Disclaimer: I don't own Yami No Matsuei

Additional Characters: Chizuru, Rika

Additional Pairings: Chizuru/Ruka

Background Information #1: Chizuru eventually told Rika that she's a Shinigami.

Shout-outs:

Ola: Yep, it's the former. I told you, Muraki hinges on Ukyo's appearance. He's just going to disappear after this. Rather than any plot point, I wanted the meeting with Muraki to contribute to Tsuzuki's and Hisoka's emotional turmoil/growth, which is my favorite thing to do with fanfiction, and characters in general. As I said, this is a lot fluff/angst with very little plot.

Kiko812: I'm so glad you loved the ending. That chapter wasn't easy for me to write, especially in the beginning, because I felt the opening scene and the very last scene were too rushed. On Muraki acting human…well, everyone's got some redeeming quality about him/her, at least, that's what I'd like to believe. But I had to reconcile Muraki being, well, Muraki with his being in love with someone. I really hope I pulled it off with the comparison between humans and demons.

That website really helped me out a lot. It tells you everything you need to know about Star Signs, Life Paths, Character Numbers, Heart's Desire Numbers, Birthdate Numbers, everything except Tree Signs. Tree Signs are part of Celtic mythology, and they work rather like Star Signs, except they have a limited number of days. I got the info from an E-mail, so you'll have to yahoo or google "Tree Signs" if you want more information on it, 'cause it's not on callistazm (Stab). Trust me, even if you don't believe in real-life astrology (I don't), it's really fun to make up birthdays for characters, and by using Star Signs—Tree Signs—Life Paths, you can get really amazing and accurate results!

December Jewel: Well, for some people, he does.

jennamarie: "angst monkey"? Interesting term. I think I'll be using that in my every day speech from now on. (Envisions what will happen if I say that Holden from Catcher In The Rye is an angst monkey to my English teacher…)

Amethyst-eyed Koneko: I think that's the most enthusiastic review I've ever gotten in my life. (Bows) Thanks you very much. This chapter definitely has its angst, but it's tempered by fluff, filler, and even the introduction of a plot device (which is something I'm not very good at). But, there is, as you put it, "majorly angsty drama" due in chapter 7, and it's even worse than last chapter. (I actually planned this story. That made Lynn, my update muse, very, very shocked.)

Celendiar: Oh, believe me, I wouldn't mind if Muraki took a long walk off a short cliff. I simply like my version of Muraki best. He's a demon and he knows it, and he holds contempt for ideals such as the value of humans, seeing them as dolls. But then, he did have a long-term relationship with a woman and if he loved her enough I suppose he would end her suffering. And thank you very much for your compliments on my characterization of Tsuzuki and Hisoka. With such a lover-ly pairing, how could I give them bad characterizations?

Lynn: Remember, we live in a world where Muraki + Inferno Cold. Beside, o ye who hath never read the manga, in volume 8 Muraki practically makes a declaration of love with this dialogue: "Ukyo! Forgive me, please…I…wasn't able to save you. I couldn't do anything for you. Farewell, Ukyo…I pray…for your happiness. I must leave you behind. Please…forgive me." If that's not a display of human emotions, I don't know what is.

Side Note #1: I'm so amazed at the popularity of this story, especially since Yami no Matsuei fanfiction doesn't get a lot of traffic. At the moment I'm writing this (2: 48 PM on 2/12/06), Second Death is 1st place among my stories for Hits (900) and Alerts (11), 5th place for reviews (27), and 6th place for Faves (7). Thank you all! At the end of this chapter, I'll update my Stats.

Side Note #2: Since I am not Japanese and my research has yielded almost nothing, Tsuzuki and Hisoka may refer to traditions/terms/customs based on a Western wedding. However, I did manage to find out a few things about Japanese (present and Meiji era) weddings. Here are a few customs:

Breaking of bread over the bride's head by the groom. This is supposed to show his mastery over her. (GrumbleGrumbleSexistGrumble)

San-san-kudo, the sake ceremony. This is a traditional Shinto practice. In this ceremony, the miko ("shrine maiden", a la Wakaba) presents the couple with three cups of sake, one small, one medium, and one large. The groom begins with the little one. He touches the rim to his lips three times, then drinks. He passes it off to the bride, who does the same. They repeat the process with the medium-sized cup, but the bride begins this one. Then it happens again with the large one, the groom leading again. There is a blessing said before partaking of each one. The first blessing thanks the family for rearing them in the correct way. The second one swears to never shirk their marital duties. The third wishes for a happy home filled with children.

Side Note #3: The bomb in 1945, of course, refers to the dropping of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. You can pick whichever city you want them to be referring to.

Side Note #4: "Gack" is my word for "steal".

Side Note #5: This chapter is extremely long! Read when you have a lot of free time!

Setting The Stage

It had come as a surprise to Hisoka that Shinigami had regular days off. He wouldn't have thought that Konoe or Tatsumi (Tatsumi especially) would allow for it. Given, it was only one day off, but if you gauged Tsuzuki's reaction, the Sundays they did not have to go to work were as revered by the Shinigami in a secular sense as devoted believers revered them in a religious sense.

Unfortunately, having the Sunday off meant that Hisoka had the opportunity to visit the Hall of Candles and begin training in the special kind of magic the Count had offered.

An opportunity that Hisoka was not really looking forward to.

