I apologize again for the late update. I finally graduated! Yahoo!! (punch fist in the air) another problem: job hunting. It sucks. Big time. I wish I could just take the time to travel but sadly, me no have budget. Sniff. Sigh. Sorry guys, but expect next chappie to be updated in a not that quite short while...2 months...maybe even more...gomen. will try to make it faster...

Chapter 6: The trade-off

Half past ten.

The attendant at the counter plopped himself at the table, bored at the mediocre present business pace. He gazed at the only two customers left at his noon shift.

The brown haired with stunning violet eyes was passionately arguing to a smiling silver haired gentleman dressed in an impeccable white suit. A doctor perhaps? They seemed to have a history together, possibly romantically involved. The doctor offered his hand for an agreement. The dark haired man stood up in refusal. The doctor grinned, drank the last of his wine and stood up. He gently patted his partner's shoulder, whispered a farewell and left the confused man behind.

The attendant shrugged and resumed wiping the tables. So much for an interesting scene...still all in the day's work.

"I'll give you time to think about it."

Tsuzuki stared at the hectic street filled with incessant honking and people shoving at each other. Bits and pieces of the conversation with Muraki swirled in his mind as he tried to assess the reality of it. He sighed. What the heck am I supposed to do now?

"Tsuzuki!" a voice rang out from the crowd and revealed a panting Hisoka rushing towards him.

"What happened? Daijabou?" Tsuzuki helped his partner sit on the bench and went to a nearby vending machine for a cold drink. He handed it to Hisoka who placed it in his temples before taking a drink. Hisoka exhaled loudly. Tsuzuki sat down beside him.

"Better?" Hisoka nodded. "What happened?"

"I saw Rosaline when I was in their house."

"You really saw her?" Hisoka nodded. "How is she?"

Hisoka looked at the pale blue sky, trying to remember the lovely but stricken face. "She looked fine. Pale and confused but alright. She ran away before I could talk to her."

Hisoka looked at Tsuzuki. "It was weird. She kept saying that I wasn't 'him' as if she was waiting for someone. Something strange is going on here. Tsuzuki...do you think she was even missing?"

Tsuzuki didn't look at him. "Was she in spirit form?"

"What do you mean? How could she be –" Hisoka felt himself go backwards to time as scenes from the girl's past flooded him.

She was watching in fear at her own pale reflection growing paler every second until she could see the room through her then watch herself go back to her normal body. Frightened, she rushed down and pleaded with Martha for a quick walk outside the garden. Her guardian consented. She rushed off outside the gate and out into the streets while making sure she was not seen.

Muraki-san...I have to find him before it too late! She felt herself grew paler again but this time she didn't resume back to her original form. Far away, she heard her sister scream.

Rosaline!

"Muraki..." Hisoka muttered. Tsuzuki's eyes widen. "It was Muraki! He did something to that girl Tsuzuki. I just know it!"

Tsuzuki paled. "How did you – how could you..." He shook his head. This is not happening!

"We have to find him!" Hisoka shook his partner. "Rosaline is in trouble! We could –"

Tsuzuki shook his head. "Her name is Racquel and we don't have to find Muraki."

"What? What do you mean?" Hisoka stared at him

"I...met him...Muraki. He's the twin's guardian."

"Yes, I know! That's why...wait! You met Muraki?" Hisoka looked at him confused.

Tsuzuki nodded. "He told me everything. At first, I didn't believe him but after what you told me..." He trailed off and couldn't go on. Hisoka moved closer. "Tsuzuki...what's going on?"

"You said she kept asking for someone. The one she's waiting for is...me."

"But how could she..."

"You touched her, didn't you? You must have known." Tsuzuki couldn't look at his partner's face. "Her soul is separating from her body and the only way for her to be back to normal and her sister is for me to give up part of my spirit force."

"You can't be serious! If that is really happening, then there has got to be another way!" Hisoka reasoned, panicking.

Tsuzuki shook his head. "There isn't another way. And if there were, there isn't much time left."

Tsuzuki pleaded. "Hisoka...she's dying. So is her sister in the hospital. Racquel gave part of her soul to her dying twin...to save her. It worked for a while but something was missing in the procedure. Muraki found out later when Racquel was experiencing the fading away spells, but it's too late. And now, they are both dying..."

"Impossible..." Hisoka couldn't believe what he is hearing. Tsuzuki looked at him sadly.

"They'll die within 24 hours if I don't do it." Hisoka closed his eyes in resignation. "Muraki is going to meet me alone after lunch back at Rosaline's hospital room."

Hisoka gripped his empty hands tightly. "No..." He turned to his partner. "You're not going alone. I'm coming."

Tsuzuki couldn't have said more and felt tears wobbling near his eyes.

Thank you.

Hey there! I bet next chap is going to be a thriller. What do you think will happen? Reviews pls!