Tour Guide to the Underworld - Chapter 2: It's hunting season

[yoru-no-hikaru.livejournal.com]

Pairing: KinKi Kids
Characters: to be revealed later
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: Don't own the JE boys (duh!), but OCs are mine and I created the story
Setting: AU
Warnings: Creepy, language
Multi-Chapter


Notes: FINALLY!!!!! ^o^  I'm so sorry, I was really sick and had to stay in bed. BUt now I'm back and I'm updating this one first. :D I'm also working on Love in the Phi and LE, though, so look forward to mroe updates soon. ^^ I hope you enjoy Tsuyoshi's first appearance. ^^


Intro: After a first introduction, Ryo finds a good working routine in his training under Koichi's. Then, however, on an actually unspectacular job, they get confronted with something they have both never faced before: A hunter...

Koichi smiled when he opened the door to his office. His new apprentice was already there, sitting in a chair and studying from his book.

“Good morning, there, Nishikido,” he greeted the younger man.

“Ah good morning, Koichi-kun,” Ryo answered merrily.

He was really happy that he got assigned to Koichi. The man had a lot of experience, which he always shared very happily. He was also friendly and polite and to add to all of that… he was just downright cool.

“Did you by chance already check our assignments for today?” Koichi asked.

“Uhn,” Ryo nodded. “There’s just one assignment today.”

“One?!” Koichi asked, sounding surprised.

“Yes, and then we’re supposed to help at the transformation area,” Ryo explained.

Koichi rolled his eyes. “They really want to force that job on me.”

Ryo blinked at him.

“You see,” Koichi smiled at him, “I’ve been doing this for a while now. They’d rather I switched to transforming.”

“Why?”

“Because you need a certain amount of knowledge for that,” Koichi explained. “Transforming is a complicated process. I’m sure you’ve been told a thing, or two?”

Ryo nodded. “The spirit has to accept the changes. It’ll be moulded too. I’ve heard it can even be painful.”

“For all we know,” Koichi confirmed, “that might be true. Fact is, if the spirit fights the transformation, things can get dangerous. There can even be permanent damage.”

“Why do they fight it?” Ryo wanted to know.

Koichi considered him for a while. “Do you remember one of your last lives?”

The younger man shook his head.

“You know that people on the lower level are afraid of dying, though?”

At that the other nodded.

“Why do you think that is?” Koichi asked.

Ryo bit his lip. “Well…”

“If you don’t know what awaits you,” the older man explained, “you get scared, because you might hit something nasty. It’s the same thing here. The spirit gets transformed. Several things are happening that the spirit doesn’t understand. If it freaks out… things can go wrong.”

“And then?”

“Your book,” Koichi answered, gesturing towards the item.

“Right,” Ryo nodded, grabbing the book and skimming the index. “Transformation… oh, wow, there’s a lot on that… ah, possible complications…”

“Please consider that most of those points are more than rare,” Koichi told him.

“Okay… mal-transformation,” Ryo read out loud. “If the spirit refuses certain points of the transformation, it’s possible the energy will transform to be unfit for re-incarnation.”

“That means that it’ll turn into different energy altogether,” Koichi explained. “Like, have you ever seen the will-o'-the-wisp? That happens when spirits transform into light-energy. Also creatures that we call demons can be the outcome of such a mal-transformation.”

Ryo bit his lip. “Can’t you regulate the transformation?”

“Up to a certain extend we can, yes,” Koichi confirmed. “But if thing go severely wrong… it happens, it can’t be helped.”

“Will these creatures get to reach the next level?” Ryo asked, sounding anxious.

“It depends,” Koichi answered vaguely.

“On what?”

“On how determined they are,” the older man answered. “No free spirit that can transform normally would melt with such spirits of its own free will. There are some who force the connection, though. But then… you already know what happens to creatures who reach the next level like that.”

“Disturbed,” Ryo recalled with a nod.