"You don't have to go," Tsuzuki reminded Hisoka, as he watched his fiancé pulled on his trademark jean jacket from his position on the bed. "It's not mandatory, you know."

"If I don't, the Count will never let me hear the end of it," Hisoka said pragmatically, turning around from the closet where he kept most of his clothes, as opposed to the dresser where Tsuzuki stored his. "Besides, as much as I hate to admit it, the pervert has a point. I do have spiritual powers and I don't have the right channel for them. I might actually find something that'll solve that problem at the Hall."

"Is there any real reason you want the proper channel for them? I mean, you've been a Shinigami for four years. It's not like you can't hold your own."

"It's nothing specific. I'm just sick of being weak."

"Hisoka," Tsuzuki said, exasperated. He sat up and pulled Hisoka into a sitting position on the mattress. "You are not weak."

"Fine then, I'm sick of being weaker than you."

Tsuzuki nuzzled his head into Hisoka's side, and then sighed as he lay back down. He wrapped his arms around Hisoka's waist to prevent him from rising.

"I'm sensing there's some other, more selfish reason for why you don't want me to go…?"

"It's our day off and you're warm," Tsuzuki whined. "We should be sleeping in."

"Sloth," Hisoka insulted.

"Mm." He held onto Hisoka tighter. "And proud."

"Let go, you're getting my clothes wrinkled."

"They're jeans."

"Fine, then, you're making me late."

"Don't care."

"You'll care if the Count puts up a fuss about it, won't you?"

That seemed to have an affect, as Tsuzuki loosened his grip, though he still didn't let him go completely. "Cheater."

"I tell it like it is."

Tsuzuki moved form his side onto his back. "How long are you going to be there?"

"Don't know. I'll keep it as short as I can."

"What mealtime is your ETA?"

"I dunno, an early lunch, I guess."

"Want me to make something for when you get back?"

"I love you too much to let you risk your health and home by attempting to cook."

"Meanie."

"I told you, I tell it like it is."

"Fine. I'll just be lazy and stay in bed all morning."

"You do that."

"Oh, and we haven't been putting much thought into the wedding yet," Tsuzuki said. "Thursday I was too stoked, Friday we told everyone, and yesterday…" he trailed off, frowning.

"Don't think about that if it's going to bother you," Hisoka commanded more than advised. "And when I get home we'll start planning in earnest, I promise."

"Okay."

Hisoka glanced down at Tsuzuki. Sleep last night had been difficult and unsettled for both of them, with Tsuzuki's thoughts set a-scramble with the truth of his birth finally made known to him. Try as he might Hisoka just couldn't put up the emotional shields necessary for sleep, and when he had finally managed to pass into his REM cycle his nightmares had been twins with Tsuzuki's.

"Tsuzuki, I love you," Hisoka said quietly, impulsively.

Tsuzuki smiled, and with that smile Hisoka reaffirmed his belief that Tsuzuki could read thoughts better than he could.

"I love you, too."

Hisoka brushed a strand of hair off Tsuzuki's face and leaned down to kiss him. Tsuzuki's grip returned to its previous tightened hold as he kissed back.

"Come home quick, okay?" Tsuzuki asked.

"ASAP," Hisoka promised. "Now let go of me."

"Nuh-uh."

"Tsuzuki!"

"Ah, Kurosaki-san, welcome to the Hall of Candles." The Count placed a book back on the shelf and turned around to see Hisoka, Watson still holding on to his pant leg by which he had dragged the Shinigami through the hallways. "Please, sit."

Hisoka pulled away from Watson and pulled out a chair at the small round table sitting at the edge of the room. "Thank you."

"You've visited the library before, correct?"

"Yeah, to get Tsuzuki out of the book."

"I must admit, Kurosaki-san, that I wasn't expecting you and Tsuzuki-san to come to be," the Count said. "If I had, the role of the Son and the Butler would have been reversed."

"Don't worry about that. By the way, how did that novel finish?"

"Well, I've had to rewrite the ending, based on current events," the Count explained. "And I never give away my endings."

"Hn."

The Count clapped his hands. "But anyway, I imagine keeping you from Tsuzuki-san longer than necessary would be cruel and unusual punishment, so let's away with the small talk and commence with business."

"Oh, um…" Hisoka was caught off guard by the Count's sudden change in topic. "Yes, let's."

"Now, in all honesty, Kurosaki-san, I asked you here with a specific type of magic in mind."

"Well, what is it?"

The Count turned back to the shelf and ran his fingers against the spines of several books, muttering their titles under his breath before a triumphant "A-ha!" signified that he had located what he was looking for.

"Kurosaki-san, the type of magic I envision for you is called Illusory Magic." The Count went forward to the table, pulled out his own chair, sat, and slid the old, dusty book across the surface towards Hisoka. "It is really a metamorphosis in appearance of the spell caster, to that of another person. Moreover, the change not only affects looks, but also voice and memories."

"How can I use this in the field, Count?"

"Well, I'm sure you've come across souls who need a rather large amount of coaxing to surrender their life in Chijou and come to Meifu for judgment. I imagine that if you had researched that particular soul's past, if you could change into someone who has influence over the soul, it would make the transition from limbo to death that much easier for both the dead one and yourself and Tsuzuki-san."

"And why did you envision this for me?"

