First off, thanks for coming to read this story! And thanks to all those who supported the American Way of Death. As someone who is trying to write regular again, the encouragement I received was priceless.
I took a little longer with this than I wanted to. Work has been nutty (tax time), I got sick, and then I had a family visit that dominated my free time. I also wrote this over several times, because I didn't like the first drafts of it. I think it came out all right this time.
Thanks again and please R and R!
The book of Oni
Chapter one: Aftermath
Tatsumi smiled and nodded for a moment as he looked down at the obscene amount of emotion displayed around him. There was not one Shinigami that wasn't crying at Hisoka's rescue. Watari had caught him in his arms and was weeping with relief. The sun shone down on them and Tatsumi saw the sunlight spread over Watari's filthy hair. The secretary noticed then that they were all filthy with battle grime. Tatsumi grabbed his lover's shoulders and looked into his eyes.
"Yukata." Tatsumi whispered. "We have to get Kurosaki-kun out of this forest as soon as possible."
Watari's eyes became serious and he nodded, glancing for a moment at Tsuzuki cradling Hisoka. "I agree Siechirro. Bon is very weak. We should take no chances."
"The chief told me to obtain the flame of souls, and I mean to do so."
Watari nodded. His face hardened with determination.
"Tsuzuki," Tatsumi said. Tsuzuki glanced up at his former partner, then back down to Hisoka. He didn't want to take his eyes off the boy, afraid he might disappear somehow. Tatsumi might have given them more privacy and space if they weren't where they were right now. But circumstances forced Tatsumi to press the issue.
"Tsuzuki," Tatsumi repeated. The purple eyed shinigami looked up again. "We need to send the flame to the castle of the Candles. Can you summon one of your messengers when Watari and I return?"
"Can't it wait?" Tsuzuki asked. "I'll have to use both hands to bring my messengers to this plane, and I don't want to let him go for a second."
Tatsumi sighed.
"I'm afraid I must insist." The secretary said.
"It's okay." Myers-san said, bending down to Tsuzuki. "I know how you feel. I'll take a care of the kid while you summon, okay? We gotta get the world starting how it's supposed to be. I don't want to think about what might happen if we wait any longer."
Tsuzuki reluctantly nodded.
"The rest of you I want off this staircase, away from the temple." Tatsumi directed. "Stand at the end of the clearing, while Watari and I go inside to find the flame. I don't want anyone else to step foot in that place, is that understood?"
Heads nodded. Tsuzuki looked down at Hisoka, who was drifting in and out of consciousness. He was asleep one second, then groggily awake the next. Hisoka's heavy lids were closed, and he was sleeping, his head against Tsuzuki's chest. Tsuzuki struggled to his feet and started to hand Hisoka, tentatively, to Myers-San, when he stopped. Hisoka seemed to grimace in pain, and there was a gurgling sound from his middle.
"His stomach's growling!" Tsuzuki cried. "It's doing back flips against me!"
Watari put his hand on the boy's stomach, and flinched.
"Feels like he hasn't eaten in days." The scientist said.
"He probably hasn't." Myers-san interjected.
Tsuzuki looked at the American, his purple eyes were full of questions.
"It's an old trick I learned when I was a ranch hand." Myers-san explained. "You starve an animal before the slaughter. That way during the …process, there is less clean up."
Watari's eyebrows furrowed in rage at this cruelty. Tsuzuki held Hisoka to him tightly.
"My poor Soka-chan!" he whispered, tears coming down from his Amethyst eyes, and he pressed the boy's face against his own. Then he looked up at Tatsumi. "Tatsumi-san! Please! We have to find him food, and clothes and some place to rest and…"
"Tsuzuki-san." Tatsumi said, firmly. "I promise you we will take care of all of Kurosaki-kun's needs. There's a town nearby, we will go there. But first we must retrieve the flame. Think of the consequences. Death might have stopped, but life has as well."
"Gomen, Tatsumi-san." Tsuzuki replied. "Arrigato."
Tatsumi nodded, and then looked at Watari. Without words, the scientist knew what the secretary was asking.
"Tsuzuki-san." The scientist said. "Give Bon to Myers-san. The faster we get this done, the sooner we can get out of here and take care of him."
"Hai." Tsuzuki nodded. Slowly, against his will, he handed Hisoka to Myers-san.
"It will be okay, Tsuzuki." Myers-san said quietly. He took the boy and stepped away. Tsuzuki waved his hands as began reciting the ancient words to bring his messengers from the imaginary world into the real one. Watari and Tatsumi teleported and appeared in the Shin temple.
Behind Tsuzuki, Randall-kun cleaned off the starmetal blade that had been disregarded. He glanced around the ground for the scabbard. He saw it lying on broken steps. He sheathed the blade.
