Chris: Hi again all, oh Gods its early in the morning, like 7:30, and I'm sitting here writing this crap? Hmm, you people feel lucky! Now! Naw, I'm sorry. (Sniffle) I didn't like my last chapter much, oh well. In any case thank you for all the sweet reviews. Mwahahahahaha! Hisoka would be proud… if he wasn't such a pompous little bitc…

Hisoka: (Glares at Chris) I know where you sleep don't forget…

Chris: Eep… Oh, and another thought… How many people that have reviewed are guys? I'm just curious, because oddly enough almost all the reviews I've read, I'm getting the feeling are from females. Someone told me there are a lot more females on but I wasn't sure. Oh well, guess I'll figure that out some other time.

This chapter is dedicated to XYXYlemon, a girl who I M ed me last night to ask about this fanfic. It was so surprising and nice that I decided to get my butt in gear. Thank you!

OO

Chapter 8

" Shh, don't worry, don't cry, what's your name?"

With a hiccup, Hisoka managed to choke out. " My name is Hisoka, but everyone calls me Soka."

" Well then Soka, its nice to meet you, my name is Muraki."

' This is going to be exciting.'

OO

" How could you lose him!"

Both Hisoka and Tsuzuki winced at the holler of Tatsumi. The older man glared down at them, fist clenched, behind the desk. The two were silently happy that there was a barricade between them and the secretary from hell.

" We didn't mean to!" Tsuzuki began to protest. " He just kinda… walked off."

" Well duh, he's a kid! You need to keep watch of him!"

" Don't worry." Watari smiled behind them, walking through the door. " Everyone will keep an eye opened, I told every sector. We will find Soka, he won't go far I think."

The three Shinigami's nodded, though not too certain. Anything could have happened, could happen. Hisoka shivered, remembering the car, how it had almost smashed into him.

' And he disappeared without a trace.'

It was odd, neither of them could feel any type of presence, and yet something had pushed Soka out of the way. And whatever it was had vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. After much searching both finally gave up, deciding to report back and tell everyone the news.

That was a bad idea.

Within moments they had become public enemy number one. Several death threats and a broken chair later the two had finally made it into Tatsumi's office, and that wasn't any better.

Now the two walked out, shoulders slumped, and avoided anyone in site. So far only Watari seemed to be on their side, and even he had a sense of a lurking aura.

" Why would Soka run off like that?" Tsuzuki practically whined.

" How would I know?"

" Cause he's you!"

Hisoka glared at him, but continued to walk, ignoring the comment as best as possible. From the corner of his eyes Tsuzuki noticed the boys' hands clench. Stepping in front of him, arms outstretched, Tsuzuki stopped Hisoka in his tracks.

" There is something going on, isn't there." He said, not really asking, already knowing the answer.

Hisoka looked away, folding his arms. " Nothing. Now please, get out of my way so we can look for the brat."

" You see, how could you call YOURSELF that Hisoka, now you may not want to admit it, but Soka is YOU!"

Something hard hit him on the face. Tsuzuki stared, head cocked to the side, pain slowly ebbing away thanks to his healing ability. The shock caused him to be in an almost paralyzed state. For a few seconds he remained there, then slowly turned to look at the blonde, hand coming up to cup his own throbbing cheek.

" Hisoka…"

" Don't you ever, EVER, say that… that that THING is me! EVER!"

Pushing by him Hisoka stomped down the hall, walking out of the entrance doors and disappearing. Tsuzuki still stood where he had been and watched silently.

The doors slammed shut.

OO

Hisoka held onto himself, his body shaking as he made his was down the road. No one could see him, and even if they could the probably would have ignored the teenager. He made his way, his steps sloppy and disorganized. Everything around him seemed to be spinning out of control, his view and the world itself.

' I… I hit Tsuzuki…'

He honestly hadn't meant it, to strike out at his best friend and co-worker. And yet that rage that had consumed him, the fury, he just couldn't control himself. In his sudden embarrassment and shame he ran away from the fuda user, and now couldn't convince himself to go back.

Leaning against the nearest wall Hisoka slid down, curling up at the base, arms clinging to his legs at his chest. He felt cold inside, and yet he couldn't cry. Maybe that time had passed years ago.