"I thought it quite suited to your Empathy. You see, Kurosaki-san, Illusory Magic is really channeling another person's spirit, and taking on their looks, voice, memories, everything, while still being able to keep it separate from your own. An illusion of the physical appearance and the sound of the voice are shown to everyone who looks at and hears you. You already have powers of feeling other people's emotions and taking on their memories. Learning Illusory Magic not only accompanies your existing powers quite nicely, but will also help you discipline them. As I understand it, you have been improving when it comes to being among people, but those close to you still need to put up mental barriers, and in large crowds or with strong emotions, you may come over faint, is that right?"

"Yeah," Hisoka said through gritted teeth. "That's right."

"Now, I warn you," the Count said. "Illusory Magic is rather difficult. First of all, you are channeling someone else's spirit. That puts the spirit's body in a hypnotic state. More advanced Illusion-Workers can keep that body in that state, but a beginner can easily lose control, and therefore lose the illusion. Second of all, the sate of having two souls in one body is unnatural. This causes stress on both the host and the spirit. Again, this is something advanced Illusion-Workers can handle, but a beginner must work on. However, since you already can feel other people, I think you may have an easier time beginning this training than if I picked a random human off the street."

Hisoka tapped the book with his finger. "And this is?"

"This book is, shall we say, a workbook. In each page is a portrait of a person the book thinks the Illusion-Worker could handle channeling. The Illusion-Worker sees the portrait and concentrates on trying to channel the person. The pages, of course, change periodically, based on the Illusion-Worker's skill and experience. If you're interested, I would take this with you and practice with it, even when you're not practicing here."

"Practicing here?"

"The Hall of Candles is filled with the life essences of living humans. It will help you become used to having souls around you. Rather like how a Buddhist uses incense to help him or her meditate."

"This all hinges upon whether I agree to practice this magic, remember."

"Oh, I haven't forgotten. There is, of course, other magic for you to use. I merely had this one in mind, and I do think it would be advantageous and fitting for you to use."

Hisoka looked to the book and flipped open its pages. With every page he turned the picture appeared to change. Most of the portraits seemed to be of young children or adolescents.

"I'm assuming younger people are easier to channel?" Hisoka asked.

"Difficulty does rise with age. The spirit has more emotional baggage with age, which makes it harder for the Illusion-Worker to handle. Of course, there are young people who are difficult to channel. The "old souls", shall we say. From what I understand, you as a child would have been immensely hard to channel."

Hisoka wasn't sure whether to be complimented or not.

"So, let me get this straight. If I become an Illusion-Worker, I'll be able to channel people's spirits and create an illusion of them to everyone in the outside world."

"Correct."

"And this will help me in field work so I can channel the spirits of the deceased's loved ones, making the transition into death easier where it otherwise might involve much wailing and gnashing of teeth."

"Correct again."

"Sounds useful," Hisoka commented, closing the book. "Query: what if the loved one in question is already dead?"

"Channeling the deceased is slightly different," the Count explained. "The dead can be summoned by an Illusion-Worker no matter if they are in Heaven or Hell. However, a person who has passed on is a spirit sans a body. Therefore the spirit knows if it is being channeled, and has control over it. For the Illusion-Worker, it is more like being possessed than channeling. An Illusion-Worker can only hold on to the form of a dead person so longs as that person complies. Also, channeling the spirit of a dead person requires more concentration to control, since the deceased have a natural, spiritual pull trying to take them back to Heaven or Hell."

"I love how spirits and magic have rules and regulations," Hisoka muttered to himself.

"I would advise you look over that book and attempt channeling someone, Kurosaki-san. You never know unless you try, right?"

"I suppose." Hisoka pulled the book into his lap. "Is that all for today?"

"Yes, it wouldn't do to keep you here for long on the first day. Please, return home."

Hisoka rose, pulling the book into his arms. "Thanks. For the book, I mean."

"It wasn't a problem, Kurosaki-san. I meant what I said: if it makes Tsuzuki any happier or safer, I will gladly do, or let you do, anything."

"I fail to see how you could ever have thought nobody loves you."

"Hmm?" Tsuzuki said, slurping some ramen noodles from his chopsticks. "How so?"

"Well, the Count and Tatsumi are both in love with you, to begin with," Hisoka said, "and everyone else around here adores you: Watari, Saya, Yuma, Wakaba, Chizuru, anybody. Terazuma has some respect for you as a sentient being. Plus, you have your Shiki and the people who get involved in our missions, namely Maria, Hijiri, and Rika."

"You left yourself out of that list."

"I thought that I went without saying," Hisoka said, munching some rice off his chopsticks.

"You're unusually affectionate today, Hisoka."

Hisoka tapped the table with his eating utensils. "I hate seeing you depressed."

"Hm-hm," Tsuzuki intoned giddily, resting his chin on his fist. "That's a good sign of a normal, healthy relationship."

"I'd avoid calling our relationship "normal", Tsuzuki."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Well, we're both dead, we're both guys, and we were both mentally, physically, and sexually tortured by the same insane man. Now, "healthy" I could see, in a weird symbiotic kind of way, but definitely not "normal"."

"Symbi-what? Well, normal is boring, anyway."

"Nice save." He poked a piece of paper in front of him with his chopsticks and pushed it towards Tsuzuki. "Okay, first order of business. Where are we having this ceremony?"

"Well, Kouchin put forth the idea of having it inside Tenku, in Kansei…" Tsuzuki wilted at the glare Hisoka shot at him. "Well, at this point, I think it's dangerous to not go along with them, don't you? They're a moody bunch, and if I refuse to have it where they can be their human forms without much concentration, I…"

"Do you want to have it there?"

