Disclaimer: We all know who owns this anime –everybody nods-
"o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o" means that the scene has been shifted to a new one
"the divider" means that the POV is switched to another person
Chapter 2: Repeat
For a while there, I pondered on Kachou's word. He said my need for partnership is unnecessary. Since the contract was permitted, I thought the Earl would leave me alone in this mission, probably because I still have some unfinished business with the cunning mad doctor (if ever he was the culprit behind this) But I guess my hunch failed this time and they willed me to have another partner. But hopefully, there weren't thinking about considering him as a replacement for Tsuzuki.
Upon opening the door, my jade eyes scrambled its sight; finding out who the heck did the chief assigned me to. Then, I located that familiar smile or rather he held that in a sly-like smug through setting my sight across the room. The person had a weird hat of which the modern people of today call 'beanie' and had some streaks of a dull ebony and solemn azure. He was sitting on my office chair; the weight of his chin rested on his hand and his eyes are shut softly. His fingers at his right hand kept tapping on the desk, producing some kind of beat. Disturbance had struck me after noticing an object that was very weird; it was some kind of a machine that has an object spinning hastily inside, plus it has a cord connected to the gadget which was linked to a plug-like things placed in the person's ears.
I tried to get near him but only triggered him to notice that someone was watching him. He placed his palms on the table and pushed himself upward, causing him to rise from the chair. Then, he pressed some buttons on the gadget which made it turn off, I think. Removing those plug-like objects, which I kept figuring out what it is, he put them aside into his black messenger's bag together with the contraption linked to it.
After he stood up, I studied his appearance from head to toe: he was suited in a jacket which I found rather baggy and a simple torso in faded blue hue for his bottom. He also wore the same pair of sneakers as mine although his was in a different color and had those additional styles embossed around the shoes. Then I examined his face. The skin was slightly tanned and he had the same face shape as I possess. Almost all features of his are similar to mine, as if he was my identical twin.
His hand lifted and grasped on his beanie, which showed a brunette hair beneath it. I was too busy looking at his appearance when he snapped me out of my opinion-giving mind.
"You haven't changed a bit, Hisoka" the guy's emerald eyes darted mine.
I was surprised when I heard the tone of his voice. It seems more delicate and mature than before.
"C'mon, are you that surprised to see me here?"
I just kept silent, looking at him blankly, with matching widened eyes.
It was Minase Hijiri…
I was looking at him, many thoughts of mine started to race inside. His existence here was very much questionable. Is he… dead?
I cast again my sight at him. He was smiling lightly, wondering what kept me preoccupied.
He spoke with clearance, "Well, we better focus on those files or the chief will give us the lecture" and he wrapped his arm around my neck, dragging me along. I wanted to resist his invitation yet something tells me that I should let go my doubts and follow his lead.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
There are too many questions I wanted him to answer; about the cause of his death, how the incident happened, who the culprit was and many more. But seeing that it's too painful to ask, I tend to forget those things instead.
Hijiri had led me to the outdoors. Dense sakura trees were scattered all over the place. The teenager just chose a nice spot where we can rest aside first. Using his index finger, he pointed a site beneath the largest sakura tree in Enmachou, suggesting that it would be a good place. I nodded as an answer and we walked towards it slowly while he still kept his arms lying on my shoulder.
We sat under the tree and glanced at the structure of Enma-chou and both of us kept silence breezing between us. But after awhile, he broke the silence and started to make a move.
"So… uhm… how have you been?" he asked me in a normal tone.
I tried to gather up my guts to look unto his eyes but still failed. Sigh was the only thing that came out of me. His face formed a depressed one.
"…I'm sorry for you, Hisoka"
My eyebrows rose slightly and turned to him. "What are you talking about?" my voice exclaimed innocently.
"I heard what happened to Tsuzuki" he frowned.
I didn't see that coming from him and his way of speaking was a concerned one. I just shook my head and words exit my lips, "You don't have to be concerned about me" and began to raise my shields, preferring not to listen to his opinions.
The lad let go of his frown and creased his fingers alternately, "I guess you're right"
There were a few minutes of silence and Hijiri was the destroyer of it.
"Hey Hisoka"
"Eh?"
His hands slipped through his messenger's bag and brought out the machine he used earlier.
"This is my latest song. I did it last summer although the music is an instrumental", his finger pressed some trigger on the gadget and picked up the plugs connected to it through the wiring.
