Back again, yall! There will prolly be only one or two more chapters. Three tops with the fluff omake ending thing I've been working on. I decided the main story had gotten a tad too dramatic, so I'm working on an extra fun special chapter for after the actual story ends. Yay for fun.
Coal, by the way, is said to attract money. It's energy is receptive, meaning it is of a dark, spiritual nature.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed! I have such energetic readers! -^^-
~*~})|({~*~
Tsuzuki set Hisoka down carefully on the sitting room sofa, hovering a moment over the slim form wrapped in his cloak, before he turned to face the curtained windows. He reached into his pocket with shaking fingers, and withdrew a piece of coal that had been wrapped carefully in silver wire and hung on a black silk cord.
The coal had been one of Tatsumi's oldest focuses for magic, and over time, had become attuned to the elf. Years ago, he had given it to Tsuzuki with instructions on how to use it to summon him if the mage ever found himself in trouble.
Tsuzuki had never used the talisman before, but now he feared for his apprentice, as well as the elven village. Something dangerous was prowling the forest, and the elves had to be warned.
He set the stone down in a pool of shadow, and shouted into the darkness.
"Tatsumi! Tatsumi, I need you here, now!"
The call was all it took. Tatsumi was a Shadow Master, and shadows were everywhere. Placing the coal on the shadow had created the basic connection that would carry Tsuzuki's voice to the elf's ears.
Moments after Tsuzuki had called for him, Tatsumi rose slowly out of the darkness, having used the shadows to transport himself to the mage's house.
"What's wrong?"
Tsuzuki pointed to the couch. "It's Hisoka! He's been attacked! I came home and found him like that in the garden. You have to warn the village. There's something in the woods that shouldn't be there."
During Tsuzuki's brief explanation, Tatsumi stood staring at the unconscious dragon in shock. Tsuzuki's cloak covered most of him, but what could be seen was still covered in bloody gashes.
"You haven't treated his wounds?"
"He--I had to get you to warn the village! I was about to. Oh God...." Purple eyes widened in shock as Tsuzuki looked at Tatsumi, horrified. "I told him he'd be safe here! I promised him! Oh God...."
A firm hand clamped down on the distraught mage's shoulder, stopping him before he could begin to berate himself.
"Tsuzuki, you must calm down. Worrying will not help the situation."
Tsuzuki nodded in response, and stepped away to go get his healing herbs and bandages.
"Wait. If this thing is as dangerous as you think, I should take you and Hisoka-kun back to the village with me. You will both be safer there until whatever attacked him is killed."
"But, shouldn't I--"
"I will take you through the shadows. It will only take a moment, and we have bandages and salve in the village. Bring him."
Obediently, Tsuzuki picked up Hisoka and carried him to where Tatsumi stood. The elf raised a hand over his head, and darkness followed to surround the three, springing up from the shadows at their feet.
Traveling through whatever shadow plane they had entered provided no physical sense of motion. All there was in this place was utter darkness. For a brief moment, Tsuzuki began to lose the feeling of holding Hisoka, as well as his own feeling of self in the consuming blackness.
The mage's senses returned quickly, however, and he realized that the transportation was finished. When the shadows receded, Tsuzuki found himself standing in the guest room in Tatsumi's home, the same room he had spent the night in. He looked over to thank his friend, but the elf had already gone to collect the materials to care for Hisoka's wounds.
He made his way to the bed, and laid Hisoka down on top of the covers, ignoring the blood that stained the previously pristine sheets. A shudder ran through him as he stared at the pale form wrapped in what now looked like a funeral shroud.
Hisoka was entirely too still and pale, and Tsuzuki lifted his left arm, checking again for a pulse. He kept his fingers on the shallow rhythm until Tatsumi returned with the supplies in a shallow basin.
"I must inform the others. Will you need help?"
"No. I can do it." Tsuzuki tried to smile. "Besides, I don't think he'd want anyone else to see him."
Tatsumi returned the mage's shaky smile with a firm one of his own. "Hisoka-kun will pull through. He'll be fine."
Tsuzuki nodded, but his eyes slid away from Tatsumi's, and the elf realized that there was more going on than just a simple attack by a wild beast. He turned to leave, but paused as Tsuzuki spoke.
"Tatsumi...tell them this thing is a threat. Hisoka wasn't attacked by an animal."
The elf nodded and left, making sure to shut the door firmly.
Tsuzuki emptied the bucket to fill it with warm water. He spread out his cloak and picked up a cloth to begin washing the blood off the dragon's pale skin.
As he washed, salved, and bandaged, he fought to keep his mind firmly on his task. It was hard to block the feelings of guilt over the incident. He felt that he should have been able to do something--anything--to keep his promise. In the end, however, he had failed again.
He shoved his guilt to the back of his mind to focus on later.
Harder to ignore, yet more elusive than the guilt, were fleeting thoughts about Hisoka himself. Such as how soft the pallid skin was. How lovely he looked, even injured as he was. How vulnerable....
These thoughts were much, much worse than the guilt Tsuzuki placed on himself, and he berated himself mentally every time one of them surfaced. Now was neither the time nor the place to be thinking of his apprentice like that. The knowledge that he could even be having such thoughts when the dragon had just been through something so horrible added to Tsuzuki's guilt.
