A/N: I prolly won't update next week. I have a very important test and I won't be writing fanfics while I need to study. Remember my admission tests? The one for the translation school? They're next Tuesday and Friday, and I'm having trouble with Spanish grammar. Yes, you read correctly, not with English, with Spanish!! *cries*
It would mean a lot if you guys wish me luck. I consider most of you my friends, in a bizarre way, and I need your encouraging thoughts!!! I even called my grandma to tell her to call me Wednesday night to wish me luck. I'll need it!!! This is like *huge* for me, for many reasons.
In the mean time, you can check out my website. It's right there on my custom url and though it's not finished yet, there might be something there you'll enjoy...or not. Whatever. There's some of my original stuff there.
Enjoy!!!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
The following day started as nothing if not uneventful. They all attended class as if nothing had happened; as if they couldn't feel the tension in the air. They went on with their daily obligations; they talked and joked, but every single one of them had the feeling that everything was about to change.
Or maybe it was simply that everything had changed already, and they just weren't ready to admit it. Watari ignored what Tatsumi had said the day before, while Tatsumi ignored what Tsuzuki had told him; Tsuzuki ignored the way he was starting to feel more comfortable around Hisoka, while Hisoka seemed to have forgotten the nice way he'd treated Tsuzuki and kept on insulting him.
But it was all a pretence, and they all knew it. In the back of their minds, those very same things that they tried so hard to ignore were more than present.
For Oriya though, pretending nothing had changed was simply impossible.
Lunch time found him sitting alone at one of the more secluded tables, playing with his food. He wasn't hungry; just as he hadn't been tired the night before, finding impossible to sleep after he realised Muraki wasn't coming back to their room.
He could tell that tiredness was starting to catch up with him though; his eyelids felt heavy and his head hurt, both from sleep deprivation and thinking too much. Just looking at the plate in front of him and thinking of all he'd left to eat made him want to crawl back into bed, even though he'd asked for a small portion.
It was 'meatloaf Wednesday' at the cafeteria. Oriya picked up his fork lazily and, resting his head on his hand, stared at the bite in it wearily. It really was a small bite, but chewing seemed like such an effort at the moment.
A bout of laughter filled the cafeteria and made him look around for the source. Laughing seemed so inappropriate at the moment; it sounded so alien. And though he knew that was just him being broody, when he finally identified who was laughing so loudly a few tables away from him, he blinked in surprise.
His surprise was justified too; wasn't one of Hiyama's friends that had died? Here he was, worried and sleep deprived because his friend might be in big trouble while those bastards were laughing the day after one of them had been brutally murdered? Somehow that struck Oriya as slightly unfair.
It also made it clear, or at least it did to him, that the kind friendship he shared with Muraki was not common. No, he thought sarcastically, there wasn't a thing that could be called 'usual' about their friendship; he was in love with his best friend, after all; a friend that was slightly funny in the head and that he hadn't seen since the day before, when they both slept in the same room.
Maybe it was his trail of thought, maybe it simply was that the table was next in line of his field of vision, but his eyes rested on Tsuzuki & Co. For a split second, Oriya wished he had a closer relationship with them. He could tell their friendship was genuine and, though they didn't exactly qualify as the type of people he'd choose as friends, he could admit that in the end those things were superficial. All he wanted now was someone to talk to.
But what could they think if he just got up and asked them to let him join them? There was no way of doing that without making it look suspicious. He'd already decided that he was wasting time in thinking about it when he realised he was still looking at them and Watari had noticed.
Oriya cursed under his breath as he saw Watari rise from his seat and approach him with a smile. As much as he'd thought he'd like to have a closer relationship, they didn't; he knew spending time with them without Muraki around would be awkward and something he wasn't looking forward to.
"Hey, Ori-chan!" Watari chirped, sitting himself in front of him with not a hint of self-consciousness. "Whatcha doing here, eating all by yourself? Where's Muraki-san?" he said, all in one breath.
In his tired state, Oriya found Watari's over-exited speech rather exhausting. Trying to make sense of what the blond had said, he frowned, then shrugged.
"I don't know." he answered simply.
Watari raised his eyebrows curiously; so high they disappeared under his messy bangs.
"Where Muraki-san is or why you're eating alone?"
He rubbed his eyes lazily and shrugged again.
"Either."
Well, it was no wonder Muraki was his only friend. Was he always this verbal? The blond let out a little yelp, accompanied with a little jump in his seat that startled him. Somehow Watari's sudden movements and his own tired eyes weren't the best combination.
"You don't know where Muraki-san is?!" Oriya sighed sadly and shook his head no. "How come? You guys are like...like attached by the hip or something!!"
"He was just having a rough day yesterday, you know..."
"You mean..." Watari looked worried now, "you haven't heard from him since yesterday!?" Oriya nodded. "But...Ori-chan! Aren't you worried about him? I mean, with everything that's happened..."
'Am I afraid that he's been murdered?' Oriya thought bitterly. No; that hadn't even occurred to him. Some friend he was, huh?
"I'm sure he's ok, Watari-senpai. He knows how to take care of himself."
"Yeah, of course..." Watari didn't sound all that convinced. Or course, the blond didn't know that Muraki could have very well been killing someone at that moment. Oriya wasn't about to tell him, though. "Still, don't you think we should go look for him?"
"I don't think he wants company right now. Not mine, anyway."
Watari's expression softened then, and Oriya remembered why he liked this boy over his friends. He might have looked too chirpy and happy, but the blond was nothing if not perceptive and sympathetic of everyone's problems.
"Did something happen? Did you guys have a fight?" Watari asked kindly, making the implication obvious without actually saying a word about it.
