Chapter 4
Tsuzuki's POV
Watari just punched me. He just did. I put a hand on my cheek to touch the part where it still stings. I still can't believe that Watari did that to me. We are practically brothers when it comes to closeness. We have been friends and confidantes for the longest time. I confide in him and so does he. I tell him things I never told anyone, like how I truly feel for Hisoka.
But it seems that I am the only one who is saying the whole truth. The only one who completely opened up. This confession of Watari has left me guilty and angry at the same time. How can he let me go on and on ranting about Hisoka? He was always smiling and encouraging me to go for it. He even went overboard that fateful night by saying to me that he somehow sensed that Hisoka may have had some feelings for me. I clench my fists in frustration, shaking with anger. Angry with Watari, with myself and probably even Tatsumi.
I shook my head slightly. No Tatsumi is not to be blamed about all this. He just wanted me to cheer up and we do have some business to do. But if he wasn't so damn intimate then Watari and Hisoka may have not misunderstood us. Wait. I just said that Tatsumi wasn't to be blamed at all, but what am I doing now? I guess I'm just really pathetic, trying to find out a reason not to blame myself, when the truth is that it's my entire fault.
I sigh and put my face into my hands trying to stop my eyes from misting. I guess I really blew it. We may have had the chance if I weren't fooling around. If only I had the guts to talk to Hisoka one last time to apologize for my rude actions. But because I was a coward.... I might have lost him for good. I shudder at the 'what if's' in my mind. All week I've been muttering about 'what if's', mumbling about my stupidity and why I didn't do it the other way around.
It was not long ago when I had the principle about not crying over spilt milk. I guess I'm contradicting myself now. I'm full of regrets that I want the time to rewind and redo all the mistakes I did. Then maybe I could still be Hisoka's partner, be Watari's friend and a genki man. I sigh again but let of a shriek of surprise when I heard someone tut.
"How long are you planning to stay there with your ass on the ground Tsuzuki?! Have you noticed we have chairs?" I blink up at Tatsumi. Ooops. Forgot about him. I smiled at him sheepishly.
"Forever? No wait. Maybe until everything is better." Tatsumi sighed and sat down on one of the dragged chairs. He pushed up his glasses.
"Tsuzuki, nothing will ever be better unless you do something about it." Hmm. That makes sense but the question is, can I do it?
"What can I do? Hisoka must really, really hate me now. Plus I don't have a best friend anymore. My life's over." I said as I hugged my knees to my chest, pouting to no one in particular.
Tatsumi stood up his fists clenched at his sides. He was shaking mildly with suppressed annoyance. Wow. He really must be fed up with me. I've never seen Tatsumi lose control of himself. He was always, always collected around us.
"I'm sick and tired of your whining Tsuzuki! I order you to do something about it and make it quick." He said with authority as he finally stops shaking and calms down.
"Who are you to order me around?!" I finally snapped at him. If he's sick and tired of me, then why all the fuss? Well, I'm getting tired of his constant naggings. I do have my limitations, you know? Standing up, I look at Tatsumi with loathing eyes. He looked really surprised as I took his full height.
"Its all your fucking fault in the first place!!! If you hadn't dragged me here and acted all intimate on me then none of this would've happened!!! Its all your fucking fault!!!" I screamed, getting hoarse. I panted heavily at the exertion. I notice Tatsumi took a step back. A bewildered expression on his face.
I looked at Tatsumi's eyes and knew I had made a grave mistake. His sapphire eyes are dark with sorrow. He moves his lips as if to say something then closes it again. He composes his self first.
"Tsuzuki. I'm sorry if you think that it is my fault. I never intended to do any of those accusations. I only wanted to cheer you up."
"Tatsumi... I'm..." He held up his hand to stop me.
"Don't say sorry. Maybe I did feel somewhat happy that you and Kurosaki-kun are broken up." I looked at him surprised. He smiled slightly, wistfully.
"But, as I said, I never intended that scene. I know that you'll be lonely without Kurosaki-kun so... I... " Tatsumi was at a loss for words.
"What Tatsumi?" I ask him gently.
