Author's notes: Sorry for the long wait!
Warning: Psychological torture and some Kamakura arc spoilers.
Hi laustic! It was surprisingly easy to imagine him in such denial. -laughs- So I loved writing it!
Hello Literary Eagle. Yes and yes. Awkward doesn't give it much justice does it? :)
Last chapter! I hope I haven't beat a dead horse enough. I was inspired by lunaglasswall's sporks in livejournal on what exactly Hisoka would be categorized as if he were to be psychoanalyzed today and took it into consideration. Hope everyone can appreciate it. Oh, and do I have any volunteers on helping me edit this 70,000 word monstrosity? I know there's a few scene shift errors somewhere to be gleaned!
Thanks for reading guys and look forward to A Skein of Afterlives: The Liminal Cocoon!
"Pearls that swim the rift of me
Long and weary my road has been
I was lost in the cities
Alone in the hills
No sorrow I feel
For anything I feel yea
I am not your rolling wheels
I am a highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky"
-- excerpt from "I am the Highway" by Audioslave
"As long as the link remains unprotected, I can violate you as I like." The doctor's breath was hot on his shoulder as he gritted his teeth in pain, his cursemarks flaring up. A week and he had almost forgotten how painful the cursemarks could get. He bit his tongue to keep from shrieking at the slightest bit of contact the long, pale fingers made. It was just as bad as if Muraki was actually touching him, but the unnaturally red-tinted sky and indistinct setting was too dream-like to be real.
"Whatever is the matter, boy?" His smooth chuckling punctuated the silence between the bouts of screaming. "You don't quite understand the situation you're in, do you?"
His voice came to him when his rapist had not lifted a finger to remove any of his professionally tailored work clothes, realizing how lucid he was. "Get off of me!! GET OFF!!"
He struggled as his tormentor laughed at his weak attempts. Finding himself unable to move, he screamed from the trail of hot fire running up his bare stomach. Wake up! This is just a bad dream!!
"This is no dream, boy." A malicious laugh fluttered all around him as his joints had his knees locked and his arms pressed together at his wrists above his head.
Frantically, Hisoka imagined clothes and his panic cut off at the first sign of control he had. The pain diminished as the angry red marks became contaminated with the sudden inclusion of shimmering yellow. Tsuzuki...
His link with Tsuzuki was a shared one, and if that was the case the same must hold true for Muraki too. A stubborn defiance blossomed out of once panicked eyes up at the living specter of his darkest memories. "I won't let you."
The tall pale man was startled at his reaction though it didn't show on his face. To be able to read him beyond his overwhelming sadism and insanity felt like a small miracle.
"Confident, aren't we? Your greater power can be used against you and I hardly think you can resist our fate together as much as you deny it."
"I won't be your tool." Despite being on his back unable to move, confidence was blooming.
Muraki smiled, finding amusement in his reactions. "Oh, I doubt that you can stop me. I own you." A cold hand crept up under his clothes to touch his stomach. Deliberately remembering their first encounter, Muraki lifted the shirt up bundling it up over his head and at his elbows, leaving his sight unhindered, as Hisoka cried out from the sudden block of pain that slammed into him. Struggling unsuccessfully the small bit of self-assurance he had splintered into many, many pieces as he gasped for breath, hate brimming in eyes. Why did he have to be so goddamn helpless?
"It seems you've forgotten your place, boy." Cool hands brushed over his hips and divested his jeans and briefs from his hips until they no longer touched him, relishing the pain only his touch could elicit. "No matter, you'll remember soon enough." Unlocking his knees and forcing them against his doll's shoulders, Muraki wasn't pleased at the distant look on his face, a sign that he was readily trying to escape from him. He drew a stiff nipple between his lips, and tweaked it between his teeth.
The boy, brought back because of the pleasure, wheezed in panic tugging and fighting against his own uncooperative body. Because he devoured negative emotions into top-grade energy, Muraki knew his doll could see, feel, touch, and taste every bit of his past rape as if it was occurring presently. Even after death the boy was a perfect case study of post-traumatic stress disorder, which only worked to the doctor's advantage.
Inhaling sharply, Hisoka found he couldn't stop his body from reacting favorably to being molested or stop from feeling the overwhelming pain choking his throat. He couldn't block his rapist's pleasure at tormenting him or the mental sickness that threatened to crush him. He couldn't do anything as the overly intimate red scorched his skin and his past rape swam just on the peripherals. Memories converged obliterating reality, and he heard himself howl, the taste of musky sweat pervading the air.
