A/N: I've just realised something. This is no longer a love triangle, it's a cube. This is Tatsukitarimuraorisoka, or something like that, ne? I think this chapter is a bit confusing; especially considering you don't have any idea of what's coming next. I know some things in this chappy might seem pointless, but they aren't.
Anyway, really sorry about the delay. I've been busy beyond belief. I'll try not to ever, ever take this long to update again.
Enjoy!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
Night had fallen eventually. The day had been more than a little hectic, but it wasn't physical fatigue what was taking it's toll on the four students dragging their feet from the dining room to the dorms.
Hisoka observed the other three, trying to learn more about them. They were the strangest people he'd ever met, that was for sure. But then again, all the 'normal' people he'd met during his life had been cruel, uncaring and superficial. Maybe weird was good after all.
The halls were deserted. For some reason Hisoka didn't know about yet, his three new friends avoided being around the rest of the students as much as they could; so they had waited for all of them to leave to their rooms before abandoning the dining room as well.
It was a most welcome peculiarity. For a moment he even considered that Watari might have mentioned something about the incident that afternoon, but soon dismissed it. No matter how kind Watari seemed, surely he wouldn't think about him to such extents.
Tsuzuki's feet seem to be dragging a bit more than the rest. The older boy had an expression of utter exhaustion on his face, as well as a slight pout that made him look like a little kid. Watari and Tatsumi were walking in front of them, discussing something he couldn't hear and, after a few minutes of not-so-comfortable silence, Hisoka cleared his throat and addressed the older boy.
"You...You've been in this school for a long time, ne?" he said hesitantly.
Tsuzuki seemed to regain all his energy as soon as Hisoka talked to him. The green eyed boy was really surprised at how cheery Tsuzuki seemed to be most of the time, when it was obvious to him that there was more to the boy than just a happy face.
"I've been in this school for a very long time! I'm the student who's been here the longest! I know everything there is to know about it!" Tsuzuki sang.
"I see...Well..." Hisoka knew what he wanted to ask; it had been bothering him since that afternoon, but he still didn't feel so at ease amongst his new 'friends' as to be able to do it naturally. "You...you know that boy, Muraki, very well?"
Tsuzuki nodded happily.
"It's a funny story. Muraki was a student on another school, but we met one time I went to see a martial arts competition between our schools- ours is one of the best of the country- and so he changed schools just so we could be friends! Isn't that nice?"
'Yeah, right; he wants to be your friend.' Hisoka thought to himself. It had been obvious to him that friendship was the last thing on the white haired boy's mind, but he also doubted Tsuzuki could be *so* naive as to have missed it. But he wasn't going to say anything. Besides, that wasn't what he wanted to know.
"So,...what was that he said about parents? What did he mean by that?"
Tsuzuki's face saddened for a moment, before giving him a slight melancholic smile.
"It's just that. The only one of us whose parents are still alive would be Oriya-kun...Oh!" his smile brightened. "And you, now! But Oriya doesn't like his dad either. He's some sort of...er..." He leaned closer to Hisoka and whispered in his ear. "He's a first class pimp."
Hisoka's eyes opened big.
"Really?" he asked, dumbfounded. Oriya had seemed like such a correct boy. To think that his father moved in those circles was more than a little surprising. Tsuzuki nodded. "But this is a prestigious school! Why would he send his son to a school like this one?"
Tsuzuki chuckled, obviously amused with delivering that bit of dirty information.
"Ah! But the thing is, he really is a first class pimp, he owns this really classy Geisha house; so he wants his son to have a first class education. That way he'll be prepared to take over the business someday. Besides," the older boy got an amused, knowing expression on his face, "Some of the most 'prestigious' directives of the school know Oriya's dad 'personally', so they had to let him in."
"Oh." was all Hisoka could say.
"But don't get the wrong impression!" Tsuzuki quickly amended. "Oriya is a really nice, good person! I'm glad to consider him my friend."
Hisoka'd stopped trying to figure people out long ago; empathy or not, people were just plain weird. Trying to understand how their minds worked was setting himself up for a migraine. All he could do was just accept what he was told and see for himself if it was the truth.
After a moment of silence, Tsuzuki spoke again.
"Watari's parents passed away a while back; Muraki's parents died just this winter and no one really knows about Tatsumi. Some say that he's the son of the owner of the school, but I don't believe it." Wasn't Tatsumi like Tsuzuki's boyfriend or something? Hisoka saw them kissing! How come the older boy didn't know? Apparently Tsuzuki read his thoughts 'cause he immediately answered the unspoken question. "Tatsumi and I are very close, but there's things I don't tell him and things he won't tell me. It's just the way it is." he said with a little regret in his tone.
"And what about you?" Hisoka asked, trying to divert the subject. For some reason, he didn't like to see that sadness on the other boy's eyes. Apparently he'd chosen the wrong subject, 'cause Tsuzuki seemed even sadder after he'd asked.
"That's one of the things I don't talk about with Tatsumi." he said apologetically.
Hisoka took the hint and remained quiet for the rest of the way. What was this boy hiding, that caused him so much pain? He had to make a real effort not to start wobbling on his feet, Tsuzuki's feelings being so strong!
------------------
"Tsuzuki was right," Watari said tiredly. "That Satomi-sensei is a bit of a freak, ne?"
Tatsumi nodded in agreement, turning his head just a little bit, so he could peek at the two boys walking behind them.
"Sensei seemed to be high on something; hyperactive and edgy. He sure gave me the creeps." Tatsumi seemed to ponder on something and, with a small smile, he looked at Watari in the eyes. "Promise me that once you're a scientist, you won't become so awkward, Watari-kun."
The blond smiled, feeling the butterflies in his stomach that always seemed to wake up whenever Tatsumi so much as glanced his way.
"Ok, but just because you asked." Had that sounded as suggestive as he'd thought it sounded?
Watari prayed to the heavens it hadn't, but the slight reddish tone that was decorating Tatsumi's cheeks at the moment suggested otherwise and the blond felt his face reddening as well.
"Anyway..." Tatsumi said hastily, ignoring both his blush and his friend's comment. "Have...have you thought about who you're gonna choose as a lab partner for the semester?"