"Where do you think that came from, Randall." Myers-san asked.
"Given that it was found in Hokkaido, I'd say there." Randall replied.
"Stop being a smart ass." Myers-san said. "You know what I mean. Where did someone of this world get it?"
Randall was quiet for a moment. "Probably a raiding party, I should think." He said finally.
"I thought your people according to the Agreement could mess with humans."
"They can't." Randall replied, and he seemed be searching his mind for some unpleasant memory. "It was probably a raid on some Sheolite- I'm sorry -oni village. That happens all the time."
"Still?" Myers-san replied.
"What do you mean still?" Randall asked defensively. "It's war. Don't tell me after all I've told you, you actually expected my people not to do something like that."
"Yeah...I guess you're right. Seems like some shitty thing they'd do."
*I have a question, for you Bert.* Katie sent from her bear from.* When were you a ranch hand?*
"When I was looking for you." Myers-san smiled.
Katie was silent for a moment.
*We have a lot to talk about*, she replied at last. *I don't know a thing about you, or what the truth is.*
"We do BB." Myers-san said. "We do."
"Whew! The stink!" Watari cursed, covering his mouth and nose. Tatsumi standing next to him scowled and did the same. They had appeared inside the crumbling temple. It was a stench beyond description, for it smelled of things long dead that festered for years. Watari for a moment bent over, thinking he would vomit. But he gasped and shook his head. The feeling subsided. Standing up again, something caught his eye in the darkness.
"Siechirro." Watari whispered. He pointed to the rusted slaughter instruments sitting next to the awaiting basin. To Watari, the basin seemed like a greedy mouth, wanting to be fed. They remembered Hanson's words. And this was the place where what was holy was to be warped and perverted into something foul so Muraki and Jenni could rule the earth. And in that fire Tsuzuki was supposed to burn, and Hisoka …cooked …before…
"Kuso!" the scientist cursed, furious of how his friends had been used. He kicked over the large basin, splattering the hearts of the women against a wall. The basin then hit the ground with a gong like a large bell both himself and Tatsumi had to cover their ears from the dreadful noise. The blood from the gore began to seep towards them. For a moment the horrific place seemed alive, but Watari brushed off the feeling.
Tatsumi walked over to the table that was littered with tools for slaughter. He saw the small medicine bottle with the Flame of Souls dancing inside.
"Something pure in this horrible place..." He said quietly to himself, as he put the flame in his pants pocket.
"Now let's get Kurosaki-kun into town," Tatsumi said to his partner. But no sooner had the words left his mouth, when both Tatsumi and Watari heard the movement of a heavy chain above them. They looked up and in the darkness they saw the meat hook turn and twist like some imprisoned serpent.
"Siechirro, I think we should get out of here!" Watari whispered. Tatsumi nodded and stepped back. The chain burst from its pulley and flung itself at the scientist. It wrapped around his legs and pulled Watari towards it, through the gore of the women that had been split.
"Yukata!" Tatsumi cried. He moved his hands and his shadow power surged. The shadow from his fingers shot forward and sliced the chain. As Tatsumi helped Watari to his feet, a brick wiggled free from the wall and flew into his temple. The secretary seemed to waver a moment, staggering. They could hear the temple itself rumbling and shaking, and it seemed to be growling. Fire roared to life in the basin, and it looked to Watari like it was fire in some all consuming mouth, and it was ravenous. It had denied Shinigami flesh, and that denial only served to strengthen its appetite.
Meanwhile, Tsuzuki was trying to concentrate on the spell to bring the small feathered messenger from the imaginary world to the real one. But it was proving more difficult than he thought. Tsuzuki was lost in his own thoughts. And none of them were comforting.
*How can I? How can I... do what...what have I done?*
The memory of his surrender to the oni's wild strength smothered his joy. He had saved Hisoka, yes. But only to murder two people. And then he heard Jenni's insane laugh, and rage welled up within him. But it was only equal to the horror of what he'd done. Willingly, done. On the side of the rubble was a lump of flesh. This had been their enemy and she was still smoking in the fire of the Kern snake. It served as a testament to his crimes.
*I don't' deserve to live,* Tsuzuki condemned himself. His mind might have continued down this path, except he heard Hisoka's voice in his mind.
*Tsu! Don't!*
Tsuzuki was shaken from his own suicidal thoughts, and turned to see Hisoka starting to twist as if he were having a nightmare.
"Easy, kid." Myers-san shushed. "We're gonna leave here soon enough."
Suddenly Tsuzuki heard his former partner cry out inside the temple.
"Yukata!"
