Yami No Matsuei Fan Fiction ❯ Shadows and Flame ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Blaze smiled widely at them all and sauntered into the restaurant with Hisoka in tow and was talking with the maitre d when the rest of them caught up.

 

They were shown to the best table in the place and Tatsumi stared at Blaze suspiciously.

 

“You know it is blatantly against company policy to influence humans,” he said to her.

 

She smiled up at him, completely unfazed. “As you know, not all of my abilities come from being shinigami. I was a shaman in my lifetime. What makes you think I lost any of those talents after death?” she said, walking away from him.

 

Tsuzuki and Terazuma were growling at one another and Wakaba had wedged herself between them to keep them from fighting.

 

“Okay, boys. Stop. We're going to have a nice meal and dance afterward,” she said, winking at Tsuzuki.

 

“Dance?” Tsuzuki said, perking up and completely forgetting Terazuma. He noticed the enormous dance floor to their left and smiled widely at Blaze.

 

“After we eat,” she said. Ignoring him as he pouted. “And at least leave some desert for others.”

 

Pout. Whine.

 

“Have I told you lately that you're utterly adorable when you're being pathetic,” Blaze said.

 

“Don't encourage him,” Hisoka remarked. He was still holding Blaze's hand, which made Tsuzuki feel even more like whining.

 

Blaze shot Tsuzuki a strange look from under her lashes. Uh-huh. He's got a thing for his partner, she thought. She was being very careful to keep her thoughts shielded so nothing slipped to Hisoka. If he wasn't aware of it by now he certainly should be. Tsuzuki was practically broadcasting.

 

The meal was jovial and happy. Blaze held court from Watari's lap, feeding him bites of sushi from her own plate. Halfway through the meal she turned to Tatsumi.

 

“Aren't you hot in that jacket?”

 

“I'm perfectly fine.”

 

“Do you ever relax?”

 

“I am relaxed,” Tatsumi said. He was looking about as un-relaxed as someone could get.

 

Blaze leaned sideways and looked him directly in the eyes. Smiling sweetly at him she said in a voice that should have given them all cavities, “Seiichiro, take the jacket off before I tear it off. And lose that stupid tie as well.”

 

Tatsumi was so surprised for a moment that he didn't react at all. Only when he felt her untie his tie, slide it off and stuff it into his jacket pocket did he snap back to reality.

 

“I can undress myself,” he protested, quickly sliding his arms out of the jacket.

 

“Just wondering if you needed some help with that. You know, I think I can find far more entertaining uses for a couple of those ties,” Blaze said before turning back to Watari and Hisoka. Leaving Tatsumi more than a little flustered, which was not a feeling he particularly relished.

 

The rest of supper passed without incident. Unless one counted the waitress accidentally brushing against Terazuma. Before Wakaba could pull an ofuda, Blaze zapped him back to normal. Both Wakaba and Terazuma smiled their thanks to her. Or Saya and Yuma trying to tackle Hisoka when he was returning from the bathroom. They were stopped mid pounce by Blaze shielding him. They had both bounced backward several meters.

 

The meal finished with Tsuzuki inhaling five desserts. This left Blaze puzzled and somewhat worried. Usually he could down at least a dozen in one sitting if she let him. Something must be bothering him badly. Hisoka interrupted her musings.

 

“Blaze, would you like to dance?”

 

She smiled at him. “Yes. But Tsu always gets the first dance,” she said turning to Tsuzuki and holding out her hand. “Ready?”

 

He had to force the smile. Again not like him. “Always,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her up from Watari's lap.

 

“Make sure you bring her back soon,” Watari laughed. “I know you two. You'd both dance for the rest of your afterlife if allowed to.”

 

“And this is a bad thing because why?” Blaze asked as Tsuzuki twirled her onto the dance floor.

 

The majority of the dance was spent getting reacquainted with one another's movements and natural rhythm. After a turn that brought them face to face, Blaze voiced the question that had been bothering her.

 

“Tsu, what's wrong?”

