"Come on; don't be so mad at me. It's over," Hisoka said after seeing Chrollo's glowering expression; then he rose and sat next to him. "You will have your powers back soon, aren't you happy?" He added grinning.

Chrollo looked at him stunned. Hisoka was spoking so calm, just as if he had never been about to kill him.

"You're crazy ..." Chrollo murmured; then he added glowering, "you humiliated me, you humiliated me like no one ever did ..." His voice trembled with anger. "I am sick of this shit ..." He tried to sat and grimaced with pain. Hisoka leaned down to help him.

"Get out! You son of a bitch," Chrollo pushed him away. A pang in his ribs halted him, taking his breath away. He waited a few seconds and finally sat. "That's what you are, a fucking psycho," said while rubbing the blood that was flowing down his nose.

Hisoka handed him a handkerchief, but Chrollo rejected with a slap.

"Come on, don't be stubborn; let me help you," Hisoka insisted as he grabbed his wrist and put the handkerchief in his hand.

Chrollo released it again. They grappled a little until he finally gave up. Chrollo snatched the handkerchief from him and pressed his nose to stop the bleeding.

"Why are you glowering at me like that? Do you hate me that much?" Hisoka asked.

Chrollo glared at him.

"Of course I hate you!" Are you an idiot or what?" Chrollo burst out and, forgetting his pain, he started kicking Hisoka in the leg, underlining every word. "... You damned ... son of a bitch ... sick ..."

Hisoka didn't dodge the blows; he just kept smiling. Enraged, Chrollo grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him close.

"I hate you," he hissed, looking him in the eye. "I will never forgive you for this. Did you hear me? Never!"

He pushed Hisoka back and released him. Hisoka got up slowly.

"Oh, but… I don't hate you, Chrollo," he said, smoothing his pants. He remained standing, adding nothing more.

Chrollo raised his head by hearing a certain tone of sadness in his voice. He didn't know what to answer. He was overwhelmed. He had come to that place with the idea of talking to Hisoka, fixing things between them. But, in the end, everything had become too chaotic, brutal and meaningless. And worst of all, it was the humiliation of the beating: it was something unforgiven; his wounded pride boiled his blood.

A heavy silence spread between them. Hisoka's hand clenched into a fist. Chrollo backed away in alert. Hisoka looked at him; he opened his mouth as if to say something, but stopped. Drips of blood escaped from his trembling fist.

Chrollo saw him hesitate; he imagined the nails digging into the palm of his clenched fist. This was the moment to say something, but he felt too dizzy; he put a hand on the wall, everything around him was spinning. Chrollo lowered his head and lines of blood ran down his forehead. He pressed the wound with the handkerchief. He had to speak to Hisoka; he knew he wouldn't have another chance, but he couldn't. He was deeply hurt; he didn't want to see it anymore. He even felt pity about himself, about the naive man who had waited eagerly under the tree. A bitter taste rose to his mouth. He leaned against the wall and got up slowly. An open, bloody palm reached out toward him.

"Are you ok? Let me help you…

"Get out!" Chrollo yelled, knocking his hand away. The sudden movement made him staggers. He leaned against the wall. "Go away; I don't need you," he added with a hostile voice. Hisoka looked at him, his yellow eyes got sad for a moment.

"Oh, oh, I'll pretend I didn't hear anything," Hisoka scorned, "It would be worst for you if I get offended and left without taking the red eyes to the Kurta."

Chrollo raised his head.

"Oh, didn't you know that?" Hisoka hazed, and crossed his arms. "If I don't hand them over myself, the deal falls through. It's obvious for someone who knows how trashy you can be."

"Look who's talking," said Chrollo.

"Don't blame me, it wasn't my idea. It was Kurapika who included it in the deal, in case your band tried to kill me. The same happens with the recording and the photo; they are very good precautions. He's a cunning boy, isn't he?" He asked with a wide smile.

"You speak as if you admire him," Chrollo said harshly. He took a few stumbling steps toward Hisoka. "You are so disgusting... which side are you on at the end?"

Hisoka's smile suddenly disappeared. He stared at Chrollo with his cold yellow eyes.

"I'm always on one side, Chrollo: mine."

Chrollo's face reddened in anger.

"You filthy rat ..." he said and tried to strike him, but lost his balance. Hisoka held him up before he hit the ground.

"Hey! Be careful ... you won't have a concussion, will you?" He said, concerned. He held him up and cupped his face with both hands. He lifted one of his lids to examine him. Chrollo twisted to free himself.

"Let go of me! I'm fine!" he said, pulling away from Hisoka. "I'm just a little dizzy, it's nothing."

He took two steps and clung to the back of the chair. He felt his legs go limp and suddenly everything spun quickly. He couldn't help but empty the contents of his stomach due to the vertigo.

"That's enough, I will call the ambulance," Hisoka said; phone in hand.

"No! Are you crazy?"

"Not a common one, don't worry ..." he clarified. Then he addressed the voice that had answered the call. "Shalnark, it's me; send me the ambulance... No, you moron, nothing happened to… No, I'm telling you he's fine!"

Chrollo, more relieved now, leaned against the back of the chair. He saw Hisoka striding from one side to the other; yelling at the phone while receiving other screams in response. He sighed tired.

"No, asshole! Do you think I want your boss to die? That I did this all for nothing? ... Right!...Man, just shut up and send it on quickly." Hisoka cut and snorted upset. "Really, I don't know how you can bear them," he added, pointing at Chrollo.

