[18 July 2013] Edited, because I notice people are still reading this old, old story, and I'm horrified at the grammar of my old self. -_- Also taken the opportunity to straighten out warnings in Author Notes.

Author Notes:

Last one. It turns out longer than an epilogue should've been— there're just a lot of aftermath issues to settle. =P
Ah yes, sap.

Italics are (Tsuzuki's) thoughts.
"Quoted italics" are flashback dialogues.
—Italics between dashes— are Hisoka's telepathic thoughts.

A Wing Short of Flying

..

Then we sat on the edge of the earth, with our feet dangling over the side, and marveled that we had found each other.

- Erik Dillard

..

Epilogue: The Sky

..

.

"I feel like a thief," Tsuzuki muttered, "for walking away after months of free food and lodging."

He had just walked out of the hospital grounds, with Hisoka at his side. They were, literally, empty-handed.

"You've done your part for science," Hisoka said. "It's their problem if they are too afraid of you to perform any experiments."

Not that I'm eager to be a subject either, Tsuzuki thought.

"But I still don't understand…" he said, frowning. "I didn't expect that man to release us... this easily."

He was referring to the man at the registration counter as they checked out that morning.

Hisoka grinned. "Oh, he didn't expect it either."

"What do you mean?" Tsuzuki turned to his companion, even more confused. "Hisoka, don't tell me you…"

"A bit." The tip of the boy's tongue darted out briefly in a playful manner.

Tsuzuki gaped at him in wonder.

"He has a lot of other concerns anyway," Hisoka said. "He's been secretly taking medicines from the hospital and selling them outside for his own profit. If I hadn't succeeded in psyching him, we could have shoved that fact to his face and see if he'd still insist on keeping you there."

Tsuzuki stopped on his tracks. "You read his mind?"

"I did." Hisoka paused as well, alarmed by Tsuzuki's serious look.

"Why did you do that?"

"Why… shouldn't I?" Hisoka was confused. "I just had to stretch my senses a bit, and his thoughts were there…"

"Hisoka," Tsuzuki frowned disapprovingly. "That is not the way you should use your power."

Hisoka was stunned. "…Oh."

"Everyone has something he doesn't want others to know," Tsuzuki continued. "The mind is a private place. It's a place for one to be alone. You shouldn't trespass it like that."

Hisoka stared at him, turning a bit pale. Then the youth looked away, ashamed. "I… I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you should be sorry to," Tsuzuki said with a softer tone.

Hisoka bowed his head even lower.

"Hey," Tsuzuki called softly, his hand reaching out to pat the boy's head. "Don't feel so bad. You've grown up having to exploit your power for experiments and all that— and no book can really teach the ethics of it."

"No, you— you're right about that. I shouldn't—"

"Then you've learned," Tsuzuki smiled, just as Hisoka looked up to meet his gaze. The boy hesitated, before returning the smile.

"After all," Tsuzuki added, "it shows that there's a child in you yet. It relieves me."

And it was true that during months of their recovery, Tsuzuki had observed Hisoka becoming rather… mischievous. He supposed it was natural, even healthy, that the boy's playful nature would surface after years of oppression.

Presently Hisoka blushed a bit, but pouted to hide his embarrassment. "I'm not a child."

Tsuzuki just laughed.

They reached the main street.

"Shopping first?" Hisoka asked. He took out some money from his pocket and started to count. It was given to him by some of the nurses, as he'd been helping them to do simple chores in the past months. He'd actually pressed his help on them in an effort to collect some savings; but they had taken pity on him, and let him do what he could.

"Is it enough?"

"It has to be. We need clothes to change no matter what…"

"Let's go, then."

Tsuzuki took Hisoka's hand in his as they walked, and smiled to himself as the boy didn't seem to object the display of protectiveness.

.

.

"That's… one hell of an interview…" Hisoka breathed deeply, leaning on the door of the room. Their room now.

"Imagine two shabby men with minimum luggage and no money come and say, 'Hey, we read your ads and want to rent a room in your house'," Tsuzuki said with a smile, putting down the said luggage. "She might've thought we're fugitives or the kind."

"Illegal refugees," Hisoka said. "That's what she—oh." He covered his mouth, looking at Tsuzuki guiltily.

Tsuzuki simply smiled patiently.

"It just came," the youth said in a small voice. "Her thoughts were intense and I'm too used to catching…"

"It's all right; I know you didn't mean any harm."

"…You… wouldn't have let me use telepathy on her either, would you."

"No," Tsuzuki replied immediately. "She is a reasonable woman, and this matter is something we can talk over with her. I wouldn't want to force her even if she were to reject us."

"…I just wanted to help," Hisoka muttered. It was Tsuzuki who'd handled the whole persuasion, anyway. And real good at that, he was.

"You've helped a whole lot," Tsuzuki said gently. "I wouldn't even be here if you hadn't."

Hisoka's face turned troubled for a second as they both recalled the past, but he quickly overcame it.

Don't worry, it is not a totally unpleasant memory... It is the memory of how you saved me, and my new life began.

— And of how you've stayed for me. —

"I should take a shower now," Hisoka straightened, and went to retrieve his new clothes. "I suppose dinner is expected in an hour."

They had offered to do all the household chores in place of the rental. At least until Tsuzuki found a job.

"Okay," Tsuzuki replied. "I'll be after you."

The door closed behind Hisoka. Tsuzuki sat on the bed, closing his eyes. Fatigue came to him then; it had been a long time since he'd walked about to so many places in half a day.

Finally, our own life.

He knew it was not going to be easy. He also knew they might not overcome every difficulty.

