Ch. 1

The computer screen glowed almost eerily in the darkness, its light filtering over the two feathered faces and being reflected off the glasses that the man behind them wore.

"And this affects us how?"

"Because… reincarnations…shouldn't be…"

"…allowed here?" The man finished for him. He pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Why is that?" There was a sigh after the question and the elder of the Guoshins answered instead.

"He needs to be reincarnated until his soul has done whatever was needed to be done."

"Maybe that has already been done." The Gushuosin shook his head, looking at the man sternly.

"No… no it hasn't. The job for a reincarnated one is never done."

The man sighed.

"Get as much information you can on this…" He waved his hand towards the computer screen. "We'll deal with it as we can."

"Aa… and should we let them know?"

"No." There was a pause. "Not yet anyway."

…

Hisoka awoke with the odd feeling that something was definitely… not wrong… but different. At the weight that was right now residing on his chest and the extra warmth, it didn't take long for him to realize what exactly was different. Tsuzuki was sleeping, curled up around him; his head gently nestled on his chest. A blush hit his cheeks and he tried to loosen his nerves by looking away from his partner's sleeping form. He sighed softly and without him wanting to, or so he tried telling himself, his arms tightened around the taller Shinigami.

Tsuzuki's eyes fluttered open, his mind waking up from the peaceful blankness that he dreamed about. He was comfortable though and didn't feel like actually moving. It was so warm where he was. He gave a little grunt. Wanting to move and grab at the blankets to pull them further over him, he realized with surprise that he couldn't. Strong thin arms loosened there hold at his movement and his violet eyes opened all the way, surprised. Looking up he saw Hisoka, looking as cute as ever and blushing with all his might. A smile touched his lips as his mind recalled the events of last night. Hisoka had kept his promise. That thought only made the comfortable warmth reach his insides and make him happier than he had been in days.

"Ohayo." Hisoka muttered sitting up.

"Ohayo!" Tsuzuki answered back happily. "I slept well!" He chirped and Hisoka had to sigh… only Tsuzuki would be able to pull that off. To be so damn depressed… and yet to be able to hide it so well that even he, an empath, would have a hard time to read it. Hisoka pulled the covers back away from himself to get up. There was no use staying in bed if both of them were up and awake. Might as well get dressed and ready to face the day. Before he could take the step that would take him off the bed, arms wrapped themselves around him while Tsuzuki pressed his face on his back, near his neck. "Arigato." It was the merest whisper but he heard it all too well. His mouth dried. He should have been the one to say that. After all… It was because of him and his selfishness… that Tsuzuki was still here with him. Hisoka didn't know what to say. "Ne Hisoka!" Tsuzuki began, moving away, aware that though needed in a way that left his mind spinning, the closeness of the embrace was still something that left Hisoka uncomfortable. Hisoka turned to face him, green eyes curious. "Lets have a HUGE breakfast… and can we have chocolate éclairs? They seemed sooo good…ne? Ne?" A smile tugged at the younger shinigami's lips.

"Baka." He muttered, standing up and looking away from the adorably cute Tsuzuki who looked as if he had suddenly sprouted puppy ears and a little wagging tail to match. "It's our vacation… you don't need to have my permission on what you want to eat." Tsuzuki's smile got even larger and happy tears were forming in his eyes. "That is… if you make sure not to use all of the money we have on food. We still have a week down on earth so…" He trailed off knowing fully well that Tsuzuki would know the rest of the little lecture that he had told the older man so many times before.

"Hai hai!" The tall brunette jumped back under the covers, wanting to stay in the warmth a bit longer. An idea formed in his head and before the bathroom door could be closed, Tsuzuki called out, getting Hisoka to make an exasperated face at him. "Hisokaa… Can we have breakfast in bed? And can we continue to share the bed? We could cancel my room that way and have more money for the trip, ne? Ne?" Hisoka blinked his green eyes at him before looking away in an effort to control another blush that was attacking his face. Tsuzuki couldn't help but continue to smile and beg at the same time.

"Whatever." Hisoka finally muttered. "I'll be in the shower… Leave some food for me."

"Yay! Arigato Hisoka-chan!"