Tsuzuki turned to look at that horrid temple, and saw something that for a moment made him wonder if he had already slipped into the boundaries of insanity. The doors on the temple seemed to concaving inward. The bricks too were starting to pull in; it was as if the temple were starting to implode.
Tsuzuki waved his hands and the small messenger appeared. He then moved his hands again, and sent a barrier crashing into the doors. They splintered apart, and darkness rose up to meet his barrier. It was a darkness that moved and had life, and Tsuzuki recognized it was Tatsumi's darkness. Watari staggered out. He was covered in fresh gore, and for a moment Tsuzuki felt like he couldn't breathe. But the blood didn't seem to be his, as he moved apparently without injury. Watari broke into a run and grabbed a piece of wood from the door lying on the ground. The scientist then ran to the still burning remains of Jenni Hiru.
Tatsumi appeared, in the doorway and Tsuzuki saw he seemed to be throwing some his shadow tendrils at something behind him. He saw fire dancing in the temple and saw things being churned and thrown about like a contained hurricane. Tsuzuki thought he heard something akin to a growl and the sound of roaring fire.
"Siechirro!" Watari yelled. "Get down!"
The scientist threw the wood he had picked up. Tsuzuki saw now it was burning with the fire of the Kern serpent. With all his might, Watari threw it into the temple over Tatsumi's bent form. The kern fire met the fire with in the temple and there was a harsh inhuman scream. Tatsumi stepped away and down the steps as the fire of Kern snake gushed out of the temple doors. The secretary stood by Tsuzuki and Watari as they watched as the devouring fire sputtered forth, climbing up to the tattered roof and flowing over the crumbling walls. The fire started to spread, and the three friends were forced to retreat further down away from the flames. Tatsumi noticed that the corpse of Jenni Hiru, in all its pieces was also consumed, and he felt satisfied. They made their way down to the forest's clearing.
"What happened?" Wakaba asked.
"The temple," Watari gasped. "If I didn't know better, I'd say it just tried to eat Tatsumi-san and me."
"It sounds like what happened to Katie-Chan and I in the forest." Wakaba said.
*Yeah.* The bear nodded.* Something came at us and tried to kill us.*
"Magic from Hiru?" Watari asked. But the priestess shook her head.
"This felt older. Much older."
"I think that and this," Tatsumi said, putting his chin in his hand. "Is from the forest itself. This very place is evil, and it only knows evil and now it knows us. No shinigami will be safe here. Lets' fly, and leave this place."
*Wait.* sent Katie-Chan.* I can't fly like this. I'm too heavy.*
"I don't want to leave Katie alone in a place like this." Myers-san said, and he handed the boy Hisoka back to Tsuzuki.
"Terazuma," the secretary said. "Transform. I need for you to carry Summer-Chan with us."
"What!" the former detective barked. "No-"
Terazuma was about to say, "no way", but Tatsumi's sharp blue eyes flared, and there could be no disobedience. The detective nodded. He turned to his partner and extended his hand.
"Go on," he grumbled, waiting for the priestess to put her slender hand in his. She looked at him for a moment, blinked, then threw herself into his arms and placed a kiss on his cheek. He barely had a moment to protest before the transformation was complete.
"How much do you weigh?" Terazuma grunted to Katie-Chan as he bent down.
*600, I think.* She sent as she climbed on the hell hounds back.
"You're fat." He grumbled.
*Its fuel for the winter!* she growled. *Now shut up before I knock your head clean off!*
"Ah, I'd listen to her." Randall-kun chimed in. "Trust me I know and have the scars to prove it."
Tatsumi held out the small medicine bottle where the fire of souls danced. Tsuzuki's messenger circled the secretary, and took the bottle in his little talons. Tsuzuki whispered something, and the small orange phoenix flew out of sight into the sky above.
The Shinigami lifted off the ground, and the second their feet did not touch the cursed soil, the anxiety building up in them seemed to cease. As they broke through the forest's canopy, Hisoka sighed deeply and it appeared to breathe much easier. He heard constant noise of the many souls wandering the forest, whispering to him, but they eased into silence as Tsuzuki held him close.
"What a horrible place." Myers-san said to Watari. "It should be burnt down; and the ground sown with salt."
It was mid morning, and the last part of Chief Konoe's hip had begun to mend. Had he been younger, the Shinigami healing factor would not have taken so long. But the chief had not been young for a long time. But unlike someone less adaptive, he changed with the times, and so his true age always remained an enigma. He like Donna Baines sitting next to him shook off the shackles that kept them imprisoned in life, and never looked back. But he did not have that freedom now; he was still a prisoner of his older body. And now he could only wait and hope that Kurosaki-kun was rescued and that his employees were safe. The helplessness was frustrating.
He and Donna did not talk much. There was little to say. Their minds were heavy with worry, and speaking of it brought no comfort. So they said nothing.
