsuzuki asked, almost childlike in his tone. "Hisoka and I are gonna tell everyone in the break room."
"Good, then maybe the office'll settle down by tomorrow."
"Oh, I dunno about that, Kachou," Tsuzuki said, his voice dripping tantalizingly. "Hisoka's hoping they'll have the night to digest it, but I've got a feeling a couple hours won't be enough…"
"That big, eh?" Konoe asked, cocking his eyebrow. "Well, I hope it's worth the entire office being off-kilter today."
"Well, I certainly think it is," Tsuzuki said, positively gleeful. "I just hope you all agree. Or Tatsumi'll kill me…Oh, speaking of him, I have to go ask him to come there, too. See you in a few minutes!" Tsuzuki rushed off, following the familiar brown-clad form of his ex-partner.
"Nervous?" Tsuzuki asked Hisoka, squeezing his hand.
"I'm a little wary of the wave of emotions I know I'm going to feel from them," Hisoka answered pragmatically, watching as Saya and Yuma entered the room giggling and doing faux ballet movements. "Or, in the case of those two four-year-olds—" he pointed at the two Hokkaido Shinigami "—the physical display of emotions I'm going to feel from them."
"I'll stand in front of you to take the brunt of it."
"I don't know if that's going to be enough."
"Well, I'll try something. Might not work, but I'll try."
"Tsuzuki, Kurosaki-kun, we're all here." Tatsumi's voice distracted them from their private conversation.
"Tsubaki-hime isn't," Tsuzuki pointed out.
"She said they're getting back to her about the job," Hisoka explained. "And besides, she already knows."
"Good points, both of them," Tsuzuki allowed. "Okay, here goes. Everyone!" He clapped his hands twice to silence the small crowd that had gathered. "Now, as Hisoka and I have heard, you all think we're acting weird today. Which just goes to show that the office has nothing better to do than pry into our personal lives."
"Har, a-har," Watari's voice came acerbically from the back.
"Uh-uh-uh, it's not so bad, because in fact, Hisoka and I do have an announcement to share with you. But I need you to do something. Well, actually, to not do something. Warning: This announcement may cause severe emotional outbursts that may spur an Empathic Reaction courtesy of my partner. So, what I need you all to do, as I'm telling you our announcement, is to try and hold yourselves in check. This goes doubly for Torii-san and Fukiya-san over there," he said, winking at the pair. "Try and keep your distance and approach us one at a time when we're done, okay? Promise?"
"We promise!" Saya and Yuma chorused.
"Tsuzuki, I don't trust them," Hisoka said plainly.
"It was worth a shot," Tsuzuki said. "Okay, so prep yourselves to hold back, everyone!" He clapped his hands again. "Now, as you may well know, it's been about 18 months since Hisoka and I started dating. Now, 18 months seems like a long time, right? Long enough to at least have some idea if you're going to make it or break it, right? Well, we know which course we're going to take. Now, last night, Hisoka and I were on a date. We got to talking about some pretty serious, and unfortunately for you, private stuff. And then Hisoka asked me a yes-or-yes question."
"You mean "yes-or-no"," Tatsumi corrected.
"No, I mean "yes-or-yes"," Tsuzuki insisted. "There was no possible way I could have answered "no"."
Hisoka's head, which was starting to feel a tension headache from the growing anticipation in the room, suddenly felt a little lighter.
"So, now that you know the answer, you'll want to know the question, neh? Well…Hisoka asked me to marry him."
The door swung open. "Am I interrupting…?"
"KYAH!"
Tsubaki was suddenly tackled to the ground as Saya and Yuma, forbidden from unleashing their excitement upon their preferred target, instead focused their energy on the closest moving object.
"They're getting married! And you didn't tell us! You horrible person!"
"S-Seriously?" Watari managed to stutter out. "You're…really…engaged?"
"Yep!" Tsuzuki said, his face lit up like icicle lights. He pulled Hisoka into his side. "You are looking at a pair of 1-day fiancés right here!"
"Can…can we approach you now?"
"If you remain calm and orderly," Hisoka muttered.
003 was the first to advance, by flying wildly into Hisoka's face and nearly knocking him to the floor. As Hisoka desperately swatted her away, Watari distracted Tsuzuki with a hug and a twisting fist to the side of the head.
"All I can say is "about time"!" Watari crowed, managing to grasp 003 around the body and pull her away from Hisoka. "I'm surprised Bon did the asking, though." He caught Hisoka's neck and poked the blonde's temple. "Wow, I really don't know what to say!"
"I do!"
Wakaba flung herself onto Hisoka in a bear hug. Hisoka winced at her shock of emotion but convinced himself it was better than having a certain other pair of girls on him.
"Hisoka, I knew something good was going to happen today!" Wakaba squealed. "Oh my God, I can't believe it! Oh, Tsuzuki!" She abandoned Hisoka and flung her arms around Tsuzuki, knocking Konoe out of the way.
"Well, I seriously question your sanity, kid, but you obviously know him better than I do," Terazuma said, sticking his hand out for Hisoka to shake. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Hisoka said, for both the words and the calmness.
"HISOKA!"
Terazuma narrowly avoided transforming by flinging himself out of the way of Saya and Yuma. Hisoka was not quite as lucky; he managed to avoid Yuma but was entrapped by Saya's embrace. The less intense of the two girls snuggled her head into his neck while Yuma struggled to regain her footing.
"Ooh, Hisoka, you have to let us help you plan this!"
"Actually, Tsuzuki and I already thought of…"
"Aw, you two are so sweet, planning a wedding!" Yuma cooed, balancing her elbow on his head.