"CHAN?!" There was a startled yelp and then a soft growl before the door was finally closed. Tsuzuki laid back down, content in a way that he hadn't been for a while now. He gave a little sigh as he tried to get more comfortable before reaching to the bed table and grabbing the phone.

Minutes later, with hair still dripping slightly, Hisoka emerged from the bathroom in clean clothes. He had a calm look to him as he came closer to the bed, kneeling on the side of it to grab from the tray one of the muffins. Tsuzuki paused in his pursuit of eating a chocolate éclair to give the younger man a smile.

"What would you like to do today?" He asked Hisoka earnestly. He already had an idea of where he wanted to go… all the pastry shop names that he had gathered information on swam in his imagination, making his smile larger. Those sharp green eyes blinked as the blond paused in mid bite to consider the question. He gave a small shrug.

"I'm not really sure…" Hisoka finally answered. "I'd be interested in seeing the stonehendge but other than that…" He shrugged again as he trailed off.

"The stone hendge?" Tsuzuki asked, surprised. "Ok!"

…

Omi sighed miles away from the small hotel in which two shinigamis who he had no knowledge of were finishing their breakfast. He pushed his long bangs out of his face with only slight annoyance. Even if it was summer, it was a lot cooler than what the Japanese was used to. The green rolling hills that made up the country side was somewhat hidden by a thick fog that was slowly lifting away as the day continued to creep over the still dark sky. A few feet behind him, Omi knew that Ken was looking at the stars with an awed look on his tired face while Yoji was probably sprawled out on the damp morning grass smoking his usual cigarette. They were all waiting for Aya to get back from a quick meeting that only he had needed to be present. The exclusion of the meeting made him even tenser than he needed to be. He just couldn't help feeling like Manx and Aya were trying to hide something from them. Something that they all should be aware about. He sighed again, a bit louder without meaning to. He was nervous and he shouldn't be. It was going to be ok. It was all going to be ok… except…

There was always that nagging feeling.

What was there that they weren't being told?

And why?

"You okay, bishonen?" Yoji asked, sitting up, his green eyes looking over the black rims of his sunglasses. Omi spared him a backwards glance and nodded despite himself, a brief smile curving his lips upwards. "Then relax!" The older man muttered. "You're making me nervous."

"Aa… gomen." He apologized making sure that his tone was without the irritation he felt inside. Omi let himself fall back on the ground, making a face as he felt the cold moisture seep through his thin shorts.

"Hey Omi?" Ken jogged over before plopping beside his younger friend. "Do you know the name to that constellation?" The blond tilted his head back so he could fully see the sky and looked to where Ken pointed to. After a minute or two he shook his head. "No matter." The brunette muttered cutting off any apology that Omi would have tried to start. "I think… no, I know that's Aya coming back now. Look!" Omi sprung back to his feet and waited as the redhead who was often described as the Weiss leader came over to where they were, not hurried at all. His face seemed pale as he was wearing a black sweater and jeans.

"Weiss." Aya called to them solemnly. It didn't matter if his sister had awakened, Aya was still Aya. Not Ran… not the melted Ice man. He still hardly ever smiled or talked for that matter. And if anyone asked Omi's opinion on the second oldest Weiss, he would have looked away saying he didn't truly know the man that well. That the man he looked up to probably would love to be rid of him… the first and youngest member of Weiss. Omi shook his head. That wasn't true… It was just what his inner fears said…but in actuality, he was sure that the redhead did care for all of them. He hoped… "We shall have to stay here for unknown amount of time." He bit his lip trying not to ask the burning question that was resting on the top of his tongue. Why? And god damn it why all the secrecy? "Manx has rented a cottage for us that's miles away from the legendary Stonehendge. It's been closed off to public this year because of damage done to it by tourists. We shall have the seclusion needed." Needed for what? He gave a little yelp of pain as he continued to bite his bottom lip harder in frustration. The taste of blood took over his taste buds and he made a face, missing the look that Aya gave him. "Let's go." The man ordered. "We'll be taking a taxi." With that small amount of useless information given, Aya turned away leaving the others to follow his footsteps. Omi stopped biting his lip, his arms falling limply back to his sides. The few steps he took lead him to where an English taxi cab was waiting for them. Aya opened the doors, sliding in the front seat next to the driver. Omi scrambled in, thankful that at least there was some heat on. He buckled himself in and let his head rest back. The day wouldn't be over soon enough.