"Um…yeah." Tsuzuki looked apologetic. "Sorry."

"What're you apologizing for, fool? I told you, you're the bride, and the bride makes the decisions."

"I am not a woman!"

"Really? You're not? Darn."

Tsuzuki cocked an eyebrow at his fiancé. "Who are you, and what have you done with Hisoka? The Hisoka I know would never be this playful. Ow!" Tsuzuki retracted his arm quickly as Hisoka stabbed his hand with his chopsticks. "Okay, you're back."

"Okay, next question. When are we having this? I'm not particularly crazy over the idea of a long engagement. Those vultures at the office would get on my nerves."

"Even more than they already do? Is that even possible?" Hisoka brandished his utensils threateningly. "Okay, okay, I'll be serious. It's May 7th now. How about…late July? Is that enough time?"

"July is fine with me."

"Great, July it is, then."

"Third question. Who all is going to be there?

Tsuzuki pulled a piece of paper towards him and began scribbling names in his hasty, sloppy scrawl. After a minute and a half, he pushed the piece of paper back towards Hisoka.

Wakaba and Terazuma (She'll probably bring him as her date, and besides, he gets along with you)

Tatsumi

Watari

Konoe

Gushoshin I and Gushoshin II

Saya and Yuma

Tsubaki and Eileen

Suzaku

Touda

Byakko

Genbu

Seiryuu, Kijin, and Tenko (Seiryuu's wife died some time ago)

Rikugo

Kouchin

Taimou

Daion

Hijiri and Kazusa

Maria

Count and Watson

Chizuru and Rika (We have to go tell them!)

Kotaro and Kojiro (Kojiro might bring Natsuko)

"That's a fairly good list," Hisoka said, putting the paper down again. "We'll just put the people closest to us up front and work our way back, I guess." He looked up into Tsuzuki's face. "What's wrong?"

"It's odd," he said softly, "that between the two of us, neither one of us will have any blood-related relatives there."

"I'd rather my relatives not come within a 30-meter radius of me," Hisoka said flatly. "And we can't help it in your case, Tsuzuki."

"I just wish Ruka would be able to be there, you know?" Tsuzuki added, just as quietly as before. "I mean, I never got to see hers…and she never got to see hers either, thanks to m—…" Tsuzuki stopped at the look Hisoka gave him. "Thanks to those demons."

"Your sister was engaged?"

"Yeah." Tsuzuki paused. "What I said yesterday, about the first engaged couple I broke up…it was Ruka and her fiancé."

"That wasn't your fault, Tsuzuki," Hisoka reminded him.

"Mm…yeah," he admitted, at if it was painful for him to remove the guilt from himself. "Here, can you hold on a minute? I actually have a picture of her during her engagement. It's stowed away in one of my closets. You've never seen a picture of her, have you?"

"No, you've never showed me any."

"Okay, I'll go get one." Tsuzuki stood up and made for the next room.

"Tsuzuki, wait."

"Yeah?" He turned around to look at Hisoka.

"Can you handle this?"

Tsuzuki shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that I haven't looked at her face for over half a century and I want to see her while she was happy again."

He disappeared through the archway leading into the living room, and Hisoka heard him going down the hall, opening a door, and digging through some boxes. After a few seconds he reappeared, holding a tiny square of paper in his hand.

"My dad took this picture of them when they announced their engagement," he said, going over to Hisoka. He stood behind him and leaned over, holding the picture about a foot away from Hisoka's face. "That was his hobby; he'd gotten hold of an American camera once and never stopped using the thing."

"Whoa." Hisoka blinked at the picture. "She looks like a female you."

Staring out from the black and white photograph were two people, a male and a female. The female sported all Tsuzuki's features in a feminine form: a skinny but well-put-together frame, waist-length glossy dark hair, large and expressive dark eyes, a sweet little heart-shaped face, and a wide, welcoming, powerful smile. The mere image of her exuded warmth.

"She was a year older than me, so she'd be about 19 in this picture," Tsuzuki said. "This man here was her age, too. She'd worked as hired help in his house and I guess he just fell for her. His name was Seika Shinji."

"Is he still alive?"

"Well, he'd be 102 if he was," Tsuzuki said. "But some people are living that long now." He pointed at Ruka's smiling face. "She was so in love with him, Hisoka. I couldn't have a conversation with her where she didn't mention his name at least 5 times. And he adored her, too. He worshipped the ground she walked on." He smiled wistfully. "I once told him I'd kick his butt if he ever broke bread over her head, and he told me he'd rather feed her the bread and starve if it meant she could eat."

He paused, biting his tongue.

"Tsuzuki?"

"Right after…right after I returned to my normal consciousness from when I…when I killed those demons…I saw him. He had heard her screaming and rushed over just in time to see me go insane and butcher them. He stared at me…he didn't say anything, just stared at me, and I knew…I just knew he thought I killed her…I couldn't blame him, still can't…he called me a murderer…and then he, he went over to her body and held it like…it was that…seeing her lying so limp like that in his arms…it was that more than anything else that made me go crazy. She was so beautiful, Hisoka, and she looked like…like…a broken doll…"

"Tsuzuki." In one fluid motion Hisoka put the picture down, stood up, turning as he went, and pulled Tsuzuki into him. "Stop it. Just stop it right now. It was years ago."

