I take it back!! I had good reason to worry! I felt him lean in really close and there were a number of things I could think of that he could do...He had to choose the last one on the list. He...He...
He kissed me!
On the mouth!
He kissed me on the mouth!! Why would he...?! The second his lips touched mine I shoved him away, my reflexes working at their fastest.
"What's going on here?" It was my Father's voice...!!!
"I...We....He...And then...." My ability to make coherent sentences has escaped me. Would Tsuzuki tell him what happened? I couldn't stand this tension, even if I was the only one feeling it, so I briskly walked out of the room. My face a deep shade of crimson.
I walked as fast as I could without it being considered running, I walked like this until I was outside in the courtyard. I found Teiko and slowed to a calm walk as I approached him.
"Hey..." I said in a (hopefully) cool voice.
"Something happen?" Teiko said immediately.
"No! I mean uh...Let's go find Kurikara!" I blurted out, thankful we were alone for the moment.
"Now?"
"Yeah!" I suddenly had a determined smile on my face.
"Alright...Should we tell Tsuzuki or that guy...Nagare?"
"Uhm..." The smile disappeared as I looked at my feet. "You see...Maybe...I'll tell...Nagare." It felt weird to say his name, it was one thing to think it but, to say your own Father's name aloud was different to me.
"Not Tsuzuki? You sure?"
"Yeah. Besides, I need to talk to Nagare anyway." I wanted to talk to him about a few things and I was tired of ignoring my feelings.
"Alright. I'll wait here for you." I nodded and walked back inside the palace, I wonder if he's still with Tsuzuki? I walked back to my room and didn't sense either of them inside, I passed Rikugo and asked if he knew where my Father was, he said he last saw him heading outside. I thanked him and went on my way.
I groaned inwardly, how many times would I run in and out of this palace? I was ready to leave but, not until I had Kurikara or died trying! Or whatever happens to Shinigami!
I did see my Father about to go outside and called to him, I mentally kicked myself for being so casual with this man. Especially so soon after that fight and then in my room...
"Perfect, I wanted to talk to you, Hisoka." He said to me in his apathetic voice.
"Um, Father...I..." I mumbled as I looked down.
"Speak up, Hisoka." He commanded...Softly....?
"Um...I...About earlier..." I said in a slightly louder voice.
"You are a teenager, you're prone to explosions, I understand." He understood? What...?
"Oh, uh....Okay..." I felt awkward around him.
"I was like you once. In fact, you and I are a lot alike." He said calmly, yet I felt a hint of nerves.
"How so?" That one had me curious, how was I like my Father?
"Everything. Your looks come from me, your voice is similar but not quite the same. Especially our personalities are alike."
"Really?" I didn't think our personalities were alike at all.
"Sure, I had a bit of a temper at your age, although I hid it quite well. I've noticed you behavior around , you are very calm and yet, quick to anger as well. You let loose around him."
Woah, he was right. Why did I let my emotions out around him? ......Probably because...Um...He blocks his emotions really well and so I feel my own emotions more when I'm with him...? No...Because my Father was in the room and I still let loose...How strange...
"Father, you...You seem different somehow..." I mentioned.
"Hisoka, I...I want to apologize for...Everything. I really um...miss you." He said in a small voice, but I caught it.
"You miss me?" I questioned.
"Yes...Everything is getting worse and worse, and sometimes I just wish I still had you around to..."
"To what? I didn't do anything..."
"You were my son. You are my son and just seeing you makes my day a little better."
"Oh...What are you talking about? Is everything alright at home?" I felt strange in calling that place my home, even though I haven't been there in years. It was still my home.
"Erm...Nothing you should concern yourself about. It's being taken care of." He covered up....What was he covering up?
"Mother's alright, isn't she?" That woman also played a big factor in screwing up my life, but I didn't completely hate her. I mean, she was my mother, of course I still love her. Without her, I wouldn't be here.
"Rui is....She's...She'll be fine."
"Be fine? Is she sick?!" I wanted to know what was wrong with my Mother!
"She is...But she'll get better. We have two doctors who are doing everything they can to help."
"Doctors? How bad is she?" I was panicking slightly. Slightly.
"She's just having stomach troubles and she's a little delusional. But, everything will be alright, I assure you. These doctors, they seem to know what they're doing." He sounded confident in whoever these doctors were.
"Alright...If you say so..." I let it go, feeling my Father's hesitation on the subject. He wasn't going to tell me much more.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" Father changed the subject with a small smile. That was the first time I ever saw him smile at me.
