Hey all. Here we are again. Chapter 4, the start of all things angsty and
bad :)
Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter. Sorry Literary Eagle I misspelled your name and thanks for your comments. Amy, hopefully this chapter will explain who gave that order to keep Hisoka away. Aikawa and Aubrey, thanks for showing interest in the story. I hope you all like this chapter.
Warning: Lots of Tsuzuki-angst, Tatsumi-angst, Hisoka-angst, Watari-angst, Wakaba-angst, umm...Konoe-angst, did I miss anyone?
Disclaimer: I don't own the YnM characters, but Isorou Masaki is mine (took me a while to find his name,) so be gentle with him or else...Muhahahaha
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The Trial - Chapter Four
Konoe was waiting in the meeting room. He was a patient man, one who wasn't easily affected by stressful situations and could always keep his head straight in messy ones. That was why he had put himself in charge this time. Of course, Tatsumi was great in that regards too, always up to the mark and able to put things in the right order. But if the situation involved Tsuzuki - particularly injured or distraught - Tatsumi would lose that talent of his in record time and became a mess himself. The man wouldn't be able to keep his head out of his Tsuzuki-protection bucket long enough to manage anything. And since this was one of those times Konoe had assumed the role of the leader without asking.
He looked up as the door to the meeting room opened and Wakaba and Terazuma walked in. Wakaba's hair was in disarray and it looked like someone had tried to hastily put it in order. Her eyes were red and Konoe knew she must have been crying. She was also limping. Konoe shook his head; this poor girl should be in the hospital recovering from what happened to her both before and after this morning's incident. He wished the higher ups had at least given them a day or two before showing up at their doorstep.
Next came Watari and Hisoka, followed by the GuShoShin. Here was another person whom he had wanted to give some resting time. He had specifically asked that Hisoka be kept away from the office turmoil out of worry for his empathy. After hearing what had happened, the emotional charge within Enmacho's staff was high and Hisoka would have gone crazy receiving the jumble of worry, fear and apprehension from so many sources. Unfortunately, the necessity of the sudden meeting had canceled that plan as well and forced him to send GuShoShin to call both the boy and Watari to the room.
He tapped his fingers nervously on the table and looked to his left, where EnmaDiao's delegate was sitting. He swallowed at the stern look that he saw on the man's face. None of them had expected them to show up so soon, barely hours after the incident. But then again, the news of the spirits having been disturbed was not that recent, and Enma had told him he would send someone to investigate the situation. He just hadn't expected the situation to get so exponentially worse in the mean time.
Konoe looked back at his shinigami as they took their seats and started scrutinizing the new comer with curious eyes. He didn't like the way they seemed to recoil from the guy. He didn't like their nervous stares directed at him either. To be honest, he didn't even like the way the room was set up, with him and Enma's delegate sitting at a table at the head of the room and everyone else sitting at different tables facing them. It looked too much like a courtroom. But then again, as much as he wanted to deny it, this was a court after all.
At last Tatsumi and Tsuzuki arrived. It was just as Konoe had expected. Tsuzuki's head was down and Tatsumi had his arm around his shoulder whispering something in his ear. They had stayed together the entire time after what had happened, until he had called for them. He saw Tatsumi look up, finding his eyes and acknowledging him with a nod of his head before looking for a seat. Since all the seats facing the head table were taken, Tatsumi opted for a table by the door on the left side of the room, guiding Tsuzuki to sit there and taking the seat right next to him. Now that everyone was there the meeting could get started.
Konoe gracefully rose from his chair and announced the commencing of the meeting by clearing his throat. Everyone became quiet at once.
"Thank you all for showing up to this emergency meeting on such short notice. As most of you might know, an incident happened this morning at the hospital building that left a lot of damages and some casualties. I won't bore you with the details of what happened, as I'm sure most of you must already know about them. What you might not know is that this was not an ordinary attack. There was a mix-up that unfortunately ended up with the loss of one of Meifu's most high standing individuals. Because of the importance of this issue, EnmaDiao has sent a team to help us investigate the matter and find the people responsible for it. Let me introduce to you the head prosecutor from JoOhCho's judicial division, Mr. Isorou Masaki." He motioned to the man sitting at his left who shook his head and stood up.
Hisoka turned to observe the man. He looked about fifty, which didn't mean anything when you were a supernatural beings. He had dark gray hair that had turned white behind his ears and was combed meticulously into place. Hisoka also noticed that the man was tall and was wearing an expensive, neatly ironed suit, which, with the combination of him standing almost at attention, gave him the look of a serious businessman. But perhaps the most noticeable thing about him were his eyes. They gave Hisoka an unsettling feeling, and it couldn't be just because they were gray like Muraki's. They had a piercing, hawk-like look that made anyone uncomfortable to be the subject of their gaze.
The man in question surveyed the room for a minute or so before starting to speak in a polite yet strong tone. "Good day, everyone. My name is Isorou Masaki, from JoOhCho's judicial bureau. I am here to investigate the summoning and subsequent death of a Silent Spirit. Let me start this meeting with a question." He went silent for a second and in a flash, all politeness was gone from his face to be replaced by a stern and serious look. "In fact, it is the most important question to be asked: who was the shinigami that killed the spirit?"
Hisoka felt his blood freeze. The deep resonating voice of the prosecutor was so frighteningly cold it almost sounded like EnmaDiao himself was talking through him. He saw Tsuzuki look up and twitch, half opening his mouth to say something. Tatsumi's hand was instantly on his arm and he said something in his ear that made the violet-eyed man settle down. Tatsumi then turned to the stranger and his glasses flashed before he started to speak.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Isorou, we don't know who the killer is. None of us were present when it happened and the victims are too shocked to remember anything."
Hisoka's jaw hit the floor. How? What? Tatsumi was straight out lying to a representative of EnmaDiao? In front of the entire office? And he didn't even blink when he did that. This day must really be recorded in history.
The prosecutor turned to Tatsumi and said, "You mean to tell me, Mr. Tatsumi Seiichirou, that there is a renegade shinigami in your department that goes around killing superior creatures without anyone even knowing about him?"