Donna paced occasionally back and forth, and peered into the dark woods of Aokigahara. But she could see nothing amongst the trees. During the long night, they had heard sounds of battle, followed by a long silence. The silence was almost unbearable. Have any of the Shinigami died? There was no way of knowing.
"Goddamn it, if they could just call!" Donna swore to herself.
"Miss Baines," the chief asked. "Have faith. I do."
She sighed. "I guess that's all I can do right now, have faith."
"In moments like this, yes."
"I hate this waiting." She grumbled, running her fingers through her brown hair.
"I have another question for you. Have you given any thought as to what your next career move will be? Do you have any plans?"
"Well," Donna mused. "Given that I might be killed if I return for exposing the council's secrets, or at least serve time for breaking into records, I can't very well go home. But I can't very well stay here, there's no open position."
"Yes there is." The chief replied. "Rhodes' old position is available. I'm sure he'll find it difficult given his current circumstances to fulfill his obligations. Wait for the American Bureau to put in a job opening, and I'll tell them we will fill it here."
"And my old position?"
"You'll have to abandon it." Konoe said frankly. "You said yourself, there will probably be an 'accident' waiting for you if you return."
"But if I do what you say," Donna argued. "Certainly they will know its me. There aren't a lot of American Shinigami over here in the first place. It won't be hard for them to put two and two together."
"Yes, but you will be out of their jurisdiction." The chief said. "And given that won't want to acknowledge what actually happened, they will be more than happy to keep you over here. They won't feel like they are forced to do something about you."
"Good point." Donna nodded.
Suddenly a celestial song sundered the silence and the sky above them. Both of the Shinigami looked up and saw a small orange phoenix flying over them. It seemed to be holding a bottle in its talons. And in that bottle, they could see a small candle flame dancing.
"They did it!" Donna smiled. "I don't believe it! They actually did it!"
The Shinigami stood in the middle of an empty street. Tatsumi looked down the rows of shops and small buildings. Normally it should have been bustling with activity of tourists, shopkeepers, and town residents. But there was absolutely no one to be seen. The cars were left on the street parked, and an eerie silence covered everything. Katie jumped off Terazuma's back. Wakaba threw a fuda on him, and for a second he appeared naked in his human form. He bolted into the nearest store which appeared to be a 100 yen shop selling everything from snacks, to house wares, to cheap clothing.
A few moments later, Terazuma emerged wearing a cheap set of jeans, shoes and a shirt with some baseball logo. He was holding a bag in one hand.
"That's weird." The detective said. "Not only was no one minding the shop, but everything is off. Even the register."
"What's that?" Katie asked, looking at the bag.
"Clothes for you and Kurosaki." The former detective said gruffly. "Cuz I don't have any desire to see either of you nude."
'Speak for yourself.' Randall mumbled.
"Anyway, I left the money on the counter. You can pay me when we all this mess is over with." Terazuma replied. He handed the bag to Randall-kun.
*Geez, thanks* Katie growled as she rolled her eyes.
"Which reminds me," Watari asked. "How are we going to pay for all of this?"
A tense silence settled over the Shinigami as all eyes turned towards Tatsumi.
"I will explain after we attend to Kurosaki-kun's needs." Tatsumi replied.
"HELLOOO!" Terazuma yelled, throwing all caution to the wind. "IS ANYONE HERE?!"
But his voice echoing of the buildings was the only reply.
"You idiot monkey, Terazuma!" Tatsumi hissed. "Do NOT do that again!" the secretaries blue eyes flashed at the former detective's carelessness.
*I don't think there's anyone here.* Katie-Chan said. *This town is a popular tourist spot, right?*
"It is somewhat popular." Tatsumi nodded.
*So there should be someone here.* Katie mused. *Oh this is weird.*
"The EMP." Bert grunted. "It would have knocked out all the electronics."
"And the cars?" Wakaba asked.
"What car today doesn't have electrical parts?" Myers-san replied.
"Oh. I didn't think about that." Wakaba replied. "Everyone seems to have left in a hurry."
"Panic." Myers-san replied simply. "I can smell it on the air."
"Tatsumi," Watari interjected. "I'm going find the local clinic. Maybe there's someone there who can give us some assistance."
Tatsumi nodded. "And if there isn't, then bring back what supplies you think Kurosaki-kun might need."
"Understood." The scientist nodded.
"Tatsumi." Randall's voice cut in. "I don't think anyone should go around by themselves. We may not be the only ones here."
"Agreed." Tatsumi replied.
*I'll go with him.* Katie-Chan sent. *I'll bite anyone's head off if they try to mess with us.*
Watari smiled. "Thank you, Kuma-Chan."
