Angra Mainyu
Arc One - Arrival - Part Four
----------------------------
As Ran pushed the discarded weapon out of reach, Omi reached down to pick it up, curling the fingers of his free hand lightly about it. There was no reason to leave it discarded on the floor, where the intruder might attempt to grab it. In the end, the gun was far safer, to those of the house at least, in the hands of an occupant instead of an unknown.
Still keeping to the doorway, though allowing himself a better view of the stairs, he looked at Ran again, catching the oddly surprised look on the other's features. It faded quickly, too quickly for him to truly note what had been the cause, but it had been there. The reason behind it was something that snared his curiosity, yet he held off for the moment and dismissed it as a reaction to the words of the intruder. He had felt a sense of unsettled surprise at the naming of their locations and then the mention of the ritual, so it was hardly unnatural for Ran to have felt something similar.
Before more thought could be donated to that path, their intruder began to move again, slowly descending the steps. Turning sapphire eyes to carefully observe, he dismissed the errant ideas flickering through his mind about the source of the stranger's information. That question could be answered once they knew who the person was.
"Identify yourself," he said, his voice soft but determined.
Intentionally without a weapon, Hisoka was attempting to see if there were any positives thus far to his current position in the tense situation. He lacked his gun, the element of surprise was gone completely, and now all the good cards were in the hands of the other, while it was his turn to play one. Were he a cheater, there might have been a card up his sleeve to play; as it stood, he was short a few good choices.
Waiting for a response to his words, the youth idly lets his mind open to the others, trying to pick up suggestions of what they were feeling, and perhaps through that thinking. Far from a telepath, at best he could usually only pull - or be pulled in by - a series of impressions or images; there were rare moments when he caught a thought or two, but his gift was not extensive enough to make that reliable. Without that, though, he found his empathy to be useful enough, though it came with heavy consequences. When caught unprepared, his mind was pulled from his own control, his soul put through the very same things that the person was going over in their minds. Not always bad, the instances could be enlightening, but there were times that it was painful. He could still vividly recall the night when he had been pulled into Tsuzuki's mind and past, the pain and sorrow of the life the other had lived infusing his own being. Things such as that were not something he liked to repeat.
The sudden shift and memory in the mind of the older one was almost such a thing. Waiting for a feeling of confirmation or negation, Hisoka was unprepared for the memory that struck the other; barely able to hold to himself in time to pull out, he caught only the glimpse of a girl sitting up and then the feeling of absolute chaos. That was enough to send his hand out to the wall as a support, a deep breath slowly being taken in as his eyes stared blankly to the ground. Even away from the other's mind, he could still feel the confusion of the memory, and the pain therein; unable to just block it, his empathy too strong to simply shut down, he simply tried to endure the impression until it faded from the other's mind, and thus his own.
When finally it did, he took another slow breath before dropping his hand from the wall. Glancing to the stairs' end, he kept silent his hope that neither had caught the falter of his. There seemed to be no change, which could mean little or a lot.
"Come down then and we can see who we're talking to."
Well, at least they had decided to let him come down the stairs completely.
Deciding that the reality of that would suffice, he began to descend the stairs, slipping his hands into his pockets and generally seeming quite relaxed. Or, rather, quite like the sixteen year old he appeared - and often acted - to be. As he reached the floor, he took in the sight of the blue-eyed assassin first, noting his gun in the other's hand and the inquiry for his identity.
"Hisoka," he said coolly. "Kurosaki Hisoka; I was sent from the Summoner's Office, EnmaCho's Shoka Division, to speak with Tsukiyono Omi, Fujimiya Ran, Kudou Youji, and Hidaka Ken about an important matter. Where are the other two?"
The urge to ask for the boy to repeat where he was sent from was suppressed. A second mentioning of that office and division wouldn't make Ran magically know what in the world he was talking about. It was most assuredly though not something he'd ever heard of. Still casually leaning against the wall near the stairway to the roof, a cold hard gaze moved over the boy's form. And he did very much appear to be a boy, younger than Omi possibly... but his time in Weiß with the honey blond manager and his own experiences had made him not one to just judge or underestimate on age alone. Schwarz had a member younger than their own youngest anyway.
