Hisoka tiptoed to the door of the lab, fully expecting to hear the sounds of chaos coming from inside. When he heard absolutely no sound at all, he became suspicious. Very carefully, he poked his head around the corner to look in through the door, fearful that whatever Watari was working on was going to blow up in his face.

When nothing immediately exploded, he was relieved. Then, he caught a glimpse of the lab, and he could hardly believe what he saw.

The lab was perfectly clean, and everything was organized and in its place. There were no papers or projects out on the tables, and in the middle of the room, Watari sat on a spinning chair, spinning in circles. His white lab coat was hung on a rack. He was wearing black slacks and a black turtleneck. His long golden hair was neatly braided and trailed after him as he spun round and round.

"Bon! How are you doing?!" he cried cheerfully.

"Um… Watari… what's going on? Where are you… I mean… where is… everything?" stammered the teenager, looking around in confusion.

The scientist sulked.

"Oh. Yeah. I'm kind of in between projects right now… I'm waiting on some grant requests that I put in to Tatsumi, so until I get the funding, I can't really get started on anything…"

"Do you have a case?" Hisoka questioned.

"Not this week. The chief hasn't given me any assignments, so… I kind of have nothing to do right now!" Watari put one hand on the back of his head with a smile, but Hisoka felt that he was bored.

"Perfect," he decided firmly. "Then, I could really use your help. It's about Tatsumi…"

Watari's golden eyes sparkled with interest. "Ooo! And what would seem to be the trouble with our dear shadow master?"

The skinny boy sat down in a nearby chair and shrugged.

"Maybe you can tell me… you've known him longer. Do you know if… I mean… do you think…" Hisoka stammered and then stopped, scowling in thought. "Do you think, him and Tsuzuki are…"

Watari burst into laughter. "Oh, bon! Are you asking me if Tatsumi is in love with our Tsuzuki-kun?!" he blurted warmly.

"Um… yes. Exactly. I mean, I see the way he looks at him, but, I can never get a clear read off him!" Hisoka answered.

Watari adjusted his glasses. Suddenly, he was very serious.

"Bon, let me tell you something. Tatsumi has been in love with Tsuzuki for almost eighty years now… practically since the first day they met."

Hisoka tossed his head back, kicked his chair into a spin, and let out an exasperated growl as he twirled around slowly.

"UGH! Then WHY doesn't he say anything?! Why can't I even feel anything coming from him?!"

Watari laughed again. "That's not really Tatsumi's style… He would never put his own happiness first. He's more protective. He prefers… watching from the shadows."

Hisoka shook his head. "He'd do anything for Tsuzuki. He pulled us out of that fire in Kyoto… he even fought Muraki for him that one time! I don't understand why he still can't see it! They were even partners!"

Watari nodded, even more serious, now. "You do know he was the one who decided he could no longer be Tsuzuki's partner."

"But why?" Hisoka shook his head sadly.

"It's complicated," said Watari.

The teenager scoffed and narrowed his eyes. "Give me a break."

"Tatsumi never felt like he was a good enough partner for Tsuzuki. He always thought someone else would be better. That's why he was so happy when you came into the picture. You're really good for him, Bon. "

The teenager shook his head again. He could sense that Watari was not being completely truthful.

"No, there's more to it than that. I can sense that much from him. He's even told me that he's glad I am Tsuzuki's partner, now. What aren't you telling me. Tell me the truth, Watari."

Finally, Watari nodded.

"He can't stand to see Tsuzuki in pain. He tends to protect himself by pushing others away, and he'd rather keep Tsuzuki safe than be happy himself. That's why he couldn't be his partner anymore."

Hisoka knew his own partner better than anyone, and he knew how much Tsuzuki needed protection. But he also knew how much Tsuzuki cared for the shadow master, and he was one hundred percent certain that they should be in a relationship. He knew it would make Tsuzuki happy, at least.

"But Tsuzuki cares about him! Really cares about him!" he protested.

Watari made a face. "I doubt that Tatsumi is aware of that."

"I know! That's why I'm here."

The sparkle in Watari's eyes became more than interested… Now, it was downright mischievous.

"What do you have in mind?"

Hisoka pulled his chair closer to the scientist.

"Could you make a potion that could transfer some of my empathy to someone else… like Tatsumi, for example?" he whispered.

Watari beamed. "Bon, that's a brilliant idea!"

"I know. But can you do it?" the teenager insisted.

Golden eyes flashed, and then Watari looked at him, pretending to be insulted.

"Uh. I'm hurt that you even have to ask," he scoffed.

Then, with a flourish, he spun his chair around, immediately setting to work.