A/N: Gomennasai. A slight miscalculation in chapter 2; when the Spider group entered the canteen, there were only 11 of them.

Bdw, thanks for the reviews. Because of that, I've updated three chapters in one go. Hisoka's love interest will now be revealed although you probably all know by now. But it was an easy guess, wasn't it+wink+

Standard disclaimer applies: I don't claim to own any of these characters so please don't sue.

Chapter 3: An Important Meeting

"Hisoka, if you don't mind, we have to get there before lunch ends," Irumi reminded his companion who was even now stopping for the third time since they entered the college cafeteria. Hisoka had been acting like he was on a tour, pausing in his steps now and again to see the 'sights.' In this case, Irumi knew that it was the 'female sights' his friend was surveying. It didn't help their progress to the Genei Ryodan's table that Hisoka also had to exchange flirtatious smiles while adopting a pose calculated to impress.

"What's the rush, Irumi-kun? Have you suddenly developed a sense of punctuality?" Hisoka asked teasingly. "Hmm…so tasty," he murmured licking his lips while ostensibly eyeing the sliced peaches on a nearby table.

If it was anybody but his closest friend, he would have been fooled by that act but Irumi knew Hisoka well. He knew that Hisoka never applied the word 'tasty' to food as it was supposed to. Following his friend's gaze, he saw that the owner of the peaches was a petite, bright-eyed and very kawaii freshman who looked as if she should be only in the third grade. Irumi quickened his steps, his hands in his pockets and said briskly, "Business is business and I'm professional about dealings involving money." Then he pointed out, "you did say you wanted to meet Kuroro, desshyou."

"Hai, hai! I did," Hisoka said and sighed mockingly. He winked one last time to a very sexy junior who was coyly watching him from the corner of her eye before he quickened his steps to catch up with Irumi. "So where is he and his clique?" Hisoka asked putting a slight mocking inflection on the last word.

"They always gather at that large table in the center."

"Doko…?" Hisoka started to ask then his eyes alighted on the said table. "Gah! Are you sure they're the popular students? What an oddly-dressed crowd!"

Irumi didn't falter in his steps but he did give Hisoka a speaking glance which clearly said, look who's talking. His companion however didn't notice and both continued to walk and looked as if they were preparing for a photo shoot with Hisoka slowly patting his red hair and Irumi giving a careless flip to his long hair.

"Well met, Irumi," Kuroro greeted them as they reached the Spider's table. He indicated two vacant seats for them to sit down on. One was beside him and the other was between Nobunaga and Phinx. Irumi took the chair beside him and Hisoka sat down between the two who were eyeing him suspiciously. He gave them an amused smile.

"I've brought my friend Hisoka here. He said he wanted to meet you," Irumi indicated to Hisoka with a negligent wave and Kuroro nodded to him in acknowledgement.

"Chotto matte! You look familiar…" Phinx began. Then he slammed a fist on the table. "I remember! You were the captain ball of the winning Surabaya volleyball team. You weren't there when your team fought us, got scared didn't you?" he taunted.

Hisoka affected a yawn, "No, I got expelled and transferred. If I had been there, you wouldn't have won you know."

"Why you…!"

"You also didn't show up for the fencing rematch with Kuruta," Sharnock interrupted recognizing him. "I was supposed to fight the winner of that outcome but both of you didn't show."

Hisoka shrugged, "I also got expelled from York that time and Kurapika-kun decided to compete in boxing."

"Kurapika? You know Kuruta's champion!" Nobunaga demanded.

"Oh, we're sort of friends. Matte…." Hisoka said slowly as he remembered, "he defeated Takashimaya in that match I heard. It was a disastrous match for you, as I recall."

"So you're friends with that guy, huh," Nobunaga was starting to get angry. "How dare you sit at this table!"

"Ah, were you the unfortunate opponent?" Hisoka asked looking unruffled.

"He was my friend and because of your friend, Ubogin had to transfer to another college!" Nobunaga spat out.

"Whatever for? Too ashamed to show his face in school?"

"Iie!" Nobunaga hotly answered although he had planned to say something else. "I don't know the details but I think he had an agreement with that Kurapika about it," he continued sulkily.

Hisoka just shrugged, "really, they are such an excitable crowd," he thought to himself. As the other Spiders ignored him and started to continue with their meal, Hisoka let his gaze wander over the female members of the group. As usual, an amused smile lifted the corners of his mouth and there was that familiar glint in his eyes when eyeing females.