Yet, Hisoka still fought, one hope bolstering his flagging inner will and transforming his incoherent screaming into words. "TSUZUKI!! TSUZUKI!!"
Muraki laughed again, delighted in the knowledge that no knight in shining armor would come to his aid. "Scream for him however you like, since he won't be comi—" A booted foot connected with Muraki's side. The psychic attack was so jarring that he woke from his self-induced trance. The curse that bound the boy to him was not as inviolate as he boasted. The same catalyst that kept it strong, also created an incredible fragility if a contender ever appeared. Something he hadn't thought could occur in such an emotionally stunted individual. He settled back on his legs concentrating.
Staring up at the settling folds of his partner's coat, Hisoka could feel the fury in the fully clothed Tsuzuki, but quickly felt it abate as he knelt next to him in concern, trying to smother the guilty desire that suddenly welled up in him at the erotic sight Hisoka made.
All of his bravado and defiance melted away at Tsuzuki's reaction as numb ice clutched his gut. He couldn't move.
He flexed his feet and wiggled his arms, but it only illustrated his helplessness. The images of his partner on top of him craving flesh and sex came unbidden and he felt faint as the blood drained from his face. He was slipping into shock, but he was almost too drained to care. He was more terrified of his partner, more terrified of his partner's desire, than anything Muraki had forced on him. It was an overwhelming terror that his partner would abuse the fragile trust he had given no one else.
Tsuzuki responded to his fear by carefully pushing his knees down and redressing him with his shirt before pulling his arms down. Then he tugged his body into his lap to hug him. "I'll protect you from that pervert."
The glow transformed into that comfortable goldenrod again and Hisoka found he could breathe more easily as tremendous relief flooded into his eyes and out as tears.
"I almost got out of it on my own." Feeling lightheaded at the obvious lie, Hisoka's laughter choked in his throat. "I can't break free…" Tears were slipping faster down his face, as his hands remained limp against him, paralyzed even though he wanted so badly to hold onto Tsuzuki. His body felt like it was on fire.
"Shh." Tsuzuki firmly held him close, blinking at the wet warmth. He pulled his hand away noticing blood on his fingertips. "I'll figure out a way for us to get out of here." Not sure where it was coming from he pulled away some. "Did he cut you?"
Blinking furiously as he found he could move a little, Hisoka shook his head then paused pulling his arms up, staring at the crimson ooze pouring slowly from the inflamed tracks of marks. His cursemarks were bleeding. "No... why would it—hh!" Feeling his rapist and murderer reappear, his eyes jerked fearfully making a strangled noise as he froze again. Tsuzuki tugged him into his chest, arms tightly surrounding him like a protective guardian as his anger boiled anew. "Muraki!"
His name was snarled out, but the doctor only smiled happily at his reaction.
"How touching, but that won't stop me, Tsuzuki-san. You lack the substance to keep me out. Perhaps you would enjoy watching our lovemaking in progress." He could hear the smile in his voice and fear gripped Hisoka, doubting that anyone could get in his way. Not even Tsuzuki.
"Lovemaking?!" Tsuzuki was pissed. He wasn't highly experienced himself, but to have the definition of rape so blatantly wrong infuriated him. "If there's no choice—!"
"Boy." Where he had once been limp like a rag doll, his body flailed in Tsuzuki's lap struggling to obey, while his mind shrieked in absolute denial. Tsuzuki held on fast in horror as he watched Hisoka self-numb and mute his feelings, expecting a repeat of degradation and barricading himself from it as if he embraced the idea that it was unerringly inevitable.
"See? He simply can't resist me. Come boy, look only to me!" Muraki remained where he stood smirking, arms open in arrogant invitation. "Come."
Hisoka shoved hard his strength catching Tsuzuki off guard, standing as his eyes blanked over, and Tsuzuki could feel none of his partner as he withdrew completely.
"HISOKA!" Grabbing his shin as he moved to walk towards the doctor, Tsuzui yanked. His partner caught off balance landed roughly sideways and when his arm rolled him over on his back to sit up again Tsuzuki suddenly pinned him down, voice very firm, despite the stress of watching Hisoka willingly deaden his mind. "Listen to me, Hisoka. You can choose to stop this. He and I—"
A little loudly, Muraki interrupted standing over them, smug. "It's no use, Tsuzuki-san. The boy enjoys it. He can't help himself."
