Leaning with negligent grace, against a wall in the Courtroom hallway, Yutaka Watari tracked his partner’s agitated pacing through half-slitted eyes.

“Do you have any idea how much it’s going to cost to replace the carpet you are currently wearing a hole in?” The blonde Guardian asked in a low, conversational tone.

Tatsumi spared his partner an unamused glare as he stalked past the younger man. “They’re late.”

Watari chuckled softly. “Tsuzuki is always late. That is one area even the Kid hasn’t been able to improve on.”

“This isn’t time for laughter, Watari. It’s one thing to be late for a mission briefing, it’s an entirely different matter to be late for an official mission review.” Tatsumi snapped, his tone biting.

As usual, the older man’s ire washed over Watari like water across a duck’s back. Shifting only enough to recross his ankles, Watari set his arms akimbo over his chest and fiddled with his tie. He hated wearing a tie and the few times he did deign to don the neckpiece he inevitably ended up with the knot down the middle of his chest, Tsuzuki style. However, from the minute the memo announcing the inquiry had hit his desk, Tatsumi has been so irritable that getting into a fight over necktie vs. turtleneck, hardly seemed worth the effort. So, Watari had donned a tie and a proper suit jacket in lieu of his usual turtleneck and labcoat.

“Tsuzuki isn’t a child, Tatsumi. He knows what’s at stake. He’ll be here in time.” Watari tried to reassure his fretful partner but Tatsumi wasn’t in the mood to be soothed.

Giving a dismissive shake of his head in the younger Guardian’s direction, Tatsumi resumed his restless pacing. His mind was clicking along at a rapid pace, trying to anticipate what sorts of questions they would be facing in the inquiry. He knew that Tsuzuki would be asked to explain his decision to destroy Li Subaku rather than bring the rogue Judicial in for a proper trial. It had been months since the incident, and Tatsumi had begun to harbor the hope that the details in the report given to Konoe were going to be enough to satisfy the review board. Then the memo had hit his desk.

Tatsumi, Watari, Tsuzuki and Hisoka were all to appear before the board for a formal review and inquiry into their actions. Tatsumi could still remember the sense of dread that lodged in his chest when he’d read the formal wording. The last thing Tatsumi wanted was to make Tsuzuki relive the nightmare. Wanting to spare Tsuzuki the necessity of having to explain himself, Tatsumi had attempted to prevent the inquiry by going to the review board on his own. He'd lodged a request that only his actions be taken under review after all, it had been his mission to bring Subaku in, not Tsuzuki’s. It was bad luck that Tsuzuki’s case had ended up intersecting with Tatsumi’s. It had been firmly pointed out to Tatsumi that in the end Subaku had been Tsuzuki’s case, as it had been Subaku who was committing the murders Tsuzuki and Watari had been investigating. The Kagetsukai’s request had been denied. All four Guardians would stand at the inquiry.

Pausing at the far end of the hall, Tatsumi stared out the wall length window, which overlooked the tea garden. He felt an overwhelming urge to throw his fist towards the heavy glass but his logical mind wouldn’t allow him such a futile show of temper. He did recognize that, since the board's refusal to grant his request, his emotions had been riotous. Exhaling a deep breath, Tatsumi forced himself to rein them in emotions firmly locking them down into a corner of his mind. . Tatsumi had been desperately trying to get control of his anger and frustration but they seemed to bubble just beneath the surface, making it hard for him to relax his guard, even with his lover.

Turning around, the Secretary began to trek back towards his partner. Watari stood, shoulders leaning against the ornate wall, looking for the entire world as if he were catching a nap. Tatsumi knew better. He could read the very subtle hints in the younger man’s body language. The minute tension across the shoulders, the fact that Watari’s hair was unrestrained, allowing the other man to use it as a curtain to shield his face, and self-hugging these were all indicators. There was something on Watari’s mind something, which was seriously bothering the scientist.

Frowning, Tatsumi closed the distance between himself and his lover. Stopping beside Watari, the elder Guardian slid his hands into the pockets of his suit pants and took up a stance that allowed him to watch both Watari and the doorway at the end of the hall.

“Where are you?” Tatsumi asked in a low tone, softening his voice in an unspoken apology for snapping earlier.

Peeking up from where he had been studying his shoes, Watari smiled crookedly at his partner. “Nowhere, everywhere, just thinking.”

“About?” Tatsumi prompted.

Laying his head back against the wall, Watari turned so the full force of his amber eyes was focused on his partner. For a split second, the level of thoughtful disquiet in the normally tranquil gaze caught Tatsumi, and he felt a stab of concern as he wondered just what was preying on his partner's mind. Then Watari blinked and turned his head, looking down towards the doorway where Tsuzuki and Hisoka had just appeared.

“Here they are.” Watari said cheerfully, pushing his shoulders away from the wall and straightening up.

Recognizing that the moment was gone, Tatsumi resisted the temptation to pull his partner off to the side and demand Watari explain what was concerning him. Instead he turned his attention towards the arriving pair.

Like Watari, Hisoka had forgone his usual relaxed wardrobe. The youngest Guardian looked quite sharp in a light tan suit with a somber tie. His expression was studious as he listened, walking along with his partner, completely oblivious to everything but Tsuzuki's low voice.

Given that this was Hisoka's first formal inquisition, Tsuzuki was filling his partner in on what the boy could expect.

"There'll be three Judicials. They'll be familiar with all aspects of the case already but they'll ask each of us to give an account of the facts and then they will ask us questions. The questions can be about specific facts, or about our impressions of the events. You have to answer truthfully or they'll know. After they've heard from all four of us, they'll review the reports again along with our testimony and decide if our actions were warranted."

Tsuzuki's normally chipper voice was toned down and his violet eyes were full of trepidation and guilt. He felt horrible about the formal review. It was his fault that his partner and his friends were in danger of being censored for their part in the way the case came down.

"Damn this," the Secretary muttered, as he spied the haunted look on Tsuzuki's face. Breaking away from Watari, Tatsumi walked towards Tsuzuki and Hisoka. His back thus to his own partner, Tatsumi didn't seen the speculative expression in Watari's amber eyes. Nor did he see the flash of intense concern that washed across the scientist's face.

Watari exhaled a silent breath through his teeth. He didn't need Hisoka's empathy to feel the wave of anger Tatsumi was trying to control. Hanging back, he watched Tatsumi walk up to Tsuzuki and Hisoka. He expected Tatsumi to start scolding Tsuzuki for being tardy, but instead the Kagetsukai reached up and began to straighten the knot of Tsuzuki's tie, speaking in soft tones to his ex-partner.

Hisoka cast a glance towards Tsuzuki and Tatsumi but continued to walk along until he stood beside Watari. Hands in the pockets of his slacks, the young man scuffed the toe of his dress shoe against the highly polished marble flooring.

Pulling his eyes off his partner and Tsuzuki, Watari turned his attention towards Hisoka.

"Hey there, Kid." He said in a gentle tone.

"Hey."

"Nervous?"

"No." Hisoka answered automatically but after a moment he followed the declaration up with a defensively stated. "We didn't do anything wrong." Did we?

Watari smiled at Hisoka's bent head.

"Well, perhaps in a perfect world things could have gone down a little less chaotically. But we did our best in the circumstances."

Hisoka turned slightly and cast a surreptitious glance towards Tsuzuki.

"It's because he was trying to protect me. If I had just been able…" Hisoka began only to stop when Watari reached out and cuffed him very gently on the back of his head.

"Stop it. Trust me, they're over there stoking up each other's guilt to monumental proportions. You and I need to keep clearer heads."

Glaring, without any real heat, towards Watari, Hisoka reached up a hand and patted his hair back into place. "Tsuzuki has been a mess since that memo came out." He admitted in a quiet voice. "I'm worried, Watari-san. He's been quiet, like in Kyoto."

"I know, Kid. Just keep your wits about you and this will all blow over." Watari's voice was positive but something about the expression in his eyes gave Hisoka pause.

"Are you sure?"

"Hmm?" Watari's eyes had drifted to the broad shoulders of his partner's back.

"You… you're worried." Hisoka's tone was curious. Standing close to the blond Guardian, Hisoka could feel the very fine concern, which he'd first picked up on back during the Esoka case.

"Me? Naw, just trying to remember if I left a Bunsen burner on in the lab." Watari deflected the question with a quick, sunny smile and rakish wink.

And just like that day in the lab, Hisoka felt his tentative read of the scientist's emotions become muddled by the man's overly cheerful manner. Frowning and determined, Hisoka reached towards Watari, trying to reestablish contact, but the older man slipped away from his grasp and moved towards Tatsumi and Tsuzuki.

He's really worried about Tatsumi-san and he's hiding something. Hisoka knew that he wasn't imaging what he felt, but he realized that he had no hope of pursuing it at the moment.

Moving away from Hisoka before the all too perceptive young man could pick up something Watari wasn't ready to share, the scientist moved up beside the two older men.

"Ah, sorry to interrupt, but we should probably go on in. They'll probably want to start soon."

Tatsumi exhaled a deep breath and gave the knot of Tsuzuki's tie one last tweak.

"Yes, let's get this charade over with," the Kagetsukai's voice was tight with restrained anger. Turning neatly on his heel, Tatsumi began to stride towards the large double doors that lead into the primary Courtroom.

Behind his back, Tsuzuki shared a concerned glance with Watari, the latter giving the former a slight shrug before turning to follow his partner. Sighing softly, Tsuzuki trailed along behind the other two men, pausing for a moment to let Hisoka fall into step beside him.

"Tsuzuki," Hisoka began in a low voice.

"Hmm?"

"Something isn't right with Tatsumi-san."

"He's stressed about this review, Hisoka."

"No, there's something else. Something Watari-san's hiding."

"Maybe they're having a row. I can't imagine Tatsumi has been easy to live with these past few days."

