Disclaimer: Yami no Matsuei belongs to Matsushita Youko. I don't own it
and make no claim to.
Thank you very much to the people who have read this story! It gladdens me that at least someone besides me is reading what I wrote. This story is loosely based on the manga and the anime, taking components from both.
Again, hopefully I don't scare peoples away with this.
So on with the show!
Desires
Chapter Two
by Lockeheart
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He needed sleep, there was no denying it.
Hisoka eyed the pouring rain outside the window with unfocused attention. The motel room that Tatsumi had supplied Tsuzuki and him with was a little shabby, but was cheap and dry. The trip down to earth had been a quiet one, a rarity for Hisoka. Usually he would be fending off whatever bright idea that had claimed Tsuzuki's attention, trying to get the man to focus on the case. As it was, both Tsuzuki and Hisoka had travelled quietly, both lost in their own thoughts. It was only GuShoShin himself who filled the quiet, trying to lighten the dark mood that had crept upon the two shinigami.
Although both he and Tsuzuki had every right to be moody. The case that they had been assigned to was grotesque and frightening. Not exactly the type of case Hisoka had in mind for easing the two of them back into active duty. Yet it wasn't because Tatsumi or Chief Konoe hadn't tried to stop it from happening. Sometimes in JuChoOh, you just didn't have any say in what happened. Hisoka snorted at that thought. They may be Shinigami, but they were in the pecking order just like everyone else.
Hisoka eyed the bottle of aspirin that Watari had insisted that Hisoka take with him. The blonde scientist, despite his teasing attitude, had not dismissed the near collapse that Hisoka had encountered before the emergency meeting. The entire department was worried for both Hisoka and Tsuzuki, and for once, Hisoka did not blame them. The Kyoto case was still fresh in everyone's memories, and it didn't take an empath to realize that this new assignment would be a strain on the two of them.
Tsuzuki himself was also acting quite strange to Hisoka, and he wished the man would just say what was on his mind. It seemed that especially now, Tsuzuki had just walled up everything inside. Like an actor, he played his part, and fooled most of the department; but he didn't fool Hisoka. Even with his strong mental walls, Tsuzuki could not hide everything from Hisoka, and those feelings, coupled with his inability to actually talk with Tsuzuki were another reason why Hisoka was so drained. He couldn't help it, he was worried for Tsuzuki, and it tore Hisoka in two trying to decide what course of action was better. Whether to confront Tsuzuki on the masks he was wearing, or to continue pretending like nothing was happening, in hopes the acts of 'normalcy' would calm Tsuzuki's soul?
Smoothing out a wrinkle in the blanket of the bed that had been unofficially claimed by Hisoka, he gingerly sat down on the mattress and sighed. Tsuzuki was going to be back soon. The violet-eyed man had gone out to make a visit to the police office in hopes of garnering some clues. GuShoShin had gone with Tsuzuki, as being a librarian gave the feathered creature a better eye for finding interesting tidbits among rubbish.
Hisoka had been asked / ordered by Tsuzuki to get some rest, as the violet-eyed man had made it quite clear that he was worried by Hisoka's weakened state. It pissed Hisoka off slightly, but at the same time warmed him. He just wished that Tsuzuki would direct some of his worry onto his own being, instead of onto Hisoka. The wounds of Kyoto could not and would not heal quickly, and with this large case looming over the two of them, both he and Tsuzuki needed to be able to focus on the tasks ahead, not on past problems. Hisoka didn't want to be a burden to Tsuzuki or the case, and the only way he would solve that was to get some sleep.
The only problem with that solution, as simple as it was, was that Hisoka could not sleep for long before the nightmares came. He shuddered slightly at that thought and pulled his legs up onto the bed. Ever since Kyoto, he had become plagued by terrifying dreams, fuelled by whatever demons that haunted Hisoka's soul; and he had a lot of them. He had contemplated sleeping pills, and had even taken them once, and had regretted it immediately. The nightmares had still come, even in the drug induced sleep, and Hisoka had found that in that state the dreams became more powerful, more real.
How he was still up and functioning honestly stumped Hisoka. As it was, he had been getting by with a couple hours of sleep here or there, prompted only by intense exhaustion. Ironically, it was sometimes at those times as well that his nightmares became more frightful. Hisoka shuddered and closed his eyes briefly. It had been exhaustion that had prompted the terrifying nightmare that had shaken him earlier that morning. The horrible parody of Muraki and the cherry tree.
A clap of thunder boomed and startled Hisoka out of his train of thought. He looked over to the window and at the dark clouds beyond. Well, if he couldn't sleep he might as well see if he could find something from the case files. Hisoka gingerly stood up from the bed and walked over to the small table in their room that held the portfolio.
Hisoka opened the folder and spread the number of images across the table. Hisoka had no doubts that the girl Hikaru had been murdered, no one just died normally under the circumstances her body was found in. The fact that her name did not appear on the register baffled Hisoka, but like Watari, he was sure that the child was in fact dead. He paused as he came across the first image that Chief Konoe had shown them, the one that showed Hikaru smiling and alive.
Hisoka slowly sat down in the chair beside the table and looked down at the picture on the table. The girl really was pretty, like a flower ready to bloom, a young woman. Hisoka felt a flash of kinship as he looked at the picture. In a sense, he and Hikaru were probably the same, both young souls, denied the right to grow up forever. Hisoka may be 16, but his life really did end when he was 13, that night under a red moon when Muraki found him.
Holding the picture carefully by its edges, Hisoka peered closer at the image. Hikaru had a smile that seemed it could brighten a room. Her hair was long and black, cascading down her back almost like folded wings. The girl's eyes were piercing green, just like Hisoka's own, but unlike Hisoka, they were filled with laughter and happiness. Whatever the child had been doing at the time the picture had been taken, Hisoka was not quite sure, but the picture must have been a spontaneous one.
He sighed softly and slid one of the more gruesome images down to look at. It was one of the area where Hikaru's body had been found. The picture must have been taken in the early morning hours, because everything was lit by set up floodlights of the police. Hisoka squinted as he tried to capture some insight from the image. The remnants of a magic circle lay in the grass, the symbols and markings unrecognizable to Hisoka. In a random thought, Hisoka wondered just what had been used to make the markings in the grass, that they were already fading away.
He slid another one of the pictures down the tables surface. This one was perhaps the most disturbing of them all. It was an image of the body of Hikaru, taken before they had respectfully covered the body with a cloth. Hisoka was a shinigami, he was quite use to death, but even this disturbed him. Her body was found as if sleeping, hands folded across the chest, body laying stretched out on the grass facing up. If her body hadn't been so mutilated, a person could have thought that she was just sleeping.
Hisoka shook his head at that thought and dismissed it as wishful thinking. The child's body had been mutilated, her throat slashed and blood drained. Rune marks twined themselves around her ankles and wrists, a sick parody of ropes. He was quite certain that whatever had happened to Hikaru, it was neither peaceful nor painless. Hisoka mulled over his thoughts carefully. There were so many questions in this case, and not enough answers.
Why had her body been mutilated? What purpose did it serve to remove such parts like her eyes or tongue? Why was her blood drained, and where did it go? What was the purpose of the rune marks around her limbs, were they bindings of some sort? Hisoka sighed softly, a small sound of frustration and lightly brushed the surface of the picture.
And immediately regretted it.
Intense pain surged through Hisoka, and it took everything in him not to scream out loud; not that he could anyways, as his throat felt almost choked. It felt as if the air was being ripped from his lungs and he could feel the ghost sensation of something binding his wrists and ankles. With the agony came a overwhelming wave of emotions - fear, anger, sadness, pity, hatred . . . Flashes of images flooded Hisoka's mind overwhelming what little control Hisoka had over himself. Shadowy, unnatural figures standing at the edge of the magic circle, evil red eyes, a man's outstretched hand, an abandoned teddy bear in the grass, a pale white moon . . .
Hisoka stood up abruptly, knocking over the table and chair he had been sitting in. Papers and pictures flew everywhere, raining upon the floor in mockery of the rain outside. Pain, emotions and images engulfed his being, and Hisoka felt his spirit drowning. His vision tunnelled and gravity took over as his muscles gave out. As his consciousness faded, Hisoka's last thought was of how worried Tsuzuki was going to be.
********************
Warm sunlight fell upon Hisoka's prone form, slowly bringing Hisoka back to the waking world. Laying upon the bed, Hisoka slowly opened his eyes and felt a surge of panic when he couldn't identify where he was. He blinked his eyes slowly and tried to turn his head. It was then that he felt an unidentifiable weight across his chest and he looked down.
It was Tsuzuki. The man was half sitting, half lying on the edge of the bed, on top of the blankets that had been pulled around Hisoka. Blinking stupidly, Hisoka could do little more than notice now peaceful Tsuzuki looked when he was asleep. He looked beyond Tsuzuki's form to the fallen table and scattered papers and shuddered as the memories returned. The pictures . . . Hisoka had touched one of them and . . . Hisoka closed his eyes.
"Hisoka?" Hisoka opened one eye to find Tsuzuki awake and peering worriedly at him. The intense concern in Tsuzuki's eyes was strong and Hisoka could feel it emanating from Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki carefully straightened up from his impromptu sleep beside Hisoka and gently touched Hisoka's clothed arm. "Hisoka? Are you okay? What happened?"
Hisoka raised his green eyes to meet up with Tsuzuki's and just blinked. His mouth felt dry and his body felt weak and drained. He could see the form of GuShoShin float up into his range of vision, hovering above Tsuzuki's head. The librarian also wore a look of worry across his face. Hisoka raised his hand to his face, and pressed it to his forehead. "I . . . I don't really know . . ." He struggled to sit up, and was surprised when Tsuzuki gently pressed him back down onto the mattress. "Tsuzuki . . ."
