Note: This ficcy was updated after a very helpful review I received by Tessa on FanFiction.net. Thanks for the help! ^__^ Now...I just need to change this story a bit... ^__^

By: Trickster Kitsune

Summary: Set near the end of episode 13. Tsuzuki is dying in Hisoka's arms. Possible spoilers ahead.

A/N: Songs can be very inspirational, ne? Well, that's where I got this idea. The song is "My Last Breath" by the band Evanescence. This songfic is just a different version of the last episode for Yami no Matsuei. This ficcy might contain spoilers, so read at your own risk. ^__^ Enjoy!

~...~ = denotes talking in someone else's mind.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned or the show Yami no Matsuei. I also don't own the song "My Last Breath". They belong to their rightful owners. Please don't sue.

Pairing: Tsuzuki x Hisoka

~*~*~*~*~*~

"You are such an idiot! Why did you do this?"

Tsuzuki rested his forehead on Hisoka's shoulder, closing his eyes. Tohda, Serpent of the Black Flames, writhed above their heads, his fire scorching everything it touched.

"I had to."

The simple response must not have been enough for Hisoka, he held Tsuzuki tighter. The fire was getting hotter and Tsuzuki could tell that Hisoka was becoming more distressed.

"I don't have much time left," Tsuzuki began. "But don't worry about me, 'Soka. You know that I love you and I always will. I'm not afraid of dying either. It's just a release."

"Come on, Tsuzuki!" Hisoka pleaded. "The flames are getting bigger, we'll both get hurt. We have to get out of here!"

"You don't understand. I want the flames to get bigger. I want this inhuman body of mine to be devoured by the flames."

"You're insane!"

Hisoka's arms became even tighter around Tsuzuki. Doesn't he realize he will die too if he stays? Does he even realize I'm still here? Or is he just reacting to his emotions?

His breathing was labored in the smoky air. Tsuzuki knew that the end was coming. He didn't really want to die, but what else was there to do? He was safe inside of his dying mind. He was safe with the happy thoughts of his time with Hisoka rather than the thoughts on the outside of all of the people who died because they knew him.

Lifting his eyes up to look at Tohda, one thought entered his mind: It ends here. My sins will never plague me again.

Tsuzuki thought back to his time at the Ministry of Hades. The cherry trees were always so beautiful. The fallen blossoms created a blanket of white and pink across the grounds. It always reminded him of the winters of his past. Each petal, like each snowflake that fell from the sky, was very fragile and could easily be crushed. Tsuzuki remembered the times when he just sat among the forest of white petals, losing himself in their lazy dances with the wind.

He knows that death will be like that. It will be as quiet and calm as those trees. But it would also be lonely. Maybe Hisoka would�ENo, he wouldn't think of that. Hisoka still had things to take care of. But still...

Would Hisoka be willing to find me in the white forest? Tsuzuki thought, but then he berated himself for such a selfish thought. I can't ask that, even if I want to.

As if hearing Tsuzuki's thoughts, which might well be, Hisoka's tears fell in earnest now.

The heat was oppressive, but Tsuzuki wasn't worried anymore. He was almost free and he knew he wouldn't be alone, even if Hisoka wasn't there; he could always just watch the younger Shinigami. He has come to terms with his sins. The deaths of those people weren't his fault, no matter what Muraki told him. And he was human. Hisoka said that he was, and Tsuzuki believed everything Hisoka told him. Hisoka loved him, even if the younger Shinigami wouldn't admit it. Muraki said that Tsuzuki wasn't human, but to Hisoka, he was.

Thinking of Hisoka again, am I? He chuckled to himself. I'm I that infatuated with him?

Hissing above their heads, Tohda glided through his flames, awaiting his master's command.

~ I'm sorry I made you do this, Tohda. Nee-san and the other Shikigami are going to give you hell for this, ~ Tsuzuki sent to the serpent. Along with the thought, he sent his thanks as well.

Tohda looked down at his master with cold, black eyes. ~ I only do this because you told me to. Don't thank me. ~

Tsuzuki sighed and leaned back against the wall behind him, bringing Hisoka with him. "This will all end soon."

"Don't talk like that, Tsuzuki..."

