Yami no Kopi-raito
A Yami no Matsuei / Tokyo Babylon crossover
By Beth

Quick bit of weirdness, and I don't explain things so you'll have to be familiar with the basics of both Yami no Matsuei and Tokyo Babylon/X. Did I mention it was weird? 

Rating: PG-13
Warning: Spoilers for Yami no Matsuei up to episode 7 
Inspired by: Sakurazuka Val's essay

"Ah, that was close..."

Tsuzuki Asato slumped against the railing of the third deck of the cruise ship "The Queen Camellia". What had at first seemed like a simple case had turned into a nightmare when Muraki entered the scene. He did not want to think what might have happened, had Hisoka not offered to continue that particular poker game for him. The memory of Muraki's attentions made him shudder even now...

He sighed. Why couldn't he get a normal person to be with, someone who'd simply like him and care for him?

He wondered what had brought along that line of thought and realized that a familiar-looking young man was leaning against the railing nearby, looking at the stars. Tsuzuki had seen him before with another man, and the calm, easy affection with which they had looked at each other made him envious.

"Sure is a beautiful night," he offered, more to signify his presence than to start a conversation.

"The stars are very clear," the other man agreed. Tsuzuki realized that he reminded him of a dark-haired version of Hisoka - or rather what the young shinigami would have looked like, had he been allowed to grow up. "You can't see them in Tokyo, the city lights get in the way."

"You're from Tokyo?" Tsuzuki asked.

"Yes. And what is your district in the EnmaCho?"

"It's- whaaaat?" Tsuzuki sweatdropped. "How did you-"

The young man smiled ruefully, his green eyes bright in the starlight. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm an onmyouji, and I've met people with your kind of aura before."

"Oh." Tsuzuki realized that the energy of the man's onmyoujitsu had been what had attracted his attention the first time. And shinigami were certainly no secret to those who made their living through exorcising spirits - indeed, such practitioners were sometimes asked to help with EnmaCho cases, especially the delicate ones. "Now I get it."

The green-eyed man nodded. "I do not suppose you're here on vacation, then?"

Tsuzuki sighed. "No. Mysterious murders, rogue killers, poker... life as usual."

"I see. Maybe-"

"Ah, here you are, Tsuzuki-san." Muraki emerged from a dark doorway like a white ghost, smiling brightly as he lit his cigarette.

"Leave me alone!" Tsuzuki yelped and scrambled back to hide behind the onmyouji.

"Why, Tsuzuki-san, I simply hoped we might continue our... game."

The onmyouji shot a glance at the trembling shinigami, then turned to the beaming Muraki.

"I think Tsuzuki-san is not interested," he said softly.

A pale eyebrow rose. "Then maybe you are?" The doctor stepped forward, trapping the young man between himself and Tsuzuki. "You're just as beautiful - maybe even more. I'd be delighted if you would join me for dinner."

"He's busy," a new voice said calmly from the shadows. The man Tsuzuki recognized as the onmyouji's companion stepped forward.

"Who are you?" Muraki asked, hiding his anger.

For a moment, everything froze as the two men faced off. Two sets of graceful fingers held cigarettes in the exact same manner. A gray-blue eye stared into a golden one, and a blank orb seemed to look at its mechanical counterpart with the same intensity.

Then a stray wind blew a spatter of pink between them.

Tsuzuki blinked. "How come there's sakura petals in the middle of an ocean?"

Muraki stepped back as the new arrival came to stand by the young onmyouji's side. The green-eyed man offered no resistance as his - lover? - took his hand, bringing it up.

"Sakura trees are particular about their territory," the newcomer said with a grin. "That is why I enjoy them so much. Especially some trees in Ueno-"

Muraki's skin turned an even paler shade. Then he turned and stalked off without a word.

The onmyouji rolled his eyes as the pair turned to face Tsuzuki. "Honestly, Seishirou-san."

"Thank you!" the shinigami gushed. "You saved me!"

"It's nothing." Seishirou smiled like a satisfied cat. "I was merely defending Subaru-kun's virtue."

Subaru rolled his eyes again, but chose not to comment. Instead he asked, "Who was he?"

"You wouldn't believe." Tsuzuki sighed. "Muraki's a murderer and he uses dark magic to kill his victims. He draws his power from their blood and binds their souls."

Seishirou raised an eyebrow.

"He did dreadful things to my partner Hisoka," the shinigami continued. "Hisoka was just a kid when he saw Muraki kill someone under a sakura tree..."

Subaru twitched.

"Muraki caught him, erased his memory and then toyed with him until finally he killed him. He even placed marks on Hisoka's body to find him easier."

Seishirou and Subaru shared a look.

"I mean, Hisoka didn't tell me, but you saw how much of a pervert Muraki is - I bet he molested him. He could do so without anyone finding out because he's a doctor and nobody suspects someone who's supposed to help people... And then there's that creepy fake eye and the flower fetish-"

"Tsuzuki-san!"

The shinigami startled, then noticed Hisoka waving at him from a lower deck, where the boy could not see his companions.

"Coming, Hisoka!" he yelled back.

In the light spilling from the ballroom, Hisoka cut a striking figure, slim, fragile and green-eyed. Subaru blinked, then blinked again.

"I'll see you soon! Sankyuu again!" Tsuzuki bowed before hurrying off to join his partner.

Seishirou and Subaru looked at each other for a few minutes. Then Seishirou got out a sheaf of ofuda.

"I'm afraid I have one fault, Subaru-kun. I cannot stand copyright infringement."

"...and then we found Muraki dead, covered in flower petals," Tsuzuki finished his report. "They were sakura petals. Cause of death was because somebody had punched him through the heart."

"Case closed, then," Tatsumi said, no sadness in his voice.

After the violet-eyed shinigami had left his office, he picked up the phone and dialed.

"Sakurazuka desu." Seishirou's voice was perfectly calm on the surface, but with an undertone of 'this had better be good'.

"While I'm grateful that you removed Muraki, I'd appreciate it if you didn't meddle in Meifu business again."

"Of course, Gramps. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm busy."

"What with?" Tatsumi strained to identify the faint sounds in the background.

"Strawberry ice-cream."

And before the phone hit the cradle, there was a definite moan that left Tatsumi wondering just what his great-grandson was doing with that ice-cream.

{FINIS}

Author's notes:
This was inspired by Val's essay, Evil Twin!. The insanity, however, is all mine ^_^ I do not intend to imply that Yami no Matsuei is a rip-off of Tokyo Babylon, merely that Seishirou may treat it as such.
As for the ending, for all I know Seishirou could have spilled that ice-cream on Subaru's white trenchcoat. Hey, it's possible!
The family relation between Sei-chan and Tatsumi was a surprise to me as well. But they both maintain it's true.