Cat-chan: Ha! You thought I left you hanging... didn't you? Well you're wrong! I could never do that to you guys! But, I must say... sadly... this story is nearing it's end... however this is not it! Nope! There's still another chapter I hope to get out and possibly two. Who knows? It all depends on how much I cram into each chapter. Ne, Tsuzuki and Hisoka are currently moping. Don't worry though! They'll be back soon!

Chapter 25: Lunacy Fringe

"BON!"

Watari felt powerless. He couldn't do anything to help the situation at all. The agonized screams had ripped at his heart. Bon must be in so much pain… I can't even imagine… All the scientist could do, was hold up a sobbing Wakaba. She had collapsed, emotionally crumbled when they witnessed Setsuko's death. It was still difficult to comprehend. And in bon's arms too, he must feel so bad. Poor chibi, poor bon. Oh! Where's Tatsumi with Tsuzuki? Bon needs him! He bowed his head as another sob, this one from Hisoka, rang out. He sounded and looked so very broken. Broken and in desperate need of fixing.

The blonde wanted to rip out his hair and curse whatever deity caused his friends to suffer so. Tsuzuki with his guilt over every little thing that happened and his disturbing past. Tatsumi with his want to console Tsuzuki, but unable to do anything because of memory and emotion holding him back. Hisoka for the cruel life he'd lived, his painful death, and now all that was being taken from him. All that was good and that the boy had obviously cherished. Not only that, but he was cursed three times! Three! The Kurosaki clan's curse, the curse Muraki bestowed upon him, and the curse that the boy unknowingly took from Setsuko. And Setsuko! To be so young and die like that. After seeing so much… and not understanding. The poor child, who knew what would become of her.

"Setsuko… why?" Wakaba choked out, her knees having gave way and was supported by only Watari's firm hold on her. Tears streamed down her cheeks and clung to her eye lashes, "Wa-watari…? Why?"

His voice was choked with emotion, "I don't know Wakaba-chan. I'm sorry. I honestly don't know what that bastard Muraki was playing at."

"Poor Hisoka…" she whispered, "If I feel like this, how must he feel to have been just as close as I was to her and to have her die in his arms? After protecting him? Poor, poor Hisoka… We need to help him Watari. We have to."

Watari shook his head, "There's nothing we can do."

"There must be something!"

"If there was, Wakaba-chan, we'd already be doing whatever we could to help bon. But no one can reach him now, not unless they can reach out to him like Tsuzuki can." he replied, trying to keep his composure.

Wakaba tried to steady herself, failing miserably, "But we can't just sit here and do nothing!"

Just as the words left her mouth, a flash of light entered their vision. Both spun towards the direction of the light. It was crimson in color, emitting from Hisoka who knelt amongst the rubble. Watari stared in awe and horror and Wakaba gasped at the sight. The light quickly faded, leaving the boy in a crumpled heap on the ground. He wasn't moving.

"Bon! Bon!" Watari found his voice again and soon the pair were sprinting towards his fallen form.

Wakaba called out to him, "Hisoka-san!"

Watari reached him first, the copper-haired girl was not too far behind. The scientist tried to keep down the nausea that fell upon him at Hisoka's state. The boy was soaking up his own blood, lying in a pool of it. The multiple wounds on his body were not healing and bleeding profusely. He was deathly pale, with bruises and red marks staining his flesh. His clothes were ripped and his curse marks burned into his skin. Open wounds on his arms and on his back were swollen and infected, large purple welts that oozed crimson liquid. A shudder traveled through Watari, quiet sobs poured from Wakaba's lips.

The blonde knelt beside the boy, touching his arm lightly and shaking him. Wakaba stood behind Watari, looking down at Hisoka with wide, frightened eyes. The scientist was saddened by how young she looked, resembling Setsuko slightly with that expression.

"Will he be okay?" she asked, her voice trembling.

He shook his head, "I don't know. It doesn't look good. We need to get him to the-"

"HISOKAAA!"