"Oh yeah! Teiko and I are going after Kurikara...I just wanted to tell you so, um...Just so you know where I am."
"Thank you. I wish you luck and hope you return safely, promise you will?" He demanded in a confident tone. He was acting like a supportive Father, I kind of liked it.
"I promise, Father." I smiled confidently back at him. He nodded and shoo'd me off, playfully. I felt good after talking to him.
"Ready to go, Teiko?" I asked, smile still on my face.
"Sure, something good happen?" He asked, a smile on his face as well.
"Just had a nice chat with my Father. Now, let's go get Kurikara!" Determination laced my voice.
Teiko nodded and we left the palace. We headed to the Fuyuu Desert, to Kurikara's place!
With Nagare,
He walked outside into the beautiful courtyard and sat down on a stone bench under a tree.
"Hey, !" Tsuzuki approached him.
"I did as you advised." Nagare admitted, a smile still playing on his features.
"Oh, really? How'd it go?" Tsuzuki smiled as well.
"Good actually, I think he likes me now. Thank you."
"You're welcome! I'm glad you two worked things out. So um..." Tsuzuki looked left and right and did not see the young Shinigami. He wanted to talk to Hisoka too.
"Where did Hisoka go?" He asked.
"He went off with that Shiki of his somewhere." It was the truth, just not the whole truth.
"Oh, alright. He'll be safe no matter where he goes if Teiko goes with him. I feel more at ease leaving him alone now." Tsuzuki admitted.
"I know what you mean." Nagare admitted also.
Back with 'Soka-Chan,
Teiko and I entered the desert, I was getting nervous at the thought of seeing Kurikara once again. Of course, this time I had Teiko with me, not some low-level defensive water Shiki who couldn't really....Riko, Thank you for saving my life. I hope wherever you are, you are happy and peaceful.
"Hisoka, how much do you know about Kurikara?" Teiko asked suddenly.
"Huh? Uhh...Just that he and Soh-Ryu fought a really long time ago in some war."
"There's more to the story than that, you see, Kurikara was on the human's side, but he was deemed a traitor by the Celestial Emperor and banished to the Fuyuu Desert. He wasn't very trusting of the Emperor since no one's really seen him, so when he was banished, Kurikara hated him."
"That sounds un-fair." I mentioned.
"It does. I didn't play a big role in the war so, I don't know everything but, I was rooting for Kurikara. Silently, of course."
"Hm...Did you actually fight in the war?" It was nice to hear some more of this story, it was also nice to have an intelligent conversation about something other than food or whatever else Tsuzuki rambles about. Eep, thinking about Tsuzuki makes me remember that incident...I should keep listening to Teiko.
"No, I didn't fight. I helped with healing. I'm a water Shiki, and while I have offensive abilities, my defensive powers are good too. So, I healed whoever I could."
"Oh, that sounds nice..." That sentence sunk in and I quickly re-phrased. "I mean, it was nice of you to help. Sorry."
"I figured that's what you meant. No worries." Teiko smiled kindly.
I smiled back at him in response. I was smiling more lately, was it Teiko or was my life improving? Gah, I've been over-analyzing everything lately. I need to just stop and accept things as they are, I suppose.
Night approached quickly and we made camp in the middle of nowhere. The nights were chilly in the deserts (for some odd and stupid reason) and Teiko noticed I was cold.
"Hisoka, are you alright?" He asked.
"I'll be fine. For some odd reason, deserts feel like having MPD..." I said with a hint annoyance.
Teiko scooted closer to me, for heat I guess. I looked to him with curiosity.
"Is that a little better?"
I nodded.
I awoke to the sun shining in my face, I guess I fell asleep. I was lying down, not on the sand though...There was also something covering my body. It was making me hot, the sun beating down probably causing the heat I was feeling.
I sat up, noticing I was lying in Teiko's lap with his coat over me.
"Mm, thanks." I muttered in a sleepy state.
"No problem." He took his coat and just held it, probably too hot for him also.
We went back to walking through the freakin'-too-goddamn-hot desert. Damn heat. I hated the heat.
Slight relationship time! Also, Hisoka and Nagare getting back on good terms was hard to write but fun! So, now Nagare is listening to Tsuzuki! He's noticed that Hisoka acts differently around Tsu and wants to be that also. Nagare has seen the error he has made in his son's life, and he wants to make it better. I made up Teiko's part in their little war. .....Hm, now I can't remember (and all my YnM manga is at my dad's) was Soh-Ryu's name on the list? Ah well, I'll have to read online and find out I suppose.