"I am Fujimiya, but don't call me that. I simply go by Aya," he said, not even speaking his own true name. He wasn't going by that name currently... couldn't and wouldn't until his sister was back safe and sound, as well as awake. There would always be one Fujimiya Aya in the waking realm, just as he'd promised her as she lay sleeping even as the doctors told him he'd best just forget about all of this. A trim crimson eyebrow arched up at the boy's question and he shrugged faintly, not about to just admit flat out he was uncertain of his teammates' locations. "We're all what one would call 'night owls' and were hardly expecting company. They're out."
"Naw... Actually..."
"We're back."
"And with one of his friends."
It had been Youji sans his cigarette who'd originally spoke when Aya had declared them out. The pair stood against opposites walls of the hallway eyeing the Hisoka. They'd caught the tail end of his introduction on their way up the stairs and hadn't been fully on the landing when Aya had said they were out.
Ken looked back down the stairwell looking for the other one but then turned his attention to his teammates. Gem hued eyes noted the gun in Omi's hand then the new blonde standing near them. "That one was armed? Ours just had a big pile of candy and some sliver haired fellow putting the moves on him. That guys gone. The silver haired one. I didn't like him though."
"Me neither. There was something... icky about him." The eldest of the assassins drawled lazily just piddling with his watch always on the ready to launch the thin filament should there be a need to.
"Icky?"
"Yeah icky."
"Couldn't you use a more... professional description?"
"Naw... 'icky' works."
"Oi, oi." Ken simply rubbed his forehead softly brushing his wayward bangs back before the flopped back in their usual disarray.
Glancing to Ken and Youji, allowing a soft smile to touch his lips at the relief of seeing the other two fine after their absence - he had to admit having been worried with the strange occurrence of Hisoka's arrival and the odd lighting problem - Omi nodded to the former's question. "Just the gun, I think," he said quietly, enough for those of Weiß to hear and hopefully no others.
Keeping a hold of the weapon, he looked behind Ken and Youji to see that mysterious friend of the teen who had broken in. The oddness of the situation was growing more and more confusing, something he thankfully held at bay by telling himself that the answers or hints therein would be provided soon.
Under the harsh visual scrutiny from the redhead, Hisoka failed to flinch, or generally show any signs of being unsettled by the search of such cold violet eyes. If anything, a bit of defiance touched his posture, his eyes shifting to meet Ran's in an attempt to stare him down. The youth in his body, and the sense of it his mind, was reacting to the harsh authority, responding to the wilt-inviting gaze with a boldly rebellious stance. He would not stand to being stared down by a person younger than he in terms of death; for once he was no longer the weakest Shinigami - for the moment, at least - and he refused to let any of the new ones get a foothold in which to surpass or control him in that.
At the sudden arrival of two other voices, the young Shinigami turned his jade eyes to the previously 'missing' assassins. That accounted for all of them, which simplified his task some. He was speak again, to tell them to stop wasting there time with words as Tsuzuki had his with candy, when the meaning of who that silver-haired man outside had been clicked in.
At first, there was hardly any change, save for a flickering of surprise across his features. That changed as the information sunk in, his body tensing as a fiery hatred rose up in his eyes. Not even a fool could have missed the sudden change in his mood and temper, his hand clenching uselessly on air, as though trying to grasp onto his missing gun.
Underneath the sudden and all-consuming moment of anger, there lay the logic linking up the matter together. There had been a ruby moon, and as he had arrived, Hisoka had felt the burning pain of the curse marks that had been carved into his skin down to the bone; neither clue had lightened their influence as he approached Koneko, instead the latter one subtly increasing in its pressure as he grew close. that could only mean that Muraki had been close by, but that close... It was insufferable, how that damn man taunted him by staying just outside of his reach, but well inside of his sight.
