Chapter 7
The Shark in Shallow Waters and the Boy who never grew up.
The magician showed up at TGI's not long after all the large white plates piled with steaming food had started to arrive. He took his seat at the crowded men's table and ordered only a drink – a delightfully refreshing and divine Ice-cream Sandwich to be precise.
"Where's your other half?" Leorio snickered from the far end of the table, quaintly tucking the corner of his white starched napkin into his collar, pleased at his own thinly veiled insult. Given the general mood and atmosphere however, this led several people to make amusing remarks and jests followed by a series of giggling as well. Hisoka shrugged noncommittally, neither flushed or irritated.
"His mother wanted him to look after her shop for the rest of the afternoon. Sudden arrangements or something on her behalf, so I showed him where Glamour Isle was and came here to spend the rest of my lovely afternoon with my fabulous co-workers." He probably intended the last few words to come out as drawling sarcasm rather than factual truth, but the fact was, insults were in fact jests and jests were in fact insults, so everyone took them and made them in good humor.
"His mother has a shop in Glamour Isle?!" Paku picked up on this information and exclaimed incredulously before she could control herself. Within moments, the women's table had been pushed (much to the objection of the restaurant owners) so that it was adjacent to the mens. "That has to be some pretty ritzy place. Pray tell – what's the name of this store?"
"Fantasia." Shalnark immediately supplied smacking his lips free of the .
All women's jaws swung open – Paku's hit the ground. Machi ungraciously choked on her drink.
"Illumi's mother is the owner of Fantasia? Why didn't you call us immediately?!"
Hisoka looked slightly annoyed. "The store is not going run off or anything. It's still going to be there after lunch. Oh – and he says that he's going to give a discount to anyone he knows from Hunter Works – make yourself known."
"But of course." The four woman instantly replied, a sparkle of glee in their eyes.
"And I couldn't call you anyway – my mobile phone has been confiscated."
He added grouchily. The waiter came over with his tall glass of blended
ice cream, Oreo flavour, and Hisoka took a long, heavenly draught. Everyone
was eyeing him attentively. It was all part of his charisma and charm.
His presence and sheer force of personality attracted, no, demanded, everyone's
full attention because he was who he was. Hisoka – a man's whose actions
had already put him down in the books of infamy, yet wore it proudly like
a badge. Flouting traditions and customs to him was but a mere stroll through
the park. He engaged in the darker, more primal and sensual activities
and sports denied to most law abiding citizens. People couldn't help but
be attracted to his incredibly individualistic aura.
But today, just today, he had a nasty suspicion that people were looking
at him for other reasons. Other, not so flattering reasons.
Kuroro cleared his throat slowly. "You do realize, Hisoka, that you've basically made yourself target for all gossip circles – possibly for the next two weeks. And now, so not to keep us in suspense, just frankly tell us what has happened to your phone, otherwise we'll be jumping onto the wildest pieces of information and rumors."
Hisoka looked unhappy and sighed to express his sentiments. "I was going to make a booking – dinner for two – at the Elysian tonight. I never realized that Illumi could run so damn fast…."
There was a sudden flurry of activity down Kuroro's end of the table. Ubo had been the first to leap out of his chair to pin Kuroro down. His own glass drink tumbled over and stained the white table cloth a bright green and the remnants of his pasta likewise flipped and contrasted sharply with the colours of the drink, giving everyone eye sore and made gave the allusion of vomit, fresh and warm. However, the struggling Dancho beneath him was as strong as an ox, so Bashou and Hanzo added their weights on top, each clamping down firmly on Kuroro's flailing arms so that no more cutlery could go flying or plates breaking. Hisoka calmly observed Kuroro's reaction, but a small smile surfaced. It was faintly cruel.
"Ahh….that was most definitely worth it. Well – it now seems that I didn't have to have that dinner at all. I was merely curious as to whether you really would carry out your threat to….you know…kill me."
"At least Illumi-san sill hath some brains to compensate for thy lack!" Phinx retorted sternly. He continued to gaze levelly at the red head. "It is sound advice that one should never carry jokes to their extremities, lest they have the ungodly desire to land thyselves in hot and sticky trouble. If thouest harbours such a death wish, please give us early warning so we can evacuate to another town and god spare the innocent."
A few people muttered "Amen" but Hisoka's eyes narrowed dangerously and looked suspiciously around him. His voice was just above scathing venom, only just. "And it is equally advisable that one should never take the words of a gossip column too seriously, nor believe everything that your eyes may see. As actors, aren't we the first to know that we can never trust an image?"
TGI had been a warm and cheery place only moments before. The delicious aroma from the food smacked people's nostrils and made passers by drool. There was a steady rumbling of voices from all the conversations carried by the diners, and the chittering of cutlery against the porcelain plates. A cold, unsettling silence now oppressively descended upon all actors as two men went face to face in a deathly icy staring match on a battleground not of this earth. They had been transported to an arena with no spectators in the grand emptiness about them, just a solitary battle with the bitter wind cutting at their cheeks and stinging their eyes with their wildly lashing hair. It was a battle with no honour or glory. Neither yielded an inch nor gave a quarter, and neither seemed the type to back down either. The people on the side either faded into ghostly apparitions or were reduced into unspeaking, invisible spectators of the most glacial fight on earth.
Killua looked at Gon, Gon looked to Zuuchi, Zuuchi looked to Wing, Wing to Leorio, Leorio to Kurapika. Kurapika to…
"All right – Hisoka, you say that we have been misled by these pictures in the newspaper. We say that there is nothing to misunderstanding. So at least give us an explanation." The blonde tried to walk that excruciatingly tight rope down the neutral middle and with his warm and vibrant character alone tried to thaw the icicles around him. Hisoka did not break the deadlock between him and Phinx, but tersely asked the group to raise one of such 'misleading' photos.
