A/N: Erm... no, this fic isn't dead yet. It's just, the author got stuck in the middle of writing a fic she had no plot to work with from the beginning. (sweatdrops) Anyway, I don't want to keep you guys for long, so, enjoy!

The story so far: Just when Tsuzuki and Hisoka thought they could finally relax (after having been given a hard earned vacation), a chance encounter with Ayase throws them into another case. Apparently, someone is out to get him but the Shinigami's have yet to figure out who. To show his gratitude for helping him (and perhaps to apologize for sabbotaging their vacation), Ayase invites the duo to come with him to his family's vacation house on an island. And so, they go on board Ayase's family yacht, but on the way the yacht explodes...?

Chapter 12

Ta. Ko. Ya. Ki! Ta. Ko. Ya. Ki! Takoyaki!

It's festival night again! And the first thing I'll look for when we get there will definitely be the takoyaki stall. And then I'll have okonomiyaki, and watame, and candy-coated fruits and… (1) Well, these are things I can usually get on regular days too. But they just taste a lot better during festivals. (And besides, it's very rare to have this much money, so…) Ah! I haven't tried the fish catching game in a while… Right, maybe I'll drag Hisoka and Ayase to try it out too.

Speaking of those two… I wonder, what's taking them so long?

As if on cue, the door to Ayase's room opens to answer my question. Ayase steps out first, grinning form ear to ear.

"So…" He turns around, making his yukata sway. The pastel blue color brings out the color of his eyes. The patterns of white lily on the hem and sleeves make for a nice complement. "How do I look?"

"You look so cute, Aya-chan. The yukata perfectly suits you." Smile at him.

"Why thank you." He beams back then he bows, giggling. "Oh! Wait 'til you see him." And he runs back to his room.

Ayase… When he heard the police reports about the explosion of his yacht, he was devastated to say the least. That yacht was a very precious memento of his late parents, especially of his father who taught him how to maneuver it. Worse than that, the traces of foul play found on the investigation were pretty much a clear indication that the killers are still after him. We still have no idea who they are, and why they want to kill him.

Ayase may or may not know the answer. He still refuses to speak. But we don't want to force anything out of him either. It hasn't been long since his mother was killed so it would be just plain heartless to make him relive those awful memories when his emotional wounds haven't even healed yet.

"Come on, don't be shy." Ayase's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. "You look so pretty! Doesn't he, Tsuzuki-san?"

Upon hearing my name, I turn towards Ayase who's holding on to Hisoka's hand as he pulls my very reluctant, red faced partner into the living room.

I can see what's making him feel embarrassed. But I don't understand why he should be. I can't even think properly anymore because the moment my eyes fall on him, I feel like my brain completely stopped working.

From his averted eyes, my gaze travels down to his porcelain cheeks tinted with a very delicate shade of red. The color of his face somewhat matches that of the sakura petals intricately printed in the pure white yukata he's wearing tonight.

The words get jumbled on my head and I couldn't think of what to say to describe just how I feel as I'm looking at him right now.

"Let's go."

Hisoka's quiet voice takes me out of my daze and the next thing I know, we're already out of the house and on our way to where the festival will be held.

)-0-(

Just as I expected. Since it's a small island, the festival isn't that grand. There are only two rows of booths lined up on each side of the street, leading all the way to the foot of the stairs that, in turn, lead to the temple. Hanging lamps illuminate the entire place.

"Here you go." Ayase gives Hisoka a stick with thick, fluffy cotton candy. "And for you too, Tsuzuki-san." Then he hands another one to me, before nibbling on his own.

"Watame!" Ahhh… I haven't had this for a long time. "Thanks, Aya-chan."

He replies with a grin.

Then I glance over to Hisoka, who's eyeing the sweet curiously, before taking a little bite. As soon as his lips touches the pink ball of sweet fluff, he flinches.

"It's too sweet…"

Just as I thought. He really has a weakness for strong flavors.

"It's all right." I smile at him. "If you can't eat all of it, I'll finish the rest for you."

Hisoka looks at me skeptically. "Sure. More for you, huh?"

"Tsuzuki-san is such a bottomless pit." Ayase chuckles.

"You didn't have to say it that way, Aya-chan." Pout at him.

"He's right though." Hisoka casually remarks, before taking another small bite.

