Showing the New Guy around – Part II.
Of stubbornness and an incident at the bar.
Hisoka didn't know whether to scream and pull his hair out in frustration
like a wild animal, or merely settle down for wilting like a daisy under
the harsh glare of the summer sun. Illumi was difficult to handle. The
boy made him weigh each and every word he said for he took everything to
heart. Just then, when they were in the foyer discussing his gym fate,
Illumi gave him yet another hurt look because he spoke just a little bit
too angrily at him. And then he somehow rapidly retreated into some personal
cocoon and shunned him with a stone cold and expressionless gaze for the
rest of the evening, only speaking to him when necessarily.
Maybe he wasn't apologizing hard enough.
But the more Hisoka thought about it, the angrier he became. He had already said sorry, and he was treating Illumi real nice. It wasn't everyday that the flamboyant actor could show some thought and consideration to the companions around him, let alone turn his head every two minutes to make sure that Illumi was doing all right on the equipment. He was doing fine! It was Illumi who had taken things too far. If he was going to give him the silent treatment, Hisoka thought with narrowed eyes that were burning with rage, then two can play the game. He deliberately moved away to a farther treadmill and resumed running, his gaze steadily fixed straight ahead. However, out of the corner of his eye, he noted disappointedly that Illumi was just as expressionless as he was and displayed not reaction to his move, so he just ignored him too.
And it suddenly dawned on him. Illumi was acting like an annoyed girlfriend
who was throwing a hissy fit at him.
'I'll teach you to throw little tantrums at me!' Hisoka thought bitterly
and increased his pace silently vowing to himself not to speak to Illumi
again until the later had decided to act like a grown up for once.
Gon warily cast sly glances in Hisoka and Illumi's direction every now and then.
"Hey Killua" he whispered softly to the albino beside him who was groaning at his sit ups. "I think Hisoka's in a bad mood."
"Huh? Umm….yeah?" Killua grunted some more, shakily drawing himself up. There were sharp pangs from his abdominals and his hands gingerly massaged on the sore aching muscles.
"It's not our business anyway Gon." He sighed slightly, observing the unfolding scenario himself. "Remember? Dad said that Hisoka's the one who's gotta chaperone Illumi, so I guess he's the one responsible for anything that happens."
"Anything that happens?" Gon echoed.
"Oh, I don't really care." Killua slowly began to arch his back, hands and feet both firmly planted on the floor. "How will it effect us whether those two are fighting or not?"
Gon giggled a bit. "They're acting like a fighting couple."
The sharp ears of a certain Ryodan member heard Gon's comment and he edged closer to the main character.
"I was thinking the same thing!" Nobu's wide grin stretched the entire expanse of his face. It looked like the smirk was going to remain there for some time.
"By the way, do you guys have any idea who Illumi is? There's a small rumor that he's got a minor role in Hunter x Hunter, but Shal was doing an investigation on to his background a few hours ago."
"You guys act pretty quickly don't you." Killua slyly glanced at Nobu, and Shalnark who was innocently working away on the rowing machine having heard the quiet conversation with his keen ears and having quickly turned away when Killua's gaze wandered over in his direction. "I applaud your efficiency."
"We forced Shal to take a crack into the main network this afternoon after all the ruckus Hanzo caused during lunch break in the café. Some of us were less than impressed but we still got out act together to do some research. This industry thrives on information and gossip remember?" Nobu gave the boys a slight wink.
Exhausted, Killua was content to sit on the rough blue carpet and coax some air to go into his lungs. He listened to every word Nobunaga had to say, but the topic of Illumi was, frankly, a dreaded thought indeed. Illumi and his family had been to their house for dinner only two nights ago, as 'friends' his father had casually put it. But the feared Director of Hunter Works was not known for his casual talk or demeanor, nor did the Zoldick family have friends who visited either. He worked hard to dismiss the event, as all young boy who are frightened and confused are wont to do, but the new piece of information that Nobu just revealed was alarming. And there was only one more thing which could startle him more.
Nobunaga continued. "Shal broke into the network in no time. Illumi's file had only been registered minutes before our little covert operation. We discovered some pretty neat info on his personal file." He had to pause slightly to dodge Gon's annoyed punch. Kids were so impatient these days, always wanting to dive straight to the warm center, the yumminess and juiciest parts of the gossip without bearing with the introduction. Wasn't it Scott Fitzgerald who said that the road to obtaining one's goal was more important than arriving at the destination?
"So," he breathed out, mindful to keep his voice down "we found out that he's graduate straight out of a pretty prestigious university. He's also got two other siblings and a rather famous and highly sought after mother."
"Eww…gross Nobu! Leave your sick fantasies under your bed sheets, where they belong!" Gon clamped the palms of his hands firmly over his ears with an expression of outrage. His friend beside him turned a crimson red and his face was screwed up showing the faint signs and gestures of gagging.
