Cherrie's Universal Rule When Reading Her Yaoi Pieces applies here. Read chapter 2 for the whole statement.
Disclaimers: Hunter X Hunter © Yoshihiro Togashi, Shounen Jump Weekly, Shueisha and Nippon Animation. This fanfic is written for entertainment purposes only. Hm...language warning. This'll go throughout the fic I suppose...
Author's Notes: Oh my God, I don't know anymore! *tearful eyes* This chapter's been done since Tuesday, but I just couldn't find it in myself to upload it because...well, frankly, I'm not satisfied with it, and all the times I get free to think of what is missing, I just can't find it because I'm always on a self-inflicted time limit and I can't think straight anymore. Waaahhh!!! I'm doing you guys so much injustice I deserve to die in a funeral pyre! *runs off crying*
OF GAMES AND ASSASSINS
by: Cherrie ( kurapikasama@yahoo.com
)
Chapter 6 - Hannah Schwarz
A girl of about twenty-three sat quietly beside her mother, idly playing with the loose strands of brown hair on the side of her face. Dark gray eyes merely stared at the shimmering black leather of the driver's seat, the act indifferent and faraway from the movement made by her well-manicured fingers. The voice of her mother, Reyna Schwarz, continued to drone on and on as she talked with somebody over the mobile phone - probably Auntie Kikyou, the girl thought - but she didn't understand a word said because she chose not to listen.
She sighed, closing her eyes. She took a deep breath and smelled the sweet scent of tropical ginger, and she smiled in satisfaction knowing that she spent a good two hours fixing herself up just for this trip. Her thoughts shifted to the inevitable, and before she knew it, she was thinking of the dark-haired Zoldick whom she'll be seeing again after the painful years of having no contact.
Illumi Zoldick was always a quiet young man. He had a light but firm voice from which he would take command of servants, but he would never use it to engage in conversation. But the girl didn't mind because she didn't mind doing all the talking as long as Illumi-san was there to listen. Despite his occupation, he was always nice to her, and it was no great secret that she developed a crush on him when she reached the age of thirteen, during that first time that she met him. A boy of but fifteen, Illumi had short but fine black hair and piercing cat-like eyes. He had the fine lips of an elite and his well-mannered grace was all it took to make the young girl swoon.
And lo, a miracle just happened. The dark haired beauty she remembered in her late childhood was now her fiancé! The young girl couldn't help herself as she felt her lip-glossed lips curl into a smile. Beside her, oblivious to her thoughts, her mother gasped out of something she seemed to have heard over the other line.
"Oh that's terrible! A job appointment at a time like this? Oh the poor child," came the woman's slightly high-pitched voice. Fine fingers came up to touch the side of her cheeks as her eyes went wide. The young girl found herself blinking back from her thoughts to listen to her mother. "Oh, did you say Quenya? I see. Oh, but we're on our way Kikyou dear, so don't worry about it. I'm sure Hannah won't mind waiting for a while."
The light click of a cellphone's mouth-piece being closed sounded next.
"What did Auntie Kikyou say?" asked the girl, a dark foreboding growing in her chest.
Reyna lifted her small bag up to store her cellphone away before turning back to her daughter. "Auntie Kikyou told me that Illumi is currently on duty. I'm afraid that we'll have to wait for a while for him to come back. Oh, but it wasn't his choice, I was told that he wanted to stay so he could welcome you, but it seems as though they had no choice because the client insisted on having him," she said.
A small pout grew on the girl's face. The thought of not being able to see Illumi immediately made her feel terrible, and she didn't even try to hide it. "On duty? That's awful!" she exclaimed, straightening up on her seat.
"Oh, but I was also told that he's right here in Quenya City. Perhaps we could catch a glimpse of him if we're lucky. Do you think we should look for him so he could come back with us to Kukuru Mountain?" asked Reyna in attempts to make her daughter feel better. Everyone knew that the girl was prone to throwing tantrums, so she didn't want to risk it.
The words seemed to have done their desired effect, and Hannah was again smiling after a few beats. "I'm pretty sure that you can't have Auntie Kikyou waiting, so I have an idea. Why don't I stay here to look for Illumi-san? Oh, but don't worry, I'll bring Ralph with me," said the girl, indicating a middle-aged man sitting across from her and her mother. The stoic bodyguard merely regarded Hannah with a look.
