Chapter 6
It's been a week. A week since I sent them down to earth. What could've possibly gone wrong. According to the report given, the case should be an easy one. With their own powers, small matter like this can easily be done within the four days I've given. Tatsumi gripped his ball-point pen and stared down at his paper works. His mind wasn't focused no matter how hard he tried. Was it actually fair to send three of them down that day, knowing that they were still engulfed by that silly potion the professor made? A slight knock on his office door awaken him from his endless questions.
"You ok?" Terazuma asked, shifting the computer chair closer to the window near Tatsumi's desk. He pulled out a cigarette and lighted it. "You know, you actually don't look so well. I think that you should have some rest."
"I…I can't, there's too much things to do," Tatsumi babbled. "I can't afford to waste time because time is precious, you know. Since when do you care anyway?"
"Um…" He puffed more and continued, "Since the day I knew you existed." He smiled. Watching his friend's tensed face made him convinced that he was having other troubles besides extremely lots of financial problems and endless unpaid bills including funds for re-building the damaged part of the department. He looked out of the window and sighed. "You have such a nice view from here."
Something is bothering him, Tatsumi thought. Could it be worst that mine?
"Tatsumi…" Terazuma's voice was a whisper. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"What's bothering you?"
Tatsumi stacked up his files and draped himself out the window. Should I tell him? Maybe not. Let me handle my own problem. He shook his head and took a quick glance at the clock on the wall. Three p.m. "What about you? It's really odd that you come and see me at this time of the day."
Terazuma hesitated for a moment. Then he took a deep breath. "I come here, as a friend deeply in need for help."
Silence as he waited for him to continue.
"I…really need my paycheck early," He said finally and lets out a long sigh of relief. There! He stared into Tatsumi's eyes with hope. Please, please, please…
Tatsumi broke into laughter and tears filled up his eyes. After a while he stopped and gave Terazuma a solemn look. "Give me ten reasons, why should I give you your paycheck early?"
"Please! You can't do this to me!" Terazuma cried in dismay. "I need it!"
"Oh, yes I can. Ten reasons, dear."
"Please…"
"Ten."
"…"
"Ten."
"Alright, alright! I'll give you your ten reasons," Terazuma spat rudely, but his voice suddenly toned down a little. "…But, can I give them to you tonight?"
"Ten." Tatsumi repeated with a cold expression. When it comes to money, he is dead serious. "Tonight or never."
Glad with the last answer, Terazuma quickly got up from his seat and headed to the door. "Thanks a lot!" At that he shut the door. Whistling can be heard fading away.
"Some help," Tatsumi muttered under his breath. I hope they come back sooner, Tatsumi hoped, studying the latest bills sent in by Yuma seconds ago. He resumed to his desk, pushing aside all his thoughts and paid attention to his unfinished assignments. Stupid bills.
"Hisoka…"
The green-eyed boy blinked. That voice. Somehow he recognized that voice, but where. He staggered to his feet and examined the ground he stood on. This place seemed familiar. He walked slowly towards the window and stared out. It was nearly the beginning of winter. The cherry blossom petals floated around as the wind blew them playfully. Was this … Was this home?
Maybe I should take a look around, he told himself as he made his way out of the room. Suddenly a rough hand gripped him from behind.
"And where are you going, missy?" The tall lady in front of him asked sternly. Her hands were still gripping his arm tightly. Her long sharp nails pierced through his skin. Without waiting for an answer, she pushed him back into the room and locked the door. "Stay there."
Hisoka stood silently at the middle of the room.
"I've tried to escape…" A small voice came from behind the antique closet. "Useless. They added more guards."
"Who are you?"
"Me…" Slowly she walked away from he sort of hiding place and slid to the edge of her canopy bed. "I can't believe it. You forgot about your own sister? Your own flesh and blood? Boy, that knock on your head sure gave you some major damage."
"No, you can't be!" Hisoka shrieked. But no matter what, everything seemed so hard to believe and understand. The girl sitting in front of him resembled him, a lot. Anyone could have mistaken him for her or vice versa. She has both brown hair and bright green eyes. Apart from that, she is also skinny.
"I am." She assured. "Look, we both have the same empathy powers. Can you at least try to remember that?"
Hisoka continued staring at her in disbelief. How could this happen? He rubbed the small bump on his head. This has to be a dream, he told himself. As far as he could remember, her sister died at birth. But, nothing makes sense at all since he is, after all, dead, too. Must be the effect from Watari's potion, he told himself.
"What's wrong?" She asked suddenly. "Do I have something stuck up my nose?"
"Uh," He shook his head, pushing away his thoughts. "I'm sorry, what?"
The girl in front of him giggled and pulled him next to her. She pulled a book from the bookshelf nearby and spread it open on her laps. Hisoka felt a little queasy as her elbow bumped against his. Her skin felt cold. Too cold for an alive person.
"Do you stay in here, alone?" Hisoka asked, leaning back against the wall and staring up at the shadows playing across the white ceiling. Since I'm probably supposed to get stuck in here until I'm really sure that I'm awake, I might as well try to investigate a little, he thought.
It took a few seconds for her to reply. "I forgot. You lost your memory," She said after a while. "I stay in here, with you. They say that we have some sort of curse and that we have to be separated from the outside… world," She said almost in tears.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't you get it? We are stuck here, forever."
"Don't you ever try to get away? You know, the great escape?"
"I tried… I tried. But perhaps," She swallowed her saliva and continued, "Perhaps I was too slow. They caught me several times already before I gave up."
"Hisoka…"
That voice again, Hisoka groaned. His head was throbbing with pain. What is wrong with me, he cursed.
"Are you alright?" The small girl threw a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to leave you when I tried to escape. You were in coma for the last few days and I only wanted to get help, which they didn't." She apologized immediately.
That's it. I have to get the hell out of here before I go completely insane, he thought.
"I only wanted to help before you…"
"Shhh…" Placing a finger on her lips, "Don't apologize any more." He turned around and studied the small room. "We'll try to get out from here tonight, okay?"
She stared at him silently. "How? Didn't you remember that we can't even go to the bathroom without being accompanied by at least four of those people," Pointing out of the window at the guards right beneath their room.
"Trust me. We'll get out alright, dead or alive." Hisoka reassured his sort of sister. He pictured the cell where they used to lock him up when he was still alive. I don't care if this is reality or dreamland, I don't want to spend my life in a dark gloomy place anymore, he told himself. Hmm, one more problem. He stood tall in front of her. "Where did I get this bump?"
"She pushed his long strains of hair aside. "Goodness gracious. They really smashed you that heard." She slumped back into the soft pillows on the bed. "You threatened them when they decided to lock you up in a separate room, away from me. That was brave of you and sweet too. But, they were stronger, so they beat you up, I'm not quite sure."
"And why weren't you sure?"
She gave him a childish glare. "Obviously they won't tell me the truth. Anyway, here you are. Thinking of a great escape."
~There, end of chapter 6. ^o^ I really wonder how does this story really end…