Fanfic: Gifts - Chap 6
Title: "Gifts - Chap. 6: Hands Clean"
Author: J.J.
Warning: It's an AU and it's BASED ON THE MANGA... it contains not too descriptive rape, some OOC, some use of Japanese words (the Dictionary is at the bottom), a bit of sappiness, some spoilers...
Notes: This work is based on the manga. It makes perfect sense if you haven't read it but you will find things going differently from the anime... oh well since this is an AU and things will go differently from the manga too it shouldn't be a problem.
About the characters... Tsuzuki's character is based on the first volume of the YnM Manga and that's why he's more serious. If you get the 1st volume of the manga you'll see a more adult looking Tsuzuki than in the rest of the series. As for Hisoka... He's purposely partially different from the original.
Inspiration came from the YnM manga and a lovely pic from Akane available at this address: http://www.cursedmoons.com/ (The pic is the one called 'TsuHi-raburabu')
Warning over notes: This fic is filled with notes. You will find them at the bottom. Each time you see a number between brackets it means there's a note connected to the word/sentence that preceded it. Many of them explain references to other series, to YnM manga only or YnM anime only facts for who didn't get to read the manga or see the anime, explain apparently illogical things or warn you there's an explanation for illogical facts but that you'll get it later. However I suggest you to read the notes _AFTER_ you finished the fic unless the word/sentence connected to the note is really troublesome for you to understand. Anyway the fic should be still understandable without the notes. Notes are merely extra explanations for who wants to know more or search for spoilers.
Disclaimer:
"Yami no Matsuei" belong to Matsushita Yoko. I'm merely using her characters because I love them... especially Touda, Tsuzuki and Hisoka... ^_-
Ehy, Do I own something here? Oh yes, I own the plot and a sensible heart which would surely break if you give me harsh reviews... so please be honest but nice ok?
Thanks: To Lothlorien for betaing this! Thank you a lot!
Summary: Alternate version of the 'Nagasaki Chapter' Manga version. What if
Muraki managed to break Hisoka and Enma planned Tsuzuki & Hisoka's partnership?
"You're essentially an employee and I like you having to depend on me
You're kind of my protege and one day you'll say you learned all you know from me
I know you depend on me like a young thing would to a guardian
I know you sexualize me like a young thing would and I think I like it
Ooh this could get messy
But you don't seem to mind
Ooh don't go telling everybody
And overlook this supposed crime
We'll fast forward to a few years later
And no one knows except the both of us
And I have honored your request for silence
And you've washed your hands clean of this"
(Alanis Morissette - "Hands Clean")
Hisoka was fine - well, as fine as he ever was, which wasn't much, but...
He had also done some investigation on his own about Kyonshi, burial grounds and about... _HIM_.
He hadn't accomplished much. He didn't really know how to track down a living being using one of Enma-Cho’s computers. He knew the easier way was to ask someone, possibly Tsuzuki, how to do it - but... he wasn't going to talk about _HIM_. With anyone. Besides, he knew Shinigami weren't allowed to pursue personal matters.
He asked GuShoShin some discreet questions and discovered the existence of the Forbidden Archive. Apparently, _EVERYTHING_ was stored there. Too bad that since it was a _forbidden_ archive, he was forbidden from trying to use it. He looked down at his watch. He was so late for his appointment with Tsuzuki...
He did everything he could think of to not think about Tsuzuki after he had left him, and yet... he hadn’t been very successful in this either. He didn't know why he was so... why the man made him feel so... He didn't even know how to define the whole thing! If he was trying to learn something useful for the investigation it was because he didn't want to look like an idiot in Tsuzuki's eyes. Every time he thought _HE_ could be involved, all he wanted to do was to go and talk about it with Tsuzuki. Every time he realized there was something he didn't know, his instinct kept suggesting to go and ask Tsuzuki about it. But every time he was about to give in and follow his impulse to join the other Shinigami, he feared the man's rejection so badly he did nothing but pile excuse upon excuse to postpone his meeting with Tsuzuki, and in the end he let the time for their meeting pass. By now, Tsuzuki had probably stopped waiting for him and left, disgusted by his partner's lack of punctuality(1).
Oh well, it didn't matter. The man didn't need him, didn't want him, didn't care for him and was probably glad he hadn’t shown up. Tsuzuki was like everyone else. He _had_ to be. So why was he still - deep down - hoping he was different? Why did he want the man's acceptance and affection so badly? Why was it so difficult to keep his distance from him? He frowned stubbornly. He couldn't keep this up. The only thing his so called 'family' had taught him was to behave like a proper Kurosaki, and a Kurosaki needed no one. He had learned that lesson well. So why did he need Tsuzuki so desperately now?
He shook his head in a pitiful attempt to dismiss that course of thoughts. No one was around. It was his chance to try and peek into this Forbidden Archive. He had no real idea what he was hoping to find there. A document saying _HE_ wasn't involved in those murders? A file pointing out _HE_ wasn't in Nagasaki? The promise _HE_ would never touch him again? Or maybe just the key to his and Tsuzuki's... relationship? He walked silently through the corridor, his heart beating fast. He was so nervous he perceived Tsuzuki's emotions only when the man was close to him, glaring at him, his arms crossed on his chest(2). And Tsuzuki was angry. Really, really angry. As soon as Hisoka saw him he took a tentative step back, scared.
"Our date was over hours ago, bouya. I didn't think you'd be 'here'," Tsuzuki stated coldly. His coldness hurt. Tsuzuki had never been cold with him, never been angry with him before...
"This is none of your business," Hisoka muttered weakly, almost defensively, his gaze lowered, before realizing he sounded exactly like a spoiled brat. He didn't mean it... he... he never wanted to make Tsuzuki mad at him, he never...
"It is _SO_ my business!! You're forbidden to enter that room! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!" Tsuzuki exclaimed, coming even closer, his anger rising. All the boy needed was someone reporting catching him near the Forbidden Archive to have Enma deciding to dispose of him. The ruler of Meifu was already looking at Hisoka with suspicion and reserve. Hisoka really didn't need to do something which would have been considered a serious crime even for someone on Enma's good side. Oh, okay, so Tsuzuki couldn't really talk because he had penetrated the Archive more than once without permission, but he always made sure to not get caught, and anyway, had he been caught, consequences wouldn't have mattered much to him. But it wasn't himself they were talking about. It was Hisoka, and he wasn't going to allow the boy to risk his life. He had spent enough time in ChiJou worrying for him. He wasn't going to allow his fears to turn into reality. No, he wouldn't lose someone important to him again.
Hisoka took a step back again, finding himself cornered against the wall. He looked up at Tsuzuki with frightened green eyes, and at that sight the man somehow managed to control part of his anger, calming down, even if minimally.
"Whatever," Tsuzuki said dismissively, as if all of a sudden Hisoka's actions didn't matter to him anymore. It was to be expected Hisoka wouldn't trust him. Who ever did? But weird enough, his apparent lack of caring managed to hurt Hisoka even more than his anger. "We're going back to ChiJou. And you're coming with me!" Then he grabbed Hisoka's arm. It was an error in so many ways. Tsuzuki's feelings flowed quickly from Tsuzuki to Hisoka, filling the boy too abruptly and causing his defensive powers to flare to life immediately. Before Tsuzuki could react he found himself with a nasty, bleeding burn on his hand. Apparently he had undervalued the boy's powers. He glared at his injury. It was nothing serious for a Shinigami like him, and yet...
"Well, I see you must really hate me." The words gave him an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had dealt with hate many times. He never got used to it, no matter how much he had pretended it didn't matter. "Let's set the record straight. Are you really that set against being my partner?" he asked, his voice empty, his eyes staring at the burn. Okay, so if the boy hated him it would make things easier, the boy would be more likely to leave him alone and yet... he never wanted Hisoka to hate him. It hurt and he... He turned toward Hisoka but the child was now on the floor, curled up in a tight ball, trembling and murmuring something in such a low voice he couldn't make out what he was saying. Tsuzuki knelt near him, worried, his anger dissipating.
