Disclaimer: I do not own Yami no Matsuei
Shout-outs:
Eternity's Heir: I know; I pride myself on the "Watari is a transsexual" idea. As I read the manga I just get more and more convinced that he is. I might just write the story of him and Kyo—might. As for Suzaku/Touda, I really like that scene, too, but I think it could've been written better. And YAY! Tsubaki and Eileen are back together. I've decided that they're going to be important to the sequel, too.
AnimeAngelRin: 'Course I made it all up. Matsushita would never write anything like that. I think "interesting" is the perfect word for that chapter.
Aacire: Definitely an interesting road for them all; not just Watari/Tatsumi, but Touda/Suzaku and Tsubaki/Eileen, and slightly also Terazuma/Wakaba.
jennamarie: I'm so lucky—I haven't thrown up since 2003 and I've never been drunk, so I had to draw up everything about that from memory and imagination. "Quite spectacular" for Watari/Tatsumi, you say? Yes, in the "Keeping food down" department, but that's not a date I'd like to be on.
elirian: Aww, you're welcome, sweetie! (Hugs back) T/H were asleep, remember? Now, if you want to learn about Tarot, I suggest going to www. aeclectic. net/tarot/learn/meanings. I learned a good deal from them. I also recommend getting your own pack with an instructive booklet.
Suzaku/Touda is incredibly fun to write. It's actually enjoyable to tackle Suzaku's "hate" of Touda and break down the walls she's put up with him. He's a snarky little b-st-rd but he's there when it counts and he knows what he's on about, and I want her to realize that gradually.
Tatsumi/Watari, on the other hand, is so incredibly DIFFICULT! Argh, I almost wish I hadn't attempted it. But I'm so glad that I finally wrote about Watari and Kyo—that's been bouncing around in my head for weeks and I finally got it down! I was actually going to include another part about Tatsumi's past by making them meet up with his little sister, but when I was done writing it I read it over and thought "It's overkill, it doesn't flow easily, and if I make this important to the sequel it'll be suicide." So I nixed it. Maybe I'll make it into a drabble later.
Amethyst-eyed Koneko: Bad George! (Spanks with rolled-up newspaper. George pouts. Quote caves and snuggles George) Okay, skipping T/E, I expected that. I'm glad you had fun with Touda/Suzaku. And the vomiting is necessary, because it leads up to the T/S in this chapter.
I know completely about Watari! I originally just drew up Watari's boyfriend, and then I just thought "transsexual". It hit me, with the sex-change potion and how girly he looks and acts lots of the time. Now I think it's so blatantly obvious that he's a transgirl (boy who wants to be a girl). But about Watari's death…I really don't remember if I ever read something talking about how he died. I made up his past all on the spot, so you can call it AU. And yes, there will be plenty of W/T in the sequel, though it's mainly going to be in the second half, along with Touda/Suzaku and some Wakaba/Terazuma. (The beginning is almost pure Tsuzuki/Hisoka, with Tsubaki/Eileen, Muraki/Ukyo, and some mild Chizuru/Rika.)
Pumpkin-Pie 4ever aka Lynn: Suspense? Hmm…well, read on!
Side Note #1: Well, here it is, kiddies. The last chapter. This'll be the first multi-chapter story I've completed since Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boys. I'm sad to let it go, but eager to start the sequel. Today (6/15/06) is the start of summer vacation, so updates should be more frequent until late August.
Thank you all for sticking with me, and please continue to support me. See you in Southeast of Eden!
Milestones
The persistent, undaunted warmth of a dawning sun was what finally woke Hisoka. It took him a moment to remember where he was, as his shielded his eyes against the strong, beating rays.
"Cr-p," he said, suddenly realizing where he was when he felt small clumps of earth sticking to his back. "We can't stay here. This is public property."
"Do you realize that you're talking to yourself?" The body next to his stirred and stretched its legs.
"Did I wake you?" Hisoka asked.
"Nope," Tsuzuki replied, covering a yawn with his hand. "I woke up a long time ago. But you looked so peaceful; I didn't want to disturb you. Do you know you're absolutely beautiful when you sleep?"
