AN: This was written years ago for no other reason than to relieve stress—pure fluff with a disheartening lack of plot.

Mutuality

Chapter One

Holidays are extremely rare, perhaps even a taboo in the land of the dead, also known to some as Meifu. The logic of it is certainly irrefutable, however. After all, the dead will hardly need the rest that the living so desperately crave, therefore making it perfectly reasonable for the parsimonious superiors of Juohcho to take advantage of their miserable employees. The workings of Juohcho's administration are actually amazingly simple—the people above give the orders, the ones at the bottom hop as they are told, and the ones who say 'frog' laze around all day.

At least, that's what I think. After a century of working my back off for those stingy pokers, one would only expect to earn some gratitude, yes? But no, instead, I somehow end up in something close, or perhaps no different, to slavery for the next three hundred years. Try and imagine working for free for something that's close to an eternity; it would drive the most cold-blooded person to insanity.

And yet that is exactly what I, Tsuzuki Asato, humble employee of Enmacho's Shokan division, have to endure for what might very well be the rest of my existence.

Let me make you a bet: If you are able to come up with working conditions that are even worse than what I'm currently facing, I'd happily give you everything I own.

All right, what I own probably won't be enough to rent a motel room for three nights, but that's beside the point. It's hardly my fault that I'm known as the poorest employee in Meifu. I didn't mean to destroy the library…well, I was forgiven for that, since they said it wasn't exactly me who did it. As for other cases of destruction, I don't really think it was my fault either. I mean, one thing just leads to another, and I always end up doing something that results in collateral damage, and…

Um…oops, where were we? Oh, holidays. As I was saying, holidays are a rarity here, and they're completely unheard of for someone who's buried in debts like me. I was supposed to get a twenty-day paid leave for winning the archery contest during New Year, but I lost it because I'm supposed to work to repay my debts.

How could I let something like that pass? After all, I endured the torture that Terazuma put me through, I put up with that freak's jibes for six days, I…in short, I more than deserve a holiday.

Tatsumi threatened to fire me if I whined about it. But…but…I really earned it! I begged, and begged, and kept telling him that puffer fish was hardly enough to compensate for a twenty-day paid holiday, and then returned to the begging.

Of course, he had to point out my debts…in detail.

After a week of the above routine, I managed to come up with a suitable argument. I won a twenty-day paid leave, which meant that if I didn't take the leave, I should get a twenty-day salary as compensation. In my case, the pay is given by means of deducting it from my debts.

But if I took my leave, there wouldn't be a change from the original plan, right? I continue working as usual, only this time, there won't be the twenty-day salary deduction from my debts.

Tatsumi, naturally, said no. When I asked him the reason, he merely told me to do as he said or get out.

But…I resorted to begging again. He told me to quit the job if I was unsatisfied with his policies, but I told him that I didn't want to. I wanted the holiday and the job.

He actually gave in, mostly because I was starting to give him migraines.

So, he shuffled through the calendar, did a few calculations, glared at his accounts, and told me…

He told me that he was giving me a day off.

A day, twenty-four hours exactly and not one second more. If I even dare to think of returning late for work, he's cutting it out from my pay.

What about my twenty-day leave?

He said it didn't exist as far as he was concerned.

It just wasn't fair. But Tatsumi didn't care about being fair; in fact, it was probably on the top of his list of things that aren't meant to be.

Well…a day it is, then.

But if I get a holiday…

…Hisoka should get one too.

A vein on Tatsumi's forehead began to throb at the suggestion. Was it just my imagination, or did that shadow at that corner over there vibrate a little?

Just to be safe, I started inching towards the door. Shadows were never meant for good company, and Tatsumi's shadows take the concept of 'unsociable' to very new heights.

He managed to keep his tone calm, though. "Why exactly does Kurosaki-kun need a holiday?" he asked.

"He won the archery contest too, remember?" I reminded him, "He earned it."

