I am so sorry that this chapter took so long! This story is getting hard to write, I think it was easier when I didn't know what was happening!

And thank you to everyone who has not given up on me yet! (Hi Daily!)

One of these days I will finally manage to write a Tsuoka moment that I like, but today is not that day.

So, as always, I own diddly!

Chapter 13

Hisoka lay with his head propt on his arm in the infirmary bed, looking at his sleeping partner.

In sleep Tsuzuki's face was relaxed and peaceful as Hisoka studied his features, and oh so slowly, as if he would shatter if Tsuzuki so much as moved, Hisoka reached out and gently brushed the strands of chocolate brown hair away from closed eyes.

Tsuzuki did move then, turning his head slightly into the contact. Hisoka's heart started to pound in his chest as he pulled his hand backandheld his breath, afraid his partner would wake up, hoping…

But Tsuzuki just drifted back into a deeper slumber, and Hisoka felt relieved, and disappointed, until he noticed that the expression on Tsuzuki's face had changed slightly.

Where before he had looked peaceful,he nowwore a smile.

Hisoka took in that unguarded and completely real smile, and since there was no one around to see, he returned it.

Feeling that for that one moment that all was right with the world, Hisoka watched over the older man as he slept.

He was just beginning to drift off to sleep himself when he heard a slight popping sound.

Tsuzuki sat bolt upright and looked around, slightly disorientated, and Hisoka followed suit, looking around for the new arrival that the popping sound heralded.

Not too far from the bed they shared, Watari was sitting on the floor half supporting the still form of the shadow master, Tatsumi Seiichiro.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" Watari was babbling softly, seeming to be in shock himself. He looked up at the figures on the bed. "Help me!"

Before the words were out of his mouth, Tsuzuki had reached their side and Hisoka marvelled at the man's speed as he started to follow, but stopped at the waves of pain emanating from the man.

"What happened?" Tsuzuki asked as he looked down at his former partner.

"I don't know, I don't know! But we have to help him! Can you help me get him to a bed?"

Tsuzuki nodded and helped Watari lift Tatsumi as gently as possible.

"Thank god he's out of it!" Watari began to undo the suit jacket that Tatsumi wore. "Otherwise he would be in a lot of pain."

"He's not unconscious."

Both Watari and Tsuzuki turn to see that Hisoka had backed himself into a corner of the room, pressed against the wall, the empath looked strained.

"He awake and aware and…can't you give him something Watari?"

Watari looked at the unmoving man on the bed, an expression of dawning horror on his face. "He's awake! Oh Gods!" Watari flew across the room and pulled open a cabinet, rummaging inside he came back with a syringe and a vial of clear fluid. "Tatsumi, I'm going to give you something to help with the pain and put you to sleep. You'll feel much better when you wake up, I promise." He quickly filled the syringe and after the customary tap, slid the needle into Tatsumi's arm.

A few minutes passed before Hisoka slumped into the corner in relief. "It's getting better."

Watari let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Sapphire eyes opened. "Watari?"

Both Watari and Tsuzuki jumped at the unexpected sound.

The blonde scientist knelt down close to the bed. "You should let yourself sleep Tatsumi, you'll heal faster if you do" He flashed a slightly strained grin. "The quicker you heal, the sooner you can get back to cutting our budgets."

"What happened to Muraki?" The secretary's eyes began to drift down as the drugWatari had given him didits job.

"We'll find out."

Watari looked up into Tsuzuki's violet eyes and nodded.

XXX

"Dammit all!" Oriya swore. "I can't believe this is happening! I swear Muraki, trouble just seems to follow you around!"

"Oriya."

"And somehow I still seem to get the short end of the stick!"

"Oriya…"

"Who knows what kind of condition the Kokakuro is going to be in when I get back there! I had to send all my girls away! How am I supposed to make a living when I have to flee from my own restaurant at a moments notice?"

"Oriya!"

"What?"

"Are you done yet?"

"Hell no! I'm just getting started!"

Muraki sighed as he lowered himself on to one of the beds of the hotel room that Oriya had deemed far enough away from the Kokakuro to be 'safe'. "I'm sorry Oriya."

