(interlude)

The screens are open through half-cycle moons.

He sleeps with eyes open, awaiting golden hues.

A suit of black he will not wear,

For that's not how his tears are shed.

His sun will come with a seal in hand.

Crimson wants from a man of Scarlet hair.

Into an inverted cross he stakes,

Nine more legs, to hunt and prey.

Into the web, the blade shall sheath,

Become the Tenth name with heed.

Aboard the vessel of cold greed,

Binded by the seal in his ring.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The moon hung partially obscured by clouds, a pale silver of ashen blue, as if dusted with sorrow.

Its solemn gaze spills over a lonesome figure. Who sat waiting against bamboo screen doors of the private VIP room of a traditional, Japanese onsen inn.

His Japanese robe clung loose over weary shoulders, his hair falling limp down his back. In one hand, a smoking pipe rests lackluster across his index and thumb.

A forlorn sight, secluded in his thoughts, shrouded with smoke that hung thick around him, as heavy as his silence driven by a churning mind.

For fourteen days, he didn't speak to a single soul.

For fourteen nights, he didn't sleep.

This, was his fourteen night of waiting. He was planning to give up after the night was over. And return to assassin work proper.

A sudden rustle, alerted him first. The surrounding forest of bamboo and foliage calling to him. The night was without wind. So he knew someone has come.

A silhouette greeted him next, dark and obscured in the unlit forest, slowly coming forth from among the shadows of the greenery that encircled the private hotspring outside his room.

Illumi abandoned his smoking pipe carelessly at the wooden porch. Striding across the warm stones of the hotspring, rounding to the opposite side.

Please. He was hopeful.

Please. Went the hidden cry no one would ever hear.

The wind suddenly began to stir, and with it brought a scent that only Illumi could detect with his unnaturally keen senses. His knees nearly shook. But he wouldn't buckle.

Not now. He would reach the guest he'd been waiting for. Stand as equally tall as he was. Just several strides more.

That figure emerged, before reaching the pool, touched by the light of the moon, which suddenly brightened, sky cleared of clouds.

Hisoka.

Illumi held his breath.

The maverick smiled like the devil himself resurrected. His scarlet hair and golden eyes gleaming under silver light. He looked nothing worse for wear, almost exactly the way he was the last time they met in their tumble, three nights before the death match.

"Darling, did you miss me?"

His fingers itched to drive pins into him. Agitated that he lost so one-sidedly. Greet him with a cold snub saying, I should kill you for losing.

Yet when he reached him, he couldn't speak. His lips wouldn't move.

"What's wrong darling, you're shaking."

Illumi couldn't answer. His words lost.

Hisoka cupped one side of his face, stroking softly. Illumi couldn't say a word. Just leaned into his warm palm, lips quivering.

"Don't look at me like that," Hisoka coaxed. And gathered him into his arms.

As soon as he felt the firm strength in those arms around him, confirming the heat and his body was real and not just an illusion, he sighed shakily. Released the breath he forgot he had been holding.

"How are you alive," his voice finally came out in a shaky croak, "When you were so clearly reported to be dead from mass body explosion?"

He felt Hisoka's chest quake lightly with a triumphant laugh. Saw eyes that gleamed with golden pride.

"It's my Nen. At the last moment, I forced it to activate upon my death. To resuscitate my heart and lungs if they failed."

Illumi stared in shock and awe.

"So that's why."

He has heard it happen before, in very rare cases, recorded through history. Nen becomes stronger in death, activated at the final crucial moments. But the chances of actually achieving it, was close to impossible.

And Hisoka, by a combination of sheer force of his will and his lucky stars, was brought back to life, by Nen activating his will.

"But the explosion..." Illumi trailed off questioningly, still needing answers. Eyes searching him for wounds, injuries, missing limbs, and finding none.

"Well luckily, not every dummy piling on top me was explosive," he explained thoughtfully. "I think the ones closest took the brunt of the meat bomb for me."

He started snickering. "Ironic isn't it, that they were sent to break me, but ended up being my meat shield."

Illumi didn't share in his sense of humor. There was only a suffocating stretch in his veins, his nerves, his entire body wound painfully tight.

While his words held some truth since he didn't look any worse for wear, Illumi knows better.

Idiot… How could he make light of the situation?

There was no way the damages would be small given the aftermath of what he saw caused by the giant explosion. It has only been two weeks since the match. Light injuries would have healed. But an explosion would wrought more severe damage that won't recover so soon, and would leave scars remnant of its wrath.

Yet Hisoka didn't look like he had a single scratch on him. He must be keeping his injuries hidden with Texture Surprise.

"Let me see them. Your injuries. What are you hiding under Texture Surprise?"

Hisoka flinched, a terribly telling sign that made Illumi feel like his nerves would snap. Scorching heat crawled from his very pits, up his throat.

"Show me," Illumi hissed, whispering fire crawling out his lips.

"No, I don't want to frighten you with the way I look now."

Illumi felt his throat constrict. Suffocating. His lungs running out of air. Blinding spots rippled across his eyes, mind protesting from the lack of oxygen.

"Illumi, please don't," Hisoka croaked in a tone never heard before, "Stop looking like that."

Blinding spots erupted into hot stars, imploding in his eyes.

Hisoka caressed his cheek, but he slapped his hand away.

"Stop. Stop saying that," he snapped, agitated with hisoka, and more than that, agitated with himself.

"I'm not looking like anything. Stop talking about me. We're talking about you!" he wrung the neckline of his horrible jester top, hands shaking.

He could hardly see, blinded by the ghastly heat in his eyes. Wet, and hot. He didn't know what that was. Trailing down his cheeks.

Hisoka gave a twisted smile, corners of his lips and eyes tinted in the pale blue light of the moon. It almost looked like melancholy ghosted his face.

"Illumi… I suppose I never told you." He inhaled a deep, silent breath. "Your eyes. They swim. I can see the tides shift inside."

He brushed his thumbs along his cheeks. Feather light. A cold comfort stroking the hot trails on his face.

"I can see everything."

Turbulence. Chaos. Rage. Agony.

Pain.

Hisoka took his fingers and pressed a feather light kiss on his tremoring knuckle.

"And I want you to know, my injuries are mostly healed. Believe me."

Illumi sighed, breath shaky and hot. He stared at this man who had escaped death – no… who died and revived immediately after. He stared at him, pools beneath his eyelids finding no relief.

"What are your injuries?" Illumi pressed again, his whisper barely audible.

Hisoka leaned for his lips. "Kissing won't be a problem." He wore a tiny grin.

It was infuriating that the maverick still found humor to joke. It was a distraction. He knew Hisoka didn't want to tell.