Nobu and Shal quickly led a discussion with the rest of the group, a dozen or so magazines from handbags and backpacks were immediately spilled onto the table and a frantic flicking of pages took place. They all thought that the most damaging was the beach photo. Nobu presented it to Hisoka and the latter reluctantly breaking off the death match to glance at the image. He clucked his tongue a bit and shrugged his shoulders.
"I thought I had already explained. Illumi was kicking water at me – you're not suggesting that it's wrong to have a water fight?"
"Stick to the topic Hisoka" Feitan spoke up for the first time. "It's not the water fighting that's unacceptable. I think Dancho is right – if Illumi-san hit his toe on the rock, the most you could do was support him to the nearest kiosk. We are of the most humble opinion that picking him up like that was…unnecessary."
Hisoka felt genuinely incredulous. They were all fussing and objecting now to the way in which he carried Illumi?
"At that time, Illumi was quivering with pain so much so that he was trembling on his other good foot, let alone limp the next five hundred meters even if he had my support. I was actually thankful that he didn't bust into tears right in front of me – again – so exactly what could I have done? Really guys, don't be persuaded or influenced by the despicable words of The Insider – I carried him in the most practical way, not romantic or…what were the exact words they used…ah, here it is "like a groom carrying his bride". You guys actually fell for that kind of irresponsible reporting and sensationalism?!"
The magician's defence ended as a denunciation of his co-actors with a highly accusatory tone. In one go, he managed to twist what was to be his interrogation into an outraged prosecution against them all. The sheer compelling tone in his voice and masterful manipulation of words convinced the most resolute of them all that he was right, and that they were all mistaken. Everyone hung their heads in shame – they had after all, accepted The Insider's depiction of the events without bothering to think for themselves or to remind themselves that given the magazine was known to be a shameless exaggerator of truths thus they should have been more guarded.
"I swear if I weren't so nice or knew you guys better, I'd call you
stupid, useless idiots for even buying into the magazine – which you already
know to be an untrustworthy gossip column. Now is someone going to show
me that they have at least two brain cells to rub together or do I have
to cram some sense into your thick heads?"
There was a moment's dull silence, a very thick and potent air of resentment now hung about their shoulders in a way that was almost crushing.
"All right – change of hypothesis," Kuroro began testily, gripping onto the last vestiges of suspicion "what if it had been one of us who had stubbed our toes on that hidden rock? Would you have carried us that way?"
Hisoka automatically responded. "It verily depends on your reactions. For someone the size of Ubo or Bashou, I would hardly expect you to start quivering with pain – in fact, I'd expect that you'd puff your chest out and try to tough it out. Killua, Gon or Zuuchi on the other hand, I could carry under my arm. As to someone your size," Hisoka cocked his head to one side and regarded someone the size of Kuroro, Nobu or Hanzo for a moment in sincere thought. "I'd carry you the same way I did with Illumi if you were in mortal pain, paralyzed with it, as Illumi was."
"I don't think either of us would become enfeebled or paralyzed by pain after hitting our toe on a rock." Wing muttered. Most people murmured similar sentiments with him on this point. Hisoka only shrugged again.
"Well, I guess other people's tolerance for pain and threshold generally differ and vary." He said airily but it lacked conviction.
The rest of the Hunter actors looked amongst themselves dubiously, some only grudgingly agreeing with the red head. A lone man in the background was furiously scribbling over a bit of paper, trying hard to draw the shadows to him like a smothering cloak in an effort not be seen. In the black bag beside him was the definite gleam of a camera lens, concealed, camouflaged and hidden. If they found out that a reporter had just eavesdropped on the conversations of the once perfect Kuroro and the mysteriously shady Hisoka, they'd find their equipment returned to them in separate pieces, not to mention some of their body parts too.
So they all tucked in and enjoyed the rest of their meal, switching to a different topic for reasons of courtesy. Even Leorio could not come up with something to counter Hisoka's logic because it was, on all appearances, a reasonable enough explanation. But that didn't prevent Leorio from thinking hard during the rest of lunch to come up with something damaging to make himself look good.
Towards the end of their meal, when they were ordering cups of coffee or another round of sweet drinks, a huge bulky figure blocked the doorway, leaving an impressive shadow in its wake. From afar, there was an intimidating presence which gradually diminished as the figure approached their long, extended table. Shalnark was the first to react, gasping in awe and honour and clung feebly onto Nobu and Feitan beside him. Kuroro and Phinx threw their co-actor some questioning looks, but it was then that Nobunaga recognized the grotesquely fat boy as Milluki – famous and successful brother of Illumi.
Milluki wore a casual blue Hawaiian shirt featuring brightly yellow pineapples, a comfortable pair of black shorts and a pair of casual mens slippers. The sleekest, lightest and most up to date laptop was gripped firmly beneath one arm, and he carried the empty foam cup of coffee in the other. On his profusely sweating face hung a diplomatically positive smile and he approached them with the airs of one who didn't put up with crap and got right to the chase. A direct, blunt man more concerned with efficiency and getting things done than dancing around with words and making nice euphemisms. His pudgy eyes glinted with real intelligence, brimming cunning and didn't bother hiding the cogworks and wheels in the churning mind. He was scanning the actors and taking down their features and characteristics rather than politely looking at them, but he didn't bother hiding the fact. His gaze lingered particularly on Hisoka, but a cold grip of control took over and he gave himself a seat without being asked to do so. He was that kind of person.
