Sorry this is so late, but I couldn't post this Wednesday and I was at home for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, home means no internet. Sad, right? But lucky for you, since I have to keep to the schedule and post everything before finals end and I go home for winter break, being late does not mean skipping a week. Rejoice and come back Thursday.

"Can you help me with my homework, Hisoka?" He'd been surprised that Kazusa had asked him, but willing to help out. After all, how hard could the homework be for first graders? The two of them sat on Hisoka's bed. Kazusa solemnly handed him her assignment. The paper showed a tracing of her hand, colored with crayons. Four words were scratched onto the picture in the careful, uneven print of the six-year-old. "Puppies" on the palm and, on three of the four fingers, were written the words "family," "friends," and "cookies." The pinkie was blank.

"What is it?" Hisoka was utterly perplexed by the assignment. Kazusa sighed, impatiently.

"It's my Thanksgiving Turkey." Looking at it carefully, Hisoka could make out a vague resemblance to a fat bird, which might be a turkey. "We're supposed to decorate the body and feathers with things that we're grateful for. I need another one. One that's not silly."

"But, Kazusa," Hisoka couldn't keep himself from saying it. "You don't have a family. That's why you live here."

Kazusa shook her head.

"You and Wakaba are my family. Tsuzuki, too."

"Family isn't just the people you live with." Hisoka tried to figure out just how to explain family to Kazusa. It wasn't a topic he had much experience with.

"Right, it's the people you go home to." Hisoka frowned. What was the difference between the place you lived and "home"?

"I don't understand." Kazusa smiled at him, all sweetness and innocence.

"That's okay. You're a boy. Boys are silly."

"If I'm so silly, do you really want my help?" His tone reflected irritation. He was not silly.

"Yes! Don't be so mean, Hisoka." He sighed. He wasn't mean either.

After several suggestions and counter arguments, it was decided that chocolate milk was something that should never be taken for granted.

"Can I just eat in my room?" Hisoka shifted awkwardly, trying to catch Kannuki-san's attention as she hovered over her culinary masterpieces in progress. The flurry of activity had created in her a hyper-emotional state to interfere with Hisoka's thoughts. At his words, her movement ceased. She turned on him.

"Are you feeling alright? Is the medicine not working?" Worry flooded her mind; Hisoka could tell it wasn't about burning the turkey.

"No, I'm fine. Really." Her concern slid into irritation as she returned to her preparations.

"Then no, you may not eat in your room." She sighed into the stuffing. "It's not like there will be all that many people. Just the three of us, my parents, my brother, and his wife. It's the family, Hisoka. They won't hurt you. We're all very nice people."

Hisoka was certain they were very nice people. Very nice people with very strong emotions and no shields and he was in no mood to deal with it. He'd dreamt of Muraki and woken at three to a damp bed and the urgent need to be sick. Finally drifting back into sleep, his morning dreams were hazy - filled with blood and his near-perfect image. He woke for the day feeling disconnected, isolated. They weren't unusual feelings, but they were unusual in their intensity. The feelings kept him from focusing. When he went to shower, there were no clean towels, and he'd locked himself in the miniature hell Kannuki-san called her linen closet trying to get one. At least he hadn't started to cry before she let him out.

"Could you cut up the tomatoes for the salad, my hand's still have stuffing on them. Thanks."

Hisoka took the cutting board and the fruit over to the kitchen table. He cut slowly, careful not to cut his fingers. He'd never be able to separate the blood from the red juice if he did. Kannuki-san was encouraging him to speed up with chatter. She wanted as much as possible done before Kazusa returned.

Kazusa had gone out with Tsuzuki on some minor event contrived to keep her from being under Kannuki-san's feet. Hisoka had almost gone along when Tsuzuki had invited him. Instead he'd decided the afternoon would be better spent helping Kannuki-san, and convincing her that he shouldn't have to spend the evening with the company. Of course that had failed.

"We're back! Wakaba, guess what Asato and I did…." The bundle of energy that was a child with a five-day vacation from school darted into the kitchen, half-dragging Tsuzuki. She grabbed the hands Kannuki-san was still in the process of drying and tried to pull her from the room. "I wanna show you something!"

