Tour Guide to the Underworld - Chapter 6: There's always a first time...

[yoru-no-hikaru.livejournal.com]

Pairing: KinKi Kids
Characters: Nishikido Ryo, Uchi Hiroki, Nagase Tomoya, Okada Junichi (and others)
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, situations of character death
Multi-Chapter


Note: Update! Finally. This one took me a while. But I have a special gift: New character introduction. ^^ I hope you'll like it. Please enjoy. :D


Intro: After falling for Tsuyoshi Koichi doesn't get out of his difficult position. He's really trying to keep everything under control, but it's not only close to impossible, it seems that Tackey has developped a special interest in Tsuyoshi. What now? In the meantime Ryo is having a hard time during his first guiding attempts...






“Off to work?” Tsuyoshi asked in a dark voice, still heavy with sleep.
“I had better show,” Koichi confirmed. “I was scolded yesterday because of that show you pulled.”
“Sorry,” Tsuyoshi mumbled.
“Never mind,” Koichi sighed. “Nishikido gave a good report about you.”
“That brat again,” Tsuyoshi muttered.
Koichi chuckled at that. “Don’t tell me,” he crooned out, crawling back into the bed, his pants still open as he hovered over the other, “you’re jealous?”



“Don’t tell me you don’t look at him,” Tsuyoshi pouted.
“So?” Koichi asked playfully. “He’s fine, why not look at him?”
“Because you’re mine,” Tsuyoshi told him firmly.
“Oh, am I?” Koichi grinned, leaning forward so their lips brushed just so.
“Mh,” Tsuyoshi hummed, pulling his lover in for a real kiss.



Koichi laughed slightly as the other rolled him over and covered him under his form, kissing him passionately.
“My,” he hummed out, sounding pleased, as he was released, “so possessive.”
“What if I just keep you here?” Tsuyoshi asked, stroking Koichi’s hair lovingly.
“I guess we’ll both be discovered,” Koichi said lazily, but couldn’t resist the tempting neck that was calling out to him and started to kiss it softly.
Tsuyoshi’s body shuddered from the touch. Koichi grinned.



“It’s still in your system,” he commented. “I’d better go now, before you really jump me.”
“That oil is the work of the devil, really,” Tsuyoshi mumbled out.
“Well, if it’s still all that bad, feel free to help yourself,” Koichi offered amusedly. “There are tissues in the drawer.”
“Asshole,” Tsuyoshi muttered, sticking out his tongue to the other.
Koichi grinned at him. “Sorry, gotta run,” he decided, giving Tsuyoshi a good slap on his ass before he got up again and re-arranged his clothes.



“Wait,” Tsuyoshi called him back. Koichi watched him fumbling in his jeans, before he pulled out a card and handing it to Koichi. “Here’s where I live right now. Just in case... something should happen,” he shrugged. “My friend Jun should be there to let you in. Just tell him you’re there for me.”
“You’re living with a man?” Koichi asked, surprised.
Tsuyoshi grinned. “Now who’s jealous?”
“I’m not,” Koichi demanded, but a faint blush tainted his cheeks. “I was just surprised.”



“I’m not living with him,” Tsuyoshi explained, “at least not in that sense of the word. I took him in because that bitch of his ex-boyfriend simply placed his bags in from of the door.”
“Oh,” Koichi made, making a face. “Ouch. What did he do?”
“Oh, the usual,” Tsuyoshi stated dismissively. “You know, cleaning, cooking, taking the dog out, basically he did everything for that bastard.”
“But?”
“But that son of a bitch wouldn’t stop messing around, so Jun would get jealous and it seems he grew sick of it,” Tsuyoshi explained.



“So, it’s not that your friend didn’t... you know, do it with him, or something,” Koichi mused.
“Jun let him...” the younger man broke off, calming himself. “I will not repeat what Jun told me he did in that respect. But let me tell you, if you ever come out like that to me, I’m gone.”
“Sounds nasty,” Koichi agreed.
“That’s why I took him in,” Tsuyoshi nodded. “Even though...”
“Even though?” Koichi asked.
The other waved him off, though. “Aren’t you gonna be late, or something?”