He knew exactly what had happened to Hisoka. Raped again, in the place where he should have been the safest. No. That was wrong. The safest place would have been at the mage's side, where he would have been protected.
Making promises that he couldn't keep, falling for one who would not catch him, and leaving that one alone to be hurt...he was three times the fool.
Tears stung his eyes, and he wiped at them angrily, forcing himself to focus on splinting Hisoka's arm. The important thing now was to tend to the wounds. Later he could agonize over letting the dragon get hurt again. Later he could ponder his relationship with Hisoka and decide exactly what he felt for him. Later.
He lifted the dragon's slim shoulders, holding him up with one arm as he began washing the blood from his back.
~*~})|({~*~
It was past noon by the time Tsuzuki had finished bandaging all the cuts and slashes. He checked in the small chest that stood at the foot of the bed, and found a spare blanket and a few tunics, all much too large for Hisoka. Setting the blanket aside, he pulled out a pale green tunic and slipped it over the still unconscious dragon. Sitting Hisoka carefully in a chair, he dumped the bloodstained cloak and cover in a pile on the floor before moving his apprentice back onto the bed and covering him with the clean blanket.
He dragged the chair to the bedside, and dropped into it to watch over Hisoka as he slept. As his eyes wandered over his apprentice's form he allowed his feelings of guilt to flood into his mind.
Hisoka's chest rose and fell with his deep, even breathing.
Hadn't the cynical youth just started learning to trust him? Tsuzuki had promised safety...and then failed to protect Hisoka. There was no excuse. Checking the goods hadn't taken long at all. The reason he had stayed the night was the bottle of sake he had asked for, received, and consumed with Tatsumi in an impromptu celebration of nothing. If he had gone home as he should have instead of passing out in the elf's guest room, Hisoka would have been safe.
Blood stained the cloth that bound Hisoka's right arm to its splints.
How could he have let something like this happen to his charge? The wards around the house should have kept out malevolent intruders. Apparently, whoever had done this to Hisoka possessed magic at least as strong as Tsuzuki's. If their magic was stronger....
How many more people would he fail to protect? What if it attacked the village?
What if it killed someone?
Pale lids sealed vibrant eyes as the dragon slept, bruised face tense.
What if it killed Hisoka?
What would he do if it returned with stronger magic to kill the youth? What would he do if he failed to protect Hisoka again? The little dragon who wanted to be so strong, yet who could be so frail, had come to mean a lot to him.
What if Hisoka blamed him? How could he even begin to ask forgiveness for breaking such a promise?
Blood was matted in the dragon's hair. Tsuzuki had tried his best to get it out, but the job had been impossible to complete. He reached over to gently brush some of the auburn-tinted strands away from Hisoka's face. As his fingers brushed soft skin, the dragon flinched and muttered something, opening his eyes.
"Hisoka...."
Wincing and groaning, Hisoka tried to push himself up to sit. He made the mistake of putting weight on his broken arm, and fell back, crying out in pain. Tsuzuki was out of his chair in an instant, arms wrapped tightly around the young dragon as he held him close.
Taking care not to bump the splinted arm, Tsuzuki buried one of his hands in Hisoka's hair, and dropped his face into the crook of the dragon's neck. His other hand held Hisoka's body up against his own, as he began apologizing.
Hisoka muttered something, and tried to push away. The mage shook his head, dark hair tickling the pallid neck, and held his apprentice tighter.
"...stop it...!" This time when the youth tried to pull away, Tsuzuki let him.
Hisoka's breathing was strained as he watched the mage. His body was one large ache, punctuated by occasional sharper pains, and the overwhelming remorse from Tsuzuki was not helping.
"...Hisoka...daijobu ka?"
"Stop worrying! I can't deal with that right now...."
Tsuzuki understood immediately, and forced back the waves of guilt inside him.
"Gomen nasai."
"I know. It wasn't your fault. Shut up."
Already Hisoka seemed more relaxed now that he had only the physical pain to deal with. Tsuzuki smiled at him, although it was more than a little weak, and let relief flood through him. Surely relief wouldn't hurt the dragon, and he was too happy that Hisoka had woken up not to feel good about it.
A slight shiver ran through the empath, enough to catch Tsuzuki's attention.
"Are you cold?" Without waiting for an answer, the mage reached out and hesitantly pulled Hisoka into another hug.
The dragon's first reaction was to tense up. He pulled away a little, just enough to see what Tsuzuki would do. Sadness entered the swirl of emotion that marked the mage as he reluctantly let go. Before he could pull away completely, however, Hisoka let himself relax against Tsuzuki, and soon he felt the mage's warm arms on his back.
"...You don't have to force yourself...."
Hisoka shook his head, and wrapped his good arm around Tsuzuki's shoulders. He had only pulled away to ensure that the mage would let him. He didn't want the feeling of being trapped in an unwanted embrace...especially not from Tsuzuki.
He shuddered, as the events of last night surfaced in his mind. Tsuzuki's embrace tightened, and Hisoka felt gentle hands stroking his back. He huddled closer to the mage, lowering his head to rest it against Tsuzuki's chest. He listened to the faint beating of the older man's heart as he tried not to think of anything.
