Disclaimer: I don't own Hunter x Hunter and XxxHolic or any of their medias!
A/N: UltimatexAdmin: I apprecieate your informative criticism. Yes I do have a hard time constructing my English grammar since English isn't my mother tongue. Although you had the same comment from my editor friend when she read my story that I use way too many commas...LOL! I'll keep that in mind.
I can't promise to update often, but don't worry I already had a concept in my mind the only problem is writing it down. (_)
Chapter 2: The Roommate Agreement
When Kana woke up with unfamiliar surroundings she panicked she realize the room she was in it was not hers, but as her sleep addled mind slowly came to realize that she's in her new room in York New her tensed shoulder slowly relax, it was still early in the morning about 5:00 am.
She was used to waking up this hour just to do her chores and cooking breakfast for her mother and her, but right now she was in a new place and she was a bit disoriented in her new surroundings it may take a few days for her to acclimatize by the new happenings of her life.
She then sat on the side of her bed as she clearly replayed the events in her mind that happened the night before with her roommate.
The deafening silence and the awkwardness of the situation settled in Kana's stomach she didn't know what to think of her supposed roommate his apathetic face devoid of any emotions seems to creep her out, and not to mention that pitch-black wide owl eyes that stared at her, and seems to be watching her every move like he was searching for something a reaction perhaps? And that dark aura that he was emitting is truly heavy and smothering.
To break the ever growing tension she proceed to search her manila envelope for a specific envelope with a wax stamp seal, thus breaking eye contact.
What was her mother thinking! Of all the inconvenience she put her through this is probably the worse! He's probably much dangerous than the creatures she met on a daily basis.
"Here, my mother told me to give this to you she was the one who arrange my living accommodations." she handed over the envelope to her roommate.
He opened the envelope and slide up the card halfway through, and suddenly the heavy aura that he was emitting suddenly drops down as if it wasn't even there to begin with she wondered what was inside it. From their short encounter she could deduce the man was wary of strangers maybe that envelope was some kind of an identity pass in order for him to know if she was the one who made the arrangements, or in her case her mother.
After reading Illumi slid the card back to the envelope and he pocketed it on his inner vest. Satisfied that the woman in front of him is deem not a threat to him and to some extent the woman didn't flinch, scream, or even run away after hearing his name it only means two things either she is such a good actress, or she simply didn't recognize his family. Maybe his family's influence didn't reach that far enough after all they aren't the only ones doing this kind of businesses.
A part of him hoped that the woman in front of him was not hired to kill him he really doesn't want to look for another roommate to share a space with, although he did a back ground check on her through his brother Millu and they found nothing out of the ordinary she and her mother are just humble shop owners of an antique shop that has been running for 50 years as mentioned by their business permit. The only thing suspicious is his soon to be roommate's father, and the data only mentioned that he was a traveler maybe a hunter perhaps, hunters could be quite elusive when they wanted to be.
Illumi can certainly afford the place but maintaining the place in constant order and cleanliness, and not to mention hiring a butler to clean and organize the place is time consuming and a waste of resources he can be quite frugal when it comes from his own pockets just thinking about it is bothersome.
Unlike sharing the place with a roommate it certainly cut the cost since they have to share the rent, electricity, water bill and keeping the place clean. AND he really doesn't want to ruin his newly cleaned wooden floors with blood, if the woman prove to be a hired mercenary. He spent hours cleaning and polishing his floors and just finding one strand of hair lying on the floor will drove him nuts, since he only have himself to do the work, unlike back home he had servants to clean for him - although you can hire cleaning services that specialize in assassination clean-up, but that requires paying for their services.
He took a glance to the woman in front of him. Well the card itself was proof enough, he had send it via his family's own courier.
"Are we just going to stand here until the sun comes up? I have a long flight from home and all I wanted to do is sleep." Kana glared at Illumi. He open the door to their apartment wide open and step aside to let her in.
