Leki: You know something?
Dane and I: What?
I know many things hehe
Leki: Very funny. Anyways I think that there is going to be a long way to go.
Dane: You do?
Leki: Yes. Because even though Hisoka went to Tsuzuki it still must be hard for him to be so trusting.
Me and Dane: True.
Dane: Tsuzuki is going to have a long ways to go.
So will Hisoka given how things go.
Dane and Leki: What do you mean?
Well, it may sound easy to get guardianship over a child but a lot of things have to take place in order to make it happen
Dane: Really?
Leki: What kind of things?
Well, first there would have to be a trail to be able to prove that a child's parent or parents are not able to take care of them due to many things child abuse, neglect of the everyday care of the child, and many other things.
Leki: What do you mean by neglect of the everyday care of the child?
Well, many things, the child isn't being fed, might have the signs of a parent or parents that do not play or interact in a positive way with their child, Home environment might be bad, those kinds of things.
Dane: They would need a lot of evidence then.
Yes they would.
Leki: Well, I think the Katana will prove that he was abused.
Then there are other things.
Leki and Dane: Like what?
The one that is fighting for the child must prove that he or she is able to care for a child. This includes everything from clean house to a job that can support both the person and child.
Dane: It is that hard?
Yes it is.
Leki: Well, I think that Tsuzuki can do it!
Dane: Yeah me to. After all he is going to have help.
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A long ways to go
The next morning Hisoka woke to see he was in a bedroom that was not his own. He laid there staring at the ceiling trying to remember what had happened. The rays of the sun were trying hard to shine in past the closed curtains but only managed to shine through the small spots where the curtains did not cover the window. It finally clicked. He remembered running away from his house and made it all the way to Tsuzuki's house. 'This is Tsuzuki's bedroom.' Hisoka thought to himself. He started to sit up but winced. He placed his left hand on his chest. He may not have had any broken chest bones but his chest still hurt.
It was then that he noticed his right hand was bandaged up. Feeling his forehead he felt the soft fabric of gauzes and surgical tape around it, his left forearm to just above his elbow was wrapped, and even some places on his chest a stomach had gauzes o band-aids covering the open wounds he had. It was also then that he noticed he didn't have a shirt on. Lifting the blanket up he started to blush. "Where are my clothes?" He said in a mumbled voice. He then remembered that when he ran to Tsuzuki's house it was raining. Hisoka then figure that Tsuzuki must have took them off of him to keep him from getting sick. Seeing that image caused him blush even more. 'I'm … naked.' He thought to himself.
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While Hisoka had lifted up the blankets to admire the handy work of how well his injuries were bandaged Tsuzuki slowly opened the door. 'If he is still asleep then I will leave his clean clothes on the table by the bed.' Tsuzuki thought. But when he saw Hisoka was awake and even more saw him looking at his lower half under the blanket Tsuzuki smiled. "Tatsumi does pretty good work doesn't he?" Tsuzuki asked as he came into the room. Hisoka quickly let go of the blanket when he heard Tsuzuki's voice. Tsuzuki saw the flushed coloring on Hisoka's face and became concerned instantly. "Are you feeling alright Hisoka?" Tsuzuki said as he set the clothes on the table next to the bed. "Your cheeks are a little red." He added as he looked to the young boy.
"Huh? Oh I'm fine it isn't anything to worry about." Hisoka said. Tsuzuki gave Hisoka a warm smile.
"You don't have to hide anything from me anymore you know?" Tsuzuki asked. "I won't let anyone hurt you again. I promise." Tsuzuki added. Hisoka looked into those Amethyst eyes. Those eyes showed him that this man before him means what he says.
"Why?" Hisoka said in a slightly low voice as he looked down at his hands which were now playing with the blanket.
"Huh?" Tsuzuki asked as he didn't quite understand the question.
"Why do you care so much?" Hisoka asked. "I am just one kid. Not worth anything to anyone. So, why?" Hisoka asked as he looked at Tsuzuki. Tears very evident in his emerald green eyes. Even though the left eye was covered by hair.
Tsuzuki frown just a tiny bit. Sitting on the bed he watched as Hisoka kept looking at him. "Because …" Tsuzuki started to say. "You are very precious to me." He finished.
"Precious …" Hisoka repeated.
Tsuzuki smiled and nodded. "You are my good friend and a very sweet person who deserves a better life then the one you were born into." Tsuzuki replied.
"But …" Hisoka started to say.
"Don't worry anymore okay?" Tsuzuki asked as he gently placed his hands on Hisoka's face. "The only thing I ask is that you try to be honest to me and consider if it would Beal right to have you stay with me." Tsuzuki said as he used his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears in Hisoka's eyes.