Tatsumi pushed his glasses up his nose and said, " We are not talking about a criminal here, Mr. Isorou. I must remind you that the Silent Spirit that entered the Shokan division premises was attacking a group of innocent children at the hospital. Such violent behavior is bound to be countered with equal vehemence. The 'renegade' shinigami, as you like to call him, was only trying to defend the kids from getting injured."
"Yes, but the Spirit was conjured from its sleep. And the reason was, again, some mishap that happened at the Shokan division. It was your fault that the Spirit was there to begin with. That, in itself, is an unspeakable crime."
Everyone was mute after that. The last words were shouted at the audience in that voice that made Hisoka want to run and hide under the table. Even Tatsumi appeared in shock. The gray-haired prosecutor, seemingly enjoying the effect of his outburst, walked around the table and stood on the other side. Facing his audience, he folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the table, his eyes falling shut for a moment before he started speaking again.
"You say you don't know who the murderous shinigami is?"
Tsuzuki flinched at the word 'murderous' and Tatsumi had to comfort him again.
"I'm talking to you Mr. Tatsumi Seiichirou." Isorou's voice rang with impatience.
Tatsumi's slowly turned his attention back to the prosecutor with a look of annoyance on his face. The air in the room crackled with power as the two men glared at each other vehemently. Everyone looked like they had swallowed a handful of cotton balls and were now choking on it. Finally, Tatsumi ended the staring match, saying, " I heard you perfectly, Mr. Isorou, and I repeat, no one knows who the unfortunate shinigami was, even if his only error was to defend a group of frightened children."
Isorou smirked. "And so far, you have no idea about the source of the evil vibration that had disturbed the spirit's meditation and drawn it here?"
Tatsumi ground his teeth together although his voice stayed neutral. "I'm afraid not. But that was only reported this morning; we barely had time to do any investigation before the spirit showed up. You can't hold us accountable for that."
"No, but something tells me you are not giving me the entire truth." Isorou's voice was calm and for some reason, that sounded even more disturbing than his angry shouts. Hisoka shrunk back in his seat even as he looked around the room to see the others' reactions. Konoe had sunk deep behind the table at the head of the room and was staring at the surface like an archeologist examining a rare artifact. Watari, sitting next to Hisoka, was calm, but Hisoka could see him clenching and unclenching his fists under the table in his lap. Terazuma and Wakaba were behind him and he didn't have the courage to turn around and see how they were faring. Tsuzuki was shaking, his eyes tightly closed, and it was apparent that he was trying hard to suppress his reaction. And Tatsumi, the only man brave enough not to shrink back or be scared, was still involved in the pissing contest with the accuser. Hisoka admired him for his courage. But then, this was Tatsumi, the pillar of strength and apprehension in the office. He didn't know about Isorou's powers, but the way the man wielded his authority like a whip suggested that he saw himself up there with Enma-sama or at least very close.
"Very well then." Isorou drew a deep breath and said, "Now that no one knows what is going on here, or who's at fault with what, I shall pass judgment myself. A respectable spirit god from the Silent Temple was murdered and someone has to be held accountable for and made an example of. If no one is guilty here, then everyone is. And so," he paused for dramatic effect, "I pass judgment for the entire Shokan division to be obliterated."
It was like someone had dropped a paralyzing spell on the crowd. Everyone just froze. Hisoka looked up at their chief, who looked like a deer caught in headlights (well, maybe more like a goat.) Konoe opened his mouth, but it took a few tries before a sound came out. "Isorou-san, you cannot possibly be serious about this." And he was sweating.
Isorou didn't turn. He stood facing the crowd with his arms folded on his chest and said, "I am serious about the verdict, Konoe-sama. A department that can't tell what is going on with its employees and has shinigami romping around with their powers gone astray doesn't deserve to exist. We already have enough staff to replace you all." His smirk was almost vicious when he turned to gather his things from the table. "You should all go and pack. I'll inform Enma-sama that your time as shinigami has ended and you'll be prepared to face his judgment."
"Wait."
All heads turned to Tsuzuki at the sound of his call He had been partially hidden behind Tatsumi most of the time, but now he was sitting straight, looking at his folded hands on the table.
"Yes?" Isorou said almost lecherously as he turned and looked at the shinigami.
Tsuzuki gulped, still looking down. "Please, don't punish the others. It was I who killed the spirit." He looked up with sad, desolate eyes. "Please, I'm the guilty person. I'm the one who should be punished."
"Tsuzuki-san!!!" Tatsumi wildly snapped at him.
Isorou completely ignored the secretary, fixing his narrowed gaze on Tsuzuki instead, like a panther that has finally spotted his prey.
"So it was you. What is your name, shinigami?"
"Tsuzuki..Tsuzuki Asato, sir." Tsuzuki's voice trembled a bit at the end.
The smirk had returned to Isorou's face and Hisoka thought that it was the most disturbing thing he had seen next to Muraki's smile. In fact, the expression on the man's face almost resembled Muraki's, or was it because Hisoka had begun to hate this man as much as he hated the doctor.
Isorou walked closer to Tsuzuki and stood over him. "How long have you been working here, Asato?" he asked.
Tsuzuki gulped. The use of his first name felt like an added blow. "Seven...seventy years or so."
"That is a long time. I would assume you had heard about the spirits of the Silent Temple during that time, didn't you?"
"Yes." Tsuzuki whispered. He seemed to wither with every word. Hisoka felt his heart clench.
"So you knew what you were dealing with when you attacked that spirit outside the hospital."
"Yes." Another whisper.
"Tsuzuki-san! What are you talking about? I order you to be quiet, right now." Tatsumi spoke again but just like last time, he was ignored by both parties.
Isorou walked back to his table and leaned against it, folding his arms once again. "So I guess it is settled. This shinigami is the one who is guilty and must be punished. That wasn't too hard now, was it?"
Hisoka wanted to scream, but his voice was caught in the coils of his throat. From what he could sense from the rest of the room, everyone else looked to be in the same state, except for Tatsumi who was practically boiling like a pot.