When Kana entered the apartment her eyes widen she didn't expect the apartment to be well kept and organize to think that her roommate was a guy - or maybe not "finger's crossed" she was thoroughly pleased that she wasn't sharing a place with a pig. Her mother was one of those people who leave the cleaning and cooking to her said that the task was well beneath her status.
When she took a tentative step to the mirror polished floors a hand grab her left shoulder stopping her on her tracks she glance back to her roommates apathetic face devoid of any emotions, but his aura tells another story. Then his eyes trailed down to her right foot that was about to step on his sacred floor.
"I would really appreciate it if you would take your shoes off and use the indoor slipper provided on the rack I don't want any foot prints on my floor." Illumi said in his false cheeriness voice.
Ok she was sharing a place with a clean freak it's a good sign, right?
The woman got up from bed and started to fold her sheets it's still early in the morning, and she really need to unpack and organize her things, but a cup of tea would do her good and maybe buy some supplies she wasn't about to break her morning habits just because she's in a new place.
When she opened her door to the living room the aroma of coffee hit her perking up her senses. There in the kitchen counter her roommate was sitting one of those high stools with a mug of freshly brewed coffee sitting on the counter table and a pocket book on his right hand. She regard her roommate with curiosity observing him from her opened bedroom door his whole body unmoving like in a state of stasis.
"You know it's rude to stare." Illumi said while his pitch black eyes are still glued to the book that he was reading.
Kana sigh internally she proceed to walk to their shared kitchen.
"Sorry, I didn't expect you to be up this early. Good morning." Kana greeted.
"Good morning. Would you like some coffee?" Illumi glance at his roommate observing her every move.
"I guess? although I prefer tea, but thanks for the offer I think I'll have a cup" she took a mug from the kitchen cabinet and poured herself a cup she then sit beside Illumi in the kitchen counter.
"It's common courtesy to offer a drink, even if I don't want to offer…" Illumi trailed off and observe his roommate take a sip of the coffee.
A vein pop out of Kana's forehead. "Figures" she had to admit the coffee was really good, it has a hint of fruity flavor. She glared at him from her seat, his damned eyes are creepy!
"...because I put cyanide on it" Illumi continued with his monotonous voice. Without warning Kana immediately got up from her seat and ran to the kitchen sink to spit the coffee - impressive she didn't spit it all over the place his last roommate had spit his coffee all over including himself and he has to restrain himself from killing him then and there.
"DAMN YOU! Why the hell do you contaminate it with CYANIDE!" Kana screeched to Illumi. She was thoroughly pissed with the man and he only cocked his head to one side.
"I told you it's common courtesy. I was about to warn you though, but you beat me to it. Don't worry the dose is not lethal for you to die." Illumi assured Kana.
"Oh that's rich coming from you, why do you take it anyway?" she asked
"It's a family tradition, even if I'm currently not at home I still have to up hold said tradition."
"Mithridrasis…" Kana whispered.
Suddenly without warning Kana's vision blurred she sway to her side and she quickly hold the counter to steady herself. Spying Illumi with a glance, he was looking at her funnily.
"Oh! I forgot, its a lethal dose for ordinary people. Sorry about that." he calmly said in his cheery voice. She was getting bluer by any second, he was about to get the antidote in his room when he heard Kana crashed down the floor.
"YOU JERK!" she screech to Illumi, without further ado Illumi dashed to his room and search for the antidote he got from home last week. There! He snatch the vial containing the antidote and rush back to Kana in seconds he crouch down to the floor where Kana was currently squatting and gave the vial to Kana. He watched Kana open the vial cap and shove the rest of the antidote down her throat- as minutes pass by Kana's complexion return to their normal color- Fascinating! So it really work fast as Ma said. His mother made the poison and antidote herself, for training her children of course.
"Do you happen to have some milk?" Kana asked Illumi, although her complexion has improve the color of her skin seems to turn green, crap! Illumi panic for a second, his face devoid of any facial emotion. She's going to vomit all over the floor.