It did not matter. He was happy as it was.

He opened his eyes again as the door opened, and Hisoka entered.

The T-shirt was too big for him, because the cheapest one came in one-size-fits-all. The collar hung loose to one side, exposing his collarbone. Tsuzuki stood up, and went over to fix it for him.

"Oh, thanks," Hisoka said, his hand automatically went up attempting to fix it himself. Tsuzuki's other hand stopped him.

Beautiful.

One hand on Hisoka's shoulder and the other holding the boy's wrist, Tsuzuki slowly bent down. His eyes were fixed on Hisoka's face, watching the blush spread across the boy's features.

He landed a soft kiss on the tip of Hisoka's nose.

"Ng," Hisoka made a small noise as he wrinkled his nose, embarrassed.

Cute.

Tsuzuki laughed, and messed Hisoka's hair.

"Argh!" Hisoka protested, as his sight was covered by his long bangs. He raised his free hand and tried to pull Tsuzuki's hair, unsuccessfully.

Still laughing, Tsuzuki caught the other wrist as well.

"Tsuzuki!"

Delicious.

He held them tight, not letting go despite the young boy's vigorous pulling. His fingers sank deeper into the flesh.

Hisoka threw his head back to get the hair out of the way. "Hey—"

With his head still tilted, he suddenly found Tsuzuki's face once again very close.

In my hands, helpless.

"Tsuzuki!" Hisoka's voice became urgent, but turned vague on Tsuzuki's ears. He turned away as Tsuzuki tried to catch his lips, causing the kiss to fall on his cheek instead.

"Tsuzuki!"

— TSUZUKI! —

Hisoka's sharp mind-voice startled him. What—

Tsuzuki jerked backwards instantly, releasing all his held on the boy. Gradually he registered the calm face, the familiar green eyes pulling him back to reality— the room, the time, the two of them.

"I'm sorry," he gasped out, "I don't know what… oh, I'm so sorry!"

Hisoka took a step towards him, his eyes softening. "It's okay, Tsuzuki. Calm down."

"It's not! What could I have done to you if I—"

"That's what I'm here for," Hisoka touched his arms, "to take you back."

"Hiso—"

"Sshhh." He was enclosed in a warm embrace.

The world quieted down.

He searched for the dark presence inside his mind, but it had disappeared as discreetly as it had come. If not for Hisoka's empathy, they wouldn't have known until it was too late.

Sensing his thoughts, the embrace tightened.

"He's getting better," Tsuzuki mumbled. The few times it happened before this, he had managed to detect it himself before it got far.

"It is all right, Tsuzuki."

"It will happen again, and again, and again."

"Then I'll bring you back, again, and again, and again."

"He will learn," Tsuzuki said, "he will stop you before you can do that."

"I will learn, too," Hisoka said. "And you will learn to restrain him, too. We'll be fine."

Tsuzuki buried his face further into the hug. "I won't be able to forgive myself if I ever hurt you again."

"You won't hurt me," Hisoka said patiently, "because I won't feel hurt, no matter what you do to me."

"You really shouldn't…"

"I've said I'll bear with you."

Tsuzuki pulled away from the hug. "I don't doubt you," he said in a guilty tone. "I'm sorry. I'm just scared… and insecure."

"I know," Hisoka brushed his fingers against Tsuzuki's forehead, tidying his bangs. "We've made this decision, and we'll stick to it. Okay?"

Tsuzuki nodded.

"It's okay to be afraid. Just… don't back out. All right?"

— Don't leave me. —

"I won't." He took Hisoka's hands in his, bringing them to his lips. "I won't."

"Take a shower, then," Hisoka ushered him gently. "I'll wait for you."

With a shaky smile, Tsuzuki complied. He knew Hisoka would be waiting outside the shower room, staying close to him. Sometimes he was worried that he'd tire the boy out, to be keeping a close watch on him all the time.

— You know I don't mind. —

…Yeah.

The cool water on his skin made him feel better.

"…Don't back out."

After all that, how could they give up? They had nothing to lose after all, except, perhaps, one another…

"Be strong," he mumbled to himself. "You know full well it's supposed to be this tough."

It wasn't like he had no motivation to strive. It wasn't like he had no purpose to stay. There were a lot of things he could do.

Prepare the meal, after the shower.

Find a job tomorrow.

Pay the rent.

Buy us decent clothing.

Get Hisoka books to read.

He walked out of the shower room, and true enough, found Hisoka waiting there for him. The youth smiled.

Keep that smile on his face.

He returned the smile, and took Hisoka's hand.

Live.

.

..

Author Notes:

I thought I'd just explain a bit on the characterization, as it changed quite a lot in this chapter.

I've portrayed Hisoka as a very mature boy for his age, because of what he's gone through. He is able to see deep into some matters, and is emotionally stronger than Tsuzuki. Yet there is still an unpolished side of him, because he has never been properly educated. In this chapter he is much more carefree in doing what he wants with his power. I think a teenager like him does have a tendency to be arrogant of what he has… Heck, I just want him to be a bit normal. =P

Tsuzuki's caring personality is still there, but he responds to Hisoka's growing playfulness by taking on the educator role, being the more responsible one between them. I would have liked Tsuzuki to be a stricter person, even— he's much cooler in Nagasaki Arc compared to later chapters... ^^ I can't help but make him an insecure person still, though. It's rather impossible for him not to be when faced with such danger of falling all the time…

That's all… a real big thanks to everyone who've followed my writing to the end! And my heartfelt appreciation for your reviews and feedbacks, too! =)