XP: Thank you all for the kind reviews and very much needed guilt tripping for me to continue the story. It was very hard wracking my head on ideas to continue the story (it always seems easy when other people do it) and I'm not quite sure how you guys would receive this new and very sudden pairing. Hopefully you will come to embrace this unorthodox pair like I did!
Wow I'm alive. wow.
***Start***
A candlelit restaurant, with rich warm hues dancing from the overhead chandeliers. Overdone scarlet curtains and tablecloths, a carpeted, plush floor. Kurapika walked with quiet steps, cushioned steps walking towards his target. His tensed shoulders showed he was clearly uncomfortable, and although his posture was impeccable, it was obvious from the heavy eye bags that Kurapika had been overworked yet again.
"Seriously, I don't get why I have to meet you once a week for dinner," Kurapika complained for the fourth consecutive week. He sat down opposite to the other suited man, who had his hair gelled back. Kurapika found it disgusting how Hisoka could look so perfectly normal and harmless. He had to remind himself to put up his guard, even when the man was being friendly. Afterall, the man never had good intentions in mind. He was pretty sure Hisoka was fattening him up to eat him. Why else would he make Kurapika meet him every week even when they were not trading information? To even threaten Kurapika to break off their contact if he didn't show...
"Kura-chan, you're rambling in your head again," Hisoka mused.
"...I'm sorry," Kurapika replied curtly, tucking a strand of blond hair behind his ear. It was bad manners to not pay your dinner partner attention. Neon often called him out for it as well. Even Leorio, when Kurapika trailed off on their phone calls, restricting himself from telling Leorio too much without lying to the man. Leorio was busy with his exams, and Kurapika didn't want to distract or worry him too much.
"Ow!"
Kurapika gave a sour look to Hisoka who snickered. He had flicked the blond's forehead.
"Okay," Kurapika sighed. "I'm looking at you now, you attention whore."
"I find it very thrilling when you're so cold to me, Kura-chan. What do they call it? Moe gap? You're such a little devil, but you smile like an angel around your friends," Hisoka smirked.
Irritating. Kurapika frowned.
"Ahh, that glare..." Hisoka cooed.
"Ugh. Shut up and order. Stop staring at me like I'm the food!" Kurapika growled.
Hisoka ordered for him and Kurapika, as usual. The blond had no interest in food, or any sort of entertainment. His life only revolved around his job and the spiders, with the rare meet up of his friends. Kurapika hardly even read in his rare spare time, just crashing to sleep or train.
As they waited for their food to arrive, Kurapika glared sideways adamantly to avoid Hisoka's teasing gaze, as always. To make conversation, Hisoka mentioned lightly, "Killua's doing well. Perhaps overdosing on chocolate, but he still looks delicious."
Sharp eyes were on him immediately, an instant warning. Hisoka held back a purr of pleasure from the sheer intensity.
"Hisoka. You'd better not-" Kurapika spat out, and Hisoka held up his hands placatingly.
There was silence for a brief moment, and Kurapika's eyes were holding a slight tinge of red, looking like he was ready to lunge across the table to choke the life out of Hisoka. Hisoka had to chuckle at their tense atmosphere in contrast to the pleasant ambiance of the family dinner. The table beside them even had a crying baby and two twin boys playing too much with the condiments, making a mess out of everything. And they seemed to teeter on the edge of having a fight erupt.
"I'm looking after him you know. Poor boy was heartbroken after Gon-"
"What happened to Gon?" Kurapika cut in worriedly, expression softening instantly.
Hisoka had to smile at that. "Well, chasing after his father, as usual. Killua chose to stay behind this time."
"Ah..." Kurapika's eyes slid away from his again. The blond pursed his lips, deep in thought again. He seemed to be making a mental note to call Killua about it.
"You need more sleep, you're not very alert," Hisoka murmured.
"Thank you for your concern," Kurapika said sarcastically, but the dark circles under his eyes were very telling. He hesitated a little. "So, um. Killua-"
The food arrived, and Kurapika seemed rather antsy and frustrated. Hisoka asked their server to relight the extinguished aroma candle to soothe the blond's nerves.
"I'm not planning to fight him, relax," Hisoka replied, mirth dancing in his eyes.
"Okay. Then what are you planning on?" Kurapika followed up without a beat, digging into the Chinese cuisine. His blue eyes brightened in appreciation. The taste was a little close to home. It had been quite a while since he had Chinese. He flushed lightly when he realized Hisoka was watching him eat.
Hisoka found it amusing how Kurapika reacted like Killua sometimes. The influence of friendship perhaps? Or maybe they just had some similarities. "Maybe I'm planning on fattening him up to eat him."