Watari was truly surprised by that question. Wasn't it obvious?
"Well, isn't it obvious?" he said, not able to come up with anything better to say.
"I'm only asking because..." Was it just him or Tatsumi was nervous? "Well...I do well with maths, but chemistry...I...I think that it would be better if Tsuzuki and I weren't lab partners because...Well, he really needs to pass and..."
Tatsumi wasn't very good at asking favours. He tried his best to avoid needing anyone but when he did, he didn't know how to act about it. The guy needed help to ask for help!!!
Watari took pity on him and smiled brightly.
"You think Tsuzuki needs a partner that's good at it. Is that it?" The blond interjected. 'You want me to tutor Tsuzuki, right?' he finished in his mind, fighting the lump on his throat.
"Well, yeah...And so do I. 'Cause I'll be helping Tsuzuki to study regardless and I better understand it. I was thinking that maybe you..."
"Yeah, sure. I'll help him." Watari said, sounding a little harsher than he'd intended it.
He really, *really* liked Tsuzuki. He was a true friend; loyal, warm hearted, funny...He was practically perfect!! All he was, was smart! Who wants someone who's just smart?! For all he cared he'd rather be retarded. At least that way he wouldn't understand the contempt and pity in everyone's eyes when they talked to him.
He shook those thoughts off. He was a little tired; that had to be it. He wasn't one to snap like that! And at Tatsumi of all people!! When he'd realised what he'd done, he turned to apologize and found Tatsumi staring at him with an odd look on his face.
"What?" the blond asked nervously.
"I'm sure you'd help Tsuzuki a lot..." Tatsumi averted his eyes to look at his boyfriend. "If you two weren't so prone to slacking when you're together."
"What do you mean?" he couldn't mean what he thought he'd meant because then he'd be so happy that his head would probably burst and, wouldn't that do a mess on the carpet?
"I'm sure that Kurosaki-kun would be a better lab partner for Tsuzuki. He seems like a very responsible young man and he's just what Tsuzuki needs to keep him in line. What I was asking was that you helped *me* with the subject so I can help him with his homework."
Ok, breathe, blink, and breathe again Watari, because Tatsumi just asked *you* to be his lab partner for the rest of the semester!!
He was gaping. He realised that. Wouldn't you if the most gorgeous guy in school asked you to be his partner?! 'Lab partner', his brain corrected him. Watari just slapped his brain silly for being rational when no one had asked it to be.
"Sure!! I'll be your part...*lab* partner!!" Watari chirped, bouncing up and down in delight.
So, yeah, he was hopelessly in love with one of his best friends' boyfriend. It wasn't like he was going to make a move on him or anything. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy spending a little time with the guy, right? Besides, Tatsumi would never go for a guy like him; he wasn't a real threat to their relationship.
'Then why do you feel guilty?' his brain interjected.
'Shut up you silly brain! Don't you see we like this?!'
'But...'
'It's *Tatsumi*, you silly brain!!'
'Oh, ok, if you're going to play dirty then I'll shut up.'
'That's much better.'
They came to a stop in front of Tatsumi and Tsuzuki's bedroom and waited for the other two boys to catch up. Watari noticed that Hisoka looked nervous and Tsuzuki looked sad, and they both walked in absolute silence. Last thing he wanted was Tsuzuki scaring his new friend with his brooding, but Hisoka would have to get used to it sooner or later.
Tatsumi seemed to notice too. The blue eyed boy took Tsuzuki's face in his hands and whispered something to his ear, to what Tsuzuki just answered with a smile and a nod. Apparently the answer to whatever he'd asked didn't convince Tatsumi much; he frowned and pulled Tsuzuki close in a comforting hug while glancing at his watch.
"Well, I have to go talk to Kach..." he stopped, cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up his nose. It wasn't the first time Konoe's name almost slips from his tongue, as hard as he tried to hide that he knew the man. Watari had to chuckle at that. "...to the principal." he continued, unfazed. "It shouldn't take long. Tsuzuki, if you don't want to be alone you could hang out with Watari-kun and Hisoka-kun for a while." He turned to look at them. "Unless you don't want to?"
Watari shrugged.
"It's alright with me. What about you Hisoka?"
Hisoka opened his mouth to reply but Tsuzuki raised his hands to stop him.
"No need for that guys. I think I'm going to turn in early."
Before anyone had time to try and convince him, the amethyst eyed boy had closed the door to his room behind him, leaving his three friends frowning and staring at the place where he'd used to be. Now Watari was worried. This wasn't Tatsumi being overprotective or Tsuzuki brooding about lunch.
The blond glanced at his companions; Tatsumi seemed to be debating on whether to keep his appointment or going in. As for Hisoka, he seemed troubled and there was a slight look of guilt on his face. Guessing at what might had happened, he made sure to keep the smile on his face and turned to talk to his roommate.
"Hey, Hisoka? What did you guys talked about?" he asked kindly.
The green eyed boy seemed really upset, and quickly tried to hide it behind a mask of annoyance, but Watari could see right through it.
"I just asked the baka about his parents!! One moment he's bouncing up and down like a maniac and the next he's on the verge of tears! What is he, a psycho or something?!"
Tatsumi sighed and Watari patted the poor boy's back comfortingly.
"Don't worry about it. He's a little...sensitive about certain things and you couldn't know about it. He knows that too. He's really a cool guy, you know?" he said gently.
Hisoka shrugged and started to walk away.
"He's an idiot. I'm going back to my room now." he grunted.
When he was out of ear shot, Tatsumi sighed and shook his head tiredly.
"He feels guilty, doesn't he?" he said softly, which surprised Watari.
Since when Tatsumi was so keen and observant?
'Let's hope it's just a momentary thing, or we're in trouble.' his brain scolded him.
"It wasn't his fault." he replied, ignoring his brain. He was going to have a long talk with it once he was alone. Seriously, that behaviour was unacceptable! "He couldn't have known. But at least we know we shouldn't worry too much. All Tsuzuki needs is to be alone for a little while, right?"
"I guess..." Tatsumi seemed really worried and uncertain.
Watari grinned brightly.
