Falling Off the Edge of the World
A Fanfiction Soundtrack
UPDATE 4/15/07 – Updated song link
UPDATE 3/4/07 – Made some changes to the chapter. Wasn't entirely pleased with the first round of results, so altered it until it better fit what I was aiming for.
DISCLAIMER #1: I don't own the characters. Rather, they evidently own me and a lot of my free time. I do, however, own this alternate universe.
DISCLAIMER #2: The RIAA says that you must delete all of these songs off your computer within twenty-four (24) hours of previewing them. Do what you may with your music, but I WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS. I don't mean to sound like a hypocrite when I say all of this stuff, I'm just giving fair warning and hopefully covering my behind.
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Track 04 – Shadow of Who You Once Were
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Tsuzuki had always held humanity in such high regard, a viewpoint he recognized was very hypocritical considering the nature of his job. And for the first month they had been working together, Tsuzuki feared that his partner had none. He was a frozen icebox, keeping himself impervious to all interactions and emotions. Several workers even had him ranking up there in the "disturbing" category along with the HIMOP's Directorate of Support, who always carried an air of chilling professionalism and seriousness.
Tsuzuki had been unable to disagree with his fellow co-workers. On several occasions he had the unfortunate luck to watch his partner bring his 'source' to hysterical tears, quivering in guilt and fear during the interrogation, and all without once resorting to physical torture.
He had been thoroughly mortified of his partner for the longest time.
But all that changed on their third field mission together. They had been sent to retrieve a known homegrown bombing terrorist who was becoming a thorn in the government's side – just a week prior she had successfully detonated a small bomb within the security parameters of the National Diet Building (no one was hurt, but it served as a good warning). A temporary base was discovered, and their order was to neutralize the target and detain all weapons.
Tsuzuki was originally going to pass it up after seeing a spark of recognition in his partner's eyes when given a file on her with a picture – he didn't want personal feelings to compromise the mission – but ended up taking it on anyways, his curiosity piqued. Who could this so-called La Dame aux Camélias be?
Entering the building and getting past security was almost too easy, which put them on their guard. Eventually, they reached the room that according to the information gathered housed the main operations. Attempting to stay as quiet as possible, they snuck into the dark room through the vents. They barely had a chance to situate themselves before a voice caught them off guard.
"Imagine my surprise when I briefly caught your face on a monitor. Immediately, I called my guards off; I knew you'd be coming to see me. Out of everyone, I never would have expected you to become a dog of the military…"
The chair at the front of the room behind a large desk swiveled around to reveal La Dame aux Camélias… Lady of the Camellias.
"…Hisoka-kun."
"Tsubaki."
A hurt look flashed across her face for a second before it was hidden beneath the mask of pleasantness again. "You never used to call me that in high school." She shook her head. "How the times have changed you."
Instead of responding, he attempted to fire his gun but was shot in the shoulder before he could aim.
"Nah ah ah. I'm calling the shots here." She held up a detonator within her hands. "This building is filled to the gills with explosives. I could easily take out the whole block."
Shit. Tsuzuki quickly calculated the options and then was about to attempt to provide a distraction but was beaten to it by his partner. "You've changed a lot as well," he hissed out through clenched teeth, the only indication he gave that he was in pain. The bullet just grazed his shoulder, but the blood was still quickly soaking his shirt at an alarming rate. Tsuzuki inwardly cringed at the sight but kept his focus on their target.
"Yeah, well, that's what happens after tragic life-changing moments."
His partner scoffed and then spoke in a condescending tone, "You are a fool."
Her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?"
"You let something that didn't directly affect you rule your life. It wasn't your problem to deal with. You're a fool for making it so."
She tightly grit her teeth. "You asshole! How dare you say such unfair--"
"I do dare because they are my problems, not yours. My past, not yours. You twisted the situation around to make yourself feel better, to fix your broken ego, to lick your wounds. You justified things to turn yourself into the victim, when really you should have just let things go. You're a fool for not moving on. I did, but you refused to."
That hit the mark. "Jackass! You don't fool me for a second! 'Moved on' my ass! I can see through that façade you put on! You just handled things differently… worse than however I did! You're the one who's the fool! You should be in this position, not me! How can you just pretend it didn't matter and torture yourself further?! You work for the fuckers that screwed you over!"
Tsuzuki used the opportunity to slowly creep away from her immediate line of vision and aim his gun. He was never noticed.
"The situation destroyed you, made your personality take a 180! You became cold, cruel, and calculating, hiding yourself away from everyone… including me! Two years of a steady relationship on top of ten years of friendship extinguished in just a few days! And I had to watch on the sidelines as you pushed everyone away and closed up! I couldn't forgive them for their heartless actions… that monster's inhumane decision… our government's the true terrorist, not--"
But whatever she was going to say was lost in the gunshot. She dropped the detonator and drew her damaged hand to her chest while simultaneously reaching under the desk with her other hand and pressing the button there. As the alarms went off, she open-fired on the two agents, who both took cover, and ran out of the room. Chasing and not losing sight of the target as they weaved around the building became a challenge with immediate response (open fire) from security, but they quickly and efficiently disposed of all obstacles.
