I am not satisfied with this chapter however I don't think I'll be changing it anytime soon. If I do revise it, I will make it known.

Chapter 3. Old Man Without a Name

The sunlight was too bright and Tsuzuki, who was normally a morning person, burrowed deeper into his blankets before he realized that the blanket wasn't his usual tatty one, but was instead made of rich cotton. Too many nights in hotels, inns, and rooms that wasn't his made him get up and rub his eyes, looking out the window.

The sky is too blue, he surmised to himself, yawning. But this isn't Tokyo, he reminded himself, where his apartment was. This was…the middle of nowhere, Kamakura Prefecture.

He got up and began the ritual task of trying to fold the blanket but he wasn't used to folding one as big as this so he left it still entangled at the foot of the futon and made his way to the bathroom specifically built for this room. When he emerged from the bath, he found both blanket and futon already folded and placed inside the cabinet, and a tray of warm food waiting for him in its stead.

Okay, first things first, he thought to himself, and proceeded to attack his breakfast.

For Tsuzuki, food should consume all his attention, or the point of its heaven-like qualities will be moot. However, he could not help but take another look around the, eyes particularly straying towards the window.

It isn't really scary here, he thought to himself, if it's daytime. At least ghosts don't roam around in daytime, legends say.

He popped the last rice in his mouth and swallowed. Except for this ghost. He grinned and stood, stretching his limbs, yawning again, only to freeze upon glancing out the window to find someone slowly making his way into the house. It was a small figure but he immediately recognized it as the master of the house, Kurosaki Hisoka-kun, trudging slowly but surely through the garden, where he stopped and stared blankly into the sky.

"Kids today," Tsuzuki muttered, frowning slightly, "always have a flair for the dramatics." He thought for a while before giving himself a wide grin. "Of course, adults have to indulge them."

With this in thought, he hurriedly put on the hakama and top laid out for him. They were only slightly bigger, but he managed to adjust the trousers by folding the waistline and securing it with the sash. Once done, he put on his slippers and hurried out to the general direction of the garden.

Amazingly, it took only a few turns before he found himself standing in front of the magnificent forest-like backyard that seemed trifle from his window, but now overwhelmed him more. He felt a little surprised with himself; being in this job for more than 70 years now left little things in the world for him to be amazed with. Still, something about this place returned all the wonders he had almost forgotten, the majesty he had left behind during his time and alternately ached to return to or forget.

The clattering of geta against pebbles, muffled by grass and soil, drew him from his reverie and he turned to see the Kurosaki boy stare at him without an expression on his face, as if he had expected to see him there.

"Yo," Tsuzuki greeted, raising his hand.

Kurosaki-kun tilted his head slightly. "Good morning, Se—Tsuzuki-san. I hope you slept well."

"More than you'll know," Tsuzuki assured him, grinning. "The room you assigned to me was comfortable."

"It is the household servants who designate which rooms will be given to the guests," Kurosaki-kun told him, raising an eyebrow. "You need not thank me."

"Is it difficult for young people to accept appreciation now?" Tsuzuki teased, smiling.

Kurosaki-kun appeared startled. "I—" Pink tinged his pale cheeks once more and Tsuzuki was delightedly surprised that he was easy to tease. "It's not!"

"It's okay to smile once in a while, Hisoka-kun," the older man told him, "especially since you're still at the edge of childhood."

"I am not a child!" Kurosaki-kun denied hotly, the blush on his cheeks deepening upon hearing his first name. "I was…I was trained to be the heir of the Kurosaki estates and that task is not delegated to a mere 'child'." He spat out the word.

"I'm not saying you're a child," Tsuzuki said, blinking at him. "I just said it's okay to act like one once in a while."

"Like you do?" Kurosaki-kun retaliated.

A tense silence filled the air and both stared at each other, suddenly uncomfortable. Tsuzuki wondered how the conversation had turned out like this. With a sigh, he offered, "I did not mean to imply anything negative, Kurosaki-san, I merely wished to see you smile."

Kurosaki-kun crossed his arms. "Do you normally attempt to get close with your other clients or is this a special case?"