"Tsuzuki …" Was the only thing that came out of Hisoka's mouth.
"Now your clothes are clean but I would recommend getting new clothes." Tsuzuki said as he removed his hands and stood up. Hisoka looked at his clothes that were folded neatly and sitting on the small table next to the bed. It was true that even clean they still looked dirty. "If you would like to take a shower then the bathroom is right across from the bedroom." Tsuzuki said. "And if you need any help getting there then just tell me." Tsuzuki said. "Now I need to go make a phone call and then if you like we can order some food. For some reason Tatsumi says that I shouldn't try to make anything being as you went through enough." Tsuzuki added with a small laugh.
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The Child and Family reach out place never has a day off, not even on Sundays. Konoe was doing his everyday habit of walking around the different floors to check on how the other employees were doing with there cases. But when he was getting into the elevator to go up to the second floor He saw Tatsumi. "Good evening Tatsumi." Konoe said.
"Good evening sir." Tatsumi responded.
"How are you doing on your cases?" Konoe asked. "I thought that you, Watari, Tsuzuki, and Hisoka were going to be in Kobe this weekend?" Konoe asked.
"There was a slight change of plans after Watari and I checked up on our cases." Tatsumi replied.
"Nothing bad I hope." Konoe said.
"No not anymore." Tatsumi said.
When the Elevator reached the second floor they both exited it and went their separate directions. Tatsumi head towards the small little office space that was Watari's when his cell phone rang.
"Tsuzuki? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah. Hisoka just woke up."
"That's good."
"I told him he could take a shower if he wanted to."
"I bet he will."
"So did you find out anything yet?"
"Not yet." Tatsumi then heard Hisoka calling for Tsuzuki. "It seems that you are needed right now."
"Hai."
"I'll let you go then."
"Okay."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Tatsumi put his cell phone away just as he reached Watari's office space. Watari was typing away at his computer. His pet owl snoozing in his cage right next to the computer. "Did you find anything?" Tatsumi asked as he saw that Watari was typing away.
"Only that Hisoka had been in the hospital on three separate occasions." Watari replied.
"Does it tell why?" Tatsumi asked. "No and the records are under a high security file so I couldn't get to it even if I tried." He added.
"We need to find away to get those files." Tatsumi said.
"Maybe if you tell me why you need them I might be able to help." Tatsumi and Watari both jumped and turned to the voice.
"Mr. Konoe." They both said at the same time.
"I was coming check up on you but I find you two are up to something." Konoe said. "Why don't you two follow me to my office and we can talk more there." He suggested.
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As it had turned out Hisoka did need some help getting into the bathroom. But he at least wanted his pants on before asking for help. Tsuzuki was very gentle as he helped Hisoka get into the bathroom. Once in the bathroom Hisoka had told Tsuzuki that he would be fine and that anything he ordered would be okay with him. So Tsuzuki had left Hisoka in the bathroom by himself.
It didn't take long for Hisoka to get the tub working and once he got the right level of warm thing that he wanted in the bath. Hisoka had carefully taken off his pants and all the bandages, gauzes, and band-aids. He climbed gently into the water. Allowing the heat to sink into his smooth pale skin. Setting himself down easy Hisoka began to wash himself. He started with his hair, and then did the rest of his body. The once clean and clear bath water became tinted to a murky gray red color.
After he was done washing himself Hisoka let the water out and refilled the tub with clean, clear, warm water. Getting back in he laid back and allowed his body to relax. He was still in pain but it seemed to lesson once he was laid back in the tub. His long wet hair was lying back and away from both eyes. He placed the wet wash cloth over his eyes and sighed. Hisoka mind traveled back to the scene of just nearly half an hour ago.
"Why do you care so much?"
"I am just one kid. Not worth anything to anyone. So why?"
"Because …"
"You are very precious to me."
'Tsuzuki …. You are being so kind to me. Even when I would try and push you away you still even now am by my side.' Hisoka thought to himself. 'What is it that you could possibly want from me?'
"The only thing I ask is that you try to be honest to me and consider if it would Beal right to have you stay with me."
'He wants me to stay with him? I caused him so much trouble and he wants me to stay with him?' Hisoka thought to himself. Hisoka smirked. "He is so nosey."
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It didn't take long for Tatsumi and Watari to explain what had happened the day before. "And you are certain that the blood on the Katana is human blood and that it is Hisoka's blood." Konoe asked.
"Hai." Tatsumi responded.
"We can't let Hisoka go back to them people." Watari said.
"I know that Watari." Konoe said.
"Is there anything that we can do?" Tatsumi asked.
Konoe leaned back in his chair and sighed. Closing his eyes he tried to think. "It's going to be a long couple of months." Konoe said.
