Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Darker Than Shadow, Brighter Than Light ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Darker Than Shadow, Brighter Than Light, Part One

Author: Ann

Rating: NC-17. Sexual themes, including non-consensual relationships, other violence, varied Muraki-evilness. Starts around a PG-13/R, and will go darker from there.

My stories include male/male sexual inclinations and relationships. If you are too young for mature themes, or don't care for this concept, please stop reading now.

Pairings: Various pairings involving Muraki, Tatsumi and Tsuzuki, including Muraki x Tatsumi. Yes, you read that right; no, I didn't mean to type Tsuzuki instead. Some Watari x Hisoka if I can find a way to build it into the plot.

Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei characters and all rights belong to Youko Matsushita. This is fan fiction and no profit is made from this endeavor.

Feedback is adored. Ann89103@lvcm.com

Archiving: At MediaMiner.org, under author name Ann H. Any others, please ask.

Notes: This is my first Yami no Matsuei story, so please be kind and let me know what mistakes I've made. I've probably taken quite a few liberties with the given powers of the Shinigami and Muraki, and am building my own past history for Tatsumi and for the short Tsuzuki/Tatsumi working partnership: thus, this should be considered an alternate universe story.

As I reviewed fan sites, read stories based on this anime and got a feel for the various characters, it came as a shock to me that stories exploring both Muraki and Tatsumi aren't done more. I do like some of the more common pairings, and have developed a taste for Tatsumi x just about anyone, but these two characters caught my attention the most.

Spoilers: DVD episodes 1-13, though I don't touch on anything in specific: events in this story take place six months later. I do not have access to the manga and thus do not use the established storylines from them, though some ideas I use are inspired by translations I've read.

Dedication: To Leareth, one of the best Yami no Matsuei fanfic writers I have discovered on the net. The author has a keen eye for detail and a definite flair for characterization. Her story "A Gentlemanly Conversation" is an interesting take on Muraki and Tatsumi, and very close to how I see these two characters. Anyone interested can find Leareth's work at http://doki3.net/void/

*emphasis*
//song lyrics or quotes//
~thoughts~

***

It was a normal evening in the life of Muraki Kazutaka.

He'd set another plan in motion. Killed innocents in a gruesome, most dramatic manner, luxuriating in their luscious, energizing life-forces. Set a trap. Shortly thereafter he had two Shinigami's at his mercy.

One, the boy, he ignored. He had claimed, then killed Kurosaki Hisoka once before. As the youth writhed on the floor in pain from the torturous curse he bore, alternating between guttural moans and ear-piercing shrieks, Muraki simply stepped across the prone body, unmindful of where his feet trod.

His attention was entirely focused on his other prey. He never got bored playing cat-and-mouse with the amethyst-eyed beauty now leaning against the far wall, soft lips still frantically forming the words needed to call his Shikigami, though from his throat not a sound came, due to Muraki's spell.

There was something irresistible about Tsuzuki Asato, about the contradiction of such power in the hands of someone so emotionally vulnerable. Such a pretty, pretty toy. Once again they were in their usual roles, Muraki in control, ready to whisk his captive to a secluded spot in order to seduce, then destroy.

"Surrender, Muraki!"

As expected, the seduction would have to wait until the last-minute rescue attempt took place.

Muraki gave in to the irresistible urge, and sighed heavily as he turned to face the would-be rescuer.

The scientist. Wonderful. This should only take an extra five minutes or so.

The idiots never learn: don't give your opponent warning of your intent, just strike fast and hard. No wonder they were all already dead.

Watari Yutaka scowled at his foe through his round spectacles; in his arms he carried a large metal object vaguely resembling some sort of laser gun seen in old science-fiction movies. As the scientist took aim Muraki attacked as well, conjuring a deflective shield against the laser fire while sending a spell-blast of his own that hit Watari's left shoulder. The golden haired man staggered back, the heavy gun falling out of his grasp.

Muraki started to chant another spell, intending to be rid of both the scientist and the youth, when his own voice was stilled by the dark shadows now wrapped tight around his throat.

Muraki mentally berated himself for his overconfidence. He had ignored one of the Shoka Division's most basic rules: Shinigami always work in pairs. And the one now attacking him relentlessly was one of the most dangerous, as he'd learned once before.

Tatsumi Seiichirou. Kagetsukai: shadow magic user. And most deadly at night under a full moon.

