Author: Aki Konoe, devil-angel-asuka, darkness1315
Warning: Cliffies? Mad Tatsumi-san?
Disclaimer: Uh…. They are not mine? Just my Ocs.
A/N: I'm handing out plushies! Here!
Shu-chan: Hontoni go-busata shite imasu!!! I was really busy… School and stuff…. I don't even have a vacation! Belated happy birthday though! What plushie do you want?
Master of Buttons: Yeah, I know you changed your name, but I forgot. Sorry. Ookami… L.S. Atarashii? Ah, I forgot, sorry. Thanks for reviewing though! And Thanks for agreeing to help me! You get a tsuzuki plushie… or you could trade it in the next time you review to change it!
Meritite: No Ocs?!? Why?! You're baaaaaaaaaaaaad! puts She is very, very important! You are so bad! Kidding. Oh, that character is from my other Yami fic… since this is sorta like the sequel… Yeah… that's it… right… here… choose a plushie… Hisoka or Tsuzuki?
neji: ne, neji-kun, thanks for the suggestions… I'll try, really, and so… well… I could… but well… Oh, if I try to ask duo-chan he might just hit me on the head with a frying pan… 4-some sounds good to me… anyway, I'll try to squeeze in THAT torture… want kaoru to do it to you though?
Kaoru: AKI?! YOU HENTAI! ASUKA GET OUT OF AKI NOW!
Asuka: JUST KIDDING!
Aki: that hurt… you hentai no baka! Anyway, neji-kun, a plushie for being so kind!
Yami no Koneko: Thanks for answering my ridiculous questions and for reviewing! Have a Hisoka plushie! hands Yami no Koneko one like it? I made him make it for you!
ManderNaner: You are my favourite reviewer besides YukaYuka, shu-chan, Meritite and neji-kun! Take some rest okay? You need it. Thanks for brightening up my day! (your review made me laugh all the way down to my next class that day) here, have this wonderfully, handcrafted Hisoka plushie!
'Till Death tear us apart Chapter 2: Boxed, bowed and gift-wrapped1
Laden in front of him were the remnants of his tie… That and the few pieces of the folder he had earlier carried. It was very unprofessional of him to play a little tug-of-war with a fifteen-year-old, and it was really a sight to see, because, for once, he had lost all his dignity and air in front of his whole division. He had been a laughing stock for the short time of it… He was flushed up to the roots of his hair, and almost yelled out an oath to the now fervent teenager.. Peeking at him from underneath the cover of arms and bodies, she whispered a shaky apology, and she tried to push her way out of the tangle of arms. But they held her down… (Well, except for Hisoka who stood in the corner shaking from the intensity of his ire, and a small twitch mark getting larger and larger by the second.) Tatsumi, when at that state of anger was not to be talked, or be neared to, much more, even looked at… The shadows behind him were holding up death scythes and obsidian knives, awaiting hi orders. After a while of pleading from Watari who had just stumbled upon the incident in time, he dismissed the shadows and he let himself be escorted out the door.
Sighs and sweat dropped from every person, and finally, they retreated and turned around to look if the child was still okay. Fortunately, she was fine, and Hisoka was the first one to react… Or… rather, berate the child, since after all, she was under her custody and he was her guardian, and full-time parent, more or less.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Hisoka was outraged. He was literally surrounded by the ethereal flames that had magically appeared, and the teenager wondered when Hisoka got so big that he almost hit the ceiling.
"Don't shout too much, 'Soka-chan…" Tsuzuki sidled his way to the kid on the floor, who was whimpering now, tears falling from her emerald green eyes. She hiccupped once or twice, and buried herself in Tsuzuki's trench coat lapels.
"Are you seriously trying to get fired or what?!"
Wakaba and Terazuma decided to escape, but Hisoka had stopped them. "HALT!" was the only word needed to glue them into place. Saya and Yuma, the Hokkaido twins, didn't bother to get out of the door; instead, they smiled desperately at the blond who nevertheless acknowledged their presence being guilty.
"Who told you people to tolerate such illicit behaviour?!" Hisoka toned down a little. As in 'a little', milimitere would do it.
"Hi-chan… Gomen ne…"
Hisoka turned to face her and scowled.
"Everyone, I apologize…. I shouldn't've…" Glancing around at her colleagues and looking up at Hisoka, she pleaded.
"Well, you better be…. What were you thinking? DO you seriously want to be suspended? Good thing Kachou isn't here!"
"Soka-chan, not too loud…" Tsuzuki cooed.
"Shut up." Hisoka looked at Tsuzuki then shifted his gaze once more on the child who stood up, and approached him.