But he kissed him back anyway.

And it was soft, oh so soft and tender. And brief, just a mere two seconds, but felt like an eternity passed between them.

When they parted lips, they rested their foreheads together, lashes nearly brushing one another. Lips ghosting a hair's breath from each other. They twirled lightly, naturally swaying together, cloaked in the warm heat rising from the hot spring. Taking comfort from the heat of each other's bodies.

They said nothing else. Just held each other quietly. Absorbing unspoken words of need and turmoil. Words that neither of them could ever say.

Illumi knows there more must more that Hisoka is hiding. The video footage was clear at the end. He knows there was no way Hisoka could have escaped the explosion with the mountain of bodies imprisoning him without taking damage.

But he couldn't bring himself to demand for answers. If he had been there, he could have checked for himself. If he had been there, Hisoka wouldn't be trapped beneath in the first place.

But he couldn't, because of a job. Taken on the family's name in honor.

For the first time in his life, the Zoldyck name, felt like a curse.

A curse that included a member who could heal.

"Alluka can heal you, completely. With her powers." Illumi suggested softly.

Hisoka hummed thoughtfully before replying.

"Yes, Killua needs to be the one requesting Alluka to do it, right? But he doesn't like me."

"That wouldn't stop him. Being the way he is, he will surely heal even you, if I asked. And if he refuse, I will force him."

"Well that's nice to know." He gave a tiny smile. "But we will have to put that plan on hold for now. Because you won't have the time to search for the two of them."

He held Illumi by the side of his shoulders, his hold gentle, but firm. "I, have a job for you."

Illumi straightened. Hisoka has requested his help a couple of times. Favors that he'd entertained. But he has never put it across as a job. Hisoka, has never technically hired him in the capacity of assassin work before.

"What is it?" His mind sharpened, a natural reflex honed after years of years of dedication to the art of his work. Ingrained into his very soul and core.

Hisoka just laughed lightly, dropping his shoulders.

"We will talk about it later. I want to enjoy you first."

A gleam slid over his golden eyes, one well reflecting his wayward wishes. A look Illumi only knew too well. A look that sent his loins curling. Just one look, enough to send frantic whispers racing throughout his nerves.

But he pushed it aside, more pressing matters to attend.

"No, you will let me tend to you with my needle healing first."

Hisoka tried to object but he silenced his objection with a finger to his lips.

"Don't refuse." He gave Hisoka a resolute look.

Hisoka appeared to relent, sighing lightly. He followed after without further protest, allowing Illumi to lead him across the spring basin into the Japanese style room.

Their footsteps were soundless over tatami mats. The only sounds were soft rustle of clothing as Illumi helped Hisoka out his clothing. And the soft sucking, puckering sounds of their lips, as Hisoka kept stealing kisses in between.

Once undressed, Illumi bade him to lie down on the futon he already had laid out in waiting. Then he burnt some aromatic incense in a small jar against a low coffee table.

"This will help you relax. Now close your eyes."

"Mmmmh, darling, but this is so interesting. I'm so curious… I want to watch you."

"Fine," Illumi allowed, kneeling down next to Hisoka. "But you will not interrupt me, at any point in time. Not. At. All."

Illumi held his little finger up. Just something a little childish for Hisoka's sake. "Pinky promise."

Hisoka positively giggled. "Yes, of course."

Illumi was glad to make him laugh. Because as soon as he touched Hisoka's little finger, he immediately knew the appendage was not of flesh and bone.

His arms felt like led, his head so heavy with something he couldn't well explain even to himself. All he knew was he had no place dragging his feet or letting himself be weighed down by anything. Not when the man who was suffering so much more than he was, had his head high and lips that continued to jovially flirt and grin twistedly like his usual self.

So Illumi kept it together.

He rubbed some oil over Hisoka first, hands brushing over every inch of his skin, kneading and massaging. He felt his entire body, sensing every inch of him with Nen. Assessing his condition.

His head spun. He fought to keep holding straight against a floor that was tilting sideways in his eyes.

Four fingers lost. Lower right leg gone.

He couldn't keep a grim look from showing on his face.

"Prosthetics... under texture surprise." Illumi pointed out aloud, mouth dry and scratchy.

That explained why Hisoka came looking as right as a jenny. He'd replaced his lost appendages with Bungee Gum compressed into rubber, giving it a silicon type make.

"I guess there's no point hiding it from you any longer." Hisoka gave a sheepish laugh. Then his eyes twinkled. "I'm a genius, right?"

Illumi crooked his head, eyeing his handiwork with scathing eyes.

It was resourceful. And demanded superb skill. Hisoka had perfectly replicated the missing parts, changing the density and texture to something silicon like, imitating the firmness and suppleness of limbs. And he continuously manipulated Nen flow to keep them moving and working with normal motions, so from the outside, one couldn't tell that those parts were fake.

Because they moved so naturally.

Even upon touching, one wouldn't be able to be tell the difference, unless they were Nen masters that were keenly specialized in body anatomy and flesh, like Illumi was. He'd developed and honed a keen perception of the human body as he mastered his needle abilities.

That was how he could detect the parts that were no longer real flesh and bone.

It was nothing short of an amazing feat for a Nen user to achieve, even for a transmutor. Illumi inwardly agreed, Hisoka was a genius with his Nen. And he could have appreciated it.

A glance at his proud grin however, incited him to make a tiny annoyed click sound within his teeth and tongue.

"Rubber isn't flesh." He chided him.

"Your Bungee Gum may have protected your wounds and stopped bleeding, and replaced your missing body parts. But your body will still need time to heal itself fully." Illumi reminded him sharply.

He didn't dwell on encouraging or praising him. Least the maverick thinks every lost piece of body can be so cheaply and easily replaced.

"And Gum can't repair damaged nerves or the finer veins and fibers of the body. Luckily for you, my needle heeling can. It will accelerate your recovery, and boost your vitality. Increasing stamina and endurance, and improving reflexes and sensitivity."

Hisoka hummed with a note of enjoyment. "Alright, then I shall leave it up to you, Sensei~"

Illumi rolled Hisoka to lay on his front, starting with the back. Inserting needles into pressure points. Precise, and swift. Meticulously, and purposely embedding pins over Hisoka's body. He left needles there, for long enough, until it was time to remove them.

Then he flipped Hisoka around to work on his front. It was important to reach him extensively.

Because in the replay broadcast of the match, Illumi saw him take damage from all angles. Even if the man himself already has a fast recovery rate, and appeared to function just fine, the backslash of withstanding blow after blow without rest, and the aftershock of the explosion, could deal irreparable damages.

Asides from losing his fingers and a leg, there were other equally important, unseen internal workings that could be adversely affected.

