Chris: Hmm... not many reviews for the last chapter... Yeah, it was short. T-T Arg. Well, in any case, thank you all for reading, a lot of people viewed it, so that's ok. Thank god for hit counters. In any case I seriously need to quicken this thing up. Hmm. And once again, sorry for the short chapter, I just didn't want the wait to be too long. My bad.

Chapter 12

" Tsuzuki, look!"

In the opening stood the shadows of Watari and Soka, standing there, and staring at them.

Staring.

Unblinking.

Just staring.

Slowing Tsuzuki strode over, fuda in hand, and smiling. " You guys are alright! Oh man, Soka, how we missed you!"

Just when the older man was less then six feet away Watari lifted a hand, aiming it toward him. Tsuzuki stopped, a puzzled look coming across his face, when he saw the light flicker above. Looking up he gave out a gasp, watching the overhead lamps begin to shake and stir, one giving away and falling, smashing onto the ground only inches away from where he was currently standing.

" I wouldn't make any false move my friends." A voice chuckled in the background.

" Muraki!"

With a grin plastered on his face Muraki stepped out from behind the two, one hand coming up and upon Watari's shoulder. He shook his head and tilted his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose.

" How wonderful of you two to join us." He smiled. " We were wondering when you would show."

Hisoka took a step back, eyes wide. He stared at Soka, at Watari, a shiver going down his spine.

Nothing. Absolute Nothing.

They didn't feel like they had been taken over, they didn't seem possessed, but he knew something wasn't right. THEY weren't right. It was almost like they were an empty shell of their former selves.

Suddenly Watari dived, getting Hisoka right in the gut and causing both to topple over. Before Hisoka could react the older man wrapped his arms around his arms and waist, lifting his think body into the air. Hisoka cried out as he began to squeeze, feeling his ribs tightening under the hard grip.

Tsuzuki spun, and was about to make a move when he saw Muraki step over, one finger waving in his direction. " No no no you." He laughed.

" What have you done to them?" Tsuzuki hissed.

The doctor shrugged, that smile still on his face. " Who knows, right? Come, let's talk."

Reluctantly Tsuzuki fallowed as he watched Muraki lift up Soka into his arms, rub his cheek gently. Balling his fists the fuda user looked back. Watari still held Hisoka in his grasp, the boy gasping for breath, wincing in pain.

The men walked into the lab, past the dark machines and foreboding looking boxes and shadows. Tsuzuki had to duck several times from falling wires and such. Every once in a while a damp smell would enter his senses, causing him to bring up his hand and cover his nose. From behind it looked as if the scientist didn't even notice.

" Take a look."

Tsuzuki stared up, face unchanging, at the head of Saki, Muraki's brother. He remember a while ago, during the Kyoto incident, he had been there, but he didn't remember all that much. Only that he had seen the face before, and it didn't bother him much now. It still looked creepy though, and he couldn't shake the chill.

" You see Tsuzuki, I need him alive again." The older man whispered. " And yet you have thwarted my plan every time. But I've found a new way."

With much force Tsuzuki felt himself hit in the chest, the palm pushing him down into a large metal chair. Just as he was about to stand metal wires whipped out, wrapping around his body and pinning him.

" What are you doing!" He hissed, trying to claw his way out.

" You see Tsuzuki, I don't need you anymore, I've found a new way, but I want you to witness it all."

Turning around, Muraki looked over at Hisoka, who was still under Watari's hold. Slowly he slipped out a small bottle of liquid from his pocket, walking over and holding it out to the boy.

" Look, don't you see, its that key!"

" Your crazy!" Hisoka spat, glaring darkly at him and looked away.

Never changing expression Muraki opened the bottle and took a smell, eyes closing as if in a sudden feel of ecstasy. Letting out the breath he had been holding he began to laugh, a dark chilling laugh that seemed to vibrate and echo around the room.

Taking a hold of Hisoka's chin he forced the boys face toward his, pouring the liquid onto his face.

Hisoka screamed.

OO

Hisoka gasped as Muraki's cool fingers grabbed his chin and lifted his face up. The smell of mint wafted into his nose as the older man breathed. Closing his eyes, Hisoka tried desperately to turn his head, but to no avail.

Suddenly a sharp pain, as if his skin was on fire. He opened his mouth, unknowingly screaming as his body twitched. Everything seemed to be spinning and he couldn't think right. Lights and colors blurred his vision, and a jolting cold chill froze his body, sending in more waves of pain.

Then black.

Slowly he opened his eyes, only vaguely aware that the pain had suddenly disappeared, and moaned. One hand came up the brushed away blond locks from his eyes. As carefully as he could he sat up and looked around him.

Everything seemed blue, like a wave of ocean. The colors swept around him like the wind, blowing his hair. His reached up, hand traveling through the foggy like substance, but he felt nothing.

' Almost like I were in water, and yet I feel no liquid.'

It didn't occur to him he was nude until at that moment, when he looked down, yet it was not as if it seemed to register. He looked down at his lower torso, and although he was bare, seemed sexless. But, as if there was an empty void in his mind, he ignored the fact, like it was an everyday occurrence.

Looking up, Hisoka pushed up with his feet, and felt himself sore into the blue abyss, like he was flying. The cool air drifted by him and he closed his eyes, enjoying the soft feel.

' So this is what it is like…'

Could he be dead? Could that be true? He was a Shinigami, could he actually die? Perhaps.

With a contented sigh he spun onto his back and floated, staring up into the aqua. It was as if all worries in the world had drifted away from his mind and he was at peace.

' At last.'

Someone was there. Opening his eyes he stared straight, body standing. He squinted his emerald eyes and tried to look past the liquid air.

' It can't be?'

There floated the figure of Watari, soaring gently, eyes closed, golden hair swimming around him. He, like Hisoka, was bare bodied, and once again nothing registered. Kicking, Hisoka reached outward, and blinking once, was next to the older man.

" Watari!" He called, taking the mans shoulders and shaking him gently. He could hear his voice, and yet didn't know if he was speaking or not, the words dancing around his mind and echoing. " Wake up, please!"

The scientists' eyes opened and his head turned to look at Hisoka, blinking a few times. Slowly he sat up and took in the surroundings, finally content on focusing on the smaller boy.

" What's going on?"

" I don't know, I thought you could tell me."

Someone was behind him. Turning, Hisoka bent down, picking up the small body of Soka, who staring up at him, eyes filled with tears, and clung on his shoulders.

" Mommy!"

He was going to react, going to scold the child for uttering such nonsense, but instead hushed and patted the child on the back. With his free hand he held him closer, rocking him.

" Its ok, hush now."

" Where are we?" Watari asked again, taking more glances at their scenery.

Hisoka was about to answer, turning his head to do so, when he stopped, eyes going wide. Soka turned as well and clung onto him harder, fingernails digging into him.

" Guys, what's…"

Watari stopped too, staring at the figure in front of them. The man stared, eyes blank, and watched them.

The blank eyes of the man named Saki.

OO

Chris: Last chapter was a bust, over 150 people read, only 4 reviews. Hmm. Hopefully this one gets more of a reaction to you all. Thank you for reading at least, and thank you T-chan for reviewing, as well as everyone else. I'm really glad.

Well, creating a manga with my girl Sa. Hopefully by next post it will be on my website, at least the first few pages. When its up I will tell ya'll.

See you next time!