"Where did he go?" he asked, his moments before cool voice now carrying the faint tremble of an anger stead deeply in the soul. "What did he say?"
"Candy is good for you," Tsuzuki said cheerfully, striding up the stairs after the two males. "It's good for sudden shocks, and energy and feeling better and goes with all kinds of foods. And I've found the perfect place to get imported chocolates."
Stopping behind the two men, he nodded in greeting to Hisoka, stuffing his hands into his pockets to look non-threatening to the four new Shinigami. In his business suit, his tie undone and his shirt opened at his throat and still wearing his trenchcoat, he looked like an officer worker that had just finished with work. There was no indication that he was over a hundred years old, nor that he was one of the most powerful Shinigami in Japan.
Compassionate eyes the colour of the velvet twilight sky gazed steadily at the enraged teen, his voice smooth and serious as he spoke, "Hisoka, all he wanted to do is freak me out and play his games some more. He went off down the street when these two showed up and all he did was call me 'beloved'. And he spoke about being my doctor which he never was, and such. Just relax a little and let's get this over with, okay? Muraki is gone and we have stuff we have to get done. And candy isn't a waste of time."
Biaaading him, Tsuzuki crossed his arms over his chest and smiled, his fright of earlier forgotten. If Hisoka was going to be the grumpy one, then he should be the cheerful one. Right? Right.
The cold blank stare was returned to those bright jade eyes evenly until Hisoka looked away at Ken and Youji's sudden appearance. Never once did a single sign of surprise move over his face as they arrived just as he proclaimed them to be out and about. Ran's gaze moved off of the blond experienced Shinigami and past his teammates to give the same cold observation to the dark haired male who came up with the other two of Weiß. His hand tightened faintly on the katana hilt he still held as he saw Tsuzuki arrive with his hands in his pockets. Hardly the smartest of moves to appear before assassins, looking as if one were trying to conceal a weapon when one's companion had just broken into the building for whatever reason. Already he guessed though they were each hardly what they appeared, despite their casual appearances.
As the other violet eyed male jabbered on about candy, Ran rolled his eyes faintly and returned his gaze to Hisoka, finding the younger male's cold exterior more interesting to observe and try to see more past than Tsuzuki. His head tilted to the side curiously at the sudden change in the blonde's demeanour and the faint quiver in his earlier bored and calm tones. Similar, vaguely, to his own reactions long ago to mentions of Takatori. Tsuzuki's answer just piqued his interest that much more, as well as made him a bit wary. Games... sounded far too much like Schuldig and Farfarello of Schwarz's love of mental games... and these two were connected to this person who already had half of Weiß take a disliking to him?
"And just who is this Muraki," he asked evenly, taking into consideration what Ken and Youji had said. Other than infrequent and understandable mistakes in judgement... (*cough* Kase and Neu/"Asuka" *cough*) the pair were very good judges of character, using well trained senses and instinct. "Another one from the EnmaCho's Shoka Division of the Summoner's Office?" He leaned against the wall still with his covered blade in hand, eyeing them both to try to gauge their reactions.
One of their first tastes of Fujimiya Ran that Weiß was all too familiar with. The man always liked to have at least a tiny grasp on control of any situation, especially when he or Weiß wasn't in full control. And he would ask the questions he wanted to ask, even if they were painfully blunt and possibly not what one wanted to answer. It was just how he got all information on a subject he felt he needed. And he'd like to know more about this man who struck such a nerve in Hisoka, even with a slight mention, other than he was icky.
"He calls himself a doctor and he is one to an extent," Tsuzuki replied, his voice and manner turning completely serious for the moment. The warmth and kindness disappeared from his odd-coloured eyes, a flame lighting inside their depths. Tsuzuki knew that Hisoka would do one of two things to answer Ran, or rather Aya as he wished to be called. Either ignore the question to go off on his own to search for the man or answer briefly and then go off after the man. Hisoka may dislike his butting in, but Tsuzuki was trying at least to spare him any bit of bitterness that he could.
