Chapter 2
Visitors for dinner
"Urgh! I can't take all those fight scenes anymore!" Hisoka's voice was muffled by the constant splashing of water and his own spluttering. He ducked his face into the water filled basin and violently pulled his face out of the water, his hair sending sparkling droplets of water all around him.
"Hmm...correct me if I'm wrong, but that could have made a good hair commercial." Killua grinned at the situation. He had an easy role today having only a few shots in the episode amongst the crowd as he watched the fight between Gon and Hisoka. The odd comment here, another glare there, it wasn't so tough after all.
Gon had taken the worst of it all today with the tumble turns and constant sprinting. His dad wasn't satisfied with the effect of half the shots taken, so god know how many punches Gon had to throw around today already. There he sat, in his makeup chair, a vacant look in his unfocused expression. His shoulders were rolling in slow motions trying to coax the ache out of them.
"Come on! We've only got an hour for lunch." The young Zoldick continued to whine, his hands restlessly fidgeting with his stylish clothing.
Hisoka was now furiously raking a towel over this face and he was thoroughly exhausted by the end of it. "I'm not going outside until the last molecule of this ridiculous paint is off my face." He panted whilst seriously studying his image in the mirror. His thin eyes narrowed, indicating that it was acceptable. "All right. Just let me get out of these hideous peddle pushers and fit into some more human pants. Where'd my bag go?"
The magician ambled to another section of the room, leaving Killua and Zuuchi to stare blankly at Gon. They ignored him.
"Hey Zuuchi, looks like we'll be able to leave the set early today. What say we go flex our muscles at the arcade afterwards and treat ourselves to tall glasses of chocolate milkshake?"
Zuuchi kicked his bag of belongings under a dressing table and looked up at Killua with a big grin. "Sorry pal, but Neverwinter Nights just came out and I still haven't finished Dungeon Siege yet. But if you like, we could do EverQueest together after all this is over."
Killua's eyebrows knitted together. Zuuchi was a hardcore gamer but had a preference for PC games instead. Furthermore, he spent a far longer amount of time with his computer because his role was so minimal in Hunter x Hunter. His EverQuest character was at least ten levels above his own. It would be difficult to group then. He sighed with disappointment.
"Nah, I'll have to solo a bit myself first to catch up with you."
A person stepped into the dressing rooms. His very presence alone seemed to chill the air around them.
"Dad?"
"That was a good shoot today Killu. You can basically leave now, and that goes for you too Zuuchi." Silva said, looking down at the pair of youngsters. Killua's face remained blank, but the fuzzy brown haired kid broke into a huge grin.
"Ah! I might go find Amanuma down at Reikai Motion Pictures then! Thank you Director!" Zuuchi gave a mock salute then dashed off to pick up his bag of belongings from underneath the dressing table and made a quick sprint towards the nearest exit. Silva's gaze never wavered from his son however, and when Zuuchi's footsteps faded away, the President of Hunter Works finally spoke.
"Jenny said that you were having one of you... 'lapses' again this morning." Killua imagined that he heard concern in his father's voice.
"Is that a question or a statement sir?" he mumbled, unable to bring himself to speak any louder under Silva's hypnotic gaze. The pair remained in silent struggle of wills for a while until Hisoka re-emerged, face slightly flustered, otherwise ready to go to lunch. He called out to Gon and Killua.
"I'm...not going." Killua finally said out loud. "You guys have a big lunch ok?"
"What do you mean you're not - oh." Hisoka's voice abruptly trailed off and his eyes widened at the sight of Silva Zoldick, whom he had presumably interrupted. He nodded fervently and quickly turned to the exit on the far side of the room, carrying a tired out Gon under his arm and madly gesturing for Hanzo and Wing to pull their act together and leave the studio before anything happened.
The group of four made it outside the studio and patiently awaited the elevator. Machi casually strolled up to them and looked questioningly at Gon.
"You all right kiddo?"
"I'm going to get a good massage tonight, if that's the last thing I do." Gon croaked. Hisoka finally set him back down on the ground, but even then the main star of Hunter x Hunter was still wobbling a bit, his legs undecided as to whether to stand straight or collapse all together.
"Steady Gon, the day's not over yet." Wing cautioned "And besides, it's Tuesday Gym night. You're not going to slack off."
Everyone else nodded flatly, even Machi, because as a member of the Genei Ryodan, the least they could do was actually look like the competent, toughened thieves they were supposed to be. At first, when these Gym nights began, everyone absolutely hated them. In fact, it was a suggestion brought up by their trainers who had readily observed that they were all terribly out of form and shape and nowhere near flexible enough to perform half the death defying stunts that Silva expected of them. So obviously, to the gym they went, every Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday night. It was tedious, painful and humiliating, and all the Hunter actors made sure that if they suffered, then no individual will be spared, even if they didn't have to remove their shirts off in the series.
Gon groaned, then whined and tried to look extremely piteous.
"No!" Machi declared hotly and held up a clenched fist. "You will share the same fate as all your fellow actors!"
Hanzo solemnly nodded. "It's for the best Gon. You'll probably even feel a bit better after a few stretches as well. Don't worry, we'll get you your sauna AND massage afterwards."
Gon's head drooped, but he knew Hanzo was trying to comfort him at least. Which was better than everyone else sometimes. Hisoka couldn't seem to get the grin off his face and Wing found every excuse to look away constantly. He sighed and gave in. It would be pointless to argue with such a determined bunch. He swore he had met bulls that were more lenient.
"By the way, why aren't we dining out at the cafeteria on second floor? Outside is going to be packed at this hour." Hanzo stepped out of the lift first and flinched slightly under the powerful glare of the midday sun.
"Oh, we'll find a place with no troubles I'm sure." The magician ran a hand through his sickly gelled hair, trying not to grimace. "But now that the streets are clear of a certain *someone*, I think the city will smell a little better."
"For a while." Wing added.
Everyone shared the same grin, the type of grin you smiled at the demise of your enemies, the one you smiled at the funeral of your nemesis, the kind of grin that touched your lips when your hated foe was begging at your feet. And what a wonderfully warm and comforting feeling it was. Almost like closure.
"Now that you've finished cutting and pasting all articles, what are your plans for the scrapbook?" Machi watched the ninja possessively clutch the book tightly to his chest. Hanzo gave everyone a sheepish look, but then, he turned very serious, like the mastermind conjuring a wonderfully deceitful plot.
"I'm going to stop by at the newsagency and mass produce this work of art."
Hisoka rolled his eyes a bit. "Don't you have anything better to do with your day off?"
"Yep. Circulate this baby around town, then buy a really big and nice thank you card for Meryl, and perhaps book a time for her to go out with Leorio and hope for the same results."
Machi starred flatly at them and shivered dramatically. "Could you guys please not ruin my appetite by mentioning that jerk's name." Her voice was acid and could have melted the toughest steel to runny molten liquid.
This got everyone interested. So whilst they walked down to their local café, about a block and a half away, they probed her with many questions. However, they found it most pleasant to chat when they had finally arrived at their destination - a sunny, overly bright and cheery place with tables decked in checkered tablecloths and waitresses with enough genki aura to cheer the most depressed man. They chose to sit just slightly outside, under the cool shade of a large umbrella and ordered tall, cold drinks.
Hisoka as usual, took control of the conversation and settled his elbows on the table, his chin resting lightly on top of his clasped hands. It was time to talk business. "One of these days, we'll have to find something to fix Leorio up. But we all must have our own reasons of course." His eyes narrowed slightly and he glanced at each of his companions steadily. The atmosphere suddenly seemed unnaturally still and quiet, like time had been suspended. That was Hisoka for you, a man with such charisma and personality that he could hold you to his will with a mere look and a few words. A powerfully enigmatic man indeed. "Lets begin with your story Machi, now that we are comfortably seated on these cushioned seats in such a lovely restaurant. Tell us, what has Leorio done?" his words were almost hypnotic. How like his Hunter character, the Magician who can mesmerize and captivate his audience, Gon thought ironically.
Machi scowled, partly in discomfort, and partly in defiance of Hisoka's magnetism. "I said it all before. That jerk made a pass at me the other day."
"Uh-uh Machi-san." Hisoka's eyes narrowed further still, his voice beginning to take on an entirely different tone, like a persuading, sugar coated voice, but just beneath down the malice was madly boiling. It didn't help that Hisoka had taken on a totally different expression, the one he managed to make himself look like an utter psychopath in the series, where shadows danced across his face even in broad daylight. "This is where we open ourselves up to our fellow conspirators today. There shall be nothing left untold at this table. In short, we want details."
Machi sighed, giving in reluctantly. "We kinda bumped into each other in the hallway on level three. I was going off to my private rest area when he acted all slick and cavalier and made a few comments."
