FOREWORD: writing a fan fic based on someone else's works calls for a proper disclaimer. The only thing I own here is the story and the other characters not found in the series Hunter x Hunter. The mangaka's views of the character is not necessarily reflected in this fanfic and anything shown here is purely a product of my imagination. That said, you may now read the fanfic proper)
He was starting to feel a little light headed as their questions start to take a turn for the normal. Finally. Not that he was getting tired of the random questions one can think of at eleven in the evening. He actually liked it.
As the minutes passed he has learned that the girl before him is a huge fan of wrestling in general, has a weird obsession towards bald people and how she has never met one who has shown any signs of hair growth from the very beginning, and her other various fascinations, but never anything of depth and explanation because after answering a question she would jump to something different. Now that he thought about it, he has gathered rather useless information about her ever since their exchange started. Likewise, she hasn't dared to ask anything that would leave the unsaid boundaries they laid out, the confines of the non personal. All was fair in his opinion. Nothing of much value on either side was exposed. He idly wondered if she was deliberately doing this, if her spouts of random questions weren't of her nature and if she was just being cautious.
There wasn't even a trade of names. She merely regarded him as 'you' or 'guest' and herself as 'host'. None of them initiated the exchange, something he is perfectly fine with.
"Aren't you cold?" Hello, first normal query of the night, interrupting his train of thought.
The subject would have been normal if the question at hand is something that could be casually asked to any of the members of the Zoldyck family or if he was not a member of said family. Asking of the very matter would be normally considered an insult, especially if it were directed to him.
So was she insulting him? He looked at her. She looked like she genuinely cared. That's a first. His well being was hardly something anyone other than him cared for. His own family did its best to not ask unnecessary questions, not because they neglected him, just that it was expected of him to be okay in the direst of situations. Trained in the art of assassination, being able to hold his own against an army of a thousand beasts, one does not simply ask if he feels physically cold. But of course she wouldn't know that.
"No" he replied blandly still looking at her.
"Now, now" Waving her hands, fussing "No need to be modest. Although, it would be extremely saddening to not see your bare chest I think it's only proper for me as the host to give you a shirt." earning a raised brow from Illumi.
So we're into suggestive lines now huh? He should be used to this given that he has heard time and again from a certain magician, how he was often fancied and desired to be seen without clothes or anything with more material than a thong, though the girl's sentence hardly sounded malicious at all, it was something he hadn't expected from her.
"Dead pan as you appear, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't don your blood stained top just yet." She added as a matter-of-factly.
Okay that killed any hint of malice from the previous line. That and the comment almost affected him.
"You are a guest after all... I'll be right back." With that, she darted off into the darker recesses of the building before he could reject her offer.
The difference on their builds alone is enough to convince him that whatever she has to offer will lack in length department. That and it might just rip. Convinced that anything of hers wouldn't fit him he busied himself with removing the poisoned pins from his vest.
He sighed, resigned to the fact that no amount of detergent will be enough to rid his vest of the blood.
Maybe she is a runaway after all. He continued to pull the pins out as he wondered. Another issue came back at hand. What is he going to do now? He ishealed and pretty much good to go. He could leave now that the girl's not in sight. That'd be really fast and there would be no need for pretentious formalities.
Pull.
Repaying her isn't something he is relatively concerned with. Money is never a problem. Will she need it though?
One by one he pulled a pin as soon as an answer or a question presents itself.
Pull.
What could she want in return? Does he have a reason to stay?
Pull.
The girl's nen, maybe. She could prove to be useful in the future.
Pull.
What else can she do?
Pull.
Should he abduct her?
Pull.
Will anyone save or retrieve her if he did?
Pull.
Will she fight back?
Pull.
Can she fight back?
Pull.
I don't know.
Pull.
Befriend her?
He paused. Now there's an interesting thought. Hadn't he time and again forced the idea into Killua's head that friends are a pointless distraction? But then there's Hisoka. What is he to him exactly? An ally? An acquaintance? A worthy adversary? He could fall into any of those categories but surely he is never a friend. What is a friend? He slightly recalled looking it up in books before so as to give his brother a broader lecture.
