4. Fear.
T: This is where the fun begins. There is a tiny X/TB crossover in this chapter and Muraki finally makes an appearance, apart from this, however, the warnings remain the same. Nothing here is mine apart Myagi-san but as he's inspired by Tsuzuki I'm not going to push that claim!
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Myagi-sensei?" Glancing up from his notes he is met with the gentle blue eyes of his secretary and smiling genially, he enquires,
"How can I help, Suri-chan?"
"I've someone out with me who is insisting on seeing you. I've tried everything that I can think of to dissuade him, but nothing seems to work." He hears the fear in her voice despite her attempt to hide it and, fixing his smile into something all together more dangerous, he says,
"Then show them in, Suri-chan and fetch me an earl grey after words." 'Earl grey' is the clinics code word for security and, her smile strengthening at the sound of those words, Suri-chan bows politely and says,
"Of course, Myagi-sensei."
His 'guest' appears a moment later and both his professional and spiritual instincts begin to scream at him. He has long since learned to trust the warnings he receives from these instincts and, an illusion of calm intrigue set into his features, he reaches into his desk for his Ofuda.
"I would not be so hasty if I were you, Myagi-san, I have, after all, faced greater men than you and won."
"Who are you and what do you want with me?" He enquires as he sets his hands, palms upwards, onto the desk.
"My name is Muraki Kazutaka and we have, it seems, a common desire."
"Myagi-san?" The concern in the boy's voice brings him 'back to himself' and, shaking off the fear the memory has stirred within him, he enquires,
"I fear I did not hear the enquiry, Kurosaki-kun, would you mind repeating it?"
"Can you explain what has happened to him, why it is that I can no longer feel him and, most importantly, if you can help him?"
"He has been presented with a reality that is other than he had believed it and he has retreated deep into the recesses of his mind. Deep enough that your empathic power can no longer reach him unless you actively push…as to helping him…" He lets the sentence trail, uncertain how to continue without offering the boy false hopes or crushing him completely.
"There is a technique you can use, isn't there? One that will allow you to dive into his consciousness and talk him into coming out again." He is about to ask how the boy knows about such complex spells when Muraki's voice enters his head,
"The boy is well read and thus he shall know things that you would not expect him to."
"The spell is complex and you'd need an Onmyoji from the Sumeragi clan to even have the hope of breaching through his mental defences without causing him harm."
"Then we get one of the Sumeragi clan to help."
"I'm afraid that's not possible."
"Why don't you suggest an alternative then, because I'm sure as hell not going to let him stay like that."
"Take a breath, Kurosaki-san, you're not going to help anyone." For a long moment he believes the boy wilful enough that he'll avoid the advice and then the other closes his eyes and evens his breathing out.
"Did my uncle teach you that?"
"He believed that meditation would help me re-enforce my mental shields."
"And has it?"
"Among other things." The boy opens his eyes and, the muscles about those organs pinching in concentration, he enquires,
"There is another way to help him, isn't there?"
"Yes. However…"
"There is something about the idea that frightens you, isn't there?"
"Should you let the boy know of our 'arrangement' then things shall become uncomfortable for you."
At the recollection of that threat the base instinct of self preservation kicks in and silences his reply before it can be voiced. The boy clearly picks up on some part of this mental process for, an understanding sparking into his eyes, he enquires,
"You have been threatened, haven't you, coerced into saying things that you would not otherwise have, isn't that right?"
"You know already who made those threats to me, don't you?"
"I've a good guess, yes." The curse scribed onto the boy's skin flairs at this admission and the missing pieces of the puzzle clicks into place.
"I will tell you what there is to tell, Kurosaki-kun."
"He will carry out his threat, Myagi-san."
"I would rather die and have staid the true path than live and be forever tainted by his darkness."
There is an admiration clear in the boy's eyes and the ghost of a smile upon his lips. He finds himself all but staining at the enthral beauty that this more relaxed expression gives the boy and, for the briefest of moments, he can almost understand why Muraki had done as he had.
Flushing the boy drops his eyes and, his gaze focusing onto the recumbent form of his partner, he enquires,
"Do you want to get on with the story then?"
"A week ago a dangerous man came to my clinic and, after making it perfectly clear that he was in control of the situation, he introduced himself to me and stated that we held a common interest…"
"What desire would that be?" He enquires, his gaze intent on Muraki's one visible eye, this focus in the hopes of gaining some insight into the other's character.
"To find Tsuzuki Asato."
He is surprised to hear that name from the lips of a stranger and the other has supposedly expected this surprise for, a dangerous smile lighting his lips, he enquires,
"Have you heard of Muraki Shouhei?"
"Of course, tousan studied his methods while he was setting up his clinics and always attributed his first successful advancements to the knowledge he gained from Muraki-sensei's work.
"Am I to assume that you are related to that great man?"
"That is correct."
"Then that is how you know of my uncle?"
"That man was a patient of my grandfather's and yet that is not how I know him."
"Then you have, yourself, met him?"
"Correct." There is a prolonged moment of silence and then the other enquires, "Will you not ask when I met him or why I am looking for him now?"
"Would you give me a true answer if I asked those questions, Muraki-san or would you tell me what you believe I need to hear in order to help you?"
"Your confidence is a powerful tool, Myagi-san, I would recommend that you learn when to use it and when to keep it hidden. Such advice to one side I have want to make a deal with you."
"What sort of a 'deal'?"
"In a few day's time a young boy will come to see you, I wish you to talk to him and to tell him all that he wishes to hear. I would advise that you watch how you reply to his questions for the boy is well read and thus he shall know things that you would not expect him to."
"What shall my talking to the boy achieve?"
"There is no need for you to know the answer to that question, Myagi-san. All that you need know is that the boy is coming, that I wish you to keep him with you for as long as possible and that, as payment, you shall, at last, meet your uncle.
"Should you let the boy know of our 'arrangement' then things shall become uncomfortable for you."
"…Security arrived to escort him from the building and I have not seen him since."
"Then what is the other way in which we might help Tsuzuki and why do you fear it?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
T: I had no idea that Muraki was a step ahead, or indeed that he was behind Hisoka's 'dreams', until I wrote this chapter. Once I realised that this was the case a little light bulb went off in my head and the conversation between the evil one and Myagi-san was created. Random authoress tangent out of the way please review and come back Sunday for the next chapter!