Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Complicated ❯ Part 2 ( Chapter 2 )

COMPLICATED 2

Tatsumi closed the file in front of him and buried his head on his folded arms on the desk. He did not know what to feel. Remorse? Pity? Care? Comfort? Discomfort? So many emotions were attacking him now. No wonder Muraki acted the way he did two months ago. He was just lost and driven by revenge to the brink of madness. His thoughts then went to Tsuzuki, and how he had so much wanted to die because of Muraki and how much he probably hated the man. It was no surprise either. He hated him too, but that hatred inside him, it was hesitating now. Perhaps because he understood now?

"This is not industrious at all." He mumbled and got to his feet, taking the folder with him as he exited the office, and out of the agency, beginning his journey to earth with the help of his shadows.

Kyoto was now dark, for Tatsumi had stayed in his office for hours after closing time reading the folder over and over again. He made his way to the bar he was in the other night, desperate for a drink. Perhaps if he got drunk again, his mind would be clouded and he wouldn't have trouble trying to get some sleep. It was bad for him and his reputation, but he sees no other alternative. Alcohol tasted nice anyway, and besides, it's not like he was the only one Meifu who drinks. The barmaid saw him again and recognized him, nodding as she took the folded yen bills from him and brought him a jar of sake, along with a cup. Once again, he began to drink, drowning his thoughts. He drank and drank, until his vision was a mere blur of colors. He was on his fifth jar when a surrendering sigh was heard behind him.

With droopy eyes, he turned and found Muraki standing behind, and for a change, he wasn't wearing that white trench coat of his. He was wearing a nice black one, expensive looking and perfectly tailored for his slender and strong built.

"Oh hello Muraki!" Tatsumi said, waving a cup. "Have some."

Muraki patiently took his cup away and set it down, pulling him to his feet. "I saw you as I was walking by."

"Where have you been? Out to kill someone?" Tatsumi asked in a slurred voice.

"No." Muraki answered. "As a matter of fact I was attending to an old lady who was suffering from heart attack." Tatsumi's eyebrows knitted in confusion. Muraki out this late to cure someone? "If I didn't go, that lady would have died." Tatsumi jerked away from him.

"You're lying." Tatsumi said, shaking his head vigorously. He refused to believe that the sadist that hurt his close comrade was actually caring. "You're lying!" He yelled and rushed out of the bar, and out to the back. He grabbed his head and began to tear his hair out, giving out frustrating growls in the process. He didn't understand him. He could not understand him. It was impossible for someone like him to be as kind as he was now. When he did not understand something, he went crazy, because he always understood everything. But Muraki Kazutaka was a picture he could not understand at all, no matter how he tried.

Muraki saw this and quickly knelt before him, stopping him from doing any further damage to his scalp. "What is wrong with you? Stop it! You'll hurt yourself!" Tatsumi pushed him away roughly and doubled back, touching his forehead to the asphalt of the ground of the dark alley, still pulling his hair tightly. Muraki quickly pulled him and shook him hard. "Tatsumi!" He yelled, shaking him again. "What's wrong with you?"

"I don't understand." He said shaking his head hard that his glasses went flying in the other end of their position.

"What don't you understand?" Muraki asked, his eyes narrowed.

"You!" He snapped, dropping his hands on his knees in surrender. Muraki was taken aback. "You told me that I don't understand you, so now I'm trying!" Tatsumi said in defeat, taking out a folder from his coat pocket and tossing it towards Muraki. "I don't understand anything! I'm really trying."

Muraki opened the folder and his eyes widened. There it was, his biodata and everything that happened in his life from childhood till present. It was a perfect essay of his life and only thing that lacked was emotions. That was probably the reason why Tatsumi could not understand him. He stared at Tatsumi's hands, which had several strands of his brown hair in his curled fist.

"Then let me make you understand." He said, standing up. "Maybe after a nice hot bath and some cool air would calm you. Come, Tatsumi."

Tatsumi could not resist. He wanted to understand so badly that he actually followed Muraki to his house. Besides, he could take care of himself, in case the `sadist' tried something stupid.