"Does that mean that it can be done?" Watari asked.
"Hai. But it won't be easy." Konoe said. "First we are going to need a lawyer. Then we need to get Tsuzuki temporary custody of the boy. That might be hard since caseworkers are not supposed to get this involved in their cases." Konoe said.
"If we can prove that Hisoka is more comfortable for Tsuzuki then anyone else then it won't be a problem." Tatsumi said.
"Yes but next will come the child abuse case. I don't think Hisoka will be up to answering a bunch of questions in front of everyone." Watari said. "Then there is the evidence." He added.
"If we can prove that he was abused then getting a warrant to search the house won't be too hard." Konoe said.
"Do you think that Hisoka will allow himself to be looked at by a doctor?" Watari asked. "It took Tsuzuki a long time to get this close to the bon. What chance does a doctor have?" Watari asked.
"If we tell him why then maybe he will go through with it. But that still leaves the fact that he might get questioned." Tatsumi said.
"Doesn't Kurosaki have a twin brother?" Konoe asked.
"Yes he does." Tatsumi said.
"Well, then we need to get him to talk. If we can then Hisoka might not have to get up onto the stand." Konoe said. "Once we get past this case then we will work on letting him stay with Tsuzuki for good." Konoe said. "Now I need to make a few phone calls and you two should inform Tsuzuki of this. So that he could tell Kurosaki." Konoe said as he picked up the phone.
"Right." Tatsumi and Watari both said. They turned to leave.
"And Watari how many times must I say to leave your pet in his cage?" Konoe asked.
"00 is more then a pet. He is my partner." Watari responded as he petted the small Owl that was perched on his shoulder.
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Tsuzuki knocked on the bathroom door. "Hisoka?" He asked.
"Hai?" Hisoka responded.
"The food is here." Tsuzuki said.
"Alright." Hisoka said.
"Do you need any help?" Tsuzuki asked.
Just then the door opened. "To get the bandages back on but everything else I handled." Hisoka said.
"Hisoka …" Tsuzuki said as he saw something he hadn't before. "You cut your hair." He said. Hisoka's once long hair that covered his left eye was now short and allowed both his eyes to be seen. His hair was dry and it lay neatly on his head. It was cut just below his ears and just lightly touched his forehead.
"Hmm?" Hisoka said. "Oh this?" He asked as he ran his fingers of his left hand through his hair. "I felt that if I was going to stay with you then I would need a change." Hisoka said. "It is okay if I stay with you right?" Hisoka asked as he wanted to make sure.
"Of course it is!" Tsuzuki said as he actually hugged Hisoka but instantly let go when Hisoka winced slightly. "Sorry." Tsuzuki said.
"It is alright." Hisoka said. "Just bruises after all." He added. "Well, let's go eat what you ordered for us." He said. Looking into the living room he saw that on the coffee table was a bout six or eight boxes of Pizza. There was also cheesy beard, Garlic bread, cinnamon bread, and two large cups of coke.
"I didn't know what you like one a pizza so got different pizzas with different toppings." Tsuzuki said.
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Dane: Hey we had pizza last night.
Yep
Leki: And they had Pizza this night.
Yep.
Dane: I hope that neither of them likes those toppings with the fishes on it.
Anchovies?
Dane: Yeah them.
Leki: Thos are gross.
I know.
Leki: But I guess there are people out there that want tails and eyes on their pizzas.
I don't know if they leave the eyes in but I know there are people out there that like those types of toppings.
Dane: DO you think that Hisoka will let himself be looked at by a doctor?
Leki: He would have to. Otherwise it would be hard to win the case without it.
Hopefully he won't have to testify.
Leki and Dane: Yeah.
Leki: I think he has gone through enough without having to face his parents.
Dane: Not to mention face what his parents did to him.
Well, as the title of the chapter says they will have along ways to go.
Dane and Leki: Yeah they will.
But sadly we have to leave it here for now.
Dane: Why?
Leki: Yeah why?
Because it is the end of this chapter.
Leki: Oh.
Dane: Guess that makes sense.
Plus I think it would be fair if we got to hear or in this case read what the readers would like to say in their review. Don't you agree?
Dane: Well, to keep it fair …
Leki: And to find out what they have to put …
Dane and Leki: Then yes we agree!
Oh wow.
Leki and Dane: What?
You won't believe how long this chapter is.
Dane: How long is it?
Watches Leki go and count the pages. Leki will tell us soon.
Leki: 8 … 9 … 10. Whoa!
Dane: Well, how many pages?
Leki: Ten pages long.
Dang: Dang.
Hehe Well, let go eat while the readers get to review.