He was asking if Oriya had been stupid enough to tell Muraki how he felt. Oriya smiled then; a little sad, but nonetheless genuine smile.
"Nah, nothing like that. He probably just took off somewhere to vent; maybe he's even wondering around the school. You know how he gets sometimes."
Clasping his hands together and smiling widely, Watari stood up.
"Ok then!" he took Oriya's hand and pulled him off of his seat, picking up his lunch tray with his free hand. "No use in you moping here all alone, ne? You're having lunch with us!!"
"Waah, no! Wait Watari-senpai!! I... I..." He tried desperately to come up with a reason to excuse himself, but his brain failed him.
"Nothing. You're not going to eat all alone and depressed!! It will cause you an ulcer!!" He protested a little more, only half-heartedly, and let himself be led by the hand by his pseudo-friend.
When Watari was knocked to the ground by someone's strategically placed leg, his lunch spilling all over the floor, Oriya couldn't help thinking that he'd much rather gotten to the table and spent an eternity of awkwardness to having to endure this.
"Well, well. Look what we have here? Watari-chan, you certainly change boyfriends fast!!" Hiyama's disdainful tone filled Oriya's ears, followed by the same loud, fake laughter he'd heard earlier.
He rolled his eyes. He knew he shouldn't have gotten out of bed that day.
-------------------
After Watari had left the table to talk with Oriya, Tsuzuki noted with alarm how all attempt at conversation had died down. Now the three of them that remained sat in awkward silence, staring at anything but themselves.
Watari had served as some sort of super-glue. Though his blond friend hadn't been as cheery as usual- Watari had looked nervous all morning, for some reason- he still managed to make conversation and keep everyone's mood up.
Tatsumi, in spite of what he'd said, was angry...or upset, Tsuzuki didn't know for sure. The blue eyed boy had never been very effusive to begin with. All Tsuzuki knew was that it was his fault.
He'd tried to make it up to him; he'd been overly attentive all morning, trying his best not to say stupid things and even paying attention in class! But Tatsumi remained as cold as a stalactite, not being precisely rude to him, but not showing any kind of affection either. Whatever it was bothering was serious.
On the other hand he had Hisoka, who was obviously too embarrassed about what had happened the day before to be able to even look at him in the face without blushing. It was sad; he'd thought that they'd gotten closer the day before, and now Hisoka was all but ignoring him. It was still cute to see him blush, though.
Now that the blond was gone, it was as if no one knew exactly what to do with themselves. That was *not* normal. Yup, Watari was super-glue. Tsuzuki idly wondered if his friend was also addictive if you smelled him, a frown decorating his brow at his dilemma. And not just the glue one.
He rested his chin in his hand and sighed. Why was everything so complicated? At that moment, he felt two different hands resting on both his arms, and he looked up to find both Tatsumi and Hisoka watching him worriedly.
"Are you ok?" They asked in unison.
Both boys stared at each other, then back to him, then away; Tatsumi focusing on his food, Hisoka on the window. Tsuzuki stared at both of them, feeling his cheeks burn and not only from embarrassment either.
'Dammit, I wanna be super-glue too!' He thought, slumping his shoulders. 'Instead I'm like some sort of solvent!!'
He didn't have time to dwell on that, though. The sound of something... correction, someone carrying something, hitting the floor turned everyone's heads in the cafeteria.
It was Hiyama and Co. again, torturing some poor soul that just *happened* to walk past them. You'd think that after one of them had died, the remaining bullies would at least take the day off!! Tsuzuki would have liked to teach those assholes a lesson but, as Tatsumi had said, his situation in the school was shaky enough to add assault to the list.
Tatsumi didn't have to watch himself though. The blue eyed boy immediately stood up. His face was expressionless, but there was flame in his eyes that suggested Hiyama was in trouble this time. Good.
Both Tsuzuki and Hisoka followed Tatsumi swiftly, should he need some help. Since Hiyama and his three friends were gathered around whoever the were harassing, Tsuzuki wasn't able to tell who he was.
Catching a glimpse of blond, wavy hair as he saw Hiyama kick his victim made the violet eyed boy swallow hard and speed his pace. Tatsumi apparently saw it too; he immediately clenched his hands into tight fist and Tsuzuki could have sworn he hard him grunt.
Hisoka wasn't looking that much calmer, either. He and Tsuzuki crossed anger filled glances after Tatsumi pulled Hiyama by the arm and they were able to see Watari crumpled on the floor, eyes filled with tears, and one of the goons holding Oriya- who looked about to murder someone- so he wouldn't interfere.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Tatsumi hissed. Hiyama snorted.
"I'm kicking the wind out of the little faggot. Do you mind?" All the goons laughed on cue. Mindless drones, that's what they were.
"You crossed the line, mother-fucker!" Tatsumi said a little too loudly. Tsuzuki was afraid he'd punch him right there. Afraid for Tatsumi's fist, mind you.
Everyone around them let out a quiet gasp. There weren't many people who'd have the guts to talk to Hiyama like that. Of course, there wasn't many people who'd talk to Tatsumi like that either.
"I have?" Hiyama asked, smiling defiantly. "Have I offended your gay pride or something?" As in slow motion, Tsuzuki saw Tatsumi's last straw of patience snapping. The taller boy raised his fist and swung at the bully, but Hiyama was faster, dodging the blow and punching Tatsumi so hard on the chin everyone on the back tables was able to hear it. The blue eyed boy fell to the floor with a thump, leaving everyone else stunned. Hiyama was glowing with satisfaction. "You faggots are all wimps. You really thought you could hit me, little girl?"
