Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers apply. Hunter X Hunter is a manga
made by the great Yoshihiro Togashi who had been my eternal mentor ever since
the creation of YYH (yes, from all the brilliant manga authors out there,
Togashi-sama will always be the #1 in my list *nod nod*). No money is made in
the creation of this fanfic.
Notes: Hm...I've been updating this fic far more than I update the
others...wonder why ^_^' Anyway...er, ehehe, nothing much, I'm trying to keep
all the characters in character these days because I seem to be getting the
impression that they're not o.O Tell me if they're going off their railroads,
okay? =^.^=
Chapter 5 - To Meet Again
"Gaaah!!! What are YOU doing here?!"
Killua's voice screeched through the dining hall, wide, cat-like eyes that resembled very much like his brother's own widened in evident shock. Thin brows furrowed into a glare, shooting the smug magician from across the table. However, Killua was left ignored as the older man sat himself beside his brother, one hand with long, slender fingers coming up to take hold of Illumi's arm while he leaned closer. Too close for comfort in both Killua and Illumi's part.
"My my, isn't that a very rude welcome?" asked Hisoka, who shifted his menacing gaze towards the younger Zoldick. His smirk turned into a more satisfied one when all Killua did was glare at him. He continued, "As far as I can remember, I was invited, wasn't I, Illumi-kun?"
Gon, who sat beside Killua, looked up at his friend, who has already frozen in his place as he crouched on his chair. Killua indeed was too surprised to speak, only giving Illumi a doubtful glance, most probably searching for a sign of affirmation. Much as he didn't like looking or speaking or doing anything with his older brother, to have Hisoka beside him on the dinner table was just plain--strange. And unbelievable.
Illumi gave the grinning magician a sidelong glare, pale lips forming a firm line. "Stop it, Hisoka," he warned, his voice trickling with venom. He may not be much of what others would call "caring" or "considerate"', but he is known for his protectiveness among his younger siblings. Hisoka settled that it must be because he was the eldest, but nevertheless, it was interesting seeing him like that. Though his concern for his brother was hidden beneath cold eyes, it was plainly obvious how much Killua meant to Illumi.
He had often wondered about that, Illumi's relationship with Killua. Killua being the next heir is, as Hisoka sees it, a bit too disrespectful for Illumi's part in the family. For one thing, being the eldest, Hisoka had expected Illumi to at least fight for his right as the heir. But then again, who was he to say anything? Hell knows nobody understands how these people's minds work, so he decided that he should just leave Illumi be. After all, Illumi gets more free time that way.
He thought it over. Yes, he definitely enjoys it more if Illumi's not too busy. That way, he can be busy with some other things that doesn't exactly pertain to family matters. Namely, him maybe?
As for Illumi, he wasn't an idiot not to notice the way Hisoka was looking at him now, and how the magician's hand was trailing a bit too distractingly on his thigh. He cast him yet another glare. He earned himself a grin, but somehow had gotten rid of that impish hand away from himself, so he supposed it wasn't that bad. He'll have to talk to Hisoka about doing his moves when they're in his family's property though.
"Aniki?"
Killua's voice again ended Illumi's little staring game with Hisoka, as ink black eyes shifted their gaze from the magician's to the young, white-haired boy from across the table. High, slender brows rose in a look of question, asking Killua to go on with what he was supposed to say.
The young boy looked away, still having a hard time looking into his brother's soulless eyes. He didn't know why, but nice as Illumi was to him, he just found him utterly scary. Or maybe it was because he was nice when every once in a while, the young boy would see his brother kill so mercilessly. Maybe the concept of a kind assassin was a bit too strange for him. And now, looking at Hisoka, his view of his brother was getting weirder by the minute.
"Anou," he started, eyes cast down to watch his fingers play around with the table cloth. He couldn't find the right words, so instead, he shut his eyes and blurted out, "Have you gone nuts or has this clown put you in some sort of spell!?"
