Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Ascend from the Darkness ❯ Chapter 5

Emotions, jumbled and searing, poured through the boy as he tossed fitfully on his bed. Residual impressions of what he'd sensed in his partner when they had touched. They frightened him and intrigued him all at the same time. So much like the things his murderer had been feeling, yet infinitely different. Underneath the deep sensual desire he sensed from Tsuzuki was a thread of intense caring, unlike anything Hisoka had ever sensed in anyone before.

At least not directed towards him…

No one had ever cared for him; he'd learned that early in his life. He couldn't see where it would be any different in his death. His powers of empathy confused and frightened people. They didn't like the idea of someone being able to read their deepest emotions as easily as a person could read a book. They didn't understand how it tore him up every time he "synchronized" with someone. His own family, high ranking and more concerned with their own reputation than the emotional health of their child, had seen him as a monster locking him away were they didn't have to look upon him. Everyone he'd come in contact with had been like that.

Until the other Shinigami…until Tsuzuki…

He finally sat up in the bed, his brilliant green eyes scanning the empty room. It was late. Where had Tsuzuki gone? Getting up, he crossed the floor to the large window. Sweeping back the drapes, he stared out at the city lights, his arms crossed over his slim chest. It was all turning into a mess; his partnership with Tsuzuki…his work as a Shinigami…this case…everything. He just couldn't concentrate on anything anymore.

Was this what was supposed to happen to a person when the found they cared more than they should? Shaking his head, he pushed the nagging thought from his mind. It was not like that…it couldn't be!

Turning around his eye fell on the case folder. Picking it up he pulled out the newspaper clipping they had gotten from Komiya the day before. Watari had scanned a copy into his computer and given the original back to the blonde. Now peering down at it, Hisoka got a feeling that there was more to this than either of them had discovered.

Wasn't it a bit convenient that Komiya had suddenly come up with this? The police had made a thorough sweep of Komiya Akemi's room after her death. They hadn't found this then. Why would it show up now? Dammit! What are we not seeing?

He absently brushed a stray lock of hair from his eyes and started to put the clipping back when his breath left his body. Staggering backwards, he was dimly aware of knocking over one of the chairs at the table before he ran into the solid surface of the wall.

Trembling he slid down the wall, his eyes rolling back in his head…a faint whisper on his lips. "Tsuzuki…"
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Crouched on the ground, Tsuzuki suddenly looked up from the mark he'd been looking over in the ground. Shining his light down the dark alley he frowned. He could have sworn he'd heard his name. Standing his clicked off the flashlight and shoved his hands in his pockets. He'd be better off looking this over in the morning, when it was light out.

Right now he guessed he'd better head back to the hotel. Back to face Hisoka and his actions from earlier. He wondered if the blonde Shinigami had calmed down any. He had been angry enough as it was. Tsuzuki was sure his forcefulness had probably made the boy even angrier.

It had been a fatal mistake on his part. One that was sure to lose him the partner that had become so important to him.

Stepping out of the alley, the wind picked up strands of his dark hair and whipped it around his face. His deep violet eyes were deep and thoughtful, instead of their usual cheery. He knew that the chief had had something in mind when he'd paired Hisoka with him, but just what had he expected to happen? Tsuzuki expected that it had been nothing more than finding someway for the younger Shinigami to learn to open up and trust in people. If anyone could pull someone from a shell, it was usually Tsuzuki Asato.

He'd gotten much more than that then. For Tsuzuki was deeply and irreversibly in love with his partner and despite all his childish antics and assumptions he knew it was impossible. Hisoka would never trust enough to open up that much. And even though the blonde now knew about Tsuzuki's past….he still felt it was another barrier.

It made him too different from the rest of them…in life or death. That thin strand of difference in him that made him untouchable….unlovable…always alone deep inside.

Pulling his collar up against the rising wind, Tsuzuki glanced down another alley as he passed by. Was there something moving in there? He stopped and walked back, peering into the dark of the narrow passage. There was someone in there.

Taking out his flashlight, he clicked it on and started in, calling out. "Hello? Are you alright down there?" He laughed, his other hand rubbing the back of his neck. "It's starting to get pretty cold."

He stopped as his light fell on the pale face of the person before him, his violet eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, it's you. Why are you out this time of night?"
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"Wh at are you doing in here so late?" Tatsumi asked walking into the dim lab.

Raising his golden head, Watari's brown eyes blinked as he looked around. "I didn't realize it was this late." He said thoughtfully as he pushed himself back from the computer screen.

Flipping on an overhead light, Tatsumi smiled wryly as the blonde blinked rapidly at the sudden flood of bright. "Still working on that stuff Hisoka brought you?" He said pulling a chair up beside the other Shinigami and sitting down.

