Log, Complete.

[saccharine-end.livejournal.com]

When: Sept. 3, late evening
Rating: PG
Characters: Seiichirou Tatsumi [thrifty_shadow] and Asato Tsuzuki [saccharine_end]
Summary: There's nothing better than bed and cake.
Side Note: This takes place AFTER Honey and Tsuzuki's planned rendezvous, which has yet to be posted. [:
Log:



He’d never been a particular patient person., and Tatsumi must have known it very well.

It had already been hours since his outing with Rangiku, and Honey had just left, leaving them alone in the apartment again. But Tsuzuki wasn’t interested in any of that at the moment. His roommate had promised him a bed, had briefly mentioned something about actually finding one, and he wanted to investigate it, to test it out. There was a clamor of questions from his shikigami as he stumbled his way through the apartment, happily full on the warmth of cake and having made several new friends, but he kindly ignored them, a smile crawling onto his face upon noticing the mattress.

Tatsumi had even bought sheets?

Tsuzuki’s eyes widened a little as he touched it, almost disbelieving the other would spare the expense, and then he pounced on it. Child-like, enthusiastic, he hugged the pillow, unaware of Tatsumi’s presence.

No more sleeping on the floor…!


Tatsumi would have stood there watching the purple-eyed shinigami all night, if he could. As much as he... enjoyed... watching Tsuzuki's display of childish exuberance though, he knew that should he let the other notice his interest, he would end up being questioned about it. Or worse; Tsuzuki would worry and Tatsumi disliked having to see the other worried, let alone be the center of attention. He cleared his throat loudly and stepped up.

"I take it you approve of the bed, then?"


He honestly hadn’t noticed him, hadn’t even heard the footsteps crossing the floor. Too entertained with the idea of not wrestling with sheets and the chilled floor. Blinking, Tsuzuki immediately sat up, somewhat embarrassed that Tatsumi had witnessed such a display. Yes, they had known each other for a rather long time, but Tsuzuki couldn’t help squelching the heat rushing to his face. Violet eyes stared at the floor, watching Tatsumi’s shoes, the hem of his pants.

“I do.” Oddly, his voice wavered. “Where did you find it?”


Tatsumi smiled softly and then shrugged. He pushed his glasses upwards. "Somebody said I should just get one from the other apartments. Supposedly, all the apartments come with a bed. Seeing as we don't have one though, I looked around for an unoccupied apartment and.... helped myself." The small smile on his lips became a smirk and the shadows in the room seemed to flicker in response. "The sheets came with the bed, if you're wondering, by the way," He explained to his shinigami. It wouldn't do to have Tsuzuki thinking Tatsumi had done it solely for his pleasure. "I wouldn't have minded if it didn't."


A frown instantly severed the happiness flowing through Tsuzuki, arms loosening around the pillow still clutched semi-tightly to his chest. Why did Tatsumi always have to ruin his fun? Better yet, why did Tatsumi seem so insistent on teasing him? Sometimes, Tsuzuki wasn’t sure whether he was being cruel or showing him that he cared…in that odd Tatsumi-like way. He shook his head, sighing.

“I guess it doesn’t matter,” he answered, flopping onto his back, determined not to let the other shinigami ruin what bit of the good mood he could hang on to. Though, now, he didn’t feel particularly talkative. So, he merely lay there, staring at the ceiling until the silence got to him.

“Tatsumi?”


Tsuzuki's voice startled him; he had somehow gotten himself lost in thoughts. Ever since they had found themselves within this odd city, Tatsumi found himself worrying more than often. Something about the city got to his nerves. He wondered if Tsuzuki could feel it too but at the same time, he hoped the purple-eyed shinigami would remain oblivious to whatever darkness that lurked around the place. Had Tsuzuki heard the odd and endless tick-tocking of a distant clock?

"Yes?" Tatsumi finally said and then followed softly: "Tsuzuki-san?"


He instantly hated the way his chest ached when the other spoke his name. Saddened? Worried? Perhaps Tsuzuki had merely imagined such a tone leaving the other’s lips, and he tilted his head back even further into the mattress. He had an unspoken feeling that this place, this City was going to warp them, alter their lives and complete existence in a way they could never recover from. Touda had quietly voiced his opinion. Even SohRyu.