He forced himself to give a bright beam – and didn't care if everyone else knew that it was forced. It helped to get formalities over and done with, but it didn't mean that he had to like it.
"I see that you're aniki's new friends – introduced to him by Mr. Silva?"
Everyone warily gave him a nod. They all watched the fat boy look rather unobtrusively over at another table where a solitary man sat, namely in the darker corners of the restaurant and raised his glass of water to him. The man in the corner shook like a leaf in the wind, and Milluki's once friendly smile turned down right nasty.
"Ah, Anime City," he began, loud enough for that man to hear. "It's crawling with so many undercover agents, chasing dogs and cameraman for news firms that they make the rats during the Dark Ages look like amateurs." The large boy took a huge draught from the glass then wiped his mouth unceremoniously, like he had no time for manners and had more important stuff to deal with. "But that's this city for you – always running amok with nasties and unpleasantness that it's almost an art, which perfectly suits my personality of course. Given my profession, we like to test out strengths and wits against subversives, but I do digress from my topic."
Machi stole another glance at the dark corner and realized that the mysterious man had already disappeared.
"Now then ladies and gentleman, lets get down to business. My name is Milluki, I'm Illumi's younger brother, who happened to read The Insider this morning. Unfortunately, my mum also happened to read the same paper and is somewhat displeased. But I don't agree with her of course – but you know my mum – her screeches put most tropical parrots to shame. Anyway, I was given the most unfortunate and unnecessary assignment – that was to clear things out with you."
Milluki reached over to Wing's plate and stole a fistful of chips that the man had not touched. Wing liked his slimmer figure and didn't really believe in developing buns of steel. He preferred the 'intellectual' image, being one of the few actors in the industry with a legitimate university degree, hence didn't shove food in his mouth with an enthusiastic fervour like the bigger men around them.
"However," Milluki continued hurriedly, "I'm sure Hisoka-san has a vested interest in clearing up his name, so my task has basically been completed." He suddenly stopped and gazed at them intently. Then in a much lower, confidential voice he continued. "I hope none of you take this badly against my brother. He doesn't do it on purpose – it's more like a natural defence system. You are his friend right?" he addressed the question directly at Hisoka.
All eyes swung to the red head, the man himself balking and gawking at the question at first, finding himself at a loss as to what to say. He approached his answer with caution and tact.
"I've known him for only a day." He began slowly. "It's kind of difficult to conclude outright that I'm going to be his friend. You must realize that the only reason I'm showing him around town is because I'm under orders from the Director. If you go on to ask whether I would have taken initiative to show him around the city under no duress or compellation, then my answer is probably no. I have enough friends already, and I certainly don't need some new guy to lag behind and cling onto my coat tails whilst I get the next fortnight to relax and enjoy myself. Does that answer your question?"
The computer expert stared heavily at Hisoka for a short moment then curtly nodded. If you studied him closely, you might have noticed the glimmer of disappointment, or the almost silent sigh of displeasure he felt.
"Very well then," he said, in that diplomatically neutral tone. "I hope the impact of the truth won't hit you hard. In fact, I only hope that you understand when you do find out. I have great respect for my brother, and if you so much as try to ostracize him, I will defame you so badly that suicide will be appealing. I think that we understand each other pretty clearly. Good – I have things to do, meetings to attend. Can't sit here all day can we?"
He gave a good natured sigh and another smile at everyone, like the threat had never been uttered or passed his lips, but the smile did not reach his coldly dispassionate eyes. He heaved his great bulk and slowly lumbered away leaving a stunner and confused table of actors. Shalnark still hadn't worked up the courage to hand over the pen and paper for Milluki's autograph and pouted miserably.
"Wow – some brother." Gon said after some time. "But what truth was he talking about? What is this talk of a 'natural defence system'? Have we unknowingly become a bunch of predators?"
Wing pushed his glasses more firmly onto his nose and laughed out loud. How could Gon, a veteran in the acting industry, having his first Broadway appearance at the tender age of six, not know or understand what Milluki had been talking about? Why, Gon had been unconsciously practicing this whole "natural defence system" since he became involved in the business but it had never occurred to him that such conduct had a label.
"No Gon-kun. We haven't become predators, but sometimes, people naturally consider the other people around them to be predators, just in case. Being cautious never got anyone killed, being all encompassing and friendly on the other hand, has. As you see Gon, we can never be too sure about the people around us at times, especially if we are new and don't know them well. You can never tell if someone will have ill thoughts of feelings towards you, sometimes for reasons that you and I cannot even seek to fathom. If you were to move to a new studio tomorrow and you were unfamiliar with the actors, would you be yourself around them?"
"Of course not." Came the instant reply. "My manager Mito, curse her venomous black heart, always says that I have to make a good impression at my new place of work and to give the image that I'm a good little boy that listens to all people's orders and does not complain. As you well know, I can be quite a whinger sometimes, but I try to hide that in the first two weeks at least."
"Blow me down, he's a fast learner, and you're a good teacher." Phinx commented, clapping Wing on the shoulder.
"So what you are saying is," Zuuchi picked up the last trail of thought, "that Illumi-san is acting different around us because we are new to him – just as Gon would act like a good boy."
"That question is best answered by the person who spends the most time with him." Shizuku offered, looking back to Hisoka. "So Hisoka, do you think Illumi-san is being himself?"
The magician shook his head, dazed. "You guys seriously freak me out with the depth of your thinking and philosophies. Hell, if I spent that much time pondering the reasons behind people's each and every action all the time, I'd get no time to enjoy life." He took a deep breath and looked down into his empty glass in a manner similar to giving a confession, one filled with insecurity and unease.