"If you want I can go fetch a few sweets I have in my room and bring them to him. That'll cheer him up!"
Again Tatsumi was looking at him with that odd expression in his eyes that Watari couldn't understand. It almost looked...tender.
"You'd do that for me?" the blue eyed boy said, sounding truly thankful.
"Uh-huh..." Watari nodded dazedly.
Tatsumi was quick to regain his cold posture, giving Watari a scolding look that the blond recognised, wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
"You're the one who keeps providing him with all those sweets, aren't you? You're his sweets dealer!" he said mock anger.
Before he had time to react or answer, Tatsumi hugged him ever so slightly and walked away, waving a 'thank you' his way.
As for his brain?
His brain had died of happiness overload.
--------------------------
"Senpai?!" Oriya hissed gripping the edge of the window for dear life as his friend started climbing down the three storey building using the pipes for support. "Senpai! Come back here, you're going to break your neck!"
Muraki stopped his descent for a moment and looked up to stare amusedly at Oriya.
"Ori-chan, we've done this a thousand times. Now, don't be such a wuss and come down! I won't be waiting for you all night!"
"Yeah, we've done it a thousand times, that doesn't mean I like it." Oriya mumbled, but nevertheless started climbing down himself. "If I break something *you* are paying the medical bills!!" he whispered/yelled, if that was even possible.
"But of course, Ori-chan!!" the older boy teased. "Or better yet! I could take care of you and practice for when I become a doctor!! I could bandage you and take care of you. Wouldn't you like that?"
Fighting the blush from creeping up his cheeks, Oriya glared at his friend; just to remember he *wasn't* supposed to look down and tightening his hold on the pipes. "I *hate* you."
"No, you don't." Muraki said knowingly.
"Yes, I do!" Oriya said outraged.
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"HAH!" Muraki laughed. "I can't believe that worked!!"
Oriya had to laugh at that too. With an agile jump, he deposited himself on safe ground, dusted his 'civilian' clothes and glared at Muraki some more.
"You're an asshole." Oriya said, smiling warmly. He could never stay angry at him anyway. Why pretend?
"I'll grant you that. Now,..." the white haired boy said, taking the pack of cigarettes from one of his trench coat pockets."...where are we going?" He lit his own cigarette and handed one to Oriya.
"I thought you had a plan?" the younger of the two said, inhaling deeply after Muraki, instead of lending him the lighter, went and held the flame for him.
"Well, we better figure that out later. We don't want Terazuma-san finding us here." Muraki said, deep in thought.
Surely he was remembering their last encounter with the grumpy security guard.
"Ok." Oriya nodded. "Though I doubt he'd notice us anyway. I'm sure he's flirting with that girlfriend of his."
"Yeah, you're probably right!" Muraki snorted. "I can't blame him, though. The girl is cute. Even *you* have to admit that."
"Even *me*?!" Oriya said, mock offence. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Muraki was about to retort when he heard something coming from the bushes next to the main building's entrance.
"Shut up and let's go. There's someone else here." he whispered.
He took Oriya by the hand and dragged him out of the school grounds.
----------------------------
Here he was, laying on his back in his *own* bed; not Tatsumi's.
His bed, Tsuzuki noted displeased; he'd almost forgotten the feel of his own bed during vacations, but it wouldn't take long for him to get used to it again. Now he was left to sleep in a cold, empty bed and he did not like that; he did not want to get used to sleeping alone again. But what choice did he have, really?
His boyfriend had taken off and probably wouldn't be back before he'd fallen asleep. Besides, it was Monday, right? That meant that Tatsumi's 'no-sex-on-school-nights' rule applied. Not that Tsuzuki was in the mood for anything, but Tatsumi made sure to keep all temptations away and wouldn't even cuddle with him. He really felt like cuddling right at that moment.
Rolling onto his side, Tsuzuki sighed. Could he get any more pathetic?
It was a moonless, quiet night that left the room filled with nothing but shadows and the faintest of gleams coming from the far city lights. It seemed that the universe had plotted to make that night as miserable as it could get for him. It hadn't even been five minutes before he'd had to turn off his walkman because he felt uncomfortable with not being able to hear the noises- or the lack thereof- around him.
That, to his discomfort, left him alone with his thoughts. Hisoka's questioning had brought it all back. Why on earth he'd said he wanted to be alone? Oh, right, so that everyone wouldn't have to see what a pathetic coward he was.
Like he could tell anyone about his parents! What did he know about them? At least his friends had the chance to hate them or mourn them. What did he have? Just Ruka's vague stories and his own fears.
What? He'd tell them about Ruka then? She'd been like a mother to him. Yeah, that would be a blast! Why not tell his friends of how he'd virtually killed his own sister?
It had been years since he'd stopped believing in demons and such. He couldn't afford to believe in them, fearing that if he did, he'd discover that everyone had been right all along and he was, indeed, a devil's spawn.
No; demons weren't real. Which led to the logical conclusion that god wasn't either. It left him feeling lonelier than he already was; but there was little option in the matter.
Then why? Why if he'd spent hours trying to convince himself that none of that was real, did he still fear it?
But as much as the shadows around him were starting to freak him out he refused to get up and turn on the light. He was eighteen for Christ sake! He could not; *would* not, be afraid of the dark.
It wasn't easy; willing his heart to slow down it's pace, taking deep, even breaths to convince himself that his fear was unfounded and that there wasn't anything lurking behind the diabolic shapes dancing around his room. That he was not starting to panic.
A mild, almost inaudible noise reached his ears. In any other circumstance, he'd have missed it, but panic can make your senses enhance to levels that would most certainly defy physics. And he was panicking; he *knew* in his mind that there wasn't a reason to be scared, but his fear went far beyond reason.
It could have been anything; a cat, the wind against his window; heck, for all he knew, it could have been the kids from the room next to his. At that moment though, his mind told him that the most plausible option was that the noise had been caused by a horrible, two headed monster that came looking for him to proclaim his fatherhood in the best 'Star wars' style.
"It's not real, it's not real, it's not real, itsnotrealitsnotreal!!!!!!!" he muttered over and over again, while he could not even blink, fearing that just that fraction of a second would be enough for whatever was coming for him to appear.
