Cat-chan: -is counting down days to Vegas- Lets see... if I work really fast I can prolly get another chapter in before I leave! Yay!
Hisoka: Is it just me, or are you a little obssessed?
Cat-chan: Oh don't be silly 'Soka-chan! I just like writing this! Besides, my readers will want to know what happens next right?
Hisoka: Sure, but it's not like you live just to write this stupid fanfic.
Cat-chan: ... Well you know what? This "stupid fanfic" has some of your ideas in here too. And I so happen to be proud of this "stupid fanfic."
Tsuzuki: Oooh... Hisoka I think you got her mad. -cowers behind Hisoka- She's scary when she gets mad, but not as scary as you.
Hisoka: Oh, that's nice baka.
Cat-chan: Enjoy chapter 19.
Tsuzuki: Yeah, enjoy!
Hisoka: They won't.
Cat-chan: You want me to break out the Pinkhouse dresses? I swear I will!
Hisoka: Eep -looks thoroughly horrified at the thought- Just kidding, they'll love it.
Cat-chan: That's what I thought. Thank you 'Soka -smiles-
Hisoka and Tsuzuki: -look nervous-

Chapter 19: Every rose has it's thorns

Guilt swarmed her as she stood before Hisoka's front door. Setsuko supposed that she should have told Wakaba that she was leaving, instead of slipping out unnoticed. But she couldn't have anyone know. Hisoka didn't want anyone to know. But enough was enough, she couldn't allow him to suffer, the child was well aware of what the demoness would do to the empath once she discovered he was not her. She'd torture him.

Tentatively, Setsuko raised her fist and knocked lightly on the wooden surface of the door. There was no answer. She knocked harder and the sound of shuffling and a lock clicking met her ears. The door opened, revealing an exhausted empath, little expression on his face other than wonder at why she was there. Keeping defiance in her gaze, the girl's posture was straight and she attempted to show the boy that she had strength and would not back down easily.

"What is it?" he inquired, brow twitching and looking incredulous.

Setsuko took in a deep breath, then spoke with an even tone, "We need to talk."

"Alright," the ghost of a smirk flickered on his face as Hisoka allowed her inside.

She removed her shoes on the mat, glancing around at her surroundings. She'd never been in Hisoka's place before, in her opinion it was pretty empty, no life. Dull, dark shades were what the room was composed of. A complete contrast from the life and color in Tsuzuki's house. Setsuko padded after Hisoka and took a seat next to him on the couch. She tried to glare at him and look serious about what she had to say, but it didn't really work for her as it did for Hisoka.

"This is wrong. I don't like it. I want you to give me back my curse." she stated simply.

He stared at her, understanding and disbelief evident in both pools of emerald. Then his brow furrowed. Hisoka opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. Setsuko firmly believed in what she had to say and wasn't going to back down without good reason.

"I can handle it, I have for a long time. But, you… it's completely wearing you out. Your empathy probably has something to do with it. I don't like that you're doing this for me. The others are beginning to suspect something too, I don't want to lie or sneak around them anymore. Please, nii-san?"

This time the boy was allowed to speak, "Setsuko, it's not that bad. My own curse was much worse-"

"Which is why I don't want you to go through it again! You already had your curse, you don't deserve to be given another!" she protested, emotion thick in her voice.

Hisoka countered her, "It's my decision if I want to keep it or not! I can't have people always worrying about me and making decisions for me and my benefit."

"It's because you make stupid decisions! That's why people worry about you! And you don't worry about yourself enough so someone needs to!" Setsuko retorted.

"Who would want to do that? You?" his eyes narrowed, "Setsuko, I know you want to help, but I'm fine really. I don't need anyone's pity."

"I'm not pitying you! I'm sympathizing with you!" she cried, "And I never said that I needed or wanted to be that someone. I can't. Someone else already took that place in your heart."