"But now that I do think about it, I am getting the slightest feeling that he's well…affecting me. Like the beach instance – I didn't really think about how I was carrying him – I just did it, and it felt right. But I could hardly picture someone like Dancho or Hanzo trembling from head to toe in pain and become so paralyzed by it that they could hardly walk. It's just…so not them I suppose. It's not within their character to become so weak and dependant. Perhaps you are putting to me that Illumi is in fact not as weak or helpless as he makes himself to be?"
Damn right – Killua thought, but kept that to himself of course. It was contrary to Zoldick general principles and image to let the others know that Illumi's whole family had come over to their place just the other night for casual dinner, nor could he therefore tell them of the completely different and frighteningly dangerous character Illumi displayed.
Wing took up the discussion again in a rather professional manner. "We notice that you are particularly nice (and you know what I mean by this word) to Illumi. Could you explain yourself properly?"
Hisoka looked almost downright miserable now, given the probability that he had been lied to or cheated. He abused his bent and crooked straw, stabbing at the bottom of the glass with some ferocity. "Well, the first and foremost consideration is that Illumi has some special connection to the Director – and I certainly don't want to offend someone who has that type of connection. That's one reason why I have to play nice. And the second….how to put this? He just makes me act that way I guess."
"Hang on a minute!" Gon protested. "It's not like I put on the good-boy act to cheat anyone or anything. I just do it so I can give a good impression before I settle in!"
Wing and Killua helped to calm the main actor down. "We understand. Of course we all put on some sort of 'act' in front of new people – we are always unsure how they might respond to our personality or character." Killua patiently explained. "And when you first mix with strangers, of course you are going to be courteous and polite. It's the thing to do. But that's not saying you're totally someone you are not. We all can be polite, but maybe not twenty four seven, but it is a part of us. Cheating is too strong a word to use in this instance."
Killua should know, Gon thought to himself. Given his upbringing in this particular line of business and following in the cold, harsh steps of his father, he would know all about putting on the right face in front of different people. They both had often tried the "angelic boy" routine whenever they got in trouble with the authorities, and that usually got them off the hook. Angelic was certainly not a word one would preferably use to describe either of them – Killua more so – and perhaps that's what Hisoka was getting at. He was deceived by Illumi-san's act, just as the police had been deceived by their angelic purity the last time Killua was caught smuggling a pack of cigarettes. They weren't planning on anything seriously, really – they just wanted to take a drag and see what it was like. He ended up choking and spluttering afterwards, then looked at the cigarette butt in disgust. His breath stank and there was a rotten taste in his mouth. Killua laughed at him, but he fared no better.
Wing cleared his throat and deftly snatched the spotlight back to him again.
"The first part of the explanation is that Illumi's 'image' alone makes it possible for you, Hisoka, to believe that he is entirely capable of quivering in pain. Kuroro-san and Nobu-san have worked up too much of a 'macho' and 'tough' image to let themselves succumb to pain, even if it is killing them inside. But lets face it, both you and Hanzo mistook Illumi-san to be a woman the moment you met him, so it is not unnatural that part of your mind still registers Illumi as being feminine. And this is links to the second part of the explanation – that because some part of your mind subconsciously treats Illumi as a female it also makes you act as if you're around a woman. This is further compounded by the fact that Illumi may be knowingly contributing to your subconscious behaviour with slight suggestions – a pretty pout, the flick of the hair, a low alto voice, graceful movements or even general figures of speech. This is feeding information that your subconsciousness latches onto and madly devours and before you know it, you manage to persuade yourself to think that it's perfectly natural to act the way you did, even though you really know Illumi to be a man.
Once you've come to this understanding, you have two choices – and that is dependent on your conclusion and assessment of Illumi-san's behaviour. If you believe that he has been acting to deliberately deceive you, then by all rights you should be angry. If on the other hand you believe that Illumi-san can't help acting the way he does, then we all turn a blind eye and you keep reminding yourself that he's a man when you're around him."
"Wing, you do realize what you are saying." Shizuku whispered softly, suddenly aware of how still and silent the restaurant had become to catch the seductively lilting words of the humble looking man whose wicked gleam in his sparkling eyes said nothing about the previously good natured and charming man. He gave a bitterly cynical laughter.
"Yes – I know very well what I'm saying. You've either been made a fool of Hisoka, or you let yourself act like a fool. Given Milluki's whole "forgive my brother when you find out" speech, I think we all know the answer. Now Hisoka – what are you going to do?"
Machi felt she would have been much more comfortable if Hisoka had reacted violently, smashed some glasses on the floor or crashed some plates together. Something – anything but that icy look of unreadable calm on his face. He was like that for a few moments, absorbed in a world of his own, lost in his own thinking. Then in a voice that was placid beyond reason and made all their hearts skip a beat, he spoke.
"I'm going to rip him to shreds."
He pushed his seat back so forcefully that they all had to clamp their
hands around their sensitive ears to avoid the terrible sound of screeching.
Some time after Hisoka left, Feitan spoke.
"We really should stop him."
"I feel no sympathy nor compassion for people who play with other people's feelings." Paku retorted.
"But Illumi-san does have links with the Director after all, whatever
they be. We should really stop Hisoka for his own sake." Kurapika stood
up and urged the others to do so. When Gon and Killua followed suit, the
others grudgingly followed.
Menchi had decided – she was going to blow off all her savings on a really nice and expensive dress at Fantasia to make herself feel better. And if she could afford it, maybe two dresses.