Warmth issued from the mage to wrap around him comfortingly. Part of it came simply from being held, and part of it came from his emotions. Happiness, relief, worry, guilt, and faint anger were all tinged with a comforting feeling that warmed Hisoka from the inside.
He focused on these feelings as a way to escape his torment. He drew the mage's emotions into himself, filling his mind and heart with Tsuzuki, and drowning out his own pain and despair. He opened himself to everything the mage felt, good and bad, preferring the dull guilt and depression to his own sharp feelings and the taint that infected him. He welcomed it all in as Tsuzuki held him, unaware of what his apprentice was doing.
Tsuzuki felt Hisoka shift, and looked down into a pair of blank leaf green eyes. The sight disturbed him in a way that was entirely different from the unnerving glow of astral sight. Hisoka's eyes slid shut as he slowly stretched up to brush his lips against Tsuzuki's.
Shocked would be too mild a word to describe how the mage felt. Part of him wanted this, but it was obvious that something was very wrong. Hisoka kissed him again, knocking him out of his shock. He leaned back, keeping the dragon at a distance.
"Hi-Hisoka?!"
"Don't...." Hisoka's voice was soft as he looked at Tsuzuki with unseeing eyes. "Please...let me in...." He leaned closer. "Let me lose myself...."
"Hisoka, you don't know what you're saying. What did you do?"
"I don't want to feel this anymore.... Please...."
Tsuzuki scrambled off the bed and away from its occupant. The same treacherous thoughts that had filtered through his mind as he cared for Hisoka's wounds were surfacing again.
Hisoka sagged and covered his face with his hands. When he looked up again, his eyes had returned to normal. His gaze was shocked, and touched with fear. When he spoke, his voice shook.
"That's what you feel? How can you...?" He cast his eyes down to hide angry, disgusted tears. "Is this body so desirable to you humans? It's disgusting. It's weak and pathetic...it sickens me to be trapped in this form!"
Slowly it dawned on Tsuzuki what Hisoka meant.
"Hisoka, tell me what just happened."
"It's none of your busi--"
"It is my business! Whatever it was it involved my feelings; that makes it my business." He stood beside the bed, and took hold of Hisoka's arm. "Tell me what you did."
The dragon refused to meet his eyes. "I tried to escape. I pulled your feelings into myself so I wouldn't have to feel. ...I lost control." He was quiet for a minute as Tsuzuki digested the information. Then: "Let go of me."
The mage released Hisoka's arm and sat down beside him.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"No."
"Are you afraid of what I feel?"
"...Yes."
"Why?"
"...Because I don't understand it. Because I don't want...that."
"I'm not going to do anything. I won't hurt you."
Hisoka nodded, still carefully studying the blankets.
Silence stretched between them, becoming heavier as the minutes passed. Finally, Tsuzuki rose from his seat on the bed, and took a step toward the door.
"Why don't I leave you alone for a whi--"
"No." Immediately, Hisoka covered his mouth, unsure why he had interrupted. He kept his eyes firmly downcast as he continued the thought he had so impulsively begun. "I don't want to be alone right now."
The first thing Tsuzuki felt was surprise. It was followed quickly by concern, gratitude, fondness, and that comforting warmth that usually accompanied his emotions.
"All right." Hisoka glanced up at him. "I'll stay," he pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, "right here, and keep you company."
The dragon mumbled a 'thanks', and stared at the wall.
Now what? He had called the mage back for no apparent reason. He wasn't sleepy, and he had nothing to say. However, the silence was becoming oppressive again, and if he didn't do something it was going to drive him insane.
He sighed, and Tsuzuki looked at him, curiously.
"He's looking for you," was Hisoka's soft answer to the unspoken question.
"Who is?"
"Muraki," Hisoka made a vague gesture indicating his injuries. He ignored his feelings, not wanting to deal with the tsunami of negativity.
"He's the one who did this?" Anger was plain in his tone, and Hisoka could feel worry, sadness, and guilt building again as well.
"I didn't say anything about you. He probably thought the cottage was mine."
"Hisoka! Is that why he did this? You should have just told him!"
The dragon shook his head. "He would have done it anyway. I wasn't going to do anything to help him, no matter what happened."
"'Soka...."
"I'll be fine. Let's just make sure he doesn't find you. Whatever he wants can't be good." Repressing his emotions again gave his voice a dull quality that worried Tsuzuki.
"I can't just hide from him. What if he does this to someone else?" Left unspoken was the question of whether he would return for Hisoka.
"What if he does this to you," the dragon snapped. "He isn't a normal wizard, Tsuzuki. He's not all human."
"What is he?"
"Aside from evil...? He has angel blood."
Tsuzuki coughed, not sure he had heard Hisoka right. "You can't be serious...."
A flat stare was his only response.
"But...he can't be part angel! Angels are supposed to protect people!"
"Even assuming that one ancestry would take precedence over the other, that logic doesn't work with half breeds. Look at you. You're half demon, and you don't go around killing and maiming. You're probably the most stupidly kind person I'll ever meet. Besides," Hisoka looked down, twisting the sheets in his fists. "Angels don't protect people, they protect the world. And the only reason they do that is because that's their...well, purpose. They don't do it out of love for other creatures, they do it because it's instinctive."
