Episode 53: Playing It Dirty
" Are you sure that the girl you spoke of is right here, in York Shin, Hisoka? " Machi demanded, her green eyes narrowed into slits of scepticism.
She knew Hisoka for quite a long time, enough for her to have little trust in him.
The man in the jester suit just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
" Believe it or not, that's up to you…Machi-chan, " Hisoka answered in this sickly saccharine voice which caused her to inwardly quiver.
It was damnably nauseating, coming from him, though.
" You said you brought her here, Hisoka? " Shizuku looked at him expectantly, her warm brown eyes large behind those huge rounded glasses of hers.
He chuckled, " Well, yes I did say that…actually, it was more of that boy who did the work. Guess, it's just his loss, though. "
" So what are you trying to say here, Hisoka? " Nobunaga retorted angrily, glaring at him murderously. " Just get straight to the point, goddammit! "
Hisoka ignored him.
" We just don't want to be sent on another wild goose chase, Hisoka, " Feitan cut in smoothly. " We need to make sure. After all, both Paku and Ubo are dead…One can never be too careful. "
The man in question nodded thoughtfully, placing the tip of his finger on his chin, tapping it lightly.
" Oh and one more thing that I believe that you should know… " he trailed off for effect.
Everyone in the vicinity leaned forward to listen to him.
" That girl is always under the watchful eyes of her two pesky friends, the blond one and the dumpy woman, both of which are Hunters. So, I suggest you to best be on your guard, still only Hikari has seen me…stunning little lady, she is, I might add though I've never seen her abilities before. "
" Then, how can you be so sure of the fact that this Hikari girl is Jyonen user? " Phinks interjected sharply.
A look of pure boredom slipped over Hisoka's face. Here he was trying to share his intellect with these people but they are ever the chary ones, always attempting to grill everything he tells them. This whole matter was really getting tiresome and already, he was starting to lose interest.
" I don't know about that, Phinks…why don't you just go find that out for yourself from the blond boy? " he shot back, taking his risks.
Almost instantly, Phinks's hand was around Hisoka's neck, at the same instance, a playing card, held between Hisoka's two slim fingers was at his own vulnerable one.
" You know that's useless now, don't you, my dear Phinks? " the jester drawled out in a slow voice, dripping with scorn. " Before you can even constrict my neck, just be sure that I'll slit yours first. "
" Phinks! " Machi yelled, moving forward before anyone could react and pulled his hand away from Hisoka's neck, pushing the man away in the process. " Don't you dare get into a fight at this point in time! Our numbers have dwindled after those two, we don't need another one off the team! "
Phinks only gave her a dirty look in return and snatched his arm from the woman's grip.
" I don't need your comments, Machi, " he snapped. " I can handle this fine on my own. "
The purple-haired woman ignored him completely.
" Be sure to calm yourself down, Phinks…after all, you need teamwork to get Hikari from the blond boy. If you want to do things solo, by all means but remember this well, Phinks, anger will get you nowhere and you'll only end up losing…I just hope that you're a good loser, " the jester replied smugly.
" Shut up, Hisoka! " the other man growled. " I won't lose to that brainless twit! "
Hisoka gave him a condescending smile in reply.
He has already murdered the other two Spiders without even batting an eyelid, so what makes him think that he can defeat the Blondie on his own?
Pride, maybe…
Phinks's weakness is his bloody pride which he is more than happy to indulge himself in…
" Hisoka, stop patronising him, " Kortopi spoke up stiffly. " He's already riled up enough. You don't have to make it worse. "
The man only shrugged his shoulders again, without barely a glance in his direction.
" Did you get the two of them, like I asked you too? " he changed the subject easily, as if nothing had happened earlier.
" Yeah, they are inside with Franklin guarding, " Shalnark responded.
Now, this is getting exhilarating, Phinks noticed.
The ever lingering bored look that he longed to rub off Hisoka's face, suddenly disappeared to be replaced by a smile that made even Phinks insides' tremble. A smile filled with an unknown emotion that he could not read. Maybe, somewhere in between lust and hunger. It looked so erotic…
Hisoka eyes darted to the closed door where Shalnark had pointed to.
Just behind that door, lies the treasure…
My long sought-after cache…
All mine…
Those unripe fruits…
Suddenly, Machi stepped into his line of vision, brusquely interrupting his thoughts, not that she ever cared for him though.
" Hmmm? " he smiled at her languidly.
" Just what are you planning to do with them, Hisoka? " the woman snapped, irritated.
" Me? "
It was that naive act that he was playing at, Machi recognized almost instantly and her eyes narrowed as her eyebrows knitted together.
" Don't you even dare try that prank on me, Hisoka, " she shot back. " That won't work like you were hoping that it would…but that's a long long time ago, understand? "
The man only gave her another creepy smile, which were beginning to be a trademark of his.
" Come on, Machi…don't tell me that you can't work it out, after what…capturing those two, a week ago, I presume? "
She knew that he was playing with her. That silly little remark would ultimately cause someone's death if they were probing her intelligence, mind you but this was Hisoka. Someone far stronger than she was, not that she would admit it of course. She would never confess that to anyone at all especially Hisoka. She was not dim, thank you.
His ego will be further boosted than it already was…
She clenched her fists in anger and also, to keep from lashing out at the man standing in front of her.
Oh god, how she longed to punch the life out of him…
And that sickening sneer he always wears all the time…
" What? Murderous intent to gratify your needs? " Machi suggested, tonelessly and callously.
That hit the spot, she thought with satisfaction when she noticed Hisoka's smile was gone.
" That is only partly correct, my dear, " Hisoka replied. " I know that they are people close to her and it will bring the princess straight to us… "
" So, in other words, those brats will be the bait… " Machi answered.
Hisoka applauded, " Clever girl! "
Machi ignored him and turned to the rest of her companions…not that they were friends, colleagues would be suitable.
" We'll strike tonight and Hisoka can lead us directly to her. "