Hisoka had spent a long time on Greed Island searching for Abengane with not much to go on. It wasn't in the slightest his idea of fun. Just before he died of bordom, something piqued Hisoka's interest. Gon and Killua had found him and roped him in to what could only be described as a dodgeball game of death which was actually the most fun Hisoka had on that god forsaken rock. He could hardly wait to tell Illumi all about it.
He ended up with all ten of his fingers broken, but those injuries were no match for Machi's touch (She threatened to sew his mouth shut when he made a crude joke involving fingers which Machi did not appreciate).
Gon won the game that had previously controlled the island, and Hisoka's fun was over. Greed Island didn't hold any more promise for entertainment, and Hisoka couldn't help but miss a certain assassin waiting at home for him.
Abengane was easy enough to find in the end, once Hisoka actually looked for him. They left the island together and met Kalluto at a dock at the nearest continent. Kalluto wasn't alone, he had brought Nobunaga with him.
"I've brought you your little Nen exorcist. I want my phone." Hisoka held his hand on his hip as he spoke. Kalluto tossed Hisoka his phone as Abengane moseyed over to the two members of the troupe. Hisoka caught the device easily and smiled.
"Where's Chrollo?" Nobunaga huffed. Hisoka's phone beeped as he turned it on.
"Thank you. See, Kalluto... you're a cold one. I know you'd never actually kill your brother, but you'd do something equally terrible, wouldn't you?" Hisoka ignored the samurai as he dialed Illumi.
"Hisoka." Kalluto said, impatiently.
"Can't you see I'm on the phone? Rude."
"You said you'd give us Chrollo."
"Well I can't give you Chrollo just yet, now can I? He'd die just talking to one of you."
"Now we have the exorcist who can cure Chrollo of his chains. Don't you want to fight him?" Hisoka ignored Kalluto as he listened to the ringing, waiting for an answer.
Nobunaga gripped the handle of his blade, shaking furiously in his skin as he watched Hisoka. "Why can't we just kill him now?" He snarled.
Kalluto waved away Nobunaga's comment and addressed Hisoka again. "Where is he?"
"Funny.." Hisoka frowned as he looked down at the small screen. A voicemail greeting began to play and he hung up. "Illumi must be busy."
"Hisoka." Kalluto persisted calling his name.
"He didn't answer. I guess I'll just have to talk to him when I get home." Hisoka mumbled. Nobunaga opened his mouth to blurt something, but Kalluto silenced him with a glare.
"I'll give you Chrollo when I know where he is." Hisoka sighed.
"You want us to believe you don't know where he is?"
"I would have already brought Abengane directly to him if I knew where he was, wouldn't you think?"
Nobunaga was just about ready to rage.
"Nobu~ don't be so cross." Hisoka cooed. "If you keep looking at me like that, I just might-"
"Fine." Kalluto interrupted Hisoka before things became too disgusting.
"We'll hold on to Abengane for now."
"Good. I'm not about to babysit." Hisoka looked at Abengane for a moment, who remained silent. "You've been awful quiet."
Kalluto glanced at Abengane while Nobunaga kept focused on Hisoka.
Abengane exhaled slowly. "I don't mind being treated like a tool. S'long as I get paid."
Hisoka clicked his tongue and smiled. "You're in luck! The phantom troupe has a knack for acquiring hoardes of money and expensive goods. Isn't that right, Kalluto?"
Kalluto squinted at Hisoka, but nodded at Abengane.
"Well everything is settled for now. I'll be going." Hisoka had no qualms about turning his back to the two members of the troupe. Anyone else would have backed away slowly, but as Hisoka jollily bounced away, Kalluto noted the general lack of fear Hisoka had.
"That man is a beast." Kalluto mumbled.
"Well, he was a member, or pretended to be, for a time." Nobunaga relaxed the grip he had kept tight on his sword.
"Still, even for a member of the troupe, he's strong."
"He's sneaky." Nobunaga said with a huff as he turned to walk away. Kalluto and Abengane followed suit. "So you're just going to let him find out on his own?"
"He probably already knows."
…...
…
The blimp ride back to Yorknew city was agonizing and boring, but Hisoka couldn't sleep. Not with all the anxiety poisoning his blood and making him antsy. Thankfully the trip was over just before Hisoka crawled out of his skin.
