Leki and Dane come running into the room with me a couple of steps behind them. They are both jumping up and down happily.
Leki: Did you see how many reviews we gotten?
Dane: Yep this is the first one to get so many reviews. I love it.
I know. It is just so amazing.
I sit down at my computer and bring up my story folders.
Dane: Now that we are back, I think we are ready to go on this.
Leki: Yep, yep I can't wait!
They both latch on to me and hug me.
Hahaha! Yes, that is right.
Leki: Say, just how far will we be taking this story?
Hmmm… I don't know. As far as we can go, I guess.
Dane: Works for me!
Leki: Me to!
All right then, here goes.
--
Responding to chapter 27 reviews:
Rarw:You My Friend Are The 2nd Bestest Writer I Have Encountered On The World Of FanFiction! I Have Two Other Profiles besides This, So I've Read A Lot of Stories I Love You And Your Story And Leki And Dane!
My response: Thank you very much! We aim to please.
Aeternus-Spes:BWAHAHAHAHAHA! GRATZ ON 100 REVIEWS!
A great story all around, but I love this last chapter!
See you later in my sequel, whenever it gets posted!
Leki's response: Thankies! We couldn't believe it when we first saw it! Then once we got past the surprise, we ended up with writer's block or in a muse's case inspiration block.
Laustic:I love the checklist bit. This chapter was a really good read. Thanks!
Dane's response: Thanks, would you believe that Leki was the one to come up with the list idea.
--
Am I Cursed?
"There are always people in the world that wish you bad things, either out of jealousy or envy, and hope for bad things to occur in your life. Children are faultless in the wood, Untouched. If they are later made Scandal and index to their time, never to see the light or feel the warmth of the sun. Am I Cursed"
Even though he was with Tsuzuki safe and secure in the man's bed. Hisoka was plagued by nightmares on and off throughout the entire night. Often the nightmares would wake him up or Tsuzuki would wake him up. It was the same images each time. "It's the same blurry monster and scattered images." Would be what Hisoka would say to Tsuzuki each time the older man asked. By morning time, Hisoka seemed worn out. He felt like he hadn't slept at all.
Tsuzuki pulled up to the front of the school. He looked at Hisoka and felt he had o ask again. "Are you going to be alright Hisoka? You look like you need more sleep." Hisoka sat in the car. He hardly moved at all since he got in the car this morning. "I could take you home and phone the school to tell them you are ill." Hisoka still did not move. He had his head tilted slightly downward. He seemed to be looking at his lap and yet not looking at his lap. "Hisoka?" Tsuzuki placed a gentle hand on the boy and that seemed to wake him out of wherever his mind was. He looked at Tsuzuki with a slight confused stare. It was so sweet and cute that Tsuzuki smiled. A smile was all he could do to keep from leaning over and capturing those parted lips with his.
"I'm fine Tsuzuki thanks." Hisoka undid his seatbelt and got out of the car.
"Hey Hisoka!" Tsuzuki called out to the youth. Hisoka was halfway up to the school when he turned around and saw Tsuzuki holding his backpack out to him. The boy returned to the car for his backpack. "I'll be here after school to come and get you."
Giving him a nod Hisoka started his walk up to the school. Yuu and Yuri met him about half way up and the three of them headed the rest of the way together.
Tsuzuki was about to drive away when a yellow convertible stopped by his car and honk at him. Looking in his mirror Tsuzuki was surprised to see two very familiar females in the car. The one driving the car had short blonde hair and sunglasses on. The female next to her had long light brown hair. Tsuzuki smiled and waved at them. The driver was motioning for him to come over to them. Therefore, he turned his car off and got out.
--
Tsuzuki approached the expensive car. "Good morning Haruka, Michiru. How are you both doing?"
Since the top was up on the car, Haruka had to talk through the window. "We're doing alright."
"How are you doing Tsuzuki?" Michiru asked. "How's Hisoka been?"
"Oh, I'm doing alright and so is Hisoka," Tsuzuki replied.
"Well, he ran out on us over the weekend and we were wandering if maybe he had another spell," Haruka said.
Confusion was very visible on Tsuzuki's face. "A spell? Haruka Hisoka is not a witch."
Now it was Haruka's turn to have the look of confusion displayed on her face. Michiru let out a light melodic laugh before speaking. "We know that Tsuzuki. What Haruka meant to ask is was Hisoka in any pain?"
"Oh, sorry about that," Tsuzuki was now blushing as it was quite embarrassing to not know what Haruka was saying. "No, he didn't …. Well, he had some nightmares last night but I don't think he was in any pain when he came and got me," He said. "I had been over worked and ended up stopping for a drink and well, I guess I had too much because I woke up at Tatsumi's place. Not that I drink a lot because I normally don't."
