Disclaimer: YnM, and characters/plot therein, not mine. I do this writing for fun.

Super fast update equates short chapter. Rawr.

Ok, so last chapter I should have put out an "OC" warning, but seriously why should it matter? The original characters I introduce in this story won't be the centerpieces, mainly they are there (like new charas introduced in YnM-verse) to move the plot along.

But I guess if you must insist… There are two new OCs in this chapter. Boo! Mwahahah.

Also when I introduce characters, their names will be in the traditional order. Last name first, first name last.

Aren't you special? I'm updating again! -gasp- I got my butt in gear with darkrini's review. Thanks by the way; it was quite inspirational and spurned me to write this chapter faster! XD -shudders- Naming ayatsuri "Erie"... That gave me the worst creeps/chills than I have had in awhile; also because of that review I rewrote what I realized was a poor way to describe him. 'violet blue' eyes afterall was reminiscent of Tsuzuki's 'violet' eyes, which wasn't at all I was going for. Ayatsuri's eyecolor is more like midnight blue. –laughs-

Hi ya Literary Eagle! Thanks for another entertaining review! –giggles-

And thanks for reading!

Shinkansen – the train line that spans Japan made precisely for passenger bullet trains called dangan ressha "Super Express"; though apparently the Shinkansen refers to only the tracks, in reality the distinction is "rarely made". (Source is Wikipedia)

Here is another quote, since none of the poems fit the chapter! –promises to search for poems for next chapter-

"I mean to retire, where
Nobody will have heard about my special skills
And conversation is mainly about the weather."

-- Quote from Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin

Muttering inanely to myself, I crankily marched through work. I had picked up my suits from the Nagoya seamstress without incident, but I had slept horribly after ordering Tsuzuki (who had somehow gotten it in his head that he would be sleeping in the same bed with me) to sleep on the couch.

My tired eyes strained with effort and I snapped at someone when they thought something completely inaccurate about me, slamming the door to my office behind me.

We hadn't fought! Damnable nosy people.

Tsuzuki groaned and hit the floor when he rolled over; his back was in a lot of pain with kinks letting out a confused noise. Oh, that's right. Hisoka had shoved me away last night.

He guessed he should have nipped the couple rumor in the bud when it started, but he had wanted to see his partner's reaction. Hisoka had seethed from annoyance first, but he wasn't angry or else he would have vehemently denied it; then he tried to distract himself, until his face flowed into a worried, almost vulnerable, frown.

Scratching his unkempt head, Tsuzuki sat up and glanced at the clock on the wall.

Shit! I'm late!

The meeting room's lights cut off as the projector turned on. Tatsumi, standing, explained the bizarre circumstances of the sudden deaths of 33 people, between the ages of 17 and 28. The only correlations between them were that they died of coincidental, yet common, accidents, that they lived on their own and alone, that the deaths weren't far away from the new Shinkansen lines, and that one had died every two days; 'had' because the deaths had stopped a week ago.

"The information we've managed to obtain is that there is some sort of strong demonic presence, causing this disaster. We've compiled a list of the most active demons in Japan and their ways of operating. Your job is to search out the perpetuators, and banish the demonic influence."

"Could Muraki have done this?" Alert bright green eyes stared stonily at the map of Japan with 33 red marks scattered around. Tsuzuki was at rapt attention at the mention of the doctor.

"I would reply with a resounding negative, but we should leave all our options open. In the meantime…" The lights clicked on. "I suggest you get started on these other assignments in case any of them are connected with the recent murders."

The secretary slightly nudged the tall stack of manila folders towards the two. "I advise you two to get started early."

Kurosaki roughly grabbed the folders and strode out the room without another word, while Tsuzuki jumped up waving his hands wildly and whining after his partner; his hair disheveled and his face more pleading than usual. There was something very, very wrong.

As Chief Konoe shook his head and shut the door to his office, Tatsumi sharply turned his gaze to Watari. "The rumors were your doing too, weren't they?"

Watari grinned. "Of course not. I never said a thing about them being a couple."

"But you implied it." His face became menacing as he bore down on the resident mad scientist with the force of calm anger.

"Ah hah.. You caught me!" The long-haired smiling Shinigami leapt to his feet to rush out the room. "Come on, 003. We have more wor—Eep!"