He arrived home late at night. He opened the door and reluctantly called out for Illumi. The only sound in the apartment was the beeping from a recording left on his answering machine. He hung his bag on a rack on the wall in the hallway and pressed play on the machine.
FOUR NEW MESSAGES. MESSAGE ONE: "Good evening Mr. Morow. My name is Robin Taft and I'm with the Yorknew city police. We'd like to speak with you about your wife, Nadiya. If you could please give me a call back, I'd really appreciate it."
MESSAGE TWO: "Mr. Morow this is Robin Taft with the police. We'd very much like to speak with you. Please call us back."
MESSAGE THREE: "Hisoka. This is Machi. I don't know who the hell you think you are or what you're playing at but you better tell me where Chrollo is. Kalluto told me everything. Don't think I don't know you know where he is. I know you, clown. I know you're hiding him somewhere and it's only a matter of time before we find him. I can't believe you Hisoka, really. I don't care if you think you're stronger than me. I'll kill you, Hisoka. I'll fucking kill yo-"
MESSAGE FOUR: "Kalluto. It's done." Hisoka recognized Illumi's voice immediately.
"Nadiya is dead?" Hisoka knew it was Kalluto's voice, but Hisoka's heart almost stopped when he realized what he had asked.
"Yes."
"You killed her?"
"Yes..?"
"Good. And the boy?" Hisoka frowned as static from the machine briefly polluted the audio.
"Her son. He should have been with her."
"I'm looking right at him." Hisoka's breath caught in his throat.
"Oh, good. Take care of him too." The rustle of movement echoed in the recording followed by a sigh from Illumi.
"It's done."
END OF NEW MESSAGES.
It had to be a dream. A nightmare. Hisoka had run into his bedroom, holding out some sort of hope for Illumi to still be there somehow. But all he had found was his Ace of Hearts card and the key to the apartment on the bedspread. Illumi hadn't left a note. He didn't have to.
Hisoka was always more in touch with his emotions than Illumi, but right now he knew there were too many even for him. He sat on the edge of the bed and cradled his face in his palms. There were too many questions running through Hisoka's head to really know where to start.
Hisoka caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror the second he looked up. It startled him, his smile, if you could call it a smile. It was more like a twisted stretching of his skin to either sides of his face. A low chuckle started in his throat and boomed its way out. He was laughing hysterically, at the absurtity of it all.
"Oh, Illumi..." Hisoka purred to himself in his room as he looked fondly over the ace of hearts. "What have you done now?"
...
...
Illumi's wrists were beyond bruised. This position was painful, yes, but nothing he couldn't bear. His arms were outstretched behind him and his wrists tied in leather straps attached to chains on the wall behind him. His knees would have been scraped if not for the saving grace of his pants protecting him from the rough stone ground. This wasn't so bad. This was home. He knew his mother was holding back her punches. He didn't want her to. He knew he deserved punishment for what he'd done. Perhaps father would be a better executioner. Whatever the case, he was just thankful to be home.
"Don't fall asleep." Kikyo's voice kept him focused and he snapped out of his thoughts.
"Good. Now, tell me again why this is happening to you." Kikyo held a taser wand in one hand, swinging it from side to side as she spoke.
"This is all on me. This is my fault. I put our family in danger and I sinned against Hisoka."
That earned Illumi a shock to his ribcage.
"What did we say about that name?"
"Not to say it." Illumi grunted as another shock stung him. He tried to breathe through it, like he had learned to do so many years ago, but it still came as a surprise to him and he jolted.
"That's right. So why do you insist on dragging this out?"
"I need to- I need to atone." Illumi panted. He hated the way his body would grow exhausted despite the strength of his mind. "I need to be punished for what I did to Hisok-AGH!" Illumi's head shot up and he grit his teeth as the voltage went up against the small of his back and up his spine. It burned where the baton had touched his skin.
"Do you think I enjoy doing this, Illumi?"
"No, you don't."
"Then why do you continue this? Is it your wish to see me suffer, too?"
"No."
"Then keep that name out of your mouth. Don't say it in my presence. Don't think it to yourself. We don't speak about that man. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Are you done then? Are you ready to apologize?"
"I'm sorry. I put the family in danger be not being careful. I was slipping."
"Good. Are you done suffering then?"
"No, not yet."
"Why not?" Kikyo pulled the wand uncomfortably close to Illumi's face, and he pulled away instinctively before his shackles caught tight and he could move no more.