"What do you think---" He was cut short as he was embraced and somehow, returned to his original state of height and his normal face. Or rather, he returned to his old scowling face, less the flames and the fiery eyes.
"I'll go to Tatsumi-san now." She let go of Hisoka and proceeded to walk to the table where Tatsumi's tie and remaining of the papers he held earlier was, and with a wave of her hand, it connected back again, and all of them were shifted to the place where they have first been; Wakaba and Terazuma at the staff table, with Saya and Yuma, Hisoka and Tsuzuki almost at the door. They all looked at her silently in awe as he went to Tatsumi's office.
A sigh escaped Hisoka's lips and Tsuzuki hugged him in response.
"She is just too much work…"
"She's still a child… Though she is fifteen, she still needs to work out a lot of things… Kind of reminds me of someone I know…" A teasing smile played on Tsuzuki's lips and Hisoka couldn't help but give Tsuzuki a smile back, and a pinch on the arm.
There was a knock on the door of his office; Watari had been the one who opened it. He didn't bother to see who it was; he had a huge migraine and it would worsen if she suddenly biursts in; had she found out what the information written on the paper was, it would be a huge disaster, and she might go and seek out the soul herself. And EnmaDaiOh would call for him, and Kachou might even fire him (was it possible?) and who knows what they would do to him?
"Tatsumi-san…" Emerald green eyes looked at him nervously, searching him of any shadow the lingered by, and he reluctantly looked up.
She handed him his tie and the folder, all put back together and he had to do a double take.
"I'm so sorry, please forgive me… It's just that I don't get to go to missions lately… and I… I'm sorry…"
Tatsumi meanwhile looked at his tie, tugging at both ends to see if he was just imagining it or not. "Ai, how did you…?"
"I must go now." She ran out of the door before Tatsumi could utter another word. Tatsumi looked back at her then at Watari who was looking at the tie, confusion clear on his face. Raising an eyebrow, he asked Tatsumi a silent inquiry.
"She had gone stronger…" Was all Tatsumi could say.
2
The eternal sky was looking down at her making her guilt worsen and her conscience scream with mixed emotions, the sun a haze of colours and light, a sudden cruelty brushing on her skin as if to say that she had sinned. And it seems that even the birds are conspiring against her also, having one of them peck on her hair as she climbed on of the sakura trees that adorned the pathway leading to JuuOhCHo. Sighing she let herself fall into the ocean of mist she had surrounded herself with, feeling the cool air she had felt yesterday, when she climbed up the tree down in Chijou. She had acted out immaturely and another sigh resound her thoughts. She lied down on the tree she had climbed up on and decided to sleep, or rather, close her eyes and maker her mind blank for a while, but still aware in case thoughts or the haunting came back again. Just in case.
"Oi."
Her eyes snapped open and she slipped, fortunately, she was caught by one swift scientist who calls himself Watari, accompanied by the ever-so-loyal owl, 003. She smiled weakly.
"Thanks.''
"No problem."
"Why are you here anyway?" She brushed off the leaves on her black turtleneck as Watari put her down.
"Just wanted to talk to you… You certainly cracked Tatsumi there." Watari grinned at her. But she didn't grin back.
"He's mad at me, isn't he?" She looked at Watari expectantly. Watari started to shake his head in disagreement and she had to raise her eyebrow to get him nodding in the process.
"Just a little." Watari finally sighed. "Don't worry, it seems like nothing bad happened… Well, as far as I know, what he feared to happen didn't happen anyway…"
"I ruined his tie…" She pouted and sat down on the grass, head in her hands.
"Don't worry about his tie… Besides, you've fixed it already, right??"
"…"
"Oh come on, cheer up dear…"
"How am I supposed to when I know even Hi-chan is mad at me…?"
"How about we go up to my lab and get some chocolates first?"
Despite the gloomy face, two furry tufted out of her hair, twitching in anticipation, and she let Watari steer her into the building.
Another morning had started: he had slept the whole afternoon yesterday. Sighing heavily as he heaved himself out of the suddenly too large bed, he caught sight of the picture frame that reminded him unmercifully of his love. Groaning now, he slipped out of the covers and went down the stairs to get some coffee. It's been seventeen days… and he's still not here… He mused. Glancing at the clock in the kitchen, he noticed the small pink Posy-it note on the refrigerator door, reminding him to eat on time.
He really should get out of the house. Too much Shuichi-ness might drive him crazy… Actually, it had driven him crazy; he found himself immersed with Shuichi's picture in the living room, mug in the other hand, and picture frame in the other; he had even developed a sort of amnesia… But it only made him forget about himself and everything else---except for Shuichi. He had only donned a black robe, which was half-open, and Shuichi's favourite bunny slippers. And they were baby pink. With purple hearts.