Tsuzuki gave a small and sad laugh. The boy's tone was not teasing, merely curious, and that curiosity only painfully showed the shinigami just how deprived the boy was of human contact. "My friend…told me that, once…that I get too emotionally involved in my clients' affairs. It's a habit of mine, very hard to break."

"I wish you'd listen to that friend of yours," Kurosaki-kun grumbled, tightening his arms and leaning against a tree.

The melancholy Tsuzuki was experiencing disappeared, but it was immediately replaced with glee. Kurosaki-kun was sulking like a normal depressed teenager, so different from his usual attitude that the older man could not resist ruffling his hair, laughing out loud at the surprised blush accompanied by indignant sputters from the boy heir. "He tells me that lots of times, too," he assured cheerfully.

Kurosaki-kun let the ministration on his hair continue for about a second before he tried to duck, almost a little regretfully. "Don't do that," he mumbled.

Tsuzuki immediately pulled away, a little disappointed. "Sorry," he was quick to say, then was surprised at the intensely fierce scowl he received from the boy.

"Are you always this sorry?" Kurosaki-kun glared up at him, unmindful that the man was more than a head taller than he. The pitch of his voice began to raise with every sentence. "Why should you be? It's not your fault, any of it, so don't ever be sorry! There are just some things you just can't control, and you're not supposed to feel guilty over them because they're not your responsibility! Stop feeling sorry for yourself and—"

As quick as he was start shouting, he suddenly stopped and glared furiously at Tsuzuki.

"I didn't mean—" Tsuzuki began, eyes wide at the sudden outburst when Kurosaki-kun slammed his palms against the older man's chest to forcefully push him, only to stumble before he quickly righted himself and hurried away.

"Kurosaki-kun!" Tsuzuki shouted, his right arm stretching. "Hisoka!" But the words and gestures were useless. The boy was already far from him and Tsuzuki was too stunned by the words to give chase.

---

Old Sanae-san and her family line had been in the service of the Kurosakis' for a long time. She knew the family trusted only servants who have been in their wing for a long time; they did not trust easily, she knew.

She also knew that the family kept secrets. She was not privy to them, but she knew. She was observant and nothing much surprised her.

Having doctors from outside surprised her, though. It would have been amusing, except there have been many doctors the past few years lately. She knew the village was also very concerned of outsiders, and having them was practically a slap on the face of their traditional practices.

She was thinking this when she moved the wooden bar to open the gate early that morning and saw a young man in a nice suit, standing outside the estate, holding a bulky bag and not looking a bit impressed.

Said young man bowed politely and, while lifting his head, said, "Good morning, ojousan. I was called here and have hastened as much as I could. I am the partner and assistant of Tsuzuki Asato-sensei. Nice to meet you."

---

"It's you!" Tsuzuki eyes went wide before he launched himself to his partner upon seeing his shadow against the opening shoji door. You're here! Finally!"

Asuka Masaki, still not really used to this person's antics even after a year of knowing him, was almost hurled backwards as he struggled to maintain his balance. "Tsu—Tsuzuki-san!" he cried.

"I was getting worried if someone was coming here." Tsuzuki was teary-eyed and squeezing him harder.

Asuka gasped and began to struggle. "Tsuzuki—san—can't—breathe!"

"Oops, sorry." Tsuzuki released him and guiltily thumped his back, making Asuka cough and choke at the same time.

Miya-san was giggling. "Yuri-san and Fukki-chan were having fun leading him around the house but I managed to rescue him. Honestly, I didn't think Sanae-san would just let him loose inside the compound during his first time here, but that old maid is ancient and senile."

"I'm just glad I'm here now, Tsuzuki-san," Asuka said, looking pained.

"Me too," Tsuzuki responded enthusiastically. There were hearts in his eyes. "Especially now."

"I will inform the Master that your partner has arrived, Tsuzuki-sensei," Miya-san said cheerfully before shutting the door.

"Well, I guess you managed to hold yourself up for now," Asuka told him, smirking, "since she's still calling you 'sensei'."

"Stop joking, they seriously believe that I'm a doctor and Miya-chan is probably telling Hisoka-kun about us so we can check on his mother." Tsuzuki huffed, then realized through Asuka's confused expression that he wasn't making any sense. He debated on whether telling his partner everything that had happened before, as well as his observations, but he decided against it. I'll let him learn on his own.