Oriya snorted. "I've heard that before."

"Have you?" Muraki raised one fine eyebrow. "Somehow I got the impression that I was not the type of person who would apologize for inconveniencing others."

Oriya ran his hand through his hair. "You weren't, but we were friends, and you had some consideration for me, if only a little." Oriya move to sit across from Muraki on the other bed. For a moment he just studied the other man, then the side of his mouth quirked upwards. "You know, I wasn't kidding when I said that loosing your memory may have been the best thing that ever happened to you. You have a real chance now, to let go of your past and really do something with your life!"

"Was my past that bad?" Muraki asked levelly.

Oriya winced. "Bad enough, you're better off without it."

Muraki pulled out a cigarette and lit it, watching the glowing tip. "It's rather a moot point if that shadow creature continues to follow me, isn't it." He closed his eyes and thought back to when he had backed out of the small sitting room, Before Oriya had grabbed his arm and ran from the establishment, yelling at everyone to get out, dragging him with him. He had seen the dark tendrils reaching for him, restrained by the blue eyed man who only moments earlier had told him more about himself in minutes then he had learned since waking up in the hospital.

So he had almost driven Tsuzuki Asato to suicide, he wondered briefly why.

And what the man had said about the boy, he had seen the lines of the curse carved into the pale flesh, he knew what they meant, and he knew that he was responsible. He had actually killed Kurosaki Hisoka.

And he had probably done worse.

Small wonder the boy had seemed afraid of him.

Oriya watched to subtle change in Muraki's features and decided that he probably wouldn't like the direction his friend's thoughts were taking. "If everything your life has thrown at you so far hasn't taken you out, I doubt a little shadow is enough to do the job."

Muraki looked up, looking a little surprised to be pulled out of his reverie.

Oriya grinned. "So what do you want for dinner?"

XXX

Tsuzuki and Hisoka arrived on Chiju just in front of the Kokakuro.

"Should we look inside?" Tsuzuki asked, looking up at the building, frowning.

Hisoka shook his head. "No, there's no one inside." He knelt down and placed his hand on the path. After a moment he sighed in frustration. "Too many people came this way and they were all afraid. I can't sense Oriya or Kazutaka, but I can't sense Muraki either."

"What do you mean?"

"If Kazutaka had his memory back, was his old self again, his presence would override the other feelings here, I would be able to sense him, so they must have gotten away from that shadow thing." Hisoka stood up and brushed his hand off on his jeans. "At least for the moment."

Tsuzuki nodded. "Okay, so let's go look for them."

"Where?" Hisoka looked up dubiously.

"Well, they had to go somewhere and Oriya doesn't seem like the type who would camp out to me, and somehow I doubt they plan to come back tonight. So let's start checking hotels in the area."

Hisoka looked surprised. "That's a good idea!"

"Of course it is!" Tsuzuki said looking pleased with himself. "Even I have good ideas once in a while!"

"Baka!" Hisoka turned and started away but before he'd gone more than three steps he stopped. Hissing softly, his entire body went rigid.

Tsuzuki quickly moved to his partner's side. "What's wrong?"

"It feels like that hallway in the ICU. Not as strong, but it's there."

Tsuzuki looked around, his hand moving for a fuda, but he stopped when Hisoka touched his arm.

"It's not here, but I can probably follow it."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Tsuzuki asked, concern showing in his face and his voice.

"Not really, but it'll be faster than calling every hotel in Kyoto if it can lead us to Kazutaka. Once we're close enough, I should be able to find him, hopefully before it can."

"And at least we'll be forewarned of the next attack." The older shinigami conceded.

Hisoka nodded, and setting a brisk pace headed away from the Kokakuro.

Tsuzuki watched as his partner moved away from him and his guts twisted as he was overcome by a feeling of foreboding.

"Tsuzuki, come on!" Green eyes looked back at him impatiently.

"Hisoka, I…"

"Tsuzuki!"

Tsuzuki pushed the feeling to the back of his mind, and resolving to keep his guard up, hurried after his partner.