Let's see a friend is one who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society and welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant, one not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. He shrugged at this. He certainly does not need, let alone will, to seek affection from the bloodthirsty sexually thrilled maniac. His loyalty to him is also definite as long as he pays him or he does not threaten any of the members of his kin. And Hisoka is absolutely not anintimate associate. This thought was followed by the numerous times the imbecile has told him how well they'd do in bed and how biting him in various parts of his body during coitus would be most pleasurable. He cursed himself silently for his ability to remember anything in full detail, images and all. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, aware that he is getting irked at this.
To ease his irritation he resumed to pulling the pins off except with more verve this time.
Let's see. Now what was he thinking of again? Ah, yes, befriending the healer.
Pull.
So should he?
Pull.
Deciding that he'll answer this question later he pulled the last of the pins and discarded the vest in a corner.
"Here you go" she said while handing him a white bundle.
Her sudden presence almost made him jump, thank heavens he didn't. Does she know how to use Zetsu? Maybe this is her version of his family's dark step? He could barely count the number of people who can without him throwing a poisoned pin at them. If he was this out of touch the blood he has lost must be pretty big. He put immediate blood transplant on top of his mental priority list. She was able to sneak up on him twice now. A few seconds later, he found himself wearing an oversized white shirt with the words I heart LEMONS written in huge bold black letters that could probably be seen a mile away. It was too big, even for him. He's in no position to protest. He was healed, looked after, he should be grateful or at least act like it. He looked at her, realizing that she too is wearing an oversized shirt, except her arms, hands, and legs vanished under all that fabric and the words I'll Kill All Zombies are written on hers. Her shirt was probably twice as big as the one he's currently wearing. She could be hiding an elephant underneath that shirt and he wouldn't know.
"This shirt is my favorite" she said smiling widely. It does look extremely comfortable.
And then she sat beside him and let out a long and weary sigh. For awhile no one said anything. A comfortable silence enveloping them as the night grew deeper and thunders roared in the air followed by a heavy downpour of rain. The temperature dropped even lower and yet it seemed the two hardly noticed it. Both just stared into the nothingness before them; minds wandering off to nothing. Time could've been frozen for all they care. It has been awhile since Illumi had this kind of peace where he didn't have to jump off to another continent to kill another measly politician, or wipe out an entire tribe of society detested cults.
Strangely, he found this tranquility in the oddest of places, an abandoned building in the outskirts of York Shin City beside a girl who he knows nothing of.
He was about to give in to the idea that the girl before him is completely harmless; apparently fate has another surprise in store for him tonight.
He sensed people penetrate the building, invading the serene stillness they were once in. These unwelcome guests are approaching them, fast. Sensing hostility in the air, he was about to stand up when the girl beat him to it.
"I knew I shouldn't have changed into this shirt just yet" she showed no signs of being afraid. In fact if he would have to guess she was probably anticipating this. He looked at her quizzically as she stared at the direction of the intruders.
"You know you could've just knocked on the door" she said, her voice steady and happy, like a mom welcoming a friend in her household. No, she was more like a snake inviting brave, stupid frogs into her pit.
Illumi determined he should stay in another corner of the room should there be a fight so he could get a good look at things and so he could properly see who to kill if she needs help.
"Show yourselves." Her words and voice were powerful, but in a very different way from Illumi's. When she addressed them, it felt like a general talking to a batch of new recruits, not pompous or condescending but commanding their respect. He could feel the aura of the intruders quiver, her voice instilling fear into their systems, and sent a shiver down his spine. That, plus it stirred up a tinge of admiration for her.
One by one they stepped into the light enough for her to see. There are about ten visible men in the room. The girl stood casually as if she weren't in any immediate danger, raising her sleeves up so her hands and arms are visible. Thunder roared angrily as if it was yearning for bloodshed and the rain poured even harder. At once they made a bee line for her, each one holding a different weapon. Just as when Illumi thought they got her she disappeared in a flash, only to reappear at the very back of the group holding one of the attackers severed head in the right and his weapon, a sword on the other.