"But nee-chan always said...."
"Did she ever meet an angel?"
"...No."
"I have. They aren't as nice as you'd hope."
Tsuzuki sighed. "How come you never mentioned what he was before?"
"Wasn't important. Just like it doesn't matter what blood runs through your veins. Muraki is a very powerful, very insane, very nasty wizard. That's all there is to it."
"So what are his weaknesses?"
"I wouldn't know."
"And you were planning on confronting him? How did you expect to win?"
Hisoka's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm not sure I did. Back then, I didn't really have any reason to live. It wouldn't have mattered if he had killed me. Now...." Hisoka shrugged. "Now I have friends, a home...I don't want to give that up. That's why I gave up on that spell." He looked at Tsuzuki, face unreadable. "Your plan worked pretty well. Not a year into my apprenticeship, and I've already given up my suicide plan."
"You have no idea how relieved I am."
"I'm an empath, idiot. I know exactly how relieved you are."
Hisoka reached over and wrapped his good arm around the mage's shoulders, much to his surprise. At first, Tsuzuki was hesitant to return the hug.
"Sorry. I won't try to lose myself again." Hisoka began to pull back, but Tsuzuki was having none of it now. He wrapped his arms around the dragon's slim form and smiled.
"This is the first time you're reached out to me."
Hisoka shrugged and hid a wince. "I came to you for help with the curse."
"That's different."
Choosing not to respond, Hisoka tightened his hug, leaning more against Tsuzuki. The mage quickly picked up on the feeling behind the shift.
"Tired?"
"...A bit."
With a smile, the mage stood and ruffled Hisoka's hair.
"I'll go find you something to eat first. After that you should get some rest."
"Aa."
"Be right back."
He left the room and made his way to the kitchen. Tatsumi's house was a floor shorter than his cottage, consisting of a ground floor and a basement. Tsuzuki raided a fruit bowl on the counter, grabbed a knife from a drawer, and turned to find Tatsumi in the doorway.
"We need a description of his attacker."
"Oh. Right." Tsuzuki bit his lip. "I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to ask Hisoka what Muraki looks like."
"Muraki? Isn't that...?"
"The same." Tossing a sad smile to the disgusted elf, Tsuzuki returned to the guest room. Tatsumi followed silently.
When he entered, Tsuzuki sat down, setting some of the fruit on the desk. He passed Hisoka a small cluster of grapes, which the dragon began devouring after thanking Tatsumi for the use of the room. Tatsumi opted to wait beside the door, as Tsuzuki picked up an apple and began slicing it.
"...They need to know what he looks like. I'm sorry to have to ask you this, but--"
Hisoka cut the mage off with a wave. "Don't be. It isn't your fault. He's...a little taller than you, and a little paler than me. His hair is silver. His eyes are silver too, but they're mismatched."
"Mismatched?"
"One of them is...different. It isn't his eye...or at least it wasn't always his eye." Tsuzuki winced as the dragon continued. "He usually wears a white cloak. Needless to say, he blends in with the mist pretty well. He has an...unsettling...aura. Anyone with any magic at all should be able to pick up on it." The mage reached over to squeeze Hisoka's hand.
"It was worse for you, wasn't it?" he asked softly.
"...Aa. Most people would just feel uneasy around him. The strain on my empathy nearly choked me."
Wordlessly, Tsuzuki passed him a slice of apple, which he ate without tasting.
"Will that description do?" He accepted another slice of apple as he questioned Tsuzuki.
Tatsumi nodded when the mage looked to him for confirmation.
"Yeah. That should be good."
"Thank you Hisoka-kun. I apologize for having to ask you, but it was necessary. See that he gets some rest, Tsuzuki." Tatsumi nodded and left, closing the door behind him.
Tsuzuki finished slicing the apple, and made sure Hisoka ate it before he let the dragon lay down.
"Do you want me to stay?"
"...Is it all right?"
Tsuzuki smiled. He stood and stretched, then removed his boots and belt and crawled under the covers beside Hisoka.
"What are you doing?!" The dragon hissed at him in alarm.
"I'm getting comfortable."
"Tsuzuki!"
"Shhh." The mage rested his arm lightly across Hisoka's chest. "Go to sleep. I'll be right here to keep you safe."
"How do you expect me to sleep like this?"
"Just relax. If you don't, I'll use a sleep spell. You need rest."
"You wouldn't dare."
"You're right. I don't think you'd be too happy with me if I did that." Hisoka snorted. "Close your eyes. I'll watch over you."
"I don't need you to protect me," the dragon muttered, letting his lids slide shut.
"Of course not, but I'm going to anyway."
"Baka."
Tsuzuki smiled. Hisoka felt the mage's warmth envelop him, and allowed himself to fall asleep.
~*~})|({~*~
So, who all thought Muraki would be at least half dragon--raise your hands. Heh. And wouldn't it have been interesting if he was? Sorry to those who were hoping for it, but this worked better for my plot. Plus, I don't like Muraki. Dragons, now...I adore dragons. Always have. For me to confer dragon status on a character is a high honor indeed.