It was lunchtime and that guaranteed fewer people shopping and more private space to herself. No matter how hard she tried to imagine the fine satins and silks flowing like milk against her smooth skin or the delicate laces and pretty shoes, she still couldn't get the image of Hisoka and Illumi on the couch out of her head. She sternly reprimanded herself, trying to make her mind believe that The Insider was nothing but immoral gossip and that this morning had just been a misunderstanding, no matter how awkward.
And besides, why would she care if Hisoka really did turn out being
a bisexual and started seriously going out with the new guy anyway? She
had plenty of suitors and admirers lining up all the way from Hunter Works
to Elysian. She could have almost any straight man that she wanted and
asked her angry and bitter self what there was to be so worked up about
that it was worth blowing off her entire savings.
It's because I don't want the other men!
Menchi inwardly groaned. She hoped it was anything but that answer.
How could one lie to one's own conscience and heart however? How could
one deny something as good and pure as love? Why should one be ashamed
to admit it?
Because he's not interested in me!
Damn! She was tall, she was busty, she had wild pink hair, had an exuberant
and robust personality and was a great dancer. Her hips swung like no other
and she never failed to become center of attention at a rave or nightclub.
How many times had she rejected Midvalley and Saitou's proposals to date?
Too many, that's what!
But you still can't compare to some guy he's met for less than 48
hours.
Some guy! She seethed silently, her feet instantly picking up pace. She was acquainted with several gay males and to her knowledge, none of them acted or dressed like Illumi. Even though they considered themselves feminine, with the tight tops and the limp wrist, but certainly not the shy, high school girl charade. That guy was putting on some sickly diabolical act and was fooling the world, mocking it with his brilliant and perfect façade. She savoured the image of her ripping his mask away and showing a grateful Hisoka what a big fraud this new guy was. Menchi laughed bitterly – but she should have known. For anyone to be introduced by the Director and had connections with him, you certainly couldn't expect someone weak or innocent. If you were, you would have been devoured by the Director as the night snack before sleep.
Fantasia came into view and Menchi felt like she was being embraced by the soft, cool, air-conditioned arms of a heaven free from people and dirty deceit. She was stepping into the pinnacle of glamour and fashion, the elite of the elite of society and enough styles and colours of fabric to make her squeal with delight. One eye pleasing girl in a dark navy blue uniform and a pink scarf around her neck approached her and bowed low.
"Good afternoon Ma'am. My name is Linda – how may I help you today?"
Menchi felt infinitely better already from the service alone. She happily babbled to the small girl with the green hair in a bobbed cut about her bad day and the kind of clothes she wanted to have a look at. Linda smiled at her every joke and suggestion.
"I have something just perfect for what you had in mind. Our young master has just recently finished the designs for the next season and we have some prototypes. Perhaps you would be interested in having a look?"
Prototypes? That'll mean that it's the only set of clothes available! I'll be spearheading the next season's fashion, unofficial model for Fantasia's clothes! Menchi fought to conceal her squeal of excitement and followed the sales girl towards the storeroom door open behind the counter.
"Master? This lady here will be most suitable to wear your latest designs."
Linda called out to someone rummaging inside the dark and murky room.
After what sounded like boxes being piled one on top of the other, the person who came out coughing and spluttering from the dust shocked Menchi to the very bone and she almost drowned in depression. The haven around her shattered into a million fragments, the faceted crystal breaking apart to reveal the raging infernos of hell and the licking flames around her. The salesgirl had called him 'Master'? He ran this place?
"Why Menchi-san, what a pleasant surprise." Illumi quickly untangled fingers from his hair and moved away from the counter to lead her to the racks with the latest items.
"Yes….a surprise indeed." She lifted her lips into a smile that didn't reach her eyes however. Was that the devil now sitting on Illumi's shoulder, displaying a ghastly set of teeth at her?
Illumi laughed easily. "This is actually my mother's store. She's out for lunch today, so I'm here to look after things. But most of the clothes here are designed by me."
"Oh?"
"Don't look so astonished Menchi-san!" Linda brightly joined in. "the young Master is really gifted. His latest collection consists mainly of deep purple, pink and silver shades with touches of dark brown velvet. It would certainly enhance the highlights of your amazing hair and features."
"But I prefer the art of embroidery much better. Doing designs can be dreadfully dull sometimes, so I'm working to build up my own business."
"What type of business?" Menchi asked for the sake of conversation, noticing that she was walking atop a river of bubbling lava. She was starting to feel really uncomfortable about the course of events. She was here in Fantasia to make herself feel better, vent off some steam about the whole Hisoka-Illumi debacle, but here, even in a haven where she thought she could seek sanctuary and relief has been contaminated and destroyed.
"Dolls." Illumi said happily. But he didn't elaborate for he had deftly selected out five or six garments from the rack for her to try already. It looked as if he had almost had the items for her in mind long before she had arrived. Did he seriously design these clothes?
"See if you like these. Since you're a friend, I'll give you a forty percent discount. Linda, please show Menchi-san to the dressing rooms."
"Yes sir." Linda bowed again and gestured for Menchi to follow. The
pink haired actress nodded, now dazed not to mention suspicious by the
generous offer.
Illumi heard the doors to the dressing rooms softly click shut and instantly
felt sharp pains like the hard unforgiving metal of a baseball bat mercilessly
attacking his head. He heard the sickening laughter again echoing loudly
in his mind – the corrupted laughter of some twisted evil inside him that
had been laughing and poisoning his thoughts since….
"Master Illumi – you are looking awfully pale. Is everything all right?"
Linda peered into his ashen grey face with concern. He must have looked
like a walking nightmare.