Tatsumi pushed himself to a sitting position, nursing his bruised jaw.
"You're dead." he said flatly, throwing daggers with his eyes, but his words lost a little authority when they came out muffled.
Hisoka took a step forward, fuming. Tsuzuki was ready to come between them should the green eyed boy attempt a stunt like his boyfriend had, not wanting anyone else to get hurt.
"You're brave, I'll grant you that. Making more enemies when someone is probably out to kill you all is not the wisest of moves, I'd say."
Yes, it was official. Hisoka was scary.
His friends stiffened at Hisoka's words; Tsuzuki saw the flash of concern, even fear, crossing their eyes. Not Hiyama, though. He just rested his hands in his pockets and smiled.
"No one's going to die except you, fags."
The bell rang as if on cue. Time stood still for a few seconds; no one in that cafeteria dared to move. Hiyama took the initiative, turning around and motioning to his friend to follow. The one holding Oriya threw him forcefully to the ground and dusted his hands as if the dark haired boy disgusted him.
After the bullies had left, everyone else started leaving as well. Everyone throwing glances their way; some pitiful, some thankful, all stunned.
They just stared at each other, equally stunned. Hiyama was *not* faster than Tatsumi. He couldn't be. And if he was, the bastard had never before dared defy him like that, less alone in public!
Silently deciding not to speak a word about it, the two that remained standing helped the others up. Tatsumi refused Tsuzuki's offer to help him walk, while Watari gladly accepted Hisoka's. The blond was limping badly.
This week just kept getting better and better.
-------------------
As soon as he'd left Kenji's room, Midori had rushed to call JuoCho and inform them of the new development; leaving all compromising bits out, of course.
He'd spent all night outside Tsuzuki's room, unable to shake the feeling that he'd gotten the boy into trouble and promising to himself not to let anything happen to him. If it depended on him, Tsuzuki wouldn't even know about what was happening.
There weren't many people left in EnmaChou that were around by the time he'd become a shinigami; those blissful years when he and Tsuzuki had worked, if not together, at least in the same department. Only two or three, and none of them was close to him. But Aome, his new partner, seemed to suspect something was up.
There was no way for her to find out exactly what had happened. She'd been a shinigami for less than two months; for all she knew, he'd known some or all of the boys from a past case. That morning, though, she'd noticed his worry and it didn't take a genius to guess over who he was worrying, since he refused to leave his spot next to the guys' door until they'd left for class.
And though she couldn't know which one was the recipient of his concern, it only took one word out of her mouth and everyone in Meifuu would find out; including those who knew him from back then. Aome was already popular for her ability to spread 'news'.
Could he be removed from the case? Sure, it was his jurisdiction, but that didn't guarantee anything. He wasn't just attached emotionally, he'd also whitheld information. If anything happened to Tsuzuki or any other of the boys, he'd be in *big* trouble.
That's why he was now waiting outside the cafeteria. Lunch break was about to end and he could both keep an eye on Tsuzuki *and* wait for Kenji to leave, so he could talk to him. Maybe the boy wasn't too far gone and he could help him fight the demon off.
If he did everything right, he'd keep the secret, his job and Tsuzuki's safety.
The bell rang and Midori watched as all the students rushed out, observing each face carefully not to miss his target. Kenji hadn't left yet when Tsuzuki and the rest walked out, looking rather deflated. Watari actually looked ruffled, but hey, what's new? At least they were all in one piece.
Kenji was the last to leave. Midori took one good look at the boy he'd only seen in pictures before that moment. He'd have to admit, he was beautiful. More than usual. He had a slender complexion, but not too delicate. His face was refined and his skin perfect. His auburn hair was thin and abundant, falling neatly around his face.
Midori knew for a fact Kenji had friends and good grades. His parents had been loving and relatively wealthy, he'd grown up a happy child. Why would a boy like him conjure a demon? What could a demon offer him that he didn't have already? His questions were more out of curiosity than judgement.
Grabbing his arm, Midori stopped the boy from walking away. For a moment, Kenji didn't seem to notice. He just stood there, his head down causing his hair to cover half of it.
"Kudou-kun, I need to have a word with you." Midori said kindly, yet firmly.
Kenji lifted his head then and Midori gasped. His eyes, big and black, looked completely empty. Kenji smiled widely, but it was so fake, so... devoid of feeling, that it made Midori's head spin.
"What can I do for you?" he said in a perfect cheery tone, as false as everything else about him.
Midori let go of his arm and shook his head, shocked.
"Nothing. Sorry, I thought you were someone else." he all but whispered.
This boy... He'd lost his family, they'd all been murdered and... it wasn't even his fault. He wasn't...
He was just a doll.
-----------------
Muraki had waited until it was time for class before returning to his room. After spending all night up on the roof, he was in serious need of a shower and a nap.
He'd set the alarm clock to wake him just as lunch break was over. He knew there was a chance of Oriya skipping geography to look for him. The dark haired boy didn't need much excuse to skip geography anyway. It was time to return to the roof, he decided.
Not that running away was his favourite M.O, but he simply wasn't ready to face him; any of them. All night hadn't been enough for him to decide what he was going to do from then on. Seeing Tsuzuki, even Oriya, would only complicate things.
What was he deciding, anyway? It sure as hell felt like an important decision, even if he wasn't sure about *what* exactly. Not many people could say they'd known exactly when their lives were about to change so drastically. He might have been confused, but he was not going to waste this opportunity to gain an upper hand on his own fate.
Fate was a fucked up thing, anyway.