Instead, Tsuzuki changed the topic: "Did you bring papers and stuff?"

"Tsuzuki-san, you're the only person I know who'd say he's a doctor and not bring the proper stuff," Asuka grinningly told him, brandishing the bulging medicine bag he had brought.

Tsuzuki wrinkled his nose at him. "That's unfair. I didn't even think about going undercover as a doctor." His face brightened when Asuka's rummaging produced a plastic of pocky, which he happily devoured. "Thanks! Anyway, did you bring my clothes?"

Asuka frowned at him. "No. This is all Tatsumi-san told me to bring."

"I'm going to demand a refund," Tsuzuki mumbled around a mouthful of pocky.

A comfortable silence descended upon them, with Tsuzuki munching his pocky contentedly and Asuka unpacking some of the things he had brought along, as well as some papers.

Tsuzuki did not have to tell Asuka so, but he was immensely grateful that Asuka was the one they assigned as his partner. He chewed a pocky, guiltily thinking that it was his own fault why Asuka's trial was being dragged on. During their first stint as partners, Tsuzuki had tried to hide Asuka's subpoena by leaving it with him after their case, but Asuka had still presented himself into court where he had been subjected to a year's worth of trials. Bureaucracy, Tsuzuki mused, takes too long to process some unimportant stuff.

Anyway, he didn't really mind. Because of the long deliberations, Asuka was then transferred to another department and Tsuzuki had to go through another string of partners once more. They had never been assigned together since Asuka's first case, but Tsuzuki was still grateful he wouldn't have to adjust much for this new case.

When he noticed that Asuka was going over the folder case he had brought along, Tsuzuki decided he should say just how thankful he was. "I'm glad they decided to put you as my partner this time," he mentioned.

Asuka looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Nobody else was free and I was the only one with minor training except for Tatsumi-san at the time, so they chose me." He grinned. "Besides, seeing as it was already anticipated we'll be needing someone with a medical background for this case, I was already a clincher."

"I was kinda hoping this case won't take long," Tsuzuki replied with a sigh. "But, anyway, you can come up with your conclusions. I'm guessing the little master has heard you're here."

"Tsuzuki-san," Asuka said, putting down the casefile slowly, "I have something to—"

"Excuse me," a prim voice said from outside their door. "Tsuzuki-sensei? Asuka-sensei? The master has requested for your presence in the mistress's room."

Asuka appeared startled and Tsuzuki only shook his head and gave him a serious look. "Come on," he said, getting up, "time to work."

---

Tsuzuki couldn't help continuing to notice that the estate almost looked completely different during the daytime. The sun, he surmised as they made their way through endless corridors and hallways, could practically change the interior designs of the spooky house.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a soft sound against wood and Asuka grabbed on to his sleeve. "You okay?" he asked, helping his partner.

Asuka nodded, eyes pinned to the ground. "Yeah, you go on ahead. I'll catch up."

Tsuzuki frowned but he nodded and hastened after Miya, who had not stopped. A few moments later and Asuka was again beside him. Tsuzuki sent him a questioning look but he only shook his head and mouthed, "Later." By then, the corridors had again turned dark and chilly, as if no amount of sunlight could change it.

Miya customarily knelt before the paper door and said softly, "Master, the doctors are here."

There was a pause, then a muffled voice said, "Please wait."

Tsuzuki and Asuka both knelt next to Miya, awaiting the next orders. When after two minutes there were no following instructions, the two Shinigami glanced at other, then to Miya, who was looking anxiously at the screen door. "Master—"

"WAIT," came the stern command from the other side.

Just then, Tsuzuki felt a sudden chill come over him and he quickly looked around trying to discern where it had come from, but just as quickly, it was gone and from inside the room came the soft beckon, "Let them enter."

Miya obediently pushed the screen door open and indicated for them to enter. Tsuzuki entered first and was followed by Asuka. Daytime, the older Shinigami discovered, did nothing to deter the eerie dimness and silence that prevailed the room.

Asuka hovered behind Tsuzuki and he gave the younger Shinigami a reassuring smile before the young master appeared before them, holding a candle.