"Don't touch me... No... Don't come near me... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'll be good... I promise I'll be good... Don't hurt me, please..." That was what Hisoka was whimpering. Scared. The child was dead scared of him. He knew that type of fear. The fear of one who had endured too many beatings in his life, and expected another one coming soon.
"Hey..." Tsuzuki called softly to him. Hisoka didn't show any sign of hearing him but kept repeating his litany. Slowly, gently, Tsuzuki placed his uninjured hand on the boy's shoulder, allowing him to 'feel' clearly he wasn't mad at him anymore, and that he had no intention of hurting him. He guessed this would have worked better than murmuring words he wasn't sure if Hisoka would listen to or believe. He realized he’d made the right choice when Hisoka finally managed to look at him.
"I'm sorry..." the child whimpered weakly, fear still evident in his eyes.
"It's okay. I'm not mad at you anymore." He should really have known better than to touch an untrained empath with defence powers while he was angry, Tsuzuki reminded himself. It had been stupid of him and it had only managed to scare Hisoka. "I didn't mean to scare you," he assured the boy.
"I didn't mean to hurt you... I just... you touched me and you were angry and I... I feel other people's emotions really strongly. It always happens. I can't control it... I can't be touched, I... I didn't mean to hurt you, I just couldn't control..." He was babbling and he knew it. His parents were always so furious when it happened and _HE_... _HE_... as fascinating as _HE_ had found his powers, _HE_ hadn’t tolerated what _HE_ called a sign of rebellion. He also didn't understand why the reaction had been so strong. Before, all he could cause was a tiny sting and now...
It's okay, Hisoka. It was my fault. Not much damage done, see?" He showed the child his hand. It was already starting to heal. "We're Shinigami, we heal real fast. It's okay." Hisoka nodded hesitantly. He hadn't meant to hurt Tsuzuki, really. He never wanted to hurt him. Of course, no one had bothered to inform him that now that he was a Shinigami, his defence powers were increased, and tended to get 'in tune' with the powers of whoever attacked him.
"Tsuzuki-san! Hisoka-san!" a voice interrupted them. "What are you two doing here near the Forbidden Archive? Don't you know you’re not allowed here?" Hisoka lowered his gaze, knowing he was in big trouble now and fearing the consequences. He had no idea what they could do to him. He hoped it was nothing as bad as what _NUSHI-SAMA_ had done to him. Tsuzuki ruffled his hair in an affectionate, protective way, and gave GuShoShin a guilty smile.
"Sorry, GuShoShin, sorry! Hisoka got lost and when I found him I was stupid enough to startle him!" Hearing this, Hisoka looked up, eyes wide. Tsuzuki was lying to save him from punishment? Why? GuShoShin muttered something about Tsuzuki-san being an irresponsible idiot and so on... Tsuzuki merely turned towards Hisoka, smiling and asking if he could manage to get up. Hisoka, still confused by Tsuzuki's behaviour, nodded, but as soon as he tried to do so, his legs... simply refused to obey. It was frustrating and embarrassing. Scary also.(3)
Tsuzuki didn't pay it too much attention and simply picked Hisoka up effortlessly. The boy was almost weightless. Hisoka blushed, but he was too stunned to complain. No one had ever picked him up. Not like that. Okay, so Tsuzuki had done it the day before but... but... His brain refused to elaborate further. He merely let himself be carried away from that corridor and moved to a more comfortable place while GuShoShin went to make something for him to drink. He hoped it wasn't tea. He’d already had enough tea the past night. At least Tsuzuki had the good sense to sit him on a chair and not to keep him sitting in his lap as he did the day before. Once had been embarrassing enough. Once had also been good enough for him to long for it again. Oh, that was just plain stupid. He wasn't a child and no one would hold him anyway... and... and... His head was spinning and it felt so good when Tsuzuki placed his cold hand against his forehead that he almost sighed. Almost. The moment was interrupted by GuShoShin's voice announcing he was back.
"Please tell me it's not tea," was the first thing he said, eyeing the drink GuShoShin was carrying suspiciously.
"Mn... from the scent of it I'd say it's coffee," Tsuzuki suggested, then cheered loudly when his guess turned out to be right. Hisoka gave him a funny look. Tsuzuki was back to childish mode, and he didn't know whether to feel relief or disappointment about it. "Ehy, GuShoShin, where's mine?" the man complained as soon as GuShoShin gave Hisoka the cup he carried. GuShoShin pointed out he could very well go and get some coffee by himself, and that _he_, unlike a certain slacker everyone knew well, had some work to do, then left while Tsuzuki was pouting.
"You can have mine if you want, Tsuzuki...-san..." Hisoka offered in the nicest tone he had ever used. He wasn't looking forward to ingesting anything and somehow he wanted to return Tsuzuki's kindness. Tsuzuki shook his head.
"No, no. You drink that. You'll feel better after you do. Besides, didn't I tell you just Tsuzuki is fine?" Hisoka turned his gaze away, blushing cutely. Tsuzuki smiled, his sharp eyes observing his partner carefully. "Is it just me, or haven’t you hadn't lunch today?" he asked. Hisoka busied himself with drinking his coffee, his blush even more evident, refusing to answer. The attention he was getting from Tsuzuki was embarrassing, and yet it was making him very... happy. He didn't know how to respond to it. He was afraid whatever he could say would end up making the man angry again. Or disgusted. Or disinterested. Or cold. As soon as he swallowed a sip of coffee he snorted.
"It's so sweet!" he complained. He wasn't used to sweet things. The little he ate didn't include them.
"Good," Tsuzuki replied, smiling merrily. "You need to get some sugar in your system. Sugar gives energy," the man informed him. Hisoka turned his gaze away again.
"Why did you do it?" he asked in a whisper.
"Do what?" Tsuzuki asked curiously, coming closer.
"You lied to GuShoShin. Why? It's not even the first time you’ve done it..." Tsuzuki had already lied to not embarrass him or to avoid him being questioned by GuShoShin, and now he had done it again to save him from punishment. Why? No one had ever tried to spare him a punishment before.
"I didn't exactly lie to him. I did scare you," Tsuzuki pointed out, skillfully avoiding giving him an explanation.
"It was just my empathy that chose to bug me," Hisoka muttered, before taking another sip of coffee, blushing. He was scared more often that not and yet he always refused to admit it. It was just another one of the things his 'family' had taught him to never do. Tsuzuki was tempted to smile as he observed Hisoka trying to hide his embarrassment by scowling at the floor, his gaze lowered and his cheeks red. What a fierce spirit the boy would have had, hadn't his life been ruined by his kidnapper, who instilled in him too much fear than the boy could digest. He was ready to bet, had the boy another life, he would be yelling and throwing things at him almost constantly. Poor little thing, he thought as he moved his hand towards the youth to ruffle Hisoka's hair. The boy was about to move it away, claiming he didn't need pity or sympathy, but the emotion Hisoka felt when Tsuzuki touched him wasn't either of them. Affection. He trembled under the wave of that emotion no one had ever directed towards him, unable to say anything, and closed his eyes.
"It'll be okay, bouya," Tsuzuki assured him. Hisoka's eyes snapped open at the nickname.
"My name is Hisoka, not bouya!" the boy snapped, but something in his tone was trembling as if to show the boy was about to cry. "I hate it when you call me that! It's how..." How _HE_ called him. Hisoka's tone was subdued again almost immediately at the memory of _HE_. "And stop saying everything will be fine," he whispered "It won't ever be. My empathy will forever ruin everything, and I will always dream what _HE_..." he trailed off, refusing to talk about _HIM_.
"I'll see to have you trained about controlling your empathy if that's the problem," Tsuzuki assured him gently. "It won't solve everything, but it'll make it a lot better." Tsuzuki's gaze turned serious. "Besides this, are you hiding anything else? Can't you tell me - your partner?"
"... I won't tell," Hisoka murmured. "It doesn't concern you," he added hurriedly by way of explanation. Tsuzuki frowned. Hisoka cringed, not sure about what he’d done wrong. Tsuzuki sighed.