--
The three boys were walking down the hallway. "So, what did Tsuzuki say about study group?" Yuri asked.
"He said it would be alright and that he knows a few guys who might be interested in helping us," Hisoka replied.
Yuu was sorting through his backpack when he spoke. "Great! Ask him if it is okay that we come over tomorrow and talk about when we can start."
"Start what?" Brandon and Scott were right behind them.
Scott snickered. "Maybe, they are starting a girl scout meeting."
"Oh look they still haven't taken care of that birth defect," Yuri said.
Yuu found the folder he was looking for and zipped his backpack up. "I don't think that's a birth defect Yuri. I think it really is their faces."
Even Hisoka couldn't help but to smile at that remark. 'Not bad. Not bad at all.'
Scott and Brandon's faces were red with anger. Any other kid in this school would be afraid even to say anything like that. However, these three were not afraid at all. Before they could say anything Hisoka stepped up to them and started speaking.
"You know something? You two may act as if you are brave or hotshots. However, I know something you don't know or you don't want to admit." Hisoka's gaze was scary. His eyes even looked like they could be mirrors into another person's soul. When he spoke, the tone of his voice had little to almost no emotion in it. "My body can see deep into your soulless bodies. See the fears that you both hide behind your own bully tones. You think that by picking on those weaker then you can help you hide it. However, no matter how much you try I can still see it." The two boys had no idea that they found themselves so full of fear right now that they were not only shaking but also backing away. "Boo."
Brandon and Scott ran off. Both were muttering things as ran. Yuu and Yuri were totally speechless with Hisoka came back to them.
--
Tsuzuki had long since said goodbye to Haruka and Michiru. He was now almost on his way to work. He let out a small breath. 'I am glad that they did not press the matter on why I was drinking,' he thought.
He stopped at a red light, rested his forehead on his hands, and started to whine talk. "But now I am going to be late. That means I am going to get yelled at again." He did his famous puppy look. "Why me!" Just then, he noticed a folded up piece of paper on the floorboard in front of the passenger seat. "What's this?" Reaching down, he picked it up. Opening it, he read it.
The list of fixing
1. See about rescheduling the parent teacher conferences. (Check)
2. Find a way to stay awake in class. (Check)
3. Do anything I can to keep from seeing Dr. Muraki. (Check)
4. Clean up the house. (Check)
5. Don't let Tsuzuki be alone for to long.
6. Help him with his work. (Check)
7. Do my own schoolwork. (Check)
8. Open up Try to open up more.
9. Keep out of detention.
10. Bring up my grades.
11. Find a way to get more sleep. (Check)
12. Work on controlling my anger.
13. Don't be late for school. (Check)
14. Call Tatsumi and have him tell Tsuzuki to relax and that I took care of the conferences. (Check)
15. Defend Tsuzuki. (Check) (Always)
16. Resist the urge to kill Terazuma in the most painful way imaginable. (Check)
17. Bring Terazuma down a few pegs. (Check)
"The list of Fixing," he read the title aloud. Judging by the handwriting Tsuzuki knew it had to of been Hisoka who wrote this list. Without realizing it, he was reading what was on the list. Some parts made him smile and some parts made him frown. Nevertheless, what the boy had listed for number fifteen that really touched him deep into his soul.
Suddenly, car horn sounds echoed around him. Realizing the light is green Tsuzuki pocketed the paper and continued his drive to work.
--
Haruka and Michiru were nearly home. They were glad that it had not snowed yet this morning as the weatherman said it would last night. Both were silent however, both were thinking the very same thing.
Michiru broke the eerie silence first. "Tsuzuki seems to have his hands full."
"He's a single parent raising a teenage boy. Naturally that would be hard for anyone," Haruka replied.
Michiru had a worried look on her face. "Yes well, how many single parents have a teenage boy that is going through more pain then either of us can imagine?"
After that, the two were silent all the way to their driveway when Haruka broke the silence this time. "I'll admit that the boy had gone through something terrible and that it must be hard to not even remember what it was." Haruka tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Her whole expression changed to a look that someone would give when a person suspected someone is hiding something. "However, I think that there is something more going on here Michiru. I don't know what but I think something big is going to go down and I'm truly afraid for both Hisoka and Tsuzuki."
Michiru placed a hand on her friend's hand. "I am to but, don't worry I have faith that our boys will be able to protect them." She smiled warmly at Haruka. "Now come on, I need help with the chores before our guest wake up."
"Alright Maggie," Haruka said. She started to get out of the car when a sharp pain came to her ear.
"I said to not call me that." Michiru said as she was pulling on Haruka's ear.