He was eighteen now! Not some scared kid afraid that the boogie man would catch him! Not the kid who'd wake Ruka in the middle of the night, begging her to let him sleep on her bed. He was no longer a kid!
If the noise had him trembling with fear, then the soft knock on the door that followed had him jumping from the bed so high he was afraid he'd hit the ceiling. With his heart pounding wildly in his chest, Tsuzuki just stared at the door, daring whatever it was behind it to come in and face him.
Yeah! He'd show those two headed demons what he was made off!! Then again, if that was indeed a demon, he wouldn't go around knocking, would it?
The soft knock was back, this time accompanied with a soft whisper of a voice he could very well recognize and Tsuzuki sighed, relieved.
"Tsuzuki? Are you asleep already?" Watari's voice leaked through the wooden door just barely loud enough so that he'd have missed it had he been asleep.
"I'm coming!" he tried to hide the tremors of his voice.
He slowly rose from the bed, taking his time to get to the door, so that it wouldn't be so obvious he'd been having a panic attack just a moment before. He ran a hand through his hair wearily and sighed once more before turning on the doorknob.
The blond was smiling- as usual- and holding a little box of chocolate with both hands.
"I just remembered I bought this for us to share!" Watari chirped. "Hisoka-kun took off to the library. He said his books won't arrive 'til tomorrow, so I'm all alone. What do you say we eat them now?"
Tsuzuki didn't even have to consider it. Watari had offered the perfect escape to his current situation and he was going to seize it, alright! And the fact that those were his favourite chocolates had nothing to do with it!
One glance back to his bed and he nodded emphatically. There was no way he was going to stay in that room for a moment longer. At least not until Tatsumi was back.
Tsuzuki took Watari by the wrist and closed his door, not even bothering to put on some shoes.
"We can do that in your room. It's...bigger!" he said hastily.
Watari just blinked and followed his lead.
---------------------
The shadows in the now deserted room twirled and danced before his eyes.
Who'd have thought?
A stupid kid with a superiority complex sells his soul for better grades and popularity; just a routine job for a second class demon. Nothing out of the ordinary, right?
But go figure; this second class demon had found Saagatanasu's killer! A legend amongst demons!!
He smirked.
'We'll see if I'm still second class after I take him down.'
~Tsuzuku~
I have to ask you something IMPORTANT. Tsuzuki's past is only hinted at in both the manga and the anime. Nothing is really made clear about it. If I were to, say...make up a past for him, would that be ok? This is AU, yes, but maybe I would be overstepping the AU boundaries? Just tell me. If you want his past only hinted at, like in the original, I can work around that. It's *your* call. O.O
About Tsuzuki's little panic attack at the end, I read it and re-read it and it seems so sudden that it looks like bad writing; but the thing is, I wrote that out of personal experience (don't you laugh now, yes I *am* afraid of the dark sometimes) and that it's just how it happens. One moment you are OK and suddenly you're in your own personal hell. So take that into consideration before criticising me, 'k?
Now to the reviews!!!!!!! *-*
Kae 117: Why on earth would you think I'd be mad at you?! *blink**blink* Do I come across as a bad tempered person? Cuz I am, but...just with my mom. You should see us fighting, heh, heh. Now, *that* would be worth writing!! *-* Anyway, I appreciate your setting me straight on the whole sophomore thingy cuz I really had no idea. I was even surprised to find they were actually four years and not three O-o!! This will be TsuSoka...just have to be patient I guess. Thanks for your review!
Lina: I told you, you wouldn't agree with my infatuation with England. And did you really admit we kick ur arse at football?? Do you know were I'm from? @-@ Thanx for clarifying the Oriya bit...I needed that. You really think they're still in character? Even with Muraki? I'm getting more and more nervous about that. And yes the plot thickens...or should I say, it makes an appearance?? As I told Kyraille Fade, I think FF.net is just hungry because we don't pay them so they eat our reviews or sometimes even our chappies!! They have to feed of *something*. So don't take it personal!
And sorry about this, I just *had* to @.@. Don't hate me!! T.T
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Normalcy \Nor"mal*cy\, n. The quality, state, or fact of being normal; as, the point of normalcy. [R.]
I HAD to...I'm sorry...But thanks for pointing that out anyway, cuz maybe I should have used normality. It sounds like something more 'useable' and not as complicated. As I speak spanish, I'm bound to use words that maybe aren't suitable for colloquial speaking? Most of my English I got either from movies or reading, so you can imagine where I come from.
Kyraille Fade: I'm glad I caught someone's attention with that dark trench-coatty guy!!! I'm gonna change that sophomore mistake *today* cuz it annoys me, but tell me....then , what the hell is junior high? Why do you people have to complicate things so much? We have primary school, which consist of 7 grades and secondary school, which last 5 or 6 years depending on the specialization. Either you're a primary school student or a secondary school one. See? Simple!! - But it's not your fault!! ^.^ Thanx for clearing that up!!
xXLil Yu JahXx: That's much better...I approve, it sounded sincere...LOL. Please don't take it seriously, I'm just joking around and you were an easy target. Forgive me?? I really appreciate your review!! Hontoni Gomene!! See I even learned something from you!!
Mel-chan-of-doom: I understand your whole 'avoiding AU' thingy. I'm the same. Imagine how nervous I was when I decided to write one!! But you really like it?? It means a lot to me. Thank you!!!
White Angel of the Blood Moon...don't hate me for taking so long to update!!! Waaaaaaaaah! I'm sowy!!! Anyway, I promise to update a lot sooner next time. PROMISE!! Oriya is sexy, isn't he? Is there any YNM bishie who isn't tho? Hisoka ain't sexy I guess...but he's still cute! And I feel I should introduce you to one of Konnie-chan's rules: Lots of non-melodramatic angst with a guarantied happy endings. It's like, *mandatory*!! So don't worry!!
Loki's rose, ah, I really liked your review because Muraki is making me extremely nervous!! I know he has to be *Muraki*, the evil psycho we all came to love, but he is not so psychotic yet!! Even in the manga it's mentioned that he used to be a normal guy so I'm not actually making it up. But it's soooo hard!! It wasn't my description what was perfect...that's just Ori-chan for you!! And Watari *is* cute; won't argue with that! ^.^
Ja ne!!