"Fine, as you prefer. From now on I'll deal with the investigation on ChiJou while you stay here," Tsuzuki said, getting up from his chair. His tone was somewhat colder than usual, but his mind was made up. Apparently Hisoka knew something he didn't want to tell him. Tsuzuki suspected this was more serious than Hisoka believed, or wanted to believe.
"What? What do you mean?" the boy asked, confused.
"As long as you keep things from me you're more a liability than a help," Tsuzuki stated. He didn't like to say it, but it was a truth they needed to face, and it was a good excuse to leave the boy in Meifu. He had no idea what Hisoka's problem was, but he had gathered whatever was worrying the boy was in ChiJou. The case was dangerous, Hisoka was defenceless and Enma was already worried enough about the boy's possible betrayal or something similar. No reason to expose Hisoka to further danger by dragging him to ChiJou. Time to teach him how harsh a Shinigami's life was, and how better and safer it would be for him to return back to ShinKou-Cho.
"You can't cut me out of the job!" Hisoka exclaimed, standing up. He didn't want that job really, but that work was the only connection he had with Tsuzuki and... Tsuzuki turned round. Yes, the boy would have had quite a temper. Too bad he hadn't been allowed to develop it, he mused, as he saw that Hisoka, as soon as he noticed his glare, turned his gaze away like a scared puppy, trembling slightly. He hadn't meant to scare him, but maybe this would make things easier.
"You'll wait here," he said with a tone of finality, turning and leaving the boy. Hisoka slumped back in his chair and hugged himself, feeling abandoned. He didn't want to return to ChiJou, but he refused to allow Tsuzuki to think of him as a coward or a... liability. A liability - that was what he was. A disgrace to his family, a toy to _HIM_, a liability to Tsuzuki. He bit his lower lip. He refused to accept that. He wouldn’t allow it. He was Kurosaki Hisoka. He could do everything he wanted to. He would prove to Tsuzuki he wasn't a liability. He would prove he was a good partner to him. He would prove he was worth keeping around to Tsuzuki. He would show him!... Why did he have this desperate wish to show him?
In the end he had secretly followed Tsuzuki back to ChiJou, even if, now that he was there, he had no idea about what to do or how Tsuzuki would take his disobedience. He just hoped he wouldn't be mad at him. He didn't mean to trouble him, he only wanted to help... However, after following Tsuzuki at a safe distance for almost an hour he had really no idea about what Tsuzuki was doing wandering around Nagasaki's restaurants like that. Tsuzuki was the senior employer in the Shokan-ka... he should have a plan, he even 'felt' like a person with a plan, so he HAD to have a plan, he reasoned, even if he couldn't figure out how their vampire and the restaurants Tsuzuki was visiting were related!
It was getting late, and also cold. Why had he left his jacket in Enma-Cho? Tsuzuki stopped again in front of a shop, and paused to watch his reflection on the shop-window. Hisoka sighed, when he felt something from the man, something like... accomplishment. Accomplishment about what? He stretched his empathy as best as he could, which was getting hard due to the pounding headache all the emotions streaming from all those people around had caused him. He didn't catch what had caused Tsuzuki's feeling, but he did feel something else. A sensation he recognized. The distinct 'empty' feeling that betrayed the presence of Maria Won.
'Tsuzuki, you idiot! Don't you realize you're in danger?' he thought in panic. Then truth dawned on him. That was why the man felt he had accomplished something! He knew Maria was there! He wanted Maria Won to follow him! Was that why he hadn't wanted him around? But he couldn't just leave Tsuzuki alone in dealing with the vampire... Not that he knew how to deal with a vampire, but he just couldn't abandon Tsuzuki alone either. So he followed the two as discreetly as he could.
It was dark when Tsuzuki let himself fall on a bench and fell asleep on it, apparently exhausted. Hisoka didn't notice it immediately, his whole attention concentrated on Maria, and when he did realize, the vampire was already too close to Tsuzuki for his liking. He ran towards them, not really knowing what to do, but before he could come close enough, Tsuzuki was already standing on his feet, having avoided two of Maria's attacks and used a Fuda against her. He saw Maria... freezing and slumping against Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki said something to her, but Hisoka didn't bother to listen to it. He ran straight to his partner.
"You... You... You wanted to leave me behind at Enma-Cho so you could lure her! You pretended to sleep so you could lure her! And to think that I was so worried about you! I'm such an idiot!" Hisoka almost yelled at Tsuzuki, without even bothering to catch his breath, while holding one of Tsuzuki's sleeves as if to make sure the man was really there.
"Eh!? What, what? You were worried about me?" Tsuzuki said, in an amused, almost teasing tone, and yet... behind it Hisoka could feel disbelief and... hope, as if he, too, never had someone who cared about him. Hisoka blinked, then blushed, realizing he was still clutching Tsuzuki's sleeve like a lost child, and let it go hurriedly before turning his gaze away, trying to look at everywhere but Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki's smile softened, and he placed a hand on Hisoka's head, ruffling the honey blond hair. Hisoka just let him do it, savouring the affection he perceived through the contact, and the relief at the knowledge Tsuzuki was well and wasn't mad at him. "Thanks for worrying, but you shouldn't have," Tsuzuki said softly to him. "Besides, didn't I tell you to wait for me in Enma-Cho?" the man asked, but in his voice or emotions there was no trace of anger, only... playfulness, as if what Hisoka had done was merely to play a joke on him. Hisoka blushed even redder.
"I only came because Shinigami have to work in pairs," he replied in a sullen tone. He felt like a little child, which was weird and embarrassing but somehow... it wasn't so bad. It just... melted something inside him and made his eyes water. "Will she return to normal now?" he asked hurriedly, pointing at Maria, trying desperately to gain control of his own emotions once more. Besides, he felt strangely annoyed at the fact that Maria was still learning against Tsuzuki.
"No..." Tsuzuki said, his expression distant and his feelings definitely sad. "The Fuda's power should isolate her from the control of whoever turned her into a vampire. If she were to return to normal, she would become a corpse." Hisoka wondered why Tsuzuki seemed to consider this a bad thing. After all she _was_ a corpse. If she returned to her previous state, the case was solved and they could go back to Enma-Cho, but apparently that wouldn't satisfy Tsuzuki.
He was about to ask what Tsuzuki was planning to do when Maria returned to consciousness. Apparently Tsuzuki was interested in listening to her sob story about how her stepmother used her and pushed her to suicide. It was the usual, old story for him. She should have just dealt with it as he’d done when his parents had hated him and kept him locked in the basement. Instead Tsuzuki was all so busy trying to cheer her up. He felt jealous. It wasn't fair. Why should she get comprehension and encouragement from HIS partner? He sighed. He was behaving like a spoiled brat. What had happened to him wasn't Maria's fault and he had been the first to try to refuse Tsuzuki's comforting words. He sighed again. The fact that he had been taught to not accept comfort didn't mean he didn't want it.
He sighed a third time, feeling neglected. Tsuzuki glanced at him and his gaze softened. He should have told Hisoka to return to Meifu, knowing that it was safer if he sent Hisoka back, and that he had already risked enough 'allowing' him to follow him, but... he couldn't. He couldn't push away the youth, especially when Hisoka had that 'I'm all alone and no one cares about me' expression on his face. So he did something stupid. He invited him to go with them to Maria's stepmother. Hisoka seemed surprised at the invitation, then he lowered his gaze to hide his blush, and nodded. Tsuzuki wasn't an empath, but he knew that just by asking him to come, he had made Hisoka happy. Tsuzuki masked his worry behind another smile. He only hoped he’d done the right thing...
