Cat-chan: Sorry it took a little longer than usual -sweatdrops- I came down with a cold and it's difficult to write with your brain all screwed up, but I couldn't let the ideas just sit there either. So here's chapter 17!
Tsuzuki: Poor Cat-chan, 'Soka lets make her some soup to make her feel better!
Hisoka: Fine.
Cat-chan: Thank you boys! I love you! -coughs- Sorry, can't hug you or you'll get sick.
Tsuzuki and Hisoka: -sweatdrop-

Chapter 17: Are you wilting?

Setsuko was exhausted, and it didn't go unnoticed by any of the shinigami. Her skin looked pasty and paler than normal, save for the dark circles beneath her dulled mocha eyes. Yawns escaped her periodically; eyelids drooping, only to snap back up again once she realized she was falling asleep. Her hair hung in limp strands, even the ribbons holding it up appeared limp and tired. Her gingham print dress was a little rumpled, completing the overall mussed up look Setsuko was creating for herself that day. It goes without saying that nearly everyone was concerned.

"Aka-chan, are you alright? Are you sick? Tired? Hungry? Anything?" Wakaba had asked when the girl turned down breakfast as well.

"'Suko, you don't look too well. You should get some sleep, it'll help I swear!" Tsuzuki had tried to coax her to take a nap.

"Chibi, how about a checkup? I think you're in need of one." Watari had looked her over finding nothing wrong other than tiredness.

"Gaki no baka. Get some sleep why don't you?" Terazuma had complained when she yawned for the umpteenth time that day.

"Itsuki-chan, I advise that you take better care of yourself. We wouldn't want you getting sick." Tatsumi had told her when she delivered a stack of papers to him.

She was unsure how to react to all the attention. It was comforting to know they all cared and worried about her, it made her feel happy despite the exhaustion that overcame her small body. Yet, it was also annoying her that they would not leave her alone not matter how many times she assured them all that she was fine. It was obvious that she wasn't fine. She was lying and they knew it.

The only person who had said nothing other than a brief 'good morning' was Hisoka. He had seen her state and could feel it via empathy, but he did not acknowledge it verbally like the others. Setsuko appreciated it when she followed him to the library again, they sat in comfortable silence that relaxed her. The child didn't like lying, but she didn't want anyone to worry. They didn't need to know that she wasn't sleeping much, or at all, anymore. It was her own problem and she would deal with it accordingly, even if she only had a vague idea of what was wrong.

Once again, the demoness was talking to her. The things she spoke of frightened Setsuko deeply, making it impossible for her to sleep for fear of the nightmares she'd have. Images of people covered in blood, decapitated and resembling Tsuzuki, Hisoka, Wakaba, and other shinigami. Her fears had shifted from being ignored and hated by her parents, to having her newfound family be hurt or killed. Even if they were already dead, she knew that if they lost enough blood they could die again. Apparently, Haruna knew this too and used this to her advantage.

"Good things don't last forever, otome. You of all people should know this." a voice had sneered in her mind, "Eventually it all fades away and dies."

"Shut up, Haruna." she had whispered in reply, "I don't want to deal with you tonight."

A chuckle, "Well, you're out of luck there, otome. I'm a part of you. Bound to you by forces you can only imagine of comprehending. You can never escape me just as I can never leave."

"Go away…" she whimpered, curling up into a tight ball, taking fistfuls of her hair.

"What if that boy was to go away, or that man, or that woman, or all of them? What if they all died? What would you do then?"

"Go away."

"Does that frighten you? The thought of their own blood pooled around their lifeless bodies. Delicious. Otome, your fear never ceases to sustain me. Nor do you cease to amuse me."

"Go away."

"But I've already told you. We can never leave."

