Lost in Time by Penguin

For this and every chapter onwards, let it be understood that I don't own YnM. :

Notes: I'm sorry about the title. I couldn't think of anything related to this story… so there! This is the prologue, so if the action doesn't pick up in this chapter, just be patient.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Sci-fi / General + an infinitesimal serving of angst and an even smaller percentage of romance

Summary: In the not so distant future, Tsuzuki has gone missing. He's discovered to have traveled back in time to prevent a traumatic incident for Hisoka. However, things go awry when Hisoka travels in time to look for him too. Hisoka must stop the grandfather paradox — events spurred by Tsuzuki's life-changing and historically altering decision. More complications are presented when Hisoka gets lost in time… and possibly within himself.

…Yes, lame summary, I know — but just read and see for yourself, okay?
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December 19, 2007 / 10:06 PM

It was one of those late night movie marathons. The two partners were seated on an old plush couch. One was playing with the television set's remote control and the other was staring at the black and white TV screen, wishing that the monotonous and clichéd scenes would soon pass.

Do you ever wish that you could change the past?

"Huh?"

Tsuzuki looked at him, his eyes strangely distant.

"I said: do you ever wish that you could change the past, Hisoka? You know — travel back in time and undo your mistakes… save the people you love from getting hurt… and… well, you know, things like that."

Well… do you ever really wish…?

Hisoka was still confused, but he answered. "Yeah, I guess I do sometimes."

Tsuzuki nodded his head in assent and a small hint of a smile crept up his face. He aimed the remote control at the TV and pressed random buttons. Black and white changed to colorful splashes of color when Tsuzuki stumbled upon an art show.

"Like when we're late for work because we stopped by a pastry shop on sale?"

"Yes, but, there are other times I want to forget about too…" Hisoka remembered Muraki that instant and began to look disturbed. He pretended to yawn. "I'm sleepy. You should go to sleep too."

Tsuzuki frowned. Lately, the boy wasn't very good at lying.

The young boy went to his room and tried to sleep despite the nagging feeling that something was amiss.

December 20, 2007 / 2:00 AM

Young Hisoka stepped out into the night. He couldn't get any sleep. He remembered he had to be quiet — if his parents found out that he'd snuck out, they'd beat him again.

Hisoka winced at the thought.

He could already hear himself screaming in pain.

He shivered when he felt a cherry flower petal pass his skin, a fleeting caress. He glanced up to see the imposing cherry flower tree. It seemed beautiful. Beautiful to a fault, it seemed. He silently cursed the tree for its beauty and resumed his walk.

Hisoka had not gotten very far when he felt something akin to panic and desperation. He looked around; expecting a lost kitten but nothing would have prepared him for what he saw.

Not twenty feet farther, he saw a man and a woman seemingly dancing. But what he had first determined as two lovers waltzing inharmoniously turned out to be a man repeatedly stabbing a woman with one hand and strangling her — grasping at her neck with his other. The woman was violently squirming, like a worm.

Hisoka gasped and tried to scream for help. The man, the murderer, turned his gaze to the boy. The man did another thing that surprised the young boy. He smiled. And it was in that moment that Hisoka lost his voice to scream. He was so afraid, afraid of what the man might do to him.

He stood rooted at the spot, as if the ancient roots of the cherry flower tree held him captive there. His blood did run cold and he discovered it wasn't just an expression used in books. He simply stood there waiting numb and powerless for the man to do something.

"Good evening, doll."

He couldn't say anything. He couldn't breathe. He could not…

The man reached out a smooth but bloodied hand and stroked his cheek. Hisoka shivered under his touch.

"What an inauspicious night to have taken a little midnight walk, eh, poppet?" The man laughed sardonically. "Oh well. I'll teach you to do otherwise from this day on."

It was in then that Hisoka finally found the strength to move. His legs felt shaky and his joints seemed to disagree with any movement. He tried to call for help thrice, but nobody came.

"Help!" Hisoka screamed in his sleep. Tsuzuki woke up and gave a small gasp and reached for Hisoka's hand and tried to send comforting feelings to the empath. He noticed that Hisoka's palm was hot and sweaty.

Hisoka shuddered and failed at suppressing a sob.

The man smiled. He spoke to Hisoka in a manner scathingly familiar. The man sounded like his father.

The boy tried to shove the man away — he threw all his weight into it, but he could not escape. The man simply laughed and promptly disrobed him. He whispered such fond endearments to the boy's ear, but he found that it only made the boy struggle more.

The boy cried when he saw the man take off his shirt, and then, his pants.

He cried when he felt something akin to a knife enter him. He had never bled so much in his life before. He shut his eyes but it flew open not a second later for the pain did not permit him to close it. He saw the red cherry flower petals dancing about, as if mocking him through blurry eyes.

