Title: Luminescence
Author: Cherrie (kurapikasama@yahoo.com)
Chapter: 2/5
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: Hunter X Hunter © Yoshihiro Togashi, Shounen Jump Weekly, Shueisha and Nippon Animation. This fanfic is written for entertainment purposes only.
Summary: A sequel for Yours Truly, Hisoka. A better explanation of their story, and what happened after the letter.
Notes: Thank you to those who reviewed! I don't know why I'm so devoted to HxH, considering that I don't get as much reviews for my works here compared to my other ones. I just love Illumi-sama that much ^0^ As always, constant Illumi worship will be inevitable as far as this *points to self* demented fan girl is concerned. Please refrain from throwing random appliances at me for being guilty of the fact that I'm biased (and will always be biased) with Illumi's side of the relationship. Oh, and to White Meteor, chapter 1 happened way before the Sky Arena thing with Gon. That was more or less two years ago. Just think of it this way, Hisoka showed up in all his fights, and since he wins them all anyway, he didn't have a recorded loss ^.^

* * * * * * * * * *

The room was somewhat crowded by the time he arrived, the suffocating smell of sweat and exhaustion intermingling with the feeling of rising excitement. By the way things had looked, he knew that some of the people around that very room had been there for hours. Despite the fact that a lot of people came alone, the heavy droning of the combined voices of the applicants talking amongst themselves proved that boredom and the desire to boast were highly encouraging everyone to a bit of socializing.

Hisoka's eyes instinctively scanned the area. Of course, that was what he usually does whenever he encounters a new place. But this time, apart from his killer's instinct, there was also another reason why his eyes searched the room almost frantically.

Come on. Black hair, striking eyes, pale skin. Everyone here looks nauseously common and uninteresting.

He's always been waiting for this day. Unlike his purpose last time, this year, the Hunter Exam is not merely his playing ground. Not anymore would he merely go around looking for new challenges, though that was still a part of his game plan. Now, he was more into his new passion, a certain young man who just proved his mystery over the past months that he and Hisoka had known each other.

The night they parted from the Sky Arena, Hisoka had not expected to see Illumi again until the Hunter Exam starts. But like what he usually does, the assassin brings up surprises that the magician does not expect.

It was a cold, windy afternoon in late January when Hisoka's cellphone rang. He remembered rolling his eyes then, expecting that it was one of the members of the Geneiryodan, calling him up to see if he had anything to contribute to the group. If the caller was Machi, perhaps he wouldn't be as bothered. Machi, for one, is an interesting young lass, and every time he's with the group, Hisoka sees to it that he let his interest show. Usually just to entertain himself from the utter boredom of waiting for that stupid leader of theirs to stop being a coward enough to let his bodyguards go at least a mile away from his back.

Unfortunately for him, Machi is nauseously loyal to that said leader, and seems to harbor a certain dislike for him. Not that he lets people know that he knew that. As for the chance that the cursed leader would call him, he wouldn't count on it very much.

Sighing, Hisoka brought his cellphone out. To his surprise, it wasn't from the Ryodan. Relief evolved immediately to curiosity. Raising an intrigued eyebrow, the magician pressed a series of buttons and read the message.

We're staying in the same city. I saw you yesterday. 7:00, meet me at Vitullo Hotel's main lobby. It's been a while. - I.Z.

It didn't take long for him to know who it was. As if the unmistakable skip in his heartbeat when his eyes took in those initials wasn't clue enough. Really, his infatuation with the assassin was getting out of hand, it's almost getting creepy. His heart, or any other body part for that matter, should not be so enthusiastic, he noted. But of course, that's what gives him the excitement after all.

Illumi was the same as he remembered him to be. He seemed more beautiful though, if that was even possible. The charming lights of the sparkling chandelier above him illuminated his supposed paleness, giving his skin a certain golden glow. His dark hair still flowed freely behind him, moving even in the gentlest of winds. His position was as elegant and controlled as always, and those alluring eyes had been fixed on the magician even before the man entered the building.