“Exactly,” Koichi nodded. “I won’t lie to you. It’s really ugly when a transformation fails. I’ve seen it happen once. Sadly we can’t do anything for the lost souls.”

“Energy-jam,” Ryo continued to read.

“That one is nasty too,” Koichi commented.

“Before reaching the next level, the spirit will experience a balancing, in which a harmonisation of collected energies will allow the spirit to move on to the next level. Energy that is necessary for that process will later form a new spirit that will from there on join the circle of life. If this energy is not emitted as it should be, the spirit will be on over-load and thus burst during the process.”

“It’s not only bad when that happens,” Koichi explained,” because a lot of energy will get lost, but it can also cause a lot of damage, because the bursting can be very forceful.”

“Reading this now, I think it’s amazing that I am here now,” Ryo mused.

Koichi smiled at him. “It is a miracle, definitely. Be grateful. But as I said, keep in mind that this happens close to never. I’ve seen a mal-transformation once and haven’t heard of another one while I’ve been here and I’ve heard about an energy-jam once, but that was at a different centre.”

Ryo nodded, still a bit lost in thoughts.

“Well,” Koichi decided. “Let’s get going. We don’t want to be late.”

“Okay,” Ryo nodded, packing his things.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Ryo kept swishing his head back and forth. The hospital they were roaming through was huge.

“It’s really bothersome that we can’t ask anybody,” he sighed.

“Well, apparently he’s been taken to a different section,” Koichi said exasperatedly.

“But then, why did they tell us to find him down there?” Ryo complained.

“It might be that something changed in the meantime,” Koichi explained. “Things like that happen. Sadly, a matter of a few minutes can make a huge difference for us. He was in that room we visited, definitely. Maybe we were a bit too late, maybe something happened a bit earlier than calculated. These are things you have to live with in this job. Time and space are an ever-moving flow. You can calculate certain points, but you cannot pinpoint exact things or events.”

“But then how are we supposed to find him now?” Ryo asked desperately.

“I don’t know yet,” Koichi admitted, “but we had better be quick. It can happen any minute.”

Luckily they got some help when a nurse came down the aisle, chasing after a doctor.

“Ah, Hanari-sensei, we brought Kuro-san up to intensive care,” she informed the doctor.

“Ah, good,” the doctor nodded back. “It’s calmer up there. And maybe his family still wants to visit.”

“Kuro… that’s him isn’t it?” Ryo asked, sounding relieved.

Koichi nodded. “Yes. Come on, let’s get going. Intensive care is on the 18^th floor.”

“You come here a lot, huh?” Ryo analysed.

“Well… isn’t that to be expected?” Koichi asked.

“I guess so… Hey wouldn’t it be better to take a second level road?” Ryo suggested.

Koichi just shook his head. “Distance’s too short. We’ll have to be quick.”

As they headed for the elevator, a man ran into Ryo.

“Hey, watch out there,” the man barked at him.

Ryo’s eyes grew wide. “Ko-Koichi…” he called out.

“What?!” Koichi asked exasperatedly, stopping in his tracks.

“That… that man, he…”

“Oh, don’t be so touchy,” the man grumbled. “You were the one standing in the way.”

“We’re sorry,” Koichi stated simply, grabbing Ryo and moving on with him.

“But…” Ryo stuttered. “How is it he can see me?”

“We’re in a hospital,” Koichi answered. “It happens that more than just one person dies in hospital.”

“But… shouldn’t we follow him too, then?” Roy suggested. “Maybe one of us and the other one…”

Koichi sighed, as he practically flung Ryo into the elevator. “Listen, kid, he’s not assigned to us. If he needs a guide, there will be someone else to take care of it. But don’t forget that the number of souls needing guidance is actually rather low. It’s just the ones who are dying for the first time. That man’s soul is detaching from the lower level, that is true, but he will most likely find his way on his own.”

“Right,” Ryo nodded, blushing in embarrassment.