His phone rang.
He walked to his coat and took out his cell phone. Funny, it wasn't ringing, no flashing numbers on the screen, but something is ringing. He searched for something but he couldn't find any phone that was ringing. That was weird. I must be hallucinating… He said to himself.
He placed his mug down on the table and rubbed his eyes. He shuddered involuntarily as he walked up the stairs. Something had passed him by, sort of like a gust of wind, or maybe he really was going crazy… He heard a distant giggle and he had to pinch himself to see if he was dreaming or not.
"Must've been the wind."
If she was in the right mood and was with the right person, she would've enjoyed the day the right way. Normally, kids her age played pranks on elders. Well, she was a 12-year-old with no prior experience on such things; it was rather absurd. Really. But since today was a day to finally let out and feel free, she didn't care. She carried out her little prank, (if you would consider it as one) making her cell phone ring and making her victim think that there were ghosts in the room; she was surprised that the writer even heard it. And I must say that it was pretty good, having her prey scared and almost believe that he was going crazy. Technicalities apply. (As if.) Unfortunately, he dismissed it, thinking that it was the wind, or rather convinced himself that it was… Pouting she thought of something as sat on the black sofa of the spacious living room.
Yes, she was fully aware that she was dead. No, not metaphorically. She was dead, as in the kind of dead where her body is lying six feet under, cold, stiff, eyes wide shut, slain, the like. And she was also aware that she was now officially a ghosts. A wandering spirit. And for a wandering one, she had pretty good taste in places to go. The writer, being popular and all, was, truth be told, gorgeous. And his lover was cute too. Though she'd rather have the guitarist of BadLuck to herself… But Hiroshi was occupied already. And besides, she was still young. She sighed, smiling at the thought of Ai seeing her in Eiri Yuki's house. But she still had to deal with those guys with the neckties and carrying those---those---what were they called again? She knows she had read it somewhere… Ah! Ofudas. Right. But she could go and see her… Some way or another… She did say she was a Shinigami… That is, before she and her parted ways…
She had just thought of a way to see her when another one of 'Those Pesky Guys Wearing Suits' approached her. At their first few words, she cut them short and pointed her pistol at the both of them. Black-haired, (as she observed since they seemed to be twins, and the hair was the only thing that you could distinguish them with) mumbled something to his twin, the brown-haired one, and nodded.
"Good day to you, Shijiku-san." Black-haired said looking for the right words to say to a (currently dead) 12-year-old who was as stubborn as a mule.
"As the weather had confirmed, good day to you too." Shijiku, as she was addressed, replied, sarcasm present in her voice. She smiled jovially at the two.
"You are aware that we are here to… ah… send you on." Brown-haired said as he moved closer to her.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Heard it from the other three pairs whom I both shot… hmmm… at least twelve times each… Couldn't you give me more time?" She leant back casually, looking up at the two.
"I'm afraid not." Brown-haired said, eyeing her.
"Why?" She pouted, her big blue eyes suddenly brimming with (fake) tears, and clutching her pistol to her chest.
"You don't belong here, Shijiku-san." Balck-haired said.
"Fine! Then I'll make you let me stay!" She spat out, levelling the gun at their chests, (she carried a lot of bullets) she shot the both of them consequently shooting from one to the other. Thankfully, back up came. Two other shinigamis from the Shokan division appeared from thin air. Tsuzuki had run to the twins to help, and fortunately, they were not severely wounded, since both of them had good reflexes. The hole on the black-haired shinigami's arm was healing already, and his brother's right shoulder was starting to gather flesh. Hisoka approached the offending child whose head was now bowed, black hair hiding her face, reloading her gun. Beside her, Hisoka noted, was a red package, a gift-wrapped box tied with a red ribbon. He didn't recognize the child since his own child had distracted them from reading the file Tatsumi gave them earlier.
"'Soka-'nii chan?!? Nice to see you!" Came the wry greeting.
Shijiku Suki was no problem to talk to since she knew of the job, having to hear the same thing from the others who came to banish her. She had been waiting all that time and she said she had to shoot six other Shinigamis while she waited for Ai to do the job. Hisoka was relieved a little since he didn't have to do anything drastic and she even asked how Ai was doing.
Before she moved on, however, (the twins escorted her, since they insisted) she had asked them to do something.