A trace of a blush graced Hisoka's cheeks. "Stupid."
"And besides, I liked that sleeping arrangement. Very comfy." Tsuzuki nuzzled his head into Hisoka's neck contentedly, and then planted a small kiss at the curve of his shoulder. His hand went out to stroke Hisoka's cheek.
"So…are you feeling okay?" Tsuzuki asked tentatively.
"I'm…yeah." Hisoka turned his head to look at his husband's face. "I'm all right."
"Really?" Tsuzuki asked concernedly, his hand continuing to caress Hisoka's face. "You're absolutely sure?"
Hisoka inclined his head. "Mm."
"Hisoka?"
"It's weird."
"How's that?" Tsuzuki pushed his upper body off the ground, propping himself up with his arm and hovering above Hisoka as the blonde looked up.
"It's like…" Hisoka hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Like I've lived under his shadow for the past 7 years, and now I'm…it's like a slave being set free; it's so…so d-mn new. I really don't know what to do now, because…"
"Because?"
"Because I know…it's not enough," Hisoka said, biting his lip painfully. "I know it isn't over. Not while he's alive. Not while…while I still remember."
"Yeah…I understand," Tsuzuki said, his own eyes gazing into the past, where the death of his sister and scores of others took up permanent residence in his memories. "I understand totally. It'll probably never be completely over. But…I dunno…" He hand slipped into Hisoka's. "Remember what Kazusa said? It was back in May. She said…it's not good to forget the past, because it helps you grow…something like that."
Hisoka nodded. "To get to a point…where it doesn't matter anymore."
"Yeah." Tsuzuki brushed away Hisoka's bangs and kissed his forehead.
"So…where do we go from here? I mean, literally. You conned Tatsumi into giving us the week."
"Well, first, we need a shower. Picking this place obviously wasn't one of my more brilliant decisions…"
"What "more brilliant decisions"?" Hisoka asked, smirking.
Tsuzuki flicked him on the nose. "Meanie."
"Get over it," Hisoka responded. "And don't flick me. I don't begrudge you this place. It was something you needed to do."
"That's my love, so understanding," Tsuzuki said, kissing the spot he had just assaulted with his finger. "Okay, so we head home, get showered, get changed, and then…then we do whatever you want to do. There are places I'm determined to take you, so be prepared for the attack of the sugary substances." Tsuzuki grinned impishly and tickled Hisoka's ear. "But today, it's all up to you. To make up for the places I'm going to drag you to."
"Or because you were too lazy to plan anything."
"Hisoka! Mean!"
"Oh, hush up." Hisoka rolled his eyes.
"But I mean it," Tsuzuki insisted, lips and eyes pouting. "It's all you today. Now, come on. Is there any place you want to go?"
Hisoka hesitated. His idea was a little crazy. Scratch that, he mentally ordered himself; it was completely insane. But…Tsuzuki had done it. It was his turn.
"Actually…"
"Yeah?"
"There is a place I want to go."
"Mm…mmmm…mm-OH!"
Suzaku sat straight up, something she instantly regretted when the pounding in her head turned into an anvil slamming unceremoniously into her brain. Yellow and green rings danced in front of her eyes as a wave of nausea hit her.
"Yeah, I wouldn't do that. The maids're already p-ssed enough that they have to clean out the water fountain; I don't think making them clean your sheets would lighten the mood."
"YOU!" Suzaku screeched, quite forgetful of her headache, and yanked her covers over herself. "What are you doing in my bedroom?"
"Well, since you chucked up your stomach in the drinking fountain, I figured you were in no shape to walk yourself home. So I carried you."
"Were you in here the entire night?" Suzaku yelled, her face turning the same color as her flames.
"If I was, it was only in your dreams," Touda said, smiling puckishly as he sat on her mattress.
"You lascivious…"
"Oh, come off it," Touda cut her off authoritatively. "I put you to bed and sat on the balcony to keep an eye on you. Because if you threw up in your sleep you would have died, and that would be bad."
"I'll thank you to knock that sarcasm off," Suzaku muttered steely, through clenched teeth.
"I've been awake for over 24 hours. I've earned the right to sarcasm."