The nervous system and sensitivity of bodily awareness. The motor functions sensitivity, accuracy and reflexes. These could degrade after a brutal match where intense damage has been taken. And even just a tiny bit of that could affect a Nen fighter greatly. Affect him in a life or death situation if he couldn't detect or notice incoming danger quick enough, or if he couldn't dodge it fast enough even if he noticed.

Illumi sought to minimize that. It was a good thing Hisoka was skilled and strong enough to maintain basic Nen protection throughout the battle. As it seemed like his vital points were not too adversely inflicted. But there were some areas of damage, and the flow of his energy erratic because the points were blocked. So he worked to remedy that.

As time passed, the incense smoke drifted relaxed and coy around the room, encircling them. The aroma was refreshing, and invoking, chosen to stimulate closed circuits, opening open pressure points for easier energy flow.

Hisoka's breathing was slow but deep, with a light sheen of healthy sweat glossing over his skin. A good sign that he was responding well.

And then, in the area above his groin, Illumi stuck needles into it. That made Hisoka twitch and jolt.

"Don't move. You'll ruin the treatment. Don't talk either," he said quickly.

Hisoka stifled a groan, and laid solid like a dead log as much as he could while faintly trembling like a leaf.

Again, once done, he remained by Hisoka's side in an unmoving kneel, patient and still. Until sufficient time has passed, then he removed the needles. Plucking them swiftly and siphoning them into thin air.

Hisoka shot upright once the last needle was off him.

"Darling, that was incredible." He gasped.

He stretched and twisted his back and flexed his arms and shoulders and his legs.

"I feel… I feel like a new born man!"

"I've opened up various points to improve energy flow. So you'll feel revitalized. You should also find your senses back to tip top awareness. Your stamina should be a lot better now… at least back to the way it was."

"Hmmm, yes…" Hisoka slid a pointed glance down at his groin, staring at his member that has become erect. "It revitalized everything including boosting my cock."

He returned a gaze, wicked and curious, aimed straight at Illumi. "Was this also a necessary part of the therapy?"

Illumi rose slowly, heading out the door.

"It works in complete tandem. As I have said, it will boost the body's vitality," he explained plainly.

He stepped across the warm stones, heading to the hot spring basin, opening up his yukata, letting it slide past his shoulders and down his arms. It slept in a soft heap around Illumi's feet, as a silent act of seduction.

"Hot springs are said to have healing properties. The heat is best for your body after needle therapy."

Illumi, now completely bare, entered the pool, and half turned, beckoning with his hand. "Come."

Hisoka was already following behind, steps slow and predatory. Lust was in his eyes, raking all over his naked body.

"We'll soak your legs first." Illumi pretended to sound calm, even as his pulse was racing and galloping like a horse.

Illumi bade him to sit on the edge of the pool, calves in the water. He kneeled between his knees, hot pool reaching up to his chest. He lightly ran his hands up along Hisoka's powerful, muscular thighs, feeling them pull taut under his palms.

And reached his member at the base of his groin, engorged and twitching with vitality.

"Illumi." He heard Hisoka's plead fall softly atop his head, throaty with need.

Illumi acceded to his impatience. And wrapped his lips around his large shaft, taking him into his mouth. He closed his eyes in concentration. Just allowing himself to immerse in the throbbing flesh that pulsated against his tongue. He didn't take too much of him yet, knowing what the redhead liked.

He paid attention to the head first, sucking on his moist, velvety head, stroking the sensitive tip with his tongue. And licked a few inches downward along the veins protruding the shaft.

Hisoka threaded his hands through his hair, resting lightly on his head, kneading him gently, and stroking his ears and neck. Showing just how much he appreciated what he was doing.

Illumi committed his efforts with ardent zeal, enjoying the heady, masculine scent and taste of Hisoka that tingled his senses. Licking and sucking his shaft teasingly until pearly beads of precum escaped the slit at the tip.

Illumi lapped up the decadent drops, then swallowed more of him, taking more of his cock in a slow slide inwards, drawing throaty groans from Hisoka. He relaxed his jaws, getting them to open up as much as possible as he moved, since Hisoka was so thick, girth as impressive as his length.

He adjusted his angle slightly when his shaft hit the back of his pharynx. Giving more access, allowing his hot, moist shaft to slide down his larynx as he swallowed Hisoka all the way to the base.

Hisoka's satisfied groan stroked his ears, hot and burning, and a pleasure to hear.

Illumi shivered, inside and out.

He released Hisoka slowly and carefully, giving his head a loving swirl before taking him again. Over and over, he burned his mouth and tongue, all the way down the passages of his throat. Just feeling Hisoka's scorching moist rod, throbbing so excitedly inside his mouth.

By now, Illumi expected to hear Hisoka encourage him, tease him, litter his ears with dirty words. Expected to hear Hisoka comment on his dirty, greedy mouth. Or praise him for taming his snake. Hisoka always talked filthily. He enjoyed it. Reveled in it. And always sought to say such embarrassing things without thought.

Tonight he said nothing however, so Illumi glanced at his face, watched him carefully. And nearly couldn't breathe.

Hisoka's mouth was drawn into a wayward smile. But his eyes, his iris glimmered, soft under a feral brow. Illumi couldn't stop himself from shivering.

Hisoka was gazing at him, what he wanted so evident. Gaze laden thick with lust and want.

More, want me more, Illumi's thighs and cock trembled inside the water, a quiet joy seeing Hisoka enjoy his cock sucking.

And it was shamefully gratifying that he had enjoyed himself so much whilst sucking on Hisoka's member. He was already leaking so badly, dirtying the hot spring water with his fluid. If Hisoka saw it, he would surely tease him.

He was almost relieved that they were in a pool and Hisoka couldn't see it.

He increased the pace of his fellatio, ardently sucking and caressing his engorged sex organ with his lips, mouth and tongue, moving his head in and out fervently. He timed his breathing with his performance, reveling in Hisoka's appreciative pants and groans.

Usually Illumi's jaw would start aching after twenty minutes. But he could feel from the tremors of Hisoka's muscles, and his rapidly pulsating shaft, that he would reach his climax soon. Because he used his pins earlier, it already made Hisoka stimulated enough and almost halfway to the finish.

Yet Hisoka didn't press his head, or control him to increase his pace at all. Usually upon halfway to finishing, he would set Illumi's pace with his hands or start thrusting his hips.

But not tonight. Even when his hips were shaking, he didn't make any move to fuck Illumi's mouth.

He let Illumi go at his pace today, making his chest clench unbearably.

