Korihana: Thank you to those who've read and are continuing to read. I really like this idea so I'll be continuing it hopefully a chapter every month (maybe sooner we'll see). Let me know your thoughts and opinions. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not Own Yami no Matsuei

Talking: "talk"

Thinking: "Thoughts"

Chapter 2:

"So, how ya feeling today Tsuzuki?" A perky girl smiled as her partner sat right next to her. The two social workers normally worked in pairs and considering the patient at hand, the more eyes the better.

The boy being addressed just shrugged feeling a little down today, if not empty. The two girls note this change in mood which had been the same for about a week now. Although it was different for his normal routine since he would typically go through a plethora of emotions in a single day; but this week had really hit him hard. In the beginning, he met a younger boy by the name of Hisoka who wanted nothing to do with him when he only wanted to help. Two days later he's been informed that his sister would no longer be picking him up. Needless to say the news hit hard and he became irate and depressed within blinding speed. Due to the aggression and unpredictability he had been put on extra watch, especially suicidal watches.

"You haven't spoken in hm... five days? That's quite a record for you." The second girl added but again got no other response. Minutes passed in silence before it was close to the end of the session and they only had one more thing to do before letting the brunet leave. "We're going to try something new, ok? Tatsumi-san thinks it'll help, so just be your cheerful open minded self!" The first girl called Saya announced as the other, Yuma, went over to help Tsuzuki up, or rather help guide him so he would walk with her down the hall.

"Why won't she come for me Yuma-san? I don't understand... no one wants me." Tsuzuki whispered as she helped him towards their destination.

"It's complicated but I can tell you she does want you. She was so excited when she first heard her cute little brother was ready to come home! As soon as you show some recovery from the initial news Tatsumi-san says you'll be up for release again." A small smile graced his cheeks this time as they approached one of the group session rooms.

It appeared that it was currently in use since Tsuzuki could hear someone yelling as another tried to coerce them into a calmer state. The voices seemed familiar but before he could process them Yuma stopped him and looked him straight in the eye. "Now be a good boy and make friends. If this goes according to big man's plan you'll both be a lot happier and better off." With that she opened the door and gently pushed him inside before any hesitation could be made. The heated conversation that was previously going on continued oblivious to Tsuzuki's presence.

"What if I don't want to get better!? You just think it'll be what's best for me but you don't!"

"Kurosaki-kun, enough. We know you want to get better, you've told your therapist several times. And I do apologize, we thought we knew what was better for you and allowed you to have a single room but quite frankly your progress is not good. Your father wants you home as soon as possible and has been following all his rules so that you'll be safe around him again."

"My father?! He wants me dead! He's only doing all this law abiding crap so his name isn't ruined. You don't know him like I do!"

"Regardless, I'm afraid the decision has already been made. Your things will be moved into a double room by the end of the day. We believe having a roommate could help you socialize and recover from your trauma."

Sensing his defeat, Hisoka huffed and plopped down in one of the chairs. It was at this moment his mind could register that someone had entered the room and he looked up to see who it was. Immediately green eyes locked with purple and panic filled the blonde's eyes. Tsuzuki could see the fear forming from across the room but didn't understand why it was directed at him; if it even was. Tatsumi saw the reaction and gestured for Tsuzuki to come over quickly. He knew this was one of Hisoka's anxiety attacks and the best way to resolve this was to show that Tsuzuki was no threat.

"Hisoka, Tsuzuki is a friend alright? He's just coming in to talk to you, calm down. You've met him before haven't you?" His eyes turned toward the older man as Tsuzuki approached and gently put his hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to startle you..." There was a slight flinch from the younger boy before he calmed down. Regret, sorrow, pain, sadness, and genuine concern flooded the empath's mind. The last one was definitely not harmful and he was honestly a bit shocked to feel that from someone whom he'd met only once and was completely rude to. After a few moments Hisoka was able to catch his breath and regain control over the reality of the situation but the second Tsuzuki moved to sit down, he got up.

"May I be excused?" Hisoka asked softly and as much as this meeting had gone completely wrong, Tatsumi knew not to push either boy to their limits.

"Yes you may. Your new rooming assignment is posted on your door." A soft nod was the last response Hisoka gave before exiting the room. Sighing a little he regained his posture turning back towards Tsuzuki who looked thoroughly confused and slightly upset; considering his latest week of emptiness though this was great progress in such a short time. Tatsumi smiled knowing he'd made the right decision in both of their cases. "Tsuzuki, your room has also changed. You'll be rooming with Kurosaki-kun until you leave."