Eyebrows turned up, prompting her to continue.
She had been relatively pissed off that day. It was during the first stages of production and already, she was running through the streets of the city with Shizuku and Kuroro on some wild chase scenes which made heavy use of wires and she bobbed up and down from the crowds. God knows long it actually took before she could find some sort of balance and actually make it look like she was jumping.
So towards the evening, the group returned back to Hunter Works headquarters to finalize the small details, such as the sounds and conversations that might have been drowned out under the rainy weather.
And did she mention that she was soaked to the bone and felt like a wet dog?
Everything went smoothly enough. Paku and Shizuku still wanted to go clubbing afterwards, and so she complied with their wishes. But only after a change of gear. Everyone agreed of course, and they went their own ways - some back to private homes, and some to the private rest areas provided to each actor, complete with bed, desk, cupboard and personal bathroom and toilet. It was along the way that she met Leorio, dressed in his sharp suit, snickering about obscene messages to someone over his cell phone.
He ended his conversation with whatever slimebag he was talking to as he saw her approaching and his eyes studied every inch of her, wandering up and down her small frame with insolently critical eyes.
At this point, Hanzo quipped up how low and sleazy it was to look at a woman in such way. The others murmured similar sentiments.
Then, Leorio stopped and gave her one of those looks you would give to homeless people or desperate drug addicts. "You're never going to get any dates or opportunities with your looks you know. For one, you're too short, not to mention lacking totally in assets, and you know what I mean by 'assets' and your eyes! Would you even put on some contacts to cover that hideously piercing colour? But here you have one generous guy who can tolerate your flaws and faults. How about the closest bar?"
"That's a pickup?!" Hanzo squealed with outrage, then quickly covered his mouth and suspiciously glanced around him to see if anyone was looking over at the commotion. Hisoka's flat glare was a warning not to let loose such outbursts again.
"So I gave him the most direct response as possible and told him to stuff his face where the sun don't shine and never come back because the world would be such a prettier place without him spoiling it." Machi finished primly.
"Don't lie to me Machi. We want to hear his last and devastating sally. What was it?"
"Oh very well" the young lass rolled her eyes. "He said: you should have considered yourself lucky. Who would go out with a short dwarf as ugly as you....and you'll never get some, or something along similar lines"
"You oughta have kicked him in the balls." Wing muttered, talking a large gulp of his milkshake. Machi did likewise, only she ordered lemon tea.
"Well, I have no story to tell. You saw what happened last night, only it's habitual and repetitive. I get shit from him just because I'm a minor character." Hanzo tried to sound indifferent, but hurt was clearly in his eyes. Machi patted his broad shoulder assuringly. "So what about you Wing? Us two have confessed already, what are your misfortunes with the living sleaze incarnate?"
Wing pushed up his glasses and looked all diplomatic and businesslike. "The same that you suffer Hanzo, because like you, I get only few appearances. But there was one particularly offending moment we shared together in which he labeled me as every stereotype under the sun."
"Stee-ree-o type....damn, I only checked that word up the other day." Gon cursed.
"It's basically broad generalizations, Gon, based on your appearance and character namely - the classic one being 'all blondes are dumb, therefore if you're blonde, and you make a mistake typing in Word, you'll actually try to wipeout your errors on the monitor." Wing patiently explained with a small smile, ever the mentor figure, even outside the script.
Gon laughed, but quickly subdued it as the looks his co-actors told him that it was only meant to be an example. "Please go on." He said meekly.
"That's about it. It was not the stereotyping itself, or the immature name calling. It's deeper than that, as is human psychology. By framing me as a stereotype, he has basically dismissed me as another human being with complex thoughts and ideas, dreams and desires of my own. To him, I was just a cardboard character who could be understood with a simple generalization. And that's basically another way of telling me that I am nothing. In a world with six billion people, all trying to find their identity and purpose in life, I prided myself in being able to make myself known, if however minimally, to the world. Acting is another way of confirming your existence on this planet and the absolute gall of that miscreant to ignore what I am and what I have achieved...that's just very frustrating."
"Deeeep." Everyone softly echoed at once with varying degrees of understanding. Wing smiled and laughed again at their disturbed and mystified expressions. He knew he should have bought that Polaroid camera when it was on sale. It was just moments like this that had to be treasured. Here they were, out on lunch in a cheery restaurant, brooding over their misfortunes with a certain individual which led to questioning the meaning of life! He knew his psychology degree was well worth the time he spent pouring over barely logical and mentally warped books written by equally demented authors.
Lunch was quickly served and everyone dug in, whether it be juicy steaks, half done, or big bowls of chips and nachos covered in steaming melted cheese. You could only ponder on the reason of being for so long, and delicious aromas of food have been universally known to cure any form of depression.
"I guess you don't take crap from Leorio do you Gon?" Hanzo asked between mouthfuls of his chicken snitzhel.
Gon shook his head. "He sees me as one of the main characters of Hunter x Hunter. I'm also a friend of Killua's, so he doesn't dare to say anything. But sometimes, I get the feeling that he's. ..sneering at me, when he thinks I'm not looking. I just feel uncomfortable around him. What about you Hisoka?" he asked quickly.
All eyes turned to the magician who was thoughtfully chewing on his steak. An easy but cold smile touched his lips. He daintily wiped the corner of his mouth before proceeding. "I may not be one of the Hunter four, but I do have major role. Besides, I won't hesitate to take offence from an insult either. Code Duello fellow actors," he tisked with an all knowing smug grin and wagged his finger "and it means exactly what it means."
"Hisoka..." Hanzo's voice trailed off with slight admiration.
"You idiot! Don't encourage him!" Machi growled and implanted her fist in his bald shiny head. She then shot Hisoka a frightened, but altogether angry look. "You can't risk starting a war inside the Hunter building! Think of the almighty presence of the ever watchful director. Code Duello in Hunter Works is the closest thing to suicide. You take it too far, and no other company would ever hire you either."
"Why Machi-san, I didn't you know you cared." Hisoka smiled indifferently.
"I just don't want to be around you when it happens, in case it rubs off on me." Machi replied hotly. But the way Hisoka looked at everyone of them told her just how serious he was.
"What is the point in life if you don't push and test these limits that we have constrained ourselves to?" he began, voice dropping down to a low, barely audible whisper which the wind threatened to carry away. This forced everyone to concentrate hard on his words. "We are actors, famous people who are above the law. And so when vendettas occur in our little, select society, and the law enforcers are helpless to interfere, what better mechanism than Code Duello to protect ourselves, our reputation and our dignity? Either way, I've been involved in this business for too long, got too many friends around here. Do you think one Leorio is enough to stand up to me? I could make him do what Darien von Drosgen did last night and make it last ten times as long and the beautiful part would be I could get away with it entirely!" his expression turned terribly cruel. "Code Duello is another way of saying don't play with fire if you can't handle it. I think Leorio-san has enough sense to steer clear of something which could so easily destroy him."
All men looked to Hisoka with something akin to shy admiration. Deep down, they had found themselves a new hero. Machi on the other hand, slapped her palm against her forehead, dreading the oncoming headache. Men!
"You'd threaten your career just to fix up some cheap slug like Leorio. You know who really wins in the end then." She muttered without a hope of even trying to persuade the testosterone driven males to listen to her view. But the magician gave her one of his knowing looks.
"That's only if you get caught, and I'm very careful." He spoke ominously but without the earlier threatening undertones. "Just think about it, here we are, sitting together speaking spiteful stuff about him, and there are many others at Hunter Works who share similar sentiments. We are a coalition, and if worse comes to worse, we'll set Leorio up against our illustrious Director himself. All of us, in it together, we are at an incredible advantage already. Code Duello doesn't always refer to illegal practices you know."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Killua heard his friends gradually exit the large studio room and faced his father, not knowing what to say. He guessed he should have been angry at the maid for being too concerned about something which wasn't her business. But he wondered what he looked like when was caught in those trance like moments, thinking about the past. Perhaps it was worrying indeed.
He maintained a blank expression when he glanced up at the resilient features of his father, the President and Director of Hunter Works, the one they called the predator with silver hair who prowled the world, fearing no one, stopping at nothing to achieve his ends. Killua supposed that his father expected a splitting image from his son, but Killua never asked.
"Will you be home late again?" he asked, for some reason wanting to divert the topic of the conversation.
"That's another reason why I wanted to speak with you. I'm going to be home for dinner tonight." Killua's stupefied silence prompted him to continue. "There'll be guests over for dinner tonight. So you might as well go home and pack it up a bit."
We've got housekeepers who do that, Killua thought flatly, wondering if that was nervousness he felt from his father's posture.
"And you should probably dress a bit decently as well."
"Are they business people again?"