And also because I want to spend the holiday with him. I didn't tell Tatsumi that, however. I doubted that he would appreciate that extra piece of information.

I don't know why, but I just feel comfortable with Hisoka. He doesn't talk much, he glares at me, he calls me an idiot, he lashes out at me for no reason at all, he acts as if he hates me…

But I just like to be with him.

"He didn't want the holiday," Tatsumi told me dryly.

"He might change his mind," I said defensively.

Tatsumi gave me a long, steady look.

"I'm sure he will." Of course he will. I'll make sure that he does change his mind. It isn't healthy for a sixteen-year-old to stay forever cooped up in an office cubicle, Hisoka needs to go out once in a while for something besides missions.

Tatsumi gave up. "Fine, he'll get the day off if he wants it." He gave me a calendar. "Here."

I swallowed reflexively. Tatsumi had almost torn the calendar in half with the force he put into circling the date. There were also figures showing the loss he would suffer by giving me and maybe Hisoka too a leave beside the date. Those were written in bright, glaring red. Really, Tatsumi was inhuman when it came to money matters.

Something clicked.

"Tatsumi, it's Valentine's Day."

"So?" he asked. "It's the closest date I can give you." He paused. "And I don't have to deal with you devouring all the chocolates and sweets sent over to the department on Valentine's Day. Finally, those sweets can be of better use."

His eyes glinted maniacally. "They'll certainly fetch a reasonable price."

My eyes widened in horror at his suggestion. He was actually considering selling sweets!

"Tatsumi…" I had to stop him from doing that. Sweets were meant to be eaten and nothing else. It was an abomination! Those sweets were gifts from all those kind people out there, and Tatsumi was not only unappreciative of them, he actually wanted to sell them!

"Do you want your holiday or not?"

My words froze in midair.

"Well?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yesss…" Bowing my head in defeat, I started to leave his office.

"And Tsuzuki-san…"

Tatsumi smiled sweetly, sweet as in 'Tatsumi Seiichirou's up to something villainous that involves money, with him on the winning side'. I really did not like the look he gave me. It spelled 'Danger' all over it.

"Your leave is an unpaid leave."

That left me speechless.

I knew it. Tatsumi's mean. He's evil, despicable, low-down, underhanded…I could probably list his faults till I die for a second time.

Did I take the holiday?

Of course I did.

You would say that I'm a man with no self-respect at all.

Well, I've never claimed to have any.

I hope Hisoka will like this. He's never really had a holiday on Chijou before.

Somehow, I feel that Hisoka, really, really needs a holiday.

Hisoka has never been truly happy before. A holiday might be good for him.

And if Hisoka's happy, I'm happy too.

"Hisokaaaa! Please!"

Hisoka glared at me for what seemed the umpteenth time in the last fifteen minutes. "Why should I take an unpaid leave? Idiot!"

"Because it'll be fuuuun!" I protested.

Hisoka didn't even look up from his book. I stared in him in dejection. Does he do nothing else for the whole day?

"Hi-so-kaaa…."

"No!"

I tried to come up with another excuse. Hisoka's sixteen…what do sixteen-year-olds like?

I'm stumped. Hisoka's tastes didn't seem to run the same way as other teenagers.

"It's Valentine's Day," I said finally.

This time, instead of glaring, Hisoka looked at me as if I'm crazy. Maybe I am, but I'm running out of ideas. And Valentine's Day was supposed to be special, wasn't it? So it would only be right if I took him out, since he never takes a break.

From the way Hisoka's looking at me, I don't think he really agrees.

He stared at me in disbelief for ages, evidently trying to decide if I was serious or not. I think he believed me in the end, though, since he started blushing for no reason at all.

Yuma and Saya would have found that unbearably cute. I supposed I did too…I couldn't help smiling.

Hisoka suddenly noticed that I was looking at him, and the icy exterior returned within a blink of an eye. Grabbing his book, he relapsed into his former state.