I wore a "I'm-not-familiar-with-these-things-so-you-should-explain-it-first" grunted face and Hijiri followed my cue.
He expressed a darting look, suggesting that I'm some kind of moron who doesn't have a clue on such a device.
"What age did you come from anyway?" he paused for a while and handed me the plugs plus he clutched the machine, "This is a Discman, for crying out loud! Mainly, it plays compact discs or CD in short" I stopped only to look at the plugs. He was wearing an slightly annoyed face, "Can you just get these earphones and put them in your ears?"
I still have those dubious looks onto the 'earphones' but since he suggested it, I might as well test the tool.
Just like Hijiri said, I wore the earphones in my ears and heard some sound. He triggered something again on the player which made it increase its volume.
An exquisite intro was the first thing I heard from the earphones. It was static at the beginning then it grew gruesome. The more beat it gives, the better the music sounded. In the middle part, it expressed a strong yet sad tune plus the aggressive tone coming from the strings of the violin. I heard the devil's cry after it. Satisfied, I removed those objects stuck in my ears and inquired my newest partner, "You've mastered the Devil's Trill!" I almost squeaked.
'Not really' was his reply. "I just mixed up a little bit of electric guitars as a background and added some extras. Is it good?"
The music was supreme. I nodded to him as an answer, "It's definitely a great one" I complimented the piece which made him edge up a little smile.
When he smiles like that, it's like he's a different person, way different from the Hijiri I met before. It's odd, knowing that we share the same eye color brings out our similarities but the more I thought of it, it gives out more differences as well. Mine will give others the satisfaction of death while his pair brings forth remnants of an old happy memory. I felt Tsuzuki smiling at me just looking at that goofy-like face of Hijiri, even just between the depths of that temporary smile.
Tatsumi. Watari. Terazuma. Wakaba. These are a few names I've remembered when Hisoka introduced me to the whole staff of Enma-chou. The whole day, we roamed around the building for me to familiarize my new "home". I had some blasts to be honest; Wakaba seems to be delighted with my cooking skills, Terazuma, even though he can be quite annoying at times, taught me the basics of martial arts together with the empath, the secretary gave me some tips about being thrifty and handed me a ticket book as an allowance, and Watari didn't leave me without the bits of his humor: we did some practical jokes on all the crew of the house, even Hisoka was pissed off. Indeed, I feel that I have found a place where I belong.
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o
Well, today's the day of my first case and I have to hurry before Tatsumi reduces my salary for being tardy. I arrived at the conference room and I estimated that I was 5 minutes late. Tatsumi forsook his lecture about my tardiness but nevertheless, decreased my first salary. 'What a good start' I said to myself with a sigh included.
Hisoka was darting his eyes at me as always. But this time, he's not so distant to me anymore. He's becoming a better person around me.
Or yet… I was wrong…
WHACK!
A harisen was flying through the air and landed roughly on my head, causing the spot to sore. Okay, I was definitely wrong about it. He's the same old grouchy Kurosaki Hisoka. I guess I had to reconsider his attitude.
I took the nearest chair with annoyance in my face and watched the presentation…
I lifted my hand, letting it carry the weight of my chin upon it. I thought for awhile those pictures that Kachou handed me that day. Why is it that I only noticed today? Hijiri's picture was enclosed together with the other two clients so why did he become my partner? My mind was blinded by all the thoughts that had passed. I barely knew that the presentation had already started. I watched the glimpse of Watari and the secretary reporting the details.
"In Kyoto, we have already encountered an abnormal case; a case in which a professional doctor, Mr. Satomi, was the mastermind of beginning a cloning experiment." The azure-eyed man stopped, adjusting his falling glasses.
And Watari spoke, "But the man failed, seeing that he hasn't possessed yet the essential key to his work: the heart of an immortal" he coughed, which aimed to be a signal for Tatsumi to play the slideshow.
Screenshots of the Shion University were on play. There was a secondary building placed linking the west wing of the college branch, featuring some manufacturing site.
"As you can see here, a cloning factory was built here in the late spring this year. Some rumors are leading that there is a person who gave the order to build that section", said Watari affirmatively.
I wasn't clearly listening to them because of the thought pondering. While their forum was going on, I spark up with an idea to question them with Hijiri being my partner. Just as I was about to raise my left hand, a tanned one stretched upwards, wanting his question to be answered.
"Yes Hijiri?" the scientist quoted.