"83, to be exact," Tsuzuki choked out. "There was this huge crack in her face, like one of those dolls Muraki might have…and there was blood coming down out of it…and all over…"

"Stop it," Hisoka said, more a plea now than anything else. "Stop it, stop it, please…"

Tsuzuki dug his fingers into Hisoka's shirt and buried his face in his shoulder. Hisoka felt his legs sway as all of Tsuzuki's emotions poured onto him like a torrential downpour. His survival instinct commanded him to pull away. But the days of pulling away were over. Tentatively, flinching, he held Tsuzuki tighter to him, even as he began crying, hard and desperate, into his shoulder. He began to feel dizzy and lightheaded but he couldn't force Tsuzuki away.

"I'm sorry," Tsuzuki gasped, his voice muffled by Hisoka's clothes. "This has got to be hard for you…"

"Forget it," Hisoka said, gathering his strength into his mind and voice as he tried to dam up the flood of emotions before he drowned in them. "This is…this is what a fiancé does…"

Tsuzuki looked up, his eyes glistening with wetness. Hisoka nearly recoiled at the utter sense of loss swimming in them, but his initial reaction proved too weak against his conscience. Awkwardly he swiped the tears away from Tsuzuki's eyes and leaned his forehead against Tsuzuki's.

"You listen to me, and you listen good, Tsuzuki," Hisoka said quietly. "It. Was. Not. Your. Fault. You never asked for that to happen. You did not kill your sister. No one blames you for it except yourself. And if you insist on continuing that, don't you dare act on it, Tsuzuki. I will séance you back into the world of the living and kill you again, do you understand?"

Tsuzuki laughed a hollow, bitter laugh. He grabbed Hisoka's shoulders and kissed his partner. "I'm sorry, Hisoka."

"And stop apologizing, fool. It makes you hate yourself more."

"That's true." Tsuzuki wiped his eyes with his arm, and then glanced down at the picture Hisoka had discarded on the table. "I just…I haven't talked about her in so long; I guess I…I'm just…out of practice…I miss her like h—l, Hisoka. I didn't say her name for years before I saw the girl in that book, and she looked like Ruka's identical twin."

"W-well, that was 2 years ago, Tsuzuki," Hisoka said futilely, knowing the argument was pointless. Desperately he cast his mind around to look for something else to say. "The Count's rewriting that book's ending."

"Really," Tsuzuki said listlessly.

"He told me so when I was there. He said he had to reverse the role of the Butler and the Son." He was babbling, and he knew it, and Tsuzuki knew it, but he seemed to appreciate it.

"That's…nice." Tsuzuki put his arms around Hisoka's waist and rested his forehead against Hisoka's shoulder. "That's good."

"Tsuzuki…"

"Hisoka," Tsuzuki breathed. "Hisoka, Hisoka, Hisoka."

"There's only one of me, you know."

"I know," Tsuzuki said. "And there was only one of her. And I lost her."

"Barring something unusual like Touda, or impossible like us falling out of love, you are not going to lose me."

Tsuzuki looked up at Hisoka. "I know that, but…"

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK

Tsuzuki shut his mouth. A puzzled expression crossed both of their faces.

"And the winner of the Inopportune Moment Award goes to…" Hisoka muttered. "Who is it?" He called out.

"It's Kazusa!" a young, female voice called back.

"Kazusa-chan?" Tsuzuki let go of Hisoka.

"I came to warn you!" Kazusa yelled through the door. "I heard Saya-san and Yuma-san saying they were gonna ambush you today! And bring everyone with them!"

"Who's everyone? And come in, the door's unlocked."

Kazusa turned the knob and stepped inside from the threshold. At 12 Kazusa had grown into almost 5 feet tall. Her eyes were just as large and golden, and her hair was just as red, but the former now seemed to fit her face, and the latter had grown down her back. Like her father and Hijiri, she had taken up the violin, and her fingers had grown long and lean.

"When I say "everyone", I mean "everyone"," Kazusa elaborated, coming towards the two of them. "Basically, your entire guest list. Even the people from Hong Kong and Chijou."

"They drive me nuts," Hisoka muttered under his breath.

"I overslept, otherwise I'd've been here earlier," Kazusa said apologetically. "I don't know when they'll be here, but sometime before evening."

"Thanks, Kazusa-chan," Tsuzuki said gratefully, reaching forward a hand to pet her head.

Kazusa looked into Tsuzuki's face. She frowned. "Have you been upset, Tsuzuki-san?"

This startled both Hisoka and Tsuzuki, so much so that it caused Tsuzuki to answer. "Yes."

"What about?"

"Just…something that happened long ago coming back to bite me in the a—s."

Kazusa giggled at his word choice. "Are you okay now?"

Tsuzuki sighed. "Maybe."

Kazusa looked perplexed; tempted to offer condolences yet feeling it was not her place. Her eyes fell upon the picture on the table and she picked it up. She studied the photograph for a few seconds, and then she looked up, biting her lip, her face the picture and dictionary definition of seriousness.

"Tsuzuki-san, were you ever a drag queen?"

That broke it. Tsuzuki had to laugh. Kazusa laughed, too, and even Hisoka managed to crack a smile. Tsuzuki wiped the mingled tears of sorrow and mirth from his face and took the picture from Kazusa. "No, Kazusa-chan. That woman is my sister, Ruka. She died a long time ago."

"She's very pretty," Kazusa said sincerely. "Is she what you were upset about?"

Tsuzuki glanced at Hisoka. "Yeah."