"I see; you don't want your toy breaks before time." Chrollo replied, glaring at him. "Look if you miss your nasty fight."

Hisoka stopped walking and stood in front of him. He crossed his arms and stared at him up and down.

"Of course," Hisoka said. "My main interest is the fight; you already know that."

"That damn obsession of yours ... You made all this just for your damn fight..."

"You're right. Everything has been carefully planned; even to the smallest detail," Hisoka stated sharply.

"Everything…" Chrollo murmured. He was so angry, but still his sadness seeped into his words. "When you say 'everything'... it refers when you took me to live with you?" he hesitated, "I mean... everything that happened among us... was it also because of the fight?"

Hisoka smiled with a cold sharp look in his eyes. His jaw stiffened and his crossed arms tightened against his chest before answering.

"Oh, you were clever, after all," Hisoka scorned. "Sure! I wasn't going to let you die out there. You became so useless without your powers," he emphasized these last words. "You could even die in an assault. Besides, I was sure that sooner or later I would find the way to recover your Nen, so ..." He stopped talking for an instant. A tense silence grew among them.

"It's like you once said, Chrollo: it's in my nature," Hisoka broke the silence. "Besides, I never promised you anything."

"That's not true," Chrollo corrected him, "you promised that you never would hurt me." Did you already forget it?

"Did I do that? ... Well, I lied," he grinned as he raised and lowered his shoulders. "I didn't think you would take it to heart. We aren't girls, after all."

"Did you lie?" Chrollo repeated quivering. He crossed his arms too, to hide his trembling. "And you admit it so calm? That you were lying when you took me to live with you... You say that everything was a sham?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that was a sham; today I asked you… " Hisoka stopped. Suddenly he burst out laughing and surprised Chrollo. "You caught me! Do you see? Yes, it was all a sham." He smiled and ran a hand through his hair; the other hand rested on his waist. "Oh, man; don't frown so - it spoils your pretty face. Look; it's your fault for being so cute. Somehow we had to kill time. Are you going to tell me that you didn't enjoy it too?

Chrollo gaped at him. Hisoka raised his head higher and looked down at him with a haughty sneering smile.

"But you ... you loved me ... you told me that..." Chrollo said with a faltering voice.

"Please, Chrollo, don't be pathetic, it's so shameful," Hisoka interrupted him. He leaned forward, and looked into his eyes. "Tell me, when did I tell you that I loved you? Aren't you mistaking it? You were the one that told me that you loved me, just a moment ago. You looked so cute when you said it!

"You... You can't be serious…" Said Chrollo; shivering with pain and anger. "I hate you, you're trash ... A psycho, a ..."

"Yes, yes, I know it," Hisoka interrupted him. He began to number with her fingers: "A trash, a psycho, a sick man, a monster, an idiot, blah, blah, blah. Seriously, Chrollo, you're so boring..." Then his expression became serious and his eyes colder. "You say you hate me. You know what? Even better if you do that; you will be able to give me a good show. I deserve it after all the time and effort I put into this fucking fight.

Chrollo was speechless. He couldn't believe his ears. He felt getting dizzy again; he clung to the back of the couch and lowered his head for a few seconds. Then he recovered up and gazed at him defiantly.

"You won't kill me." He stated. "I won't give you that pleasure."

Hisoka lowered his gaze to take a look at his cell phone.

"Great! That's the attitude. I would be so mad if you let me down. Oh! The ambulance is arriving. They're going to park at the corner and...

"I told you I don't want it! I'm fine now," Chrollo exclaimed. He walked a few steps holding onto the backrest of the couch and then released himself. He stood firm.

"Very well; Shalnark is getting nervous. He and Shizuku want to come in as soon as possible to help me with the boxes, but if they find you… you're going to break," he said, with a giggle.

"You are so unbearable," Chrollo said through clenched teeth. "I know the way out, you don't have to lead me.", he added.

"Great. I have to go now to put the jars away. See you in two months. Take care!" Hisoka turned and headed for Neon's room. He climbed the ladder two steps at a time.

Chrollo heard the door slam upstairs. He stood blank in the middle of the living room, surrounded by an overwhelming silence. Then, as if he had come to himself, he blinked and looked around, looking for his coat. He remembered giving it to Hisoka, who had hung it on the coat rack in the entrance hall. He turned around and before he got there he came across Neon's battered corpse, lying on the ground. He kneeled and looked at her; then stood up, extended his leg and stepped over her.

In the hall he buttoned his shirt, took his coat and put it on carefully. Out of habit he reached into his pocket to search for the keys, as if he were in his apartment. It was then that he touched a folded piece of paper. He frowned and pulled it out. It had something written on it, in quick strokes. He read it carefully; then looked it thoughtful, his hand resting on the doorknob. He gritted his teeth, crumpled the paper, and put it back in his pocket. He turned the latch and opened the door with determination.

He went out into the cold and starry night. A sudden gust made him shiver. He pulled up the collar of his raincoat and descended the white flagstone staircase. He put his hands in his pockets and began to walk. As he walked away, the contrast between what he had imagined and what had turned out began to haunt him. His steps became uncertain and hesitant. He got angry and moved faster, but a strong dizziness made him stop suddenly. He rested his hands on his knees and saw, through the hair that fell on his forehead, a couple of people with light blue uniforms approaching from the corner.

He stretched out his hand, waving them away. He took two more steps, and saw them come closer. The houses, the parked cars, the lights on the block; everything spun quickly. The grass cushioned his fall. The two doctors ran towards him. The red lights flickered above the ambulance.