The last of the shimmering tendrils were swallowed. The whirlpool died away, the surface quiet once more.
Our villain has prepared to meet his doom, when the suction ceased. Before he recovered, he was abruptly propelled out of there, kicked out by a gigantic force. His very being would have disintegrated, had he not gathered himself earlier.
Still nursing his wounds, he found himself floating about in murky currents. Realizing he was safe in the midst of her mind, he carefully scoped the place. His domain was thoroughly gone. Absorbed by her enormous appetite. He sighed in despair. His home gone and powers drastically depleted. It was the worst situation he can ever be in.
Ah… Huh? He picked up something familiar. It drew near. Soon, a red glimmering circle came into view. It was that youth. Encased in the red sheen, he was still asleep. Somehow, that boy has escaped the bottomless vacuum of her too.
The fluid shadow pulled itself over and wrapped the red circle.
--- - - - ---
A loud bang blew the 3-month old door half off its hinges.
All in the quiet office jumped. Everyone saw a tall dark-haired Shinigami stride swiftly past them, a most stern face replaced his usual cheerfulness, his coat slung over his right shoulder. Tsuzuki Asato was in a rare temper. Everybody hurried back to their seats, all were uneasy. Something real terrible must have happened; nothing good ever comes up when Tsuzuki is really angry. Not to mention the blast at the door earlier.
Konoe’s door slammed shut and a series of verbal explosions went off.
Tatsumi the secretary had to use his shadows to restrain our dear Tsuzuki to the chair. Whilst Konoe the chief wiped cold sweat off the head with his hanky-- after a scare from his ‘most powerful’ subordinate.
“ Tsuzuki, gomen. When you have calmed down, I’ll release the shadows.” coaxed Tatsumi coolly.
“ Let me go! Tatsumi has no right to tie me down. You didn’t give us enough information in that stupid file, didn’t write that fellow’s a sinister pervert cunning mind-manipulator. Give us such a short time to finish it….” Tsuzuki rambled on as he struggled.
“ Tsuzuki, whatever in the file are past reports of those who investigate there. If you think the papers are inaccurate, don’t blame Tatsumi. He only filed them accordingly. In fact, he even took effort to look up those very old records for both of you.” Konoe cut in as he put his hanky away.
Then he added, “ As for tight deadline, you can blame me if you want; I thought it’s an easy job, never pondering there’s more to it than that meets the eye.”
Tsuzuki pouted his lips and sulked. Konoe sighed, he waved and Tatsumi released Tsuzuki.
After a stretch, Tsuzuki rubbed his arms, his face veered from Tatsumi and Konoe. Why did Tatsumi have to bind me so damn tight! I’m just in a tantrum~. Can’t that ice-block just place himself in my shoes and, and just think how I’M feeling right now.
His arms are still feeling numb. He scrubbed them vigorously as Konoe cleared his throat.
“ Tsuzuki Asato, are you calm enough now? I know he has kidnapped Hisoka. But please, DESCRIBE what had happened PROPERLY so I can make necessary arrangements.”
Tsuzuki reluctantly turned around and answered him.
“ We went there, did the usual investigation, procedures. However when we went inside of Room 4 as in the reports, Hisoka experienced severe difficulties due to his psychic abilities. So, I cast a barrier for him to recover. I should be decisive then… Tell him, we retreat.” Over here, Tsuzuki paused and hung his head in guilt. Tatsumi walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder to encourage him while Konoe waited patiently.
“ Hisoka used his skills under the barrier’s protection and discover there is a alternate dimension.”
“ Alternate dimension?” Konoe is surprised. Such a simple case can blow into a parallel dimension?
“ Just a parallel-plane domain, to be precise.” Tsuzuki added before continuing,” We cross over. The place is dark. That demon attack us, shadow vines bind us all over, emerging from his place…”
“ Wait. You mean he uses shadows?” “ How did you confirm he is a demon?”
