by Rina K. Fenderson
7. Progress
"Tatsumi-san!!!" Tsuzuki whined, clasping his hands before him. His body was bent slightly in a begging motion as he stared up at his co-worker. "Please?"
Tatsumi sighed, touching his hand to his forehead. "We never stopped you from going, Tsuzuki-san. you may go anytime you like." "But Tenkuu-san's making me work non-stop! I haven't see him for three days!" Tsuzuki cried out, violet eyes large and puppy-like. "Every time he spots me, he drags me to another case! I didn't even know there were that many possible for our area!" "You aren't going to let me get to my work, are you?" The secretary questioned, as he rose from his desk chair. Tsuzuki followed in alertness, his eyes unblinking and innocent. "You're going to help?" Tatsumi moved around the desk, abandoning his paper work and unhooking his jacket from the coat rack. "I'll take you there. I would like to see how Kurosaki-san is progressing." The other man began to bounce happily. "Wahh!!!! Yay, thank you, Tatsumi-san!" His blue eyes followed Tsuzuki's practically skipping form as they made there way down the hall. He hadn't seen his comrade this upbeat since Hisoka had been attacked, as well he hadn't notice how open Tsuzuki was being with his liking toward his former partner. Both were relieving to witness, though part of Tatsumi felt a tinge of unexplainable anger toward the boy for monopolizing Tsuzuki's train of thought. Still Tatsumi couldn't help but hold a gentle smile as he watched his comrade light up happy at the mere *thought* of seeing Hisoka. Barely ten steps down the hall. Tenkuu appeared outside of an adjacent room. Eyes immediately locking on Tsuzuki as his target, he didn't even notice Tatsumi a pace or two behind. "There you are!" Tsuzuki froze, his shoulders tensing and his eyes flickering over in a wide, deer-caught-in-headlight, expression. "T-T-Tenkuu-san..." "We need to go to Earth and check out the Shuranai case." Tenkuu claimed crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his blue eyes. "Honestly, you are so useless sometimes!" "Tatsumi..." Tsuzuki whined again, his eyes glancing back at the secretary. Tenkuu seemed to stiffen slightly at the name and pivoted slowly, his eyes panning over his shoulder. "Tatsumi-san, forgive me. I didn't see you." "It's quite all right," Tatsumi replied pausing to where Tsuzuki and Tenkuu had stopped. "But would you mind studying the Shuranai case on your own? It shouldn't be that difficult and I asked Tsuzuki-san to take me to see Kurosaki-san." Tenkuu's brain seemed to take a minute to click the information, then be bowed and nodded quickly. "Yes, that would be fine, but please return shortly. I'd like to get this case done." "Aa, I'm sure that won't be a problem," Tatsumi replied and bowed as he walked by; Tsuzuki followed behind, his bright smile returning when their journey continued. Tenkuu turned to watch them go. His eyes focused on Tsuzuki's departing back; pale eyes trailed up to his smiling lips and narrowed. "Not good...he will not be happy..." With a nervous sigh, he turned and headed in the opposite direction.* * *
Tatsumi trailed leisurely behind Tsuzuki, still finding amusement in the spring in the elder Shinigami's skipping step, while they made their way down the hall Hisoka's temporary dwelling was on. Tatsumi didn't talk much on the journey to the safe house in Meifu, but also couldn't recall half the topics Tsuzuki chatted on about. Although he kept in mind Tsuzuki's claim that Hisoka was different and not to be 'shocked, if surprised' which made no sense to the blue-eyed male. Though it was proven truth a few moments after Tsuzuki opened the door and exclaimed brightly. "Hisoka! I'm back." All Tatsumi's assumptions and opinions of the boy and his personality promptly left him, not when they found him curled up on his bed flipping through a book, but the second afterward, when his emerald eyes beheld Tsuzuki. Tatsumi witness for the first time in his acquaintance with Hisoka a bright smile forming across his lips. Then he was leaping into the air, clearing the space between bed and door into his ex-partner's arms. *"I missed you!"* Tsuzuki let out an joyful laugh, wrapping his arms securely around Hisoka's body, kissing the boy's temple and squeezing him tightly. Tatsumi just stared. "I missed you too!" Collecting themselves, Hisoka was placed back on the ground, his arms moving down Tsuzuki's arms to take his hands. *"Why didn't you come sooner? It's been so long!"* Tsuzuki laughed again and nudged Hisoka under the chin, still clasping his small fingers. "It was only three days, but you're right it was too long. I'm sorry. Tenkuu-san is a workaholic." Hisoka smiled and poked Tsuzuki's side, both of them apparently oblivious to Tatsumi's wide eyes that flickered between the two of them behind wire-framed glasses. *"Glad someone can get you to do your work."* "No fair! You get me to do work too!" Tsuzuki exclaimed, then glanced over at the third party only to break out into half-hysterical laughter when seeing the confusion in Tatsumi's blue eyes. "Sorry, sorry, Tatsumi-san. Hisoka talks to me through our minds." "I think I'm more shocked that he's smiling!" Tatsumi proclaimed, staring at the boy in awe, even taking his chin between two fingers and turning it to see more clearly the gentle grin on his lips. Tsuzuki smirked adorably as he snatched Hisoka back up in his arm, snuggling his nose to the boy's neck. "I've made much progress ne? And all we had to do was him shut up." Hisoka's eyes narrowed and he smacked Tsuzuki away with a parted mouth, that showed his disapproval of those words. Tatsumi could only imagine what Hisoka was saying to his partner at that moment, still their actions were playful; Hisoka no longer held so much contempt or fear. He wasn't blushing every time Tsuzuki brushed his skin, on the contrary he was reciprocating some of the affections. Tatsumi remained with them long enough to have the tea Hisoka made for them and to take in just how much the boy had changed. He smiled more easily and spoke, through Tsuzuki, just as carefree. His eyes weren't as guarded, his complexion didn't seem as taunt and pale, and his body moved without as much defense or hesitation. At length, with a warm smile that was contagious among this duo and their antics, Tatsumi thanked them and took his leave, warning Tsuzuki not to stay too long or Tenkuu would be upset. Tsuzuki agreed and bid Tatsumi a farewell from the both of them. As soon as the door closed, Tsuzuki made a strange noise as he was pulled to the side, by his loose necktie. Even his `uhng' of surprise was cut short by Hisoka's mouth claiming his own. Then the pained gasp turned into a pleasured moan as Tsuzuki closed his eyes and cupped his ex-partner's neck gently between his hands. They kissed passionately, mouths fevered and tongues tangled, for quite a few minutes, then Hisoka pulled back, emerald eyes groggy and a dazed smile on his lips. *"You are *not* leaving *any* time soon."*