Silva might have balked for a moment, but no one noticed. "No, just guests, friends."
We don't have any friends. The only people we have are allies or partners in business. When we become of no use to each other, we immediately cease contact. If there is no benefit to be gained by knowing that person, then it is inefficient use of our time. Furthermore, people around us judge us by our usefulness, as we do them. Therefore there is no one we can rely on in this world but ourselves. That is what you've taught us father.
"Will grandpa be home too?"
"Yes....he'll be home for dinner as well."
Entertaining friends is an inefficient use of time. Wasting time is the equivalent of wasting your chances at making money elsewhere. It is a ruthless world.
"You'll have to help me entertain some of them tonight Killu. Think of something to do ok?"
WHO ARE YOU?! AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY FATHER?!
Killua was left rooted to the spot, his face a perfect blank to mask the confusion and terror beneath. Something felt terribly wrong. He wished there was someone he could talk to, Gon most preferably, but he would be busy all afternoon.
The young Zoldick racked his brains at the list of people he could confide in. Many names came into his mind, mostly other kids his age from Saturday School, mainly the other young kids from Hokage Village down south of the city. Naruto was an ok guy, but he didn't know him well enough. Gara? No, he listened to his mum too much and never formed an opinion on his own. How about Kaoru Koganei? He was another bright, cheeky and enthusiastic kid who enjoyed every moment of his life and career, wielding the impressive Kogan Anki in Flame of Recca. Killua had asked his dad why he couldn't have a big stick to throw around, but Silva said the subtle approach would fit his character more.
But what could a happy and normal kid know about problems? He'd be the last person to understand how he felt right now.
Killua heard himself sigh. Once again, he was forced to depend on himself, to comfort himself even when he was neck high in confusion and misery and his vulnerability was so fragile that if someone fed him one more piece of information that didn't fit into his normal pattern of life, he'd have a nervous breakdown, right here and now. Then he could hopefully remain asleep, or in a coma, whatever, until whatever chaotic storm blew over.
Numbly, he packed up his gear and slowly trudged home on foot. The genki receptionist bade him goodbye, but he was too deep down in his own thoughts to have noticed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Yohoo! The day is finished!" the main star of Hunter x Hunter bobbed enthusiastically to the change rooms with a trail of tired people pulling their iron-shackled feet behind him.
"And he was complaining how tired he was at lunch." Hisoka blinked a few times, his eyelids starting to feel heavy already.
Inside the change rooms, several other people had gathered already. Kurapika's big smile bought some light joy in everyone's moods, but Kuroro's sulky expression made everyone roll their eyes. Phinx gave Kuroro a friendly slap on the back.
"Cheer up, 'Dancho'" he began with much energy and vitality. "Can we actually see a smile on your face for once? Everyone would think that you'd have the most reason to hang a grin on your handsomely morbid face today after reading every magazine and newspaper. Or if you're still not properly informed, I'll try to acquire one of those anthologies that Hanzo was circulating late this afternoon."
"Kindly don't make any reference to my immediate family. I'm depressed enough as it is, do you want me to bang my head against the wall too?"
Phinx scowled softly. "But your little perfect bro, the loved and adored Tuxedo Mask, is caught with his pants down! Literally! Ye! Surely that is reason enough to rejoice and remove the shroud of melancholy that doth hang around you constantly my good sir." He finished grandly.
Kuroro rubbed the side of his temples with a pained expression. But he couldn't help feeling an oncoming smile at the ridiculous use of Shakespearean language Phinx added in for a good measure. What an avid reader. "It's not a good sign Phinx. If Darien did what he did...he must have been on some pretty wild party drugs, and guess who'll end up shouldering the responsibility when I go home, correction, *if* I go home."
Ubo stared in Kuroro with something akin to shock and Kurapika became puzzled.
"You mean to say you haven't heard?" Hanzo couldn't believe it. He'd spent the whole day spreading gossip and rumors so that even the lonely mole buried two miles deep underground would have gotten sick of all the mutterings.
"We need to work on your efficiency Hanzo." Machi entered the change rooms with Ponzu, both fully dressed in their gym outfits already. All men tried to look indifferent at their pleasing curves. "Obviously, your network isn't as extensive as you thought."
"Oh give me a break!" he exclaimed furiously. "I dropped hints all over the biggest gossips in town! Loudmouth Yuusuke and Kuwabara pounced on the news at Reikai Motion Pictures and the people at Houshin, and even Saitou! He'll pass it on to Kaoru who'll eventually get the word around to all the elite ladies in her circle. Then I made a trip west back to Graude Foundation and grabbed hold of pesky Seiya and Ikki who'll blab anything that's on their minds to whoever turns up to their drug infested parties, and that's a LOT of people who turn up I might add! Hell, I even bumped into Amelia from Slayers Corp on the way! Who have I missed out?!"
"Apparently, your network has no plants at the library." Kuroro coughed slightly. "I must have missed something. Please inform me."
"We'll tell you on the way to the gym, 'Dancho'" Ubo was grinning so hard that his facial muscles were hurting big time. But it wasn't every day that you had such spectacular and juicy piece of news to play around with. "You'll feel like a completely different person afterwards that you could probably do twenty on the treadmill tonight!"
"I don't think so Ubo." The young man continued to utter quietly. "There's really nothing in the world that can elevate my miserable life."
"Oh really?" Hisoka joined the group having finally rubbed all the make up off. His face was slightly pinkish. His eyes took on a slightly wild and haunted look, and his lips twisted in malicious relish. "Then this will hit you like no ecstasy or cocaine will. I promise."
It was a darkly delicate and delicious atmosphere which was quickly shattered by Gon's cell phone, buzzing an incoming message. He quickly found out who it was from and his eyes glinted.
"Hey guys, Killua's not going to meet us at gym tonight."
"Slacker!" was a few people's immediately response.
"But!" Gon quickly continued. "It seems that he's having dinner at home tonight, with his dad and grandpa, AND - "
"And..." everyone echoed in anticipation.
"They've got 'friends' over as well. Imagine that!"
A few jaws slackened, some chins hit the floor with resounding thumps. They all looked amongst themselves, stunned and dazed like someone had all hit them with heavy punching bags. In a trance and unable to form coherent words, they stumbled out of the change rooms, down the red carpeted corridors, and disorientatedly left Hunter Works to go to Toguro Brother's Gym, wondering if the world was about to come to an end.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Alluka! What do you think you're doing dressed in that?" Killua thought he could soon die of shock seeing his younger brother dressed in tight leathers and chains. If people called him the Crown Prince of Bratdom, they have obviously not met his younger brother. The ever cheeky and defiant kid was already in his stages of rebellion at the tender age of ten, although most boys waited until they were fourteen.
"How do I look? Think Dad and Grandpa will be impressed?"
"Yes Alluka, *so* impressed that they'll ground you until you're twenty one." Killua drawled, ushering his brother back into his room. Even though he was only two years Alluka's senior, he felt immeasurably older than his age required him already. Sometimes, he resented the feeling, like he had been robbed of a youthful childhood like Alluka's that he could never reclaim. "Now, where were those Levi jeans of yours? Find that, put that on, and then slap on another decent shirt - that grey CK top comes to mind, and Dad will extend your curfew to 2am."
Alluka's eyes widened considerably. "You serious? That's all I have to do?"
Killua pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "And behave." He finally added. "I don't know who these people are, but we better put on the angelic act just in case. Never hurts to be cautious."
"You've got no idea who's coming?" Alluka repeated again, for the fiftieth time since Killua broke the news to him. The siblings could hardly contain their excitement and curiosity, for no one had actually come and visited before.
"For the last time, NO!" Killua stressed, almost exasperated.
"Really?"
"YES! Now hurry up and change!"
"Killua? Why are you shouting?" Silva's questioning voice faintly floated upstairs. Both boys froze, partly in terror.
"Dad's home!" Alluka squealed and slammed the door to quickly change and Killua was yet again rooted to the spot, unable to form a reasonable response.
"Killua?"
"Nothing's wrong dad. We've just finished getting changed." He called back down. There was a tense moment of silence but if finally died away as the racket from the kitchen roared through when the pantry doors were flung open.
"He's nervous isn't he?" Alluka creaked his door open a fraction.
His elder brother sighed. "Are you finished in there?"
"Yes, yes.....angelic boy tonight Allu, angelic boy tonight, angelic boy tonight." He chanted over and over again, getting himself into the mood for the part he was to play. Killua couldn't help grinning. Lo, the Zoldick siblings hath been cursed with bratiness, and much will it taketh to overcome, he imagined Phinx saying with his grand hand gestures. What a guy!
The entire Zoldick mansion came to a standstill however when the doorbell rang. Its chimes echoed done the lonely halls and corridors and the empty rooms. Even the birds seemed to have stopped chirping, all staring intently at the front door.