"I loved you. That's why I wanted you to be happy. Even if its breaks me." Tatsumi says that with such sadness, I feel guilt seeping through me again. I knew that Tatsumi had feelings for me. I had known it for a long time. I'm not really as thick headed as I look. But I just dismiss it because I can't say that I do share his feelings. And he never said it aloud. But now that he did, it felt weird.
I notice Tatsumi backing away from me. I reach out to grab his arm. He's an important friend and I don't want to lose him, like I did Hisoka and Watari.
"Ne, Tatsumi? I'm sorry. I really do."
"I know." He says as he brought his gaze downwards not wanting to meet my eyes. I continue nonetheless.
"I still want to work with you. We have the assignment right?" I smile. He just shrugs.
"Of course. It's still business." He shook his arms from my grasp and pushes up his glasses one last time. I look at Tatsumi and let of a sigh of relief. At least he still wants to work with me. That's means I can repay his kindness and make it up to him by working hard, as he always wants me to.
"I still believe you should do something about Kurosaki-kun. I believe it's not yet over." He said for the second time as he strides in the building of Enmacho, leaving me wondering if I really should go and talk to Hisoka. Maybe he'll believe me or not. But the important thing is that I have told my side right? I guess that would be better.... I thought as I sat down on one of the dragged chairs and sipped tea, all the while deciding whether I have enough courage to talk to Hisoka and Watari.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hisoka's POV
I am reading the fourth paragraph of the same page for about seven times already. But the data still doesn't make sense. I have concluded earlier, by reading the first few paragraphs, that these guys might've committed suicide. But how can a guy who hung himself have a bloated stomach? I scrunch my forehead with wonder.
The school that this group of guys goes to isn't nearby any bodies of water. Not a lake, not a river, not even an ocean. Even if there were, should they drown, they wouldn't be able to drag themselves and then hung themselves, right? I set down the papers, bringing a hand to my aching head. So that means they didn't commit suicide.
They were probably drowned first then shipped to the school and hung the dead bodies to the only Sakura tree in the school backyard. But who would do that? I mean why would anyone go through all the trouble? They could've just left the bodies in the.... In the....Whatever body of water it is. Maybe the killer is wacko. I thought sarcastically as I stand up and stretched. No make that a hentai, perverted wacko. The dead bodies found were partially nude.
This group of guys came from the same school, Shizuoka High, and all of them are athletes, wait.... Make that attractive male athletes, who also happen to be the captain of their respective clubs. I look at their profiles one by one.
Takamiya Wei, captain of the basketball team, height - 6', eyes - blue, hair - chocolate brown, built - lanky.
Uekesa Aki, captain of the baseball team, height - 5'5, eyes - green, hair - black, built - lean.
Miyami Kiyota, captain of the soccer team, height - 5'7, eyes - green, hair - ash blond, built - lanky.
Yahiko Saki, captain of the judo team, height - 5'5, eyes - brown, hair - chocolate brown, built - lean.
Hmm... the killer has an inclination to green eyes and brown hair. Maybe that could give us a clue? I thought reflectively. I sit down and put my chin to my hands thinking deeply. I probably spaced out since I was surprised when Watari promptly appeared in front of me, waving his hands in my face.
"Don't scare me like that!" I shriek as I blink my eyes a few times. Watari just laughed.
"Which planet did you went to bon?" He asks me grinning.
"Pluto." I say shortly as I reach out for the papers, trying to read it again.
"Do we have any more clues, besides the profiles and the bloated stomachs?" I ask Watari as he goes about his lab, arranging random things.
"Well, we have found skin under their nails, probably scratched their attacker or something. But it's difficult to place its DNA since it was heavily diluted with water and mixed with dirt. It hard to pick the skin out." Watari sighs as he sits down in front of me and reaches for half the papers.
"What else?" I ask him.
"We don't have anything else. We have to come down to earth and investigate it ourselves. I'll pose as a substitute teacher and you will pose as a student. We leave tomorrow morning." Oh good. The faster and farther away from Tsuzuki the better, I thought gaily. Of course, I get to play student again. Pathetic. And I wanted to do other things. I turn to Watari to ask something else when my eye caught something. I look at it closely, and then frowned. What the hell is he doing here? I thought angrily as I scrape my chair back and look at Tsuzuki with a venomous glare. Watari also turned to see what's going on.