"But he's a sadistic doctor who seems to create 'miracles' that are more like enslavement of his patients. He will cure anything for a price, either in money or pain or one's soul. He is completely insane, but that kind of insanity that makes him hard to stop or capture. He has a thing about 'dolls' and is on the search for a 'perfect body' to use in an experiment. He is accountable for several deaths in his search and the attempted murder of me and my partner while investigating one of his operations. During that time, he decided that I was his 'perfect one' which is why he was hitting on me."
Smiling faintly, Tsuzuki raised his hands up, showing his empty palms to the assassins. "There is more, but there is a lot of other stuff we have to tell you first before so you can understand what had happened to you three nights ago. And what you have all become because of that. No, Muraki isn't from EnmaCho's Shoka Division of the Summoner's Office. He's someone that makes our jobs a lot harder than they should be. Can we find a place to sit down and talk to you four easier? Standing in the hallway isn't the easiest way to hold this kind of conversation."
The change in Hisoka's manner at the mention of Muraki was similarly noticed and noted by Omi, who took care not to stare at the youth despite his curiosity to the change. Some people did not take well to being observed in moments of rage or upset, and he felt it best to not antagonise the strange youth. They knew too little about the newcomers to do much more than listen and step carefully with their words. It was no simple matter for someone to sneak into Koneko with such ease, and that alone demanded the caution of Weiß in return.
Catching Tsuzuki's suggestion to move elsewhere, he turned his sapphire eyes to the older of the two Shinigami, curiosity flickering clearly in the deep blue pools. Clearly this Muraki person was no to be associated with, if one were to believe the words. If the two before Weiß turned out to be respectable, he would heed their warnings about the doctor, but not slow in looking for more information. Perhaps there was some key or plot involving the triad that he could not yet fathom. Unlikely, certainly, but as manager of assassins, Omi knew it was better to be safe than sorry, even if that bordered him on occasional paranoia.
"There's a small meeting area on the next level down," he said in reply to the suggestion, moving from his position in the doorway and making his way to the stairs. Still carrying the gun, he made certain he was kept out of Tsuzuki's easy reach as he passed the brunet. There was no need to provide him with a simple weapon. "We can discuss your mission there."
Turning his attention to the stairs, and trusting the other three assassins with his life - or rather, half-life as it stood now - Omi descended the steps. As he walked he considered where the two claimed to be from, and where or how that linked them to Weiß. "Is this Summoner's Division a part of a larger organisation?" he asked back to the other. There was the faint possibility that Kritiker was somehow involved with that EnmaCho's Shoka Division, something he intended to confirm as truth or no.
Tsuzuki's casual handling of the mention of Muraki was far from mirrored in his younger partner, who's fingers had tightened into a fist with enough pressure to turn his knuckles a ghostly white. Tsuzuki had been somewhat off in his assumption of the youth's reaction; at the moment, Hisoka had no intention of going after Muraki, not when the doctor had the upper hand of information and timing. Well, not yet at the moment. To turn around and disappear now, when they had Weiß accepting at least of their presence long enough to explain themselves, would be to let down the division of Shinigami. Hisoka could not afford to fail in their eyes, the position they had allowed him gave him the grounds he needed to stand up to Muraki, instead of being just a puppet cursed in death by him.
Later, once the suspicious he felt in the minds of the others were quieted, he might go for a midnight walk to learn more of the doctor, but only then. And only once he had his gun back and, perhaps, had experienced a sudden lack of sanity. Hisoka was learning in the hardest fashion that he rarely ever found Muraki, but that Muraki often found him. If he were to kill the doctor, it would be best to wait until the man wanted to be found. That wouldn't stop him from searching about for information, but would calm his anger for a bit, soothing it until there were true reason to be in upset.
But, there were matters to attend to first.