Setsuko shook her head rapidly, trying to rid herself of the horrid memories that assaulted her of the past four nights she'd had without enough sleep. Her body ached as well, muscle pains and tired bones. Occasional headaches greeted her and her stomach would turn at any thought of food. She sighed, she really hated days like these. They were far and few between, but when they did occur she was miserable and it took all of her strength to keep herself from tumbling into the depths of darkness where Haruna lay in wait. She had learned to stave off the affects of the curse, these days of sickness being one of them.

Her back was pressed against the side of the chair Hisoka was in, a forgotten book open in her lap. She worried her lower lip, not too hard only nibbling slightly. Absently playing with the pages of the book, the child was vaguely aware of the hushed groan that came from above her. Shifting her gaze from her lap to the boy in the chair, she gasped and stood up abruptly. His empathy. She had forgotten; her thoughts and emotions must've gotten through to him.

He was slumped forward, cradling his head in his hands and massaging his temples. His knees were pulled together, elbows resting on them. Setsuko cautiously reached out to him, his blonde head snapping up in alarm. For a moment, he looked like how she felt or possibly worse. Glazed eyes closed and he took deep breaths. Hisoka raked a hand through his hair, the girl watching with much concern for his empathy.

"Nii-san? Are you okay?" Emerald optics opened to come face to face with the young girl, "You're really pale. Have you been sleeping properly? You know Tsu-chan won't be happy about this-"

"Setsuko." Hisoka's voice was strong and the tone suggested that she listen carefully.

Blinking up in confusion, she quickly nodded, "What is it nii-san? Something wrong?"

The boy frowned, as if trying to decide the best way to phrase what he had to say, "Hai, something is wrong. Why didn't you tell anyone… the extent of your curse? I sensed so much pain from you, physical and emotional. It's not healthy to keep all that hidden."

"Oh, but I'm used to it now!" her smile was saddened, but the optimism in her voice didn't fade, "You don't have to worry, it doesn't hurt that much anymore. Not unless they make it hurt."

"Setsuko, listen, I'm an empath." Setsuko nodded, saying that she knew that, "I could feel some of the pain you were going through. It… it was almost as bad as some of the pain I've felt from Muraki, maybe it was just as bad, I can't be sure. But… I just can't let you take that burden all alone. I know what it's like and it's not the most pleasant experience."

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked warily, already having an idea of what it was forming in her mind.

"I'll transfer some of your pain that you feel from the curse into me with my empathy. It will lessen the effect the curse has on you, but won't overwhelm me with it either. Understand?"

"What! I can't let you do that!" Setsuko cried out, gasping in surprise when the boy clasped a hand over her mouth and hushed her.

He looked at her seriously, "And I can't let you go on feeling that, knowing that I could've done something to help. Besides, it'll probably flaw whatever scheme Muraki has up his sleeve."

"Anou… A-are you sure?" she whispered quietly, wide brown optics pleading with intense green.

"I'm sure. It's better this way, less danger for you in the end." Hisoka replied evenly, watching Setsuko struggle with a reply, "It won't hurt you, Setsuko. And it won't hurt me either. Believe me, I've handled worse."

"But Tsu-chan will-!" she was cutoff by a warning finger thrust in her face.

He looked pained for a moment, then nothing as he replied to the child, "Tsuzuki doesn't have to know. No one does. It's better if we just keep it between you and me, okay?"

Setsuko remained silent for a few minutes, gazing at Hisoka warily, pleading, and finally giving into his wishes, "Okay, nii-san…"

His hand was placed over hers, squeezing it lightly for reassurance. She gulped and clamped her eyes shut, the pain that Muraki often bestowed upon her bubbling up through her and into Hisoka. He was drawing it out through her consciousness. Her free hand clenched into a fist, first instinct to pull away from him. Suddenly her chest felt as if it were on fire, her lungs burning as she gasped for breath. It felt so familiar, then it hit her.

It resembled the feeling she had experienced when Muraki first cursed her, the unbearable burning and the aching. She suppressed a cry and held firm. As quickly as it had come, she could sense it leaving. Mocha eyes blinked open and widened once she registered what was happening. The pain was slowly diminishing. It was being pulled away from her, relieving her of her burdens.