"Terazuma, Myers-san." Tatsumi called. "I want you two to go around the perimeter of the town. Look for any signs of what might have happened, or signs that there is someone else here. Randall-kun, Wakaba, come with me."
"Where are we going?" Wakaba asked.
"According to that sign, there's an inn up the road. That's where we are going to stay. Watari, once you have what you need go there immediately. Myer-san, Terazuma, when you are done checking the perimeter, go to the inn. Randall-kun and Katie-Chan will join you in your search at that time. I want one pair of you to search the town going to east to west, and the other pair going from north to south. I want no surprises. I want to make sure we are alone, understood?"
All the shinigami nodded, and went off in the directions the secretary had commanded. Wakaba and Randall-kun followed the secretary towards the inn. Tsuzuki carried Hisoka close to his chest as they walked next to Tatsumi.
"Tsuzuki-san," Tatsumi said almost gently. "I want Randall-kun and I to enter the inn first, to make sure it's safe. Once we are sure the place is secure, come in and I'll find something for Kurosaki-kun to eat. Wakaba, I might need your help."
"Hai, Tatsumi-san!" the priestess chimed in. Her face beamed in the thought of helping Tatsumi cook. Tatsumi mused for a moment at a wonderful wife she might have made, had she lived.
"Arrigato, Tatsumi-san." Tsuzuki said quietly. His purple eyes shone with tears.
"It will be alright," Tatsumi whispered to him. "We'll make it alright."
The inn in question stood like all the other buildings, silent and full of secrets. There was a small flower garden with a bench going up the front of the inn, but there appeared to be no one in the windows, and there was no movement inside. Tsuzuki felt himself hold his breath as Randall-kun and Tatsumi-san went inside.
Randall-kun flipped the light switch in the reception area, but it did not respond.
"Damn EMP." Randall cursed.
"Randall-kun, let's begin with the downstairs and then the upstairs."
"Do these places have basements?" Randall asked.
"Not typically. But let us make sure to double check that, they will have an attic for storage, however."
"If I were hiding, that's definitely where I'd be." Randall said.
Tatsumi nodded. "Still let's be systematic. When the attic is done, we will check out the yard and adjacent springs used by the guests. Then we will know."
"Okay." The angel grunted. "Let's go."
As Tatsumi had guessed, there was no basement to be found. In the kitchen, they found some emergency candles and matches which they lit. Tatsumi looked to see a meal had been in middle of being cooked and abandoned as if in a sudden panic. There was a pot of rice left as well as miso and dishes halfway prepared.
"Looks like someone was cooking breakfast for all the guests." Randall said. Tatsumi nodded. The secretary noticed the stove was on however and what might have been a huge pot of miso, was boiled away to almost the bottom.
"Weird." Randall interjected. "The oven's on?"
"It's gas." Tatsumi said, turning it off. "No electric parts. Let's go into the living room."
The living room was mess of pillows and broken cups. Tatsumi guessed that some guests had been here, and rushed out at once, letting their cups drop to the floor in their panic. There was no one there and no one in the large bathroom on the first floor. The second floor was a series of smaller bed rooms. Systematically, Randall and Tatsumi checked the closets, and all places where someone could be hiding. There was no one. But in some rooms, someone had been there as evidenced by the luggage left behind. There was one small bedroom with elegant vase and full of the most expensive futons. Tatsumi guessed this served as bridal suite when the inn was in use. But there was no bride or groom there now, and it looked like the room was not often used, for it was in immaculate order.
Randall pulled down the rope that brought down the trap door concealing the attic. A ladder slid out, and Randall took a candle and ascended. His ancient eyes looked out into the darkness on either side of him. He scanned for movement, and listened for breathing, his instincts of battle coming back to him after many years of slumber. For a second his mind wandered. And he realized that even if the town was empty, that there was another imminent danger descending upon them. And who was coming and who they were coming for, was known to him. He sucked in his breath subconsciously in dread.
"Did you see something?" Tatsumi asked. The secretary had seen his reaction.
"No." Randall replied. "I'm sorry, my mind was wandering. There's no one here."
"Are you sure?" Tatsumi asked. "Check again. I want no mistakes."
To oblige the shinigami, Randall-kun looked again. There was no one there, and he said as much.
"Let's go outside." Tatsumi instructed.
Randall fought a small battle with himself for a moment, and fear won. He said nothing of what he dreaded and followed the secretary outside. They searched the hot springs, and all of the area on the sides of the inn as well as behind it. There was no one. They returned to the other shinigami waiting outside the front door.
"Come in, Tsuzuki-san." Tatsumi said. Following his former partner, Tsuzuki went into the inn. It was still dark and silent, save for the candle Tatsumi had left by the entry hall. The secretary guided Tsuzuki and he carried his delicate partner into the living room.