"Gah!" Asuka gasped, grabbing on to Tsuzuki's sleeve.

Tsuzuki was perversely amused by the similarity of his and his partner's initial reaction. If Kurosaki-kun noticed this as well, he did not comment. "Thank you for meeting us," Tsuzuki formally said to Kurosaki-kun. "This is my assistant-partner, Asuka Masaki-sensei. In many ways, he is better than I am in practice."

"Then why are you the head doctor?" Kurosaki-kun asked.

"Er…" Tsuzuki's eyes frantically darted to Asuka, who stepped forward a tad hesitantly.

"I am honored to meet you, Master," Asuka squeaked, bowing politely. "Tsuzuki-sensei is being humble, and no doubt he…he has told you about his expertise."

"Actually, no," Kurosaki-kun said coolly.

Tsuzuki resisted kicking Asuka then, never mind the growing horror of realization that was overcoming Asuka's face, but the young master was already speaking again: "Well then, Asuka-sensei, Tsuzuki-sensei. If you would kindly give your expert knowledge concerning my mother…" He led them to the corner of the room, his candlelight flickering faintly.

Asuka's reaction was no less shocked than Tsuzuki's, but he was at least more professional. He knelt down and asked questions to the young master and was equally stunned to discover that the pregnancy had already lasted for two years. He gave hints to Tsuzuki on how to take the pulse, then took over getting the pulse of the unborn child. When he finished with the initial check-up, he turned to Tsuzuki once more.

"Have you given the Master your views?" Asuka asked.

Tsuzuki shook his head. "I thought…um…I'd wait for you."

"Good." Asuka turned to Kurosaki-kun and smiled. "Forgive us. Tsuzuki-sensei had only few practices on gynaecology, haven't you, Tsuzuki-sensei?" He elbowed the older man, who nodded weakly.

Kurosaki-kun, however, did not seem to be interested in their hasty explanations. Instead, he continued to stare at his mother. "My mother has been pregnant for two years although she has not left the estate for years. We have very few male servants, and all of them work outside the house. My father, if you must know, has been dead for three years."

"You want to know who the father is," Asuka stated.

"No." Kurosaki-kun finally looked up and Tsuzuki was startled. His eyes seemed different… "I want to know if the child will live."

Tsuzuki swallowed. "It will be difficult to tell for sure, although we already know the child seems healthy enough. And alive. We might have to entertain the idea of performing a C-operation—"

"Will it be dangerous for my mother?" Kurosaki-kun interrupted.

"Yes," Asuka said seriously. "We might have to put her in a hospital."

The boy turned back to his mother. "That is not an option."

Tsuzuki and Asuka opened their mouths to protest, but a muffled voice interrupted from outside, calling for the young master. Kurosaki-kun looked mildly annoyed as he glared at the screen door. "What is it?" he asked sharply.

"It is your uncle, Master," the voice said quietly. "He has come to visit."

The boy swore under his breath although Tsuzuki noticed with some interest that his face had paled. "Always in time, him," he growled, giving a stiff bow to Tsuzuki and Asuka before excusing himself. Before he left, he said, "Please feel free to check my mother again."

When he left, he left the slowly burning candle in the room. Asuka and Tsuzuki glanced at each other, then to the hapless woman.

"I have to check her body," Asuka said, almost apologetically.

Tsuzuki nodded, and the younger shinigami scurried next to the woman before methodically untying the sash holding her kimono together. Tsuzuki knelt next to him, watching her eyes continue to focus on the ceiling, mouth opening and the corner forming a slight drool as her tongue snaked inside, against her teeth, as if speaking something—

On impulse, Tsuzuki lowered his head and put his ear next to the mouth.

Asuka started, "Tsuzuki-san, what—" but Tsuzuki held up a hand to silence him.

They sounded like nonsense at first, like breathing with different sounds. However, the sounds began to form words that formed coherent thoughts, no matter how whimsical they seemed to be.

"…Hisoka…turtles drink tears…you open…cage that…birds and…Kasane…"

The words, almost like a poem, were repeated over and over, and it took Tsuzuki a long time to realize that, like 'Hisoka', the word 'Kasane' was actually a name.