Hisoka grit his teeth as the pain entered his body, his own curse marks flaring. He was reminded of that night, images from his memory flooding him. The flaming sensation that had just dwelled in the girl was now forcing itself upon him. The boy tried to fight it, but to no avail. The onslaught of emotions and his own pain soon rendered him unconscious, along with the child.

Hisoka and Setsuko left for the library after the blonde finished his paperwork, normally an hour or two after lunch. They would be gone for an hour and a half to two hours at most, then returning to the office to assist Tsuzuki in his paperwork. It had been four hours and neither had returned.

Tsuzuki fidgeted in his seat, unable to concentrate on anything other than his partner and the girl they'd come to know so well. At three hours he had tried to go look for them, but Tatsumi had stopped him and was now stationed where he could keep an eye on the man. Tsuzuki was stuck, the secretary blocking his only exit.

"Taaaatttsssuuuummmmiii!" he whined, attempting his chibi-inu look to persuade his friend, "Please can I go look for Hisoka and Setsuko? Pwease?"

Tatsumi sighed, they had been at it for an hour now, it was obvious that the brunette wasn't going to get any work done with the boy missing, "Fine. You may go look for them. But come straight back!"

Tsuzuki was already out the door and bounding down the hall. He decided to ask Wakaba first, then Watari, then the GuShoShin. If the two weren't at any of those places, then something was wrong. Very wrong.

"Hey, Wakaba-chan?" Tsuzuki poked his head into the office Wakaba shared with Terazuma, "Have you seen 'Suko-chan and Hisoka anywhere?"

The young woman looked thoughtful, then shook her head, "Not since Aka-chan left to go see you and Hisoka-san, I think they're still at the library. Check there."

He nodded, "Alright, thank you."

As he continued walking down the hall, the brunette wondered if the younger two had gone to see Watari or not. Since the scientist's lab was in the other direction, he decided to skip that and just go on to the library. Hopefully the GuShoShin would let him to look for them. They were still angry about him destroying their library. The few times he'd gotten in since then were thanks to Hisoka or Tatsumi or Watari, depending on what it was for.

Carefully, he opened the door to the library and peered in. The GuShoShin were no where in sight. Relieved, Tsuzuki entered all the way and looked around. It was really quiet, too quiet for his liking. He knew that Hisoka wasn't a loud person and neither was Setsuko if she had something to do, but there would be some kind of sound right? Pages turning or ruffling of clothing? Nothing but silence met his ears. Violet eyes scanned the aisles, he was heading for the chair that his partner was normally found in.

Turning the corner, the brunette stopped short. Sprawled out on the floor was the boy, fast asleep. Setsuko was right beside him, stirring in her sleep and looking as if she were to wake up. They looked so peaceful and relaxed. Tsuzuki smiled warmly at the scene, then frowned as he thought of how to move them to the infirmary for some rest. Quietly, he left the library to go retrieve Wakaba so that she could assist him.

The first thing that startled Setsuko was that she felt more rested than she had in a long time. The second was that she was in the infirmary. The third was that she realized that her aches were gone, as well as Haruna. Normally she could summon the demoness whenever she pleased, not that she did it on a regular basis. It was very unusual that she felt so free and relaxed, so she was immediately suspicious. Especially when she saw that Hisoka had not yet awakened.

"Is nii-san okay?" she immediately asked once the scientist entered the infirmary.

He smiled, "Yep! Bon's perfectly A-Ok! He just needs some rest, he's really tired. You're checked out too chibi, that little nap did wonders on you."

It did. That's what worries me. Setsuko bit her lip in agitation, I'm not supposed to be feeling better yet, Haruna likes to make sure that this is drawn out as long as it can be. Could… could nii-san have accidentally taken more of the curse than he should've? That would be bad. He wouldn't know how to deal with it. I'll ask him when he wakes up.

