---X---Chapter 10

Murders and mysterious disappearances were littering all the papers over the next couple of days, making people worried. Watari set the latest paper down, sighing, wishing he could figure out a way to save Tsuzuki. He went through every type of notes he'd ever made, every document on the computers, and every sort of topic on possession of the mind and/or body, and every sort of mental control. He found nothing for what was going on for Tsuzuki exactly, but if he had the time, he could probably put a lot of the information together and work it out. Who knew what Tsuzuki was experiencing, and how long until the demon was actually seen and put on alert. After that, many more people would die, and the entire country of Japan would be in hiatus, since the attacks are spread all over in large groups, varying from 3 to 11 people per night.

Watari stood up, heading back to his lab, convinced there was something he could do to slow the demon down.

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Hisoka lay on his bed, for once his head not hurting, but he knew the headaches would start again soon. Watari had said that the headaches had come from his powers growing, and the major part was over, so they'd only come as a build up of power that needed to be released. The only reason his powers stayed at a constant level before was because of him being out in the cities with Tsuzuki and everyone else, so his emotions and feelings were always reaching out, despite his attempts to block it.

God how he wanted Tsuzuki back. He missed the amethyst eyed softie more than he could stand. There had to be some way to bring him back. He had managed to see Tsuzuki, but it was that barrier that was blocking his path, blocking any feeling of life from the other man. But how to break a barrier that strong, especially without getting himself killed by the demon? This would be a very strong team effort, with everyone using their strengths to bring the demon down.

Yes, that would be it. Him, Watari, Tatsumi, and maybe the Goushoshin twins could all take the demon down. Hisoka got up, determined to tell his plan to Tatsumi and Watari, hoping they'd agree and help him out.

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Tatsumi sat at his table, his head in his hands, his long forgotten and cold coffee sitting in front of him. He felt like he had a massive headache, with a very strong head cold. He noticed his powers had finally disappeared completely the day before, and was planning on Watari sometime soon. Maybe the scientist could tell him what was wrong, since he had loved to discover new things. In fact, the scientist still hadn't told him the results of the black pieces of skin.

He looked up as someone knocked on the door, coming in after he said "Enter." He saw it was Hisoka, and was curious as to why the young blonde would come to see him. Usually Hisoka was outside, or in the human world alone, sometimes one of the twins following him. "Yes, Hisoka?"

The teen sat down in a chair opposite of him, clasping his hands together and staring at them. He finally sighed, and asked "Will you help me fight the demon to get Tsuzuki back?"

Tatsumi stared at him, thinking the obvious answer of "Duh," but instead said, "Yes, of course I'll help you. There's only one problem. Something has happened to my powers that have caused them to disappear."

"What?"

"I'm not sure. They've been fading over the past couple of days and they finally disappeared last night. I was going to see Watari about it a little later today."

Hisoka nodded, and the two sat in silence until Hisoka asked, "Tatsumi-san, what do we need to do to defeat Rauksauta and release Tsuzuki?"

Tatsumi looked at the teen, whose head was hanging down so his blonde hair hid his green eyes and expression. "To be honest, I'm not sure myself. Weakening him is obviously the starting point, but I'm not quite sure how to do it without killing Tsuzuki also."

Hisoka brought his head up, looking intent. "I have an idea, but why I want you to help me is so I don't get killed in the process. I know where Tsuzuki is in Rauksauta's mind, but I have to break down the barrier that was in between me and Tsuzuki, and get him to hear me."

"And you need as many people as you can to help distract the demon long enough so he doesn't attack you. Do need us to have him not attack you mentally or physically?"

"Technically both, but more towards mentally."

Tatsumi nodded, noticing his coffee finally. "Do you know exactly what you need to do?"

"For the most part, yes. I just need to figure out how to break the barrier."

Tatsumi thought for a second, then said, "Your powers have been growing, yes?" Hisoka nodded. "Use them, then. Tsuzuki told me that when you two were just beginning as partners, you had gotten angry at him and seemed to burn him. I guess that's how Tsuzuki put it. Use that against the barrier. If anything, it should at least weaken it."

"What if it's a type of spell barrier?" Hisoka asked, remembering what he had done to his partner, glad they had stuck together in the end.