Koichi checked his watch. “Shoot,” he cursed out and then stormed out the room. “There’s coffee,” he called out back into the bedroom, then there was the sound of the door falling shut.
Tsuyoshi smiled to himself. Koichi was quite something. He grinned as he got up to help himself to some coffee. For a second he mused whether he should put on some underwear, but then he merely shrugged. He was alone there, after all and nobody watching – might as well go nude. He had to take a shower anyway.



__________________________________________________________________________________________




“Good morning,” Ryo cheered happily as Koichi opened the door to his office.
Koichi felt guilt rising up inside of him at the view of his innocent face. He’d given the boy his word... but then...
“Good morning,” he greeted Ryo back. “Oh dear,” Koichi exclaimed, blinking at the pile on his desk.
“Oh yeah,” Ryo said awkwardly. “Tackey came by earlier...”
Koichi merely nodded in understanding. “Well, it seems like we’ll be busy today.”



“Why is he like that?” Ryo asked, frowning.
“Didn’t get laid in a while,” Koichi commented bluntly. “I bet his mood will better after the weekend.”
“After the weekend?” Ryo asked, blinked.
“He’ll get himself a nice little distraction that he can take to bed and that’s that,” Koichi kept muttering.
“Do you always talk about your superiors like that?” Ryo asked, eyeing him sceptically.
“Well, that kind of thing is really annoying,” Koichi complained. “All just because I didn’t answer his advances.”



Ryo thought about that for a moment. “I guess that’s not nice.”
“Ah, I’ll live with it,” Koichi shrugged. “Well, as it seems we’ll be very busy, let’s get started immediately.”
“Okay,” Ryo nodded, getting up.
“Don’t forget your book,” Koichi reminded him. “Today you’ll have your own first go.”
Ryo blinked at him.
“Well,” Koichi chuckled, “did you think that you’ll simply be following me around for two months? You’ll make your own first guide today.”



“Really?” Ryo asked, sounding insecure.
“Never worry about it,” Koichi assured him. “I’ll pick an easy case for you. And I’ll be there to help out in case you get stuck, or anything.”
“O-okay,” Ryo said determinedly.
Koichi smiled. The boy was really cute. He would be the better choice for a lover, Koichi mused absentmindedly. Easier to handle. More reliable. Safer. Just why did it have to be Tsuyoshi? Koichi shook his head to clear it.
“Alright, let’s go,” he decided.




_____________________________________________________________________________________________




“Try to give him the feeling like you’ve been doing this a lot,” Koichi advised Ryo. “Like it’s nothing too special. Remember, they’re all afraid of dying.”
“Right,” Ryo answered tightly.
“I’m sure you’ll be doing fine,” Koichi assured him, patting his shoulder. “Just give it your best.”
“Okay.”
And with that Ryo was in. His first guiding ever. He was nervous, he kept fidgeting with his fingers, hands sweaty and pulse racing.



“That’s him,” Koichi told him, pointing at an older man sitting in a rocking chair.
Ryo took a deep breath. Then he moved to get to work.
“Ah, excuse me, Kamajima-san?” he said timidly.
The man looked up at him and smiled. “Why hello, there. Are you looking for someone?”
“Yeah, well,” Ryo mumbled, obviously lost for words. “You see, the thing is...”
“Tell me your name,” the man suggested. “Maybe I know your relative?”



“Remember that nobody else knows we’re here while he’s talking to you,” Koichi threw in.
“Kamajima-san,” Ryo started over, “my name is Nishikido Ryo. I don’t have relatives here. I’m here to see you.”
“You’re here to see me?” Kamajima asked, surprised. “Why?”
“Give him more information,” Koichi urged his apprentice. “He’s talking to you too much.”
“Oh, who are you, then?” Kamajima asked.



Koichi sighed. “My name is Koichi. Kamajima-san, we are here to pick you up. You are going to die soon and we will be bringing you to the place where you will be prepared for getting reborn. I know it’s never pleasant information to get. But let me assure you, we will be by your side at all times. And... I know it’s a bit inconvenient, but please don’t talk to us here, because nobody else can see or hear us.”
The man took a while to take in all the information. Ryo at the same time marvelled at the other’s professionalism. He’d given the man all the important information in two sentences, but not missing the appropriate empathy for the situation. Kamajima remained silent for another while, then he spoke up, addressing one of the nurses.