It made him worry. Relentlessly, even though he was good at hiding it.

Tsuzuki wondered if the others were still in Meifu, fretting over their disappearance. He wondered if they’d somehow found their way into the City as well. When he thought of Hisoka, a frowning mouth sighed.

“Are we safe here?”


"To be honest? I doubt it," Tatsumi folded his arms and looked around. "The sooner we get back, the better. I know you miss the others too." Tatsumi almost said Kurosaki-kun but he ruthlessly controlled himself. Tsuzuki was fragile and while the mention of Kurosaki would not bring upon the same kind of reaction a mention of Muraki would, Tatsumi knew reminding Tsuzuki who he was stuck with would do him no good. Tatsumi knew he simply was not qualified to take care of Tsuzuki. Together, they were like a train wreck.

"I have a feeling that if we stay here, too, the others would only follow," Tatsumi added as an afterthought. "We can't let that happen."


Tsuzuki didn’t particularly like Tatsumi’s honesty. Not at that moment, the way he was feeling. Maybe if he curled up tight enough, grabbed at the pillow and sheets of the bed hard enough, he’d wake up from this delusion. He’d had it once, the other shinigami selling him out and leaving him with...

A visible shudder ran down his spine at the thought, causing him to turn on his side, immaturely pulling himself into the fetal position. Why was his mind dragging up such ancient memories? Hadn’t he been happy before all of this? Everything resolved? He felt rather than heard his shikigamis distress, and--

No, he didn’t want to talk about it.

“Tatsumi…” He opened his mouth to express all his uncertainty, but the name only remained, quiet and lonely.


Tatsumi tried not to frown at the way Tsuzuki's voice had sounded. He kept a straight face, willing himself to be the picture of calm if only so he could tell himself this way, Tsuzuki would have an anchor of sorts in him. What were they supposed to do now? Tatsumi tried to think.

He walked over to one of the windows beside the bed and leaned forward. Tsuzuki's new friend -- Rangiku, was it? -- had mentioned something about there being a way, indeed, but at the price of... memories and thoughts. It sounded easy. Tatsumi knew he wouldn't mind parting with some of his; he imagined the experience would be quite liberating too. However, something told him things were not that easy. Why memories and thoughts in exchange for an escape? What was the purpose of this place? What if Dorian asked for something great in exchange for an exit?

....If the price was too great, what would be left of the bargainer after the bargain was struck?

He gave Tsuzuki a look and realized suddenly how he couldn't bear the thought of Tsuzuki becoming any less than he was now. He had come through so much, sacrificed a lot to be... to be who he was now. Why did this have to happen to them?

It would have been better if the only one sucked into this place was him; Seiichirou Tatsumi.

He shook his head and sighed again. They were going to be like this for a while. While the thought of somebody from Meifu joining them here was partially reassuring, he knew that would only cause more problems. The city was evil. And while they were in here, Tatsumi knew he had to make an effort so neither of them would sink into depression. He knew he couldn't be like Kurosaki or Watari, but he could try. He had to try or Tsuzuki would only cry...

Smiling, Tatsumi turned back toward Tsuzuki. "How was your day, Tsuzuki-san?"


Thought after thought churned in Tsuzuki’s head, plaguing him, pushing out the usually reassuring voices of his shikigami, even Byakko. The familiar, reassuring voice he’d always turn to, call for when he felt like this. He loathed feeling so weak and depressed, especially in front of Tatsumi. He didn’t want Tatsumi to see him cry or break at the slightest problem. He tried reassuring himself before the other’s voice broke though thick reflection.

They would make it out. They’d leave this intriguing, interesting, nice, and twisted place. Return to Meifu, to his desk, to Kyuushu. To Watari and Terazuma and…

Hisoka.

Tsuzuki couldn’t help thinking about the other. Couldn’t help thinking about any of them, but the one standing prominent in his mind was not back home. He was standing beside a window. Smiling at him and asking the most mundane of questions.

Tatsumi…

“Good,” he answered after a moment, rubbing at his face and folding himself out across the bed in his previously relaxed position. He tilted his head almost coyly, biting at his lip as he watched Tatsumi watch him. He didn’t want to elaborate, knowing Tatsumi already knew the basic details of his day, but it made his chest hurt with curiosity. Why did he suddenly care so much…?