Suzaku rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help noticing the sagging quality to Touda's aura, indicating the complete lack of sleep on his part. The fool had been up all night making sure she didn't choke on her own vomit. The thought of him watching her all night was both immensely creepy and, to some small part of her, oddly endearing.
"Okay, do you want me to say it?" Suzaku asked snappishly. "Thank you."
"I wasn't expecting gratitude," Touda answered, blunt and sincere.
"Don't be such a martyr," Suzaku growled in frustration. "You did something for me you didn't have to and I gave my thanks for it. Just accept my "thank you" and let's get on with life."
Touda saluted, smartly and sarcastically, and grinned. "I'm assuming you're not especially hungry after your little bout of inebriation?"
Suzaku was suddenly painfully aware of the uproar her stomach was in. "Thanks for the reminder."
"Poor Suzaku," Touda teased wickedly, reaching out a hand to press against her stomach.
"You pervert!"
His hand caught hers in mid-air just before she could bring it clear across his face. "Oh, relax. I was just teasing you. You fly off the handle entirely too easily, Suzaku."
"You're just lucky I don't have you arrested!"
"And why don't you?" Touda smiled widely, and Suzaku's face burned.
"Because Tsuzuki would be mad if you were locked up," Suzaku answered steely.
"You like to use him as an excuse a lot, you know that?" Touda asked conversationally.
"You impudent little—!"
Touda pressed his mouth against her palm, and then pushed her hand against her own mouth. Suzaku's words turned to dust in her throat.
"Now, now, is that any way to treat someone who professed his love for you just yesterday?" Touda asked, the corners of his mouth twitching in a barely-concealed grin. "Come on, Suzaku. I've told you all about my reasons for almost killing Tsuzuki. You and I haven't been direct enemies since the war. And even you have to admit that we're oh-so-very-compatible. Do you have any real reason to dislike me?"
"I have—" Suzaku dropped off and frowned.
"Exactly."
"Don't be smug!"
"I'm not. I'm just right."
"You are completely smug!"
"Then I owe you an apology."
"D-mn right you d—"
Suzaku was cut off as Touda leaned over and pecked her on the mouth. She blinked and pulled back, but this time made no move to rebuke him.
"Now, I advise bed rest for the drunkard," Touda said, a tease lacing his words as he stood up. "Sweet dreams, my love."
"Don't get ahead of yourself; we haven't even—d-mn it!"
Touda grinned widely and escaped out her bedchamber doors before her overstuffed red pillow could assail the back of his head.
"I hate you!"
"Love you, too!"
"Hee-hee, oh, darling! What're you—?"
"'T'is nothing for my angel-wings," Yuma cooed, having swept Saya off her feet and into her arms.
"I feel like a bride being carried over the threshold!" Saya squealed, throwing her arms around Yuma's neck.
"Maybe we should be the next to get married!" Yuma thought aloud excitedly.
"Darling, not before our flowers!"
"Do mine ears deceive me?" Yuma asked incredulously. "Are they back together?"
"Yes, I talked to Maria-chan on the phone this morning while you were still asleep. She said Eileen-chan and Tsubaki-chan went home together and were up all night talking. They're going to use the maximum amount of days a Shinigami can spend in another country to see each other, and keep switching back and forth between here and China, until Tsubaki-chan is ready to get married."
"Angel-wings, that's wonderful!" Yuma crowed, planting her mouth on Saya's. She plopped down on a chair to intensify the kiss, which Saya gladly allowed and perpetuated.
"Torii-san! Fukiya-san! Don't use company time to consummate your relationship! Your division is Hokkaido, so why are you even here?"
"Tatsumi!" Yuma and Saya broke apart simultaneously, seamlessly, excitement sparkling in their eyes. "We heard, we heard!"
"About what?" Tatsumi asked, a faint ball of nervousness rolling in his stomach.
"Wakaba-chan told us! You and Watari!"
"What about me?" A new voice joined in the din as Watari entered the break room, a white coffee mug in his hand, searching for his daily caffeine fix. 003 perched sleepily on his shoulder.
"You and Tatsumi had a date last night after the wedding!" Yuma said informatively.
