Chris: Ok, for some reason Gaia won't let me on, hence why I'm here writing. Sniff… In any case for those of you wondering, no, this is NOT the last chapter, just the last scene of this arc. Don't worry, don't worry. XD
So… yeah!
Chapter 11
Tatsumi watched the darkness dissipate around him, feeling himself finally touching a ground-like surface, and sighed in content. Squinting, he began to look about him, unsure of what he was seeing.
It almost looked like a town, but much older, at least a two hundred years back, or even more. People stepped by him, richly dressed, and continued on through him as if he weren't even there.
'What… what is this?'
Slowly he stepped forward, reaching a small window beside a garden. Praying for forgiveness against stepping all over the persons flower bed, Tatsumi peaked inside.
It was a fancy home, filled with red carpets, shiny jewels and beautiful rich wine glasses. Around the room people talked, sat, and danced to old music, spinning around the room with ease, all doing the same steps. In the corner stood a man, tall, dignified, with one arm in his coat, the other holding up a glass filled with crimson liquid. Beside him fellow men cheered, doing the same, and downing their drinks.
'That's…'
The man, who stood before the partiers, was none other then himself. Rich, young, cleaned to the best of any man. His old home, tall and refined, just as he was. Woman would flock, wishing for his hand, and men would fallow in his footsteps, hoping to even glimpse his shadow of money.
And then, in a blink of an eye, the scene changed. Men, in his home. Him, on his knee's, begging, almost in tears, head hung low. Unknown people picking up his furniture, dragging it out and the items disappearing from view.
And then he was alone, sitting outside, laying in an alley, the rain pouring down on him, still wearing his ball suit. One cup gripped a broken wine glass which he held in the air, muttering unknown words, watching the glass fill halfway with rain water before leaking out of it's many holes.
'My life…'
It had been it, just like that. He remembered. Before the bank had taken it all away, his wonderful rich life. He could do anything, and suddenly, it was all snatched away. He had been thrown out into the streets.
Looking down, Tatsumi's eyes went wide. There he was, lying on the ground, thin and bony as a rail, one hand in a turned over garbage can, eyes open and blank. A rat sat upon his now rotting corpse, clawing at the clothing.
And suddenly he was rotting, feeling his flesh decaying, staring at the wet ground. He could feel the rat sitting on his back, tearing through the cloth, digging into his skin. And then more came. Swarming, clawing, biting, tearing, hungrily trying to feast away at him.
'No, this can't be, this already happened! I'm dead! I've been dead! This…'
'This can't be happening.'
He couldn't feel anything, he was numb. Blinking, Tatsumi sat up.
"This can't be happening!" He repeated.
Slowly, before his eyes, the rats disappeared. The ground below him cracked, coming apart. Backing away, Tatsumi looked to the sky.
"This can't be happening! This is a dream! You can't fool me demon! I am already dead, and I have come to TERMS with my death!"
Just as fast as everything had appeared, it was gone. Sighing and closing his eyes, Tatsumi reached into the darkness. Without another word or hesitation he took a step forward, disappearing from sight.
OO
Tsuzuki sat, clutching himself, curling into a small ball. Eyes wide, he gazed up at his sister, mind going completely numb. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he began to shake, rocking back and forth.
Something went by his ear. Tensing, Tsuzuki stopped, eyes still focused on the scene before him, but slightly more alert.
"Tsuzuki?" A voice whispered.
Stopping, Tsuzuki relaxed slightly, listening for the comforting voice again.
"Tsuzuki, you have to snap out of."
Shaking his head, the fuda user curled closer in himself, eyes clenched shut. "No, go away! I want to be alone! Go!"
"Tsuzuki" The voice whispered, as if right by his head. Spinning around, Tsuzuki found nothing. "Tsuzuki, please, listen to me, this is all a dream, its fake. It's our memories, but don't be afraid, they have already passed."
"Already… passed?"
"Yes Tsuzuki, you're fine. We came here looking for Hisoka, don't you remember?"
Tsuzuki paused for a moment, before nodding slowly. "Yes… Hisoka. And… the demon!"
"Now you're remembering. Now come on, let's go."