Instead, “I brought you some cake.” And he tried offering a smile.


Tsuzuki looked surprised by his question. Tatsumi didn't need to see the other shinigami's face to feel -- to hear -- the hurt in there. Maybe he was being paranoid, but he knew that tone. He'd watched Tsuzuki long enough, even if it were from a distant.

It's no use if I... I explain myself. I'll just let it be, Tatsumi thought quietly, We'll just end up hurting each other... or I'll just end up saying something hurtful. No, I'll ignore that. I'll pretend my actions didn't unsettle him.

"It's a wonder you remembered me," Tatsumi said, purposely avoiding Tsuzuki's gaze and focusing instead on the space before him. "You, the cake-monster... But, thank you. I'm not too fond of sweets, really. You can have it..." He was going to leave it at that when he remembered what sugar naturally equated to; sugar high. He added hastily, "... tomorrow."


Maybe it was the way Tatsumi politely tiptoed around the words and gestures, his courtesy that made Tsuzuki turn away from the other as he moved his eyes away from him. Of course he remembered that Tatsumi did not like cake as much as he preferred other things. But it was the thought that counted, wasn’t it? He didn’t want to eat Tatsumi’s cake.

Did that mean he wanted none of the other gifts he would bring if another outing was to happen? (And being Tsuzuki, it was going to.) The City was already starting to affect them, change them, and he didn’t like it.

I want to go home. But even the simplest wishes could not be granted without a price in this place.

“Tatsumi.” It came out whining, almost teasing, and he wondered if Tatsumi would think him unworried. “Couldn’t we eat it together?”


Tatsumi gave him a questioning look and quickly thought; Should he or should he not? He suddenly felt like they were... dancing around each other? Was that the right way of putting it?

"If you're sure about letting me eat a piece of it," Tatsumi began, completely ignoring what he'd said about earlier about eating the sweet tomorrow. "Then, yes." Not I suppose I can help you eat it or That's a good idea, that'll mean you won't be bouncing around on sugar high for too long.

He glanced around the room and asked himself; Do we even have what we need to eat the piece of cake? He didn't want to voice the question, knowing how sharp and sarcastic it would sound out of his mouth. So instead, he said, "Does it have a lot of icing? We could eat it with hands... That will save us the trouble of dishwashing."

Tatsumi wondered if they even had dishes, to begin with.


For the first time since he’d settled himself on the bed, happy to have it (even if he had to share), Tsuzuki smiled, quickly sitting up and wandering towards the kitchen. Agreement. He’d already made up his mind before Tatsumi had finished voicing his opinion about dishes and eagerly dove into the contents of the fridge, rummaging for it. It was good cake, he’d bought it after sampling it at Juliet, the café Rangiku had showed him. Of course, he’d temporarily forgotten about it in his excitement to entertain Honey, having remembered when he’d flopped onto the bed Tatsumi had gotten, taken, whatever.

“It’s really good,” he chimed from the other room, not particularly caring Tatsumi had yet to follow him. Tsuzuki didn’t even wonder if the other would bother to do so. He just wanted to treat him to the dessert. Adding, “I got the one with less icing for you, Tatsumi,” only after remembering what the other had said upon withdrawing the individually wrapped piece of cake.

“It should be easy to eat!”


Tatsumi followed Tsuzuki to the kitchen silently. The moment Tsuzuki had left the room, Tatsumi could swear his ears picked up the very distant but very much clear sound of clock ticking. Was that an effect of being alone? He couldn't remember hearing it whenever Tsuzuki was around.

"Good," Tatsumi said as he came to a stop, wary about standing to close to Tsuzuki. Quickly, he added just to fill the silence, "What flavor?" It sounded dumb, but Tatsumi was suddenly afraid of the silence. It reminded him of who he was and just how ill-fitted he was for the task of taking care of Tsuzuki.


Tsuzuki turned with (literally) a hand full of cake, having unwrapped part of it to offer the other. Violet eyes shined at the interest Tatsumi had taken, tearing a tiny piece from the corner to sample it.

“Vanilla! No, I mean chocolate.” Tsuzuki sighed a little, trying to concentrate, childishly happy and oblivious to whatever state the other shinigami was in. He licked at his finger. “Strawberry?” He shook his head as if not knowing how to answer, the cake was just so good and closed the distance between them.