"We're connected to you through the magic carved onto your body! Hisoka, fight him! You were doing it before! Fight him out!!"
The doctor looked entirely too self-satisfied when Hisoka continued to fight against Tsuzuki's body instead. "There's simply no fight left. He's accepted his proper role as my doll like a good boy."
"He won't be going with you!!"
'Then synchronize with me, Idiot!' the thought rang loudly in Tsuzuki's mind as a determined awareness came to life though externally nothing was changed.
"Oh? Well, he certainly doesn't seem to want to go with you." Muraki's eyes were steely. "Boy." The command was sharp, and Tsuzuki found himself flung away by Hisoka's concentrated natural ability, residual static lancing over the nasty burns that had sprouted on both his hands and smoldered his sleeves.
Nothing was changed in Hisoka's demeanor.
'What are you waiting for?? At this rate..!'
"See, he prefers me after all. Isn't that right boy?" Muraki stepped forward kneeling to brush his cheek. Pain lanced into Tsuzuki nearly crippling him as that hand tenderly caressed his partner's face. In his mind he swore he could still hear him screaming.
Noticing the effect that he was having, Muraki smirked in pleasant surprise when his Tsuzuki-san trembled in pain removing his hand. "What a fool. You've given yourself a handicap tying the loop back to him. Were you hoping that together you could vanquish me?"
"Hisoka is not a plaything, Muraki!" Tsuzuki straightened, reaching for his fuda and began chanting, 'Demons of night begone.'
"No, he's a very pure source. Among the best I've ever tasted." The doctor smiled in amusement. "To think, I found him in a remote village near Kamakura." His hand cupped his doll's face, and there the pain was again unlike anything Tsuzuki had experienced coming neither from external wounds or internal anguish, and it broke his concentration thoroughly as he collapsed gasping for breath on his knees.
"Please! Please!!" Pain made the voice sharper and clearer, and it was ripe with raw terror. "If you won't synch, go away! Get away from me!!"
'Hisoka?' Tsuzuki felt completely unfocused.
"YOU IDIOT, HE'S...!"
Muraki laughed as he watched Tsuzuki twitch ineffectually where he knelt. "It's a shame that your energy it to rich for me. I'd prefer you unconscious, but this way you can watch and I won't be disturbed."
Tapping Hisoka's third eye, his doll immediately began to shriek and flail weakly. "YOU IDIOT!! YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!"
"Tsuzuki-san is indisposed at the moment. Perhaps we should keep ourselves entertained in the meantime, boy?" Strong deceitfully gentle hands held him down, and he stiffened as his heart raced.
"GET OFF OF ME! TSUZU—hh!"
It was pitiful how prey fought on, unable to accept the reality of the order of things, but the harder they fought the stronger they were. "A good boy remembers to be quiet, unless spoken to."
TSUZUKI, WAKE UP!
The doctor lowered his head to his mouth and kissed him, and he felt like he was struggling to stay together as madness seeped into him. As Hisoka's body slackened he deepened it, shifting his weight to his knees, hands ably drifting low to fondle his thighs. He meticulously aroused his empathic ability without short-circuiting it, finding his torment tasted the best at the edges of its limits.
"Far enough, Doctor." The boy relaxed, escaping into unawareness as if over-stimulated carelessly. It was certainly through no fault of Muraki's, which left one other.
Muraki coolly looked back at the blank purple stare.
Tsuzuki stood, a dark smirk playing on his lips though the tone was playful. "If you don't remove yourself, I will kill you despite the gift you've given me."
It was like seeing a normal human sprout a second mouth. "Who are you?" Moving ever so slightly from the boy, Muraki was unsure if a true challenge had appeared or not.
"Ahh.. you said it before, Doctor, haven't you? A descendant of Darkness." The playfulness left his face, giving him the appearance of a doll. "Return the kid to me."
Memories of the black fire and that same expression calmly stabbing him came unbidden to mind. A shiver unconsciously ran up his spine as he touched the boy again. He could taste nothing of the man before him. Muraki stood, since his position of superiority had suddenly fallen into a threatened one in mere seconds. "He is mine."