In Hisoka's hands he held a small box wrapped in red tissue paper and a red ribbon, and he reluctantly brought it up to Meifu. Tsuzuki followed him to Watari's lab, where Ai was currently indulging herself with sweets. (The chocolate muffins were safe at least…)
Emerald green met Hisok'as own and Tsuuzki's amethyst; both looked grim, she thought. She offered some sweets, but both declined. Quirking an eyebrow, she asked what's the matter. Hisoka handed her the package in silence, his lips a thin line and he watched Ai's pure delight from the time she unwrapped it and to the time that smile faded in utter confusion. Then it sank in. She bolted up and ran from what she saw on the table, placed upon the billows of the red wrapping.
Suki's necklace.
3
A sweet yet sadistic smile crawled over pale lips. He laughed in pure delight he witnessed his plan going through as it was intended. Everything was falling into place. Delicate fingers encircled themselves around the porcelain doll's head, earlier abandoned by its owner. And as he caught sight of its green eyes, he crushed the head ever so slowly. The distraction had gone. Now, the bait… Then the prey.
"It has begun." He said to the awaiting servant. "You shall ring the Bell."
"When shall we begin our next move sire?" "It" asked, blue eyes gleaming in the darkness, features concealed in the blanket of shadows.
"Soon."
"Do you think she'll get over it?" A loving hand placed itself upon tensed shoulders, trying to calm the waters of shared grief.
"I really can't tell." Came the sombre reply. "Suki was important to her."
Tsuzuki Asato was not much of a parent, but he knows what Ai must be feeling. The year before was just like yesterday to him, even to Hisoka, and he knows that the boy had been endeared to the child that he was almost a parent to her himself; and last year's events had been heartbreaking to Ai that she had asked EnamaDaiOh to seal her own subconscious. She has been thorugh enough, and having Suki die like this, was too much. He squeezed Hisoka's shoulder and looked outside the iwndow of their office, watching the solemn figure lying on the green grass. He could almost feel the same tears fall down his own face, and indeed there were tears, trailing soft marks on his cheeks. He shifted his weight uneasily.
"Hisoka?" he asked the uneasily behind the younger Shinigami. Looking down he noticed that his stance was now sharper.
"You let your shields down. You know perfectly well that she affects people. Her powers are uncontrolled as of now." Hisoka's orbs rolled to the right corner of his eyes to glance at Tsuzuki.
"So that means…?" tsuzuki looked around. The Hokkaido twins were sulking, tissues clutched in their hands, occasionally sniffing at their respective desks. (terazuma and Wakaba had work to do in Chijou.) Even 003, who was earlier fluttering around happily had stopped and was staring outside too, persched on a pile of folders on Watari's desk. Tsuzuki wasn't sure if that counted since owls and experiments don't have feelings, do they?
"Yes."
"But maybe…"
"There is no maybe. She will. She must." Watari's voice rang out from behind them. His eyes were red at the rims and it wasn't really comfortable seeing him so grim and unsmiling that Tsuzuki had to look down on his shoes.
"What do you mean 'she must'?" Tsuzki glanced at Hisoka hesitatingly.
"Come with me to the staff room. Kachou is here."
Hisoka wasn't listening. When Tszuzuki turned, he was gazing outside when all of a sudden he ran to the hallway, panic present in his voice.
"She's going down to Chijou!"
Spontaneous Combustion. That's a good title for a song. Hmmm… Now the lyrics…
Whisper the words I want to hear
Hold me tight, don't say goodnight
Kiss me now, don't leave me here
"Hmmm… Good enough… I guess," tapping the pen on the table, a rhythm was made. Then he stopped.
Frowning, he stood up from the chair, and opened the door of the trailer. Feeling much better now since the lump Fujisaki had given him yesterday when he hit him with a frying pan was now gone, and the thought of going back to Yuki in three days (as far as what his manager told him) was more than enough to make him hop along the road. Smiling cheerfully now, he trotted to a small shop. Hiro said he'd be back with dinner and Fujisaki had gone to check out the new Music store. As he entered the dark hallway adorned by glass cases, trotting on the wood floor and glancing at his sides, he felt a shiver crawl down his spine. He continued to walk and walk, and it seems that what little light he saw was slowly dissipating as he walked further. Then it happened. He felt it.
He was falling.
to be continued
A/N: Nasty, ain't I? XD Do you guys smell something fishy though? evil smile May the cliffies and VHãä appear. XD
Questions from the insane mind of Aki Konoe:
1.okay… who can tell me the whole story of X/1999
2.Who is Shuichi's manager?
3.Any cure for claustrophobia yet?
4.Do you like this chapter?
5.Is Tasumi being unfair or not?
6.Is Hisoka being unfair or not?
7.What do you think happened to Shuichi?
8.Isn't Yuki going insane?
9.Have you guessed what my Vague Hint is?
10.Can anyone suggest me good websites for Yami no Mastuei, X, and Gravitation? And Angel Sanctuary?
THANKYOU!!!
