Chris: Hi all, thanks again for the reviews, as I say every chapter.

Oh, I have an announcement. For anyone that cares, a wonderful reviewer gave me some of her fanart, and it gave me an idea. (By the way, I saved it, thank you! Its on my desktop, lol) If you all want to see some original fanart I created for this fanfiction its on my xanga. Just go to my profile and click on my homepage and it should be the first post, or the date should be Dec 1, 2005. Just scroll down and you will see some pics. Hope you like them! Thank you all again!

105 reviews!

OO

Chapter 9

" 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.

" What is that?" He mumbled, already knowing the answer.

" I… I think Muraki got him."

Tsuzuki's shoulders slumped and he looked away, gripping the strand of hair in his hand. He didn't even want to think that Soka was with that maniac. And could Muraki know about him? Could he possibly have figured out that Hisoka and Soka were one in the same? Well, it wasn't like it was too hard to figure out.

" Come on, I'm sure we will be able to find him." Hisoka said quietly, not looking Tsuzuki in the eye.

Placing a smile on his face Tsuzuki walked over, putting his hand on the young mans shoulder. Hisoka stared up at him for a moment, an almost look of shock touching his face, before he gently moved the hand off.

" Let's go."

Nodding, Tsuzuki took out a fuda, summoning the small white calling bird. The Shinigami took off into the air and disappeared behind several tall buildings.

" There's no way Muraki could have gone far, right." Tsuzuki muttered to himself, brain beginning to work. " And I'm sure this is just another one of Muraki's games."

" But what would he want with Soka? I mean, Soka doesn't even know about what Muraki has done…"

Imagines flashed in his mind and Hisoka's eyes went wide. " You don't think Muraki could be… could be attacking Soka like he had… like he had me, right?"

The same thoughts seemed to have already gone into Tsuzuki's, but he shook his head. " I don't think so, not this time. I have this feeling."

Nodding silently Hisoka started down the road, walking next to the older man. He was just hoping Tsuzuki was right.

OO

Soka groaned, eyes slowly opening. The world around him seemed to spin as he tried to sit up, a headache forming at the sides of his head. Finally he managed to get up on his knees, hands reaching out and grasping the first thing he saw.

Around him the room was dark, just enough light seeping in to allow his eyes to get acclimated. He could see several large items, what looked liked boxes, and could hear beeping in the background.

Something moved, and what sounded like a large piece of machinery started up. Despite himself Soka inched forward, trying to see further into the room.

The lights turned on. Squeaking in fright and slight pain from the sudden change of his surrounding darkness Soka backed off, tripping over his own feet and falling back, hitting against cold metal bars. At least he could see now…

He was in some sort of small cage in the corner of a very large room. The things he once thought were boxes looked like gigantic machines, all beeping and whirring around him, blinking with several odd colors. At the far end of the room a giant door had opened, and in strolled the man in white.

' Muraki…'

" Mister!" He called out, trying to squeeze through the bars, but only succeeding in getting his shoulder out. " Mister, please! Let me out!"

The man seemed to ignore him and walk by, throwing his large white trench coat on a machine behind him. He strolled away, barely noticing the small body that fallowed as best as possible in the small metal box. At least, that's what Soka though.

" You know child." Muraki finally said, stopping, back still turned to him. " I have many goals in life. One of which it seems I will never gain. Do you know why?"

Soka, too afraid to answer, shook his head, backing up again, until his back hit the wall. He sat down and curled up, watching the man from half covered eyes.

" Because…" Suddenly Muraki was in front of the cage, holding onto the bars. " Because of you my child."

Soka still didn't utter a word.

" You child, your adult self, has stopped me in all attempts. No, the last attempt may not have worked, that Tsuzuki got a good hit in with his wretched little knife, but all other actions were stopped because you just had to be there at that one moment!"

Squeaking, Hisoka curled tighter. He couldn't understand, and didn't even try. Seeing this, Muraki put on a while and relaxed his hold on the bars.

" No, why am I yelling at you my child, it wasn't entirely your fault, you don't even know what I'm talking about, do you?" Releasing his hold, he turned his back again, walking away. " No… it's not your fault, but you will help me."

" How?" Soka finally asked, a small flash of bravery entering him as he saw the scary man walking away from him slightly.

And then the man laughed, hands clenched, a laugh that brought chills down his spine. He continued to laugh, shoulders shaking, the voice echoing in the large room. He turned back around, grinning madly.

The lights turned off.

OO

Watari was walking down the road, hands stuffed in his pockets, 003 perched on his shoulder and sleeping soundly, though how she could with him bouncing around was beyond anyone's imagination. He watched people walk by, and got some odd stares from some that even noticed him. He didn't mind though, he loved being able to be seen by other people, it was like he was alive again.

Though he figured they were staring at him because he had an owl on his shoulder.

Normal people didn't do that…

With a deep sigh he brought his arms up, stretching. The wind around him blew his golden hair into his face, blocking his view of the world.

' Ah, to be alive and free!'

It had been getting stuffing in his lab, and although he loved his beakers and test tubes as much as the next person, he needed some time outside. His pale skin told everyone that. And 003 was getting edgy being cramped without sunlight and new area's to explore.

In all reality he was supposed to be looking for Soka, and so as not to look abnormal he was dressed out of his normal attire. A long sleeve turtleneck and jeans seemed to fit him well, and he looked a lot like the people he walked by.

' Now where could that child have gone off to?'

He had his suspicions. He had worked with children before, in the past, and knew about their over trustfulness. Soka would have probably gone with anyone who gave him the slightest bit of attention, and that worried him. He didn't want the child to fall into the wrong hands.

' Though his empathy should be able to allow him to see who to go with an who to not…'

But even then, anyone can hide their true emotions. It wasn't too difficult, and if anyone were a master at thievery then they would know how to do it well. Now they just had to hope that that wasn't the case.

Suddenly something grabbed him by the hair, yanking him back. Crying out, Watari's hands flew up, grasping a hold of his attacker by the wrists, trying to wrench him off, but the grip only tightened. The individual pulled him into an alley, pinning his chest against the stone wall, trapping him so he couldn't turn around.

" Hello Mr. Scientist." A maniacal voice reached his ear. " Your going to come alone for the ride."

Slipping his wrist out from the man grip Watari turned around, only to come face to face with Muraki. The devilish one grinned, fist coming up and hitting the young man in the face, the back of his skull slamming into the wall.

He could just make out the sound of laughter as he slid to the ground, world spinning, and finally going black.

OO

Chris: This one was a bit short, sorry folks, I tried to make it longer, lol. Actually, this isnt the original. I mentioned how I got a medium review about how Hisoka was a bit OOC (which as I mentioned was not a bad thing...) And someone took it the wrong way and thought I was complaining. (Sighs) Truely, I'm not, frankly I couldnt care, lol, all I was saying was that if I was doing so I apoligize. Hmm... people are sensitive... which too isnt a bad thing. (Dont hurt me people!) -LOL- So, in any case, thank you all for reading. And please dont take what I say badly, as I said in the first copy, I was due for some critique... Hmm...

See you next time! Woot!