Twisting Destinies

Chapter Two

By Zanzou Youko

Disclaimer: Not mine. I have enough trouble getting these short little chapters out without needing to worry about manga.... @-e

Warnings: Well, the angst and general evilness starts showing up in this chapter. Still spoiling the later manga, still AU, eventual yaoi (TxH), and the TWT (time line what time line) comes into the fic starting here.

For those of you who dont know, Miya is the maid that hangs around a bunch while T&W investigate the Kurosaki family.

Danna-sama– master. I don't think that "master" would have given people the right idea, so... Danna-sama. It's like... "lord". Or something.

A/N: *ahem* Praises to you all. Really. But BIG praises to Lys, Dchan and Wolfie. ^^- Sorry it took so long... Zanzou is bad with things like that. -______-;;;;; Was distracted by Get Backers. And Prince of Tennis. And Loki. O_____o don't watch them. You'll fall in love and neglect your fics!!!

To Sade: ^^ You made me do this!! I was all "Yaaay, people READ this, must update!!!!" ... cause you know, I've had it sitting on the comp for a while. .....Bad Zanzou.

And people? Lissa needs more cookies. If you want to give me cookies, I like the yaoi ones. *nibbles on some* Mmm Mmm good.

~~~

When Tsuzuki Asato sleeps these days, he does not usually find rest.

He dreams - he dreams of a time when things were more beautiful, but at the same time so terrible that it brings tears to his sleeping eyes.

When Tsuzuki Asato dreams these days, he does not understand why the things he sees leaves tracks of dried tears on his face come morning.

He dreams, of death, of life, of choices. He dreams of power a power he cannot control, and does not fully understand.

When Tsuzuki Asato dreams these days, he doesnt realize he gains a faint glow.

When his sister wakes up the next morning to find her brother already awake, Tsuzuki Asato smiles. Because what can forgotten dreams really do to harm him?

The threads of fate have been transformed.

~~~

Ruka frowned as she left her brother behind, following the maid Miya, had she said her name was? into the main house. The wide hallways were simple, yet elegant, and the brunette resisted the urge to shiver as she passed through them. The halls, the house, the grounds.... Everything about the place set her on edge. While she was not a suspicious person by nature, the Kurosaki family and everything to do with it made her internal alarm bells ring. Even the way she had learned of them seemed somehow inherently wrong. Most people would consider a chance meeting that resulted in a job good. But the woman she had met...

She had approached them, walking with quick steps, as the child at her side hurried to catch up with her longer strides. She had seemed unconcerned with the child, focussed solely as she was on Rukas face. Looking down at the brunette, she had spoken in one of the most blunt and vulgar voices that Ruka had ever heard from a woman. She had spoken of a family that needed a permanent maid, to replace one that had just died. She spoke Japanese fluently, yet there was a strange lilt to all her words that hinted at something foreign.

Her black hair had been long, curling about her shoulders, her face pale, paler than anyone of pure descent had a right to be. Ruka had felt small in comparison to this strange foreign woman, who could be not be an inch taller than she was. It was something purely internal that made her seem large, made you pay attention to her. It was not something comforting. While powerful and dynamic, you would watch this woman as you would a car accident with a horrified fascination.

As the woman, the strange, compelling woman had turned to go, Ruka had been relieved. She glanced to the side and noticed for the first time the child, who had been standing at his mothers side the entire time. They looked far too much alike to be anything but relatives, yet something about the form of his face, some minute difference, had made her come to the conclusion of son instead of brother.

Smiling at him, the twenty-one year old had felt an unknown tension ease. Any woman who could raise a child who looked so content with life was obviously not all bad. Warm brown eyes blinked at her, and a smile itched at his lips. Glancing at his mother, he had given a tiny shrug, black hair falling into his face. A tentative understanding passed between them, and Ruka felt an answering smile curve her lips as she turned to go. Blinking back the suddenly over bright sun, she resumed her normal root, convinced that she would find success finally in this situation.

It wouldnt occur to her until later that she had never even gotten the womans name.

