Preface: I rewrote half of this chapter because it didn't make any sense. I know better than to write when I'm ill. XD Edited for some wonky wording and explanations added. 12/05/07


Kyouya was not one to idle. However, any minute reference to the shadow ability or to recently dead Shadow Users gave no desirable results other than those he already knew. Leaving the uninformative books in their appropriate 'To be sorted' cart, he bid the birds farewell as he wandered down the hall not sure where he should go from there. There was a sign that read 'Infirmary'. This piqued his interest as he had assumed that the nearly indestructible mini-gods of Death had no need for medical attention, despite Watari's insistence on working as a doctor in their afterlife. The door was ajar and he heard the tail end of a conversation between two familiar voices.

"I'm simply amazed at your ability to heal even from divine ki, Kurosaki."

"Yeah."

"Try to take better care of yourself. We wouldn't want a repeat of Kyoto."

The door opened and the green-eyed teen looked at Kyouya indifferently before heading down the hall.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Ootori?" The silver-haired boy that had sent him on had a smile tingeing his lips with practiced ease and a thin pair of glasses on.

"You don't sound surprised that you would meet me again."

"I don't? I believe you're quite imagining things." The boy walked back to his desk, seating himself on a chair that was far too large for him, dressed in brown slacks and a white jacket whose front pocket held an assortment of pens.

"I apologize. You haven't introduced yourself…?"

"Kazutaka Muraki."

Several things clicked into place for Kyouya, but he only smiled wondering why the room had so many empty beds. Finally, the knowledge in his life was bearing some fruit after death. "Pleased to meet you. So are you their primary doctor?"

"When I'm not busy with my area in Tokyo, yes." Kazutaka jotted something down on a clipboard before flipping the papers back over, working as he spoke. "Your family certainly seems to have prospered."

"Nothing quite as reputable as the Murakis."

"Once were." Kazutaka interjected firmly underlining something with the pen in his hand. Kyouya noted that the boy was showing signs of irritation, but whether it was because of his family's fall from fortune or because of Kyouya's flattery he wasn't quite sure.

"I was under the impression your brother was still alive and active."

The boy frowned. "He decided to pursue a profession in legal affairs. Because of that, your father brilliantly took over the liquidized Muraki properties, monopolizing the market in one swoop, but you should know that." He looked up at the teen with a knowing smile. Muraki apparently kept tabs of his family's past affairs. Kyouya assumed that he had managed that because of the Shinigami's ability to transport themselves across dimension. Kyouya had read quite a bit on it. It was one of the more interesting abilities that spurned him to place a transfer into the Summons Section; Having no contact with the living realm since his awakening in Meifu was enough to seriously ruffle his obsessive compulsion to know everyone's business.

Kyouya adjusted his glasses with one finger, his smile taking on a meaner appearance. "I suppose rumors of your own suicide by sword aren't true?"

"Death by sword, but it was not by my hand I can assure you." Muraki nodded to himself, not further elaborating.

"I see."

"Have you met Tatsumi yet?"

"I have. He's my mentor."

"My condolences." Kazutaka simply stated looking back down at his report to finish penning in remarks into the blank spaces. "I wouldn't force that man on anyone."

Kyouya liked this youth, even knowing Kazutaka had to be in his middle ages by now. "Are you any good at seal-breaking?"

Shifting in his chair, the silver-eyed albino's attention was obviously piqued. "Why? Has your master been too obstinate?"

"If I am able to train without restraint, he would no longer have that title."

A devilish smile curled on young Kazutaka's lips as his eyes narrowed with a shrewdness that expressed a keen business mind behind it. "And what would you exchange to have that freedom?"

The teen paused his writing closing the book, diverting all of his attention to the question. "To be frank, I wouldn't know what would interest you."

A derisive snort was the response he received as Kazutaka crossed his arms in a stern expression. "How unlike the infamous third son of the Ootoris."

Carefully hiding his chagrin at the boy's easy characterization of him, while disseminating that Muraki was well aware of his background, Kyouya asked, "What are you suggesting I offer?"