It was an hour long ride. An hour of sitting in the small cab with only the window to give a distraction to the thoughts that were running inside his head. The sun had risen only to be overtaken by large gray clouds and a fine misty rain had started to fall. It was a miserable day. And it proved to get worse along the way. Omi shook his head as he stared is dumb disbelief of where they were going to be staying. Aya had not been kidding that the cottage would be in seclusion. It had been abandoned. He looked over to the others to see their reaction to the pitiful place. He saw the anger rise in Yoji's face and decided it was time to go inside the cottage instead of remaining in the cold and wet environment. He carefully placed his hand on the doorknob and turned, not surprised in the least that the door opened without needing the key to unlock it. He stepped inside, ducking his head to avoid a spider web. He squinted, in hopes that he would see better in the darkness. Ken came in behind him, swearing as he no doubt saw the cleaning that they would all have to do to make this thing hospitable.

Outside, Omi could vaguely hear Yoji starting to rant at Aya, demanding that Manx get them a better place to live in. He turned the corner and went into the nearest room, hoping to find a bed he could claim as his own. He never heard how Aya replied as he chocked off a slight scream. A broken porcelain doll was on the bed, her wide lifeless eyes seeming to look into his. The part of her face that had been broken had been glued back on, leaving only a jagged scar as testimony that such perfection had been broken. The white hand had been lifted up as if the previous owners of the house who had left such a thing behind had left it to beckon the newcomers inside. Omi's blue eyes gazed up from the white hand back to the face, taking in truly what exactly had made him want to scream. There were reddish brown spots splattering it. There was… He stumbled the few steps towards it… there was blood on her face.

"Omi?" Ken asked, his head popping into the room. "You ok? You made a…" He trailed off as his eyes finally focused on where Omi was and what the boy was looking at so intently. "Is that…?"

"Ken-kun." Omi got up, wiping his hands quickly on his pants. "This doll's covered in blood!"

"Omi that can't be!" He exclaimed, his tone a bit horrified. "This place is old and creepy and it's dark. You're probably imagining blood when it's just…red paint?" Omi shook his head. Ken gave a shudder and came closer, his hand coming to rest on the younger boy's shoulder. "Shit." The brunette whispered, his breath warm as it passed near Omi's cheek. It made the chill even more biting and Omi shivered. "It can't be… it just… can't." Ken's hand slipped off Omi's shoulder and dropped to touch the doll.

"Ken. Don't touch it!" Omi snapped, hitting the older man's hand away. Ken looked at him surprised but nodded. The blond swallowed hard. "We should let the others know." He said finally, tugging Ken to come with him. "Come on." He shivered again, wishing that the doll had never been found and that he could erase the picture it had formed in his mind. It had looked like it had been crying… crying little tears of blood.

…

Hisoka made a face, suddenly uncomfortable in a painful way. He already knew the cause of it before he went into the bathroom, excusing himself. He needed the privacy as he unbuttoned his shirt to make sure it was what he thought it was. Sure enough the red marks seemed to almost glow against his pale skin in that weaving symbol of his cursed being. He closed his eyes, letting himself lean against the cold bathroom sink for strength. Muraki was here. He was here! He pushed himself off with more force than he needed and shook his head. The last thing they needed on their break. Hisoka's green eyes turned towards the door as his hands already started to nimbly button his shirt back up. Tsuzuki had a right to know. He had a right to know… just like it was Hisoka's right to be quiet about it. He closed his eyes and counted to ten before letting himself out of the bathroom. Wide violet eyes looked at him with worry. The words tumbled out of his mouth before his mind had even made the decision.

"He's here." The violet eyes darkened as comprehension filed in. "He's here…"

Tbc- Hope you enjoyed the first chapter, the second one will be uploaded as soon as possible. Feedback would be great. Thanks!!!