“I think I want to go to my room,” he stated.
“Ah, okay, here we go,” the young girl said with a smile.
The nurse helped Kamajima back into his room and arranged him in his bed.
“You seem a bit weak today,” she stated, sounding concerned. “Have a good rest, ne?”
“Tell him,” Koichi urged Ryo.
Ryo gulped. “Kamajima-san,” he finally rasped out, “this is the last time you’re going to talk to someone in this life. If there is anything that you still want to say, do it now.”



Kamajima looked at the girl and smiled. “You’re getting married in summer?” he asked.
The girl blinked in surprise, but nodded. “Yes, in August.”
“I’m really happy for you,” Kamajima told her. “From what I’ve heard when you talk about him, he is a good man. I just want to tell you... I know you’ve been debating a lot with yourself whether or not to quit your job.”
“Ah,” the girl made, looking embarrassed.



“Don’t do it,” Kamajima said firmly. “I watch you every day and I can tell that you really love this job. And you should not give up on it, not even for the man you love. You’re going to regret it.”
“Kamajima-san,” the girl tried to reassure him, but she could not finish her sentence.
“I know it from experience,” Kamajima continued sternly. “My wife got depressed after our kids moved out and got married. No matter how much I loved her, I couldn’t be there enough to fill the hole. If I could change one profound thing in my life, it would be to not push her into quitting the job that she loved so much.”
The girl merely stared at him.



“He seems a good enough man,” Kamajima stated. “Tell him how you’re feeling and how you imagine your future life together. It might seem very far away now, but once you’re there it’s too late to change anything anymore.”
Suddenly the nurse smiled at him again. “Thank you, Kamajima-san, for being worried about me. I will talk to him about it.”
“That’s good then,” Kamajima nodded. “Now I’m really tired.”
“Rest well,” the girl said and with a nod she left the room.



Kamajima sighed. “How is it gonna happen?” he asked. “Will it be painful?”
Ryo bit his lip.
“It’s no good asking such questions,” Koichi helped him out again. “Try not to think about it too much.”
“Who are you?” Kamajima asked. “Are you angels? Demons? Will you bring me to hell, or to heaven?”
“We are just employees,” Koichi smiled at him. “Some time back, we were just like you.”



“What am I going to be, then?” Kamajima asked.
“I really don’t know,” Koichi said sympathetically. “For now you will be re-born. You will remain in this circle of life until you’ve gathered enough energy to move on to the next level.”
“And you are the next level?” Kamajima kept enquiring.
“I guess so,” Koichi shrugged. “Are you disappointed? I guess we don’t look that spectacular.”
“Is it alright for you?” Kamajima asked.
“It is what it is,” Koichi told him. “I guess it depends on what you’re expecting. For me, it works perfectly fine. I am happy to be here like this.”



“That’s good then,” Kamajima mused sleepily.
He heaved a few more deep breaths, before his breathing stopped entirely. The spirit freed itself from its mortal cover and moved to stand by their side.
“Well, then, Kamajima-san,” Koichi smiled at the spirit, “let’s get going, shall we?”
Kamajima merely nodded. He looked rather pleased and did not spare a single look for his mortal body anymore. Ryo sank his head and sighed deeply.




___________________________________________________________________________________________




“Something wrong again?” Koichi asked as he and Ryo were sitting in his car and driving towards their next mission.
“I’m totally no good,” Ryo said in a tight voice.
His entire pose let on how uncomfortable he was feeling and Koichi couldn’t help a soft chuckle, even though he really felt a lot of sympathy for him in that moment.
“Nishikido,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s really nothing like that.”
“I totally fucked up,” Ryo whined miserably.



“For a first time, I dare say that was at least decent,” Koichi told him.
“Eh?” Ryo blinked at him in disbelief.
“Well, you got in well about the last interaction,” Koichi analysed, “you showed empathy about it too. And while you still have problems with your wording, you have the knowledge that is needed.”
“I couldn’t even tell him,” Ryo muttered, shaking his head.
“That he’s going to die,” Koichi finished the sentence. “Nishikido, I’ve had newbies who would break down crying over their first attempt. One nervous fit was in there too. It’s the most difficult information to give. It’s only natural that it doesn’t come easy.”



