A/N: Argh! Okay this chapter is small and nothing really happens. It's actually only half of what I wanted to write but if I tried to finish it tonight it would suck hardcore and I didn't want to go a whole week without a new chapter update.

Parings: There are 9 and ½ pairings all together. Guess them and win a prize (well not really a prize since I'm broke, but I'm sure we can work something out.) Hint: the ½ is introduced in this chapter.

Small observation about the Viz Media printing of vol. 10: Right after all the Shiki are introduced. There's a crazy panel where Suzaku says they have to party and she's got the crazy face on. Tsuzuki and Byakko are "w00t-ing" in the background and if you look between Suzaku's fingers, Tenko is smiling and above her head it says, "We need lots of beer!" Tenko's a little drunk! I don't care if she's a Shiki, what is she, all of oh… ten years old? I had to add that to this scene.

Disclaimer: I don't even own a yukata, let alone Yutaka.

Everyone, it seemed, had been given a yukata to wear. Even Saya and Yuma, who normally would not be seen in anything but Pink House were wearing them. Admittedly though, theirs were pink and purple respectively. The girls were fawning over Tenko, who looked adorable in baby blue. Suzaku somehow had managed to adjust hers in a way that showed way more cleavage than would seem possible in the restrictive garment.

Tsuzuki lounged on a comfy sofa with a plate of confections in each hand, frowning slightly. Hisoka was across the room at a small table. Kijin and Byakko appeared to be teaching to play a game of some sort. He looked like he was actually enjoying himself.

"Something wrong Tsuzuki?"

Nonomiya, uncharacteristically without her more outgoing partner, seated herself on the sofa next to Tsuzuki. He fixed her with his signature "no cares in the world" smile. The girl shook her head.

"Uh-uh, that's not going to work on me, you know that!" Her eyes trailed over to Hisoka.

"He really cares about you, you know that right?"

Tsuzuki sighed and set aside his plates of sweets. "I know he does, 'Miya. But I think what I feel and what he feels are two different types of love. He regards me as family. And I…" He trailed off.

"You love him. It's as simple as that."

Tsuzuki raised an eyebrow at her. "Simple huh? Tell me that again and think about your parents."

Nonomiya sighed.

"Yeah, point taken. But your situation is different, Tsuzuki. Come on, it's obvious he loves you."

"Obvious? He never misses an opportunity to hit me, yell at me or call me an idiot. How is that obvious?"

Nonomiya laughed. "Ever heard the term 'pulling your pigtails'? That's exactly what Kazuma was like to me before she-"

"Before she what?"

Kazuma leaned over the back of the sofa kissing Nonomiya gently before waving at Tsuzuki.

"Tsuzuki and I were just contemplating the intricacies of love."

"Ah," Kazuma nodded sagely, "Yeah I seem to recall giving you quite a hard time when you were still a rookie."

Nonomiya smiled shyly and giggled. Her eyes swept the room and halted.

"Uh oh. Looks like Tatsumi's in trouble. I think we should go rescue him."

Tatsumi indeed, was having a hard time enjoying himself, backed into a corner by Todoroki who was giving him what-for. All he had done was suggest that she and Konoe find a nice quiet place to catch up on old times. If it was meant to be a joke, Todoroki did not find it amusing.

Touda, who was perched on a rafter observing, shuddered. That woman known as Todoroki reminded him too much of Suzaku. Two more women approached, they too made him shudder.

'Great,' he thought, 'now I'm seeing her everywhere.' He jumped off the rafter and slid out the side door into the garden for some fresh air.

"Mamma-bear!" Kazuma called out, "Suzaku's going to show us the training grounds, come with us!"

Much to Tatsumi's relief, the older Amazon took off with the other scary women. He scanned the crowd looking for something. What exactly was he looking for? His eyes landed on Tsuzuki, too heartbroken to eat sweets even. He followed Tsuzuki's gaze to where Hisoka sat. 'No way,' Tatsumi thought. He was not going to get in the middle of that one. At once his eyes were drawn to a flash of gold. Watari sat on a pillow on the floor talking to one of the Shiki. Tatsumi's eyes narrowed, the two were sitting very close, as if they had been intimate for years. Rikugo, that was his name. He couldn't blame Watari; after all, the Shiki was attractive, though he did have six eyes, which made Tatsumi shudder a bit. Just then Watari put his hand on the other man cheek and leaned in close. Tatsumi felt a small stabbing pain in his chest as he turned away before he saw anything more.

"I don't think it's infected," Watari said, examining one of Rikugo's six eyes, "But I'd put a compress on it none the less. That swelling can't be good."

"That's pretty much what Taimo said too." Rikugo smirked, a little intoxicated, "You know I'm all eyes for her."

"And she has eyes for no one!" Watari finished. Both men collapsed onto their cushions laughing like madmen.

"That joke never gets old, you idiots."

Taimo slid down onto a cushion next to Rikugo.

"You two seem to be enjoying yourselves, but I think someone's just a bit jealous."

Rikugo put his arm around Taimo.

"Hey don't be jealous, baby. Watari and I were talking science."

Taimo smiled, or at least, she sounded like she was smiling.

"Not me, you idiot," She pointed across the room to Tatsumi's retreating form. "He looks like someone just took away his birthday and Christmas."

Watari's eyes grew wide.

"Tatsumi?"
Rikugo blushed. "He's the one you like right?"
Watari nodded.

