[18 July 2013] Edited, because I notice people are still reading this old, old story, and I'm horrified at the grammar of my old self. -_- Also taken the opportunity to straighten out warnings in Author Notes.

Author Notes:

Big red warnings for near-yaoi scenes with some sort of sadism involved. I don't think it's R-rated, but let me know if you think so after reading… And creepy paragraphs, but y'all should be used to those by now. ^_^

Italics are thoughts and flashbacks.

A Wing Short of Flying

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There's a reason why people don't stay who they are.

- Patty Smyth & Don Henley, "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough"

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Chapter Seven: The Hollow

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Drip.

Thick crimson blood dripped on the green blades of the grass, one drop followed by another, in an ever increasing speed. The grass could no longer be seen.

He looked down at his feet. Suddenly there was no grass but metallic blades, the sharp edges eating into his bare skin.

Throb.

He could feel the nerves on his legs throbbing, sending sharp sensations of pain through his body. His brain felt like cooked, his face numb, his lips cracking dry.

Gasp.

It was a world of silent screams. So many emotions were pressing on the walls of his mind, demanding escape, but though his mouth was open, no sound came out.

"Hisoka…"

Tsuzuki squeezed the boy's feverish hand. Dizziness overwhelmed him like a non-stop buzz in his head, caused by all the imageries that were invading his mind. Hisoka's thoughts. The unconscious empath was apparently having a fever-induced nightmare, and his power was projecting it wildly out of control.

"It's amazing how strong he is projecting while unconscious," Muraki shook his head from the corner of the room. He massaged his temples, seemingly affected despite the distance he kept between himself and the bed Hisoka was occupying. "He hasn't showed such a strong mind power since he was nine years old."

Tsuzuki recalled Hisoka telling him that he'd been seven years old when he first came. "Perhaps living with you was a bad influence."

"Despite all the effort I took to heighten the powers for my research," Muraki replied evenly. "Oh, well. He is also useful in other matters besides academic study."

Tsuzuki fixed a cold stare at him. "Say something like that again and I'll burn your tongue."

"You will?" Muraki smirked.

Tsuzuki decided that it wasn't wise to provoke a confrontation while the doctor's help was still needed. "Why hasn't he woken up yet?"

It had been a full night and day since they returned. The sedative should have worn out by now.

"The nightmares are keeping him, I guess."

Tsuzuki let go of Hisoka's hand at last, the ugly thoughts becoming too much for him. "What to do, then?"

"Nothing. He'll wake up when he has rested enough."

Muraki walked up to Hisoka, frowning as the mental assault grew stronger. He took a syringe from the table, filled it with some sort of liquid, and injected it into Hisoka's arm.

"What was that?" Tsuzuki asked suspiciously.

"More sedative. At this rate, he'll drive us insane."

Tsuzuki didn't think the doctor could get more insane than he already was. "But he'll take longer to wake up."

Muraki sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Tsuzuki patiently. "He will be fine, Tsuzuki-san."

Tsuzuki scowled. "Do you even care?"

"I'd rather not waste my energy worrying. We should make good use of this opportunity while we're alone." He leaned closer.

"Don't," Tsuzuki cut sharply, edging away from him. "I'm warning you."

"But you don't even have to like me," Muraki smiled. "Desire will speak for itself."

"I'm not interested."

"Irrelevant," Muraki said. He suddenly gripped Tsuzuki's chin, startling the man. The next second he pressed his lips firmly upon Tsuzuki's.

Tsuzuki's eyes flew wide. He tried to pull away, but the doctor leaned forward to follow, having Tsuzuki well trapped between himself and the chair. His kiss was rough and forceful, establishing authority, not bothering with his characteristic gentleness.

"I'm not going to pretend that all's still sweet and nice between us, because it isn't." Muraki's breath was warm on Tsuzuki's face. "I've told you plainly that I wanted you, and you have quite blatantly indicated your answer. You tried to run away from me, and I will not forget that."

He trailed down along Tsuzuki's jaw to the neck.

"Stop!" Tsuzuki choked out. He didn't like the way his own body was reacting.

"You refused to play nice… so I'll get what I want the hard way."

Tsuzuki's head tilted up involuntarily, feeling the seductive motion on his throat. Hisoka's projected emotions faded to the background, replaced by a very strong disgust of his own.

"We can forget romance now. Two demons have no need for pretenses of love."

Tsuzuki felt his body heating up to Muraki's temptations, and he thought of hell.

Demons…

"…Someone with such a strong dark power couldn't possibly avoid developing a dark mind…"

Was it the doctor speaking, or was it my own mind…?

"You talked the boy into helping you escape, and see what happened?"

"Demon! Demon!" Behind him the crowd roared, fearfully, hatefully.

But it isn't true…

"I want you to live."

The one who said that was dying because of him.

He could already feel the fall. With one wing torn he couldn't fly.

They were lying on the floor now. He didn't realize when it had happened. Muraki was taking full control of the situation, and he… and he…

…And he was following equally.

He was responding to every move, touching as he was being touched, leading the doctor's hands to where he wanted them at.

The earlier disgust felt like a natural part of him now.