"Do you command any shikigamis?" Isorou's voice cut through the tension like a knife wielded by an ignorant child.
Tsuzuki jumped. "Huh? Um, yeah, I do."
"How many?"
"Huh?"
"Are you deaf? I asked how many shikigamis do you command?"
"T..twelve." Tsuzuki answered quietly.
Isorou's eyes widened for a second. Then, "Which one was involved in the attack?"
Tsuzuki shivered and looked down once again. "No one," he replied, chewing his lower lip. "I didn't summon any. I didn't want to get them involved."
Isorou bristled. "You mean to tell me that you managed to kill a spirit from the high orders with only your bare hands?"
Tsuzuki fidgeted. "Not with my hands, I used my..inner powers." He closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
"Demonic powers." Isorou affirmed. "You are the demon shinigami. Now I remember."
"Stop it." The words were out of Hisoka's mouth before he could stop himself. For a split second Isorou's eyes met his and he felt icicle form down his spine before the other man ignored him just as he had Tatsumi. But the simple blink was enough for Hisoka to see something deep and dangerous inside the man's mind.
Tsuzuki was quaking. Tatsumi got to him immediately and wrapped his arms protectively around him. He turned his angry glare toward Isorou and his voice almost hitched when he spoke. "Leave him alone. He was only defending the children. How many time do we have to tell you that? Stop tormenting him."
"It's in your best interest, Tatsumi-san, not to interfere with the investigation. Now, Asato," he turned his attention back to Tsuzuki, "it's time for me to pass judgment on you and you know what that means. However, since you were brave enough to come out yourself I will be lenient with you. You will not be punished by death, but you are sentenced to endure the ordeal. Enma's aides will soon be here to take you."
As if on cue, the doors opened and a group of strangely shrouded beings entered the room to gather behind Isorou. Hisoka felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on its ends at the sight of them. Phantom-like creature covered in semi-translucent robes from head to toe, their faces hidden behind their hoods so that all that could be seen of it was their glowing eyes. They where the creatures from his dream, and as they went to grab Tsuzuki by his arms and lift him from his seat, he felt a sense of déjà vu coming all over him.
Tsuzuki was almost pliant as he was carried to where Isorou stood in the front of the room. Isorou's predatory look had not changed. He racked the shinigami up and down like a hungry wolf and when Tsuzuki looked away, still in the clutches of the shadowy guards, Isorou grabbed his chin and pierced him with his glare. "You will not die, little shinigami. But I promise you will suffer for what you've done." There was a hint of enjoyment in his voice and Tsuzuki whimpered as he tightened his grip. Hisoka fisted his hands, barely restraining himself from attacking the man.
Tatsumi wasn't as reserved. Shadows lashed from all sides of the room at the group surrounding Tsuzuki. The yurei whined as they were whisked away by the shadows, leaving Tsuzuki alone. Still, the shadows faltered as they reached for Isorou, the man's aura holding them back like melting snow as he stood there with closed eyes. "You are pathetic, Tatsumi-san," he muttered before opening his eyes and stretching his hand toward the shadow player. A moment passed before Tatsumi suddenly went down with a choked cry, clutching his sides in apparent pain. Isorou chuckled. Tsuzuki ran to Tatsumi's side, holding him as he went through the bouts of pain.
"Please, stop this." Tsuzuki pleaded as he looked up with his expressive purple eyes. "Let him go. I'll come with you."
Tatsumi grabbed his friend's shoulder and gasped, "Tsu..zuki-san. Don't.."
Isorou walked toward the two huddled on the floor. "If you continue this pathetic show of defiance I will increase his sentence." He pointed at Tsuzuki who was still looking at him beseechingly. "For every assault you direct at the court your guilty friend here gets an extra punishment in return. How is that? Now, lets see what you've got."
Tatsumi stared up at the man with all the hate he had inside radiating from his eyes. Still, the threat seemed to have taken its effect as the menacing shadows slowly came down to their resting place. The spikes of pain raking Tatsumi's body died with that as well and he took a deep breath. A hand came to touch his face and he turned to find amethyst orbs looking at him with deep concern. "Tatsumi-san, are you ok?" Tsuzuki asked adoringly.
"I'm fine. Tsuzuki-san, don't be afraid. I promise we will correct this mistake immediately."
Tsuzuki smiled, his eyes shining. "I am not afraid. It's just-" He was cut off when hands grabbed him from behind and pulled him off the floor and away from Tatsumi.
"We've wasted enough time here. We shall go now." Isorou turned to leave and mentioned to the yurei holding Tsuzuki to follow him.
Hisoka finally recovered from his shock and before he had time to think and get scared again, he started running after them. They were outside the building when he finally caught up with the group. He knew he had no chance against Isorou, but he simply couldn't let them take Tsuzuki. It was unacceptable.
"Wait." He yelled and immediately backed away as he saw Isorou stop in place. He felt his legs shaking but stood his ground as he waited for what was to come, be it unbearable pain or simply that chilling, repulsive look from the man.
"Yes?" Isorou turned and assessed the speaker. "You had something to say, little kid?"
"I am his partner," Hisoka had to swallow before continuing, "I want to know where you are taking him." His eyes met Tsuzuki's and the worried expressions on both their faces clashed together.
Isorou shrugged nonchalantly. "Not too far. Just over there." He pointed at a small hill on the other side of the sakura trees across from the main building. He and Tsuzuki had walked there a few times before; it was the best spot for watching sunrise and sunset. Hisoka looked confused.
Isorou's eyes had a glint in them when he looked back at him. "I am very displeased with your department and so I intend to make an example of him so that the rest of you lawless shinigamis learn the lesson and never cross the line."
He turned to go. Hisoka couldn't stop himself from running after them, mindless of the others that were behind him. "What do you mean? What are you planning to do?"
"Stay back, kid. Don't let me repeat myself." Isorou warned. Hisoka was grabbed from behind by Watari who folded his arms around him. He struggled fruitlessly against the embrace, never leaving his eyes from Tsuzuki who was dragged by the phantoms towards the top of the hill.
