1. Amethyst Musings
Emerald eyes stared up at the rays of sun that shown softly through the sakura burrows overhead. Sunlight danced gently across fine features as the wind delicately graced the blossom-coated branches. The aloof Shinigami sat alone in a pensive silence at a small table beneath a particularly large tree.
Hisoka was seated on an uncomfortable patio chair with on leg tightly crossed over the top of his knee and his arms folded over the front of his denim jacket in a futile attempt to conceal himself from the maddening world around him. He closed his eyes firmly in frustration and let his chin fall to his chest. Long, honey blonde bangs fell in front of his face to hide the majority of his contemplative expression.
It was their first day back at work since the incident in Kyoto and he had taken every chance he could to get out of that suffocating office. Everything was the same. Everything went back to normal. Everything was familiar.
But that was the problem. Nothing was the same anymore, it was not normal, and the unnatural discomfort he felt because of it was certainly not familiar.
Thinking back to the earlier events of that morning, he was slightly worried when he first arrived back at work. His empathy could barely pick up on any emotions. However, when Wakaba had bounded up to him, cheered contentedly, and verbally expressed her happiness for his wellbeing while exhibiting copious enthusiastic gestures, he had felt her overwhelming waves of cheerfulness loud and clear. Actually, it was a little to loud and a bit to clear, as the youth had stumbled backwards and crashed into his partner, taking them both to the floor.
Although it was proof that his empathy was still functioning, it also made something else evident. As Tsuzuki had helped his blushing partner off him and back to his feet, Hisoka could only read one thing from the older Shinigami: absolutely nothing. Tsuzuki had lifted impenetrable shields. Even when Tsuzuki held Hisoka's forearm while he regained his balance, the contact had not made it any easier to receive the emotions that usually flowed haphazardly from his partner. Hisoka cringed inwardly when Watari come over to check his condition. The normally eccentric scientist rarely bothered with shields but today was rather reserved, and the Empath could easily sense the blonde's erected shields.
'What the Hell is going on?' His mind cried in frustration. Was it one big conspiracy against him, meant to drive him insane?
Hisoka sighed deeply as a brisk wind brought him back from his revive, as several sakura petals floated down from the tree above him.
He knew this would happen. He knew that if he allowed himself to demonstrate any vulnerability that he would loose what little comfort he had found. The worst part was that everyone was treating the incident like it never happened, or that it was an all too common event that everyone but him knew the protocol for.
Either way, the lack of resolution was completely unnerving; the young Shinigami wanted nothing more then to discuss the events of their last case with his partner.
However, Tsuzuki had reverted back to his usual state of ignorant bliss, which both enraged and worried Hisoka.
'Did what I say mean nothing to you?' Hisoka grudgingly questioned his mind, as if his partner resided within it.
'Is this your way of telling me that you regret how the case ended?' the overly analytical youth furrowed his brow in agitation. He could understand how someone could hate him, since that had been all he had ever know as a child. However, he had actually willingly placed his trust in Tsuzuki, and the older Shinigami was treating him the same way everyone else had.
'Do you really want to forget about what had take place and move on as if nothing had happened?' He inquired rhetorically. Hisoka knew full well that Tsuzuki was not one to let go of the past so easily.
'Are you really just like all the others?' His mind choked out. Above all else, Hisoka desperately wanted to believe this was false.
"Fine." He answered all of his questions in a low but determined voice as he griped his arms tighter around his slim torso, scowling at anything that fell within his present line of sight.
Slowly realizing he had to get back to work, he relaxed his shoulders and shut his eyes gently to ward off their piecing glare that was being wasted as no one was around. Readying himself for the office, Hisoka silently entered into a trance.
In his current state of meditation, he focused energy throughout his entire body, which methodically reinforced his already powerful shields. Oblivious to the rest of the world, he barely noticed a pair of eyes watching him.