"No, no, no! It's nothing like that!" the samurai hotly responded with a sudden flare of indignation burning brightly in his eyes and frown so murderous with the deep set and shadowed wrinkles around his eyes that the two boys panicked and scrambled two feet away in an instant.
"Come back here you brats! Or don't you want me to finish?!" he hissed.
"It depends what it is that you are about to tell us. If it involves you naked and some parts of your anatomy, OR others' anatomy, I'd rather not listen." Killua sneered whilst Gon feigned spewing up beside him.
Nobu knew he should be down right incensed and had every right to unleash his violent urges and rip the childrens' little heads off their skinny necks with his bare hands. But working at Hunter Works, you grew accustomed to these devastating insults, and the Director's son wasn't known as the unofficial Prince of Bratdom, the Boy with 'Kill Me' Tattoed To His Forehead, the Bearer of Insults, the Destroyer of Self Esteem and Ego for nothing.
"His mother's name's Kikyou." Nobunaga finally continued when Gon and Killua trusted him enough to approach him again, but they were clearly wary. "You know! Kikyou – as in owner of Fantasia…."
Wheels and clockworks began to tick away at Nobu's last prompt. Why was that name so familiar, Gon wondered, looking at the room of macho, fit and muscular men around him in the gym. Like a powerful flash of lightening, or the sudden flare of a torch in your face, it struck him that there were no women! And women raved about Fantasia. Aunt Mito had once gone to the newly opened branch here in the city with a few of her equally conniving and condescending people who qualified as friends and could do nothing but rant to him about it the next day in the studios. Gon didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse. It did sidetrack her from making presumptuous assumptions about his co-actors, but at the same time, her constant swooning and dramatic sighs gradually grated on his nerves as the day went by.
Fantasia was the ultimate fashion center hub in the city and every woman, short or tall, fat or slim, ugly or beautiful, wanted to be best friends with its owner in order to obtain discounts to the rather pricey items. Neon and Menchi bought their last ball dresses for a formal function two months ago from Fantasia, and it helped them dominate the front pages of fashion and gossip mags for an entire week!
"So that's why they came over." Killua muttered aloud. Dad must have some sort of contract with Kikyou then – maybe she is going to take over their costume design? That might be a good idea – at least Hisoka would finally have something decent to wear.
"What was that Killua?"
"Huh?" Killua immediately broke out of his musings. "Nothing Gon, I was just remembering Machi groaning about not being able to afford the stuff at Fantasia, that's all." He lied, silently pleased with the deftness of his mind in conjuring up such tales to cover his tracks. Nobu sniffed a bit to express agreement and eagerly continued.
"Shal however, was most excited by Illumi's younger brother – Milluki. Apparently, in the dot-com technology world, he is the closest thing there is to God."
~A fat pig like him? You've got to be joking!~ Killua nodded vaguely in sync with Gon. But he remembered that Alluka had suffered a similar outburst which Shal might have experienced too. After dinner that night, Alluka couldn't stop blabbing about how great that pig was, how intelligent, how amazing, how wonderful. Yes………now that he thought about it, one expressed adulation to one's god in a coincidentally similar fashion too.
"But here is the most interesting part! Illumi's got practically no experience whatsoever with acting! Nothing! He's not even been in a trashy daytime soapie before, or participated in Broadway or stage acting. His university records don't show that he's taken up drama classes back then either."
"I worked my ass off to get this role though!" complained Gon who was instantly reminded of those hours on end sitting face to face with his hated Manager, learning and polishing his lines for the audition. His fingers automatically went to brush his illusory aching jaw muscles from having smiled too much, practicing wide grins, small curls of the lips until Mito was satisfied with which one of them to use in his role.
"So did I kiddo, so did I. Now do you see why this is fascinating? We were all exclusively hand picked by the Director for our roles, each of us having at LEAST two years experience in the industry and with some pretty impressive credentials in our belts. Hell, Kuroro was Mr. Perfect like his creep of a brother before he joined us."
"And gained redemption and acceptance back into normal society." Killua muttered again.
"and now, some anonymous non-actor gets a part to play in Hunter x Hunter too." Gon finished off solemnly, Nobu's words having gotten him thinking.
"Yeah, I was gonna let you two kids ponder on it for a while too. Let me know when you come up with something ok?"
"Wait Nobu!" Killua held back the older man who had started to return to his bike. "Did the file mention exactly *what* part Illumi's going to play?"
Nobu shook his head and shrugged. "No, it was just created, and some other administrative stuff hasn't been filled in yet. I guess we can only wait and see no?"
Killua rolled his eyes at Gon and brooded for the rest of the night
on the strange and puzzling enigma.
