Welcome to chapter twelve!

I was going to update again last night but, my roommate and I got a GameCube. So… we got sidetracked by Animal Crossing. I named my AC character Hisoka! However, I accidentally picked female. He has pink hair. :X He got hit on by a purple penguin. :X

He wears a skull dress and has "WOOT!" written on his door. :X

Wouldn't an adult Hisoka with shoulder length hair be sexy? I'm going to draw that and actually spent time on it so it looks good. XD

I'm trying to figure out where the climax in this story is or was. Would it be the separation? Or is it the climax now? Either way, I'm estimating three to four more chapters left. Now here's the major question, is it going to be sad or happy? I have a habit of making sad endings on my stories… I'll try hard not to make anybody cry in these final chapters! Unless you like that… in which case, better get a bucket to next to the computer to catch the rainfall.

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Chapter Twelve: The Doctor and the Doll

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"Tanaka-sama?" Hisoka waved to the woman as he opened the door. "Aki-chan and Ryu-san are here. We're going to the movies."

"Okay. Have fun." Hana waved the three children off and returned to the den. Kei was sitting across from her.

"I still don't think we should let him out without a chaperone." Kei sipped his tea.

"Anata… It's been six months since Hisoka-kun came to live with us. The man left the city and Hisoka-kun has no way to contact him. Can't you trust his friends?"

"They knew about that pedophile but, did nothing." Kei huffed.

"You are too traditional. Hisoka-kun was in love. There was nothing wrong about it." Hana sighed.

"And you are being too lenient. It's just like with Haruko-chan. Thankfully, I was there to stop that before it got physical."

"Yes, anata." Hana filled his cup and smiled. "But, Hisoka-kun is very mature. He is also nearly eighteen. I feel he has the right to choose who he wants to be with. If my parents were so strong against age boundaries, I never would have gotten to marry you."

"What are you planning?" Kei knew the look in Hana's eyes. It was the same look she had when she told him her plan to help Haruko when she turned eighteen.

"I'm going to find what I can about Tsuzuki-san's whereabouts. When Hisoka-kun turns eighteen, it will be my gift to him. That boy doesn't care about going to college or finding a career. The only thing he wants in life is to be with that person. Can you really deny him that?"

Kei sighed. He waved his hand and smiled. "I'll use any connections I can to find him. If this is what you truly want, who am I to deny you that?"

"Thank you." Hana smiled.

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"Hisoka-kun, are you alright?" Mitsuki frowned. Hisoka hadn't said a word since they left the house. Ever since Tsuzuki left, he hadn't talked much at all.

"Yes, just tired." Hisoka was already depressed and feeling how upset Ryu and Mitsuki were was just making it worse.

"I know it seems bleak now but, in a few years you can legally do whatever you want. You can find sensei and nobody can say otherwise." Ryu smiled. Since they had talked, he had left Onmoji's group and had made friends with Yui, Mitsuki, and their friends.

Hisoka nodded. They stopped in front of the movie theater and shuffled through their pockets.

"Oh no… I left my money back home." Mitsuki sighed. "You two go on without me."

Hisoka pulled more money from his pocket and held it out to Mitsuki. "I'll treat you this one time. And since it's only fair, I'll treat Ryu, too."

Ryu smiled. "How generous. Did a good Samaritan walk by and emotionally rub off on you?"

"Shhhh, Ryu-chan! It's so strange to see Hisoka-kun generous like this. Don't ruin it!" Mitsuki giggled.

Hisoka could feel Ryu and Mitsuki's depression melt away. His own melted slightly as well. "If we're late they won't let us in the movie. Come on."

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"That movie sucked!" Ryu sobbed. "What a waste of Hisoka's generosity."

"I chose the movie, so it's my fault. I'll treat to cream sodas to make up for it." Hisoka grabbed Mitsuki and Ryu's hand and smiled.

Mitsuki blushed. "I'm so glad to see that smile again. I was afraid I never would."

"Chatting and stuff is great but, we are going to run out of generous Hisoka time if we don't hurry!" Ryu ran towards the cream soda stand, pulling Hisoka and Mitsuki.

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"Thank you for such a great time, Hisoka-kun." Mitsuki bowed.

"We should all go out again soon." Ryu smiled. "Come on, Mitsuki, my house is near yours. I'll walk you home." Mitsuki and Ryu waved to Hisoka and started down the street.

"Now I have to remember how to get back…" Hisoka looked around. They had gone walking farther than he had ever been. "Maybe if I take an alley, I'll eventually get to a street I know." He started towards a nearby alleyway. As he stepped into the silent darkness, he heard a familiar voice.

"Wandering around in darkness is dangerous for someone as pretty as you, boy." Hisoka spun around. Muraki was walking down a fire escape.

"Muraki! Don't come near me!" Hisoka backed down the alley in the direction he had come.

"I have no use for you. I found what I needed." Muraki stepped to the ground and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "It appears I will be going to Kyoto. Perhaps I can take Tsuzuki-san a souvenir?"

"What are you talking about?" Hisoka hissed. He tried to back away more but, Muraki jolted forward and pinned him to a wall.

"I have found out where my beloved wandered off to." Muraki smirked.