 

“How did you . . .” He nearly kicked himself. She's an empath, baka. She's stronger than Hisoka will ever be.

 

“It's just that Soka never lets anyone touch him but he actually touches you first. I guess I feel a little jealous is all,” Tsuzuki said with a shrug. “Sorry, Blaze.”

 

“Tsu, you should never apologize for feeling what you feel,” she said. “If you do you're only being dishonest with yourself. Look, I have no designs on Hisoka. He's a darling boy whom I'm getting to know better. Now, speaking of Hisoka, I have another question for you.”

 

“What's that?”

 

“What are your intentions toward my grandson?” she said. She couldn't hide the smile at the look of shock and utter disbelief on his face. “Oh, yes. Hisoka is my grandchild. Several hundred generations removed, naturally. But the call of the blood is still there and oddly enough, amazingly strong. And he trusts me.”

 

“I don't understand. His family treated him like a pariah. If you're family why would he trust you?”

 

“Easy. Our deaths are so similar. He trusts me because I know almost exactly what he went through. The only things that were different were the fact that I was twenty years older than he was and I knew what was happening. As for the other, let's just say I know what that's like too and leave it.”

 

Tsuzuki nodded. It registered just how little he really knew about the woman he was dancing with. He only knew some of the minor details concerning her death. It was far from common knowledge. No one knew the full details save Blaze herself. But he knew she had died much the same way Hisoka had. But where he had gone praying for death, she had gone fighting, snarling and cursing her killers to her last breath. Rumor had it that she had become shinigami for the sole purpose of collecting those who had betrayed and murdered her. She had stayed on these many centuries because she was good at what she did and had no interest in either being reborn or going on.

 

“You didn't answer my question. But I think I can guess. Just by the emotions coming from you.”

 

“I should have known I couldn't keep anything blocked from you,” he said, waltzing her into another turn.

 

“Of course not. But, Tsu, I really don't think he's ready.”

 

Tsuzuki bowed his head slightly. “I know.”

 

“I'm sure he'll come to you in time. He has to work through the majority of this on his own. You can be there for him, but you can't force the issue.”

 

“I know, Blaze. It's just so . . .”

 

“Frustrating.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You have all of eternity. You have the time you just have to garner the patience. At least he doesn't hate you,” she said, somewhat sadly.

 

“Tatsumi doesn't hate you, Blaze. You unnerve him and drive him crazy, but he doesn't hate you. Haven't you been able to read that?”

 

“No. Unlike certain others I know he is extremely good at blocking mental and emotional probes.”

 

“Hmm. Plus I think he's kind of jealous of what you and Watari have together. Though he'd rather die again than admit to it.”

 

“Well, he and Watari were a couple for a while. It only stands to reason that some of those feelings would linger.”

 

“I was thinking more along the lines of the fact of him being jealous of Watari because of you.”

 

“Pie. You need more pie. Your brain obviously isn't working properly due to the lack of sugar.”

 

Tsuzuki laughed and spun her around again. They were both giggling when they left the dance floor.

 

“When did you develop this thing for Tatsumi?”

 

“I'm not really certain. There were always sparks between us. As for the major part of my unhealthy obsession with the man, I believe it happened after I set his office on fire. Think I can get him to dance with me, Tsu?” Blaze said into his ear.

 

“Not unless it's under threat of a second death or the Chief singing karaoke.”

 

“I was afraid of that. I'd love to see if he can do a tango properly.”

 

“There's a frightening thought. Tatsumi does the tango.”

 

“I heard that, you two,” Tatsumi said from behind them.

 

“Sneaky little bastard, isn't he?” Tsuzuki said.

 

“What do you expect from a shadow master?” Blaze commented, before flopping back into Watari's lap.

 

“Dare I ask what the conversation was about?” Watari said, adjusting Blaze's weight across his thighs.

 

“You probably don't want to know,” Blaze said wrapping a lock of Watari's honey colored hair around her fingers. “Are you sure you don't want to dance?”