"How'd it go, how'd it go?" Saya demanded hungrily.
"Nosy little things, aren't you?" Watari asked with a laugh. "It's none of your business, that's how it went."
"Aw-aw-aw!" Yuma and Saya whined unanimously. "Tell us, Watari, please?"
"No, I don't think I will," Watari said teasingly, winking wickedly at the pair. "Now, girls, Tatsumi's right. You'd better get back to Hokkaido before those lost souls start piling up on you."
"Yes, Mother," Yuma said sulkily, standing up and setting Saya down on her own two feet.
"Look at it this way, darling," Saya said reassuringly as she pulled Yuma out of the break room. "If Watari's our mother, then Tatsumi's our father!"
"Ooh, I didn't think of that!"
Tatsumi quickly shut the door behind them, biting his lip to keep the blood from rushing to his uncomfortable face. Watari was laughing quietly to himself as he filled his cup with coffee.
"Ah, good stuff," he said, inhaling the scent. "I'm surprised you let us buy such good-quality coffee."
"Even I know when budget-cutting goes too far," Tatsumi said dryly. "This office wouldn't run efficiently with you caffeine fanatics losing out on your addiction."
"Yeah, we'd be too busy rioting to get any work done," Watari said with a laugh. "So…get any sleep last night?"
"Yes, plenty," Tatsumi replied. "You?"
"Not really," Watari said. "I'm not used to sleeping in my bed. I can't sleep without the smell of my chemicals, apparently. Also, I kept thinking about how horrendously our date went. And, you know, I thought about Kyo, too. I didn't dream about the explosion, thankfully, though."
"Do you dream about it…often?"
"No, not too much," Watari admitted. "When I first died, yeah, I couldn't sleep for thinking about it. But, you know…20 years go by, and it hurts to think about it but you can live with yourself."
"20 years go by…"
"But you can live with yourself…"Tatsumi's head involuntarily cocked. That "something different" feeling ignited a small spark in his brain once more.
There were so many ways that Watari reminded him of Tsuzuki. But what was different…aside from occasional bouts brought upon in the intensity of memory…Watari did not hate himself. Watari did not live in guilt. Tatsumi could not see the tears in Watari's eyes or the blood on Watari's hands, the blood and tears that had chased him away from Tsuzuki.
'And how long,' Tatsumi thought to himself pessimistically, 'will that last?'
"Tatsumi? Still with me here?"
Tatsumi brushed aside Watari's hand, waving back and forth in front of his face. "Please don't do that."
"You'd rather I do this?" Watari asked, and suddenly Tatsumi's back was bombarded with Watari's weight as Watari wrapped his arms around Tatsumi's neck for support. Tatsumi overbalanced, his equilibrium faltered and both of them crashed to the ground in a tangled heap, 003 fly in panicked circles above them. Watari burst out laughing, and Tatsumi quickly looked away to hide the slight tilt of his mouth in a quarter-smile.
And how long will it last?"Hajime? Hajime! Hajim—oh, Kuro, you just can't take naps in the middle of the day like this!" Wakaba scolded. She had stumbled upon the all-to familiar sight of Hajime snoozing at his desk. "It's a fire hazard to let him fall asleep with a cigarette in his mouth, no matter how cute he looks with it."
Wakaba suppressed a giggle as she gently plucked the cigarette from Terazuma's mouth. She couldn't really blame Kagan Kuroshungei. Earlier, Terazuma had had an unfortunate run-in with Yuma—one of the rare gems of a time when it really had been an accident on Yuma's part—and Kuro had a thing for napping after transforming. A sulking mechanism, if one was to name it.
Wakaba's hand descended towards Terazuma's ashtray to blot out the burning end of his cigarette.
And she let out a little screech when a man's hand suddenly latched around her wrist, preventing her from doing just that.
Terazuma's ears shot straight up at the sound and his eyes flew open. He jumped to his feet, his eyes and teeth set menacingly against whoever dared to harm Wakaba.
"Hajime, your hand!"
"What about it?" Terazuma demanded stupidly, still fettered by tiredness.
"Look!" Wakaba pointed with her free arm, and Terazuma followed her gaze.
His hand.
