Disclaimer, Warning and Spoilers: Please look at Of Death and Sakura: 00 – The Beginning.
Summary: Chapter 04: Tokyo Outskirt 2 – Seemingly uneventful end of their first case, but it is actually held quite significant meaning for some participants of End of World's war. Oh, and for reminders, Tsuzuki is more observant than he looked, and Seishirou has a nasty habit to confuse someone else.
Spoilers: X vol. 16 – 17
Notes: Expecting the arrival of our favorite angst-boy, Sumeragi Subaru, the cool leader of Dragon of Earth, and others Seals and Angels.
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He's hanging. In the middle of nothing. Without nothing to held him.
No… that's not correct. To hang means having something, anything, to hold him from falling. Then, what is he doing now?
Ah…he is floating. That's more like it. With nothing to hold, drifting anywhere and nowhere. All alone inside this endless darkness. He tries to pronounce the word. Float… It tasted weird inside his mouth, but he liked it, the word.
Sometimes he wonders, how long had he been floating like this. With nothing to hold, drifting anywhere and nowhere. But, since when time held any significant for him anyway? And, something about time made him rather annoyed. Something about deadline, or something…
Time reminded him about day too. Meaning, rather than only this comfortable dark, there are supposed to be day and night. This probably could explain why there are many dancing light around him now.
No, wait. Frowning, he looks around. It's still dark here; he could distinct the dark well enough. Then, what are those floating things? Thinking. Ah, silly, how could he forget?
It's snow. It's snowing now. Satisfied, he nods to himself and frowns again. No, it's not correct. Snow he remembered didn't this soft. Or he remembered wrong? And maybe snow is really this soft?
Furthermore, he does not remember snow being pink in colour.
Wait. Pink! Snow is white, isn't? The only pink thing which held importance for him is…
---
Drop. A small cease on forehead appears. Its owner frowns slightly, trying to keep held in slumber, before finally give in small blinks to ease his grogginess. A pair of eyes, one green and other white milky, opens up.
To other passers-by of Ueno Park, they'll only notice a thin lonesome somewhat-attractive figure in worn-out white long coat sitting on park bench under an old big withering flowerless sakura tree. This is common everywhere; increased homeless is not new as more earthquakes occurred lately. But Sumeragi Subaru knows better, as he looks up at full-blossom sakura tree covered in lovely pink. The Tree.
Sighing softly, Subaru rubs his eyes to ease a droplet of water that had woken him. To be precise, a droplet that seemed originated from The Tree. "I hope it's not blood…" Subaru looks at his hand. "…Nope." He looks up as it gives a soft rustle.
"Any particular reason why you wake me up?"
Another rustle as answer. No magical sign or interference anywhere found, as Subaru sighs again. Even his tree wouldn't let him alone… Subaru stands up carefully, stretching his long thin legs by walking around. These routines are all he did for the past week; sleeping, walking, eating if remember, and sleeping again. And his favorite sleeping site is at the base where he first met him.
As he walks around, circling the base idly, Subaru notices a slight trace residue of Sakurazuka's brand magic. Or to be precise, his brand of magic. "Why didn't I notice it before…?" looks up," …of course, this is the place after all…" Subaru squats down near one of its gigantic roots, snoops around until he found a piece of black ofuda. With an address written on it. Subaru widens his eyes as he clutches it tightly.
---
Not many things able to make one Kigai Yuuto shocked. After all, he is quite proud with his carefree and follow-the-flow nature. But, now he is really blown out of balance and having a day of his life. It's not everyday he got a phone-call from someone who is supposed to be already dead! He'd suspected received a prank call if he didn't watch how that person's last moment of life is. And a nasty one too… Their leader said the deceased is very satisfied to die like that, but he didn't find having a hole in his chest something particularly to be contented with.
He doesn't know which one is weirder; the deceased, or their leader who seemed understood the deceased's last wish to have a hand thrust into his body. There are really many kinds of people in world…
Since earlier, Yuuto had stumbled and tripped over nothing in his haste to descend to basement floor. He even does not stop to greet his superior lady which a bizarre thing in his life history record; after all, he still wants to work as a public service officer.