He's ignoring me again! How could he? After all I've been through, after all the terror I had to face from Tatsumi…Hisoka's just as mean! I think…I think that I'm actually going to cry!

Which I did.

Hisoka continued his reading as if I didn't exist. It went on like this for one minute, two, three, four…

Hisoka finally put down his book and proceeded to glare at me.

"Please…Hisoka?"

"Whatever for?" His tone seemed to have lost some of the sharpness and irritation it had earlier.

"Because I want to go with you!"

An uneasy silence followed--uneasy on his part, not on mine. Something flashed past his eyes…was it surprise, shock? To me, it seemed to resemble doubt, uncertainty and perhaps even insecurity.

One day, I'm going to erase all of the darkness from his eyes. I wonder, what would those emerald eyes be like if the pain and fear from his past were no longer there?

Would they sparkle in the sun? Or would they shine with joy and warmth?

I think Hisoka's eyes will never be either. I think…I think if Hisoka could smile, his eyes would be clear, serene. There wouldn't be obvious joy, nor would there be heartwarming happiness. There would just be the silent, unobtrusive persona that has always been Hisoka.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to know the truth of my thoughts, but I will always wait for that day.

Like what many people have said, being obnoxious and meddlesome have always been my specialties. I'm sure that he'll open up eventually, as long as I try hard enough.

So, for Hisoka, like with all others, I'll try to make him happy. Or maybe Hisoka was different. Do I pity him?

No…what I feel for him isn't pity. Hisoka would never want pity. Maybe it's because I can identify with what he's been through--being abhorred, isolated, condemned…so I do not pity him.

I just want to comfort him. Some might say there's only a thin line between comfort and pity, some say that there's no difference at all.

I think that there are worlds between comfort and pity. Pity is a one-sided feeling while comfort has everything to do with sharing.

I want to share.

"Why?" he asked finally. I could see him sneaking cautious glances at me, wary of my answer.

I smiled and shrugged. "Need there be a reason?"

He frowned at that, obviously unsure of what I meant.

His answer a few minutes later was gruff and curt. "You're going to have to do half of my work load." Again those careful, hesitant glances, as if he were afraid of how I would respond.

I laughed. Hisoka's agreed to go with me! "Sankyuu, Hisoka!"

Before he could answer to that, I ran and over and gave him a tight hug. "Waaah! Hisoka, I knew you loved me!"

This wasn't the first time I felt how light Hisoka really was. With hardly enough effort on my part, I lifted him and swung him in a crazy half-twirl.

"Baka! Put me down!"

"Aww…Soka-chan, don't you love me?"

"The only thing I want to do right now is to murder you! Put me down!"

I finally let go of him, letting his feet land softly onto the ground. He immediately pushed me away while glaring daggers at me.

"And what did you call me just now?"

Oops. That was a minor slip of the tongue during my excitement. After a look at Hisoka's face, however…

That was a major slip of the tongue.

"How many times must I tell you…don't treat me like a kid!"

I tried to put on my most innocent look. "I didn't; I really didn't!" I don't think it worked very well, though.

"Shut up, moron!"

I looked at Hisoka, whose eyes were still blazing with green flames. I know it was probably the worst thing to do at that time, but he looked sooo cute with indignity written all over his face that I couldn't help laughing.

At the sound of my laughter, he was so shocked that he momentarily forgot about his anger, merely standing there while blinking at me in confusion.

I found that even more adorable.

How could I resist hugging him when he looked like that?

Ignoring his protests and indignant yells, I drew him in for another tight hug.

Need there be a reason for me to do anything with him?

There never need be a reason to share something with the people you care for.

I want to share what I have with Hisoka. Because with him, even if it's only temporary, even if it might not last, I feel at peace. At peace with the world and myself.

And I want him to experience that feeling too.

Because Hisoka deserves everything that is wonderful.