Hisoka and Setsuko stared at each other intensely for quite some time, green eyes softening. The girl moved away a little, giving him more space. He took a few deep breaths, trying to relax. Setsuko's gaze was now of concern, waiting for him to reply. None came. She decided to continue talking to him, but in a more reassuring tone.

"He cares about you nii-san, it's hurting him that you don't trust him enough to tell him what's wrong. And don't say nothing because we both know what it is." she said softly, mocha eyes boring into him.

Hisoka blinked rapidly, "I-I trust him…"

"It doesn't seem that way. Lately you've been pushing him away."

"I don't mean to… I just don't want him to worry or feel that it's his fault…"

Setsuko sighed, "Tsu-chan blames himself much too easily, I know, but you can't stop that. And it'll only get worse if you hide things from him. Like this… and how you feel about him…"

"What?" Hisoka's head shot up at that, "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I'm young, but I'm not oblivious." she frowned, "You like him a lot, but you're too scared to say anything or act on it. Nii-san, it's those kinda things that make you so difficult. You worry too much about people's reactions. Just 'cause some people rejected you doesn't mean everyone will. Do you really think he would?"

"I… I don't know…" he whispered, averting his gaze in shame.

Setsuko smiled sadly, "Well, why don't you give me back my curse first? Then together we can decide what to do about you and Tsu-chan. Honestly! You guys are so hopeless!"

"Okay…"

Hisoka turned his body so that he was facing the child, watching warily as she set out to grab his hand. Once that being done, he closed his eyes and focused on bringing the curse up and transferring it into her due to the link they created. He could feel it rising, his body felt like it was in flames. It got so hot, so painful. Just like Kyoto… When Tsuzuki had willingly allowed flames to swallow his soul, how could anyone allow that burning sensation to overwhelm their bodies?

It was when Setsuko let out a startled scream did he realize that he was in fact burning.

"Aka-chaan!" Wakaba sang out, poking her head into the child's room, "I made some hot chocolate and cookies! Want some…?"

The room was void of Setsuko, the only thing signifying that she'd been there were the few toys scattered across the floor and her clothes neatly folded in the closet. Mix-matched eyes blinked, then she turned and walked down the hall. The bathroom door was open and the light was off, so she wasn't in there. So she entered Terazuma's room, hoping that he had an idea of where she had gone.

"Anou, Hajime-chan? Do you know where Aka-chan is?" Wakaba asked her partner.

Terazuma snorted and looked up from his laptop, "Why would I know where that gaki is? Isn't she in her room?"

Wakaba shook her head, "No, and I don't know where she could've gone. She didn't say anything about leaving… Maybe Tsuzuki-san knows, maybe she went to go see him."

The copper-haired girl left the room, leaving Terazuma fuming at the mention of the brunette. She picked up the phone a dialed his number, hoping against hope that girl was there with him. She was probably just playing a game. Nothing was wrong.

"Moshimoshi," the familiar voice on the other end greeted on the second ring, "Tsuzuki here."

"Ah, hi Tsuzuki-san. This is Wakaba. Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if Aka-chan was over there?" she tried to keep the worry out of her voice, but it didn't work too well.

Tsuzuki's voice did nothing to ease that, "Nani? No, she's not here. Are you sure she's not there with you? Did she say she was leaving?"

"No, she didn't. And she's not here. I'm worried Tsuzuki-san, what if something happened to her?" Wakaba asked fearfully.

"Don't worry Wakaba-chan," he was now trying to reassure her, "I'll call up Hisoka and see if she's with him. If not, then I'll come over there with him and see if the three of us can find her okay? I'm sure 'Suko-chan's fine."

"Okay, thank you Tsuzuki-san. Bye." she replied before hanging up.

"So does the idiot have her?" Terazuma's voice startled Wakaba.

She shook her head, "No-o. He's going to see if Hisoka-san knows where she is."