Maria's stepmother wasn't at all pleased to see them if the fact that she threw a glass at them could be taken as a hint. The glass didn't reach them. It shattered as soon as it was close to Tsuzuki. Hisoka blinked, and tried to keep his cool. He wondered if all the Shinigami were capable of things like that, and if someone would even bother to mention it to him, and to teach him to use his new abilities. Tsuzuki, however, had explained how to create a Kekkai, and his duty was to put a Kekkai around the place so that no one would bug them, while Tsuzuki tried to extract information from Maria's stepmother. It was supposed to be an easy job, and he knew that was why Tsuzuki was allowing him to handle it. He sighed. He didn't want to leave Tsuzuki. The man felt... 'weird'. Oh, he was serious and concentrated all right, but he was also... bitter, unhappy and angry. Tsuzuki didn't like what he was doing, and Hisoka doubted he really wanted to be left alone doing it. However, there was nothing he could do to help him besides setting up the Kekkai.
Maybe once he had done it he could get back inside and... Hisoka didn't have the time to wonder about it any more. As soon as he was out of the door he managed only to exchange a few words with Maria before feeling... _HIM_ then... everything blurred. _HIS_ emotions filled him, emotions he was very familiar with and yet hated, and he found himself unable to resist them and was dragged in. Numb, so numb even his defensive powers couldn't work, and lost, so lost in that sea of dark emotions that he was helpless and unable to stop _NUSHI-SAMA_ from slamming him against a wall and slicing his throat with a knife, his blood spraying out and staining even the ceiling.(4) Weakness and a rising darkness overcame him, and he barely realized _HE_ had now wrapped him in _HIM_ coat and picked him up in a hold that felt so different from the one Tsuzuki had used when he had done the same thing... sounds... voices... maybe _NUSHI-SAMA_ was talking to someone? Tsuzuki... where was Tsuzuki? He couldn't reach him, not even with his empathy... Tsuzuki... He wanted Tsuzuki... and then he felt himself being dragged away... in a world made up of only darkness...
JJ's Notes:
1. Has anyone any idea why Hisoka didn't show up at the meeting in the real YnM and went to the Forbidden Archive so late? Here I supposed he was so distressed he... well... basically was almost not responsible for his actions, but in the manga/anime Hisoka is in quite a calm state, so why did he go there so late when there was the chance that Tsuzuki would come back to search for him just as he did? Okay, so maybe he found out about the Archive at the last minute but still... And what did he do while he wasn't with Tsuzuki? I’d really like to know... Oh, one last question. Anyone know what the Forbidden Secret Archive was called in the Japanese version?
2. I'm supposing that if Hisoka's emotions are stronger than the ones of the people around him, his empathy wouldn't really perceive them... as if he was shouting so loud he couldn't hear what people around him were saying...
3. Sometimes, after a shock or a big scare, legs just refuse to move and it is exactly frustrating, embarrassing and a tiny bit scary because you feel be paralysed.
4. Has anyone else ever wondered about why, when Tsuzuki touched Hisoka, he got blasted against the wall while, when Muraki did the same he didn't get even a scratch? Life is unfair like that... Here the difference is simply done by the base feelings. Tsuzuki was angry with Hisoka therefore the reaction he got from him was aggressive. Muraki was pleased he would get to use Hisoka therefore even if he planned to hurt him Hisoka's empathy didn't react with violence... It's not very clear, isn't it? Sorry, but that's the best I could come up.
JJ's Extra Notes:
And back we are with some healthy Tsuzuki/Hisoka interaction! Oh, and this is a long chap. to make up for the fact that the previous was short. What else to say? Again some attempts to explain what didn't make sense to me in the manga. I admit I would have liked to spend more time talking about the chat between Tsuzuki and Maria's stepmother (Tsuzuki is so cool in it!) but adding it would have ruined Muraki's entrance so... it had to go.
The 'Nagasaki Arc' manga version is quite different from the anime one. Since Viz recently printed the first YnM volume I guess now there are many more people knowing this. Anyway... for those who want the basic differences...
In the manga Hisoka was trying to enter in the Forbidden Archive when Tsuzuki came and tried to drag him away. Hisoka's defensive power hurt Tsuzuki, but Hisoka explained him he didn't do it on purpose. Tsuzuki tried to discover what Hisoka was hiding but Hisoka refused to talk. Tsuzuki informed him that Shinigami work in pair because they have to keep an eye on each other so none of them would use their abilities for his own personal gain, warned him that his attempt to enter in the Archive would be reported (JJ's note: but we never heard of it again so maybe Tsuzuki didn't report it in the end) and ordered him to go back to ChiJou and follow Maria. Then he leaves. (JJ's note: Poor Hisoka... he had such an 'abandoned puppy' look when Tsuzuki left him...).
Back in ChiJou Tsuzuki is sighing in front of his tea when GuShoShin joined him. Tsuzuki complained he couldn't get along with Hisoka. GuShoShin said that Hisoka's parents mistreated him and that Tsuzuki can be the one who can manage to help the boy trust people. This cheered Tsuzuki up who decided he'd visit some local restaurant. Maria, under Muraki's control, followed him. Tsuzuki noticed her. Hisoka followed Maria without noticing she's following Tsuzuki. In the evening Tsuzuki fell asleep on a bench. Maria tried to bite him. Hisoka finally saw Tsuzuki and ran toward him but Tsuzuki just got up and used his Fuda to paralyse Maria. Hisoka joined Tsuzuki. Maria told them her story. They went back to the studio. Maria told her stepmother she wouldn't obey her anymore.
Tsuzuki and Hisoka joined her. Maria's stepmother throw something at Tsuzuki but it crashed before hitting Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki, with a Very Scary Look, spoke with Maria's stepmother while Hisoka and Maria went out to set a kekkai. Tsuzuki showed her a candle and said that's Maria's stepmother candle of life. Maria's stepmother said that she had been informed that Tsuzuki was a killer and due to this he couldn't judge her. Tsuzuki took a water pitcher and doused the candle. Out of the room Maria tried to remember who woke her from death but couldn’t, then started babbling that 'He is coming'. In fact someone had just joined them. Back to Tsuzuki...
Maria's stepmother was still alive. Tsuzuki said that wasn't her candle, but since she knew he was a killer she should also know he wouldn't have any problems with killing her. She said she couldn’t talk or 'he' would kill her. Tsuzuki asked her if she was talking of Muraki. She confirmed it. Tsuzuki heard noises outside and Maria calling him. He went out but was shocked by blood all over the ceiling and the sight of Hisoka in Muraki's arms. The two exchanged words, then Muraki escaped in his car.
So no, in the manga GuShoShin didn't talk with Hisoka, nor told Tsuzuki that Hisoka was in the library. Tsuzuki didn’t blame Hisoka about not doing his work, didn’t drag GuShoShin on ChiJou as temporary partner and didn’t try to enter Maria's room again. Maria didn't try suicide and when she attacked Tsuzuki, Muraki didn’t try to trap him with a barrier and Hisoka didn’t have to free him. Maria didn't sing in the Uta Matsuri in Nagasaki, and as you already read, Hisoka was kidnapped in a different way.
Dictionary:
-sama: "Lord" or "Lady"
-san: "Mr." or "Mrs."
Bouya: Boy
ChiJou: Land of the Living
Enma: "Demon of Darkness". Ruler of the Land of Dead
Enma-Cho: "Office Enma". In the 5th district of JuOhCho. It's ruled by Enma himself and controls only Tokyo's territory. It hosts the Shokan-ka
Fuda: Short for 'Ujikofuda' ("Charm for Shrine Visitors"). Rectangular paper "charm" used to cast some spells
GuShoShin: "Twin Living Gods" or "Twin Gods of Life". Enma-Cho's chicken-like librarians
Kekkai: Shield
Kyonshi: Chinese Vampire
Meifu: Land of the Dead
Nushi: "Master" or "Owner" or "Lover"
Shinigami: "God of Death" or "Death God". Nickname for the Shokan-ka workers
ShinKou-Cho: "Office ShinKou". In the 1st district of JuOhCho. It controls Okinawa's territory
Shokan-Ka: "Summoning Division". Division in Enma-Cho that deals with summoning the dead to appear at court. It enters in action only when the souls of the dead don't go spontaneously to Meifu
Uta Matsuri: Song Festival
Don't grumble silently, please let me know what you're thinking of this!
