Hisoka, Angel's Trumpet


"What'll you have, sir?"

"Your special."

"Pint of Ambrosia Ale, coming up!"

The bartender set the draft in front of him with a satisfying clink: it was a finely-foamed, dark amber color. The man waited expectantly as Hisoka took a sip.

It was actually surprisingly good. Hisoka raised his glass slightly with a nod to the bartender and tipped him, then walked into the back corner of the room and sat at a vacant table. Hisoka was glad, for once, that he was wearing normal street clothes and no face makeup. Right now, he felt like blending into the crowd. He could tell he was receiving a few admiring glances from the beer maidens, which normally would have made him preen, but he had more important things to do than flirt.

He took out the remaining piece of Bungee Gum and examined it broodingly. Recalling memories tended to be evanescent and misty, with some moments clearer than others, and most senses dulled.

Never before had he experienced such a vivid flashback: he had smelled the horse shit that permeated the camp, and the incense sticks everyone burned to rid themselves of the smell; he had felt the sting of the slap, and the mellow coolness of the aloe salve Lei'lah rubbed into his abused skin. He had driven these memories deep down into his subconscious, but now they came roaring back with a vengeance.

Had she rubbed some sort of hallucinogen or poison onto the gum? He wouldn't be surprised; she certainly seemed more resourceful than she looked. One person would know for certain, and he had a few questions for him anyways.

"I'm busy, Hisoka." The voice on the other end lacked patience.

"Always so busy, Illumi,"" Hisoka grinned. "Remember our conversation a few months ago? You mentioned a rather interesting side hobby detailing your experiments with brain control."

"Yes, what of it?" Illumi sounded vaguely more interested.

"Do you use hallucinogens or poisons in your experiments?"

"Not generally. Needles and acupuncture, mostly, although in the beginning I did examine the effects of various hallucinogens. Poisons are more Milluki's repertoire. Are you looking for information on anything specific?"

"Are there any drugs that can make you remember things?" Hisoka asked. "Really vividly, as if you're re-living the experience."

"The poisons I am familiar with have more to do with making people experience horror and stretch them to the ultimate limits of their psyche. There is no hallucinogen or poison that I know of that makes people re-live experiences vividly. Many hallucinations are formed by the subconscious blending memories, but these memories are more cloudy than stable, as you describe."

"I had some specifically powerful flashbacks. I felt like I was reliving the experience."

"Sleeping or waking?"

"I was awake."

"Were there any external stimuli that may have triggered this experience?" Illumi's tone had become calculating.

"Well, I ate something immediately before."

"The brain is a very powerful muscle. Perhaps there were certain pleasure or pain chemicals your brain released upon contact with the food you ate that triggered your memory."

"Perhaps," muttered Hisoka, not entirely convinced.

"While I don't have any drugs that could help you, if you want to explore these memories further, I do know some acupuncture techniques that could stimulate your cerebral cortex with some lightly applied electrical pulses." Illumi had trouble masking his enthusiasm.

"I'm fine, doctor, thank you." Replied Hisoka with a smirk. No way was he going to let a needle-happy assassin poke about in his grey matter.

"Well," responded Illumi, considerably more distant, "the offer stands if you change your mind. Now, if there's nothing else-"

"-I'm calling about another matter, as well."

"...Naturally. What is it?"

"I need you to tell me what you know about Ayako Ryoka."

A pause on the other end of the line. "I've never heard of that name."

"Come now," Hisoka cajoled, "There's obviously a reason why I'm asking; I know you know her, or I wouldn't have asked. She had a consultation with you, yes?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

"My friend, if she had signed a contract with you she wouldn't be here with me now. You have no need to uphold confidentiality."

"If this conversation is to continue," Illumi responded curtly, "We first discuss price."

Hisoka rolled his eyes. Illumi was so predictable sometimes. "Go ahead."

Illumi named a price that made Hisoka's eyes crinkle with a pained pleasure. "Ohhh, Illumi-san, that almost hurts. I should consider switching professions; you're more expensive than my healer."