Anyway, really sorry about the delay. I've been busy beyond belief. I'll try not to ever, ever take this long to update again.
Enjoy!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
Night had fallen eventually. The day had been more than a little hectic, but it wasn't physical fatigue what was taking it's toll on the four students dragging their feet from the dining room to the dorms.
Hisoka observed the other three, trying to learn more about them. They were the strangest people he'd ever met, that was for sure. But then again, all the 'normal' people he'd met during his life had been cruel, uncaring and superficial. Maybe weird was good after all.
The halls were deserted. For some reason Hisoka didn't know about yet, his three new friends avoided being around the rest of the students as much as they could; so they had waited for all of them to leave to their rooms before abandoning the dining room as well.
It was a most welcome peculiarity. For a moment he even considered that Watari might have mentioned something about the incident that afternoon, but soon dismissed it. No matter how kind Watari seemed, surely he wouldn't think about him to such extents.
Tsuzuki's feet seem to be dragging a bit more than the rest. The older boy had an expression of utter exhaustion on his face, as well as a slight pout that made him look like a little kid. Watari and Tatsumi were walking in front of them, discussing something he couldn't hear and, after a few minutes of not-so-comfortable silence, Hisoka cleared his throat and addressed the older boy.
"You...You've been in this school for a long time, ne?" he said hesitantly.
Tsuzuki seemed to regain all his energy as soon as Hisoka talked to him. The green eyed boy was really surprised at how cheery Tsuzuki seemed to be most of the time, when it was obvious to him that there was more to the boy than just a happy face.
"I've been in this school for a very long time! I'm the student who's been here the longest! I know everything there is to know about it!" Tsuzuki sang.
"I see...Well..." Hisoka knew what he wanted to ask; it had been bothering him since that afternoon, but he still didn't feel so at ease amongst his new 'friends' as to be able to do it naturally. "You...you know that boy, Muraki, very well?"
Tsuzuki nodded happily.
"It's a funny story. Muraki was a student on another school, but we met one time I went to see a martial arts competition between our schools- ours is one of the best of the country- and so he changed schools just so we could be friends! Isn't that nice?"
'Yeah, right; he wants to be your friend.' Hisoka thought to himself. It had been obvious to him that friendship was the last thing on the white haired boy's mind, but he also doubted Tsuzuki could be *so* naive as to have missed it. But he wasn't going to say anything. Besides, that wasn't what he wanted to know.
"So,...what was that he said about parents? What did he mean by that?"
Tsuzuki's face saddened for a moment, before giving him a slight melancholic smile.
"It's just that. The only one of us whose parents are still alive would be Oriya-kun...Oh!" his smile brightened. "And you, now! But Oriya doesn't like his dad either. He's some sort of...er..." He leaned closer to Hisoka and whispered in his ear. "He's a first class pimp."
Hisoka's eyes opened big.
"Really?" he asked, dumbfounded. Oriya had seemed like such a correct boy. To think that his father moved in those circles was more than a little surprising. Tsuzuki nodded. "But this is a prestigious school! Why would he send his son to a school like this one?"
Tsuzuki chuckled, obviously amused with delivering that bit of dirty information.
"Ah! But the thing is, he really is a first class pimp, he owns this really classy Geisha house; so he wants his son to have a first class education. That way he'll be prepared to take over the business someday. Besides," the older boy got an amused, knowing expression on his face, "Some of the most 'prestigious' directives of the school know Oriya's dad 'personally', so they had to let him in."
"Oh." was all Hisoka could say.
"But don't get the wrong impression!" Tsuzuki quickly amended. "Oriya is a really nice, good person! I'm glad to consider him my friend."
Hisoka'd stopped trying to figure people out long ago; empathy or not, people were just plain weird. Trying to understand how their minds worked was setting himself up for a migraine. All he could do was just accept what he was told and see for himself if it was the truth.
After a moment of silence, Tsuzuki spoke again.
"Watari's parents passed away a while back; Muraki's parents died just this winter and no one really knows about Tatsumi. Some say that he's the son of the owner of the school, but I don't believe it." Wasn't Tatsumi like Tsuzuki's boyfriend or something? Hisoka saw them kissing! How come the older boy didn't know? Apparently Tsuzuki read his thoughts 'cause he immediately answered the unspoken question. "Tatsumi and I are very close, but there's things I don't tell him and things he won't tell me. It's just the way it is." he said with a little regret in his tone.
"And what about you?" Hisoka asked, trying to divert the subject. For some reason, he didn't like to see that sadness on the other boy's eyes. Apparently he'd chosen the wrong subject, 'cause Tsuzuki seemed even sadder after he'd asked.
"That's one of the things I don't talk about with Tatsumi." he said apologetically.
Hisoka took the hint and remained quiet for the rest of the way. What was this boy hiding, that caused him so much pain? He had to make a real effort not to start wobbling on his feet, Tsuzuki's feelings being so strong!
------------------
"Tsuzuki was right," Watari said tiredly. "That Satomi-sensei is a bit of a freak, ne?"
Tatsumi nodded in agreement, turning his head just a little bit, so he could peek at the two boys walking behind them.
"Sensei seemed to be high on something; hyperactive and edgy. He sure gave me the creeps." Tatsumi seemed to ponder on something and, with a small smile, he looked at Watari in the eyes. "Promise me that once you're a scientist, you won't become so awkward, Watari-kun."
The blond smiled, feeling the butterflies in his stomach that always seemed to wake up whenever Tatsumi so much as glanced his way.
"Ok, but just because you asked." Had that sounded as suggestive as he'd thought it sounded?
Watari prayed to the heavens it hadn't, but the slight reddish tone that was decorating Tatsumi's cheeks at the moment suggested otherwise and the blond felt his face reddening as well.
"Anyway..." Tatsumi said hastily, ignoring both his blush and his friend's comment. "Have...have you thought about who you're gonna choose as a lab partner for the semester?"
Watari was truly surprised by that question. Wasn't it obvious?
"Well, isn't it obvious?" he said, not able to come up with anything better to say.