Arriving at his destination, Yuuto ignores completely startled Kanoe and Satsuki who are in the middle of discussion with his outburst, and immediately darts around the room in search on one person only. And he found him on Kanoe's favorite chair sitting with Nataku's head on his lap.
"/Kamui!"
Fuuma, aka /Kamui, lifts his head and inclines his head seeing panting Yuuto. Not everyday you could witness a flustered water-user, so he waits a moment before make his query.
"Yes?"
"Sakurazukamori just called me."
Collective silence followed Yuuto's declaration.
Not surprising, Fuuma is the first one to recover.
"Sakurazukamori?"
"Yes." A firm nod.
"…The one who just died two weeks ago?"
"Yes." Again, a nod.
"…Sakurazuka Seishirou?"
"Yes, yes. The Sakurazukamori Sakurazuka Seishirou!" said Yuuto exasperated," Dragon of Earth, Sakurazukamori, how many are Sakurazukamori out there anyway?"
"But, he died," inquired Satsuki.
"I know…"
Blink. "And?"
"And what?"
"And how someone who is already dead able to call you?"
"I asked him the same question too. And he said, for some trivial and unimportant reasons," Yuuto waves his hand while make a face," he's allowed to walk in the world of living, or so he claimed."
Another collective silence.
"Are you sure it's not a prank call?" Kanoe voiced her doubt.
"And who might be using Sakurazukamori title as a prank call?" countered Yuuto.
"Well…" Kanoe frowns.
"Dragon of Heaven?" Nataku chirped in.
He receives a group of ridiculous looks as result.
"Nataku-dear," said Yuuto in patience tone," I don't think it's possible… He knows I'm a Dragon of Earth."
When he receives a blank look as reply, Yuuto sighs and continues," if Dragon of Heaven knows where Dragon of Earth works at, I don't think they will keep quiet about it, and I've never been attacked outside from our rampage."
"…Oh," Nataku nods slowly.
"Beside, he gave me pretty convincing evidence," Yuuto glances at Satsuki," he knew about your computer lesson that day."
Satsuki surprises and frowns," that's supposed to be a secret!"
"Computer lesson?" Kanoe looks between Satsuki and Yuuto," something I missed here?"
"Nothing…" mumbles Satsuki.
"Ah, she's sulking," Yuuto smiles.
"Then?"
"Hm?" Yuuto turns around to face the person who made query, while Fuuma looks at him with patience.
"He didn't contact you just for social call, did he?"
"Ah, yes, I almost forgot," Yuuto pulls out a piece of paper," he asked me to tell you to meet him at this place," hands over it to Fuuma who receives it. Others fell silent while waiting for their leader to make comment.
"Okay." At this short announcement, Fuuma raises and proceeds to leave the room.
"Wait!" shouted Kanoe," shouldn't you be more careful? This is could be a trap."
Fuuma pauses and turns half-around," I don't think so. And beside," he gives an innocent smile," this is concerning his Wish."
---
"So, basically you've got practically nothing from her." Hisoka said these words in deadpan voice that immediately made Tsuzuki burst out in tears.
Huddled together inside one of cheap motel lodging of one "Bandou Motel" at outskirt of Tokyo, three shinigamis are currently exchanging their gathered information to summarize the investigation.
Seishirou is currently watching in amusement at duo shinigamis usually antics: crying-puppy Tsuzuki and blushing-shouting Hisoka; well, he's really couldn't blame Tsuzuki for liking teasing his partner so much; after all, blushing Hisoka is too adorable to resist. Just like someone he knew. One with same green jade eyes. Eye, actually. "Sigh, it's really a pity, Subaru-kun. I really like your eyes…" Seishirou is currently indulged in his own self-pity while listening at others' bickering. He glances at a clock hanging on cracked wall of the room; it's shown time at almost 7 o'clock of evening. "Better get moving. It won't do to make him wait."
"Ahem!" Seishirou clears his throat to grab their attention. "Sorry to disturb your fun," Seishirou resists the urge to smirk as Hisoka directed him an embarrassed glare," I'm going to change this bandages at the restroom outside. So, now, excuse me," he stands up and walks onto the door, only turns half way when opening the door," oh, and please don't mind me and continue your discussion." Insert wide grin and a wink here, and he's gone.