Then he felt it, Hisoka approaching his highs, because his panting was sharp and rapid, his hips jolting. And his hand on his hair tightened to a grip. But in the next second he dropped his hair, gripping his shoulders instead.

Hisoka was always gentle with his hair. He had never been rough with it. Never pulled it. He loved his hair. Treated his hair like it was a delicate flower.

Illumi hurried, head bobbing up and down his cock with furious zeal, squeezing and sucking the flesh with riveting force enough to finally invoke utopia, drawing out a sexy, masculine moan.

Thick and musky, the masculine scent and taste of Hisoka flooded his mouth in errant bouts of thick squirts. The assaulting, heady sensation seemed to erupt upwards into his nose and head. His tonsils burnt from the endeavor, but he was rewarded by the decadent milk Hisoka gave so generously.

His cock convulsed like a live snake, writhing inside his mouth, pouring so much semen. So thick, and flavor rich.

Illumi swallowed his offerings quickly, taking his thick milk in big gulps, until his cock finally stopped pumping.

He released his member gently, panting shakily. Some of his thick fluid escaped his mouth, because there was just so much.

Hisoka tugged him upwards.

And licked the milk that dribbled out. Then kissed him. Licking his mouth that was coated thick with his milk. Hisoka cleaned his mouth like he didn't mind tasting himself. Hisoka had never minded anything from Illumi's mouth.

Illumi had fed him pins and poison before, and even those did not faze him. Hisoka just took the pins with his teeth, and spit them away before kissing him. And the poison, he swallowed knowingly, whilst continuing to ravage him even as he started coughing up blood, until Illumi came to his senses in time to feed him the antidote.

Hisoka had always taken everything Illumi offered with his mouth.

Illumi leaned atop Hisoka, pressing their heaving and throbbing chests together. He could feel Hisoka's heart muscle pounding so wildly.

He allowed himself a tiny smile against Hisoka's lips. Elated to feel him like this. Thrilled that Hisoka became like this because of him.

More, Hisoka. Give me more.

They were words falling unbidden inside his head. He used to think that was peculiar and disturbing.

He was taught to never indulge in such gratifications. It was unseemly. Unbecoming. And unnecessary for an assassin. Hisoka was the one who taught him otherwise.

In the beginning, they tangled in bed only because of a lousy bet that he lost. It was supposed to only be a one-time deal.

But in the time that wore on, he found himself tangled in the sheets with the aberrant, again and again, lost in hedonistic pursuits. He would be of every mind to reject him, but before he knew it, he would have thighs straddling him, and spilling sordid seed with quiet, muffled cries before the night was long over.

Eventually, he gave up finding an excuse for his behavior. Gave up finding what the reason was.

The only solid explanation he really had, was that Hisoka would come to him, and only him, for wayward revelry of the flesh.

And it was less troublesome to give in to salacious tides, than it was to fight him.

That was how they tangoed, in the few years since.

And Illumi's body has gotten used to Hisoka's touch. All the times the redhead spent coaxing him, warming his flesh, taking him over and over.

He has more than familiarized himself with Hisoka's heat. More than grown accustomed to melting against his hard, powerful body. He has come to crave for it, become appallingly improper if he so much as felt the presence of Hisoka's throbbing south.

And sometimes, somewhere at the back of his head, he had illogical thoughts. Like being reluctantly aware of Hisoka's absence if they hadn't seen each other for months.

It had become almost like an established routine. If both happened to be able to spare a night or two from their busy schedules, and were not continents apart, they'd meet for smoldering hours, just joined at the hip.

With Hisoka asking for things that Illumi wouldn't give to anyone else.

With Illumi wanting things, he would never want from anyone else.

Like how he wanted to feel more of Hisoka. Eager to continue the decadent tango of flesh.

Just wanting it, made Illumi's head cloudy and dizzy, feeling light and faint.

He sat back into the hot pool, tugging Hisoka's arm. The redhead dropped into the basin without question, matching Illumi's zeal.

Hisoka grabbed his erect member, pumping it quickly.

Illumi braced himself with arms around his shoulders, muffling embarrassing sounds against his strong neck.

But his lower half, somewhere else, was also aching, wanting more than just his hands on his shaft.

Hisoka. Illumi straddled him inside the hot pool, finding what he need.

Hisoka helped him, guiding him smoothly as if they were of one mind, one body.

Searing heat scalded Illumi's rear passages as he sat down on Hisoka's hot member. His hands, firm and large, cupped his bum, and supported him as he bounced atop him frantically, beating and thrashing the water noisily.

It felt like the hot spring washed his inners, adding to the impossibly scorching heat. A heat intensified by Hisoka scrubbing his insides.

Hot mist stirred as if there was a wind, but it was actually just beat and set to motion by their vivacious motions.

Alone in the private hotspring, waters sizzling with their zeal, their moonlit tryst heightened their excitement. Wet hands wandering and amorous, caressing necks and chests. Shoulders and back scrubbed and scratched. Mouth hot and panting, tongue and lips needy.

Their union beneath the waters soon reached an arduous peak, with Hisoka washing Illumi's insides with his hot, glorious seed. And Illumi releashing his milk into the waters, dirtily and uncaring.

Illumi fell back, immediately faint, body lost its strength. And was quickly caught by Hisoka.

"Dizzy darling?"

Illumi nodded weakly. He'd been inside for too long.

Hisoka shifted his hold, scooping him. Then rose, lifting him out of the water, exiting the hot basin. He padded softly across the stones, and into the room, leaving wet footprints and a trail of water dripping from their hair and bodies.

He gently deposited Illumi onto the futon he laid on earlier. Then went to the sliding door wardrobe, gathering towels and fresh new yukatas. Illumi watched him, lounging on his side in a half sit with an elbow propping him up, eyes a little heavy, but appreciative.

Hisoka could be so gentle and thoughtful. And nobody knew. Because he was only like this when it was the two of them together.

He returned to Illumi's side, toweling him dry and helping him slip on the yukata, pressing flirty, feather light kisses on his skin in between. Illumi returned the favor. And as he tied the narrow obi around Hisoka's waist into a simple knot, he heard a faint, but distinct growl in the stomach. And then a second growl followed.

They blinked at each other. And suddenly broke into light laughs.

Illumi went to phone for room service, ordering their meals, which same quickly.

They settled down on cushions side by side in front of their tray, with Hisoka eyeing the bowl of salmon and oysters that sat high like mountain.

"Um... are we supposed to finish all that?"

"You need the zinc and protein. And you will stay here for a week." Illumi said without batting his lids.

Hisoka laughed lightly, lifting his sake cup for Illumi to fill.

"I'm glad you found my message," Illumi went on after a few moments, filling his own.