"Be quiet, Bon." Watari whispered in his ear, "lets see what they'll do. I'm sure we will find a way to help him." Despite his words, the emotions Hisoka was picking up from the scientist were far from confident. He, just as Hisoka, knew perfectly how hopeless the situation was. At least, it didn't look like they were planning to take Tsuzuki away. That in itself was a blessing, for as long as they could see him, they might be able to do something for him.
Finally the small group reached the top of the hill. Isorou motioned to the hooded helpers to bring Tsuzuki to a spot he was pointing at on the ground. Tsuzuki didn't resist much as they dragged him to that spot and pushed him onto his knees. Hisoka, Watari and the rest of the shinigamis gathered close by, watching the procedure quietly.
As soon as Tsuzuki's knees hit the ground Isorou started chanting under his breath and two flagpoles emerged from the earth on either side of the kneeling shinigami. The poles were plain and almost ten feet tall. Tsuzuki looked at them apprehensively but he had no time to do much else as, with more chanting, a strand of barbed wire appeared out of thin air and wound itself around his body, underneath his clothes. The ends of the wire twisted around each of his arms and pulled his body tight, forcing him into a crucified position as each end finally attached itself to the poles on either side. Tsuzuki screamed when he felt the barbs cut into his skin as the wire tightened, his breath hitching as his arms were mercilessly pulled to the sides and above, leaving him hanging, head bent and on his knees, between the two poles.
Isorou watched the outcome of his magic detachedly. He was as unfazed by the gasps and cries that came from the audience a few feet behind him. These people seemed to care quite a bit for this particular shinigami but none of that was of his concern. Justice had to be done.
After the initial stress, the shinigami appeared to have settled down, only his heavy breathing and the quivering of his muscles an indication of the agony he was in. The pricks of the barbs in his skin had started to draw blood, but it wasn't yet enough to stain his clothes. That would come later, Isorou thought, and it would be a worthwhile display for his friends who now only seemed to feel sorry for him instead of taking an example. But not even that was the point, the prosecutor contemplated as he observed the man in front of him. The real question was, how long the man himself would last the ordeal before he would break. An issue that yet had to stay hidden from the rest of the crowd.
A cry from behind drew his attention at that point. It was that boy again. The one with blond hair. Somehow, he had freed himself from the clutched of the other blond and was running towards the prisoner. Isorou silently made a sign to the yurei and they rushed to block the boy's way. The teenager started to scream, fighting with all his strength against the claws that were restraining him. Isorou started to walk towards them when the longhaired one with the glasses got there first and started to pull the young shinigami back. Isorou came to stand in front of them just as the older man succeeded in his effort and was calming the boy down with reassuring words. They both looked up, one worriedly, the other with anger in his eyes. Isorou regarded the seething boy for a minute before drawing his hand back and hitting him square in the face. The boy whimpered as he fell to the ground while the man holding him shrieked like a girl. Isorou ignored him. He towered over the fallen boy and said, "I told you once to stay out of this business. This is the second warning you get. You will stay away from the convict until I tell you otherwise. If you disobey my orders again there will be consequences." He then turned to the rest of them, his voice as cold and imposing as it had been before, "That goes for all. You will not communicate with or approach the prisoner in any way. He has to stay there for the appointed time determined only by me. No food or drink or anything else is to be given to him. Any infringement of this rule will be confronted severely by the court. My associates will stay here and guard the prisoner to make sure of that." He looked back and the phantoms stood in attention as if to emphasize his point.
He smiled and walked back to where his prisoner was, turning to face the shaken audience with satisfaction. "Let this be a lesson to those who think they can break EnmaDiao's law and get away with it. This is what happens to outlaw shinigamis who lose control over their powers." He stopped and enjoyed the pitiful, frightened looks directed at the condemned man. His point was made and now, it was time for him to leave.
Konoe was among the crowd when he saw Isorou coming up to him." I will stay here for the duration of the punishment. Please show me your guest accommodations." Konoe only nodded, his eyes never leaving Tsuzuki. Soon they were all walking down the hill. Watari reached for Hisoka who had stayed on the ground where Isorou had left him. Watari's heart clenched upon seeing the handprint marking the delicate cheek and the tears on his face as he helped the boy rise to his feet.
"It is ok, Bon. C'mon, lets go home."
"Home?" Hisoka looked at him with burning wet eyes. "How can you say that? You think we can leave him behind like that? After all he's been through?"
Watari put a protective arm around Hisoka's shoulder that was as much for comfort as it was to secretly restrain the boy from running to his partner. "Didn't you hear what he said? He would hurt Tsuzuki more if we do anything against him. We don't want him to do that now, do we?"
"But-" Hisoka hiccupped, anguished.
"Lets leave it for today. I'm sure we can come up with something tomorrow; perhaps reason with the guy. Make him understand. They are not going anywhere anyway."
Hisoka hiccupped again and nodded his head. Watari guided him toward the path that lead to JuOhCho's main building but before they could go, Hisoka turned and looked back at where Tsuzuki was kneeling in the circle of his fearsome guards. "Tsuzuki..." The boy whispered quietly and Watari felt his heart ache. Tsuzuki wasn't looking at them. In fact, he didn't even look as if he was conscious. His head was hanging between his outstretched arms and his brown hair was falling over his face. The light was fading behind the sakura trees and already, Watari could see the lengthening shadows of the two poles marking the spot of his friend's ordeal. With a sigh, the scientist turned away, pulling a boy with shaking legs with him. They would help Tsuzuki; Watari kept saying that to himself. They would work together and get him out of this mess. They just had to wait for the right time. Wait and pray to the gods that Tsuzuki, too, would be strong enough to endure this trial.
tbc
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A/N: Wow, was that a long chapter. Took me forever to finish that. Hope you liked it. This is where things finally get angsty, really angsty.