Closing his eyes, Tsuzuki listened to Hisoka's sobs and the far off cries of Tatsumi and Watari. After a moment, he opened his eyes and looked down as Hisoka. "I have to go soon."

Hisoka shook his head and closed his eyes. "You can't. Nothing would be the same without you and your lazy ways."

Tsuzuki chuckled. "I'm glad to hear you say that. With you getting all emotional over me, it made me think that you were someone else."

"Tsuzuki--!"

"I know, this isn't the time for jokes. This will all be over soon. Don't worry, I won't leave you. I'll always watch over you. Just close your eyes and don't worry about me."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hisoka opened his eyes when he didn't feel anything around him but fire and destruction. Frantically he looked around, but Tsuzuki was no where in sight. However, Tohda still writhed above.

"Tsuzuki? Tsuzuki!" Hisoka jumped to his feet, looked up at Tohda, and screamed at him. "What are you waiting for? Kill me too!"

Dropping back to his knees, Hisoka dissolved into tears of frustration and loss.

~ Over reacting, aren't we? ~ said a cheerful voice in Hisoka's mind.

"What..."

"What do you mean? What command?"

"I want to be with you. I don't care about anything else."

Tsuzuki's laugh lightly rang through Hisoka's mind. ~ That's something odd to hear from you. You actually want to be with me. Now, as to the command, his command from me is to listen to you. Do you understand? ~

"I think so."

Hisoka looked up at the waiting serpent. Tohda's eyes were fixed on Hisoka's face and they held what looked like impatience.

Hisoka stood up to make sure that his voice reached the serpent. "Tohda! I command you to kill me!"

Tohda hissed something about having to take orders from a novice Shinigami, but complied with Hisoka's command.

Hisoka closed his eyes as the flames enveloped his body. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt too much.

When Hisoka opened his eyes again, he was in a grove of blossoming cherry trees. He looked around and didn't see anything but the trees and started to panic a little.

"Tsuzuki?"

He turned towards a near-by tree when he heard a gentle laugh. Tsuzuki stood next to a tree looking much better than he did in the basement where he died and was tormented by Muraki.

"I was hoping you would call for me," Tsuzuki said smiling. He held out a hand to Hisoka. "Shall we go?"

Hisoka took Tsuzuki's hand and stepped closer to Tsuzuki. "Chief Konoe is going to be angry about this..."

"Well, that's his problem now, isn't it?"

"You're right."

Tsuzuki faked being shocked and put his free hand on his forehead dramatically. "Did Hisoka just agree with me? Now I know I'm dead!"

Tsuzuki laughed at the scowl on Hisoka's face and started to pull him deeper into the forest. "You're going to like it here, 'Soka. There is no Muraki."

Hisoka smiled and they disappeared into the darkness cast by the heavily flowered cherry trees.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Well that's it! ^__^ Sorry if it just seems thrown together and short or something... I was just kinda typing and not paying attention to what I was doing. I also hope that I kept the characters in character as much as possible. I know I did with Tohda. ^__^

"Nee-san" is what Tsuzuki called Suzaku in the manga if you were wondering. ^__^ I find that very cute for some reason.

I almost cried doing the one part... But I always cry. ^__^ I'm such a sap.

I hope Tsuzuki doesn't sound too much out of character now. I tried my best to fix the parts that I had to...

Now, these notes below will contain spoilers. So, if you don't want to know about the end of the series, don't read. ^__^

I changed the end a bit... In episode 13, Tsuzuki and Hisoka do die, but Tatsumi captures their spirits before they can depart to the afterlife. Oh, and Tohda doesn't talk in the episode. Hell, he doesn't do much at all, really. --pouts-- I like Tohda!

The stuff about Muraki... He kinda kidnapped Tsuzuki to put his half-brother into Tsuzuki's body. And the stuff about Tsuzuki not being human... Well, this goes all the way back to when he was 26 or so and in the hospital. He lived for 8 or 9 years without eating or anything like that. Muraki said that he wasn't human because he could heal so easily. Well, Hisoka had to beat it into Tsuzuki's head that he was human, at least to Hisoka. Cute, ne? ^__^

I think that's it... ^__^