"You cannot keep the dead, unless you wish to die." Tsuzuki's lips turned maniac as he glowed with demonic power. "Since Enma's sign hovers above your crown like an eyesore, it shouldn't take too long. Demons have become attracted to your aura, haven't they?"
Looking at his watch, Muraki's calm voice became contaminated with dark anger, realizing he had little time to fight against such an unknown before his multiple barriers were all torn down. "I will collect what is mine, Tsuzuki-san, regardless." A heavy wind blew feathers across his figure, and he disappeared.
The dream-scape began to disintegrate. "Too bad I'm not hungry enough to try it tonight, Hisoka. You wouldn't have to worry about him then." Blank purple eyes looked up at the nothing-ness swallowing their surroundings and Tsuzuki, as piece by piece he fell apart.
Hisoka opened his eyes to the smells of the infirmary and cherry blossoms, bright light streaming in through the translucent blinds fluttering lightly in the breeze. He had lost count of the number of times he had woken up not knowing where he was or why. If he stayed long enough as a shinigami, he figured that eventually he'd take his confusion for granted.
A deep voice reverberated in his ear, orienting him as to where he was currently laying. "After Muraki's attack, you wouldn't wake up."
He sat up feebly, surprised that Tsuzuki didn't tell him not to or try to pin him to his chest. "How lo—"
"A day and a half."
Feeling stubborn, Hisoka scooted over Tsuzuki's sprawled leg and pulled each leg over the side of the bed. Even though just that movement made him lose his breath, he stood up swaying, gritting his teeth feeling extremely weak. A meter yawned the gap between himself and the window, but his knees shook as he took the few steps he needed and his hand quaked as he raised it to place it on the windowsill. Now having adequate space between himself and his partner, he felt that he could think more easily, and it was only his weakness he could think of.
"Did you want to try again?"
"What?"
"Did you want to try getting another Shikigami?" You gave up so fast after getting Riko that I thought you didn't have enough confidence in yourself, but you don't seem to be lacking it anymore. "That way you can protect yourself under your own power. That's what you want right?"
Awkward that he could hear such an accurate assessment, Hisoka was unsure why he felt hurt from Tsuzuki, and likened it to the feeling of having one's hands tied, the feeling of uselessness. "I want to be stronger." I don't like hindering you.
"I know. That's why I won't try to stop you." His partner looked up at him tiredly. "Just remember that true power comes from the heart. That's all I ask." It's easy to lose focus of what really matters.
Shattering their quiet moment, Sachiya stumbled in with an enormous sack on his back and at his hips bulging. He held a large-binded book out letting out a strained, "Hi guys!"
"That was fast." Tsuzuki said bemusedly with outstretched hands.
"I would have given you a royalty, Tsuzuki-san, but it cost a fortune to pay for building that photo lab next to Watari's lab and then the printing expenses were phenomenal." Teetering as he set the book in Tsuzuki's hands, the rookie finally bent his knees arms outstretched, doing a repetitive exercise to keep his leg and arm muscles from cramping up. "Hah!"
Flipping through the sturdy pages, Tsuzuki smiled. "This is fine. Thanks, Kato-kun."
With a grin, Sachiya held out a finger. "Yours is a special edition with a few pictures the others didn't get. Too personal for the others to see."
"Thanks for the present! It was probably Tatsumi who told you to remove them, kid."
"Oh hell, I've been found out." He laughed good-naturedly.
Hisoka was floored at the apparent scheming between the two of them, flabbergasted by their sudden friendliness. Feeling his blood pressure plummet after the sudden increase from anger, Hisoka forced himself to calm down gripping tightly to the windowsill so he wouldn't fall, knowing Tsuzuki would catch him if he did. He wanted to avoid that tender embarrassment and felt his face flush as his blood pressure normalized. "Just how many did you sell?!"
"That's confidential, Kurosaki-san. In any case, I gotta go! I have tons of deliveries to do. See ya later!" Sachiya cackled hobbling back out of the door.
"Wait a minute! This is slander!!" A soft touch to his shoulder steadied his increasingly waving body. "Tsuzuki! You can't seriously be endorsing this!"
"And why not? It isn't slander if it's true. Come look."
Hisoka flushed angry and ashamed, but stayed silent. Tsuzuki meant no ill will. He was surely trying to move closer to him under his own power, like Hisoka had asked, and for that he couldn't get mad. Instead his eyes were drawn to the embossed lettering on the cover.