"An equivalent trade, of course."

"If you remove the seal, you want the freedom I gain from your services." Kyouya restated, ruining Kazutaka's mystique that less intelligent people would find frustrating.

"If you don't object to the trade, obviously you would know who your partner was before the partnership became official." The boy shifted his weight again leaning against the chair's back.

Kyouya knew the system for Shinigami to work on cases was set up so that it was a requirement to work in at least pairs, unless you were assigned to the Kinki or Okinawa sectors. Pairing an experienced member with an inexperienced one seemed to be the sole method of knowledge transferal in the Ministry, an archaic one dating back to the era of apprenticeship.

"I assure you our partnership won't be restricted as I imagine tutelage under Tatsumi is, and I will not mock your physical prowess or mental faculties while we are partnered, excepting of course that you do something to deserve it."

"In return, you would gain a dependable partner?"

He smiled. "It used to be entertaining to watch personality flaws destroy the 'indestructible' Shinigami. However, you wouldn't believe how tiring it is to fill out numerous forms when your partner dies from their own ineptitude."

"Of course, this transaction hinges on your ability to break it within a day."

The silver-haired boy was suddenly in his space the top of his head barely reaching his shoulder as a hand reached forth towards the earring and hovered there. Kyouya hadn't seen him move and had restrained the urge to pull away. "Do not doubt that I will not uphold my part of the bargain as long as you maintain yours, Ootori."

"It's agreed then." Kyouya banished the nervousness that had welled up. Kazutaka Muraki had an unnatural grace and coloring that hinted at inhuman descent, but that was only secondary to the small, but very important detail that he had agreed when he knew very little about the boy Muraki, something that went against his core values. A master of the game had masterfully cornered him into this situation, but somehow Kyouya liked the challenge it posed.

After a few moments of standing under the harsh fluorescent lighting, Kazutaka dropped his hand asking him of details of how the shadow master attached and removed the seal, which Kyouya supplied objectively. A small frown settled on the pale boy's features, as he looked thoughtful, while Kyouya merely stood there taking notes.

"Come with me." The boy turned, but when Kyouya didn't initiate contact, he let out a small sigh. "Touch me."

"Why?" Kyouya adjusted his glasses amused at his bossiness.

"So I can direct where we teleport. Unless you know where my residence is?"

The teen barely touched his back and had the disoriented feeling of being displaced somewhere he was not expecting, looking around at the tastefully decorated foyer.

Wordlessly Kazutaka walked across the tiled floor and flicked on several lights moving to an immense bookcase, pulling a slender book from the shelf and turning it. The pages were still white, and, on closer inspection, there was immaculate handwriting and drawings decorating the pages. The notebook was flipped shut. The boy went to the clean green chalkboard standing next to the bookcase and quickly sketched out several dual-circular diagrams with runes and other gibberish symbols on it, erasing and redrawing. Not understanding what magic the diagram was but realizing how dangerous the magic the boy was about to perform was when he was practicing so diligently, Kyouya made no effort to duplicate it in his notes, instead peering at the glass case where a collection of at least a dozen antique European dolls gazed out with chilling blank stares.

Hearing the quick clacking of chalk cease, Kyouya turned his attention back to him. The tall handle of the paintbrush was comparable to that of a small broom as Kazutaka dipped it into a bucket of dark paint, and quickly transferring the ink-like substance to the floor redipping in between closed circuits of lines. Master calligraphers would have wept at the beauty and fluidity with which the boy ably moved the paintbrush. Once the dual-circle was formed a final outer circle with a thick band of Buddhist mantras was drawn.

"Ootori, stand there." He pointed at the larger circle in the connected Venn Diagram and continued, " Once I begin, you must not speak and you must remain in your circle. Understand?"

The teen nodded, standing where he had been directed, leaving his notebook on the plush two-seater couch next to the doll case.