"No. That's not it. This is from back before they… ah… before they became lovers. All the way back to the Esoka case." Hisoka stammered a little, blushing brightly.

Tsuzuki grinned at the blush, but his violet eyes held a more sober expression. He didn't mean to dismiss his partner's intuition, but at that moment he didn't have the time to explore it further.

"Okay, Hisoka. Listen, we need to focus on this review, but after we get this over with, we'll sit down and talk."

Tsuzuki touched his partner's shoulder and gave the young man a reassuring smile before moving on through the doorway into the Courtroom.

Still standing in the hallway, Hisoka took a deep breath, muttering to himself. "All right, I guess it can wait."

Though he had stood in the Courtroom and argued his case for being allowed to become a Guardian, Hisoka still felt a whisper of unease dance along his spine as he walked into the impressive room. The Courtroom was not particularly large but it was built in a manner designed to impress. Done in ornate wood and marble it was a hard room, not meant to comfort the participants.

The main doors opened on to an aisle way between two sets of benches. Six benches lined each side of the room, twelve benches total providing seating in the gallery section of the room. A low wall done in carved ebony wood with a marble top separated the gallery from the main floor of the courtroom. A tall podium stood between two large tables, where those who would be judged stood to argue their case. Along the back wall was the bench, upon which sat anywhere from three to nine Judicials, depending on the trial being held.

The three Judicials who would hear the evidence presented by Hisoka and the others were already seated behind the bench, speaking softly amongst themselves. All three were male, elderly and distinguished looking gentlemen. There were honor guards posted at the entrance to the Courtroom but the only other person in the room was Chief Konoe, who sat up front in one of the benches.

Seeing the four Guardians enter, the Chief stood and moved to the end of the bench.

"You're late," he gruffed.

"We're here." Tatsumi's icy tone quelled any further questioning. The Secretary chose to sit one bench back from the railing, sliding into his seat without really looking at anybody.

Watari gave Konoe a slight shrug and scooted in beside his partner. Tsuzuki moved towards Konoe, a hand reaching towards Hisoka's elbow, but just as the violet-eyed Guardian's fingers touched his partner a voice rang out from the bench.

"So pleased you four could join us." There was a definite hint of contempt in the hard voice that came from the Judicial sitting in the center.

Across his partner's slender shoulders, Tsuzuki saw Tatsumi and Watari immediately came to their feet, the scientist betraying a hint of nerves with a quick stroke to his tie. In contrast, Tatsumi stood ramrod straight, chin lifted in a highborn manner, which caused Tsuzuki to shiver slightly. I think I'm beginning to see what Hisoka meant. Tsuzuki thought to himself, exchanging a quick, worried glance with Watari. Though their eyes made brief contact, Tsuzuki could definitely see hints of concern in his friend's gaze. Hisoka's right. Taka is worried about something.

Caught up in his thoughts, Tsuzuki missed the Judicial on the left calling their names and it wasn't until Hisoka gave him a stern look that the elder Guardian looked towards the bench.

"Huh?"

"I said, Asato Tsuzuki, are you present?" The man was obviously repeating himself, but he did so with a kind twinkle in his brown eyes.

"Oh! Yes… I'm here." Tsuzuki even pointed to himself, which caused Hisoka to sigh deeply.

"Indeed. Well then, we'd like to start with the testimony of Hisoka Kurosaki."

Though not unexpected, Tsuzuki still frowned. He'd hoped to be allowed to go first. He'd even entertained the fancy that if he could give a good enough account with his testimony the review board would forgo questioning the others. He'd wanted to spare Hisoka the discomfort of having to stand up and address the board.

If wishes were horses…Tsuzuki thought sadly, turning his attention back to his partner. Giving Hisoka a supportive smile, Tsuzuki squeezed the younger man's elbow in a warm manner.

"You'll be fine."

Hisoka ducked his head and pulled away, muttering. "Of course I will." But he took only a step towards the gate before looking back over his shoulder at Tsuzuki.

Fluent in Hisoka-isms, Tsuzuki smiled affectionately at the boy, feeling his heart warm when Hisoka returned a small grin of his own. Then, just as quick, the youngest Guardian's face slipped into its mask of neutrality and he stepped confidently on through the gate to the podium.

Eyes on the top of the podium, Hisoka concentrated on stepping up to the structure, getting himself into position before, with a deep breath, he looked up across the expanse which separated the podium from the bench and looked at the three Judicials. Though in theory equals, Hisoka could immediately feel that the two in flanking positions to the left and right were some how subordinate to the Judicial sitting in the center. There was nothing particularly remarkable about any of the men, in fact they reminded Hisoka of Chief Konoe mostly, but for some reason the man in the center drew Hisoka's eyes.

"Please state your name and position for the record." The questions began the moment Hisoka looked up.

"Hisoka Kurosaki, Guardian of the second district."

"Let the record show such. Now, Kurosaki we have read over the events of the third week in July of this year but we wish to review these events with your input. Records indicate that you are the partner of Asato Tsuzuki, but on the dates in question you were out in the field with Seiichirou Tatsumi. Please explain to the board why?"

Hisoka thought about his answer for a moment, then leaned forward and gave the briefest response possible.

"Tatsumi-san requested I go out in the field with him."

"So the reports indicate. Why was this?"

"Watari-san, Tatsumi-san's partner of record, was already out in the field."

"As indicated. Watari is on record as having been out in the field with Asato Tsuzuki who is your partner of record, Kurosaki."

Not hearing a question at the end of the Judicial's statement, Hisoka held his tongue. Tsuzuki had drilled him thoroughly the night before on the tactics the Judicials would use to try to trip them up. Hisoka knew his best bet was to speak as little as possible and not to offer up any information that might get turned around into a question. Silence filled the Courtroom as Hisoka patiently waited for the next question.

The Judicial who was questioning him, the one on the right, flattened his lips together in an expression of displeasure, but the man's eyes moved down to the paper in front of him.

"Why was Watari out with your partner Tsuzuki?"

"Tsuzuki asked Watari-san to go with him."

"Why did he do that?"

"You'll have to ask him."

"I'm asking you."

"I don't know."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not Tsuzuki."

There was a cough from somewhere in the gallery, which sounded suspiciously like Watari trying to choke back a snigger.

Blocked, once again the Judicial sat back with a definite frown on his face. Hisoka tried not to let it bother him. His eyes moved automatically back towards the man seated in the center, expecting questions from that quarter, but that particular Judicial appeared to be focused on something else. Before Hisoka could pinpoint just where the man was staring, more questions were coming from the Judicial on the left.

"Kurosaki, please give us an account of the events which lead up to the destruction of Judicial Subaku, starting with your arrival on Earth in the company of Tatsumi."

Taking a deep, calming breath, Hisoka began to retell what had happened on the case. He explained how he and Tatsumi had arrived on Earth and immediately begun to work all the leads they had in their attempt to track down the rogue Judicial as quickly as possible. He and the Kagetsukai had quickly run into dead ends with most of the leads. Though insane, Subaku was not a stupid man and the Judicial had laid false trails, well aware that Guardians would be sent after him. Hisoka detailed the trap that he and Tatsumi had nearly perished in and how it had taken a combination of Hisoka's empathic ability and Tatsumi's shadow magic to get them clear of the danger. He went on to explain how escaping the trap had allowed them to pinpoint Subaku and how they had closed in, interfering with the man's planned attack on a school playground.

"At which point we met up with Tsuzuki and Watari-san, who were following a lead of their own. The four of us converged on Subaku-san and demanded his surrender."

"And what happened then?"

"Subaku-san refused." Feeling his heartbeat quicken, Hisoka set his back teeth trying to get control of himself. He did not particularly want to relive what happened next, even though he knew the Judicials would ask.

"And after he refused?"

Damn. Hisoka thought to himself, forcing a deep breath into his lungs and gripping the podium to keep his fingers from trembling.

"Subaku-san turned and attacked."

"He attacked, how?"

"He attempted to psychically assault me." Please don't make me explain.

"Please explain."

Damn it!

"He attempted to force his way into my mind, as he had done with his mortal victims."

"How did that feel?" For the first time, the Judicial in the center asked a question.

And it was a question that caused Hisoka to blanch. The last thing he wanted to do was try to explain how it felt when Subaku started to invade his mind. He did not want to relive the horror he’d experienced at feeling the alien presence forcing its way into his thoughts. Hisoka felt sick just thinking about it.

"Whoa, wait a minute!" Tsuzuki's angry voice seemed to come from far away, muffled by the sound of the blood pounding in Hisoka's ears. "How does that have any bearing on this review?!"

"It is a question and as such will be answered by Kurosaki. You will be silent!" The Judicial's voice cracked through the air.

Furious, Tsuzuki looked over towards Tatsumi and Watari, trying to gauge their reactions to the question. Tatsumi's upper body was leaning forward, as if the Kagetsukai was about to lunge to his feet. Tsuzuki spied the hand Watari had on Tatsumi's knee, knuckles white with the strain of making an impression on the angry Secretary, but Watari wasn't looking at his partner. His contemplative expression was fixed upon the center Judicial.

Clenching his teeth hard enough to hurt, Tsuzuki looked back towards the podium and his partner. Hisoka looked achingly small and young as he stood there, plucking at the edge of the podium with his slim fingers. The gesture was a nervous habit and Tsuzuki’s heart went out to the boy.

I’m so sorry, Hisoka.

Feeling the brush of his partner’s guilty emotions, Hisoka turned and sought Tsuzuki’s eyes. As soon as his gaze locked with the older man’s, Hisoka smiled weakly and gave Tsuzuki a little nod. He’d answer the question and he’d be fine. Taking another deep breath, Hisoka turned back towards the bench, lifting his chin and wiping all expression of his face.

“It felt disgusting. It was a sickening experience which was horribly painful and emotionally terrifying.”

A pin could have dropped into the silence that fell as the boy’s words faded. The next question came from the Judicial on the right.