It was less like a 'scrapbook' and more like a high-quality photo album. The beginning had about six solo shots of each of them, showcasing predominant moods with ease, and it slowly mixed the two of them together until it visually showed them inseparable. The 'solo' shots always had a reminder that they were just a part of a pair. Whether it was a large coat hanging off his chair as Hisoka stared down the viewer in a trademark glare, or a book sitting untouched next to Tsuzuki as he delightfully gorged on a bowl of ramen.
"He really went all out on this." Hisoka murmured, turning the page. He stared at the profile of himself painted in the full moonlight with a timid fist to the door, and the next frame of soft warm light falling on his features and the tall shadow on the ground next to his own. His features reminded him of a lost child. It seemed like a doppelganger had posed and shown his delicate vulnerability for the world.
He had the maddening urge to destroy it. He was not that helpless child anymore. He could remember that that stupid boy had remained frozen instead of running away from danger probably with that same look on his face. It was Tsuzuki who closed it and set it aside. "Hisoka, no. Don't think that way."
"It's true. I stood there watching that woman get murdered." He could see it happening, a stupid boy with a dumb look on his face watching for eternity as the woman's emotions faded away as fast as the blood could pour out.
Until that moment, he had never witnessed death personally beyond the season of death, winter time, with no television or stray animals to nurture, though he had seen a human husk at the single funeral he had attended. Even the books he had studied were devoid of existentialist sentiments.
The true purpose for his weapon training had become suddenly clear, and he was terrified of the human husk that slipped off the short blade in the man's hand. It was stupid to be afraid of a corpse and not the man stained in red. When he decided to run knowing that he had been seen by Death, it was too late. His feet were dead weight on the ground as he turned too slowly, and then he was slammed forcibly into the ground as his clothes were peeled away like the petals of a flower, exposing supple skin and
"Snap out of it!" Tsuzuki's voice shouted at him his firm hands wrapped around his biceps as he was shaken.
Head pounding, he was breathing raggedly as his pulse pounded in his throat and his curse burned faintly.
"He's the one that did it to you. You had no choice." Tsuzuki gingerly cupped his face leaning his forehead against his. The only thing he could do was provide Hisoka with some of his own energy so he wouldn't look like a drunk on his feet. "Don't try to justify what you couldn't control."
Feeling more centered and less exhausted, Hisoka weakly pushed him away turning away. "I hate feeling helpless. This damn curse..." His eyes were drawn to the mottled dark brown bruising dabbling where Muraki had touched him on his arm in the dream, unaware of the same found on his face and under his clothes. Tsuzuki had been distressed that they were taking a while to heal, but said nothing about it.
"Hisoka..." He couldn't offer the key to unraveling Muraki's control. It wasn't his place. He hoped Hisoka would figure it out on his own and ask. As Hisoka moved farther away from him, Tsuzuki looked at his partner's back when a cheerful Wakaba popped in with a woven basket in hand and a knapsack on her back.
"It's all set up!" Terazuma stood on her left, arms crossed, as she continued. "I brought you guys snacks for the trip, too."
"Trip?" Hisoka looked curiously to Tsuzuki dressed in his usual work suit though it was rumpled, not sure whether he should be affronted or not.
"I got us an approved vacation in Gensoukai." Tsuzuki stepped forward taking the basket off of her hands and thanking her quietly as it took Hisoka a moment to process.
"You what?!"
"Hisoka-kun, here's a bag of your clothes I packed you." Wakaba giggled pushing the knapsack into his hands as Terazuma's ears twitched giving a warning look to the kid daring him to yell at her for her thoughtfulness.
"Thanks." He mumbled suddenly defused. If everything was already set up, then it'd just be inconsiderate to turn the offer down.
It would be nice to get away from work for awhile, but he hadn't expected to spend the time away solely with Tsuzuki and his Shiki, one of which didn't like him in the least. Then there was something unsettling about the others, not to mention how annoying Riko was. "Let me get changed out of this medical kimono."
"But you look adorable!!" The Suzaku gate miko responded happily.
"I don't like it. Please excuse me." He went to the single-occupancy bathroom connected to the infirmary to change.
Wakaba leaned conspiratorially towards Tsuzuki. "Keep a close eye on him this time. The Tenguu are troubled by the fortunes they keep getting of four figures. They know for certain two of them represent the struggle between Kurikara and Sohryuu, but don't understand the catalyst. Their seer keeps muttering 'One is banished from home, one is banished by blood.' The symbol of a snake keeps appearing."
