Shades and Shadow

Tsuzuki had come back to Meifu, reluctantly, but he had. Byakko
had sworn to take care of Touda, to protect him, to see to it that he gained
weight and healed. It had taken a weight off Tsuzuki’s shoulders, leaving
him with only one mostly unsolved problem.

Kurosaki Hisoka.

He had confessed his love for his partner, to his partner, while under
emotional stress and now, as he was able to get some distance, he wondered
what Hisoka would make of it. He loved the boy and he didn’t want to lose
him over this.

Hisoka was there when he came back, face as neutral as always, green
eyes scanning him closely. Tsuzuki gave him a half-smile.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” was the careful reply as those intense eyes continued watching
him, looking for something.

“Uh… Hisoka…I…”

“Yes.”

Tsuzuki stopped, blinked, then frowned. “What?”

“Yes,” Hisoka repeated.

“Yes… what?”

The smaller shinigami approached him, still unreadable. “The answer
to your question is yes.”

“I didn’t ask…”

“You were about to. Or you were about to give me some crap about you
being under emotional pressure, that I should ignore what you said, which
I won’t, and that I might be misinterpreting things, which I’m not. My
answer is yes, Tsuzuki Asato. I love you, too.”

Tsuzuki could only stare at his partner, breath leaving his lungs in
a gasp, and then had a slender body in his arms and a pair of lips crushing
down on his own. He had no time to think, only to react, and he did. He
reacted and he kissed Hisoka back, holding him tightly, feeling everything
and nothing at all.

Hisoka gazed at him, face tilted up to look at the taller man, as he
remained in his arms.

“I think we should talk,” he said softly.

“Whatever you want,” Tsuzuki answered giddily.

Hisoka chuckled. “I wonder how long that lasts.”

Tsuzuki just kissed him again, loving, appreciating the soft contact,
unable to get enough of his partner. He felt incredibly happy, his emotions
echoing through the bond. Touda’s presence was like a background hum, resonating
his pleasure and agreement.

<<Took you long enough, shinigami>> the fire serpent muttered.

Tsuzuki only smiled at him, brilliant and relieved, so unbelievably
glad.

<<Thank you>> he sent.

Touda didn’t reply, just moved back, giving the two men their privacy.
But Tsuzuki could detect the faint ripples of satisfaction.

* * *

Touda leaned back into the pillows – Byakko’s pillows, he reminded himself,
in Byakko’s bed, Byakko’s bedroom. He was slowly feeling better, day by
day, but, as his host had also reminded him, he was to stay in bed until
he had healed. Master’s orders. The wounds had been deep, he had lost a
lot of blood, his malnourished body was unable to compensate accordingly
for the blood loss, and at the moment just sitting and eating was taking
a lot of energy.

A part of him – make that a big part – was entirely glad Tsuzuki had
taken him back, had forgiven him for what he had done. He was even allowed
to be without the control mechanism as long as he was to stay at Byakko’s.
It was a monumental decision and Touda knew that Tsuzuki was probably getting
hell from Sohryu and the others for it. Knowing his master Tsuzuki was
more than up to the task. There were only a few blips over the bond as
Tsuzuki and Hisoka were starting to explore their new relationship, something
that pleased Touda greatly. He would accept the lack of presence from his
master because he knew it meant that he and Hisoka were talking or otherwise
engaged.

The fire shikigami had felt a little uneasy when he had found out that
he was actually staying in the tiger’s own room, invading his personal
space, but for whatever reasons the other shikigami didn’t seem to mind.
On the contrary. He was bringing him food, ordering him to eat – “Tsuzuki
said you’re far too thin, and I second that,” – and was even keeping him
company when he had the time.

Byakko was a God after all, Protector of the West and therefore had
his duties although he seemed to cut them down a little now. He had even
managed to bring his guest a TV and – very much to Touda’s surprise – had
curled up beside him on the bed and watched a movie the other night.

The simple fact that anyone, anyone at all who wasn't Tsuzuki, would
think of spending time with him was hard for Touda to grasp. Byakko was
relaxed around him, no tension at all. His mouth worked a mile a minute
when he was excited, but there were intense moments, serious moments, when
Touda could see the God, the Protector, and the Commander. And he could
see much more. He saw layers to the cheerful shikigami's side he would
never have suspected.

One side was also annoying. It was the long, striped tail. It was a
barometer of Byakko's moods, relaying excitement, disappointment or tension
quite clearly. It twisted and twirled and whipped around, it was in motion
or completely still, and it had started to fascinate the black shikigami.

Until that movie night.

The tail had a mind of its own and throughout the movie, it had ended
up brushing against Touda more often than not.

Until Touda hrabbrabbed the long tail that had once again bumped only
accidentally against his face, and had told Byakko in no uncertain terms
what he would do with it should it appear within his reach again.

Byakko had apologized – and grinned at him, curling his tail around
himself from that moment on. Well, for that evening that was. It had happened
again, Touda had grabbed the tail – and had been deeply shocked to hear
a very soft purr from his companion some time later. Almost blushing he
had let go of the tail, realizing he had stroked the soft fur the entire
time.

Ever since he couldn't get the sensation out of his mind.

 

Now was the sixth day he was at Byakko’s place, and it was the first
evening he was actually spending alone. Byakko had urgent matters to take
care of, had apologized for leaving him alone, and had left, looking less
than pleased. Touda had waved off the apology. He didn't need a baby-sitter,
be it in the form of servants, Byakko himself or his master. He was able
to walk short distances and, in the absence of a movie night companion,
had made himself comfortable on the balcony that belonged to Byakko’s bedroom,
enjoying the nice view, the peace and quiet and the good book Byakko had
recommended.

In other words – he was bored.

Letting the book sink, he gazed at the horizon where the sun was already
setting in the west, wondering when Byakko would be back. Closing his eyes
Touda imagined the wide open smile, the sparkling red eyes, the humor,
or the way Byakko’s mouth would go a mile a minute when he was excited.
Or the way how soft and silky the fur on his tail felt…

Touda blinked in surprise when a realization slowly set in.

He missed the tiger.

Impossible!

He had spent a few days with a companion and was already missing him?
He, Touda, the independent fire serpent half GensouKai feared? He, the
loner, was missing a fluffy overgrown flying cat with a mane?

Yes, you do, part of him muttered. Accept it. You miss someone. You
miss the warmth of his company, his laughter, his life energy.

Damn…

Damn! He didn't need this!

“Hey, honey, I’m home,” a cheerful voice behind him cut into his thoughts.
“Oh, you’ve made it to the balcony, good. Want some hot chocolate?”

Touda buried his face in his hands and groaned.