A.N.: Terrible Updater Alert! Seriously, I need an award for being a terrible person. I am SO sorry to all the readers, and I'm even more sorry to the people who've probably abandoned or thought of abandoning this story. It's certainly been a long road, and I'm SO glad I was on it. This story means so much to me, and all my reviewers mean so much to me. Thanks for everything, guys; it's meant the world to me. I don't own Yami no Matsuei/Descendants of Darkness. That'd be so cool, though.

Ending 3 - A Happy Medium?

To say that both the Shinigami were miserable in their current predicament would be a complete understatement. Miserable didn't even begin to suffice. No, this was just plain torture.

Hisoka sneaked around a corner, entering into Tsuzuki's office. He chose to keep the lights off - it would keep better coverage for the blonde. There it was, paperwork, neatly stacked on a desk, just waiting to be filled out and filed. Hisoka could do it quickly, and Tsuzuki would never notice, right?

He was way too dense for that sort of thing.

With trembling fingers, Hisoka pulled out the first piece of paper, savoring the crisp ivory sheet. It looked positively radiant, in the blonde's humble opinion. Hisoka picked a respectable-looking pen from Tsuzuki's desk and started to forge the amethyst-eyed Shinigami's signature. It wasn't hard, really.

He was in such a state of bliss that Hisoka even read through the papers thoroughly, enjoying every word that that lovely piece of paper contained. This was euphoria. This was perfection. This-

The door opened, revealing a tall figure.

This was not good.

Hisoka considered diving under the desk to hide, but he thought better of it. Frankly, he didn't care much at all anymore. So what if Tsuzuki caught him? What difference would it make? The blonde had his paperwork, he was completely content. In fact, he dared the idiot to try and dash this wonderful feeling. It wasn't often that Hisoka felt complete peace, after all.

However, Hisoka realized, narrowing his eyes when he noticed that the tall figure was, in fact, Tsuzuki, the brunette was eating something. And not just something - it was a doughnut.

Purple met green in a showdown of wills. Hisoka opened his mouth to speak, but no words seemed to come out. Tsuzuki too seemed incapable of saying anything. Finally, after what seemed like much too long, Hisoka found his voice. "You're eating sweets!" the short blonde accused, eyes alight.

"W-Well, you...you're doing paperwork!" Tsuzuki shot back, pointing a finger towards the very incriminating evidence. Hisoka glanced over at the stack of papers and quickly moved to cover it up. He realized, of course, that it would do him absolutely no good to try to hide. He had been found out, as had Tsuzuki, and now they were both in for it.

And then, a thought occurred to the young empath. He turned towards the confection in Tsuzuki's hand, and then towards his unfinished paperwork on the desk. "We both lost," he admitted softly.

"Yeah, but, if we both lost, then that also means that we both won, right, 'Soka?" Tsuzuki asked brightly. He tilted his head toward the side, waiting for his partner's answer. And, although Hisoka hated to admit that the brunette could have a good idea, this one certainly was. It was a good idea.

"So, what do we do?"

Putting a finger up to his chin in thought (and managing to get some frosting on his face in the process), the taller Shinigami considered things. "I guess we either both face our consequences-" That didn't sound too good. "-Or we do nothing. Absolutely nothing. We call off the bet in general and pretend that nothing happened."

"But..."

"I know you like winning, 'Soka, and I do, too, but let's count our losses here. If I win, then you buy me doughnuts. You hate spending money, and I hate putting you out. If you win, then I have to do paperwork and get...hand cramp...again, and you still won't be able to do paperwork. If you think about it, this really is the only sensible option we have in which we both win."

Hisoka thought on this for a few moments. "By doing nothing?"

"Precisely!"

As much as the blonde didn't want to, he nodded reluctantly. "I gotta say, Tsuzuki, you held out fairly long. Longer than I would've pegged you for. I'm actually impressed."

"Me, too," Tsuzuki admitted. "I thought you'd get tired of yourself before we even got started. I'm really proud of you, Hisoka!"

A blush rose to Hisoka's cheeks at the compliment. "Yeah, well, I hate when you're right. And besides, if I can put up with you for as long as I have, I probably could've lasted longer. I was just letting you win so that you'd feel better about yourself and wouldn't whine the entire time." Hisoka crossed his arms haughtily, closing his eyes, refusing to look at Tsuzuki.

"Alright. I'll believe you. But I did learn something."

"What's that, idiot?"

Tsuzuki took a long stride towards the blonde, closing the distance between the two. "You are a remarkable person. You're strong-willed and stubborn, sure, but you're so smart and talented. And Hisoka? You're also the kindest person I've ever met. Thanks for being my partner."

If the "proud" comment had elicited a blush out of Hisoka, then this statement certainly had the poor blonde brighter than a Christmas tree. Hisoka turned his entire body so that Tsuzuki couldn't see his face. "I...thanks...you're...not so bad yourself."

That was all it took. Tsuzuki took hold of the empath's shoulders and readjusted Hisoka, looking straight into his green eyes. Hesitating for just a moment, Tsuzuki leaned in, capturing the blonde's lips in his own. Hisoka struggled for just a moment, but eventually deepened the kiss. He wanted this, had wanted this longer than he'd ever care to admit. It was as if a spark of electricity had jolted between the two. Tsuzuki pulled away, a light blush dusting his own cheeks.

"Do I taste like strawberry jelly?" he asked excitedly.

Hisoka wiped his lips with the back of his arm. "Exactly like it. It was horrible." But, the empath added silently, just to himself, I may grow to like it.

FIN.