Eventually he lost his trail of thought and simply stared at the sky, letting the wind caress his face and sooth him. He didn't know really for how long he'd been there, but he was starting to feel like a part of that place.
Wouldn't life be easier if one didn't have to worry about time? If you could take all the time you wanted to think, to enjoy? To be young and perfect forever. That would be heaven.
He remembered what he'd seen the day before. The lifeless body of that boy. Humans were such weak creatures. Their bodies were so easy to break and it only took a little work to make what made them alive, leave them. What was it, exactly? Was it blood? The soul? What made someone alive?
He knew he could cut open thousands of people and never know for sure. No, medicine would not give him the answer to that question. And it was *his* question. He *had* to answer it somehow. Because then he'd have the control he craved.
If he could grasp the essence; if he could find what life was exactly, what death was, then he could do with it as he pleased. He'd be like god then, wouldn't he?
~"Would you like that?"~ a voice that sounded inside his mind startled him out of his wits.
Turning his head, he saw a boy standing a few feet away from him. He knew him, his name escaped him at the moment, but he knew who this person was. He also knew he didn't like him much. Yet there was something appealing about him; a dark aura about him. An aura that made the darkness in him stir madly.
The white haired boy stood up and walked towards the other, staring at him curiously.
"You didn't answer my question." the boy said, this time out loud, with a smug smile. "Do you wanna be like god?"
~Tsuzuku~
I finished this chapter at 7:42 am, spent all Friday night between verve tenses and writing it so you wouldn't be so deprived, because if I didn't finish it today, I wouldn't be able to finish it until next week. Bow down and thank me for my kindness!! *-*
If all goes well and I pass, I'll write a fic to celebrate, what do you say? See you in...a week and a half? Maybe?
Reviews, the ones that had me on the verge of a breakdown all week... as if I didn't have enough stress right now!!
Kaiser-chan: Don't say it!!! You're prolly right though. I didn't mean to make it obvious, but also not so un-obvious that he wouldn't be recognisable. And Muraki is going through a lot, cut him some slack. I'm sure he didn't mean what he said/thought about Hisoka. Lol... Hugs.
azdriel: Te dije que me podias escribir en español!! Te dije!! *revisa sus notas* Sip, sip. Cuando te agradeci por el review de 'With love', en el capitulo diez!! Y si, Tatsumi y Tsuzuki van a romper,...pronto. Es triste, no? Pero al mismo tiempo me pone contenta que les ponga triste porque eso significa que pude escribir los puntos de vista de ambos sin que ninguno parezca el 'malo' de la historia. No se si me entendes. Escribir un rompimiento sin que uno de los dos parezca un bastardo es un logro, no? Ah, y ni loca te digo quien es Midori. No es que sea wow, la sorpresa, pero si empiezo a revelar cosas ahora, quien va a querer seguir leyendo? (je je je)
LYK: I've always liked Muraki. I love twisted psychos the best (only in fiction, though*-*). But I'm starting to understand the way they think too well... it's worrying, lol. Before I notice, I'm going to start defending him!! And yeah...I can't wait until I can honestly say this is a Tatari fic!! Hugs!
Coatl-chan: *stares suspiciously at Coatl-chan* *decides to pretend she doesn't know her* Hello, new reviewer!! Yes, twisted catholics are scary, ne? I just feel it fits him because, as much as there's beautiful things about the religion, it can also be a little terrifying sometimes. I dunno if I make sense. Remember the exorcist? Yeah... Scary. Huggles!!!
Kara Angitia: *is still a little drowsy from that nice cup of tea* I'm feeling sleepy like Watari in the last chappy, heh heh. You're like...fairy Kara, ne? *huggles you silly*
kitsuneblood: Hey there! You're still around!! Yay!! Thanks for saying those pretty things. You also a Tatari fan? *glomp*
LinaLau: Tsk, Tsk, you weren't first this time. Lol. Lets hope ff.net gives us all a break this week, ne? I am waiting for tour bride Watari. Will you show it to me when you're done? And what you mean, finally some good music from the UK? What about The Beatles, Pink Floyd (their British, arent they?) Elton John, Dido, The sex pistols...er...ok, forget that last one, lol. Again, if you guess who Midori is, don't say it!! Ok, I'm sleepy now so I'll end it here. Talk to you later!! (we talk a lot, don't we? lol. My adopted little stalker sister, that's how I'll call you now!*-*)
dodger-chan: I have to be hard on myself or I'll never get better, I guess. I have you guys to tell me how great I am, lol j/k. But seriously, every time I go re-read some old stuff of mine I can't help to cringe. I've gotten a lot better I'd say, and I still have a long way to go if I wanna do this professionally (writing, not fanficcing ^.~). But I can honestly say I've devoted more time to writing than anything else before in my life. Maybe I can do something with it? I'm like...*so* happy about what you said about my Tatari!!! I know there's no *real* evidence of the pairing. It's reaaaally hard to make it work realistically!!! Thank you!!! Your theory about Muraki and martyrs is quite sound, I'd say. And why is it everyone seems to like my Muraki so much? *confused*
Kyraille Fade: *glares* I'm not going to answer that. *hushed voice* I could tell you in private tho... If you reaaaally want to know. Sorry for hurting Watari and Tatsumi in this chapter *fearful* Look at the bright side, they can nurse each other to health in the next one!! Hugs!!
XxLil Yu JahxX: Well, one can dream, ne? Still, what you said in this one was nice enough, lol. Huggles.
Mel-chan: I almost didn't get your review!! *sniff* Got it yesterday!! Did you meant good or god, cuz maybe it was a nice chapter, but god? That's a little strong! Lol. *huggles you silly too!!* ^.^ Luvs ya!
