Welcome Home

by Empath no Tenshi

~*~ Welcome Home ~*~

���� �There! That should do it!� Tsuzuki proudly exclaimed when he finished setting the table.

���� Arranging the party food wasn�t hard to do, rather, it was holding himself back from gobbling up all those mouth-watering pastries that proved to be quite a challenge. But he vowed that he would discipline himself today, not just for him, but more so for that beloved person he carefully and secretly planned this for.

���� He even made a lot of sacrifices today, which included not stealing any of those sweets, cookies and muffins on the table and running off to eat them in secret. He also woke up early to help in the preparations. But the hardest he had to do so far was being alert enough not to make Tatsumi angry for the fear that the stern secretary might decide to cancel the whole thing.

���� �Tsuzuki-san!�

���� Tsuzuki�s face split into a wide smile when he heard Wakaba�s voice and lit up into an even brighter grin when he saw the colorful box she was holding.

���� �Perfect timing! We were just done with the decorations and now that�s the only thing missing. Thanks a lot, Wakaba-chan. This really means a lot to me.� Tsuzuki chirped happily.

���� �Anytime! This is for him after all. There�s really nothing to thank me for.� Wakaba said, returning the smile. Then she handed the box to him.

���� �But� um��

���� She took out a glossy paper bag from her back pack and a pen from her coat pocket. She bit the pen�s cover to uncap it then scribbled something on the tiny card pasted on the package as she supported it with her other hand.

���� �Could you please just give this to him? I�d really love to stay for the party but Hajime-chan and I have a case right now.� She explained as she handed it to Tsuzuki.

���� �A case!? But that�s too bad� You�ll miss out on all the fun.� Tsuzuki pouted. �What is it about?�

���� �There were reported sightings of a ghost in the Kanagawa area, so we�re going to investigate on it.�

���� �Kanagawa�?� Tsuzuki pondered aloud.

���� �Yup. Anyway, I have to go now. I was supposed to meet Hajime-chan there this morning but I decided to drop by first. I�ll see you guys later!� Wakaba spoke hurriedly.

���� She put on her coat and was ready to dash off when they saw an approaching figure. Terazuma was running towards them at a very fast pace, carrying something.

���� �Out of the way!� He frantically commanded, almost yelling, as he came near them and passed through, on his way to the infirmary.

��� It took only a second for Tsuzuki to see and recognize the figure Terazuma had in his arms, but his mind seemed to refuse to accept it at first. A very long minute dragged itself to pass before his brain finally registered who it was.

���� His partner.

~`~`~`~

���� Tsuzuki kept pacing back and forth outside the infirmary. He couldn�t stay still nor sit down and relax knowing something was wrong with Hisoka and yet not knowing what it was.

���� What happened to him? Why was he unconscious and how come it was Terazuma who found him and carried him back? His arch nemesis of all people!

���� Tsuzuki�s train of thought was suddenly interrupted when the door opened and Terazuma came out. Tsuzuki looked at him intently as though he wanted to pierce through his soul and search it for answers.

���� But only one word came out of his mouth.

���� �Explain.�

���� Terazuma was taken aback but immediately defended himself.

���� �I didn�t do anything, you ditz! So don�t look at me like that.�

���� He realized that he had unintentionally raised his voice, so he took a deep breath to calm himself then resumed to talking to his senior.

���� �I was waiting for Kannuki at a local caf� where she was supposed to meet me. We were assigned to investigate a case at Kanagawa. There were people who allegedly saw a yurei. But Kannuki took so long so I decided to take a walk for a bit.�

���� Terazuma took a cigarette stick from his breast pocket then clipped it with his lips. He got a lighter, flicked it several times but the damn thing just wouldn�t work. He cursed and reluctantly put it back after crumpling the cigarette.

���� �As I walked down the road and wandered about the quiet streets, I saw him pass by. Your partner, I mean. So I followed him.�

���� Terazuma blushed slightly after saying that last bit.

���� �I� I was just curious. He was walking aimlessly, as if lost in his thoughts. I just wanted to know what was wrong with him and that�s all.� He added hastily.

���� �Anyway, he stopped to sit down at the waiting shed for a while. I then decided to approach him but as I came closer, I realized that he was� quietly crying.�

���� �Crying!? Why???� Tsuzuki rudely interrupted without meaning to.

���� �You�re his partner, you should know.� Terazuma impatiently answered then continued.