He wasn't able to reach Hisoka by phone obviously. The gadget most definitely destroyed in the fight. So he had left him a hidden note, stashed in a phone booth where only they knew where to find.

"I'm happy you have so much confidence in my survival." Hisoka grinned jokingly, gold eyes flashing, merry and teasing.

They clinked their small cups together in a little toast.

"I just couldn't be sure. Since I wasn't there to see the results of the match for myself. Had a last minute job," Ilumi stated plainly.

Never got to confirm if he was truly dead with his own eyes, in the flesh. Those were words that continued running in Illumi's mind, but he could not bring himself to say.

Illumi had refused to believe it.

Even when the outcome of the fight was hanging from everyone's lips. Everywhere he went as he rushed back to the mansion. People talked about it. The fight of the century at Heaven's Arena. The death of a jester fighter.

So he gave himself two weeks to be certain.

"Tonight was the last day I planned to wait. If you never showed. I would have given up."

"Well then, I'm glad I made it in time," Hisoka's smile turned twisted, gaze indignant and proud, "I would have come earlier, but I had some matters to take care of first."

Something about the way he emphasized certain words, reminded Illumi about the job he said he had for him, sensing that they were related. But he refrained from asking so soon, least it ruins the meal.

Instead, he held small bits of food with his chopsticks, bringing it to Hisoka's mouth. But he lost his nerve halfway, and withdrew it, only to be caught by the wrist.

Hisoka chomped down on his chopsticks, staring at him with glittering eyes.

"I believe, this was meant for me."

Illumi said nothing, quickly looking away and fiercely staring at a spot on his tray. He felt his face quickly warming, embarrassed to be caught trying to feed him. And the fact that Hisoka hummed in an annoying smug little tune, only made him feel worse.

Suddenly annoyed, Illumi violently stabbed at his food, resolving not to do something so silly and stupid again. But before the food reached his mouth, Hisoka snatched it away.

Illumi glared at him with irritation. "That was my food."

Hisoka gave a childish snicker.

"Oh my bad, I thought we were supposed to feed each other."

Then the redhead leaned towards him with a piece of food held between his teeth.

Illumi ignored him. Then suddenly felt his jaws snatched sideways abruptly, kissing food. With little choice, he reluctantly took it, mouth touching Hisoka's for a brief moment.

Hisoka gave another delighted laugh.

"This is silly," Illumi complained dryly.

Even if he said that, he continued to accept the food that Hisoka offered. And returned the gesture, letting Hisoka catch food from him in return. He told himself, it was just less troublesome to follow what Hisoka wanted.

In a while, Illumi was suddenly pushed to the floor, Hisoka playfully feeding him sake, making his head spin with déjà vu. Remembering that cloudless nights, surrounded by stars, when Illumi drank wine from his mouth whilst dressed in his best Kimono, dining in a private airship.

It didn't help that Hisoka had a teasing glint in his eyes, clearly portraying that he was remembering that night. The night when Hisoka drank alcohol off his body in the most obscene manner. Using his thighs and groin like a chalice to drink from.

Illumi's pulse raced. Temperature quickly climbing. Incited by the play-by-play of memories overlaping with their current reenactment of exchanging sake with their mouths. Only now, plus food.

It was embarrassing to look back at himself, half mystified by how shamefully brazen he had been. Yet the longer dinner went on, the more Illumi felt that Kimono clad person stir inside him, as if he was just another part of him, a side he tucked away hidden behind a veil.

A hidden shadow charmed and drawn out only by the miscreant called Hisoka.

His reservations fell away, a little more each passing moment. And now as they kissed, and ate, and drank sake. Now the more they fed each other playfully, the more Illumi felt his nerves stir with impatience and longing. Remembering and wanting something tastefully obscene.

But their food was more than half gone by the time Illumi realized dinner was not going to culminate into anything more wayward. At least not into a repeat of that night in the airship. And for some reason, something tightened in his chest. Dark desires unfulfilled.

Illumi however, didn't voice it, choosing to push aside those lewd, convoluted thoughts.

When they finally cleaned the tableware of food, Illumi set their trays aside. And offered Hisoka a new smoking pipe.

"You smoke?" Hisoka sounded surprise.

"Yes, sometimes. If I have things on my mind."

Hisoka hummed plainly under his breath, not saying anything more.

Together they settled outside on the wooden porch, Hisoka leaning against the bamboo screen door, Illumi curling against his legs, his head on Hisoka's lap.

Hisoka quietly enjoyed the smoke whilst stroking Illumi's hair. Watching the moon and the far off distance. Illumi breathing in the smoke he exhaled, soaking up the heat radiating from Hisoka and the outdoor bath.

Silence accompanied them, except for the occasional rustle of bamboo foliage as gentle breezes skirted through.

But despite the tranquility surrounding them, peace didn't come to the assassin's mind. Heavy words visited him, or rather, they had never left him in all this time.

"I didn't foretell the odds weren't in your favor," Illumi finally said, steeling himself not to shake as he said it. Forced his voice not to crack.

Hisoka stroked his head, his ears, inhaling a long puff from the pipe before saying anything.

"That's not your fault. I didn't see it coming either."

And with just those few words, strung firm, yet warm, he acknowledged what Illumi actually meant to say, but couldn't. And gave him a reprieve to rid the regret he carried heavy in his chest.

Contrary to Hisoka's seemingly endless display of bizarre antics against other fighters, and his childish taunts, he was actually a quietly perceptive person.

He understood Illumi without needing him to say more.

That Chrollo's new abilities vastly tipped the scales. But if Illumi had been there, he would have noticed the mind control and the puppets Chrollo was making, and could have stopped him. Illumi could have raised a slave army instantly to counter him. That he could have changed the outcome of the battle. That if he had been there, Hisoka wouldn't have to suffer from humiliation. Because more than losing his fingers and leg, more than bodily injury, it was far more torturous to face overwhelming defeat.

And Illumi couldn't even comfort him on that. He couldn't console him with cheap words like saying he had done his best. Because that would be offensive for the incredibly proud Transmuter.

And whilst Illumi couldn't say all these, Hisoka accepted his unsaid regret, his unsaid words of comfort. He accepted it simply, never saying anything more than necessary.

Because for the likes of them, the ones who walk in blood and shadow, there can be no regret. An apology was as cheap as slitting one's own throat in mistaken attempts of grandiose suicide. And there was nothing that could be changed for what was done and over, was in the past.

There can only be one path. To take the life they have remaining and keep forging forward.

And for Illumi, making amendments meant one thing now.

When he noticed Hisoka set his pipe down on the pipe rest beside them, he finally thought it was time to ask.

"So, what's the job you wish to hire me for?"