Kannuki-san half rolled her eyes and allowed herself to be led. Tsuzuki stayed in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. He looked worn out, Hisoka realized, and felt worse. Just as Hisoka was about to verbalize concern, Tsuzuki spoke.

"That girl," he sighed. "If we could figure out where she gets it, the country would never have to worry about an energy crisis."

Hisoka shrugged and continued to slice tomatoes. It wasn't his business if Tsuzuki wanted to pretend nothing was wrong. He wasn't even certain that something was wrong. Playing with Kazusa often left him feeling run-down. There was no reason to think it was any different for Tsuzuki.

"So, has she taught you her secrets, Hisoka?"

"What?"

"Her culinary secrets." Tsuzuki explained. "Surely you've realized you're living with one of the greatest cooks on the planet? That's why you stayed home, wasn't it? To get her to show you how she does it?"

"I didn't feel like going out. That's all." Hisoka didn't feel like talking at all, even with Tsuzuki. What he felt like doing was going to his room, getting in his bed, pulling the covers over his head and remaining there for the rest of eternity. They could seal the door and leave his corpse there for all he cared.

"Whatever you just said, Hisoka, I hope it wasn't the location of any desserts we might need tonight." Kannuki-san had returned to the kitchen, apparently free of the young whirlwind. "Honestly, sometimes it sounds like you two are plotting something."

"Gomen- er, sorry Wakaba." Tsuzuki grinned at his joke. Hisoka didn't find it all that funny. Kannuki-san sighed in exasperation and addressed the ceiling.

"First Kazusa, then Asato. I can only hope that Hisoka will maintain his maturity." She reached into the refrigerator and took out one of the pumpkin pies she'd made earlier. She offered it to Tsuzuki. "Here. For taking her on your day off."

"No big deal." Tsuzuki took the pie as carefully as if it were a new born.

"Well, I wouldn't want you to be late for Thanksgiving dinner."

"I said it wasn't a problem."

"Where are you going for dinner?" Hisoka blushed. He hadn't meant to ask, he'd just blurted it out. His face darkened again as he realized how glad he was that he hadn't blurted out the rest of the thought: why aren't you staying with us, with me? Tsuzuki smiled at him in a way that made Hisoka wonder if Tsuzuki was suddenly reading minds. "I've got family to see. But it's not too far. I'll be on time if I leave," Tsuzuki glanced down at the watch on his right wrist, "oops, right now. I'll see you later, Wakaba. And I'll see you very soon, 'Soka."

"Baka."

"Hisoka!" Kannuki-san scolded, "That doesn't sound like a nice thing to say. What does that mean?"

"It means, 'See you soon." Hisoka muttered into the tomatoes. It was going to be a long night.

At least the food was good. Actually the food was better than good. Tsuzuki had been right to refer to Kannuki-san as "one of the greatest cooks on the planet." But even such food as had been prepared tonight could not make up for the company. Not that they weren't nice people, but they were there and far too interested in him for Hisoka to be completely comfortable. Throughout dinner they continually pestered him with questions about school, his grades, his friends, everything. And they weren't disgusted when he explained to Kannuki-san's mother just why he didn't have a girlfriend. So they were nice people, good people. They were still people. Hisoka was beginning to wonder if he could ever explain himself if he left suddenly due to "people sickness" when the phone rang. He jumped to answer it, taking the cordless as far from the dinner table as he could.

"Kannuki residence."

"Hello. I'm very sorry to interrupt your dinner, uh… is this Hisoka?"

"Yes." Hisoka didn't recognize the voice on the line.

"I'm Mr. Phillips, I work with Asato. Again, I'm sorry to interrupt, but something has come up and I need to speak with him. Can you get him?"

"Asato?" Hisoka easily recognized Tsuzuki's first name. But why would anyone be looking for Tsuzuki at Kannuki-san's? From the few times he'd met Mr. Phillips, he'd seemed to be Tsuzuki's friend. Surely he'd know to try Tsuzuki's family.