Wish me luck, wish me luck, wish me luck, wish me...gah...*faints*
Ja Ne!!
It would mean a lot if you guys wish me luck. I consider most of you my friends, in a bizarre way, and I need your encouraging thoughts!!! I even called my grandma to tell her to call me Wednesday night to wish me luck. I'll need it!!! This is like *huge* for me, for many reasons.
In the mean time, you can check out my website. It's right there on my custom url and though it's not finished yet, there might be something there you'll enjoy...or not. Whatever. There's some of my original stuff there.
Enjoy!!!
A SMILE UPON MY FACE
The following day started as nothing if not uneventful. They all attended class as if nothing had happened; as if they couldn't feel the tension in the air. They went on with their daily obligations; they talked and joked, but every single one of them had the feeling that everything was about to change.
Or maybe it was simply that everything had changed already, and they just weren't ready to admit it. Watari ignored what Tatsumi had said the day before, while Tatsumi ignored what Tsuzuki had told him; Tsuzuki ignored the way he was starting to feel more comfortable around Hisoka, while Hisoka seemed to have forgotten the nice way he'd treated Tsuzuki and kept on insulting him.
But it was all a pretence, and they all knew it. In the back of their minds, those very same things that they tried so hard to ignore were more than present.
For Oriya though, pretending nothing had changed was simply impossible.
Lunch time found him sitting alone at one of the more secluded tables, playing with his food. He wasn't hungry; just as he hadn't been tired the night before, finding impossible to sleep after he realised Muraki wasn't coming back to their room.
He could tell that tiredness was starting to catch up with him though; his eyelids felt heavy and his head hurt, both from sleep deprivation and thinking too much. Just looking at the plate in front of him and thinking of all he'd left to eat made him want to crawl back into bed, even though he'd asked for a small portion.
It was 'meatloaf Wednesday' at the cafeteria. Oriya picked up his fork lazily and, resting his head on his hand, stared at the bite in it wearily. It really was a small bite, but chewing seemed like such an effort at the moment.
A bout of laughter filled the cafeteria and made him look around for the source. Laughing seemed so inappropriate at the moment; it sounded so alien. And though he knew that was just him being broody, when he finally identified who was laughing so loudly a few tables away from him, he blinked in surprise.
His surprise was justified too; wasn't one of Hiyama's friends that had died? Here he was, worried and sleep deprived because his friend might be in big trouble while those bastards were laughing the day after one of them had been brutally murdered? Somehow that struck Oriya as slightly unfair.
It also made it clear, or at least it did to him, that the kind friendship he shared with Muraki was not common. No, he thought sarcastically, there wasn't a thing that could be called 'usual' about their friendship; he was in love with his best friend, after all; a friend that was slightly funny in the head and that he hadn't seen since the day before, when they both slept in the same room.
Maybe it was his trail of thought, maybe it simply was that the table was next in line of his field of vision, but his eyes rested on Tsuzuki & Co. For a split second, Oriya wished he had a closer relationship with them. He could tell their friendship was genuine and, though they didn't exactly qualify as the type of people he'd choose as friends, he could admit that in the end those things were superficial. All he wanted now was someone to talk to.
But what could they think if he just got up and asked them to let him join them? There was no way of doing that without making it look suspicious. He'd already decided that he was wasting time in thinking about it when he realised he was still looking at them and Watari had noticed.
Oriya cursed under his breath as he saw Watari rise from his seat and approach him with a smile. As much as he'd thought he'd like to have a closer relationship, they didn't; he knew spending time with them without Muraki around would be awkward and something he wasn't looking forward to.
"Hey, Ori-chan!" Watari chirped, sitting himself in front of him with not a hint of self-consciousness. "Whatcha doing here, eating all by yourself? Where's Muraki-san?" he said, all in one breath.
In his tired state, Oriya found Watari's over-exited speech rather exhausting. Trying to make sense of what the blond had said, he frowned, then shrugged.
"I don't know." he answered simply.
Watari raised his eyebrows curiously; so high they disappeared under his messy bangs.
"Where Muraki-san is or why you're eating alone?"
He rubbed his eyes lazily and shrugged again.
"Either."
Well, it was no wonder Muraki was his only friend. Was he always this verbal? The blond let out a little yelp, accompanied with a little jump in his seat that startled him. Somehow Watari's sudden movements and his own tired eyes weren't the best combination.
"You don't know where Muraki-san is?!" Oriya sighed sadly and shook his head no. "How come? You guys are like...like attached by the hip or something!!"
"He was just having a rough day yesterday, you know..."
"You mean..." Watari looked worried now, "you haven't heard from him since yesterday!?" Oriya nodded. "But...Ori-chan! Aren't you worried about him? I mean, with everything that's happened..."
'Am I afraid that he's been murdered?' Oriya thought bitterly. No; that hadn't even occurred to him. Some friend he was, huh?
"I'm sure he's ok, Watari-senpai. He knows how to take care of himself."
"Yeah, of course..." Watari didn't sound all that convinced. Or course, the blond didn't know that Muraki could have very well been killing someone at that moment. Oriya wasn't about to tell him, though. "Still, don't you think we should go look for him?"
"I don't think he wants company right now. Not mine, anyway."
Watari's expression softened then, and Oriya remembered why he liked this boy over his friends. He might have looked too chirpy and happy, but the blond was nothing if not perceptive and sympathetic of everyone's problems.
"Did something happen? Did you guys have a fight?" Watari asked kindly, making the implication obvious without actually saying a word about it.
He was asking if Oriya had been stupid enough to tell Muraki how he felt. Oriya smiled then; a little sad, but nonetheless genuine smile.