For every shadow Muraki evaded, two more hit their mark: soon his pristine white suit was streaked with his own blood. The noose of shadow magic continued to tighten mercilessly, blocking both spell casting and air. His opponent remained focused on the attack, those cool blue eyes behind thin frames observing every successful blow, watching carefully for a counter-attack that Muraki found himself increasingly unable to make.

The small corner of his mind not fixed on survival admired the Shinigami's clever offensive, and made note to pay more attention to this adversary in the future. He never felt challenged anymore: his toys always broke so easily.

~My first impression of you stands true: you *are* a relentless man. But then again, so am I.~

Running out of options, Muraki concentrated on the one person he could still affect. The scream was unearthly, horrifying, an urgent message of physical anguish and mental pain. The Shinigami all turned towards Hisoka, taking in with dismay the thrashing of his body and the scarlet glow of a curse fully revived. With Tatsumi's concentration weakened by his distraction, Muraki was able to free himself from the shadows and escape.

Late into the night, after tending to his wounds, Muraki fell into a much-needed sleep. His dreams were the usual dreams, his body straddling his chosen victim, bending down ever closer to his captive, leaning in to kiss, to take, to simply devour.

Only the expected purple eyes were now the color of the ocean.

***

Two weeks later, at the JuOhCho...

Tatsumi Seiichiro likes predictability. The routine of completing the budgets and financial reports for the Shokan Division was comfortable, stable, and brought him a certain sense of achievement. Especially considering some of the rather... volatile co-workers he dealt with.

Speaking of his fellow Shinigami, it was now ten-thirty in the morning, or as Tatsumi liked to call it 'Tsuzuki's post-breakfast, pre-lunch refreshment break.' Time to see what madness would take place today.

So predictable... the resounding sounds of something shattering coming from their break area brought a small smile to his lips. Someone was about to lose a sizable amount of their salary, and hopefully not Tsuzuki: he was almost to the point of *paying* to work there.

~Tsuzuki or Watari? Pretty decent odds on one or the other. Of course, it was Terazuma who trashed the area last week, but I think Wakaba's been keeping a close eye on him since. Ah, does it really matter which one is responsible this time? I still get to clean up the mess.~

Tatsumi swung the door open, ready for puppy-Tsuzuki or mad-scientist Watari, and found himself holding onto the door, trying to recover from the shock. Forget predictability; he never expected to find himself staring at Hisoka Kurosaki as the young Shinigami, shaking, tucked himself into a fetal position.

Tatsumi recovered quickly, taking in the extensive damage to the room while heading towards Hisoka. Shards of pottery and glass were embedded in the walls, smears of what was once a cake splattered the entire room, the large oval table overturned, contents scattered, and behind the table Tsuzuki, Watari and both GuShoShin were slowly regaining consciousness.

Kneeling before Hisoka, Tatsumi took a deep breath, trying to bury the worry and upset he felt, which would only hurt his emphatic co-worker more in his current state. Once composed, the older man gently picked up Hisoka, and headed towards the door. His voice, low and controlled, drifted back to the others as he walked out.

"Watari, please join me at the infirmary. Tsuzuki, GuShoShin, join us if you are injured; otherwise, please call for assistance in cleaning the room, then be in my office in one hour."

***

It took mere minutes to reach the infirmary, and another twenty minutes for Watari to get Hisoka's shaking under control. Once the young man was sedated, the blond scientist led the secretary to a small table nearby.

Tatsumi didn't waste any words once seated. "What happened?"

Watari pulled his round spectacles off with one hand, running the other through thoroughly disheveled hair. With a sigh, he began, "I'm not sure. We had Hisoka's birthday cake out and were about to call you all in for a celebration--we would have made it quick, Tatsumi, you have to agree it was for a good reason--when he came in before we were ready and immediately lost control. He channeled his emotions into a physical force, thus the explosion. We were lucky there wasn't more damage."

Tatsumi took a look back at the unconscious Hisoka before turning back to the scientist. "Did the curse marks reappear before the explosion?"

Watari blinked at the brunette, then answered, "I didn't see them, but you'd best ask the others. You think Muraki is involved?"

Tatsumi frowned. "Of course I do. Every time Hisoka--and Tsuzuki--are hurt, Muraki is responsible. Remember that incident two weeks ago?"