Hisoka's lips curled slightly, coy and deviant at the same time.

"Before that, I have a few things to confirm. About Kalluto."

"Silva has told your family to stay away from the troupe. But I know Kalluto has joined. I saw him in Greed Island as a new Spider...Why did your father allow that?"

Illumi nodded, not surprised that he knew. In his chase for Chrollo, he was bound to encounter the Phantom Troupe.

"He's letting my younger brother join on the premise of gaining more experience and honing his skills."

"Then what about you? Would Silva allow you to join the Spiders?"

"…He will permit me if I say it's to keep a look out for Kalluto. And it's for the family's benefit to spy on them. As long as I'm not trying to assassinate them without a good reason."

"Good. Then, my job for you, has something to do with them."

His lips curled higher, wider now, devious and sinister, prompting Illumi to sit up and face him properly.

"I'm certain they will hunt me down and try to kill me. Because I lopped off two legs last week."

Illumi listened with eyes calm like a lake frozen in winter, already having guessed it the moment Hisoka asked about Silva and Kalluto.

"You wish to pay them back. The head and legs."

Hisoka's eyes became crescents, inverted like a devil.

A devil who lived and thrived within fire. It mattered not that he'd been burnt and beaten. Illumi could sense it now, he has come back revived and with twice his resolve.

"And this time, I won't give anyone of them the upper hand. They won't be deciding when and where to fight. I'll attack them whenever and wherever it is to my advantage."

It was a quiet marvel to hear those words. Surprising, to hear Hisoka admit so readily.

That he was not infallible facing off a powerful contender while being swarmed by countless other foes at the same time. And that he wouldn't play by his opponents' terms any longer. This was not something a man as proud and arrogant as Hisoka would normally opt to do.

Illumi drew his lips into a smile thin as a blade of grass. It was nice to see his lust for violence and challenge now balanced with objective analysis.

"I see you're finally thinking like an assassin."

"Must be your influence," Hisoka remarked in tone of twisted glee, reaching out to stroke a lock of his hair.

"So my job is to slit them, one by one, minus-ing Kalluto, of course, from the shadows. While you act as the focal point, distracting them," Illumi guessed.

"I guess in a way. But also not entirely." Hisoka's eyes glittered, dangerous orbs of gold shining like untouchable treasures of pure sin. "I want to hire you, to join the Spiders."

"You want me… to be one of its legs?" Illumi repeated. And watched him carefully, trying to ascertain the devil's script portrayed from his vicious gold eyes.

"Yes, you know what to do." He licked his lips, smile conniving, still toying with Illumi's hair. "And that's not all."

He suddenly fished a ring out from his midnight tresses. "It will be beneficial to you, to agree. This is all that I have, and this, I will offer to you."

Illumi flicked a gaze to the ring. "This…"

He could sense the ring was imbued with Nen.

"This is my everything, a gift for you. Proof of my word." His gaze was intense under furrowed brows, flickering flecks of golden sparks smoldering within his eyes. His jaws were tight, clenching like he was inwardly, fervently praying.

Illumi didn't breathe, taken back by this sacred visage. He had never seen Hisoka looking like this before. Arrested with such a sight, with such heavy words, Illumi felt like the wooden porch fell away, the onsen disappear. Leaving only the two of them, Hisoka and him, levitating within a never ending space.

"What do you think?" Hisoka pressed, his eyes seemingly boring into Illumi's soul, into his head.

And around them Illumi felt the space rapidly flooded with sun rays solidified. And then he was swimming in a pot of melted gold. Swirling and spinning, until a single drop funneled out, dripping into the still surface of an unfazed pool.

Ripples of understanding reverberated across the surface of his mind. Suddenly, it clicked.

"What do I think?" Illumi crooked his head. His chest started pounding, filled with a dizzying flutter. It was brilliance defined.

"If I accept the job, then this will be mine. I can't think of anything more romantic."

Illumi leaned into his lips, kissed him lightly, feeling incredibly light headed. "I'm so happy."

Hisoka's gaze softened, relief washing over, a tiny smile blossoming. Yet his brows remained furrowed, still marred with some uncertainty.

"So will you accept this ring?" Hisoka whispered between the grooves of his lips, with an urgent, shaky note slipping inside his mouth.

"Of course," Illumi answered without hesitation to chase away any last lingering uncertainty from the redhead.

Hisoka broke into a delighted grin. Gold eyes beamed, deliciously jovial and wicked at the same time.

"Oh darling," he deepened their kiss for two seconds. "You couldn't have made me a happier man!"

Hisoka slid the ring up his finger, then pressed a soft kiss on it.

"I was worried you know, what would I do, if you'd rejected." Hisoka's tone was soft and sincere, making Illumi's chest tightened unbearably so.

"Why would you worry? You already know. I'm your marionette, and you're the devil with strings on me."

Stringing me along.

Hisoka smiled with amusement hanging off the corner of his lips, not disagreeing.

He pulled Illumi into his arms, and they shifted so that the raven male was sitting between his legs, leaning against his chest. Enjoying each other's closeness. Enjoying the proof of unity that encircled Illumi's slim finger.

Illumi stared at the ring on his outstretched hand, dazed smile on his face. The more he looked at it, the lighter he felt. "It feels like a wedding ring."

Hisoka kissed the top of his head, and smiled cheerily. "It keeps our pre-nup."

Illumi suddenly felt his chest arrested with giggles. It was almost surreal to feel like he was bubbling in euphoria. Almost dream like. It was a feeling unknown to him, hard to put it into words.

But he knew enough to treasure it. This moment that nothing else in his life have ever even come close to.

"I'll wear this for everyone to see," Illumi informed aloud.

It was a pleasing thought, showing it off to the world.

Hisoka suddenly bubbled into giggles.

"Well, I wonder what Silva and Kikyo will say, if they saw it," he mused.

Illumi went quiet for a while, thinking. That's right, he'd nearly forgotten about them.

"If they happen to ask, I will tell the truth of what they need to know," Illumi said slowly, thoughtfully, turning sideways to look at him. "A contract forged with Nen. It's a financially sound arrangement. It isn't marriage by law."

Hisoka gave a small pout. "Aww, so you aren't going to ask Papa and Momma Zoldyck to formally adopt me into the family? Say that we have more than money between us? Like, how the ownership of your hole belongs to me."

Illumi swatted his shoulder lightly.

"Do you want every butler in our payroll to hunt you down? Because I'm very sure they will do that."

Hisoka pretended to shiver. "Oh, don't make me so excited."

"Be serious Hisoka," Illumi chided with eyes flashing in mild irritation. "As skilled as you are, you won't be able to escape a legion of butlers coming at you at the same time."

