Welcome to chapter ten!
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Wow, ten chapters already. This chapter felt odd since Tsuzuki isn't in it but, I did give Ryu a personality. (Finally!) His little back story comes out. He's really a nice guy. Tatsumi, you raised a good son! Ironically enough, Tatsumi was talking about Tsuzuki when he was talking to Ryu. Runs in the family, eh?

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I can't imagine being Hisoka right now. He found out about his past with Muraki, his lover is torn from him, he can't go to school, and he can't go to work. Ganbatte, Hisoka! When you hit rock bottom, things become clear. You realize things you never realized and you begin to love again. Keep looking at the sky and climbing back up, Hisoka-kun!

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When my sister writes fan fics that people seem to enjoy, she also adds a list of songs she felt would be on a soundtrack for that story. I have some ideas so, if you are interested, I would feel free to post it with the final chapter.

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Chapter Ten: Thinking of You, Wherever You Are

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Hisoka gently swung back and forth. The park swing set creaked. He looked up at the night sky and sighed. It had been two days since he had been taken from Tsuzuki. He was usually under careful watch of nuns from the orphanage but, he had successfully snuck out. He closed his eyes and laid his head against the swing's chain.

"Kurosaki-san?" Hisoka opened his eyes. Ryu was standing on the sidewalk in front of the swings. "What are you doing alone in the park at night?" He walked over and sat on the swing next to him.

"I just wanted to be alone…" Hisoka mumbled.

"People in class have been wondering about you and sensei. You both left at the same time." Ryu didn't notice Hisoka's subtle hint to leave. "And you really shouldn't be alone in the park. It's dangerous, you know?"

"I could say the same to you." Hisoka gave up on the boy leaving.

"Ah… Uh, I guess I should have added that it's dangerous for the pretty people." Ryu adjusted his glasses and looked at the star filled sky.

"Why do you hang around with Onmoji? You seem like the type he'd beat up." Hisoka stated flatly.

Ryu blinked and smiled. "You're right. He used to back in elementary school. I transferred and when I did Onmoji and his gang automatically targeted me. One day they were chasing me down after school. We ended up in the high school lot when they caught up to me. They punched and kicked me until I felt like I was going to pass out. Then I saw a man in black with purple eyes peering through his dark hair. I thought I was looking at a dark angel… Then I passed out. When I came to, I was in the nurse's office and he was there. Tsuzuki-sensei smiled down at me and said that when I get into his class he wants to see a strong young man who doesn't become a victim. I promised him that I'd grow up strong. I genuinely wanted to become somebody that sensei would be proud of."

Hisoka looked over at Ryu. He could see Ryu's eyes begin to water as he started to swing. "Then why are you hanging around them?"

"I'm too weak…" Ryu's voice was wavering. "I failed to live up to what sensei excepted of me. Every time I was jumped by Onmoji, I felt that I was betraying sensei. It hurt my chest and I didn't know why. One day, I came home from school and my dad was home. He saw my dirt covered face and the bruises. He sat me down at asked what happened and I started crying. I told him that I want to become someone special to someone but, if I didn't get stronger I'd never make it. I told him that there was someone I loved that could never love me back. He smiled at me and said he understood. He told me that he had a forbidden love when he was young. There was someone he loved more than anyone and still does. He knew he couldn't be with that person so he tried finding someone else who would love him. He met my mom and fell in love but, he always felt weak because he couldn't tell her the truth. One day, he finally told her how he felt. It made her heart sick and her health deteriorated. Right before she died, I listened to her and my father talk. She said that, even though she wasn't the one he loved most, she was glad to have met him. He said he was glad, too.

The next day, when Onmoji approached me, I told him that I wasn't afraid. I said that, no matter what he did, I wouldn't run and hide. I told him that there was someone I had to keep going for and that I couldn't let him get to me. After that, he said that I was cool enough to hang around him if I could stand up to him like that. I hated that I was happy about that. I hated my first friend being someone like him. But, what I hated the most was when I got to Tsuzuki-sensei's class. When he saw my hanging around Onmoji, he looked at me with a terrible sadness in his eyes that I still remember. It hurt me…

Then you came to school. I didn't really care but, Onmoji felt obligated to bother you. When rumors started to surface among the girls about you and sensei, I was jealous. I actually told Onmoji that I wanted to see you in pain. In the end, that makes me feel sick. I feel like I'm worse than Onmoji." Ryu blushed and turned to Hisoka. "I'm sorry… I just went off there."

Hisoka shook his head. "I'm glad you did. You're a lot stronger than you think, you know. Tsuzuki would be proud."

"Huh?" Ryu stopped swinging.

"Admitting that you're weak and admitting when you did something wrong… That's what's really strong." Hisoka smiled.

"Kurosaki-san…"

"Quit the formalities. Ryu-kun? Ryu-san? Tatsumi-kun?"

"You really want to be my friend?" Ryu smiled. "Hisoka-san…"

"I don't know how long I'll be around here but, I'd like to be your friend, Ryu-san. I don't think I deserve your friendship though. Because of me, Tsuzuki got fired."

"Fired?" Ryu frowned.