Hovering over Hisoka, Tsuzuki just shook his head slightly and frowned. "When I came back, I found you laying on the floor with the furniture overturned. GuShoShin was freaking out and I was as well." Tsuzuki closed his eyes briefly. "All I could think was 'What happened?, and if I had been here could I have stopped it?'" He looked at Hisoka, and Hisoka felt a flash of guilt from Tsuzuki. "I didn't know what to do, all I knew was that you were unconscious. So I carried you to the bed, and I've been waiting for you to wake up ever since . . ."
"We were so worried." GuShoShin wrung his hands nervously as he hovered closer to Hisoka. "I wanted to contact division immediately but Tsuzuki wouldn't let me. He was afraid of scaring everyone." GuShoShin shook his head and smiled, or seemed to. "But you are awake now, and that is what matters. Are you feeling okay Hisoka?"
Hisoka digested what Tsuzuki and GuShoShin said and closed his eyes briefly. "I couldn't sleep, even though I know you asked me to Tsuzuki . . ." Hisoka frowned slightly and gripped the blanket in his hands. "I decided to make myself useful instead and began to look at the file information." Hisoka glanced over to the photos and papers that were still spread across the floor. "I was looking at the pictures and I touched one of them directly . . . and was overwhelmed by . . . sensations." Hisoka looked up to Tsuzuki, frustrated that he couldn't really describe what had happened.
"Sometimes, photographs can capture the essence of an event . . . I think that these ones did. Or something like that, because when I touched them . . ." Hisoka frowned as he remembered what happened. "I didn't know I could do that . . . you know . . . with my empathy?"
"It happened so fast, and I couldn't stop them." Hisoka closed his eyes. "I think . . . I think I was feeling what the child had been feeling . . . before she died?" A light touch on his arm startled Hisoka out of his reverie and he opened his eyes to find Tsuzuki leaning over him once again. "Tsuzuki, I don't know what happened, but I am okay now . . . honest."
Both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin looked at him warily and Hisoka felt irritation rise through him. Were they going to doubt him now? Hisoka pulled himself into a sitting position and glared at the two worriers. "Look. Lets get this straight right now." He shook his head in annoyance at the two of them. "We are on a case. First and foremost priority is finding Hikaru's soul, and figure out who and what did 'that' to her." He pointed over to the scattered papers on the floor.
"I am still not sure what happened, but it is because I have these abilities that I was chosen to work on this case with you, not to mention the fact that we are partners!" Hisoka glared up at Tsuzuki and soften his argument slightly. "It doesn't mean you can't worry Tsuzuki, but you have to place it on the right people." Hisoka began to pull at the blankets covering him, attempting to pull them off of him. "She is the one we have to worry over right now, she is the one we have to find right now. If those feelings, that pain . . . was hers that I felt. Then we HAVE to find her."
A pair of hands stilled his motions and Hisoka glared at the offending hands. GuShoShin hovered above Hisoka's bed, and Tsuzuki was pushing him back into the bed. "Hisoka . . . Hisoka!" Hisoka stilled in his attempts to remove the hands and looked up at the violet-eyed man. Tsuzuki pulled his hands away and looked at Hisoka with almost a silent plea. "Please, you don't have to argue your place on this case Hisoka and I don't doubt your abilities, but I am worried for you! I understand what you are saying, but we can discuss what GuShoShin and I found just as easily with you laying in the bed." Tsuzuki shook his head and leaned back to sit upon the edge of the bed. "The both of us need to be strong to solve this case, and I won't have you run yourself ragged . . ."
A haunted look came to Tsuzuki's eyes, and that look killed the biting retort that Hisoka was going to say. Hisoka sat still, and watched silently as Tsuzuki struggled with some sort of internal battle. "Please Hisoka . . . in the past twenty four hours I have almost had my heart stop because you have been hurt." The look he gave Hisoka was heartbreaking, and he was startled as Tsuzuki's hand came to rest on the edge of his knee. "For my sake, if not yours . . . Please . . . just rest."
There was nothing Hisoka could say to Tsuzuki, all of this; it was beyond anything Hisoka had known or understood. He had always been alone, and his survival was due to his ability to be alone. When he had joined the Shokan division as a shinigami, he had been sullen and distant. It was who he was, it was what helped him survive.
No one did something for nothing . . . and it was because of that belief that Tsuzuki bewildered him. Why . . . Why did Tsuzuki care so much? That question frightened Hisoka, not because of Tsuzuki, but of what his answer would be. So instead of pushing Tsuzuki, Hisoka chose the easier path, and lay back in the bed.
But Hisoka couldn't let Tsuzuki know just how much power he had over him, it went against every survival instinct ingrained into him. So instead Hisoka adopted a scowl and crossed his arms across his chest. "Fine. I'll stay put." He directed a menacing glare over to Tsuzuki. "If I am going to entertain your request, I want you and GuShoShin to at least tell me what you found out. We are on a case remember?"
Hisoka could see a wave of relief wash over Tsuzuki's face, and it confused him even more. Even when he was acting moody, the sugar loving idiot still found him likeable. Hisoka pushed that confusing thought out of his head and turned his glare onto GuShoShin. With a muffled squawk, the feathered librarian fled Hisoka's sight to gather his laptop. Seeing that both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin were going to focus on the case and not him, Hisoka let himself relax a moment. He didn't want them fussing over him . . .
GuShoShin flew over to sit beside Hisoka on the bed, angling the laptop so that Hisoka could see the screen from where he lay. Tsuzuki pulled up a chair to sit at the head of the bed, the sad look in his eyes gone. Hisoka leaned back into the pillows and listened closely as GuShoShin started to talk.
"Okay then . . . When Tsuzuki and I went to the police station it was a chaos. It seems this case is also on their priority list." GuShoShin pulled up a screen of the police reports. "Phasing into the building was a breeze, and it wasn't even difficult to maintain our invisibility because everyone was in such a rush."
Tsuzuki pointed to the report that GuShoShin brought up and turned to Hisoka. "This is the address of Hikaru, and is also where the investigation began." Tsuzuki raked his fingers through his hair. "Apparently her parents had an argument with her that night, a rather angry one at that. It seems that the argument was the last time her parents spoke to her alive." Tsuzuki pointed to a icon and GuShoShin clicked on it. It was the address of the Takahashi's. "Somehow in the middle of the night, Hikaru disappeared."
"Was she?" Hisoka stammered, unsure of how to phrase his question. "Did they . . . 'take' her?" He was uncomfortable, but not because he was embarrassed. Hikaru's circumstance, resembled his own . . . he had to know if she suffered as he had. Somehow, Tsuzuki knew what Hisoka was trying to ask. The curt nod of no from Tsuzuki was enough to relieve his mind. Tsuzuki touched Hisoka's arm tentatively, and squeezed gently.
GuShoShin looked on sympathetically and brought up the report on evident abuse the child had received. Hisoka scanned it briefly and sighed. Hikaru had not been raped, despite the violence of her abuse. How both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin knew what he was thinking was both comforting, and disturbing. Was he that easy to read? Hisoka pointed to the police report behind the one GuShoShin had pulled up. "So where do these occult kidnappers / murders come into play then?"
Tsuzuki waved his hand in the air, gesturing at something that Hisoka could not see. "That is the problem. If it were a kidnapping or an occult murder like the police say, there would likely be signs of forced entry or something. There is nothing at the Takahashi household to indicate any struggle or forced entry. There is no indication that Hikaru was into or a part of any occult following." Tsuzuki leaned in close to Hisoka, like he was imparting some great untold secret. "I believe that her disappearance has nothing to do with occult followers or the like. I think this is the work of something beyond humans."
Hisoka snorted at Tsuzuki's words, and was about to retort when the image of shadowy, unnatural figures standing at the edge of the magic circle floated into his minds eye. He must have got a dazed look on his face, because the next thing Hisoka knew, Tsuzuki's hand was waving itself in front of his face, trying to get reaction. "Idiot. What are you doing Tsuzuki?" Hisoka pushed Tsuzuki's hand away, his face flustered and scowling.
GuShoShin hovered up from his perch and looked Hisoka in the eye. "You zoned out for a moment there Hisoka . . . do you want to stop?" The feathered librarian glanced worriedly at Hisoka, and then sent a perturbed look at Tsuzuki for his preposterous theory. "You did just wake up from a rather . . . harrowing experience."
Hisoka narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He looked to Tsuzuki who looked back at him with wide violet eyes. "I . . . just remembered something . . . from when I touched the photograph." Hisoka looked down at his hands. "There were figures standing around the edge of the magic circle . . . they were shadowy, and indistinct." Hisoka gestured with his hands, trying to explain something he did not understand himself. "Red eyes . . ."
"Red eyes?" GuShoShin scratched his head in thought and paced his way across the width of Hisoka's bed. "Hmmm . . . Can you be more specific Hisoka?"
Hisoka closed his eyes, trying to capture the one image in the multitude of images that had bombarded his senses in those few seconds before he collapsed. It was frustrating, to be so close to something that seemed important, but being unable to identify it. "Damn it! I can't remember!" Hisoka shook his head and sighed in frustration.
Tsuzuki reached out and placed his hand on Hisoka's shoulder. "It's okay Hisoka, it will come to you." Tsuzuki smiled and looked to GuShoShin. "Maybe you could do some research for us GuShoShin? Information on shadowy figures and red eyes?" Tsuzuki winked and smiled lightly. "I know it is rather vague, but it seems to be important." Tsuzuki turned to Hisoka and tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps Hisoka, you could try to explain or write down the things you saw and felt when you touched the photographs? It could help GuShoShin in his research, and may help us find some clues that we have overlooked?"
Hisoka could do little but blink at Tsuzuki, man of action. It was moments like these that Hisoka saw how Tsuzuki really was in control of a situation, even though it looked as if he was not. There was something to be said about looks being deceiving, and Hisoka was sure that Tsuzuki fit the bill. Hisoka just nodded in affirmation to Tsuzuki's requests, assured by the reasoning behind Tsuzuki's words.