Killua and Alluka looked at each other, sharing the same feelings, knowing that their hearts were pounding so loud that it shut out the world around them with a shroud of unreality. Like ghosts, they drifted down the swirling stairs and like frightened and shy children, crouched behind a particularly big ornamental vase to see who their dad would welcome into their home.
The vision was blurry when Silva first swung open the massive gold inlaid double doors. Killua squinted and could make out the silhouette of 4 different people.
Four!
And then in seconds which lasted an eternity each, they all stepped into the light.
At the forefront was a woman, in her early forties wearing a very pleasing and conservative black dress with cunning silver stitching along its helms. Alluka didn't miss the large diamond rings and earrings winking back at him however. 'Rich lady' immediately popped into his young and impressionable mind.
Slightly behind her was a tall....person, dressed in a very respectable white silk shirt and lengthy black pants which accentuated his/her long and slender legs. Killua couldn't make out if his/her hair was either a terribly dark brown or a very light black, but either way, they had the very qualifications to make a Pantene Pro V model. Large, feline black eyes under finely plucked eyebrows never left Silva's direction. Slender pinkish lips lifted into a small smile and a pale slim hand with perfectly manicured nails was extended at his father in greeting. All this was done with the mechanical smoothness of one businessmen who greeted customers and potential tenders on a daily basis and acquired the informal but firmly polite rituals of greeting that existed in the exclusive corporate society. Apart from promo balls, no where in the universe would you find such liberal use of fake smiles coupled with poisonous thoughts or devilish back stabbing.
Killua nodded at Alluka, who was equally as observant. They'd have to keep a close eye on the long haired one. If any of the four newcomers had any plans of threatening their father, the tall one would be the first to try.
The last two to enter was a grossly fat boy who might be eighteen. His hair greased and gelled thickly as the occasion had called for, but the impression was that he would be much more comfortable if his hair lay untouched on his head, messy and unkempt. The bulging stomach was probably complaining as well, being sucked in painfully tightly by an unyielding leather belt, which looked pretty new, probably just acquired. Unlike the rest of his.family members, Killua dared to presume, he was wearing slip ons, which were rather like summer sandals only that they didn't open at the front.
"Hey Killu, I've seen his face before!" Alluka urgently whispered in his ear. "He was in that mag that I bought last week - "
"You buy lots of mags Allu." Killua patiently reminded him.
Alluka pretended to ignore that. "I saw his face in PC Powerplay when the editors interviewed him for the latest game that's going to be released next month! I've been waiting for it since I heard of it last year." His small hands trembled in excitement as they clung onto Killua's arm. "That man is a genius I tell you! He's the one who started the whole RPG genre, starting with - "
Killua didn't hear the endless barrage of excited babble from his sibling. The last to walk through the door in a pretty maroon sequenced dress and black shirt was a small girl, about two years younger than Alluka, putting on the angelic girl act too. Oh yes, they conferred to each other in silent agreement, the Zoldick boys could tell straight away whether you were in fact who you pretended to be.
"Children," the woman announced in a voice which scratched at their eardrums "say hello to Silva-san."
The impassive and formidable President and Director of Hunter Works, the man feared by all who in turn feared no one, actually gave a casual laugh.
"No need to be so formal Kikyou. Please, come through to the sitting room, dinner's almost ready. Killu, Allu, why don't you two come out from behind the vase and join us?"
Killua's stomach knotted in fear, as did Alluka's wide and fearful eyes. Did they just hear annoyance in their father's voice? They quickly did janken to see who should come out of their hiding place first, and Alluka miserably lost, as always.
He swallowed the uncomfortable lump in his throat and wiped the sweaty palms onto his jeans. "Angelic boy Alluka, angelic boy Alluka, angelic boy." He whispered to himself fervently, then struck a cherry grin on his face and stepped out into the light. Killua likewise drew deep breaths and feigned a sincere welcome with eyes raised slightly to show how interested he was in the newcomers.
"Kikyou, these are my two sons, Killua and Alluka."
The woman clasped her hands together meaningfully and cooed in adoration. "My Silva! They look just like a replica of you!"
Both boys endured the humiliating head rubs that all adults bestowed upon them, and their shining bright eyes and happy smiles did not once waver. They prided themselves in such acts to fool grown ups, and it amazed them how many times it had worked, over and over again, the same old routine that never got too old for the world.
The butler closed the doors and accepted their light coats and jackets, quietly and unobtrusively walking away to stow the garments into the closet. Kikyou ignored the butler, every inch an aristocratic or lady of high society. She turned to her own children and introduced them.
"This is my eldest son, Illumi, Milluki is this chubby boy here and my dear little Karuto-chan."
Words akin to 'fag' and 'homo' immediately popped up into the little boys' limited minds as they finally confirmed the tall boy's sex. Milluki was already impersonally known to Alluka as the almighty games and software developer, and Karuto looked surprisingly familiar although where they'd seen her remained elusive to their overly excited minds.
Illumi was the first to step forward. He also extended his hand to Killua with a pleasant smile. But a splinter of ice struck Killua's heart as he suddenly couldn't decide whether it was genuine or fake. Having grown up in an artificial world of formality and ceremonial greetings which carried no feeling or meaning, he could usually perceive what people thought even though they smiled, and could read body language like a fat piece of Tolstoy. But from Illumi's movement and words, he gathered nothing but unbearable emptiness, an intangibility so frustratingly within reach, a brick wall so tall that it was impossible to scale and breach. Who was this monster with the soft gentle features and the supposedly warm sign in body language? A deceptive void of chilling cold and never-ending solitude dressed in sheep's clothing? He looked up to meet Illumi's eyes and involuntarily took a step back with his poor wheezing heart pounding terror.
People could never mask their feelings completely. Their eyes were always there to betray them for since time immemorial, God dictated that they were the windows to our souls, a way for humans to truly know what the other felt so that none of us would ever feel truly alone in this harsh and remorseless world. Hence in so many classic romance movies, couples would always stare longingly and lovingly into each others eyes, for it was the surest way to ascertain one's feelings towards the other.
And what did he see in Illumi's eyes?
Nothing. Simply nothing. A blankness so deep without end, a lifelessness that failed to reflect the world around him. An unnatural barrier blocking all forms of genuine expression.
Using the last vestiges of sanity, he forced his own cold and clammy hand to rise up and take the older boy's warmer one with great effort.
Crazily, he wondered why no one had spotted his unusual behaviour. Maybe his own mask was also too securely fixed in place that they did not see his hair raising reaction?
Illumi continued with his introductory speech. "I've seen you in many magazines at social meetings, promoting Hunter x Hunter. You're very impressive, to have accomplished so much for your age already. I was still throwing dirt at school when I was twelve."
Obligatory praise, Alluka thought harshly, his world and territory all of a sudden sensing an unknown and looming threat which had already strangled and mesmerized his brother and would inevitably swallow him if he didn't act.
"Oni-chan, you have such pretty hair." He interrupted, forming the last line of defence for his older brother, his voice dripped pure honey and eyes lit up with adoring fascination. "Have you ever thought of doing commercials for shampoo products perhaps?"
Grim Reaper's eyes shifted and applied its unbearable pressure on young Alluka. Illumi laughed, a small, clear and silver sound.
"I wish! But alas, they don't accept men for those jobs, only shaving commercials, only shaving commercials." He muttered good humoredly.
"Why don't we all move to the sitting room and have a cup of tea and continue there." Silva took Kikyou's arm with a gentlemen's manners and lead the family to their sitting area.
How relieved Killua and Alluka were when Illumi informed them that he had pressing business matters and could not stay for long. In fact, he had to leave before dinner was served, but he expressed how grateful and honoured he was for the invitation to dinner, said and did all the right things and even bowed slightly before he left.
Half an hour later, Killua and Alluka could finally stop shaking and shivering, and their stomach even loosened up enough for them to enjoy the dinner. Afterwards, Milluki even showed Alluka how to take his PC apart and upgrade it whilst Karuto went with Killua to raid the kitchens for more ice cream. Grandpa Zeno also came in a little while later to join them, leaving Kikyou and Silva to talk in private.
Killua would always curse himself for this day, not having realized earlier what was going on when everything was already so blatantly obvious. But they say that although children have an amazing grasp of some of the most complex matters, things such as love, marriage and betrayal were still new and unfamiliar territory to them...
But he should have known better! Even suspected at least.
Instead, he was busy having a sugar rush from excess consumption of lollies and ice cream, plus a bad dose of the musical Annie on tv, which lead him to sing and dance away the rest of the night with Karuto like the common drunkard from the local pub. During that night, not once did he suspect that his life was about to take a massive upheaval, one which had been deliberately planned and organized a long time ago.
