by ysth83
Part 2
Yesterday was a disaster. Hisoka avoided Tsuzuki the whole day. Imagine how Hisoka was able to accomplish that. It was actually simple.
Hisoka Evading Strategy 101:
1. Make sure that you are busy.
The first thing Hisoka did was bury himself with paperwork. But, being the efficient worker that he is, he finished writing by lunch break. As for the purple-eyed Shinigami, he'd been staring at his partner's lovely face the whole time with jealousy and hurt in his eyes, accomplishing nothing and obviously ignorant of the wrath of one blue-eyed Secretary.
After all that time thinking and measuring the odds while staring at Hisoka, Tsuzuki finally decided to approach him. The first step is always the hardest one to make, and Tsuzuki was definitely finding it difficult to walk over to Hisoka's desk. Unluckily for Tsuzuki, the second part of Hisoka's evading strategy was put into effect when he just started reacting to the first.
2. See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil
No further explanation. For Hisoka there was no one inside the room even if Tsuzuki was standing in front of him calling his name. Defeated Tsuzuki went out of the office.
Strategy number 2 wasn't intentional. It just happened. Hisoka was preoccupied. The proof would be, he called Tsuzuki's name when he came back to his senses. A tinge of pink crept Hisoka's cheeks after he spoke Tsuzuki's name. Hisoka scanned the room looking for his partner to speak with him. Unfortunately, the said Shinigami walked out a while ago. Hisoka felt dejected and rejected.
3. Flee.
The best way oto avoid someone would be to leave where they are.
Hisoka went to Tatsumi's office to ask if he could go home early since he was already finished with his work for the day and he was feeling unwell. The ever perceptive Tatsumi noticed the tears that Kurosaki-kun has been holding back. Tatsumi gave Hisoka permission to leave without further question. He already had an idea of what happened.
When Tsuzuki returned to their office after gathering himself, it was empty. No Hisoka to be found. Similar to Hisoka, he went to Tatsumi's office so he could leave early, Tsuzuki wouldn't want to breakdown in front of everyone. Before he could even speak Tatsumi gave him the permission to leave.
Unknown to both, they were wallowing themselves in pity in the comfort of their own homes, for nothing.
Tsuzuki wouldn't go to work if Hisoka was there, but today was Hisoka's day off, so he thought that he would be capable of putting up a happy face for the others. Tsuzuki was hoping that they wouldn't notice his act. Tsuzuki was on his way to the office, walking with his head hanging low. Also, He wasn't paying attention to where he was going until he noticed a doorknob. He turned it and let himself inside, still not noticing where his feet took him.
"Tsuzuki (heart)"
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~ Tsuzuki screamed in his mind. What am I doing here? I was supposed to go work. Not to the Castle of Candles! I don't want to get harassed by HakuShaku again.
"What have I done to deserve a visit from my lovely Tsuzuki? (heart) Are you here for a favor or have you decided to pay your debts, Tsuzuki? (heart)" HakuShaku asked while moving closer.
Tsuzuki didn't reply. He just wanted to run the hell out of there but he remained rooted on his place, his body seemed paralyzed.
(Placard on top of Tsuzuki's head: 'PROBLEM: LOVELIFE=HISOKA; HELP WANTED!')
"Some advice Tsuzuki, just tell Hisoka." HakuShaku said before Tsuzuki felt a hand on his shoulder gently shoving him out of the Castle.
Tsuzuki could only gape at what HakuShaku said. How did he...
Tsuzuki was finally able reach the office, feeling as miserable as ever when he remembered yesterday's incident. HakuShaku is right. But how? I can't just blurt out to Hisoka that I love him. He frowned as he remembered Kurikara. What if the two are... NO! I shouldn't be thinking about that. I'm determined. I'm determined to tell him, what happens next will be up to Hisoka.
Tsuzuki needed help. He needed opinions on how he should tell Hisoka. Should he ask Hisoka out to dinner? Flowers, are flowers necessary? Hisoka isn't a girl but it wouldn't hurt to give him flowers, would it? The others might be able to help me.