Both heads whipped around to face the owner of the familiar voice, their hearts dropping simultaneously at the sound of his voice and his distressed state. Tsuzuki stood, only about ten feet away, out of breath and so many conflicting emotions in his wide violet eyes. Fear, worry, guilt, regret, concern. All radiated off of him. The brunette visibly paled at the carnage he could see. The blood and flesh scattered about the rubble. His knees quivered, the man was hyperventilating.

Tatsumi was beside him, placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. It snapped him out of his shock, Tsuzuki immediately shrugged it off and sprinted towards his partner. The secretary's eyes were mournful, at the loss that was so apparent. So many of Meifu's innocents had been injured and a child killed, although Watari couldn't be sure if either of them knew of Setsuko's death and the extent of Hisoka's injuries.

"HISOKA! Hisoka-!" Tsuzuki collapsed beside Watari, Wakaba having moved away to give him space.

Watari took a shuddering breath, "Tsuzuki… I'm sorry. I-"

"What happened?" The pain in the brunette's voice caused the blonde to wince, "Watari, what happened to him?"

"Tsuzuki, we need to get him back to the infirmary. I'll explain after I get bon all checked out, alright? Right now, bon needs extreme medical attention. His wounds aren't healing for some reason. Can you help me get him back to the infirmary?" the scientist was keeping his composure rather well, except for the times where his voice cracked.

Tsuzuki was already on it, cradling Hisoka ever so gently in his arms. He was aware of the broken bones his partner had, being careful not to move him so that he would be in further discomfort. It didn't seem to occur to him that the boy was unconscious and would not feel any pain nor any comfort. Watari didn't want to bring it up, so he merely guided Tsuzuki and Wakaba back to the infirmary. Tatsumi met up with them and the small group turned their backs on the destruction that lay behind them.

"How does it look?"

Watari closed the door behind him, leaving Hisoka hooked up to a variety of wires trying to trace what had happened exactly. Tsuzuki would not leave, so he was still in there with the unconscious boy. The blonde sighed, removing his glasses with one hand and massaging his temple with the other. Tatsumi was seated on one of the chairs that were provided, his stare unwavering and full of a variety of emotions Watari didn't know he was capable of having. The scientist sat down across from him, slumping over and resting his elbows on his knees.

He shook his head, "Not too good, Tatsumi. I'm not sure if bon's spirit could handle the internal damage he inflicted upon himself. Whatever power that bon had left, he used in that blast. I'm sure he was unaware of it, being in a hysterical state, but we all know what he is capable of doing. Except for Tsuzuki maybe. I'm afraid we can only wait. The only good news is that his healing powers kicked back in and stitched up his wounds."

"So what does this mean?" Tatsumi inquired, affected deeply by what the scientist told him.

"It means that unless bon manages to escape from his mind, we have a very good chance of loosing him. His spirit will deteriorate until there is nothing left." Watari responded sadly.

The secretary pursed his lips, "Why would he do that though? Retreat within his mind, I mean."

"Well, my guess is that bon's mental shields just collapsed. What with all the physical and mental pain he was enduring. When the shield that Muraki encased them in broke after the demons were slaughtered, all of Meifu's emotions swarmed into him and overwhelmed him. Bon was also suffering because of his loss; he had neither Setsuko nor Tsuzuki with him. This probably overwhelmed him, so he did what he could, he fled to the deepest corners of his mind and rooted himself there. So he would have had no control over the release of his power afterward." Watari explained as best as he could, still unsure of this and only making it a possibility.

Tatsumi sighed heavily, "I see… that would make sense."

"This… this is all my fault. I'm sorry." he continued massaging his temples, "I… I should've been paying more attention to them. I should've done as you asked me to and called you as soon as I thought something wasn't right. I'm sorry, Tatsumi."

Cobalt eyes softened, "Now, now… it wasn't your fault. You didn't know."

"But you told me to keep an eye on them, Hisoka and Setsuko." Watari whispered, rubbing at his eyes and praying it would help make the horrid images from earlier disappear.

Tatsumi was silent, Watari had never called the girl by her actual name and he'd fondly dubbed Hisoka as bon early on, "And you did. There was nothing more you could do." he swallowed thickly, not wanting to know the answer to his next question, "This means that… that Itsuki-chan is… dead, correct?"