Everyone, Irumi included, thought that Hisoka was ready to strike up a flirtation with any member of the female population given his predictable behavior with them. Unbeknown even to his friend however, it was just that, a natural behavior with the opposite sex that Hisoka acts upon on unashamedly and with no exceptions. It was usually confined only to smiles, glances and sometimes provocative statements but Hisoka never went beyond that unless he was the one pursued or he really wanted to pursue the girl "which," Hisoka mused wryly, "has never happened to me."

"So to business," Hisoka thought amusedly. "Only three girls in the group?" he found humor in the situation and decided to cast himself as Goldilocks with the three bears. His eyes alighted first on Shizuku who was staring at him openly with wonder, "too naïve," Hisoka thought amusedly. He was starting to enjoy this! Then he glanced appreciatively at the sexy Pakunoda, "too mature," he decided silently as Pakunoda returned his gaze calmly. Then he turned to the last female in the group.

"Too…," Hisoka forgot what he wanted to say as his eyes locked with cold, grey ones. "Too…," he still didn't know what to say. He started to frown and his eyes narrowed…

"Just right!"

"Eh!" Hisoka asked confusedly as he tore his gaze away from Machi. He shook his head as if trying to clear his brain which was shouting all sorts of warnings. "Gomen, you were saying something, Irumi?"

"Oh," Irumi turned to him with some surprise, "I wasn't talking to you. I was finalizing details here with Kuroro." He turned again to Kuroro, "soshite, we're agreed, ne."

"Hai!" Kuroro nodded. He then looked thoughtfully at Hisoka for a moment, "I don't know how much Irumi has told you about us," he began to say, "but since you know about Ubogin transferring schools you do realize that we have an available slot in our group…"

Hisoka raised an eyebrow expectantly. The others knew what was coming. Phinx and Feitan looked displeased but knew they couldn't protest while Pakunoda laid a restraining hand on a simmering Nobunaga. She shook her head at him telling him to be quiet.

"And since Phinx and Sharnock has already heard about you from hunter school tournaments, I would say that you have the necessary qualities to be a member of our group," Kuroro said simply. There wasn't any telltale indication of it but Kuroro said the last statement as if it was the greatest compliment. "So, would you like to be part of our group?"

"Ok," Hisoka replied matter-of-factly.

If Irumi was surprised he didn't show it, but Hisoka could see that Kuroro was. He commented, "You look surprised. Doushite? Was the invitation not serious?"

"It was," Kuroro replied, "I was just surprised that you consented quickly. Aren't you going to ask first what will be in it for you?"

"No need," Hisoka said airily, his gaze unconsciously traveling over the still stony-eyed Machi before hastily turning back to Kuroro, "I have my reasons."

"Ah," Irumi nodded as if finally enlightened, "I might as well tell you now, Hisoka is highly competitive. He's always been school champion, he hopes to oust you from that position."

The other members gasped in mixed surprise and outrage but Kuroro just smiled pleasantly, "hontou? That's interesting. I'll look forward to it. So that's your reason."

Hisoka happened to be looking at Machi when he replied with uncharacteristic seriousness, "Yes." From the corner of his eye, he could see Irumi looking at him oddly. He quickly cleared his throat and smiled his usual smile at Irumi and Kuroro, he repeated his answer again in his usual offhand way, "yes, that's my reason."

The big clock outside the school's highest tower chimed the hour. Some of the students who had classes started to get up from their tables. Hisoka yawned and beckoned to Irumi, "Shall we go?" Turning to the others at the table he said with mock resignation, "Excuse us, it's my first day here after all, have to show up punctually. I'll see you around. Ja!"

They were outside in the corridors when Irumi finally turned to look at him. His deep, all-too penetrating eyes fastened upon his friend. For the first time, Hisoka was unable to meet them which made Irumi's eyes gleam suspiciously. "We don't have class," Irumi pointed out.

"It was getting to be boring and I decided I might as well go home and sleep," Hisoka explained. Irumi suddenly nodded in agreement and Hisoka tried to hide his relief. They parted ways outside the cafeteria building.

It was only when Hisoka was out of sight that Irumi permitted himself to a small smile, "I couldn't care less what the hell is going on," he thought, "but it was intriguing as anything to see Hisoka's neck go all red!" Then he chuckled softly and whistled amusedly as he walked back to the building.