We make a good team - Tatsumi (masochismtango)

[yummyshinigami]

(It was Tsuzuki's steadfast dedication that swayed Tatsumi to his side. Even if the other man disagrees and claims another excuse, the Shinigami is sure his old partner decided it was nice to be together for old times sake.

He'd like to think. In truth, he knows Tatsumi isn't overly fond of him after he chose to leave their partnership. Still, aside from the budgets and insults and refusals to spend time with him, they get along fine! In any case, with Hisoka off to training, Tsuzuki needed a partner, and somehow, they managed to get Tatsumi to agree to be his companion.

The short trip to the island proved uneventful. The water surrounding the small piece of land is beautiful, a shade of blue that didn't exist outside of paintings or books, a color so clear that the colorful fish were easy to spot, even from the boat. The island itself is densely populated due to thick trees and strict land limitations. Both men are also told the surrounding forests contain many poisonous animals and plants, but as Shinigami, that doesn't (shouldn't) pose a threat, but Tsuzuki is careful to stay on the paths, almost comically so.

Once they reach their destination, it's night. The moon stands high in the sky, unobscured by clouds and surrounded by too many stars to count. Due to the small population, the lights don't interfere with the nocturnal view at all.

Despite the late hour, once they get settled in, Tsuzuki doesn't hesitate to knock on Tatsumi's door. Yes, normally, he has a strict budget, but since they're on a mission together again, surely Tatsumi will agree to celebrate and they can get a big dinner! Lunch wasn't enough to fulfill him.)

Comments

sorry for the delay!

[masochismtango]

(It was Tsuzuki's unrelenting nagging that swayed Tatsumi to his side. That and the chief's memo, slipped between two forms he had yet to file, threatening to dock his pay for the next three months.

Or, if he was honest with himself, perhaps it was the sad look in Tsuzuki's eyes, the look he had never wanted to see again, never wanted to cause again. He had thought Tsuzuki's new partnership with Hisoka would have put an end to this forever, but here he had been once more, the last fifty years blotted out of existence in a heartbeat, here he had been once more, staring down at violet eyes slowly misting over with unshed tears.

Yes, that was why he had left Meifu on this mission -the first one in over fifty years, the first one since he asked to break his partnership with Tsuzuki- and why he is now barricaded -let's face it, hiding- in a room of the small Japanese-style inn where they chose to stay. It wasn't much of a choice, really: It was the only inn on the island, and thankfully cheap enough for their budget to accommodate two rooms.

A knock on the door pulls him out of the thoughts he was mulling over. He knows the other shinigami is standing there, and his first reaction is to ignore him. To pretend here is not in the room, silently hoping that the other will leave. But that fails, as well.)

"Tsuzuki-san?"

(He pauses for a moment, waiting for confirmation, then continues.)

"Why are you banging on my door when you should be in your room? We paid for that room. You should use it."

Re: sorry for the delay!

[yummyshinigami]

I'm going to use it. (For sleeping. That is what hotel rooms are for.) But we forgot something very important! (Tsuzuki leans forward, his fist raising to better emphasize his point. It's very, very important, after all.) We didn't make it here in time for dinner!

(He's so hungry. Being dead doesn't mean he doesn't take a little too much pleasure in food. Instead, it's one of the best things about (the after)life.)

Before we go to sleep, we have to have a celebratory meal! (With cakes. He bets there have some really good cakes.)

We can't go to sleep without dinner. It's our first mission together in a long time, and I can't work on an empty stomach.

[masochismtango]

(Tatsumi sighs. Of course, dinner. Tsuzuki was a bottomless pit.)

There's nothing to celebrate. (He thinks he is pointing out the obvious. They just arrived to the island, courtesy of the Meifu teleporters, and... rolled out their futons? Neither of these actions are worthy of celebration. Perhaps when the case is closed... if it is closed with no material damages that would be taken out of their pay... then they could celebrate.

Tatsumi is resolute. Tea and sleep. Early rising. Work. Tatsumi was resolute, until Tsuzuki went and reminded him, yet again, of their failed partnership. Of his great failure. It's our first mission together in a long time. But his voice did not seem accusatory... it really sounded like, to the other shinigami, it is an occasion worthy of celebration.

A long-suffering sigh, and he cracks the door open.)

Only if it's somewhere cheap.

[yummyshinigami]

(Something quickly flickers across Tsuzuki's amethyst colored eyes, but it's quickly hidden. While the Shinigami can make a joke of most things, the failed partnership isn't one he can continue. He stills holds a fair amount of guilt and regret that they couldn't somehow make it work, even as he finds himself caring for every partner he's had since.

It's easier for Tsuzuki to stay up later, he knows. Unlike the strict Tatsumi, he sleeps in late and enjoys leisurely days when not on missions. Nonetheless, the need to fill his stomach would have kept him awake late into the night.)

Don't be so restrictive! It's a tropical island! (He speaks as if they couldn't go where they wanted, when they wanted.) You can't put a price on that kind of fun. Let's go.

[masochismtango]

(Unfortunately, through the sliver of space between the door and the frame, Tatsumi sees that Tsuzuki is still there, waiting. Bright-eyed and busy-tailed, eye glittering with thoughts of delicious food, a hopeful smile pasted on his face.