*

Both men were dressed in clean kimonos, sitting in the backyard of Muraki's estate, which had maple and cherry blossom trees planted. There was an artificial pond in one corner, the cool breeze causing maple leaves and cherry blossoms to slowly drift down to the pond, making them floating. It was a wonderful sight. Tatsumi had a cup of oolong tea in his shaking hands, because he was still drunk even after the comforting bath and a change of clothes.

"What you have read took place." Muraki said, taking a sip from his tea. "They did happen and they are accurate down to the last event." Tatsumi lifted his eyes to look at Muraki, who was staring at his cup, a sad smile on his pale face. "I loved my mother, and my father. When they were taken away from me, I felt so alone and unwanted that I really did think of suicide." He let a soft sigh escape his lips. "When I found out that my half brother, Saki did it, I was shattered. He was my only family member left, and he wanted to kill me. As defence, our family butler shot him, and he died. From that point on, I - I -" He closed his eyes and his fingers tightened around his cup. "I changed. The only thing that kept me alive was revenge, and so I became a doctor and selfishly used my skills to research cloning." He took a sip from his cup. "I found my grandfather's notes on his patients and one of them was Tsuzuki, before he died. I became interested because he continued to live for eight years without eating, sleeping or drinking. It was the perfect body for it regenerated when harm was inflicted upon it. I needed his body so that I can bring Saki back to life." Tatsumi's eyes widened a bit. "I wanted to bring him to life because I blamed him for everything that has gone wrong in my life, that I wanted to kill him myself." Muraki closed his eyes. "But it doesn't matter anymore. That fire destroyed everything." Tatsumi stared at his cup, now understanding Muraki's position. "It's all right really. I like this peace. It feels good, for once." He said, making Tatsumi look up, only to find him smiling. "It's funny you know."

"What is?" Tatsumi asked, taking a sip from his tea.

"How I wanted to die before and how I killed." Tatsumi smirked at that. "Now I am afraid of dying and as much as I can, I want to extend people's lives. This is what I choose to do, in order to atone for all the wrongs I've done in the past." Tatsumi stared at his empty cup. He did not know what to say, for what can he say? He understood Muraki, but now he could not understand himself. He felt serenity now, after hearing everything come from Muraki's mouth. It was calming and really, he was not such a bad person after all. He was merely blinded by revenge that it changed his ways and views to lives. For once, Tatsumi was speechless. "Do you come to earth much, Tatsumi?"

"From time to time."

"To drink sake?" Muraki asked, chuckling. "Is there no such things in Meifu?" Tatsumi smiled and suddenly laughed. "What is so funny?"

"There are." He said, still laughing. "But I just feel that sake on earth is far better. Especially here in Kyoto."

Muraki nodded, smiling now. "I see." He chuckled. "Yes, Kyoto has the best wine. Have you tried their hot springs?"

"No I haven't." Tatsumi said, shaking his head.

"Oh you must!" Muraki said. "It is one of the best luxuries this old capital can provide. If you have the time, I will take you there."

Tatsumi looked at Muraki for a while, unsure. "I will think about it."

Muraki smiled and looked at the sky. "I just remembered." He said, his eyes not leaving the stars in the sky. "The Sakura festival is coming up soon. It is one of the happiest seasons here in Kyoto." A light thump made him look at Tatsumi. He chuckled with amusement at the sight the secretary made. He had lost consciousness due to all the alcohol in his system. He was now lying on his side, his forehead on his arm while a fist lay in front of his nose. "Really now." He said, standing up and gathering Tatsumi's fallen figure in his arms and carrying him to his bedroom, tucking him in bed. "You shinigamis never cease to amaze me." He brushed a lock of Tatsumi's brown hair away from his face and left the room.

*

Tatsumi had immediately transported himself to Meifu, as soon as he changed, ignoring the sick feeling he got in his stomach. He did not even say thank you to Muraki. He stopped dead in his tracks towards his office. Thank him? Had he gone crazy? Thank him for what?

"Good morning Tatsumi." Hisoka greeted from behind him.

