Chapter Twenty-Eight: Tragic Heroine:

Hisoka turned to the crying woman. His heart ached as he felt her sorrow flow through him.

“What is the matter?” he asked. The woman sniffled and turned her head.

“Nothing,” she lied. Hisoka’s eyes welled with tears.

“No man is worth your life,” he said. She stared at him, wide-eyed.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“What happened?” he asked. The young woman lowered her head.

“He dumped me,” she said. “He left me for another woman.” Tears formed in her eyes. Hisoka tried not to cry.

“Come on,” he said. “Please stop crying.”

“I can’t!” she said. The woman sobbed harder. She wiped away tears for five minutes. Hisoka shed one tear.

“Better?” he asked. The woman sniffled and nodded.

“Yeah,” she said. “I need a moment.”

“Okay,” the shinigami said. The woman stayed quiet for three minutes.

“Who are you?” she asked at last. Hisoka bowed his head.

“I am Kurosaki Hisoka,” he said. She blinked and tilted her head.

“Are you feeling okay?” she asked.

“Hm?” Hisoka asked. “What do you mean?” The young woman rubbed her eyes.

“You look so pale… and blurry…” she said. Hisoka pressed his lips together. Come on, Tsuzuki, hurry!

“Who were you talking to before?” he asked. “You know, before we showed up.” She took a minute to think, but shook her head.

“I don’t know,” the young woman said. “She said she was a friend.” The younger shinigami shook his head.

“No,” he said. “That was not a friend.”

“What?” she asked. The shinigami lowered his shoulders.

“That woman was trying to kill you,” he said. The young woman’s eyes widened.

“What?! Why?!” she asked. “What did I do to her?”

“Nothing.”

“Huh?”

“Well, she wasn’t doing it on purpose. She’s attracted to misery. The more you spill your heart, the more your life slips away.”

She stepped back, shaking her head. “No…”

“But don’t worry. My partner is chasing her down as we speak. You’ll be fine once she’s caught.”

“What shall I do now?” she asked, trembling.

“Wait until he comes back. I will stay with you to keep you alive,” Hisoka said. The young woman sank to her knees, panting. Hisoka patted her on the shoulder.

“It’s okay,” he said. “Deep breaths. Deep breaths.” The young woman nodded and breathed in.

“Good, good,” Hisoka said. He looked at the subway entrance. Come on, Tsuzuki. We don’t have much time left. Please come back already. Hurry. The young  woman leaned against the wall panting as she closed her eyes.

“I just wanted love,” she said in a low voice. Hisoka sat down next to her.

“I can understand how you feel,” he said. The woman turned her head.

“What is your story?” she asked. The shinigami chuckled.

“I don’t try I have the time,” he said.

“Come on,” she said. “Please tell me.”

“Do you want to hear it that badly?” Hisoka asked. The young woman nodded like an excited puppy. The shinigami sighed.

“Alright, but one condition,” he said. She gave him a strange look.

“What?” she asked. Hisoka looked her in the eye with a stern look on his face.

“Promise me that you won’t kill yourself over your ex. You will find a better man. You have to live for that to happen. Do you understand me?” he asked.

“But…” the woman said.

“Do you understand me?”

She lowered her eyes. “Alright. I won’t do it again.”

“Good.” Hisoka took a deep breath and began his story about him, Tsuzuki and Anna.