"Nah, nothing like that. He probably just took off somewhere to vent; maybe he's even wondering around the school. You know how he gets sometimes."
Clasping his hands together and smiling widely, Watari stood up.
"Ok then!" he took Oriya's hand and pulled him off of his seat, picking up his lunch tray with his free hand. "No use in you moping here all alone, ne? You're having lunch with us!!"
"Waah, no! Wait Watari-senpai!! I... I..." He tried desperately to come up with a reason to excuse himself, but his brain failed him.
"Nothing. You're not going to eat all alone and depressed!! It will cause you an ulcer!!" He protested a little more, only half-heartedly, and let himself be led by the hand by his pseudo-friend.
When Watari was knocked to the ground by someone's strategically placed leg, his lunch spilling all over the floor, Oriya couldn't help thinking that he'd much rather gotten to the table and spent an eternity of awkwardness to having to endure this.
"Well, well. Look what we have here? Watari-chan, you certainly change boyfriends fast!!" Hiyama's disdainful tone filled Oriya's ears, followed by the same loud, fake laughter he'd heard earlier.
He rolled his eyes. He knew he shouldn't have gotten out of bed that day.
-------------------
After Watari had left the table to talk with Oriya, Tsuzuki noted with alarm how all attempt at conversation had died down. Now the three of them that remained sat in awkward silence, staring at anything but themselves.
Watari had served as some sort of super-glue. Though his blond friend hadn't been as cheery as usual- Watari had looked nervous all morning, for some reason- he still managed to make conversation and keep everyone's mood up.
Tatsumi, in spite of what he'd said, was angry...or upset, Tsuzuki didn't know for sure. The blue eyed boy had never been very effusive to begin with. All Tsuzuki knew was that it was his fault.
He'd tried to make it up to him; he'd been overly attentive all morning, trying his best not to say stupid things and even paying attention in class! But Tatsumi remained as cold as a stalactite, not being precisely rude to him, but not showing any kind of affection either. Whatever it was bothering was serious.
On the other hand he had Hisoka, who was obviously too embarrassed about what had happened the day before to be able to even look at him in the face without blushing. It was sad; he'd thought that they'd gotten closer the day before, and now Hisoka was all but ignoring him. It was still cute to see him blush, though.
Now that the blond was gone, it was as if no one knew exactly what to do with themselves. That was *not* normal. Yup, Watari was super-glue. Tsuzuki idly wondered if his friend was also addictive if you smelled him, a frown decorating his brow at his dilemma. And not just the glue one.
He rested his chin in his hand and sighed. Why was everything so complicated? At that moment, he felt two different hands resting on both his arms, and he looked up to find both Tatsumi and Hisoka watching him worriedly.
"Are you ok?" They asked in unison.
Both boys stared at each other, then back to him, then away; Tatsumi focusing on his food, Hisoka on the window. Tsuzuki stared at both of them, feeling his cheeks burn and not only from embarrassment either.
'Dammit, I wanna be super-glue too!' He thought, slumping his shoulders. 'Instead I'm like some sort of solvent!!'
He didn't have time to dwell on that, though. The sound of something... correction, someone carrying something, hitting the floor turned everyone's heads in the cafeteria.
It was Hiyama and Co. again, torturing some poor soul that just *happened* to walk past them. You'd think that after one of them had died, the remaining bullies would at least take the day off!! Tsuzuki would have liked to teach those assholes a lesson but, as Tatsumi had said, his situation in the school was shaky enough to add assault to the list.
Tatsumi didn't have to watch himself though. The blue eyed boy immediately stood up. His face was expressionless, but there was flame in his eyes that suggested Hiyama was in trouble this time. Good.
Both Tsuzuki and Hisoka followed Tatsumi swiftly, should he need some help. Since Hiyama and his three friends were gathered around whoever the were harassing, Tsuzuki wasn't able to tell who he was.
Catching a glimpse of blond, wavy hair as he saw Hiyama kick his victim made the violet eyed boy swallow hard and speed his pace. Tatsumi apparently saw it too; he immediately clenched his hands into tight fist and Tsuzuki could have sworn he hard him grunt.
Hisoka wasn't looking that much calmer, either. He and Tsuzuki crossed anger filled glances after Tatsumi pulled Hiyama by the arm and they were able to see Watari crumpled on the floor, eyes filled with tears, and one of the goons holding Oriya- who looked about to murder someone- so he wouldn't interfere.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Tatsumi hissed. Hiyama snorted.
"I'm kicking the wind out of the little faggot. Do you mind?" All the goons laughed on cue. Mindless drones, that's what they were.
"You crossed the line, mother-fucker!" Tatsumi said a little too loudly. Tsuzuki was afraid he'd punch him right there. Afraid for Tatsumi's fist, mind you.
Everyone around them let out a quiet gasp. There weren't many people who'd have the guts to talk to Hiyama like that. Of course, there wasn't many people who'd talk to Tatsumi like that either.
"I have?" Hiyama asked, smiling defiantly. "Have I offended your gay pride or something?" As in slow motion, Tsuzuki saw Tatsumi's last straw of patience snapping. The taller boy raised his fist and swung at the bully, but Hiyama was faster, dodging the blow and punching Tatsumi so hard on the chin everyone on the back tables was able to hear it. The blue eyed boy fell to the floor with a thump, leaving everyone else stunned. Hiyama was glowing with satisfaction. "You faggots are all wimps. You really thought you could hit me, little girl?"
Tatsumi pushed himself to a sitting position, nursing his bruised jaw.
