Recommended listening for this chapter: Book of Days by Enya

My Angel

Chapter Two

The next morning was dark and cold, the frost that had been collecting at the edges of the windows now obstructing most of the view outside as the blizzard continued its path downward, building up on sidewalks and streets and making it harder for people to move around in the now knee deep snow. No one could honestly tell it was morning, with how dark it was, the grey overcast clouds blocking all view of the normally blue sky and bright sun.

Emerald eyes fluttered open sleepily, appearing again from the darkness within mind. A corn silk hand came up to rub out the tired look from those startling eyes, focusing and mind registering where the owner was. The hand that had been adjusting the sight of eyes came up to run itself through the mop of ashen blonde hair, brushing it out of the tired eyes.

The green eyes closed again as the owner of them sat up, throwing the warm comforter off his upper body. He looked down, relieved to see his necklace still there, and realized he was in the same outfit as last night, the same blank tank top and white Capri pants. He knew he probably should not have worn such clothing when treading through snowy cold streets, but he did not seem to fit with anything else.

Sighing, the teen threw off the comforter completely, moving his legs and placing his feet silently on the floor, not making a sound as he pulled himself off the bed, walking wordlessly across the polished floor that seemed to warm at the simple touch of skin to wood. He realized the temperature in the house was warmer than it had been last night and he checked the thermostat. It read 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and as he watched, it went down a single degree. He walked out of the foreign bedroom and turned a corner, accidentally bumping into someone.

"Oh, gomen nasai," he apologized, rubbing his already sore head.

"Hisoka?"

The boy looked up to meet the soft amethyst eyes he had seen the previous night, regarding him with mild curiosity and concern. "You feel any better this morning?"

The teen nodded gratefully. "I am fine, thank you. What about you?"

Tsuzuki smiled a simple carefree kind of smile and answered, "I'm actually pretty good this morning. I was going to come and wake you in a few minutes, but you're already up."

The boy nodded, casting his eyes towards the window not far from his left. He was disappointed to see the snow continuing down faster than he had seen ten minutes ago from the bed. He couldn't go out in this.

"Ne, Hisoka?" Tsuzuki asked, waving a hand in front of his face. The green eyes looked up at him silently, showing that the owner of them was listening intently.

"Would you like to take a shower and change?" he offered. "It may help you feel better."

"I appreciate the offer, Tsuzuki-san," Hisoka began. "But I have nothing to change into."

"Please, just call me Tsuzuki," Tsuzuki said with a smile. "Using 'san' makes sound so old. And I think I can find you something to change into don't worry."

"I-I think I've troubled you enough," Hisoka stuttered, but he just got his hair ruffled as a response and a small chuckle from the man before him.

"It's no trouble at all," Tsuzuki reassured, letting go of the soft hair that his fingers had been in a moment ago. "I said before, you may stay as long as you'd like. Now go on, take a shower and I'll bring in something for you to change into."

A light blush staining the porcelain cheeks, Hisoka turned around and headed into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He walked over to the sink and cabinets, looking at his reflection. His hair was tousled into its normal mop form and his green eyes were wide as ever. His pale creamy skin felt cold to the touch, but he knew a hot shower would take care of that.

He opened up the first cabinet and took out a large fluffy white towel that felt warm to the touch, at least, warm compared to his still cold clothes. He placed the towel by the shower and lifted his arms up, throwing off his black tank top, which landed silently on the floor at his feet. He unfastened the golden sash around his waist, letting it slip beside his shirt before dressing out of his Capri pants, letting them slowly slide down to ankles before he stepped out of them completely, leaving them behind as he walked to the shower.

He reached in and flipped on the control, setting it to hot to help it heat faster. When the water began to burn his fingers, he flicked it to the right and set it to warm before stepping in, sliding the curtain behind him. He let the warm liquid scald his cold body, erasing away traces of yesterday's cold that had bitten into his skin.

He was in the shower for almost five minutes before he heard a knock and the door opened. He heard Tsuzuki's voice ring out through the running water.

"Ne, Hisoka, I brought you some new clothes to change into."

"Thanks," Hisoka said loud enough to be heard over the shower, but his voice was still quiet, still like a dove's.

"Do you want me to wash your clothes?" he offered as he set down the new clothes. Hisoka shrugged, biting his lip before he nodded and said, "Sure. Thanks, but leave my belt, okay?"

"This sash?" he asked, holding up a thin shadow of a piece of cloth.

"Yeah, that doesn't need to be washed," Hisoka said, turning around and letting the hot shower water cleanse his front. He saw Tsuzuki place it back down, shrug, and walk out of the steaming bathroom. Hisoka let out a small sigh before a hand came up to touch the crucifix around his neck.

The necklace was dear to him, as someone sacred had presented it to him, someone who was the only person he trusted and should trust in his life. Also, it had a protection spell around it and it shone whenever someone dangerous would come along.

Looking down at it now, Hisoka was surprised when he barely sensed the pendant light up when he was found in that cold alleyway. He began to wonder how he could have lost himself like that. He didn't even understand how he'd ended up in that alleyway. All that was in his mind was the question of what was he doing here?

(1) "Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani," he whispered, shutting off the hot water of the shower, standing in silence as the water dripped from his hair in small droplets, sliding down his creamy skin. He waited for a moment, listening with all his might, but there came no response. He did not expect one just like that. He knew it was going to take time and faith to be able to get an answer to his lost words.

Sighing, he wrapped the towel around him and slid open the shower curtain, stepping onto the dry mat by the mirror. He wiped at the mirror with his small hand, wiping away the condensation there and revealing his reflection from the other side. His eyes were now glassy and his hair was darker with the collection of water within it.

Drying his fragile body, he turned around and slipped into the new clothes Tsuzuki had brought him. They were normal clothes, an old pair, but they were warm and just about his size, with an inch much longer on both the pant legs and the shirtsleeves. Other than that, it was perfect and the top was a nice shade of green, matching with the black pants and his golden sash, which he now replaced around his waist. He towel-dried his hair until it stopped dripping water over the green top before walking back out into the bedroom, the steam following him for about four feet before vanishing into the air.

Shaking his hair out of his eyes, Hisoka walked out of the bedroom and into the living room, where he saw his new friend sitting on the couch, sipping hot cocoa and looking out at the window at the falling snowflakes that were now adding onto the frost collecting on the sill. He turned to the teen as he entered the room.

"Ah, you're out already?" he asked in feint surprise, in a somewhat teasing tone. "Well, come have some hot chocolate, it's still warm and it's good on a day like today."

Hisoka nodded and inclined his head slightly. "Thank you, Tsuzuki."

He heard a chuckle and his new friend say, "You don't have to thank me, Hisoka. I'm just doing what I feel is right, by taking care of you."

A light blush colored at the boy's cheeks as he walked over to the pot of hot cocoa, pouring himself a steaming mug full before setting the pot back down on the warm stove to keep warm. Blowing over the steam protruding from the mug, Hisoka walked over to the window, watching the snowflakes catch on everything they touched, building up bit by bit. His eyes watched the cold become colder as the mug made his hands warmer, sending an odd warming chill down his spine. He wondered how a chill could have made him feel so warm.


(1) This saying is from the fourth manga of Yami no Matsuei.