--
Second period had just ended and Hisoka needed to swing by his locker to grab his Science book. He waved at Yuri as he passed him in the hall. Rounding the corner, he was nearing his locker. Suddenly, a huge pain came right to his head. Image of red and flashes of silver accompanied it. Placing his right hand to his forehead Hisoka didn't even know that he had staggered off to the side right into some lockers. 'No! I won't let this beat me. Not now, not ever.' With that thought in mind, the boy placed his left palm firm against the smooth cold surface of one of the lockers, pushing himself away he walked to his locker. Blinded by pain, he was finding it hard to stay standing let alone walk.
"Hey what's going on?"
"Is he hurt?"
Finally finding his locker, Hisoka pressed his back against the surface. He knew there was a crowd around him as their emotions came flooding into his very being. To weak from the pain he was having in his head, Hisoka could not block them.
"Should we call an ambulance?"
"That's the kid man."
"Is that the one that has something wrong with him?"
"Whoa,"
'Stop it! Leave me alone! Stop!' Those thoughts screamed in Hisoka's head as he was trying to get a grip on things. He had slid to the floor, had his legs drawn up as close as he could to his body, and his left hand wrapped part way around them. His entire body became tight and rigid. He wanted them to just back off and he wanted the pain to stop. Suddenly, he heard a voice that made his body run cold. A voice from a man who Hisoka was trying to avoid.
"Are you alright Mr. Kurosake?" Muraki asked.
Hisoka tried to open his eyes and look out at the man between the fingers of his right hand. Between the unbearable pains, the unwanted foreign emotions that were flooding his very soul and the light from the ceiling that seemed to make his pain worse He could only see a blur of what must be Muraki's face. That blur seemed so familiar to him and he didn't know why.
Muraki went to touch Hisoka. "Don't touch me!" Hisoka slapped Muraki's hand away. In that instant, more scattered images came into his mind. He saw a couple, lots of trees, and a red moon. He heard a loud scream. The scream was so distant and yet he found it was coming from him. A bright flash came, followed by loud noises, and screams.
--
Yuri was by his locker when he heard the commotion. Closing his locker he rounded the corner in time to see the huge blast. At least twelve kids were thrown back. Nearly all the lockers had been dented and busted nearly out of the walls. "Hisoka…"
Yuri ran towards Hisoka who was still on the floor now shaking from head to toe. He didn't stop as he grabbed a hold of Hisoka's hand. "Come on!"
As the two boys ran by Yuri thought he was an evil look present on Muraki's face. 'What is up with that?' He questioned himself.
Hisoka's mind barely registered the fact that he was running. He didn't even notice Yuri was pulling him around by the wrist. The youth with dazed emerald colored eyes is just glad that he was away from the situation he had just caused.
Yuri knew exactly where to take His friend. 'I just hope it is empty,' He thought.
The two ran a long way. Downstairs, stopping outside of a room where Yuri went in and grabbed something. Then they were running back up the stairs and Hisoka felt a tinge of cold as they stepped out into the snow. Hisoka seemed to be in such a daze that he didn't even know that Yuri would let go of his hand, go off to check something, then come back to take his hand and start running again.
Yuri had taken Hisoka around back and was now messing with a chain lock on a fence. "Come on … Got it!"
Taking Hisoka onto the empty tennis court, he led him to the Tennis club boys' locker room. "Good, it's empty." Yuri led Hisoka in and allowed the boy to sit down anywhere he wanted. "Man, you sure keep things at school interesting." Yuri started to laugh. Hisoka is sitting on the floor with his knees as close to his body as he could bring them. Seeing his friend like this pulled at Yuri's very soul. Kneeling down he reached out to touch Hisoka only stopping himself as he realized that Hisoka once said that Empaths often don't like to be touched when they are weak from having other people's emotions flooding into their body. "You okay?"
"I-I don't want to b-be h-here right now." Hisoka's voice was full of fear and Yuri could tell that his friend was crying. Hisoka hugged his legs and buried his head in his knees. "H-He has to b-be involved. I-I d-don't kn-know how b-but I don't w-want t-to be here."
Getting the message, Yuri nodded his head. "Wait right here." He left the locker room and made sure to lock it before going to the payphone that was just outside the tennis court area.
--
Tsuzuki was in a meeting trying his best not to fall asleep. Konoe was talking about how much more improving needed to be done when there was a knock on the door. "Yes, come in" Konoe said.
A petit blonde haired woman opened the door. "I am sorry to interrupt but Mr. Tsuzuki's phone keeps ringing nonstop."
Confusion light up Tsuzuki's purple eyes. "My phone?"