 

“Blaze, I learned to dance when the mashed potato was king. That alone should scare you off of wanting to dance with me. Besides, Bon has been practically bouncing in his seat waiting his turn.”

 

“Can't disappoint him then,” Blaze said, taking Hisoka's hand and leading him out to the dance floor.

 

Tsuzuki was watching them from his seat at the table almost lazily. Blaze was leading and correcting the minor mistakes he made. Hisoka was a surprisingly good dancer and she was a strong teacher. They danced well together. It was sweet, he thought.

 

“So what exactly were you and Blaze talking about concerning me and a tango? Does she think I can't dance?” Tatsumi asked sounding more than a little bit annoyed.

 

“It was more a question of whether or not you would.”

 

Tatsumi narrowed his eyes and focused on Blaze and Hisoka, who were still on the dance floor. Tsuzuki frowned a little. He usually only saw that expression on Tatsumi's face when it involved as Blaze had so poetically put it, throttling numbers into submission.

 

“Hold these for me, Tsuzuki,” Tatsumi said, handing him his glasses then rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. He stalked across the dance floor past a startled Blaze and Hisoka and conferred with the band leader for a moment before returning to the table. He sat down and waited for the song to end.

 

“What are you up to, Tatsumi?” Watari asked.

 

“Proving a point,” Tatsumi said, folding his arms across his chest.

 

Blaze and Hisoka came off of the dance floor discussing quantum physics and how the laws of the universe could be applied to the alchemy of the middle ages. Tsuzuki laughed slightly thinking, they really are related.

 

Blaze once again sat in Watari's lap, still talking to Hisoka and completely oblivious to those around her. Consequently, she didn't see Tatsumi stand up when he saw the musicians preparing to begin the next song. She did, however, notice when he pulled her physically out of Watari's lap.

 

“What are you doing?” she asked, looking up at him as though he had lost all reason.

 

“I believe this is my dance,” he said.

 

When the shock wore off she nodded and allowed him to lead her out on to the floor. Blaze recognized the opening notes of a tango and smiled up at him. Much to her surprise, he smiled back at her.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“For what?”

 

“Dancing with me,” she said, moving effortlessly into the steps.

 

“Consider it a poor compensation for earlier. I really am sorry, Blaze.”

 

She only nodded and leaned closer to him as they made a short turn in the dance.

 

The music was much slower than the flashy exhibition dance most people were used to seeing. Infinitely more sensual and highly charged. As they moved in almost perfect unison Blaze thought she could have happily danced with him for the rest of her afterlife. She smiled a little sadly at the thought. The dance would end and they would go back to sniping at one another just like always. But for this brief span of time, she would let her self dream.

 

Back at the table everyone was watching them in something akin to wonder.

 

Saya voiced what everyone seemed to be thinking.

 

“Is it just me, or is that the hottest thing you've ever seen?”

 

Everyone nodded.

 

“Who knew Tatsumi had it in him?” Wakaba said.

 

Watari smiled widely as he watched them dance. This should start getting interesting soon.

 

Tsuzuki nearly laughed at Hisoka, who was staring at Blaze and Tatsumi as though he had never seen anyone dance before.

 

Hisoka rubbed his temples and reinforced his shielding. The emotional backlash was staggering. He felt overheated and very, very strange.

 

Tsuzuki was explaining a few things about the dance that none of the rest of them had known before.

 

“Originally, a tango was created to utilize the tight space on a crowded dance floor. It's been compared to making love while standing, which it essentially is. The exhibition dance seen most often now days is for show. This is much closer to the original spirit of the dance,” he said nodding toward Tatsumi and Blaze, who were dancing alone now. Everyone else had cleared the floor for them. This lent credence to the level of skill they possessed.

 

“They really do move exceptionally well together,” Watari said almost dreamily.

 

“They're giving me a headache,” Hisoka complained.

 

“What's wrong, Bon?” Watari asked, noticing Hisoka's flushed cheeks and looking concerned.