Suddenly shaken from his mental reinforcement session, Hisoka jumped in his seat, startled as he felt the other presence approaching him. His head shot in every direction in an attempt to pinpoint the intruder, but to no avail. Giving up with much hesitation, he silently concluded through an agitated grumble that the stress was making him more paranoid then usual.
However, Just as he was sitting himself back down, a small puff of feathers crash-landed onto his lap.
"Aahh!" was Hisoka's startled response as he bolted from his chair displacing the feathered mass to the ground. Quickly realizing he was in no apparent danger, Hisoka quickly cupped his hand over his mouth and shot anxious eyes around sharply to make sure no one had heard his shocked shriek.
"Oh my gosh!" realization set in "I didn't know it was you 003!" He whispered harshly.
The frazzled tuft on the ground got to its small feet and shook itself free of the dirt and grass its plumage had accumulated. It glared up at Hisoka and hooted in annoyance.
"I...I'm sorry...I..." He quietly started. Though, believing that it was impossible to apologize to a bird, much less explain his actions, Hisoka declined to continue.
Instead he slowly crouched down to his knees and reached out to lift the small owl into his palms. Stroking away any pain he had caused her, Hisoka rested his back against the base of the sakura tree as he let 003 nestle in his lap once more.
There was no reason for him to take his anger out on the bird, and he had to admit that he enjoyed the silent, shield-less company. Not that he could read much off of her, save a simple contentment brought about by the delicate message she received from gifted fingers.
Unfortunately, that soon brought his mind back to the reason he was out here in the first place.
His gaze shifted once more to the branches above him. "Maybe I should start smaller." He whispered so that only his avian companion could hear him. "So 003, would you like to be friends?" he asked, mirth apparent in his voice, but not enough to drown out the overwhelming presence of sorrow. While anguish stung the youth's eyes, he dropped his head to gaze at the bird, rubbing the feathers atop its head to emphasize his question.
She hooted contentedly in reply, and was rewarded with long rhythmic strokes down her back.
He allowed 003 snuggled inside the warmth of his jacket as another cool wind went rushing by.
To Be Concluded...
Emerald eyes stared up at the rays of sun that shown softly through the sakura burrows overhead. Sunlight danced gently across fine features as the wind delicately graced the blossom-coated branches. The aloof Shinigami sat alone in a pensive silence at a small table beneath a particularly large tree.
Hisoka was seated on an uncomfortable patio chair with on leg tightly crossed over the top of his knee and his arms folded over the front of his denim jacket in a futile attempt to conceal himself from the maddening world around him. He closed his eyes firmly in frustration and let his chin fall to his chest. Long, honey blonde bangs fell in front of his face to hide the majority of his contemplative expression.
It was their first day back at work since the incident in Kyoto and he had taken every chance he could to get out of that suffocating office. Everything was the same. Everything went back to normal. Everything was familiar.
But that was the problem. Nothing was the same anymore, it was not normal, and the unnatural discomfort he felt because of it was certainly not familiar.
Thinking back to the earlier events of that morning, he was slightly worried when he first arrived back at work. His empathy could barely pick up on any emotions. However, when Wakaba had bounded up to him, cheered contentedly, and verbally expressed her happiness for his wellbeing while exhibiting copious enthusiastic gestures, he had felt her overwhelming waves of cheerfulness loud and clear. Actually, it was a little to loud and a bit to clear, as the youth had stumbled backwards and crashed into his partner, taking them both to the floor.
Although it was proof that his empathy was still functioning, it also made something else evident. As Tsuzuki had helped his blushing partner off him and back to his feet, Hisoka could only read one thing from the older Shinigami: absolutely nothing. Tsuzuki had lifted impenetrable shields. Even when Tsuzuki held Hisoka's forearm while he regained his balance, the contact had not made it any easier to receive the emotions that usually flowed haphazardly from his partner. Hisoka cringed inwardly when Watari come over to check his condition. The normally eccentric scientist rarely bothered with shields but today was rather reserved, and the Empath could easily sense the blonde's erected shields.