Sensing first the youngest of the assassin's determination to move to another room, Hisoka looked over to the honey-haired one. The look the other had given him was missed, as his own in return seemed to have been neglected as the sapphire-eyed one started down the stairs. With his gun, for that matter. Hisoka was beginning to regret ever giving it up, since getting it back was looking to be a difficult task upcoming.
Ready to move after him so that their business with the newly dead would be completed, Hisoka caught the attention of another on him. Turning jade eyes to the side, he caught the redhead looking at him, the curiosity in the other's sense of mind inciting a defensive mood in his own. Arching a brow at the look, he straightened and loosened his deathly grip on nothing, so that his hands could fall relaxed again. It was a typical, childish reaction to scrutiny, one he'd always had; act tough and people won't stare.
Starting after Omi, he paused beside Ran for a moment. "You can bet that bastard was doing more than just hitting on Tsuzuki outside," he said, his voice nearly a low growl at even referring to Muraki. Almost unconsciously his hand rose, rubbing the length of his forearm, the feeling of the curse marks underneath the clothing still burning from the departed presence of Muraki. "He'll be back... he always is." With that, he moved forwards again to follow Omi down to the area they could speak more freely, and comfortably, in.
Ken felt a nudge from his friend as he moved forward toward the stairwell following after the other. He arched a brow as he caught Youji's smirk and nod toward the stairs. "No."
"Come on. You do it at least once a week."
"I know but -"
"But schmut. Just because we've got... company you're gonna wuss out? You're due and you know you wanna..."
"Youuuuuji...." Ken rolled his eyes whimpering softly in protest. He was caving, or was about to. He knew it.
"5000 yen."
"You are so on!" Grinning widely Ken took a few paces back and started to sprint toward the stairs. At the last minute he hopped up on the stair railing and in a surfer position slid down it. He sailed effortlessly down the first half of stairs shouting "Heads up." To make sure no one got in his way down it or at the bottom. Just before the stairs turned the first landing, he jumped again and turned to go down the last of the stairs which were turned in the opposite direction than the prior once. Upon reaching he end rather than leaping, he did a somersault and landed perfectly.
"Transition could use some work." Youji grinned as he peered down from the upper level and began his own decent down the stairs.
"I'd like to see you try that."
"I'm not a dumb ass with a death wish."
"You only wish you were like me instead of some foppish pretty boy."
Youji made a face and harrumphed softly as he flung his arm over Omi's shoulders and accompanied him down.
Watching the others head down to the living room on the lower floor, Ran just nodded faintly to the blonde's words not quite sure what exactly to say to that. Nice thing about being the silent one. No one expected a response most times. The information about Muraki from the two was interesting to say the least. Far more would have to be found on this Muraki as soon as they could get Omi to work on looking for information in the way that he excelled at. The redhead felt he was pretty safe to assume that the youngest of Weiß would be soon hacking information about the doctor, none of them about to solely take the pair's words about him. There were only four souls in this world Fujimiya Ran trusted... the other three of Weiß and his sister. Perhaps in time the two from this Summoner's Office would gain that trust he was quite stingy with, but it would be difficult. And a very lengthy quest to get it. He hadn't just given it to Omi, Youji, and Ken. They'd earned it.
Ran reached over and closed and locked the unbroken door to the stairwell to the roof as the other two of Weiß with him bickered about whether or not Ken was going to do... whatever it was he was going to do. Blinking as he saw the brunette just sprint off and jump, the slide skid of the soles of his running shoes on the banister echoing up the stairwell, Ran shook his head faintly and headed down. Finally, a bit of normalcy to the evening. As strange as it was that interaction such as that between the two was normal in this house.
Footnotes:
Part four of eight up and ready to read. ^^ I'm too lazy to edit parts five through eight at the moment, and too busy writing my parts of the next arc. Expect a new chapter by Saturday, which is my first day off this week; i'll have time to edit then.
By the way, the person talking in these footnotes is me, Sky. ^^;; Just in case you wanted to know.
Read our ff.net profile for information about who we are and what AM is.