"You're not discreet enough for this profession." While Illumi was always strictly matter-of-fact, Hisoka swore he could sense a hint of levity in the voice of his emotionally-stunted friend. "Do we have a deal?"

"Give me your information and I'll wire the money now. But I want all the details."

"That is what you are paying for."

Illumi recounted how a young woman had arrived at the entrance to the Zoldyck Estate, claiming she wanted to book an appointment with one of the famed Zoldycks. The gate guard had initially turned her away, but her dogged persistence intrigued Illumi to have her escorted to the butler's residence where they sometimes hosted their more clandestine consultations. This location was specifically chosen because Milluki could record and inspect footage to find evidence of espionage. Any discovered spies were then turned over to Mike.

"Did she offer you anything... special... as payment?" Hisoka asked, partly out of curiosity to see the extent of Ayako's research skills, partly because he wanted to know if Illumi had a weakness for a rare item much like Hisoka did for his bungee gum.

"What do you mean?" Illumi feigned ignorance.

"Exactly what I asked." Hisoka knew he was onto something.

"If you must know, she disrobed and offered herself to me during the consultation as a method of payment for the service. It was rather... unexpected." The tone of Illumi's voice had changed imperceptibly. If Hisoka didn't know any better, he almost sounded slightly embarrassed.

"Really?" Hisoka mused. He thought back to the scarlet-cheeked pixie in his bed, desperately clutching and swaddling the sheets around her to protect her modesty. The woman had less shame than he had supposed. I could have pushed her farther. Then he felt a slight sting of jealousy. His new toy had offered herself to Illumi and not to him. "Did you take her up on her offer?"

"No, although I found myself tempted."

Although Hisoka didn't much like to share his toys, his possessive feeling was tempered by his interest in the inner workings of Illumi's mind. Have I discovered a weakness?

"If there is nothing more you wish to know..."

"How did your consultation end, once you had turned her down?" Hisoka asked abruptly.

"She grabbed my arm and asked me to reconsider."

"What happened?"

"I enclosed my fingers around her neck and pushed her into the wall, then told her to leave." Illumi's breathing pattern had changed almost imperceptibly.

Hisoka's expression became wicked with glee. "That sounds like a breach of conduct, Illumi-san. And you're normally so proper! Do you usually assault potential clients during their consultations?"

Illumi ignored the jibe. "I'm not at liberty to discuss other consultations."

"I'm going to assume that you don't. Why did you assault her? She merely grabbed your arm. Meanwhile, Gon literally broke your arm when he last saw you, and you didn't react."

"Gon wasn't naked and defenseless." Hisoka closed his eyes in delight at hearing that sentence.

"A moment of weakness, then, my sadistic friend?"

"As I said, she looked very tempting."

Hisoka digested this new information. "Why didn't you act on it?"

"I did not wish to entangle myself in an indelicate situation." Illumi withheld the fact that he had paid Milluki three times the normal amount of a job to keep all copies of the recordings of that consultation.

Illumi also failed to mention that he had very much enjoyed watching and re-watching the footage nearly every night that he wasn't working a job. Hisoka wasn't paying nearly enough money to wrest that information from his lips, however.

Hisoka scoffed. "It sounds like you've put some thought into this."

"Only when re-telling you the details that you asked for. Is that all you wish to know?" Illumi asked.

"Not quite. I have a proposition for you."

"I've told you once and I'll tell you again, Hisoka. I'm neither inclined to fight you nor fu-"

"-Not that," Hisoka interrupted dismissively. "I have a proposition for you regarding Miss Ryoka."

"Oh?" Illumi kept his voice studiously neutral. It wasn't difficult.

"You mentioned that she told you of the abduction of her brother, Ako."

"Yes."

"And what of her abductors?"

"She seems to think the Mafia is responsible."

"What is your opinion of her situation?" Hisoka asked.

"I have no opinion. Her matter does not concern me."

"It might."

"Might it?"

"I could make it your matter."

"She got to you, then."