"I'm going to get another candle from the kitchen." Tatsumi said. "Stay here."
Tsuzuki laid his partner down on the floor of the living area. Hisoka's skinny legs trembled on the cool tatami floor. Tsuzuki sat down next to him, and pulled the boy's head into his lap. He brushed the wheat blonde hair, which looked more a dingy yellow. It then occurred to Tsuzuki that Hisoka probably hadn't bathed either in the past few days. He was still covered with the dried blood from the slaughter at the Blue Lotus. There were bruises on his legs, Tsuzuki now saw, on the inside of his thighs. A raw anger flared up in Tsuzuki. He could feel the oni growling at the knowledge that these bruises were from when Muraki forced Hisoka's legs open. His feet were bare, and covered with cuts and open sores from walking in a forest with no shoes.
Tsuzuki bent down over the boy and clutched him protectively. The wings on his back stirred and stretched out, commanded by the oni's thoughts, not his own. They covered the boy's upper body, and Hisoka curled his legs instinctually towards the warmth, coming to a fetal position. The black wings reached out and covered the boy's nakedness completely.
That is his partner could have been brought to this! Tears fell from his eyes upon Hisoka's face at the sheer cruelty and unfairness of it. The tears intermingled with the dried blood from Hisoka's ears, tear ducts and nose. It was a savage reminder of Jenni Hiru's attempt to overload his mind.
*Tsu.* Hisoka sent, his emerald eyes opened. The elder shinigami bent down and wiped the boy's skin with his tears. Then Tsuzuki kissed Hisoka's porcelain skin.
"Shh, Soka-chan." Tsuzuki shushed, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Rest now."
"Where are we?" his partner asked.
"Safe." Tsuzuki said. He felt the oni in him surge forward and he found himself bending over so he could put his head against Hisoka's for a second.
"Forgive me." The double voice wept. "Forgive me Kotori-Chan that I could not protect you! It will never happen again!"
The smell of miso soup brought Tsuzuki back to himself. He sat up, and wiped Hisoka's face. His tears only moistened some of the dirt, and left streaks on the boy's porcelain skin. Wakaba entered and put down a few candles around them.
"Tatsumi-san is making the soup now." The priestess said. "I'll draw a bath if you want to."
Tsuzuki sighed with relief. "Arrigato, Wakaba-Chan."
The priestess bowed then left the room. On her way towards the bathroom, she saw Tatsumi coming with some miso in a bowl on a tray.
"Tatsumi-san, please wait." She said. The secretary paused for a second perplexed. But his expression softened when he saw the priestess make a quick blessing over the soup.
"Arrigato, Tatsumi-san." And she bowed again, before going down the hall to draw the bath.
Tatsumi paused at the sight of Tsuzuki and Hisoka. The wing protruding from his former partner's back unnerved Tatsumi. He knew who they belonged to. It was not to his Shinigami ex-partner. Tatsumi knew there was something in Tsuzuki that was wild, savage and demonic. As the secretary sat down, he saw the wings press tighter around Hisoka's nakedness. Tatsumi knew what this action meant. It screamed "MINE!" to him. He half expected to see the glowing eyes of the oni glaring at him. But it was only Tsuzuki's face, exhausted and relieved at seeing the soup prepared. He picked up the bowl, and blew over the hot liquid. When he was satisfied at its temperature, he put the bowl to Hisoka's lips.
"Here baby, drink." Tsuzuki said.
Hisoka, who had closed his eyes again, opened them again. Tatsumi saw the hunger in them. The empath drank from the bowl, greedily and Tatsumi noted how he had never seen him eat in such a fashion.
*Kurosaki-kun is starving.* Tatsumi thought. *Watari was right.*
"Easy, easy!" Tsuzuki said. "Slow down."
The bowl was drained, and the boy licked his lips. *More, Tsu. I want more.*
This open demand of his wants surprised Tsuzuki. It was unlike Hisoka. The elder Shinigami's brow furrowed.
*He must really be starving to ask for it like that!* Tsuzuki thought.
Tatsumi nodded and took the bowl and retreated to the kitchen. He returned with another helping that was soon drunk. Three times more Tatsumi did this until at last Hisoka was sated.
The central door opened and Watari came in. He was carrying a large medical bag. His face beamed when he was Hisoka was awake and eating.
"Bon! How are you feeling?" the scientist asked as he sat down opposite of Tatsumi.
"Awful…" Hisoka said. His voice was weak and thin.
"You'll feel better in no time, you'll see." Watari said optimistically. Tatsumi smiled to see his partner's confidence that everything would be alright. Katie's shadow appeared at the door, as she hesitated before leaving on her assignment.