"But he hates me! And now I think he's afraid of me too..." His head shot up.

"He does not hate you and he's far from afraid of you. It's up to him to disclose personal information but I will say be careful when entering a room that you know he's in. Announce yourself or knock so that you don't surprise him."

"Is that why he looked so scared of me? He didn't hear me come in?"

"Yes. He unfortunately is not ok with anyone sneaking up on him. It tricks his mind into reliving something dreadful and it's almost as if he's out of this reality. Talking alone rarely helps since he doesn't hear you in that state." Tatsumi paused to adjust his glasses and smile. "He was unable to have roommates due to this and other reasons but your… colorful demeanor is easy to hear coming."

This last statement made Tsuzuki smile and he nodded accepting his new roommate assignment. He'd gone through room changes before so he didn't need to be briefed. What passed through his mind as he left the room after hugging the social worker tight was why he said their new rooming assignment would help them both. He'd be leaving as soon as he proved he could handle bad news right?

Hisoka was in a bad mood the rest of the day and chose to avoid people even more than usual. The cafeteria workers almost had to force him to eat again but he hated the feeling of being restrained and potentially gagged so he ate the minimum amount allowed. After a short break outside he went to his new room to lie down. His stuff had already been moved in, along with the roommates stuff. At this point he could careless who moved in; it would end the same way any other attempt had anyway.

About an hour later after Hisoka had settled into his bed, there was a loud knock on the door before it opened. The sudden noise woke the boy but did not startle him as he looked up seeing the familiar purple eyes and brown hair of the boy from earlier. He could only sigh heavily and roll back over facing the wall.

"I guess you don't mind me having the top bed?" Tsuzuki asked seeing that Hisoka had already made himself at home on the lower bed of the bunk bed. This unfortunately got no response from the younger boy. Far from discouraged though, Tsuzuki began unraveling from the day and getting himself comfortable with his belongings in the new room. The commotion caught the blonde's attention however when he noticed that it sounded like a hippo jumping around the room, tearing up the place. Turning over he saw exactly what his roommate's version of "home sweet home" looked like.

"What in the world are you doing? It was neat and organized before you came in." He sat up looking around the room seeing shoes thrown one way, clothes another and a backpack spewing all over the floor.

"I like it a little homey!" Tsuzuki replied from above him. "If it's too neat it reminds me of a hospital." Surprisingly Hisoka actually couldn't agree with his reasoning. He didn't like hospitals either but then again he hates living in his own filth too. Maybe if it was someone else's, it's not as bad? Hisoka sighed and shifted so he could look up only to see the boy above him only now have his boxers on.

"You're naked!"

"Huh? Oh, I'm getting ready for bed sorry. I'll be under the covers soon! Promise!" Hisoka quickly moved back under to his bed practically hiding in embarrassment from the fact that his roommate was naked... and better yet planning to sleep like that too. He wasn't sure how comfortable he'd be with such an open roommate but so far he seemed nice.

Then again, the last person he trusted only hurt him. That thought and mental reminder needed to leave. Giving up the fight of even bothering to make sense of Tsuzuki, he sighed and got out of bed to go to the bathroom. A nice bath would relax him and clear his head of any unwanted thoughts of the past. He slipped into the water thinking about how his whole world has once again been flipped inside out by the system in place with child services.

"Today makes three years since I've been in this system... Only three more years to go and I can be off on my own without my father able to reclaim me." Everyone knew, including the children here that at age 18 they'd be released from the state's hands since they were technically adults. Their parents would no longer have a say and Hisoka knew his father would try and find some way to reclaim him before that time, even if he wasn't cured by the facility's standards.

It made his skin crawl to even think about his father which made him wrap his arms around his knees. Deep down he knew his father did not want him back out of love. No, the Kurosaki family had only one heir and if he was not announced before he became 18, the company would go to the next leader. The Kurosaki name would no longer be honorable or carry any worth to it like it does now. The blonde could care less though about the Kurosaki family business and even less about his father.

The same man who had beaten, burned, and locked his son in a basement for years only wanted him back so the heir could be announced with dignity. That the next heir wasn't in a facility protected by the government, in this case, from parents who neglect their children. This would ruin his father and their name. "I don't care... I don't want that life back." Hisoka sighed washing his face again and decided it was time to get out of the tub. "Maybe Tsuzuki's actually the real deal."

Thoroughly drying himself and dressing for bed, he headed back to their room. By the time he returned back though, the lights were off and his new roommate was already peacefully asleep. Slipping into the bed below quietly, his mind managed to stop the onslaught of memories and thoughts and he too was able to fall asleep quickly.