"Hey! Two against one! Isn't this kind of overkill?" They're ganging up on me! So not fair!

)-0-(

This is not fair. No, it's just plain doesn't make sense! " This is the thirtieth time I've tried to get this fish but everytime it comes so close to getting caught this friggin' thing breaks!"

This game is pretty common during festivals. They set up a little tub with live fish in it, and you have to catch it with this loop covered with a paper... thing. This unbelievably frail thing that's easily broken by a fish the size of my little finger.

If this one breaks again, I'll... "Argh!"

"Tsuzuki-san... give it up!" And of course, Ayase bending over laughing every time I fail isn't helping.

"He's right. Besides, it's not like you'll be able to cook that fish anyway." And neither is Hisoka with his helpful advice.

Some moral support they are.

"Hey! Who said anything about eating? I'm going to keep them as pets. Aren't they cute?"

Ayase just laughs louder. Really, for someone who has such a petite form, his voice is surprisingly big.

"I... I can't take this anymore. Excuse me, I'm going to the washroom." And he runs off.

"Hmph! Fine, have it your way!" I yell after him, and finishes it off with a pout. "Yosh! Mister! One more time please!" I fish for my wallet to get some coins for another round... Oh. Shit.

"Tsuzuki?" Hisoka looks at me inquisitively.

"Uh... Um..." How am I supposed to tell him I spent all of my money?

Hisoka slits his eyes at me. "You didn't..."

Woops. Looks like I don't have to. My partner knows me too well.

I look down and keep my eyes on the floor. Really, what else can I do?

Hisoka sighs. And from the sound of his footsteps and the shuffling of his yukata, I can tell that he's already walking off. He probably gave up on me already. Not surprising. I'm hopeless after all. I can't even catch one flimsy little fish. I would've wanted to put it in a clear bowl and display it in his room. It'd look so nice there, especially because his place is so bare.

"Here." Hisoka's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

Eh?

EH? Wha...? How...?

It's a fish! In a clear plastic bag! Which means... "You caught it!"

"It's kind of tricky. It's a lot harder than it looks, especially since you were the one we were watching doing it."

Hey! What does that mean? "Did you just imply that I am an idiot?"

"Yes." Okay. Bad question. See my head fall. "But if you just calmed down a little and didn't rush it, you would've caught the fish."

"Eh?" Blink at him. Please enlighten me.

"What I'm saying is, you should've tried to catch the fish swiftly and gently."

"Oh..." Raise the plastic to eye level and examine the fish. Oh, looks like Hisoka caught two of them too. One is a flaming orange, with silver fins. And the other one if a cool shade of bluish green. "Thanks, Hisoka."

Really, my partner can be so sweet sometimes.

"It's almost time for the fireworks." He takes my hand. "Let's go look for Ayase."

Scratch that. He's always sweet.

)-0-(

"If I remember correctly, the temple is this way." I pull my partner to the right.

"No." Hisoka easily refutes. "It's this way." He pulls me to the left.

"Tsuzuki-san! Hisoka-san!" Ayase beckons us. As usual, with that bright smile on his face. Even though he looks like he's having a hard time squeezing through the crowd.

Ayase holds on to his knees, panting. "The... temple's that way." He points to where most of the crowd is headed. And it's to our left.

"Tsuzuki."

Erk. Here it comes.

"Your sense of direction is just as impressive as your skills in handling money."

Like I said, my partner knows me too well.

Ayase chuckles. "Anyway, the temple's a good place to view the fireworks."

"Then, what are we waiting for?" Grin back at him. "Let's go!" As I start to head for the temple, I feel someone's hand grab my trench coat from behind.

"Wait." Oh, it's Ayase. "I know a better spot."

With Ayase leading the way, he continues to explain as we walk out of the venue and further to the outskirts of the village, across the sprawling grounds.

"There's a hilltop where my parents used to take me. You see, the temple's pretty small, so it's easily packed even though there aren't that many people. So, one time, my dad brought us here. It's a great spot to view the fireworks from. And the best thing is, we're the only ones who know about this place."

After walking a little more, a large tree comes into view. A tree we're all too familiar with. "You see that Sakura over there? That's the ver center of this hilltop. That's where we'll be watching the fireworks."