Tatsumi can't resist. Could never resist. This is the reason he wanted their partnership dissolved, why he didn't want to come on this mission.

He slides the door open, and steps out in his socks, the worn wooden planks of the inn's well-scrubbed floor creaking under his feet. But let it not be said that he spent all that money without a fight.)

I beg to differ, I can put a price on anything. I do all the accounting in Meifu after all.

(Closing the door behind him, he continues:)

Let's hurry, we might still make it in time for a dinner special.

[yummyshinigami]

(He won, and his prize is food! As excited as he normally was at the thought of having delicious food resting in his stomach, there's something else tingling in the back of his mind today. Despite the constant display of stupidity Tzusuki, he isn't a complete moron. He's always liked the strict, harsh Tatsumi, at least since they were partners. Likewise, in obscuring his emotions behind laughs and idiocracy unless the situation caused for strict seriousness, Tzusuki had never fully shown how much the split had hurt him. There was something about the situation that causes a certain nervous tension to run throughout his body. In coming to the room, he was putting himself in the open.)

That's why you're no fuuuun. (The complaint comes in a singsong voice even as Tzusuki claps his hands together in enjoyment. Tatsumi had actually agreed!) Then, to the bar! (Turning, hoping his partner, temporary as it may be, will follow, his pace is excited, fast.)

[masochismtango]

Don't you dare! (Tatsumi plants himself in the middle of the hallway, ramrod-straight, his hands on his hips, his face a thundercloud: a sight that routinely strikes fear in the hearts of those in Enmachou who go over their allotted budgets.) No drinking tonight. We must be up early tomorrow to start the investigation. The earlier we start, the faster we will be done.

(The faster they are done, the faster they will return to the office and Tatsumi will be able to hide behind piles of forms and folders and regulations.)

Tea only.

(He softens, visibly.) And food, of course. Lead the way.

[yummyshinigami]

(It isn't as if the two are reuniting. Tzusuki sees him near-daily, and they work together well enough amidst yelling and insults. For the Shinigami, that's common enough. But there's something different here, something that threatens to bring up old memories.

Focus. He needs to focus.)

You can't eat without some alcohol. (Rather than argumentative, he sounds informative.) One or two or a few is always okay!

[masochismtango]

(The last time he did this, the last time he clearly remembers doing this, they were in Kyoto. He had just saved Tsuzuki and Mariko from Muraki's clutches. A shadow-user, the doctor had quipped at him, such a rare sight. Tsuzuki was shaken to his core by the experience and Tatsumi distracted him the only way he knew how... with food.

Muraki had also cut to the heart of the matter, so to speak, when he had taunted him with the fact that the anger Tatsumi directed at him was very personal. But the Shinigami prefers not to think about that. Some sleeping dogs should never wake.

Tonight, Tsuzuki is happy. They will eat together. And, for once, it won't be because Tatsumi is trying to placate him with food, trying to make him eat his sadness -their sadness- away. So, he relents.)

One bottle of sake. That's all. You already know we shouldn't be drinking on a mission.

(He scolds Tsuzuki out of habit, but his heart is obviously not in it.)

[yummyshinigami]

( Tsuzuki seems genuinely surprised to find Tatsumi relenting. The smile that settles into place directly after is something more real, less silly; something genuinely happy. Considering the multiple concessions, the distance Tatsumi has already agreed to give, Tsuzuki too can be a bit more reasonable. Besides, he even agreed on a singular bottle instead of a just one small cup. )

Mhm. Then, one bottle of sake.

( Even if Tsuzuki can hold his liquor well enough to drink that several times and never show the smallest sign.

The hotel seems largely empty so late at night. Their footsteps are added only to the sound of the animals outside, various hoots and chirps making the atmosphere quite nice. )

Right now, it's almost like a vacation.

[masochismtango]

Don't forget we are here to work. This isn't a vacation.

(Tatsumi slides the shouji door that leads to the dining area open. A few low tables are scattered around the tatami, all unoccupied at the exception of the one at the far end of the room, where a patron is drinking sake. As they enter, the host, an older woman in a faded but scrupulously clean yukata, comes shuffling towards them.)

I'm so sorry to bother you.

(Tatsumi bows low, his back stiff, the way he has been taught when he was a child, the way, years and a death later, he still bows.)

But my companion and I are hoping that the kitchen is still be open? I know it's late, but we've traveled from afar...

(The woman smiles and nods, ushering them towards a table.)

We'll start with... (He has promised Tsuzuki, there is no way around it.) a bottle of sake. And will have two of whatever the kitchen can make at this hour. Anything else, Tsuzuki-san?

[yummyshinigami]

I'll remember, you don't need to remind me.

( His tone is that of a pout instead of anger. Despite his habits and behavior, Tsuzuki has a rather nice track record. )

Wah...it's like an old Japanese movie.

( He looks around in excitement and awe as if he isn't nearly a hundred years old himself, as if he can't go to Japan any time he wants. The attention to detail, the way the tables sit so low to the ground, it really does feel like being on a movie set. )

Huh? Can we get three? We skipped lunch so one extra meal at dinner is okay, right?