Hisoka laughed into his hair, then relented a little more solemnly.

"I know, I am serious on exterminating the spiders."

Hisoka laid back, flat on his back pulling Illumi atop him.

Illumi found it funny, feeling his chest move beneath him as he laid above him. Then remembered, if the scenario took an unfortunate turn, Hisoka's Nen wouldn't have resuscitated his lungs. He felt a little somber when that crossed his mind.

Like a pendulum, he swung, one end to the other. That was how Hisoka churned him.

He sighed a little, thoughts arrested by the road ahead.

He entwined his fingers with Hisoka's, and stared at the ring he was given. Another complexity he was given. Something equal of flightless exhilaration, and weighty melancholy.

A ring, of secrets only the two of them knew.

He stroked it softly. Just staring at the silver band quietly. Until Hisoka stroked the sides of his face.

And he was done admiring the ring.

He stared at Hisoka, gazes locking.

A look of sweet longing, of whispering decadence. Illumi's body throbbed, quickly stirred by his intense pleading. His body ached, ached so badly.

Ever so slowly, he rose, sitting up, adjusting suitably for a comfortable straddle.

"I believe, the last time," Illumi began slowly, staring down at him with simmering heat quickly pooling into his eyes, "You said you want to fuck me again, wearing nothing but a robe."

"You remembered." Hisoka grinned, licking his lips, smile deliciously wicked.

"Of course. I never forget anything."

"Me neither. I couldn't forget anything about you. Not ever. And not when you were seducing me so brazenly the other night."

Illumi felt his skin heat up, both embarrassed and ashamed on memory. He wasn't sure where that came from. Only that it was something he wanted to do. As if repressed with the culmination of various things that happened. And knowing then, that Hisoka was entering a death match in just three days. So Illumi abandoned his inhabitations then.

Just like he is abandoning it now.

He moved to untie his belt, torso swaying ever so slightly, feeling like dark fire was rising within his depths, and he was nary but a hypnotized serpent dancing to its rhythm.

Dancing, to Hisoka's tune.

"This is a momentous occasion. We should celebrate."

Hisoka stroked him with lusty eyes as his robe fell open. Sensitizing his flesh with just his fiery, golden gaze. It was as if gold melted over him, coated him, giving him such unwarranted bliss.

Hisoka reached out to touch him, tracing a line down from his collar bone to his groin, then tracing underneath his rapidly hardening member.

Illumi shivered from his feather light touch. Hissed when Hisoka grabbed his sensitive member and started stroking him. Firmly, and teasingly, caressing him everywhere, kneading expertly. Raising his temperature and his pulse evermore.

Illumi raised his hips slightly, kneeling, fingers tracing the cleft of his own bum, and digging in. He pressed digits into his own hole, eyes closing and facing away slightly, heat burning his cheeks.

He shuddered with relief, hearing Hisoka's feral groan of approval. But it was too embarrassing to meet Hisoka's eyes. Too embarrassing when he was fingering himself anally as if he had no shame.

Yet he couldn't stop, his lewd act only becoming more enthusiastic because of Hisoka's lewd response. Hisoka moved his hands to his ass now, squeezing his globes so ardently, fingers digging into his flesh. From that he could tell, how much Hisoka was enjoying watching him fuck himself with his digits. Could tell how much he wanted him to continue, how eager he was to burrow himself into the space where his fingers were.

Beneath Hisoka's yukata, he could see his tent, knows what stood so eagerly upright beneath the thin summer fabric. Illumi's own ass throbbed around his fingers just knowing that, equally impatient to be burrowed into. Hungry for the salacious feel of his ardent cock.

Illumi waited and watched, thinking it was any moment now, that Hisoka would unveil his lower half and visit his rear. Yet, he never did.

Hisoka abandoned his bum, returned to fondling his front instead, wringing his cock and stroking him so mercilessly until Illumi unraveled.

A shameful stream of milky fluid jetted from his member and sprayed over both of them.

Illumi collapsed atop the sordid mess he made of Hisoka's robes, panting breathlessly. His cheeks were hot, embarrassed for coming first. Embarrassed that he got off playing with his own rear end while Hisoka pumped him.

He lifted his gaze when he felt Hisoka brush his brows. Hisoka's smiling lips were teasing. But his eyes were feral.

Goosebumps raised across Illumi's sweat glazed skin, shiver racing down his spine to his toes.

"Illumi. Let me feel you, inside."

Finally, Illumi almost screamed.

Without delaying a second more, Illumi pushed aside the lower panels of Hisoka's robe, uncloaking his hard member, not even wasting time to undo his belt or strip him of the clothing.

He grabbed Hisoka's engorged, swollen shaft, and lowered himself with shaky anticipation. He threw his head back, lost and delirious, his rear hole greeting Hisoka's pike with wanton spasms. Accepting the sordid visitor with enthusiasm.

Hisoka groaned, sounding so incredibly sexy. Then he joked with a light pant, and with a merry glint in his eyes. "I'm so lucky my trophy here is undamaged."

Illumi returned a twisted smile. "I'm surprised you can still joke like that."

He clamped his inner muscles around the swollen shaft to punish him, tearing another sexy, throaty groan. The sound seemed to reverberate around Illumi's member, kneading his sensitive flesh, stimulating him.

He never dared to tell Hisoka, how hearing his sounds of pleasure gets him so turned on. Hisoka was like a savage animal, untamable, yet also pliant when it came to feasting on his body.

It was so perversely thrilling, to have Hisoka addicted on him like that. It gave him a twisted sense of pride having his hard powerful body beneath him, waiting on him like a starved, eager puppy.

Illumi licked his lips, eyes lucid with decadent shadowy thoughts as he bounced atop Hisoka, relishing in the hot rod stroking his core so ravenously. His own member was quickly burgeoning, revived and bouncing along to his trepid pace.

He untied Hisoka's waist belt, pushing aside the fabric, admiring his strong, sculptured form. He mused how strange it was, that he had never properly saw beauty in anatomy until Hisoka. The human body was to him a tool for study, a means for using Nen. He never appreciated it, beyond its primary purpose as a canvas for him to stick his pins.

He never felt attraction, until Hisoka.

Now as he brushed Hisoka's godly body, cupped his perfect pecs, he marveled how gorgeous the man was. Hisoka always praised him for being beautiful. But Illumi thinks, the beautiful one is him.

Hisoka suddenly mirrored his hands, cupping his pecs as well. No, not cupping – squeezing. Illumi shivered, his sensitive spot twitching under his hot palms. Hisoka's eyes narrowed like a wolf, lewd and dangerous. He tugged his nipples, sending Illumi mewing and arching like a cat in heat.