Both Tatsumi and Konoe fired questions at him simultaneously. Konoe has his hands on the desk. Tatsumi grips the arms of the chair Tsuzuki now sits in. They stared at each other before returning their gaze to him. Tsuzuki glanced at them.
“ The whole darn place is a shadow in itself!” Tsuzuki snapped
He looked at Konoe. ” I just got the vibes that he may be one.” Konoe froze there, his face seemed to accumulate heat as it reddened increasingly. Then, the color dissipated. He looked ready to faint any moment. “ Continue, Tsuzuki.” Tatsumi clearly ignored the old man.
“ I summoned Suzaku to help. He threw us many attacks to keep us busy. When I cast a barrier to buy us some time, tentacles popped from inside to grab me. Hisoka was shocked and tried to chant fire to release me.” Tsuzuki paused again, looking severe. “ I can easily get myself out of such a mess. Hisoka…” Guilt crept into his eyes once more. He lowered them, his hands drawn to his chin. Tsuzuki bit a finger.
“ That’s when Hisoka got nabbed. Is it?”
A clear lively voice rang out from the door. He stood there, one foot keeping the door open, his whole body leaning on the other side of it. Sunny, blond waves on white cloak informally wore, swinging open to reveal an equally vibrant Hawaiian shirt and khaki bermudas. His spectacles are crooked. 003 perched on his shoulder.
All inside stared at him. Watari smiled, adjusting his spects. “ The sun outside is wonderful today. Feel like going to the beach after work.” He gave his shirt a tug.
“ Watari Yutaka. You have been at the door all this while, aren’t you.” Tatsumi accused him.
“ Ne, ne…My friend. Just pass by to drop something on your desk.” He quipped playfully as he sauntered in. ”And ask Tsuzuki and Hisoka-kun to join me for dinner later at the seafood restaurant.” The owl flew into the room.
He placed a stack of documents at the desk. Konoe opened his mouth.
“ You heard everything?”
“ Yup. Who doesn’t; standing at the door.” He pulled himself a chair to sit. Then he turned around to face Tsuzuki, “ Am I right about that just now?”
Our brooding friend here nodded. Watari pat Tsuzuki’s shoulder.
“ So Konoe-san, what do you suggest?” he eyed the chief. Konoe pondered to himself, his face grim, resting on a hand. He don’t feel like wasting too much manpower on this…
Before the chief can say anything, the blond rolled his eyes, “ Hey. I say Tatsumi and I go help Tsuzuki get his dear partner back.” He placed himself onto Konoe’s desk, rest his head on it and stared straight at Konoe.
“ Tatsumi can use shadows. I’m Tsuzuki’s good buddy and so is Tatsumi. We’re the best to investigate this.” He pulled close. “ Let’s start the assignment now, shall we?” 003 joined him. Konoe still has some reluctance.
His honey eyes glared deadly, ” Do we…”
--- - - - ---
A piercing scream. So fearful and pained, it sounded familiar. And yet, it’s so distant.
Who? The cowardly person who cried then… For help or is it terror? That scream was a crystal cry breaking on cutting, sharp dread and scarlet agony. Sakura petals floated, twirling gently down from above.
Now; again, it is heard. Even ever more vivid than before. Whose?
Whose is it? As the last of the cry lingered, this question absently stirred in the tired mind. Then drifted off. Hisoka was too drained to think. He is willing to die; ready to cease his existence to end this suffering; he no longer has the will to fight anymore.
He felt a small jolt and a sudden shimmer flared. Then it all died down to darkness again. Hisoka prepared for the worst yet nothing happened. He waited in fear. Still no one, no shapeless nightmarish fiends to harm him. The shadow chasm that imprisoned him seems different. Dim calm darkness, like velvet twilight with the tint of blue, replaced the desolate blind blackness before.
Although dark, it is not frightening.
Hisoka reached his hands out. He can scarcely trace them. He focused on them, amazed; they become clearer. There is still light. As long as he wants it, there will still be a glimmer for him.