Silence reigned through the whole table. The servants that stood on the corners of the room tried not to show any sign of shock or emotion at Killua's little outburst, heads still while eyes roamed to look at their other master. Illumi though, was just still, blinking up at his younger brother with a confused look on his face. That is, if you call his expression confused. He still wore his icy gaze, but nevertheless, there was a hint of surprised in those cold black eyes.
But what everyone didn't expect was what came next. Hisoka, from beside Illumi, burst out laughing.
Illumi snapped out of his daze and glanced at Hisoka, giving him a questioning look. Hisoka, on his part, only regarded Illumi with a look, but still kept on laughing.
Killua was in the verge of exploding. "What's so funny, you twisted psycho!?" he asked enraged. He would've pounced off his chair if not for Gon's hand that came up to grab his back shirt to settle him down.
"Thanks, Gon-chan!" bade Hisoka, which only earned him yet another glare from the white-haired Zoldick. The magician shook his head, trying to stifle his laughter. He cleared his throat, then looked at Killua. "You should learn some manners, boy," he said, giving Killua a menacing look before turning to Illumi. "Aren't you going to defend me from your mean brother?" he asked playfully, leaning over yet again to look at Illumi, his finger clasping the younger man's sleeves.
Killua was about to snap at Hisoka again but was stopped by his brother's voice.
"Killua, Hisoka is my guest, so I expect you to respect him the way I'm respecting yours," Illumi said, his body characteristically still as he looked up at his anxious brother with nothing more than a blank look, nodding towards Gon, Leorio and Kurapika's directions to indicate the meaning in his statement.
Killua just stared. "But--"
"Killua."
The young Zoldick frowned, the stern tone of his brother causing him to quiet down. Though still not fully convinced, he nonetheless went back to his seat with a stubborn pout, still glaring at Hisoka. Hisoka though, just grinned at him as if nothing had happened.
"Ah! Oniisan! Killua! It's nice to see both home," came a voice from the other end of the table. Sure enough, the huge frame that was Miruki emerged from the doors as he pulled a seat beside Hisoka, nodding once to the magician to acknowledge his presence. He then turned to Illumi. "So, what's this about you not wanting to go home? Getting influenced by our baby brother, I suppose?"
Killua snorted, still avoiding Illumi, Hisoka and Miruki's gazes. As for Illumi, he merely looked at Miruki, his lips closed and silent.
Hisoka though, decided to speak. "Killua-kun has nothing to do with this, I assure you. Illumi's just getting bored," he said, as if it was the most common thing to say inside the premises that was the Zoldick mansion, wherein even the slightest mistake of the tongue can lead to an unspeakable amount of torture. Hisoka knew all these of course, but he still went on anyway. "Maybe he found something else to take his interest on."
Miruki, who didn't see the sharp glare Illumi was casting Hisoka, nor the shaking hand that was clasped against the magician's own under the table, merely looked at Hisoka, quite intrigued. "Really? And what may that be, dear brother?" he asked playfully, looking at Illumi this time.
Illumi shifted his gaze from Hisoka to Miruki. "It's nothing, Miruki. Take your seat," he said simply, nodding at the seat beside Hisoka that was already pulled back. Miruki just shrugged, obeying.
Hisoka smirked, his thumb stroking Illumi's from underneath the table. Whether he intended it as something thoughtful or playful, even he himself didn't know. He checked the table occupants to see if they were looking, and when satisfied that they weren't, he pulled Illumi closer. He leaned himself in, his lips close to Illumi's ear. "You're too uptight, koi, loosen up."
Illumi jerked away slightly, putting at least a decent amount of inches between himself and the magician. Whether he reacted because of the way Hisoka had addressed him or how his heated breathe felt like in his ear, he didn't know. But still, it earned the magician an uneasy glare from the assassin. "Shut up, Hisoka."
Hisoka shook his head, quite amused. He moved away, but still retained his hand as his grip tightened on the young assassin's. He didn't miss the look Killua was giving him of course, and good-naturedly, or playfully, whichever way one would put it, he grinned at the young boy and held up a peace sign.
End of Chapter 5