Hisoka's eyes grew wide. He reached forward and tried to snatch the paper away from him. Muraki grabbed his wrist, and the memories of that night flooded into Hisoka's brain. The agony caused him to pass out. "My, my you have a weak heart. Every time we meet you end up passing out." Muraki lifted Hisoka into his arms. "Fortunately for you, I have no use for you at the moment. I shall return you unmarred for one day, my dear poppet."

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Hana rushed to the door when she heard the knocking. Hisoka was much later than he should be and she was getting very worried. She opened the door to see a man in white holding a sleeping Hisoka.

"Oh my god! Kei! Kei, come here!" Hana caressed Hisoka's hair.

Kei walked into the room. When he saw Hisoka, he dashed forward. "What the hell happened? Who are you?" He glared untrusting at Muraki.

"I am a doctor in Tokyo. I saw this boy unconscious in an alleyway. It appears he was attacked but, I haven't properly examined him. The city is a dangerous place for one as pretty as he. I see him at the house on my way to work and back, so I assumed this was his home." Muraki shifted Hisoka into Kei's arms.

"Thank you, doctor." Hana bowed. "Please, come in for tea. It is the least we could do."

Muraki smiled. "I'm afraid I am already late for an appointment. Thank you anyways, though. Please watch over him carefully."

"Yes, thank you doctor." Hana waved and closed the door. Kei was already taking Hisoka to his bedroom.

As Kei laid him into his futon, Hisoka groaned in pain. He sighed and tucked the boy in, then returned to Hana.

"What is he a magnet for perverts, or something?" Kei growled.

"I wish you wouldn't refer to Tsuzuki-san as a pervert." Hana sighed. "I'm going to watch over him. Can you finish cooking dinner?" She handed her apron to Kei and walked to Hisoka's room.

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Hisoka's head was pounding as the night replayed in his mind over and over. He struggled with his mind to open his eyes and end the horror. After what felt like years, he finally opened his eyes.

"Hisoka-kun!" Hana leaned over him. "Oh, you're finally awake! I'm so glad…"

"Wh…" Hisoka shook his head and pulled himself to a sitting position. "Muraki! Where's Muraki?" Hisoka attempted to stand but, Hana held him down.

"Muraki?" She gasped. "No, that doctor that brought you back home was THE Muraki? The one you told me about? Thankfully he is already gone… If I had known… I…"

"No… DAMNIT!" Hisoka slammed his fists into the floor.

"Hisoka-kun?" Hana let go of him.

"He knows were Tsuzuki is! He's going to hurt him, I know it…" Hisoka didn't notice the tears flow from his eyes.

Hana frowned and leaned forward. She wrapped her arms around him. Hisoka began to shake and he began crying on her shoulder.

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Tsuzuki set another book on the book cart and pushed it to a table. It had been nearly a year since he had left Tokyo, and every week he would come to the library and search through more law books. He had been careful to avoid Marie since the incident but, it was getting difficult to get into and out of the library without her around. He sighed and plopped into a chair.

"Here again, sensei? You must really like reading about law." One of the girls from his lecture sat next to him and smiled.

"It's not so much that I enjoy it, I just have a reason to do it." Tsuzuki yawned and cracked his neck. He always got up at six in the morning and stayed until six at night.

"Aren't they basically the same thing? You do something you enjoy because its fun and you have a reason to do something to make something fun." The girl smiled. "I figured I'd see you here so I made you something to eat. This must be important if you never leave, even for food." She set a box of muffins in front of him.

"That's kind of you but, I'm not going to adjust your test scores because of it." Tsuzuki smirked. He pulled out one of the muffins.

"Eh? You mean you know who I am? Amazing! Teachers in college usually only remember the students that suck up to them every day." The girl smiled.

"I remember all my students. It's part of having taught in a school. I felt that I was obligated to know everybody's first and last names. I just took that to heart here as well."

"That's admirable." The girl nodded and stood. "I have to go to an English lecture. Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for."

"Thank you." Tsuzuki waved. He stuffed another muffin in his mouth and continued to read.

"There's no eating in the library, Tsuzuki-san." Marie's voice made Tsuzuki jump. He stayed hunched over the book. If he didn't look at her, she wasn't there, right? She caught onto his game and walked to the other side of the table. She leaned down and looked up at him.

"Eh… Hi… Marie-san." Tsuzuki waved nervously.

"Listen, you don't have to avoid me. It's more offensive that you do." Marie sighed and sat down across from him. "We were both swept away by our emotions and loneliness. I understand. When I woke up, I was looking at that picture next to your bed. I realized that there was a piece torn off and all that was left was an arm around the boy's waist. I felt so stupid then. I snuck out of your house in embarrassment."

"I'm sorry…" Tsuzuki offered her a muffin. She took one and pulled the paper off. "I didn't want to hurt you, I just think I was having an out of body experience for the past… year…"

Marie chuckled. "I don't want that to ruin our possibility of a friendship. If you'll accept this lowly librarian's offer."

Tsuzuki nodded. "I'd like to be friends."

"Well then, first thing friends do is to tell each other what their problems are, so they can help fix it." Marie flipped through one of the law books.

"Well, if you'll listen…" Tsuzuki began relaying the story of love and loss.