"Oh dear, I think he has the wrong idea. He probably saw you examining my eye and thought..."

"Really?" Watari smiled, "Good!"

"Good?"

"Yes good. Tatsumi's jealous! That means he does care!" Watari jumped up, "Rikugo, it's been great talking to you. Taimo, he's all yours now. I've got something I need to do before hitting the springs!"

Saya and Yuma sat on a sofa, braiding Tenko's hair, alternating their gazes between the Tengu, who were stunning in matching white and gold, and the three boys in the corner that they had dubbed the 'forever-teen uke club.'

"Hisoka! You're actually smiling!" Kijin's eyes sparkled as he watched the sandy-hairdo boy pick up two more cards.

"Contrary to popular belief, I do smile."

"Yeah, but you've been kinda umm… I don't know, angsty? Yeah angsty since you got here," Byakko added, swapping out three of his cards, "What's the deal with you and Tsuzuki?"

Hisoka blushed.

"There is no 'deal' with Tsuzuki."

"Yeah but you like him, don't you?" Kijin asked

"Yeah, of course I like him," Hisoka sighed, "But it's not like that."

"Yeah it is!" Byakko teased.

"No, Tsuzuki thinks he has to protect me. Like I'm his little brother or something."

Kijin rolled his eyes, "Um, yeah. Hisoka I thought you were an empath? I mean, isn't it obvious?"
"I think," Byakko added, throwing down his cards and declaring himself the king, "that you really do know how Tsuzuki feels, but you're afraid."

"Afraid of what?" Hisoka asked.

"Afraid of being hurt, or hurting him. Personally, I think you are just hurting yourselves more by pretending nothing is happening."

Hisoka frowned. "I don't know, I really don't."

The night wore on and many people had way too much to eat and certainly too much to drink. About the time that Konoe asked Kochin if she knew "My Way," most everyone decided it would be a good time to turn in for the night or head out to the hot springs.
"I'll go get the beer!" Tenko shouted enthusiastically.

"Oh no ya don't!" Byakko said, scooping up the little girl, "You're a mean drunk Tenko, time for bed for you!"

"Nooooo!" The girl giggled as Byakko dragged her out of the room.

Kijin said his goodnights as well, claiming that he had a long day ahead of him in the morning. Only Hisoka's empathic mind was aware that Kijin was planning to slip out of his room to meet a "friend" in the forest. The thunder Shiki's secret was safe.

"Hey, where'd Hisoka go?" Tsuzuki scanned the crowd he had been herding out the door. "I'll meet you guys there!"

He turned back to the hall, which was empty. Thinking that he may have gone back to his room to be away from everyone, Tsuzuki headed for the living quarters.

Watari hummed quietly to himself as he slid into his room and set several bottles of wine on the dressing table, setting one off to the side. He stole a look around.

"Now, now, Tenku, no spilling the beans okay?"

Checking again to make sure the door was locked, Watari went back to the table and opened the small wooden art case, withdrawing two bottles. Turpentine and India ink. He set them aside and uncorked the bottle of wine that he had set aside. It was no different than the others. Carefully, he poured a small amount of wine down the sink. In its place, he poured the contents of the turpentine and India ink containers. The bottle smoked a little and Watari prayed there would be no explosions. The smoke died down and Watari clasped his hands together. Carefully, he pulled a loose strand of his hair away from his head and looped it around the neck of the bottle, securing it in place when he re-corked the wine. He put it with the others and stood back to survey his handiwork. Perfect, they all looked exactly the same; the golden strand was invisible to the unknowing eye.

"Brilliant!" He exclaimed. No one would suspect anything. He gathered up the bottles and unlocked the door, using his shoulder to push it open.

"Hey is that you His- Ah, Watari, I thought you'd be down at the springs already."

Watari jumped, startled by the voice.
"Tsuzuki! I thought you'd be there too. I just had to grab a few things." He looked back at the room and noticed that the discarded inkbottle was indeed smoking, and threatening to explode. "Ah crap!"

"Here," Tsuzuki took the bottles that were threatening to fall out of the scientists grasp.

"Hey, I'll meet you down there, if you see Hisoka try to get him to come to okay?"

"Will do!" Watari said nervously, hoping that Tsuzuki didn't notice the suspiciously smoking inkbottle. "Oh! Tsuzuki! If you see Tatsumi tell him I'm on my way and to wait for me okay?"
Tsuzuki grinned knowingly. "I sure will Watari!"

Outside in the garden, Tsuzuki passed Tatsumi, who appeared lost.

"Hey Tatsumi! Where you going?"

"Oh, hello Tsuzuki. I'm uh, taking a walk. Trying to clear my head."

"Well Watari told me that if I see you to tell you to wait for him. He got hung up. Hey you haven't seen Hisoka have you?"

Tatsumi frowned. 'Hung up, on what Rikugo's bedpost?'

"Tatsumi?" Tsuzuki nudged the shadow master.

"Hm? Oh, yes, I did see Kurosaki. He was headed toward the reflecting pool with-"
"Thanks!" Tatsumi was cut of and found himself suddenly holding several bottles of wine. "Take those to the springs for me okay? Thanks Tatsumi!"

Tsuzuki was already long gone before Tatsumi had formulated a response. He sighed looking at the bottles in his hand.

'I guess I have no choice now.'