"Kick!" pant pant "left straight" pant pant "elbow" pant pant.
Grueling, grueling, tedious, tedious, painful, painful….and other similar words rang on incessantly in Paku's mind as her limbs acted independently of her brain. She had been looking forward to the story that Menchi was supposed to tell them, but because she had trouble finding a spot to park her car, she came in late and Paku had nothing to occupy her mind for the next two hours of Taibo.
And how does Karen manage to make that high kick look so effortless?
Two rows in front of the sulking Pakunoda was Machi, energetically following each of instructor Karen's steps. Ooh, Paku bit back a thought – that punch looked mighty impressive. It might just actually hurt someone.
Her slanted eyes scanned the room some more, catching brief glimpses of her other co-workers. Ponzu was on the far right side of the room. The silly girl still had some difficulties telling the difference between left and right. But she sure was flexible though.
Shizuku was behind her, but her heavy breathing was a sign that she was getting tired already. Only one hour in, another grueling, tedious, painful hour left. How was that delicate child going to last?
A few other actors from other studios were also in attendance tonight – Lina Inverse was a regular, so was her other co-worker Amelia. Misao from Meijin Dynasty was also here, her lustrous long black hair tightly bound in a braid jerking awkwardly from her bodily movements. And after the Darien incident only three days ago, Meryl Strife was now a participant. Yes, she made to swing her elbow forward with a force clearly intended to knock a certain someone to the ground. Akane Tendo and Shampoo were also regulars along with Ranko (the girl who played Ranma). They dominated the front row with their perfect, lithe bodies easily flowing with the instructor's movements.
But what was this? The techno dance music was gradually dimming and then it finally came to a discordant end. Karen stood up from turning off the stereo with a slightly flushed face. She whipped her long brown braid behind her and turned around to face her students to announce that class was finished for the night.
"Ok ladies, we'll end it here tonight. Just ten minutes of stretches to cool down and it's off to the showers for us. I've got an important date to go to tonight."
"Saga?" cheeky Akane quipped up shamelessly from the front. Karen's tried to scoff away the deepened blush but that was all the answer anyone needed. Few chuckles followed, but the rest were too busy catching their breath and could only produce a sly grin.
Paku turned around and whispered to Shizuru. "You know what? I might just seduce her boyfriend to get her back for putting us through these mind numbing exercises."
"Paku! Hush and don't let Karen-san hear that! She CAN kick our ass! You've seen her with those numchucks!"
The straw blonde woman proudly stuck out her chest and gave Shizuku the look of a temptress. "It's a free world. I can't help it if her boyfriend becomes attracted to me."
"Oh my god! She's looking our way!" Shizuru hurriedly turned Paku forward again before the aerobics instructor caught them chatting.
In the ladies shower room……………
"Ok Menchi – we are ready for any embarrassing stories about Hisoka and this morning incident. My whole body may be aching, but I can still manage to smile, and that bald ninja promised that I would be smiling all night. So spill the beans, NOW."
Paku had managed to trap the pink haired cook between herself the gray steel lockers. Machi looked up in the process of wrapping a fluffy white towel around her body, ready to enter the showers before she stopped, hearing Pakunoda.
"What's this? Has Hisoka done something wrong again? What is it now?" there was a hint of annoyance and exasperation in her voice.
"You arrived late tonight because you caught a ride with Menchi, didn't you?" Paku narrowed her purple eyes. "Then you obviously didn't see who Hisoka was supposed to chaperone around for the next two weeks?"
"No, I didn't. What's the big deal?" snapped Machi. Sometimes, Paku's sense of superiority annoyed her, and the way she flaunted her assets didn't help bridge the gap of animosity either.
"Well," Paku loved drawing things out slowly and making people savour and wait on her words. "I actually don't have the full story. However, I did manage to hear tidbits here and there when all the guys walked into the lobby of the gym this evening."
"Oh Paku, stop baiting everyone. Here's the deal," grinned Menchi mercilessly, instantly diving for the deep end. "You see, Illumi didn't turn out to be the seven year old boy we thought – so no Barney for him." Ranko and Shampoo, who had been changing in the isle just next to them, came over to listen as well. Truth be told, Hisoka was a handsome man, and who wouldn't have a slight crush for him?
"Instead, he's actually around twenty three, four, and he arrived to Hunter Works this morning to meet this person, namely Hisoka, who was supposed to show him around for the next fortnight. The Director had apparently told him to wait in the dressing room until the shooting for that particular scene was over. Of course, Wing tied his tongue numerous of times – "
Machi interrupted. "You're waffling again. Focus please."
