[[Thank you so much for your kind reviews and the follows! I'm really glad that people have liked this story so far.
After this chapter, there'll be one more chapter and then it'll be finished. This story was originally meant to be a one shot, but there was just so much going on and so many transitions that I decided it was easiest to just break it up. But breaking it up allowed me to easily add more detail into this story, so it's already almost twice as long as the draft was and will probably get even longer by the time the third chapter is finished.
Thanks again! Hope you enjoy!]]
When Tsuzuki had reached the ministry, he had thrown down the binder onto his desk and then rushed into Kanoe's office, apologies flowing from his lips. After being calmed and informed of the situation, Tsuzuki had been shepherded onto the helicopter he now rode on, en route to the last location the Gushoshin had made a report from.
The sky was growing dark, and a familiar red moon was rising. Tsuzuki clenched his fists in his lap and he gritted his teeth as he glared at it, his hatred for Muraki growing. There couldn't possibly be anything in that binder that was worth this risk to Hisoka and Tatsumi's lives. That bastard had led him on a wild goose chase, and it would be just as much his Muraki's fault for setting the trap as it was Tsuzuki's fault for falling for it. If he had been here, he could have dealt with Muraki himself. Now, Tatsumi was out there somewhere, fighting him. He wondered if Hisoka was fighting as well. He hoped not. Tsuzuki was sure that Muraki would make a point to hurt Hisoka if he dared try to stand up to him.
Guilt and panic chewed at Tsuzuki's gut as he anxiously chewed on his lip. He peered out the window, apprehensively scanning the darkened ground for any sign of his partner and his ex-partner. This should never have happened, Tsuzuki told himself. Muraki was definitely going to pay for all that he had done.
If it hadn't been for Muraki's draconic summon, Tsuzuki would never have noticed the battle unfolding below him. The helicopter circled once and then landed not far away, blades still whirling. Tsuzuki leaped out and sprinted toward the fight, summoning Suzaku as he ran.
As he drew closer, he noticed that Muraki and Tatsumi were locked in combat. Tatsumi darted skillfully around Muraki, dodging blasts from the tri-headed dragon while launching shadowy counterattacks that were effortlessly deflected by some sort of shield that cloaked Muraki. Although Tatsumi was maneuvering effortlessly, his coat was torn and a dark stain soaked the front of his shirt.
Tsuzuki announced his presence by blasting Muraki from behind with a burst fire from Suzaku.
Tatsumi jumped away, startled as the blaze struck, and then turned his attention to its source. "Tsuzuki," he panted. His fatigue seeming to suddenly catch up with him, Tatsumi clutched at where his jacket was torn.
"Tatsumi! Are you okay?" Tsuzuki called out.
"I'll be fine," Tatsumi replied. "I'm just winded."
Tsuzuki didn't believe him for a moment, but he didn't have time to say anything before the flames died down again, revealing an unharmed Muraki.
"How nice of you to join us, my dearest Mr. Tsuzuki," Muraki said with a smirk. Tsuzuki shuddered in revulsion. Muraki snapped his fingers, and his dragon hurled orbs of fire in Tsuzuki's direction.
Tsuzuki shot into the air, landing near Tatsumi, who shot a blast of shadows at Muraki right before Suzaku returned fire.
"Where's Hisoka?" Tsuzuki asked.
Tatsumi gestured vaguely behind him. "Back there," he called back. "He got hurt pretty bad, but Gushoshin is taking care of him. Still, we should probably end this as quickly as possible."
A sinking feeling filled Tsuzuki's gut as his nagging fears of Tatsumi and Hisoka being injured because of his own idiotic mistake had been realized. He swallowed hard as these feelings formed a rock in his stomach.
"Tsuzuki!" Tatsumi yelled in warning.
Tsuzuki snapped out of it just in time to dodge another oncoming missile.
"Stay focused, Tsuzuki," Tatsumi called. "I'm sure he'll be alright, but we need to take care of Muraki first!"
"Right," Tsuzuki said, trying his hardest to believe him.
"Keep his attention focused on you, alright?" Tatsumi said before darting off.
"Can do," Tsuzuki replied before muttering "shouldn't be too hard or anything." Tsuzuki turned his attention back to the fight, trying to keep the rampaging emotions inside him in check as he faced that smug bastard Muraki.
"I was just about to excuse myself when you showed up, Mr. Tsuzuki," Muraki said. "It's been so long since I've last seen you that I just had to stay a while longer. How about we catch up on lost time?" A grin played across his bloodless lips.
A jet of phoenix fire washed over him. When it died down, Muraki was unharmed. Even the grass at his feet was unscorched.
"You should learn to use your words," Muraki said. "A simple 'no' would have sufficed."
"Yeah, but you're not really the kind of person who respects consent, are you?" Tsuzuki snapped. The smoldering fires began to consume the untouched grass at Muraki's feet.
Muraki chuckled. "I suppose you're right." He snapped his fingers, and his dragon let loose with another attack that Tsuzuki effortlessly dodged. "You know, while it has been nice to see your lovely face once again, I think I've reached my limits for play time," Muraki said. "Now, if you'll excuse me..." Muraki pulled his coat in tight around him and started to fade away.
"Oh no you don't!" Tsuzuki yelled. His words were punctuated by another burst of flame from Suzaku. Whatever spell Muraki had been attempting was disrupted as he brought up his shield once more. When the flames faded, he attempted to depart once more when spears of shadow erupted from the ground, piercing him through the back. The spears faded back into the umber, and great swatches of red bloomed across the white of his jacket. Muraki's eyes widened in surprise and then darted wildly, seeking the one who had attacked him. When he finally spotted Tatsumi, he glared and rallied his dragon for another attack, but Suzaku was faster.
Right before the flames hit, Muraki turned to Tsuzuki, giving him a look of betrayal and lust that made Tsuzuki want to vomit. The flames then consumed him, and he was gone.
Before the fires died, Tsuzuki turned and raced to where Tatsumi had said Hisoka was. He could hear Tatsumi behind him, calling out to him, but he couldn't stop. He didn't dare wait. He needed to know that Hisoka was alright.
The red of the moon was fading now, but something up ahead was still basked in red. When Tsuzuki realized the extent of the blood, he stopped, stumbling as his breath caught in his throat.
The hole cleaved through Hisoka's broken body had splattered so much blood everywhere that Tsuzuki wasn't sure if there was any left keeping Hisoka alive. The boy's slender chest didn't seem to be rising and falling. As Tsuzuki stared, countless similar scenes flashed through his mind's eye, each twisted body overlaying itself over Hisoka's crumpled form.
His body began to tremble and then collapsed with a helpless sob. He heard voices – Tatsumi's and the Gushoshins, though they sounded distant and muffled – and a whirling sound that he couldn't make sense of.
All he knew was that, just like all the others, this was all his fault.