"Hey," was Hisoka's simple greeting, despite the fact that all he wanted to do at that time was to grab Illumi and quench the burning fire within him, the very same one that longed for the assassin's presence and touch. Not that he had actually touched the assassin in any way, apart from those done during their matches in the Sky Arena. But Illumi have had those delusional effects on him ever since the beginning anyway.

"Hey," came Illumi's just as calm reply. The arms unfolded from his chest, almost like a welcoming gesture, tempting the magician in ways far too numerous to point out. Hisoka came to him, leaving a few safe feet's distance between the two of them lest he jump the other then and there. Illumi gestured him to follow, and led him to the elevator, pressing the button for the 27th floor.

There was a series of corridors that were tracked before they finally came to the room. Illumi's room, despite it coming from an exclusive hotel, was just like any other room. It didn't have any personal touches. There was a bathroom just near the door, a closet on the opposite side, a bed in the center of the back wall, a coffee table, a mirror, a table with a small refrigerator, and a television. Everything was in place, almost as if nobody ever resided there at all.

Upon arrival, Illumi pulled up a chair, giving Hisoka a look that said that the chair was for him. Hisoka complied and quietly took the seat, while Illumi rummaged through the refrigerator for something to drink. He settled for red wine, and poured some for himself and his guest.

"So," Hisoka started, breaking the silence, while Illumi poured them their drinks. "What's up?"

The assassin handed the other his glass, and took a seat himself. "Tell me what you've been up to," he said, with the straightest face the magician has ever seen from a person speaking with him.

This man really isn't afraid of me, is he? thought Hisoka as he stared back at Illumi. "Like what?" he asked this time.

"Anything, just talk," replied the assassin.

Hisoka gave Illumi an incredulous look. "You called me just to have some idle chit-chat? Very unlikely of you, don't you think?"

Illumi shrugged, and if one would look really closely, those pale lips tugged into a small grin. A very small grin, but a grin nonetheless. "My brother just called a while ago and started telling me these silly, random things. I don't have time to listen to him explain how a blimp works for God's sake. I realized that there are better people to have conversations with than my insanely selfish brother who thinks conversation consists only of a mute listener and himself as the perpetual speaker."

Upon hearing this, and upon deciding to ignore the fact that Illumi's sentences are getting longer - which was a good thing as far as he was concerned - Hisoka grinned. "So you're saying that you'd rather have me explain how a blimp works instead of your brother then?" he teased, earning himself a mocking look from the other.

"You never drop your sense of humor, do you?" asked the assassin, taking a sip from his drink.

"Of course I do. You don't expect me to crack a joke while sleeping, do you?" he said cheerfully.

A small sigh escaped the young Zoldick. "That very much answered my question, thank you."

After that night, Hisoka found himself constantly in different hotels in the company of Illumi, during the times when the assassin would have a day or so free to do as he wishes to. They talk most of the time, and at rare times, they would go out of the seclusion of Illumi's rooms to watch the life outside. Nothing exciting or anything of the like ever happened during such visits though. But to his amazement, Hisoka wasn't planning to rush into things. Besides, Illumi's very much capable of murdering him with the mere aid of something as innocent as a tree branch, he wouldn't really want to risk it.

So instead, Hisoka just leaned back to learn little by little parts of the assassin that he hadn't known before. Of course, Illumi was not going to give himself up completely. There are things about him that he keeps to himself. He isn't that stupid, Hisoka noted. But still, it was still a good thought, knowing that he knows more about the assassin than the whole world combined. Illumi has impaled mysteries inside of him that the world doesn't mean to see.

But it was these very same mysteries that Hisoka found wonderful, and that was why he was there, in the Hunter Exam, all but grabbing the person beside him to ask whether or not he saw a man of around 20 or so, with long, gorgeous black hair and beautiful, almost death-white skin. But eventually, he grew tired of looking around, and decided to ask the person he would encounter next anyway.

"Excuse me," he said, his voice trying to rise above the noise around the room. He tapped a tall, muscular man who had his back to him. A few more taps, and he finally had the man's attention.