"Tatsumi is so cheap," Tsuzuki starts complaining," he booked a hotel which doesn't have an indoor toilet! The atrocity!" Hisoka lifts both his eyebrows high up, and stares.
Sensing needles at the back of his head, Tsuzuki turns his head to meet a silent stare of twin green pools.
"…Um…what is it, Hisoka?"
"I didn't know you've got good vocabulary."
Blink. "Pardon?"
"…Atrocity. That's quite a big word for you."
"Soka-chan! Hidoii!"
Unfazed, Hisoka still staring which made Tsuzuki a bit uneasy.
"Err…" Tsuzuki sweat drops," okay, you're creeping now…" sobs pitifully," I want my Soka-chan back!" And hugs Hisoka tightly.
Blush. "Ba-baka! Don't say stupid thing like that!" Warm. Contentedness. Happiness. "Stupid, stupid, stupid! I can't believe these emotions come from me!!! Ok, stop right there! Don't think anything else!... Damn! He didn't answer my question! Ah, well, I don't care…"
"Anyway, about your investigation on Kigai Tomoe," Hisoka pulls out a piece of paper which already filled with scribbles, after managed to retract himself from Tsuzuki's," according to you two observation, she does not possess any abnormal spiritual power, does not have strange phenomena around her, aside our case of course, does not aware of our case, and lastly," frowns," since when he wears glasses?"
"Never, of course."
As Hisoka's frown turns deeper, Tsuzuki continues, "you're the one who said he is suspicious."
"…And? Don't tell me you don't query anything about it to him?"
"Well, that's the weird part…" Tsuzuki frowns as he reminiscing this afternoon's event.
Flashback.
Tsuzuki stretches his body as he walks off from Tomoe's house, with Seishirou in leisure pace.
"Well, that's as far as we could get it seemed," Tsuzuki yawns," I hope Soka got better result than us."
"I agree," Seishirou nods, and touches his chest in surprised," ah! I forgot my glasses," he looks at Tsuzuki," I must've left it at the house."
Blink. "I didn't know you wear glasses."
"I'm not."
Tsuzuki stares blankly at Seishirou who is smiling secretively. "I'll go back to retrieve it," Seishirou starts walking away, and stops suddenly," you want to come with me…?"
Something about the way he spoke made Tsuzuki's back hairs stood up, and he stares at those mismatched eyes carefully. He guts told him to run away immediately before he got into trouble he wouldn't want to get involved into. All of sudden, all of his anxiety and, of course curiosity, are gone, and Seishirou is no where to be found.
Blinking stupidly, Tsuzuki looks around; he could sense faintly Seishirou's presence ahead at the direction of Kigai's house via his shikigami bird. Unlike his carefree appearance, Tsuzuki is not as stupid as not to keep an eye on him, not only because of Hisoka's warning, but also from his years as shinigami. That man is dangerous for sure, though he doesn't know how dangerous he is…
Feeling confused, he scratches his head before returning to Hisoka's waiting place. "I've already sent a shikigami to follow him anyway," Tsuzuki merged himself in deep thinking while walking away," I'll know immediately if he endangers Kigai's life. So I guess it's fine." Feeling sure, he keeps walking away.
End of flashback.
"I think he jinxed me," said Tsuzuki all of sudden.
This statement alarmed Hisoka immediately. "Did he curse you?!"
Blink. "No, it's not like that," Tsuzuki chuckles, and ruffles his panicked partner's hairs affectionately," I think it's not complicated enough to call it a curse. It's like this," thinking," when I'm talking about something I don't want to tell the other party, I'll change the topic subtly without his notice. So he'll forget the topic at that moment."
"Diversion," Hisoka nods," and you're very good at it." The last statement is accompanied with a slight glare.
"Err…thanks, I guess," Tsuzuki scratches his head uneasily," yeah, like diversion. This is the same, although the thing diverts is attention and mind. Like conversation, it is possible to divert someone else attention to other matter and made his opponent has a chance to attack. In battle, that is.
In this case, he's probably temporarily blocked my memory span and uses this chance to slip away from my consciousness. This made me confused and had missing memory sequence for a very short time-span."
"…" Hisoka turns in deep thought. "Sounds…complicated."
Shrug. "Not really," Tsuzuki touches his chin, thinking," I think I've met someone else who is using similar technique before. She is a very hard opponent to beat, and in the end, she even got away."