"Kannuki, it's okay. You don't need to worry so much. She's probably playing hide-and-seek or buying dumplings or something." he rolled his eyes, recalling when he lost the child at the park and then she popped up with a box of dumplings half an hour later.

"Right. Thanks Hajime-chan."

Hisoka pulled away immediately and leapt off the couch, keeping the child from getting burned. He didn't understand it. Why was his body burning up like this? Suddenly, it felt as if something was breaking free of his back, splitting the skin and protruding from him. He gasped, knees giving way and collapsed to the ground. He grasped at his shoulders, grunting as whatever it was broke free of him. His vision blurred, but it appeared as if other things in his apartment were burning now too. Or maybe it was just his eyes that were going up in flames.

"Nii-san!" Setsuko shrieked in horror, darting to his fallen form, "What did you do to him!"

Hisoka looked up with confusion, searching for some kind of answer from the raging child. Her eyes were set on something behind him, she appeared livid. Anger flashing in her dark brown optics and her fists clenched at her side.

"What did you do to him, Haruna!" she shouted again.

A sinister chuckle sounded from behind him, his body freezing up at the sound. He'd never heard that voice before. "Well, well, well… Otome. It's so good to finally see you again, how have you been?"

"Shut up! What did you do to nii-san! Why is he on fire? Why is the apartment burning? Why are you here?" Setsuko demanded.

The voice dripping with mirth sneered, "So many questions, otome. He is on fire because I'm here. And I'm here because I cannot allow the curse to become endangered. It is his now. He must suffer the consequences."

"But this didn't happen before!" she protested.

"Well, before there was no intention of the curse being transferred now was there?" the voice disturbed Hisoka greatly, "I was not pleased at first, but I must say. This boy fears many things, I cannot wait to taste them."

Turning his head slightly, Hisoka's eyes widened at the pair of crimson optics that eyed him hungrily. It was a woman dressed in all black. Blood red lips were licked with desire, long fingers with sharp nails caressed his cheek in mock affection. The darkness that came from her caused him to cry out in pain, his body recoiling. Long black hair seemed to engulf him as the flames ate away at everything.

"What do you fear, bouya?" she hissed, licking his cheek and eliciting a shiver, "Do you fear that doctor, Muraki? Or the black fires of the serpent, Touda?"

Hisoka whimpered trying to pull away, but the woman grabbed him and pulled him close. Memories of his rape and death plagued him, the fire surrounding him reminding him of the snake that nearly took Tsuzuki. His partner. Where was he? Was he okay? Was Touda going to come back and try to kill the man again? He let out a disgruntled cry and fought against the grip of the devil woman.

"Nii-san!" Setsuko's startled shout brought him out of his memories, "Leave him alone Haruna! Don't you hurt him! Nii-san!"

"You are not the one who gives me orders any longer." his oppressor laughed, grip tightening, "You fear the loss of you precious partner. He is already lost. His guilt and pain will consume him eternally, you can do nothing to stop that. You keep him tethered to existence, even if he doesn't want to be. You hope that he will love you as you love him, but in the end you will only be rejected."

"No…!" he choked out, unable to hear Setsuko's protesting cries, only the poison that the demoness whispered to him.

"Rejection. That is the only thing he will give to you. He'll reject you completely, unable to love a hideous monster such as yourself. You will be left alone. You will die alone."

Hisoka could feel tears mixing with the smoke, "Stop… please…"

"Or maybe… maybe he feels strongly for you. Too strongly. You fear that don't you? The moment where he snaps and the emotion that was kept hidden for so long breaks free. It'll be just like that night. Only a thousand times worse because instead of being betrayed and violated by a stranger, you'll be betrayed and violated by the one you love. Instead of silver eyes you'll see violet, but the same hunger and lust in them. They're the same."