Shadows had wrapped themselves around his ankles mid-run, and lightning sparked from the crazed gleam in Tatsumi's eyes and his face suddenly seemed covered in heavy shadow. No way could Bon look like that. Watari thought, amending his observation of the last time Hisoka was angered.

"Watari-san, you will find an antidote for his transformation, you will tell everyone that the rumors are false, and you will apologize to them both!"

"Ah…eh.. but Tatsumi it's only tempor--"

"Fix it NOW!" The shadows released Watari, causing him to fall over.

"Right away!" He bolted, knowing Tatsumi meant business when he yelled.

Tatsumi readjusted his glasses, willing his anger away; his shadows had gotten agitated. Once he was collected he removed himself from the briefing room sitting down at his desk, unable to concentrate on his work.

"Hisoka, I'm really, really sorry!"

He shrugged at me, not having looked at me since I stumbled in untidier than usual.

I edged in next to him. "What's wrong? I mean, yesterday you were really nice."

He slammed his palm on the table, yelling. "Have you been listening to what people have been saying about us!"

"No.." I carefully placed a dumbfounded expression on my face, talking slowly. "I don't know what people have been saying." Don't get warm feelings thinking about it! Think about food. Ah, apple pie…

"Do you think I'm a fool!" He looked at me then deflated; he looked away. "Somehow people have this rotten notion in their heads that we're a couple." He spat out the 'a couple' part harshly.

"But Hisoka, gossip happens. As long as we agree that we aren't, then there's no problem." Don't get depressed. He'll know if you do. C'mon, cheer up. Smile. Everything's ok. He needs you as family and as a close friend, someone to depend on. I chibified with an unfeigned excited smile. "Unless, it bothers 'Soka 'cause he secretly loves me!"

"BAKA!" He picked me up by the front of my chibi-self coat and shook me around. "First, I don't. Second, who falls in love with an idiot!"

I mentally flinched at the implication that he neither loved an idiot nor would anyone, and bounced away, 'growing' puppy ears, tail and paws. I just want to be near you. "You do of course! -heart-"

Cheerfully smiling at him, something must have dawned on him and he glanced at me briefly, then turned away, dropping me. "Idiot."

Continuing my movements without missing a beat, while covertly waiting for something else from Hisoka, he mentioned something about needing air and walked out.

Plopping down into my chair, I sighed then pulled a file into view, my eyes scanned over it hoping that whatever was going on in my partner's head would settle down.

'I just want to be near you.'

Could he be anymore dense? Hisoka thought as a faint embarrassed red creeped onto his face. Strolling down the walkway he knew he should be working, but he was far too restless. Crossing his arms under the forever-blooming sakura trees, he stared out over the pond.

He really hadn't meant to peer that deeply into Tsuzuki's psyche, but it had occurred just by looking into his eyes. The thin veneer of food worship gave way to devotion intended for him; it was beyond what he had suspected, but somehow it was comforting.

Each time he had taken an instinctive peek, he'd realize it and looked away before he pried into things not meant for anyone to know. He however understood that Tsuzuki would not be the first to pull away; it would be him.

He exhaled, feeling more than a little inadequate when faced with the strength of Tsuzuki's emotions and beliefs.

Why hadn't this happened yesterday right after I drank the potion?

It'd happened more naturally today; walking by people he picked up on the gist of moods and strong thoughts, without even focusing. It wouldn't have been so overwhelming if he'd had a clear head like yesterday, but his dreams disturbed his slumber more violently last night as if mocking him for not accepting Tsuzuki's comfort. Even worse, a few included Tsuzuki, either as villain or victim.

He shivered at the former of the two. Somehow the part of his brain in charge of dreaming had mashed the cleaver-holding possessed-Tsuzuki with a mirthless, yet hysterical mobster, creating an erroneous caricature of reality, especially when he chased Hisoka's yukata-wearing younger self around.

Now it being the middle of the day, he could laugh at that ridiculous imagery, since Tsuzuki's sweet, self-sacrificing nature would never allow him to sink to that level.

A breeze kicked up. He felt him approach, so he didn't bother to turn; Hisoka also felt the wall that Tsuzuki barricaded his inner self with, and how easily it morphed into quicksand. If he was careful, he could maintain the delicate distance between them and not accidentally step into his partner's mind.

"There's a couple of easy cases we can take care of today and finish the rest over the next few days."

Hisoka remained silent, and focused on preserving mental space (and his sanity); it felt like flexing an unused muscle. He supposed he'd have to add empathy practice somewhere in between practice with fuda, with summoning Riko, and with kendo and archery.