"Correct…"

Despite the fact that the both of them were dead and saw death as a natural occurrence, sadness and mourning drifted between them. Having been so close to the child, it was hard to imagine someone so young and full of life as she had been to just die. It was cruel and so unnatural. So together they sat, the secretary and scientist saying nothing but understanding what the other's pain was.

"Kannuki… are you okay?"

Wakaba was seated at her desk, eyes red-rimmed as she fumbled with something. Terazuma looked closer and saw that she was holding a needle and thread, sewing together a piece of material that was old looking and charred. Shaking his head, the man moved closer to his younger partner. She was clearly distressed, shoulders shaking and making choked sounds of suppressing sobs. Terazuma could hardly recall Wakaba looking like this, only when she thought of her death. It worried him.

"I-I'm fine… Hajime-chan…" she replied, sniffing and pausing in her work to rub at her eyes.

He frowned, "You don't look fine. What happened? You could see the smoke from this building a mile away. And what was with all the demons and crap?"

"P-please Hajime, I don't want to talk about it… not right now…" she murmured, swallowing thickly, "B-besides… I need to finish this. I promised Aka-chan I would…"

Terazuma arched an eyebrow, "Speaking of which, where is gaki? She with the kid?"

"N-no, she's not. She's not here anymore Hajime… she… she died…" fresh crystalline tears began to trail down her cheeks as she heard herself say it.

His eyes widened in shock, "She what? Kannuki…"

"Hold me Hajime? Please?" Wakaba pleaded with her partner, seeking comfort and reassurance.

He knew that there was a great possibility that he'd change into Kuro, but that didn't matter. As long as Wakaba kept a fuda on him, then there was no danger. Patting her on the back, the copper-haired girl dropped what she had been holding and sobbed into her partner's chest. It was awkward for him, but he managed. Glancing down at what Wakaba dropped, Terazuma realized she had been sewing together a tattered stuffed bear.

Tsuzuki's eyes were empty, like in Kyoto. Absently he stroked the sun-kissed locks stained with dirt and blood. He stared down at the seemingly peaceful boy, but didn't exactly see him. Everything was fuzzy for him. He felt as if he had no control over what his body did. Which was how he found himself lying beside Hisoka on the infirmary bed, embracing him with one arm and stroking his hair with the other. His eyes could leak no more tears, he had cried enough already. For three days his partner had been in that coma-like state. That didn't keep him from focusing on the hollowness in his chest, the ache and guilt of not being there. Not being there when his partner had needed him and called out to him. Despite what had happened previously.

Hisoka hadn't been aware of what he was doing, Watari had explained to him, he was under the possession of some demon when he was avoiding the brunette. Hisoka really wasn't afraid of him, the demon manipulated him to appear so. Hisoka didn't hate him, the demon locked away all his emotions and even his mind. Keeping him isolated and trapped in a dark place, just like when he was alive in that prison. And then, when he awoke and wanted to see his partner… Tsuzuki had already left.

If I had lasted a little longer… then none of this would have happened. He could've told me what was wrong and we could've prevented it. Now Setsuko's dead, because I couldn't save them, and Hisoka… I heard Watari saying that there was little to no hope for him… Hisoka… I'm sorry. I know I've probably said this so many times already, but still. I'm so sorry. Even if you do wake up, would you ever forgive me?

"Of course, baka. People make mistakes and you're no different. Now stop moping and get back to work. If you do a good job we'll get dessert."

Tsuzuki's body convulsed, his entire form quivering beside the motionless, cold body of his partner, "Oh Hisoka… Please wake up. I need you. Please, I'm sorry. Please wake up."

He didn't wake up; he didn't even stir. Tsuzuki buried his face in the boy's hair, clutching him tighter and not wanting to let go ever. Even if he did wake up, he wouldn't let go until Hisoka threatened to pummel him into the ground. He half laughed and half sobbed at the thought.

"TSUZUKI!"

