Chapter 9

Tsuzuki's POV

This is absolutely hopeless!! I steamed to myself as I scanned for suspicious faces in the crowd. So far I found……….. Absolutely nothing!!!

To start with, this entire case is just plain impossible to solve. Without any leads and without the cooperation of the boys' souls, I can't do anything about the situation.

So okay, I'm optimistic and all that crap and I started this case much obliged. I tried to find activities in the area which might give me a clue on the itinerary of the boys' entire stay here.

First stop was snorkeling. I figured that there might be a large possibility that these guys snorkeled, since this beach is well known for their fantastic reefs and great instructors.

I geared up, talked with the boat crew to ask them if they find anything suspicious these past few months. They all shook their heads saying that it was as calm and peaceful as can be.

I turned to the instructors to see if they are suspicious and stuff. You see…….. I assumed that the boys are drowned, so if that is the case, then this experienced divers might have something to do with it. But I haven't sensed any malicious attempt from them or whatsoever.

Then I tried to ask the tourists if they had known any boys who snorkeled and had gone missing recently. None of them were able to divulge any leads. Much as I want to prod further in this activity, I stopped. Truth is that my gut is telling me that I'm going in the wrong direction.

But being the positive thinker that I am, I tried something new. Jet Skiing.

I learned that the hip, rich students' favorite past time is jet skiing. I guess it's because it is an expensive sport and girls think it's cool when a guy jet skis. I roll my eyes when I see yet another guy showing off his motor skills to a bunch of squealing girls.  Now that about sums it up. I thought sarcastically.

So I went to the place where you could rent some motors. I was thinking it could be hell a lot of help if I knew the boys' names, since the motor rentals keep track of those who rented their stuff. So instead, I just asked the elderly guy if there were motors not returned or anything.

The guy shook his head, why am I not surprised? , and said that nothing of that sort happened. I asked if there are suspicious students who loaned them. Another shaking of head. Sighing I went out and just given up entirely on that jet skiing stuff.

Getting tired of scanning for suspicious faces, I plopped on the sand.

I must admit that even if I didn't progress much on this case………. I enjoyed myself. A hell lot. I mean who wouldn't? I'm in a glorious sunny beach and I just snorkeled, jet skid and in a moment…….. I'll go for a swim. It would be a complete waste if I didn't right?

I smirked mischievously as I envisioned Tatsumi all red in the face and very furious, once he finds out that I've spent all of our allowance. But then he'll just have to forgive me right? I thought as I scrunched my forehead.

I mean that allowance is just so meager!!! I can't possibly blend in the crowd and do what I just did if I wear my usual attire of black trench coat with the tie and all. So I traded them in with for colorful Hawaiian shirt, oh you know, the one with the colorful tropical birds and palm trees?  I left it unbuttoned and matched it with denim shorts and shades. Now I'm summery as can be!!!

But that outfit didn't exactly wipe out our entire allowance. But then I have to pay for my food and for the snorkeling gear and the motor rentals and all that stuff. So I found myself dead broke.

I leaned back and watched the sea, lapping out foams in the shore. Then I noticed far out in the sea, a large white boat. I frowned. That is far too big for parasailing. I wonder if it goes out somewhere?

I looked around finding a friendly face to ask a question to. Then I noticed at my side, a girl about 19 with red hair and green eyes suntaning.

"Hey miss! Can I bother you for a sec?" I asked her, giving her my most charming smile.

She looked at me appraisingly before raising here brows ever so slightly.

"Sure, hon. So long as you say you'll be my date for tonight's party." I grinned at her.

"Sure!! I'd love to!" I've accepted her offer without a doubt since I think I'll really enjoy myself there, what with the free foods and probably the desserts……….. I almost drooled right then and there as I imagined the tons of food and sweets.

And besides, it's not a very bad idea to check that scene. I mean students like to get in the things of things and I may be meeting a lot of suspicious people there.

"Good! It'll be so cool!!" She squealed as she leans closer to me. I laughed with her.

"So, now that's everything's set, can I ask my question?" I asked her, a teasing tone in my voice.

"Sure, so long as you give me your name first!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry!!!! I'm Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki Asato." I held out my hand to her. She took it and we daintily shook hands.

"I'm Camila Glory. Nice to meet you." She said whispering it my ear. Was it just me, or is she purring? Well anyway……..

"Nice to meet you too!! So like I was saying……. That boat……." I pointed far out in the sea, where we could barely see the outline of the big white boat.

"Is it for parasailing or like it goes somewhere? You know…. Like shipping people out." She scrunched her forehead, thinking deeply.

