New Hope

Response to reviewers:

UD: Hehe... You'll find out!

stuck-in-a-tree: I think so too! I'm glad it crossed my mind. Boredom and do that to you. Here's the next chapter!

CuriousDreamWeaver: Thanks! Here's more!

Mizuki hikari: Here's a continue!

Part 3

Duo's POV

I never thought that I would die by murder. I mean, me, former gundam pilot 2 being killed by a bullet wound! That was so impossible during the war. I knew I died. At least I cracked a good goodbye joke to each of them. So the real shocker, for me that is, is that I woke up into some white hospital room. I was supposed to be dead right? Imagine my shock when they told me that I was dead but had a choice. You can already guess what I chose. I wasn't ready to stop living, even if I am dead, but that's beside the point. I was taught things. The other shinigami said I had some special ability that I could use. They didn't tell me what; I didn't even know what it was. They said I'd see it in time. After all employment could be forever. I wonder if the others have special abilities. The other shocker of my life – excuse me – afterlife, I was partnered up with someone that looks younger than me! I mean, I was thinking that when I saw him but I then remembered that he was in this business for about 300 years.

Let me tell you from personal experience about my partner. At first glance, even if I was informed that he was a boy, I thought he was a thirteen year-old girl. Though I don't think he'd appreciate that fact especially since Saya and Yuma dressed him up. I kinda felt sorry for him. But you've gotta admit, he'd make heads turn.

Anyways, I shouldn't be thinking about this. He might pick it up. He's a lot more sensitive than Quat.

Normal POV

Duo casually bit into his biscuit while glancing over the information he received. He wondered why the manager would be helping the culprit out. He also wondered how Quatre was involved with this. After all it is part of Winner Enterprises. What Duo was most peculiar about is the man in white. He wasn't blind. When Duo mentioned a man in white, Hisoka had a stunned look on his face. He glanced at the computer screen that had been scanning all profiles that match: male with silver hair. A few seconds later, a file came up.

Muraki Kazutaka.

Checking the date, he realized that the file is 300 years old. What the hell? Is the man a shinigami too? Or maybe a relative? He'd have to ask Tatsumi about it later, right now they had to get ready to solve this case.

Glancing at the clock he realized they had thirty minutes before the museum had its grand opening. He walked over to the bed to wake his sleeping partner. Duo really hated to do this. He gently shook Hisoka awake. Luckily, Hisoka was a light sleeper.

"It's time to get ready," Duo said as Hisoka glanced at him. He backed off a bit as Hisoka sat up.

Hisoka stood up, gathered his clothes, more like a dress, and went in the bathroom to get cleaned.

-X-

Hisoka hated crowds and the leering looks he's been getting from the male population. It must've been the black Chinese style dress he was wearing. Luckily Duo was still next to him. It was hard to get a reading of the object they are looking for with all these mixed emotions around.

Consciously, Hisoka slipped his hand with Duo's. He needed reassurance. He felt Duo's confusion and that was the only thing he felt.

Duo looked over at Hisoka in confusion as he felt his hand entwined with his. Hisoka wasn't looking at him but he then understood. Hisoka's empathy was much stronger than Quatre's. With Hisoka's shields down, he'd need a stable feeling of security. Duo smiled before looking around. Orientation was over and Hisoka was trying to sense where the object is. He hoped Hisoka would be okay.

Meanwhile, Hisoka had been having a huge headache. He was sure after this mission he'd find himself in the hospital wing again. They are good friends. He felt around the objects hoping it was one of them and they could find some way to get it out of there and bring it back to Meifu. They'd already gotten through half the objects. Usually he'd be hearing something by now but since his training it has de-

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Hisoka gasped as he heard pain-filled screams in his head. He clutched tightly onto Duo's arm to keep him up right. He kept placing back his shields to keep it out. He didn't want to feel the paining screams of being murdered. He could feel their pain.

Duo paused as Hisoka clutched his arm in a death grip. He didn't really want to lose his arm but he still held on. Who knew you still felt pain when you were being hurt? Argh, why was he so clueless… He then quickly looked around their area to see any object. There was only the dagger in the display case next to him. Surely it wasn't it? The dagger didn't look like much but it could be something different. He quickly took a snap shot of it and led Hisoka out of there before he collapsed.

He didn't notice a solitary eye watch them leave. A swish of a white coat and they were gone.

Hisoka couldn't fight to stay conscious. He couldn't hold his stomach. He felt sick. He could still hear the screams just going up the elevator. He heard Duo's words of comfort but barely. He was relived when they were back in the room. It had been warded earlier courtesy of Duo who was given advice from Watari.

Duo was relieved that he was able to get Hisoka up to the room before he collapsed. Hisoka seemed to calm down after a while. At least he'd stop shaking. A few minutes and Hisoka was already calm.

"We need to get it tonight," Hisoka told him. Duo looked at him questioningly.

"Why? It isn't going anywhere, is it?" he asked.

"They're moving it tomorrow afternoon."

"You up to stealing tonight?"

-X-

Hisoka was amazed at Duo's skills. Duo was an expert in blending in with the shadows; Hisoka had a hard time keeping up. A few minutes, and they were already in front of the object. The knife seemed to glow. Duo had already made sure that all the alarms, along with other things to criminate them, were off so they won't get caught.