They're real too, you know...just like faeries. Dragons are of an energetic/spiritual nature, and I don't think they manifest physically often (if at all), but they're real. I want to meet one....
Coal, by the way, is said to attract money. It's energy is receptive, meaning it is of a dark, spiritual nature.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed! I have such energetic readers! -^^-
~*~})|({~*~
Tsuzuki set Hisoka down carefully on the sitting room sofa, hovering a moment over the slim form wrapped in his cloak, before he turned to face the curtained windows. He reached into his pocket with shaking fingers, and withdrew a piece of coal that had been wrapped carefully in silver wire and hung on a black silk cord.
The coal had been one of Tatsumi's oldest focuses for magic, and over time, had become attuned to the elf. Years ago, he had given it to Tsuzuki with instructions on how to use it to summon him if the mage ever found himself in trouble.
Tsuzuki had never used the talisman before, but now he feared for his apprentice, as well as the elven village. Something dangerous was prowling the forest, and the elves had to be warned.
He set the stone down in a pool of shadow, and shouted into the darkness.
"Tatsumi! Tatsumi, I need you here, now!"
The call was all it took. Tatsumi was a Shadow Master, and shadows were everywhere. Placing the coal on the shadow had created the basic connection that would carry Tsuzuki's voice to the elf's ears.
Moments after Tsuzuki had called for him, Tatsumi rose slowly out of the darkness, having used the shadows to transport himself to the mage's house.
"What's wrong?"
Tsuzuki pointed to the couch. "It's Hisoka! He's been attacked! I came home and found him like that in the garden. You have to warn the village. There's something in the woods that shouldn't be there."
During Tsuzuki's brief explanation, Tatsumi stood staring at the unconscious dragon in shock. Tsuzuki's cloak covered most of him, but what could be seen was still covered in bloody gashes.
"You haven't treated his wounds?"
"He--I had to get you to warn the village! I was about to. Oh God...." Purple eyes widened in shock as Tsuzuki looked at Tatsumi, horrified. "I told him he'd be safe here! I promised him! Oh God...."
A firm hand clamped down on the distraught mage's shoulder, stopping him before he could begin to berate himself.
"Tsuzuki, you must calm down. Worrying will not help the situation."
Tsuzuki nodded in response, and stepped away to go get his healing herbs and bandages.
"Wait. If this thing is as dangerous as you think, I should take you and Hisoka-kun back to the village with me. You will both be safer there until whatever attacked him is killed."
"But, shouldn't I--"
"I will take you through the shadows. It will only take a moment, and we have bandages and salve in the village. Bring him."
Obediently, Tsuzuki picked up Hisoka and carried him to where Tatsumi stood. The elf raised a hand over his head, and darkness followed to surround the three, springing up from the shadows at their feet.
Traveling through whatever shadow plane they had entered provided no physical sense of motion. All there was in this place was utter darkness. For a brief moment, Tsuzuki began to lose the feeling of holding Hisoka, as well as his own feeling of self in the consuming blackness.
The mage's senses returned quickly, however, and he realized that the transportation was finished. When the shadows receded, Tsuzuki found himself standing in the guest room in Tatsumi's home, the same room he had spent the night in. He looked over to thank his friend, but the elf had already gone to collect the materials to care for Hisoka's wounds.
He made his way to the bed, and laid Hisoka down on top of the covers, ignoring the blood that stained the previously pristine sheets. A shudder ran through him as he stared at the pale form wrapped in what now looked like a funeral shroud.
Hisoka was entirely too still and pale, and Tsuzuki lifted his left arm, checking again for a pulse. He kept his fingers on the shallow rhythm until Tatsumi returned with the supplies in a shallow basin.
"I must inform the others. Will you need help?"
"No. I can do it." Tsuzuki tried to smile. "Besides, I don't think he'd want anyone else to see him."
Tatsumi returned the mage's shaky smile with a firm one of his own. "Hisoka-kun will pull through. He'll be fine."
Tsuzuki nodded, but his eyes slid away from Tatsumi's, and the elf realized that there was more going on than just a simple attack by a wild beast. He turned to leave, but paused as Tsuzuki spoke.
"Tatsumi...tell them this thing is a threat. Hisoka wasn't attacked by an animal."
The elf nodded and left, making sure to shut the door firmly.
Tsuzuki emptied the bucket to fill it with warm water. He spread out his cloak and picked up a cloth to begin washing the blood off the dragon's pale skin.
As he washed, salved, and bandaged, he fought to keep his mind firmly on his task. It was hard to block the feelings of guilt over the incident. He felt that he should have been able to do something--anything--to keep his promise. In the end, however, he had failed again.
He shoved his guilt to the back of his mind to focus on later.
Harder to ignore, yet more elusive than the guilt, were fleeting thoughts about Hisoka himself. Such as how soft the pallid skin was. How lovely he looked, even injured as he was. How vulnerable....
These thoughts were much, much worse than the guilt Tsuzuki placed on himself, and he berated himself mentally every time one of them surfaced. Now was neither the time nor the place to be thinking of his apprentice like that. The knowledge that he could even be having such thoughts when the dragon had just been through something so horrible added to Tsuzuki's guilt.