Reyna frowned. "I don't know, dear. Even with Ralph, I'm not sure if it would be safe," she said hesitantly. But the mere look of upcoming tears on the girl's round eyes made her change her mind. Plus the fact that her daughter just cried out a, "Please, mother?? I promise I'll be safe!" with sheer desperation. Reyna knew that Hannah had been waiting for this moment to see the young Zoldick once again, and her excitement was known to the whole household. The bewildered mother couldn't understand why her daughter suddenly took a liking to a complete stranger, but then again, she supposed that Hannah had spent quite a lot of times with Illumi during their rare visits and that she must have missed something. Perhaps Hannah was right and that she and Illumi really did get along well.
The door of the car closed, followed by the thrilled waving of the young Schwarz girl to her mother. "Tell Auntie Kikyou that Illumi-san and I will be fine. I have my cellphone with me and I'll call him through it, and don't hesitate to call, mother!" she said, bidding Reyna her goodbye. The mother and daughter kissed each other on their cheeks before the window rose up, leaving an opaque black wall between them. The car sped away and Hannah continued to wave until it was out of sight.
"Well Ralph!" she said, turning to the tall man behind her. Her blue silk skirt flew with her movements, like flower petals blooming. Hannah had always liked to have clothes like that. But this time, she did it out of habit and not because she liked to do it, for her thoughts were clouded with things of more importance to her. "Let's go find Illumi-san!"
* * * * *
It was around 9 o'clock in the morning but Illumi still found himself walking around the city, trying to clear out his thoughts. During the wee hours of the night he was able to conclude one universal thing about his life: He was surrounded by psychopaths. Right after he ran away from home, Illumi thought that he finally left behind him the madhouse from which he knew he was cursed to stay in. Granted, he did run to Hisoka, and in more way than one he thought the magician was a bit strange, but it was only then did he realize the extent of his madness.
The assassin tried to look back at what happened that night. Hisoka just - Illumi scowled at the thought - kissed him. Illumi's been kissed before, for one thing. His mother was fond of kisses and she would always go to her children and kiss them whenever she felt that she has to. And Hannah. The girl was able to steal small kisses on his cheeks whenever they would part - a lasting curse, might he say - but they weren't anything serious.
But Hisoka. Hisoka just kissed him on the lips! Of all the darned things to perform in front of his brothers, the magician just had to go for the quick and tactless approach.
'Did you just...do that, Hisoka?' he found himself asking, minutes after his brothers went away. Fortunately for them both, Illumi was able to hold himself well while they waited for their audience to overcome the initial shock, up until they panicked completely and ran off to the direction of the gate. Had he been a less strange situation, Illumi would've found himself laughing - not that he laughed often.
With both his hands still on the assassin's neck, both thumbs still caressing the pale cheeks, Hisoka merely grinned as if what he just did wasn't in any way wrong and said, 'Yes. I'm really tired, aren't you?'
Illumi felt himself twitch in all the wrong places and he could've sworn a vain has started to protrude from his temple. He had to stop by a store window to check if any strand of hair was standing up from the usually obedient black crown upon his head - he was that much frustrated. Partly with Hisoka, but more to himself because he was starting to realize the many reasons why he shouldn't have called the magician for help. But then again, where else would he go to?
Cursing under his breath, Illumi continued walking. After that little escapade at the park, he told Hisoka that he suddenly lost any interest in sleeping - mostly because he didn't want to sleep so close to the magician right at that time - and that he wanted to walk around a bit. Hisoka happily bade him goodbye - the freak - and said that he'll be waiting back at the hotel. It never crossed Illumi that he might not come back to Hisoka's hotel for the many reasons that the other and his clowning around would sufficiently justify, but despite the strange twist their little game went through, he realized that he was planning on coming back.
For one thing, he had to admit, Hisoka's method worked quite well. Aside from the fact that it might've been to harsh for Alluka, the point was that they've settled the idea and that it's all up to his brothers to do what they would. He wasn't quite sure what they would do exactly, but he knew that it would start the commotion that he wanted to have. Besides, wasn't he so desperate during that time he came to Hisoka for his help?