"H-Hisokaa!" Illumi's own cry and naughty sounds burned his ears, even though he was secretly oh so happy under Hisoka's wonderful fingers.

He let Hisoka play him, tweak and twist his nubs, shivering with pleasure. His body was burning, so hot with his touch, so hot with his rod inside him. His nerves were drawn so tight, tight and quaking, sparks dancing under his skin like electric.

It was almost unbearable. Yet, he also wanted more. He expected Hisoka to taunt him with his words. Praise his perky nubs, shame him for his wanton body.

But Hisoka was unusually quiet today, words tame. It was almost… frustrating, not hearing him talk like he normally would. Illumi hated to feel like he would keel over just asking. But he did. He shoved his pride to the pits of his belly. Since Hisoka has already seen all his embarrassing parts already anyway.

"Talk to me," Illumi croaked a little unnervingly, "Are you enjoying this?"

A tiny smile appeared on Hisoka's face. "Mmmmmh, yes Illu…"

"What do you like," Illumi pressed on shamelessly, breath shaky.

"Mmmmmh…everything." Hisoka hummed, a deviant curl hanging on the tips of his lips, his eyes widening a fraction.

"Is it the cherries on my chest? Or the one between my butt?" Illumi dared to ask, his ears burning hearing himself talk.

Hisoka groaned throatily. "Oh darling, I love both."

"Tell me more," Illumi whispered softly, precum leaking from his slit just hearing himself beg. It was so naughty, but that lewdness was all too titillating at the same time. "Tell me all the dirty things you like about me."

"Darling, your hole. I love when you squeeze my cock. I love knowing how much you want me."

"Mmmmmh…" Illumi moaned, flushing with pleasure.

"You feel so delicious here, so hot and wet, I can't get enough!"

Illumi mewed, writhing above him.

"And your lovely nubs, so thick and soft, so swollen under my fingers."

Hisoka suddenly yanked his nipples violently, forcing Illumi to fall atop him, sharp cry tearing from his lips. He took a nipple into his mouth, sucking voraciously.

"I love how big they swell when I play them. How delicious they taste in my mouth." Came Hisoka's lewd words between hungry sucks.

Illumi moaned, unable to control his shameful voice. Unable to control his wanton body either, hugging Hisoka's head to tightly around his chest, keeping his nipple buried within his wonderful, hot mouth.

Hisoka's lewd sucking sounds added to the naughty noises. Their heavy, wanton pants and groans. Their hard flesh slapping against each other loudly.

Hisoka was thrusting upwards into Illumi now, meeting Illumi's descent in glorious hard slams that pierced the core deep inside him. It was like lightning striking, over and over, Illumi melting into liquid gold. The sweetest ache he had ever known. Dark pleasures that Hisoka introduced to him, and made him addicted to.

Hisoka released his nipples and hauled him upwards, seeking his lips. Illumi gladly met his mouth, equally desperate.

Then a whisper fell so quiet into Ilumi's lips when they kissed, that he almost thought he was mistaken.

"Illu... love."

Hisoka has never called him by that before. It was usually his name in a sexy tone, or 'Darling'. Sometimes 'Nymph'.

Never that four letter word.

Illumi thought his heart stopped, hearing it.

"I'm so happy, that I get to feel you like this again..." Hisoka breathed, his voice so strangled and tight, like it was difficult for him to speak. "I really don't want to leave you."

Like dropping a rock into still waters, the ripples of disturbance was chaotic and convoluted.

Like the lone autumn glade of leaf that was the last to fall before winter comes.

That was the scene inside Illumi.

"Then don't." Illumi's lips trembled. His tone pleading.

Hisoka's lips only twisted, a smile of woe and madness. His eyes, gleaming with stifle.

His reply was clear.

Illumi felt himself going to break.

"I won't let you leave," Illumi cried in a half growl, angry and shaking. "I will ride you all night!"

"Yes IlluRide me, ride me like your life depended on it."

Illumi rode him over and over, pace hard and fervent, creating the sweet friction they both loved. Ardently chasing for that glorious ecstasy. Zealously pumping against each other with wild abandon. Desperately clinging onto their bittersweet union.

Their kiss was deep, a writhing fire of flame. And into it, Illumi poured all the ashes that he'd swept under the rug. All the things that wrought his mind and body. All the things he couldn't say. All the stuff he hid, compressed into himself.

How he felt when he saw Hisoka disappear under the towering exploding bodies onscreen. How he nearly crumbled to the floor in the mansion filled full of prying eyes and cameras. How his heart didn't seem to beat, as he retreated in solidarity to this place. Waiting stone cold and unmoving like a gargoyle without life.

And all the relief and maddening joy he felt when he saw Hisoka reappear in the flesh.

It was like a compact universe, imploding in on itself, the torrential emotions that flooded him. Nowhere else to go except into this man.

And Hisoka, accepted it all. Swallowed his cries with suffocating kisses and stuffed his needy rear mouth all night.

They locked gazes every other moment, swimming in a convoluted fire of ecstasy and twisted logic, of selfish wants and incoherent promises.

They both thought the same thing without saying.

This was the last night.

The last time they'd ever tangle in the sheets like this.

The last time where their tongues would melt together in an amorous dance.

The last time they'd ever be wrapped up in each other's ardent flames.

The last time Illumi would ever be charmed by his damningly handsome, but infuriating, haughty grin.

Illumi spent the rest of the hours getting lost in his mesmerizing golden eyes, and his glorious ardent cock. Cumming over and over in zealous highs, a bittersweet ecstasy that their bodies would remember till the end of time.

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Come morning, the charming deviant was gone, Illumi the only one remaining in the futon. As he had already expected. Hisoka didn't plan to stay the week like Illumi had asked.

He propped himself on his elbow, and sighed, already missing his presence.

It ended all too soon, their moonlit reunion, entwined in Onsen.

However, he didn't dwell on it for too long. Since he had a job waiting for him. It was time to hunt.

It is the end, and also only just the beginning. Illumi shivered darkly with sweet anticipation, just thinking about it.

"So. Join the spiders huh?" He said to himself. "Guess I'll call Kalluto to recommend me to the boss."

(End chapter 2)

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Notes:

I think Hisoka and Illumi both, are the types who do not admit to pain. T_T

I also think it is hard for them to properly admit their feelings as love.

Their thoughts and emotions are so complex, dark, and twisted. But I believe they belong together truly.

That is why I really wish their ring symbolize something very special to them both. It can be both a Nen contract of secrecy, and also a special embodiment of the bond between them. This is essentially how their proposal went down in my brain XD

Now… onto the last chapter…...