"She?"
"Yeah," Tsuzuki sighs," it's happened about 30-years ago. There is a case where a death soul didn't come to afterlife like it's supposed to be. It's like this," lifts his hand," suddenly evaporate like that. This leads us, shinigamis, to her.
After confronting her for some quite hard time, and I really meant it, it is decided to declare the case as unresolved," Tsuzuki raises his hand to cut Hisoka's interruption," yeah, I know it's surprising…" rolls his eyes," and it's a direct order from EnmaDaiOh-sama." Tsuzuki smiles," surprised?"
"You bet." A pair of green pools narrows slightly.
"That's reminded me," Tsuzuki frowns," he reminds me of her… Not about their appearance, though their eyes' colour are a bit unnerving with their similarity, but more about their behavior." "Those secretive smiles… Like it hides many dark secrets of humanity…Hmm, better not tell Hisoka, though I think he had already pretty much guessed it right."
Knock, knock. Sound of door knocking roused the shinigamis pair from their musing. The door is opened and Seishirou in glasses peeks inside half-way. He smiles good-naturedly as he produces a collective blinks from his roommates.
"Anyone want to grab something? I'm pretty hungry, you know." He enters, taking along neatly folded bandages on his hands. And he is putting them on the table when someone interrupts him.
"You're wearing glasses?" asked Tsuzuki, bewildered.
"Huh? This?" Seishirou fixes his glasses," yeah, I guess. I could see pretty much everything, but I'll read better when wearing glasses. Hm, is there something wrong?"
"Err, this afternoon, you said you didn't wear them…?" reminded Tsuzuki.
"Ah, that time," Seishirou smiles slightly. "Again, that smile," Tsuzuki still maintains puzzled expression while taking note inside his head. "I guess I lied to you," admitted Seishirou, and he grins seeing frowning Hisoka and blinking Tsuzuki," I didn't mean to trick you, but," shrugs," I'm used to having a difficulty with people once when wearing glasses, so I don't feel too comfortable to wear one."
"Ah, is that so?" Tsuzuki beams immediately, Hisoka glances slightly at him," you don't have to worry about it! We're really okay with glasses folks! We've Watari and Tatsumi! Okay, Tatsumi is scary with glasses on… but that's beside the point," waves his hands," anyway, I'm in for eating!"
"Good, and while we're on that," Seishirou opens again the door," I suggested we investigated geographical history record of this area."
"Meaning?" Tsuzuki stands up, followed by Hisoka.
"Meaning that maybe those folks from Paranormal Geological Phenomena Section had overlooked something," Seishirou already walks out from room," we better investigate public library for record."
"I've already checked it out," said Hisoka suddenly.
"Oh?" Seishirou and Tsuzuki stops, looking at Hisoka.
"There is nothing about it. No abnormal water activity in this area that could signal anything as clue for the case."
"Well, maybe you haven't dug it deep enough," Seishirou lifts his hand," no offense Kurosaki-kun, but I believed you probably only look into data for… 10 years perhaps. Ah, we've arrived!" Three of them are standing in front of a small noodle restaurant.
"Smell yummy!" Tsuzuki sniffs the air.
"Let's go in. My treat."
"Really?" Insert god ears and tail here, plus glitters.
"Yup." Smile.
"Yay!" Tsuzuki looks at Hisoka excitedly," I'm going first!" And he goes in instant, leaving Hisoka and Seishirou behind.
"…You're correct," admitted Hisoka," I've only look at last 10 years data." Glance at Seishirou," but, that's all they have in public library."
"Ah, then we need to look at better place," said Seishirou cheerfully," Tokyo Central Information Center has the most enormous complete data. And that's where you and Tsuzuki come on spot, since I've restriction you know…"
Blink. "Isn't it a restricted area?" Hisoka frowns," how we are going enter it, nevermind obtain the data?"
"That's," Seishirou winks," when shinigami's ability to disappear come in handy."
---
"So…" Tatsumi stares at a bundle of documents in front of him," area where Kigai Tomoe's lived once a lake turn dried 50 years ago. According to the record, those all water gone down as underground reservoir deep enough not to get detected with Paranormal Geological Phenomena Section.
