Thank you who read and even more thanks to those who reviewed! I hope you enjoy this one!

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Shades of Green

Track Two: Stolen

"Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced

Another sun-soaked season fades away…"

It was rare for Shinigami to get vacations, but not unheard of, at least, according to Tatsumi at any rate. Perhaps the more rare sight was that Hisoka had agreed to said vacation in reward for his partner's (and his own if he really thought about it) efforts in their last and grisly case. As Tsuzuki had argued, it just wasn't right to expect the two of them to head right back to work after dealing with a flesh-eating corpse who had been stupidly (that was Hisoka's term) been brought back her boyfriend. Now, whether Hisoka agreed or merely gave in to stop the incessant badgering remained to be seen, but it was done and here he was.

Sitting on an uncomfortably sandy beach on an uncomfortably hot day and watching is idiot of a partner cavorting in waves while trying to steal a confection of some sort from Watari. Why Watari felt he had to come along was beyond Hisoka and he didn't feel like trying to figure out the blond scientist's motives now.

With an annoyed sigh, Hisoka went back to reading his book, or at least trying to read with all the ruckus the two aforementioned idiots were making, drawing his large beach towel around him further. He looked down in mild disgust at the outfit Watari had bought him for said vacation, said outfit that he had been forced into against his more intelligent thought process. It didn't matter that 'forced' really just meant that Tsuzuki had asked him to, because apparently jeans and a shirt were not proper beach attire. The shorts were small and black, ending much to high up on his already to skinny legs and beginning much to low on his equally skinny torso. The design was supposed to make the wearer look slender and trim, according to Watari, but Hisoka didn't see the point of trying to look skinnier than he already was. And as for the top, well, Watari had said he didn't need a top at the beach, which had earned him a solid smack upside the head before he relinquished the loose white t-shirt he bought in addition to the shorts.

The shirt not only was white, but it also was short sleeve, hence why Hisoka had curled himself up in a beach towel and hadn't made any effort to get loose since they had arrived. Secretly, he was planning on letting some horrible creature loose in Watari's lab the instant they returned to Meifu.

Another bout of laughter attracted Hisoka's rapidly failing attention span away from his book and back towards the water again. He couldn't see Watari, and could only guess as to the scientist's whereabouts, but even if Watari had been in sight, Hisoka wouldn't have been looking at him. Why? Well, because Tsuzuki wet and shirtless, playing in the ocean, was vastly more interesting than Watari could ever hope to be. Not that Hisoka was paying attention to a wet a shirtless Tsuzuki, no, but rather making sure the idiot didn't drown himself to a second death or something equally stupid. Yes, yes that's what he was watching for, Hisoka thought to himself has he determinedly ignored the blush staining his cheeks.

"Watching anything interesting, Bon?" The amused voice startled Hisoka and he looked quickly up into smiling, and knowing, amber eyes.

"Watari, you're getting sand on my blanket," Hisoka responded with annoyance, ducking his head back to his book and hoping against hope that Watari didn't notice his blush. It was embarrassing enough knowing that he had been staring at Tsuzuki, he didn't need someone else pointing it out to him.

"Am I now?" Hisoka glared as the scientist plopped himself down without preamble, getting wet sand (which Hisoka thought was infinitely worse than dry sand because it stuck everywhere) all over the beach towel and Hisoka's bare feet. "Well, I just wanted to check up on you and make sure you're having fun under the umbrella…where you've been since we got here! It's a vacation, Bon! You're allowed to enjoy yourself."

"I'm fully aware, Watari-san," Hisoka grit out, forcibly ignoring looking at the scientist.

"Well, you're about as cuddly as a cactus today, aren't you?"

"Test the theory and I'll make sure to let Tatsumi know why he couldn't find those office reports for your lab the other day."

Watari gave Hisoka an annoyed look of his own before heaving a melodramatic sigh. "Fine, fine, I'll leave you to yourself, Bon. But…don't spend the entire day hidden under here. Whatever you're thinking will go wrong if you venture out, won't, I promise."

And, without giving Hisoka a chance to respond, the blond got up and said to let Tsuzuki know he went to got get some snacks, walking away and whistling under his breath. Hisoka's green eyes watched him leave until he was out of sight, lost in the crowd, before looking back over towards Tsuzuki…only to find him not there. He perked up, instantly aware and alert, scanning the beach for anything suspicious or anything that could have distracted his partner, but found nothing. He stood up; careful to keep the towel closely wrapped around, and contemplated, a little worriedly even, whether Tsuzuki was still out in the ocean. He had a lot to eat before he went in, after al, and even was eating in the water…Hisoka remembered the hour rule of swimming and eating. Before he really began to get concerned, his eyes less hard and more open, a pair of wet, cold hands covered his eyes, making him jump and let a very undignified yelp.