"Hardly," scoffed Hisoka. "I have my own reasons for pursuing this matter."

"Alright," came the disinterested response. "Well, I have business to attend to, Hisoka, so I must go."

"Wait, friend. Don't you want to know how I make this your matter?"

"You know the only way this becomes my matter."

"I'll write you a blank check."

No response. Had he actually surprised the assassin?

After a pause, Illumi spoke slowly. "I would say this is uncharacteristic of you, Hisoka. Either that, or you have a vested interest in this girl."

"We won't discuss my personal investment in this matter."

"And what kind of involvement do you need from me?" asked Illumi.

"Surveillance and elimination of key components as needed, from afar."

"You sound like you have a plan already."

"Not a full plan, but I have a theory," Hisoka admitted. "If you agree to sign on, I'll tell you everything I know."

Illumi considered this. "No blank check. I'll tell you my price, and if you can't handle it, I'll walk."

"Fair enough."

Illumi named a price that make Hisoka's eyes crinkle once again with a pained delight. "Ohhh, Illumi-san, I love it when you talk dirty to me."


Ayako, Heaven's Arena, Hisoka's room


After her search for her phone bore no fruit, Ayako picked up the room phone and dialed 0 for Reception. She needed the number to her university in order to reach Leorio, and didn't have the means of looking it up. A knock came as she was writing down the number on the pad next to the phone. She quietly thanked the receptionist and hung up, her heart racing as she listened to the voice on the other side of the door request entrance.

"Mr. Hisoka? I have the clothes you ordered to be laundered. May I come in and deliver them?"

Oh god, not Remy. Ayako hesitated. The knock became more insistent. "Hello? Mr. Hisoka? I'm just going to come in and place them on the bed."

"No, wait-" Ayako jumped at the door to close it, but it swung open before she could reach the latch. Remy dropped her pile of neatly-folded laundry in surprise.

"You!" Remy snarled. "What are you doing in this room? How did you get in?"

"Well... I was invited in."

"I highly doubt that," Remy said, annoyed. Ayako doubted he would believe the truth anyways. "I think you broke in."

"I didn't!"

"And what's more, I have a good idea who caused the fire alarm to go off!" He strode into the room angrily, grabbing her wrist tightly and pulling her towards the entrance. Ayako yelped in pain and struggled away, but his grip was vise-like.

"Agh! That hurts; let me go!" Ayako stomped on Remy's foot. "How dare you!"

Remy grunted in pain. "I'm taking you-oof- with me to Security."

"Like hell you are! Get off!" Ayako kneed Remy in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain. She started to run towards the bathroom, but he tripped her, causing her to stumble. He roughly grabbed her right arm and pulled her backwards towards the door.

Ayako may have been petite, but she wasn't going to give up without a fight, even though Remy far outmatched her in weight and strength. As they reached the door she grabbed the doorjamb with her left hand and refused to let go. Remy pulled viciously, trying to force her to let go, but she kicked out wildly behind her with her right leg, aiming for his sensitive region. To counteract this, Remy bear-hugged her from behind and pinned her arms to her sides, picking her up. Ayako struggled and yelled, kicking her feet as Remy dragged her over the door threshold.

Then Remy encountered unexpected resistance. Both he and Ayako looked in surprise at Ayako's foot, which seemed to be attached to some invisible rope; it refused to allow Ayako's foot pass over the doorway. Remy pulled harder, but Ayako's foot still wouldn't pass. This must be the Bungee Gum nen ability that Leorio warned me about. Although she was slightly annoyed that Hisoka had effectively imprisoned her in the suite, she was momentarily glad for his lack of trust... or whatever had compelled him to attach his glue-like Nen to her foot.

Sweating with the exertion, Remy heaved harder, trying to detach Ayako from the invisible adhesive. "What the hell is this?" he panted.


"I could ask the same thing," came an unamused voice. Before Remy and Ayako could turn, a thin projectile whistled through the air and left a thin, red line on Remy's cheek before thudding solidly into the wall. Clutching his bleeding cheek, Remy abruptly dropped Ayako, who yelped with pain. Remy turned and blanched at the sight of the jester, who was standing at the end of the hallway with a pair of aces in each hand.