“How is it your mind survived such an attack?”

Once again Hisoka paused, his thumb tapping anxiously on the edge of the podium.

“I’m not really sure.”

“You’re not sure?”

“Ah, no.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t remember how I survived the attack.”

“Why?”

Again Hisoka’s thumb tapped the podium and once again he cast a quick look over his shoulder, only this time his gaze sought out Watari and Tatsumi. The Secretary’s expression was neutral, while his partner’s amber eyes were twinkling. Watari gave Hisoka a wink and a nod. Closing his eyes for a moment, Hisoka turned back to the bench and mumbled his response.

“I’m sorry, Kurosaki, could you please repeat that?”

“Ahum, I said… Watari-san shot me.”

There was a pause then the Judicial on the left repeated carefully. “Watari… shot you?”

“Mmm, yes. Twice.”

“Twice. Why?”

“You’d have to ask him.”

Again, silence fell in the courtroom and Hisoka feared that they were going to ask him to retell the explanation Watari had given him for his actions. The youngest Guardian exhaled a relieved breath when instead the Judicial on the left gave him a nod before saying

“Then that is what we shall do. Thank you for your testimony, Kurosaki. You are dismissed. Yutaka Watari, please approach the podium.”

Hisoka turned, nearly bumping into Watari as the older man came forward.

“Sorry.” Hisoka muttered under his breath, receiving a gentle touch to his shoulder in response. Moving quickly to Tsuzuki’s side, Hisoka took a seat and sighed deeply. He ducked his head automatically when Tsuzuki’s hand reached up and ruffled his hair, but secretly he was comforted by the older man’s touch. Tilting his head, leaning a little towards Tsuzuki, Hisoka looked up towards the podium he’d just vacated and settled back to watch Watari fence with the Judicials.

Watari stood at the podium, hands folded neatly into the small of his back, head tilted slightly to the side. In his nearly thirty years as a Guardian, he'd been involved in two reviews, which wasn't all that many in the grand scheme of things, but it did help him feel a tad more confident in facing the Judicials. Though he'd spent most of his time trying to calm Tatsumi down, Watari was also displeased with the inquest, but he channeled his temper through his habitual levity, remembering the old saying 'never let them see you sweat'. He made direct eye contact with each of the Judicials in turn and could tell from their varying frowns that his amused smirk was not sitting well with them.

“Please state your name and position for the records.”

“Yutaka Watari, and currently I’m standing at a podium.”

Tsuzuki choked back a giggle, biting his lower lip and casting a surreptitious glance towards Tatsumi. The Kagetsukai did not look amused.

“Watari…” The Judicial began in a stern voice, only to be waved off by the scientist.

“Just trying to break the ice. Yutaka Watari, Guardian of the sixth.”

“Thank you. Now, as it was the question on the floor, I will ask you. Why did you shoot Hisoka Kurosaki?”

“It was the most expedient means to an end.”

“I’m sorry?”

“We were having a hard time reaching Subaku. By the time we could get through the shields he had erected and stopped him, he would have caused irreversible damage to Kurosaki’s empathic pathways and possibly damaged the Kid’s mind further. As we could not stop Subaku, I pursued the course left open to us, which was to render Kurosaki unconscious as swiftly and thoroughly as possible.”

“And why did you choose this course of action?”

“Two reasons. First it altered Kurosaki’s state of mind in a sudden manner, which threw off Subaku’s attack. Secondly, the subconscious mind is much stronger than the conscious mind. Kurosaki’s subconscious had a better chance at fighting off Subaku, until we could reach him, than his consciousness did.”

“So you shot him.”

“Twice.”

“Once would not have been sufficient?”

“I have really lousy aim.”

This time, the Judicials on the left and right chuckled discreetly but the man in the center remained perfectly impassive.

“Very well. Going back, can you please explain to the board why you were out in the field with Tsuzuki instead of Tatsumi, your partner of record?”

“Of course. Tsuzuki asked me to tag along.”

“And you didn’t think this was a strange request?”

“Not at all. Given the nature of their mental power, Judicials are notoriously dangerous. As exampled by Subaku’s attack on Kurosaki, the Kid was a liability to Tsuzuki in this case.”

Tsuzuki winced as Watari spoke bluntly. There were times when he wished his friend would show just a bit more tact and diplomacy. Casting a sideways glance at Hisoka’s pale features, Tsuzuki tried to give his partner an apologetic smile but Hisoka just waved him off. They’d discussed the matter and Tsuzuki knew Hisoka viewed it as a closed subject but Tsuzuki still felt guilty.

“And this is why you think Tsuzuki asked you to accompany him?”

“Well, I think it’s a workable theory, but if you want to know why Tsuzuki asked me to partner him for this case, you’d have to ask Tsuzuki.”

“It is well known,” the Judicial in the center began to speak. “That Asato Tsuzuki is very protective of his partner Hisoka Kurosaki. You don’t suppose that Tsuzuki, knowing that he intended upon murdering Subaku, choose to leave his partner behind in order to protect Kurosaki?”

Silence crashed into the courtroom.

Hands still clasped behind his back, Watari grabbed the center seam of his jacket and gave it a light tug before he answered with calm and deliberate words. Fighting to keep his tone free of the sense of outrage that coursed through him when the Judicial attacked Tsuzuki.

“I would not suppose anything of the sort. It would be counter to everything I know about Tsuzuki to suppose him capable of such an act so I suppose you should ask him yourself. However, since neither Tsuzuki nor I knew that Subaku was responsible for the attacks we were investigating I really don’t suppose that to be the case at all.”

Tsuzuki sat perfectly still, feeling the blood rush out of his face. He couldn’t believe the question he’d just heard. A gentle touch to his hand drew his attention away from the Judicial sitting in the center of the bench to his partner’s worried emerald eyes but his gaze skipped onwards, past Hisoka’s shoulder towards Tatsumi.

The Kagetsukai had almost risen out of his seat but had caught and controlled himself. Tatsumi was pulling a wrinkle out of his pant leg as he settled back down onto the bench, but his blue eyes locked with Tsuzuki’s worried glance.

Tsuzuki could tell that Tatsumi was furious, as furious as Tsuzuki could ever remember seeing the man but through a visible effort of will second to no one, Tatsumi softened his features and gave Tsuzuki a comforting nod of his head.

Keeping his eyes on Tsuzuki until the other man had relaxed back in his seat, Tatsumi turned a hard glance towards the Judicial who kept asking the hurtful questions. There was something going on with the line of questioning and Tatsumi was beginning to fear that the review board was going to try to accuse Tsuzuki of deliberate intent to harm.

But why… why are they after Tsuzuki like this? Tatsumi frowned darkly as he tried to puzzle out what the Judicials were hinting at.

At the podium, Watari stood patiently, his outward appearance completely at odds with the conflict going on in his mind. Like his partner, he was not unaware that the line of questioning seemed to be ramping up for an attack on Tsuzuki. In fact, the previous question was nearly absurd, simply because the board had to know that it was Tatsumi and Hisoka who had known the identity of Subaku. He and Tsuzuki hadn’t even been aware that they were hunting one of their own until the final confrontation, and they hadn’t even known it was Subaku until after the man was dispatched.

What the hell is going on here? Watari’s quick mind was trying to chase down the possibilities and he almost missed his own dismissal from the podium.

“Thank you for your testimony, Watari. I believe it is now time for us to speak directly with Tsuzuki.” The Judicial in the center made the request, ignoring the startled look not only from Tatsumi, but also from his fellow Judicials.

Watari looked over his shoulder at Tatsumi, who was once again sitting forward with a shadowed expression. He could tell that Tatsumi had been expecting to be called next. He knew that his lover had been hoping to have the opportunity to confront the Judicials before Tsuzuki stepped up to the podium. Even with the distance separating them, Watari could sense the tension radiating off Tatsumi as the older man fought to control his emotions. But Tsuzuki was one of Tatsumi’s key weaknesses. Watari knew that Tatsumi would go to any length to protect and defend Tsuzuki, but what Watari didn’t know was whether Tatsumi himself was aware of just how emotionally involved he still was with the violet-eyed Guardian. Turning his attention back towards the Judicials, Watari’s eyes narrowed as a question rose up to follow the last thought. Who else is aware of just how sensitive Seiichirou is when it comes to Tsuzuki?

“Watari, if you will please yield the podium to Tsuzuki.” The Judicial on the right prompted Watari with a hint of impatience in his voice.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Watari turned and moved towards the gate, which led out into the gallery. He clapped Tsuzuki on the shoulder as the older man stepped past him, and gave Hisoka an apologetic grin. But when he went to retake his seat, he found Tatsumi on his feet.

“Change places with me.” The Secretary spoke in a low tone.

“Why?”

“I want to be ready.”

“To what, rush the bench? Seii…”

“Just do it, Taka!” Tatsumi snapped in a tight whisper.

“All right, fine.” Watari soothed before sitting down and wiggling past Tatsumi to the far side of the bench.

Tatsumi waited until Watari was past, then sat back down, his eyes going straight to the Judicial who sat in the center and the back of Tsuzuki’s head.

Tsuzuki stood calmly at the podium, hands resting, fingers grasped lightly on the wood in front of him. He wore an expression of gentle innocence, violet-eyes wide and worried as he looked from Judicial to Judicial.

“Please state your name and position for the record.” Came the request.

“Asato Tsuzuki, Guardian of the second.”

“Tsuzuki, we’d like to ask you a few questions about your conduct in the Subaku case.”

Tsuzuki swallowed and shifted uncomfortably but nodded his head.

“I’m sorry, the court can not record nods… please verbalize your response.” The center Judicial snapped harshly causing Tsuzuki to jump slightly.

“I… I’m sorry. Yes, I understand what you want.”