"I'm only asking because..." Was it just him or Tatsumi was nervous? "Well...I do well with maths, but chemistry...I...I think that it would be better if Tsuzuki and I weren't lab partners because...Well, he really needs to pass and..."
Tatsumi wasn't very good at asking favours. He tried his best to avoid needing anyone but when he did, he didn't know how to act about it. The guy needed help to ask for help!!!
Watari took pity on him and smiled brightly.
"You think Tsuzuki needs a partner that's good at it. Is that it?" The blond interjected. 'You want me to tutor Tsuzuki, right?' he finished in his mind, fighting the lump on his throat.
"Well, yeah...And so do I. 'Cause I'll be helping Tsuzuki to study regardless and I better understand it. I was thinking that maybe you..."
"Yeah, sure. I'll help him." Watari said, sounding a little harsher than he'd intended it.
He really, *really* liked Tsuzuki. He was a true friend; loyal, warm hearted, funny...He was practically perfect!! All he was, was smart! Who wants someone who's just smart?! For all he cared he'd rather be retarded. At least that way he wouldn't understand the contempt and pity in everyone's eyes when they talked to him.
He shook those thoughts off. He was a little tired; that had to be it. He wasn't one to snap like that! And at Tatsumi of all people!! When he'd realised what he'd done, he turned to apologize and found Tatsumi staring at him with an odd look on his face.
"What?" the blond asked nervously.
"I'm sure you'd help Tsuzuki a lot..." Tatsumi averted his eyes to look at his boyfriend. "If you two weren't so prone to slacking when you're together."
"What do you mean?" he couldn't mean what he thought he'd meant because then he'd be so happy that his head would probably burst and, wouldn't that do a mess on the carpet?
"I'm sure that Kurosaki-kun would be a better lab partner for Tsuzuki. He seems like a very responsible young man and he's just what Tsuzuki needs to keep him in line. What I was asking was that you helped *me* with the subject so I can help him with his homework."
Ok, breathe, blink, and breathe again Watari, because Tatsumi just asked *you* to be his lab partner for the rest of the semester!!
He was gaping. He realised that. Wouldn't you if the most gorgeous guy in school asked you to be his partner?! 'Lab partner', his brain corrected him. Watari just slapped his brain silly for being rational when no one had asked it to be.
"Sure!! I'll be your part...*lab* partner!!" Watari chirped, bouncing up and down in delight.
So, yeah, he was hopelessly in love with one of his best friends' boyfriend. It wasn't like he was going to make a move on him or anything. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy spending a little time with the guy, right? Besides, Tatsumi would never go for a guy like him; he wasn't a real threat to their relationship.
'Then why do you feel guilty?' his brain interjected.
'Shut up you silly brain! Don't you see we like this?!'
'But...'
'It's *Tatsumi*, you silly brain!!'
'Oh, ok, if you're going to play dirty then I'll shut up.'
'That's much better.'
They came to a stop in front of Tatsumi and Tsuzuki's bedroom and waited for the other two boys to catch up. Watari noticed that Hisoka looked nervous and Tsuzuki looked sad, and they both walked in absolute silence. Last thing he wanted was Tsuzuki scaring his new friend with his brooding, but Hisoka would have to get used to it sooner or later.
Tatsumi seemed to notice too. The blue eyed boy took Tsuzuki's face in his hands and whispered something to his ear, to what Tsuzuki just answered with a smile and a nod. Apparently the answer to whatever he'd asked didn't convince Tatsumi much; he frowned and pulled Tsuzuki close in a comforting hug while glancing at his watch.
"Well, I have to go talk to Kach..." he stopped, cleared his throat and pushed his glasses up his nose. It wasn't the first time Konoe's name almost slips from his tongue, as hard as he tried to hide that he knew the man. Watari had to chuckle at that. "...to the principal." he continued, unfazed. "It shouldn't take long. Tsuzuki, if you don't want to be alone you could hang out with Watari-kun and Hisoka-kun for a while." He turned to look at them. "Unless you don't want to?"
Watari shrugged.
"It's alright with me. What about you Hisoka?"
Hisoka opened his mouth to reply but Tsuzuki raised his hands to stop him.
"No need for that guys. I think I'm going to turn in early."
Before anyone had time to try and convince him, the amethyst eyed boy had closed the door to his room behind him, leaving his three friends frowning and staring at the place where he'd used to be. Now Watari was worried. This wasn't Tatsumi being overprotective or Tsuzuki brooding about lunch.
The blond glanced at his companions; Tatsumi seemed to be debating on whether to keep his appointment or going in. As for Hisoka, he seemed troubled and there was a slight look of guilt on his face. Guessing at what might had happened, he made sure to keep the smile on his face and turned to talk to his roommate.
"Hey, Hisoka? What did you guys talked about?" he asked kindly.
The green eyed boy seemed really upset, and quickly tried to hide it behind a mask of annoyance, but Watari could see right through it.
"I just asked the baka about his parents!! One moment he's bouncing up and down like a maniac and the next he's on the verge of tears! What is he, a psycho or something?!"
Tatsumi sighed and Watari patted the poor boy's back comfortingly.
"Don't worry about it. He's a little...sensitive about certain things and you couldn't know about it. He knows that too. He's really a cool guy, you know?" he said gently.
Hisoka shrugged and started to walk away.
"He's an idiot. I'm going back to my room now." he grunted.
When he was out of ear shot, Tatsumi sighed and shook his head tiredly.
"He feels guilty, doesn't he?" he said softly, which surprised Watari.
Since when Tatsumi was so keen and observant?
'Let's hope it's just a momentary thing, or we're in trouble.' his brain scolded him.
"It wasn't his fault." he replied, ignoring his brain. He was going to have a long talk with it once he was alone. Seriously, that behaviour was unacceptable! "He couldn't have known. But at least we know we shouldn't worry too much. All Tsuzuki needs is to be alone for a little while, right?"
"I guess..." Tatsumi seemed really worried and uncertain.
Watari grinned brightly.
"If you want I can go fetch a few sweets I have in my room and bring them to him. That'll cheer him up!"
Again Tatsumi was looking at him with that odd expression in his eyes that Watari couldn't understand. It almost looked...tender.