 

“Nothing. Just the emotional backlash is extremely strong,” he said, rubbing his forehead. He knew Blaze was shielding. Strangely he knew her energy signature adequately enough by this point to be able to pick it out of a crowd. The vast majority of backlash he was getting was from Tatsumi. “Oh, no way!” he said, not realizing he had spoken aloud when the major force of the emotions became clear to him.

 

Within the next few moments however, he felt colder than he ever had before. The ensuing shockwave that boomed out was harsh enough for the living to notice and it nearly knocked Hisoka out of his seat. It had come from Blaze, who was still holding on to Tatsumi on the dance floor. And though it had been directed at one person, everyone else had felt it.

 

Everyone at the table stared in horror and dismay at the man who had just entered the restaurant. Muraki stood in the doorway, holding to the door frame. The feeling emanating from him could only be described in one word. Terror. This was something so unusual for the insane doctor that Hisoka stared in amazement at him and then back at Blaze. Hisoka focused and heard Blaze's voice in his mind even though the words were directed at Muraki.

 

So cold. Let me see if I can assist in making you even colder, mad dog. Do you feel the ice freezing your blood, running through all of your vital organs, creeping into your black heart?

 

Muraki was clutching his chest and staring in horror at first Blaze then everyone at the table. He sank slowly to his knees. His friend Oriya was grasping his arm and trying to hold him upright. Others were scurrying around them and asking if they could be of some help.

 

Stop.

 

It seemed to Hisoka he almost heard Muraki's heart stop beating.

 

“Blaze,” Tatsumi said softly. “It isn't his time yet.”

 

She smiled up at him. “I know.”

 

A moment later, Muraki's heart restarted and he gasped and coughed for a few moments. Trying to drag air into the formerly still lungs. He glared at Blaze.

 

Bitch! Do you think you can kill me so easily? Came Muraki's thought.

 

I thought I just had, was Blaze's calm reply before she turned her back on him.

 

Muraki turned and stumbled out with Oriya's help. Leaving most of the restaurant staring after him.

 

“What was that all about?” Tsuzuki asked, turning to Hisoka.

 

“Evidently he and Blaze know each other well enough for her to want to kill him. Because she just did.”

 

“Do you think it could be because of . . .” Tsuzuki didn't finish the sentence because Hisoka knew what he was talking about.

 

“No. I don't think so,” Hisoka said shaking his head. “It feels like a much older animosity. It didn't feel like she knew what had happened either to me or to you.”

 

“It's always possible that they had a bad run in with one another at some point in time,” Watari said thoughtfully. “We know very little about Blaze's life aside from the past few years.”

 

“He's absolutely terrified of her,” Hisoka said quietly.

 

Everyone was mulling over what it would take to make Muraki that afraid of anyone. Sure, Blaze's name was said with extreme reverence by the older shinigami and the younger ones nearly worshipped the ground she walked on. But none of them had really seen her in any kind of action before. They were all starting to register just how deadly Blaze actually was.

 

“She was just playing with him. That was in no way, shape or form even close to the extent of her abilities,” Watari said solemnly.

 

They all seemed to see Blaze in a slightly different light. With the exception of Tsuzuki, who knew what it felt like to contain massive amounts of power and not really know why. And Watari, who probably knew her best out of anyone.

 

Tatsumi and Blaze were still standing on the dance floor even though the band had taken a break after all the excitement.

 

“Leave it to him to ruin a perfectly wonderful dance.” She sighed, “Turn me in if you have to, Seiichiro. I shouldn't have used my abilities in front of humans. I know that. But the bastard needs to die. Permanently. I keep killing him and he keeps slipping through the cracks somehow and being reborn.”

 

“I have no intention of turning you in, Blaze,” Tatsumi said. “If I could, I'd kill the worthless little piece of garbage myself.”

 

She looked up at him, startled by the vehemence in his tone. “Why?”

 

Tatsumi stared at her for a moment as realization dawned on him. “You don't know.”