Slowly, Tsuzuki stood, head hung low. Closing his eyes, he turned away from the site, allowing the images to fall away. Wiping away a tear from his eye, he took in a breath, and took a jump, disappearing into the darkness.
OO
He could feel it, everlasting, as the flames engulfed him. Even in the darkness, even in his numb world, he could remember. With a stifled cry Watari bent back, arching his back, and clawed at his flesh, attempting to rid himself of the chemicals and burns.
"Watari, can you hear me?"
A calling. Reaching upward, Watari choked. "Tatsu…"
"Yes, it's me. You remember. Watari, please, you have to stop. This is a memory, that's all you're experiencing. This demon, he can bring our memories to life, change them, warp them, in order to bring us down or control us. Do you understand me?"
As best as he could, Watari nodded. "A… memory?"
"Yes, everything you are feeling, it's already happened. You are fine, you can wake up."
Blinking, he felt a sudden chill, and all vision began to return. He was in his lab the flames still burning around him, and yet when he stood, hand outstretched, they burned him not. Taking a step back, Watari blinked, not yet sure exactly what was happening around him.
"A… memory…"
Turning, he ran to the window, peering out. People still stood, pointing upward at the burning room, screaming, and yet the had not seemed to notice him.
And there he was, his friend, his partner, standing outside, clutching his paperwork, an evil grin upon his face.
'So… it was him…'
He wanted to scream, to cry out to the man, to show his hurt and vengeance, but he knew he couldn't. Stepping back, Watari closed his eyes.
"I'm coming Hisoka."
Disappearing, Watari sighed. At least he finally knew what exactly had happened.
OO
"Terazuma."
The ex-detective gasped, opening his eyes. The blood was choking, suffocating, like a wet blanket.
"Terazuma."
'Is that…. Tatsumi?'
"Terazuma, you're ok. This is a dream. Can you hear me? The demon is manipulating your memories, somehow he can do that!"
'Manipulating my… manipulating… me? Someone is manipulating me!'
Rage filled inside him, and as best he could he shot up, clawing at the air around him. Instantly the scenery changed, as if it was being ripped away by his own fingers. Growling, the young man jumped into the hole he had created, allowing the darkness to envelope him.
Tatsumi smiled. "I'll let you get the next one."
OO
It was as if he were floating downward. A slow descent into the unknown. Terazuma almost felt that there was some sort of need to hold his breath, just in case. As quickly as he had fallen though, he felt himself gently land on a hard surface.
"Wakaba!" He called, looking around.
There she was, laying in the darkness, obviously out cold. Running forward, he fell to his knees and gently lifted her up, cradling her in his arms.
"Wakaba." He whispered, gently shaking her. "Wakaba, you need to wake up. You're having… a nightmare. It's all just a nightmare. Come on, wake up for me."
She wasn't responding. Shaking her again, he pulled her closer. "Come on Wakaba, I'm right here. I'm not gone, come on. Remember, after the accident, who came to get you? Yes, it was me. I came to get you, and now you're fine. We're partners now, and you're dead, but you're not in pain. You have to wake up for me."
Slowly the young girl began to stir, moaning slightly. Opening one eye, she looked up into the face of Terazuma. Instantly she down, hands over, and hugged him close.
"Terry!" She cried, digging into his shoulder.
With a small smile the man patted her back. After a few moments he pulled away, staring down at her.
"Come on." He said standing and taking her hand. "We have to go save Hisoka."
With a nod they both looked into the darkness. Holding onto each other they took a deep breath, diving and disappearing, back to reality.
OO
Epitath hissed, holding onto the small Hisoka, gripping him tightly. Glaring into the water, watching the people escape. Leaning down, he whispered into the childs ear.
"You will be with me forever, won't you Hisoka?"
The child, blank eyed, stared off into the distance. Finally he shook his head, looking up at the creature. "Yes."
"Good." With another hiss, he curled up against Hisoka, laying on the cold curface. Pulling the child closer for warmth, he closed his eyes.
Hisoka wouldn't leave him. He wouldn't dare.
OO
Chris: Yay, back to the normal story! This chapter SUCKED to write. Yeah… I don't have much else to say, other then review. But you people are so nice, so I don't have to say that…
…
Review!
Thank you!
See you next time!