Her wrist.
His hand was attached to her wrist.
"What the h-ll?" Terazuma demanded.
"I don't know!" Wakaba yelped. "You transformed just today, so Kuro's not gone. Maybe he's just tired? No energy to transform?"
"That's never stopped the son of b-tch before," Terazuma growled.
Wakaba's scold for more proper language died on her lips. Terazuma's eyes were fixated on Wakaba's hand. Dazedly, he raised her hand to his mouth and sucked at the end of the cigarette still clasped between her fingers.
"Maybe…maybe Kuro just likes me?" Wakaba suggested hesitantly.
"Maybe." Terazuma let her hand drop to put the cigarette out in his ashtray. "Maybe…it'd be like that crazy arbitrary b-st-rd to be this random…"
"Well…if he does…" Wakaba said slowly, putting her hand on Terazuma's arm. "Then he won't mind this…" Wakaba leaned upwards and lightly put her lips to Terazuma's.
Neither Wakaba nor Terazuma were quite aware when his hands buried themselves in her hair and pulled her face closer to his, or when her arms wound tightly around his neck. Neither of them were quite aware of anything at all until they heard the faint sound of a giggle coming from outside the door.
"My, how one loses inhibitions easily…"
"D-mn voyeurs!" Terazuma yelled, his face turning an interesting shade of purplish-red. Yuma and Saya let out twin squeals and dashed away as Terazuma sprinted out the door after them, leaving Wakaba sitting on his desk, covering her mouth with her hand and blushing furiously.
It was a wonder what one could do once the power of touch was granted. For a moment, all she felt was the rushing sensation of how deprived she had felt for all those years, not even able to hold hands with him because of Kagan Kuroshungei's temper.
'If that Shiki tries to go back on it now, I'll kick his butt!' Wakaba thought vehemently in her head, already prepared for righteous anger. Her eyes caught sight of Terazuma's ashtray, stuffed with 5 cigarette butts. She sniffed at them disgustedly, and then smiled to herself.
"I guess we don't change," she mused aloud.
"Moronic, nosy harpies, I outta—!" Terazuma stomped back into the office, his face not fully returned to normal coloration. "How can you stand those twits, Kannuki?"
"Yeah, I guess we don't," Wakaba whispered to herself at the sound of her last name, and frowned. "They're fun, Hajime."
"If you like being spied on and attacked," Terazuma grumbled.
Wakaba made a small noise in her throat and looked away.
"Hey…Kannuki?"
"Yes?" She turned her head to look at him.
"Sorry. I mean," Terazuma continued at the sight of her confused face, "all you did was give me on li'l kiss and I was about to shove my tongue down your throat if those crazy broads hadn't…I should've stopped myself."
"And did I," Wakaba asked, hopping off his desk, "give you any indication that I wanted you to stop?"
"You…" Terazuma blinked, caught off-guard by the question.
"And I'll tell you something else, Hajime, a girl doesn't enjoy a romantic moment like that after years of waiting for it just to be called by her last name two seconds afterwards!" Wakaba yelled, her face bright red and angry tears welling in her eyes.
"I…" Terazuma's face widened with alarm. "What are you talking about?"
"You're such a clueless jerk!" Wakaba yelled, now directly in his face.
Terazuma grabbed her head and smacked her mouth with his own. Wakaba pulled back and raised her arm as if to slap him.
"There." Wakaba's raised hand instead patted him on the cheek, and Terazuma pulled out of his instinctive flinch to stare at her in wonder. "Now I know how you really feel. You hate it when I'm mad at you, don't you?"
"Um…" Terazuma said bewilderedly, "yeah…?"
"That means you like me!" Wakaba exclaimed, all traces of anger disappearing with her sunny smile.
"Was I just played?" Terazuma yelped, the proverbial steam pouring out of his ears.
"I'm sorry, Hajime," Wakaba apologized sincerely. "But if I hadn't, you would've gone on berating yourself and we'd never have gotten anywhere."
"But Kagan…he's gonna—"
"Kuro is your Shikigami. It's his job to protect you, right?" Wakaba cut in. "So if you're not transforming at my touch, that means he's decided it's safe for you to be around me."