' Maybe your just not able to anymore.'

He had accepted a long time ago that he was a cold person, that he was cruel to others, and he accepted this fact because he knew that it protected him in the long run. As long as he himself wasn't hurt. And yet…

' And yet you feel like shit, don't you. Tsuzuki probably hates you and its all your fault for being so stupid and such a jerk.'

Why couldn't that voice go away? Why was it always around when he least needed it. Sighing, the boy turned his head away, looking off to the side.

And that's when he saw it.

Standing up slowly Hisoka made his way into the alley, taking careful steps in the dark. He could have sworn he could have seen something glinting. Reaching down he began to blindly search for the item, finally grabbing the small piece of cloth.

' Its my…'

Soka's kimono belt, and something else.

OO

" Your house is pretty sir." Soka smiled, climbing onto Muraki's couch as best as his small body would allow him.

Stepping over Muraki helped him, putting one hand down and allowing him to put his foot on it to hoist himself over and onto the couch. Patting him on the head he grabbed a few small items on the floor and coffee table, shoving them all into a small lamp desk. No need to be dirty.

" Lets get you something to eat, shall we little one." He smiled back. " You just sit right here and watch TV, I will be in that room. Like anything special?"

" Peanut butter and jelly!" The child yelled almost immediately, throwing his arms into the air.

Nodding, Muraki walked into the kitchen. He remembered making such sandwiches for he and Ukyo a while back, on their last date (1). She was working late though tonight, too bad; he would have enjoyed her company. Shaking him head he grabbed the needed items and stepped back into the living room.

The small child had made himself comfortable on the couch, head resting on a pillow and covered in the blanket that once rested on the arm. He was watching a cartoon, one Muraki did not recognize. Oh he hated the times. He was beginning to feel old…

" Here you go." He interrupted the TV, holding out the food to the little one.

Soka sat up, reaching for it and munching hungrily, eyes still focused on the TV. Muraki thought he heard a soft 'Thank you' but didn't make a fuss out of it. Sitting down, he watched, a smile on his lips.

" Hey." Muraki sat down next to him, looking at him with pale eyes. " Don't you ever get lonely? You don't see to have many friends."

" Sometimes." Soka sighed, his face brightening up again within seconds. " But I have daddy and mommy!"

" Daddy and mommy?"

" Yeah." A smile formed on the child's face. " Tsuzuki and Hisoka."

Muraki's grin widened. " Is that so."

Suddenly Soka put the sandwich down, eyelids looking as if they were getting heavy. His mouth opened to say something when he fell forward, into the doctors' arms. Standing, Muraki held him close, taking in the child's scent and grinning.

" Don't worry my child." He laughed, rocking him in his arms. " You're going to become quite an interesting specimen."

OO

Tsuzuki sighed. Things weren't going right at all. First Soka went missing, and now Hisoka was angry with him. He really didn't mean to sound mean at in, in fact, he didn't even mean to offend the boy, but he just hated his attitude. Why couldn't he just see how he was acting?

And now he couldn't even find him.

Stopping, the fuda user shoved his hands in his pockets, ready to give up.

" Tsuzuki!"

Looking up, Tsuzuki smiled, waving at him. The smile faded when he saw Hisoka, racing toward him, something in his hand. He couldn't tell what it was until Hisoka grew closer, putting it in his own hand to inspect it.

A single small strand of silver hair.

OO

Chris: - Hi all! Enjoy? Yeah… I tried to incorporate a lot of Hisoka and Tsuzuki into this chapter more then anything else, kind of a fill in chapter. Sorry if there wasn't much going on, heh. I felt I needed it though. And sorry for not getting this chapter up sooner, just got into a fight with a girl and made up with her yesterday. Her mom still hates me though. Ug. I need friends!

I have never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich... Oo

(1) For anyone who doesn't know, Ukyo seems to be the name of Muraki's fiancée, unless the manga lied to me. So far she was only mentioned once in the manga. Poor girl, who could put up with Muraki for so long. (Sigh) If anyone has heard a different name from somewhere, sorry, heh, I thought I did my research pretty well, but I coulda made a mistake. My bad.