“Try it, Tatsumi.” He smiled.


Tatsumi didn't know why, but suddenly he felt like he had put himself into a very scary situation. He stared at Tsuzuki (calmly, so he told himself), and then at the cake, and then back at Tsuzuki again before finally letting his eyes settle on the cake. Without realizing it, he'd taken a deep breath before reaching out for the cake Tsuzuki was offering.

He resisted giving Tsuzuki a wary look and instead, resigned himself to giving himself a sample of the cake slice. One small bite. Tatsumi's fears regarding the city's food resurfaced; the cake was good.

"It's mango," Tatsumi murmured, using his other hand to wipe the bits of icing around his mouth. Very good mango, he thought quietly. He heard himself though, very clearly.

He froze when he realized he'd just voiced that.


Violet eyes watched the other with particular fascination, wondering if Tatsumi was going to declare (rather bluntly) that he hated the cake or no more sweets for a month or something just as dramatic to the shinigami, but instead… Instead, he’d whispered its flavor and…

Tsuzuki tried not to laugh, covering his hand with his mouth to stifle the sound. It was…cute. Tatsumi really had never been one for cute, but the way his face changed expression, his voice growing softer…

“I didn’t know Tatsumi liked mango.” He moved a little closer, cake still held out towards the other. “More?” And the smile was still there.


Tatsumi gaped at Tsuzuki. It took a while, but when he finally found his voice, he realized he was saying, "....Yes, please."

Once those words were finally out of his mouth, he realized... that he was, well, slowly losing his mind. Was that the city doing that or did he just never eat very good mango cake?


He’d already been ready with the typical “Why did you have to say that?” pout, but when Tatsumi agreed, Tsuzuki just blinked and smiled, rather dumbfounded, at him. Shaking his head, he quickly tore a piece of the soft cake from the chunk in his hand and held it out.

His voice sounded almost teasing as he said it, knowing Tatsumi couldn’t possibly think this anything less than a friendly gesture. It’s what it was, wasn’t it?

“Don’t bite, okay?” And he held out the cake with his fingers, meaning for Tatsumi to take it.


Tsuzuki's actions unsettled and even frightened Tatsumi a bit. Before he'd realized it, he had opened his mouth just slightly as if hoping for Tsuzuki to place the piece of cake in it.

No, he hissed mentally and before Tsuzuki could notice his action (or at least, Tatsumi hoped he didn't), he clamped a hand onto his mouth and very carefully picked the piece of cake from the other's fingers.

"Thank you, Tsuzuki-san," he said in a quiet, somewhat clipped voice. He felt like hitting his head on the wall or something. That had been embarassing. It could have been much, much worse too. Why did Tsuzuki have to be oblivious? Here he was; slowly going into pieces. Years of control... down the drain.


Observation had never been one of his key points despite years as a shinigami, but Tsuzuki wasn’t stupid enough to not notice the way Tatsumi had opened his mouth and then withdrew. He gave him an unsure look, not sure what to think of the other’s reaction, and simply shook his head. Perhaps this place was getting to the both of them already. Tsuzuki could feel it creeping slowly under his skin, and he wondered how Tatsumi was handling the City’s alteration in their surroundings.

He covered up his misplaced worrying with a smile.

“Welcome,” he chirped, taking Tatsumi’s hand and carefully setting the piece of cake in his upturned palm. As tempted as he was to actually share the rest of it, Tsuzuki also wanted to sleep. Too much excitement and…

“You finish it. Need bed now.” It didn’t register that he sounded three years old at that moment, but he was sure Tatsumi understood enough of it. Why was he suddenly so tired now, anyway?


Tatsumi watched him leave the kitchen and disappear into the bedroom. At that moment, he remembered there was only one bed. The idea of sleeping with Tsuzuki together in one bed, no matter how big, suddenly seemed... ridiculous. Maybe, honestly, he had meant to get just one bed to make Tsuzuki fuss but... maybe he should've thought about it more.

Quietly, he began to eat Tsuzuki's cake piece.

Maybe he should wander around? Even if it was late, even if it was night time... wasn't the darkness his element? He shouldn't have a problem; and then, come morning, he would go back to their apartment to sleep for a few hours, and that was it. Tatsumi didn't need a lot of sleep.