Send me your comments!
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Author: J.J.
Warning: It's an AU and it's BASED ON THE MANGA... it contains not too descriptive rape, some OOC, some use of Japanese words (the Dictionary is at the bottom), a bit of sappiness, some spoilers...
Notes: This work is based on the manga. It makes perfect sense if you haven't read it but you will find things going differently from the anime... oh well since this is an AU and things will go differently from the manga too it shouldn't be a problem.
About the characters... Tsuzuki's character is based on the first volume of the YnM Manga and that's why he's more serious. If you get the 1st volume of the manga you'll see a more adult looking Tsuzuki than in the rest of the series. As for Hisoka... He's purposely partially different from the original.
Inspiration came from the YnM manga and a lovely pic from Akane available at this address: http://www.cursedmoons.com/ (The pic is the one called 'TsuHi-raburabu')
Warning over notes: This fic is filled with notes. You will find them at the bottom. Each time you see a number between brackets it means there's a note connected to the word/sentence that preceded it. Many of them explain references to other series, to YnM manga only or YnM anime only facts for who didn't get to read the manga or see the anime, explain apparently illogical things or warn you there's an explanation for illogical facts but that you'll get it later. However I suggest you to read the notes _AFTER_ you finished the fic unless the word/sentence connected to the note is really troublesome for you to understand. Anyway the fic should be still understandable without the notes. Notes are merely extra explanations for who wants to know more or search for spoilers.
Disclaimer:
"Yami no Matsuei" belong to Matsushita Yoko. I'm merely using her characters because I love them... especially Touda, Tsuzuki and Hisoka... ^_-
Ehy, Do I own something here? Oh yes, I own the plot and a sensible heart which would surely break if you give me harsh reviews... so please be honest but nice ok?
Thanks: To Lothlorien for betaing this! Thank you a lot!
Summary: Alternate version of the 'Nagasaki Chapter' Manga version. What if
Muraki managed to break Hisoka and Enma planned Tsuzuki & Hisoka's partnership?
"You're essentially an employee and I like you having to depend on me
You're kind of my protege and one day you'll say you learned all you know from me
I know you depend on me like a young thing would to a guardian
I know you sexualize me like a young thing would and I think I like it
Ooh this could get messy
But you don't seem to mind
Ooh don't go telling everybody
And overlook this supposed crime
We'll fast forward to a few years later
And no one knows except the both of us
And I have honored your request for silence
And you've washed your hands clean of this"
(Alanis Morissette - "Hands Clean")
Hisoka was fine - well, as fine as he ever was, which wasn't much, but...
He had also done some investigation on his own about Kyonshi, burial grounds and about... _HIM_.
He hadn't accomplished much. He didn't really know how to track down a living being using one of Enma-Cho’s computers. He knew the easier way was to ask someone, possibly Tsuzuki, how to do it - but... he wasn't going to talk about _HIM_. With anyone. Besides, he knew Shinigami weren't allowed to pursue personal matters.
He asked GuShoShin some discreet questions and discovered the existence of the Forbidden Archive. Apparently, _EVERYTHING_ was stored there. Too bad that since it was a _forbidden_ archive, he was forbidden from trying to use it. He looked down at his watch. He was so late for his appointment with Tsuzuki...
He did everything he could think of to not think about Tsuzuki after he had left him, and yet... he hadn’t been very successful in this either. He didn't know why he was so... why the man made him feel so... He didn't even know how to define the whole thing! If he was trying to learn something useful for the investigation it was because he didn't want to look like an idiot in Tsuzuki's eyes. Every time he thought _HE_ could be involved, all he wanted to do was to go and talk about it with Tsuzuki. Every time he realized there was something he didn't know, his instinct kept suggesting to go and ask Tsuzuki about it. But every time he was about to give in and follow his impulse to join the other Shinigami, he feared the man's rejection so badly he did nothing but pile excuse upon excuse to postpone his meeting with Tsuzuki, and in the end he let the time for their meeting pass. By now, Tsuzuki had probably stopped waiting for him and left, disgusted by his partner's lack of punctuality(1).
Oh well, it didn't matter. The man didn't need him, didn't want him, didn't care for him and was probably glad he hadn’t shown up. Tsuzuki was like everyone else. He _had_ to be. So why was he still - deep down - hoping he was different? Why did he want the man's acceptance and affection so badly? Why was it so difficult to keep his distance from him? He frowned stubbornly. He couldn't keep this up. The only thing his so called 'family' had taught him was to behave like a proper Kurosaki, and a Kurosaki needed no one. He had learned that lesson well. So why did he need Tsuzuki so desperately now?
He shook his head in a pitiful attempt to dismiss that course of thoughts. No one was around. It was his chance to try and peek into this Forbidden Archive. He had no real idea what he was hoping to find there. A document saying _HE_ wasn't involved in those murders? A file pointing out _HE_ wasn't in Nagasaki? The promise _HE_ would never touch him again? Or maybe just the key to his and Tsuzuki's... relationship? He walked silently through the corridor, his heart beating fast. He was so nervous he perceived Tsuzuki's emotions only when the man was close to him, glaring at him, his arms crossed on his chest(2). And Tsuzuki was angry. Really, really angry. As soon as Hisoka saw him he took a tentative step back, scared.
"Our date was over hours ago, bouya. I didn't think you'd be 'here'," Tsuzuki stated coldly. His coldness hurt. Tsuzuki had never been cold with him, never been angry with him before...
"This is none of your business," Hisoka muttered weakly, almost defensively, his gaze lowered, before realizing he sounded exactly like a spoiled brat. He didn't mean it... he... he never wanted to make Tsuzuki mad at him, he never...
"It is _SO_ my business!! You're forbidden to enter that room! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!" Tsuzuki exclaimed, coming even closer, his anger rising. All the boy needed was someone reporting catching him near the Forbidden Archive to have Enma deciding to dispose of him. The ruler of Meifu was already looking at Hisoka with suspicion and reserve. Hisoka really didn't need to do something which would have been considered a serious crime even for someone on Enma's good side. Oh, okay, so Tsuzuki couldn't really talk because he had penetrated the Archive more than once without permission, but he always made sure to not get caught, and anyway, had he been caught, consequences wouldn't have mattered much to him. But it wasn't himself they were talking about. It was Hisoka, and he wasn't going to allow the boy to risk his life. He had spent enough time in ChiJou worrying for him. He wasn't going to allow his fears to turn into reality. No, he wouldn't lose someone important to him again.
Hisoka took a step back again, finding himself cornered against the wall. He looked up at Tsuzuki with frightened green eyes, and at that sight the man somehow managed to control part of his anger, calming down, even if minimally.
"Whatever," Tsuzuki said dismissively, as if all of a sudden Hisoka's actions didn't matter to him anymore. It was to be expected Hisoka wouldn't trust him. Who ever did? But weird enough, his apparent lack of caring managed to hurt Hisoka even more than his anger. "We're going back to ChiJou. And you're coming with me!" Then he grabbed Hisoka's arm. It was an error in so many ways. Tsuzuki's feelings flowed quickly from Tsuzuki to Hisoka, filling the boy too abruptly and causing his defensive powers to flare to life immediately. Before Tsuzuki could react he found himself with a nasty, bleeding burn on his hand. Apparently he had undervalued the boy's powers. He glared at his injury. It was nothing serious for a Shinigami like him, and yet...
"Well, I see you must really hate me." The words gave him an unpleasant feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had dealt with hate many times. He never got used to it, no matter how much he had pretended it didn't matter. "Let's set the record straight. Are you really that set against being my partner?" he asked, his voice empty, his eyes staring at the burn. Okay, so if the boy hated him it would make things easier, the boy would be more likely to leave him alone and yet... he never wanted Hisoka to hate him. It hurt and he... He turned toward Hisoka but the child was now on the floor, curled up in a tight ball, trembling and murmuring something in such a low voice he couldn't make out what he was saying. Tsuzuki knelt near him, worried, his anger dissipating.