Now, I won't say that I would stop writing if I don't get reviews. I'm just saying I will be much more motivated to do faster updates if people encourage me. If you like to see where this goes sooner, please take a few minutes and let me know what you thought about it. It would do wonders in the hours I have to spend to write the next chapter :)
Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter. Sorry Literary Eagle I misspelled your name and thanks for your comments. Amy, hopefully this chapter will explain who gave that order to keep Hisoka away. Aikawa and Aubrey, thanks for showing interest in the story. I hope you all like this chapter.
Warning: Lots of Tsuzuki-angst, Tatsumi-angst, Hisoka-angst, Watari-angst, Wakaba-angst, umm...Konoe-angst, did I miss anyone?
Disclaimer: I don't own the YnM characters, but Isorou Masaki is mine (took me a while to find his name,) so be gentle with him or else...Muhahahaha
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The Trial - Chapter Four
Konoe was waiting in the meeting room. He was a patient man, one who wasn't easily affected by stressful situations and could always keep his head straight in messy ones. That was why he had put himself in charge this time. Of course, Tatsumi was great in that regards too, always up to the mark and able to put things in the right order. But if the situation involved Tsuzuki - particularly injured or distraught - Tatsumi would lose that talent of his in record time and became a mess himself. The man wouldn't be able to keep his head out of his Tsuzuki-protection bucket long enough to manage anything. And since this was one of those times Konoe had assumed the role of the leader without asking.
He looked up as the door to the meeting room opened and Wakaba and Terazuma walked in. Wakaba's hair was in disarray and it looked like someone had tried to hastily put it in order. Her eyes were red and Konoe knew she must have been crying. She was also limping. Konoe shook his head; this poor girl should be in the hospital recovering from what happened to her both before and after this morning's incident. He wished the higher ups had at least given them a day or two before showing up at their doorstep.
Next came Watari and Hisoka, followed by the GuShoShin. Here was another person whom he had wanted to give some resting time. He had specifically asked that Hisoka be kept away from the office turmoil out of worry for his empathy. After hearing what had happened, the emotional charge within Enmacho's staff was high and Hisoka would have gone crazy receiving the jumble of worry, fear and apprehension from so many sources. Unfortunately, the necessity of the sudden meeting had canceled that plan as well and forced him to send GuShoShin to call both the boy and Watari to the room.
He tapped his fingers nervously on the table and looked to his left, where EnmaDiao's delegate was sitting. He swallowed at the stern look that he saw on the man's face. None of them had expected them to show up so soon, barely hours after the incident. But then again, the news of the spirits having been disturbed was not that recent, and Enma had told him he would send someone to investigate the situation. He just hadn't expected the situation to get so exponentially worse in the mean time.
Konoe looked back at his shinigami as they took their seats and started scrutinizing the new comer with curious eyes. He didn't like the way they seemed to recoil from the guy. He didn't like their nervous stares directed at him either. To be honest, he didn't even like the way the room was set up, with him and Enma's delegate sitting at a table at the head of the room and everyone else sitting at different tables facing them. It looked too much like a courtroom. But then again, as much as he wanted to deny it, this was a court after all.
At last Tatsumi and Tsuzuki arrived. It was just as Konoe had expected. Tsuzuki's head was down and Tatsumi had his arm around his shoulder whispering something in his ear. They had stayed together the entire time after what had happened, until he had called for them. He saw Tatsumi look up, finding his eyes and acknowledging him with a nod of his head before looking for a seat. Since all the seats facing the head table were taken, Tatsumi opted for a table by the door on the left side of the room, guiding Tsuzuki to sit there and taking the seat right next to him. Now that everyone was there the meeting could get started.
Konoe gracefully rose from his chair and announced the commencing of the meeting by clearing his throat. Everyone became quiet at once.
"Thank you all for showing up to this emergency meeting on such short notice. As most of you might know, an incident happened this morning at the hospital building that left a lot of damages and some casualties. I won't bore you with the details of what happened, as I'm sure most of you must already know about them. What you might not know is that this was not an ordinary attack. There was a mix-up that unfortunately ended up with the loss of one of Meifu's most high standing individuals. Because of the importance of this issue, EnmaDiao has sent a team to help us investigate the matter and find the people responsible for it. Let me introduce to you the head prosecutor from JoOhCho's judicial division, Mr. Isorou Masaki." He motioned to the man sitting at his left who shook his head and stood up.
Hisoka turned to observe the man. He looked about fifty, which didn't mean anything when you were a supernatural beings. He had dark gray hair that had turned white behind his ears and was combed meticulously into place. Hisoka also noticed that the man was tall and was wearing an expensive, neatly ironed suit, which, with the combination of him standing almost at attention, gave him the look of a serious businessman. But perhaps the most noticeable thing about him were his eyes. They gave Hisoka an unsettling feeling, and it couldn't be just because they were gray like Muraki's. They had a piercing, hawk-like look that made anyone uncomfortable to be the subject of their gaze.
The man in question surveyed the room for a minute or so before starting to speak in a polite yet strong tone. "Good day, everyone. My name is Isorou Masaki, from JoOhCho's judicial bureau. I am here to investigate the summoning and subsequent death of a Silent Spirit. Let me start this meeting with a question." He went silent for a second and in a flash, all politeness was gone from his face to be replaced by a stern and serious look. "In fact, it is the most important question to be asked: who was the shinigami that killed the spirit?"
Hisoka felt his blood freeze. The deep resonating voice of the prosecutor was so frighteningly cold it almost sounded like EnmaDiao himself was talking through him. He saw Tsuzuki look up and twitch, half opening his mouth to say something. Tatsumi's hand was instantly on his arm and he said something in his ear that made the violet-eyed man settle down. Tatsumi then turned to the stranger and his glasses flashed before he started to speak.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Isorou, we don't know who the killer is. None of us were present when it happened and the victims are too shocked to remember anything."
Hisoka's jaw hit the floor. How? What? Tatsumi was straight out lying to a representative of EnmaDiao? In front of the entire office? And he didn't even blink when he did that. This day must really be recorded in history.
The prosecutor turned to Tatsumi and said, "You mean to tell me, Mr. Tatsumi Seiichirou, that there is a renegade shinigami in your department that goes around killing superior creatures without anyone even knowing about him?"