Then Kana suddenly stand up and stare down to Illumi's crouch position she already figure him out even with his poker face "a person's aura never lies, even how hard the person conceal his emotions" she can still read him like an open book base on aura alone. One of her ability "The eye of Providence" or "The all seeing Eye" as she call it, can see anything a advance type of Gyo. Where Ordinary nen practitioner can only activate it on their own will, where as for Kana she is born with it and has been a part of her life as long as she remembered.
"Don't worry I'm not going to vomit on your precious floor." Kana assured.
"it's in the fridge"
She then walk over the fridge and open the door. What greet her upon opening was enough for her to vomit all over - what the heck is a severe head doing in the fridge? Never mind I don't want to know.
Kana took the milk carton out beside the severe head and close the fridge door with a sigh. She pour herself a glass of milk to further nullify the poison it was something her mother taught her in case of emergency since most poison bind to the body's fat and gets stored. The milk acts like a binder and milk should be full cream rather than low fat this method is only effective when the poison is ingested for a few minutes before the body absorbed it systemically. When worse come to worse she will need the antidote.
"Thanks for the antidote, It will be such a pain in the ass to go to the hospital." Kana glared down to Illumi, her red eyes shinning with a threat behind them- what a lovely color. Illumi mused he was kind of excited from what those threat of hers entail. How odd, I think the clown has rubbed some of his perversions on me.
"Don't worry I always carry it with me. Have a seat, I think we have a lot to discuss regarding our living arrangements" He stand up and took his mug of coffee and drink it in one go he then proceed to the sink and wash the mug and place it inside the kitchen cabinet along with the other utensils.
Kana reclaim her seat and pour herself another glass of milk, then Illumi slide a folder in front of her she took a glance at the offending object and to the man who poison himself in a regular basis she took the folder and opened it. After reading the first sentence she glance back to Illumi with suspicion dancing behind her eyes.
"Roommate Agreement?" Kana raised her left eyebrow towards Illumi.
"Yup, don't worry I'll give you enough time to read the agreement, then we will discuss it after you are through."
"Sure…I'll skim through it now I'm free all day anyway since classes start next week."
As she was reading the Roommate Agreement she can't help but sigh from how ridiculous it was. Reading further she found out that it has some perks at least she will be sharing the chores, bill and the…cooking? She blanched maybe they could make arrangements regarding this one she didn't want another repeat of the coffee incident she might have some visitors coming, or clients to be exact and accidentally poisoning them is bad for business. Her mother will be livid! Spirits may be immune to poison from the human world but it's her human clients she is concerned her mother had always drilled that she was an extension of the shop so wherever she went she is bound to have clients coming and asking for her services.
"Remember Kana-chan, even if your away for university you will still carry the responsibility of the family business." the voice of her mother ring upon her ears.
Oh well she just have to inform her mother of the situation she's in and try to bend the stipulation a little. Although the agreement said that she has to inform Illumi of visitors within 12 hours.
"Hey Illumi, there are some clauses that we need to talk about and I would also like to add some." Kana slide back the folder and show Illumi the marked clauses that they need to discuss about.
"What about it?" Illumi asked
"I think I should do the cooking." Illumi raised his left brow as if to ask Kana. "I think after what happened a moment ago, I don't want to risk my life with your cooking even if my life depends on it."
"Fair enough, but don't you think the chores are imbalance?"
"How about this I do all the cooking, preparing the drinks, and you do all the dishes. AND we split the grocery bill, do we have a deal?"
"Deal!" Illumi agreed without second thoughts he was quite pleased even.
Illumi doesn't know how to cook and when he does it's poisoning himself so he usually eat take outs or going out to eat, guess contaminating the coffee has landed himself a goldmine cooking your own food is much cheaper than buying out.
"And I would also like to ask something I know this is personal and none of my business but we are living in one roof and I would really appreciate it if you could be honest with me." Kana turned and face Illumi eye to eye.