���� �He hurriedly wiped his tears when he noticed me coming. I sat down and had a little chat with him before I told him to go back here before Tatsumi skins him alive for being late. But he was barely able to stand up before he collapsed. I rushed him back here and you know the rest.�

���� A brief silence ensued after Terazuma narrated that, then he excused himself.

���� �I better go. Kannuki�s probably waiting for me.�

���� He started to walk but stopped after a couple of steps.

���� �Take care of your partner, old man.� Terazuma remarked sarcastically then gave Tsuzuki a smug smile that made the latter clench his fists.

� ����Why you��

���� But upon remembering what Terazuma just did for his partner, Tsuzuki changed his mind.

���� �Hey!� He called as Terazuma started to walk towards the other end of the hallway.

���� �I�ll say this now but I swear you will never hear this from me again. Thank you� for bringing Hisoka here.� He stopped and hesitated, but said it anyway. �� shape-changing freak.� He just couldn�t resist.

���� Terazuma simply smirked then walked away.

~`~`~`~

���� Tsuzuki continued with his pacing after Terazuma left. If he had been wearing spiked shoes, he would�ve already dug a five-foot hole underneath where he kept walking back and forth. And it wouldn�t have made Tatsumi happy at all.

���� How could he have been so stupid? These past few days Hisoka had obviously been paler and quieter than usual, and had been eating less than what was good for him, and yet he didn�t mind. Maybe it was because, somehow, he was afraid that Hisoka might yell at him as he always did whenever his being underweight became an issue.

���� But he should have known better. He should have taken Tatsumi�s advice to always keep a close watch on his partner�s health rather than fearing his wrath.

���� Why? Why now? Why this very day when his partner should have been having fun with them instead of being bedridden? It was just plain unfair. And it made his blood boil just thinking about it. The unfairness of it all. For everything to have gone this far.

���� And it was all because of his negligence.

���� Maybe Hisoka was right.

���� Maybe he really was an idiot after all.

���� �Tsuzuki.�

���� Tsuzuki jumped when he heard Watari�s voice and felt his hand on his shoulder at the same time.

���� �Watari! Is he okay? Is he still unconscious? Or is he awake now? Is he hurt? Is he--�

���� �Tsuzuki!�

���� He suddenly stopped when he realized that he had been talking breathlessly, voicing out his anxiety at Watari all at once.

���� �Calm down. He�s all right now. He just had a kind of breakdown from lack of sleep, and I�m guessing he hasn�t been eating right lately too. But other than that, bon will be just fine.� Watari smiled at him, offering reassurance.

���� �Can� can I see him?� Tsuzuki asked, apprehension clearly visible in his eyes and worry very evident in his faltering voice.

���� �Sure. He�s still asleep, but I think he�ll be up in a few hours. Until then, you can stay with him for all you want.��

���� Watari�s expression changed from a cheerful to a stern one.

���� �But don�t make any noise okay? Heaven knows how much bon needs to rest for now.�

���� �Yes! I promise! Now can I go in?� Tsuzuki practically begged.

���� �All right.� Watari consented.

���� Tsuzuki slowly turned the knob and quietly walked in.

~`~`~`~

���� He lifted a wooden chair and placed it beside Hisoka�s bed. He sat down and was contented to just gaze at his partner�s peaceful expression.

���� He had always known how beautiful his partner was- inside and out- but what never failed to astonish him was that very serene look on his face whenever he was asleep. They�ve been sleeping together during missions, and this became more often when they officially became a couple. So, somehow, it just became his favorite hobby to stare at the cute boy while he sleeps.

��� For him, his partner always looked so innocent, both asleep and even when awake and scowling at him. Being eternally sixteen, he would often be mistaken for a child. But looks can be deceiving. Hisoka was undoubtedly more than just a �child�. He was a teenager, yes, but he proved to be someone wise beyond his years. And as shameful as it was for Tsuzuki to admit, it was Hisoka who solved most of their cases. It was his cleverness that put the pieces together and did the puzzle.

���� He had also been the more logical between them, not just when it came to budgeting the expenses, but in almost every aspect of making decisions.

���� When Tsuzuki once resorted to ending his life to runaway from unbearable pain, Hisoka stopped him. Yes, his partner who just had as much- if not more- hardships in his life but opted to fight and move on instead of giving up. That�s how he, a mere boy in the eyes of others, managed to overcome his loneliness and survive.

���� And for Tsuzuki, practically a hundred years old in total length of existence, it was a hard slap on his face when h realized that a sixteen-year-old brat, as he had first known his partner to be, was the only thing he needed to wake up from his living lie of an existence.