A sharp pain on his chest jolted him. He hadn't heard the sound of his shirt tearing.

His eyes refocused on the doctor's face, seeing the satisfaction there. There was a knife at the doctor's hand.

"What are you…" he croaked.

"Making this more exciting." Muraki's eyes gleamed. "And the best part is that I don't have to hold back at all. You will not die."

Blood stained the already tainted white coat, red on dried crimson.

"You…'re… sick…"

Laughter. "Who defined the norms, Tsuzuki-san? The people who've turned you away?"

Tsuzuki watched the doctor licking the blood on the knife.

He's right. I, too, am sick…

A weak consciousness screamed at the back of his mind, telling him that this was a mental trap.

But what can I do to keep from falling?

Hisoka...

Hisoka's sad eyes, longing for the doctor… Hisoka's feeble arms, protecting the doctor…

How pathetic… we're both loving someone who's not even looking.

"Two demons have no need for pretenses of love."

Again the metal slashed his skin.

Pain. Pain. This is how it should be.

He reached up to Muraki's shoulders, surprising the doctor.

A pleasant surprise, though. "Enjoying it now, Tsuzuki-san?"

His hands brushed lightly along Muraki's neck, caressing. Muraki leaned closer…

Tsuzuki reached the throat, and squeezed down with force.

Muraki choked, and dropped the knife.

"…Tsu…zgh…"

Metalic grasses all around…

Muraki's hands gripped his, trying to peel them apart to no avail.

Tsuzuki watched the doctor's pale face turning even paler, horror beginning to seep into his usually cool gaze.

"What are you frightened of?" Tsuzuki asked calmly, as though they were just lying around enjoying the sea breeze. "Demons are not afraid of demons."

Muraki dropped to his side. Tsuzuki rolled over to pin him to the floor, but at that time Muraki managed to send a strong kick to Tsuzuki's stomach, breaking the two of them apart.

Coughing violently, Muraki hurriedly got up from the floor, and rushed out of the room. Tsuzuki lay still.

Slowly, he touched his finger to the dried line of blood across his chest.

Drip.

Throb.

Gasp.

Tsuzuki's last thought before passing out was: Hisoka.

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.

When he opened his eyes, he couldn't remember why he was on the floor. Wasn't I sitting on the chair beside Hisoka?

Turning his head towards Hisoka, he saw the boy sitting up on the bed, looking out of the window.

"Hisoka! You're awake!" Tsuzuki tried to get up. He was mostly sore from sleeping on the hard surface, but his energy was recovering.

There was no movement from the boy.

Tsuzuki staggered to the bed. "Hisoka?"

Turning around, he couldn't find Muraki. Great. Now when we need him he is not here.

He sat on the edge of the bed, stretching his neck to see Hisoka's face.

"Are you okay?" Tsuzuki asked worriedly. The boy seemed to have left his soul elsewhere.

Still no answer.

"Hisoka!"

Slowly, Hisoka turned to him. His green eyes were dull, and for a moment they were flickering uncertainly, as if trying to register the surroundings.

"Hi—"

"…Yes."

The voice was hollow. Tsuzuki held his breath.

Hisoka's eyes were focused now; sharp, cold. Those eyes reminded him of his own eyes reflected on the hospital window some time ago.

Lifeless.

"…How are you feeling?"

"Nothing much." Still with that disinterested voice.

Tsuzuki observed the cold expression. "You can tell me anything, Hisoka."

Hisoka's gaze stayed on his face for a second, then he turned away. "I'm sorry."

Even that was said with no emotions at all. Tsuzuki sighed. "There's nothing to forgive."

"Yet."

"What do you mean?"

Hisoka kept looking at the window, refusing to say anything more.

Tsuzuki reached out to touch his face. "Don't be—"

Unexpectedly, Hisoka brushed his hand away harshly, almost slapping.

Tsuzuki stared.

"Please don't," Hisoka said, looking into Tsuzuki's eyes briefly before turning away again. "My powers are very much stronger than usual."

"… I see," Tsuzuki lied. Empathy or not, that hurt.

He couldn't understand the sudden change in Hisoka's behavior. Was it after-shock because his master had tried to kill him? But Muraki had done worse things to him before.

"Hisoka, please. You must let me know what is disturbing you."

Hisoka leaned on the headboard, closing his eyes as a signal that he didn't want to talk anymore.

Tsuzuki looked on with disappointment. As Hisoka didn't move, he shifted his eyes to his lap, and stared blankly at his hands.

Then Hisoka spoke.

"The next time you do it with him, can you try to get his gun?"

.

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Author Notes:

Okay, the deviation was quite huge… the improvised plot with an added Dark Tsuzuki™! My first draft was where Muraki had his way, but halfway through it I got bored reading it myself… *scratches head*

By the way, is anyone confused by the beginning of the chapter? They were Hisoka's emotions in Tsuzuki's mind. 'He' refers to Hisoka, as Hisoka sees himself. As explained afterwards, Hisoka's telepathic power was wildly projecting his emotions as he lay there having fever and all. Yeah, it's rather fanciful… bear with me please. ^_^0