With a purely internal sigh, Ruka pushed the various doubts and suspicions out of her mind. No matter what it was about this family that was so jarring to her, she would endure. For Asato-chan. She would do anything to keep him happy. Anything.

~~~

Leading a woman to meet Kurosaki-sama this was something to be treasured. The fact that she had been chosen out of everyone on the compound seemed like a good omen to Miya-- most of the employees of the Kurosaki household had little direct contact with the family. Usually only one girl of all the staff would deal with them and the others would follow their instructions. They would cook, clean and keep their mouths shut about anything they saw the only way to act when working for powerful families. The Kurosakis in particular.

Shuddering, the maid looked to her left, to where their newest employee was following her dark brown hair, eyes politely lowered as she followed. She did not have any experience in this line of work, but only a scarce few of them had when they begun. The Kurosakis were infamous for the fact they kept all their employees as long as they were able if they ever went to another influential family, who knows what secrets they could have taken with them? While this was good for many of the girls, it was not always a comforting thought the knowledge that they would be trapped in the dealings of this family until they died...

Miya straightened her back and opened the doors to Kurosaki-samas personal greeting room. She had been given specific instructions to observe Ruka-san and her younger brother and then report her observations to Kurosaki-sama with the utmost tact during this meeting. While they had not been difficult, they were supposedly of the utmost importance. She had not understood why this was needed at first, though upon meeting with Ruka-sans younger brother she felt it had become clear.

Kurosaki-sama had recently become concerned with his son, Hisoka-sama. Her master believed that any negative outside influences would now be hazardous as to how the child would develop. Miya was inclined to agree. The things the heir had been saying as of late were most disturbing. It was known throughout the village what the Kurosaki family had done to save them. Though most would doubt the truth in stories such as that, Miya did not. She knew that what the child was now speaking of had a direct link to the curse on the family. She also knew that the heir must be kept safe no matter what. The boy that had come with Ruka-san obviously was someone to be watched watched and kept away from Hisoka-sama.

Miya entered the rooms and bowed to Kurosaki-sama, noting in the corner of her eye as Ruka-san did the same. "Kurosaki-sama. This is Tsuzuki Ruka. She hopes to work here, in place of Sakurako-san." Keeping her eyes down the entire time, she spoke of what she knew of the dark haired woman at her side. Though it was not much, Kurosaki-sama rarely needed much background info on those he employed. She had conversed with the other maids here and they had all decided quite firmly that the master only let you work for him if he liked you and felt you could be trusted.

Miya stepped back and listened as Ruka spoke to Kurosaki-sama. From the way he responded to her, she felt almost positive that the woman would get the job. As the conversation turned towards Rukas family situation, Miya looked up. Catching the blonds eye, she gave a minute shake of her head. While it would be acceptable to employ this woman and let her stay with them, having her brother here was not an option. If ever she had seen a demons influence, then she had seen it in that child. Eyes of that colour did not occur without something abnormal being involved.

"Your brother," Nagare mentioned with what one could take for idle curiosity, hands clasped before him, completely relaxed, "where will he be during all of this? Has he finished school?"

Ruka blinked, seemingly caught off guard by this comment. "Asato-chan? Oh no. Hes only 11 years old. I was hoping to send him to one of the village schools this fall." Ruka spoke tentatively[1] to her new master, smiling a little and nodding to acknowledge his words every few moments. She hoped she looked calm, because everything was riding on whether or not she would get this job. While they had been alright so far, the dark haired woman knew they could only live so long on part time jobs.

With an almost imperceptible frown, Nagare glanced up at his maid, who shook her head once again. "One of the schools within the village? Im not sure that is such a good idea." Scrounging his mind for an idea, Nagare continued after a moments pause, "I would be willing to send him to quite an prestigious private school, with little charge to yourself. You have heard of Dermond School for Boys, havent you?"[1]

Ruka paused for a moment, awed at this statement. This man was offering to send Asato off to a school. A well known, high class school. A school many parents would do almost anything to get their children into. But the one thing that really stood out from what Nagare has said was send him. Which would entail her little brother not being with her anymore. Her little brother, who knew so little of the world, being away from his last protection. While she would normally balk at this idea immediately, all her maternal instincts coming to the forefront of her mind, the offer was tempting. She stilled her hands from where they had been fiddling with her kimono, purposefully calming herself.

Would Asato finally flourish away from her mothering presence? Would he finally reach out and embrace who he was? In a school full of boys his age, there would no doubt be others who would have what some would call abnormalities. Why he considered himself so different from the other children, Ruka didnt know. Yes, his eyes were a bit strange but he was a caring and tender spirit. Surely they wouldnt be able to overlook that...

As Ruka chewed on her hip at this idea, obviously uncomfortable, Nagare continued, "There, he could get the best education possible and be exposed to more people of the same age group. It would be much easier to find children with common interests. You only what is best for him, correct? This would obviously be to the boys benefit."

However, the final thing that made her decision for ever was Nagares wording. He had given his opinion on the matter it would be best for Asato to go to this school. And no matter her personal opinions on this matter... she had to do as the master of the house commanded. It would be her duty from then on to do as he said. No matter her own feelings. Because Danna-sama is always right, ne?

Watching the brunette reluctantly come to the conclusion that he was right, Nagare could not help but smile a little. His son would remain pure of taint until the day the child was to take up the duties as head of the family. He would make sure of it.

~~~

Exiting the room that held Kurosaki Nagare, Ruka couldn't help but shudder. She was quite sure that she had not been the victor in that situation. To be separate from her brother for so long.. She didn't know if she could stand it. However, she could endure. Asato-chan was very young, and would need for her to be strong in the times ahead. She would be strong, she told herself. For Asato.


Ruka looked around for her brother, calling his name started as her younger brother seemed to appear from between some of the bushes at the top of the incline.

Smiling as he ran down the hill towards her, the brunette steeled herself for what she was about to do. Asato was young and would likely not take well to the idea of being separated from her at first. But it was the right thing for him, she was sure of it. He would realize the same in time.