"It's beautiful..." Hisoka stares at the tree, his eyes gleaming. Following his gaze, I look at the Sakura, it's delicate pink petals softly swaying with the wind before it falls to the ground. The moon's silver rays are engulfing its sturdy body that had stood through years and witnessed the passing of seasons, making it seem like it's glowing with a light of its own.

"Come on." Ayase walks forward.

"Right." I tail after him, but after a few steps, I suddenly get the feeling that something is amiss. When I instinctively look back, Hisoka isn't following behind me. He's walking off- no, more like running off- to somewhere else.

"Hisoka?" I yell after him.

Wait... Sakura on a hilltop... At a night of the full moon...

Crap! How could I have been so insensitive? Even if the moon isn't red tonight, still, the scenery is pretty much the same as that time!

"Tsuzuki-san?" Ayase yells from under the tree. "What's wrong?" And as if he had just noticed, Ayase's eyes widen. "Where's Hisoka-san?"

"Ayase! Stay here, okay? I'll be right back." And I dash off to where I last saw my partner was headed to. If something happens to him...

The moment I catch up with Hisoka, I feel my hold on the fish, the precious fish given to me by my partner, loosen. It soundlessly falls to the ground, or maybe I just didn't hear the sound it made, if any, because my full attention is on the two of them. To Hisoka and the man he's talking to.

Why is Hisoka looking up at him with such gentle eyes?

Why is he talking to him with a smile on his face?

As if feeling my presence, the two of them turn to me. The very second Hisoka looks away from him, the other person looks at me, his silver gaze boring into my soul, then he smirks, making a shiver run down my spine.

And he turns and walks away. Just like that?

"Wait!" That bastard. Even if I yelled at the top of my lungs, he's acting like he didn't hear me. "I said wait!" I practically roar. But he still doesn't turn back.

The mere sight of him makes my blood boil. And just when I feel like I'm about to blow up, I feel Hisoka's small hands grab my arm.

"Tsuzuki, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? Isn't that my line? What the hell were you thinking running off like that?"

Hisoka looks at me incredulously. "Tsuzuki, I just wanted to thank him. I forgot to do so the other day. He's the one I told you about, the kind man who paid for the groceries." Then he crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. "You know, when you ditched me."

"This isn't the time to talk about that!"

Hisoka flinches. I've never yelled at him before, and I know he's just teasing me but... Damn it.

... Wait. What 'kind man'? Did Hisoka just call that monster 'kind'? Mentally kick myself. Of all things, I just had to forget that my boyfriend is an amnesiac.

"Tsuzuki..." He walks closer to me and holds my hands, looking at me with eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong...? Do you know that person?"

Sigh.

"Don't you feel anything when you see that person?" Squeeze his hands. "Don't you feel anything around him?"

Hisoka looks at me with a blank expression, eyes clear and telling. "No. Why? How is that person related to me?"

He's the reason you became a shinigami...

He looks at me, his eyes searching. And then his eyes widen slightly. Is he starting to remember?

"Ah, could it be because of what happened in the infirmary? When I accidentally looked into Ayase's memories, I told you that the man I saw had silver eyes. Are you suspecting him?"

Shake my head. How am I supposed to tell him? Where should I start? Maybe it isn't the right time yet.

"Promise me, Hisoka." Touch his cheek. "Promise me you'll stay away from that man!"

"I don't understand..." He puts his hand over mine, pressing my palm on his cheek. "But, okay, I will. I trust you." He smiles lightly.

"Thank you." I pull him into my arms and hug him so tight.

As soon as I do so, a series of loud bangs coming from the sky shatters the silence of the night. When we look up at the darkened sky, its thick black carpet that was littered only by the twinkling stars is now lit up by the colorful fireworks. As a child, I used to think that fireworks were so beautiful to look at, but you could never hold it in your hand, lest you get burned.(2) From then on, I've always thought that beautiful things were always out of reach, especially for someone like me who was undeserving.

All of that changed when I met Hisoka.

He's beautiful.

And I have him right here in my arms.

(1) Takoyaki- octopus balls; Okonomiyaki- a mixture between pancake and pizza. "Okonomi" means "as you like". This refers to the ingredients. See japan(dash)guide(dot)com; Watame- cotton candy

(2) I got the idea from what Kei (the protagonist) said when he described love. It's from a manga called "Boku wa Kimi no Tori ni Naritai" by Homerun Ken.