"It's just a small ceremony…"
"Saya, this may be the perfect time to get Hisoka into that Pink House…"
"All right, all right, that's enough, girls," Tsuzuki said, removing Hisoka from their clutches with one jerky pull that knocked the three of them off-balance. "Just calm down."
"Aw, how cute, so protective of your groom-to-be!" they crowed in unison.
"Saya, Yuma," Tsubaki said from behind them. "Don't you think you should…"
"And you!" Saya and Yuma seized Tsubaki and knocked her to the ground, sitting on her. "You little sneak, keeping this from us for an entire day! We knew you had a secret, but not this big!"
Tsuzuki and Hisoka took this opportunity to edge slowly away from the squabbling girls.
"Tsuzuki."
Both Hisoka and Tsuzuki looked to the location of the voice.
"Tatsumi."
Tatsumi stood stiffly, as if statuette. Hisoka bit his lower lip and stepped away from Tsuzuki. The conversation he'd had with Tatsumi two years ago, when Tsuzuki had been sucked into one of the Count's novels, was replaying in his head. It had been so obvious, even without his Empathy, and after seeing the novel through, Tsuzuki would have to be blind not to know…
"Tsuzuki, I…I'm happy for you."
Tsuzuki smiled, and Tatsumi did, too. Hisoka could tell there was genuineness on their faces, and an absence of coldness. But he could also feel something so off about Tatsumi that it was painful for him to feel.
"Thanks, Tatsumi," Tsuzuki said gratefully, offering his hand. Tatsumi did likewise. Instead of shaking it, Tsuzuki squeezed it, and then pulled his old partner into a hug. Tatsumi slung his arm around Tsuzuki's back and returned the embrace. "Thanks."
"Hisoka?" The perpetual 16-year-old turned to look at Gushoshin II hovering near his head.
"Yeah?" Hisoka said, turning away from the scene.
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks," Hisoka replied.
"That goes double," Gushoshin I said, floating on the other side of Hisoka's face. "If anyone told me that you two would be getting married on the day you nearly shot him and he got you drunk, I would've checked them into a mental hospital."
"Well, there'll be no guns or alcohol at the actual ceremony, I'm hoping," Tsuzuki said, and Hisoka felt a pair of arms wrap around his stomach and pull him into contact with another body. "But knowing Terazuma and Watari, they just might be at the reception."
Hisoka glanced up to see Tsuzuki's face directly over his. From the corner of his eye he saw someone leave the room, and someone else go out after him with the words, "I resent that, Tsuzuki."
"And anyways, the best romances are unexpected," Tsuzuki said, ignoring the leaving Watari's comment.
"Uh-huh," Gushoshin I said, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. "And where did you get that bit of factual information?"
"From experience," Tsuzuki said, putting his hand under Hisoka's chin and tipping his fiancé's head up so he could plant a kiss on his mouth.
"AW!" came from the predictable pair.
"Saya, Yuma, get up, you're crushing Tsubaki!" Wakaba yelped, seeing the dark shade of pink Tsubaki's face was turning from the weight of the two girls sitting on her stomach. Saya and Yuma scrambled off of Tsubaki, leaving the skinny girl huffing as she tried to catch her breath.
"That's what you get for keeping a secret!" they chided, wagging their fingers. Both offering one hand, they pulled Tsubaki to her feet and supported her by squishing her in between the two of them and draping their arms around Tsubaki's shoulders.
"Tsuzuki, how are you gonna break this to the Count?" Wakaba asked, turning back to the taller Shinigami. "You know he's going to find out one way or another."
"Um…" Tsuzuki scratched the back of his head. "I was hoping to come up with a way while we told my Shiki…I want him to be the last to know."
"Telling your Shiki?" Wakaba pursed her lips. "If you tell them, they'll want to be at the ceremony. Do you think that's a good idea?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Because Seiryuu hates Hisoka," Wakaba pointed out.
"And Touda and Suzaku hate each other," Saya added.
"And Tenkuu is a building," Gushoshin I said informatively.
"And Rikugo might open all six eyes," Gushoshin offered helpfully.
"And Byakko needs some serious meds," Yuma rounded out.
"Oh…good points. Heh." He paused. "But, still, I can't just not tell my Shiki," Tsuzuki blurted out defiantly. "This is the best thing that ever happened to me. They're my friends; they should know."
"Another good point," Tsubaki managed to wheeze out.
"Besides, I really need to buy some time," Tsuzuki tacked on. "I really don't want to face the Count just now."
"Plus, we also still need to tell Kazusa, Hijiri, and Maria," Hisoka said. "And Tsubaki-hime might as well come with us to Hong Kong, if she's going to invite Eileen."
"The Count might find out while you two are gone," Wakaba said. "In fact, that just might be the best way for him to find out. It'll give him some grieving time before you guys come back."
"It's so sad that that's true," Yuma said, shaking her head.
"I'll take you guys to Kansei," Wakaba said. "Ooh, I just can't believe it! You're off to tell your Shiki that you're getting married!" Wakaba threw her arms around both Hisoka, who was still being held tightly to his fiancé's chest, and Tsuzuki. "I really can't believe it!"
"I can believe it," Tsubaki wheezed, still smarting in her rib cage.
"Oh, sweetie, we're sorry," Saya and Yuma cooed, planting identical, symmetrical, sloppy kisses on Tsubaki's cheeks.
"Who's going to tell the Count while we're away?" Hisoka asked pragmatically.
"We'll ask Konoe-kachou to, he's closest with the Count," Yuma offered.
"So, Kansei first, and then we'll go tell Kazusa, and then Hijiri, and then off to Hong Kong for Maria and Eileen?" Tsuzuki asked.
"Yep! Oh, I can't believe this!"