A/N: I borrowed some scenes here from the series and edited it a little here. Sorry if the events in this chapter seem rushed, I want to finish the story in 6-7 chapters . This is now Machi's point of view. Please review!
Standard disclaimer applies: I don't claim to own any of these characters so please don't sue.
Chapter 4: Her Dilemma
Machi walked down the wide corridors of the college building completely oblivious to the admiring male glances cast her way. One obviously smitten bespectacled junior sighed helplessly as he followed Machi with puppy dog eyes. The more observant of her admirers however noticed that while Machi still had that aura of cool disinterest, they could see that she had something on her mind. Her usual composed, pretty face held a very slight frown indicating that she was deep in thought.
"It's all because of this stupid paper!" Machi said to herself angrily referring to her literature assignment. "Uh-uh," a small voice in her brain contradicted, "it's a different thing altogether." She scowled on that thought and the group of girls she passed dispersed quickly thinking they were the cause of her displeasure. She rounded a corner and saw a familiar figure leaning against the wall, obviously waiting for someone.
"Hello, Machi," Hisoka greeted as he straightened up. "Were you going to class?"
"Hai, what are you doing here anyway?" Machi asked suspiciously, "your building's on the other side."
"Oh, I know but I had to drop off something," Hisoka held up a book. "Can I walk you to your class? I'm going that way, anyway"
Machi shrugged, "If you need to." They continued to walk in silence. Machi felt uncomfortable by the minute and was relieved when they reached her lecture hall.
"So, I'll see you at lunch?" Hisoka asked and Machi nodded. Hisoka smiled and waved goodbye as he went his way.
Machi looked at his retreating form and scowled once again. There were no flirtatious smiles, his eyes didn't have a glint of unholy humor in them and there was nothing in his behavior or manner that indicated more than friendliness. "And that," said that little voice in her head again, triumphantly this time, "is what's bothering you."
"Shut up!" Machi shouted at that inside voice illogically. She stormed inside the hall and sat down grumpily in one of the chairs at the back. She tried to concentrate on the lecture but her mind seemed to wander on its own. Specifically, to that time less than three weeks ago when Hisoka was first introduced to the Genei Ryodan.
"Machi, can you please inform the others that there will be a general meeting at the college clubhouse this Saturday?" Kuroro asked.
"Of course," Machi replied. She had no problems in relaying the message to the other members except for one, Hisoka. She obtained his cellphone number from Irumi but there was no reply to her calls and the SMS she sent him. She knew there was no other choice but to tell him in person. It was imperative that dancho would have no cause to say that she didn't follow his request.
And so, it was on a Thursday afternoon that Machi found herself inside Hisoka's house. Hisoka himself opening the door to her. "Why, Machi, what could have moved you to honor me with this visit?" Hisoka asked smiling at her charmingly.
She asked directly when she got inside, "Is your cellphone broken?"
"Iie, doushite?"
"I called you several times and sent you text messages," she coldly said. "I assume you read them?"
"Of course, they were from you after all."
She ignored the look that accompanied that statement and asked, "then why didn't you answer them?"
"Because I knew you would have to see me in person to make sure I got the message," Hisoka replied. He was all smiles and there was a certain glint to his eyes that Machi recognized as unconcealed admiration. Hisoka leaned forward making her back away towards the wall. Hisoka then leaned with one arm on the wall. Machi crossed her arms to prohibit any more closeness. "Why don't you have dinner with me?" Hisoka asked with a certain degree of charm and pleading. "I like to look at something pretty when I eat."
"Then bring a mirror with you," she retorted before realizing what she said.
Hisoka looked taken aback for a moment then threw back his head to laugh softly, "I'll take that as a compliment."
That afternoon ended without her having to have dinner with Hisoka. But that didn't stop him from asking her for other dates which she all turned down. It was easy after all; she was used to turning down all the other male invitations from her schoolmates. She also ignored all the flirtatious and admiring glances he threw her way.
"But all that changed after that incident at the Scavenger Hunt," Machi mused. Her professor was still droning on and on, and Machi was thankful that she had unconsciously turned on the voice recording of her player. She, at least, would be able to sort out the lecture later even if she couldn't sort out her own thoughts. Her thoughts strayed again to the memory of that incident.
It happened just a week ago. It was the Annual College Fair and as tradition has it, there was a week-long Scavenger Hunt. The dean had wisely decided to have two sets of list made for the hunt, as each year, the Genei Ryodan always won. He didn't count on Kuroro dividing his group and making them cooperate with one another so that both teams helped the other to obtain the things on their respective list.
Machi had been relieved that Hisoka wasn't on her team as it would mean seeing him more than the usual lunch. It was unfortunate however that she was with Sharnock when he found an item on the other team's list. It was supposed to be any filing tool of a key master and since virtually every key master in the country used machines nowadays, they lucked to have stumbled upon a wandering, old-fashioned key master in the park.
"Hisoka will be coming any minute," Sharnock informed her.
"Nani? Why didn't you call any of the others?" she asked coldly, a little annoyed.
"I did. He just happened to be the one nearest to where we are," Sharnock explained and then added in a teasing voice, "he might have purposely followed you."
She crossed her arms and turned her nose up in the air, "I don't know what you're talking about," she said haughtily.
Just then, Hisoka came into view. He nodded to Sharnock and smiled widely at Machi. "Where is he?" he asked and Sharnock pointed out the old key master to him, sitting at one of the benches.
"Kuroro would be pleased, it's the last item on our list," Hisoka commented dryly. He paused then turned to look at Machi. "Inter-hunter school competitions would be coming soon. Kuroro was last year's champion," he said.
She didn't answer then was surprised when he asked, "tell me, who would you be rooting for when Kuroro and I compete for championship?"
"Kuroro," she promptly replied, "he would win of course," she added coolly.
"Oh," Hisoka's pleasant voice didn't change but Machi could sense something different, "so what would you do if I defeat him?"
"That's a stupid question, it would never happen but I'll answer it," she replied with some asperity, "I'll fight you myself and defeat you."
"Sugoi," Hisoka said calmly but there was a certain glint to his eyes that Machi never saw before. "It's quite touching that you're so loyal to Kuroro, I wonder why," his voice had a certain sarcasm to it and she could now see that he was angry about something.
She had never seen him angry before and she realized that she was angry as well. "Do you? There's no reason to wonder, after all. Dancho is handsome, charming, brilliant and most of all, a gentleman not like some cocky, over-confident, too full of himself clown I know," she uncharacteristically spat out with some heat, her eyes like chipped ice. She regretted the words as soon as they were out but stonily kept silent.
There was an uncomfortable silence for some moments then Hisoka said slowly, "I see." He turned to Sharnock who had prudently distanced himself from them and called out, "Thanks for the tip. I'll get the filing tool now." And with that he sauntered off towards the key master.
Machi had been dreading to see Hisoka the next day but she needn't have worried, Hisoka acted as if nothing happened. In fact, he was quite friendly to her and what's more, he didn't indicate any flirtatious advances either by word or act. It was as if he was cured of any interest in her.
"And you should be thankful for that," Machi told herself fiercely. She remembered again his attitude earlier and was surprised as she uttered a sigh that was far from relieved. She rested her chin on her hand and finally acknowledged, "I don't know what's the matter with me!"