Visitors for dinner
"Urgh! I can't take all those fight scenes anymore!" Hisoka's voice was muffled by the constant splashing of water and his own spluttering. He ducked his face into the water filled basin and violently pulled his face out of the water, his hair sending sparkling droplets of water all around him.
"Hmm...correct me if I'm wrong, but that could have made a good hair commercial." Killua grinned at the situation. He had an easy role today having only a few shots in the episode amongst the crowd as he watched the fight between Gon and Hisoka. The odd comment here, another glare there, it wasn't so tough after all.
Gon had taken the worst of it all today with the tumble turns and constant sprinting. His dad wasn't satisfied with the effect of half the shots taken, so god know how many punches Gon had to throw around today already. There he sat, in his makeup chair, a vacant look in his unfocused expression. His shoulders were rolling in slow motions trying to coax the ache out of them.
"Come on! We've only got an hour for lunch." The young Zoldick continued to whine, his hands restlessly fidgeting with his stylish clothing.
Hisoka was now furiously raking a towel over this face and he was thoroughly exhausted by the end of it. "I'm not going outside until the last molecule of this ridiculous paint is off my face." He panted whilst seriously studying his image in the mirror. His thin eyes narrowed, indicating that it was acceptable. "All right. Just let me get out of these hideous peddle pushers and fit into some more human pants. Where'd my bag go?"
The magician ambled to another section of the room, leaving Killua and Zuuchi to stare blankly at Gon. They ignored him.
"Hey Zuuchi, looks like we'll be able to leave the set early today. What say we go flex our muscles at the arcade afterwards and treat ourselves to tall glasses of chocolate milkshake?"
Zuuchi kicked his bag of belongings under a dressing table and looked up at Killua with a big grin. "Sorry pal, but Neverwinter Nights just came out and I still haven't finished Dungeon Siege yet. But if you like, we could do EverQueest together after all this is over."
Killua's eyebrows knitted together. Zuuchi was a hardcore gamer but had a preference for PC games instead. Furthermore, he spent a far longer amount of time with his computer because his role was so minimal in Hunter x Hunter. His EverQuest character was at least ten levels above his own. It would be difficult to group then. He sighed with disappointment.
"Nah, I'll have to solo a bit myself first to catch up with you."
A person stepped into the dressing rooms. His very presence alone seemed to chill the air around them.
"Dad?"
"That was a good shoot today Killu. You can basically leave now, and that goes for you too Zuuchi." Silva said, looking down at the pair of youngsters. Killua's face remained blank, but the fuzzy brown haired kid broke into a huge grin.
"Ah! I might go find Amanuma down at Reikai Motion Pictures then! Thank you Director!" Zuuchi gave a mock salute then dashed off to pick up his bag of belongings from underneath the dressing table and made a quick sprint towards the nearest exit. Silva's gaze never wavered from his son however, and when Zuuchi's footsteps faded away, the President of Hunter Works finally spoke.
"Jenny said that you were having one of you... 'lapses' again this morning." Killua imagined that he heard concern in his father's voice.
"Is that a question or a statement sir?" he mumbled, unable to bring himself to speak any louder under Silva's hypnotic gaze. The pair remained in silent struggle of wills for a while until Hisoka re-emerged, face slightly flustered, otherwise ready to go to lunch. He called out to Gon and Killua.
"I'm...not going." Killua finally said out loud. "You guys have a big lunch ok?"
"What do you mean you're not - oh." Hisoka's voice abruptly trailed off and his eyes widened at the sight of Silva Zoldick, whom he had presumably interrupted. He nodded fervently and quickly turned to the exit on the far side of the room, carrying a tired out Gon under his arm and madly gesturing for Hanzo and Wing to pull their act together and leave the studio before anything happened.
The group of four made it outside the studio and patiently awaited the elevator. Machi casually strolled up to them and looked questioningly at Gon.
"You all right kiddo?"
"I'm going to get a good massage tonight, if that's the last thing I do." Gon croaked. Hisoka finally set him back down on the ground, but even then the main star of Hunter x Hunter was still wobbling a bit, his legs undecided as to whether to stand straight or collapse all together.
"Steady Gon, the day's not over yet." Wing cautioned "And besides, it's Tuesday Gym night. You're not going to slack off."
Everyone else nodded flatly, even Machi, because as a member of the Genei Ryodan, the least they could do was actually look like the competent, toughened thieves they were supposed to be. At first, when these Gym nights began, everyone absolutely hated them. In fact, it was a suggestion brought up by their trainers who had readily observed that they were all terribly out of form and shape and nowhere near flexible enough to perform half the death defying stunts that Silva expected of them. So obviously, to the gym they went, every Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday night. It was tedious, painful and humiliating, and all the Hunter actors made sure that if they suffered, then no individual will be spared, even if they didn't have to remove their shirts off in the series.
Gon groaned, then whined and tried to look extremely piteous.
"No!" Machi declared hotly and held up a clenched fist. "You will share the same fate as all your fellow actors!"
Hanzo solemnly nodded. "It's for the best Gon. You'll probably even feel a bit better after a few stretches as well. Don't worry, we'll get you your sauna AND massage afterwards."
Gon's head drooped, but he knew Hanzo was trying to comfort him at least. Which was better than everyone else sometimes. Hisoka couldn't seem to get the grin off his face and Wing found every excuse to look away constantly. He sighed and gave in. It would be pointless to argue with such a determined bunch. He swore he had met bulls that were more lenient.
"By the way, why aren't we dining out at the cafeteria on second floor? Outside is going to be packed at this hour." Hanzo stepped out of the lift first and flinched slightly under the powerful glare of the midday sun.
"Oh, we'll find a place with no troubles I'm sure." The magician ran a hand through his sickly gelled hair, trying not to grimace. "But now that the streets are clear of a certain *someone*, I think the city will smell a little better."
"For a while." Wing added.
Everyone shared the same grin, the type of grin you smiled at the demise of your enemies, the one you smiled at the funeral of your nemesis, the kind of grin that touched your lips when your hated foe was begging at your feet. And what a wonderfully warm and comforting feeling it was. Almost like closure.
"Now that you've finished cutting and pasting all articles, what are your plans for the scrapbook?" Machi watched the ninja possessively clutch the book tightly to his chest. Hanzo gave everyone a sheepish look, but then, he turned very serious, like the mastermind conjuring a wonderfully deceitful plot.
"I'm going to stop by at the newsagency and mass produce this work of art."
Hisoka rolled his eyes a bit. "Don't you have anything better to do with your day off?"
"Yep. Circulate this baby around town, then buy a really big and nice thank you card for Meryl, and perhaps book a time for her to go out with Leorio and hope for the same results."
Machi starred flatly at them and shivered dramatically. "Could you guys please not ruin my appetite by mentioning that jerk's name." Her voice was acid and could have melted the toughest steel to runny molten liquid.
This got everyone interested. So whilst they walked down to their local café, about a block and a half away, they probed her with many questions. However, they found it most pleasant to chat when they had finally arrived at their destination - a sunny, overly bright and cheery place with tables decked in checkered tablecloths and waitresses with enough genki aura to cheer the most depressed man. They chose to sit just slightly outside, under the cool shade of a large umbrella and ordered tall, cold drinks.
Hisoka as usual, took control of the conversation and settled his elbows on the table, his chin resting lightly on top of his clasped hands. It was time to talk business. "One of these days, we'll have to find something to fix Leorio up. But we all must have our own reasons of course." His eyes narrowed slightly and he glanced at each of his companions steadily. The atmosphere suddenly seemed unnaturally still and quiet, like time had been suspended. That was Hisoka for you, a man with such charisma and personality that he could hold you to his will with a mere look and a few words. A powerfully enigmatic man indeed. "Lets begin with your story Machi, now that we are comfortably seated on these cushioned seats in such a lovely restaurant. Tell us, what has Leorio done?" his words were almost hypnotic. How like his Hunter character, the Magician who can mesmerize and captivate his audience, Gon thought ironically.
Machi scowled, partly in discomfort, and partly in defiance of Hisoka's magnetism. "I said it all before. That jerk made a pass at me the other day."
"Uh-uh Machi-san." Hisoka's eyes narrowed further still, his voice beginning to take on an entirely different tone, like a persuading, sugar coated voice, but just beneath down the malice was madly boiling. It didn't help that Hisoka had taken on a totally different expression, the one he managed to make himself look like an utter psychopath in the series, where shadows danced across his face even in broad daylight. "This is where we open ourselves up to our fellow conspirators today. There shall be nothing left untold at this table. In short, we want details."
Machi sighed, giving in reluctantly. "We kinda bumped into each other in the hallway on level three. I was going off to my private rest area when he acted all slick and cavalier and made a few comments."