"Don't touch me... No... Don't come near me... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'll be good... I promise I'll be good... Don't hurt me, please..." That was what Hisoka was whimpering. Scared. The child was dead scared of him. He knew that type of fear. The fear of one who had endured too many beatings in his life, and expected another one coming soon.
"Hey..." Tsuzuki called softly to him. Hisoka didn't show any sign of hearing him but kept repeating his litany. Slowly, gently, Tsuzuki placed his uninjured hand on the boy's shoulder, allowing him to 'feel' clearly he wasn't mad at him anymore, and that he had no intention of hurting him. He guessed this would have worked better than murmuring words he wasn't sure if Hisoka would listen to or believe. He realized he’d made the right choice when Hisoka finally managed to look at him.
"I'm sorry..." the child whimpered weakly, fear still evident in his eyes.
"It's okay. I'm not mad at you anymore." He should really have known better than to touch an untrained empath with defence powers while he was angry, Tsuzuki reminded himself. It had been stupid of him and it had only managed to scare Hisoka. "I didn't mean to scare you," he assured the boy.
"I didn't mean to hurt you... I just... you touched me and you were angry and I... I feel other people's emotions really strongly. It always happens. I can't control it... I can't be touched, I... I didn't mean to hurt you, I just couldn't control..." He was babbling and he knew it. His parents were always so furious when it happened and _HE_... _HE_... as fascinating as _HE_ had found his powers, _HE_ hadn’t tolerated what _HE_ called a sign of rebellion. He also didn't understand why the reaction had been so strong. Before, all he could cause was a tiny sting and now...
It's okay, Hisoka. It was my fault. Not much damage done, see?" He showed the child his hand. It was already starting to heal. "We're Shinigami, we heal real fast. It's okay." Hisoka nodded hesitantly. He hadn't meant to hurt Tsuzuki, really. He never wanted to hurt him. Of course, no one had bothered to inform him that now that he was a Shinigami, his defence powers were increased, and tended to get 'in tune' with the powers of whoever attacked him.
"Tsuzuki-san! Hisoka-san!" a voice interrupted them. "What are you two doing here near the Forbidden Archive? Don't you know you’re not allowed here?" Hisoka lowered his gaze, knowing he was in big trouble now and fearing the consequences. He had no idea what they could do to him. He hoped it was nothing as bad as what _NUSHI-SAMA_ had done to him. Tsuzuki ruffled his hair in an affectionate, protective way, and gave GuShoShin a guilty smile.
"Sorry, GuShoShin, sorry! Hisoka got lost and when I found him I was stupid enough to startle him!" Hearing this, Hisoka looked up, eyes wide. Tsuzuki was lying to save him from punishment? Why? GuShoShin muttered something about Tsuzuki-san being an irresponsible idiot and so on... Tsuzuki merely turned towards Hisoka, smiling and asking if he could manage to get up. Hisoka, still confused by Tsuzuki's behaviour, nodded, but as soon as he tried to do so, his legs... simply refused to obey. It was frustrating and embarrassing. Scary also.(3)
Tsuzuki didn't pay it too much attention and simply picked Hisoka up effortlessly. The boy was almost weightless. Hisoka blushed, but he was too stunned to complain. No one had ever picked him up. Not like that. Okay, so Tsuzuki had done it the day before but... but... His brain refused to elaborate further. He merely let himself be carried away from that corridor and moved to a more comfortable place while GuShoShin went to make something for him to drink. He hoped it wasn't tea. He’d already had enough tea the past night. At least Tsuzuki had the good sense to sit him on a chair and not to keep him sitting in his lap as he did the day before. Once had been embarrassing enough. Once had also been good enough for him to long for it again. Oh, that was just plain stupid. He wasn't a child and no one would hold him anyway... and... and... His head was spinning and it felt so good when Tsuzuki placed his cold hand against his forehead that he almost sighed. Almost. The moment was interrupted by GuShoShin's voice announcing he was back.
"Please tell me it's not tea," was the first thing he said, eyeing the drink GuShoShin was carrying suspiciously.
"Mn... from the scent of it I'd say it's coffee," Tsuzuki suggested, then cheered loudly when his guess turned out to be right. Hisoka gave him a funny look. Tsuzuki was back to childish mode, and he didn't know whether to feel relief or disappointment about it. "Ehy, GuShoShin, where's mine?" the man complained as soon as GuShoShin gave Hisoka the cup he carried. GuShoShin pointed out he could very well go and get some coffee by himself, and that _he_, unlike a certain slacker everyone knew well, had some work to do, then left while Tsuzuki was pouting.
"You can have mine if you want, Tsuzuki...-san..." Hisoka offered in the nicest tone he had ever used. He wasn't looking forward to ingesting anything and somehow he wanted to return Tsuzuki's kindness. Tsuzuki shook his head.
"No, no. You drink that. You'll feel better after you do. Besides, didn't I tell you just Tsuzuki is fine?" Hisoka turned his gaze away, blushing cutely. Tsuzuki smiled, his sharp eyes observing his partner carefully. "Is it just me, or haven’t you hadn't lunch today?" he asked. Hisoka busied himself with drinking his coffee, his blush even more evident, refusing to answer. The attention he was getting from Tsuzuki was embarrassing, and yet it was making him very... happy. He didn't know how to respond to it. He was afraid whatever he could say would end up making the man angry again. Or disgusted. Or disinterested. Or cold. As soon as he swallowed a sip of coffee he snorted.
"It's so sweet!" he complained. He wasn't used to sweet things. The little he ate didn't include them.
"Good," Tsuzuki replied, smiling merrily. "You need to get some sugar in your system. Sugar gives energy," the man informed him. Hisoka turned his gaze away again.
"Why did you do it?" he asked in a whisper.
"Do what?" Tsuzuki asked curiously, coming closer.
"You lied to GuShoShin. Why? It's not even the first time you’ve done it..." Tsuzuki had already lied to not embarrass him or to avoid him being questioned by GuShoShin, and now he had done it again to save him from punishment. Why? No one had ever tried to spare him a punishment before.
"I didn't exactly lie to him. I did scare you," Tsuzuki pointed out, skillfully avoiding giving him an explanation.
"It was just my empathy that chose to bug me," Hisoka muttered, before taking another sip of coffee, blushing. He was scared more often that not and yet he always refused to admit it. It was just another one of the things his 'family' had taught him to never do. Tsuzuki was tempted to smile as he observed Hisoka trying to hide his embarrassment by scowling at the floor, his gaze lowered and his cheeks red. What a fierce spirit the boy would have had, hadn't his life been ruined by his kidnapper, who instilled in him too much fear than the boy could digest. He was ready to bet, had the boy another life, he would be yelling and throwing things at him almost constantly. Poor little thing, he thought as he moved his hand towards the youth to ruffle Hisoka's hair. The boy was about to move it away, claiming he didn't need pity or sympathy, but the emotion Hisoka felt when Tsuzuki touched him wasn't either of them. Affection. He trembled under the wave of that emotion no one had ever directed towards him, unable to say anything, and closed his eyes.
"It'll be okay, bouya," Tsuzuki assured him. Hisoka's eyes snapped open at the nickname.
"My name is Hisoka, not bouya!" the boy snapped, but something in his tone was trembling as if to show the boy was about to cry. "I hate it when you call me that! It's how..." How _HE_ called him. Hisoka's tone was subdued again almost immediately at the memory of _HE_. "And stop saying everything will be fine," he whispered "It won't ever be. My empathy will forever ruin everything, and I will always dream what _HE_..." he trailed off, refusing to talk about _HIM_.
"I'll see to have you trained about controlling your empathy if that's the problem," Tsuzuki assured him gently. "It won't solve everything, but it'll make it a lot better." Tsuzuki's gaze turned serious. "Besides this, are you hiding anything else? Can't you tell me - your partner?"
"... I won't tell," Hisoka murmured. "It doesn't concern you," he added hurriedly by way of explanation. Tsuzuki frowned. Hisoka cringed, not sure about what he’d done wrong. Tsuzuki sighed.
