Darkness Unleashed

Rikugo watched the slender young man standing at the high windows
of his study, watching the world sprawling before him. From his study,
Rikugo had an unrivaled view of the city and an unobstructed one into the
sky. It was a quiet place, the silence only broken by Genbu’s shuffling,
the wooden stick clicking against the stone floor, and the occasional mumble.
The astrologer had learned to ignore it.

He wasn’t ignoring Tsuzuki, though. The shinigami who had been his
master for so long now appeared lost and alone. No, not master. His friend,
Rikugo corrected himself. Tsuzuki hated to be called ‘master’ or anything
of the like. He didn’t want them to obey, just cooperate or help him when
he needed them.

Rikugo smiled a little. It wasn’t the normal concept of a shinigami/shikigami
relationship. Caught and conquered by a shinigami, the shikigami would
be loyal and obedient to him or her. Tsuzuki… well, he had never been like
others. He had always been special.

Walking over to the slight form, the astrologer joined the angel of
death at the window.

“You are unusually quiet, Tsuzuki,” he remarked.

Not as tall as the shikigami, Tsuzuki had to look up to him, and he
gave the other a tired smile.

“There’s a lot I need to think about. I’m sorry if I’m bothering you,
Rikugo.”

Ancient eyes in a youthful face, partially hidden by his reading glasses,
gazed at the pale, slightly worn face.

“You don’t have to apologize for anything, my friend. You are no bother.”

And he had told him so before. Tsuzuki really had a very low self-esteem,
even after so many decades. Still, none of his shikigami would ever desert
their master or dare to attack him thinking he was weak. He showed weakness,
yes. He was sometimes downright pathetic, but there was a core of steel
behind that façade, a strength that was unbroken.ugo ugo had been
drawn to that core of power like all the others, fascinated and fearful
in one. All of them had tested Tsuzuki one way or the other, and he had
never failed. All twelve of them were powerful, leaders and commanders,
battle-honed and swift in their attacks, but none of them had any illusion
about defeating this unpretending human.

Not even Sohryu.

Rikugo pushed the thought of the Protector of the East aside. They
didn’t really see eye to eye, and they evaded each other if possible.

“Is there any way I can help?” Rikugo now asked.

A sigh. “I doubt it, but thank you. You’re all so nice to me.”

Of course. What else should they be? Tsuzuki disarmed them, warmed
them, filled them with life. Rikugo had never felt anything like this man’s
soul. He had never felt his own strength grow like it because of his partnership
with Tsuzuki Asato. They loved him, they served him, they protected him
because he was their source of life and wonder.

He placed a hand on one slender shoulder, noting with dismay that Tsuzuki
was thinner than the last time he had seen him. The latest events up to
the point where he had been ready to end his life had left their traces.

“There is nothing evil in being who you are, Asato; in needing what
you need. I was aware of the bond you and Touda had developed, and while
I agree with Suzaku that I would have preferred anyone to him, I can feel
it’s doing you a world of good. Don’t think about it.”

He was given a warm smile, the kind of smile that lifted his spirit,
comforted him, touched him… the smile that each and every single one of
the twelve shikigami treasured.

“Thank you.”

“As for what Enma-Daiou did or didn’t, what he said or withheld… he
had his reasons.”

“Probably.” Tsuzuki leaned a little against him, like a child seeking
comfort.

The ancient being wrapped a robed arm around him, honored by the simple
gesture.

“It doesn’t change my past life or my reason for choosing death either,”
Tsuzuki murmured. “Knowing I’m not human… even in life it wouldn’t have
eased my mind.”

“You are human.” The second set of eyes opened, red and round and inhuman,
gazing at the currently very vulnerable young man. “Being human isn’t a
matter of genetics, Asato.”

The violet eyes looked away. “It would have helped not to look like
a freak, too.”

The astrologer smiled. “Yes,” he confessed. “It would have. But your
life and your death led you here, and here you have made a difference.
He framed the narrow face, gazing into those brilliant eyes. “You are important,
Tsuzuki Asato. To all of us. We don’t care about what your blood says because
your heart is what we listen to, and it’s your soul we are bound to.”

Tsuzuki swallowed, eyes glistening wetly. Rikugo pressed a gentle kiss
onto the smaller man’s forehead, then let him go. Wide eyes looked at him.

"You want to know what you are," Rikugo went on, voice soft and gentle.
"You are everything, Asato. Our spirit, our life, our wonder. We'll always
be with you. Stay here as long as you want. You’re always more than welcome
in our home.”

With that he left the other man alone, smiling a little to himself.
Tsuzuki would be fine. He was finally achieving the balance he needed,
even with the most unlikely of partners, and there was nothing more Rikugo
wished for.

Tsuzuki was important to him, to all of them. Not because of some higher
plans or nether purposes like it seemed for Enma-Daiou. He was theirs to
protect, to love and to live for. It was their accepted duty, one they
all performed without regret or second thought. It didn't matter where
Tsuzuki had come from, who had borne or fathered him. His spirit was wonderful,
clear and innocent and inspiring.

That was what and who he was.