I was racing past Tatsumi now, no longer going at the dazed pace he had been before. Demons were dying around me, but I paid them no mind. All that I cared about was getting there in time. As long as Hisoka cried out for me, then that meant he was alive. And that was good.

"Hang on Hisoka!" I prayed that my partner would hear me, "Hurry Tatsumi!"

Tatsumi grabbed onto me, "Wait Tsuzuki-san!"

Right where I had would've ran to, a burst of red light flashed before my eyes. It looked familiar… just like… Just like the blast Hisoka used on me when we first became partners. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

"Hisoka!" I shouted, trying to pull out of my friend's grasp, "Let go of me Tatsumi! Hisoka!"

Tsuzuki.

Hisoka was alive, I just knew it. Tatsumi eventually released me and let me go on ahead. I was so close, I could feel Hisoka's consciousness. My hope rose as I saw him. He was huddled up in a trembling ball, but he was alive. Then my hope came crashing down. Hisoka collapsed onto the rough, cold ground. He wasn't moving. There was blood everywhere. His blood.
No no no no no no no no no no no no!

"No…" Tsuzuki moaned, rubbing his face close to Hisoka's and trying to give the cold body some warmth so it could live. "No… You're alive. You're alive, please. I felt it. Hisoka…" his body tensed, "You promised you wouldn't die! You promised!"

"Well, well, well… isn't this a most touching sight?" Tsuzuki could've vomited right then and there. He did not need to look away from Hisoka to know that it was Muraki that was behind him.

"Muraki… what are you doing here? How can you still be alive after what Hisoka did?"

"It was easy, I just teleported away before that blast reached me." The doctor smirked, "How are you doing Tsuzuki-san? It doesn't look too good now does it? There isn't much hope for him, even his own doctor and secretary gave up on him. Why don't you do the same?"

"Shut the hell up Muraki." such hatred tainted Tsuzuki's words, he literally wanted to rip that man apart into little tiny shreds. Then he'd never touch him or his Hisoka again. "What did you do to him?"

Muraki shook his head, "I did nothing Tsuzuki-san, bouya did this to himself. He would've had a chance of survival had he not inflicted that wound upon himself. That powerful blast? It injured him more physically than I did, but not only that… he locked his mind away. To save him from waking up to fresh pain. The pain of not having you or otome there to provide him with comfort. But more specifically, it was you. You would've not been there for comfort. You would've been disappointed in him for letting her die. Yet he still wanted you there, Tsuzuki-san… what do you have to say about that?"

"Because… because of me…?" Tsuzuki voice quickly lost it's malice and returned to the soft, desperate tone. "But… I-I only wanted… to d-do what was best for him…"

Muraki chuckled, "You should've thought of that before running away."

"I didn't know." the brunette whispered, then raised his tone to a shout, "I didn't know!"

Tsuzuki quivered, clearly falling apart right then and there. It was the mixture of Hisoka in such an unreachable state and Muraki just appearing out of thin air. This only added to the doctor's pleasure. The sight of Tsuzuki so broken; consumed by his own guilt and fear, being ripped apart. Sobbing over the still body of his partner, Tsuzuki could only imagine what Muraki would do to them. Not that he wanted to. The doctor began to gently rub the violet eyed shinigami's back, smiling all the while.

"Poor Tsuzuki-san, no one can understand your pain like I can." Muraki continued his ministrations even though Tsuzuki flinched at the touch, "Would you like me to make it all better?"

Tsuzuki swatted Muraki away, withdrawing into himself while shielding Hisoka, his anger bubbling back to the surface, "Do you think I'm an idiot? There's no way in hell I would trust you with anything. Just leave us alone."

Muraki switched tactics, "What if I said that I could bring bouya back?"

His head shot up at this, amethyst eyes wide, "W-what?"

"You heard me." the doctor adjusted his glasses, "I can bring bouya back from within his mind. Of course, there would be a price to pay."

Tsuzuki stared hard at Muraki, "If what you're saying is true… then I would do anything in my power to get him back. But there's one problem. You're notorious for lying. How do I know you're not lying to me?"