"Fine, as you prefer. From now on I'll deal with the investigation on ChiJou while you stay here," Tsuzuki said, getting up from his chair. His tone was somewhat colder than usual, but his mind was made up. Apparently Hisoka knew something he didn't want to tell him. Tsuzuki suspected this was more serious than Hisoka believed, or wanted to believe.
"What? What do you mean?" the boy asked, confused.
"As long as you keep things from me you're more a liability than a help," Tsuzuki stated. He didn't like to say it, but it was a truth they needed to face, and it was a good excuse to leave the boy in Meifu. He had no idea what Hisoka's problem was, but he had gathered whatever was worrying the boy was in ChiJou. The case was dangerous, Hisoka was defenceless and Enma was already worried enough about the boy's possible betrayal or something similar. No reason to expose Hisoka to further danger by dragging him to ChiJou. Time to teach him how harsh a Shinigami's life was, and how better and safer it would be for him to return back to ShinKou-Cho.
"You can't cut me out of the job!" Hisoka exclaimed, standing up. He didn't want that job really, but that work was the only connection he had with Tsuzuki and... Tsuzuki turned round. Yes, the boy would have had quite a temper. Too bad he hadn't been allowed to develop it, he mused, as he saw that Hisoka, as soon as he noticed his glare, turned his gaze away like a scared puppy, trembling slightly. He hadn't meant to scare him, but maybe this would make things easier.
"You'll wait here," he said with a tone of finality, turning and leaving the boy. Hisoka slumped back in his chair and hugged himself, feeling abandoned. He didn't want to return to ChiJou, but he refused to allow Tsuzuki to think of him as a coward or a... liability. A liability - that was what he was. A disgrace to his family, a toy to _HIM_, a liability to Tsuzuki. He bit his lower lip. He refused to accept that. He wouldn’t allow it. He was Kurosaki Hisoka. He could do everything he wanted to. He would prove to Tsuzuki he wasn't a liability. He would prove he was a good partner to him. He would prove he was worth keeping around to Tsuzuki. He would show him!... Why did he have this desperate wish to show him?
In the end he had secretly followed Tsuzuki back to ChiJou, even if, now that he was there, he had no idea about what to do or how Tsuzuki would take his disobedience. He just hoped he wouldn't be mad at him. He didn't mean to trouble him, he only wanted to help... However, after following Tsuzuki at a safe distance for almost an hour he had really no idea about what Tsuzuki was doing wandering around Nagasaki's restaurants like that. Tsuzuki was the senior employer in the Shokan-ka... he should have a plan, he even 'felt' like a person with a plan, so he HAD to have a plan, he reasoned, even if he couldn't figure out how their vampire and the restaurants Tsuzuki was visiting were related!
It was getting late, and also cold. Why had he left his jacket in Enma-Cho? Tsuzuki stopped again in front of a shop, and paused to watch his reflection on the shop-window. Hisoka sighed, when he felt something from the man, something like... accomplishment. Accomplishment about what? He stretched his empathy as best as he could, which was getting hard due to the pounding headache all the emotions streaming from all those people around had caused him. He didn't catch what had caused Tsuzuki's feeling, but he did feel something else. A sensation he recognized. The distinct 'empty' feeling that betrayed the presence of Maria Won.
'Tsuzuki, you idiot! Don't you realize you're in danger?' he thought in panic. Then truth dawned on him. That was why the man felt he had accomplished something! He knew Maria was there! He wanted Maria Won to follow him! Was that why he hadn't wanted him around? But he couldn't just leave Tsuzuki alone in dealing with the vampire... Not that he knew how to deal with a vampire, but he just couldn't abandon Tsuzuki alone either. So he followed the two as discreetly as he could.
It was dark when Tsuzuki let himself fall on a bench and fell asleep on it, apparently exhausted. Hisoka didn't notice it immediately, his whole attention concentrated on Maria, and when he did realize, the vampire was already too close to Tsuzuki for his liking. He ran towards them, not really knowing what to do, but before he could come close enough, Tsuzuki was already standing on his feet, having avoided two of Maria's attacks and used a Fuda against her. He saw Maria... freezing and slumping against Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki said something to her, but Hisoka didn't bother to listen to it. He ran straight to his partner.
"You... You... You wanted to leave me behind at Enma-Cho so you could lure her! You pretended to sleep so you could lure her! And to think that I was so worried about you! I'm such an idiot!" Hisoka almost yelled at Tsuzuki, without even bothering to catch his breath, while holding one of Tsuzuki's sleeves as if to make sure the man was really there.
"Eh!? What, what? You were worried about me?" Tsuzuki said, in an amused, almost teasing tone, and yet... behind it Hisoka could feel disbelief and... hope, as if he, too, never had someone who cared about him. Hisoka blinked, then blushed, realizing he was still clutching Tsuzuki's sleeve like a lost child, and let it go hurriedly before turning his gaze away, trying to look at everywhere but Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki's smile softened, and he placed a hand on Hisoka's head, ruffling the honey blond hair. Hisoka just let him do it, savouring the affection he perceived through the contact, and the relief at the knowledge Tsuzuki was well and wasn't mad at him. "Thanks for worrying, but you shouldn't have," Tsuzuki said softly to him. "Besides, didn't I tell you to wait for me in Enma-Cho?" the man asked, but in his voice or emotions there was no trace of anger, only... playfulness, as if what Hisoka had done was merely to play a joke on him. Hisoka blushed even redder.
"I only came because Shinigami have to work in pairs," he replied in a sullen tone. He felt like a little child, which was weird and embarrassing but somehow... it wasn't so bad. It just... melted something inside him and made his eyes water. "Will she return to normal now?" he asked hurriedly, pointing at Maria, trying desperately to gain control of his own emotions once more. Besides, he felt strangely annoyed at the fact that Maria was still learning against Tsuzuki.
"No..." Tsuzuki said, his expression distant and his feelings definitely sad. "The Fuda's power should isolate her from the control of whoever turned her into a vampire. If she were to return to normal, she would become a corpse." Hisoka wondered why Tsuzuki seemed to consider this a bad thing. After all she _was_ a corpse. If she returned to her previous state, the case was solved and they could go back to Enma-Cho, but apparently that wouldn't satisfy Tsuzuki.
He was about to ask what Tsuzuki was planning to do when Maria returned to consciousness. Apparently Tsuzuki was interested in listening to her sob story about how her stepmother used her and pushed her to suicide. It was the usual, old story for him. She should have just dealt with it as he’d done when his parents had hated him and kept him locked in the basement. Instead Tsuzuki was all so busy trying to cheer her up. He felt jealous. It wasn't fair. Why should she get comprehension and encouragement from HIS partner? He sighed. He was behaving like a spoiled brat. What had happened to him wasn't Maria's fault and he had been the first to try to refuse Tsuzuki's comforting words. He sighed again. The fact that he had been taught to not accept comfort didn't mean he didn't want it.
He sighed a third time, feeling neglected. Tsuzuki glanced at him and his gaze softened. He should have told Hisoka to return to Meifu, knowing that it was safer if he sent Hisoka back, and that he had already risked enough 'allowing' him to follow him, but... he couldn't. He couldn't push away the youth, especially when Hisoka had that 'I'm all alone and no one cares about me' expression on his face. So he did something stupid. He invited him to go with them to Maria's stepmother. Hisoka seemed surprised at the invitation, then he lowered his gaze to hide his blush, and nodded. Tsuzuki wasn't an empath, but he knew that just by asking him to come, he had made Hisoka happy. Tsuzuki masked his worry behind another smile. He only hoped he’d done the right thing...