Kurapika choked, coughing. He gave a bitter and watery glare to Hisoka who handed him a glass of red wine. Hisoka's knowing smile told him the clown knew of his thoughts.
"Kurapika, think logically. I know you can," Hisoka mocked.
Well. Since Hisoka gave him the license to think. Kurapika continued to eat, enjoying the silence for a bit. Or relative silence, anyway, with the low thrum of conversation in the back ground. It was nice to be able to just eat without talking. The soup was the perfect temperature he liked-
"You really need more sleep," Hisoka sighed.
"How do you..." Kurapika gasped.
Hisoka pouted at him, as though saying, "I know you much better than you think, after all this time".
Well, but Kurapika was rather obvious. When he was thinking logically about a mental debate, his eyebrows would furrow, and his eyes would squint just the slightest. His wandering mind however, was shown through a distant gaze.
"Okay, okay," Kurapika said patronizingly, putting on his thinking cap. There was first, the question of Hisoka's motive. It was made very known in the beginning he was after Gon and Killua for their fighting potential, after all Hisoka was always after thrilling fights. But that wasn't it in either his or Killua's case. Not immediately or a causal push factor behind his strange actions. There was also his slight pedophilia. But Kurapika wasn't really that shota. Perhaps he had to add Illumi into the equation.
Was he like Illumi in regards to Hisoka? A business contact, with some sort of weird friendship?
"Hisoka. Do you think us friends?"
"Aren't we?" Hisoka replied straightforwardly.
Kurapika paused. "Well... I hadn't really considered it. Do you ask all your friends for an out of shower picture?"
Hisoka merely smirked, leaving Kurapika to think again. If he was deemed a friend, was Killua one as well? Killua was shota.
"Do you... like Killua?" Kurapika asked awkwardly.
It was Hisoka's time to pause. He stared blankly at Kurapika.
"Hisoka?" Kurapika waved a hand in front of the clown. Kurapika pursed his lips together. This strange reaction... Could it really be?
"I don't know," Hisoka admitted.
Suddenly, Hisoka looked a lot more human. Kurapika sat up a little straighter in his seat. Well, he was no love expert, but he did have common sense and a fair bit of book knowledge. It's just that he read from a wide variety of genres! Kurapika had no interest in books like... like 50 shades of gray. Why was he even defending his reputation by trying to justify to his own mind? He really needed some sleep.
"I want to make him mine."
"Uh huh..." Kurapika prompted uncomfortably, jolted out of his silly thoughts.
"I want him to smile. His smiling face suits him. But his angry face is cute too."
Kurapika really didn't want to be here right now. Hisoka continued to exalt about Killua's adorableness, and Kurapika just nodded and took awkward bites of his food. Wait. This was his freaking younger friend. Was Killua even considered a teen? He was so freaking young. How old was Hisoka? The age gap was huge! He couldn't ever imagine getting together with Gon, disregarding homosexuality, and he was closer to Gon's age for god's sake. No no no Killua was too young.
"So...?" Hisoka asked once he ended.
Oh, it was definitely love.
"No, it's not. It'll pass," Kurapika lied swiftly. "You better not play with his feelings and string him along. You're the adult in this situation."
Hisoka sighed, and drank deeply from his wine glass. Kurapika breathed a sigh of relief when Hisoka took his words for the truth. Thank god he didn't notice the mini panic attack Kurapika had. He was just about to give the go ahead to a dangerous criminal to prey on his friend.
"But I still want him."
Kurapika gaped. "But you and Illumi!"
Hisoka seemed genuinely confused. Oh yeah. How could he expect that twisted clown to have any common sense on love and relationships? No wonder Hisoka kept hitting on him. Kurapika pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Hisoka... you can only have one. And it has to be mutual. And you have to stop trying to get every pretty thing you lay your eyes on," Kurapika rambled. He wasn't equipped with the skills to handle this sort of situation, dammit.
"That's alright. Killua's my favorite."
Kurapika face palmed.
"Illumi has quite the interest in you anyways."
"...Wait. What." Kurapika gaped blankly.
Hisoka smirked and lifted his hand for the bill. "You're a terrible liar, Kurapika."
Kurapika blushed. It was bad enough with Senritsu, and now Hisoka? He should go spend more time with Leorio to feel more intellectual. No offense to his older friend.
"So you and Leorio?" Hisoka prompted.
"Friends," Kurapika stressed.
"Good. I've already given Illumi your number. Not that he would care if you two were in a relationship."
"H-Hisoka!" Kurapika stuttered.
"I'll take good care of Killua. Illumi would castrate me otherwise. It was a rather fair trade."
Kurapika widened his eyes. His number in return for Illumi giving Killua to Hisoka... Wouldn't that be pretty serious? Illumi was downright obsessed with Killua and he...