The storyteller enthusiastically nodded. "so Illumi went to the dressing rooms to wait. Unfortunately for him, Hanzo and Hisoka were there. Hanzo was *blank blank* that's a professional secret of course, and Hisoka was also lurking around to see when the Director would introduce him to Illumi. And that's when it all happened. So you see, Illumi – "
"Has long black hair and a large pair of ebony eyes? Pale skin, quite skinny?"
Menchi paused to look at Karen incredulously. The instructor had also tuned in to her vivacious story telling but had cut in to say exactly what she was going to say.
Though stunned, Menchi was still able to utter the question "How did you know?"
"I remember his name. We………went to the same high school together. I was in his year level, and Saga was two years older." Karen opened her locker and retrieved a bottle of shampoo and conditioner.
"That's a long time to remember someone. Wasn't high school quite a while back?" Shampoo commented blandly.
"Yes, it was" Karen despondently responded. Her eyes were slightly downcast and the way she slammed the locker door shut suggested quite an amount of force.
"We all knew back then that he had family troubles. His father was a bastard through and through and he had friends in high places. Poor kid though, to have to live with someone like that. After everyone knew, Illumi couldn't even be bothered to hide the bruises anymore. Saga was school captain back then – so he spent quite a bit of time with Illumi as well."
There was a moment of guarded silence as was the usual response to tragic stories which none of them could only feel compassion and sympathy for, but could not relate to.
The Taibo instructor took a deep breath and forced herself to brighten up however. She gave what could only be described as a lively smile.
"Well, at least there is some sort of justice in the world. Illumi's father died of a heart attack not long before our class graduated. All we can hope for is that he died painfully because if he didn't pass away sooner or later, I was going to kill that son of a bitch myself. Yeah, I would have made him scream so badly that he wished he never crossed my path. So anyway, is Illumi in the acting industry now heh? Good for him."
That said, Karen gave another small laugh and proceeded to her usual shower cubicle, one hand loosening her long reddish-brown hair as she went.
Everyone seemed to have quieted down a bit, blinking rapidly now and then from the steam building up in the showers. Menchi decided to quickly finished off her story. Whilst she spoke, her fingers also worked at teasing out the knots and tangles in her plated hair.
"So anyway, yeah, ummm………..Hisoka mistook Illumi for a woman you see, and just sorta…."
"Sorta………" everyone echoed in anticipation.
Menchi gulped. "Just went up and kissed him I suppose. Illumi's shriek interrupted the shooting, and Hisoka was like……….crying, saying that it can't be true."
"Saying exactly what can't be true?" Akane narrowed her eyes and said suspiciously.
"At first, Hisoka had problems accepting that Illumi-san was a woman. But then the Director told him to 'deal with it', and both of them ran from the building."
Several chuckles and amused looks passed around. The Director's icy glares and death threats were well known among the acting circles. The other was Hisoka's rather unpredictable reaction.
"You seriously telling me that he just….went up to some stranger and started kissing him?" Misao giggled insanely with a bout of disbelief. Menchi vigorously nodded.
"Uh huh. Hanzo was frozen to his seat, so struck by the newcomer's beauty," she rolled her eyes and drawled a bit with a hint of banter in her voice, "but Hisoka just went straight for, you know, the 'direct approach'. The 'in your face method' or, what we now coin the "Hisoka Advance" – guaranteeing the most unpredictable results, absolute assurances of the other's sex not included." Menchi finished off her tirade mimicking an advertisement announcer even down to the way the conditions are read quickly and softly at the end of the commercials.
Shampoo and Ranko couldn't help it anymore. They burst out into hysterical laughter and carried it all the way to their shower cubicles madly chattering and gossiping on the way. Even Machi was caught up in one of her rarer moments of unfettered laughter.
The men in the showers just adjacent wondered why there was a sudden
outburst of laughter floating from the ladies' changing rooms. They looked
uneasily amongst themselves, scowling and frowning were predominant expressions,
wondering whether they could have become the subject of mockery.
"There they go again," Bashou muttered stripping off his sweat soaked T-shirt, "sharing some cozy little secret amongst themselves, and probably at our expense."
Several grunts of agreement permeated the air.
"Women art unfathomable creatures, are they not?" Phinx withdrew his shower accessories from his locker – namely his favoured block of soap with a slight lavender scent.
Kuroro looked unconvinced. "You mean conniving, unreadable, mood swinging little demonesses?"
General laughter followed. Illumi allowed himself a small smile.
"My Kaa-san's different though – she makes sure you know what she wants, even if she has to scream it in your face just to get it through to you."
Kuroro nodded. "That too." He added. "After spending years with my sister Megumi, I think that I might just be developing a phobia of women. That little manipulative bitch was always pulling at everyone's emotional strings and dad could never disagree with her once she uses her so-called 'charms'. Makes me sick."