He knew exactly what had happened to Hisoka. Raped again, in the place where he should have been the safest. No. That was wrong. The safest place would have been at the mage's side, where he would have been protected.
Making promises that he couldn't keep, falling for one who would not catch him, and leaving that one alone to be hurt...he was three times the fool.
Tears stung his eyes, and he wiped at them angrily, forcing himself to focus on splinting Hisoka's arm. The important thing now was to tend to the wounds. Later he could agonize over letting the dragon get hurt again. Later he could ponder his relationship with Hisoka and decide exactly what he felt for him. Later.
He lifted the dragon's slim shoulders, holding him up with one arm as he began washing the blood from his back.
~*~})|({~*~
It was past noon by the time Tsuzuki had finished bandaging all the cuts and slashes. He checked in the small chest that stood at the foot of the bed, and found a spare blanket and a few tunics, all much too large for Hisoka. Setting the blanket aside, he pulled out a pale green tunic and slipped it over the still unconscious dragon. Sitting Hisoka carefully in a chair, he dumped the bloodstained cloak and cover in a pile on the floor before moving his apprentice back onto the bed and covering him with the clean blanket.
He dragged the chair to the bedside, and dropped into it to watch over Hisoka as he slept. As his eyes wandered over his apprentice's form he allowed his feelings of guilt to flood into his mind.
Hisoka's chest rose and fell with his deep, even breathing.
Hadn't the cynical youth just started learning to trust him? Tsuzuki had promised safety...and then failed to protect Hisoka. There was no excuse. Checking the goods hadn't taken long at all. The reason he had stayed the night was the bottle of sake he had asked for, received, and consumed with Tatsumi in an impromptu celebration of nothing. If he had gone home as he should have instead of passing out in the elf's guest room, Hisoka would have been safe.
Blood stained the cloth that bound Hisoka's right arm to its splints.
How could he have let something like this happen to his charge? The wards around the house should have kept out malevolent intruders. Apparently, whoever had done this to Hisoka possessed magic at least as strong as Tsuzuki's. If their magic was stronger....
How many more people would he fail to protect? What if it attacked the village?
What if it killed someone?
Pale lids sealed vibrant eyes as the dragon slept, bruised face tense.
What if it killed Hisoka?
What would he do if it returned with stronger magic to kill the youth? What would he do if he failed to protect Hisoka again? The little dragon who wanted to be so strong, yet who could be so frail, had come to mean a lot to him.
What if Hisoka blamed him? How could he even begin to ask forgiveness for breaking such a promise?
Blood was matted in the dragon's hair. Tsuzuki had tried his best to get it out, but the job had been impossible to complete. He reached over to gently brush some of the auburn-tinted strands away from Hisoka's face. As his fingers brushed soft skin, the dragon flinched and muttered something, opening his eyes.
"Hisoka...."
Wincing and groaning, Hisoka tried to push himself up to sit. He made the mistake of putting weight on his broken arm, and fell back, crying out in pain. Tsuzuki was out of his chair in an instant, arms wrapped tightly around the young dragon as he held him close.
Taking care not to bump the splinted arm, Tsuzuki buried one of his hands in Hisoka's hair, and dropped his face into the crook of the dragon's neck. His other hand held Hisoka's body up against his own, as he began apologizing.
Hisoka muttered something, and tried to push away. The mage shook his head, dark hair tickling the pallid neck, and held his apprentice tighter.
"...stop it...!" This time when the youth tried to pull away, Tsuzuki let him.
Hisoka's breathing was strained as he watched the mage. His body was one large ache, punctuated by occasional sharper pains, and the overwhelming remorse from Tsuzuki was not helping.
"...Hisoka...daijobu ka?"
"Stop worrying! I can't deal with that right now...."
Tsuzuki understood immediately, and forced back the waves of guilt inside him.
"Gomen nasai."
"I know. It wasn't your fault. Shut up."
Already Hisoka seemed more relaxed now that he had only the physical pain to deal with. Tsuzuki smiled at him, although it was more than a little weak, and let relief flood through him. Surely relief wouldn't hurt the dragon, and he was too happy that Hisoka had woken up not to feel good about it.
A slight shiver ran through the empath, enough to catch Tsuzuki's attention.
"Are you cold?" Without waiting for an answer, the mage reached out and hesitantly pulled Hisoka into another hug.
The dragon's first reaction was to tense up. He pulled away a little, just enough to see what Tsuzuki would do. Sadness entered the swirl of emotion that marked the mage as he reluctantly let go. Before he could pull away completely, however, Hisoka let himself relax against Tsuzuki, and soon he felt the mage's warm arms on his back.
"...You don't have to force yourself...."
Hisoka shook his head, and wrapped his good arm around Tsuzuki's shoulders. He had only pulled away to ensure that the mage would let him. He didn't want the feeling of being trapped in an unwanted embrace...especially not from Tsuzuki.
He shuddered, as the events of last night surfaced in his mind. Tsuzuki's embrace tightened, and Hisoka felt gentle hands stroking his back. He huddled closer to the mage, lowering his head to rest it against Tsuzuki's chest. He listened to the faint beating of the older man's heart as he tried not to think of anything.