Hisoka fell limp at those words, all strength draining from him as his nightmare returned to haunt him. It began like the night that Muraki raped and cursed him, exactly the same. Until he was naked and screaming on the ground, tree roots digging into his back. Then he looked up and instead of seeing the malicious gleaming eyes of Muraki, he saw the face of his partner. It was Tsuzuki raping him. Tsuzuki's eyes that looked on with lust and hunger. Tsuzuki's laughter that taunted him, but twisted and so wrong. He screamed, trying to fight off his partner, telling him 'no' over and over and over. He wouldn't let go, he wouldn't stop.

"NO!" the boy shouted, breaking free from the woman, "Stop it! Tsuzuki, stop!"

He fell to the ground, his body squirming and writhing in pain and fear. Over and over in his mind, he saw the image of the brunette drenched in his own blood and he was pleased by it. It wouldn't end. Either he'd be rejected and abandoned by the man he loved and needed, or he'd be betrayed and raped by him. It was a no win situation. With no hope left, the boy stopped his movements to get away, giving up and allowing the flames to consume him just as Tsuzuki had on that night in Kyoto…

Tsuzuki sighed heavily as he set the phone back in it's cradle. Hisoka still wasn't answering his phone and he had tried three times; the home phone twice and the boy's cell once. It was beginning to concern him. Although he was still afraid of the boy and despised whatever had driven them apart. When he dropped him off and crept out of the house, his partner had been asleep still. Hisoka could be a light sleeper when he wasn't trapped in his nightmares, so a phone ringing would wake him up right? If he was asleep though, that meant Setsuko wasn't with him. He had locked the door on his way out so there was no way she could've gotten in without waking up Hisoka..

After another five minutes rolled by, Tsuzuki dialed his partner's number again and waited. He'd leave a message this time. The phone rang twice, then the line went dead. Amethyst eyes blinked in confusion. He hung up and then tried dialing again. The number did not go through. Confusion was now hidden beneath a frown, he did not like the sound of this. Why would Hisoka's phone just go dead like that? Just as he was about to set the phone down, it rang.

He answered quickly, "Hisoka?"

Hope fluttered in his heart, nothing was wrong with the boy. He was calling back to ask why his phone kept ringing off the hook, leaving the man to reply sheepishly that he was worried. He'd apologize for what he said to him and they would be okay again. Then they'd concentrate on finding Setsuko. Of course, this hope quickly died.

"Tsuzuki-san? It's Wakaba." the high-pitched voice of the young woman reached him, "There's something very wrong."

"Have you found Setsuko?" Tsuzuki asked, worried that the girl was injured, "What's wrong Wakaba?"

"Oh Tsuzuki-san! Hisoka's apartment building's on fire!" Wakaba sounded frantic.

The color drained from Tsuzuki's face at the mention of fire, "Wha…? On fire…?"

"We can see his apartment building from here and the whole thing's burning up! Could you get a hold of him?" she asked, her voice still holding it's panic.

"No." Tsuzuki sounded distant, which only served to worry the girl more.

Wakaba's voice came to him again, "Tsuzuki-san, I think he's in trouble. And I think Aka-chan might be there too. Please, come with us to go check."

Tsuzuki shook his head, "N-no Wakaba-chan, you and Terazuma stay there. I'll go see. I'll call you if I find anything."

"Okay."

Tsuzuki hung up and grabbed his coat, leaving his own apartment building fairly quickly. It didn't occur to him to teleport, his mind working in a frenzy. Fire. Hisoka. Kyoto. Muraki. Touda. Suzaku. Fire in Meifu? How? Setsuko's missing. Trouble. In trouble. Hisoka's in trouble. The smoke billowing up from the apartment building made a second layer of sky, it was so thick and dark. He could make out the glow of the embers from some of the windows. Hisoka's floor in particular.

