3. Waltz.
T: A little bit of push up on the angst front this time and a complete lack of crack. Other than this warning's remain the same and I still own nothing other than the plot.
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He'd be the first to admit that, on certain subjects, he was a little less…experienced…than most and yet he was not so stupid as to think that his partner had suggested the holiday because the elder Shinigami believed they needed some form of a rest. There had, after all, been enough disappointment in the elder's eyes when he'd been told that there would be company on the trip to tell of an ulterior motive.
Thus it had not been the embrace, nor the sudden rush of lust that'd surprised him but rather the sudden panic that'd spiked in the other's mind and that'd had him dashing as far away from him as possible.
Frustration, red hot and directionless, swamps him and he stands, motionless, for what seems a lifetime. Then, limbs feeling as though they are encased in tar, he walks the distance to his bedroom and proceeds to tear apart a poor, unsuspecting, pillowcase.
Feeling somewhat 'better' he tidies his mess and, snatching a book out of his suitcase, proceeds to distract his mind.
A gentle swaying movement eventually stirs him from his 'trance' and, glancing up from the page; he is met with Tsubaki's warm green eyes.
"You can stop shaking me now." He remarks as he quickly memories the current page number and places the book to one side.
"Care to explain why there is currently a Tsuzuki working his way through my alcohol and depressing my boyfriend?" She enquires as she leases her grip on his shoulders and settles herself down at his side.
Desperate to keep his mind away from this particular topic of conversation he simply shrugs his shoulders and stretches down to recapture his book. Tsubaki slaps his fingers away before they can make contact and frowning she enquires,
"You realise I'm not stupid, right?"
"Being here reminds me a little of being in Kyoto, I inferred as much to him, he hugged me and then he ran away."
"It wasn't just a friendly hug, was it?"
"No."
Sighing she shakes her head, mutters the words "you two" under her breath, before she enquires,
"I did make the right choice with this place, didn't I Hisoka-nii?"
"This is all I could have hoped for and more, Camille, it's just the mix of snow and steam brings back uncomfortable memories." He responds, for once grateful for the anguish that flutters in his heart as he recalls the darkness of Kyoto.
"We'll use this trip as an excuse to pave over those recollections with something a little happier, shall we?" She enquires, the playful wink that accompanies the statement prompting a small smile and the response of,
"We can certainly try!"
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"…actually it's a parfait!" The conclusion of the story is accompanied by a dramatic hand gesture that results in a copious amount of highly sticky alcohol tumbling onto the hardwood floor.
His eyes fix on the puddle for a moment, mind contemplating the time it was going to take to clean up the mess, before he senses that he is being watched.
Glancing back upwards he is unsurprised to find slightly hazy violet eyes focused upon him and, feeling now somewhat self conscious, he enquires,
"Is something the matter, Tsu?"
"It's sad, don't you think?" The elder enquires, his gaze wondering back to his glass before he adds, "Dying before you had a proper chance to live."
"I think it all depends…I died before what most would deem 'my time' and yet it was not a bad thing. Not only is this 'life' that I am living now a content one, but my untimely death has turned me into somewhat of a legend in 'the real world'."
"Ah, the whole 'live fast die young' culture…or rather whatever the equivalent is in the world of classical music." There is a small smile now on the elder's face and, after a moment of silence, he enquires, "Do you still play?"
The part of his mind reserved always for music and the passion he felt towards it sparks at this and, gaining his feet, he responds, "Whenever I get the chance!" before he dashes off towards his bedroom.
He locates his violin after only a few minutes and, after assuring it is still in perfect tune, dashes back to Tsuzuki.
"What would you like to hear?" He enquires as he lifts the instrument to his chin.
"One of your own compositions."
"Ok!" He takes a deep, cleansing breath, states simply, "I named this one 'transition'," before he allows the melody to claim him.
Tsuzuki is smiling as he comes back to himself once more and, lowering his instrument to his side, he enquires,
"So?"
"It was perfect, Hiji!" The elder responds, before he enquires, "I couldn't bother you for something that has a waltz beat could I?"
"It's more a pleasure than a bother." He responds, before he again raises his instrument up to his chin.
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She had, with just the right sort of encouragement, convinced Hisoka to accompany her back to her lodging. It was a victory that the empath was not letting go quietly, choosing to sulk in a manner more befitting a four year old child, an out of character action that she knew was as mask for the nervous anticipation that the other would now be feeling.
Thus she had ignored the sudden pouting of his lips, the folding of his arms and, finally, the slowing of his pace.
Which was why she reached her lodgings a few minutes before the other and why she was the first to hear the music drifting out from inside.
Ears catching onto the music her mind races through a long string of logic and reaches one certain conclusion; Tsuzuki was inside her lodgings, dancing his heart out to Hijiri provided music.
Unfortunately the revelation comes a moment too late to stop Hisoka from crossing into the building and witnessing the spectacle for himself, which means she is left to simply follow in his wake and watch as things go as they will.
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Of course Camille would understand his thoughts better than he would, though pride would not allow him to admit either this fact nor the almost vomit inducing sensation that'd leapt into his stomach at the simple thought of seeing Tsuzuki again.
Desperate to distract himself from that sensation he'd acted out the part of a petulant child, the embarrassment that takes him with each over the top action serving as the perfect antidote to the nausea.
Indeed he is so focused on the act that he fails to notice Camille's absence until he is over the threshold of the building and his ears are being invaded by a sharp, staccato, melody.
In different circumstances he may have turned back around, apologised for his behaviour and returned with the other in tow…with a clearly inebriated Tsuzuki dancing in a highly seductive manner before him, however…
It is, with hindsight, thankful that Hijiri spots him a moment after he has entered the room and brings the music to a premature halt.
For a brief moment Tsuzuki continues his hypnotic movements then, as one waking from a dream, he comes blinking back to reality.
"Oh, 'soka!" The exclamation is all the warning he gets before he is furled into an overly enthused hug. "Hiji was just helping me get a little exercise!"
"You're drunk." He remarks as he attempts to claw his way back to freedom.
"You're pretty!!"
He fights the blush reflex with ease and, attempting to catch Hijiri's eye he enquires,
"Might I get a little help?"
There is another long moment in which the other attempts to aid him in prying Tsuzuki off of him and then Camille appears to join in the effort.
Once the elder Shinigami is isolated and safely asleep they chat, ideally, a while about simple little things.
It is a conversation that allows him the chance to properly talk to Hijiri for the first time since the party, to both pave over the residual scars left from that incident and to begin forming the tentative links that will, with time, will form into a friendship.
Eventually the pair excuse themselves for the night and, after sighting plans for a trip down into the village in the morning, leave him to his own devices…
…To the confusing circle of thoughts buzzing through his mind.
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T: Apologies for the semi cliff-hanger!! Next chapter ASAP.