"Why my dear Tsuzuki-san, do you really think I would lie to you?" the brunette nodded to the rhetorical question, but Muraki continued anyway, "All I would have to do is concentrate on where the core of his mind is and simply yank him out of it. It would be fairly simple considering that I am eternally linked to him because of the way he died."

Tsuzuki glared at him while worrying his lower lip, "So… if I did agree to this… what would you want in return?" A pit of doubt formed in his stomach.

"You of course. You and your beautiful body, to be mine and mine alone." that malicious gleam was back in his eyes.

The brunette froze up; fear settling in him at the very thought of being Muraki's toy. What do I do? Muraki might be lying just so he can trick me into becoming his and using Hisoka as perfect bait. But if he's not lying… then he can really save Hisoka. They are connected after all, because of the curse Muraki set upon him when he was killed… If that were the case, then I'd gladly do anything to guarantee Hisoka's safety. Even giving my body up to this sick, twisted bastard. Tsuzuki shuddered, feeling very indecisive. His gaze lingered on Hisoka's fragile form, unconscious and unmoving. If only those emerald eyes open, then his decision would've been made. Please Hisoka! Give me some indication that you're still here!

The fates were not kind to Tsuzuki, for nothing changed with the boy's condition.

"His life force is slipping, Tsuzuki-san." Muraki immensely enjoyed the man's emotional struggle, "I suggest you make up your mind quickly. What do you choose?"

"I…" even if it's a trap, any chance of saving him is better than none. "I'll go… as long as you bring Hisoka back safely."

"Deal." Muraki appeared greatly pleased by this turn of events, "Now come along Tsuzuki-san. If you're here when he wakes up then I'll never get you all to myself."

Tsuzuki shivered, selfish bastard, "J-just a minute. Let me say goodbye to him first."

"He won't be able to hear you, there is no point."

Tsuzuki sighed heavily and shook his head, "I know… but I have to. For him and for me. I'll be right there."

Muraki nodded warily, then quietly stepped outside the room. The brunette was relieved that he'd be getting some privacy for this. It wouldn't hold the same sentimental effect otherwise. Tsuzuki settled beside his partner once more, relishing in what was probably his last contact with the boy.

"I'm sorry I won't be here for you when you wake up, but it's better this way." Tsuzuki affectionately brushed back Hisoka's bangs, "No one will know where I went and you'll be free from Muraki. He won't hurt you anymore, I'll make sure of that." But he'll hurt you! he could almost imagine Hisoka arguing with him over this, "I deserve this, Hisoka. I really do. I mean, I know what I said in K-Kyoto… but I-I just can't bear to see you like this! It's not you! I won't be breaking my promise, I'll still be alive… just not with you like we wanted it to be…" My place is by your side! "Oh gods Hisoka!" Tsuzuki was crying again, clutching the boy in his arms, "You're not even conscious to argue this with me and you're still making it hard to leave! I love you… and it's just… too much, I don't know! But I do love you, so much. That's why I'm doing this. It's better this way. It really is. Please believe me. A-and stay out of trouble. I'm sure Tatsumi will find you a much more competent partner. One w-who can take care of you… p-protect you…" That'syour job! No one else can have it! "No more nightmares, okay 'Soka? Because I won't be there to make it better. I love you…" Tsuzuki placed a gentle kiss on the boy's cold lips.

It was too short though, because in the next second he was pulling away. Then he was turning his back on his partner, silent tears still streaming down his cheeks. Tsuzuki never saw the frozen body stir with life after his sentiment.

With a jolt, Tsuzuki awoke. He panted heavily, amethyst eyes wide and darting around the room. He was still in the infirmary, lying beside his partner on the tiny bed. It was just a dream… he mused, clinging tightly to the boy. He'd been having too many nightmares lately… Muraki's not here. He's not going to take Hisoka. He's not going to take me. Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright.

If only he could bring himself to believe that fully.

Author's Note: There's probably major confusion here... umm... Tsuzuki's dream starts right after his little flashback. All that segment up until he wakes up is his dream, 'kay? Hope that nobody got too lost there...