Eyebrows turned up, prompting her to continue.
She had been relatively pissed off that day. It was during the first stages of production and already, she was running through the streets of the city with Shizuku and Kuroro on some wild chase scenes which made heavy use of wires and she bobbed up and down from the crowds. God knows long it actually took before she could find some sort of balance and actually make it look like she was jumping.
So towards the evening, the group returned back to Hunter Works headquarters to finalize the small details, such as the sounds and conversations that might have been drowned out under the rainy weather.
And did she mention that she was soaked to the bone and felt like a wet dog?
Everything went smoothly enough. Paku and Shizuku still wanted to go clubbing afterwards, and so she complied with their wishes. But only after a change of gear. Everyone agreed of course, and they went their own ways - some back to private homes, and some to the private rest areas provided to each actor, complete with bed, desk, cupboard and personal bathroom and toilet. It was along the way that she met Leorio, dressed in his sharp suit, snickering about obscene messages to someone over his cell phone.
He ended his conversation with whatever slimebag he was talking to as he saw her approaching and his eyes studied every inch of her, wandering up and down her small frame with insolently critical eyes.
At this point, Hanzo quipped up how low and sleazy it was to look at a woman in such way. The others murmured similar sentiments.
Then, Leorio stopped and gave her one of those looks you would give to homeless people or desperate drug addicts. "You're never going to get any dates or opportunities with your looks you know. For one, you're too short, not to mention lacking totally in assets, and you know what I mean by 'assets' and your eyes! Would you even put on some contacts to cover that hideously piercing colour? But here you have one generous guy who can tolerate your flaws and faults. How about the closest bar?"
"That's a pickup?!" Hanzo squealed with outrage, then quickly covered his mouth and suspiciously glanced around him to see if anyone was looking over at the commotion. Hisoka's flat glare was a warning not to let loose such outbursts again.
"So I gave him the most direct response as possible and told him to stuff his face where the sun don't shine and never come back because the world would be such a prettier place without him spoiling it." Machi finished primly.
"Don't lie to me Machi. We want to hear his last and devastating sally. What was it?"
"Oh very well" the young lass rolled her eyes. "He said: you should have considered yourself lucky. Who would go out with a short dwarf as ugly as you....and you'll never get some, or something along similar lines"
"You oughta have kicked him in the balls." Wing muttered, talking a large gulp of his milkshake. Machi did likewise, only she ordered lemon tea.
"Well, I have no story to tell. You saw what happened last night, only it's habitual and repetitive. I get shit from him just because I'm a minor character." Hanzo tried to sound indifferent, but hurt was clearly in his eyes. Machi patted his broad shoulder assuringly. "So what about you Wing? Us two have confessed already, what are your misfortunes with the living sleaze incarnate?"
Wing pushed up his glasses and looked all diplomatic and businesslike. "The same that you suffer Hanzo, because like you, I get only few appearances. But there was one particularly offending moment we shared together in which he labeled me as every stereotype under the sun."
"Stee-ree-o type....damn, I only checked that word up the other day." Gon cursed.
"It's basically broad generalizations, Gon, based on your appearance and character namely - the classic one being 'all blondes are dumb, therefore if you're blonde, and you make a mistake typing in Word, you'll actually try to wipeout your errors on the monitor." Wing patiently explained with a small smile, ever the mentor figure, even outside the script.
Gon laughed, but quickly subdued it as the looks his co-actors told him that it was only meant to be an example. "Please go on." He said meekly.
"That's about it. It was not the stereotyping itself, or the immature name calling. It's deeper than that, as is human psychology. By framing me as a stereotype, he has basically dismissed me as another human being with complex thoughts and ideas, dreams and desires of my own. To him, I was just a cardboard character who could be understood with a simple generalization. And that's basically another way of telling me that I am nothing. In a world with six billion people, all trying to find their identity and purpose in life, I prided myself in being able to make myself known, if however minimally, to the world. Acting is another way of confirming your existence on this planet and the absolute gall of that miscreant to ignore what I am and what I have achieved...that's just very frustrating."
"Deeeep." Everyone softly echoed at once with varying degrees of understanding. Wing smiled and laughed again at their disturbed and mystified expressions. He knew he should have bought that Polaroid camera when it was on sale. It was just moments like this that had to be treasured. Here they were, out on lunch in a cheery restaurant, brooding over their misfortunes with a certain individual which led to questioning the meaning of life! He knew his psychology degree was well worth the time he spent pouring over barely logical and mentally warped books written by equally demented authors.
Lunch was quickly served and everyone dug in, whether it be juicy steaks, half done, or big bowls of chips and nachos covered in steaming melted cheese. You could only ponder on the reason of being for so long, and delicious aromas of food have been universally known to cure any form of depression.
"I guess you don't take crap from Leorio do you Gon?" Hanzo asked between mouthfuls of his chicken snitzhel.
Gon shook his head. "He sees me as one of the main characters of Hunter x Hunter. I'm also a friend of Killua's, so he doesn't dare to say anything. But sometimes, I get the feeling that he's. ..sneering at me, when he thinks I'm not looking. I just feel uncomfortable around him. What about you Hisoka?" he asked quickly.
All eyes turned to the magician who was thoughtfully chewing on his steak. An easy but cold smile touched his lips. He daintily wiped the corner of his mouth before proceeding. "I may not be one of the Hunter four, but I do have major role. Besides, I won't hesitate to take offence from an insult either. Code Duello fellow actors," he tisked with an all knowing smug grin and wagged his finger "and it means exactly what it means."
"Hisoka..." Hanzo's voice trailed off with slight admiration.
"You idiot! Don't encourage him!" Machi growled and implanted her fist in his bald shiny head. She then shot Hisoka a frightened, but altogether angry look. "You can't risk starting a war inside the Hunter building! Think of the almighty presence of the ever watchful director. Code Duello in Hunter Works is the closest thing to suicide. You take it too far, and no other company would ever hire you either."
"Why Machi-san, I didn't you know you cared." Hisoka smiled indifferently.
"I just don't want to be around you when it happens, in case it rubs off on me." Machi replied hotly. But the way Hisoka looked at everyone of them told her just how serious he was.
"What is the point in life if you don't push and test these limits that we have constrained ourselves to?" he began, voice dropping down to a low, barely audible whisper which the wind threatened to carry away. This forced everyone to concentrate hard on his words. "We are actors, famous people who are above the law. And so when vendettas occur in our little, select society, and the law enforcers are helpless to interfere, what better mechanism than Code Duello to protect ourselves, our reputation and our dignity? Either way, I've been involved in this business for too long, got too many friends around here. Do you think one Leorio is enough to stand up to me? I could make him do what Darien von Drosgen did last night and make it last ten times as long and the beautiful part would be I could get away with it entirely!" his expression turned terribly cruel. "Code Duello is another way of saying don't play with fire if you can't handle it. I think Leorio-san has enough sense to steer clear of something which could so easily destroy him."
All men looked to Hisoka with something akin to shy admiration. Deep down, they had found themselves a new hero. Machi on the other hand, slapped her palm against her forehead, dreading the oncoming headache. Men!
"You'd threaten your career just to fix up some cheap slug like Leorio. You know who really wins in the end then." She muttered without a hope of even trying to persuade the testosterone driven males to listen to her view. But the magician gave her one of his knowing looks.
"That's only if you get caught, and I'm very careful." He spoke ominously but without the earlier threatening undertones. "Just think about it, here we are, sitting together speaking spiteful stuff about him, and there are many others at Hunter Works who share similar sentiments. We are a coalition, and if worse comes to worse, we'll set Leorio up against our illustrious Director himself. All of us, in it together, we are at an incredible advantage already. Code Duello doesn't always refer to illegal practices you know."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Killua heard his friends gradually exit the large studio room and faced his father, not knowing what to say. He guessed he should have been angry at the maid for being too concerned about something which wasn't her business. But he wondered what he looked like when was caught in those trance like moments, thinking about the past. Perhaps it was worrying indeed.
He maintained a blank expression when he glanced up at the resilient features of his father, the President and Director of Hunter Works, the one they called the predator with silver hair who prowled the world, fearing no one, stopping at nothing to achieve his ends. Killua supposed that his father expected a splitting image from his son, but Killua never asked.
"Will you be home late again?" he asked, for some reason wanting to divert the topic of the conversation.
"That's another reason why I wanted to speak with you. I'm going to be home for dinner tonight." Killua's stupefied silence prompted him to continue. "There'll be guests over for dinner tonight. So you might as well go home and pack it up a bit."
We've got housekeepers who do that, Killua thought flatly, wondering if that was nervousness he felt from his father's posture.
"And you should probably dress a bit decently as well."
"Are they business people again?"