“Do you?” The center Judicial sneered. “You understand that we want to know what prompted you to set yourself up as Judge, Jury and Executioner for a fellow Meifu denizen? You understand that we feel you should be held accountable for your murderous intentions? You understand all this?”

Shocked, Tsuzuki actually fell back a step from the podium. “I…I…”

“You what, Tsuzuki? You’d like to confess now and save us any further trouble with this review? You know why this review was called. You know that your actions are unacceptable. Your actions are so often unacceptable, Tsuzuki I’m not surprised that you understand how we would be questioning them now.”

“I… I’m sorry. I’m sorry… I know I failed, but…” Tsuzuki stammered in a small voice, his tall body trying to fold down on itself in a protective curl.

In his seat, as stunned as the rest of them Watari sat forward, closely watching the center Judicial-questioning Tsuzuki. As the Judicial continued to speak, the scientist noticed that there was something not quite right about the man. There was something in his eyes that was starting to become intense as he attacked Tsuzuki mercilessly.

“Yes, it would seem you did fail. In fact, it would seem you fail a lot. You failed to bring Subaku in, killing him instead. Just like you failed in your efforts to bring in Muraki, allowing for the death of many, including that little girl in Kyoto.”

Tsuzuki’s face went white as a sheet and he gripped the podium to keep from turning and rushing out of the courtroom when the Judicial brought up Kyoto. “I… please I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!” He stammered, bewildered by the turn of events and the vicious line of questioning.

“I am merely trying to give the board a clear picture of how many times your failure has resulted in the death of innocents. How your lack of judgment makes you as murderous as the worst sociopath. In fact, who are you to have decided that Subaku deserved to die? How dare a murdering bastard like you…”

Tatsumi’s eyes moved between the Judicial and Tsuzuki’s bone white face. Tsuzuki’s violet eyes were huge in his face, making them look bruised, and Tatsumi could see each word striking Tsuzuki like a physical blow, ripping at the fabric of Tsuzuki’s fragile soul. As if oblivious to Tsuzuki’s pain the Judicial continued to spew vile and untrue words at the hapless Guardian who stood, trembling, at the podium.

“ENOUGH!” Tatsumi heard his voice bellow the word before he was even aware he was going to speak.

Lunging up to his feet, the Kagetsukai stared at the Judicial with an openly furious expression. The need to protect Tsuzuki was burning like fire through his veins, causing his vision to mist red, but Tatsumi didn’t care. At that moment the only thing he wanted was to shut the Judicial up before the man could hurt Tsuzuki further.

“How DARE you speak to him like that? You have no right to judge Tsuzuki and you have no right to be bringing up events that have no bearing on this review!” As Tatsumi yelled at the man standing calmly behind the bench, the shadows thrown by the wall sconces began to draw together in an ominous manner.

Eyes transfixed on the sight of his partner’s enraged visage, Watari nearly missed the way a shadow crawled along the back of the bench in front of him. Only when an angry, inky tendril reared up did Watari pull his eyes off Tatsumi’s face and look at what was happening. The courtroom was crawling with shadows, their menace unmistakable.

“Seii…” Watari began in a soft voice, trying to draw his partner’s attention.

But Tatsumi was beyond soothing. The pupils of his blue eyes were mere pinpoints and his face was twisted in an expression of intense loathing, gaze fixed on the Judicial who stood, calmly watching the furious Kagetsukai, unafraid of the shadows positioning to strike.

Watari’s eyes turned towards the bench as the preternatural calm with which the Judicial watched Tatsumi caught his attention. The other two Judicials were looking quite alarmed by the shadows inking their way along the walls and floors, but the man who had been questioning Tsuzuki so brutally was perfectly composed. Suddenly it made sense.

“No.” Watari whispered to himself. The scientist felt the blood leave his own face as the full import of what was happening impressed itself upon him. “No, I was supposed to have more time. You were supposed to give me more time.”

His soft words went unheard when the Judicial started to speak once more.

“Asato Tsuzuki is known as a 'screw up', why do you question it, Tatsumi? Tsuzuki’s failure kills people. Innocent lives are lost through this man’s misjudgments; even the life of his partner has been in jeopardy due to Tsuzuki’s…inhuma…”

The Judicial’s attempt to call Tsuzuki “inhuman” was cut off by Tatsumi’s roar of fury. Tsuzuki, reeling from the accusation, turned in shock towards Tatsumi, his eyes going even wider as he saw the shadows slicing forward with the single-minded intent to destroy.

The events that followed unfolded so fast that noone except Watari and the Judicial behind the bench fully understood what was happening.

Enraged beyond reason by the attack on Tsuzuki, Tatsumi sent his shadows hurtling towards the Judicials sitting behind the bench. Though his anger was only aimed at the man standing, the attack would encompass all three Judicials.

At the same moment as Tatsumi attacked, the Judicial who had been questioning Tsuzuki lifted one hand, dispersing the shadows as if they were mere spider webs to be brushed aside. The Judicial then lifted his other hand, palm outwards and pushed it towards Tatsumi, a blinding flash of yellow light exploding from his outstretched fingers.

Watari was moving just as the flash of power flew from the Judicial’s hand. Lunging for Tatsumi, he drove his shoulder into the taller form of his partner, pushing Tatsumi away from the bench. The Secretary was sent hurtling into the aisleway, the back of his head cracking against one of the benches as he crashed onto the ground. Vision momentarily blurred by the knock to his head, Tatsumi watched through fuzzy eyes as the light hit Watari squarely in the chest, then the Kagetsukai lost track of time.

Watari was picked up and thrown backwards through the benches behind him, breaking the first two rows. However, though his bones snapped beneath the impacts, nothing slowed his momentum. Watari hurtled across the remaining benches, his body violently propelled by the power behind the spell.

The sound made when Watari finally fetched up against the back wall of the courtroom was sickening, a combination of snapping bones and dull thuds as internal organs exploded under the force of the impact. Pieces of the scientist’s shattered ribcage drove out through his chest, ripping apart lungs and other damaged organs; his arms and legs, broken like so many twigs, twisted at grotesque angles. Amber eyes fixed on the Judicial’s face, Watari slid down along the wall collapsing in the growing pool of his own blood.

Only the sound of the clock on the wall ticking off the seconds echoed in the silent chamber. Tsuzuki stood, staring in horror at the carnage in the gallery behind him. Watari’s broken body had folded forward and he now lay face first on the ground. The scientist, normally so full of motion, was frighteningly still. Tatsumi was stretched out on his back, a trickle of blood trailing down from a cut on his temple. The Kagetsukai’s expression was best described as poleaxed. Turning his head slightly, Tsuzuki met Hisoka’s wide, shocked green eyes. Konoe was holding Hisoka’s elbow, restraining the youngest Guardian, his old weary gaze alternating between Tsuzuki’s face, the prone Tatsumi and the standing Judicial

“Enma.” Konoe breathed the word in a shocked voice.

Tsuzuki nearly snapped his own neck spinning his head back around to look at the Judicial.

A faint glowing light of amber now surrounded the man, and his eyes shined with the telltale otherworldliness that marked the Lord of Hades.

“Enma?” Tsuzuki said the name in a bewildered questioning tone.

Strangely enough, it was the shocked Hisoka who provided the explanation.

“He did it on purpose.” The young man’s voice trembled. The emotions in the room were pummeling at his shields, making it hard to discern which feelings were genuinely his own.

Tearing his eyes off EnMaDaiOh, Tsuzuki moved towards his partner. Reaching across the low wall that separated the gallery from the courtroom floor, he gently touched Hisoka’s wrist, calling the boy’s attention away from the painful spectacle of their injured friend.

“What do you mean… who did it on purpose?” Tsuzuki asked in a low, gentle tone

Hisoka’s wide green eyes slid from Enma to Tsuzuki. The younger man’s pupils were huge, dilated with shock.

“EnMaDaiOh… Watari-san… both of them… they did it on purpose.”

Choking back on his desperate need to understand, Tsuzuki forced himself to go slow and careful with Hisoka.

“Hisoka… Hisoka look at me… I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Hisoka looked down where Tsuzuki’s fingers were closed lightly around his wrist. Forcing himself to swallow, he looked back up into his partner’s violet eyes and tried to explain.

“EnMaDaiOh gave Watari-san a Gray Knight. Investigating Tatsumi-san. This review was a test, EnMaDaiOh went after you to upset Tatsumi-san.”

Blinking, Tsuzuki turned towards EnMaDaiOh.

“Why?” He asked, confusion and hurt clear in his tone.

EnMaDaiOh lifted an imperious brow. “I do not need to explain my actions to you, Tsuzuki.”

“You were going to ascend Tatsumi.” This time it was Konoe who spoke. His hard gray eyes fixed on Enma. “You had Watari investigating Tatsumi’s fitness to remain a Guardian but you decided to test Tatsumi, a test he obviously failed. You were going to force ascension on him.” Konoe turned and looked over towards the fallen scientist. “But the spell hit Watari instead. Calibrated for Tatsumi, it didn’t work on Watari.”

Konoe had seen it happen in the past. He’d seen Enma decide a Guardian was too close to the edge of losing control. He’d seen the Lord of Hades step in with ruthless efficiency to dispatch the Guardian in question before mortal lives could be harmed by the fall out of a Guardian losing his or her mind. The incident with Subaku must have pushed Enma’s timetable forward, forcing the Lord of Hades to judge Tatsumi before Watari’s investigation had fully concluded.

“Didn’t work?” Hisoka asked his expression horrified.

“Not in the way it was intended,” Konoe explained. “Had it connected with Tatsumi, it would have ascended him directly on to the next existence of the spirit. It was calibrated for Tatsumi’s soul. When it struck Watari, it was unable to execute the extraction of his soul, so instead Watari received the full force of the raw power.”

