---X---Chapter 14

Tatsumi heard the crash on the east side of the building, throwing on his new shirt and doing the belt for his pants, then slipping on his shoes. He didn't understand what was going on, and rushed out into the hall, feeling a wave of heat blow past him. He brought his arms in front of his face, his shadows coming up and protecting him from a fire ball. He turned away once he was sure nothing else was coming towards him, and ran down the hall, coming to the end and pushing the window open, jumping out and gliding to the ground, landing smoothly.

He looked around, seeing some people outside, wondering how many had decided to stay on Earth tonight. Usually a lot did, but if they just needed to get away, they would come up to Meifu. A group formed around the northwest end, asking what was going on. "Tatsumi!" someone called.

He turned around, seeing Watari running towards him, breathless and holding the containers, eight bunched into his arms. "Watari, what are you doing?"

"Here, take these. It's Rauksauta that's attacking. We have to get him. Wait—where's Hisoka?"

They heard laughing, and saw the demon in front of them, grinning down. Everyone became silent, staring at Rauksauta. "Run!" Tatsumi Yelled.

"Don't ruin my fun," Muraki said, appearing next to Rauksauta. No one moved, but instead stood there while Muraki walked forward, rubbing his hands together. Streaks of blue started coming out, growing larger and larger. Everyone turned offensive, attacking with their own powers. They all diminished as they hit the Doctor, who stood there smiling. "This is going to be interesting."

He stopped rubbing his hands, the blue light glowing around him, as he pointed his hands towards everyone, the light flying towards them. Everyone tried to move away, or protect themselves, but the light captured them, flashing by Tatsumi and Watari. Everyone was frozen where they were, the blue light immobilizing them. Muraki turned towards Tatsumi, smiling. "Well, I do hope you take your time, because your friends here, once they turn to solid stone, nothing can save them. And the fun part, they'll still be alive."

Tatsumi glared at him, while asking "How did you get here?" to Rauksauta.

Rauksauta smiled, his fangs showing clearly. "I brought him. I just used Tsuzuki's ability and came up here. Is something wrong with that?"

"And you better go find your friend before he dies," Muraki added. Rauksauta looked towards the second floor, made a small fireball in his hand, and threw it up at a window.

Everything burst into flame, the glass shattering and landing on the ground and in the room. That part of the building started to collapse, as Tatsumi yelled "Hisoka!" He jumped up, gliding to the room, a wave of smoke greeting him. "Hisoka!" he yelled, searching around. He coughed, the smoke scorching his lungs. He made shadows form around the fires, hoping that it would clear some of the smoke. He found Hisoka on the floor, unconscious and curled up tightly. He was limp though as Tatsumi picked him up, the boy barely breathing and freezing. Tatsumi ran out the window, gliding back to the ground with Muraki and Rauksauta smiling.

"Is the boy all right? I would dread if something happen to him," Muraki said, a fake pout on his face, while his eyes held all the sadistic pleasures of what he did to the boy.

"Hisoka, wake up! Hisoka!" Tatsumi said, setting the boy on the ground and slightly shaking him.

"It's not going to work. He's so deep in pain and fury, he doesn't even know which feelings are real, and which one's he's imagining. If you can get him to wake up, I'd be impressed," Rauksauta said.

"Hisoka, please, wake up. Hisoka! We need you. We need Tsuzuki. Only you can save Tsuzuki."

Tatsumi felt the care flow through him, and tried to put as much as he could into Hisoka or did what he felt was right. Hisoka slowly breathed in deeper, and opened his eyes, shivering. "Tsuzuki...?" he asked, eyes looking unfocused.

"Hisoka, you're going to be okay. We need your help."

He blinked, looking tired. "Ta, Tatsumi-san? You? I thought..."

"I understand. But we're going to save the real Tsuzuki now. Ready?"

Hisoka slowly sat up and nodded, glaring at Muraki and Rauksauta. "Go!" Tatsumi yelled, Watari throwing the mixes at Muraki and the demon. The freezing one hit Muraki, the fire one and what Tatsumi thought the pain one hitting Rauksauta.

The demon yelled, extinguishing the fire on himself, but yelling from the pain. "Die now bastard!" Hisoka screamed, jumping on the demon out of blind rage. Rauksauta swung his arm, a lasso of fire appearing, swinging wildly.

"You forget fire is my specialty Tatsumi-san! Now you're going to pay for your mistakes!"

"Watari!" Tatsumi screamed as he saw the lasso strike his friend. The fire cut and burned him from his left leg up until it reached the top of his head.

Watari made gasping and choking noises, falling down, his eyes and mouth open in pain and surprise. The fire that had stayed on him burned deeper, the blood turning black. The edges of the cut were black, the smell of burned flesh soon entering Tatsumi's nose and coating his tongue. Watari tired to move his arm, but the blackened pieces of skin fell off, Watari stopping his attempt and mouthing "Tatsumi."

He fell limp, his head rolling to the side, his eyes and mouth still open. Tatsumi stared at the black zigzag cut, the lab-coat dripping with blood. Tatsumi looked down at himself, and could see blood specks over him. He felt his life pause, the realization of one of his best friends lying dead in front of him taking it's time to sink in, but hitting hard.

Shadows rising around him, he stood up, one thought on his mind: It's all up to Hisoka now. Now for me to buy more time.