"Oh my god. What have you done!" Kurapika screeched in horror.
"Bye~ I'll tell Illumi you're quite the romantic."
"Wait Hisoka! I'm not! Hey!"
Hisoka left, waving a hand in the air lightly, leaving Kurapika to moan into his hands. Kurapika raised his hand for the bill. The server came over to politely tell him that the older man had paid for them both, along with a generous tip. Again. Kurapika growled lowly. He didn't like owing favors, especially not to a perverted clown. Although the man always used the excuse that he was feeding Kurapika purely for aesthetic reasons because he liked looking at Kurapika with a bit of fat in him. Resigning himself, he stood up quietly, and swiftly left the restaurant for a much needed rest.
**line break**
**line break**
"Killua, It's Kurapika. I heard what's going on from Hisoka. I'm just wondering if you're okay?" Kurapika walked swiftly and silently through the corridor of the hotel Neon was currently staying at.
"WHAT DID HE TELL YOU!"
Killua sounded very freaked out. Kurapika had an idea that the clown already laid moves on his young friend.
"Not much...? Do you want to spend a few days here with me while you wait for Gon? I won't always be there but you can watch tv in my room," Kurapika offered. He didn't really want to hear the details. Though he would provide a listening ear... if Killua was mentally or emotionally scarred.
"Ahh... thank you," Killua mumbled, seemingly embarrassed about his outburst. "I'll think about it."
"Hey... what's your brother like?"
"Illumi? He's psychopathic, overprotective, overbearing, crazy, fucked up, insane-"
"Killua, you just called your brother mad over and over," Kurapika pointed out nervously as he took out his keycard to enter his room.
"...Why are you asking?" Killua quizzed suspiciously.
Kurapika shrugged off his coat, struggling as his left arm was holding his phone. He reached for the light."Nothing much, really... FUCK!"
"Kurapika! Hey, are you okay?!"
Kurapika's phone clattered to the ground. Illumi was sitting there on his bed, with an extremely huge bouquet of roses. There were lighted scented candles around the room, which Kurapika failed to notice before. He really needed more sleep...
"W-What are you doing here!" Kurapika stammered.
"Welcome home," Illumi replied emotionlessly, taking over the coat and pushing Kurapika over to take a seat.
"Aniki!? Hey, leave Kurapika alone! I won't go back even if you-" Illumi promptly reached for the phone on the ground, snapping it shut. Kurapika gulped when those seemingly blank eyes stared at him.
Okay, Kurapika Kuruta. You need to stay composed. Calm and composed.
"You're Killua's brother, Illumi, yes? Why have you decided to grace me with your presence today?"
Gah no, Kurapika. Too overdone.
Illumi nodded. He knelt down with the bouquet in hand. It seemed like a huge bouquet of 999 red roses. It did not bode well.
"Kurapika."
"Y-yes?" Kurapika flinched at being addressed suddenly.
"Be mine."
"How about no?" The words spilled sharply from Kurapika's mouth before he even processed Illumi's words in his head.
Illumi frowned like he honestly did not expect that answer. "Hmm." Staring blankly up at Kurapika, he considered his options. "I always take what I want ultimately."
"I am, unfortunately, a living breathing human being, so-"
"I will steal your heart."
"Excuse me?"
One cheesy line after another.
Quietly, Illumi stared intensely at Kurapika, shifting the bouquet of roses closer. Manners dictated that Kurapika should accept them. Afterall it must have cost a the offered gift, Kurapika mused about the man in front of him. He didnt really know much about Illumi he supposed. But given that he was Killua's brother, despite being an emotionless assassin, could there be good hidden in there as well? He didn't like to judge people without giving them a chance.
"We can start as friends," Kurapika offered hesitantly, wondering if he made the wrong choice.
To his wonder, some life lighted up Illumi's eyes, and a soft smile graced those chapped lips. Kurapika found himself staring speechless at the surprising sight.
"That's fine. Phone."
Kurapika handed his phone over with a confused look. Illumi fiddled with it and passed it back, and Kurapika realised that Illumi simply inputted his number.
"I don't like you meeting Hisoka more than me," Illumi stated blandly.
"Oh. Um. I'll send you my schedule."
Pleased, Illumi nodded with a slight smirk. And Kurapika could only wonder what he got himself into as he watched the slender man jump out of the window.
**line break**
**line break**
"Kurapika! Did my brother go and bother you? I am SO sorry! He didn't do anything did he?"
"Besides getting my number and giving me an outrageous bouquet?"
"Oh god. That's gross."
Kurapika laughed at the unexpected response. "How so?"
"It's Illumi. I can't imagine him liking someone. He only gets obsessed."
