Standard Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei © Matsuhita Youko, Central Park Media, et al.

Rating: G

Summary: In the succession of days, Hisoka feels something slip away.

AN: I'm trying something a little different here. If the font size of your browser is set unusually large, the formatting might be off. Feedback is welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy.


Attrition

By Dorian Gray ([email protected])

Shinigami live forever.

So Hisoka should have guessed that it would happen.

Sooner.

Or later.

His alarm went off.

. . . I hate this thing . . .

. . . want to sleep . . .

Morning came through the window in pale beams.

. . . stupid job . . .

He washed, dressed, ate.

. . . bread's stale . . .

. . . need to go shopping . . .

. . . ah tea . . .

Walked to work.

Passed a few people.

Felt eyes on him, following his movements.

. . . lust . . .

. . . too young but cute . . .

. . . gorgeous green eyes . . .

. . . wish I had time to flirt with . . .

He opened the door and went inside the imposing building.

. . . worry . . .

Walked down the hall.

. . . four bodies found . . .

There was a new case.

No two cases are the same, but after a while they all run together.

Unlike Tsuzuki, he made no effort to remember the names and faces of all the people he killed.

. . . how many years has it been . . .

Tsuzuki himself was late again.

. . . irritation . . .

. . . that idiot . . .

Two hours passed before he finally showed up.

. . . depression . . .

. . . they are going to be so mad at me . . .

. . . anxiety . . .

Tatsumi yelled at him.

. . . I deserve this . . .

There was a brief meeting.

Who had died, when and where.

The blood-flecked details.

Tsuzuki looked at the crime-scene photos. . . . grief . . .

. . . horror . . . . . . anger . . . . . . guilt . . .

Hisoka did as well.

. . . should I feel something . . .

They were to gather information at a local high school.

Again.

. . . why do I always play the student . . .

. . . always play a nurse . . .

If asked a month later, Hisoka wouldn't be able to recall any details of the case.

. . . lie, kill, repeat . . .

He might remember the festival Tsuzuki dragged him to.

There always seemed to be a festival.

And, of course, there were always crowds.

. . . joy . . . . . . . . . . laughter . . .

. . . haven't been here in years . . .

. . . jealousy . . . . . . anticipation . . .

. . . will he let me kiss him . . .

. . . delight . . . . . . frustration . . .

. . . what does he feel . . . . . . I want . . .

. . . glad to be here . . .

. . . with you . . .

Tsuzuki had smiled and laughed.

. . . to see him smile . . .

. . . to share this with him . . .

. . . affection . . .

Hisoka got a headache.

. . . I hate crowds . . .

Later, Tsuzuki would ask him if he'd had a good time.

Hisoka would only shrug.

. . . were any of those feelings mine . . .

He couldn't say.

So Hisoka went home again.

Took some painkillers.

. . . repeat dosage until the pain is all gone . . .

Got an ice pack.

. . . repeat until numb . . .

He set his alarm clock.

. . . why am I waking up tomorrow . . .

And went to bed.

Repeat.

Until the days all run together.

. . . days to years . . .

. . . years to decades . . .

. . . decades to . . .

Remember, shinigami live forever.