"Oh!! Oh!!! You mean that one?" She pointed at the same boat I pointed just awhile ago.

"Uhuh."

"Well, that boat 'ships' people to the other island. You know…….. Where the party happens?"

"So that's where we will go tonight?" I ask her. She bobbed her head up and down.

"Yup. Actually that boat exists for that purpose…….. You know bringing people to the party. Oh yeah, I heard that another boat takes you to another island. Though that one is private. It is owned by the Akiko family."

"I see." I said while bringing a hand to my chin, thinking deeply.

"Hey, Camila? You don't mind if I went out first? I'll fix a few things."

"Sure. Just be here at 5 pm. The last boat leaves at 515pm. Okay?"

"Okay!! I'm here 5 pm on the dot!!!" I said as I stood up and started to run opposite her direction, I turned around and waved back at her.

"Don't stand me up okay?!! I swear you'll miss someone in your life if you didn't!!!!" I looked at her blankly. She sounded like she was threatening me. And the look in her eyes……….. Something's definitely wrong. Her eyes held malice in them……….. But a split second later, she was smiling again.

Maybe I'm just imagining things……

Yup. Imagining things……...

Funny…….

--------------------------------------------------------

Hisoka's POV

"So how'd you like the game?" Rei asked me as he motioned the waiter nearby to take our order.

 I looked at him warily and have to suppress a sigh. Ever since we left the stadium, he has been gabbing non stop about how great he was.

I rolled my eyes. Okay, so at first I was like smiling and all, saying that he really did great. But when our discussion revolved around it and he kept asking for about every 5 second on how I think, I snapped. I mean, I could only take so much.

Rei frowned at me, probably getting my drift.

"Ne Hisoka? Aren't you proud of me?" He said pouting. Ughh……. How long do I have to put with him???  I thought to myself irritated.

Then I remembered that he's supposed to be my 'boyfriend' so I tried, as hard as I could, to smile one more time and to utter another phrase of praising.

"Of course. You were great." I said smiling, this time genuinely since the waiter arrived and had saved me for yet another round of…. 'That was easy', 'see my great pass', 'did you see how I scored the last touchdown?', 'the crowd really went bananas!!'. Ughh…….

"I'll take the cheeseburger and a cherry soda. How about you Hisoka?" He said, as he handed his menu back at the waiter and waited for me patiently while I decided.

I quickly scanned the menu. Burger, cheeseburger, veggie burger……. What the??! Do they sell anything other than burgers?  Hmmmm………. Since nothing is edible for me…….

"I'll just have the iced tea." I said as I tossed to the waiter back the menu. I was surprised that he grasped my hand. Irritated I looked at him, ready to give him a piece of my mind. My voice drowned in my throat when I saw him wink at me. That was like, so gross!!!! At his age, he looks old enough to be my father.

I tried to nab my hand back but the guy held still.

"Look buddy, let me go." I said as I gave him my death glare. The man just smiled his missing tooth grin. Then in a flash, I saw Rei stand and unleash a powerful punch at the side of the man's face. He staggered back.

But Rei wasn't finished. He crossed the distance between them and grabbed the guy by his collar.

"What do the fuck do you think you're doing?" He yelled angrily at the man. The guy just smiled back.

"Admiring your companion."

"Say what??!!!" Rei exploded as he unleashed another punch. But the man was guarded this time and caught his fist with his palm.

"You sure are stingy. Listen pal, with a guy like that…….." He pointed to me and snickered.

"You'll be in a hell lot of trouble if you get jealous easily. He's a beauty." He finished as he let go of Rei's fist, dusted the front of his shirt and continued to laugh as he went back to the kitchen.

I'm sure I'm burning red with humiliation and with anger. How dare that low life!!!  I thought to myself as I spotted Rei yet again raising his fist and was heading to the direction of the kitchen. I stood up and quickly held him back.

"That's enough Rei!! Let's get out of here." But he won't listen. He kept going and I finally lost my temper. Add the fact that I already have the head ache.

"If you don't want to leave…… then fine!!" I told him as I turned around and stalked away. Rei must've changed his mind about beating the shit out of that man because I heard his footsteps following me.

"I swear….. I'll get even with you bastard!!! You're mine!!!" Rei screamed back at the diner before we finally went out.

-------------------------------------------------------

  "That was stupid!!!!" I raged as soon as Rei has seated down on one of the benches in the park. I decided that he needed some good old spanking since he's muttering all the while we were walking that he's going to come back and teach that gross man a lesson. Instead of listening to me, he looked up defiantly.

"What's stupid?!!!! That guy deserved more than that!!!"