"Alright ask away."
Kana regard Illumi with her red eyes - don't fuck with me you jerk! Even if it's not her place to meddle with someone else business, but the severe head has been nagging at the back of her mind. She had a vague idea what job Illumi does, but she would really want to hear it from him.
"The severe head why is it in the fridge? For a clean freak like you I didn't expect it."
"Sorry about that my client promise a bonus if I bring him the head I wouldn't pass up an opportunity as good as that don't worry I wrapped it with cling foil and put a basin under to avoid blood from spilling all over and don't worry I will be delivering it today anyway." Illumi said
"What kind of job do you do anyway that warrant a severe head?" although Kana had already figured it out she still want to confirm her suspicions
"Assassination? or probably a morgue technician…" Illumi trailed off gauging his roommate's reaction, usually when he tells people about his job, they would be packing up their things and run while screaming. Kana regard Illumi's answer with bored disposition.
"Morgue technician? Really?" Kana raise her left brow and regard him incredulously. "I would say Assassination is more likely, Family business isn't it?"- Interesting
"How funny, you didn't run and scream like everyone does, what give away?"
"You said "my client promise a bonus if I bring him the head." Nah! I've met worst since my job deals with everything that's odd though yours is a bit extreme. We avoid taking lives as much as possible." Kana vaguely explained.
"So your antique shop is just for show?" the atmosphere in the room drop several degrees Illumi's aura is now hostile.
"Ho! Someone has been snooping around someone else's business don't worry I'm only here for my studies, and we don't do business like yours so you don't have to worry for any competitors" Kana smirked at Illumi.
"Then what kind of business does your family do?" Illumi asked
"It's a shop that grant's your hearts desire. Although we do some odd jobs along the way." Kana grinned. "And that also brings some of my concern regarding the Roommate agreement Section 9. where we have to inform the other within 12 hours advance if ever we had visitors. It post a problem for me."
"Why is that?" Illumi asked curiously
"Just to warn you beforehand most of my visitors comes unannounced and that also includes my clients I have to talk to my mother regarding our agreement, but don't worry my mother promised that I can only have 3 clients per month." Kana assured.
"How should I know that it's your visitors or clients that knocks on our door" Illumi asked
"You don't have to worry I would know it's them, and they don't come if I'm not here if that's what concerns you." Kana explained
"Reasonable...anything else?"
"I think that sums up…do you have a pen?" Kana asked
Illumi fished out his fountain pen from his breast pocket and hand it over to Kana she examined it before pulling the cap. She marked the clauses that needs to be changed as well as the copy she signed it with a note that marked "for revision" then she pass it to Illumi for him to sign as well. After he signed she kept the other copy of the roommate agreement with his signature. When Illumi faced Kana he was midly surprise that her eye color changed from red to blue.
"I will keep this copy until you have drafted a new one. I don't take chances Mr. Zoldyck." Kana smirked
Hm interesting she made a nen contract under my nose like a shrewd business woman, she doesn't take any chances. Illumi smirked internally.
Yuuko put a knowing smile to her face when she saw the client, more specifically a boy and a girl she knew them perfectly well. The boy seemed confuse why his body was compeled to enter the shop, and he seems to be trying to turn and run back out of the house.
"Welcome…" Yuko greeted "how can I help you?"
The boy turned to face her and she knew those eyes the white hair, hmm another Zoldyck heir the boy was giving her a wary look. She turned to the girl and what greeted her was a familiar face she knew that she would see Nanika again but actually seeing her in person is quite different.
"Mistress?" Nanika spoke
"You knew her Nanika?" Killua asked.
Nanika nod he didn't know when Nanika appeared but seeing Nanika recognize another person outside from family, except Gon and a few of their servants is mind boggling. Then Killua face the pretty lady with red eyes straight on as if asking. Yuko smiled eerily and simply replied.
"I made Her."