Forever Mine

Chapter Six: Innocent


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The door to Tsuzuki's room slowly creeked open. He could see the young shinigami silently sleeping in a mound of covers, his face looking just as innocent as a child's.
"Tsuzuki..." the older shinigami whispers with little effort of waking him up. The secertary tried to shake him a little, his voice a little louder.

"Tsuzuki." but still the shinigami only grunted in protest, turning his body over and pulled the pillow over his head.

Okay," Tatsumi pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. "This calls for drastic measures."

"Tsuzuki, if you do not get up right now, I will deduct your pay so that little bit of spending money you do have will not be enough to get yourself any apple pies!"

Tsuzuki threw himself out of bed.

"Okay! Okay! I'm up!"

Tatsumi smiled at the pillow-faced shinigami.

"I thought that would wake you."

Tsuzuki looked at the clock reading 5:30 a.m.

"This is pretty early even for you, Tatsumi."

"I would say it is not early enough. Well, then, Suki, get yourself together. Breakfast will be waiting."

Tatsumi walked out the door leaving Tsuzuki to ready himself.

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Tsuzuki groaned as he rubbed his sleepy eyes.

"Why does he have to be such an early bird?"

The guardian looked over seeing the ruffles of cover in a heap. He moved them out of the way revealing an empty area of mattress.

"Was it a dream?" he thought. Then looked at his clothes, his shirt half-undone and pant strings untied.

The brunette smiled to himself. He noticed the window closed, remembering opening it last night before he laid down.

He blushed knowing it was not a dream and visually remembered their encounter.

It gave him shivers as he could still feel the touch of Muraki's soft hands and mouth exploring him in areas even he has never been.

Tsuzuki gets out of the bed buttoning back up his shirt.

He feels something in his pocket and pulls out a small note.

"Tonight at the Tantra. Meet me there."

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Tsuzuki walked out, heavy-lidded and dazed.

Tatsumi looked up toward the shinigami as he poured some syrup onto his pancakes.

"Suki, you look terrible." he declared ungraciously.

The zombie form slithered into the chair slowly.

"So tired...so sleepy."

"What time did you go to bed?" The secertary took a sip of his coffee and placed it back down on the table.

"Uhhhgg!" Tsuzuki slams his face into his food.

Tatsumi raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I did hear some noise from your room last night."

Tsuzuki quickly lifts his face, eyes wide and anxious.

"Y-you did?"

Tatsumi looked back at him calmly.

"Yes, though faintly. Something like groaning perhaps. No, more like moaning."

Tsuzuki bit at his finger, sweat appearing at his forhead. He could see the stare Tatsumi was giving him making him that much more nervous.

"Did you have a nightmare, Suki?"

The fear-struck shinigami sighed in relief.

"Yes! Ummm, that's right. A nightmare!"

He jabbed his fork into the heart of the pancakes, shoveling and gulping them down.

"You know they say. That a stone with a hole in it cures nightmares. It is said that the hole within the stone catches the dreams you render at night, only allowing the good dreams to pass through."

Tsuzuki licked his lips, tasting the little bit of syrup around his mouth.

"What happens to the bad dreams?" Crumbs fall from his overly stuffed mouth.

"They become part of the stone. Locked away within its hard surface, forever gone."

He smiled as the sun gleamed off his glasses.

"I'll pick you one up today while we are out on the case."

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Chief Kohan points at the large screen hovering in front of the three shinigamis, then chomps down on his creme-filled puff.

"If we do find any clues to these unsettling murders, now that we know that Muraki is alive thanks to Watari's extensive work, it's possible that he is involved then."

The screen brought up the picture of a young female looking no later than her mid-twenties. Tatsumi pointed a long stick at the picture, snapping it for attention.

"This is the lastest victim in this onslaught of murders which is now called the "Rose Murders." She was found in Grover Park leaning down on a bench this morning by some kids. As you can see, her throat has been slashed both vertically and horizontally. A white rose was left in the opening.
Her right hand also has been cut along the forefinger webbing. Why the murderer chose this sort of action, I don't know. But it is obvious from the rose we know who is involved."

Watari looked at the picture, tapping his fingers.

"What a gruesome way to die! That Doctor surely is a cruel man."

Tsuzuki rose up from his chair, outraged to hear his friends talk such nonsense about Muraki.

"How is it that you believe it is Muraki who comitted these crimes?" he demanded.

Tatsumi looked over to Tsuzuki angerily.

"Chief Koroan if I may. Tsuzuki, despite the little love feast you had with this man, it fits his field of work. With each of the victims, a rose lay nearby. That alone should be enough proof the doctor is involved."