---

The two shinigamis were passing through an open space when Asuka noticed the figures near a grove were arguing loudly. "Hey, isn't that the master?"

"Eh?" Tsuzuki squinted his eyes against the sunlight, then blinked. "You're right." Grinning, he asked, "Think we should move closer?"

"Isn't that eavesdropping?" Asuka asked doubtfully.

The older shinigami wagged a finger at him. "Important cases can be solved only through information, and this is one way of gathering information."

Asuka still looked hesitant, but he could only follow when Tsuzuki crept up to a large tree situated next to each other. The two figures were arguing loud enough for them to hear from that distance, and now they could clearly see that while the other was Kurosaki-kun, the other was a much older man sporting a beard and eyeglasses, also dressed in a kimono.

"The uncle?" Tsuzuki mouthed to Asuka, who shrugged.

"You have been keeping her, Hisoka-kun," the older man was saying loudly. "I am part of the Kurosaki clan as well, and I have a right to know if she is well."

"I can assure you, Uncle, she is well." Kurosaki-kun's voice was terse. "She has had a few spells, and her breakfast did not seem to agree with her, but she is sleeping it off right now."

"I have reason not to believe you, boy," the older man told him. Tsuzuki noticed that when he opened his mouth all his teeth showed, making him remember a dangerous shark. "I have not seen Rui for almost a year and the last time, she was screaming about Kasane visiting her. Is she still delirious?!"

Asuka and Tsuzuki glanced at each other at the mention of the name, but the boy had already answered: "If she is, I have no idea. All I know is that Mother is a little sick but two doctors have already come here to look into her."

"Another?!" The other was incredulous. "You brought in another doctor?! And two of them?!"

"The local witch doctors and priests have been no help," Kurosaki-kun said angrily.

"You remember the last time a doctor came here, child?" the old man demanded. "She went snooping into everything, asking silly questions—"

"I remember," Kurosaki-kun replied curtly.

"And before, there was that other doctor who—"

"I remember, Uncle, and you need not remind me."

Asuka and Tsuzuki tensed. There was a dark edge to Kurosaki-kun's voice upon speaking, as if he had been deeply offended and angered. Apparently, the old man realized it, too, because he stopped and said something they could not hear before turning away. There was a pause, then he went on to say something they again could not catch. However, Kurosaki-kun's pale face pinked and he said loudly and stiffly, "I am looking into it."

"There is a young girl in the village, three years younger. You might want to look into her. I have talked to her father." The older man sounded smug.

"I have not given you permission to do so!" Kurosaki-kun thundered. "I will do as I please when I wish it, how I wish it, and that includes choosing my wife."

"Nonsense, boy, you're not getting—"

"I am the head of the Kurosaki Clan," the boy said, chin raised as he stared up into the older man's eyes. If it was anyone else, Tsuzuki knew it would sound bratty, but coming from Kurosaki Hisoka, the words seemed to carry strength and meaning that it actually made the old man step back. "The woman who will carry on the Kurosaki name will be chosen during the time I say so."

"Yes," the man countered, "but you must clearly remember those same words being uttered and the result being a disaster."

The shut Kurosaki-kun up, but his eyes turned into narrow slits, glaring at the older man. Smug, the said uncle stroked his long beard and said something, apparently taking his leave, before the two made their way back to the house.

Asuka and Tsuzuki glanced at each other again, not speaking but clearly agreeing to speak about it in private. They waited a few more minutes before they followed the two back.

---

"What do you think?" Tsuzuki asked when they were back in their room.

Asuka dropped next to him on the floor, lying on his back and putting his hands behind his head. "I think this family is crazy," he declared wearily. "Not even a day and my head's going all fuzzy."

Tsuzuki nodded, grinning. "My sentiments exactly."

"There have been cases of the fetus staying for almost eleven months or more, but two years? And that child…it's alive." Asuka closed his eyes, sighing. "Most of them usually die at around ten months."

"I was thinking that maybe a demon did this," Tsuzuki told him, leaning on his elbows. "But why? A human and demon spawn won't exactly be strong enough during the early years, so this demon must have lots of patience if he's going to wait that long. If he raped and entered her body in the form of the child then—that might be a problem."