"Either way, the best course of action we can take now is to go over to the crime scene and see if we can find some clues." Tsuzuki stood up and walked over to the overturned table and chair. "If Hisoka managed to get an imprint from a picture of the scene, then going to the scene itself is bound to turn up something. You said it yourself Hisoka, if those were Hikaru's emotions that you felt . . ." Tsuzuki turned to face Hisoka, a concerned look in his eye. "We will go at night, since I have a feeling that we won't be able to go about the area without having tons of police combing the area." Tsuzuki picked up a couple of the scattered photographs. "Besides, both you and GuShoShin have work to do!"
GuShoShin fluttered up into Tsuzuki's face, startling the older shinigami. Hisoka could sense great annoyance from GuShoShin and almost laughed. He had a feeling that both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin were trying to lighten the mood, trying to help Hisoka relax. Empathy did have its uses after all. "And just what are YOU going to be doing if Hisoka and I are working?" GuShoShin pointed a feathery finger directly into Tsuzuki's astonished face. "We are on a case! No matter how dire it is, Tatsumi will never forgive me if I let you slack off on the job!!"
"Aww! Come on GuShoShin! I have a very important task ahead of me too!" Tsuzuki placed both of his hands before him in a gesture of surrender. Hisoka could feel the mild humor rolling around the room and it was comforting. Hisoka watched in mild amusement as Tsuzuki danced away from GuShoShin to the motel door. Tsuzuki flashed both GuShoShin and Hisoka one of his more brilliant smiles. "You just make sure that Hisoka rests okay GuShoShin? And I will be back soon. My mission? Breakfast!!" With that, Tsuzuki bounded out of the room, leaving GuShoShin to sputter indignantly at the slammed door.
"Why that irresponsible!! . . . flighty . . ." GuShoShin grumbled where he hovered, glowering at the door. Hisoka just rolled his eyes and leaned back into his pillows. He understood perfectly what Tsuzuki's underlying messages were, despite his light attitude. Tsuzuki's concern for him was comforting and understanding. Hisoka glanced over to the scattered photographs on the floor. If just an image gave him that sort of reaction . . . what would going there reveal? But if they were going to get anywhere in this case, they needed to act quickly. Enma only knows where Hikaru's soul was at the moment.
For now they were going to rest, try to see if GuShoShin could coax up some viable facts from Hisoka's blurred images and emotions. Tsuzuki was looking out for Hisoka, despite the roundabout method. Tonight, the real investigation began. Tonight, the real horror began.
********************
It's funny, how in the dark everything seems so much sinister. Hisoka rolled that thought around in his head as he trailed behind his partner. To Hisoka, darkness was both a comforting friend and a monster. It would hide you if you let it, but at the same time, it would draw out ones inner demons. The snap of a branch under his feet derailed Hisoka's train of thought.
Night had come, and Tsuzuki had given Hisoka the thumbs up for going out; not that Hisoka would have listened if Tsuzuki had not given him permission. Tsuzuki was not his parent, nor was he his guardian, despite the man's actions. They had left GuShoShin back at the motel, to work on the research of Hisoka's visions. The librarian had been livid, not wanting to leave the two of them alone, but had given in.
Cases were solved by both footwork and research, and Hisoka was sure that in their absence, the feathered creature would also be reporting back to division about everything that had happened. Hisoka was quite sure that Tatsumi and Konoe had sent GuShoShin along as a watchdog of sorts, aside from his ability to help.
Hisoka looked down at the soft grass beneath his feet. They were approaching the site of the crime soon, and Hisoka felt slightly queasy. The police barriers were up and Hisoka was sure there was a guard or two in the area, but they remained along the perimeter, warding of any intruders. Hisoka and Tsuzuki were heading to the heart of the matter, and their incorporeal forms were useful to pass by the guards unnoticed.
Tsuzuki may have been in a playful mood when he spoke of entering the crime scene at night, but Hisoka knew that the man was quite serious. Despite his lax attitude, Tsuzuki was actually quite agitated by this assignment. It didn't take Hisoka's empathy to be able to tell that one, but like Tsuzuki kept reminding him, they were on a case. The faster they solved it, the sooner they could go home.
The atmosphere of the area seemed to darken as they entered the area where the magic circle was, and Hisoka could not help but shudder at the oppressive feelings. Tsuzuki must have sensed something as well because he held out his arm to stop Hisoka from walking forward. "What is it Tsuzuki?" Hisoka's voice sounded very small there in the quiet of the night. His heart and mind were on edge, something was very wrong with this place.
Tsuzuki looked around the clearing, his eyes wide and alert. Hisoka peered around Tsuzuki, staying close to his partner. A slight rustling alerted Hisoka but Tsuzuki was already moving, grabbing Hisoka and pulling him to the ground with him. "Get down!!" Hisoka felt his breath leave him as Tsuzuki pressed in against him, holding him to the ground. Something soared through the space that he and Tsuzuki had just been occupying, and to Hisoka's eyes, it looked like a bolt of darkness.
"So predictable. That is what I like about the pawns of JuChoOh. All you have to do is kill someone and they will come running." That raspy, abnormal voice froze Hisoka's blood. Panic and confusion were running rampant in Hisoka's mind as he wildly looked around, trying to find the owner of that voice and what had pushed Tsuzuki into action. He glanced over at the area the had rustled moments before and blanched when a pair of red eyes glowed back at him.
It was a shadow creature, like the one that had assaulted his senses when he had touched the photograph. "Tsuzuki! It's one of them!" Hisoka looked up at Tsuzuki, finding the violet eyes looking down to him briefly, and then up to the creature. "That thing is what killed Hikaru!" Tsuzuki stood up and pulled Hisoka defensively behind him, which at the moment Hisoka found no need to protest.
Tendrils of shadow leeched off of the creature, giving its appearance a menacing demeanor. It flapped its black wings nonchalantly and gestured an ominous clawed hand at the two of them. "Come now, don't tell me that the number one shinigami is afraid of little old me?" It rubbed its chin, as if deep in thought. "So that was what the child's name was . . . a delicious soul." It looked directly at Hisoka, and he could not help but shudder. "Come to think of it, she kind of resembled you in a way . . . things are starting to make a little more sense now."
"Where is the child's soul? So help me . . . " Tsuzuki snapped angrily at the creature, his stance tense. Hisoka cringed as Tsuzuki's anger flared brightly. Often it was only those emotions the overflowed Tsuzuki's strong mental shields that Hisoka felt, and the fact that Tsuzuki's anger was this strong, meant that Tsuzuki was probably raging on the inside. Hisoka felt his own emotions match up with Tsuzuki's own. The creature was toying with them! "If her soul was consumed, I will not let you leave here alive." Tsuzuki took a intimidating step towards the winged creature.
A low chuckle escaped the demon's form. It raised its gaze back to Tsuzuki. "Are you threatening me?" It spread its ebony wings wide, and if possible, its eyes glowed even brighter. "Stupid Shinigami. So clueless as well." It smiled, baring fanged teeth at the two of them. "I think I understand why he likes to toy with you two so much." It took a couple of steps towards Tsuzuki and Hisoka, malice flowing off of it like water.
Tsuzuki clasped his hands before him and began his incantation to summon his guardians. "I bow to thee and beseech to you. The Twelve Gods that protect me -" His spell was interrupted by another bolt of darkness that flashed towards them. Hisoka threw up a shield to block the incoming danger and groaned as the shadow slammed into his hasty spell, draining his power. Tsuzuki whirled around to check on Hisoka, and Hisoka could see the fear in the amethyst eyes clearly.
"Stupid Demon. Can't you do anything right?"
Tsuzuki and Hisoka turned their heads to the new presence, and froze for a moment. The white suit glowed slightly in the darkness of the night, but there was no mistaking who the newcomer was. Muraki.
"So you finally decided to show up?" The demon sneered at Muraki, his quarrel with the two shinigami forgotten for the moment. It flared its wings ominously. "You are late again."
Hisoka could do little but stare in utter shock and confusion. Muraki was standing before him. Tsuzuki's hand was painfully tight around Hisoka's wrist, and Hisoka looked up to see Tsuzuki's face was pale and haggard. This wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening. Muraki couldn't have healed that fast from Kyoto, he couldn't be here now. Hisoka shook his head in disbelief and backed up a step, dragging the clinging Tsuzuki with him.
Muraki ignored the veiled threat in the creatures words and turned to face Tsuzuki and Hisoka. He smiled, and Hisoka could feel his stomach drop. "Why hello my dear Tsuzuki, and my doll as well." Muraki made a motion of tapping his wrist. "You two are late as well." He gestured to the winged creature. "I take it you have met my associate?" Muraki looked to the shadow creature and then turned his gaze back to the two shinigami. "Boorish brute I know, but good help is so hard to find these days."
Hisoka felt Tsuzuki let go of his wrist and he looked up to see the anger that Tsuzuki had before flare within again. "Muraki." Tsuzuki raised his one hand up in a fist. "You bastard. What the hell are you doing here?" Hisoka felt as if he should say something, do something, but could do little more than watch the interplay of wills before him. Fear and fury spilled from Tsuzuki, and Hisoka groaned softly in pain at the swirling maelstrom of emotions flowing through the clearing.
Muraki trailed his eyes up and down Tsuzuki's form, a suggestive smile emerging. "I see you healed up quite well my dear Tsuzuki." Muraki reached up to adjust his glasses. "Tell me. Did my calling card disturb you?" The smile on Muraki's face vanished. "The child cried the entire time, until I we removed her eyes that is." He shifted his glare onto Hisoka and the smile reappeared. "Still interfering are you? So troublesome you are . . ."
Any color on Tsuzuki's face seemed to vanish as Muraki spoke, and Hisoka knew exactly why. Muraki had told Tsuzuki before that he killed to draw the violet-eyed man to him. Hikaru's death was probably like all the others, one of Muraki's sick perversions that he attempted to call love for Tsuzuki. Hisoka rushed up to Tsuzuki, shaking the man slightly. "Don't listen to him Tsuzuki! He's just toying with you!" Hisoka grasped the sides of Tsuzuki's face, forcing the taller man to look directly into his emerald eyes. "This is not your fault!"