"Tsuzuki!" Hisoka exclaimed angrily (and a little relieved deep down) as he threw off the hands and glared at his laughing partner. "Don't do that, you idiot!"

"Sorry 'Soka," Tsuzuki replied not sounding the least bit contrite. His expressive purple eyes were glittering in the kind of unrestrained happiness Hisoka didn't see that often from his partner. He reached out with his empathy and was surprised to find the feelings genuine in his partner…who knew Tsuzuki liked the water so much? "I couldn't resist! You should've seen your face!"

Hisoka sulked, which was vastly more mature than pouting, and began to sit back down, only to be stopped by Tsuzuki. "What?"

"Why aren't you having any fun?"

"I'm having plenty of f--"

"So, that's why you haven't stopped scowling since the moment we got here?"

Hisoka was once again thrown off balance by how perceptive Tsuzuki could be at times, gaping like a fool for a moment before he settled back into his customary indifference and calm poise. "I just don't like the sand. It gets everywhere and takes forever to get off once we leave."

"Oh," Tsuzuki said, smile dimming slightly as if he understood something beyond Hisoka's words. It brightened again though, smile gentler and less teasing than before as he looked at empath. "Well, it's not so bad once you're in the water! Come on!"

Hisoka's towel was then promptly thrown off and Tsuzuki began dragging him towards the water, seemingly unaffected by the threats and protests coming from the honey-blond boy. Hisoka took a moment to make sure his shields were up, not wanting Tsuzuki to feel anything accidentally and not wanting to feel anything of Tsuzuki's, before beginning his struggles again, struggles that didn't stop even when he was picked up and thrown unceremoniously into the water. When he surfaced, wet, dripping, and looking very much like a spitting cat, the look he fixed Tsuzuki with could have burst a man blessed with more sense into flames.

"What in the nine Hells did you do that for?!"

Tsuzuki just smiled at him as he climbed back to his feet, a hint of sadness playing behind the honest mirth in those endless violet eyes. Hisoka didn't want to fathom what the sadness was for, too determined to keep a hold on his anger, so he ignored it, fists balling at his sides and glare deepening. The water wasn't cold, and it was even a little nice on his sun-drenched body, but that wasn't enough to keep him from being angry…he hadn't wanted to go into the water.

Hadn't wanted Tsuzuki, the man he had come to view as a friend over these years and had started to look at as something so unattainable, see him in all his sixteen year old awkwardness. And for once, it had nothing to do with scars or curses…he just didn't want Tsuzuki to see him and how funny he looked, too pale skin and skinny legs. He looked down for a moment, trying to collect himself before he fired off angry words that were more embarrassed and ashamed rather than angry, but a warm hand threading through his hair caught his attention. He looked up at Tsuzuki's open expression, not caring about the contact beyond how soothing it felt, hundreds of questions running through his mind but unable to be voiced.

"You don't look bad, Hioska," Tsuzuki stated firmly, not an ounce of joking in his tone. Hisoka felt his cheeks heat up again but he didn't look away. He couldn't, so caught up in warmth of his partner's gaze and the safety of his touch.

In that moment, Hisoka could feel something in himself being taken away, despite his best intentions and all efforts against this very thing. He felt nothing but sincerity in Tsuzuki has he looked at him, in all of his awkward glory, and meant every word he said…and Hisoka was lost. He had always cared for his partner but this was different…this was consuming and dangerously beautiful. He couldn't understand it but for once it didn't seem to matter…and after nearly twenty years, not since he was a boy, Hisoka found himself loving another person, after swearing he never could.

Hisoka must have been staring because Tsuzuki started to shake him, a slightly concerned look coloring his face and the empath brought himself back, looking at his wondrously idiotic partner in a new light. Or, perhaps, just through a different lens, seeing things that had been hidden before but were now blindingly clear and vibrant. He waved off Tsuzuki's concern, smirking ever so slightly before bending down and heaving a huge splash of water into his partner's surprised face. Hisoka spent the remainder of the day frolicking in a very unprofessional way, heedless of practically everything except the knowledge that Tsuzuki had stolen his very heart…and that he couldn't have been happier.

"You have stolen my

You have stolen my heart."

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Song is "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessionals.

Osco can do sap…why yes she can! Sorry this second one took so long…I have no real excuse, I'm just sorry! Remember, if you have a song you want to get added, PM me the title and artist before I get to track 10…that gives me enough time to fit them in before tracks 11 and 12. Review!