"Gee Dancho, you make it sound like the who female population out there is a bunch of vipers." Ubo snickered, stripping off his underwear beneath the towel wrapped around his waist just for a bit more modesty. "Maybe we ought to set you up with a nice one with all the good qualities and characteristics of a lamb. Don't worry, they won't bite and are totally readable."
"Just make sure they're not wolves in sheep's clothing. But that's right – you DON'T know until you start going out with them, and when you do find out, trying to shake them off is harder than scaling Mt. Everest without oxygen tanks. And if you DO find a lamb, the quality of conversation goes down the drain."
"There's no pleasing you is there, Kuro?" Hisoka came around from the other locker isle where his belongings were situated. "Stop worrying about what women are really like and enjoy them for the sheer physical pleasure."
"Buzz of Hisoka, we're not all lust driven beings deprived of intelligence. Unlike you, I would prefer to actually settle down someday."
"aww…" Hisoka playfully feigned that he was hurt. "I didn't know you thought of me that way, like I was some shallow creep. The difference is……….." he paused and looked away from Kuroro when he spotted Illumi heading straight towards the showers. A deep scowl or irritation appeared.
"Hey! Just who's shower cubicle do you think you're going to use?" he called out angrily with undertones of spite as well. He quickly walked over the Illumi and aggressively loomed over him. A large pair of black eyes glared back icy daggers at him. His voice was as equally chilling.
"Just how was I supposed to know that you held all exclusive rights to some stupid, public shower cubicle? Jerk off all you want in there now get out of my way. I don't want to ruin my image by picking on some highly immature baby." The pale white hand that held the towel wrapped around his chest trembled with rage and Illumi only gripped it even tighter. It wasn't hard to imagine him baring his fangs too.
A vein popped on Hisoka's forehead.
"You little ingrate! I'm sick of all your stupid childishness! I told you off ONCE, and it was FOR YOUR OWN GOOD! Then you go off and ignore me for the rest of the evening with your 'oh so cold' attitude."
"Like you're any better you selfish creep! Your head is too stuck up in the clouds and you're ashamed to be walking around with me or something! Gods, just listen to the way you talk, you think you're so great! You think you're like some Casanova that the girls are just tripping themselves over wanting to go out with you. Well, you're nothing like that! Your paper thin personality repulses me and your act isn't new either!"
A sudden urge of violence seized Hisoka. "Yeah, well, I AM embarrassed to have to go out chaperoning this adult who still hasn't been able to figure out his sexuality! And what's this?! Why do you wrap a towel all the way up to your chest? Afraid we'll see your breasts or something? Take that off this instant!"
A rough and vicious struggle occurred which eventually ended with Illumi sinking his teeth onto Hisoka's right forearm.
"Bitch!" the magician roared and reflexively pulled his arm away then launch immediately into a counter attack.
The sound of the slap rang clearly around the steam affected showers and it bought every one to a standstill. Even the noise of the water coming out of the shower heads and splattering on the bathroom tiles seemed only a mere background accompaniment.
Illumi's hand cupped his reddened cheek having suffered the full force of Hisoka's blow. Tears stung his large luminous eyes now brimming with uncontrollable anger, so much so that he couldn't even spit out a devastating reply. Hisoka had just about enough of everything. See, he knew someone was going to end up in tears with this whole business. Roughly he shoved Illumi into the shower cubicle and slammed the door shut with incredible force.
"Go, cry like the stupid baby that you are, like I would care anyway!" he retorted rudely but a massive wave of guilt and regret was already threatening to render him nostalgic the moment those words left his lips. The site of Illumi's teary expression and now his open sobbing suddenly hurt him like a knife twisting in his what he thought to be non-existent heart. Frustration rapidly drowned out the guilt, just sheer unconfined frustration at everything that was all happening, rushing him along before he had the chance to analyze everything carefully. Damn his stupid habit and short temper. If he could have only have shown just another ounce of tolerance, then the night would have ended as least neutrally for the both of them. But no, he just had to fuss over some shower cubicle.
Just apologize, a rational and reasonable voice said in his head, then it will be all over and we can all make up over tall frosty glasses of beer after this.
"Illumi………"
"Go away. You said I was your friend and now you've hit me. I don't ever want to speak to you again."
Before words of apology could come through, his irrational side got the better of him and another series of vindictive and malicious words escaped. His fist slammed into the spotless white plastic door leaving several hairline cracks and his voice became as venomous as a deadly cobra.
"Go rot in your precious shower stall then you fucking useless crybaby."
"IT'S YOUR FUCKING PRECIOUS SHOWER CUBICLE!" came the enraged scream from within.
It took the combined strength and efforts of Nobunaga, Phinx and Ubo to restrain Hisoka and prevent him from tearing down the door so that he could rip out Illumi's throat. Others tried to calm the hysterical crying and coax the man out of the shower.