Cruel laughter peeled across the clearing and Hisoka turned his head slightly to see the demon laughing. Hisoka did not let go of Tsuzuki, instead trying to will his words into Tsuzuki's being. "Tsuzuki . . ." He knew that both Muraki and the demon were watching them, but he did not care. Nothing mattered except for Tsuzuki.
"What a sorry pair you two make! It seems almost sad that it has to be you two that we need." The shadow creature smiled evilly at the two shinigami. It then turned to Muraki and glared menacingly. "You are wasting time doctor. Hurry up."
Muraki glared angrily at the demon, his eyes almost blazing. "If you hadn't stopped to play, we wouldn't be having this discussion at the moment." He turned his gaze onto Tsuzuki and Hisoka, and smiled as Hisoka glared hatefully back at him. "I am just making sure that everyone knows who is in control here." Muraki smiled and while still staring at his two toys, he made a motion to the demon. "Power it up demon."
Growling angrily, the shadow creature moved towards Muraki, pausing in its walk past the doctor to speak. "Control is fragile at the best of times Muraki. Best you watch your step." It strode past the white dressed man and stopped at the edge of the remnants of the magic circle.
Hisoka stood frozen, Tsuzuki's form pulled against him. The situation was bad, he needed Tsuzuki here with him. Hisoka ignored Muraki's gaze and instead looked into Tsuzuki's eyes. "Tsuzuki . . . I know you are upset at the moment . . . but you can't fall apart on me now." Hisoka brushed his finger across Tsuzuki's face. He was afraid, but Hisoka pushed his fear aside because Tsuzuki needed him. And he in turn needed Tsuzuki. "Tsuzuki . . . you are human . . . no matter what garbage Muraki tells you. He is the monster." Hisoka pulled Tsuzuki's head down so that he could touch his forehead to Tsuzuki's own. "I need you Tsuzuki."
Tsuzuki's eyes blinked, and Hisoka felt a wave of relief flow through him, despite the dire situation. Tsuzuki was still here with him. "Hisoka . . ." Tsuzuki looked up toward Muraki and to the demon. "Bastards . . ." Tsuzuki straightened and looked down at Hisoka. "Thank you Hisoka . . . for reminding me." Tsuzuki stepped in front of Hisoka once again.
Muraki laughed and Hisoka whirled around to face Muraki along with Tsuzuki. The man's cold metallic eye gleamed softly in the twilight. "So touching . . . it's offensive to me." Behind Muraki, the magic circle flared to life, fuelled by the demon's powers. "I have more than words to sting with, you foolish boy. Do not mock my abilities." The ground around Muraki flared an evil red, in contrast to the blinding white light of the magic circle beyond him. Eyes wide along with a frightful smile, Muraki mimicked a gentleman's bow towards Tsuzuki. "Shall we dance dear Tsuzuki?"
Tsuzuki's fists tightened and Hisoka fell to the ground, the storm of emotions swirling through the area exploding in power. There was too much, too fast . . . Hisoka knelt on the ground behind Tsuzuki, trying desperately to get his mental shields up. The conflicting powers and emotions were dangerously flowing, the cool blue aura of Tsuzuki, the blazing red aura of Muraki. And overshadowing all of it, was the blinding brilliant light of the magic circle the demon had incited.
The shadow demon turned its head to look Hisoka directly in the eye, pleasure evident in its red eyes. It laughed and shouted to Hisoka. "Can you feel it boy? This is the beginning of the end!" It's eyes glittered dangerously and it leapt into the air, hovering with its dark wings. Hisoka turned to look at Tsuzuki but was dismayed to find both him and Muraki duelling back and forth, magical energies soaring across the clearing in abandon.
Hisoka struggled to stand on his feet, and barely dodged the blast of shadow that flew his way. The demon laughed and smiled. Flying towards Hisoka it raised its clawed hands to impale the youth. "You are on your own now child. He can't help you." Hisoka ducked, the claws of the demon tearing through the back of his shirt like butter. Staggering, Hisoka pulled himself upright once again and eyed the shadow demon warily.
Compared to Tsuzuki, Hisoka was like a lamb to a lion. He had his empathic abilities, and a few spells that Konoe had pressed upon Hisoka after the Nagasaki files, but they were nothing compared to what the demon had. Hisoka clenched his fists and glared at the swooping demon. To hell with it, he wasn't going to be some sort of sacrificial lamb to the slaughter. Even lambs could fight back . . .
The shadow creature was flying back towards Hisoka, swooping over the other two opponents in the clearing. Tsuzuki turned his head slightly to see what was happening to his partner and nearly fell over in shock. Muraki blasted a bolt of energy to Tsuzuki, forcing the man to turn back to Muraki or face being burned. "Shame on you Tsuzuki! Look to me! Focus only on me!" Muraki's voice was shrill and passionate, and Tsuzuki could see an almost insane gleam in the doctors eyes. "The boy is nothing!, a bother! You will be MINE!!" Tsuzuki backed away, torn between his need to protect himself, and the need to protect Hisoka.
Hisoka slowly backed up after every swoop the creature made at him. In the back of his mind, Hisoka knew that the demon was only toying with him. There had to be something he could do, something to stop the demon. Desperately, Hisoka looked around and his gaze fell upon the magic circle. Magic circles were often used to power up spells and the like . . . perhaps he could . . . Hisoka smiled grimly and looked up to the laughing demon.
It would be a long shot, and terribly dangerous, but Hisoka was running out of options. If the demon bested him, it would turn on Tsuzuki, and then who knows what would befall the violet-eyed man. Hisoka looked over to Tsuzuki who was locked in struggle against Muraki. Before the spell hadn't worked, but Saaga had been a much higher level demon than this monstrosity attacking him now. With the aid of the magic circle, Hisoka was sure that it would be enough to paralyse the shadow demon.
Diving into a roll to avoid the razor sharp claws of the monster, Hisoka surged up from his roll into a headlong sprint towards the flaring magic circle. He could hear the monster laughing at his apparent struggle to flee. As his stride passed over the edge of the magic circle, Hisoka could feel the tremendous power erupt from the runic markings.
Dimly he could hear Tsuzuki's hoarse cries, calling out Hisoka's name; but Hisoka was beyond it. Howling winds roared about him, and the blazing light flared about his being. It would be enough . . . it would have to be enough. Stopping in the center of the circle, Hisoka turned to face the shadow demon, his clothing fluttering in the intense power of the magic circle.
Hisoka raised his hands and began the gestures required of the spell he was attempting. He could feel the magic circle's power seeping into him, strengthening his spell as his began to chant. The roar of the wind drowned out everything to Hisoka except the sound of his own voice, firm in its chanting. Had he had his eyes open, Hisoka would have seen the form of Tsuzuki running towards him, crying out Hisoka's name, fear apparent in his wide violet eyes.
Hisoka opened his eyes to look up at the demon who circled in the sky warily above him. The spell was almost complete, soon it would be unleashed. Tendrils of white light curled around Hisoka's form, and the roaring wind made Hisoka look almost wild. Hisoka locked his emerald eyes with the demons own blood red ones and smiled grimly.
"Hei. Sha. Kai. Jin. Retsu. Zai. Sen. SOUL BIND!!"
The magic circle exploded in a display of power and Hisoka's entire vision erupted into a dazzling white light.
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Authors Notes:
Well there is chapter two. I know it is kinda confusing since fanfiction.net deems the first piece of a story to be chapter one - even though it is a prologue. I decided that maybe I should try to explain some things going on in my story . . . cause you know I need people to keep 'listening' to my rambling. I hope people like what they have read so far, and still haven't been frightened off by my creativity.
Some aspects of this chapter are created purely out of the fluff in my head, but to fit into the plot of the story I did it . . . um . . . yeah! So there. :P
1. I got kind of confused with the whole lord of the dead thing. I used Enma as the name, but as far as I can tell now, 'he' is actually EnMaDaiOh. My bad. But to keep consistency I am going to keep using Enma . . . I think it still works.
2. I don't know what the actual use of magic circles are, but I took it to be used as a focal point, a symbol to strengthen whatever spell or ritual that was being performed. I don't know if a magic circle can only be used for only one spell or use at a time, so I took liberties. Hurrah for creative licence.
3. To me Hisoka is acting kinda strange . . . but in my opinion the Kyoto events MUST have changed things both individually in Tsuzuki and Hisoka, and within the relationship between the two of them. I have never believed that Hisoka is just a cold hearted jerk, just a very hurt, and closed up individual. You could be surprised just what a drastic event can do to change how a person acts and reacts. So Hisoka is sorta in-between the two extremes. He isn't a negative, insulting, moody teenager all the time, but neither is he a gushing, 'I love you so much Tsuzuki!', heart warming chibi. The same for Tsuzuki, but as I am not writing totally from Tsuzuki's thoughts, it is not as apparent.
4. Muraki is a bastard isn't he? I hope he came off as the cool evil bad guy I think he is. Don't get me wrong, Tsuzuki and Hisoka are my favorites, but you have to admit. Muraki does make a wonderful bad guy don't you think? His reasons for being here aren't quite apparent, but of course all will be revealed as the story moves along.
5. The spell words that Hisoka uses are from the Manga, with my own twists put into it. As from the manga and the anime, the spell was designed to bind its target, and in the Demon's Trill arc, used to separate Saaga and Tsuzuki. I am using a little creative license here again with the spell. It does bind its target and well . . . well I guess you will see in the next chapter what it does eh?
I just want to thank the people who have read my story so far and who have given me reviews. You don't realize just how influential those reviews are to helping my muse keep my creativity up. Thank you so very much!
*Bows graciously to the audience*
Also I just have to thank Matsushita for creating such wonderful characters! Humor, darkness, romance - all the fun stuff rolled into one! Thank you!