Silva might have balked for a moment, but no one noticed. "No, just guests, friends."
We don't have any friends. The only people we have are allies or partners in business. When we become of no use to each other, we immediately cease contact. If there is no benefit to be gained by knowing that person, then it is inefficient use of our time. Furthermore, people around us judge us by our usefulness, as we do them. Therefore there is no one we can rely on in this world but ourselves. That is what you've taught us father.
"Will grandpa be home too?"
"Yes....he'll be home for dinner as well."
Entertaining friends is an inefficient use of time. Wasting time is the equivalent of wasting your chances at making money elsewhere. It is a ruthless world.
"You'll have to help me entertain some of them tonight Killu. Think of something to do ok?"
WHO ARE YOU?! AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY FATHER?!
Killua was left rooted to the spot, his face a perfect blank to mask the confusion and terror beneath. Something felt terribly wrong. He wished there was someone he could talk to, Gon most preferably, but he would be busy all afternoon.
The young Zoldick racked his brains at the list of people he could confide in. Many names came into his mind, mostly other kids his age from Saturday School, mainly the other young kids from Hokage Village down south of the city. Naruto was an ok guy, but he didn't know him well enough. Gara? No, he listened to his mum too much and never formed an opinion on his own. How about Kaoru Koganei? He was another bright, cheeky and enthusiastic kid who enjoyed every moment of his life and career, wielding the impressive Kogan Anki in Flame of Recca. Killua had asked his dad why he couldn't have a big stick to throw around, but Silva said the subtle approach would fit his character more.
But what could a happy and normal kid know about problems? He'd be the last person to understand how he felt right now.
Killua heard himself sigh. Once again, he was forced to depend on himself, to comfort himself even when he was neck high in confusion and misery and his vulnerability was so fragile that if someone fed him one more piece of information that didn't fit into his normal pattern of life, he'd have a nervous breakdown, right here and now. Then he could hopefully remain asleep, or in a coma, whatever, until whatever chaotic storm blew over.
Numbly, he packed up his gear and slowly trudged home on foot. The genki receptionist bade him goodbye, but he was too deep down in his own thoughts to have noticed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Yohoo! The day is finished!" the main star of Hunter x Hunter bobbed enthusiastically to the change rooms with a trail of tired people pulling their iron-shackled feet behind him.
"And he was complaining how tired he was at lunch." Hisoka blinked a few times, his eyelids starting to feel heavy already.
Inside the change rooms, several other people had gathered already. Kurapika's big smile bought some light joy in everyone's moods, but Kuroro's sulky expression made everyone roll their eyes. Phinx gave Kuroro a friendly slap on the back.
"Cheer up, 'Dancho'" he began with much energy and vitality. "Can we actually see a smile on your face for once? Everyone would think that you'd have the most reason to hang a grin on your handsomely morbid face today after reading every magazine and newspaper. Or if you're still not properly informed, I'll try to acquire one of those anthologies that Hanzo was circulating late this afternoon."
"Kindly don't make any reference to my immediate family. I'm depressed enough as it is, do you want me to bang my head against the wall too?"
Phinx scowled softly. "But your little perfect bro, the loved and adored Tuxedo Mask, is caught with his pants down! Literally! Ye! Surely that is reason enough to rejoice and remove the shroud of melancholy that doth hang around you constantly my good sir." He finished grandly.
Kuroro rubbed the side of his temples with a pained expression. But he couldn't help feeling an oncoming smile at the ridiculous use of Shakespearean language Phinx added in for a good measure. What an avid reader. "It's not a good sign Phinx. If Darien did what he did...he must have been on some pretty wild party drugs, and guess who'll end up shouldering the responsibility when I go home, correction, *if* I go home."
Ubo stared in Kuroro with something akin to shock and Kurapika became puzzled.
"You mean to say you haven't heard?" Hanzo couldn't believe it. He'd spent the whole day spreading gossip and rumors so that even the lonely mole buried two miles deep underground would have gotten sick of all the mutterings.
"We need to work on your efficiency Hanzo." Machi entered the change rooms with Ponzu, both fully dressed in their gym outfits already. All men tried to look indifferent at their pleasing curves. "Obviously, your network isn't as extensive as you thought."
"Oh give me a break!" he exclaimed furiously. "I dropped hints all over the biggest gossips in town! Loudmouth Yuusuke and Kuwabara pounced on the news at Reikai Motion Pictures and the people at Houshin, and even Saitou! He'll pass it on to Kaoru who'll eventually get the word around to all the elite ladies in her circle. Then I made a trip west back to Graude Foundation and grabbed hold of pesky Seiya and Ikki who'll blab anything that's on their minds to whoever turns up to their drug infested parties, and that's a LOT of people who turn up I might add! Hell, I even bumped into Amelia from Slayers Corp on the way! Who have I missed out?!"
"Apparently, your network has no plants at the library." Kuroro coughed slightly. "I must have missed something. Please inform me."
"We'll tell you on the way to the gym, 'Dancho'" Ubo was grinning so hard that his facial muscles were hurting big time. But it wasn't every day that you had such spectacular and juicy piece of news to play around with. "You'll feel like a completely different person afterwards that you could probably do twenty on the treadmill tonight!"
"I don't think so Ubo." The young man continued to utter quietly. "There's really nothing in the world that can elevate my miserable life."
"Oh really?" Hisoka joined the group having finally rubbed all the make up off. His face was slightly pinkish. His eyes took on a slightly wild and haunted look, and his lips twisted in malicious relish. "Then this will hit you like no ecstasy or cocaine will. I promise."
It was a darkly delicate and delicious atmosphere which was quickly shattered by Gon's cell phone, buzzing an incoming message. He quickly found out who it was from and his eyes glinted.
"Hey guys, Killua's not going to meet us at gym tonight."
"Slacker!" was a few people's immediately response.
"But!" Gon quickly continued. "It seems that he's having dinner at home tonight, with his dad and grandpa, AND - "
"And..." everyone echoed in anticipation.
"They've got 'friends' over as well. Imagine that!"
A few jaws slackened, some chins hit the floor with resounding thumps. They all looked amongst themselves, stunned and dazed like someone had all hit them with heavy punching bags. In a trance and unable to form coherent words, they stumbled out of the change rooms, down the red carpeted corridors, and disorientatedly left Hunter Works to go to Toguro Brother's Gym, wondering if the world was about to come to an end.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Alluka! What do you think you're doing dressed in that?" Killua thought he could soon die of shock seeing his younger brother dressed in tight leathers and chains. If people called him the Crown Prince of Bratdom, they have obviously not met his younger brother. The ever cheeky and defiant kid was already in his stages of rebellion at the tender age of ten, although most boys waited until they were fourteen.
"How do I look? Think Dad and Grandpa will be impressed?"
"Yes Alluka, *so* impressed that they'll ground you until you're twenty one." Killua drawled, ushering his brother back into his room. Even though he was only two years Alluka's senior, he felt immeasurably older than his age required him already. Sometimes, he resented the feeling, like he had been robbed of a youthful childhood like Alluka's that he could never reclaim. "Now, where were those Levi jeans of yours? Find that, put that on, and then slap on another decent shirt - that grey CK top comes to mind, and Dad will extend your curfew to 2am."
Alluka's eyes widened considerably. "You serious? That's all I have to do?"
Killua pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "And behave." He finally added. "I don't know who these people are, but we better put on the angelic act just in case. Never hurts to be cautious."
"You've got no idea who's coming?" Alluka repeated again, for the fiftieth time since Killua broke the news to him. The siblings could hardly contain their excitement and curiosity, for no one had actually come and visited before.
"For the last time, NO!" Killua stressed, almost exasperated.
"Really?"
"YES! Now hurry up and change!"
"Killua? Why are you shouting?" Silva's questioning voice faintly floated upstairs. Both boys froze, partly in terror.
"Dad's home!" Alluka squealed and slammed the door to quickly change and Killua was yet again rooted to the spot, unable to form a reasonable response.
"Killua?"
"Nothing's wrong dad. We've just finished getting changed." He called back down. There was a tense moment of silence but if finally died away as the racket from the kitchen roared through when the pantry doors were flung open.
"He's nervous isn't he?" Alluka creaked his door open a fraction.
His elder brother sighed. "Are you finished in there?"
"Yes, yes.....angelic boy tonight Allu, angelic boy tonight, angelic boy tonight." He chanted over and over again, getting himself into the mood for the part he was to play. Killua couldn't help grinning. Lo, the Zoldick siblings hath been cursed with bratiness, and much will it taketh to overcome, he imagined Phinx saying with his grand hand gestures. What a guy!
The entire Zoldick mansion came to a standstill however when the doorbell rang. Its chimes echoed done the lonely halls and corridors and the empty rooms. Even the birds seemed to have stopped chirping, all staring intently at the front door.