"Ten"
There goes harmless out the window.
They all came at her again. She threw the severed head on the face of the nearest assailant and almost cut his body in half when the sword got stuck on his spine, spewing guts and blood around (and on her)in the process. "You really should bring sharper swords" realizing that giving advice to the dead is pointless, she turned and dumped the body.
"Nine"
Two chains caught of her wrists pulling her into different directions. The girl merely grabbed at its length and started flinging the holders of the chains to the other enemies like they were made of paper. She then pulled them towards her until she grabbed hold of the chains so that it was short enough to throw them in a short distance and back. Satisfied, she started pounding the two poor creatures from the ceiling and down to the floor until their skulls cracked (imagine how Hulk bullied Loki in the movie Avengers and you'd get the picture).
"Seven…. Hmm… I skipped a number. Oh well. Do you mind if we skip to zero next?" her tone was playful but Illumi didn't miss the irritation in her voice. Must've been the shirt, he thought.
"Bitch!" one of the attackers yelled. It seems that the girl does not take kindly to being bad mouthed because she ripped the culprit's lower jaw off before it could even move from its position.
Oddly, he remembered the time when his brother, Killua, returned home and was chained in the isolation room, where his other brother, Milluki, did his best to hurt and punish the other. That was a rather pitiful act and unfruitful. He knows full well that Milluki knew how futile his attempts so physically hurt the younger sibling. He was undeniably fat but not stupid (though he has displayed the most ridiculous of musings through his rather dysfunctional inventions). So, he retracted to giving Killua insults and mockery, of which his efforts were in vain. At least, Milluki was lucky enough to keep his head intact, survive with a few non lethal stabs, and that Killua isn't as impatient. Just how small her temper is was something he was left to ponder on.
"Six"
Illumi was pretty sure one of the attackers wet his pants at this. Feeling that she looked really irritated having her shirt soiled with blood and guts, he decided to spare her and threw a pin on each of the attackers killing them all effectively.
Both of them scanned the area, traces of death surrounding them. The décor is getting closer to what he's used to seeing, except with more gore and blood, that and more graphic for his tastes.
Not bad, Illumi thought.
The girl turned to him holding her shirt on the sides and curtsied. "Thank you for your generous act to this shirt, kind sir." He nodded back, regarding her.
Then she made her way to the window and said "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to bathe in the rain now and rid me of this filth." With that she climbed out the window and into the rain.
A/N: I would like to thank DDarkness, Hikari-Suzume, and NiendaZaoldyeck for the kind reviews and story alerts, it does good to the heart. My apologies to DDarkness because the previous chapter clearly didn't have anything to review on really. Realizing this, I inflicted the appropriate number of face palms to myself and rest assured I shall not repeat the same mistake again. I uploaded it prematurely and for that I'm sorry. Consider this chapter, chapter 1b instead :)
Trivia: A good while back when Illumi was surfing the net because he wouldn't bother going through their massive library to find a good thesaurus to define the meaning of the word friend, he came across a website stating this description.
"A friend is a lover, literally. The relationship between Latin amcus 'friend' and am 'I love' is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos 'friend' and phile 'I love'. In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb related to friend. At that time, frond, the Old English word for 'friend', was simply the present participle of the verb fron, 'to love'. The Germanic root behind this verb is *fr-, which meant "to like, love, be friendly to." Closely linked to these concepts is that of "peace," and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-,meaning exactly that. Ultimately descended from this noun are the personal namesFrederick, "peaceful ruler," and Siegfried, "victory peace." The root also shows up in the name of the Germanic deity Frigg, the goddess of love, who lives on today in the word Friday, "day of Frigg," from an ancient translation of Latin Veneris dis, "day of Venus."
After reading this, Illumi made it a point to never refer to Hisoka as a friend.
P.S
Thank you for reading (and reviewing). I do hope you enjoyed it
Love sent,
-vjeury