Hisoka was still struggling against his restraints, harsh words and names flying out with every intent to hurt. Phinx and Ubo dragged the magician into another shower far away from Hisoka's usual stall and Nobu immediately went for the cold tap.
"Just chill out Hisoka. Here, bring that showerhead over and make sure you really hit him in the face with it." Phinx instructed Nobunaga.
Splutter, splutter, splutter.
"Phppphh…what are you guys…….*gargle*………doing?" Hisoka rapidly blinked to get the water incessantly rushing into his eyes. He tried to shy away from the nozzle but Phinx and Ubo clung onto him even tighter, determined to hold his head in place.
"Are we calm yet?" Nobu said calmly.
Hisoka spat out some water in disgust. "YES! Yes!…..I've calmed down now ok!"
"He still sounds a little hot headed for me." Ubo casually observed. "Nobu, give him the whole body wash."
The other two actors nodded. Phinx and Ubo pushed Hisoka over so that he was bending at the waist, like he was bowing down to Nobunaga and the latter turned the spray to maximum and a waterfall of cold, chilling water hit Hisoka's back.
The sudden cold contacting with his heated skin drew a violent reaction, enough so that Ubo and Phinx were thrown back. However, Hisoka dived straight for the hot water tap and adjusted it so that warm water finally trickled out. His lips were trembling and his hands were rapidly rubbing his arms, urging his blood to flow again after it had temporarily frozen.
Nobu helped pick Phinx and Ubo off their wet backsides and studied Hisoka for a moment longer, watching the magician now scrub his face and run his fingers through his hair over and over again under the falling water.
"He's just agitated now. Best to leave it at that then." Nobu commented, his tiredness clearly evident in his voice. They left Hisoka to himself and stood back to watch the unsuccessful attempts of Kurapika and Gon in trying to get Illumi to come out.
Kuroro pulled them both back, a bit touched at Kurapika's endearing look of concern. "Just give them both some time. We'll just all get changed and wait in the lobby for him. He'll come out sooner or later."
Gon approached the cracked plastic screen for one last time. He spoke hesitantly. "You hear that Illumi-san? We'll be downstairs at the lobby, so you just take your time ok?"
"………k………" came a the soft response. At least his crying had finally subsided into a the few occasional sobs.
"All right everyone, lets move out!" Kuroro ordered.
9 pm – Toguro Bros Gym lobby.
The female cast of Hunter x Hunter nervously fidgeted as they waited for the men to come. As they had stepped out of the showers and were busily drying their hair or slipping on into fresh clean clothes, the racket from the men's showers gave them all cause for concern, especially after the sounds of screaming and loud banging could be heard. Akane and her friends left soon after however, though concerned, and so asked Ponzu to fill them in at their next gym session together. Shizuru worriedly lurked about the lobby.
"Just calm down – it was only Hisoka having another fit." Menchi ran a brush through her stiff hair.
Shizuru was wringing her hands like a fretful housewife. "It sounded more like a fight than a fit Menchi. You think one of us should go in and see what's happening?"
Mocking laughter came from Pakunoda. "You know what they'd say about you for the next two weeks afterwards if you so much as stuck your head in there Shizu. Leave it, it will be all right."
"Paku! How can you be so heartless! You and I heard crying too remember?"
Machi suddenly paled. "Oh gods."
"What is it?" Ponzu piped up clearly not liking the turn of things. She feared what Machi had to say.
"What if it's Gon or Killua who's crying? Think about the implications," she urged. "the two main actors of Hunter x Hunter reduced to tears in the male showers after a gym workout, surrounded by muscular, sweaty men who've had a tired and stressful day and they see two young kids……"
"I commend thy imagination," Phinx's sharp voice cut in with clear disapproval, "but thou dost think too lowly of us. Would we, honourable men, stoop to such low acts as pedophilia upon two hapless and defenceless children? I should hope you think not." He turned his noise to the air and exuded an injured aura of haughtiness.
"Just forget about what Machi said," Shizuku quickly interrupted, shielding Machi with her own body lest Phinx and Feitan saw her sticking her tongue out at them. "What happened in your showers?"
Kuroro gave a slight cough. "Something along the lines of World War III. Hisoka and Illumi were fighting over a particular shower stall and Illumi ended up crying."
"Did you say that it was Illumi who was crying?" Karen asked in alarm.
"Why thouest make it sound like it be the oddest thing thou ever did hear."
Karen glared at Phinx, no, glared at the entire male cast of Hunter who had slowly filled the lobby. "Yes, in fact, throughout all my high school years, I have never even seen him shed a tear, not even when his skull was fractured or that he was bleeding from a dozen wounds."