But when the tall man turned around to face him, Hisoka deeply regretted seeking his aid. The guy was, frankly speaking - and this has nothing to do with the fact that he was used to admiring the beauty of his reflection or of Illumi's, either - hideous. His skin was like that of a dead corpse, dark and almost gray. His eyes didn't seem very focused, and his hair all but a single tuft in his head, with things that looked like heads of pins - only very much bigger - sticking in every angle of his face.

But figuring that he had already done the damage, he decided to go on and ask. "I'm looking for a pale man, quite pretty, about my height, with long black hair. His also has big, almost cat-like eyes. Have you seen him?" In truth, he doubted the ugly man could even speak. Hell, he doubted he could even understand what he's saying. He just looked that dumb. Why he went on speaking of his beautiful Illumi was beyond him.

But to his surprise, and sheer horror, the man could speak, and, indeed, he understood. But it wasn't only that.

"I'm glad to know that you're at least curious of my well-being, Hisoka, but I find it rather disturbing that you think I'm - heaven forbid - pretty. Do be reminded that I am a man, please? Ugh, it's a good thing my father isn't here."

Hisoka gawked. The notion that the human jaw can drop was then and there proven, but that was far from his concerns as of the moment. "What the HELL--!? Is that you, Illu--"

But Hisoka's outburst was cut short by a sudden pull on the material of his top shirt. In a split second, he was almost nose to nose with the hideou--er, with Illumi. "Dare to utter my name and I'll slit your throat," threatened the man. It was all to weird to call him 'Illumi'. Illumi was so beautiful! And this guy...doesn't even look like he passes for a sane human being.

For the hundredth time, Hisoka stood aghast. Ever since he met the eldest Zoldick child, he can't help but be always caught by surprise. But really. Illumi passing through his wit and tricks, he can take. Illumi, who was a supposed anti-social, asking him to walk him around the city, he can also take. For cryin' out loud, he can even take Illumi asking him to bake little gingerbread men with him while wearing pretty pink aprons in a cottage in the middle of a pixy forest!

But this...THIS! This was the single, very much the most absurd thing he's ever encountered in the entire course of their being together.

Hisoka was near to tears. "Oh my beautiful one, what taste of cruelty made you look like this!?" he asked. Whether his outburst was due to his good-natured humor or sincerely because he suddenly missed the real Illumi, he did not know.

Illumi was giving him a what-the-hell-happened-to-your-brain look. The magician earned himself a light - 'light' being in Zoldick terms - smack on the head. "Snap out of it, Hisoka. If you ever utter the word 'beautiful', or anything else femininely synonymous to that for that matter, I'm going to personally escort you to the gates of Hell. And in case you've just been born yesterday, this," he gestured to himself, keeping his voice low, "is called a disguise."

But the magician was barely listening. "But...why? Of all things!?"

"Look," Illu--er, the man, sighed, but let Hisoka go. "Apart from getting my license, there's another thing that I have to do. It requires a disguise. And if you're brain is still working, I might as well tell you that the lack of welcoming features has its benefits. So," he stopped, pausing a moment to give Hisoka a warning glare. "If you're still up for my offer, please do be informed that I'll be needing your cooperation in keeping my identity."

"Of course I'm still in, but can't you--"

But Hisoka's words were abruptly stopped when a violent push from behind sent him a step forward. Both the assassin and the magician's eyes roamed to the figure that disturbed them, said figure sporting an angry scowl and an arrogant growl intended for the magician.

"Watch it!" he dared to roar.

Hisoka, with all his good humor dropped, drawled out, "I'm sorry, but you were the one who was keeping your eyes behind your head. I was merely standing here."

"Hah!" the man poked Hisoka's chest. "I'll be forgiving for now. Apparently, you don't know who you're talking to. Next time, you better watch where you're going lest you want to die even before the examinations start."

It was men like this one that makes Hisoka yearn for a kill. These pathetic examples of arrogance are a nuisance to him. This man obviously didn't know the lines he's currently crossing.