With a flick of his hands, Muraki clasped them and began his chant eyes half-lidded and staring through Kyouya. The room faded from view as if a blanket had been thrown over them as the outer circle brightly lit up. Dropping his hands, Muraki continued chanting and the inner circle around him began to glow which seeped into the runes interlaced against it and into the outer circle that connected to Kyouya's circle. Tatsumi's figure appeared before him looking as accurate and real as Kyouya remembered that morning. His voice continued chanting lightly as shadows swirled around them, the runes around Kyouya's inner circle seemed to gain heat with its light. It occurred to Kyouya a little late that the process might hurt as his inner circle lassoed against his feet sending a jolt of what felt like electricity through him. The lines that had made up the runes and circle slithered up his legs holding him in place as he convulsed from the raw power streaking painfully through him his throat constricting before his lungs had a chance to scream.

Tatsumi's hand raised up with a sadistic smile. "Remove it."

Kyouya didn't feel the clasp fall from his ear and return to the awaiting hand. However, the shadows rushed to him unconsciously summoned to buffer him from the coursing power, and he was next aware that he was laying on the ground on a bed of shadows outside of the dome of blackness which suddenly fell back revealing a pleasantly smiling Muraki, holding out an object covered in fuda paper. "I believe this is yours, shadow user."

An irate glare was aimed at him.


"Good morning, Kurosaki."

Hisoka visibly started, stopping the mid-swing attack towards the speaker. Kyouya adjusted his glasses, smiling. "Since Kyushu hasn't given you another case yet, shall we duel?"

"Ah… Sure." Hisoka didn't think shadows had enough form to deflect, but he nodded anyway taking a defensive stance with his wooden practice katana. "Ready when you are."

Shadows coalesced like strange lumps of oil rising in water behind the black-haired teen. "Attack me."

The wooden bokken swung diagonally for his shoulder, but instead of contacting flesh, Hisoka's weapon dispersed shadow and Kyouya was standing several meters away smirking in satisfaction. Lunging forward to attack the real one, Hisoka sensed something near him and roll-dodged out of the way of a swooping block of shadow, right into an oncoming stream of shadow which he experimentally parried and deflected causing it to part before him like mist.

However, it reformed and flowed around him. Raising a magic charm, Hisoka's magic had no effect on the shadow, and he found himself encased in it. He lowered his sword. "I won't be able to win in a realm controlled by you."

The shadows dissolved and he was released with a visibly tired Kyouya standing nearby. "Let's call it a draw for today. I overextended myself."

Kurosaki shrugged, stretching as his turned to the doorway just as Tsuzuki walked in with a bright smile. "Hey Hisoka let's go eat lunch—Oh hi, Kyouya! Are you hungry? You can come eat lunch with us—"

"I'll decline." Shadows welled up in agitation when Tsuzuki invited him along, but Kyouya made no move to suppress his emotions.

Tsuzuki's characteristic smile fell to the wayside as he became concerned. "When did—"

"Please excuse me." Kyouya interrupted him jarring Tsuzuki to blink at him dumbly projecting his voice. "When did Tatsumi remove your— ah, he left." Tsuzuki scratched his head. "Man, kids these days have no respect."

Hisoka snorted.

Tsuzuki noticed bandages flapping as Hisoka moved into his cool down stretches. "Were you two sparring?"

"Yeah."

"Huh. Be careful. You don't want to reopen wounds."

"I'm fine, idiot." Sliding the wooden sword into a cloth sleeve, Hisoka padded across the room to the changing room.

"May I help—"

"No."

"But—"

"I can dress myself."

Tsuzuki whined holding onto the sword Hisoka tossed to him, but when his partner disappeared from view, he spaced out. It was far too soon for having Kyouya's restraints off, and there was no way Tatsumi would have agreed to remove it. Besides himself, Tsuzuki didn't know anyone powerful enough to remove one of Enma's minor seals. It troubled him.


By the trial run that morning, Kyouya faced the unpleasant thought that his stamina and energy levels would cause him to lose the fight with Tatsumi. He ate ravenously and meditated thoughtfully on his plan of action. If he could perhaps take Tatsumi by surprise and end the fight quickly, he might be able to win.