“It’s okay,” Koichi assured him, ruffling his hair teasingly. “It’s natural to be over-enthusiastic. I was quite the same when I started. If we didn’t have our own time-issue, I’d give this much more attention and explain things more thoroughly. As it is, most important right now is to finish our job here.”

The moment they arrived at the intensive care section, they rushed off, looking for their assigned soul. Luckily their search didn’t take much longer as they soon found a room that had the name “Kuro” on it.

“Okay, here we go,” Koichi said. “Let’s hope we’re in time and… WAIT!!!!!”

Too late. Ryo had already flung the door open and stormed into the room. Inside were two men, one in bed, one sitting by his side.

“Nishikido,” Koichi barked out. “What are you thinking…?!”

“Can I help you?” the man in the bed asked.

The one sitting next to him frowned. He looked towards the door, but found it closed and nobody standing there.

“Dad, are you okay?” the man asked. “Do you need something?”

“Shit,” Koichi cursed, pulling Ryo back a bit. “Now look what you’ve done. You’re disturbing the last interaction. You cannot just burst into a room like this – especially after there have already been complications. You can’t know what’s happening in there.”

“S-sorry,” Ryo mumbled, suddenly feeling very uneasy.

“Kuro-san, listen,” Koichi addressed the man quickly. “We are here to pick you up. I’m very sorry, but your life will end within the next few minutes. Please do not address us directly again. Your son cannot see us while we’re here, he’ll get either weirded out or scared. These are your last moments with him, so try and make the most of it. We’ll be here, waiting for you.”

The man kept looking at him, looking shocked. His son turned his head again.

“Dad, is something wrong?” he asked again. “Are you waiting for someone?”

Finally the older man shook his head slightly as if to clear it a bit. “Er… no. No. I’m more than happy to have none other than you here right now.”

“Dad, please, stop talking like that,” the younger man pleaded.

His father, however, shook his head. “It’s time now. I cannot stay here any longer… I’m tired.”

“Dad…”

“I love you so much, Akira,” the man said kindly. “I’m so proud of you too. Everything about you. Your own family too.”

“Nagisa wanted to come, but she didn’t get the flight.”

“Never worry about it,” the older man assured him. “She is a very good wife. Always watch out for her. And your daughter.”

“Okay,” the younger man nodded.

“Akira… get me some water?” the man requested.

“Of course,” his son answered, getting up. “I’ll be right back.”

With that he left the room.

“I’m very sorry we barged in like this,” Koichi said apologetically. “He’s new,” he explained, pointing at Ryo, “and he doesn’t know all the details just yet.”

Ryo blushed furiously. “I… I apologise,” he muttered, bowing down .”Please, forgive me.”

“Ah, there is nothing to forgive,” the man assured him. “I’m glad that you came to find me. Thank you.”

“We’ll be guiding you to your next life,” Koichi explained with a faint smile. “Please don’t be scared.”

The man merely nodded. “Again, thank you. So… shall we go, then?”

Koichi merely nodded. Just a moment later, the spirit left its body and joined Koichi and Ryo.

“I feel very… light,” Kuro commented.

“You must have suffered a lot,” Koichi mused. “But now you’re free, you’ve gained your energy and you’ll soon be ready to start your new life.”

The door opened again and Kuro’s son came back in, a cup of water in his hands. As he reached the bed, he noticed his father was not moving anymore.

“Dad?” he asked carefully. “Dad, hey.” He started to shake the lifeless figure.

“Who is this man?” Kuro asked.

“Someone from your former life,” Koichi explained. “He will mourn for you. But I’m sure he will also be happy. He’s got a good family.”

“That’s nice, then,” Kuro decided and with that turned around and left the room.

“I think it’s kinda sad that they immediately forget,” Ryo sighed.

Koichi nudged him. “Don’t say stuff like that,” he whispered. “He doesn’t even know he’s missing memory on his son. Leave it as it is. Of course, it’s not a pleasant thing to witness, but fact is, the moment you die, you leave the world you have known behind and enter a new one.”