"Asato Tsuzuki-"

"Ah, Tsuzuki. Iye- I mean no, he's not here…now." Hisoka stumbled over his almost-lie. "When I see him, I'll tell him to call you."

"If you could have him call my cell phone, he has the number."

"Of course." Hisoka hung up before Mr. Phillips could complete the phrase "thank you." Uncertainly, he made his way back to the table.

"Who was that?"

"Wrong number." At the earliest even slightly reasonable opportunity, Hisoka cried headache, and retired to his room.

As he slipped out his window, Hisoka glanced back to make sure the door was locked. He was fairly certain he had the rest of the night to himself, but it wouldn't do for some concerned relative of Kannuki-san to walk in on the empty room of the supposed invalid.

He hadn't truly intended to go out when he excused himself from diner. His headache had been real, and as it was conveniently a side effect of Phenobarbital, along with irritability, insomnia, and nightmares (how nice to finally have an excuse for his personality), Kannuki-san thought she knew exactly what was wrong with him. His original plan had been to lie in the dark and rest from the emotions around him. It was the loneliness that disturbed him the most. He'd gone to his room to get away from it. He had known he wouldn't fully escape it, since it was his own, not something gleaned from the company. Loneliness was always worse around other people, but being alone wasn't helping. The feeling of isolation and a lack of connection were almost painful. As were the pain, the grief and the worry. The worry was his, without doubt, though certainly made worse by the presence of people concerned for him. He knew it was his own, because he was worried about the phone call. There had to be some reason Mr. Phillips would assume Tsuzuki was here. Which was why Hisoka was sneaking out of his room on Thanksgiving.

Once outside, Hisoka was faced with the realization that he had no clue where to go. Tsuzuki's family would have to be close, but he had no idea of where, or what Tsuzuki's definition of close was. An hour by car? Hisoka just started walking, careful to pay some attention to where he had been in the hopes he'd be able to find his way back. He tried not to focus too much on where he was going; last time he'd wandered aimlessly, he'd found Tsuzuki. Such thoughts led him back to the graveyard.

Hisoka surprised himself by not being surprised to find Tsuzuki there. Tsuzuki looked better then he had the last time Hisoka had seen him there. He was sitting facing one of the tombstones, eating Kannuki-san's pie and drinking beer. He wasn't crying.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Hisoka had intended to simply give Tsuzuki his message and depart, not wishing to interrupt a family meal. The surroundings, though, did not seem to merit much respect. His tone was snappish with anger at Tsuzuki for lying.

"Hisoka?" Startled, Tsuzuki jumped, upsetting the bottle. Beer spilled out onto the ground.

"You said you were eating with family." Hisoka accused. He felt he struck a cord of guilt in Tsuzuki. At least a note; the man was not utterly shameless even if he was without embarrassment.

"I am with family." Tsuzuki gestured to the small monument. "My older sister, Ruka."

"And what? Your uncle is buried three rows over and you mother's interred in the vault?" Hisoka was disturbed by the emotions he read from Tsuzuki. Affection and something more. Why were half of Tsuzuki's emotions indefinable?

"No, there's only Ruka. Always only Ruka." Tsuzuki laughed softly, but then his voice turned serious. "She's the only family I have, so I like to spend holidays with her."

"I don't think spending holidays with a dead person is healthy." All the family feeling came close to making Hisoka sick with loneliness. It had been irritating at dinner; love around him that he wasn't a part of. With Tsuzuki it was tainted with guilt and pain, but it still excluded him. He wished desperately that it didn't.

"Didn't you ever make offerings to your ancestors, Hisoka?" He picked up the now mostly empty beer bottle. "Not that Ruka was much of a drinker. But shouldn't you be eating back at Wakaba's?"

"I didn't feel well, so I was excused." Hisoka was glad Tsuzuki had not referred to Kannuki-san and her company as family.

"She let you go out?"

"I went to my room. I left later."

"Ah." Tsuzuki smiled at him and offered the pie. "If you left early, you didn't get any of Wakaba's heavenly desserts."