���� Now, this surprise would have been his little way of repaying him. If only this didn�t happen.

���� A soft knock on the door disrupted his thoughts before Watari walked in. He briefly checked Hisoka�s vital signs then nodded with affirmation after seeing that Hisoka�s condition was better.

���� �Good. It looks like he�s recovering.�

���� He turned to Tsuzuki when he noticed the other man�s gloomy appearance.

��� �Tsuzuki? What�s wrong? I already told you he�ll be just fine.�

��� �I know.� Tsuzuki sighed heavily. �It�s just� it�s too bad that we can�t push through with the surprise party. I doubt Hisoka will just wake up and be well enough to party with us, can he?�

���� Watari clearly heard the tone of pain in Tsuzuki�s voice. Then an idea suddenly lit up in his eccentric mind.

���� � Hey� who said that break rooms are the only places where we can have parties? And instead of bon going to the party� why not make the party come to him, ne�?� Watari finished with a suggestive wink.

���� �You mean��

���� �Well, we still have more or less a couple of hours at least before bon wakes up. That�s enough time for us to make the necessary preparations, isn�t it? Well?�

���� Tsuzuki stayed silent for a moment and hesitated, then hit his palm with a closed fist.

���� �All right! Let�s do it then!�

~`~`~`~

���� Tsuzuki and Watari sneaked into the break room and started to take down the decors one by one. They tiptoed across the hall then quietly opened the door to the infirmary. They didn�t put up too many decorations at Hisoka�s room anymore because Tsuzuki wanted the overall look of the place to match Hisoka�s character- simple but elegant.

���� They cautiously sauntered to the break room again to transfer the food few at a time. They were able to go back and forth thrice but on the fourth time, they had to hide on one of the empty offices because they suddenly spotted Tatsumi coming their way. Luckily, the said secretary was too busy fiddling with a stack of papers and was unaware of their antics. They were able to get in unnoticed.

���� �Listen, I�ll distract him for a while and try to lure him away from here. Then you�re free to bring these to the infirmary, okay?� Watari hastily whispered.

���� �Okay.� Tsuzuki nodded.

���� Watari then went out and amiably chatted with Tatsumi.

���� �Ah! There you are. I�ve been looking all over for you. There�s this new invention I�ve been working on and I bet you�d be interested. It�s an advanced calculator that will help you with a lot of accounting computations. Now if only��

���� Watari kept on babbling as they walked down the hall. Tsuzuki peeked through the door to check as soon as Watari�s voice became softer and died down, signaling that they where nowhere near. After confirming that the coast was clear, he raced back to the infirmary but was careful enough not to drop the covered trays he was carrying.

���� He slowly opened the door then softly closed it again before he strode towards the table where he placed the food trays along with all of the others. He took a step back and proudly looked at the arrangement he and Watari had made. At the very center of it all was the colorful box Wakaba brought earlier and he was just beginning to unknot the ribbon tied around it when he heard a soft yawn.

���� �Tsuzuki�?�

���� A voice.

���� A mellow and beloved voice so soft yet somehow it had a radical effect on Tsuzuki, which was to startle him so much that his eyes widened to the extent that the balls nearly fell out of their sockets.

���� He turned and looked at the source of that voice he held dear then a scream came out of his mouth as though he had seen a ghost and forgot the fact that he was a shinigami.

���� �AHHHHH! You� You weren�t supposed to wake up yet!�

���� Hisoka sat up, still rubbing his eyes. He blinked several times then shot Tsuzuki a look torn between curious and bewildered then there was a tense silence between them for a few seconds before Hisoka scowled at him.

���� �What!?� he asked, slightly offended by Tsuzuki�s behavior.

���� Tsuzuki walked across the room towards his bed then sat on the chair he placed beside it earlier.

���� �How are you feeling?� Tsuzuki asked with a gentle smile.

���� �All right� I guess.� Hisoka answered with an awkward shrug, still eyeing him suspiciously.

���� Tsuzuki let out a hearty chuckle.

���� �Hey� sorry about that. Did I freak you out?�

���� He stood and moved the chair away so that he could sit on the edge of Hisoka�s bed.

���� �It�s just, the decorations were all done but I wanted to make a few more last minute adjustments. And I didn�t want you to wake up, at least not until I was satisfied and everything was ready. But I guess there�s nothing I can do now.� Tsuzuki explained, feeling stupid for the way he acted.

���� �Oh�� Hisoka looked around the room in wonder. �But what are all these for anyway?� He asked, tilting his head sideways.

���� Tsuzuki simply beamed at him.