He rolled the paper-covered clip in his pocket when an idea struck him. His lips quirked. There was one possible avenue to victory, but it would take more cunning to pull it off, considering that the man would be on guard for any wily manipulations Kyouya played.

When twilight began Kyouya stepped some distance away from the Ministry in the back area, the tables empty of occupants. Only a minimal amount of personnel would be operating the Ministry. The cusp of a half moon hung directly overhead dimly illuminated the field he stood in.

"Good evening, Ootori."

"Good evening, Tatsumi." Kyouya deliberately left the honorative off, which had the effect he was looking for as Tatsumi paused.

The man cleared his throat. "The match will last precisely two hours. If no victor is determined immediately, a brief contest of wills over shadow ownership will determine the victor. Do you understand?"

"Yes. If you would remove the seal…?"

Tatsumi raised his hand to utter the phrase to remove the jewelry affixed to Kyouya's ear, but was suddenly slammed by shadows owned by said teen. He hit the ground glasses flying off his face. Kyouya walked triumphantly towards Tatsumi's prone form, staying a meter back for buffer space, but the form disappeared as the shadows collapsed, and Kyouya found himself bound in place by shadow.

"I commend your tactics, since I would have lost effortlessly if Tsuzuki hadn't told me what he had seen. Now, who removed the seal without my authority?"

Kyouya merely smiled. "I've heard stories of your mother's weakness for despairing over the littlest things. She was a rather weak woman that selfishly forced you to take care of her, isn't that right?"

His master restrained the fury overtaking his features, but he felt the shadow binding tighten on his joints almost unbearably. "You are not allowed to disrespect her."

"Some people are attracted to attributes found in their parents. Is that the attraction you find towards Tsuzuki?"

The shadows tightened grinding bones together and melted over his frame. "Breaking Lord Enma's seal is a felony in the land of the dead. If you do not tell me who did it, the blame will fall on you."

Instead of talking about how he wasn't bothered by the 'punishments' of privilege restriction, Kyouya stated, "I cannot escape Lord Enma's grasp, like you, yet unlike you I do not enjoy being enslaved."

Tatsumi stared at him distracted from the interrogation his shadows loosening. "I merely use my position to my advantage."

"Like creating a retirement fund for Tsuzuki?"

"He is not the only one." He calmly adjusted his glasses as he tried not to sigh in irritation at the psychoanalytic direction that the conversation had taken. "Ootori, why do you persist in presenting evidence of a relationship that ended well before you were born?"

"Information is power. To be honest, I was bored." Kyouya smirked. "Will charges of the felony be dropped?"

At the sudden revisit of his topic, Tatsumi stiffened. "One has to charge someone with proof of misconduct to bring about Enma's punishment, but because the only evidence I have is your sudden absence of the earring it would be pointless to bring attention to it. I will find out who broke the seal on my own." With a dismissive gesture, he released the shadows. "I've won but you have shown enough control for me to consider permanently breaking the seal since you've obviously had it under control for at least a half day."

"I expect an apology is due?"

Adjusting his glasses, Tatsumi frowned at the teen.

Kyouya bowed. "I apologize for disrespecting you, but you started the disrespect first."

"I apologize I lost my temper. However."

"However?"

"It would behoove you never to mention my mother to my face again."

Knowing the shadow master had become full of rage at his insinuations since the shadows would have effectively snapped his bones if Tatsumi had not restrained them, Kyouya nodded.

"Good. Would you like to join me for some tea?"

"If it isn't too much trouble." Kyouya's lips pulled into an amused quirk at the change to a more benign subject as he followed his soon-to-be former mentor back into the Ministry.

They sat in silence as Tatsumi scanned over some forms, sipping his tea every once in awhile, while Kyouya compiled his notes and added to them.

The door slammed open and a breathless girl in an old-fashioned brown commoner high school uniform rushed in, pink ribbons adorning her long hair as panicked amber-orange eyes brushed over Kyouya's presence to settle on Tatsumi. Terazuma stood outside the office like a stony sentinel. She must be his partner, Kyouya noted.

"Mr. Tatsumi! The Imaginary World is falling apart!"

TBC.