“But you do it so easily,” Ryo opposed.
“With routine,” Koichi corrected him. “You get used to it. But it’s never pleasant.”
Ryo thought about that for a while, then he eyed Koichi again curiously.
“A nervous fit?” he asked sceptically.
Koichi laughed slightly. “Yeah, the poor kid wouldn’t calm down again. Had to take him to the doctor’s for tranquilizers.”
“Did he become a collector, in the end?” Ryo wanted to know.



“No,” Koichi answered right away. “He could never really find the way. But I’ve had several people breaking down, or stuttering like mad, or talking nonsense who then became brilliant collectors, so never worry about it. It’s really mainly all about whether you think that your work is good and important. If you can find some kind of love for it, it won’t be a problem.”
“Did you have such problems when you started doing this?”
“Of course,” Koichi nodded. “As I said, to this day it’s never exactly easy, but you’ll get used to it. I remember, on my second guide, I thought it would be easier to tell the spirit that we actually are angels and that we will guide him up to heaven. I just didn’t want to tell him that he simply had to leave everything he’d known just to start over from the beginning. It worked out pretty well, too.”



“And then?” Ryo enquired.
“My trainer scolded me very bad afterwards,” Koichi answered, a small smile on his lips. “ `Never lie to humans about their fate, you cannot estimate the effect it might have on the spirit´, that’s what he told me later. When I told him my thoughts he said he could understand, but that it can’t be helped that they learn about their true fate.”
“Did something happen to that spirit, then?”
“I don’t really know,” Koichi answered truthfully. “I’ve heard of cases where spirits will start to fight the circle of life to the point where they dissolve themselves spontaneously, because they are looking for that special place they’ve heard about somewhere. It’s a very rare phenomenon, though.”



“Is it true that some of them remain their memories of former lives as well?”
“That can happen,” Koichi nodded. “We are still trying to figure out how and why that happens. To this day this phenomenon is a complete mystery. I’ve had one case,” he remembered, “where a girl insisted she’d be reborn into her former family. That was pretty tough.”
“And nobody knows how it happens?”
“We totally don’t know,” Koichi confirmed. “I’ve heard of one case, where apparently two lovers got separated violently and later the spirits found each other again in another life.”
“Totally amazing,” Ryo said in wonder.



“I wonder if it’s a good thing, though,” Koichi mused, “remembering all your former lives. Missing people, who don’t even exist anymore.”
“Mh,” Ryo nodded thoughtfully.
“So,” Koichi said with more drive, “do you think you want to give it another go?”
“Huh?”
“The next mission,” Koichi explained. “First how about you guide us there?” he suggested, handing Ryo his notebook.



The boy looked at the item warily, but then accepted it with deft fingers. Flipping through the pages, he saw a lot of names, addresses and descriptions. The newest entry gave an address somewhere in Ikebukuro. Then, there was some loose information. Female. Around 40. Long blonde. NA.”
“What does `NA´ mean,” he asked with a frown.
“Ah, that’s an important information,” Koichi told him. “Actually, it’s a calculation. It estimates whether or not death is anticipated. You know, for the fatally ill, or when someone has grown very old, they will come to terms a bit with the idea of leaving their world. NA, now, means “not anticipating”. So, according to calculations, this person will be hit very hard by the information that they’ll die.”



“Fantastic,” Ryo sighed.
“It’s a good thing to consider, though,” Koichi told him. “Listen, how about I handle this one and you watch very closely? Then you can have a go again.”
Ryo thought about that for a moment. “I want to try again,” he then decided.
“Okay,” Koichi nodded, feeling proud of the boy. “You’ll see, it’s gonna work out better already than your first try.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________




“Er... Sorry,” Ryo said timidly.
The young woman standing in the kitchen turned around, alarmed, and screamed.
“Who are you?! How did you get in? Get out, I’m calling the police!”
“Oh dear,” Koichi sighed, rolling his eyes. “Hysterical character. Try to calm her.”
“Well,” Ryo tried in a silent voice, “you see...”
When the woman pulled out a gun from her drawer Ryo’s eyes widened in shock.