Kazusa looked down at the picture again. "I still have pictures of my father," she said. "I like to keep them with me."

"Why's that, Kazusa-chan?" Hisoka asked.

"Well…I guess it's so I can have memories of him and not be sad about it," she said. She wagged her finger at Tsuzuki. "It's not good to ignore the past, Tsuzuki-san!" she chided gently, playfully, not knowing how her words were affecting the pair in front of her. "I'd've never learned to play the violin if I did, and then the world would be missing out on the latest violin prodigy!" She struck a faux model-like pose and then winked to show her joking.

"Or the makings of a future therapist," Tsuzuki added, petting Kazusa's head again.

"So, are you going to barricade the doors and put up a brave fight, or are you going to surrender and beg for mercy?" Kazusa asked, referring back to Saya and Yuma's ambush.

"KANPAI!"

The clunking sound of plastic cups tapping together filled the kitchen table. Much to Hisoka's chagrin Tsuzuki had chosen the latter option, and their tiny apartment was now overstuffed with, as per Kazusa's warning, their entire guest list sans the Shikigami. How Saya and Yuma had managed to find out the entire guest list, including Chizuru and Rika, and how they had found out where Hijiri lived fast enough to have him at this makeshift party, were questions Tsuzuki and Hisoka felt better left unanswered.

"To Tsuzuki and Hisoka finally getting married!" Yuma announced, before downing her entire cup in three huge very audible gulps. The rest of the guests stared at her as she released her beverage with a loud "AH!" and slammed her cup down on the table. "That hit the spot!" She looked around at everyone else. "What? What're you gawking at me for? Drink up!"

The rest of the table nervously swallowed their beverages, civilized-like.

"Now, as I understand it, we've got some planning to do!" Yuma yelled, slamming her open palm on the table, and then pointing at Tsuzuki and Hisoka. "We've waited years for this couple to get together! Plus, there hasn't been so much as a handfasting ceremony in Meifu for 55 years! We should all be part of this historic occasion!"

"Really? 55 years?" Tsubaki put in.

"Most people just finish their business with Chijou and pass on before they form any relationships," Tatsumi explained stiffly. He had been sitting tautly ever since arriving. "The last wedding we had was in 1945, after the bomb. The pair immediately passed on afterwards; they were getting married just as the bomb dropped, and that was their regret."

"Well, I'd regret it too, if I was saying my vows and then got turned into carbon," Yuma said, as bitter as if it had happened to her. "But anyway!" She slammed her hand on the table again. "Back to business. Tsuzuki and Hisoka's wedding. Are you two having the sake ceremony? You can just play around with the last blessing a bit, you know."

"I don't think Hisoka would like it," Tsuzuki said.

"Why not?"

"He's alcohol intolerant," Tsuzuki informed her, before Hisoka could stop him.

"Cutie pie! That's so adorable!" Yuma leaned across the table to glomp Hisoka. "We can just use soda or something. Now, as I understand it, we have some of the musically inclined among us tonight. Maria-chan is a singer, and Hijiri-kun and Kazusa-chan are violinists."

"Really?" Hijiri looked surprised, and turned his head to get a better view of the 12-year-old. "Kazusa, you took up the violin?"

"Oh, um…yeah," Kazusa said.

"She's awesome," Saya complimented, patting the younger girl on the head.

"I'm not that good," Kazusa insisted.

"No, you've got to be," Hijiri said. "It's in your genes."

"Well…I had a great example."

"Oh, puppy love!" Saya and Yuma exclaimed together. Kazusa blushed. Hijiri looked at a loss. "Wouldn't it be just adorable if they played the instrumentals together?"

Tsuzuki nudged Hisoka in the ribs and leaned over to whisper in his ear. "I think we'd better leave the planning up to them."

"I think we're going to be stuck doing that anyway," Hisoka replied flatly.

"At least we got the basic things squared away before they showed up."

"Yeah."

"I'm actually kinda relieved. Don't know about you, but I don't know the first thing about planning a wedding."

"What are you two whispering over there?" Yuma called to them. "This is your wedding we're discussing here!"

"Tell you what," Tsuzuki said, smiling pleasantly. "Why don't we let you come up with something and surprise us?"

Saya and Yuma's eyes turned almost literally into scintillating stars. "Really? You mean it?"

Despite his efforts Hisoka managed to catch a whiff of their thoughts. But given what they were, perhaps that was all for the best. "No…wait. I want someone to look over all your plans before you do anything about them. Chizuru, or Tsubaki-hime. I know you two."

Saya blew a raspberry at him. "You're no fun."

"And I'm also getting a headache from all these people," Hisoka said, pushing his chair back and rising. "I need some air."

"I'll come with you," Tsuzuki said, standing up as well to a resounding chorus of "Aww…"

The pair disappeared into the living room, and when the congregation heard the door to the outside click shut Saya threw up her arms and yawned. "Well, it's not like we have much planning to do. I mean, they've already picked a location and a time frame. And we can delegate responsibility to everyone sitting here. Eileen-chan and Tsubaki-chan can take care of flowers—and we can just gack those from Tsuzuki's garden. Maria-chan and Hijiri-kun and Kazusa-chan can take care of music. Wakaba-chan is a miko so she can officiate. Tatsumi-tightwad can make sure that we don't overspend. And whoever can cook, will cook. Does that sound good to everyone?"