"Come on." Randall said to her.
*Okay.* she replied.
"I'm trying to remember everything." Hisoka said quietly to Watari. "But I only get bits and pieces. And some of it doesn't make any sense."
"Don't worry about it, Bon." Watari said gently "The mind does funny things when it gets under stress. Even yours."
As Watari checked the boy's vitals, Tsuzuki smoothed the boy's filthy hair and looked down on the boy's face. Hisoka shut his eyes for a second and breathed deep. No one but Tatsumi was watching Watari's expression as he examined the boy. And so no one but Tatsumi saw his moment of great concern and surprise, which he hid beneath a smile quickly.
"We'll figure all that out later." Watari continued. "Right now, if you'd humor me, I'd like to get a blood sample."
"Okay." Hisoka nodded.
The scientist took out a syringe and started to take the blood sample. As he did so, Hisoka heard all the voices talking become a gentle hum and it relaxed him. He found himself falling asleep within Tsuzuki's lap. He felt Tsuzuki's relief and pleasant surprise as he looked down on him, and the empath slipped into unconsciousness.
"Oh, good, Hisoka fell asleep again." Tsuzuki smiled. "He needs to rest."
"I'm going to get this analyzed." Watari said.
"Did you find everything you needed?" Tatsumi asked.
"For now." Watari nodded.
Tatsumi followed his partner into the kitchen. The scientist opened the bag and took a microscope on a section of a small preparing table. Meanwhile, Tsuzuki scooped up the slumbering body of his lover and went down the hall. As she had said, Wakaba had drawn the bath, and also put out a collection of towels and yukatas she must have found. She had also put out the small bench and bucket used for washing before soaking in the tub. Tsuzuki smiled when he saw all this, went into the bathroom and closed the door.
Hearing the bathroom door click shut, Tatsumi whispered to Watari.
"What are you looking for, Yukata?"
"Something I hope I don't find."
Tsuzuki carried his Hisoka into the bathroom and leaned against the door, shutting it behind him. He lowered Hisoka down to the tiled floor and laid him down, while he got himself undressed. There was nothing sensual about this nakedness, however. Tsuzuki laid is clothes on the sink .He sat down on the small plastic stool, and pulled his young lover to him. He eased Tatsumi's blazer off, and then gaped at Hisoka's body. His partner was covered in dried blood. Some of it was his own, from numerous cuts he had all over his body. And there were streams of dried blood from Hisoka rear. And over all of this and his tell tale bruises on his thighs, there was a coat of dirt stuck to him.
Tears welled up in Tsuzuki's eyes. He blinked and they fell on the boy's face. He bent down over the boy's fragile form, and wept. Tsuzuki wept for Hisoka, for his pain, for his suffering, and for the cruelty with which he was treated. Many minutes passed, and Tsuzuki at last reached with a trembling hand into the bucket, and took out the washcloth. As he caressed the boy's body with the cloth, he kissed his face despite his own tears that fell upon it. The water in the bucket became brown with dirt and dried blood. Disgusted, Tsuzuki dumped the water down the floor drain, and then scooped up some fresh water from the full bathtub. Gently he washed Hisoka's wounds and put no more than a feather's touch upon the horrible bruises. Again, he dumped the dirty water and refilled the bucket a last time. Tsuzuki was pleased to see the water was rinsing off clear. Satisfied with this, he lifted the fragile frame off the floor. He held Hisoka tight in his arms, almost like a bride. For a moment, Tsuzuki wished that they could be one being so that Hisoka might never be unprotected again.
Tsuzuki stepped into the bathwater, and slowly lowered his beloved burden into the warm waters. Tsuzuki adjusted himself so he held Hisoka in his lap as he leaned against the back of the tub. His amethyst eyes scanned for another cloth, and he saw two of them sitting on the tub's edge.
"Arrigato, Wakaba." He said to himself. He took both cloths, put them in the bath water, then placed it on Hisoka's head, and one for his own. His arms tightened around the boy and he buried his face into the back of the empath's neck.
"Soka-chan, forgive me." Tsuzuki murmured.
"Okay, there's nothing in that one." Randall said to Katie as he came out of a house. But she didn't seem to hear him.
"Katie, did you hear me?" he asked.
*Huh?*
"I said it's clear. What's with you?"
*Oh, sorry. I was just thinking.* she replied. *Watari told me to keep my eyes peeled in case I saw or felt anything unusual. I asked him why, and he wanted to watch for any change in Hisoka.*
"Change?" the angel asked. "What kind of change?"
*I don't know he wouldn't say anything more about it.*
"Hmm. Well that may be the least of our problems." Randall replied.