The first person he asked was Wakaba.
"Nah, Wakaba-chan may be you could help me with my problem." Tsuzuki asked Wakaba nervously.
"Don't involve Kannuki in your problems. Solve them on your own."
"TERAZUMA! WHY YOU!!!"
"Hajime-chan~, please stop insulting Tsuzuki-chan." Wakaba decided to interrupt their tirade before they become destructive and blew the entire office up. "What do you need help with Tsuzuki-chan?" she asked.
Tsuzuki became nervous. He forgot to prepare what he was going to say that wouldn't make the others ask questions.
"Tsuzuki-chan?"
"uh... anou... umm..." Tsuzuki faltered.
"Just say it, will you. Stop wasting Kannuki's time."
"FINE! What's the best way to tell someone you love them?" Tsuzuki blurted out and was blushing madly when he finished.
Terazuma fell off his chair and the expression on his face was priceless while Wakaba was giggling and hugging Tsuzuki.
"Finally! What took you so long Tsuzuki? This is cause for a celebration!" Wakaba chattered on. "I know you and Hisoka would be happy together. You two make a good pair. Right, Hajime-chan?"
How was she able to figure that it was Hisoka? I must have it written all over my face: 'I TSUZUKI ASATO, AM IN LOVE WITH KUROSAKI HISOKA'.
"It doesn't matter when or where you decide to tell him, what's important is that it comes from the bottom of your heart." Wakaba was looking directly at him in the eyes. "Tsuzuki-chan", she continued, sounding like a younger sister advising a lovesick brother, "Nothing is more important than being straightforward."
Terazuma, who got back on his chair, stared at Wakaba in amazement. Being forward ka.
Tsuzuki was pleased with what Wakaba said, smiled at her and hugged her back. He left the pair, content with Wakaba's advice but would still continue on asking his other friends.
Tsuzuki's next stop was the laboratory but before he could reach his destination, he was mobbed by two girls who were incessantly asking where his Hisoka was.
"Tsuzuki-san, Hisoka-san wa?"
"Tsuzuki-chan, tell us where he is. We bought a new dress for him."
"We just got back and that's the first thing we want to do."
"Hai hai! Dress up Hisoka-kun."
"Tsuzuki-san, you should see the dress. We think Hisoka would look extremely seductive in it."
Yuma took out a skimpy outfit from the paper bag. Tsuzuki blushed when he saw the particular dress, and imagining Hisoka wearing it wasn't helping either. It was a black, see-through, mid-thigh length dress with a plunging neckline. The dress wasn't plain black it had few gold embroidery designs of baby's breath on it.
"If our calculations are right this dress should fit Hisoka-san perfectly."
"Look, look, we even bought a pair of black 4-inches high-heeled sandals for Hisoka-kun."
"And don't forget this Yuma." Saya chirped in as she took a thong out from another paper bag.
Heat rising. *gulp* Incoming nosebleed. I need a cold shower.
"Tsuzuki-chan, please tell us where Hisoka is." Yuma asked Tsuzuki pleadingly.
"Sorry to disappoint you two but today is Hisoka's day off."
"EH!?" The two exclaimed together.
Tsuzuki took the two's state of shock as a chance to grab the paper bags containing the dress, the shoes, and the thong. Then he left them and proceed to Watari's lab.
Tsuzuki's temperature cooled down as he reached Watari's lab.
Not bothering to knock, Tsuzuki let himself in. Inside, he found a sleeping Watari. He didn't want to wake Watari up, so Tsuzuki decided to leave. When he turned for the door his eyes caught something interesting.
'Symbolism of Flowers'
Tsuzuki looked at it and took it with him. This could be useful. I'll just return it to Watari after.
Should I go seek advise from Kacho? NAH!
OOH~ LUNCHBREAK! I'll go see Tatsumi later.