"Hmm." Watari looked back at the computer. "I've been enlarging and enhancing the picture from that clipping piece by piece. I still can't get a clear picture of the book though." He pulled of his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I'm stumped on the symbols. Frankly this is worse than the time with Sagadalius."

"You figured that out. I'm sure you will this also." Tatsumi replied, leaning in to peer at the screen.

"Maybe, but I feel like there's not enough time; like I need to figure this out now." The blonde answered in frustration.

"What's this symbol?" Tatsumi asked suddenly, his blue eyes narrowing as he looked closer. "I've seen this before somewhere."

Watari slipped his glasses back on and leaned forward. Frowning he hit a couple of keys on the keyboard, trying to bring the picture more into focus. "Ah!" He exclaimed as the set of symbols became readable.

"That' s part of the same thing they found on the victim's bodies." The brunette Shinigami mused as he studied the girl's picture.

Looking more closely at the book she held, Watari made a strange sound and started to hit keys rapidly. Tatsumi watched silently as the pages came more into focus. Finally the blonde sat back his eyes skimming over the screen, lips silently forming the words he was reading.

"It's part of the book title," Tatsumi said finally.

"Uh-huh," The blonde replied as he opened another program and started typing in information. "I just realized that I've been looking too hard; for something more complicated. It's simple code. The book…"

"Is Latin," Tatsumi finished as all of a sudden text began to scroll rapidly up the screen.

The pair suddenly got to their feet, Watari's eyes wide as he looked at Tatsumi. "We've got to get this to them! I hope there's still enough time."
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Tsuzuki carefully opened the door to the hotel room, literally holding his breath in anticipation of the storm he'd face inside. He expected to be railed at…cursed…maybe even struck for what he'd done to his partner.

What he did not expect was the sight of the blonde sitting on the bed, his back against the wall, knees drawn up to his chest. His slender shoulders shook as he took unsteady breaths, his face buried against his knees. Sitting like that, he looked almost frail, a picture of deep despair and loneliness.

"Hisoka?" The dark-haired man asked carefully.

Raising his head, Tsuzuki was struck by the beauty of his green eyes. Damp from tears, his face pale, blonde hair slightly disheveled.

"I thought you were gone," He said shakily. "I thought…I thought I was alone again."

// "Then stay for me! I don't want to be alone anymore!" "...I need you!!!" //

"Hisoka…" Tsuzuki moved to sit on the bed. He started to reach out to the blonde, but stopped, remembering what had happened almost every other time he'd tried to touch him. "I wouldn't just leave like that." He said quietly, hurt that Hisoka would actually think that he would abandon him.

With a low cry the boy flung himself at Tsuzuki, wrapping his arms around the man's waist and burying his face against his chest. Tsuzuki's eyes widened as he raised a hand to gently stroke the fine blonde hair on the boy's head. "I'm sorry." He murmured, realizing the depths of his partner's fear.

Lifting his eyes to meet Tsuzuki's, Hisoka paled a little more. "The chief's been working with me to control my power. As long as I'm not taken by surprise, I-I can almost control them."

So that's why he can touch me, it's controllable now, as long as he knows it coming.

"Tsuzuki," He leaned upwards, closer, so that the taller man could feel the gentle warmth of his breath. "What you did before….could….I mean…." His face flushed brightly as he struggled for the words. "The kiss…"

He understood. The gods help him, but he understood. Tsuzuki placed a gentle finger on the blonde's lips to quiet him and then leaned in to carefully brush his lips across Hisoka's. Sensing no fear from his partner, he tilted his head slightly and pressed his mouth to the blonde's lips.

How many times had he wished for this? Dreamed of it? A chance to hold Hisoka…to receive a willing touch…to kiss him and not have him draw away in fear or pain?

The blonde Shinigami made a light sound of encouragement as he leaned forward more, pressing his slim body against Tsuzuki's as the taller man's arms slipped around his shoulders. "Please…don't leave me alone." He whispered against Tsuzuki's lips.

Tsuzuki pulled back and looked down at the blonde. "I will never abandon you." He replied carefully. "Don't you know…I love you?"

A small smile crossed Hisoka's lips and for a moment something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before Tsuzuki could identify it. "Then show me." He murmured, pressing his cheek against Tsuzuki's chest, listening to the sound of his rapid heartbeat. "Make me yours."

"Hiso…" Tsuzuki choked. Did he realize what he was saying?

The blonde slipped his arms up around Tsuzuki's neck and pulled him backwards onto the bed, onto him, his hands teasing with the hair at the back of his neck. "I'm not afraid of you."

Maybe he should be…was Tsuzuki's last thought as he buried his face against the soft skin of the boy's neck. Or maybe I should be…of him.
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TB C…..

Heh….and you thought you would get a lemon…. *sticks out her tongue* Talk to them… *points at Ceri and Pandora.* They have something planned….and unfortunately… they've told me what it is. ~_~;;;;;