Warmth issued from the mage to wrap around him comfortingly. Part of it came simply from being held, and part of it came from his emotions. Happiness, relief, worry, guilt, and faint anger were all tinged with a comforting feeling that warmed Hisoka from the inside.
He focused on these feelings as a way to escape his torment. He drew the mage's emotions into himself, filling his mind and heart with Tsuzuki, and drowning out his own pain and despair. He opened himself to everything the mage felt, good and bad, preferring the dull guilt and depression to his own sharp feelings and the taint that infected him. He welcomed it all in as Tsuzuki held him, unaware of what his apprentice was doing.
Tsuzuki felt Hisoka shift, and looked down into a pair of blank leaf green eyes. The sight disturbed him in a way that was entirely different from the unnerving glow of astral sight. Hisoka's eyes slid shut as he slowly stretched up to brush his lips against Tsuzuki's.
Shocked would be too mild a word to describe how the mage felt. Part of him wanted this, but it was obvious that something was very wrong. Hisoka kissed him again, knocking him out of his shock. He leaned back, keeping the dragon at a distance.
"Hi-Hisoka?!"
"Don't...." Hisoka's voice was soft as he looked at Tsuzuki with unseeing eyes. "Please...let me in...." He leaned closer. "Let me lose myself...."
"Hisoka, you don't know what you're saying. What did you do?"
"I don't want to feel this anymore.... Please...."
Tsuzuki scrambled off the bed and away from its occupant. The same treacherous thoughts that had filtered through his mind as he cared for Hisoka's wounds were surfacing again.
Hisoka sagged and covered his face with his hands. When he looked up again, his eyes had returned to normal. His gaze was shocked, and touched with fear. When he spoke, his voice shook.
"That's what you feel? How can you...?" He cast his eyes down to hide angry, disgusted tears. "Is this body so desirable to you humans? It's disgusting. It's weak and pathetic...it sickens me to be trapped in this form!"
Slowly it dawned on Tsuzuki what Hisoka meant.
"Hisoka, tell me what just happened."
"It's none of your busi--"
"It is my business! Whatever it was it involved my feelings; that makes it my business." He stood beside the bed, and took hold of Hisoka's arm. "Tell me what you did."
The dragon refused to meet his eyes. "I tried to escape. I pulled your feelings into myself so I wouldn't have to feel. ...I lost control." He was quiet for a minute as Tsuzuki digested the information. Then: "Let go of me."
The mage released Hisoka's arm and sat down beside him.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"No."
"Are you afraid of what I feel?"
"...Yes."
"Why?"
"...Because I don't understand it. Because I don't want...that."
"I'm not going to do anything. I won't hurt you."
Hisoka nodded, still carefully studying the blankets.
Silence stretched between them, becoming heavier as the minutes passed. Finally, Tsuzuki rose from his seat on the bed, and took a step toward the door.
"Why don't I leave you alone for a whi--"
"No." Immediately, Hisoka covered his mouth, unsure why he had interrupted. He kept his eyes firmly downcast as he continued the thought he had so impulsively begun. "I don't want to be alone right now."
The first thing Tsuzuki felt was surprise. It was followed quickly by concern, gratitude, fondness, and that comforting warmth that usually accompanied his emotions.
"All right." Hisoka glanced up at him. "I'll stay," he pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, "right here, and keep you company."
The dragon mumbled a 'thanks', and stared at the wall.
Now what? He had called the mage back for no apparent reason. He wasn't sleepy, and he had nothing to say. However, the silence was becoming oppressive again, and if he didn't do something it was going to drive him insane.
He sighed, and Tsuzuki looked at him, curiously.
"He's looking for you," was Hisoka's soft answer to the unspoken question.
"Who is?"
"Muraki," Hisoka made a vague gesture indicating his injuries. He ignored his feelings, not wanting to deal with the tsunami of negativity.
"He's the one who did this?" Anger was plain in his tone, and Hisoka could feel worry, sadness, and guilt building again as well.
"I didn't say anything about you. He probably thought the cottage was mine."
"Hisoka! Is that why he did this? You should have just told him!"
The dragon shook his head. "He would have done it anyway. I wasn't going to do anything to help him, no matter what happened."
"'Soka...."
"I'll be fine. Let's just make sure he doesn't find you. Whatever he wants can't be good." Repressing his emotions again gave his voice a dull quality that worried Tsuzuki.
"I can't just hide from him. What if he does this to someone else?" Left unspoken was the question of whether he would return for Hisoka.
"What if he does this to you," the dragon snapped. "He isn't a normal wizard, Tsuzuki. He's not all human."
"What is he?"
"Aside from evil...? He has angel blood."
Tsuzuki coughed, not sure he had heard Hisoka right. "You can't be serious...."
A flat stare was his only response.
"But...he can't be part angel! Angels are supposed to protect people!"
"Even assuming that one ancestry would take precedence over the other, that logic doesn't work with half breeds. Look at you. You're half demon, and you don't go around killing and maiming. You're probably the most stupidly kind person I'll ever meet. Besides," Hisoka looked down, twisting the sheets in his fists. "Angels don't protect people, they protect the world. And the only reason they do that is because that's their...well, purpose. They don't do it out of love for other creatures, they do it because it's instinctive."
"But nee-chan always said...."
"Did she ever meet an angel?"