"Yeah, I do," the scientist replied, then grinned. "You really kicked his ass that night. I thought he'd need more time to lick his wounds, though, before he made a run at us again."

The expression on Tatsumi's face remained grim. "The man is insane, Watari. And despite the destruction of his half-brother's remains, he's still obsessed with beating death; only this time I think he's more focused on extending his own life. Whatever his twisted reasons, he still plays his games with Tsuzuki and Hisoka."

The blond man shivered at the thought. "What a horrid idea: Muraki an immortal. I wish EnmaDaiOh and the Earl would just let us kill the bastard and be done with it, and damn the consequences. What are we going to do now?"

Tatsumi slowly rose from his chair, once again focused on the injured Hisoka. "You are going to take care of Hisoka. I am going to meet with Tsuzuki and the GuShoShin. Then I think it's time for a long talk with my boss." With that, the secretary of the Shokan Division left the room, leaving behind an unconscious Hisoka and a now-nervous Watari.

"Oh, my," the scientist muttered to himself, "That should be one hell of a talk."

***

Five hours, one quick information-gathering meeting with co-workers and one long, angry 'discussion' with his boss later, Tatsumi Seiichiro was ready to gather every shadow he could find and rip Muraki Kazutaka to shreds.

Then do the same to EnmaDaiOh. The Earl. Chief Kanoe. And the next damned person who *dared* to say a word to him.

"Hey, Tatsumi!"

Tatsumi turned, agitating to attack, but upon sight of his former partner, his anger faded away. "Tsuzuki. Are you on your way to visit your partner?"

The purple-eyed Shinigami exclaimed, "Yep! You?"

"The same," Tatsumi replied, "Watari called me to say he can have a few visitors now."

Tsuzuki's face brightened at the comment, adding extra luminance to already attractive features. "Say, do you think he can have cake now? I bought another one to replace the original!" He held up the box he had been holding on his left side, which indeed did contain a round Chocolate Dream cake, marshmallows baked into the top part, cherries hidden beneath.

Tatsumi breathed a sigh of relief as he noted there were no extra decorations gracing the top of the cake, nothing to signify a special event. "We can certainly try, Tsuzuki. However, I think it would be best if we say nothing to Hisoka about his birthday, at least not yet."

Tsuzuki's eyes narrowed in puzzlement. "Why not? I want to cheer him up!"

Both men had reached the door to the infirmary, but before Tsuzuki could enter Tatsumi gently pulled him back by the shoulder. "Wait, Tsuzuki. I think Hisoka may react badly to any discussion of his birthday, or anything that brings to mind his mortal life."

Tsuzuki sighed, a worried expression now gracing his features. "I know he's been hurt a lot, Tatsumi, and I want him to feel wanted here, that he has friends. He needs us!"

"Yes, he does," the brunette replied, "and you are the best friend he has here, a wonderful partner besides." The comment brought a small smile to Tsuzuki's lips, and Tatsumi continued, "But the pain is still raw, he's only been a Shinigami for barely a year now, and with his power of empathy it can't be easy for him to deal with stressful issues. So I suggest we go in there and be calm and reassuring."

Tatsumi's ex-partner gave him a wistful look, then patted his left cheek with his unburdened right hand. "Tatsumi, I take back half the comments I've made about you being a mean, tightfisted control freak. You really do watch out for all of us, huh?"

Tatsumi tried to cover his blush with a nervous gesture, pushing the bridge of his spectacles to the top of his nose. "Don't be silly, I'm just doing my job!"

The dark-haired Shinigami simply laughed, a gentle, quick laugh, then swept forward and into the infirmary.

"I only took back half the comments, Tatsumi, the other half still stand. And I'm writing this cake off on my expense account!"

Tatsumi didn't try to hide his smile as he entered the room, where all their other co-workers were already gathered. And he'd damn well make sure Tsuzuki was reimbursed for the cake.

He'd just have to do it before starting his new job.

The days of predictability are over.

***

End notes:

I don't know what time span the DVD episodes covers, so I'm guessing six months, though I can see where it would be less. Throw in at least a month for Hisoka to receive some rudimentary Shinigami training, plus the six months that have passed since, and I'm saying Hisoka's been dead for at least 13 months. Therefore, his last 'birthday' would have taken place while still in training, before he met the others. So, he died closer to age 17 than sixteen.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated! Ann89103@lvcm.com.