Tatsumi pushed his glasses up his nose and said, " We are not talking about a criminal here, Mr. Isorou. I must remind you that the Silent Spirit that entered the Shokan division premises was attacking a group of innocent children at the hospital. Such violent behavior is bound to be countered with equal vehemence. The 'renegade' shinigami, as you like to call him, was only trying to defend the kids from getting injured."
"Yes, but the Spirit was conjured from its sleep. And the reason was, again, some mishap that happened at the Shokan division. It was your fault that the Spirit was there to begin with. That, in itself, is an unspeakable crime."
Everyone was mute after that. The last words were shouted at the audience in that voice that made Hisoka want to run and hide under the table. Even Tatsumi appeared in shock. The gray-haired prosecutor, seemingly enjoying the effect of his outburst, walked around the table and stood on the other side. Facing his audience, he folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the table, his eyes falling shut for a moment before he started speaking again.
"You say you don't know who the murderous shinigami is?"
Tsuzuki flinched at the word 'murderous' and Tatsumi had to comfort him again.
"I'm talking to you Mr. Tatsumi Seiichirou." Isorou's voice rang with impatience.
Tatsumi's slowly turned his attention back to the prosecutor with a look of annoyance on his face. The air in the room crackled with power as the two men glared at each other vehemently. Everyone looked like they had swallowed a handful of cotton balls and were now choking on it. Finally, Tatsumi ended the staring match, saying, " I heard you perfectly, Mr. Isorou, and I repeat, no one knows who the unfortunate shinigami was, even if his only error was to defend a group of frightened children."
Isorou smirked. "And so far, you have no idea about the source of the evil vibration that had disturbed the spirit's meditation and drawn it here?"
Tatsumi ground his teeth together although his voice stayed neutral. "I'm afraid not. But that was only reported this morning; we barely had time to do any investigation before the spirit showed up. You can't hold us accountable for that."
"No, but something tells me you are not giving me the entire truth." Isorou's voice was calm and for some reason, that sounded even more disturbing than his angry shouts. Hisoka shrunk back in his seat even as he looked around the room to see the others' reactions. Konoe had sunk deep behind the table at the head of the room and was staring at the surface like an archeologist examining a rare artifact. Watari, sitting next to Hisoka, was calm, but Hisoka could see him clenching and unclenching his fists under the table in his lap. Terazuma and Wakaba were behind him and he didn't have the courage to turn around and see how they were faring. Tsuzuki was shaking, his eyes tightly closed, and it was apparent that he was trying hard to suppress his reaction. And Tatsumi, the only man brave enough not to shrink back or be scared, was still involved in the pissing contest with the accuser. Hisoka admired him for his courage. But then, this was Tatsumi, the pillar of strength and apprehension in the office. He didn't know about Isorou's powers, but the way the man wielded his authority like a whip suggested that he saw himself up there with Enma-sama or at least very close.
"Very well then." Isorou drew a deep breath and said, "Now that no one knows what is going on here, or who's at fault with what, I shall pass judgment myself. A respectable spirit god from the Silent Temple was murdered and someone has to be held accountable for and made an example of. If no one is guilty here, then everyone is. And so," he paused for dramatic effect, "I pass judgment for the entire Shokan division to be obliterated."
It was like someone had dropped a paralyzing spell on the crowd. Everyone just froze. Hisoka looked up at their chief, who looked like a deer caught in headlights (well, maybe more like a goat.) Konoe opened his mouth, but it took a few tries before a sound came out. "Isorou-san, you cannot possibly be serious about this." And he was sweating.
Isorou didn't turn. He stood facing the crowd with his arms folded on his chest and said, "I am serious about the verdict, Konoe-sama. A department that can't tell what is going on with its employees and has shinigami romping around with their powers gone astray doesn't deserve to exist. We already have enough staff to replace you all." His smirk was almost vicious when he turned to gather his things from the table. "You should all go and pack. I'll inform Enma-sama that your time as shinigami has ended and you'll be prepared to face his judgment."
"Wait."
All heads turned to Tsuzuki at the sound of his call He had been partially hidden behind Tatsumi most of the time, but now he was sitting straight, looking at his folded hands on the table.
"Yes?" Isorou said almost lecherously as he turned and looked at the shinigami.
Tsuzuki gulped, still looking down. "Please, don't punish the others. It was I who killed the spirit." He looked up with sad, desolate eyes. "Please, I'm the guilty person. I'm the one who should be punished."
"Tsuzuki-san!!!" Tatsumi wildly snapped at him.
Isorou completely ignored the secretary, fixing his narrowed gaze on Tsuzuki instead, like a panther that has finally spotted his prey.
"So it was you. What is your name, shinigami?"
"Tsuzuki..Tsuzuki Asato, sir." Tsuzuki's voice trembled a bit at the end.
The smirk had returned to Isorou's face and Hisoka thought that it was the most disturbing thing he had seen next to Muraki's smile. In fact, the expression on the man's face almost resembled Muraki's, or was it because Hisoka had begun to hate this man as much as he hated the doctor.
Isorou walked closer to Tsuzuki and stood over him. "How long have you been working here, Asato?" he asked.
Tsuzuki gulped. The use of his first name felt like an added blow. "Seven...seventy years or so."
"That is a long time. I would assume you had heard about the spirits of the Silent Temple during that time, didn't you?"
"Yes." Tsuzuki whispered. He seemed to wither with every word. Hisoka felt his heart clench.
"So you knew what you were dealing with when you attacked that spirit outside the hospital."
"Yes." Another whisper.
"Tsuzuki-san! What are you talking about? I order you to be quiet, right now." Tatsumi spoke again but just like last time, he was ignored by both parties.
Isorou walked back to his table and leaned against it, folding his arms once again. "So I guess it is settled. This shinigami is the one who is guilty and must be punished. That wasn't too hard now, was it?"
Hisoka wanted to scream, but his voice was caught in the coils of his throat. From what he could sense from the rest of the room, everyone else looked to be in the same state, except for Tatsumi who was practically boiling like a pot.