Hisoka woke up with a headache. He didn't know that crying himself to sleep would result in a major headache almost similar to the one when he had a hangover. He also felt numb except for the throbbing pain in his chest.
A few hours later, Kurikara was summoned.
"So kid, how did it go?" Kurikara insensitively asked, he was still unaware of Hisoka's state.
"OI! I SAID: 'HOW DID IT GO?'" He was stunned when he heard Hisoka sniff.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to be insensitive. Don't hold it back for my sake. Go on cry."
For someone giving comfort, Kurikara still sounds irritated. Hisoka mentally smiled. "I already cried myself to sleep."
"Fine. If it would make you feel better you could tell me what happened after I left. Afterwards, if you feel like it shed more tears."
The next hour was filled with Hisoka trying his best to hold back his tears as he told Kurikara yesterday's events.
"You can cry now."
Hisoka shook his head.
"Well, what do you want to do?"
For a minute Hisoka just stared into space while Kurikara, as patient as he could be, waited.
"Talk with Tsuzuki to clear things out of my head. Today."
"Then what are you moping here for kid?" Kurikara snarled at him.
Hisoka stood to leave. It's almost one. I hope he's in our office.
It took Hisoka forever to get to the office. He went first to the room they shared in hopes that Tsuzuki was there. Hisoka was nervous. He could hear the fast beating of his heart against his chest as he stood outside their door.
"Tsuzuki, we need to..." Tsuzuki wasn't inside the office. Where could he be?
Lunch was just over so Tsuzuki wouldn't be in the breakroom. The next place Hisoka looked was Watari's office. Tsuzuki's frequent visit to Watari's laboratory were due to the fact that Tsuzuki had been labeled Watari's lab rat.
Watari, in Hisoka's opinion, was working on his sex changing potion; accurately measuring certain chemicals that were unknown to Hisoka. Usually, when he saw Watari showing this much concentration on his experiment Hisoka would just leave. But today was different, he really needed to know where Tsuzuki was, and he was counting on Watari to know. Hisoka coughed to catch Watari's attention.
"Bon! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be off today?" Watari said, surprised to see Hisoka.
Ignoring Watari's question he asked away, "Have you seen Tsuzuki?"
"Nope. Have you looked in your office?" Hisoka nodded at him. "He isn't here... How 'bout Tatsumi's?" Hisoka shook his head. Watari walked over to Hisoka and literally dragged the boy with him
"Come on Bon! I still have to complain about the decrease Tatsumi made to my research fund."
~Inside Tatsumi's Office~
Tsuzuki was now inside Tatsumi's office. The problem was that Tatsumi hadn't looked away from his ledger, he hadn't even acknowledge Tsuzuki's presence.
"ah... anou... Tatsumi-san..."
"You finally spoke. What is it Tsuzuki-san?"
So he does know I'm here. Tsuzuki suddenly became nervous when Tatsumi looked at him. He avoided Tatsumi's eyes by staring at his hands on his lap, like they were the most interesting things in Meifu. "errrr... I was wondering if you could help me with my problem."
"As long as no money is involved." The secretary answered back, returning his attention to the budget at hand.
"It's not about money, anou... it has something to do with..."
"Kurosaki-kun." Tatsumi interjected.
"*gulp* How did..." Tsuzuki stammered.
"You are so obvious Tsuzuki-san. I'll help you if..."
Tsuzuki was now nervous with Tatsumi's condition. What could he possibly ask of me? DEBTS~ NOOOOO~ IT CAN'T BE! HE WOULDN'T FORCE ME TO PAY THEM RIGHT AWAY, WOULD HE?
"...if you would help me with mine."
"eh?" Tsuzuki was surprised with Tatsumi's condition. Did I hear him right? My hearing must be impaired.
Tsuzuki was unaware that Tatsumi had now made his way over to Tsuzuki's side of the table until he felt a hand lift his chin firmly and Tatsumi's lips descend on his. The moment Tsuzuki felt Tatsumi's lips, the door was opened by a startled Watari and a shocked Hisoka.
TBC