There was a deafening cry that startled the whole waiting room. The stone floors were immediately soiled by the rich, dark red hue of blood. A pair of hands lay bleeding on the ground, the fingers slightly twitching in reflex to the blood gushing out of the ruined veins, with the former owner's screams still haunting the ears of those who can hear.

"Next time, you be careful with whom you're dealing with," said Hisoka, the bloody tip of his card pressed to the smirk in his lips.

The minute's silence in the room was immediately broken. Quiet murmurings were then exchanged between the applicants, and almost everyone seemed to fade away from the three figures in the room. The rude man who now lost his arms fell on his knees, still crying out in pain.

His anger momentarily dropped, and Hisoka cast a glance at the man behind the ruined bastard, who was Illumi in disguise. Those narrow eyes stared back at him with an unreadable expression. But it wasn't disgust most definitely, but neither was it amusement.

He held a look that seems to ask questions. And Hisoka had the feeling that it had nothing to do with the other man.

* * * * *

The first and the second part of the Hunter Exam are over. Apart from that little bump in the middle of the second test wherein the bratty female judge almost failed everyone, everything went pretty well. And so, there he was, by himself, in a not so secluded corner of the chairman's airship, building a pyramid of cards.

Contrary to what most people believe, building a pyramid of cards isn't as difficult as it looks. One just has to be patient enough to overcome the frustration if ever the hand makes a wrong twitch. But once the whole steady-the-blasted-hand problem is overcome, the process does not anymore need the huge amount of concentration the builder gives out before when he just started the so-called "ordeal". It's almost like learning how to twirl a pen properly in one's fingers. It's excruciating only in the beginning.

Which, brings him, again, there with the bastards who dared call themselves worthy of the Hunter license. He didn't do as much as speak to these idiots, it would be a complete waste of time. And since Illumi just so happens to choose this time to spy on his stupid brother, Hisoka just opted to playing while waiting for Illumi to finish quenching his brotherly instincts.

Supposedly, it wasn't so bad. After all, these kinds of moments give him time to think. But he's been sitting in his confounded ass for three hours!

Mental note: When Illumi says, "I'll be out for a little while", choose that time to take a long nap or opt to reading a thick, hardbound book.

Speaking of thinking and Illumi, it just crossed him a short while back that he just made his infatuation with Illumi known. As if the whole lamenting session during the beginning of the exam wasn't clue enough. It was a good thing that that dumb guy ran over him. Despite the fact that Illumi kept threatening him if he won't shut up - good-naturedly, mind - he couldn't help but notice the sudden tension in the assassin's posture. It seems as though he wasn't used to such kind of attention.

Well, it's Illumi's fault. He's the pretty one, his appeal speaking in favor of either sex. Though for a guy, he seems to have a bit of connection with his hair. Hisoka wonders what his parents think of it. Besides, must he go around looking so utterly adorable? Maybe some people might not agree, but hey, opinions vary.

He was just about to add the finishing card on the pyramid when the whole thing chose that very moment to tumble down. Hisoka let out a small laugh. Time to go, he said to himself, remembering his earlier oath to stand up and seek companionship - of whose he need not mention - once the pyramid falls down. Besides, the room was getting crowded. It was ruining his mood.

* * * * *

Whoever designed the insides of the airship must've had a pretty interesting childhood. It was impossible to follow a single path. Everywhere, there were corners and hallways to turn to, doors to check that either lead to various rooms or, strangely, a long way down to the ground a hundred feet below. Or maybe scratch the childhood. Whoever made that airship was a sadistic weirdo. Sure, there are supposed to be emergency exits. But shouldn't there be locks on those things?

After meeting death in the eye in the form of free fall five disturbing times, Hisoka finally opened the right door that would lead to the outside of the ship. The outside that has something to step upon, just to add.

Why he had the feeling that he should be checking outside the ship, he didn't know. But he must admit, it was a rather good idea. For one thing, the wind was cool, but not overly cold. It was refreshing, and it poses a big difference compared to the hot, busy atmosphere of the rooms inside the ship. And the other good reason was that he had just found what - or say, who - he was looking for.