� ����Well, it�s a very special occasion. I�m sure you know what it is.�

���� Hisoka frowned and thought for a long moment then gasped.

���� �Oh no! I� I haven�t forgotten have I? I� I really had a lot of things on my head lately, and� I guess it slipped my mind. Anyway, I�m sorry.� Hisoka blushed and bowed his head in embarrassment.

���� �Hey, wait� what are you talking about? Why are you apologizing?�

���� Hisoka looked up to Tsuzuki hesitantly.

���� �I� I thought today�s our anniversary and I forgot about it� Isn�t that why there are all these decorations and all?�

���� Tsuzuki giggled like a child at that as he fondly ruffled Hisoka�s hair.

���� �No, silly. It�s not that. Well, now that you mentioned it� let�s see� oh, right! That�s next month already. But, anyway, don�t you honestly remember what today is?�

���� Hisoka thought about it again and looked like he was squeezing his mind.

���� �Your birthday�s still on February, right? And it can�t possibly be Kachou�s either because he wouldn�t want to celebrate here in the infirmary of all places. All right, you win. Now will you tell me? Don�t make me think too much. My head still hurts you know.� Hisoka sighed exasperatedly then began to softly rub his temples.

���� This bothered Tsuzuki. He took Hisoka�s hands and gently held them.

���� �Hisoka� How many times have you ever celebrated your birthday�?�

���� Hisoka gave him a curious look, then his eyes slowly softened as realization sank in.

���� �Oh� I� I see��

���� Tsuzuki kept his gaze locked on Hisoka�s as he let go of his hands and held his shoulders instead.

���� �How could you forget the day you were born? Didn�t your family ever��

���� Then Tsuzuki abruptly stopped upon hearing the words he himself uttered. Of course. How stupid of him to bring that up. Hisoka�s family probably never even took note of his birthday because all the time they kept him locked up in that cold, dark cell. Wasn�t that why Hisoka had been so withdrawn, so introverted and had such cold eyes, when he first met him? That was also the reason behind him being scared to get too close to other people, for he feared rejection should his gift- his curse- be discovered.

���� �Tsuzuki� People who celebrate someone�s natal day are happy because that person was born in this world. You don�t suppose my parents ever felt that way towards me, do you�? They even regretted having me- a demon child- in their family�� Hisoka quietly spoke with bitterness that he could never hide from Tsuzuki who knew him best.

���� Tsuzuki brought his hand up and cupped his face.

���� �Well here, we�re happy you�re with us. We have a lot of reasons to feel fortunate that you belong to us, Hisoka. And besides��

���� Tsuzuki bent closer to him and lightly brushed his lips over the soft ones below.

���� �I�m glad you came into my life. You�re the other part of my heart that I�ve been waiting for. And to have found you� was happiness in itself.�

���� He held Hisoka�s hands again and locked his eyes with those mesmerizing emeralds in front of him.

���� �Back then, at the laboratory, I remember Muraki told me that my sadness could never be cured. But you know what? Our friendly doctor just made a wrong diagnosis. On the other hand, I�d say I already found a cure. No, in fact, he was with me all this time. I just failed to see him.�

���� Tsuzuki wrapped his arms around Hisoka and lovingly kissed his forehead.

���� �You healed me, Hisoka. And that�s more than enough reason for me to celebrate your existence.�

���� He held him close for a very long moment but they had to pull away form each other when the door crashed open and the �intruders� exclaimed in unison.

���� �HAPPY BIRTHDAY!�

��� They were all there- Kachou, Tatsumi, Watari, Wakaba, Terazuma and even the Gushoshin brothers. Each had his way of giving him a warm greeting- Watari and Wakaba with a hug, Tatsumi and Kachou with a handshake, and Terazuma with a grunt.�

���� Tsuzuki scurried to the table and got the colorful box from the very center of the table. It was a cake that Wakaba baked this morning, with chocolate frosting and green icing that spelled �HAPPY BIRTHDAY�. He placed a couple of candles shaped like the numbers �2� and �3� then borrowed a lighter from a coworker.

���� He walked back to Hisoka and held the cake near enough for him to blow the candles.

���� �Make a wish then blow them.� Tsuzuki told him when he saw his blank expression.

���� �Oh��

���� Hisoka closed his eyes for a moment then blew the candle.

���� �Let�s eat!� Tsuzuki chirped then bounced towards the table like a little kid.

���� He got a couple of plates, one for himself and another for Hisoka then filled them with assorted pastries and pasta. He offered to spoon-feed him but Hisoka hastily declined, cheeks stained with a very deep shade of red.