"...No."
"I have. They aren't as nice as you'd hope."
Tsuzuki sighed. "How come you never mentioned what he was before?"
"Wasn't important. Just like it doesn't matter what blood runs through your veins. Muraki is a very powerful, very insane, very nasty wizard. That's all there is to it."
"So what are his weaknesses?"
"I wouldn't know."
"And you were planning on confronting him? How did you expect to win?"
Hisoka's voice was barely above a whisper. "I'm not sure I did. Back then, I didn't really have any reason to live. It wouldn't have mattered if he had killed me. Now...." Hisoka shrugged. "Now I have friends, a home...I don't want to give that up. That's why I gave up on that spell." He looked at Tsuzuki, face unreadable. "Your plan worked pretty well. Not a year into my apprenticeship, and I've already given up my suicide plan."
"You have no idea how relieved I am."
"I'm an empath, idiot. I know exactly how relieved you are."
Hisoka reached over and wrapped his good arm around the mage's shoulders, much to his surprise. At first, Tsuzuki was hesitant to return the hug.
"Sorry. I won't try to lose myself again." Hisoka began to pull back, but Tsuzuki was having none of it now. He wrapped his arms around the dragon's slim form and smiled.
"This is the first time you're reached out to me."
Hisoka shrugged and hid a wince. "I came to you for help with the curse."
"That's different."
Choosing not to respond, Hisoka tightened his hug, leaning more against Tsuzuki. The mage quickly picked up on the feeling behind the shift.
"Tired?"
"...A bit."
With a smile, the mage stood and ruffled Hisoka's hair.
"I'll go find you something to eat first. After that you should get some rest."
"Aa."
"Be right back."
He left the room and made his way to the kitchen. Tatsumi's house was a floor shorter than his cottage, consisting of a ground floor and a basement. Tsuzuki raided a fruit bowl on the counter, grabbed a knife from a drawer, and turned to find Tatsumi in the doorway.
"We need a description of his attacker."
"Oh. Right." Tsuzuki bit his lip. "I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to ask Hisoka what Muraki looks like."
"Muraki? Isn't that...?"
"The same." Tossing a sad smile to the disgusted elf, Tsuzuki returned to the guest room. Tatsumi followed silently.
When he entered, Tsuzuki sat down, setting some of the fruit on the desk. He passed Hisoka a small cluster of grapes, which the dragon began devouring after thanking Tatsumi for the use of the room. Tatsumi opted to wait beside the door, as Tsuzuki picked up an apple and began slicing it.
"...They need to know what he looks like. I'm sorry to have to ask you this, but--"
Hisoka cut the mage off with a wave. "Don't be. It isn't your fault. He's...a little taller than you, and a little paler than me. His hair is silver. His eyes are silver too, but they're mismatched."
"Mismatched?"
"One of them is...different. It isn't his eye...or at least it wasn't always his eye." Tsuzuki winced as the dragon continued. "He usually wears a white cloak. Needless to say, he blends in with the mist pretty well. He has an...unsettling...aura. Anyone with any magic at all should be able to pick up on it." The mage reached over to squeeze Hisoka's hand.
"It was worse for you, wasn't it?" he asked softly.
"...Aa. Most people would just feel uneasy around him. The strain on my empathy nearly choked me."
Wordlessly, Tsuzuki passed him a slice of apple, which he ate without tasting.
"Will that description do?" He accepted another slice of apple as he questioned Tsuzuki.
Tatsumi nodded when the mage looked to him for confirmation.
"Yeah. That should be good."
"Thank you Hisoka-kun. I apologize for having to ask you, but it was necessary. See that he gets some rest, Tsuzuki." Tatsumi nodded and left, closing the door behind him.
Tsuzuki finished slicing the apple, and made sure Hisoka ate it before he let the dragon lay down.
"Do you want me to stay?"
"...Is it all right?"
Tsuzuki smiled. He stood and stretched, then removed his boots and belt and crawled under the covers beside Hisoka.
"What are you doing?!" The dragon hissed at him in alarm.
"I'm getting comfortable."
"Tsuzuki!"
"Shhh." The mage rested his arm lightly across Hisoka's chest. "Go to sleep. I'll be right here to keep you safe."
"How do you expect me to sleep like this?"
"Just relax. If you don't, I'll use a sleep spell. You need rest."
"You wouldn't dare."
"You're right. I don't think you'd be too happy with me if I did that." Hisoka snorted. "Close your eyes. I'll watch over you."
"I don't need you to protect me," the dragon muttered, letting his lids slide shut.
"Of course not, but I'm going to anyway."
"Baka."
Tsuzuki smiled. Hisoka felt the mage's warmth envelop him, and allowed himself to fall asleep.
~*~})|({~*~
So, who all thought Muraki would be at least half dragon--raise your hands. Heh. And wouldn't it have been interesting if he was? Sorry to those who were hoping for it, but this worked better for my plot. Plus, I don't like Muraki. Dragons, now...I adore dragons. Always have. For me to confer dragon status on a character is a high honor indeed.
They're real too, you know...just like faeries. Dragons are of an energetic/spiritual nature, and I don't think they manifest physically often (if at all), but they're real. I want to meet one....