His hands grabbed the ground. They seem to pass through jelly. He tried to stand but he was too feeble and fell down. Hisoka looked around again. What chasm that caged him was a void. A spacious void to hold him and subject him to such hallucinations. He crept and hauled himself to kneel before crawling slowly.
Though still weak, he can move independently.
Not bound nor suppressed. Soon, he stood up wobbly on his own two feet.
--- - - - ---
Silence engulfed the vast space once again. She reclaimed her privacy once more.
Or did she?
That question lingered as the droplet hovered right above the still dark liquid. A shiny black strand shaped out of the pool and attached to the droplet. No. He survived. Surprisingly.
The black strand thickened, the attached end bulged and swallowed the shimmering droplet. Then, it dwindled into the quiet dark pool. She entered into her endless stirring mind again.
--- - - - ---
The shade attached to the circle and reabsorbed the red sheen—the remaining amount of power he used on Hisoka to guard the youth. A dark sphere engulfed our delicate blond and then gleamed scarlet. Currently, he may not have enough power to leave but he can still disguise himself. All his escape routes are cut when his domain crashed and she consumed it, which is most of his energy. Thank his lucky stars that some power were saved on this youth.
Those murky draughts seemed lighter than before. How long ago did he last take note of his surroundings? The currents shimmered limpid in the next instant. Oh dear…she knows he’s here. And, has merged back to form a complete self so as to root him out.
He gathered all energy within himself. Ready for a last blast in the most desperate moment. Should she discover…In the hope he might make use of that decisive instant to break free.
The scarlet sphere glimmered.
--- - - - ---
It is night.
A resplendent clear dusk with the shy stars peeping out in their diamond twinkle. All the people in this quiet world are asleep. Even the air is still. Only the buzzing of insects accompany those who chose to trespass this luminous dark serenity.
Tsuzuki and company stopped outside of the empty inn. Tatsumi let the shadows scout the place. All clear. They proceed into the inn and up to the room where all the problems had taken place.
--- - - - ---
A luminous red circle floated within her. She knew he’s nearby.
She also knows that the person in it isn’t who she wants. It’s a youth, just a poor victim of that imbecile. Sparkling waters stirred. The youth seems to be ‘asleep’ under his spell. Soft wheat hair swayed in the midst of the water. Delicate face with finely chiseled features. He looks around 17. Sigh…Poor youth. Shouldn’t be suffering under his hands. Sorry, just wait awhile. Let me settle with him and get you out of your misery.
Those waters that were stirring abruptly halted. The currents pressed on the circle. She realized what the shimmering translucent circle was. Still didn’t know…until I had touched it.
The circle opened and morphed into the sable cloaked man with dark locks. Our villain grabbed Hisoka. The currents swashed around him, wanting to force him to drop his prize. Those bubbles produced, sparked with the pain of a thousand cutting stabs. The water punched on him. She towed on his grip at the same time, to release the youth. He dug his claws deep into the pale flesh audaciously. Grinning broadly while the limpid waters shimmered threateningly.
Then his bright flashes followed her attacks. He had retaliated and her tow weakened. The cloak blew out and she lost her tug. His locks floated about as he swam, trying to find the surface. The cloaked man knew she wouldn’t try anything too dangerous, as she did not want any harm to Hisoka.
I’m FURIOUS. It’s already annoying to have my rest interrupted, now this fellow has to grab the innocent for hostage. Really make matters difficult for me. He really wants to provoke me, is it?! Arrgh…! That young man isn’t supposed to be involved in my skirmish with that insolent imbecile…B# *+=&d!
She isn’t gonna let him off. The calm pool start stirring. Currents merged and burgeoned into an underwater cyclone in seconds. It hit the villain and caught him in all its fury. The excruciating force stripped him back to his shady existence. The youth separated from him in the process.
They were driven down, spiraling, descending rapidly. The shade elongated, he felt he was being torn slowly. The waters eroded the edges away gradually…
To be continued in next part of Phase 02.....