“Okay, I’ll take over here,” Koichi decided. “Oda-san, please listen. We are not here to harm you.”
“Then take what you want and get lost,” the woman shrieked.
“Unfortunately,” Koichi said lowly and a wicked smile came to his face, “what we want is your soul, so we cannot leave without it, see.”
The woman blinked at him in confusion.



“This is called the disruption technique,” Koichi explained in Ryo’s direction. “Say something they can’t process right away or make sense from and they’ll eventually calm.” Then he turned back to the woman. “It grieves me to tell you this, but you are going to die soon and basically, we are here to pick you up.”
“What – you want to kill me and take my soul?” the woman asked in disbelief.
“No, no,” Koichi waved her off.
Ryo admired how calm and composed Koichi looked as he handled the situation. Not a hint of insecurity or nervousness.



“The fact that you are going to die has nothing to do with us,” Koichi explained. “As for whether or not you will actually be killed - that is something I don’t even know.”
The woman finally lowered her gun. She tilted her head as she bit her lip.
“Did you escape somewhere?” she asked.
Koichi laughed heartily at that. “Ah, I think I like you, after all.”
“What are you...” the woman mused, then shook her head in confusion.



“I’m sorry we scared you like that,” Koichi said, sounding more sympathetic again. “We really only want to support you.”
Just as the woman made to answer, the doorbell rang.
“Oda-san,” Koichi called out to her. “I understand that this must be confusing for you and it’s only natural that you should not believe me. I still want to tell you that the person on the other side of that door is the last person you’re going to see in this life and it’s your last chance to interact with your world as you know it. And even when you think it’s completely mad and I must be insane – be that as it may, but please think about what it would mean to you, if you simply shrugged it off and ignored my words and thus missed the chance to do one more meaningful thing before leaving this life.”



The woman bit her lip. She seemed very tense. Then she turned around to head for the door.
“Do you think she believes you?” Ryo asked.
“That is not relevant for whether or not she’ll make something of her last interaction,” Koichi told him. “I just hope that she’ll give it a try. It can harm the spirit to miss the last interaction.”
“How?” Ryo asked, sounding surprised.
“In the sense of missing a chance,” Koichi explained. “The spirit will mourn over the fact that it couldn’t leave a last trace in its life.”



In that very moment the woman returned into the room. She looked shaken.
“My mother,” she rasped out in a tight voice.
Koichi merely nodded, but something tightened in his guts at the image of the woman in front of him.
“Are you close?” he finally asked.
The woman shook her head. “She hasn’t visited in years... She never got over the fact that I gave birth to a child, being unmarried and without a partner. We haven’t talked in forever.”



“And what did you tell her now?” Koichi asked evenly.
A slight sob shook the woman’s body and tears came to her eyes. “I told her to get lost and to never come again. She’ll never see Hiro in her life. That’s what I told her. Am I really going to die now?”
“I’m sorry,” Koichi answered sympathetically. “I told you when you went for the door.”
“Can’t I call her?” the woman asked, sounding desperate.



“What else do you have to say to her?” Koichi asked. “That you love her? After not telling her for years, do you think it will hold meaning, just saying it because you can’t make up anymore? It’s sad that you couldn’t make up, certainly. But will your heart be in that message, if you tell her now that you love her?”
“I...” the woman shook in terror. “Why do I have to die?”
“I don’t know,” Koichi told her.
“How is it...”



“It’s no good, asking questions,” Koichi interrupted her. “You made your choice when you saw her at the door and sad as it is, it’s your heart’s choice. The fact that you’re going to die... won’t even matter anymore in a few minutes.”
“How can you say that?” the woman burst out.
“Oh dear,” Koichi sighed, giving her a mirthful smile. “You sure are a strong spirit. Full of energy and of the most different kinds. You will certainly grow well.”
“Right now I really don’t care about that,” the woman told him.
“I understand,” Koichi chuckled. “It’s only natural to be afraid of dying.”