Her glare became downright menacing and she folded her arms across her chest. "Where is he now?" she snapped.
All the men immediately stood to attention and cast uneasy glances amongst themselves. Who would be in the best position to speak and suffer the least consequences of Karen's unholy wrath? The elevator doors then dinged opened behind them and Hisoka greeted the straight backs of his co-workers with his usual flagrant insolence.
"Why so stiff guys? You look like you've become targets of the firing squad." He laughed softly at his own joke.
~ We are! ~ the rest of the male cast mentally groaned in unison.
The second set of elevator doors also opened and Illumi finally stepped out, his eyes downcast and hair still slightly damp.
Karen went straight to him and laid a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Illumi-kun?" She bent over slightly and cautiously peered into his face.
"Why is there a faint imprint of a hand on your right cheek?"
Illumi refused to answer and rubbed at his already sore, red eyes some
more. He sniffed.
"It's nothing Karen-san………….Karen-san?" he repeated again with incredulous
recognition. Then with a much more brighter and fervent tone asked, "What
are you doing here?"
"I haven't seen you for a few years Illumi-kun, how are you doing?"
Seeing an old school friend made Illumi completely forget about the little incident just earlier. He began babbling to Karen about where he went after graduation and what he was doing here in Anime City.
"Little crybaby perks up when he sees a chick." Hisoka sneered and muttered quietly to himself. Both Nobu and Bashou, who were standing on either side of him, implanted their knee firmly in his stomach and Kuroro also put in a rather professional left hook.
"Put a sock in it!" the three growled.
"Well, since everything looks like it's ok, I'm really in the mood for some dancing. Anyone up for Starlights Club? It's Thursday night so it won't be as crowded. You could probably even carry on a conversation in the quieter corners if you want. So, who's with me?"
"You really are a party animal aren't you Menchi? Where do you get all that energy from? I'm just about exhausted from Taibo already." Shizuku commented, already heading out towards the sliding glass doors. She turned around. "Say Illumi-san, you want to come with us?"
Illumi brightly nodded – "Sure!"
He waved a vigorous goodbye to Karen and trailed after the group who were slowly filing out of the Gym.
9:30 pm – Starlight Club
Starlight Club was a popular gathering place for A-list actors. Although it was called a Club, the music was softer than most other clubbing locations and the music was decidedly less upbeat. They mainly played the more popular songs by popular song artists which one would usually hear on radio. It was situated close to Serenity Pictures and run by three very successful partners who had their own feature in the hit show Sailor Moon. Known as the Three Starlights, they operated this successful joint purely on class and taste alone. People seeking entrance had to have some sort of fame – fortunately for Illumi, the bouncers outside allowed him in when Kuroro had several words with them.
The interior was shaped like a five pointed star. At one point, the DJ was suspended on a high shimmering platform mixing tracks and juggling the records. In another point of the star was the bar, lined from top to bottom with a massive arsenal of drinks which the bartender knew the locations of each bottle by heart. In the two other corners farthest from the DJ's suspended platform were clusters of comfortable cushioned couches and low round tables. The last point of the star was unoccupied for that was where the entrance and exit were. The center of the star was the magnificent dance floor free of any dirt, grime, vomit or spilled drinks. Though a relatively small club, there were at least forty to fifty people who were bobbing up and down, swinging hips and a few select males break dancing on the dance floor. Christina Aguillera's latest hit single "Dirty" was blasting from the stereos and a cheer went up now and then.
"Lets go! They've got my favourite song on!" Menchi grabbed Shizuku and Machi out to the dance floor with her, the cook resolutely making her way into the center of the pressing crowd, determined to be seen.
Feitan chose to make himself comfortable on the dark maroon velvet couch.
"This place all of a sudden feels so much more comfortable now that
we don't hear girls squealing Darien's name." He said contentedly.
"Ah yes……….maybe some of us will actually get lucky tonight." Hanzo grinned, stroking his chin in thought. His keen eyes quickly made to scan through the few selected women who were allowed entry even though they weren't actors. Every night, the bouncers allowed a quota of thirty people to enter – the only condition was that they were dressed immaculately and were the most beautiful of the beautiful. Indeed, Hanzo spotted many appealing and pleasing figures dancing in the crowd – no men around them. Even better. He quickly excused himself and followed Menchi's example, slinking off into the presses of bodies.
Hisoka meanwhile went to the bar to get drinks for everyone. The most
disturbing alcoholic alive threw him a casual smile. Lola was a stunning
woman with long flowing raven black hair which was tied high tonight into
a tight ponytail. Outrageous blue glitter was generously smothered across
her eyelids, and her lips were equally blue with an expert black outlining.
She wore grungy, tacky stuff, yet was the person who bore so much confidence
that she made whatever she was wearing look good.