Thank you very much to the people who have read this story! It gladdens me that at least someone besides me is reading what I wrote. This story is loosely based on the manga and the anime, taking components from both.
Again, hopefully I don't scare peoples away with this.
So on with the show!
Desires
Chapter Two
by Lockeheart
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He needed sleep, there was no denying it.
Hisoka eyed the pouring rain outside the window with unfocused attention. The motel room that Tatsumi had supplied Tsuzuki and him with was a little shabby, but was cheap and dry. The trip down to earth had been a quiet one, a rarity for Hisoka. Usually he would be fending off whatever bright idea that had claimed Tsuzuki's attention, trying to get the man to focus on the case. As it was, both Tsuzuki and Hisoka had travelled quietly, both lost in their own thoughts. It was only GuShoShin himself who filled the quiet, trying to lighten the dark mood that had crept upon the two shinigami.
Although both he and Tsuzuki had every right to be moody. The case that they had been assigned to was grotesque and frightening. Not exactly the type of case Hisoka had in mind for easing the two of them back into active duty. Yet it wasn't because Tatsumi or Chief Konoe hadn't tried to stop it from happening. Sometimes in JuChoOh, you just didn't have any say in what happened. Hisoka snorted at that thought. They may be Shinigami, but they were in the pecking order just like everyone else.
Hisoka eyed the bottle of aspirin that Watari had insisted that Hisoka take with him. The blonde scientist, despite his teasing attitude, had not dismissed the near collapse that Hisoka had encountered before the emergency meeting. The entire department was worried for both Hisoka and Tsuzuki, and for once, Hisoka did not blame them. The Kyoto case was still fresh in everyone's memories, and it didn't take an empath to realize that this new assignment would be a strain on the two of them.
Tsuzuki himself was also acting quite strange to Hisoka, and he wished the man would just say what was on his mind. It seemed that especially now, Tsuzuki had just walled up everything inside. Like an actor, he played his part, and fooled most of the department; but he didn't fool Hisoka. Even with his strong mental walls, Tsuzuki could not hide everything from Hisoka, and those feelings, coupled with his inability to actually talk with Tsuzuki were another reason why Hisoka was so drained. He couldn't help it, he was worried for Tsuzuki, and it tore Hisoka in two trying to decide what course of action was better. Whether to confront Tsuzuki on the masks he was wearing, or to continue pretending like nothing was happening, in hopes the acts of 'normalcy' would calm Tsuzuki's soul?
Smoothing out a wrinkle in the blanket of the bed that had been unofficially claimed by Hisoka, he gingerly sat down on the mattress and sighed. Tsuzuki was going to be back soon. The violet-eyed man had gone out to make a visit to the police office in hopes of garnering some clues. GuShoShin had gone with Tsuzuki, as being a librarian gave the feathered creature a better eye for finding interesting tidbits among rubbish.
Hisoka had been asked / ordered by Tsuzuki to get some rest, as the violet-eyed man had made it quite clear that he was worried by Hisoka's weakened state. It pissed Hisoka off slightly, but at the same time warmed him. He just wished that Tsuzuki would direct some of his worry onto his own being, instead of onto Hisoka. The wounds of Kyoto could not and would not heal quickly, and with this large case looming over the two of them, both he and Tsuzuki needed to be able to focus on the tasks ahead, not on past problems. Hisoka didn't want to be a burden to Tsuzuki or the case, and the only way he would solve that was to get some sleep.
The only problem with that solution, as simple as it was, was that Hisoka could not sleep for long before the nightmares came. He shuddered slightly at that thought and pulled his legs up onto the bed. Ever since Kyoto, he had become plagued by terrifying dreams, fuelled by whatever demons that haunted Hisoka's soul; and he had a lot of them. He had contemplated sleeping pills, and had even taken them once, and had regretted it immediately. The nightmares had still come, even in the drug induced sleep, and Hisoka had found that in that state the dreams became more powerful, more real.
How he was still up and functioning honestly stumped Hisoka. As it was, he had been getting by with a couple hours of sleep here or there, prompted only by intense exhaustion. Ironically, it was sometimes at those times as well that his nightmares became more frightful. Hisoka shuddered and closed his eyes briefly. It had been exhaustion that had prompted the terrifying nightmare that had shaken him earlier that morning. The horrible parody of Muraki and the cherry tree.
A clap of thunder boomed and startled Hisoka out of his train of thought. He looked over to the window and at the dark clouds beyond. Well, if he couldn't sleep he might as well see if he could find something from the case files. Hisoka gingerly stood up from the bed and walked over to the small table in their room that held the portfolio.
Hisoka opened the folder and spread the number of images across the table. Hisoka had no doubts that the girl Hikaru had been murdered, no one just died normally under the circumstances her body was found in. The fact that her name did not appear on the register baffled Hisoka, but like Watari, he was sure that the child was in fact dead. He paused as he came across the first image that Chief Konoe had shown them, the one that showed Hikaru smiling and alive.
Hisoka slowly sat down in the chair beside the table and looked down at the picture on the table. The girl really was pretty, like a flower ready to bloom, a young woman. Hisoka felt a flash of kinship as he looked at the picture. In a sense, he and Hikaru were probably the same, both young souls, denied the right to grow up forever. Hisoka may be 16, but his life really did end when he was 13, that night under a red moon when Muraki found him.
Holding the picture carefully by its edges, Hisoka peered closer at the image. Hikaru had a smile that seemed it could brighten a room. Her hair was long and black, cascading down her back almost like folded wings. The girl's eyes were piercing green, just like Hisoka's own, but unlike Hisoka, they were filled with laughter and happiness. Whatever the child had been doing at the time the picture had been taken, Hisoka was not quite sure, but the picture must have been a spontaneous one.
He sighed softly and slid one of the more gruesome images down to look at. It was one of the area where Hikaru's body had been found. The picture must have been taken in the early morning hours, because everything was lit by set up floodlights of the police. Hisoka squinted as he tried to capture some insight from the image. The remnants of a magic circle lay in the grass, the symbols and markings unrecognizable to Hisoka. In a random thought, Hisoka wondered just what had been used to make the markings in the grass, that they were already fading away.
He slid another one of the pictures down the tables surface. This one was perhaps the most disturbing of them all. It was an image of the body of Hikaru, taken before they had respectfully covered the body with a cloth. Hisoka was a shinigami, he was quite use to death, but even this disturbed him. Her body was found as if sleeping, hands folded across the chest, body laying stretched out on the grass facing up. If her body hadn't been so mutilated, a person could have thought that she was just sleeping.
Hisoka shook his head at that thought and dismissed it as wishful thinking. The child's body had been mutilated, her throat slashed and blood drained. Rune marks twined themselves around her ankles and wrists, a sick parody of ropes. He was quite certain that whatever had happened to Hikaru, it was neither peaceful nor painless. Hisoka mulled over his thoughts carefully. There were so many questions in this case, and not enough answers.
Why had her body been mutilated? What purpose did it serve to remove such parts like her eyes or tongue? Why was her blood drained, and where did it go? What was the purpose of the rune marks around her limbs, were they bindings of some sort? Hisoka sighed softly, a small sound of frustration and lightly brushed the surface of the picture.
And immediately regretted it.
Intense pain surged through Hisoka, and it took everything in him not to scream out loud; not that he could anyways, as his throat felt almost choked. It felt as if the air was being ripped from his lungs and he could feel the ghost sensation of something binding his wrists and ankles. With the agony came a overwhelming wave of emotions - fear, anger, sadness, pity, hatred . . . Flashes of images flooded Hisoka's mind overwhelming what little control Hisoka had over himself. Shadowy, unnatural figures standing at the edge of the magic circle, evil red eyes, a man's outstretched hand, an abandoned teddy bear in the grass, a pale white moon . . .
Hisoka stood up abruptly, knocking over the table and chair he had been sitting in. Papers and pictures flew everywhere, raining upon the floor in mockery of the rain outside. Pain, emotions and images engulfed his being, and Hisoka felt his spirit drowning. His vision tunnelled and gravity took over as his muscles gave out. As his consciousness faded, Hisoka's last thought was of how worried Tsuzuki was going to be.
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Warm sunlight fell upon Hisoka's prone form, slowly bringing Hisoka back to the waking world. Laying upon the bed, Hisoka slowly opened his eyes and felt a surge of panic when he couldn't identify where he was. He blinked his eyes slowly and tried to turn his head. It was then that he felt an unidentifiable weight across his chest and he looked down.
It was Tsuzuki. The man was half sitting, half lying on the edge of the bed, on top of the blankets that had been pulled around Hisoka. Blinking stupidly, Hisoka could do little more than notice now peaceful Tsuzuki looked when he was asleep. He looked beyond Tsuzuki's form to the fallen table and scattered papers and shuddered as the memories returned. The pictures . . . Hisoka had touched one of them and . . . Hisoka closed his eyes.
"Hisoka?" Hisoka opened one eye to find Tsuzuki awake and peering worriedly at him. The intense concern in Tsuzuki's eyes was strong and Hisoka could feel it emanating from Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki carefully straightened up from his impromptu sleep beside Hisoka and gently touched Hisoka's clothed arm. "Hisoka? Are you okay? What happened?"
Hisoka raised his green eyes to meet up with Tsuzuki's and just blinked. His mouth felt dry and his body felt weak and drained. He could see the form of GuShoShin float up into his range of vision, hovering above Tsuzuki's head. The librarian also wore a look of worry across his face. Hisoka raised his hand to his face, and pressed it to his forehead. "I . . . I don't really know . . ." He struggled to sit up, and was surprised when Tsuzuki gently pressed him back down onto the mattress. "Tsuzuki . . ."