Maria's stepmother wasn't at all pleased to see them if the fact that she threw a glass at them could be taken as a hint. The glass didn't reach them. It shattered as soon as it was close to Tsuzuki. Hisoka blinked, and tried to keep his cool. He wondered if all the Shinigami were capable of things like that, and if someone would even bother to mention it to him, and to teach him to use his new abilities. Tsuzuki, however, had explained how to create a Kekkai, and his duty was to put a Kekkai around the place so that no one would bug them, while Tsuzuki tried to extract information from Maria's stepmother. It was supposed to be an easy job, and he knew that was why Tsuzuki was allowing him to handle it. He sighed. He didn't want to leave Tsuzuki. The man felt... 'weird'. Oh, he was serious and concentrated all right, but he was also... bitter, unhappy and angry. Tsuzuki didn't like what he was doing, and Hisoka doubted he really wanted to be left alone doing it. However, there was nothing he could do to help him besides setting up the Kekkai.
Maybe once he had done it he could get back inside and... Hisoka didn't have the time to wonder about it any more. As soon as he was out of the door he managed only to exchange a few words with Maria before feeling... _HIM_ then... everything blurred. _HIS_ emotions filled him, emotions he was very familiar with and yet hated, and he found himself unable to resist them and was dragged in. Numb, so numb even his defensive powers couldn't work, and lost, so lost in that sea of dark emotions that he was helpless and unable to stop _NUSHI-SAMA_ from slamming him against a wall and slicing his throat with a knife, his blood spraying out and staining even the ceiling.(4) Weakness and a rising darkness overcame him, and he barely realized _HE_ had now wrapped him in _HIM_ coat and picked him up in a hold that felt so different from the one Tsuzuki had used when he had done the same thing... sounds... voices... maybe _NUSHI-SAMA_ was talking to someone? Tsuzuki... where was Tsuzuki? He couldn't reach him, not even with his empathy... Tsuzuki... He wanted Tsuzuki... and then he felt himself being dragged away... in a world made up of only darkness...
JJ's Notes:
1. Has anyone any idea why Hisoka didn't show up at the meeting in the real YnM and went to the Forbidden Archive so late? Here I supposed he was so distressed he... well... basically was almost not responsible for his actions, but in the manga/anime Hisoka is in quite a calm state, so why did he go there so late when there was the chance that Tsuzuki would come back to search for him just as he did? Okay, so maybe he found out about the Archive at the last minute but still... And what did he do while he wasn't with Tsuzuki? I’d really like to know... Oh, one last question. Anyone know what the Forbidden Secret Archive was called in the Japanese version?
2. I'm supposing that if Hisoka's emotions are stronger than the ones of the people around him, his empathy wouldn't really perceive them... as if he was shouting so loud he couldn't hear what people around him were saying...
3. Sometimes, after a shock or a big scare, legs just refuse to move and it is exactly frustrating, embarrassing and a tiny bit scary because you feel be paralysed.
4. Has anyone else ever wondered about why, when Tsuzuki touched Hisoka, he got blasted against the wall while, when Muraki did the same he didn't get even a scratch? Life is unfair like that... Here the difference is simply done by the base feelings. Tsuzuki was angry with Hisoka therefore the reaction he got from him was aggressive. Muraki was pleased he would get to use Hisoka therefore even if he planned to hurt him Hisoka's empathy didn't react with violence... It's not very clear, isn't it? Sorry, but that's the best I could come up.
JJ's Extra Notes:
And back we are with some healthy Tsuzuki/Hisoka interaction! Oh, and this is a long chap. to make up for the fact that the previous was short. What else to say? Again some attempts to explain what didn't make sense to me in the manga. I admit I would have liked to spend more time talking about the chat between Tsuzuki and Maria's stepmother (Tsuzuki is so cool in it!) but adding it would have ruined Muraki's entrance so... it had to go.
The 'Nagasaki Arc' manga version is quite different from the anime one. Since Viz recently printed the first YnM volume I guess now there are many more people knowing this. Anyway... for those who want the basic differences...
In the manga Hisoka was trying to enter in the Forbidden Archive when Tsuzuki came and tried to drag him away. Hisoka's defensive power hurt Tsuzuki, but Hisoka explained him he didn't do it on purpose. Tsuzuki tried to discover what Hisoka was hiding but Hisoka refused to talk. Tsuzuki informed him that Shinigami work in pair because they have to keep an eye on each other so none of them would use their abilities for his own personal gain, warned him that his attempt to enter in the Archive would be reported (JJ's note: but we never heard of it again so maybe Tsuzuki didn't report it in the end) and ordered him to go back to ChiJou and follow Maria. Then he leaves. (JJ's note: Poor Hisoka... he had such an 'abandoned puppy' look when Tsuzuki left him...).
Back in ChiJou Tsuzuki is sighing in front of his tea when GuShoShin joined him. Tsuzuki complained he couldn't get along with Hisoka. GuShoShin said that Hisoka's parents mistreated him and that Tsuzuki can be the one who can manage to help the boy trust people. This cheered Tsuzuki up who decided he'd visit some local restaurant. Maria, under Muraki's control, followed him. Tsuzuki noticed her. Hisoka followed Maria without noticing she's following Tsuzuki. In the evening Tsuzuki fell asleep on a bench. Maria tried to bite him. Hisoka finally saw Tsuzuki and ran toward him but Tsuzuki just got up and used his Fuda to paralyse Maria. Hisoka joined Tsuzuki. Maria told them her story. They went back to the studio. Maria told her stepmother she wouldn't obey her anymore.
Tsuzuki and Hisoka joined her. Maria's stepmother throw something at Tsuzuki but it crashed before hitting Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki, with a Very Scary Look, spoke with Maria's stepmother while Hisoka and Maria went out to set a kekkai. Tsuzuki showed her a candle and said that's Maria's stepmother candle of life. Maria's stepmother said that she had been informed that Tsuzuki was a killer and due to this he couldn't judge her. Tsuzuki took a water pitcher and doused the candle. Out of the room Maria tried to remember who woke her from death but couldn’t, then started babbling that 'He is coming'. In fact someone had just joined them. Back to Tsuzuki...
Maria's stepmother was still alive. Tsuzuki said that wasn't her candle, but since she knew he was a killer she should also know he wouldn't have any problems with killing her. She said she couldn’t talk or 'he' would kill her. Tsuzuki asked her if she was talking of Muraki. She confirmed it. Tsuzuki heard noises outside and Maria calling him. He went out but was shocked by blood all over the ceiling and the sight of Hisoka in Muraki's arms. The two exchanged words, then Muraki escaped in his car.
So no, in the manga GuShoShin didn't talk with Hisoka, nor told Tsuzuki that Hisoka was in the library. Tsuzuki didn’t blame Hisoka about not doing his work, didn’t drag GuShoShin on ChiJou as temporary partner and didn’t try to enter Maria's room again. Maria didn't try suicide and when she attacked Tsuzuki, Muraki didn’t try to trap him with a barrier and Hisoka didn’t have to free him. Maria didn't sing in the Uta Matsuri in Nagasaki, and as you already read, Hisoka was kidnapped in a different way.
Dictionary:
-sama: "Lord" or "Lady"
-san: "Mr." or "Mrs."
Bouya: Boy
ChiJou: Land of the Living
Enma: "Demon of Darkness". Ruler of the Land of Dead
Enma-Cho: "Office Enma". In the 5th district of JuOhCho. It's ruled by Enma himself and controls only Tokyo's territory. It hosts the Shokan-ka
Fuda: Short for 'Ujikofuda' ("Charm for Shrine Visitors"). Rectangular paper "charm" used to cast some spells
GuShoShin: "Twin Living Gods" or "Twin Gods of Life". Enma-Cho's chicken-like librarians
Kekkai: Shield
Kyonshi: Chinese Vampire
Meifu: Land of the Dead
Nushi: "Master" or "Owner" or "Lover"
Shinigami: "God of Death" or "Death God". Nickname for the Shokan-ka workers
ShinKou-Cho: "Office ShinKou". In the 1st district of JuOhCho. It controls Okinawa's territory
Shokan-Ka: "Summoning Division". Division in Enma-Cho that deals with summoning the dead to appear at court. It enters in action only when the souls of the dead don't go spontaneously to Meifu
Uta Matsuri: Song Festival
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