Tsuzuki sits back down, seeing Tatsumi look at him with anger, yes, but also with slight hurt. Tsuzuki looks down turning his gaze away from him.

"No. I just think we are jumping to conclusions. We don't have any proof that he really is, in fact, still alive."

Tsuzuki knew Muraki was alive, though. He had just seen him last night, but he wasn't going to tell his friends that. Why would he? So they can criticize him more for being with this man? Besides, he didn't want Tatsumi to know. It would hurt him terribly.

"Well, then, that settles it. Tatsumi, Tsuzuki, I want you both to investagate the Grover Park area. See what you can find out."

They rise to leave.

"While you are out. Please, do stop by the bakery and pick me up some more creme puffs."

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They searched the park ending in nothing but tired empty thoughts. Tatsumi sat down on the bench as Tsuzuki went to join him. Then stops remembering what happened last time. He decides to stand instead.
"Suki, why do you love him? He was in hiding for two years only to come out and..."

"Tatsumi, don't." Tsuzuki sqeezed his hand to a fist, but Tatsumi grabbed ahold of it.

'Tsuzuki! Please! Just hear me out."

The brunette sighed.

"I'm only telling you this because I care, Suki. Muraki is a danger to you. You want so bad to believe that he loved you, but in truth, Tsuzuki, he was just using you. You are just a puppet to him."

Tsuzuki pulled his hand away.

"What makes you any better, Tatsumi? You want so bad to be with me, too. You use words to encourage and gain yourself an advantage. You're no different then he is!"

"There is a difference, Suki."

"How is there a difference?" the brunette pushed.

Because I'm not just using you for my own lustful desires! I am in love with you!"

Tsuzuki backs away. "I can't deal with this right now..."

Tatsumi gritted his teeth. "Why do you keep avoiding me?"

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Tsuzuki sat at his computer forgetting that he broke the keyboard. He sighed going over to Hisoka's.

"I hope he doesn't mind." He turned it on and clicked onto the search engine, typing in the word "Tantra." A whole list of catagories fall in front of his eyes.

"Where to go, where to go," he mumbled as he tapped on the first one. It came up with a restaruant in Tokyo, Japan.

"This has to be it. Hmm, "The Tantra." What kind of restaurant is this" Tsuzuki popped up a small screen viewing over the information.

The Tantra

Welcome to The Gentlemen's Club; the premier showcase in Tokyo, Japan for sophisticated and exotic entertainment. Here is where you will find the quality that you deserve! Our goal is to provide you, our guest, with the highest quality visual stimulation and mental titillation. All of our beautiful models are unique and delightful on stage and in person. This is a virtual playground, exclusively for gentlemen, enjoy a relaxing evening with friends or with clients. Escape from the ordinary. Experience what everyone's been talking about, where good taste meets good fun.

"Oh, this sounds interesting! I wonder what kind of shows they have? Nice restaurant. And it has shows. It must be expensive."

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Tsuzuki walked up to the entrance of the largly crowded club, only to be stopped as a large overly-muscled man stepped in front of him.

"Name?"

"Tsuzuki Asato."

The much larger man skimmed through a sheet in his hands. Quickly, he looks back at the excited shinigami, his eyes narrowed.

'Sorry, kid. Your name's not on here. No admittance."

Tsuzuki's jaw dropped.

"What! But that's impossible! I have to get in there."

"Oh, really?" The larger man crossed his arms moving in front of Tsuzuki.

"EEK!" Tsuzuki jumped back only to slam against Muraki's chest.

"Asato. You never cease to amuse me." the silver-haired doctor stated.

Startled, Tsuzuki looked back at the taller man in awe. Muraki wore a black cashmere turtleneck and matching slacks over which he wore a long white leather trenchcoat.

Mu...Muraki!" Tsuzuki stared at him as the platinum blonde grabbed his arm, pulling him up to the larger man in front of them.

"This man is with me, Gusta."

The giant man nodded and smiled, moving to one side.

"Of course, Dr. Muraki. Go right on in."

Tsuzuki gladly allowed Muraki to guide him as they passed the guard.

"You must be very popular here." he remarked.

Muraki looked over to his shinigami smirking.

"I am. I'm a regular at this strip club."

Tsuzuki stopped in his tracks.

"STRIP CLUB!! But I thought..."

Muraki pulled him closer touching his cheek.

"The Tantra is one of the most sophisticated establishments in Tokyo. The very finest, I assure you."

He nuzzled his face slowly to Tsuzuki's ear.

"I believe I owe you a payback."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Tsuzuki is in for a treat.

Chapter Seven: You can call me...Kaza.

Note: The Tantra is a real strip club in Tokyo japan.