"I can't face the family yet. Not yet." Illumi pleaded. Kikyo powered down the taser and set it aside.
"Fine. Rot in here a little longer, but remember that I gave you the chance to leave. I'll be back to check on you after dinner." Illumi watched as his mother left the room and closed the metal door behind her.
He was by himself now, and by himself he could sob. His chin rested on his chest as he hung his head. He couldn't wipe his face with his hands, but at least he could cry in peace. He'd never really cried before. Not like this. His hair hung in tangled strands in front of his face. He wanted desperately to be clean, and to wash his hair. A memory of Hisoka brushing through Illumi's long black hair for him flashed through his mind.
"Hi..Hisoka.." Illumi whispered to himself. How long had Hisoka been married and didn't tell anyone? Did Chrollo know? And the boy... That boy was Hisoka's. There was no doubt in Illumi's mind. Illumi knew Hisoka was a man of secrets, but this was bigger than Illumi could have imagined. "Was she an estranged wife?" Illumi thought back to the incomplete case file. She was known to make money on her bets at Heaven's arena. "Would she bet on Hisoka? Where they still in contact?" Illumi choked on an especially hurtful thought that wondered if Hisoka was using Illumi like a mistress. An affair. Hisoka was having an affair and Illumi was the other woman... or man... or the ... other person.
Illumi dwelled on her face. She was a beautiful woman, sure. Objectivley speaking she was stunning. She had black hair, if Illumi remembered correctly. She was small, though. That surprised Illumi more than anything. Most of the time Hisoka was attracted to people with power, and Illumi hadn't sensed any Nen on her at all. She was an easy killing. There was absolutely no resistance about her when Illumi assassinated her. The child... The boy was different. He had reminded Illumi of Killua, in a way. Illumi couldn't shake the image of his face out of his head.
"What.. What was his name?" Illumi thought hard trying to remember if there was a mention of a name anywhere in the file or at the hotel. Nothing. Illumi murdered Hisoka's son and he didn't even know the child's name. What a fucking riot.
A thought crossed Illumi's mind. "What if he was named after Hisoka?" Illumi shook his head. That idea alone somehow made it worse.
Just then, there was a metal scraping of the heavy door against the stone floor as it opened. Illumi kept his focus on the floor, hiding his puffy eyes and wet face from whoever just entered. Footsteps approached. Illumi listened closely to the controlled breathing of the person standing in front of him. From what he could tell from where the breathing was coming from, it was someone shorter than him. He heard a clank and dragging as something from the table of torture tools was picked up.
"You really got yourself in a pickle this time." Illumi's eyes shot wide open when he heard the voice and he lifted his head, unafraid to show his face anymore. It was Kalluto.
"Don't give me that look. You brought this on yourself." Illumi didn't wince as Kalluto stabbed the prongs an instrument into his shoulder.
"Have you been crying? Gross." Illumi said nothing except the words his glare shot at Kalluto.
"You really ought to know, digging up that dirt on Hisoka was quite the challenge, but Milluki can find dirt on anyone. Especially if he has access to that person's transmitter."
Illumi grunted. He knew now why Hisoka hadn't been calling him. Kalluto had taken it from him somehow.
"Did you know he was still in contact with her before you killed her?"
"Shut up."
"Ah, so you can speak." Kalluto held a new instrument in front of his face. "You remember this, don't you, brother?" Illumi knew what it was, but to his knowledge, nobody in his family had ever used it before. It was only really brought out on enemies to scare them, but not on family. Not ever on family. Illumi eyed Kalluto's face. He wasn't smiling. He didn't jest. He was looking for an answer.
"Pear of Anguish." Illumi breathed out the words.
"Also known as the Choke Pear." Kalluto lowered himself to Illumi's face to look directly at him. "I've heard that the intended use of this is to open the mouth of the tortured." Illumi instinctively clenched his jaw.
"Relax, I'm not going to use it on you." Illumi exhaled. Kalluto smiled.
"There's another, more impractical use for this." Illumi narrowed his eyes at Kalluto, trying to figure him out.
"You seem to already know what that is."
"if you're not going to use it on me then why bring it up?"
"I want you to know how serious I am."
"About what?"
"About Hisoka."
Illumi watched in silence as Kalluto waited for a response. When Kalluto realized Illumi planned to say nothing, he spoke again.