Illumi stopped to ponder on that thought. Perhaps he was putting too much against Hisoka. Sure, it wasn't everyday that one would find two men kissing, but wasn't it his idea to go around as lovers? Perhaps he should've expected a little contact, a little show to at least have them both pass that label. And besides, kisses are but small things when one would think about it. Of course. That kiss wouldn't mean anything to Hisoka, being that he's practically a creature of...many physical pleasures, in one way of speaking. Kissing would probably but a casual gesture to him as shaking hands.
Illumi sighed. At least something comforting came out of his little "walk". Granted, it was still not the whole picture, but he supposed that what he had come up with was enough for a while.
And thus, the young assassin concluded the purpose of his walk and decided that maybe it would be time for him to take his much needed rest. After all, he did spend a good amount of time circling the city; his feet were begging for rest. But upon turning back to retrace the path back to the hotel, Illumi realized his weariness and couldn't suppress a yawn. And in that moment of weakness did he miss the figure that promptly bumped into him.
"Hey, watch it!" came a vile, female voice that awakened the very nightmares from the Zoldick's mind. All thoughts of sleep and rest escaped Illumi as his dark eyes popped open in attention, half knowing yet half wishing that it wouldn't be who he thought it was. But just his luck fate suddenly decided that it was angry with him.
The girl's face, initially overcome with annoyance, changed into a more pleasant view - at least, for any random person that was not the man in front of her - as a wide smile grew on her youthful face. "Illumi-san~!" came the prompt exclamation, and before Illumi knew it, he could've sworn a leech had grappled itself on his arm and just forgot to suck his blood out.
Oblivious to the speechless shock the young man whose arm she was currently holding into a death grip, Hannah gushed like a child and started to speak. "Oh my goodness, you don't know how relieved I am to see you! You see, mother just found out that you're here in the city so I decided to look for you so we can come back to Kukuru Mountain together. I'm supposed to have Ralph with me but when I entered this store there were so many people and I somehow lost myself because the clothes were so nice. Oh, they had this really beautiful velvet coat but I don't know if it would suit me so I looked around for Ralph. I came out but he wasn't there. I tried calling him on his cellphone but he seemed to be out of coverage area and when I tried calling you the operator said that your number is no longer in use. Did you change your number, Illumi-san? Oh, but that's all right, I found you~! I wonder where Ralph is though, oh but he won't get into trouble, so I'll just call him later...I'm so glad to see you again, Illumi-san~!!!"
From that whole train of senseless words, Illumi doubted if he could repeat a single phrase, much less a sentence. He hardly understood a thing! But apart from the fact that the girl just had a tendency to not let people catch on her point, there was also that thought that kept on knocking on the assassin's head: What was she doing here!?
* * * * *
"Alluka's gonna die and we're both going to follow his footsteps by the time we come back," drawled Milluki, whose constant pacing threatened to shake the hotel room from wall to wall.
Killua felt his eye twitching in irritation as he cast his eyes towards the prone figure of his younger brother on the bed, still unconscious. The shock must've been too much for him, Killua thought. But despite his concern for the younger boy, the white-haired Zoldick couldn't help but wish that Alluka would just go on sleeping for the whole duration of their little mission.
"I can't believe Aniki's like...like...he's one of them!" exclaimed Milluki, throwing up his arms finally, his patience finally worn off.
"Just pipe down, Milluki. For all we know you got off being able to watch that scene," said Killua. Despite his own shock, he just had to snap that one at Milluki. Any opportunity to show spite - wasn't that what typical brothers would do?
"Eew!" said Milluki vehemently, casting Killua a twisted look. "I can't believe you would even accuse me of such a thing! This is Illumi we're talking about! Until last night I didn't even know that the word 'sex' was included in his vocabulary," he scoffed. "But who would've known, though. Does Illumi hate Hime-chan so much as to do something like this to her? But then again, he must've been having this little affair behind our backs for years! But really, if he wanted to relieve himself he could've had any woman he wanted. Who would've thought a guy like that goes for those with flat chests..."