"I could take care of myself well, thank you." I sniffed as I turned my head sideways, completely disgusted with him.

"I know you could." Rei stressed as he relents and finally calms down. He reaches for my hand and motioned for me to sit down.

"I know you could Hisoka…….. " He amended looking at me with those puppy dog eyes.

"But I wanted to do something for you. Even if I knew you could handle yourself…….. It just irks me to see someone treating you that way……. You don't deserve that……." He looks so sincere that I had trouble responding to me. That was like….. Very touching.

I tried to think of a suitable reply but nothing came to mind. I probably looked like an idiot, a blushing stupid idiot at that, but thankfully he seems to have forgotten the mood as he smiles and looks back at me with those familiar crinkling eyes.

"So, are you still up for our tour?" He asked as he leaned back the bench.

"Tour?" I ask him blankly. What is he talking about?

"You having a memory lapse?" He asks me laughing mildly.

"Funny!" I retorted.

"Okay, if you forgot……. We're going to check out my beach house! You know, my end of the bargain?" Oh that one.

"Umm…… Let's do it some other time. I don't fell like it today. Besides I'm already bushed."

"Hisoka!! Please!!! I've already set things!!" He whined full force.

"I'm sorry but I can't."

"Why not?!"

"Cause I don't feel like it, okay? What's the big deal anyway? Today, tomorrow, it's all the same!!" I said exasperated.

"But you promised." He pouted as he brings his head down.

"Look Rei, I promise tomorrow we will go." I said firmly as I stood up and started to walk away. This way I don't have to argue with him, just walk away and the discussion is over. Simple.

"Wait." He said sharply as he took my wrist in a surprisingly tight grasp.

"What?! And let go of me." I said as I tried to shake his hand away from mine. He didn't budge.

"What the?! Rei let go." I said with venom in my voice.

"I'm afraid I can't. I have to bring you there." He said his voice very unfamiliar.

"What do you mean you need me there?!"

"I promised sensei."

"Sensei?! Who is he?" I asked him, trying vainly to keep my cool.

"It doesn't matter. Let's go." Rei declared as he stood up and began dragging me with him.

"I don't want to go!! Let go of me, you bastard!!" I screamed.

"You really think I'm going to?" Rei teased as he continued to drag me along. Well, enough is enough. I said to myself as I fisted my freehand and caught up with him.

"Now that's a good boy, if you just…….. OWWW!!!" Rei yelled as my fist landed right in his nose. I guess I broke it. I thought smugly as I see blood running from it. His grasp loosened and I took that chance to flee.

The street was coming into sight when I hear Rei whistle. Still running, I looked back at him. He still looked like a bloody mess and it looks like he can't catch up with me either. What's up with the whistle thing?! I thought to myself as I kept running,…… until I bumped into someone.

"Yo!! Hisoka!" Mogle, Rei's henchman and teammate greeted me. He caught my wrists and pinned them behind me.

"Let go." I hissed.

"Sorry hon, but I can't." He said as he peered closed to me. I could feel his breath on my face and it stinks.

"You looked really pretty……" He gushed as he caressed my face with one hand. His other hand still has my wrists.

"You're breath stinks!!" I spit into his face as I let a savage kick into his groin, he let go immediately.

"OWWWW……..Why you little bitch!!!!" Mogle threatened as he writhed on the ground. I smirk. All brawn and no brain, I guess. I started to flee again but to my disappointment and horror, the entire football team had blocked my way.

"What do you want..?" I said shakily as I backed up a few steps.

"A piece of you. Rei said he finally wants to share. Would you like to play with us?!" The tallest one, with the hooked nose said, leering at me. All of them slowly were now slowly advancing.

What am I going to do??!  I can't possibly handle the entire team on my own.!!  I thought to myself as I keep backing up. I thought my back hit a tree but was surprised when two hands grasped my shoulders. I looked up to see who it was. Rei.

"Please, let me go." I told him, almost begging.

"It's your fault you know? If only you had agreed to do so earlier….."

"Then let's go! I changed my mind!" I said despaired already. Rei shook his head.

"Sensei said bad boys should be punished. I always do what he says." Rei said as he snaked his arms around my waist. His teammates laughed and said they all agree. Punish him, they said.

TBC

______________________________

A/N: Hey peeps!!! Sorry for taking so long. And I hope it's a decent chapter…….  Oh yeah, I don't know if there's hisoka harassment (or if it counts as harassment!!) here…. Maybe the intense one will be one the next chap or the one after that…..

Anyways, let me hear your comments!!! Your reviews are much appreciated…… and I look forward to them!!