Still seated on the floor, Tatsumi listened to the voices of his coworkers wash over him. He could also hear Enma’s deep, emotionless voice. The words The Lord of Hades had thrown at Tsuzuki, the pain in his ex-partner’s face, were still fresh wounds in Tatsumi’s heart. He couldn’t just sit there and let Enma hurt Tsuzuki. It was his responsibility to protect Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki had been in pain, and all the Secretary had been able to think about was the need to keep Tsuzuki safe and happy. Tatsumi had heard Tsuzuki’s pain calling to him and he hadn’t been able to stop it. He hadn’t been able to stop the words flowing from Enma’s mouth to Tsuzuki’s ears, though it was his responsibility to protect those in his care.

He’d failed.

The knowledge that Enma had been about to strike him down seemed insignificant beneath the crushing failure Tatsumi felt. He should have been able to stop this inquiry. If he’d taken more responsibility for the events which lead to the review, then Tsuzuki wouldn’t have been subjected to Enma’s questioning. If he’d just had more control over the original situation with Subaku, they could have brought the rogue in as directed. If Tatsumi had been able to control the situation, take responsibility for what happened or at least satisfy the review board’s questions when they first came up, then Tsuzuki, Hisoka and Wata…

“Taka.” Tatsumi breathed his partner’s name, the first sound he’d made since the scientist had pushed him out of the way of Enma’s spell.

Looking around in a dazed manner, Tatsumi searched for his partner, confused when he didn’t see the younger man near the bench where they had been sitting. He quickly remembered the sight of the light striking Watari and blinking, Tatsumi’s eyes began to follow the trail of destruction that Watari’s hurtling body had left in it’s wake, landing on the long trailing blood stain that marred the wood paneling of the Courtroom wall. Feeling bile rise in his throat, Tatsumi traced along the path of blood to where Watari lay, face down, on the blood soaked carpet.

The crushing numbness of his failure to protect Tsuzuki shattered as pain, tore through Tatsumi’s heart. He struggled to his feet, repeating “no, nonononono” in a desperate whisper as he lurched unsteadily across the gallery floor towards the fallen form of his partner, friend and lover. Tatsumi’s legs gave out as he reached the prone figure and he landed hard on his knees, heedless of the blood that began to soak it’s way through the tailored wool of his suit pants.

Watari’s body was like a broken doll, limbs going in wrong directions with white bits of bone poking out from torn skin. Blood, so much blood, oozed from the numerous tears in the young scientist’s body, but the mess didn’t deter Tatsumi from reaching for his partner. Gathering the injured man carefully in his arms, Tatsumi choked back a whimper as Watari’s head lolled lifelessly over the crook of his elbow. Tenderly shifting the younger man up against his chest, Tatsumi brought his hand up, catching the back of Watari’s neck and guiding the other man’s head onto his shoulder. He ignored the way his partner’s blood quickly soaked through every article of clothing on his body, wanting only to hold the younger man tighter, close and safe in his arms. However, though he curled his shoulders around his lover in a desperately protective gesture, Tatsumi knew the gesture was too little too late.

Seeing, for the first time, the extent of Watari’s injuries, one of the Courtroom guards made to move towards the Kagetsukai and his partner. The man’s intention was to offer aid but Tsuzuki’s voice was like a whip crack across the room.

“Stay where you are!”

The guard turned towards Tsuzuki with a confused expression on his face. The Guardian’s violet eyes were bright with emotion and intense with resolve as he stared the guard down.

“Do not go near them.”

With a blink, Hisoka pulled his eyes away from where Tatsumi was gently rocking Watari in his arms. He looked at Tsuzuki with confusion plain on his face.

“Watari-san needs help, Tsuzuki.” Hisoka pointed out in a low tone.

“I know, but look at Tatsumi. If anyone goes near them right now, Tatsumi is liable to bring this courtroom down on our heads. If he loses it now, Enma won’t hesitate a second time.”

“Hesitate a second time?”

Tsuzuki’s face was grim as he looked away from Tatsumi’s hunched shoulders and down into Hisoka’s pale face.

“Enma could have reactivated the ascension command. He didn’t. He’s not certain himself that he wants to force this on Tatsumi, but if Tatsumi snaps, Enma will destroy him and the time Watari bought us will be for nothing. Please, Hisoka. Make sure no one goes near them.”

Being given a specific task seemed to help Hisoka shake off the fogginess of shock and with an understanding nod, he pulled away from Tsuzuki’s hold and moved towards the worried guards, making certain to keep well clear of the grief-stricken Kagetsukai.

Tsuzuki watched his partner reach the guards. Then, with one last look towards Tatsumi, he turned to face Enma.

In all this time, the Lord of Hades hadn’t moved. He stood like a statue. Beautiful and horrifying in its stone like perfection, the body he inhabited took on a sense of presence it would never have had with its original owner. Eyes that burned with true immortal fire were fixed upon Tatsumi’s bent shoulders and Tsuzuki felt a flash of rage at the thought that Enma would even consider striking Tatsumi down while the man’s back was turned. Moving with slow deliberate intent across the courtroom floor, Tsuzuki stalked to a point where he knew his body interfered with Enma’s line of sight, physically placing himself between his friends and the Lord of Hades.

Enma’s bright eyes shifted to Tsuzuki’s face, taking in the pale countenance and the blazing violet eyes. The expression on Tsuzuki’s face reminded the Lord of Hades just how much darkness lurked within the Guardian’s soul. Though confident in his power, Enma had no desire to get into a genuine battle with the man who commanded twelve Shikigami. Tsuzuki’s power was recognized as awesome and Enma had no doubt that they would bring the entire Division down on its foundation were they to come to blows.

And more… Enma was not certain of his own course of action. He would never admit it out loud but between the blonde Guardian’s interference and now Tsuzuki’s, Enma wondered if there might yet be a way to salvage Seiichirou Tatsumi.

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, but you will.” Tsuzuki’s voice was devoid of his normal happy-go-lucky tones. It was ice cold, completely at odds with the fire burning in his eyes.

Enma did not immediately answer. He engaged Tsuzuki in an intense staring contest, testing the violet-eyed man’s will. There was no evidence of the haunted creature, which had stood at the podium just minutes ago, breaking down under Enma’s abusive tirade. In his place stood an enraged Son of Darkness.

Enma liked this Son.

“Seiichirou Tatsumi has existed beyond what he is mentally and emotionally capable of handling in this existence. He is a powerful man, but his mental stability is built upon a brittle foundation and that foundation shows severe strain. It can not be afforded that a Kagetsukai of his power lose control of his mental faculties.”

“He hasn’t shown any sign of losing control.” Tsuzuki snarled.

“He was about to destroy three members of the Judicial Council simply because one of them upset you. He was willing to help you destroy a denizen of Meifu simply because you were angered when that denizen threatened your partner. He was willing to turn a blind eye to a succubus who was harvesting the life force of innocents to maintain the life of a young mother. He takes on responsibility for judgments he has no right interfering with.”

“He didn’t turn a blind eye in the Esoka case.” Tsuzuki pointed out.

“Only because his partner…”

“Yes! Exactly. His partner. That’s why we work in pairs, which is your own law. None of us can do this work alone.” My weakness caused Tatsumi to be alone longer than he should have. “None of us are without our flaws, but that’s why we have a partner. That’s why we have friends. That’s why we have each other to help us through the times when we might falter through our very humanity.” Though, when have I ever supported Tatsumi? This is my fault. “The only crime Tatsumi might be guilty of is the crime of being alone for too long, but he’s not alone any longer.” At least I pray he’s not alone any longer. Dear merciful Generals let Taka be all right.

Tsuzuki fought to keep his own emotions and his sense of guilt off his face while he argued for Tatsumi’s life. Though his eyes were fixed on the Lord of Hades, Tsuzuki still couldn’t completely dismiss the vision of Tatsumi on his knees, holding Watari’s shattered body, trying to protect his partner from a danger that had already come to pass.

Tsuzuki softened his expression and approached the bench. Lowering his head in a slightly submissive manner, he continued with his plea.

“You don’t want to destroy him. You would have struck him down already if you did. Please, I ask mercy of you. This can be fixed.”

Enma frowned as Tsuzuki’s words echoed his own thoughts of a minute ago. He did not like the idea that it would look as if Tsuzuki were manipulating him. He almost refused simply on that ground alone, but a look around the courtroom stayed his hand. While he and Tsuzuki had been talking, Konoe, the eldest Guardian of them all had moved so his body now stood between Tatsumi and Enma. Tsuzuki, though acting diffidently was still in a position to interfere and even the boy, though maintaining a safe distance from the Secretary and his partner, now stood in the way. Despite the very tangible evidence of the pain he could inflict upon them, these three men had stepped into position to suffer the same fate as the blonde Guardian were Enma to decide to go through them to get to Tatsumi. They still believed in their friend.

“Very well,” Enma said with a haughty sniff. “Only because I recognize that his destruction would throw the division into needless chaos and I have little desire to spend valuable time holding the hands of my shinigami while they straighten themselves out.”

Enma watched Tsuzuki like a hawk, but the man was careful to keep any hints of triumph off his face. Konoe kept an equally neutral expression, and the boy showed admirable restraint as well as control beyond his years.

“Do not get above yourselves, any of you. This is probation, not a full reprieve. If I have any reason, ANY reason to believe that Tatsumi is not progressing forward I shall not hesitate in my actions. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Lord of Hades.” Tsuzuki said with the proper amount of respect.

“Remember it.” Enma said. In a flash of light, the Lord of Hades left his Judicial host, leaving the original owner of the body to collapse down into his chair, blinking tiredly as he looked at around the courtroom at his peers.

Tsuzuki exhaled an explosive breath and ran his hand through his hair. The encounter had disturbed him greatly and his mind was already skipping forward, thinking of all the things he and Watari needed to talk about. As he thought of Watari, Tsuzuki winced. Turning around, he looked across the gallery to where Tatsumi knelt.