I must say that it's surprising to see Watari scowling. And I never thought I'd see the day where I could see him not smiling. And to Tsuzuki too. They are.. well... I now that they are best friends.
"Hisoka... Can we talk?" He asks me, giving me the most pleading look he could muster. I didn't buy it.
"We don't have anything to talk about." I answered him, my tones clipped.
"But we do! You have to listen to what I will say!" He says as he took a step closer to me. I took a step back and Watari stepped in between us, scowling.
"No. I don't have to and I don't want to!" I yell as I cover my ears, trying to stop the buzz in my head. There's too much emotion in this room. Anger, frustration and pleas. Can handle it anymore. Have to get out. I thought dizzily as I steadied myself by holding onto the table.
"Please.... Hisoka, listen to me. Me and Tatsumi....." Watari cut him off.
"Tsuzuki!! Stop it! Look at bon. It's too much. Get out." Tsuzuki looked a little irritated.
"Watari, I just want to talk to him, if you'll only let me explain..."
"What is there to explain? I caught you too! There's something different with you and Tatsumi!" Watari almost yelled as he pushes Tsuzuki away. Tsuzuki didn't back down. A chair, I need a chair, I thought, getting really, really dizzy. I feel like puking already. My grasp slip from the table, my knees buckles and I slump on the ground, in an ungraceful heap.
"You back off! Watari, all I'm asking is few minutes alone with Hisoka!" Tsuzuki pleaded again. His amethyst eyes were pulsating with suppressed annoyance.
"No! And you back off!" Watari said as he pushes Tsuzuki again. Tsuzuki finally snaps.
"What IS the matter with you?!!" Tsuzuki asks angrily.
"YOU!!!" Watari screams as he launches himself to Tsuzuki, tackling the other man to the ground. They writhed and turned, wanting to get the upper hand. Finally exploding, I stand on shaking knees and went to them.
"STOP IT!!!!" I yelled as I finally collapse. The last thing I see is Tsuzuki and Watari scrambling to their feet to get to me.
t.b.c
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tsuzuki's POV
Watari just punched me. He just did. I put a hand on my cheek to touch the part where it still stings. I still can't believe that Watari did that to me. We are practically brothers when it comes to closeness. We have been friends and confidantes for the longest time. I confide in him and so does he. I tell him things I never told anyone, like how I truly feel for Hisoka.
But it seems that I am the only one who is saying the whole truth. The only one who completely opened up. This confession of Watari has left me guilty and angry at the same time. How can he let me go on and on ranting about Hisoka? He was always smiling and encouraging me to go for it. He even went overboard that fateful night by saying to me that he somehow sensed that Hisoka may have had some feelings for me. I clench my fists in frustration, shaking with anger. Angry with Watari, with myself and probably even Tatsumi.
I shook my head slightly. No Tatsumi is not to be blamed about all this. He just wanted me to cheer up and we do have some business to do. But if he wasn't so damn intimate then Watari and Hisoka may have not misunderstood us. Wait. I just said that Tatsumi wasn't to be blamed at all, but what am I doing now? I guess I'm just really pathetic, trying to find out a reason not to blame myself, when the truth is that it's my entire fault.
I sigh and put my face into my hands trying to stop my eyes from misting. I guess I really blew it. We may have had the chance if I weren't fooling around. If only I had the guts to talk to Hisoka one last time to apologize for my rude actions. But because I was a coward.... I might have lost him for good. I shudder at the 'what if's' in my mind. All week I've been muttering about 'what if's', mumbling about my stupidity and why I didn't do it the other way around.
It was not long ago when I had the principle about not crying over spilt milk. I guess I'm contradicting myself now. I'm full of regrets that I want the time to rewind and redo all the mistakes I did. Then maybe I could still be Hisoka's partner, be Watari's friend and a genki man. I sigh again but let of a shriek of surprise when I heard someone tut.
"How long are you planning to stay there with your ass on the ground Tsuzuki?! Have you noticed we have chairs?" I blink up at Tatsumi. Ooops. Forgot about him. I smiled at him sheepishly.
