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Empty Spaces	By : Macx Category: Descendents of Darkness/Yami No Matsuei > General Views: 3188 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Descendants of Darkness (Yami no Matsuei), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Empty Spaces
- 2-part 2
- 3-part 3
- 4-part 4
- 5-part 5
- 6-part 6
- 7-part 7
- 8-part 8
- 9-part 9
- 10-part 10
- 11-part 11
- 12-part 12
- 13-part 13
- 14-part 14
- 15-part 15
- 16-part 16
- 17-part 17
- 18-part 18
- 19-part 19
- 20-part 20
- 21-part 21
- 12
- 13
- 14
IV. Changes to Come

Genbu read over the message scroll, nodding slowly. His eyes held a
distant look as he rolled it shut again, depositing it on the desk.
"I had a feeling it would be like this," he said softly.
Sohryu inclined his head. "Will you accept?"
Genbu smiled a little. "Do I have a choice?"
"Yes. You could decline. No one would think any less of you. I know
I wouldn't accept. I couldn't."
"You have family. You have a partner," Genbu agreed, nodding. "I have
served my time, so to speak. I am the only choice."
Sohryu shook his head. "No. There could be another one. No one forces
you, Genbu. No one."
Genbu reached out and patted the much younger shikigami's knee. "It
would be my honor to ascend and become the next Golden Emperor, Sohryu.
If not for your obligations here, for your happiness of now, you would
be the same. Am I not right?" He smirked.
Sohryu chuckled. "Probably. Still..."
"It is my choice and I make it on my own. I already made it."
"You will accept?"
"Yes."
Sohryu bowed slightly. "It will be my honor serving you," he said formally.
Genbu chuckled again. "I still have to talk to Rikugo. You are aware
that he will be my successor until a new Genbu is born?"
The dragon grimaced theatrically. "Do you have to?" he asked.
The older shikigami grinned toothily. "He is best suited."
"To do what?"
"Argue with you and win, as well as kick you in your behind, my friend."
Sohryu laughed, amusement in his eyes. "Yes, that he is."
"Will you accept him?"
"He was named by you. I will accept him."
Genbu tilted his head. "You can still veto my decision."
"You know that Rikugo and my relationship has changed."
"I do. I'm glad you two have begun to approach each other. Now..." Genbu
rose, "let's get the formalities over with. I need to wrap up a few things
before I take over a new office."
Sohryu smiled and nodded.
A new office.
A whole new office in form of a realm, GensouKai, and all its inhabitants.
° ° °
Tatsumi walked into the conference room and looked into the faces of
eighteen shinigami from ten jurisdictions. There were various expressions,
from expectant to confused to apprehensive and curious. One or two were
neutral. He looked at his lover and partner, Watari giving him a little
smile, though he still looked a far cry from normal, exuberant self. Terazuma
wasn't present, still in GensouKai, and still without his shikigami. Wakaba
was there, though. She was fretting a little. Tsuzuki and Hisoka were missing,
too, kept safe in the Palace of Candles.
"I thank you all for coming," he greeted the fifteen angels of death.
"I called you in from your sectors because changes within the JuOhCho.
Konoe has ascended."
Reactions were as different as the people who now stared at him in shock,
surprise, silent curiosity or who broke out in discussions and whispers.
"Enma-Daio has granted him this wish and as of now, the Shokan Division
falls under my command," Tatsumi added. "I was named his successor. We
are going through a difficult time and things will change, but I hope I
have your support."
"What happened to Terazuma?" Saya called. "Where is he?"
Wakaba evaded the other woman's eyes.
"Terazuma is currently in GensouKai. As you all know, there was an accident
involving his jump from Meifu into GensouKai, which resulted in his separation
from his shikigami."
More loud whispers.
"Both are still recovering and he will return soon."
"Tsuzuki and Hisoka are missing, too," Yuma added.
"Yes. They are dealing with a difficult case and couldn't be called
here." Tatsumi hated lying, but right now there was no other way. No one
could know what had happened yet.
"What changes are you talking about?" one of the Kanawa sisters asked.
"None for now. I'm taking over from Konoe and you will receive your
cases as always. There will be a need for an assistant, but this matter
I will deal with separately. I ask you to return to your outstanding cases
and send in your reports. You'll be informed of any change immediately.
Are there any further questions?"
Several hands rose and Tatsumi sighed to himself. This was going to
be a long afternoon.
° ° °
Tsuzuki lay in bed, gazing at the dark ceiling, aware of the small body
next to him, of Hisoka's arms wrapped around his chest, of the face resting
on his skin, warm breaths touching him.
It was his third night in the Palace and he didn't feel the pressure
of before. It was as if the soul energy of the Candles had suddenly accepted
him as an equal, no longer torturing him with the nightmarish images of
before. But the Candles weren't sentient. It was Tsuzuki's mind that had
changed. Like so many things had changed.
Their love-making had been the same. Intense and loving, and Tsuzuki's
release had been on many levels. He still felt the darkness inside him,
would always be aware of it, but it was no longer such a terror for him.
He no longer feared it. It was him, pure and simple. Touda, his guidance
and buffer, was still there, but Tsuzuki knew he had a lot more control
over it.
Touda had returned to GensouKai after Tsuzuki had shooed him off. Byakko
needed him, the whole realm needed each and every single one of their Divine
Commanders, and Sohryu probably needed someone to keep him sane, too. And
there were a lot of matters to take care of. They would meet again soon.
Very soon.