Exchanging a seriously concerned glance with Konoe, Tsuzuki began to move towards the little gate that separated the main court area from the gallery.

“He’s in shock, Tsuzuki.” Konoe said in a low, gruff voice nodding towards Tatsumi.

“I know. Get medical staff here.”

“But Watari is our medical staff.”

“Well, find someone, damn it.” Tsuzuki snapped giving Konoe a no nonsense glare.

As soon as the older man was moving, Tsuzuki exhaled another breath, forcing calm before he tried to approach Tatsumi. Looking over and catching Hisoka’s eye, Tsuzuki gave his partner a reassuring smile before turning his attention fully on his ex-partner. Tatsumi was never more dangerous then when he was protecting someone he’d taken into his heart. Watari was, obviously, vulnerable and Tatsumi was in overwhelming shock. It was not a good combination and Tsuzuki knew that even he was taking his life in his hands approaching the Kagetsukai at this moment. If the shadow-wielder responded badly, Tsuzuki’s shikigami, if he could even summon them in time, would be hard pressed to handle Tatsumi’s shadow magic. Tsuzuki swallowed tightly and moved towards his friends with slow, measured steps.

“Seii, Seii it’s me. I’m coming up on your left.” Tsuzuki’s tone was soft and gentle. He continued to talk, not really caring what he said, just making certain that Tatsumi could hear his voice as he approached.

Coming up on Tatsumi’s left side, Tsuzuki knelt down slowly, wincing as he got a good look at his friends. Both of them were soaked in blood, the viscous liquid dripping over Tatsumi’s arms where he held Watari close. The blond’s hair was matted with the life giving liquid and smears of blood were the only bits of color on either man’s cheeks.

Tsuzuki swallowed back on the urge to be sick. Blood was his nemesis. Neither he nor Tatsumi could handle the sight of the stuff rationally and it took every ounce of control Tsuzuki had to keep his wits in the face of seeing two people he held close to his heart bathed in the stuff. Especially knowing that the obscene amounts of blood came from the broken body of his dear friend.

The sound of Hisoka, gently clearing his throat called Tsuzuki’s attention towards the doorway. Konoe stood there with Terazuma, a stretcher held between them. Wakaba hovered just inside the door and beside her shoulder flew the Gushoshin. Exchanging a nod with Hisoka, Tsuzuki turned to the tricky task of getting Watari away from Tatsumi.

“Seii, look at me.”

Blue eyes looked up from behind blood-spattered lenses. Tatsumi’s expression was unfocused, shocked… just as Konoe had said, but at least he responded to Tsuzuki’s request.

“We need to help him.”

Tatsumi didn’t need to say a word; Tsuzuki could see the thoughts going through the Secretary’s head.

I need to protect him. He’s my responsibility. He’s my partner. I have to protect him.

“It’s okay. Enma’s gone,” as he spoke, Tsuzuki reached for Watari, threading his arms in around Tatsumi’s, cringing when he felt the unnatural shifting of the scientist’s shattered bones. Immediately, the Kagetsukai tensed and his grip on his lover tightened. Tsuzuki responded by relaxing his own hold, fearful that he would cause Watari further damage if he got in a tug-o-war with Tatsumi. “Enma won’t hurt him again and we just want to help, Seii. Please, let us help him.” Tsuzuki continued to talk until his words sunk past the fog of grief surrounding Tatsumi and the Secretary gradually relaxed his hold on Watari.

As Tsuzuki eased Watari out of Tatsumi’s numb arms and into his own careful hold, he didn’t know which was more painful, the feel of his friend’s broken body, or the whisper soft sob that came from Tatsumi when Tsuzuki took Watari away from him. When he had the blond Guardian cradled securely, Tsuzuki rocked back on his heels and stood up, trying to ignore the way his friend’s limbs folded, unnaturally, in his arms. Tsuzuki began to fear that not a single bone in Watari’s body had made it through the incident intact.

Oh, Hades. Taka is going to be weeks recovering from this. Thank the Generals he’s unconscious.

When they saw Tsuzuki stand, with Watari held in his arms, Konoe and Terazuma moved forward with the stretcher. They approached cautiously, careful to always remain in Tatsumi’s line of sight so as not to risk startling the shadow-master. Tsuzuki was grateful to transfer Watari to the stretcher. The feel of bones slipping, and grinding against each other creeped him out more than he wanted to admit.

The elder Gushoshin hovered over the stretcher, tsking worried at the state of the young Guardian laid out on the canvas.

"Get him down to the infirmary immediately. We need to do what we can to make him comfortable."

"Make him comfortable?" Terazuma began in with an incredulous hiss. "Are you blind?"

"I'm not blind, he has a long way to go but he's going to have to do most of it on his own. The best we can hope to do is make him as comfortable as possible while he heals."

" ‘Long way’ seems a bit of an understatement." Terazuma said with a snort.

"Shut up, both of you." Hisoka snapped. He had his shields up but could still feel Tatsumi's overwhelming grief leaking around the edges. Hisoka could also feel the tense control Tsuzuki had over himself being strained by Terazuma and the Gushoshin's exchange.

The elder Gushoshin looked immediately contrite and even Terazuma looked abashed. Silence descended among the Guardians as Konoe and Terazuma carried the stretcher out of the courtroom.

Hisoka stood, momentarily torn between following the stretcher or staying with his partner and Tatsumi. As soon as Tsuzuki had seen Watari settled on the stretcher, his attention had turned back to the kneeling Tatsumi. Tatsumi's eyes were fixed on the large bloodstain spread out before him on the carpet and the Secretary looked frozen. Tsuzuki was crouched in front of Tatsumi, talking to him, trying to help the other man shake off the shock and reconnect to reality. Biting his lower lip, Hisoka turned away from the two old friends and set off after the others.

Tatsumi could hear Tsuzuki's voice but he was having a hard time understanding the other man's words. His world had shrunk down to the physical reality of Watari in his arms and a mental tirade in his head. Now, Watari was gone but the mental lashing remained.

What have I done? Why didn't I stop this? I failed. I failed. Just like that night, with Mother I failed. How could I have let this happen?

Along with the words, Tatsumi forced himself to be aware of every physical sensation. He could remember the feel of Watari’s injured body in his arms, so different from just hours earlier when he’d held his sleeping lover, safe and whole in the wee hours of the morning.

Taka hates mornings. He’d have slept right through this whole thing. Why… why didn’t I let him sleep?

The blood, so warm only moments ago, was now cool and sticky, like some sort of grotesque glue. Blood, pumped by a heart Tatsumi could still feel racing against his own chest from earlier that morning as they made love.

I had him blanketed, protected, my body between him and the world. When did that change? How did his body come to be between me, and danger?

Frustrated by the lack of a verbal response from Tatsumi, Tsuzuki reached up and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth in a nervous gesture. He'd been trying to coax Tatsumi up to his feet for almost ten minutes now, but the man was barely moving. Tsuzuki didn't need to have Hisoka's empathic ability to see the self-recriminating thoughts Tatsumi was inflicting upon himself.

"Seii, damn it Seii… look at me!"

After a beat the Kagetsukai's blue eyes finally moved away from his blood-stained hands to Tsuzuki's face.

"How did I let this happen?" Tatsumi's voice was almost flat, monotone.

"You didn't let anything happen."

"Then how did this happen? Why couldn't I stop it?"

"Because it's not about you." Stressed and becoming fractious, Tsuzuki said the first thing that came into his head. Everything was suddenly being turned around on him and he didn't like it. Tatsumi was the strong one. Tatsumi was the one who took care of Tsuzuki. Watching Tatsumi fall apart was a unique experience and it made Tsuzuki feel woefully inadequate. If this is how he felt every time I fell apart on a case, no wonder he insisted we separate. I can’t handle this! The thoughts flashed through Tsuzuki’s mind, causing him to shift restlessly.

Tatsumi blinked at Tsuzuki, making the violet-eyed Guardian aware of just how inane his last statement sounded.

"Well, yes, it's about you but you didn't have any control over this. Enma decided you were dangerous and he was going to make you ascend."

"And Taka got in the way."

"More like pushed you out of the way. Taka knew what was happening, Seii. Enma had assigned him you as a case, as a Gray Knight case."

"I… I was a case?"

"Well, as near as we can tell. I mean, the only two people who know the details are Enma, and he really wasn't about to start explaining himself and Taka and…" Tsuzuki trailed off, just looking at Tatsumi with a miserable expression on his face. "This is all my fault."

It was a throwaway comment, just a way to finish an awkward sentence, but it unwittingly had the desired effect. Tatsumi responded instinctively to Tsuzuki's self-flagellation.

"No. This is not your fault. An unfortunate set of largely unknown events. But not your fault." Tatsumi still spoke in a slow and measured manner.

Tsuzuki almost sighed in relief as he heard Tatsumi's calm, logical words. He'd been strong in his resolve while facing Enma Tatsumi's life had been on the line, but now that the crisis was over, Tsuzuki felt himself starting to unravel. He was still horrified by the idea that Enma had been ready to take Tatsumi away from them. He felt begrimed that Enma had used *him* as a whip to flog Tatsumi. He felt sick that Watari had been so gravely injured as a result and he didn't know how to handle the emotionally vulnerable man in front of him.

Tatsumi was the strong one. That was how it had always been. Tatsumi had always been there to pick up the pieces of Tsuzuki's shattered soul time and again. But now it was Tatsumi's soul that was shattered and Tsuzuki didn't know how to fix it.

But then, it’s not for me to fix, is it? Tsuzuki thought to himself, feeling a twinge of loss. That’s Taka’s role now. He’s your partner, as Hisoka is my partner. Tsuzuki took a slow breath, feeling some of the desperation leech out of him. He sat quietly, looking at Tatsumi and trying to imagine what he’d want if their roles were reversed. I’d want to be with Hisoka. If I could just see that Hisoka was alive and safe…that would mean more than anybody’s well-intended words.