He was sprinting, trying to get there as fast as possible. When he recalled his partner teleporting to his side in their last encounter with deadly flames, Tsuzuki berated himself for his stupidity and teleported to the burning building. There was a crowd of people, he searched their faces frantically. None belonged to his partner. Hisoka. Where are you Hisoka? Please be okay. Please. Please. Please. Why are you doing this to me? I'm living for you. If you were not here, then why would I be? Giving up on searching for the boy amid all the others, he teleported up to the floor he knew his partner lived on.

The first thing that assaulted him was the smoke. It suffocated him, bringing tears to his eyes and constricting his lungs. It was so heavy and thick, Tsuzuki had to rely on memory because sight betrayed him. The next thing that struck him was how hot it was. The flames were coming from Hisoka's apartment. Clouded amethyst eyes found the door that led to the empath's room, a frantic crying could be heard from inside.

Tsuzuki used force to break down the disintegrating door, watching it splinter for only a moment before darting inside. It was like an oven. These fires were so different from Touda's, these didn't feel like he would be set free. He shivered, Hisoka was in here somewhere. He searched for the boy, but all he could see was red and orange mixing with black.

"Hisoka!" he managed to call out, before choking on the smoke that surrounded him.

"Tsu-chan?"

Without warning, something latched onto his leg. Tsuzuki looked down, eyes widening upon seeing that it was Setsuko. She was barely supporting herself, relying on Tsuzuki as she coughed violently. He scooped her up into his arms. Her face was filthy from the ashes and tears from irritation were streaming down her cheeks, leaving trails of pale pink skin.

"Setsuko, where's Hisoka!" he asked her, concern lacing his words.

She coughed again and pointed off to the side, "Nii-sa-an's… ov-over there-! Hurry!"

Tsuzuki nodded, shielding the girl's face before setting off in the direction she'd pointed in. Once his eyes got used to distinguishing what was fire and what was smoke, he could tell what was furniture and what wasn't. The motionless form off to the side was not furniture. Hisoka lay on the ground, face down, flames threatening to eat him away.

"Hisoka!" Tsuzuki barreled past the remnants of furniture, determined to get to his partner yet being careful of Setsuko as well. The last thing he wanted was for either of them to get hurt with him being there and able to prevent it.

Once beside the boy, he supported Setsuko with one arm and used the other to lean Hisoka on his shoulder. This proved to be rather difficult, for the boy whimpered in pain before falling limp. Tsuzuki bit his lower lip. It was obvious he was unconscious, so Tsuzuki especially careful not to harm him or move him too much. Feeling something loll onto his shoulder, he realized that Setsuko was unconscious as well. He held securely to them both, teleporting them to JuOhCho as quickly as possible.

As soon as they had left, the entire apartment building collapsed, finally weakened by the intense heat and the eating away of wood and other materials. All that was left was the billowing clouds of smoke and debris that was burning into ashes.

Reviews! Yippee!
1. lunarkitty14: Thank you! I'm glad you still like my story -hugs- And I will have fun in Vegas. Both 'Soka and I will be entitled to at least one drink, lol.
2. Harriet83: Yes, they are very complicated characters but it is why I love them so much! Thanks for the review! It made me happy!
3. jennamarie: I'm not sure, he's just got that aura that makes angst perfect for him. Heh, thanks for reviewing! Vegas will be much fun hopefully!
4. Hazel-Beka: -gasps- HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! -gives two stuffed bishies of 'Soka and Tsu- A present! Heh, well thank you! I wasn't sure if I went overboard on the angst factor in this chapter or not, but it just seemed needed.
5. Kalili: I'm sorry about the suspense thing, as you can kinda see, I'm trying to move the plot along by revealing Haruna and all her freakish voodoo on them. Muraki just likes to take his time, in that expecially creepy kind of way... And yeah, Hisoka and Tsuzuki doing that entire 'avoiding the other because I think they hate me' is just... it makes me want to hurt them! But I can't control the ideas that pop into my mind, they just happen. Thank you for reviewing!
6. Kyokutou: I don't want to hurt them! But... everything happens for a reason right? Thanks for reviewing!