“But you find it amusing,” the woman muttered.
“No, no,” the collector waved her off. “In no way amusing. I find it... endearing. I wish I could help you through this a bit better, but unfortunately, fear is part of the process.”
“Who ever thought of such a process?” the woman complained.
“The universe,” Koichi smiled at her, “at least as far as I can tell.”
“So you don’t have all the answers either?”
“Sadly, I don’t,” Koichi answered. “I’ve got some, though.”
“Some...” the woman mused, “well, that’s at least something...”



“Try not to think about it too much,” Koichi tried to calm her. “Plus, answers are hardly ever as spectacular as the things we tend to imagine. So, in a way, wouldn’t it be boring to have all the answers in the first place?”
“That’s some statement coming from you,” Ryo grinned.
“Sorry?” Koichi asked, tilting his head.
“It’s just that you always seem to try to find out about the things that keep the universe together,” Ryo explained.



“As I said,” Koichi shrugged, “wondering is something that is really interesting.”
“Ah,” Ryo made, nodding vaguely and giving the woman a look that said “He’s really strange”.
The woman chuckled lightly at that. Then she sighed slightly.
“Well, since I can’t really help it,” she decided, “might as well make the best of it.”
“There you go,” Koichi smiled at her.



The woman got up and poured herself something that looked like Gin, but Koichi didn’t know, he didn’t much care about such substances to begin with. He had come to know the effects of the Sakuma a while ago and enjoyed them happily time and time again, but it hardly compared. There were no side-effects, no aftershocks, or the like. He knew, of course, that the essence was highly addictive, but somehow he had found that the risk merely added to the exciting effect. While he was lost in his thoughts and Ryo seemed even more discouraged by his repeated failure, they heard a loud thump in the living room. Both men rushed to the door immediately and found the woman on the floor. Her left side was pulsing slightly.



“What?!” Ryo gasped.
“Heart attack,” Koichi mused. “That’s pretty tough – for a girl her age. Just around 40...”
About a minute later everything was over and the spirit freed itself from the mortal cover.
“Oda-san,” Koichi addressed the slightly shaken looking spirit, “you did very well. You will soon be ready to enter your new life.”
The woman smiled at him. “Somehow I feel like doing something new.”
“There is loads that you can do,” Koichi promised her.




_____________________________________________________________________________________________



“Koichi-senpai!”
Ryo blinked at the guy running towards them and waving excitedly. They stopped their casual walk as the strange boy reached them.
“Good afternoon, Uchi-kun,” Koichi greeted the young man. “How are you doing?”
“Fine, thank you,” Uchi smiled. Then he blinked at Ryo. “Oh, hey. Who are you?”
“Ah, this is Nishikido,” Koichi introduced his apprentice. “He is your successor, so to speak.”
“Oh, so you’re training someone again,” Uchi nodded. “Hi, I’m Uchi Hiroki.”
“Ni-Nishikido Ryo,” Ryo stuttered out, bowing his head slightly.



Uchi then shifted his attention back to Koichi. “Senpai, I’m sorry to bother you, but I saw in the records that you made the last report on a hunter.”
“So I did,” Koichi confirmed.
“One was seen again today,” Uchi told him, “who fits your description.”
Koichi tensed at the information. “Really?”
“Yeah, in a Western district today,” Uchi reported. “It seems he stole the soul of a rather old age.”
Koichi had to suppress a small smile. Tsuyoshi really did good research on his missions.



“I really don’t understand,” Uchi mused, flipping through a few pages of paper. “Usually hunters choose a certain area that they’re active in and work there. But this one seems to be quite different. He keeps changing his location a lot, there is no pattern what-so-ever. What’s the gain?”
“He remains undetected more easily?” Ryo suggested.
“If that were his goal, he wouldn’t work so openly. As Koichi reported he even confronted a collector directly. Plus, in order to remain discrete, he should watch his clothing a bit more...”
“You never know what’s going on in a hunter’s mind,” Koichi shrugged.



“True,” Uchi nodded. ”It’s still strange... as though he’d pick spirits specifically, instead of roaming an area and taking what’s there.”
“Who knows...”
Koichi gulped. Uchi was a smart kid. And he couldn’t help a tinge of pride swelling in his chest, because obviously he had educated him well.
“I’ll keep an eye on it,” Uchi decided. “And I’ll keep you up to date. I thought Tackey-san might not report to you...”
“How is this Tackey-san’s concern now?”