"You're dead." he said flatly, throwing daggers with his eyes, but his words lost a little authority when they came out muffled.
Hisoka took a step forward, fuming. Tsuzuki was ready to come between them should the green eyed boy attempt a stunt like his boyfriend had, not wanting anyone else to get hurt.
"You're brave, I'll grant you that. Making more enemies when someone is probably out to kill you all is not the wisest of moves, I'd say."
Yes, it was official. Hisoka was scary.
His friends stiffened at Hisoka's words; Tsuzuki saw the flash of concern, even fear, crossing their eyes. Not Hiyama, though. He just rested his hands in his pockets and smiled.
"No one's going to die except you, fags."
The bell rang as if on cue. Time stood still for a few seconds; no one in that cafeteria dared to move. Hiyama took the initiative, turning around and motioning to his friend to follow. The one holding Oriya threw him forcefully to the ground and dusted his hands as if the dark haired boy disgusted him.
After the bullies had left, everyone else started leaving as well. Everyone throwing glances their way; some pitiful, some thankful, all stunned.
They just stared at each other, equally stunned. Hiyama was *not* faster than Tatsumi. He couldn't be. And if he was, the bastard had never before dared defy him like that, less alone in public!
Silently deciding not to speak a word about it, the two that remained standing helped the others up. Tatsumi refused Tsuzuki's offer to help him walk, while Watari gladly accepted Hisoka's. The blond was limping badly.
This week just kept getting better and better.
-------------------
As soon as he'd left Kenji's room, Midori had rushed to call JuoCho and inform them of the new development; leaving all compromising bits out, of course.
He'd spent all night outside Tsuzuki's room, unable to shake the feeling that he'd gotten the boy into trouble and promising to himself not to let anything happen to him. If it depended on him, Tsuzuki wouldn't even know about what was happening.
There weren't many people left in EnmaChou that were around by the time he'd become a shinigami; those blissful years when he and Tsuzuki had worked, if not together, at least in the same department. Only two or three, and none of them was close to him. But Aome, his new partner, seemed to suspect something was up.
There was no way for her to find out exactly what had happened. She'd been a shinigami for less than two months; for all she knew, he'd known some or all of the boys from a past case. That morning, though, she'd noticed his worry and it didn't take a genius to guess over who he was worrying, since he refused to leave his spot next to the guys' door until they'd left for class.
And though she couldn't know which one was the recipient of his concern, it only took one word out of her mouth and everyone in Meifuu would find out; including those who knew him from back then. Aome was already popular for her ability to spread 'news'.
Could he be removed from the case? Sure, it was his jurisdiction, but that didn't guarantee anything. He wasn't just attached emotionally, he'd also whitheld information. If anything happened to Tsuzuki or any other of the boys, he'd be in *big* trouble.
That's why he was now waiting outside the cafeteria. Lunch break was about to end and he could both keep an eye on Tsuzuki *and* wait for Kenji to leave, so he could talk to him. Maybe the boy wasn't too far gone and he could help him fight the demon off.
If he did everything right, he'd keep the secret, his job and Tsuzuki's safety.
The bell rang and Midori watched as all the students rushed out, observing each face carefully not to miss his target. Kenji hadn't left yet when Tsuzuki and the rest walked out, looking rather deflated. Watari actually looked ruffled, but hey, what's new? At least they were all in one piece.
Kenji was the last to leave. Midori took one good look at the boy he'd only seen in pictures before that moment. He'd have to admit, he was beautiful. More than usual. He had a slender complexion, but not too delicate. His face was refined and his skin perfect. His auburn hair was thin and abundant, falling neatly around his face.
Midori knew for a fact Kenji had friends and good grades. His parents had been loving and relatively wealthy, he'd grown up a happy child. Why would a boy like him conjure a demon? What could a demon offer him that he didn't have already? His questions were more out of curiosity than judgement.
Grabbing his arm, Midori stopped the boy from walking away. For a moment, Kenji didn't seem to notice. He just stood there, his head down causing his hair to cover half of it.
"Kudou-kun, I need to have a word with you." Midori said kindly, yet firmly.
Kenji lifted his head then and Midori gasped. His eyes, big and black, looked completely empty. Kenji smiled widely, but it was so fake, so... devoid of feeling, that it made Midori's head spin.
"What can I do for you?" he said in a perfect cheery tone, as false as everything else about him.
Midori let go of his arm and shook his head, shocked.
"Nothing. Sorry, I thought you were someone else." he all but whispered.
This boy... He'd lost his family, they'd all been murdered and... it wasn't even his fault. He wasn't...
He was just a doll.
-----------------
Muraki had waited until it was time for class before returning to his room. After spending all night up on the roof, he was in serious need of a shower and a nap.
He'd set the alarm clock to wake him just as lunch break was over. He knew there was a chance of Oriya skipping geography to look for him. The dark haired boy didn't need much excuse to skip geography anyway. It was time to return to the roof, he decided.
Not that running away was his favourite M.O, but he simply wasn't ready to face him; any of them. All night hadn't been enough for him to decide what he was going to do from then on. Seeing Tsuzuki, even Oriya, would only complicate things.
What was he deciding, anyway? It sure as hell felt like an important decision, even if he wasn't sure about *what* exactly. Not many people could say they'd known exactly when their lives were about to change so drastically. He might have been confused, but he was not going to waste this opportunity to gain an upper hand on his own fate.
Fate was a fucked up thing, anyway.
Eventually he lost his trail of thought and simply stared at the sky, letting the wind caress his face and sooth him. He didn't know really for how long he'd been there, but he was starting to feel like a part of that place.