“Exactly, Seii. It’s an unfortunate series of largely unknown events and, what’s more, those events are behind us. Come on, let me help you get cleaned up and then down to the infirmary.” As he spoke, Tsuzuki slowly rose to his feet, holding his hand out towards Tatsumi.

There was a moment when Tsuzuki feared Tatsumi would refuse to rise, but then the shadow-master reached up and took the offered assistance. Bracing himself, Tsuzuki helped Tatsumi get up to his feet, holding the other man’s hand as Tatsumi’s legs protested the sudden change in position. As soon as Tatsumi established his balance, Tsuzuki stepped to his friend’s side, raising a hand and laying it lightly against the small of Tatsumi’s back. Talking softly once again, Tsuzuki guided the other man out of the Courtroom and away from the horrifying scene.

Two days later:

How did I let this happen?

That thought, along with a hornet’s nest of emotions, had taken up residence in Tatsumi’s mind in the forty-eight hours following the events in the Courtroom. He had spent the two days at his partner’s bedside, though he could do little more than watch the younger man sleep. Only Tsuzuki’s gentle insistence on an occasional break had made any impression on Tatsumi. Even then he’d only agreed to the short breaks if Tsuzuki stayed close to Watari while he was gone.

It was now a little past two in the morning and Tatsumi had just come back from a break an hour earlier. Tsuzuki had tried to encourage Tatsumi to at least settle down on the other bed in the quiet room, but Tatsumi had ignored the other man’s softly spoken suggestion and beelined back to the uncomfortable plastic chair that sat close to the bedside. Tsuzuki had not pushed. With a lingering touch to Tatsumi’s shoulder, the violet-eyed Guardian had withdrawn, closing the door behind him and giving the partners privacy.

Some part of Tatsumi’s mind was grateful for Tsuzuki’s supportive presence and thoughtful discretion but the majority of Tatsumi’s thoughts were tied up with the man lying prone on the bed and the events which had brought them all to that point. Scooting the chair a little closer, Tatsumi reached over with his right hand and settled it lightly on Watari’s right wrist. Slowly stroking his thumb back and forth across the delicate bones, Tatsumi watched his partner’s peacefully sleeping face.

I’m glad Gushoshin insisted on the drugs. Taka is definitely resting much more comfortably since we started the morphine drip.

It was rare for a Guardian to be placed on the type of drugs used to soothe a mortal body but the extent of Watari’s injuries had warranted the decision, and the scientist had spent the past thirty-six hours enjoying the benefit of the narcotic. The real challenge had been trying to explain to 003 that the IV line was not harming Watari. For some reason the owl had become highly agitated by the sight of the needle threading its way into her human’s arm and had tried to pull the line out. In the end, Tatsumi had plucked the little owl up and carried her, hooting frantically, away from the bed while Gushoshin directed Tsuzuki in the replacement of the line. He’d stood by the window, talking quietly to her, explaining that they were trying to help Watari and why she needed to leave the line alone. Tatsumi didn’t know if she had understood his words or if the she had just responded to the stress in his tone but either way 003 had settled down and begun to nip nervously at his shirtfront.

Knowing exactly how she felt, he hadn’t minded when her sharp beak tore a button off his dress shirt. Taking the broken button away from her before she could swallow it and hurt herself he’d turned away from the room and cradled the little owl close against his neck, soaking up what comfort he would allow himself while trying to soothe 003 in return. From that point on, he and 003 had kept their worried watch together. Sometimes, the owl would go with Tatsumi when he took a break, sometimes she would stay with Watari, but she was never far away from either of them for any period of time.

Crossing his long legs, Tatsumi leaned against the bed and watched 003, who was on Watari's far side, doing something up close to the scientist's head.

"What are you doing, owl?" Tatsumi whispered gently.

At the sound of his voice, 003 hopped further up on the pillow into full view. Unable to hoot around the thick rope of Watari's honey gold hair in her beak, she blinked her large eyes at Tatsumi.

"Ah. While I'm sure he'd appreciate the effort, little one I think your attempt to preen his hair is just making matters worse. Come here," Tatsumi spoke softly and held out his other hand towards the owl.

Heaving an owlish sigh of resignation, 003 carefully redistributed the lock of hair down across Watari's shoulder, then took a little hop-flight across the prone man's chest, alighting on Tatsumi's outstretched hand. The little owl fit perfectly in the Kagetsukai's palm and she nestled down comfortably, speaking to him with soft little hoots and chirps.

Pulling her close against his abdomen, Tatsumi settled back down into the chair, the fingers of his right hand never pausing in their gentle motion across his partner's wrist. Eyes moving back to his lover's still features, Tatsumi felt remorse grip his heart once again.

"This is my fault."

~Hoot?~

"I let him get hurt, 003. I… I lost control…I…" Tatsumi paused.

For two days, Tatsumi had been trying to work through everything that had happened. He'd been trying to understand the enormity of the situation. He'd being trying to grasp the fact that Enma had been ready and willing to force ascension on him, that Enma had enlisted Watari's aid in investigating him. The weight of his emotions caused Tatsumi's mind to skip and jump every time he tried to apply logic to his thoughts and he inevitably ended up focusing on one thing.

I failed. I failed and Taka got hurt.

Using one long finger to stroke the little owl between her ears, Tatsumi exhaled a deep breath.

"I don't understand what happened. How did this happen? How did I let this happen?" Tatsumi didn't expect 003 to suddenly provide him with the answers, he just spoke to her and she listened.

"I never lose control. I never let myself lose control. Not like that. Tsuzuki said my shadows were moving to strike the Judicials. A Guardian attacking Judicials… what was I thinking? I can't even remember… I can't remember what I was thinking. In fact, I can't remember thinking at all."

Tatsumi's voice hitched on the last four words and he bit his lower lip. He honestly couldn't remember what had been going through his mind when he'd attacked the Judicials. All he could remember was the intense hatred he'd felt and the overwhelming urge to protect Tsuzuki at all costs.

Only, I didn't pay those costs. Watari did.

And that thought brought with it a fresh wave of pain and humiliation. The pain, which felt like a ghostly hand, was trying to choke him and the humiliation tasted like bile in the back of his throat. The first time he'd entertained that particular realization, Tatsumi had rushed to the bathroom and been violently sick. He'd had nothing on his stomach but some hot tea and the dry heaves had left him trembling weakly on the bathroom tiles.

A soft nip to the tip of his finger alerted Tatsumi to the fact that he'd stopped scritching. Shaking off the bad memory he turned his attention to the owl, once again rubbing the soft feathers in between her ear tufts.

"I did the very thing Enma feared I would. I lost control in a spectacular manner and I was willing to go through anything and anybody just to stop Tsuzuki's pain." Tatsumi spoke in a low, tight tone, pushing the words past the lump of shame and self-disgust his admission caused him to feel.

And therein lay the crux of the problem. Tatsumi realized that his hard-won control was not as unbreakable as he liked to believe. He'd come to understand that he'd been deluding himself into thinking that he could always respond reasonably to every situation. He'd deceived himself into believing that he could control his emotions and in the end, his emotions had overwhelmed and taken control of him.

Releasing his partner's wrist, Tatsumi reached up and pushed his glasses up so he could rub his eyes with his thumb and index finger.

"I thought I had control… and I failed." Tatsumi whispered. There was a part of the Kagetsukai which railed against the softly spoken words, but the sight of Watari's still body over-ruled Tatsumi's intense mental discipline.

Sensitive to the distress coming from her human's chosen mate, 003 began to inch her way up along Tatsumi's broad chest by grasping the seam of his shirt with her beak and talons. Once she got herself up under his chin, she began to nibble affectionately on his jaw, trying to tell the distraught shadow-master that it was all right and that even though he wanted to hold himself responsible for Watari's injuries, she didn't blame him.

Tatsumi let his glasses drop haphazardly back onto his nose and he chuckled softly. Reaching up to support 003 on the precarious perch of his collar, he froze when a quiet voice spoke from the bed.

"I… must still… be asleep…my owl is… sexing up my… lover." Watari's voice was whisper soft and slightly slurred, but to Tatsumi's ears it sounded like a crystal clear bell.

Grabbing 003, Tatsumi stood up and moved to lean over the bed. "Taka?" He could only breathe his partner's name around the lump that had suddenly jumped from his chest to his throat.

Watari's eyes were half open, the morphine causing the pupils to dilate so that only a slim ring of the amber iris was visible. Tatsumi could tell that Watari was trying to focus on his face and having a hard time doing so as a result of the drugs and myopic vision.

"Seii?" Watari blinked and narrowed his eyes, desperately trying to pull his partner's handsome features into focus. Becoming agitated when he couldn't, the blond moved his head restlessly on the pillow, his upper body shifting also.

Setting 003 at the top of the pillow where she could be close to Watari, Tatsumi leaned down and rested his forearms along either side of the scientist's head and shoulders. This way he was able to cocoon the younger man in the security of his embrace, yet keep his weight off Watari's fragile body.

"Shhhs, easy, Taka I'm right here." The Kagetsukai soothed his fretful partner with a soft whisper.

Watari closed his eyes tightly, then opened them slowly. This time, he could see Tatsumi's face clearly and the sight of his lover's sapphire blue eyes calmed the scientist.

"There you are." He breathed the words lightly.

Tatsumi could feel his lips twitch upwards into a goofy smile but he couldn’t have stopped the expression if he'd tried. He quietly hoped that Watari was too drugged to remember the expression and curled his hand inwards, stroking his fingertips tenderly along Watari's temple.

"Your stunning grasp of the obvious delights me as always, Taka." Though the words were bantering in nature, they were delivered in a warm, shaky tone, which removed any possible sting.

For a split second, the corner of Watari's lips twitched upwards in his playful way, but just as quickly his face crumpled as his drug-fogged mind supplied the image of Enma, standing behind the bench, arm raised to strike Tatsumi down.