"W…why…?" He managed to gasp shortly before slipping into unconsciousness.

"Because you are too beautiful."

His lip quivered. He realized that, like the cherry flower tree, all beauty was capricious and had a price. The tree's curse was short life as was his.

"Hey, Hisoka, wake up," Tsuzuki whispered into Hisoka's ear. He gave Hisoka's hand a little squeeze. "It's just a dream…"

Just a dream… just a dream…

The sound came from underneath.

From a lower plane of consciousness, of existence. He was sure of it.

The boy's eyes opened and frantically search the room for the immaculately robed man and full moon, half expecting the worst. His eyes were bedaubed with flowing silver. He sniffled and rested his eyes on the sight of Tsuzuki's hand holding his.

"I'm… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have woken you up." He said, exhausted, tugging his hand free gently. Tsuzuki willingly let go, but clasped the boy in his arms. The boy could not find the rights words to say. He simply held on tightly, hoping that his actions could prove what words could not — that he was relieved that his partner was there with him and he felt safe.

"Don't worry about it." Tsuzuki's manner of speaking was heavily laden with concern, albeit sounding sleepy. His voice sounded smooth and velvety. Hisoka felt bad for ruining his partner's sleep.

"It's just that —" Tsuzuki cut him off before he could explain.

"Don't mind it." Tsuzuki smiled. "It's not your fault."

Hisoka grimaced. Tsuzuki barely helped, after all. The pain was still too strong.

"And I'd give anything to change what happened."

Hisoka felt a stab in his chest, a warning of forthcoming danger.

"What do you mean?"

The older man shook his head. "It's nothing. Go back to sleep, don't let me keep you up."

That day at 10:06 AM

Paper was cluttered on the blonde's work area.

"PENGUIN!"

The penguin started hopping around.

"I can't work if you keep hopping around like that!" Watari complained. 003 hooted as if in disbelief at her master.

The penguin hopped around in circles and started trampling on the scientist's papers. Tsuzuki laughed at the little scene and lead the penguin away. After being assured of a few moments of peace, Watari breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ah. I can't believe I'm still keeping that bird! He's so… I don't know! …Impossible is the word, I think."

"Just like you."

"Just like me… hey! I don't act like that stupid penguin!" Watari whined, but thought the better of it. "Hm. At least he's cute. SO. What was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

Tsuzuki looked wholly uncomfortable.

"I'd prefer it if you keep this a secret."

Watari looked askance at Tsuzuki. He was suspicious — and so were 003. She hooted three times and flew in circles above Tsuzuki's head. "Whoot-whoo-whoos! (003 talk for 'suspicious')"

Tsuzuki pouted and tried to pull the owl from the air. His fingers caught thin air. He giggled nervously.

"I was wondering if you could tell me about time travel."

"Eh?" Watari laughed. "Is that all?"

Tsuzuki forced a laugh. "Yes."

"Forward or backward through time?"

"Both, possibly."

"What do you mean 'both possibly'? Oh, never mind. Anyway, by what I gather from reading too many science fiction novels…"

"Watari!" Tsuzuki threatened.

"I mean, from what I gather from official research you can go forwards or backwards through time by going faster than the speed of sound and light (respectively)."

"Oh? How do you do that?"

"It happens all the time, only we don't notice and the change is too small. Take for example," Watari held up his wrist, "my watch. See the clock hands move? We're moving forward in time by seconds."

"Whaaat!"

Watari groaned. "I don't know what I'm rambling on about either. Time travel has never been done but scientists can't disprove it either."

"Huh? Why?"

"Becaaauuuse," Watari felt like he was talking to a little child, "it doesn't go against the law of physics so it's really a plausible theory (But I say theory.). Anymore questions?"

Tsuzuki still felt confused. But he'd figure it out.

He hoped...

"No. Thanks, Watari-chan. You're really a big help and… please, keep this a secret."

"Hey, what's with all this James Bond stuff going on, Tsuzuki?"

"Take care of 003. And even that naughty penguin of yours."

Watari blinked. Tsuzuki simply smiled and left the room.

Hisoka, I've found a way to keep those bad dreams away. Just you wait.

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And even more notes: What a weird/confusing/implausible/pathetic chapter, huh? Well don't worry 'cause this is just the prologue and things will get, well… better. (I hope!) Um… and if you have any questions, ask me and I'll try my best to answer it unless it's beyond my small-ish intellect. (Also, if you haven't noticed, I do so love little penguins. They're so adorable! I think it's really like Watari to keep penguins for pets.)

By the way, there's a part where I refer to the sakura tree's short life span. What I said about it was true (sakura flowers bloom fast but whither fast, too), as were most of the time travel bits.

Oh, and review:D