"Give up your feelings for him. Give up your guilt. Do it now or the emotions you feel in the coming weeks will kill you in a more painful way than can be physically dealt."
Illumi's eyes went wide.
"The troupe means to kill him."
"This is beyond killing him. They mean to deal some damage..." Kalluto watched Illumi nervously glance at the choke pear. "None of us Zoldycks should be capable of grief, but you went and discovered some new emotions, didn't you? You won't be able to handle it when it happens. It'll be too much, so handle it now."
"And what does Chrollo have to say about all this?"
"Chrollo? He's still missing."
"You mean to tell me the troupe is going to go after Hisoka without so much as an order from your leader? I lived with Chrollo. He wants Hisoka for himself. Frankly, the lot of you won't be able to bring Hisoka down anyway."
"Let us worry about that."
"So let me get this straight- you went through the trouble of sending Hisoka off to find a Nen exorcist without having Chrollo?"
"We'd rather have him and not need him than need him and not have him."
"So then Hisoka is back home?"
"I assume so."
"I should have left him a note."
"You didn't have to. He knows."
"Who told him?"
"You did." Illumi recalled the strange phone conversation he had with Kalluto right after he killed Nadiya.
"You're really the worst one of all of us, Kalluto."
"I may not be the best assassin, but thank you for recognizing my manipulation skills. Hisoka even mentioned I had some potential."
"Kalluto."
"What?"
"Why didn't he tell me he had a wife?"
Kalluto was so startled. He was not ready for how broken Illumi's voice sounded. Illumi was always his older brother: Calm, Cold, Collected. The person kneeling in front of him was very obviously someone else. Kalluto cautiously pulled Illumi's hair back to look at Illumi's eyes. They were the still the same dark, endless orbs they'd always been, but even Kalluto had to admit that Illumi looked terrible. The bags under his eyes combined with his puffy cried-out face looked alarmingly human.
"Illumi?"
"Why..?" Illumi asked again.
"That's not a question I have an answer for, Illumi."
"I know. You were right about him." Kalluto felt something sink in his chest. He Felt. He Felt Something. No. Not possible. Kalluto jerked away from Illumi and stood up, letting Illumi's face fall back down.
"Forget him!" Kalluto almost startled himself with how loudly he spoke. "H-He doesn't have a moral compass like we do, Illumi. He's not good for you. He just sees what he wants and takes it."
"You're right, but I just..." Illumi blinked away tears.
Kalluto grunted at the annoying sensation in his throat. "Illumi, you.. You know you're missing dinner, right?"
"I don't care."
Kalluto grunted, becoming slightly more frustrated.
"Illumi, this isn't you. You've never shown weakness to me. Ever. I'd dare say you've never shown weakness to mother, either. It's like we don't even know who you are anymore. How do you expect to live your life if you keep dwelling on these unnecessary emotions, you're going to end up somewhere you can't get out of."
"I know I'm different. Don't act like I'm not aware of it. I just, It's harder to cut out these things once they've wormed their way into my heart."
"Gross. Cut it out."
"If I could, I would."
"You have to!"
"I can't!" Illumi's voice bounced off the walls of the room. Kalluto calmed himself.
"Fine. Do you want me to bring you food?"
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't try to show me kindness after what you've done." A sudden yank on Illumi's hair pulled his head back so that Kalluo was looking right into his eyes. Calm rage swirled in his expression.
"You brought this on yourself, remember?"
"I'm here to atone for my mistakes. When will you atone for yours?" Kalluto pushed Illumi's face away with a snarl.
"Fine. Be difficult." Kalluto rose and pulled the prongs out of Illumi's shoulder. Illumi could hardly feel pain at this point, but the feeling of metal sliding out of his flesh made his skin crawl. Kalluto didn't bother to wipe off the blood dripping slowly from Illumi's new wound. He tossed the instrument to the side and left the room.
…...
Chrollo tapped his cigarette out the broken window overlooking the city before drawing in another breath. It was getting dark, but he kept his sunglasses on. He hated the way cigarettes smelled, and he even hated it more when stench lingered on the pages of the books he read, but right now he didn't really care.
"You know smoking's a nasty habit." Chrollo wasn't surprised to hear Hisoka's voice, but he was surprised to turn and see Hisoka by himself.
"It's about time you found me. Where's your boyfriend?"