They eventually split up, Tsuzuki staying behind to take care of the rest of the people who hadn't run away and his partner continuing the chase.
Hisoka barely got out of the building in time to see her begin to climb into driver's seat of the van parked outside of one of the open garage doors. He aimed the gun at her open back, hesitated, and then open-fired. He watched – his facial expression not changing from its cold, impassive mask – as she rammed into the front seat before slumping down to the soaked ground like a limp rag doll. He calmly walked over.
The sight was gruesome: she was drenched in rain, her clothing crumpled and plastered to her body like a second skin; the hole in her chest was pouring rivulets of blood, dying her clothing red, marring her once perfect skin, and creating a spider-like web surrounding her form as if in symbolic irony; her deathly pale skin provided a sharp contrast with everything except her eyes, which were just as dull and lifeless. He couldn't contain a shiver.
"Hi-hi-hisoka…-kun," she choked out around the blood gathering in her mouth. He kneeled beside her and leaned over her form to look her straight in the eyes. She weakly grabbed one of his arms.
"I for-forgive you. All I ever wa-wanted – cough – was… to help you. It killed me when you pu-pushed muh – wheeze – muh-me away. God, we were only 16." She let off two coughs that sprayed blood all over Hisoka's face, but he didn't even flinch. "I… I j-just wanted… to tell y-y-you th-that I – cough – still luh-lo…"
But she was never able to complete her sentence before being overcome by a strong fit of coughs that just couldn't seem to clear enough blood. Seconds later, she gargled (blood pooling in her mouth and escaping her nose), spasmed, and then fell limp. She hadn't been able to finish, but she didn't need to…
"Tsubaki-hime…"
Tsuzuki was a witness to the whole confession even though all he desperately wanted to do was escape. However, he couldn't leave his partner. Instead, he just attempted – and failed – to ignore everything, and turned his gaze elsewhere. After a minute, he brought his gaze back over to his partner, who was standing ramrod straight over the body. Suddenly, he abruptly turned around and marched over to the shocked Tsuzuki.
Tsuzuki feared the worst when he saw the same cold, hard face that had never changed over past month. If not even a tragedy like this could bring him to grief…
And then, he noticed it. The streaks running down his cheeks… the tracks left behind not by rain but by something a little more human.
And he got the second biggest shock when his partner… Hisoka… plowed into his chest and just stayed there. Tentatively, Tsuzuki placed his hands upon Hisoka's shoulders, and was relieved when he didn't push away. Instead, he leaned into the touch and began to shake slightly.
They stayed like that even long after the rain stopped pouring and blood stopped flowing.
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SONG: "Edge of Seventeen" – Stevie Nicks
Tsuzuki contemplates Hisoka, while Hisoka contemplates Tsubaki-hime
Just
like the white winged dove... And the days go by... He was no more... than a baby then Just like the white winged dove... Well I went today... maybe I will go again... Just like the white winged dove... The clouds... never expect it... Oooooooooaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.. Just like the white winged dove... Well then suddenly... Just like the white winged dove... Well I hear you in the morning... Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Whoo... whoo... whoo...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Like a strand in the wind...
In the web that is my own...
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby...
Nothin' else mattered
Well he... seemed broken hearted...
Something within him
But the moment... that I first laid...
Eyes... on... him... all alone...
On the edge of... seventeen
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Said ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Tomorrow
Yea yea well the music there well it was hauntingly...
Familiar
Well I see you doing...
What I try to do for me
With the words from a poet...
And a voice from a choir
And a melody... nothing else mattered
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
When it rains
But the sea changes color...
But the sea...
Does not change
And so... with the slow... graceful flow...
Of age
I went forth... with an age old...
Desire... to please
On the edge of... seventeen
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
There was no one... left standing
In the hall... yeah yeah...
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Well I went searchin' for an answer...
Up the stairs... and down the hall
Not to find an answer...
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird... singing...
Come away...
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo... baby ooo... said ooo
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo... baby ooo... said ooo
And I hear you...
At nightfall...
Sometimes to be near you...
Is to be unable... to hear you...
My love...
I'm a few years older than you...
My love
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Download link: http(colon)//www(dot)sendspace(dot)com/file/5ve9rx
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A/N: Track 04 finished!
I have made changes to the third chapter! I have chosen a different song that I feel was more appropriate. To see why, look at the A/N after the third track!
Ugh, this past week has been draining. School is sucking out my life force and spitting it back out in a gloopy mess. Barf. I want my Spring Break now.
Anywho, thank you for all of the wonderful reviews! They keep me inspired to write (and sometimes ignore my homework in my desire to get the next track out… like what I'm doing right now… I'm such a naughty girl).
As can be seen, this chapter is obviously longer than the rest (and is pretty much the longest it can go if I want to fit everything into a little booklet). So much happens in the chapter and I'm just unable to shorten it without taken something vital out. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it!
I'm so inconsistent. I've decided to use Japanese titles again, as can obviously be seen in this chapter. I need to figure out what to use for my other tracks, specifically the second one.
Please R&R! Thank you!