He's been laughing and toying with the world ever since he was little and recognized the man he had to call "father". He's been reading everyone and everything around him, revealing all secrets, uncovering all hidden agendas just because he could. People's body language shouted out information to him – and he took this knowledge gleefully and turned it to his advantage – sometimes, he made people pity him, made others love him, made them treat him kindly, appear to be their best friends or drove them insane. Even after his father died, Illumi still couldn't free himself of the filthy presence in his mind, pulling at his strings, controlling his actions, eroding away at his whole being of self and character. He was loosing an unwinable battle and the consequences would be that he would never find the real "him" again. Step by step, he was wading into the mud, deeper and deeper – pushed along by the tide into a prison awaiting him with its rusty arms open. And the moment he stepped in, the doors would forever clang shut, leaving him to scream his protests for the rest of an uncaring eternity.
Inside the storeroom, he quietly recognized Menchi's voice talking to Linda the moment she stepped in. He keenly noticed that at first, there was a cautious reserve in her voice but given Linda's ability to disarm her wary customers, Menchi's shield quickly faded away to the point where she would have confessed about her crush on Hisoka to a complete stranger. He analyzed the tension when Menchi saw him exit the storeroom, the barely perceptible tightening of the muscles around the eyes, the instant smile of greeting, uncomfortable stiff hands by her side which she forced behind her back so that he couldn't see her twiddling fingers and the slight faltering in her voice. Nothing could get past him, especially the ambiguous animosity in her demeanour towards him that most people would have missed if they weren't specifically looking for it. He noted her rigid formality and obligatory words of politeness, took account of the whole 'routine' of trying to carry a conversation and concluded that Menchi would prefer to keep him at a respectful distance and had no intentions of wanting to become his friend.
His mind then sped ahead onto the reasons why the actress would dislike him. Her reasons for hostility towards him were few – he barely knew her and was not aware of anything he said to her which would cause her to be offended. So there was no friction between them. That only left the clue of the loud kick against Hisoka's door this morning and the heaving stomping afterwards. This had been done in consequence of Menchi finding them in a compromising position this morning on the couch – so what is the reason why she would react with anger? Because she did not like to see me get close with Hisoka, Illumi's mind thought with wicked relish, the last tangles and knots in the enigma dissolving before his brutal analysis into defeated nothingness. And she does not want to see me close to him because she wants to be the one close to Hisoka. So that could only mean that she was jealous of my developing relationship with Hisoka. She was therefore jealous that Hisoka was so friendly with me and not her.
The laughter in his mind was so loud now that his head throbbed with
unbearable pain that his breathing became short and shallow and his vision
was starting to dim. People are so easy to read – so easy to predict
– so easy to deal with – the voice sounded like a thousand nails scrapping
across a blackboard. Illumi wondered if his ears were bleeding.
They are nothing but pawns that I manipulate on the chessboard, puppets
in the puppet show. If I continue to shower her with treats and kind words
and a small explanation about how there's nothing between Hisoka and I,
she could become my best friend! She would adore and love me – share her
secrets with me and ask me tips about how to get closer to Hisoka. And
I would continue to offer her nice lies and advice – or if I really felt
like it, I could ruin whatever chances Menchi might have with Hisoka for
good! Oh Illumi! Isn't this just so much fun? Her entire happiness is in
my hand right now – it's like a shard of crystal, so beautiful, so fragile,
so delicate. Would you like to see me crush it? I promise you it
will be exhilarating, and then you can laugh like I do.
Medication – I'll silence you with my medication...>> His own
conscience sounded so pathetically weak and small compared to the staggering
madness.
Uh-uh Illumi – you really don't want to do that – and you know why?
Because it will also hurt you too, and you know that I cannot stand to
see you hurt. My sole purpose and existence is to protect you from the
cruel and harsh world out there – from people who would hate you, dislike
you and think adversely of you for no good reason – just like Menchi.
Illumi winced in pain at the ever increasing crescendo of the voice
and the deafening drumming of his headache.
She's a good woman. We've just had a misunderstanding.>> Far,
far away, he heard the hysterical shouts and vigorous shaking that Linda
was giving him. His legs must given way and he must have collapsed. The
real world was such a distant place now, his vision do dim and dull that
the brilliant shower of spotlights inside Fantasia were but mere gray,
fading patches. Was he hearing the diminishing and slowing thud of his
own heartbeat as well?
Some misunderstanding! The voice harshly grated, spitting with
hatred and spite. No one is ever going to hurt you or harm you whilst
I'm still around. You will be alone without me – and until the day you're
not alone, you cannot get rid of me. Always know that I have your interests
at heart.
You have no heart…>>
You'll see for yourself one day the true face of this world. There
is no beauty or kindness – only ugliness that will petrify you. The world
will trample on those who do have a heart. Kill or be killed – that's the
cruel way in which the world works around you. Do you want to be the shark
or the fish it preys upon? There is no choice in this matter – I will be
the perfect predator, the shark in shallow waters. I'll be strong for the
both of us.
Please don't. I have no reason to hurt anyone anymore…>>
I command you to stand! Get up on your feet and give me a pleasant
smile, you wretched boy!
Miraculously, his feet obeyed albeit with much effort and exertion whilst luminous colours and light gradually trickled back into his vision and sweet air rushed back into his lungs. He didn't realize that one of his arms was slung around Linda's small shoulders and that she was trying to support his weight with her petite body.
"Master Illumi, I really think you should see a doctor." She pleaded
after his determined shake of the head.
"You had me really frightened just then. You were muttering strange
things just then in a frightening tone of voice…I….I….was afraid that you
were cracking from all the pressure that Boss-sama puts on you…"
"Don't cry Linda-chan. I'll be ok. We've got help Menchi-san with her clothes right? Plenty to do – no time to cry." He sang softly and helped to her wipe away the tears trickling down her cheeks.