Uchi shrugged. “I don’t really know. It seems that he has created a special case concerning the matter. Since there’s an entire group of them working out there.”
“I see,” Koichi nodded, biting his lip.
I don’t understand,” Ryo said thoughtfully. “Why don’t you try to find the group’s leader, then, or something? Why go after just this one member specifically?”



“Because he’s given us the most information, silly,” Uchi answered the question. “Gotsob. There’s not a lot of people who can do that, and with good reason. It’s difficult to get a hold of a person who has such powers. He should be the easiest to detect. And then we will get the group from there. What’s more, that one is rather easy to spot, I dare say.”
“I agree,” Koichi mused and this time couldn’t suppress the smile that came to his face – Tsuyoshi’s style of clothes was really rather unique. Not unpleasant to look at, though. And very... specific to his character.



“But haven’t you thought,” Ryo argued, if a single member already holds such powers, what if their group leader is even stronger?”
“Oh dear,” Uchi laughed, shaking his head. “How long have you been here?”
Ryo pouted and blushed slightly.
“He started not too long ago,” Koichi explained. “He had his first guiding tries today.”
“Oh, really?” Uchi smiled, watching Ryo in interest. “How did it go?”
“Er…” Ryo stuttered.



“It was really quite okay,” Koichi saved him. “Two attempts on his first day, and he had a gun pointed at him and didn’t freak.”
“Wow, sounds like an exciting day,” Uchi analysed. “Well, good luck and keep up the good work, Nishikido-kun.” The boy bowed slightly, then turned his full attention back to Koichi. “I’ll keep you up to date about anything we find out about that hunter.”
“Thank you, Uchi-kun, that’s much appreciated,” Koichi smiled at him.
“Never mention it,” Uchi waved him off. “Okay, now I better run, or else I’ll get scolded. It seems Tackey-san is pretty irritable these days. Bye, senpai!”



And with that the young man ran off and disappeared around the corner. Ryo gazed after him, looking sour.
“So you’ve trained him before?”
Koichi nodded. “Yes, he started about two years ago. He’s one of my best trainees to this day.”
“Ah,” Ryo made, feeling even more furious.
“Which is not saying,” Koichi added, “that you can’t achieve the same.”



Ryo merely nodded, still feeling bothered. Koichi inspected him closely. “You don’t like him,” he analysed.
“No,” Ryo stated simply.
“Why not?” the older man asked, blinking.
“He’s arrogant and snotty and… a totally irritating know-it-all. I hate people who think they’re better than others.”
Again Ryo blushed – he hadn’t meant to burst out like that.



Koichi only laughed, though. “I see,” he nodded. “I understand too. And I guess you can look at it this way or that, but in the end I won’t blame him for being honest about what he thinks of himself and I dare say that his self-assessment, whether you call it arrogant or not, is pretty accurate, because is definitely is an elite.”
“I still don’t like people who boast,” Ryo muttered back.
“I don’t think he’s the boasting type,” Koichi opposed. “He’s just not… modest, I suppose.”
“Modesty is a very good thing,” the younger man decided.



“You think?” Koichi pondered. “Well… I guess opinions vary there. He’s a good kid, though.”
“So long as I don’t have to work with him,” Ryo sighed out.
“It doesn’t look like that’s gonna happen,” Koichi stated. Then he changed his attitude. “For today, you’ve done well, Nishikido. Otsukare-sama. Be sure to get some good rest. You’ll have a longer break this time, but then you’ll be having your first night shift.”
“Right,” Ryo nodded. “I’ll be seeing you, then. Good night, Koichi-san.”
“Good night to you too.”



Koichi took a deep breath once Ryo was out of sight. He turned around on the spot, watching the department management section.



If Tackey gets his hands on Tsuyoshi… I don’t even want to imagine that. Why does he focus on that one hunter? It’s true, of course, that a gotsob isn’t something you’ll get every day. But still… to assign a special case… I just can’t let it happen.