--
Yuri was rocking back and forth on his heels out in the cold when he heard Tsuzuki's voice.
"Hello?"
"Tsuzuki its Yuri" the boy said as relief came over him.
"Yuri? Shouldn't you be in school?"
Normally Yuri would probably make some kind of joke about that. However, this was not the time. "I am at school. Just listen to me."
"Okay,"
"Something is wrong with Hisoka,"
"Hisoka? What's wrong? What happened?"
Yuri had to hold the phone away from his ear because Tsuzuki seemed to be yelling.
"Yuri what happen?"
"I can't really say over the phone. How about I get his things and meet you out front." Yuri was looking around making sure no one was coming. "This is really bad I never seen him like this."
"I'll be there soon."
--
The moment Tsuzuki hung up the phone he started running around his office gathering his things. Fear consumed his entire being. He even ran right into Tatsumi when he left his office. The two fell to the floor.
"Tsuzuki what's wrong?" Tatsumi asked.
"I can't explain right now." Tsuzuki was fumbling with his keys until he took off one. "Please lock up for me." He tossed Tatsumi the keys, ran down the hall, and took the emergency stairs.
--
Yuri ran right back to the mess hat was once the lockers. The group of kids that were there before wasn't there now. Yuri paid no attention to that fact as he started searching through what he figured and hoped was once Hisoka's locker.
He had just stood up after stuffing Hisoka's things into the backpack when Yuu spoke. "Yuri! Did you see what happened?"
Yuri turned to tell his cousin what had went on when he saw that Muraki was with him. "Stay away from us you ass!" Yuri grabbed his cousin's hand and pulled him down the hall and around the corner.
"Yuri wha--"
Yuri cut Yuu off. "Listen to me cousin. Stay away from that man." Yuri placed both hands on his cousin shoulders. "There is something not quite right here." Yuri released his cousin and slung Hisoka's bag over his right shoulder. "I'll tell you everything later. Just tell my teachers I'll be a bit late." Yuri took off running.
"What should I tell them?" Yuu called out.
"Make up something!" Yuri replied.
Yuu never had seen his cousin so afraid before. "Good luck Yuri." Yuu turned and went another way to class.
Yuri was waiting out front when Tsuzuki pulled up. The two ran and met each other half way only Yuri didn't stop. He grabbed Tsuzuki's hand and the two were now running.
"What's wrong Yuri?"
"Everything," Yuri replied. He started explaining everything to Tsuzuki.
--
Hisoka felt like he was in total inescapable darkness. He felt so lonely. 'Am I cursed?' That one question seemed to chase itself around in Hisoka's mind.
Just when he thought the darkness in his mind would swallow him whole he felt a very familiar and very warm embrace. This embrace seemed to chase away the darkness that swirled around his mind, trying to take him whole. "Ts-Tsuzuki?"
"It's alright. Hisoka, I'm right here. Everything is going to be fine now." Tsuzuki's words seemed to pacify his own emotions as he took both his hands off his knees and clutched onto Tsuzuki's arms.
Yuri watched as Hisoka relaxed his body and Tsuzuki pulled him closer to his. The two seemed to be at peace. Like two earth bound Angels. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw someone outside the gate. Someone with long black hair. Nevertheless, the person vanished before he could get a good look at him.
Hisoka clung to Tsuzuki even more when he spoke. "Can we g-go h-home please."
Hisoka's sobbing voice is what brought Yuri's attention back. HE watched Tsuzuki pick Hisoka up in his arms. Yuri gave Hisoka the backpack. "I'll tell his teachers that he is sick or something."
"Thank you, Yuri." Yuri held the door open for Tsuzuki to get out.
Yuri locked everything back up. He start back up towards the school when he stopped and decided he would try to see if he could find out who was watching them.
When he got to the spot, no one was there. Yuri would've thought he imagined things if it wasn't for the note left on the ground next to footprints in the snow. Yuu came up behind him. "Hey, I told--"
Yuri had cut across Yuu's sentence "We need to talk. Let's go."
All of this confused Yuu. He knew he should protest and try to tell Yuri that skipping school is wrong. However, he wanted to know what had his cousin so scared. Therefore, he said nothing and followed him.
--
Leki: Yippee it's the end of the chapter!
Dane: This chapter certainly feels like a cliffhanger.
Lol maybe it is and may it isn't. It all really depends on what those readers think.
Dane: That's right!
Leki: The only way we will know is if they review.
Yep! So why don't we let them go and do what they do best.
Leki: What make grill cheese sandwiches?
Dane: No silly, review. Besides, anyone can make a grilled cheese sandwich.
Not everyone Dane.
Leki: Yeah you don't know how to make one Dane.
Dane: Shut up Leki.
