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Chapter Eight: Smoky Maze:

Tsuzuki could hear water running. His eyes shifted to the left. He turned and started walking. In a few steps, he could smell smoke.

Is something burning?

Tsuzuki looked around. When did this place become so hot? He looked around, but there was no fire. Tsuzuki loosened his tie. He took in a deep breath.

"Hot, isn't it?" Yasuo asked. "Move it or you'll cook to death! Tick-tock! Tick-tock! Tick-tock!" Tsuzuki heavily took a breath.

"Will you ever show your face at any point?" he asked. "Wouldn't be a fair fight otherwise."

"Why would I do that?" Yasuo asked. Tsuzuki shrugged and started walking.

"Come on," he said. "You already separated me from Hisoka. The least you can do is show your face."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Come and find me first." Figures. Of course he'd say that. Tsuzuki made himself calm down.

"Fine," he said. "I'll play it your way." The whole time he didn't stop walking. The smoke started to form around him. Tsuzuki slowed his breathing. You will not get to me. A war of sanity, huh?

The shinigami chuckled. "You know something? This is lame." More smoke started to form. Tsuzuki shook his head.

"Why go through all of this?" he asked. "I mean, why not just kill me? You know how to. You call us out here. I just don't understand it." Yasuo didn't speak. The smoke started to thicken. Tsuzuki's eyes watered, but he didn't stop walking.

"What is the real goal here?" he asked with his mouth covered. "Why this show?" Silence. The shinigami smirked.

"It's your mother, isn't it?" He shook his head. "I knew it. But why? She despises you."

"That's not true."

"Can't you see it? She doesn't love you. She never has."

"What?!" The smoke moved faster. Tsuzuki couldn't see anything. Still, he walked. Where was he going?

"Your game makes no sense," he said. "Just like your devotion to your mom. You were just all pawns to her. You know that, right?"

"That's not true! You don't know anything about her!"

"Do you?"

"Of course I do! She's my mother!"

Tsuzuki tried not to laugh.

"What?" Yasuo asked.

"You don't get it, do you?" the shinigami asked.

"What?"

"She's not even worth your loyalty. She's just a pathetic old hag who will never be happy!"

"You take that back about her!"

Tsuzuki put up his hands. "She's just a washed-up old hag! Haruka knows that her time has passed. I bet Anna will surpass her!"

"Shut up!" The smoke grew higher and thicker. "You know nothing Tsuzuki Asato! You will pay for insulting my mother!"

"Aw, what?" Tsuzuki asked. "Can't handle the truth? Well, I am right! Anna will surpass Haruka! Face it! Your clan is done! The Eda-Kimoto clan is dead!" The smoke filled the emptiness at full volumes. Tsuzuki breathed through his coat as he kept walking. He had to keep breathing long enough to get out of this room. The calm part had to stay in place for the plan to work. /I hope Hisoka's doing okay on his end/, the shinigami thought.

Tsuzuki forced himself to keep walking with narrowed eyes and a covered mouth.