Killua and Alluka looked at each other, sharing the same feelings, knowing that their hearts were pounding so loud that it shut out the world around them with a shroud of unreality. Like ghosts, they drifted down the swirling stairs and like frightened and shy children, crouched behind a particularly big ornamental vase to see who their dad would welcome into their home.
The vision was blurry when Silva first swung open the massive gold inlaid double doors. Killua squinted and could make out the silhouette of 4 different people.
Four!
And then in seconds which lasted an eternity each, they all stepped into the light.
At the forefront was a woman, in her early forties wearing a very pleasing and conservative black dress with cunning silver stitching along its helms. Alluka didn't miss the large diamond rings and earrings winking back at him however. 'Rich lady' immediately popped into his young and impressionable mind.
Slightly behind her was a tall....person, dressed in a very respectable white silk shirt and lengthy black pants which accentuated his/her long and slender legs. Killua couldn't make out if his/her hair was either a terribly dark brown or a very light black, but either way, they had the very qualifications to make a Pantene Pro V model. Large, feline black eyes under finely plucked eyebrows never left Silva's direction. Slender pinkish lips lifted into a small smile and a pale slim hand with perfectly manicured nails was extended at his father in greeting. All this was done with the mechanical smoothness of one businessmen who greeted customers and potential tenders on a daily basis and acquired the informal but firmly polite rituals of greeting that existed in the exclusive corporate society. Apart from promo balls, no where in the universe would you find such liberal use of fake smiles coupled with poisonous thoughts or devilish back stabbing.
Killua nodded at Alluka, who was equally as observant. They'd have to keep a close eye on the long haired one. If any of the four newcomers had any plans of threatening their father, the tall one would be the first to try.
The last two to enter was a grossly fat boy who might be eighteen. His hair greased and gelled thickly as the occasion had called for, but the impression was that he would be much more comfortable if his hair lay untouched on his head, messy and unkempt. The bulging stomach was probably complaining as well, being sucked in painfully tightly by an unyielding leather belt, which looked pretty new, probably just acquired. Unlike the rest of his.family members, Killua dared to presume, he was wearing slip ons, which were rather like summer sandals only that they didn't open at the front.
"Hey Killu, I've seen his face before!" Alluka urgently whispered in his ear. "He was in that mag that I bought last week - "
"You buy lots of mags Allu." Killua patiently reminded him.
Alluka pretended to ignore that. "I saw his face in PC Powerplay when the editors interviewed him for the latest game that's going to be released next month! I've been waiting for it since I heard of it last year." His small hands trembled in excitement as they clung onto Killua's arm. "That man is a genius I tell you! He's the one who started the whole RPG genre, starting with - "
Killua didn't hear the endless barrage of excited babble from his sibling. The last to walk through the door in a pretty maroon sequenced dress and black shirt was a small girl, about two years younger than Alluka, putting on the angelic girl act too. Oh yes, they conferred to each other in silent agreement, the Zoldick boys could tell straight away whether you were in fact who you pretended to be.
"Children," the woman announced in a voice which scratched at their eardrums "say hello to Silva-san."
The impassive and formidable President and Director of Hunter Works, the man feared by all who in turn feared no one, actually gave a casual laugh.
"No need to be so formal Kikyou. Please, come through to the sitting room, dinner's almost ready. Killu, Allu, why don't you two come out from behind the vase and join us?"
Killua's stomach knotted in fear, as did Alluka's wide and fearful eyes. Did they just hear annoyance in their father's voice? They quickly did janken to see who should come out of their hiding place first, and Alluka miserably lost, as always.
He swallowed the uncomfortable lump in his throat and wiped the sweaty palms onto his jeans. "Angelic boy Alluka, angelic boy Alluka, angelic boy." He whispered to himself fervently, then struck a cherry grin on his face and stepped out into the light. Killua likewise drew deep breaths and feigned a sincere welcome with eyes raised slightly to show how interested he was in the newcomers.
"Kikyou, these are my two sons, Killua and Alluka."
The woman clasped her hands together meaningfully and cooed in adoration. "My Silva! They look just like a replica of you!"
Both boys endured the humiliating head rubs that all adults bestowed upon them, and their shining bright eyes and happy smiles did not once waver. They prided themselves in such acts to fool grown ups, and it amazed them how many times it had worked, over and over again, the same old routine that never got too old for the world.
The butler closed the doors and accepted their light coats and jackets, quietly and unobtrusively walking away to stow the garments into the closet. Kikyou ignored the butler, every inch an aristocratic or lady of high society. She turned to her own children and introduced them.
"This is my eldest son, Illumi, Milluki is this chubby boy here and my dear little Karuto-chan."
Words akin to 'fag' and 'homo' immediately popped up into the little boys' limited minds as they finally confirmed the tall boy's sex. Milluki was already impersonally known to Alluka as the almighty games and software developer, and Karuto looked surprisingly familiar although where they'd seen her remained elusive to their overly excited minds.
Illumi was the first to step forward. He also extended his hand to Killua with a pleasant smile. But a splinter of ice struck Killua's heart as he suddenly couldn't decide whether it was genuine or fake. Having grown up in an artificial world of formality and ceremonial greetings which carried no feeling or meaning, he could usually perceive what people thought even though they smiled, and could read body language like a fat piece of Tolstoy. But from Illumi's movement and words, he gathered nothing but unbearable emptiness, an intangibility so frustratingly within reach, a brick wall so tall that it was impossible to scale and breach. Who was this monster with the soft gentle features and the supposedly warm sign in body language? A deceptive void of chilling cold and never-ending solitude dressed in sheep's clothing? He looked up to meet Illumi's eyes and involuntarily took a step back with his poor wheezing heart pounding terror.
People could never mask their feelings completely. Their eyes were always there to betray them for since time immemorial, God dictated that they were the windows to our souls, a way for humans to truly know what the other felt so that none of us would ever feel truly alone in this harsh and remorseless world. Hence in so many classic romance movies, couples would always stare longingly and lovingly into each others eyes, for it was the surest way to ascertain one's feelings towards the other.
And what did he see in Illumi's eyes?
Nothing. Simply nothing. A blankness so deep without end, a lifelessness that failed to reflect the world around him. An unnatural barrier blocking all forms of genuine expression.
Using the last vestiges of sanity, he forced his own cold and clammy hand to rise up and take the older boy's warmer one with great effort.
Crazily, he wondered why no one had spotted his unusual behaviour. Maybe his own mask was also too securely fixed in place that they did not see his hair raising reaction?
Illumi continued with his introductory speech. "I've seen you in many magazines at social meetings, promoting Hunter x Hunter. You're very impressive, to have accomplished so much for your age already. I was still throwing dirt at school when I was twelve."
Obligatory praise, Alluka thought harshly, his world and territory all of a sudden sensing an unknown and looming threat which had already strangled and mesmerized his brother and would inevitably swallow him if he didn't act.
"Oni-chan, you have such pretty hair." He interrupted, forming the last line of defence for his older brother, his voice dripped pure honey and eyes lit up with adoring fascination. "Have you ever thought of doing commercials for shampoo products perhaps?"
Grim Reaper's eyes shifted and applied its unbearable pressure on young Alluka. Illumi laughed, a small, clear and silver sound.
"I wish! But alas, they don't accept men for those jobs, only shaving commercials, only shaving commercials." He muttered good humoredly.
"Why don't we all move to the sitting room and have a cup of tea and continue there." Silva took Kikyou's arm with a gentlemen's manners and lead the family to their sitting area.
How relieved Killua and Alluka were when Illumi informed them that he had pressing business matters and could not stay for long. In fact, he had to leave before dinner was served, but he expressed how grateful and honoured he was for the invitation to dinner, said and did all the right things and even bowed slightly before he left.
Half an hour later, Killua and Alluka could finally stop shaking and shivering, and their stomach even loosened up enough for them to enjoy the dinner. Afterwards, Milluki even showed Alluka how to take his PC apart and upgrade it whilst Karuto went with Killua to raid the kitchens for more ice cream. Grandpa Zeno also came in a little while later to join them, leaving Kikyou and Silva to talk in private.
Killua would always curse himself for this day, not having realized earlier what was going on when everything was already so blatantly obvious. But they say that although children have an amazing grasp of some of the most complex matters, things such as love, marriage and betrayal were still new and unfamiliar territory to them...
But he should have known better! Even suspected at least.
Instead, he was busy having a sugar rush from excess consumption of lollies and ice cream, plus a bad dose of the musical Annie on tv, which lead him to sing and dance away the rest of the night with Karuto like the common drunkard from the local pub. During that night, not once did he suspect that his life was about to take a massive upheaval, one which had been deliberately planned and organized a long time ago.