"Touda?"
Wakaba shook her head. "It's a snake, not a serpent. Be careful!"
"Be careful of what?" Hisoka asked as he shut the door behind him.
"I told him that his forwardness could get him in alot of trouble with you." She beamed at him.
"I'm not wearing the charm right now. Don't you think that if something cataclysmic could happen because I'm in Gensoukai, I'd like to know?"
"Oh. Sorry, Hisoka-kun." Looking abashed, Wakaba's hair ribbons shifted uncomfortably in her hair. "That wasn't right of me, but I figured that if you knew you wouldn't go."
"I'll go just to prove that fortunetelling isn't always right."
Compatibility between you and I, the biggest and worst black omen.
"In that case, let's head to Watari's lab, so Kotaro and Kojiro can send you two on your way!" Wakaba grinned thinking of how Kyushu's partners might spend their time alone.
Hisoka stuttered face red. "St-stop thinking like that!! It's none of your business!"
But that only seemed to make it worse as he had images of a graphic novel starring himself and Tsuzuki that was clearly improper and pure fantasy play in his head.
"Tsuzuki! You ruined my favorite shirt!!"
"I'm sorry, you can wear me instead?"
"Idiot! I'm being serious!!"
"If I get on my knees, would you forgive me?"
"It's unforgivable!"
"I wonder if you taste sweeter than last time..."
Hisoka's jaw had dropped as his left eye spasmed. He had been saved by the slip of paper Tsuzuki had placed in his hand. Tightly holding it, he stormed out red-faced. There was absolutely nothing to say to that.
Sighing at the close call with Hisoka's wrath, Tsuzuki looked to her having gotten a glimpse of the yaoi-filled scene that drove his partner out. "Wakaba-chan... You did that on purpose."
She smiled clasping hands together, her arms relaxed. "He's growing up, isn't he? Slowly but surely."
"Yeah. But you made him really uncomfortable."
"I should apologize then. Thank you for telling me Tsuzuki."
"Once a brat, always a brat." Terazuma interrupted clinching a new, unlit cigarette in his mouth."But the new kid is more annoying."
"Because you're jealous that he flirts with Wakaba-chan." The oldest member had a smug grin on his face.
"At least I don't have a book of pictures to brag about how gay I am!"
"Say that again, dog-face!" Tsuzuki raised a fuda in his free hand as the other arm stayed curled around the basket.
Exposing his forearms as he pushed his shirt sleeves up, Terazuma growled. "You are gayer than a hairy man dancing ballet in a pink tutu!!"
"Chil-dren!!" The long-haired miko yelled suddenly. "You're acting like hormonal 15 year olds!" She was ignored.
"Is that why you don't like me? Because I don't care what gender love takes?!"
"Guys!! Tsuzuki, put away the charm! Hajime! Back off!!" Tsuzuki at least listened to Wakaba's pleas, but Terazuma just stood closer.
"No that's just part of the bigger pie, you old fool!! You waste your potential on small fry, when you could be doing alot more!"
"Hajime!! Calm down before you blow up this building too!!"
Slamming his free hand on the wall, Tsuzuki glared at him. "What does it matter?! I always get called on cases when they're too big for anyone else, no matter what case I'm working on or whether the big case is out of my jurisdiction!" Tsuzuki struggled with the rage he felt at the years of animosity between them. "I know you've got a brain, rover, so think of why I would choose the least busy sector!!"
Terazuma stopped, mouth open to retort, and stepped back reluctantly out of his space. "Touché." He lit the crumpled cigarette taking a deep breath. "Kannuki, you gotta send those two lovebirds on. I'm going outside before the secretary screams bloody murder at the smoke." He paused at the doorway. "Don't think this is over, Tsuzuki."
"Because it isn't, Terazuma."
There was a long pause before Wakaba shifted her feet in amazement. "Wow, you guys actually fought without breaking anything!" Wakaba smiled in relieved happiness. "But we shouldn't waste anymore time... I'm sure Hisoka's missed us."
Tsuzuki nodded moving slowly to the bed to pick up the photo album. His shiki would fawn over it, he knew.
Together they entered Watari's lab.
Hisoka looked harassed.
Little wonder too, since he was dressed in a chinese-style outfit that Tsuzuki had not seen him in before and knew he didn't own because it glinted in the light.
