by Rina K. Fenderson
10. Call Him Tethered
He knew it would come to this. They had found Muraki�s connection to him when his comrade was with holding Tsuzuki, so he wasn�t at all surprise when one of his workers called him outside whispering that their were some �hostile� vistors waiting for him in the back garden. Oriya walked calmly through the shoji and panned his gaze at the two men who stood by the small pond. The Koi were lapping at the water with flashes of white and orange, and two pairs of narrowed eyes locked with his.
�Good afternoon, gentlemen,� Oriya greeted with a soft smirk as he ventured down the three steps to the cobblestone. �Where is he?� the slimmer of the two demanded, stepping forward. The other, a man Oriya recognized from their previous quarle, clamped a hand over the first�s shoulder, restraining him from attacking. Noting the fire blazing in the amythest eyes of the advanced male, Oriya felt slightly uneasy. This was was man Muraki had captured before and from what Oriya understood he was gentle and mild-mannered. *Then to have him so furious...* Oriya tucked his arms under the sleeves of his bright kimono and stopped ten feet away from the two men. �Forgive me, but who is it you�re looking for?� �Oriya-san, is it?� Tatsumi asked, pulling Tsuzuki back and edging in front of him. Whether it was to keep the man protected or keep Oriya protected was unclear. When the long-haired male nodded, Tatsumi bowed slightly in greeting, to which Oriya reciprocated respectfully. �I do belive we met before and under similar circumstances. Muraki Kazutaka is once again harrassing my co-workers and I would appreciate knowing where he is.� �I cannot give you that information,� Oriya replied, levelly, head tilted as if mocking the two shinigami. He still held onto his polite smile even as Tsuzuki tried to press forward a growl crawling up the back of his throat. Tatsumi restrained him again and narrowed his eyes at Oriya. �It would be unadvisable to withhold information from us, Oriya-san,� Tatsumi proclaimed, his own voice a snarling hiss. Oriya eyed them both, wondering if he was going to get out of this alive. He knew with his sword he would be able to fight combat better than either of these men, but he also knew that these shinigami were more powerful than the boy he fought before. He straighten his shoulders shifting his feet in a stance ready to fight if need be. �You will learn nothing from me.� �Muraki has Hisoka because he wants me,� Tsuzuki spat out, his fists clenching and reclenching. �Wouldn�t it be easier if you told us where he is so I can go to him as Muraki wants me to?� Oriya�s eyes narrowed with confusion that the two shinigami took as anger and tensed. What Tsuzuki spoke was truthful, all of them realized this now. It would be much simpler for Oriya to tell them where Muraki was, then call up his comrade and inform him that they would arrive in a moment, but Muraki had not agreed to such an action, so Oriya decided to hold his ground. �As I said, you will learn nothing from me unless Muraki-kun asks of me to tell you.� �Then call the bastard up and ASK HIM!� Tsuzuki shouted, lunging forward again. Tatsumi had to hold him back with both his arms this time, surprised at how violent Tsuzuki was reacting. �Tsuzuki, calm down!� �I will not! Not when he has Hisoka!� Tsuzuki cried out, wrestling away from Tatsumi and advancing on Oriya, who slipped his hand around the hilt of his sword. �I want my partner back!� Oriya unsheathed the katana and slashed the blade at Tsuzuki to force him back. Instead, in a blast of electrical shock and confusion, Oriya himself was knocked back and thrown off balance into a series of teetering steps. Once he regained his equalimbrium he started at Tsuzuki in shock wondering what he had hit. �What the hell...� Around them the drifting leaves that were fluttering from the surrounding trees began to snap in two, more and more violently. Oriya's attention flickered with alarm to each leaf, feeling now the virbations of Tsuzuki's anger and the extent of his massive power. Tatsumi had moved to Tsuzuki�s side again demanding he stop, and finally the leaves fell to the ground whole and the fire in the eldest shinigami�s eyes faded the slightest bit. �Call him.� The long-haired male stepped back another pace, and resheathed the sword, turning towards the inn. �Korin! Bring me my cell phone.� There was a faint call of affirmitive from within the house and soon a young Geisha rushed out of the house and bowed deeply before handing Oriya the small black phone. He flipped it opened and dailed, all the while not taking his eyes off of Tsuzuki, who rendered the same. After a moment, Oriya turned slightly away from them breaking eye contact. �Aa, Muraki-kun...I have some...uninvited guests who are looking for you.� Tsuzuki watched him with narrowed eyes, his gaze boring into Oriya�s head, even as Tatsumi tried to calm him with a hand to his shoulder. �But Muraki-kun...� Oriya continued, then paused, listening. �Aa...aa.� Both shinigami straightened slightly when Oriya turned to them, but he only offered the cell phone to Tsuzuki saying: �He wants to speak with you.� Amethyst narrowed to mere slits and Tsuzuki snatched up the phone. �Where is he, you bastard!� �And good afternoon to you as well, Tsuzuki.� �Where is he, Muraki?� There was a light chuckle before Muraki replied. �First, you need to calm down.� He waited a moment, then when it was clear Tsuzuki would not be retorting with another demand as he was trying his best not to crush the cell phone in his grip, Muraki continued. �Second, you will come and meet me outside of my laboratory studio on the corner of Ju-ni and Shinkai --and before you leave!� Tsuzuki tensed as he was about to turn off the cell phone and chuck it at Oriya, then sprint all the way to Ju-ni street. �I want you to come alone.� �Sorry, no deal,� Tsuzuki snapped in reply. �We�ve played that game already, Muraki. This time you�re playing mine.� With that, Tsuzuki flipped off the phone and tossed it over his shoulder as he raced out of the back gates. Tatsumi followed, ignoring the third male as well, as they departed his property. Oriya sighed and shook his head, before turning and retreating into his building, not bothering to retreive the cell phone.