The pain of the emotional floodgates that had broken so suddenly was
gone. He still felt a bit dizzy now and then, but that was receding.
A hand stroked over his side and Hisoka mumbled his name. Green eyes
blinked open and Tsuzuki smiled at the quizzical expression of his lover.
"I'm okay, Hisoka," he whispered.
"Uh-huh," came the dubious reply.
"Just thinking."
"You're supposed to sleep. Apparently I didn't wear you out enough."
He chuckled. "That's not it."
Hisoka pushed himself up and looked down at the other man. He reached
out and ran his fingers through the dark hair, caressing a pale cheek.
"Will you go to GensouKai tomorrow?"
Tsuzuki nodded. "It's my duty."
"And you'll be safe there until the Lords of all realms have decided
what to do."
"I'm not afraid."
"I know."
Tsuzuki caught the caressing hand and kissed the slender fingers. "We
all have to work through these revelations. And Sohryu... Sohryu has to
deal with the truth about his father's death."
"He has friends."
"I'm his friend, too."
Hisoka chuckled and lay down again, snuggling close. "You're impossible,
Tsuzuki Asato. I love you."
Tsuzuki felt his heart constrict and he wrapped his arms around the
slender body.
He was about to lose one of his friends. And another friend was suffering,
with no means for Tsuzuki to make it any easier. Then there was Ryu. He
was the Count and he wore the mask, and it was like before. The formalities,
the distance... Tsuzuki hated it. He hated to see... nothing. Just the
mask and the gloves.
What had changed now? Had anything permanent come out of their fights
and battles?
Desperation rose inside him and Hisoka made a little noise of discomfort.
"Sorry," he whispered.
"You think too much."
Tsuzuki smiled weakly. "It's all I can do lately. Stuck here as I am."
"It's for your protection, Asato, and you know it." Green eyes were
intense. "And you can't save the world, whatever you try."
"I know."
"Still you try."
He lowered his gaze. "I can't help it. And it's so unfair, Hisoka...
after everything... after we won..."
"Changes never happen over night," the younger shinigami reminded him.
"They take time. Like many things have already taken their time and finally
changed."
He met the emerald gaze and smiled a little. "Some things I really wish
I could hurry along."
"Idiot," came the gentle rebuke. "So childish."
Tsuzuki sighed, but he felt a bit lighter. He had won little victories
already and Hisoka was right: changes needed time.
At least for now, the changes about to start were good ones.
° ° °
Among the formalities the Protector of the North had to take care of
was the permission of his shinigami master. Tsuzuki had to free him from
his bond, from his promise to protect the young man with his life, to be
his sword and shield. Tsuzuki had never called on him in all the time,
and it had been a silent understanding that Tsuzuki recognized Genbu's
power, but he would never abuse his rights as a master to send him into
a battle against a demon while there were other shikigami better suited
than him.
Their friendship hadn't been honed through battle; it had developed
through countless hours of simply talking, spending time with each other,
getting to know the other man, and playing Genbu's little game. It was
the game that had been Genbu's challenge to the shinigami, the game where
Tsuzuki had won and with it bested the Protector of the North.
Now Genbu stood in front of his master, leaning on his walking stick,
looking up into the wide, violet eyes of a man who would be someone very
powerful one day. He had seen that potential in Tsuzuki several times,
especially the day he had won Genbu's challenge, and the old shikigami
had always known there was so much more to this inconspicuous façade.
"I ask of you to release me, master," he requested formally.
Tsuzuki swallowed hard. "I wish I didn't have to, Genbu. You're my friend.
I don't want to lose you."
"You won't. I only ask you to release me from my promise to always protect
you as my shinigami master, and as my friend."
Tsuzuki sank to his knees, now on eye-level, and he smiled shakily.
"I will release you, Genbu. Without a fight, without a condition. I'm happy
that it will be you who succeeds the Golden Emperor. I know I never called
on you, but you were my friend. I love you as my shikigami, like I love
all of them. I won't forget you."
Genbu reached out and rested a hand on the thin shoulders. "Neither
will I forget you, Tsuzuki Asato. One day we will see each other again,
as equals. And I will best you in a game." There was a twinkle in those
ancient eyes.
The pale face grew even paler. "Genbu..."
"But that will be a long time in the future. Your destiny is here. We
all felt your power and we need it here in GensouKai and Meifu. You are
very important to us all. As our master, as our friend, and as our connection.
You have so much more to see, to discover, and you make a difference."
He caressed one cheek. "Never doubt that. You may be an angel of death,
but you bring happiness."
Tsuzuki leaned forward and hugged him, Genbu returning the embrace.
"I wish you well."

tbc...
- 12
- 13
- 14
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