Ayako looked also, and shuddered at the sight of Hisoka's handsome features, now marred by a cruel bloodlust. She felt pity for her adversary, who had pressed his body against the wall and seemed as if he would shrink into it, if he had the ability. "Why are you forcefully removing this woman from my room?" Hisoka asked, advancing on the pair. "She obviously doesn't want you to touch her."

Remy's eyes were like saucers. "His-hisoka-san, I apologize for my behavior!" he stuttered and bowed awkwardly, nose practically touching the floor, in deference. He was sweating even more profusely. "Puh-please forgive me."

Hisoka sneered. "Leave us. If we order room service, send someone else in your place."

"Yes sir.. Th-thank you sir," Remy couldn't scramble away quickly enough.

Ayako and Hisoka both watched him go. When the elevator bell signaled his departure, Ayako turned shyly back to Hisoka. "Thank you."

Hisoka, frowning slightly, walked past her wordlessly. Ayako got up, one hand rubbing her head and the other rubbing her behind, and followed him. "Uh, I appreciated your gum in the moment, but could you-uh-take it off me now?"

Hisoka, still ignoring her, walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Ayako, puzzled, walked to the door and knocked. "Hisoka? Do you know where my phone is?" No answer. "Seriously? You're still ignoring me?" The shower water began running, and she sighed, knocking the door with persistence. "Hellooooooo..." She balled up her fist and prepared to hit again; as she did, the door opened to a shirtless, toweled Hisoka. Ayako felt her face flood with heat as she looked appreciatively at his firmly muscled figure.

Hisoka raised an eyebrow. "You want to join me?"

Ayako blushed and looked away demurely. "No, I just-"

"Then wait," came the stony response as he shut the door.

Ayako went back to the bed and sat in a huff. Asshole, she thought. Is he really going to be this hard to work with?


Hisoka leaned into the shower, increasing the heat until steam clouds billowed around the room. He disrobed and stood in front of the mirror, examining himself sans makeup or clothing. Usually he admired and flexed, but this time he was pensive.

Once the mirror had fogged to sufficiently blur his image, he reached out and rubbed at the condensation on the mirror, tracing an unsmiling stick figure adorned with teardrop and star onto his cheeks. He added fangs onto the mouth, horns atop the head, and claws on the hands.

Hisoka looked at his creation for a few moments, lost in thought, before smirking and tracing a disproportionately large erection onto the figure. Rolling his eyes at himself, he got into the shower and stood in the water, allowing his mind to clear as the water caressed him.

Possessiveness towards his toys was a normal, healthy emotion for Hisoka, but he had felt a peculiar constriction in his chest when he saw Ayako struggling in the arms of the angry hotelier. His mind was in a jumble. He pushed the thoughts away and rested his forehead against the cool tile of the shower.

Something about this girl baffled, frustrated, and intoxicated him. Was it the fact that she had rejected him and offered herself to Illumi? Was it the uncanny coincidence that she found the Bungee Gum flavor from his youth? Was it the memory of Lei'lah? He wasn't certain. All he knew was, he was confused. He suddenly, desperately had a craving to finish the remainder of that piece of Bungee Gum.


Author's Note:

Finally got this one in! There are still a few parts I'm not 100% satisfied with, but I think I'm at the point where I just need to submit it and come back to it another time, or I'll never move on to the next chapter! As always, feedback is much appreciated.

I'd also like to thank those of you who left comments and followed/favorited! It totally kept me motivated, even when I was frustrated with writer's block.

UsagiTsukin0:Gosh, thanks! *blushes* I'm honored by your comments, and I hope to keep the standard high! I wasn't planning on including Illumi again until later in the story, but your review motivated me to bring him in a little sooner :)

JigokuShoujosRevenge: Thank you dear! I'm glad you enjoy!

Sweet Cerberus: I'll try to keep updating as frequently as possible!