"Do you command any shikigamis?" Isorou's voice cut through the tension like a knife wielded by an ignorant child.
Tsuzuki jumped. "Huh? Um, yeah, I do."
"How many?"
"Huh?"
"Are you deaf? I asked how many shikigamis do you command?"
"T..twelve." Tsuzuki answered quietly.
Isorou's eyes widened for a second. Then, "Which one was involved in the attack?"
Tsuzuki shivered and looked down once again. "No one," he replied, chewing his lower lip. "I didn't summon any. I didn't want to get them involved."
Isorou bristled. "You mean to tell me that you managed to kill a spirit from the high orders with only your bare hands?"
Tsuzuki fidgeted. "Not with my hands, I used my..inner powers." He closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
"Demonic powers." Isorou affirmed. "You are the demon shinigami. Now I remember."
"Stop it." The words were out of Hisoka's mouth before he could stop himself. For a split second Isorou's eyes met his and he felt icicle form down his spine before the other man ignored him just as he had Tatsumi. But the simple blink was enough for Hisoka to see something deep and dangerous inside the man's mind.
Tsuzuki was quaking. Tatsumi got to him immediately and wrapped his arms protectively around him. He turned his angry glare toward Isorou and his voice almost hitched when he spoke. "Leave him alone. He was only defending the children. How many time do we have to tell you that? Stop tormenting him."
"It's in your best interest, Tatsumi-san, not to interfere with the investigation. Now, Asato," he turned his attention back to Tsuzuki, "it's time for me to pass judgment on you and you know what that means. However, since you were brave enough to come out yourself I will be lenient with you. You will not be punished by death, but you are sentenced to endure the ordeal. Enma's aides will soon be here to take you."
As if on cue, the doors opened and a group of strangely shrouded beings entered the room to gather behind Isorou. Hisoka felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on its ends at the sight of them. Phantom-like creature covered in semi-translucent robes from head to toe, their faces hidden behind their hoods so that all that could be seen of it was their glowing eyes. They where the creatures from his dream, and as they went to grab Tsuzuki by his arms and lift him from his seat, he felt a sense of déjà vu coming all over him.
Tsuzuki was almost pliant as he was carried to where Isorou stood in the front of the room. Isorou's predatory look had not changed. He racked the shinigami up and down like a hungry wolf and when Tsuzuki looked away, still in the clutches of the shadowy guards, Isorou grabbed his chin and pierced him with his glare. "You will not die, little shinigami. But I promise you will suffer for what you've done." There was a hint of enjoyment in his voice and Tsuzuki whimpered as he tightened his grip. Hisoka fisted his hands, barely restraining himself from attacking the man.
Tatsumi wasn't as reserved. Shadows lashed from all sides of the room at the group surrounding Tsuzuki. The yurei whined as they were whisked away by the shadows, leaving Tsuzuki alone. Still, the shadows faltered as they reached for Isorou, the man's aura holding them back like melting snow as he stood there with closed eyes. "You are pathetic, Tatsumi-san," he muttered before opening his eyes and stretching his hand toward the shadow player. A moment passed before Tatsumi suddenly went down with a choked cry, clutching his sides in apparent pain. Isorou chuckled. Tsuzuki ran to Tatsumi's side, holding him as he went through the bouts of pain.
"Please, stop this." Tsuzuki pleaded as he looked up with his expressive purple eyes. "Let him go. I'll come with you."
Tatsumi grabbed his friend's shoulder and gasped, "Tsu..zuki-san. Don't.."
Isorou walked toward the two huddled on the floor. "If you continue this pathetic show of defiance I will increase his sentence." He pointed at Tsuzuki who was still looking at him beseechingly. "For every assault you direct at the court your guilty friend here gets an extra punishment in return. How is that? Now, lets see what you've got."
Tatsumi stared up at the man with all the hate he had inside radiating from his eyes. Still, the threat seemed to have taken its effect as the menacing shadows slowly came down to their resting place. The spikes of pain raking Tatsumi's body died with that as well and he took a deep breath. A hand came to touch his face and he turned to find amethyst orbs looking at him with deep concern. "Tatsumi-san, are you ok?" Tsuzuki asked adoringly.
"I'm fine. Tsuzuki-san, don't be afraid. I promise we will correct this mistake immediately."
Tsuzuki smiled, his eyes shining. "I am not afraid. It's just-" He was cut off when hands grabbed him from behind and pulled him off the floor and away from Tatsumi.
"We've wasted enough time here. We shall go now." Isorou turned to leave and mentioned to the yurei holding Tsuzuki to follow him.
Hisoka finally recovered from his shock and before he had time to think and get scared again, he started running after them. They were outside the building when he finally caught up with the group. He knew he had no chance against Isorou, but he simply couldn't let them take Tsuzuki. It was unacceptable.
"Wait." He yelled and immediately backed away as he saw Isorou stop in place. He felt his legs shaking but stood his ground as he waited for what was to come, be it unbearable pain or simply that chilling, repulsive look from the man.
"Yes?" Isorou turned and assessed the speaker. "You had something to say, little kid?"
"I am his partner," Hisoka had to swallow before continuing, "I want to know where you are taking him." His eyes met Tsuzuki's and the worried expressions on both their faces clashed together.
Isorou shrugged nonchalantly. "Not too far. Just over there." He pointed at a small hill on the other side of the sakura trees across from the main building. He and Tsuzuki had walked there a few times before; it was the best spot for watching sunrise and sunset. Hisoka looked confused.
Isorou's eyes had a glint in them when he looked back at him. "I am very displeased with your department and so I intend to make an example of him so that the rest of you lawless shinigamis learn the lesson and never cross the line."
He turned to go. Hisoka couldn't stop himself from running after them, mindless of the others that were behind him. "What do you mean? What are you planning to do?"
"Stay back, kid. Don't let me repeat myself." Isorou warned. Hisoka was grabbed from behind by Watari who folded his arms around him. He struggled fruitlessly against the embrace, never leaving his eyes from Tsuzuki who was dragged by the phantoms towards the top of the hill.