The entire room seemed flabbergasted that the girl was being so calm. "Y-yes…"

"I'm the calm one!" Saya said, seeing their faces and grinning. She raised her half-full cup. "KANPAI!"

"Let's party!" was Yuma's battle cry.

"It's unusually cold for May," Hisoka said, staring up into the sky and folding his arms across himself to keep his torso warm.

"You just have a low body temperature," Tsuzuki said, wrapping his arms around Hisoka's, just underneath the shoulders. "You're cold-blooded."

"Not so cold-blooded as to forget what happened earlier."

Hisoka felt rather than saw Tsuzuki frown. "Thank goodness Kazusa stepped in when she did. I would've been a wreck if she hadn't."

"Then it's a good thing she decided to stay in Meifu."

"Nn." Tsuzuki nuzzled his head into Hisoka's. "It's a better thing you're in Meifu."

"Suck-up."

"How is it sucking up when it's the truth?" He squeezed Hisoka, who almost imperceptibly leaned back into the embrace. There was a long silence. "Maybe Kazusa's right. Maybe I should think of Ruka more often."

"Only if it'll help you," Hisoka said. "If it'll make you more depressed, don't even try it."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I told you that you're not going to lose me. That, unfortunately for you, means that you have to listen to what I say."

Tsuzuki blew a raspberry.

"…You just spat on me, did you know that?"

"Sorry."

"Oi, oi, Tsubaki-chan, did you get the job?" a slightly tipsy Yuma asked, her hands on her hips and leaning over so she was directly in Tsubaki's face. With the departure of Tsuzuki and Hisoka, the rest of the guests had fanned out and had taken over the living room. Tsubaki had taken a seat on their couch, and Eileen sat next to her, legs crossed Indian-style.

"Job?" Eileen looked at Tsubaki. "What job?"

Tsubaki sighed. "Yuma, I didn't want Eileen to know unless I got it."

"Camille-dono," Eileen whined, snuggling up closer to her girlfriend. "What job?"

"There was an open Shinigami post," Tsubaki said with a sigh. "And, no, I didn't get it."

"Oh!" Yuma clasped her hands over her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Tsubaki-chan."

"Why didn't you want to tell me?" Eileen asked.

"Shinigami work can be international," Tsubaki explained. "If I didn't get the job, I didn't want you to be disappointed."

"Oh, Camille-dono," Eileen purred, nuzzling her nose against Tsubaki's cheek. "You're so sweet."

"Well, maybe someone else'll pass on!" Yuma said hopefully. "Plus, you can always just visit each other."

"But I'm working all the time," Eileen said. "Hong Kong's busy. Maria'll say so, too. Maria!" She called over to the recliner, where Maria was relaxing. "Hong Kong. Aren't we busy?"

"Like a swarm of bees," Maria affirmed, smoothing the hem of her dress.

"See?"

"Oh…well…you guys should make some time to see each other. Me and Saya have it easy, but you two definitely need work in that department. In fact…we should all see each other more often." There was a gleam in her eyes that foretold diabolical plots as she turned around and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Hey! Hello! Will all guests of the female persuasion please gather 'round?"

Nervously, slowly, Wakaba stepped forward from where she had been standing at the opening of the hallway.

"Don't be shy, ladies!" Yuma yelled, clapping her hands together. "Saya-koi! Maria-chan! Anyone else biologically capable of birthing a baby! Join the circle, please!"

As if to get Yuma to shut up, the female population of the guest list flocked around her.

"We need to have a hag party," Yuma announced.

"A what?" Rika asked, blinking.

"A hag party! A party for just us girls. Kinda like a bachelor party sans the bachelor. Think about it. We're all Tsuzuki and Hisoka's hags. And Lord knows we'll never get that stick-in-the-mud cutie-pie girly-looking-boy to throw a party, even if it's one celebrating himself. Besides, a girl party is better!"

"Ooh, that sounds like fun!" Saya squealed. "We're already planning a wedding, and now we're planning a party!"

"We're regular planners!"

Chizuru put a hand against Yuma's forehead, and then felt her own. "Nope, she's not ill. She's just had too much to drink."

"Chizuru, Chizuru, Chizuru," Yuma scolded. "Too much is not enough."

"So long as Kazusa doesn't have "too much"," Wakaba said, patting the young girl's head.

"Kazusa knows better!" Yuma said. "Besides, how would it look to Hijiri-kun if his admirer was drunk?"

"I'm not his admirer," Kazusa murmured, blushing.

"Oh, Kazusa, it's nothing to be ashamed of! All pubescent girls have an affinity with older men!"

"I don't have an affinity with Hi-chan!" Kazusa stopped short, realizing she had just called him by her childish nickname for him.

"Aww, your denial is cute." Yuma glomped the shorter girl. "Don't worry, just wait 6 more years. Then you'll be 18 and he'll be 26, and it'll be nice and clean and legal!"

"Yuma, stop bothering Kazusa-chan," Wakaba scolded, seeing the mortified look on the young violinist's face.

"Well, anywha, this party is partly in honor of the beautiful Sapphic love of Eileen and Tsubaki!" She gestured at the two horrified girls on the couch. "Our flower children aren't able to see each other often, so a party celebrating love is a perfect excuse! So, show your support of our camellias and come to the party!"

"Yuma, this will be a dry party if we have it," Tsubaki said stiffly, her face flushed.

"You poor innocent," Yuma said, patting Tsubaki's head.