"Forever? No wait. Maybe until everything is better." Tatsumi sighed and sat down on one of the dragged chairs. He pushed up his glasses.
"Tsuzuki, nothing will ever be better unless you do something about it." Hmm. That makes sense but the question is, can I do it?
"What can I do? Hisoka must really, really hate me now. Plus I don't have a best friend anymore. My life's over." I said as I hugged my knees to my chest, pouting to no one in particular.
Tatsumi stood up his fists clenched at his sides. He was shaking mildly with suppressed annoyance. Wow. He really must be fed up with me. I've never seen Tatsumi lose control of himself. He was always, always collected around us.
"I'm sick and tired of your whining Tsuzuki! I order you to do something about it and make it quick." He said with authority as he finally stops shaking and calms down.
"Who are you to order me around?!" I finally snapped at him. If he's sick and tired of me, then why all the fuss? Well, I'm getting tired of his constant naggings. I do have my limitations, you know? Standing up, I look at Tatsumi with loathing eyes. He looked really surprised as I took his full height.
"Its all your fucking fault in the first place!!! If you hadn't dragged me here and acted all intimate on me then none of this would've happened!!! Its all your fucking fault!!!" I screamed, getting hoarse. I panted heavily at the exertion. I notice Tatsumi took a step back. A bewildered expression on his face.
I looked at Tatsumi's eyes and knew I had made a grave mistake. His sapphire eyes are dark with sorrow. He moves his lips as if to say something then closes it again. He composes his self first.
"Tsuzuki. I'm sorry if you think that it is my fault. I never intended to do any of those accusations. I only wanted to cheer you up."
"Tatsumi... I'm..." He held up his hand to stop me.
"Don't say sorry. Maybe I did feel somewhat happy that you and Kurosaki-kun are broken up." I looked at him surprised. He smiled slightly, wistfully.
"But, as I said, I never intended that scene. I know that you'll be lonely without Kurosaki-kun so... I... " Tatsumi was at a loss for words.
"What Tatsumi?" I ask him gently.
"I loved you. That's why I wanted you to be happy. Even if its breaks me." Tatsumi says that with such sadness, I feel guilt seeping through me again. I knew that Tatsumi had feelings for me. I had known it for a long time. I'm not really as thick headed as I look. But I just dismiss it because I can't say that I do share his feelings. And he never said it aloud. But now that he did, it felt weird.
I notice Tatsumi backing away from me. I reach out to grab his arm. He's an important friend and I don't want to lose him, like I did Hisoka and Watari.
"Ne, Tatsumi? I'm sorry. I really do."
"I know." He says as he brought his gaze downwards not wanting to meet my eyes. I continue nonetheless.
"I still want to work with you. We have the assignment right?" I smile. He just shrugs.
"Of course. It's still business." He shook his arms from my grasp and pushes up his glasses one last time. I look at Tatsumi and let of a sigh of relief. At least he still wants to work with me. That's means I can repay his kindness and make it up to him by working hard, as he always wants me to.
"I still believe you should do something about Kurosaki-kun. I believe it's not yet over." He said for the second time as he strides in the building of Enmacho, leaving me wondering if I really should go and talk to Hisoka. Maybe he'll believe me or not. But the important thing is that I have told my side right? I guess that would be better.... I thought as I sat down on one of the dragged chairs and sipped tea, all the while deciding whether I have enough courage to talk to Hisoka and Watari.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hisoka's POV
I am reading the fourth paragraph of the same page for about seven times already. But the data still doesn't make sense. I have concluded earlier, by reading the first few paragraphs, that these guys might've committed suicide. But how can a guy who hung himself have a bloated stomach? I scrunch my forehead with wonder.
The school that this group of guys goes to isn't nearby any bodies of water. Not a lake, not a river, not even an ocean. Even if there were, should they drown, they wouldn't be able to drag themselves and then hung themselves, right? I set down the papers, bringing a hand to my aching head. So that means they didn't commit suicide.
They were probably drowned first then shipped to the school and hung the dead bodies to the only Sakura tree in the school backyard. But who would do that? I mean why would anyone go through all the trouble? They could've just left the bodies in the.... In the....Whatever body of water it is. Maybe the killer is wacko. I thought sarcastically as I stand up and stretched. No make that a hentai, perverted wacko. The dead bodies found were partially nude.