Wouldn't life be easier if one didn't have to worry about time? If you could take all the time you wanted to think, to enjoy? To be young and perfect forever. That would be heaven.
He remembered what he'd seen the day before. The lifeless body of that boy. Humans were such weak creatures. Their bodies were so easy to break and it only took a little work to make what made them alive, leave them. What was it, exactly? Was it blood? The soul? What made someone alive?
He knew he could cut open thousands of people and never know for sure. No, medicine would not give him the answer to that question. And it was *his* question. He *had* to answer it somehow. Because then he'd have the control he craved.
If he could grasp the essence; if he could find what life was exactly, what death was, then he could do with it as he pleased. He'd be like god then, wouldn't he?
~"Would you like that?"~ a voice that sounded inside his mind startled him out of his wits.
Turning his head, he saw a boy standing a few feet away from him. He knew him, his name escaped him at the moment, but he knew who this person was. He also knew he didn't like him much. Yet there was something appealing about him; a dark aura about him. An aura that made the darkness in him stir madly.
The white haired boy stood up and walked towards the other, staring at him curiously.
"You didn't answer my question." the boy said, this time out loud, with a smug smile. "Do you wanna be like god?"
~Tsuzuku~
I finished this chapter at 7:42 am, spent all Friday night between verve tenses and writing it so you wouldn't be so deprived, because if I didn't finish it today, I wouldn't be able to finish it until next week. Bow down and thank me for my kindness!! *-*
If all goes well and I pass, I'll write a fic to celebrate, what do you say? See you in...a week and a half? Maybe?
Reviews, the ones that had me on the verge of a breakdown all week... as if I didn't have enough stress right now!!
Kaiser-chan: Don't say it!!! You're prolly right though. I didn't mean to make it obvious, but also not so un-obvious that he wouldn't be recognisable. And Muraki is going through a lot, cut him some slack. I'm sure he didn't mean what he said/thought about Hisoka. Lol... Hugs.
azdriel: Te dije que me podias escribir en español!! Te dije!! *revisa sus notas* Sip, sip. Cuando te agradeci por el review de 'With love', en el capitulo diez!! Y si, Tatsumi y Tsuzuki van a romper,...pronto. Es triste, no? Pero al mismo tiempo me pone contenta que les ponga triste porque eso significa que pude escribir los puntos de vista de ambos sin que ninguno parezca el 'malo' de la historia. No se si me entendes. Escribir un rompimiento sin que uno de los dos parezca un bastardo es un logro, no? Ah, y ni loca te digo quien es Midori. No es que sea wow, la sorpresa, pero si empiezo a revelar cosas ahora, quien va a querer seguir leyendo? (je je je)
LYK: I've always liked Muraki. I love twisted psychos the best (only in fiction, though*-*). But I'm starting to understand the way they think too well... it's worrying, lol. Before I notice, I'm going to start defending him!! And yeah...I can't wait until I can honestly say this is a Tatari fic!! Hugs!
Coatl-chan: *stares suspiciously at Coatl-chan* *decides to pretend she doesn't know her* Hello, new reviewer!! Yes, twisted catholics are scary, ne? I just feel it fits him because, as much as there's beautiful things about the religion, it can also be a little terrifying sometimes. I dunno if I make sense. Remember the exorcist? Yeah... Scary. Huggles!!!
Kara Angitia: *is still a little drowsy from that nice cup of tea* I'm feeling sleepy like Watari in the last chappy, heh heh. You're like...fairy Kara, ne? *huggles you silly*
kitsuneblood: Hey there! You're still around!! Yay!! Thanks for saying those pretty things. You also a Tatari fan? *glomp*
LinaLau: Tsk, Tsk, you weren't first this time. Lol. Lets hope ff.net gives us all a break this week, ne? I am waiting for tour bride Watari. Will you show it to me when you're done? And what you mean, finally some good music from the UK? What about The Beatles, Pink Floyd (their British, arent they?) Elton John, Dido, The sex pistols...er...ok, forget that last one, lol. Again, if you guess who Midori is, don't say it!! Ok, I'm sleepy now so I'll end it here. Talk to you later!! (we talk a lot, don't we? lol. My adopted little stalker sister, that's how I'll call you now!*-*)
dodger-chan: I have to be hard on myself or I'll never get better, I guess. I have you guys to tell me how great I am, lol j/k. But seriously, every time I go re-read some old stuff of mine I can't help to cringe. I've gotten a lot better I'd say, and I still have a long way to go if I wanna do this professionally (writing, not fanficcing ^.~). But I can honestly say I've devoted more time to writing than anything else before in my life. Maybe I can do something with it? I'm like...*so* happy about what you said about my Tatari!!! I know there's no *real* evidence of the pairing. It's reaaaally hard to make it work realistically!!! Thank you!!! Your theory about Muraki and martyrs is quite sound, I'd say. And why is it everyone seems to like my Muraki so much? *confused*
Kyraille Fade: *glares* I'm not going to answer that. *hushed voice* I could tell you in private tho... If you reaaaally want to know. Sorry for hurting Watari and Tatsumi in this chapter *fearful* Look at the bright side, they can nurse each other to health in the next one!! Hugs!!
XxLil Yu JahxX: Well, one can dream, ne? Still, what you said in this one was nice enough, lol. Huggles.
Mel-chan: I almost didn't get your review!! *sniff* Got it yesterday!! Did you meant good or god, cuz maybe it was a nice chapter, but god? That's a little strong! Lol. *huggles you silly too!!* ^.^ Luvs ya!
Wish me luck, wish me luck, wish me luck, wish me...gah...*faints*
Ja Ne!!