"Enma… Seii, Enma…" Watari began in a voice breathless with growing panic.

"Easy, Taka easy… I know." Tatsumi shifted his upper body, slightly pressing down with his chest and in with his arms trying to hold and quiet his partner without aggravating the younger man's injuries.

Watari lay still, blinking a couple times. He tried to pull his muddled thoughts into some sort of order, but in the end he could only manage a confused,

"Huh?"

Relief, that his partner was awake and aware, caused Tatsumi to start chuckling at the bewildered little word, so at odds with his partner's usual quick mind. But after a moment the chuckle threatened to turn into something more hysterical and Tatsumi forced himself to swallow back on his emotions while he concentrated on getting Watari to relax.

"I said, I know. I know what Enma meant to do. I know what he tried to do and how he tried to do it and I know that you were investigating me on Enma's orders. Easy, easy, Taka, relax. It's all right, Enma isn't here, he didn't ascend me, he won't hurt us."

And so help me if he returns I will stand between you and the danger he poses. I won't let him hurt you again.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Tatsumi saw that instead of the soothing effect he'd hoped his words would have, Watari's eyes were brimming with unshed tears. As the shadow-master watched, one escaped and trailed down the side of Watari's temple, the warm little drop of water tickling its way along Tatsumi's index finger.

"I'm sorry, Seii… I should have told you."

"And had Enma decide that neither of us was trustworthy? No, shhh…settle down please, Taka. You did what you had to do."

"But…"

"Taka, no."

"Seii, I have to… we have to…"

"Shhh…" Tatsumi whispered, finally giving in to an emotional urge and pressing his lips lightly against his partner's tearstained temple. He was never comfortable with open displays of emotion but the need to soothe and quiet his partner over rode Tatsumi's natural reservation. "No buts… not now. We'll talk about it when you're stronger."

Turning his head slightly, Watari was able to look directly into Tatsumi's worried eyes. He studied his partner for a long moment and went to reach up and touch Tatsumi's face but the motion was impeded by something that slithered along his skin and pinched his arm.

Moving with lightening quickness, Tatsumi shifted his weight to one arm and reached down to grab Watari's left hand in a gentle grip.

"Easy now, Taka. You pull that IV out and Gushoshin will be very perturbed."

Watari went still with a blink. "Gushoshin?"

"MmHmm. Next to you, they're the closest thing we have to medical staff."

"They don't have hands."

Tatsumi chuckled softly, shifting himself to a more comfortable lean on the bed. One hand still grasping Watari's fingers to keep the scientist's left arm still, Tatsumi began to gently card the fingers of this other hand through the younger man's tangled hair. He looked up briefly to gently shoo 003 out of the way, speaking as he watched the little owl hop over to the other side of Watari's head.

"They direct us in what needs to be done for you."

Watari blinked again and turned his head to look up at the IV bag hanging over his left shoulder.

"Morphine?" He asked after a moment.

"Yes."

"Ah. No wonder I can barely string two coherent thoughts together."

"I really don't think you can use the morphine as an excuse for that, beloved." Tatsumi teased affectionately completely unaware of the endearment he used so naturally.

It didn't escape Watari, who turned away from his study of the IV line to look at his partner wide eyed.

"Seii?"

"Hmm?" Tatsumi asked with a hint of confusion, but then it dawned on him what he'd just said. A blush crept over his face as he realized that not only had he just opened up his heart but that his emotions had quietly slipped out of his control again. Sighing softly, Tatsumi rested his head and shoulders down on the pillow beside Watari. His right arm rested lightly across the younger man's abdomen, fingers now interlaced with the digits of Watari's left hand.

"Of the many guilts… that I've been wrestling with since you were injured one of the foremost in my mind has been my weakness for Tsuzuki." Tatsumi began in a soft voice, touching his lips to the corner of Watari's mouth when the younger man made to protest. "Shhh… if I don't say this now, I'll probably never get past myself to try again. I realized that Enma used my affection for Tsuzuki to trigger emotions I try so hard to repress and control. When he started to hurt Tsuzuki, nothing else mattered to me but to make him stop. I remember you trying to get me to calm down, but I brushed you off."

"Seii…"

"Shush… let me … finish." Tatsumi took a deep breath, licking his lips. "After Enma attacked, I was still thinking… my first thoughts were still…" Stopping, Tatsumi bit his bottom lip and closed his eyes. When he continued his voice was so soft, Watari had to strain to hear it. "How could my first thoughts still be of Tsuzuki?"

Shifting his head a little till he could rest his cheek against the side of Tatsumi's face, Watari smiled enigmatically and battled to pull his thoughts into some sort of order.

"Tell me, you're not beating yourself up because you still love Tsuzuki? Not when you have so much legitimate material to flog yourself with."

Now it was Tatsumi's turn to blink. "Taka?"

"Do you still love Tsuzuki?"

"I… ah…" Tatsumi took a quick, nervous breath uncomfortable with having to admit to feelings he had spent so many years repressing. "I…yes."

"Of course you do. Once you let someone into your heart you don't let go or stop caring for them…Seii…is that 003?" The morphine caused Watari's attention to wander and he was momentarily distracted by the little owl nibbling gently through his long hair. Turning his head he blinked up at 003 but seemed to quickly remember there was more he wanted to say to Tatsumi. "It's one of the qualities I love most about you."

"Taka…"

"Huh. Oh, wait… I mean…listen to me. You still love Tsuzuki, of course you do but are you still in love with him?"

Tatsumi reclined quietly for a long moment, weighing the meaning of Watari's words on the scales of his own heart. Gradually he felt the knot, which had been lodged in his throat, unwind and relax as the answer to his lover's question came to him.

"No… no I'm not in love with Tsuzuki." He admitted softly, though something about Watari's words started to niggle at the back of Tatsumi's mind. He frowned gently, and brushed his partner's hair back from his forehead in a soothing gesture, wondering how Watari could already be focusing on the skeletons in Tatsumi's psyche.

You're the one who just got flattened by Enma… where is your concern for yourself, Taka? Tatsumi frowned a little as the thought bumped into the niggle, but before he could pursue the curiosity further, Watari was talking again. The scientist's words were broken and slightly hard to follow, forcing Tatsumi to concentrate on what the younger man was trying to say.

"Of course you aren't. Seii, we all love Tsuzuki and there are certain vulner…vul-ner-ab-il-ities," it took Watari a little bit of effort to get the word out. "In Tsuzuki, which bring out protective instincts in all of us. It's that childlike nature of his…" Watari paused and a gentle grin broke out across his face as mental images of his best friend jumped up into his mind's eye. It took him a couple of beats to push the happy pictures aside and focus back on what he was talking about. "Hmm… what was I saying… oh! Right, it's not a fault and it's certainly not something to feel guilty about. If you want to feel guilty, feel guilty about not listening to your infinitely wise partner when he tried to stop you from flattening the Judicial bench." Watari's lips curled into a contentedly drugged little smirk as he said the last sentence.

Tatsumi laughed softly as Watari's attention took a little detour, as well finding humor in the scientist's words. Resting his weight on his elbow, he gave the younger man's hand a gentle squeeze in an attempt to bring Watari's focus back to the here and now.

"My infinitely wise partner? I have one of those? Here I thought I was saddled with a melodramatic young man who got some sort of strange thrill out of heroically knocking me away from a spell. But was then too slow to get himself out of the line of fire and ended up splattered against the back of the Courtroom wall."

"Melodramatic?" Watari said in a wounded tone, pushing sleepy eyelids wide open. "I was being infini…infini… ahhh completely practical in getting you out of the way of that spell. It's taken me years to train you into giving me…ah well you give me a lot of things…" again, Watari's attention wandered off for a moment but the gentle pressure of Tatsumi's hand brought the younger man back to the conversation. "Hmm? Ah yes… but it's taken me years to get you to give me whatever funding I want. I'll be damned if I'm going to let Enma ascend you just because you have repression issues."

"Repression issues?" This time it was Tatsumi's turn to sound put upon. "I do not have…" He stopped as Watari managed to give him a knowing look. Though he couldn't admit that the younger man was right, Tatsumi did give a slight nod. "However, did it not dawn on you to just tackle me and fall to the ground with me instead of standing there and taking the full force of that spell?"

Watari's drug-dazed eyes still twinkled softly with his usual humor and he chuckled very softly. "Weren't we going to talk about this when I was feeling stronger?"

For the first time since the memo hit his desk, Tatsumi's smile was relaxed, a genuine expression, which made his face look boyish and momentarily carefree as he acknowledged his triumph in the gentle little bantering war. As quickly as it had appeared it slid away, replaced by a concerned look as he noticed that his partner was having a hard time keeping his eyes focused even though they were touching noses.

"Tired?"

"Mmm."

"Go back to sleep."

"Mmm…'ou goin' to be kay?" Feeling fatigued, Watari's words began to slur together.

"Of course I am. I'm right here with you. I won't leave you, Taka." Tatsumi soothed automatically, wanting his partner to slip back into a healing sleep.

"R'prssing…" Watari cooed sleepily.

"Get some rest."

"T'ht an order?"

"Yes."

"T'o b'd I dn't follow yo'r ord'rs."

"Taka…" Tatsumi said in a very soft singsong tone.

"Mmm?"

"Go.To.Sleep."

" 'kay."

Tatsumi waited till he felt his partner's breathing even out, then he lay his head down on Watari's pillow, nearly climbing into the bed with the younger man. For a long time, he just rested there soaking up the warmth of his lover's body and shaking lightly with silent sobs as reaction threatened to overwhelm him. Nuzzling against the soft strands of honey blond hair under his face, Tatsumi placed his lips close to his partner's ear, whispering to the sleeping man,

"I love you, Taka."

Sighing, deeply, Tatsumi nestled closer, closing his eyes and hiding against the comforting shelter of his partner's neck.