Content

Thank you: to Auburnimp for very helpful beta.

The breakfast dishes are piled haphazardly and pushed aside with the promise of being washed later. A few stray crumbs of birthday cake dot the table, brushed impatiently away. Tsuzuki is still in his chair, Hisoka standing close, one arm draped over Tsuzuki's shoulder.

A plain wooden box is the focus of their attention.  It's small, barely the size of Hisoka's hand. He placed it on the table with unusual reverence and Tsuzuki can only imagine what treasures it might hold.

On long, dark nights when sleep has abandoned them, Hisoka likes to talk. It had taken years for him to start -long, pain-filled years of sullen silence. But time was a friend to both of them now that they shared a life and a home. Tsuzuki was learning patience and Hisoka was learning how to trust.

Sometimes, on those dark nights, there had been mention of a box. It was the one thing from his childhood that Hisoka regretted leaving behind. Tsuzuki understood, of course. He had nothing tangible to show for his mortal existence and only a few precious memories remained amidst decades of experiences he'd prefer to forget. Even his grave is gone, his nameless bones interred with those of other forgotten souls.

Hisoka places a gentle kiss on his head, leading Tsuzuki away from the lingering darkness in his mind.  It's easier to follow Hisoka now that their lives are so entwined. Tsuzuki wraps his arm around Hisoka's waist bringing his lover even closer.

It's time. Hisoka smiles and Tsuzuki returns it before reaching for the box.

The lid comes off easily, although there's a little dust along the seam. Hisoka cleaned it carefully without opening it earlier, and the wood grain shines.

Tsuzuki sets the flat lid aside, upside down. The top is lined with dark-blue silk as is the interior of the deeper box bottom.

Copper, white and gray shine up at him, equally appealing and he looks to Hisoka to choose the first item. He picks the smooth, oval pebble. White, it gleams against Tsuzuki's skin. It's no bigger than his thumbnail and its polished surface feels like satin.

This is the stone Hisoka found on the way home from a festival. He remembers the story - how Hisoka and his mother attended alone, allowing the servants to find their own amusements while Hisoka spent a precious few hours as the center of his mother's attention. He presses the pebble into Hisoka's hand and kisses it.

The small gray feather is next - it looks fragile with age and Tsuzuki is unwilling to touch it for fear that it will disintegrate. Hisoka brushes his hand over Tsuzuki's and their eyes meet in understanding. Its' story is that of a wounded bird, found and tended by Hisoka's nurse until the bird was able to fly again.  It left behind this feather, which became Hisoka's first treasure.

The last of the three items is the small coin Hisoka received from his grandmother on the eve of his sixth birthday. Tsuzuki doesn't touch this either. It was the last good memory of Hisoka's childhood and Tsuzuki doesn't want to taint it.

Hisoka reaches for the coin himself, eyes deep green with memory. He holds the precious disc in his palm, closing his fingers around it to warm the metal.  Tsuzuki leans his head against Hisoka and remains silent.

A long moment without words, and then Hisoka smiles.  It is one of his rare and beautiful smiles - the kind that make Tsuzuki's heart ache. He takes Tsuzuki's hand and presses the coin into it before laying his hand over it.

They hold the coin between them while they kiss.

When they separate, the coin and pebble are returned to their places beside the feather in the box. Once closed, the box itself is placed in their bedroom on a shelf that holds private memories. A treasure for them to share.

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