"I always knew where you were. This is the only abandoned complex within a mile of the public library." Hisoka teased, and Chrollor hated how familiar it felt. He let himself smirk for a moment, but it faded as he waited for an answer to his other question with no reply.
"What happened to Illumi?"
"You should ask your troupe."
"I haven't been able to speak to them. You know this."
"You were real clever to make it look like you had gotten kidnapped, but you made Illumi worry."
"Are you going to tell me where he is or are you going to continue to be a little shit?"
Hisoka tilted his head to the side. Chrollo observed Hisoka for a moment. His posture seemed normal, for the most part. He stood in the moonlit darkness with one hand on his hip, but his tilted head sent shivers down Chrollo's spine. Hisoka's hair was undone and his eyes held bags underneath. He had never seen Hisoka so close to being completely unhinged and still functioning. It was like seeing a starving lion surrounded by meat and sitting calmly without being bothered. Hisoka sighed and spoke, finally breaking the silence.
"Illumi left."
"Did he decide he didn't like clown dick after all?"
"He carried out a hit on my wife and son."
Chrollo gawked at Hisoka.
"You have a wife? And a-a son?" Chrollo stuttered.
"Had. They're dead."
"You got married?!"
"Don't act so surprised."
"You- You want me to not be surprised? When was the ceremony? Was there even a ceremony or did you kidnap some poor woman and-"
"I don't want to get into it." Hisoka interrupted. Chrollo frowned.
"So... What do you want me for? You know I don't have my nen back."
"I have a way to give it back to you."
"Oh? So Greed Island was a success?"
"Yes. The troupe has Abengane."
"So what's your plan then? Are you going to kill Illumi?"
Hisoka looked away, trying to hide the twisted grin. He bit his lip and fisted his hands as he inhaled a sharp breath, trying to calm himself. His fingernails dug into his palm. Chrollo squinted at Hisoka, trying to figure him out.
"Okay so forget I asked." Chrollo said, hands up to protect himself from what seemed like an imminent explosion coming from Hisoka.
"Oh, Illumi..." Hisoka began to mumble to himself now, and Chrollo felt the instinct to run away. He began to move when Hisoka snapped at him.
"Where are you going?"
"The fuck away from you."
Hisoka's grin subsided for a moment as he laughed gently.
"Chrollo, I want to give you your Nen back so we can fight, but first I want to know a few things."
"What are you going to do, torture me?"
"What? No. I'm just going to ask politley. If you really want to be tortured, though~"
"Gross, I didn't mean it like that. Just ask."
"I have a feeling Illumi went back home to the Zoldyck Mansion. You ever been?"
"To the Zoldyck Mansion? No. Are you planning to go talk to him?"
"Maybe. Are you in?"
"In? You want me to go with you? Are you expecting some kind of resistance?"
"Something tells me his family won't be too happy to see me."
"And why's that?"
"I've met exactly two of illumi's siblings and one of them is the new number four in your troupe. He makes it very clear about how much he dislikes me."
"And the other?"
"Killua. Gon's friend."
"Ah, Gon and Killua. I remember them. They've got such promise.."
"Don't get me started on those two."
Chrollo chuckled and twisted his cigarette into the concrete, putting it out. "So you want to know about the Zoldycks, hm? Okay. This should be interesting to watch anyway."
"Glad you're on board. Take off those sunglasses. It's dark out."
Chrollo rolled his eyes behind his shades. He followed Hisoka out of the room.
"So, like was it a shot-gun wedding?"
Hisoka punched Chrollo in the shoulder, not bothering to look at him.
"You gotta tell me eventually!"
"Hey, Chrollo you know what?"
"What?"
"Bungee gum has the properties of both rubber and gum."
"What does-" Chrollo flung through the air following a quick movement of Hisoka's hand, hitting an adjacent wall hard enough to press the air out of his lungs. Chrollo wheezed for a moment, trying to catch his breath as he slowly stood back up from where the force of it all had knocked him back.
"Patience. I'll tell you everything in time."
….
…
Chapter 9, Fin
Note: Aye it's that one author you secretly hate because they never update, Fluffy! I really enjoy writing this fic. I promise it gets better I know the last two chapters have been angsty BUT I've been trying really hard to be a better writer for you guys! (Because you all deserve a well written fic for this ship) Please let me know what you guys think of all the sad stuff (I hope some of it still makes you laugh though)
You guys are great! I'll be updating again soon.