by Rina K. Fenderson
11. Meeting
He was lounging on the side of the building when the two shinigami arrived, a trail of smoke was lifting from the lit cigarette between his fingers and Tsuzuki bristled when he barely looked up at them, though it was clear he could feel the rage of their presence. He was still acting confident, as if he had won. There was still traces off a smug, cat-like smile that Tsuzuki wanted to rip off his lips for.
"Muraki," Tsuzuki growled, his fisted white-knuckled at his sides. The pale man exhaled a bout of smoke. "Must you always say it with such disdain? It truthfully is a very honorable name." "Then you have only yourself to blame, for it was you that slandered and stained it with blood," Tatsumi muttered, arms crossed over his chest as he held his position as back up behind Tsuzuki. Muraki raised his eyebrows and smiled. "Oh, but I find the flow in our vein so beautiful when spilled. To think it is such a dull color as blue within those walls...so much more appealing as vibrant crimson, wouldn�t you agree?" Muraki advanced on Tsuzuki slightly, tossing his cigarette near Tatsumi�s feet. The secretary sneered at the man for his rudeness and watched him closely; waiting for Tsuzuki to signal for help or for his co-worker to be to frightened to even do that. Tsuzuki�s eyes were narrowed as Muraki circled around him, seemingly pacing. "Why can�t you just leave us be? I know what you want from me and you will not obtain it...so why don�t you give up?" "'Give up'?" Muraki repeated then chuckled. "�Will not obtain it�? But Tsuzuki-san...I already have, once upon a time. Mmm...but the thing is I want it again." Tsuzuki swallowed as Muraki pressed in close, his body heat engulfing Tsuzuki and making him shudder, taking a step back. His back his the wall of the building, as Muraki had been circling him for that purpose, as now he was cornered. He could feel his heart beginning to speed up slightly. *No, I have to keep strong. Hisoka needs me right now. He faced this monster for me, I can face him too!* "Tsuzuki-san, when will you learn? You can�t be rid of me. You belong to me...you and that boy, are tied more tightly to me than you could ever imagine." "Muraki, that is quite enough," Tatsumi hissed, spreading his fingers to the ground, calling upon the shadows for aid. Silver eyes flickered behind to meet the striking blue of Tatsumi�s own. "Tatsumi-san, is it?" Muraki questioned with a business smile, then his eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth. "Don�t get in my way." "I believe you are in ours," Tatsumi snapped in retorts, fingers curling and the shadows at their feet shifting. The smile on Muraki�s face was enough inform them he wasn�t planning on backing off, even at Tatsumi�s threat. His hand reached out to caress Tsuzuki�s cheek, his eyes still glancing to Tatsumi from their corners as if to say �look what I have.� "My, my. I never knew how jealous other could become over you Tsuzuki-kun. But, Tatsumi-san, you should know as well, both of them are mine. Every part in every way..." His eyes moved back to Tsuzuki, whose own violet depths were narrowed, teeth clenched as Muraki�s fingers flitted through his hair and over his skin. "I had forgotten how beautiful that boy�s screams could be. It's a shame they stopped so soon." Tatsumi�s eyes widened then as Tsuzuki�s arm came up, smacking Muraki�s hand away. His other arm recoiled, then slammed Muraki, fisted, across the jaw. The pale man stumbled back in shock, his silver eyes wide behind the wire-rimmed glasses. Tsuzuki�s chest was heaving while his teeth bared at Muraki in an animalistic manner. "Stop harassing me and give me my boyfriend before I kill you." There was a long pause where Tatsumi felt an undeniable sense of pride for Tsuzuki. He just faced his fear and fought back, and when they fear was that of Muraki Kazutaka honor was surely obtained for the feat. Tatsumi recoiled his hand, the shadows calming as he aborted his call. It seemed, finally, Tsuzuki could handle this on his own. The shinigami wasn�t going to just leave his co-worker and ex-partner there to fend for himself, but he certainly didn�t think he needed to be so tense and on the verge of ripping Muraki to shreds. Tsuzuki and Hisoka definitely had first dibs on accomplishing that violent end to their constant villain. Muraki was shocked to say the least. Tsuzuki rarely fought back against Muraki�s sexual harassment, when it was on such a tame level. Yet, all three of them knew the hard hit was Tsuzuki declaring Hisoka his boyfriend as well as threatening to destroy Muraki to get to the boy. It was clear to all of them that Tsuzuki would never willingly go to Muraki, but then before Hisoka wasn�t much of a threat to Muraki as he seemed to want nothing to do with Tsuzuki and now Tsuzuki had just made a declaration that he was choosing his young partner over the learned doctor. "Insolent..." Muraki hissed, pulling his hand in and clenching his fist. "He�s a child, nothing. I control him with a simple suggestion. He is a doll and twice broken he is useless. If you can get past me, which you most likely will, you will fine only a shell. He is gone, and there is no way you can bring him back." Tsuzuki tensed at his words. Foremost, the echoing of �twice broken� rattled his soul and his heart. He knew what that meant and although he assumed Hisoka would raped again, it was still a painful stab to the chest. "You...no matter what...no matter what you do to him I will love him. I will show him, and he will be well. You do not own us. We do not belong to you. We�ve give ourselves freely to each other and there is nothing *you* can do to take us away! So I will demand so again. Get the hell out of my way, before I kill you." "You can�t be serious," Muraki snapped, almost breathlessly. He was losing, and Tatsumi smiled at the thought. Without another word, Tsuzuki pushed him back, brushing by him to enter the building. "Give me the number and the key." "You will not be able to bring him back. It is a lost cause, Tsuzuki-san." "Give me the Goddamn key!" Muraki scowled. "It's open. U-12. Underground." Tsuzuki turned and stalked into the building. After a momentary pause, Muraki stepped forward, hold a hand parallel to the ground to summon a power against Tsuzuki to destroy the building. But as he held out his hand palm down a sneering pain slipped across the pad, and as he pulling in his hand it was already dripping with blood. A barrier of shifting shadows, blocking the entrance and preventing him from summoning. His silver eyes flashed to Tatsumi, whose smile was broad and malicious. "Good day, Muraki. I would take your leave should you want to continue living."