Tatsumi gently closed the door as he stepped out onto the apartment complex's veranda. He had been slowly inching towards the exit since Yuma began shouting and had made it out just as Tsubaki was insisting on the sobriety of a party that he was thankful not to be invited to.

"Hey, Tatsumi."

"Tsuzuki." Tatsumi turned around. On the porch floor, leaning against the railing, were Tsuzuki and Hisoka. Tsuzuki was sitting up, his legs bent in v-shapes, one protruding up into the air, and the other flat against the ground. The knee lying flat against the floorboards was serving as a pillow for Hisoka's head; the younger of the betrothed pair was sleeping lightly, his fingers curled as slightly as withered petals by the side of his face.

"He's had a long day," Tsuzuki said by way of explanation. "He got up early to go see the Count, and he's had a lot of emotions thrown at him."

"You mean by this party?"

"Well, that," Tsuzuki said, "and we had a little…incident."

"Did you two argue?"

"No, not argue," Tsuzuki said carefully. "I told Hisoka a little about my past and…I didn't handle it very well. We both got a little upset, that's all. We're better now."

"I see."

Tatsumi watched Tsuzuki absently stroke Hisoka's hair with the back of his hand. Hisoka's hand twitched, and he adjusted his body in his sleep to lie more comfortably. Tsuzuki's hand halted as Hisoka positioned himself, and when he had attained the preferred situation Tsuzuki rested his arm along Hisoka's side.

It was a far cry from 50 years ago, when he had been partnered with Tatsumi. If Tsuzuki ever mentioned his past, neither of them dealt with it well. Every small instance led to Tsuzuki breaking down into tears and Tatsumi needing to leave before he did likewise.

"I told Kurosaki-kun that he might be the one to stay with you forever," Tatsumi said, as if not knowing he was speaking. "Though, I wasn't quite expecting it like this…"

"Tatsumi?"

Tatsumi shook his head. "It's nothing, Tsuzuki."

"Tatsumi, are you really okay with this?" Tsuzuki's hand slid down Hisoka's arm, and he took his fiancé's hand. "It won't change anything between Hisoka and me, but if it's hurting my friend, I want to do something about it."

"There is nothing you can do, Tsuzuki," Tatsumi said, shaking his head again. "I am not jealous of Kurosaki-kun."

"Really?" There was no sarcasm, no barbing, just an unadulterated, searching question.

"If I am, it's not in the way you think," Tatsumi said.

"Then how is it?"

"Do you and that mad scientist share a brain? He's been asking me that same question."

"Of course we share a brain," Tsuzuki said humorously. "That's why our IQs are below normal."

Tatsumi snorted a laugh. At the sound Hisoka, still asleep, frowned and turned again, this time lying on his stomach and burying his face against Tsuzuki's pant leg.

"How are you going to get him home?" Tatsumi asked, stepping forward and kneeling down in front of them.

"Oh…um…" Tsuzuki looked guilty, but he didn't want to lie. "Don't tell anyone that I told you this, Tatsumi…especially Hisoka…but he lives here. Has been for the past couple months. No one knows about it except the record keepers. Hisoka didn't want anyone to know."

"Oh…I see. Why didn't he?"

"Look at the people we would be telling." Tsuzuki gestured towards the door Tatsumi had just exited from. "There are just two emotions that Hisoka can't stand even with his best barriers: anger and lust. I guess he thought our co-workers would get a little…well, you know…risqué, in their thoughts."

"I know," Tatsumi said slowly. He paused for a second. "It seems odd."

"How so?"

"He never seemed the type to live with someone."

"Well…it was weird how it happened," Tsuzuki said, in such a way that Tatsumi decided not to inquire further. "And sad. But…I guess that's just how our relationship is."

""Sad" isn't supposed to describe a relationship as serious as yours."

Tsuzuki smiled. "Hisoka and I were just discussing that earlier. I said something about a "normal, healthy relationship". And he said that our relationship wasn't exactly "normal" but it was certainly "healthy" enough."

"I'd agree with that assessment." Tatsumi put his hand on Hisoka's head with brotherly affection.

"Tatsumi, I really hope you get here, too," Tsuzuki said quietly. "To a healthy relationship. Aside from this one here," Tsuzuki traced Hisoka's ear with his finger, "you're my best friend and you deserve it, after putting up with me for over 50 years."

Before Tatsumi could respond Tsuzuki had pulled him into a hug around the neck and given him a small kiss on the cheek, just next to his ear. He tightened the embrace for a split second and then let go of his ex-partner.

"Tsuzuki, was that wise?"

"We're healthy enough, like he said," Tsuzuki said, patting Hisoka's head. "I told you, nothing would change. Between me and Hisoka, and between you and me."

"That's good. I wouldn't want it to."

"Now, I'd suggest you get home, Tatsumi," Tsuzuki said, smiling so the corners of his eyes crinkled. "I think Yuma and Saya are getting drunker in there, and I wouldn't want to be around when they remember the words "Pink House"."

"Yes, I should," Tatsumi said, rising. "Good night, to both of you."

"Good night."

Ah, finally done!

About the quick transition between Tsuzuki and Hisoka angsting and Kazusa entering…that was (sort of) planned and I have a reason for it, so don't worry about it.

Oh, and Second Death has its own forums now! Please go and check it out; you can post about anything you want so long as it relates to the story. I would really love it if someone posted there!

Oh, and my updated Stats (4:11 on 2/21/06):

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Thank you all!