“But aren’t there cases when…”

“Later,” Koichi waved him off. “Now we finish our job.” Then he addressed Kuro again. “We’ll be taking you to Ikebukuro,” he explained.

Kuro merely nodded, following them. They got back into the elevator. The doors opened on the floor they had visited earlier and saw that a total riot was going on.

“Heart attack,” a nurse called out. “Defibrillator. Now!!!!”

But it was already too late. The spirit had already left its body. Koichi frowned slightly and narrowed his eyes.

“Come on,” he said to Ryo and got out of the elevator.

“Huh?” Ryo asked, but followed.

“Nishikido, listen very carefully now. Take good care of Kuro, never leave him alone, not for a second. And check the time. We have about five hours left to take him where he’s supposed to be. Stay right here. If I’m not back in two, you take him back.”

“But what are you…”

Koichi merely stared at a guy, who was standing right next to the spirit of the guy who had just passed away.

“Why in two hours already?” Ryo’s voice distracted him again.

“Because if you dare ride my car, I’ll have your head, so you’ll take him by tube,” Koichi explained.

“You want me to take an untransformed spirit through the entire city?” Ryo asked in disbelief. “And where are you going anyway?”

“Hunting,” Koichi answered evenly.

Finally Ryo caught sight of the strange man Koichi had kept inspecting. His eyes grew wide at the scene in front of him. The man practically swallowed the spirit he’d apparently been cornering. It didn’t look painful, but definitely unpleasant. Yet, even though the spirit seemed to fight, it was all over in a matter of seconds. The man was looking right back at them, before he turned on his heel wordlessly and left.

“Hunter…” Ryo breathed out. “He… he just…”

“You do as you’ve been instructed,” Koichi told him, as he turned around himself as well.

Ryo blinked. “Eh? Aren’t you going to follow him?”

“Of course, I’m going to follow him,” Koichi dragged out in an annoyed voice. “But do you really think it would be wise to chase this guy through a crowded hospital?”

“Can’t you take a shortcut?” Ryo suggested.

“Do you listen to what I teach you?” Koichi snapped at him. “Distance is too short.”

“Right,” Ryo sighed, blushing at the scolding he just received.

Before thy younger man could ask further questions, Koichi had opened a window.

“I hope you understood my instructions a bit better,” he said sarcastically. “Isn’t it weird,” he mused as he turned around to face Roy again, “even though I can ride the air like a bird, I’m unable to reach it without making physical contact.”

He had a bright, but somehow mischievous smile on his lips. Then he flung himself back-first out the window. Ryo gasped, rushing forward. As he looked down he witnessed the second weird show of that day. Koichi was riding the air like… it was a bit difficult to explain. The man seemed to slide over plates, jumping… or maybe surfing – yeah, surfing was a good word. Swiftly and elegantly he glided down all the way to the main entrance of the hospital. For a moment Ryo wondered whether the other was showing off. But then his attention was caught by the stranger they had seen before as he left the hospital through the front door. The moment he saw Koichi, he stopped. First he tensed slightly, but then a playful smile came to his face.

“Don’t you have work to do, or something?” the guy asked.

“I’m doing my work right now,” Koichi informed him.

“Oh?” the other made, arching a brow.

“You just violated our laws by swallowing a soul.” Koichi stated sternly.

“Was it yours to collect?” the man asked bluntly.

Koichi blinked at that. “Well… no.”

“Then how is it your business, collector?” He inspected Koichi closely. “Are you new? I haven’t seen your face around here before. I would have been more careful…”

“No, I’m not new,” Koichi informed the stranger. “I’m a bit out of my usual district. Usually I’m more central.”

The other man chuckled. “Sweet.”

“What?!”

“You,” the stranger stated. “How could you be a newbie, if you’re already an air-rider? But now I know another face to watch out for in the central district,” the stranger smirked, winking suggestively. “A pretty face, I might add. I’d lie to say that I don’t want to see it again.”