"How's it doing?" she coolly asked him.
He granted her an equally charming and casual smile. "Terrible, just terrible. Within the space of one hour, I've been kneed, punched and bitten. Everyone must think I'm some sort of pin cushion or something tonight."
Her eyebrows shot up and her mouth formed an O as if to say ouch. "Want something stronger then?"
"That is a very good question. Lets see then………."
If Menchi was a wild party animal, what could be said of Legato Bluesummers was that he was the GOD of all parties. Unlike Darien, his intention was to ride along the crest the waves of never ending high spirits and the intoxication of indulgence. Even before his role as the sugar toothed esper in Trigun, his lofty good looks and enigmatic gold twinkling eyes had sent not only hearts fluttering, but also set a few fashion trends. For a brief while, people went crazy laying their hands on every pair of goldern coloured contact lenses that they could obtain. People wanted to be like Legato – his impressive height, his lean frame and broad chest, his sleekly narrow eyes and an assured smile signaled the start of a party and a wild night of fun. Currently, he dominated the center of the dance floor engaged in what was a rather erotically dirty dancing with the well endowed Menchi whose jacket had long been discarded and revealed the skimpy singlet top beneath. Other party goers around them lifted their hands above their head and clapped to a sensuously tantalizing beat, emitting the scream or shout now and then. Sparks then tumbled all around them as the DJ gave the signal. Numerous specks of hot, bright, white light fluttered down in a shower of wonder, and chilly fog began to gather at their feet as the smoke machine got to work. Next came the mind turning session of strobe lights, followed by more cheering.
Machi had enough of watching her party-crazed and delirious brother going at it with one of her co-workers. She wasn't really in the mood for dancing in the first place, let alone share the same club as Legato. She sighed and wondered if Paku was in a good mood for conversation. Unfortunately however, the latter was discussing something, by the looks of it amusing, with Kuroro. The music was blasting out of the speakers too loudly however, and it would not have been polite to inconspicuously edge closer to the pair to tune in to their discussion. So instead, Machi sat back down deep into her seat and sipped her drinks that Hisoka had brought for them.
That made her eyes roll. The magician seemed oblivious to the events which had previously occurred and decided to throw more oil to the fire, so to speak. When he came back with a tray topped with multi-coloured tropical and alcoholic drinks, he deliberately laid down a glass of milk in front of Illumi and called him a baby. Gon and Killua giggled a bit, but Illumi angrily snatched Hisoka's drink out of his hand and downed it one go. Feitan closed his eyes to the scene and dozed off into a light sleep, content just to be in a hip and popular place without the presence of Kuroro's detested brother. Furthermore, he didn't really want to see any more of the fighting going on between his co-star and the new guy.
"Um…Illumi-san?" Gon spoke up. "Illumi-san? Are you all right? You look awfully pale."
"I actually don't feel so well. Why is my head spinning……and who put up heaters? It's burning hot in here!"
Sure enough, sweat and perspiration were running almost in small rivulets down the sides of his face and his neck. His breathing became laboured and he certainly did not look like he was comfortable.
"Oh gods, no." Machi exclaimed quietly in horror examining the glass which Illumi drank from. At the bottom was the residue of a powdery white substance that had not fully dissolved. Hisoka was equally stunned and muttering to himself, he sent Machi to fetch the bartender, Lola.
The tall and impressive woman strode over, her expression plastered with concern and rage. She picked up what should have been Hisoka's glass and her scowl turned ever more fearsome, perhaps comparable even to the Director on his really dark and gloomy days. It was a glare which could have melted the glass and disintegrated the culprit into ash.
"I knew those boys were up to something!" she grated harshly, the scowl deepening further still. "They wouldn't be hanging around my bar if they weren't intending to pull a prank on you Hisoka. I….I feel absolutely terrible about this."
She professionally went over to examine Illumi who was now silently whimpering, his body slack and limp on the sofa. Lola placed a hand on the forehead and instantly withdrew it.
"He's burning up. Hisoka, take him to the hospital to have his stomach pumped. I'll deal with the perpetrators and make sure they pay."
Killua was impressed. The way Lola had said 'pay' just then made it
sound more like 'bloody revenge and torture'. Like Gon, he helped Hisoka
heft Illumi onto his shoulder and withdrew, looking at the ironic debacle.
Hisoka, who only minutes ago been banging on Illumi's shower cubicle door
and screaming obscenities was now subdued with anxiety and asked the bartender
a series of short questions, all of which Lola responded curtly and seriously.
They gave each other a curt nod and parted, heading their separate ways.
Lola's blue glitter covered eyes blazed with a coldly homicidal aura and
Hisoka quickly left for the exit. It was time to pay his long time friend,
Dr. Faust, a visit at this hour.