*What do you mean?*
"I mean, I'm thinking about the demon that exploded all over the train on our way here. I think something that big is bound not to go unnoticed."
*Of course it got noticed.* Katie said. *That's probably why no one's here.*
"I'm not talking about your kind." Randall said quietly. "I'm talking about my people."
Katie's bear eyes went wide for a moment. "Your people! Randall, are you serious?"
"Never been more so."
*Well then we gotta get out of here! And fast!*
"And if Hisoka can't be moved?" Randall replied. "You know Tsuzuki. You know what he feels about him. He won't go either. And he stays, then so do I."
*Then I will to.* Katie replied, as if the conclusion was simple.
"No." Randall said firmly. "I want you and Bert out."
*What! You're kidding!* Katie sent, and her mind link was sharp with surprise. *After all you've told me! No way! I'm not leaving you to face them by yourself! They hate you!*
"Katie!" Randall argued. "You know what they are! You know what they can do!"
*Which is why I'm NOT leaving! And don't try to convince me otherwise!*
"Stubborn as your father!" Randall hissed.
*You better believe it!* Katie replied.
Randall did not reply. He decided it was better to let her think she had won the argument. After all, he was Rhamiel the trickster as his people called him, and there was more than one way to get her out of harm's way.
Hisoka was aware of watery warmth, all around him. He slowly opened his eyes and saw he was in a bathroom, more specific in a tub in the bathroom, leaning against the back it. It had formed a warm bed of water for him, and someone had propped him up so there was no risk of going under the water. Hisoka saw Tsuzuki standing by the bathroom's sink washing his face. He was wearing a yukata.
"Tsuzuki." Hisoka said weakly.
The elder shinigami turned and smiled. There was relief all over his exhausted face.
"Ah, your awake, Soka-Chan."
"I was asleep?"
"For almost two hours."
"But...how…did you?"
"You were so tired, and there I thought being clean might relax you."
Hisoka looked down at his body and realized he was naked. His cheeks flushed pink. And then the boy did something Tsuzuki did not expect. The boy's face screwed up and he burst into tears. At this moment the mirror next to Tsuzuki shattered as if struck with an invisible force.
"Tsu…Tsu..." was all the boy could say, covering his face in shame. Tsuzuki surprised, turned and bolted towards him. He caught the boy in his arms and held him tightly. Their tears mingled together. Hisoka clung onto his partner and lover fiercely.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry." The boy wept. "I ... I fought them Tsu! I did!"
"I know you did baby, hush." Tsuzuki shushed. "It's not your fault."
Hisoka drowned in Tsuzuki's embrace. There were no barriers between them, and the trauma had rendered the empath so exhausted he could put up none. Hisoka apologized profusely, and over and over again. Tsuzuki held him close, and let the boy release the grief he had bottled up during the entire ordeal.
"It's all right, Soka-chan."
"Oh Tsu." Hisoka gasped. "It's not! They... They…"
"I know what happened, baby." Tsuzuki whispered as he swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Emna!" Hisoka cursed. "You KNOW!"
The bathroom for a second seemed to rumble. But Tsuzuki gave it a quick glance and saw they were in no danger. Hisoka's body trembled and Tsuzuki held him close.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, my little Soka-Chan. Nothing! The shame lies with them!"
"Do you really feel that way?" Hisoka asked.
"Yes." Tsuzuki replied. "I do. And what happened won't change how I feel about you."
Hisoka clung tightly to Tsuzuki's neck. Many minutes passed as Hisoka bathed Tsuzuki's neck and chest in tears. Eventually Hisoka's chest was full of exhausted hiccups.
"Let's dry you off." Tsuzuki said.
The elder shinigami spied one of the towels Wakaba had laid aside for them. He reached over and took it, standing up.
"Come here," Tsuzuki beckoned, opening the large towel. Shyly, Hisoka looked around, ashamed to stand up and reveal his nakedness out of the waters. But when he saw Tsuzuki's loving eyes, the feelings of shame seemed to fall from him, not unlike the grime Tsuzuki had cleaned from his body. He stood up, and stepped out of the tub and into Tsuzuki's embrace. The towel covered him and Tsuzuki held him there many minutes with more gentleness and care than his mother hand shown him while alive.
Slightly calmer now, Hisoka held the towel as Tsuzuki got the yukata. The boy let towel fall and Tsuzuki dressed him. The picked him up in his arms.
"What...What are you doing?" the boy stammered.
"I don't want you to get your feet cut." Tsuzuki explained. "The mirror broke."
"Gomen." Hisoka said quietly.
"Why are you apologizing, baby?" Tsuzuki said. "You didn't do that."
The boy looked up at him with trembling eyes.
"Yes, Tsuzuki. I did." He whispered.
To be continued…