"Once you're ready we can go."

Finally turning to greet Tsuzuki with an eyebrow quirk, he stepped next to him relieved that he didn't receive extraneous thought-words. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go already."

"Alright alright! Hey before we do how about eating at a sushi bar?"

"We just had lunch three hours ago!"

"Four."

"Whatever." Hisoka rolled his eyes at his partner, scowling.

When another soft breeze kicked up flower petals, they were already gone.

"Coming. Coming." A cool voice hollered from the back when the tiny bell of his remote store rang at someone's entrance.

Carefully setting his half-painted marionette aside, he walked to and past the counter.

"Hi, I'm Kato Sachiya and this is my older sister Nui. I wanted to ask you a few questions."

The storekeeper eyed the two and how they held themselves. He could hardly disbelieve they weren't related because they looked nearly alike, but he peered intently at the woman, frowning before looking at Sachiya. "No loitering. If you aren't buying anything, leave." The thin middle-aged man of average height waved his hand dismissively.

"Wait! I was wondering if you've been troubled by a haunting.. or.. or maybe some bad spirits?" The twenty-something brat stammered out nervously.

"No." The uninterested man went through the swinging door to the back intent on finishing his work.

Sachiya glanced back at the woman giving her a look that showed his distaste for the man's rudeness as they walked out. She didn't comment.

"Well, that didn't work." He complained.

She laughed boisterously, slapping his shoulder lightly. "You're too impatient. In our line of work you shouldn't whine every time we don't get a lead. It's bothersome. This is a simple soul retrieval; in no time, we'll get the bugger."

"You're an overconfident old hag."

She grunted. "And you're bad at wheedling people, Sachi-kun."

Letting out a frustrated growl, he stamped a foot. "Call me Shade! S-H-A-D-E."

She let out a high-pitched 'hmph'. "It's so foreign I already forgot how to say it, Sachi."

"That's what you call a dog, not Shade, the well-known photographer, across Tokyo!"

"You were."

"Damnit, don't remind me!" He let out an aggravated yell, punched the air and went into yet another tizzy fit. It was far too easy to bait him. She pulled out a black cigarette that smelled and burned like a cigar and lit it easily, inhaling and exhaling as she waited until he calmed down.

He finally let out a loud exhalation, signaling the end of his ranting tirade; his hand drifted near the small black pack he always carried with him tapping a few fingers on it and remembering his life with a gaping ache in his chest. Photography had been his passion; he couldn't leave until he was satisfied.

Pulverizing the finished mini-Black cigar into the ground, she stood up straighter. "The sun's on the last legs of its descent. Let's make post-haste to the department, and start anew on the morrow."

'It gives me a headache when you talk like that."
He obliged though gray eyes staring imploringly at her through his bleached medium-length hair, getting to his feet.

She laughed again, a hand covering her mouth, chipped nails trimming the edges of her fingers and calluses studding between the knuckles of her first two fingers. "Stop making that face; you look pathetic."

"But I wanted to send my first captured soul off!"

She shushed him with a cluck of her tongue.

By the time they made it back to their homely Chuubu sector, it was night, and they parted ways after clocking out.

TBC.

A/N: Remember, Sachiya is his given name, and Kato is his family name. His partner, Nui, and he were undercover, they aren't related.

If you recall Chuubu is the sector squashed between Kinki (Watari's sector) and Kanto (The sector that has the main department of Enmacho in it) on the lower right and Touhoku on its upper right. I extensively researched, and found that there were 12 of 18 Shinigami accounted for (Konoe doesn't count since he's 'head' of the department like Sengoku is the 'head' of Shinkocho, the Okinawa sector, because if you made the department heads Shinigami there would be far too many).

While Shinigami should work in pairs, there were four exceptions: Watari, Tatsumi, and Chidsuru are single agents (Tatsumi seems to be unassigned while the other two's areas seem to be rather slow) who call for backup (or, in the case of Tatsumi, is backup) to help when something does happen, while the Kanawa sisters work in their group of three. That leaves three areas without known Shinigami pairs: Touhoku, Chuubu, and Kanto (though Enmacho is in Tokyo, it is the main department for all other departments; Taisencho is in charge of the Kanto area). Hope that clears everything up! –sweatdrops when she realizes people who haven't read the manga would be confused, and crawls into a corner depressed-