"Isn't there anything I can do to help?"
Illumi considered this offer for a moment and nodded again. "A glass of water will be nice please."
Linda guided the man to the nearby chair and sat him down, making sure
he didn't attempt to stand.
"You sit right there and I'll immediately get you some water."
The salesgirl ran off and Menchi was humming a jubilant tune in her change room. At that vulnerable moment when Illumi was alone, Hisoka burst into the store with murder written on his face, fingers flexing with the need to rip flesh apart. You didn't have to be a genius to figure out that Hisoka was out for your blood.
A thousand alarm bells were madly tolling in Illumi's mind, so much
so that he was deafened and could only see Hisoka silently mouthing some
words at him accompanied by some forceful and energetic gestures. Natural
panic was brutally suppressed by an overwhelming malevolence in his mind,
so dominating that the giant bells splitting his eardrums seemed so small
and insignificant in comparison with the guttural and menacing voice that
left deep scars in his sanity with its mere ranting alone.
I'll drive him insane!!! I'll have him on his knees and kiss my
feet and beg for mercy!!! The voice screamed with unholy rage and
madness. I'll drive him insane – step by step, closer to the edge
of never-ending abyss madness just like I did with him!
SHUT UP!>>
He's going to hurt you Illumi. He came here with looks suggesting
that he might even kill you! Open you damn eyes and see that you new "friend"
is just another fool who's too scared of Silva to say "no" to his requests.
He wouldn't even look at you if Silva hadn't told him to do so. I promise
you Illumi, I'll get rid of him now and you'll never miss him.
SHUT THE FUCK UP! HE'S NOT GOING TO HURT ME!>>
Fool! Strike him now! At the end of the day, you will be the triumphant
victor to stand over the fallen bodies of those you conquered, or you can
give up, lie down and be trodden on without remorse, pity or sympathy for
the rest of your miserable life! I WON'T LOOSE TO ANYTHING, ANYONE! NOT
YOU, NOT HIM, NOT THE WORLD! I will return the pain he inflicts on me by
a hundredfold!
The voice wailed and cried like a banshee, a vengeful demon that had
escaped its chains and shackles from the deepest dungeons of hell, an ethereal
entity, not of this world, filled only by an ever consuming hate and anger,
never dying, never living. A tortured soul howled its miseries and madness
and beat against the confines of the mind like a wild and savage animal,
fiercely frothing at the mouth, gnashing with its sharp and bloody teeth
at anything that dared come close. It yearned to escape the long night
that failed to end, a darkness so complete that no life, save the poor
soul, could exist. And in the utter silent darkness, it began to brood,
its mind twisted and he found that he thrived. With each bit of cruelty,
with each abandonment of humanity and conscience, with each degradation
and descent into sin and corruption, with each laughter at the sea of human
misery around him, his will began to gather force and was able to pull
the strings of the body, bending it to its desires. He began to conquer
the darkness by letting darkness into what was once a bright and shining
soul. And the small part of him still afraid of the darkness, still hurt
by the loneliness desperately hated what he had become.
"ILLUMI! GET OF HIM!" Kuroro roared, pulling with Ubo and Bashou with all their might but Illumi would not budge.
Hisoka wheezed and choked, unable to move his arms for they had been pinned down by Illumi's knees. Nobu and Phinx tried to help ease the pressure around his throat by each tugging at one pale hand crushing Hisoka's windpipe.
"Leorio, Kurapika!" Ubo turned his great big head to the two bystanders gaping in horror. "Give us a hand. Run to us from Illumi's left and give us all a hip-and-shoulder. Maybe we could topple his balance and make him let go!"
Both Leorio and Kurapika didn't bother arguing or protesting. They looked at each other, nodded with determination, then sprinted towards Bashou's back, launching themselves at him like human canon balls released from the barrel by a truckload of gunpowder.
Bashou howled in pain and hit his head against the left of Illumi's jaw, driven forward by the momentum. Leorio and Kurapika literally rebounded off the muscular man's back and tightly hugged their stinging shoulders. And Illumi only wavered slightly but did not fall over.
Kuroro grunted with frustration "Urgh! Why didn't I think of this earlier? Ubo, Bashou," he directed rapidly, "you each slip one arm around Illumi's waist. Then with your other hand, you're going to support underneath his thigh. Yes, that's right – don't look at me like that look – we're going to lift him up instead of push him off. Ready – one – two – three – UP!"
It worked! With Phinx and Nobunaga already weakening Illumi's hold over Hisoka's throat, the hands snapped free of the neck and Illumi was thrown at least three feet away. And thankfully, his crumpled form did not move.
Menchi and Paku immediately knelt down beside Hisoka and began to pat his back, helping him gain his breath back. But Hisoka didn't even know the women were there. His head and vision was swimming and his sense of balance momentarily distorted by the distinct lack of air that had been forcefully driven from his lungs. He was intently staring at Illumi's body sprawled out just a meter or so away from him, muttering obscenities and curses. It was the only thing he could do before he succumbed to hysterical fear, for he caught the briefest glimpse of a greater cruelty lurking inside Illumi – the kind of cruelty that was capable of laughing in utter glee as children were beheaded around him. It made him so sick with fright that his lunch was desperately clamouring to escape and blood pounded ceaselessly into his head, affected by the adrenaline rush. He had to activate his mechanisms of control – anything but submit to the unparalleled fear of the experience.
"Fucking mad animal – he's got rabies or something."