"Aka-chan! You're awake," Wakaba skipped into the room, "That's good! Do you feel any better?"

"Aa, yeah I do. Thank you for asking onee-chan." she smiled sheepishly, watching as Tsuzuki followed her in.

The purple-eyed man lit up, "'Suko-chan! You're all better!"

He gave the girl a big hug, eliciting a giggle from her. When Tsuzuki released her, she noticed his gaze trail over to Hisoka. Her grin faded, unsure how the brunette would react to his unconscious partner. It unnerved her that he was still in a sleeping-state.

"Well, well! Look who decided to join us." the smile that Tsuzuki wore surprised her, mocha eyes darting to where the blonde was lying.

Hisoka was sitting up and rubbing at his eyelids sleepily, "Mmmm…"

The brunette crossed the room and sat down beside his partner, "Ne, Hisoka? You feeling okay? I found you sleeping in the library! Not a very comfortable place to sleep though, most people prefer a bed. If you were tired, you should've said something!"

"Huh? Oh, alright…" the boy seemed slightly dazed, probably just an after-effect of fainting.

"Oi, Tsuzuki! Wakaba-chan! Leave them alone, they need their rest!" Watari ushered them out, much to Tsuzuki's displeasure and Wakaba's pleas to stay.

Setsuko looked over to Hisoka, his emerald eyes were glazed over. She watched him with fascination, his shudders suddenly breaking him out of the trance he'd been in. He swallowed, then licked his lips. It was then that he realized he had an audience. A glare entered his eyes as he met the girl's transfixed gaze of concern and amusement.

"What?" he asked irritably.

She shrugged, "Nothing. Just wanted to make sure you were okay. It didn't hurt you, did it? The empathy thingy you did?"

"Oh," his brow furrowed, "Aa… no I don't think it did. Just a little overwhelming. Nothing to worry about or anything."

Setsuko nodded, but despite his reassuring words, the pit of doubt in her stomach grew at what was carelessly brushed aside. Once her gaze was off him, anxiety settled within the boy. His own anxiety. The vivid dream he had… it was not one of his nightmares, but it was no one else's dream. Raking a hand through wheat locks, he pondered the meaning of what had been said to him. Every rose has it's thorns. And every thorn draws blood. Remember that.

Reviews! Wow, this is the most I've ever gotten for one chapter! -gives a non-sick hug to all- Thank you all so much! I feel loved -smiles-
1. Warchild: Thanks for the review!
2. E-san: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.
3. jennamarie: Heh, okay but don't tell 'Soka I gave you one! Yes, Hisoka is very talented that way. Thank you for reviewing!
4. Lil'Andre: Why thank you, that's very kind of you to say.
5. lunarkitty14: Okies, I'll continue soon! I think I'm on a roll anyways!
6. ffpanda: Yeah, I'm very fond of fluffy angsty stuff, a lot more angst is to be expected, so fair warning.
7. Hazel-Beka: Yay! Ha, yeah Tsu-chan needs some cuddle time too, except his teddy bear is Hisoka.
8. Sam: Aw... I'm flattered! Thank you Sam! And very good questions, all shall be answered in the oncoming chapters! Maybe not the next one or the one after that, but in a chapter. Thanks for reviewing and rating too!
9. karin1004: Yeah, Muraki can be quite a pest. Tsuzuki and Hisoka can overcome him though! Eventually... Thanks for the review!
10. Harriet83: Wow, my first constructive criticism thingy! Yay! I know that I have a plot to continue with and it is being continued with subtle hints. You'll see how I branch off in continuations, I just wanted to give my readers some fluff before the angst (calm before storm type thing) Thank you for your advice and the review.
11. Kyokutou: Thank you! And don't worry, there's lotsa ideas that come too fast for me to put on paper! Even if I'm sick I will continue!