Duo rubbed his hands together in glee. After years of restraint he was at it again. He hadn't stolen in a while. Rummaging through his equipment, he took out a glasscutter. Carefully, he placed it on the glass and it automatically cut a perfect circle. He cut another one on another side of the glass so he could place a replacement. He grabbed the replacement plaque, which he had decorated himself, and got ready to make the switch.

"Mission accomplished!" Duo said in a low whisper. Hisoka nodded before they went back up to their room. As they left, they didn't see nor sense the solitary figure in white watching the whole thing. The person began to follow.

Back at the room, Duo flopped down on his back to the bed. He then began to laugh. Hisoka rolled his eyes.

"You're enjoying it aren't you?" he asked. Duo looked at him.

"I haven't done that in a long time. The guys wouldn't let me rob my friend's jewelry store back in L4. I just wanted to see how many alarms I won't trip on… So, what does this knife thingy do anyway?"

"It sucks the person's soul it kills." Duo winced.

"Ouch."

"You better go take it to the ministry. I'll have our things packed so we could leave tomorrow."

"Sure you'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"Alright. I'll see ya in a bit." With that said, Duo teleported to the ministry to make his delivery.

Hisoka shook his head at Duo's antics. Really, the man was hyper at times, most of the time. He let out a small smile as he began packing only leaving clothes out for tomorrow to leave. Hisoka couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The case was too simple, too easy. Surely the culprit wouldn't be this oblivious, would they? Perhaps he was looking too much into this. Suddenly, he felt a chill. He was sure there was no one else in here. That was the scary part. Putting down the clothes in his hands, he began opening every light. He ended up with the small dining area. He turned on the light and froze. His green eyes widened and he took a step back as he realized who the person was sitting in a chair.

"Long time no see, bouya…"

-X-

Duo walked around the ministry trying to find someone awake at this time. He was in luck when he saw a light under Watari's lab/office. Hisoka did warn him about not accepting anything from Watari for it could be poisoned with some experiment of his. Hisoka said he wouldn't die but it would just be unpleasant. He knocked before entering. He was surprised that Watari was still up fixing something with boiling chemicals. Duo grinned.

"Evenin' Watari-san, what evil experiment are you cooking tonight?" Duo said as he looked at the interestingly pink boiling liquid.

"Ah Duo what are you doing here?" Watari asked as 003gave a greeting to Duo.

"Well, I came to deliver it." Duo held out the object wrapped tightly with wards. "They might inspect our belongings when we leave tomorrow. So we decided to leave it here."

"Bon isn't giving you a hard time?" Watari asked curiously. Duo just gave a curious look back.

"Hard time? Hardly. Although he was a big meanie in not letting me buy some sweets at the bakery in the hotel, otherwise nothing else. Why?"

"Hisoka has a hard time with a new partner usually. They start complaining of what and what not by now. I say for a beginner you're pretty good at calming the storm."

"What can I say? I'm a nat-argh…" Duo grasped his head as he felt a sharp pain. Watari kept him steady to keep Duo from falling.

"Duo, Duo! What's wrong?"

Duo couldn't hear him, as he was absorbed into the images flashing at him. He recognized the hotel room him and Hisoka were sharing. He could hear running footsteps. The bedroom.

"No! Stop it! Get away from me!"

That was Hisoka's voice. Duo snapped from his trance.

"Sorry Watari-san, I have to go."

Duo ran out and teleported back to Chijou.

-X-

"Long time no see bouya…"

"Muraki…"

The pale, silver-haired man stood up and walked casually towards Hisoka who consciously took a step back as Muraki moved forward. He was trapped as his the back of his knees hit the bed. He fell back. Before he could get out Muraki was already on top of him halting any means of escape. Hisoka struggled to push him off. But he was never physically strong enough.

"Get away from me!" Hisoka yelled trying to free the grip on his wrists. "You're supposed to be gone!" Muraki smirked at that. He leaned in close.

"You shouldn't underestimate me like that…bouya…" Hisoka closed his eyes for the inevitable horror Muraki's touches always gave. He then heard a click sound along with a familiar voice.

"I say, you should get off him right now."

Muraki smirked as he looked at the newcomer. He stood up and adjusted his glasses and fixing a few wrinkles on his shirt and coat. Hisoka opened his eyes and was surprised to see Duo there. He sat up seeing Muraki standing quite a distance while Duo pointed the barrel of the gun at him.

"New partner already bouya? I didn't expect it to be the deceased former gundam pilot 02. Small world…" Muraki commented as he looked at Duo.

"I'd shut your trap pal, I'm the one with the authority to speak," Duo said looking sternly at him.

"I'm sorry, please, do continue."

"Who are you?" Duo asked sternly.

"Why don't you ask him? I'm sure he could answer all your questions. Now if you'll excuse me… I'll see you again bouya." Muraki said before vanishing with the white smoke.

Duo cursed before sitting on the bed facing Hisoka. Duo placed a hand on his shoulder only to get it slapped away.

"I'm fine." Hisoka responded.

"That's good then!" Duo said excitedly. He knew Hisoka didn't want the pity or worry he was about to give. He was like that to. "Lets jam and get out of this place." Duo stood up and extended a hand. Hisoka stared at it contemplating before he took the offered hand.

TBC--------------

BLK Angel of Destruction: There's another chapter! I'm glad people are reading this! Thanks for your reviews! I appreciate them!

Review! No Flames! C+C accepted.