Hovering over Hisoka, Tsuzuki just shook his head slightly and frowned. "When I came back, I found you laying on the floor with the furniture overturned. GuShoShin was freaking out and I was as well." Tsuzuki closed his eyes briefly. "All I could think was 'What happened?, and if I had been here could I have stopped it?'" He looked at Hisoka, and Hisoka felt a flash of guilt from Tsuzuki. "I didn't know what to do, all I knew was that you were unconscious. So I carried you to the bed, and I've been waiting for you to wake up ever since . . ."
"We were so worried." GuShoShin wrung his hands nervously as he hovered closer to Hisoka. "I wanted to contact division immediately but Tsuzuki wouldn't let me. He was afraid of scaring everyone." GuShoShin shook his head and smiled, or seemed to. "But you are awake now, and that is what matters. Are you feeling okay Hisoka?"
Hisoka digested what Tsuzuki and GuShoShin said and closed his eyes briefly. "I couldn't sleep, even though I know you asked me to Tsuzuki . . ." Hisoka frowned slightly and gripped the blanket in his hands. "I decided to make myself useful instead and began to look at the file information." Hisoka glanced over to the photos and papers that were still spread across the floor. "I was looking at the pictures and I touched one of them directly . . . and was overwhelmed by . . . sensations." Hisoka looked up to Tsuzuki, frustrated that he couldn't really describe what had happened.
"Sometimes, photographs can capture the essence of an event . . . I think that these ones did. Or something like that, because when I touched them . . ." Hisoka frowned as he remembered what happened. "I didn't know I could do that . . . you know . . . with my empathy?"
"It happened so fast, and I couldn't stop them." Hisoka closed his eyes. "I think . . . I think I was feeling what the child had been feeling . . . before she died?" A light touch on his arm startled Hisoka out of his reverie and he opened his eyes to find Tsuzuki leaning over him once again. "Tsuzuki, I don't know what happened, but I am okay now . . . honest."
Both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin looked at him warily and Hisoka felt irritation rise through him. Were they going to doubt him now? Hisoka pulled himself into a sitting position and glared at the two worriers. "Look. Lets get this straight right now." He shook his head in annoyance at the two of them. "We are on a case. First and foremost priority is finding Hikaru's soul, and figure out who and what did 'that' to her." He pointed over to the scattered papers on the floor.
"I am still not sure what happened, but it is because I have these abilities that I was chosen to work on this case with you, not to mention the fact that we are partners!" Hisoka glared up at Tsuzuki and soften his argument slightly. "It doesn't mean you can't worry Tsuzuki, but you have to place it on the right people." Hisoka began to pull at the blankets covering him, attempting to pull them off of him. "She is the one we have to worry over right now, she is the one we have to find right now. If those feelings, that pain . . . was hers that I felt. Then we HAVE to find her."
A pair of hands stilled his motions and Hisoka glared at the offending hands. GuShoShin hovered above Hisoka's bed, and Tsuzuki was pushing him back into the bed. "Hisoka . . . Hisoka!" Hisoka stilled in his attempts to remove the hands and looked up at the violet-eyed man. Tsuzuki pulled his hands away and looked at Hisoka with almost a silent plea. "Please, you don't have to argue your place on this case Hisoka and I don't doubt your abilities, but I am worried for you! I understand what you are saying, but we can discuss what GuShoShin and I found just as easily with you laying in the bed." Tsuzuki shook his head and leaned back to sit upon the edge of the bed. "The both of us need to be strong to solve this case, and I won't have you run yourself ragged . . ."
A haunted look came to Tsuzuki's eyes, and that look killed the biting retort that Hisoka was going to say. Hisoka sat still, and watched silently as Tsuzuki struggled with some sort of internal battle. "Please Hisoka . . . in the past twenty four hours I have almost had my heart stop because you have been hurt." The look he gave Hisoka was heartbreaking, and he was startled as Tsuzuki's hand came to rest on the edge of his knee. "For my sake, if not yours . . . Please . . . just rest."
There was nothing Hisoka could say to Tsuzuki, all of this; it was beyond anything Hisoka had known or understood. He had always been alone, and his survival was due to his ability to be alone. When he had joined the Shokan division as a shinigami, he had been sullen and distant. It was who he was, it was what helped him survive.
No one did something for nothing . . . and it was because of that belief that Tsuzuki bewildered him. Why . . . Why did Tsuzuki care so much? That question frightened Hisoka, not because of Tsuzuki, but of what his answer would be. So instead of pushing Tsuzuki, Hisoka chose the easier path, and lay back in the bed.
But Hisoka couldn't let Tsuzuki know just how much power he had over him, it went against every survival instinct ingrained into him. So instead Hisoka adopted a scowl and crossed his arms across his chest. "Fine. I'll stay put." He directed a menacing glare over to Tsuzuki. "If I am going to entertain your request, I want you and GuShoShin to at least tell me what you found out. We are on a case remember?"
Hisoka could see a wave of relief wash over Tsuzuki's face, and it confused him even more. Even when he was acting moody, the sugar loving idiot still found him likeable. Hisoka pushed that confusing thought out of his head and turned his glare onto GuShoShin. With a muffled squawk, the feathered librarian fled Hisoka's sight to gather his laptop. Seeing that both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin were going to focus on the case and not him, Hisoka let himself relax a moment. He didn't want them fussing over him . . .
GuShoShin flew over to sit beside Hisoka on the bed, angling the laptop so that Hisoka could see the screen from where he lay. Tsuzuki pulled up a chair to sit at the head of the bed, the sad look in his eyes gone. Hisoka leaned back into the pillows and listened closely as GuShoShin started to talk.
"Okay then . . . When Tsuzuki and I went to the police station it was a chaos. It seems this case is also on their priority list." GuShoShin pulled up a screen of the police reports. "Phasing into the building was a breeze, and it wasn't even difficult to maintain our invisibility because everyone was in such a rush."
Tsuzuki pointed to the report that GuShoShin brought up and turned to Hisoka. "This is the address of Hikaru, and is also where the investigation began." Tsuzuki raked his fingers through his hair. "Apparently her parents had an argument with her that night, a rather angry one at that. It seems that the argument was the last time her parents spoke to her alive." Tsuzuki pointed to a icon and GuShoShin clicked on it. It was the address of the Takahashi's. "Somehow in the middle of the night, Hikaru disappeared."
"Was she?" Hisoka stammered, unsure of how to phrase his question. "Did they . . . 'take' her?" He was uncomfortable, but not because he was embarrassed. Hikaru's circumstance, resembled his own . . . he had to know if she suffered as he had. Somehow, Tsuzuki knew what Hisoka was trying to ask. The curt nod of no from Tsuzuki was enough to relieve his mind. Tsuzuki touched Hisoka's arm tentatively, and squeezed gently.
GuShoShin looked on sympathetically and brought up the report on evident abuse the child had received. Hisoka scanned it briefly and sighed. Hikaru had not been raped, despite the violence of her abuse. How both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin knew what he was thinking was both comforting, and disturbing. Was he that easy to read? Hisoka pointed to the police report behind the one GuShoShin had pulled up. "So where do these occult kidnappers / murders come into play then?"
Tsuzuki waved his hand in the air, gesturing at something that Hisoka could not see. "That is the problem. If it were a kidnapping or an occult murder like the police say, there would likely be signs of forced entry or something. There is nothing at the Takahashi household to indicate any struggle or forced entry. There is no indication that Hikaru was into or a part of any occult following." Tsuzuki leaned in close to Hisoka, like he was imparting some great untold secret. "I believe that her disappearance has nothing to do with occult followers or the like. I think this is the work of something beyond humans."
Hisoka snorted at Tsuzuki's words, and was about to retort when the image of shadowy, unnatural figures standing at the edge of the magic circle floated into his minds eye. He must have got a dazed look on his face, because the next thing Hisoka knew, Tsuzuki's hand was waving itself in front of his face, trying to get reaction. "Idiot. What are you doing Tsuzuki?" Hisoka pushed Tsuzuki's hand away, his face flustered and scowling.
GuShoShin hovered up from his perch and looked Hisoka in the eye. "You zoned out for a moment there Hisoka . . . do you want to stop?" The feathered librarian glanced worriedly at Hisoka, and then sent a perturbed look at Tsuzuki for his preposterous theory. "You did just wake up from a rather . . . harrowing experience."
Hisoka narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He looked to Tsuzuki who looked back at him with wide violet eyes. "I . . . just remembered something . . . from when I touched the photograph." Hisoka looked down at his hands. "There were figures standing around the edge of the magic circle . . . they were shadowy, and indistinct." Hisoka gestured with his hands, trying to explain something he did not understand himself. "Red eyes . . ."
"Red eyes?" GuShoShin scratched his head in thought and paced his way across the width of Hisoka's bed. "Hmmm . . . Can you be more specific Hisoka?"
Hisoka closed his eyes, trying to capture the one image in the multitude of images that had bombarded his senses in those few seconds before he collapsed. It was frustrating, to be so close to something that seemed important, but being unable to identify it. "Damn it! I can't remember!" Hisoka shook his head and sighed in frustration.
Tsuzuki reached out and placed his hand on Hisoka's shoulder. "It's okay Hisoka, it will come to you." Tsuzuki smiled and looked to GuShoShin. "Maybe you could do some research for us GuShoShin? Information on shadowy figures and red eyes?" Tsuzuki winked and smiled lightly. "I know it is rather vague, but it seems to be important." Tsuzuki turned to Hisoka and tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps Hisoka, you could try to explain or write down the things you saw and felt when you touched the photographs? It could help GuShoShin in his research, and may help us find some clues that we have overlooked?"
Hisoka could do little but blink at Tsuzuki, man of action. It was moments like these that Hisoka saw how Tsuzuki really was in control of a situation, even though it looked as if he was not. There was something to be said about looks being deceiving, and Hisoka was sure that Tsuzuki fit the bill. Hisoka just nodded in affirmation to Tsuzuki's requests, assured by the reasoning behind Tsuzuki's words.