With a determined look on his face Koichi marched up to the according area.
“Yes?” Shige asked politely.
“Takizawa still in?” Koichi asked plainly.
“What’s your business?”
“It’s about that hunter,” Koichi explained.
“Ah, okay,” Shige nodded. “You were the one who reported him first, weren’t you?”



If only I hadn’t…



“That’s right,” Koichi nodded back.
“Let me see if I can’t get you in,” Shige told him. “Hold on a second.”
“Not a problem,” Koichi assured him.
He bit his lip. How on earth should he…? Then a thought hit him. But that was absolutely unthinkable. Downright wrong. Not to mention illegal. But then…
“We really had a long day,” Koichi started some small talk. “One of the humans even threatened us with a gun. Not that it’ll do anything, but it’s bothersome, of course.”



Shige merely nodded, as he dialled a numbed on his phone. “Sounds exciting.”
“And with a beginner by my side,” Koichi added with a sigh. “He was a bit shaken afterwards. It would really be good if I could talk to Takizawa, though.”
“Right,” Shige sighed, hanging up the phone. “Either he went out, or he’s too busy to pick up, sorry.”
Koichi sighed. “Too bad. Well, I guess I’ll just call it a day, then and try again tomorrow.”
“Please, do so,” the secretary smiled.
“Off now… I really need a beer,” Koichi decided. “Good thing I got this from the vending machine.” He pulled out a little can of beer.



“Have a nice evening, then,” Shige said with a polite nod.
“Thanks,” Koichi waved at him. Then he halted. “Want a sip?” he offered.
“Eh?” Shige blinked. “Oh no, drinking while working is definitely not good.”
“Well, it’s not like you’ll empty the can,” Koichi shrugged. “You take just a little bit and I’ll take the rest of it. You’re working hard too every day,” Koichi stated firmly, “and you hardly ever get appropriate appreciation. It’s just a little treat.”
“Well,” Shige mused, then he smiled. “I guess just one sip won’t hurt,” he decided.
He accepted the can, opened it and took two good gulps of the liquid inside.



“There you go,” Koichi said, patting his shoulder.
“Thank you, Koichi-kun,” Shige answered.
“Never mention it. See you.”
With that Koichi left the counter and went for a good spot where he wouldn’t be seen and waited. He felt seriously bad, he really didn’t like doing that to the poor boy, but he just had to get in there. It didn’t take long before the boy at the counter started to waver and Koichi knew that it was safe to go back. As he passed, the secretary didn’t even take notice of him. The boy’s eyes were hazed, it looked like he was gazing at something that must have been the most awesome thing in the world – only that nothing was really there.



“Sorry, kid,” Koichi apologized, but then slipped past the counter and quickly moved on, heading for Tackey’s office.
He didn’t like the management area much and he avoided it as best he could, but he knew the most important roads. It didn’t take long and he was in front of Tackey’s office, which seemed indeed deserted. He hoped that the password hadn’t changed since last Tackey had taken him here. He uttered the word he remembered quickly and got lucky. The door opened easily, allowing him entrance. Koichi sighed once he was inside and closed the door behind him. Then he quickly ran over to the huge desk, looking for the files Uchi had carried earlier. When he finally found them he debated with himself yet again. He couldn’t simply destroy the entire thing. He quickly flipped through the pages and finally grabbed some loose sheets that he thought held some of the more meaningful information, quickly hiding them in his jacket. It wouldn’t show easily when just little stuff was missing. After placing everything neatly back on the desk Koichi returned to the door.



Better get out of here.



As he opened the door, a young man standing outside looked at him with wide eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
Koichi started at the man with wide eyes. “Now, that explains a thing, or two…”


____________________________________________________________________________________________


My... so long and yet an evil cliffhanger. XD And Koichi... what again are you doing. Everything seems to come crashig down on him like a wave washing him away. Just where to? ^^" Ah, so long as Tsuyoshi is there he'll be okay. But they've got to be careful. >_> I hope you like it. Uchi is an unexpected "guest", but I think it'll be good fut, writing him. :D And who is the mysterious character who caught Koichi here? Any guesses? ^^ Thanks to everybody for reading!!!! <33333

Chapter 5

Chapter 7