 

“Know what?”

 

Tatsumi gave her the short version of what had happened to both Hisoka and Tsuzuki. It took a few moments for the shock and horror to drain away from Blaze. When it did, Tatsumi saw the shift in her and even though he was not an empath like she and Hisoka were, he felt it. He thought he could even see a shift in her shadows. He definitely felt the air around her vibrate and hum with power. He caught a glimpse of what she was really capable of for only an instant and it nearly left him breathless. In that fraction of a second she became everything he had ever associated with a vengeful goddess.

 

“He hurt two of my babies. I really will kill him next time, Seiichiro,” she said quietly. Her voice had dropped an octave and she was calm and colder than he had ever seen her. “I will put him in a little box and deliver him to my sister Hel personally. I will go to the Sisters and make certain the threads of his soul are never rewoven. I will see to it that he is destroyed utterly this time. It was bad enough that he orchestrated my death. But no one harms what is mine and gets away with it.”

 

Tatsumi smiled down at her thinking to him self, Is it any wonder that I love her?

 

Blaze was somewhat startled out of the cold rage she had been in when she caught the thought. She had felt a similar feeling coming from him during the course of their dance, but had discarded it as an effect of the tango. Now she wasn't so certain.

 

“You're okay though? He didn't do anything to you?” she asked, looking him over as if trying to discern any injuries.

 

“No. I'm fine. He has never done anything to me or to Watari either for that matter.”

 

She breathed a sigh of relief. Quite without intending to, she wound her arms around his neck and back, resting her head against his chest. “That's good. I would have had to hunt him down tonight for that. As it is, I can afford some time to play with him before I kill him again.”

 

Tatsumi was so startled for a minute he didn't know how to react. When he returned the embrace, Blaze smiled against the fabric of his shirt. He put his cheek against the top of her head, feeling the softness of her hair against his face. He felt content to just hold her for a while. To savor the contact for as long as she allowed it to last between them. This started another train of thought in him.

 

How am I supposed to behave with her now? Things have changed so drastically between us. Things are so different than they were before we started this dance. I don't think I can go back to the way we used to be. I don't want to go back to the way we were. I want this. I want to be able to put my arms around her and hold her. I want her to smile at me the way she does Watari, Kurosaki-kun and Tsuzuki. I want her face to be the first thing I see in the morning when I wake up. He locked down that line of thinking. Remembering a bit too late that Blaze was a much stronger empath than Hisoka was and didn't have to try to pick up someone else's thoughts.

 

Sensing someone at her back, she turned to see a young man standing there.

 

“Eda . . . Blaze-sama. The King of Hades respectfully requests your presence post haste,” the young man said quietly.

 

Blaze nodded. “I expected as much.”

 

The young man looked at Tatsumi. “His Majesty has also requested the presence of Tatsumi-san, Watari-san, Tsuzuki-san and Kurosaki-san.”

 

“Why?” Blaze questioned.

 

“I am not privy to that information, my Lady. I am sorry.”

 

Blaze nearly growled. “Fine. We'll be there shortly.”

 

“I am sorry, my Lady. I am to deliver the five of you directly to His Majesty with all due haste.”

 

Blaze's eyebrows shot up in curiosity. “Since he's asked so politely,” she said sarcastically. “Seiichiro, go get the other three. We'll meet you outside.”

 

He nodded and started to the table hearing Blaze say as he was walking away, “Good. There is a conversation I need to have with your master.”

 

Tatsumi nearly shuddered. Blaze's conversations usually ended up in something being blown up. He wasn't so certain the king of hell would take kindly to her destroying his palace no matter how high ranking a shinigami she was. He quietly explained the situation to the others and they all started to the door. Saying their goodbyes to the rest of the group before leaving.

 

Blaze was already outside along with the young man the king of hell had sent to get them.

 

“Are you all ready to depart?” the young man asked. Tatsumi and Hisoka noticed that he glanced nervously at Blaze. She nodded and they were transported instantly to the King of Hell's palace.