"Either way, the best course of action we can take now is to go over to the crime scene and see if we can find some clues." Tsuzuki stood up and walked over to the overturned table and chair. "If Hisoka managed to get an imprint from a picture of the scene, then going to the scene itself is bound to turn up something. You said it yourself Hisoka, if those were Hikaru's emotions that you felt . . ." Tsuzuki turned to face Hisoka, a concerned look in his eye. "We will go at night, since I have a feeling that we won't be able to go about the area without having tons of police combing the area." Tsuzuki picked up a couple of the scattered photographs. "Besides, both you and GuShoShin have work to do!"
GuShoShin fluttered up into Tsuzuki's face, startling the older shinigami. Hisoka could sense great annoyance from GuShoShin and almost laughed. He had a feeling that both Tsuzuki and GuShoShin were trying to lighten the mood, trying to help Hisoka relax. Empathy did have its uses after all. "And just what are YOU going to be doing if Hisoka and I are working?" GuShoShin pointed a feathery finger directly into Tsuzuki's astonished face. "We are on a case! No matter how dire it is, Tatsumi will never forgive me if I let you slack off on the job!!"
"Aww! Come on GuShoShin! I have a very important task ahead of me too!" Tsuzuki placed both of his hands before him in a gesture of surrender. Hisoka could feel the mild humor rolling around the room and it was comforting. Hisoka watched in mild amusement as Tsuzuki danced away from GuShoShin to the motel door. Tsuzuki flashed both GuShoShin and Hisoka one of his more brilliant smiles. "You just make sure that Hisoka rests okay GuShoShin? And I will be back soon. My mission? Breakfast!!" With that, Tsuzuki bounded out of the room, leaving GuShoShin to sputter indignantly at the slammed door.
"Why that irresponsible!! . . . flighty . . ." GuShoShin grumbled where he hovered, glowering at the door. Hisoka just rolled his eyes and leaned back into his pillows. He understood perfectly what Tsuzuki's underlying messages were, despite his light attitude. Tsuzuki's concern for him was comforting and understanding. Hisoka glanced over to the scattered photographs on the floor. If just an image gave him that sort of reaction . . . what would going there reveal? But if they were going to get anywhere in this case, they needed to act quickly. Enma only knows where Hikaru's soul was at the moment.
For now they were going to rest, try to see if GuShoShin could coax up some viable facts from Hisoka's blurred images and emotions. Tsuzuki was looking out for Hisoka, despite the roundabout method. Tonight, the real investigation began. Tonight, the real horror began.
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It's funny, how in the dark everything seems so much sinister. Hisoka rolled that thought around in his head as he trailed behind his partner. To Hisoka, darkness was both a comforting friend and a monster. It would hide you if you let it, but at the same time, it would draw out ones inner demons. The snap of a branch under his feet derailed Hisoka's train of thought.
Night had come, and Tsuzuki had given Hisoka the thumbs up for going out; not that Hisoka would have listened if Tsuzuki had not given him permission. Tsuzuki was not his parent, nor was he his guardian, despite the man's actions. They had left GuShoShin back at the motel, to work on the research of Hisoka's visions. The librarian had been livid, not wanting to leave the two of them alone, but had given in.
Cases were solved by both footwork and research, and Hisoka was sure that in their absence, the feathered creature would also be reporting back to division about everything that had happened. Hisoka was quite sure that Tatsumi and Konoe had sent GuShoShin along as a watchdog of sorts, aside from his ability to help.
Hisoka looked down at the soft grass beneath his feet. They were approaching the site of the crime soon, and Hisoka felt slightly queasy. The police barriers were up and Hisoka was sure there was a guard or two in the area, but they remained along the perimeter, warding of any intruders. Hisoka and Tsuzuki were heading to the heart of the matter, and their incorporeal forms were useful to pass by the guards unnoticed.
Tsuzuki may have been in a playful mood when he spoke of entering the crime scene at night, but Hisoka knew that the man was quite serious. Despite his lax attitude, Tsuzuki was actually quite agitated by this assignment. It didn't take Hisoka's empathy to be able to tell that one, but like Tsuzuki kept reminding him, they were on a case. The faster they solved it, the sooner they could go home.
The atmosphere of the area seemed to darken as they entered the area where the magic circle was, and Hisoka could not help but shudder at the oppressive feelings. Tsuzuki must have sensed something as well because he held out his arm to stop Hisoka from walking forward. "What is it Tsuzuki?" Hisoka's voice sounded very small there in the quiet of the night. His heart and mind were on edge, something was very wrong with this place.
Tsuzuki looked around the clearing, his eyes wide and alert. Hisoka peered around Tsuzuki, staying close to his partner. A slight rustling alerted Hisoka but Tsuzuki was already moving, grabbing Hisoka and pulling him to the ground with him. "Get down!!" Hisoka felt his breath leave him as Tsuzuki pressed in against him, holding him to the ground. Something soared through the space that he and Tsuzuki had just been occupying, and to Hisoka's eyes, it looked like a bolt of darkness.
"So predictable. That is what I like about the pawns of JuChoOh. All you have to do is kill someone and they will come running." That raspy, abnormal voice froze Hisoka's blood. Panic and confusion were running rampant in Hisoka's mind as he wildly looked around, trying to find the owner of that voice and what had pushed Tsuzuki into action. He glanced over at the area the had rustled moments before and blanched when a pair of red eyes glowed back at him.
It was a shadow creature, like the one that had assaulted his senses when he had touched the photograph. "Tsuzuki! It's one of them!" Hisoka looked up at Tsuzuki, finding the violet eyes looking down to him briefly, and then up to the creature. "That thing is what killed Hikaru!" Tsuzuki stood up and pulled Hisoka defensively behind him, which at the moment Hisoka found no need to protest.
Tendrils of shadow leeched off of the creature, giving its appearance a menacing demeanor. It flapped its black wings nonchalantly and gestured an ominous clawed hand at the two of them. "Come now, don't tell me that the number one shinigami is afraid of little old me?" It rubbed its chin, as if deep in thought. "So that was what the child's name was . . . a delicious soul." It looked directly at Hisoka, and he could not help but shudder. "Come to think of it, she kind of resembled you in a way . . . things are starting to make a little more sense now."
"Where is the child's soul? So help me . . . " Tsuzuki snapped angrily at the creature, his stance tense. Hisoka cringed as Tsuzuki's anger flared brightly. Often it was only those emotions the overflowed Tsuzuki's strong mental shields that Hisoka felt, and the fact that Tsuzuki's anger was this strong, meant that Tsuzuki was probably raging on the inside. Hisoka felt his own emotions match up with Tsuzuki's own. The creature was toying with them! "If her soul was consumed, I will not let you leave here alive." Tsuzuki took a intimidating step towards the winged creature.
A low chuckle escaped the demon's form. It raised its gaze back to Tsuzuki. "Are you threatening me?" It spread its ebony wings wide, and if possible, its eyes glowed even brighter. "Stupid Shinigami. So clueless as well." It smiled, baring fanged teeth at the two of them. "I think I understand why he likes to toy with you two so much." It took a couple of steps towards Tsuzuki and Hisoka, malice flowing off of it like water.
Tsuzuki clasped his hands before him and began his incantation to summon his guardians. "I bow to thee and beseech to you. The Twelve Gods that protect me -" His spell was interrupted by another bolt of darkness that flashed towards them. Hisoka threw up a shield to block the incoming danger and groaned as the shadow slammed into his hasty spell, draining his power. Tsuzuki whirled around to check on Hisoka, and Hisoka could see the fear in the amethyst eyes clearly.
"Stupid Demon. Can't you do anything right?"
Tsuzuki and Hisoka turned their heads to the new presence, and froze for a moment. The white suit glowed slightly in the darkness of the night, but there was no mistaking who the newcomer was. Muraki.
"So you finally decided to show up?" The demon sneered at Muraki, his quarrel with the two shinigami forgotten for the moment. It flared its wings ominously. "You are late again."
Hisoka could do little but stare in utter shock and confusion. Muraki was standing before him. Tsuzuki's hand was painfully tight around Hisoka's wrist, and Hisoka looked up to see Tsuzuki's face was pale and haggard. This wasn't happening, this couldn't be happening. Muraki couldn't have healed that fast from Kyoto, he couldn't be here now. Hisoka shook his head in disbelief and backed up a step, dragging the clinging Tsuzuki with him.
Muraki ignored the veiled threat in the creatures words and turned to face Tsuzuki and Hisoka. He smiled, and Hisoka could feel his stomach drop. "Why hello my dear Tsuzuki, and my doll as well." Muraki made a motion of tapping his wrist. "You two are late as well." He gestured to the winged creature. "I take it you have met my associate?" Muraki looked to the shadow creature and then turned his gaze back to the two shinigami. "Boorish brute I know, but good help is so hard to find these days."
Hisoka felt Tsuzuki let go of his wrist and he looked up to see the anger that Tsuzuki had before flare within again. "Muraki." Tsuzuki raised his one hand up in a fist. "You bastard. What the hell are you doing here?" Hisoka felt as if he should say something, do something, but could do little more than watch the interplay of wills before him. Fear and fury spilled from Tsuzuki, and Hisoka groaned softly in pain at the swirling maelstrom of emotions flowing through the clearing.
Muraki trailed his eyes up and down Tsuzuki's form, a suggestive smile emerging. "I see you healed up quite well my dear Tsuzuki." Muraki reached up to adjust his glasses. "Tell me. Did my calling card disturb you?" The smile on Muraki's face vanished. "The child cried the entire time, until I we removed her eyes that is." He shifted his glare onto Hisoka and the smile reappeared. "Still interfering are you? So troublesome you are . . ."
Any color on Tsuzuki's face seemed to vanish as Muraki spoke, and Hisoka knew exactly why. Muraki had told Tsuzuki before that he killed to draw the violet-eyed man to him. Hikaru's death was probably like all the others, one of Muraki's sick perversions that he attempted to call love for Tsuzuki. Hisoka rushed up to Tsuzuki, shaking the man slightly. "Don't listen to him Tsuzuki! He's just toying with you!" Hisoka grasped the sides of Tsuzuki's face, forcing the taller man to look directly into his emerald eyes. "This is not your fault!"