"It'll still work, and I'd say even better than against just a regular barrier. I could be wrong, so you may want to check with the Gushoshin's, but it sound's like it should work."

Hisoka nodded, saying "Thank you, Tatsumi-san. You helped me come up with a lot of things I can work with."

"No problem," Tatsumi said to the leaving boy, smiling.

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Tsuzuki lied on the ground, cold, feeling like he was in the bottom of a frozen river, the cold flowing over him. He couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't even hear the sounds around him. When he was conscious. Most of the time he was unconscious, his muscles stiff from the no movement. He wanted to know what was going on, what the demon was using his body for. Killing no doubt, but if for anything else.

He had to move, had to get himself warmed up, but every time he attempted to move, visions of horror crossed his mind, pulling him into it, like now.

He was back in the room with the kids, one girl lying in front of him. "Here's how you torture them," Muraki demonstrated, gesturing towards the set of knives next to him, along with many other items. "Raping them is a good starting or ending thing. If you begin with it, then go straight into torturing during and after. If you end with it, then make sure they get as bloody as possible. I'll show you."

Muraki had chosen a girl. He beat her, cut the majority of her skin off it seemed, before finally forcing himself into her. The nine year old screamed out in horror, Tsuzuki trying the block it out, especially when Muraki finally killed her, saying, "Your turn, Asato."

He took a whip and struck Tsuzuki until he moved and grabbed the next crying and struggling girl, forcing her onto the table. He felt a pinprick of pain in his back, growing larger and deeper as Muraki whispered "Hit her to shut her up." When Tsuzuki didn't respond, the knife was forced deeper into his back, until he hit the girl. "Now you know what's next," the sadistic doctor continued, smiling.

Tsuzuki started to take his pants off, tears dripping down his face...

NO! he thought gruffly, pulling himself out of that memory. No, I have to block them, have to move... As soon as he moved though, another memory came, once more him as a child, only he was laying on top of a hill, watching the clouds roll by lazily, feeling like they had all the time in the world. He felt safe, since he would for once be able to spend some time alone without worrying about anyone bothering him. He dozed off, the breeze blowing the smell of trees, grass, and flowers around him.

He heard footsteps, and quickly woke up, alert now, looking around for the intruder. He found it, and saw it was a girl, who lived the next street down. Her name was Rylia, and she had long brown hair, wide, round brown eyes, long legs, and a gentle look to her. "Hey Asato," she said, coming closer. "Mind if I sit with you?"

He nodded, confused. She tucked her skirt under her, the brown fabric matching her light pink top. "Why are you talking to me?" he asked out loud, instantly adding, "Not to be rude or anything. It's just that, no one ever talks to me..."

"And that's why. I like your purple eyes. Makes me wonder if there's anything special behind them." She looked at him, smiling, not looking shy at all.

"Everyone hates them though. I just thought it was normal, since I grew up with them...but I guess I thought wrong."

"Don't worry about everyone else. They're all scared of you. They think you can put curses on them. Can you?"

"What? No! And why are they scared of me? I'm more scared of them, since there's only one of me and lots of them."

Rylia nodded, looking back out at the waving grass. "It's so beautiful."

"I know. It's usually one of the places I can hide where no one can find me. But I'll have to cross it off my list now."

"Why? Just because I found it?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry. How many other places do you have?"

Tsuzuki shrugged. "Not sure. Five, maybe. I always find new places when I'm running." He looked at Rylia, who was smiling. He didn't like it. "What?" He asked defensively, standing up and looking around. "You bitch. Traitor," he said, frantic now. He couldn't find anyone else though.

"I'm sorry Asato, as much as I do like your eyes." She stood up, as something sharp and hard hit the back of his head, knocking him onto his knees, blood starting to come out of the cut. "Get him!" voices shouted, forcing him to stumble onto his feet and start running.

He started to run down the hill, rocks hitting him but most missing. He stumbled and fell, rolling down the hill and hitting excess rocks. He stopped, groaning as the voices followed him, soon wrapping around him as he was hit, kicked, and stoned. His voice cried out for all of it to stop.

The beatings went on, the laughing voices a blanket wrapped tightly around him. He fell into unconsciousness, the kids unknowing while continuing to kick and punch.

A small sob escaped Tsuzuki, the most movement he had done while he was trapped. How he just wanted to die, for all of this to end and leave him alone.