Tatsumi suddenly felt sick to the pits of his being. He darted forward to the bathroom and bent before the toilet seat and threw up all the alcohol in his stomach. Hisoka had followed him and watched with wide eyes as Tatsumi continued to vomit for the next half an hour in the toilet seat of the men's room. Once he was done, he remained in his kneeling position, trying to catch his breath.

"Are you all right?" Hisoka asked, concerned.

"I'm all right." Tatsumi said, composing himself and standing on his feet, flushing the toilet. "Must be something I ate." He said, walking over to the sink and washing his hands and face with the cold water. He stared at his hands that were shaking and he quickly clenched them in to a fist.

"Maybe you should take something." Hisoka said.

"I'll be fine." He said and silence lapsed. "Has Tsuzuki waken yet?" He suddenly asked.

"No he hasn't." Hisoka said, sighing. "Even if he did, he never could keep his eyes open for more than twenty seconds."

Tatsumi sighed. "I see."

"He'll be all fine, Tatsumi." Hisoka said, making Tatsumi look at him only to find a sincere look plastered on his face. "I know you care for him very much. He'll be fine." Hisoka gave him a sincere smile, when suddenly the doors to the bathroom flew open and in came Watari, 003 fluttering behind him. Tatsumi and Hisoka looked upon him in shock.

"Tsuzuki!" He said, panting as he tried to catch his breath, his hair disheveled and his white lab coat looking very out of place since one sleeve was already falling down his shoulder because of his rushing. "Hurry! It's Tsuzuki!"

Hisoka and Tatsumi wasted no time and rushed to the infirmary where Tsuzuki was. The door flew open and there sitting by his side was chief Kanoe. He turned around to meet the two pairs of confused and worried eyes. "Don't worry." He said, nodding to affirm his words. Tatsumi and Hisoka approached the bed and saw that Tsuzuki's color was back to normal and that his breathing was already in its normal rate, his burns and cuts now completely gone, since Touda's flames had weakened his rejuvenating abilities. "He's going to awaken soon." Hisoka gasped with glee, Watari clapping his hands with joy as well, a big smile in his face.

Tatsumi remained rigid, staring at Tsuzuki. A thought suddenly crossed his mind. No! You can't wake now! Not yet!

He flinched visibly, blushing bright red at the thought that just crossed his mind. He felt ashamed and disgraced at the sheer ill thought. He clenched his fists tightly, and everyone noticed the uncomfortable feeling he was currently facing. Not being able to stand what he just thought and why he even did so, he darted out of the infirmary.

"Oi! Tatsumi!" Watari called out, rushing after him.

Tatsumi immediately summoned the shadows of darkness and transported himself to earth. It was lunchtime already and he knew Muraki was going to have a lunch break. He transported himself inside his house, by the corridors outside his living room. He stood there, listening to Muraki consult his patient, a married couple who came to him advice.

"I would not recommend that you take pills during pregnancy, Ayame-san." He said, and Tatsumi heard the sincerity in his voice and how honest and lie-free it was. "It is only normal that you feel your back ache, since calcium in your body is being used up by the child. What I will recommend though is that you take in as much dairy products as you can, mainly milk and yogurt, since it is rich in calcium." A shuffle of papers could be heard. "Do avoid heavy work, and I would suggest at least twenty minutes of exercise - walking is the best. It is spring, so it would benefit both you and the baby."

"Thank you, doctor!" The lady said. "We really appreciate this."

The door opened and Tatsumi watched as Muraki escorted them to the door and waved them goodbye, smiling and wishing them good fortune, telling them that if there is any problem, his door is always open. Once they were gone, he closed the door and turned to walk back in to the living room, when he spotted him. He stopped for a while and looked upon him with a curious look.

"I thought you already left, Tatsumi. Did you forget something?" He asked in a mild manner.

Tatsumi kept a straight face. "We need to talk."

"Very well." Muraki said, nodding.

"Not here." He said, looking out the window. "Not in your house."

"Where then?" Muraki asked, seeing the stressed out look in Tatsumi's face.

"Somewhere else." He said, heading for the door. "Somewhere open."

They left Muraki's estate.

TBC

Okay, this fic is dedicated to my best, best friend, Naoku-chan, who helped me immensely in this fic!

Wait for the next part. Oh I just love angst! Don't you?