Hisoka nodded. "The principal found out about our relationship and fired Tsuzuki and had me put into an orphanage. I can't even go Tsuzuki because of a restraining order and I'm under surveillance."

"Well, you aren't being watched right now." Ryu smirked.

Hisoka jumped up. He hadn't thought of that. He had the perfect chance to go to Tsuzuki. "Ryu-san, I'm sorry but, I have to go!" He waved and dashed down the sidewalk.

Ryu smiled and waved. He looked into the sky and sighed.

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Hisoka shoved the key into the lock and pushed open the door. He fell forward and tripped into the dark room. "Tsuzuki? Tsuzuki!" He yelled and stumbled around in the darkness. When he eyes adjusted to the light he realized the room was completely empty. "What…? No!" Hisoka dashed from room to room but, none of Tsuzuki's belongs were found. He stumbled to the bedroom and threw open the closet. All that remained was a single box with a note folded on top. He fell to his knees and picked up the note. As he unfolded it, a slip of paper fell out. He looked across the note. It was Tsuzuki's handwriting.

"Hisoka, on the off chance you read this, I have to tell you that I'm sorry. I only wanted to protect you but, in the end, I became the one you needed to be protected from. A paradise is only a paradise until it's discovered by the outside world. I wish I could have said goodbye to you. I don't know if I could have if I had the chance, though. I'm moving to a different city but, I haven't decided where yet. Saiki said that you're welcome to keep working at her restaurant. I packed your things in this box. I hope you don't mind but, I ripped you off and Saiki off of our picture. If you don't want the rest, you can throw it out. I hope you grow into a beautiful, strong man. I know you will. Thinking of you, wherever you are, Asato."

Hisoka picked up the paper that had fallen from the note. It was Tsuzuki's picture; a side ripped where it was once connected to himself and Saiki's images. He clutched the picture and note and cried.

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"Hisoka-kun! Sneaking out is unforgivable!" One of the head nuns ran up to him. He looked him over. It was begun raining when he left Tsuzuki's apartment, so he was soaking wet. He was clutching the box of belongings.

"I'm sorry… I went to get some of my stuff from my old apartment…" Hisoka reached into his pocket to make sure the note and picture were still there. They were mildly wet but, otherwise okay.

"Well, it isn't the way you want your foster family to meet you." She huffed.

"Foster family?" Hisoka turned. Sitting on a bench in the entrance were a man, woman, and two young girls.

"Hisoka-kun, this is your new family, the Tanaka family." The nun bowed to the family and they bowed back. "It usually isn't so easy to find a family for someone your age but, when they heard your story they immediately offered to be your home for as long as they can."

"Hisoka-kun, my name is Tanaka Hana." The woman smiled. She motioned to the two girls who looked about eight years old. "These are Haruko and Hoshi and he is my husband, Kei. We would like to become your family."

Hisoka looked from the nun to the family. He gave a false smile and nodded. Tsuzuki was gone. There was nothing he could do as a minor to get him back.

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"This will be your room. It's a bit small but, it is yours alone." Hana smiled. Hisoka slowly entered the room. It was set up with a futon, desk, and bookshelf. "You have been through a lot but, please feel this as your home."

"Tanaka-sama," Hisoka set the box down and stared out the small window, "am I still going to go to the same school?"

"Oh… they must not have told you…" Hana sighed. "Part of our agreement to take you in is that you have to be home schooled if you wish to continue schooling. You also can't work where you were. The agency can designate a place for you to work, though."

"I see… I'm going to go unpack now, if that's okay…" Hisoka opened the box and slowly pulled out his belongings.

"That's fine…" Hana frowned and left the room.

"Hisoka-niichan?" One of the little girls peered into the room. When she spotted him unpacking, she ran over to him. "Hisoka-niichan! I'll help you!" She began grabbing at the items in the box.

"Back off!" Hisoka yelled. The girl withdrew her hand. "I… I'm sorry… You are…?"

"Haruko!" Haruko smiled.

"Haruko-san… I don't need any help and I don't feel like playing."

Haruko giggled. "You called me Haruko-san! I've never been called that!"

"I really don't want to talk to anybody right now…" Hisoka mumbled.

"You look sad… Did you lose somebody you love?"

Hisoka looked down at Haruko in shock. "What?"

"I made a face like that when I lost someone I love." Haruko crawled next to Hisoka and smiled up at him. "Mama told me that I was too young to have someone I loved most but, she said that when I got big, she would help me find that person again. You're big. I'm sure Mama will help you find the person you lost."

"I'm not big enough… I gave up on ever seeing that person again." Hisoka pulled the picture from his pocket.

Haruko peered over at the picture and pointed. "Is that the person you lost? He's pretty."

"Yes…" Hisoka sighed.

"Maybe if you ask Mama, she'll help you find him."

"I doubt it. The reason I'm not with him is because I'm not big enough to be with him."

"Well, then when you get big enough, Mama will help you! And if she doesn't, I'll help you!" Haruko held out her pinkie finger. "Yubi-kiri!"

Hisoka smiled and locked his finger with hers. "Yubi-kiri…"