���� They all ate and chatted happily that the hours went by so fast as though they were only seconds. But as it got late, they one by one left. Kachou was the first one to go, but promised Hisoka a pay-raise as a birthday present. Tatsumi soon followed, but not without reminding them all to be early for work tomorrow, except for Hisoka who can have the day off to rest.

���� Watari left as midnight drew nearer. He gave a bottle of newly concocted potion to Hisoka- saying it was a new formula of vitamins and is a hundred-percent safe- which the latter nervously accepted but silently vowed never to use. Albeit he was honestly grateful for the thoughtfulness their resident doctor showed, still, previous experiences taught him not to trust Watari�s �inventions�.

���� Wakaba and Terazuma were the last ones to leave. But before they left, Terazuma approached him.

���� �Hey, kid. Take care of yourself will you? Making me run around carrying you like that� Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?� Terazuma scolded, feigning a scowl.

���� �I� I�m sorry about that.� Hisoka softly apologized, his porcelain cheeks once again displaying another interesting shade of red.

���� �That�s not my point.� Terazuma muttered to himself, then touched Hisoka�s shoulder. �Remember what I told you. You�re more important than you think.�

���� Hisoka looked at him in the eye for a fleeting moment then nodded. Then the two walked out, leaving him alone with Tsuzuki in the room.

���� �I guess he got mad at me.� Hisoka voiced out worriedly after the door was closed.

���� Tsuzuki just laughed at that.

���� �Nonsense. You should�ve seen the look on his face when he brought you here this morning. He was so pale he looked worse than a vampire!�

~`~`~`~

���� Hisoka stayed up and let the hours pass by in mutual silence, mostly because he quietly watched Tsuzuki with fondness as the older man nibbled on the leftover pastries. Hisoka almost felt his lips slowly curving upwards every time he saw Tsuzuki�s face light up in bliss with the simple pleasure of just eating his favorite sweets.

���� Seeing that Tsuzuki would probably never sleep until he finished eating, Hisoka allowed him to spend the night there too. He told him that he was sleepy, so Tsuzuki switched the lights off and opened the curtains to let the moonlight pass through the window. The dimly lit room nearly lulled Hisoka to sleep before he felt his bed move when Tsuzuki sat on the edge of his bed once more.

���� �Hisoka� there�s something I�d like to ask. These past few days, you seemed like you weren�t yourself. Would you like to tell me why? You know you can trust me, right?� Tsuzuki bluntly asked.

���� Hisoka looked up to him and Tsuzuki met his eyes, searching. Hisoka then threw his hesitation out of the window and told him everything he wanted to know.

���� �I�ve been thinking about going home lately and finally decided to go this morning. I� I just wanted to see them. To see if they still even remember me. But when I passed by my grave� I was stunned. There� There were fresh flowers� And so many feelings stirred within me all at once. I� I couldn�t bear it� so I left.�

���� Tsuzuki waited for Hisoka�s reaction on this, and was surprised when he just smiled wanly.

���� �But whoever placed it there probably just did it for tradition�s sake. At least, that�s how I want to think about it. I don�t want to hope anymore- that those I�ve known to be my family even loved me at all� nor still do. That place which I used to call home� It was nothing more than a house� a mere structure where I li-- existed.�

���� Neither of them spoke for a long moment after Hisoka conveyed that to him. He simply stared at the young boy�s face, which became even more captivating under the silver rays of the moon.

���� Then Tsuzuki smiled.

���� �Hisoka� come here.�

���� Hisoka looked at him with that adorable curious expression Tsuzuki treasures so much, but obediently sat up anyway.

��� �What?�

���� Tsuzuki tapped the space right beside him.

���� �Here� closer��

���� Hisoka curiously scowled at him, then moved closer.

���� Tsuzuki wrapped his arms around Hisoka�s thin shoulders and held him tight. He kissed his forehead, pouring down all the love and affection he felt for him with it. Then he softly whispered.

���� �If you should ever feel lost and you want a place to come home to� you don�t need to search anymore� Just come to me and I�ll hug you� just like this. And you�ll know� you�re home.�

���� Hisoka relaxed in his arms and slowly returned the embrace.

���� At last� he found what he had long been wishing for.

~`~`~`~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HISOKA!

~`~`~`~

=^w^= Just a little something I wanted to write for my favorite character�s birthday, despite the hard time I had squeezing it on my busy schedule. School can be such a pain.

And thanks to the rain for a little inspiration ^^;;

����