Illumi had his back to the door, the entire form of his body facing the sky they were flying in. His arms were crossed, a usual position that he always seems to have. It was rather cold to look at actually, Hisoka mused. It was as if Illumi shields himself, choosing to protect himself from everything that may come up to him from the front. He was indeed cold, both from the inside and the outside. But maybe it's also his very coldness that adds up to his beauty, and to the challenge from which he allows Hisoka to take.

"Let me guess. Little brother fell off the railings and you're watching him plummet to the ground." Hisoka approached the still figure of the assassin, making a show of leaning down the sides of the rails to look down on the ground below. "Am I too late to watch his little body go splat?"

The pale man sighed. "And a great big hello to you too, Hisoka," mumbled Illumi, whose eyes didn't even move to grace the magician with his gaze. "I've left Killua alone a few hours ago," he said.

Hisoka nodded. "Finally convinced that he's safe?"

"On the contrary, there was this girl who's also been spying on him. I bet she's one of those temperamental relatives of our family's victims," said the assassin.

"I see. So it is true that when you say you're going to 'spy' on him, you really did mean merely spying. Allow me to congratulate your brotherly compassion," mocked Hisoka, casting a grin towards Illumi.

"Thanks a lot. Do allow me to remind you that Killua is a Zoldick. He doesn't need my help, he can take care of that girl on his own," Illumi said, not letting Hisoka get away with the sarcasms.

"Okay. So, what happened to your disguise?" Not that he could care really. He liked Illumi this way.

The assassin shook his head. "It's starting to hurt. I need relief from it from time to time."

"Good," said Hisoka. "I like you this way."

There was a long silence that surrounded them then, with only the sounds of the propellers of the airship underneath them to fill the quiet. Hisoka watched Illumi, who now stood beside him, through the corner of his eyes. The assassin once again wore the seriously grim expression that he held a few minutes ago, just before Hisoka stepped into to interfere with his silence.

Illumi was beautiful in many ways. But it was certainly his physique and bearing that first caught the magician's eyes. Hisoka is well aware of beauty regardless of gender, it wasn't like he limits his sexual preferences anyway. Besides, Illumi is somebody who is difficult to overlook. His body is near to perfection, and he brings about an air in him that practically announces his presence. He holds the demeanor of an elite, his gaze near to condescending, but mostly, he held indifference. It didn't seem to bother him that he represents death in his hands. His eyes neither held guilt nor concern that they almost pass for innocent.

It's almost possible to forget that he's dangerous. Almost.

"I know what you want," he said suddenly, casting a warning glance towards Hisoka. "At least, I know a part of what you want from me," he added, now fully facing him. If not for the practiced ease from which he looks at people, one could almost say that those dark eyes were glaring. "Please bear in mind. I cannot give it."

There was a sudden chill that spread up across the magician's body. And to think that rejection came even before there was any sign of an offer. He never used his expressions the way he should, which was why it was easy enough to express what he has to give out. What happens within him is almost always hidden to the world. It was these kinds of moments when he's reminded of how thankful he was of that fact.

"I can take a hint," he said, attempting to reflect as much sincerity as he could muster. "Don't worry, things will be all right."

Illumi nodded, perhaps assured by that statement. Hisoka should be relieved as well, seeing that he had gained back the favor of his companion. But something tugged inside of him, a light but constant pulling deep in his stomach.

He looked at Illumi, watched the way he held his whole body steady despite the strong winds, watched as the said winds blow through his silken raven hair, watched every detail, down to the steady rising of his chest as he breathed the air in and out. The magician's gaze trailed down to the pale, long-fingered hand that held a slender forearm, only to trail up again to rest on the firm line that were those soft lips.

He's lied a thousand times, to different people, at different times. But he never meant to lie to Illumi, or break his own words at the very least. And yet he still couldn't help but yield to the temptation of staring at those tender lips, couldn't help but imagine what they would feel like underneath his touch.

Illumi was, for some reason, the last person he wished to deceive. But with the way things were going, Hisoka knew that things will most definitely not be all right.