Away from her, and all the responsibilities she represented, Asato was sure to become his own person if left alone for a while. It wasn't healthy to be so dependant on his sister, especially at his age.

Out of breath from his run, Asato grinned at his sister. Opening his mouth to regale her with the story of the strange child he had just met, the eleven year old was surprised when his sister interrupted him.

"Asato-chan," she started, trailing off a bit as he looked up, violet eyes waiting, "I have some good news." Knowing that he would not be happy with that "good news", Ruka stopped, unwilling to wipe the joyous look form his face for a few more moments.

Blinking wide eyes at his sister, Asoto couldn't help but wonder why good news would make her so hesitant in her speech. Usually when his sister had good news, she would just blurt it out and they would revel in it for a while. Taking hold of her hand, he nodded up his encouragement at her.

She hesitated a few seconds longer, then plowed ahead. She would be strong for him. This was what he needed. "I got the job, Asato-chan," she said simply. Watching the joy grow on his face from that simple statement, Ruka found her throat tightening. While it may have been good for him, she knew it would make him unhappy, at least for a little while.

As Asato smiled and went on about how happy they could be now, Ruka gently interrupted him. "Asato-chan.... Danna-sama has offered to send you to a private school while I work for him. What do you think of that? Would you like to go?"

While her younger brother stared at her for a few, an indecipherable _expression on his face, Ruka didnt bother to school her expression. She was always honest with him and knew, if he did not want to go, she wouldnt make him. She loved him far too much for that.

As he murmured a vague affirmative, Ruka couldnt help but to smile at him. She would always protect her Asato-chan.

Turning back to her new home, she never saw the broken look on her brothers face.

~~~

[1] Just in case anyone recognizes the name... I stole it out of that back of X manga 9. Its a thing from an eva art book. *sweatdrop* I couldnt think of a name~~~~

So what did people think of ch2? For some reason, a bunch of people thought this was going to be fluffy.... well. Sorry to burst the bubble, but this isnt fluff. But, just to tide you over, Im taking a page out of EAGs book.

All omakes take place after ch1, as though none of the other chapters exist.

~~~

OMAKE

~~~

Hisoka: *stares at Tsuzuki* You want. To tell my father. About our relationship.

Tsuzuki: *slides up to Hisokas side, and proceeds to poke him in the side* But Soooka-chaaaan.... weve been together for YEARS now.... Youre almost 18..... Soon youll head off into the world, and unless we tell your father now, Im sure hell become suspicious of us spending to much time together... *pokepokepoke*

Hisoka: *twitch* I told you not to call me that. And Im sure we could find a way around my fathers suspicions.

Tsuzuki: But Hisookaaa.... without your fathers permission, how can I marry you and have and thus prove to the world our luuuv... *pokepokegrope*

Hisoka: *Stares at Tsuzuki in dumbfounded shock* You want to WHAT??

Tsuzuki: Marry you!! *smile* And then we could have lots and lots of kids, and live happily ever after!

Hisoka: *eyebrow twitch* You do realise Im a GUY, dont you??

Tsuzuki: *waves hand* Watari will find a cure for that sooner or later!! Itll be great!!

Hisoka: *eyebrow twitch again* And why would I be the one taking Wataris potion?? Why couldnt YOU be the woman for once?!?!

Tsuzuki: *strikes manly pose* Because in this world, I am seme!!! Here me roar!!!

Hisoka: ...... *bashes Tsuzuki over the head with his book and stalks off*

Tsuzuki: *on floor* Well.... that didnt go as I planned....

Tatsumi: *walks up* You should try to explain that if you get married Nagare will have to give you (or at least Ruka-san) a dowery so you could both be rich forever. That might sway him. He loves to waste his families money.

Tsuzuki: *eyes light up* Thats a great idea, Tatsumi-san!! *runs off after Hisoka* Oooi... Hisoka~~ Didnt I tell you~~~ *voices fades away into the distance*

Ruka: *comes out from behind a bush* You think theyll agree?

Tatsumi: *snort* If they dont, I can always forge their signatures. *pets the TxH marriage and children vs dowery contract that somehow appeared in his hand*

Contract: *details how if Tsu&Hi ever got married, all money gained from their joining would go to Tatsumi to pay of Tsuzukis tab at his bar*

Ruka: *smirks* Now arent you glad you let him start a tab?

Tatsumi: *pushes glasses up* I wont be glad until I have my moneys worth. *stalks off*

Ruka: *sigh* Men....

~~~

Omake End

~~~

This is based off of one of Mays many guesses as to what would happen after ch1. "The most straightforeward route would be Asato-kun and 'soka-chan would become friends and then 14 years down the road 'soka's father would have to pay a dowery to Ruka-san so they could get married and have lotsa scary mpreg-ness."

Got any omake ideas? ^^ I have many more, but would love to hear yours~

Okay, really, I just want some C&C. Review please~ *snugs the readers*