A Million Roses

9:00pm

This story starts off like any other. It’s just another normal night in Tatsumi’s apartment. Everything had been running smoothly at the meifu when Tatsumi left earlier that day. Now, he had plans to pour himself a cup of tea, read the newspaper, and just relax, as he’d planned to do for the past eight years but those plans never came to pass. What with Tsuzuki, Watari, and Hisoka to constantly be concerned about. Also all the paper work he had to keep up on for Konoe.

But now he could finally relax. He had all the paper work done and filed by noon, no new cases to worry over, and Watari had been sick that day. (Nothing exploding.) Tonight he could lie alone and wait until morning without a care in the world.

A sudden loneliness came over the secretary. I hope Watari gets better by tomorrow, he thought, trying to come up with something to keep him occupied. That man spends way too much time around those potions of his. He sighed into his tea, watching bubbles form beneath his lips and pop at the back of the cup. He smirked, slightly amused with himself.

Realizing how childish he was being, he quickly took a sip and put the cup on the table. He picked up the newspaper sitting next to him on the couch. Anything interesting? he wondered.

Abruptly, there was a tap on the door. The man dropped the paper to the floor, knowing instantly whom the knock belonged to. Kami, just don’t let him be too hurt, he prayed as he opened the door. “Tsuzuki,” he said, holding the door open for the purple-eyed shinigami to drag himself in. “What’s wrong?”

All the other man did was drop a letter into the secretary’s hand, which was actually asking for his friend’s coat. Tsuzuki continued into the room and plopped himself down exactly where Tatsumi had been sitting minutes ago.

“What’s this?” Tatsumi asked, closing the door.

“Just read it.” He looked up sadly.

Tatsumi opened the letter and read it hastily. When he was done, he looked over Tsuzuki, his eyes slightly widened.

“It’s from Muraki,” he stated simply. “I thought you would be the best person to see.”

“I’m glad you did.” He folded the letter back up. “But, Tsuzuki, what do want me to do with this information exactly?”

“I didn’t think that far,” he said, a faint smile coming over his face. “I just wanted somebody to know that I’m answering the letter.”

“Tsuzuki,” the shadow master whispered, hoarsely.

He held up a hand. “I figure it this way,” he sighed. “If I don’t, he’ll keep sending letters until he’s had enough. Then we don’t want he could do.”

“That’s true,” Tatsumi said firmly. “He is very persistent.”

“So, you understand?” He looked up, hopeful.

“No, I can’t say I ever did or ever will understand you, Tsuzuki,” he said through a rare smile. “But I will let you go.”

“Without any supervision?”

“Tsuzuki, I can’t…” he said, his eyes wide.

“Yes, you can,” he raised an eyebrow.

“But he might…”

“I won’t let him.” He stood, proving that he was strong enough.

Tatsumi smiled again, feeling helpless under his friend’s confidence but somehow enjoying the feeling. “Why are you so determined to do this by yourself?”

“If I involved Hisoka…” he paused, heavy sigh. “I just feel need to this on my own. Don’t ask me why.”

Tatsumi somehow understood and nodded. “All right but remember there are people who care about you, Tsuzuki.”

“I know,” he said, smiling. “Thank you, Tatsumi.” He walked to the door. “Oh, and Watari called after you left. He wanted you to know that he’s feeling much better and that he’ll be in bright and early tomorrow.”

Tatsumi inwardly smiled. Good, I missed him a little. “Thank you. Goodbye, Tsuzuki.”

“Good night, Tatsumi,” he said in mock cheer.

As he left, Tatsumi watched his back. Please be all right, he thought after his friend.


~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~


I know, I know this chapter sucked! It’ll get better as it goes along; trust me! ;)