"Saya and Yuma aren't here though..." Tsuzuki murmured to himself, looking around expectantly anyway.
"Give me another pose, Kurosaki! You're absolutely gorgeous!"
"No."
But that did not deter the camera flashing at the rookie's fingertips. Watari was off to the side muffling a chuckle with a hand though it helpled little with the laughter found in his eyes.
Looking up at his partner when he entered, Hisoka growled. "Where have you been?!"
Tsuzuki was awestruck at how exotic Hisoka looked with very few adornments. "Uh... I.. I was.. uh."
"He was quarreling with Hajime-chan again. And this time they didn't break anything! Isn't it great, Hisoka?" Wakaba answered for him when Tsuzuki hadn't moved from his spot.
"Yeah, whatever." Rolling his eyes some, Hisoka raised his arms to his hips looking down and to the side. 'That pose, that pose!!' was the response of the rookie as the camera went off again and again as Wakaba watched stunned that Hisoka just let him.
"He's just sore because he lost his bet with Sachiya." The scientist said matter-of-factly.
"What bet?" Tsuzuki blinked looking at the two youngest shinigami.
"Tsuzuki-san took more notice of Kurosaki-san with the wardrobe change!" Sachiya crowed as he went trigger-happy.
"Alright, alright. That's enough. Nothing more to see. Go on now." Watari shooed his partner out the door and shut it despite the protests of 'but, but!'
"Go process some pictures, Sachi-kun! Before Tatsumi decides to destroy it because you've been pestering them." There was not another sound after that. "That kid's a handful."
"What was the bet about?" Tsuzuki asked Hisoka quietly, still holding onto the basket and album.
"Nothing important. If I lost, he said I could have this outfit. If I won, he would have stopped stalking us."
"Oh. That's why you agreed."
"And whose fault is it that he won?"
The cheerful Watari clapped his hands lightly together. "A-hem. Sorry to interrupt, but I'm sure you can talk later when you've gone. The Chief wanted to see you off, Bon, but he couldn't get away from the paperwork. He wanted to say 'glad you're fine' and that quote 'this time I'm sure that lout can help you find a proper Shikigami' end quote. As for me, a simple good luck and take care is enough. I'm sure Tatsumi would have said the same. Here you go." Handing him his knapsack of clothes he left on the ground, Watari smiled warmly.
Hisoka blushed at the strong protectiveness he felt from his coworker. Had he not been holding the charm, he was certain he would have known why that was, but he wasn't curious enough to do that with Wakaba around. "Thanks, Watari."
"It's my turn then!" Quickly tapping several keys on the keyboard two familiar figures appeared as she locked onto the coordinates of the Suzaku gate. "Kotaro and Kojiro! These two are going to Gensoukai."
"It's that child again? I thought he was satisfied with that level 1 Riko?" The white-haired, dark-skinned one mused.
At Hisoka's irritated look when Tsuzuki had to cut off the laugh that had bubbled up, Wakaba puffed out her cheeks. "Kotaro! Be nice."
"As the miko wishes." The two mirror-reversal tenguu in the guise of humans placed their staffs together and pulled them apart creating a controlled dimensional tear precisely through the protection of the gates. "You may proceed..."
"To Gensoukai." Intoned the dark-haired Kojiro solemnly.
As Hisoka adjusted his knapsack the tear expanded swallowing the two of them in an arc of light.
Alone in his laboratory, the scientist worked at his computer. It was already late into the night, when he paused as something occurred to him.
"If Bon's curse was a forced link induced by rape, then I could have suggested the remedy to Bon. Unfortunately he might have rejected it on principle. But I do wonder who else Tsuzuki told?"
The owl bobbed her head side to side, unsure as he.
"It would make sense if he told Tatsumi as well. We had both been on the Kurosaki case months ago, where we had to terminate the pregnancy and retrieve his step-mother."
The bird hooted softly.
"Such a grisly family. I wonder what caused Bon's death then if not the 'mysterious illness'? A forced link like that would take alot of energy to keep and maintain, so I doubt Muraki deliberately killed him. Was it his uncle, I wonder?" Running a hand to pull his hair out of his glasses, Watari sighed. "I best concentrate on what I'm doing, and stop dwelling on mysteries that aren't any of my business yet."
003 hooted firmly in agreement.
End.