"If your theory is correct," Asuka replied, staring up at the ceiling, "and this was done by a demon, either through rape or—let's just consider it this time—consent, for the sole purpose of impregnating her, then he must have considered Kurosaki Rui as biologically compatible."

Tsuzuki pursed his lips, deep in thought. "You mean that he must have known Kurosaki Rui would be able to handle the pregnancy?"

"And the sexual act itself." Asuka was unwilling to meet his eyes. "Demons raping humans result more often than not to the human's death, mostly because of PH acid incompatibility, or because of body violence that comes with rape…"

Tsuzuki nodded and looked out the window, trying not to say how well he knew of it. Outside, the sky was still blue and some branches from a nearby tree were waving at them. Paradox, he thought. He did not know what to think and, more importantly, how to feel.

"Alright," he said aloud. "Let's just say the demon somehow knew Kurosaki Rui could handle all those—let's not get into detail as to the how for now—so how? And is it only because of that particularly? Records say spiritual buildup occurred only during that time. If we had heard of spiritual buildups earlier, we might be able to consider that she has supernatural powers…but she obviously doesn't. Does she?"

"How should I know?" the younger shinigami asked, a bit crossly.

Tsuzuki smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

Unlike Tsuzuki, Asuka had never managed to get around to getting stronger, since it was already assumed he would pass on immediately, so he had not been able to master different powers and, as shinigamis usually had, take a shikigami. He only knew how to use the fuda, and some binding incantations, which was why it took some time for him to be released to field duty. Tsuzuki, though, did not need fuda much since he mastered twelve Shikigamis, spiritual beasts who would come at his call.

They were silent for a while, contemplating, until Tsuzuki sighed. "We have more questions that we have answers," he complained.

"Oh!" Asuka sat up, hands digging in his pocket. "I forgot. I found this earlier when I tripped."

He held up something that glinted against the sunlight, and Tsuzuki looked closer before blinking and saying, "That's a…what?"

"It's a scale, Tsuzuki-san," the younger shinigami replied patiently. "A large one at that."

"Scale?" Tsuzuki asked. "As in what fishes have?"

"Right, although some other reptiles have it."

Tsuzuki took the transparent thing from him. It was almost as big as his hand and transparent, although it seemed hard and dry. It was nothing like his Shikigamis Souryuu and Touda's scales, which had seemed soft. Of course, their scales had been attached to their bodies.

Aloud, he said, "This can have nothing to do with our case."

Asuka shrugged. "It may or may not. I just find it unusual, especially to find it as big as that." He nodded at the thing in his partner's hand.

"Another thing," Tsuzuki went on, "what about that 'Kasane'? Who is that person?"

"Hey," Asuka said suddenly, "didn't you say Miya-san mentioned something about the old doctor's records?"

"Yeah, in the elementary school," Tsuzuki said, blinking. They turned to each other and smiled.

From the hallway just outside their door, a voice that sounded like Miya-san suddenly announced she brought lunch.

-end chapter 3-

Congratulations, most of you guessed it right! However, for the person who guessed it's Kobayashi--well, let's just say Kobayashi will make a cameo somewhere, but an unimportant one.

Notes:
I felt like I needed to explain why I did not use "uncle" when talking about the one Hisoka was talking to, although most probably already know who it is. It's because, in Tsuzuki and Asuka's point of view, it could be just some old man who thinks he has an authority, not really Hisoka's blood uncle. The title of the chapter "Old Man without a Name" is a pun, since while the uncle's name is not mentioned, he is also stripped of his title as the Kurosaki Head. I thought it was clever at first but now it seems childish. Eh.

I chose Asuka as Tsuzuki's partner because…it will be explained next chapter.

I think the chapters are too short, and I was supposed to combine this and the next chapter together since Meritite kindly pointed out that everything's still in the introductory stage and I realized she's right. However, I decided to stick with the original. I won't hold it against you if you only decide to begin reading again on the 5th chapter.

However, the rating will be raised to R for the next chapter.

Coming up next!

Preview:

"Such a person would be a demon."
"Is that what they called you?" Tsuzuki asked softly.