Hesitantly, Hisoka took the pie from Tsuzuki. It really was good, though not quite as good as Tsuzuki claimed. Too sweet. Once he was eating, Tsuzuki sat back down, turned so as to divide his attention between him and the stone. Again Hisoka hesitated before joining him. It was an odd dinner: just desserts, nothing to drink, the hostess dead and only one guest talking. Yet there was still an enjoyable quality to it, though the lack of liquid proved quite annoying.

"Sorry, I'd offer you a drink, but you're still young."

"Beer doesn't go with pumpkin pie." Hisoka tried to sound like his mouth wasn't dry.

"You're lucky I think it does, or I'd probably have to be walking you home tonight." Tsuzuki grinned. For some reason beyond his comprehension, Hisoka blushed. "Speaking of which, I better take you back. Wakaba'll kill me if she finds out I kept you out today. Especially if she thinks you're sick. But, why did you come here anyway?"

This time Hisoka knew why he blushed. He'd completely forgotten the message.

"Mr. Phillips called -" Tsuzuki laughed. "What's so funny?"

"Misuta Firopusu." Tsuzuki repeated. "You've pretty much lost you accent when you're speaking English, but it comes right back in your Japanese."

"Sorry."

"No, it's cute." The blush that had been fading came back.

"He wanted you to call his cell phone. He didn't say why."

"Then I'll do that as soon as I drop you off." Tsuzuki gathered the remnants of their strange repast.

"Why did he think you'd be eating at Kannuki-san's?" Tsuzuki froze. Slowly, he turned and faced Hisoka.

"Because I told him I would be."

"Why?" Green eyes stared into purple ones.

"It was my excuse for not eating at his place. I didn't want to eat with him, but I didn't want him to worry about me eating here. Holidays are for families, Hisoka." Hisoka sighed. Not everyone had families. The closest he'd come to a family dinner was pumpkin pie in a graveyard, and even then the emotions surrounding Tsuzuki weren't quite the same as they were around Kannuki-san and her family. Then again, maybe all families felt a little different.

Terrance's cell phone rang once, twice. He answered before the third.

"This better be you, Asato." Terrance's typically neutral voice growled.

"Yeah, Hisoka said you'd called."

"The wrong house, apparently. You know, when you ask someone to lie for you, ask someone who does it better."

"Who? Hisoka? He lied?" Asato's voice sounded shocked.

"He strongly implied that while you weren't at Wakaba's yet, you would be later. You weren't going to be there at all, were you?"

"Well, I was there later. And I didn't ask him to lie. He was pissed when he told me to call you."

"So where were you?" The voice on the other end seemed to hesitate.

"With Ruka - don't start, Tats."

"It's not like you didn't have a place to go. We invited you-"

"And you know exactly why I didn't like eating with you and your wife."

"You used to like her. She was your friend first."

"Exactly the reason I don't want to spend an evening lying to her about you." One of them sighed, Terrance couldn't tell which.

"I do love her, Asato."

"Yeah, well did you have a reason for interrupting Hisoka's first Thanksgiving or were you just checking up on me?"

"Dawn ran away again." It was better to talk about work. Far less stressful. Far simpler.

"Again?" Terrance could hear the disappointment and the worry through the mangled channel of cell phone communication.

"Yes. A missing persons report was filed, but you'll need to give the details of her previous escapades to Sergeant Terazuma. He's in charge of her case."

"Him? The man's an idiot." As much as he disapproved of Asato's comment, Terrance had to agree.

"He's already accused me of abducting her for sexual purposes."

"Shows how well he knows you, huh?" Terrance almost returned to non-work topics, but a teasing quality in the tone of Asato's voice reminded him that the comment probably wasn't serious. At least not entirely, it was so hard to tell with Asato. "I better call him then. I hope he doesn't accuse me of feeding her to my plants. Sorry you had to have your dinner interrupted."

"You could pay me back by remembering to turn you damn cell phone on once in a while."

"I'll do my best, Tats. Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Happ-" Asato hung up while Terrance was still replying.