This group of guys came from the same school, Shizuoka High, and all of them are athletes, wait.... Make that attractive male athletes, who also happen to be the captain of their respective clubs. I look at their profiles one by one.
Takamiya Wei, captain of the basketball team, height - 6', eyes - blue, hair - chocolate brown, built - lanky.
Uekesa Aki, captain of the baseball team, height - 5'5, eyes - green, hair - black, built - lean.
Miyami Kiyota, captain of the soccer team, height - 5'7, eyes - green, hair - ash blond, built - lanky.
Yahiko Saki, captain of the judo team, height - 5'5, eyes - brown, hair - chocolate brown, built - lean.
Hmm... the killer has an inclination to green eyes and brown hair. Maybe that could give us a clue? I thought reflectively. I sit down and put my chin to my hands thinking deeply. I probably spaced out since I was surprised when Watari promptly appeared in front of me, waving his hands in my face.
"Don't scare me like that!" I shriek as I blink my eyes a few times. Watari just laughed.
"Which planet did you went to bon?" He asks me grinning.
"Pluto." I say shortly as I reach out for the papers, trying to read it again.
"Do we have any more clues, besides the profiles and the bloated stomachs?" I ask Watari as he goes about his lab, arranging random things.
"Well, we have found skin under their nails, probably scratched their attacker or something. But it's difficult to place its DNA since it was heavily diluted with water and mixed with dirt. It hard to pick the skin out." Watari sighs as he sits down in front of me and reaches for half the papers.
"What else?" I ask him.
"We don't have anything else. We have to come down to earth and investigate it ourselves. I'll pose as a substitute teacher and you will pose as a student. We leave tomorrow morning." Oh good. The faster and farther away from Tsuzuki the better, I thought gaily. Of course, I get to play student again. Pathetic. And I wanted to do other things. I turn to Watari to ask something else when my eye caught something. I look at it closely, and then frowned. What the hell is he doing here? I thought angrily as I scrape my chair back and look at Tsuzuki with a venomous glare. Watari also turned to see what's going on.
I must say that it's surprising to see Watari scowling. And I never thought I'd see the day where I could see him not smiling. And to Tsuzuki too. They are.. well... I now that they are best friends.
"Hisoka... Can we talk?" He asks me, giving me the most pleading look he could muster. I didn't buy it.
"We don't have anything to talk about." I answered him, my tones clipped.
"But we do! You have to listen to what I will say!" He says as he took a step closer to me. I took a step back and Watari stepped in between us, scowling.
"No. I don't have to and I don't want to!" I yell as I cover my ears, trying to stop the buzz in my head. There's too much emotion in this room. Anger, frustration and pleas. Can handle it anymore. Have to get out. I thought dizzily as I steadied myself by holding onto the table.
"Please.... Hisoka, listen to me. Me and Tatsumi....." Watari cut him off.
"Tsuzuki!! Stop it! Look at bon. It's too much. Get out." Tsuzuki looked a little irritated.
"Watari, I just want to talk to him, if you'll only let me explain..."
"What is there to explain? I caught you too! There's something different with you and Tatsumi!" Watari almost yelled as he pushes Tsuzuki away. Tsuzuki didn't back down. A chair, I need a chair, I thought, getting really, really dizzy. I feel like puking already. My grasp slip from the table, my knees buckles and I slump on the ground, in an ungraceful heap.
"You back off! Watari, all I'm asking is few minutes alone with Hisoka!" Tsuzuki pleaded again. His amethyst eyes were pulsating with suppressed annoyance.
"No! And you back off!" Watari said as he pushes Tsuzuki again. Tsuzuki finally snaps.
"What IS the matter with you?!!" Tsuzuki asks angrily.
"YOU!!!" Watari screams as he launches himself to Tsuzuki, tackling the other man to the ground. They writhed and turned, wanting to get the upper hand. Finally exploding, I stand on shaking knees and went to them.
"STOP IT!!!!" I yelled as I finally collapse. The last thing I see is Tsuzuki and Watari scrambling to their feet to get to me.
t.b.c
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