'What the Hell is going on?' His mind cried in frustration. Was it one big conspiracy against him, meant to drive him insane?
Hisoka sighed deeply as a brisk wind brought him back from his revive, as several sakura petals floated down from the tree above him.
He knew this would happen. He knew that if he allowed himself to demonstrate any vulnerability that he would loose what little comfort he had found. The worst part was that everyone was treating the incident like it never happened, or that it was an all too common event that everyone but him knew the protocol for.
Either way, the lack of resolution was completely unnerving; the young Shinigami wanted nothing more then to discuss the events of their last case with his partner.
However, Tsuzuki had reverted back to his usual state of ignorant bliss, which both enraged and worried Hisoka.
'Did what I say mean nothing to you?' Hisoka grudgingly questioned his mind, as if his partner resided within it.
'Is this your way of telling me that you regret how the case ended?' the overly analytical youth furrowed his brow in agitation. He could understand how someone could hate him, since that had been all he had ever know as a child. However, he had actually willingly placed his trust in Tsuzuki, and the older Shinigami was treating him the same way everyone else had.
'Do you really want to forget about what had take place and move on as if nothing had happened?' He inquired rhetorically. Hisoka knew full well that Tsuzuki was not one to let go of the past so easily.
'Are you really just like all the others?' His mind choked out. Above all else, Hisoka desperately wanted to believe this was false.
"Fine." He answered all of his questions in a low but determined voice as he griped his arms tighter around his slim torso, scowling at anything that fell within his present line of sight.
Slowly realizing he had to get back to work, he relaxed his shoulders and shut his eyes gently to ward off their piecing glare that was being wasted as no one was around. Readying himself for the office, Hisoka silently entered into a trance.
In his current state of meditation, he focused energy throughout his entire body, which methodically reinforced his already powerful shields. Oblivious to the rest of the world, he barely noticed a pair of eyes watching him.
Suddenly shaken from his mental reinforcement session, Hisoka jumped in his seat, startled as he felt the other presence approaching him. His head shot in every direction in an attempt to pinpoint the intruder, but to no avail. Giving up with much hesitation, he silently concluded through an agitated grumble that the stress was making him more paranoid then usual.
However, Just as he was sitting himself back down, a small puff of feathers crash-landed onto his lap.
"Aahh!" was Hisoka's startled response as he bolted from his chair displacing the feathered mass to the ground. Quickly realizing he was in no apparent danger, Hisoka quickly cupped his hand over his mouth and shot anxious eyes around sharply to make sure no one had heard his shocked shriek.
"Oh my gosh!" realization set in "I didn't know it was you 003!" He whispered harshly.
The frazzled tuft on the ground got to its small feet and shook itself free of the dirt and grass its plumage had accumulated. It glared up at Hisoka and hooted in annoyance.
"I...I'm sorry...I..." He quietly started. Though, believing that it was impossible to apologize to a bird, much less explain his actions, Hisoka declined to continue.
Instead he slowly crouched down to his knees and reached out to lift the small owl into his palms. Stroking away any pain he had caused her, Hisoka rested his back against the base of the sakura tree as he let 003 nestle in his lap once more.
There was no reason for him to take his anger out on the bird, and he had to admit that he enjoyed the silent, shield-less company. Not that he could read much off of her, save a simple contentment brought about by the delicate message she received from gifted fingers.
Unfortunately, that soon brought his mind back to the reason he was out here in the first place.
His gaze shifted once more to the branches above him. "Maybe I should start smaller." He whispered so that only his avian companion could hear him. "So 003, would you like to be friends?" he asked, mirth apparent in his voice, but not enough to drown out the overwhelming presence of sorrow. While anguish stung the youth's eyes, he dropped his head to gaze at the bird, rubbing the feathers atop its head to emphasize his question.
She hooted contentedly in reply, and was rewarded with long rhythmic strokes down her back.
He allowed 003 snuggled inside the warmth of his jacket as another cool wind went rushing by.
To Be Concluded...