"You'd do that for me?" the blue eyed boy said, sounding truly thankful.
"Uh-huh..." Watari nodded dazedly.
Tatsumi was quick to regain his cold posture, giving Watari a scolding look that the blond recognised, wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
"You're the one who keeps providing him with all those sweets, aren't you? You're his sweets dealer!" he said mock anger.
Before he had time to react or answer, Tatsumi hugged him ever so slightly and walked away, waving a 'thank you' his way.
As for his brain?
His brain had died of happiness overload.
--------------------------
"Senpai?!" Oriya hissed gripping the edge of the window for dear life as his friend started climbing down the three storey building using the pipes for support. "Senpai! Come back here, you're going to break your neck!"
Muraki stopped his descent for a moment and looked up to stare amusedly at Oriya.
"Ori-chan, we've done this a thousand times. Now, don't be such a wuss and come down! I won't be waiting for you all night!"
"Yeah, we've done it a thousand times, that doesn't mean I like it." Oriya mumbled, but nevertheless started climbing down himself. "If I break something *you* are paying the medical bills!!" he whispered/yelled, if that was even possible.
"But of course, Ori-chan!!" the older boy teased. "Or better yet! I could take care of you and practice for when I become a doctor!! I could bandage you and take care of you. Wouldn't you like that?"
Fighting the blush from creeping up his cheeks, Oriya glared at his friend; just to remember he *wasn't* supposed to look down and tightening his hold on the pipes. "I *hate* you."
"No, you don't." Muraki said knowingly.
"Yes, I do!" Oriya said outraged.
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"HAH!" Muraki laughed. "I can't believe that worked!!"
Oriya had to laugh at that too. With an agile jump, he deposited himself on safe ground, dusted his 'civilian' clothes and glared at Muraki some more.
"You're an asshole." Oriya said, smiling warmly. He could never stay angry at him anyway. Why pretend?
"I'll grant you that. Now,..." the white haired boy said, taking the pack of cigarettes from one of his trench coat pockets."...where are we going?" He lit his own cigarette and handed one to Oriya.
"I thought you had a plan?" the younger of the two said, inhaling deeply after Muraki, instead of lending him the lighter, went and held the flame for him.
"Well, we better figure that out later. We don't want Terazuma-san finding us here." Muraki said, deep in thought.
Surely he was remembering their last encounter with the grumpy security guard.
"Ok." Oriya nodded. "Though I doubt he'd notice us anyway. I'm sure he's flirting with that girlfriend of his."
"Yeah, you're probably right!" Muraki snorted. "I can't blame him, though. The girl is cute. Even *you* have to admit that."
"Even *me*?!" Oriya said, mock offence. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Muraki was about to retort when he heard something coming from the bushes next to the main building's entrance.
"Shut up and let's go. There's someone else here." he whispered.
He took Oriya by the hand and dragged him out of the school grounds.
----------------------------
Here he was, laying on his back in his *own* bed; not Tatsumi's.
His bed, Tsuzuki noted displeased; he'd almost forgotten the feel of his own bed during vacations, but it wouldn't take long for him to get used to it again. Now he was left to sleep in a cold, empty bed and he did not like that; he did not want to get used to sleeping alone again. But what choice did he have, really?
His boyfriend had taken off and probably wouldn't be back before he'd fallen asleep. Besides, it was Monday, right? That meant that Tatsumi's 'no-sex-on-school-nights' rule applied. Not that Tsuzuki was in the mood for anything, but Tatsumi made sure to keep all temptations away and wouldn't even cuddle with him. He really felt like cuddling right at that moment.
Rolling onto his side, Tsuzuki sighed. Could he get any more pathetic?
It was a moonless, quiet night that left the room filled with nothing but shadows and the faintest of gleams coming from the far city lights. It seemed that the universe had plotted to make that night as miserable as it could get for him. It hadn't even been five minutes before he'd had to turn off his walkman because he felt uncomfortable with not being able to hear the noises- or the lack thereof- around him.
That, to his discomfort, left him alone with his thoughts. Hisoka's questioning had brought it all back. Why on earth he'd said he wanted to be alone? Oh, right, so that everyone wouldn't have to see what a pathetic coward he was.
Like he could tell anyone about his parents! What did he know about them? At least his friends had the chance to hate them or mourn them. What did he have? Just Ruka's vague stories and his own fears.
What? He'd tell them about Ruka then? She'd been like a mother to him. Yeah, that would be a blast! Why not tell his friends of how he'd virtually killed his own sister?
It had been years since he'd stopped believing in demons and such. He couldn't afford to believe in them, fearing that if he did, he'd discover that everyone had been right all along and he was, indeed, a devil's spawn.
No; demons weren't real. Which led to the logical conclusion that god wasn't either. It left him feeling lonelier than he already was; but there was little option in the matter.
Then why? Why if he'd spent hours trying to convince himself that none of that was real, did he still fear it?
But as much as the shadows around him were starting to freak him out he refused to get up and turn on the light. He was eighteen for Christ sake! He could not; *would* not, be afraid of the dark.
It wasn't easy; willing his heart to slow down it's pace, taking deep, even breaths to convince himself that his fear was unfounded and that there wasn't anything lurking behind the diabolic shapes dancing around his room. That he was not starting to panic.
A mild, almost inaudible noise reached his ears. In any other circumstance, he'd have missed it, but panic can make your senses enhance to levels that would most certainly defy physics. And he was panicking; he *knew* in his mind that there wasn't a reason to be scared, but his fear went far beyond reason.
It could have been anything; a cat, the wind against his window; heck, for all he knew, it could have been the kids from the room next to his. At that moment though, his mind told him that the most plausible option was that the noise had been caused by a horrible, two headed monster that came looking for him to proclaim his fatherhood in the best 'Star wars' style.
"It's not real, it's not real, it's not real, itsnotrealitsnotreal!!!!!!!" he muttered over and over again, while he could not even blink, fearing that just that fraction of a second would be enough for whatever was coming for him to appear.
He was eighteen now! Not some scared kid afraid that the boogie man would catch him! Not the kid who'd wake Ruka in the middle of the night, begging her to let him sleep on her bed. He was no longer a kid!