He was holding a bunny form, with matching paws and those gleaming-like eyes appeared, almost looking innocently. He squealed at Watari in a question, "Kachou said that I have to be paired with Hisoka but am I also involved in the case? I mean as a client?"
I glanced at Watari for awhile and locked my eyes upon my partner, almost performing an eyebrow-twitching act. 'At least be formal in first meeting' I wanted to express those words to him but preferred to render silence instead to hear the scientist's reply.
"Sou, you're also linked in this investigation. It will discuss the details in the near future" the topaz-eyed man happily suggested the lad.
"Okay!" he nodded, appraising a thank-you gesture and sat down back to his seat.
A couple of hours took over the discussion and both Hijiri and I were entirely wrapped with all the details regarding the case. Just as we were about to take off, Tatsumi clutched Hijiri's shoulder and dragged him into the building's balcony. I, on the other hand was left behind; unable to come along and decided to head to my desk to examine all the documents.
The man with the azure-colored eyes, Tatsumi, the least expected one, approached me. The way he interrupted us earlier was quite uncalled for. But actually, I've already known him since the mission where Sagadalius showed up.
After bidding goodbye to Hisoka, he led me to a more private place away from my partner and the others. Still thinking that he's my senior, I appraised a respectful bow and asked the reason why he wanted to talk to me.
"Minase-kun, I'm sorry to have taken your time but I must firmly confirm this: Are you really sure that your being a shinigami here is your choice?"
My jade eyes burned with determination, exclaiming that this is, once and for all, the final decision. I answered affirmatively his question.
"I only want to know if my death is really connected to the case" I frowned down, "Plus, are you guys sure that Mio is connected with the cloning?"
"We only have a couple of few evidences to show but it is strongly approved that she's involved. Not to mention that Ikaruga-san, her only relative from her mother's side, has been given rebirth." He shut his eyes and turned away from me, gazing at the blue-lit moon suspended in the sky. "This is truly unexceptional" he refrained from looking at me.
I stepped towards him and patted his back, "Surely this is very unusual but we have to dig into this case more" I paused for awhile there and joined him in mesmerizing the blue-shaded crescent.
He averted his sight on me, "And I hope you'll protect her from the consequences. After all, she's my niece" he spoke those words with worry etched in his face. I gleamed at him, dressed with a smug on my face, "I will keep that as a promise" I added to my previous statement which made him assured and become calm.
… "I'll protect my fiancée no matter what"…
While I was waiting for Hijiri, I grabbed the so-called 'Discman' in his bag and listened to the music he had synthesized. I have turned it into repeat mode and the tune of the song soon dwelled inside my mind, almost echoing inside of me. Soon I found myself humming to the song and to be honest, I felt good listening to it; until I've realized that Hijiri was fervently watching me from the office door. I gasped and pushed away the device. He giggled at me in return which made me more embarrassed.
Sternly, I gazed at him, "So, what did Tatsumi told you?"
"Nothing in particular. He just told me some tips about being a shinigami" replied he.
I wasn't deceived by his answer because his shields weren't up. I kind of read his thoughts and learned the truth but tried not to meddle with it now. For sure, it was something personal between them…
A stack of papers appeared before me carried by Hijiri, "Here are the complete documents of our first mission"
I took the files and scanned the pages one by one quickly. There was a clip attached to the fifth paper and I read the contents. It was a couple of things, mainly a list of 'must' and 'must not' do deeds.
To do:
-- Two shinigamis are to be partnered and must stick together
-- Both individuals are to guide each other
-- They must abide to all the regulations and rules of EnmaDaiCho
... ... And so on... ...
I didn't read the latter probably either I didn't care about it or I was too lazy. I proceeded to the next couple of sheets and found another 'interesting' content.
It said something about Shion University that we are to keep an eye on Ikaruga but there were no details about the whereabouts of the amethyst-eyed girl. I was bothered a bit by that.
I returned back to the former writing and asked Hijiri about it.
"You still don't get it, Hisoka?" he questioned exasperatedly.
Shaking my head, I expected him to patch up the explanation. The other jaded-eyed guy shrugged. I just blinked towards him and he replied in a favorable act,
"It means that you have to employ to Shion University again together with me"
A/N: I'm sorry if it was a little bit of rushed but by the next chapter, all things that are unclear here will be explained there. I'm very sorry if the story's lame!
Okay guys, you know what to do, Read and Review!