Killua all but groaned at the seemingly recurring speeches Milluki tended to have regarding the three-letter word. God, the pig was worse than he and Leorio combined!
Trying to drown out Milluki's voice with sheer force of will, Killua desperately dug his pockets for his cellphone, suddenly growing more and more impatient with every second he spends with his brothers. He punched out the message with his thumb, all the while wincing at the constant yakking of an arrogant pig behind him.
Gon, I swear if you don't come here, I'm going to lose my mind!
* * * * *
This is insane.
The sharp ring of the elevator as it landed them on the assigned floor sounded through the closed room before the doors finally opened. Illumi winced at the prompt tightening of the arms around his own, and he considered pushing the girl away. But remembering the times he had done so before, the girl would throw a tantrum, saying that Illumi-san hated her - which he did, and with a passion to say the least - and she'd end up running to Auntie Kikyou about it. For some reason, the girl had this tendency to wrap everybody around her little finger and before he knew it, he was spitefully apologizing behind gritted teeth lest he suffered an earful from his own mother.
"So this is the floor you're in. I must say, the hotel was a good choice, but wasn't the president's suite more appropriate?" Hannah asked, looking around the hallway like a child in a new place. Illumi wondered if she's just really like that or she's acting the stupid, innocent brat for a reason.
Though he was tempted not to reply, out of instinct he heard the voice of his mother at the back of his head, like a cursed litany telling him to be nice to Hime-chan...or else. One would think that with the rebellion thing going on he would've decided to finally throw the girl off the top floor of a building, but no. Illumi briefly wondered if his family's madness finally got to him and he's also growing sick in the head.
"The hotel room I'm staying in isn't mine," Illumi heard himself say as he - they, but Hannah was walking so close that they could've passed for a single person - walked along the carpeted hallway.
"Hm?" Hannah blinked. "Are you borrowing it from someone?" she asked.
She's so stupid it's almost painful, thought Illumi. "No," he said, pausing to reflect upon his next words. "I'm...with somebody," he said finally, albeit a bit hesitantly. He half hoped and half dreaded that the girl would catch on what he was trying to imply, but before Hannah could say anything else, they reached the right door far too soon for comfort. But having no other choice, Illumi reached for the door knob and pushed it open.
The room was pretty neat, almost the same way he had seen it last night. That is, apart from the mess the bed was currently in. Illumi had to raise an eyebrow at the way Hisoka slept. The covers were wormed through his limbs as if somebody tied them around the magician on purpose. At the back of his mind, Illumi asked himself how he managed to survive the nights of having to sleep with this man for the past few days.
"Wow," he heard Hannah say, her eyes glued to the same thing. "What a pig!"
Illumi felt his eye twitch at the insult. He wasn't sure if it was because of the fact that Hannah just insulted Hisoka, or plainly just because Hannah actually spoke again. Surely it wasn't the first option; he wasn't even sure why he even considered it. Nonetheless, he cast a sidelong glance at the girl and tried hard not to roll his eyes. "I'm living with him," he said coldly, pulling his arm out of the girl's death grip and turning away under the pretense of going to get a glass of water.
Fortunately, Hannah stayed where Illumi left her. Like a puppy, Illumi thought amusedly. Well, he had to insult her somehow, even is it's just in his thoughts. "With him?" she asked, oblivious to the other's thoughts. Instead, she kept her eyes on the man on the bed, and noted that the only thing she found good about him was that he was actually good-looking. But of course, what use was that to her dear Illumi? "Oh you poor thing," she finally said, casting her gaze back at the assassin. "And there's only one bed! This hotel must be really crowded. Where do you sleep? Oh darling, please don't tell me he makes you sleep on the couch!"
Darling? Illumi gritted his teeth and took a deep breath in attempts to calm his nerves. Instead of snapping at the girl, he retained his composure and just opted for his initial plan. Break it to her gently.
"No, not the couch," he said, pouring himself a glass of soft drink. "I sleep on the bed."
"On the bed?" repeated the girl curiously. One would've expected that the girl would get it by now, but as Illumi looked up to steal a glance of her expression, he was very much disappointed. Hannah didn't even seem to budge. She had a bewildered expression all right, but it wasn't the right kind of bewilderment Illumi would've preferred. Her face also hardened, but again, it wasn't the kind the young man would've liked. "Then what is he doing on your bed!?"