If the noise had him trembling with fear, then the soft knock on the door that followed had him jumping from the bed so high he was afraid he'd hit the ceiling. With his heart pounding wildly in his chest, Tsuzuki just stared at the door, daring whatever it was behind it to come in and face him.
Yeah! He'd show those two headed demons what he was made off!! Then again, if that was indeed a demon, he wouldn't go around knocking, would it?
The soft knock was back, this time accompanied with a soft whisper of a voice he could very well recognize and Tsuzuki sighed, relieved.
"Tsuzuki? Are you asleep already?" Watari's voice leaked through the wooden door just barely loud enough so that he'd have missed it had he been asleep.
"I'm coming!" he tried to hide the tremors of his voice.
He slowly rose from the bed, taking his time to get to the door, so that it wouldn't be so obvious he'd been having a panic attack just a moment before. He ran a hand through his hair wearily and sighed once more before turning on the doorknob.
The blond was smiling- as usual- and holding a little box of chocolate with both hands.
"I just remembered I bought this for us to share!" Watari chirped. "Hisoka-kun took off to the library. He said his books won't arrive 'til tomorrow, so I'm all alone. What do you say we eat them now?"
Tsuzuki didn't even have to consider it. Watari had offered the perfect escape to his current situation and he was going to seize it, alright! And the fact that those were his favourite chocolates had nothing to do with it!
One glance back to his bed and he nodded emphatically. There was no way he was going to stay in that room for a moment longer. At least not until Tatsumi was back.
Tsuzuki took Watari by the wrist and closed his door, not even bothering to put on some shoes.
"We can do that in your room. It's...bigger!" he said hastily.
Watari just blinked and followed his lead.
---------------------
The shadows in the now deserted room twirled and danced before his eyes.
Who'd have thought?
A stupid kid with a superiority complex sells his soul for better grades and popularity; just a routine job for a second class demon. Nothing out of the ordinary, right?
But go figure; this second class demon had found Saagatanasu's killer! A legend amongst demons!!
He smirked.
'We'll see if I'm still second class after I take him down.'
~Tsuzuku~
I have to ask you something IMPORTANT. Tsuzuki's past is only hinted at in both the manga and the anime. Nothing is really made clear about it. If I were to, say...make up a past for him, would that be ok? This is AU, yes, but maybe I would be overstepping the AU boundaries? Just tell me. If you want his past only hinted at, like in the original, I can work around that. It's *your* call. O.O
About Tsuzuki's little panic attack at the end, I read it and re-read it and it seems so sudden that it looks like bad writing; but the thing is, I wrote that out of personal experience (don't you laugh now, yes I *am* afraid of the dark sometimes) and that it's just how it happens. One moment you are OK and suddenly you're in your own personal hell. So take that into consideration before criticising me, 'k?
Now to the reviews!!!!!!! *-*
Kae 117: Why on earth would you think I'd be mad at you?! *blink**blink* Do I come across as a bad tempered person? Cuz I am, but...just with my mom. You should see us fighting, heh, heh. Now, *that* would be worth writing!! *-* Anyway, I appreciate your setting me straight on the whole sophomore thingy cuz I really had no idea. I was even surprised to find they were actually four years and not three O-o!! This will be TsuSoka...just have to be patient I guess. Thanks for your review!
Lina: I told you, you wouldn't agree with my infatuation with England. And did you really admit we kick ur arse at football?? Do you know were I'm from? @-@ Thanx for clarifying the Oriya bit...I needed that. You really think they're still in character? Even with Muraki? I'm getting more and more nervous about that. And yes the plot thickens...or should I say, it makes an appearance?? As I told Kyraille Fade, I think FF.net is just hungry because we don't pay them so they eat our reviews or sometimes even our chappies!! They have to feed of *something*. So don't take it personal!
And sorry about this, I just *had* to @.@. Don't hate me!! T.T
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Normalcy \Nor"mal*cy\, n. The quality, state, or fact of being normal; as, the point of normalcy. [R.]
I HAD to...I'm sorry...But thanks for pointing that out anyway, cuz maybe I should have used normality. It sounds like something more 'useable' and not as complicated. As I speak spanish, I'm bound to use words that maybe aren't suitable for colloquial speaking? Most of my English I got either from movies or reading, so you can imagine where I come from.
Kyraille Fade: I'm glad I caught someone's attention with that dark trench-coatty guy!!! I'm gonna change that sophomore mistake *today* cuz it annoys me, but tell me....then , what the hell is junior high? Why do you people have to complicate things so much? We have primary school, which consist of 7 grades and secondary school, which last 5 or 6 years depending on the specialization. Either you're a primary school student or a secondary school one. See? Simple!! - But it's not your fault!! ^.^ Thanx for clearing that up!!
xXLil Yu JahXx: That's much better...I approve, it sounded sincere...LOL. Please don't take it seriously, I'm just joking around and you were an easy target. Forgive me?? I really appreciate your review!! Hontoni Gomene!! See I even learned something from you!!
Mel-chan-of-doom: I understand your whole 'avoiding AU' thingy. I'm the same. Imagine how nervous I was when I decided to write one!! But you really like it?? It means a lot to me. Thank you!!!
White Angel of the Blood Moon...don't hate me for taking so long to update!!! Waaaaaaaaah! I'm sowy!!! Anyway, I promise to update a lot sooner next time. PROMISE!! Oriya is sexy, isn't he? Is there any YNM bishie who isn't tho? Hisoka ain't sexy I guess...but he's still cute! And I feel I should introduce you to one of Konnie-chan's rules: Lots of non-melodramatic angst with a guarantied happy endings. It's like, *mandatory*!! So don't worry!!
Loki's rose, ah, I really liked your review because Muraki is making me extremely nervous!! I know he has to be *Muraki*, the evil psycho we all came to love, but he is not so psychotic yet!! Even in the manga it's mentioned that he used to be a normal guy so I'm not actually making it up. But it's soooo hard!! It wasn't my description what was perfect...that's just Ori-chan for you!! And Watari *is* cute; won't argue with that! ^.^
Ja ne!!