Because of recent earthquake, those hidden water emerged up to the surface and filled up what once a lake."
"That's what written on it," Tsuzuki shrugs.
Taking a deep sigh, Tatsumi pinches his nose bridge. It's only two days since trio shinigamis are dispatched, and suddenly they returned with a thick bundle of document, explaining that after all no paranormal thing around Kigai Tomoe. Though unsurprising surprisingly, the case is declared close by higher-ups. It didn't take genius to figure it out. Something is fishy here. "Like all things concerning 1999," Tatsumi looks up," then, you're dismissed until the assignment." He sighs," just make sure you don't get into trouble when you're on it…" Mumbling to himself and taking the bundle, Tatsumi leaves to take care of the rest. Ah, the life of secretary…
Tsuzuki looks at his partner," he didn't talk about, right?"
"Who else," answered Hisoka dead-pan.
Tsuzuki drops his head down," right…oh yeah," lifts it up and beams suddenly," Hisoka, when you're going to the recreational area, please bring me a cup of tea with donuts, k? I'll skip lunch to do paperwork."
Blink. "You what?" Hisoka blinks again when Tsuzuki winks at him while keeps smiling. Trust me. "…Okay…" Standing cautiously, Hisoka takes a sneak glance at the other occupant of room who is reading a book; Seishirou is already immersed himself about penguin as soon as they're dismissed. And he leaves the room.
"Sakurazuka-san," greeted Tsuzuki cheerfully, flopping down rather ungracefully beside Seishirou.
"Hm?" the glasses Seishirou lifts up his head," what is it, Tsuzuki-san?"
"Mind if I had a word with you?" Tsuzuki still has this cheerfulness. "Why, of course not," Seishirou marks his book," what can I help you?"
"You know," began Tsuzuki," when Hisoka first arrived and worked as shinigami, I was the one who told and taught him about shinigami's invisibility. And my previous previous partner was also the one who taught me about it."
"And your point is…?"
"But," Tsuzuki's smile broadens a little," who might be tell you about it?" tilts his head," I don't think Hisoka will bother himself about these kind of things to tell you, and unless I've sudden amnesia, I've never told you either," he pauses, staring at a pair of amber-white eyes," correct me if I'm wrong, I guess this got something to do with the little bravado you demonstrated on me that afternoon."
"My, are you still upset about it?" Seishirou feigned surprised, smiled humbly," my apology then."
"It's alright," Tsuzuki smiles," you haven't answered my question."
"Ah, yes, it seemed so." Sunlight is reflected on his glasses, making his eyes hard to read. "Just say…I've an acquaintance that had tiny knowledge about this stuff," pauses," is it satisfactory enough?"
"Hmm, good enough!" Tsuzuki hummed to himself. "That's not a question," narrows his eyes," it's a warning. Same as the trick that afternoon…"
"Good," Seishirou stands up," now if you'll excuse me, I need my lunch."
"Okay, be careful!"
Seishirou leaves the room and smirks to himself," I think I've found your purple-eyed shinigami, mother. Heh, this is going to be fun."
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Author Notes:
(1) Fiuh, finally! Chapter 4 is done! Okay, before any of you start complaining, I admitted this chapter is the most bizarre thing I've wrote. This is the worst of all from this series, and I'm not going to rewrite it :P
(2) The first section of this chapter is about Subaru's in his limbo. It might be a little confusing, but hey, this is Subaru we're talking about! Angst is his middle name, and I love it :D Oh, and what address written on the paper, it'll be explained in the next omake.
(3) Fuuma and Sieshirou's encounter will be told separately in another chapter.
(4) Tsuzuki is a shinigami with strong spiritual power; he'll know if someone puts a spell on him :) The trick Seishirou used on him is the same one he used on Subaru in their one-year bet: memory altering spell. Some maybe found it same as sleeping spell, but I think there's got to be something else to make Subaru less suspicious with his fainting stuff…
(5) And if you're wondering, yes, the woman Tsuzuki talking about is Sakurazuka Setsuka, Seishirou's mother. There is no way Meifu is going to let Sakurazukamori on his own device, except for Seishirou of course, since he's a Dragon of Earth after all. Also, there is a valid reason why Seishirou is wearing a glasses, which of course I won't be telling now :D
(6) Last, not least, please review…