“I most certainly don’t want to see you again,” Koichi retorted.

“So cold,” the other complained, fake-pouting. “But then, it that case, I guess I should be on my way.”

“Oh no, you’re not going anywhere,” Koichi told him. “Listen, if you don’t put up a fight, I’ll tell the security that you’re actually a good guy, okay?”

“Oh, I definitely won’t put up a fight,” the man grinned.

He quickly swished forward and before Koichi could even react he felt a firm hand slapping his ass and then groping it aggressively.

“Mh, nice,” he heard a whisper in his ear. “I really hope I’ll get to see you again. Bye-bye, pretty-face.”

With that all contact was broken and Koichi could do nothing but stand there and watch as the stranger melted through the ground and out of sight. It took Koichi several more minutes to re-collect himself entirely. By the time he was somewhat coherent again, Ryo was already standing by his side.

“Why didn’t you chase him?” the younger man asked, confused.

“I… couldn’t,” Koichi explained agitatedly. His entire body seemed to shake with anger, frustration – and there was an embarrassed flush on his face too. “I can’t go through solid surfaces just yet. I had to open the window before too, remember? It’s rotten luck. I couldn’t have followed him where he went. But I’ll report him.”

“How?” Ryo asked. “We know nothing of this guy.”

“We know that he was here,” Koichi retorted. “That can help...”

__________________________________________________________________________________________

“I’ve heard about this before,” Nagase sighed. “A new group of hunters is working in the northern district. We’ve been trying to get a hold of them, but it’s difficult.”

“He’s a gotsob,” Koichi told his friend. “I could tell that he’s powerful. He escaped right in front of my eyes. Within hand-reach…”

“Must be frustrating,” Nagase said sympathetically. “When does your training start?”

“I still have to wait a while,” Koichi answered. “I decided to make the water-training first. I know, it’s not the process, but then… I just like water,” he shrugged.

“Sorry,” Ryo interrupted carefully, “but what exactly is a gotsob?”

“Oh,” Nagase explained happily, “that’s what we call people who have reached the level of surface manipulation. Basically, what they do is they go through solid objects. But you see, when talking about such people, or the action itself, it’s bothersome to say `he can go through solid objects´, or the like all the time. Thus, we took some of the letters and put them together. Go t(hrough) s(olid) ob(jects). Gotsob. It’s one of the higher arts, same as element manipulation, which Koichi favours, as you’ve heard.”

“At least you’re trying to make it sound like I didn’t totally blow it,” Koichi smiled thankfully.

“You didn’t blow it,” his friend assured him. “It’s something you couldn’t do anything about. I’ll keep your report, though. Any detailed descriptions of the guy?”

“Er…” Koichi mused, “rather small, maybe a bit shorter than myself.”

Nagase gave him a look.

“Hey, I wouldn’t say it, if it weren’t true,” Koichi pouted.

“It’s true,” Ryo cut in. “They were about the same size, I think. Can’t tell who was taller exactly, but he was… not really tall.”

“Okay,” Nagase nodded. “Anything else?”

“Messy hair,” Koichi continued. “Rather short too. And weird style of clothing. Like, mixing colours, wearing layers, and such.”

“Okay, that might be a little give-away,” Nagase nodded. “Thanks, Koichi.”

“Not a problem. But now we’ll be off. It’s been a long day.”

The taller man only nodded.

“Ryo, come on,” Koichi ordered. “Let’s finish for today.”

And so they left the office for the day.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh dear. ^^" Poor Koichi. He must feel very confused right now. XD  Oh, but I love Tsuyoshi. <3  He's gonna be one of my favourites. I hope you liked it. I'm already looking forward to updating again. Next chapter is almost done already. (If I can't get to my computer, gotta do at least something while in bed, right? ^^ ) I hope oyu liked it. CCheers, everyone! >^_^<

Chapter 1

Chapter 3