"That crazy dictator…" Terazuma growled, desperately in need of a cigarette.
"You know what else Kuro might want you to do?" Wakaba asked.
"I don't care what—"
"He might want you to call me "Wakaba"," she said before he could begin one of his patented, infamous rants. "Or…that could just be what I want," she amended, standing on her tiptoes to look him in the eye.
"Kannuki…"
"Ah-ah-ah." She pressed a finger to his nose.
"I mean…I mean, Wakaba," he fixed himself with a stutter, suddenly uncomfortable with the close proximity. He was expecting his body to disappear in a puff of smoke to be replaced by a gigantic black lion any second now. The sweating and rise in temperature that came with being close to Wakaba had reported for duty, but the actual transforming part had yet to manifest itself.
"There, that wasn't so awful, was it, Hajime?" Wakaba asked, smiling brightly. "Try and say my first name more often from now on, okay?"
"Er…" Terazuma stepped away, attempting some collectedness. "I'm not making make any promises, okay?"
"Hajime…" Wakaba whispered, hurt eyes pouting at him.
"But…uh…I'll try, okay?" he quickly added, and was speedily rewarded with a vivid smile that took up all of his female partner's face.
"Good." Wakaba planted a small kiss on the tip of his nose. "Now, I absolutely must tell everyone that Kuro lets me touch you!"
"Wakaba!"
"See? Saying my name isn't so hard, now, is it?"
"Did you just trick me again?" Terazuma yelped.
Wakaba giggled. "Maybe…"
"Here…again?"
"Does it bother you?" Hisoka asked, turning back to look at his husband.
"No, I'm just surprised that it doesn't bother you," Tsuzuki responded. He had only seen the sakura trees of Kamakura once, but he was intimidated by the black, knotted trunks and the perfectly formed pale pink blooms on their branches, like a slightly discolored and overtly sinister yin-yang symbol. "I thought you never wanted to see this place again?"
"I never want to see my parents again," Hisoka replied. "At least…not until I can look them in the eye and not want to rip their heads off."
"You said you were—"
"Over it? I thought I was, too." Hisoka frowned and stopped in his tracks. Tsuzuki brushed Hisoka's hand and then took it, leaning his head against Hisoka's.
"What do you want to do here?" he asked quietly.
"Follow me."
Hisoka pulled on Tsuzuki's hand and Tsuzuki obeyed in silence, letting his eyes wander to stare at the sakura trees, as if challenging them to try and carry out their ominous threat, imagined or no.
"This is it," Hisoka said softly.
"Hisoka, this is that place!" Tsuzuki exclaimed before he could stop himself. In an instant, flashes of that day weeks ago, of Hisoka's seizure and those haunting screams, poured into his mind like frightened people clamoring to escape out of an emergency exit all at once.
"Mm," Hisoka acknowledged in his throat, looking up at the unfeeling, madness-inducing blossoms that observed but did not act. He swayed, let go of Tsuzuki's hand, and took an uncertain step forward.
"Hisoka…" Tsuzuki reached out his hand but Hisoka did not look back, instead taking a few more hesitant steps forward until he reached the trunk of the tree. He placed his hand on the bark, and then sunk to the ground.
Tsuzuki hesitated, and then followed in Hisoka's wake, dropping to his knees and reaching out for Hisoka's shoulder. Hisoka flinched at the touch and Tsuzuki pulled back, but Hisoka made no further signs of protest and Tsuzuki replaced his hand.
"Hisoka…"
"I just want to sit here," Hisoka answered the unspoken question, difficultly. "Sit here and…to just prove that I can."
"Okay," Tsuzuki acquiesced slowly. "I understand."
Tsuzuki adjusted himself to sit on the ground, his legs curled to the side of him. After a long, silent moment, he reached out and pulled an immobile Hisoka into him, putting his arms around him in a solid embrace.
"No more going it alone, okay? We'll get there. We promised."
Hisoka nodded mutely, and shut his eyes against the atrocity of the sakura tree. Tsuzuki gently kissed Hisoka's temple and held him more tightly.
"No more going it alone," Hisoka repeated in a whisper. "No more…alone."