Before Illumi could clear things up, Hannah had stalked towards the bed and mercilessly pushed Hisoka on the opposite side. The painful 'thud' of his body crashing to the floor in a bundle of blankets was clear and audible.
"Fucking HELL!" cursed the magician upon waking, which came to him too violently for comfort. A blanket had covered his face wholly, but he pulled this down angrily and glared at the first person he set his eyes on. It didn't seem to pass his head that the girl was a complete stranger. He didn't even seem to care. "What the HELL is WRONG with you, lady!?"
Most people would cower at the very tone Hisoka used, much more the expression of sheer anger on his face, but Hannah was not most people. "Don't you dare raise your voice in my presence, you bastard! What were you doing sleeping in a bed that's not even yours!?!?" she demanded, pointing a menacing finger at the magician from her side of the bed.
"What the fuck does that suppose to mean?? Do you even realize where you are or have you lost your whinny self and somehow entered the wrong room!?" asked Hisoka back.
"Stop using such vile language against me, you wretched commoner!!!"
"Commoner? Just who the hell do you think you're talking to!? Fuck yourself and go to hell, woman! God, pretty bitches just come around in awful packages these days," he said in the midst of extracting himself out of the tangled blankets.
It's almost as if they forgot I existed, said Illumi to himself, not knowing whether the scene was amusing or just downright irritating.
As if hearing his thoughts, Hannah shut her mouth - I have to congratulate Hisoka for being the only one to stump her, thought Illumi - and stilled. But it didn't take more than a few seconds for her eyes to start watering and with a violent turn, she faced Illumi and with a speed that would've made Mother Nature hide her lightning bolts in shame, had herself thrown upon him like a sobbing child.
"Did you hear what he just said to me, Illumi-san!?" she cried, burying her face on Illumi's chest, her shoulders shaking from her tears.
Upon hearing the familiar name, Hisoka blinked and straightened up, looking at the direction from which Hannah just ran to. And sure enough, the sight surprised him greatly. He blinked. "Illumi?" he managed to ask, alternating from the assassin to the girl in his arms.
"How dare you call him by his first name, you miserable fiend!!!" snapped Hannah on Illumi's defense even before the other could respond to the magician.
Hisoka was about to snap another retort, but Illumi shook his head and spoke up. "No, Hime-san, you don't understand. Hisoka's my..." he shifted a wary glance towards the magician, who merely raised an eyebrow up at him, prompting him to just say it. But Illumi knew better, and in defeat, he sighed. "He's my roommate," he said, looking down at the tearful girl. From where he stood, he didn't miss the sardonic roll of Hisoka's eyes.
"Roommate? Why do you even have a roommate?" asked Hannah, a frown in her face as she hid her lips and nose under a white handkerchief she seemed to have pulled out of nowhere.
"It's a long story," said Illumi, sighing yet again as he rubbed his eyes exasperatedly.
"Well, you have to tell me about it, then. We can't start off this way, you know, it's not healthy for a good relationship," she said, sniffling yet still throwing her chin up to regain her dignity, which she did quite well. Her arrogance was immediately a thorn on Hisoka's side, who quietly watched on the side, noting in satisfaction that Illumi just stiffened at the mention of a "relationship".
"Anyway," continued Hannah, who looked around. She winced upon the sight of the messy bed and glared at Hisoka, who returned the glare with the same amount of spite. But Hannah merely returned her eyes back to Illumi and asked, "Can I use the bathroom? I need to fix myself up."
"No," said Hisoka immediately, throwing the covers back on the bed. "I have to use it."
But Hannah merely cast him another mocking look. "Who asked you?" she scoffed before slamming the bathroom door.
Hisoka gritted his teeth, his eyes burning the path from which the girl just left. He then turned to Illumi, who looked just as distressed as he was. The magician looked back at how the assassin treated her, and another wave of frustration overcame him. "Now I know why you need my help," he said.
Illumi looked at him and returned the mocking glare. "Oh shut up."
End of Chapter 6