Hisoka was helped to his unsteady feet by Nobunaga and Wing.
"Thank god we did decide to follow you. What did you do to him this time?" Ubo scowled, panting heavily.
"Nothing!" the magician immediately snapped. "I did nothing! I was about to confront him about the things we said over lunch, and before you knew it, he sprang at me like a fucking mad dog! Straight for my fucking throat and wouldn't let go."
Linda angrily stalked up to Hisoka and gave him a good sharp kick to the shins however causing him to howl in pain and hop around on the one foot. Even though she could be described as short, small or petite and had a disposition to look delicate, she knew how to give a good kick and put on an intimidating presence with a pair of fiery blue eyes to match.
"You stormed in here raving and shouting threats! I saw you grip the front of Master Illumi's shirt and you were about to punch him before he acted in self defence!"
"SELF DEFENCE?!" Hisoka's voice went up several octaves from the sheer outrageousness of the proposal, one hand still tenderly rubbing at his sore throat. "Five grown men couldn't even push him off! You call that self defence?!"
"Don't give me that crap!" Linda hissed back, still unafraid of Hisoka's looming figure. "You came in here looking for a fight. I'm telling you right now that this store does not welcome you. Now leave before I call police." She said severely.
And the entrance to Fantasia loudly banged open again, and everyone snapped to attention and some even clacked their heels at the looks of a very demanding and scowling woman, followed by the man they feared even more – Director Silva Zoldick.
"Boss-sama!" Linda implored to Kikyou immediately, "Master Illumi is not responding.
"Why is my shop almost in ruins?! And what is Illumi doing on the floor? Illumi! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Kikyou asked whilst she dispassionately walked to her son's side with a dark frown. She didn't particularly want Silva to see any of this, especially Illumi in this embarrassing and humiliating state.
Silva glared at them all with the keen eyes of an eagle. He spotted one boy incapable and unable to form a lie and motioned for him to step forward. Kurapika tried hard not to screw up his face in terror and stepped forward, like a man with no future, about to be executed.
"Kurapika, tell me everything that has happened." Silva's voice was like a sword sliding out of its sheath, so seductively and falsely harmless in tone but in fact very deadly.
Having no choice or brain cells to come up with an alternative story, the blonde haired boy began from the last peaceful moments they spent together at TGIs and at length dwelt on the details of getting Illumi off Hisoka. All of this was absorbed by Silva without a blink, his eyes still harshly inspecting and glaring at all of them. Even when Kurapika was done, he reacted like he still did not hear the news. He picked at Leorio's messy and tangled suit, Nobu's wild and untidy hair (Kuroro likewise) and scowled at the bruise on Bashou's forehead.
He then stood beside the crouched figure of Kikyou and peered over her shoulder to see long silken black hair sprawled messily about the floor. "Is Illumi all right?"
Kikyou threw her hands up in exasperation. "I don't know what's wrong with him. He's got this idiotic vacant expression on his face and is muttering something that I don't understand."
"Perhaps he's in shock." Silva mildly suggested and knelt down to inspect for himself. He gave Illumi's shoulder a rough squeeze. "Illumi – are you in pain?"
His reply was faint, wan and ghostly. It sounded distant, detached. "Not really sir, I don't feel pain."
"I beg your pardon?" Silva stoutly asked. "I missed the last part."
Illumi gradually pushed himself up and managed a small, wry smile. "I thank you for your concern. But being manhandled and thrown for a full meter is definitely not something you experience everyday. Defying gravity for that short moment was…different. I'm ok."
"But what was that fight about?" Kikyou frowned, still verily displeased with her son's behaviour.
Illumi blinked innocently at her. "Fight?" What fight?" he gave a silver
laugh filled with amusement. The actors still standing at attention looked
uneasily amongst themselves and dreaded what would happen next. Illumi
gave Hisoka a small smile and a giggle then continued.
"Hisoka wanted me to perform this maneuver on him that he couldn't
neutralize this morning. So I did it again and invited his friends to see
if they could get me off. They tried all sorts of ideas, but Kuroro-san
finally came up with a solution to lift me up – which is the correct method."
"So there was no fight?"
"No kaa-san. Do I look like the person to get myself into fights?"
Silva firmly nodded. "I'll take your word for it then. That matter is settled then. Kikyou, I'll be returning to my office to meet with the editor. See you tonight."
Kikyou waited until Silva had left before turning her full attention back on Illumi.
"Wrestling in my store?! The nerve of you Illumi! AHHHH! Young man! Where do you think you're going?"
Illumi had picked himself off the ground, dusted himself and walked
off in the general opposite direction.
"I've got to meet some contacts. They're interested in my plans and
ideas."
"Are you still thinking about your useless dolls? Stop fooling around Illumi, you should be helping mama design clothes and run the store!"
"How many times have I told you? I can make my dolls AND design the clothes."
"You will not speak to me in that tone!" Kikyou hissed and dragged Illumi
into the far corner of the store away from the rest of the idling actors.
"You will not humiliate me in front of your peers. Now listen to me
– "
"I've got to go home and get ready. I'll see you tomorrow morning." Illumi forced his way out of the corner and hurriedly left the store. Everyone gave him plenty of room as he passed.
Kuroro bravely took a stab to break the silence.
"Well Kikyou-dono, I guess us men will leave the women to their business."
Kikyou blinked a few times before a pleasant smile formed on her face.
"Of course," she said in a friendly voice that dripped sweet honey. "Linda dear, be a good girl and show the gentlemen out. Now ladies, let see what I can do for you all."
Machi turned to the door just as the men were leaving.
"Remember – tonight – 7pm – Elysian – level 6!" she called.