Cruel laughter peeled across the clearing and Hisoka turned his head slightly to see the demon laughing. Hisoka did not let go of Tsuzuki, instead trying to will his words into Tsuzuki's being. "Tsuzuki . . ." He knew that both Muraki and the demon were watching them, but he did not care. Nothing mattered except for Tsuzuki.
"What a sorry pair you two make! It seems almost sad that it has to be you two that we need." The shadow creature smiled evilly at the two shinigami. It then turned to Muraki and glared menacingly. "You are wasting time doctor. Hurry up."
Muraki glared angrily at the demon, his eyes almost blazing. "If you hadn't stopped to play, we wouldn't be having this discussion at the moment." He turned his gaze onto Tsuzuki and Hisoka, and smiled as Hisoka glared hatefully back at him. "I am just making sure that everyone knows who is in control here." Muraki smiled and while still staring at his two toys, he made a motion to the demon. "Power it up demon."
Growling angrily, the shadow creature moved towards Muraki, pausing in its walk past the doctor to speak. "Control is fragile at the best of times Muraki. Best you watch your step." It strode past the white dressed man and stopped at the edge of the remnants of the magic circle.
Hisoka stood frozen, Tsuzuki's form pulled against him. The situation was bad, he needed Tsuzuki here with him. Hisoka ignored Muraki's gaze and instead looked into Tsuzuki's eyes. "Tsuzuki . . . I know you are upset at the moment . . . but you can't fall apart on me now." Hisoka brushed his finger across Tsuzuki's face. He was afraid, but Hisoka pushed his fear aside because Tsuzuki needed him. And he in turn needed Tsuzuki. "Tsuzuki . . . you are human . . . no matter what garbage Muraki tells you. He is the monster." Hisoka pulled Tsuzuki's head down so that he could touch his forehead to Tsuzuki's own. "I need you Tsuzuki."
Tsuzuki's eyes blinked, and Hisoka felt a wave of relief flow through him, despite the dire situation. Tsuzuki was still here with him. "Hisoka . . ." Tsuzuki looked up toward Muraki and to the demon. "Bastards . . ." Tsuzuki straightened and looked down at Hisoka. "Thank you Hisoka . . . for reminding me." Tsuzuki stepped in front of Hisoka once again.
Muraki laughed and Hisoka whirled around to face Muraki along with Tsuzuki. The man's cold metallic eye gleamed softly in the twilight. "So touching . . . it's offensive to me." Behind Muraki, the magic circle flared to life, fuelled by the demon's powers. "I have more than words to sting with, you foolish boy. Do not mock my abilities." The ground around Muraki flared an evil red, in contrast to the blinding white light of the magic circle beyond him. Eyes wide along with a frightful smile, Muraki mimicked a gentleman's bow towards Tsuzuki. "Shall we dance dear Tsuzuki?"
Tsuzuki's fists tightened and Hisoka fell to the ground, the storm of emotions swirling through the area exploding in power. There was too much, too fast . . . Hisoka knelt on the ground behind Tsuzuki, trying desperately to get his mental shields up. The conflicting powers and emotions were dangerously flowing, the cool blue aura of Tsuzuki, the blazing red aura of Muraki. And overshadowing all of it, was the blinding brilliant light of the magic circle the demon had incited.
The shadow demon turned its head to look Hisoka directly in the eye, pleasure evident in its red eyes. It laughed and shouted to Hisoka. "Can you feel it boy? This is the beginning of the end!" It's eyes glittered dangerously and it leapt into the air, hovering with its dark wings. Hisoka turned to look at Tsuzuki but was dismayed to find both him and Muraki duelling back and forth, magical energies soaring across the clearing in abandon.
Hisoka struggled to stand on his feet, and barely dodged the blast of shadow that flew his way. The demon laughed and smiled. Flying towards Hisoka it raised its clawed hands to impale the youth. "You are on your own now child. He can't help you." Hisoka ducked, the claws of the demon tearing through the back of his shirt like butter. Staggering, Hisoka pulled himself upright once again and eyed the shadow demon warily.
Compared to Tsuzuki, Hisoka was like a lamb to a lion. He had his empathic abilities, and a few spells that Konoe had pressed upon Hisoka after the Nagasaki files, but they were nothing compared to what the demon had. Hisoka clenched his fists and glared at the swooping demon. To hell with it, he wasn't going to be some sort of sacrificial lamb to the slaughter. Even lambs could fight back . . .
The shadow creature was flying back towards Hisoka, swooping over the other two opponents in the clearing. Tsuzuki turned his head slightly to see what was happening to his partner and nearly fell over in shock. Muraki blasted a bolt of energy to Tsuzuki, forcing the man to turn back to Muraki or face being burned. "Shame on you Tsuzuki! Look to me! Focus only on me!" Muraki's voice was shrill and passionate, and Tsuzuki could see an almost insane gleam in the doctors eyes. "The boy is nothing!, a bother! You will be MINE!!" Tsuzuki backed away, torn between his need to protect himself, and the need to protect Hisoka.
Hisoka slowly backed up after every swoop the creature made at him. In the back of his mind, Hisoka knew that the demon was only toying with him. There had to be something he could do, something to stop the demon. Desperately, Hisoka looked around and his gaze fell upon the magic circle. Magic circles were often used to power up spells and the like . . . perhaps he could . . . Hisoka smiled grimly and looked up to the laughing demon.
It would be a long shot, and terribly dangerous, but Hisoka was running out of options. If the demon bested him, it would turn on Tsuzuki, and then who knows what would befall the violet-eyed man. Hisoka looked over to Tsuzuki who was locked in struggle against Muraki. Before the spell hadn't worked, but Saaga had been a much higher level demon than this monstrosity attacking him now. With the aid of the magic circle, Hisoka was sure that it would be enough to paralyse the shadow demon.
Diving into a roll to avoid the razor sharp claws of the monster, Hisoka surged up from his roll into a headlong sprint towards the flaring magic circle. He could hear the monster laughing at his apparent struggle to flee. As his stride passed over the edge of the magic circle, Hisoka could feel the tremendous power erupt from the runic markings.
Dimly he could hear Tsuzuki's hoarse cries, calling out Hisoka's name; but Hisoka was beyond it. Howling winds roared about him, and the blazing light flared about his being. It would be enough . . . it would have to be enough. Stopping in the center of the circle, Hisoka turned to face the shadow demon, his clothing fluttering in the intense power of the magic circle.
Hisoka raised his hands and began the gestures required of the spell he was attempting. He could feel the magic circle's power seeping into him, strengthening his spell as his began to chant. The roar of the wind drowned out everything to Hisoka except the sound of his own voice, firm in its chanting. Had he had his eyes open, Hisoka would have seen the form of Tsuzuki running towards him, crying out Hisoka's name, fear apparent in his wide violet eyes.
Hisoka opened his eyes to look up at the demon who circled in the sky warily above him. The spell was almost complete, soon it would be unleashed. Tendrils of white light curled around Hisoka's form, and the roaring wind made Hisoka look almost wild. Hisoka locked his emerald eyes with the demons own blood red ones and smiled grimly.
"Hei. Sha. Kai. Jin. Retsu. Zai. Sen. SOUL BIND!!"
The magic circle exploded in a display of power and Hisoka's entire vision erupted into a dazzling white light.
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Authors Notes:
Well there is chapter two. I know it is kinda confusing since fanfiction.net deems the first piece of a story to be chapter one - even though it is a prologue. I decided that maybe I should try to explain some things going on in my story . . . cause you know I need people to keep 'listening' to my rambling. I hope people like what they have read so far, and still haven't been frightened off by my creativity.
Some aspects of this chapter are created purely out of the fluff in my head, but to fit into the plot of the story I did it . . . um . . . yeah! So there. :P
1. I got kind of confused with the whole lord of the dead thing. I used Enma as the name, but as far as I can tell now, 'he' is actually EnMaDaiOh. My bad. But to keep consistency I am going to keep using Enma . . . I think it still works.
2. I don't know what the actual use of magic circles are, but I took it to be used as a focal point, a symbol to strengthen whatever spell or ritual that was being performed. I don't know if a magic circle can only be used for only one spell or use at a time, so I took liberties. Hurrah for creative licence.
3. To me Hisoka is acting kinda strange . . . but in my opinion the Kyoto events MUST have changed things both individually in Tsuzuki and Hisoka, and within the relationship between the two of them. I have never believed that Hisoka is just a cold hearted jerk, just a very hurt, and closed up individual. You could be surprised just what a drastic event can do to change how a person acts and reacts. So Hisoka is sorta in-between the two extremes. He isn't a negative, insulting, moody teenager all the time, but neither is he a gushing, 'I love you so much Tsuzuki!', heart warming chibi. The same for Tsuzuki, but as I am not writing totally from Tsuzuki's thoughts, it is not as apparent.
4. Muraki is a bastard isn't he? I hope he came off as the cool evil bad guy I think he is. Don't get me wrong, Tsuzuki and Hisoka are my favorites, but you have to admit. Muraki does make a wonderful bad guy don't you think? His reasons for being here aren't quite apparent, but of course all will be revealed as the story moves along.
5. The spell words that Hisoka uses are from the Manga, with my own twists put into it. As from the manga and the anime, the spell was designed to bind its target, and in the Demon's Trill arc, used to separate Saaga and Tsuzuki. I am using a little creative license here again with the spell. It does bind its target and well . . . well I guess you will see in the next chapter what it does eh?
I just want to thank the people who have read my story so far and who have given me reviews. You don't realize just how influential those reviews are to helping my muse keep my creativity up. Thank you so very much!
*Bows graciously to the audience*
Also I just have to thank Matsushita for creating such wonderful characters! Humor, darkness, romance - all the fun stuff rolled into one! Thank you!