"Be quiet, Bon." Watari whispered in his ear, "lets see what they'll do. I'm sure we will find a way to help him." Despite his words, the emotions Hisoka was picking up from the scientist were far from confident. He, just as Hisoka, knew perfectly how hopeless the situation was. At least, it didn't look like they were planning to take Tsuzuki away. That in itself was a blessing, for as long as they could see him, they might be able to do something for him.
Finally the small group reached the top of the hill. Isorou motioned to the hooded helpers to bring Tsuzuki to a spot he was pointing at on the ground. Tsuzuki didn't resist much as they dragged him to that spot and pushed him onto his knees. Hisoka, Watari and the rest of the shinigamis gathered close by, watching the procedure quietly.
As soon as Tsuzuki's knees hit the ground Isorou started chanting under his breath and two flagpoles emerged from the earth on either side of the kneeling shinigami. The poles were plain and almost ten feet tall. Tsuzuki looked at them apprehensively but he had no time to do much else as, with more chanting, a strand of barbed wire appeared out of thin air and wound itself around his body, underneath his clothes. The ends of the wire twisted around each of his arms and pulled his body tight, forcing him into a crucified position as each end finally attached itself to the poles on either side. Tsuzuki screamed when he felt the barbs cut into his skin as the wire tightened, his breath hitching as his arms were mercilessly pulled to the sides and above, leaving him hanging, head bent and on his knees, between the two poles.
Isorou watched the outcome of his magic detachedly. He was as unfazed by the gasps and cries that came from the audience a few feet behind him. These people seemed to care quite a bit for this particular shinigami but none of that was of his concern. Justice had to be done.
After the initial stress, the shinigami appeared to have settled down, only his heavy breathing and the quivering of his muscles an indication of the agony he was in. The pricks of the barbs in his skin had started to draw blood, but it wasn't yet enough to stain his clothes. That would come later, Isorou thought, and it would be a worthwhile display for his friends who now only seemed to feel sorry for him instead of taking an example. But not even that was the point, the prosecutor contemplated as he observed the man in front of him. The real question was, how long the man himself would last the ordeal before he would break. An issue that yet had to stay hidden from the rest of the crowd.
A cry from behind drew his attention at that point. It was that boy again. The one with blond hair. Somehow, he had freed himself from the clutched of the other blond and was running towards the prisoner. Isorou silently made a sign to the yurei and they rushed to block the boy's way. The teenager started to scream, fighting with all his strength against the claws that were restraining him. Isorou started to walk towards them when the longhaired one with the glasses got there first and started to pull the young shinigami back. Isorou came to stand in front of them just as the older man succeeded in his effort and was calming the boy down with reassuring words. They both looked up, one worriedly, the other with anger in his eyes. Isorou regarded the seething boy for a minute before drawing his hand back and hitting him square in the face. The boy whimpered as he fell to the ground while the man holding him shrieked like a girl. Isorou ignored him. He towered over the fallen boy and said, "I told you once to stay out of this business. This is the second warning you get. You will stay away from the convict until I tell you otherwise. If you disobey my orders again there will be consequences." He then turned to the rest of them, his voice as cold and imposing as it had been before, "That goes for all. You will not communicate with or approach the prisoner in any way. He has to stay there for the appointed time determined only by me. No food or drink or anything else is to be given to him. Any infringement of this rule will be confronted severely by the court. My associates will stay here and guard the prisoner to make sure of that." He looked back and the phantoms stood in attention as if to emphasize his point.
He smiled and walked back to where his prisoner was, turning to face the shaken audience with satisfaction. "Let this be a lesson to those who think they can break EnmaDiao's law and get away with it. This is what happens to outlaw shinigamis who lose control over their powers." He stopped and enjoyed the pitiful, frightened looks directed at the condemned man. His point was made and now, it was time for him to leave.
Konoe was among the crowd when he saw Isorou coming up to him." I will stay here for the duration of the punishment. Please show me your guest accommodations." Konoe only nodded, his eyes never leaving Tsuzuki. Soon they were all walking down the hill. Watari reached for Hisoka who had stayed on the ground where Isorou had left him. Watari's heart clenched upon seeing the handprint marking the delicate cheek and the tears on his face as he helped the boy rise to his feet.
"It is ok, Bon. C'mon, lets go home."
"Home?" Hisoka looked at him with burning wet eyes. "How can you say that? You think we can leave him behind like that? After all he's been through?"
Watari put a protective arm around Hisoka's shoulder that was as much for comfort as it was to secretly restrain the boy from running to his partner. "Didn't you hear what he said? He would hurt Tsuzuki more if we do anything against him. We don't want him to do that now, do we?"
"But-" Hisoka hiccupped, anguished.
"Lets leave it for today. I'm sure we can come up with something tomorrow; perhaps reason with the guy. Make him understand. They are not going anywhere anyway."
Hisoka hiccupped again and nodded his head. Watari guided him toward the path that lead to JuOhCho's main building but before they could go, Hisoka turned and looked back at where Tsuzuki was kneeling in the circle of his fearsome guards. "Tsuzuki..." The boy whispered quietly and Watari felt his heart ache. Tsuzuki wasn't looking at them. In fact, he didn't even look as if he was conscious. His head was hanging between his outstretched arms and his brown hair was falling over his face. The light was fading behind the sakura trees and already, Watari could see the lengthening shadows of the two poles marking the spot of his friend's ordeal. With a sigh, the scientist turned away, pulling a boy with shaking legs with him. They would help Tsuzuki; Watari kept saying that to himself. They would work together and get him out of this mess. They just had to wait for the right time. Wait and pray to the gods that Tsuzuki, too, would be strong enough to endure this trial.
tbc
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A/N: Wow, was that a long chapter. Took me forever to finish that. Hope you liked it. This is where things finally get angsty, really angsty.
Now, I won't say that I would stop writing if I don't get reviews. I'm just saying I will be much more motivated to do faster updates if people encourage me. If you like to see where this goes sooner, please take a few minutes and let me know what you thought about it. It would do wonders in the hours I have to spend to write the next chapter :)