"Well. That's sounds fantastic," Kurapika snipped sarcastically. "I'd better thank Hisoka."
"Huh. Are you stressed, Kurapika? You don't sound your usual self."
"Quite," the Kuruta lamented. "I'm sorry for taking that tone with you. That's how I talk with Hisoka. But enough about me. You seem to be in quite the predicament."
"Oh. Yeah. Hisoka and all," Killua replied quietly.
"I can take a few days off to accompany you if you need me to," Kurapika offered kindly.
"Mm. That's alright, I can take care of things myself."
Kurapika mused that he and Killua were quite similar in that aspect. They were not used to relying on others, even now when their had complete trust in their friends.
"Alright then," Kurapika replied softly. "Good luck."
"Yeah, you too. Let me know if Illumi bothers you too much!"
"Okay I will," Kurapika chuckled. Hanging up, Kurapika flopped down onto his bed in exhaustion.
"Are you alright, Kurapika?"
"Senritsu," Kurapika responded in a familiar tone, sitting up and patting the space on the bed beside him. "Nothing seems to escape your ears."
"I was worried because I heard an unfamiliar heartbeat in your room earlier. It was a very quiet and slow one. Much like an assassin," she sat down with a gentle smile. "I'm glad you're alright. Yours was a bit flustered and troubled but I didn't sense any real fear so I didn't rush over immediately."
"Thank you for your concern," Kurapika said softly. Senritsu has, in the few months he was working at the mansion, become his confidante and earned his trust. He often found himself sharing a late night with her talking away, about his past and current worries.
"You see, Senritsu, I have no time to even consider romance."
"Well that's alright. I think placing an emphasis on your own goals is good. You're still young and have plenty of time after all."
"Hm. But I think that person will be really persistent."
"Is she pretty?" Senritsu teased.
"It's a he," Kurapika groaned.
"Oh. Well, you're pretty."
Kurapika gave a louder groan. "Senritsu!"
She giggled.
"He's Killua's brother," Kurapika admitted.
"Oh my. So he's an assassin as well? Kurapika, why do you always get involved with dangerous men?" Senritsu sighed, crossing her arms.
"Wha- I do not!"
"That clown like man you were seeing for dinner didn't look like just a clown to me!" She accused softly.
"You followed me?" Kurapika asked incredulously.
"I was worried," She replied sheepishly. "You tend to rush straight into danger nowadays."
Feeling gratitude over her concern and outraged at the breach of his privacy, Kurapika settled for an angry huff.
"You see Senritsu, I hate people who kill others for no reason other than for their own gains. My own tribe..." Kurapika trailed off. Hearing his distressed heartbeat, Senritsu patted him on the shoulder.
"But you accepted Killua for who he is."
"He stopped."
"Maybe this man will stop for you."
Kurapika quietened at that. "Will he?" he asked dryly. "He is an assassin by trade. He trained his little brother to be one." His tone was heavy and quiet, bit obviously full of thought.
"Are you interested?" Senritsu quizzed suddenly.
"W-Well," Kurapika stuttered. "I haven't considered it before. Physically he is rather appealing with his built body."
And that smile he showed for a split second.
Senritsu smiled knowingly hearing his heartbeat. "I'll be rooting for you."
"...Thank you," Kurapika smiled tentatively.
As soon as she left his room with a quiet well wishing "Rest well", Kurapika flopped down onto his bed again. Lazily, he toed his shoes and socks off into a haphazard pile on the floor. He was usually quite a neat freak, but today he was just too tired to care. Yawning as he wriggled out of his jacket and removed his tie, Kurapika didn't notice the new presence in his room.
"Do you want me to stop?"
The abrupt question startled him. He paused in his attempt to unbutton his shirt. He sat up hurriedly and tried as much as possible to make himself look presentable, although it was quite a lost cause. His blond hair was tousled about from him rolling on the bed, and his shirt was already wrinkled. It was a rather appealing look, and Illumi was clearly appraising him with his eyes.
"How did you-" Kurapika glanced at the bouquet. "You wiretapped me."
"Do you want me to stop?" Illumi ignored his words completely to repeat the demanding question.
"I will not be friends with a cold hearted murderer."
"Then I'll stop."
"But that's your forte! Your trade!" Kurapika felt incredulous and it showed in his tone. "Your whole life was dedicated to becoming an assassin..."
"Does that answer your question?"
That's how much I love you.
Blushing furiously, Kurapika held a hand to his mouth as his mind whirled. The revelation shocked him to the core. How could Illumi possibly like him that much? They didn't even really interact that much. "E-Enough. Just get out of my room. And take that damn bouquet. I'm not going to accept presents laced with poisons and lies."
"You exaggerate," Illumi replied lightly, walking over to the bouquet to crush the little listening device. "If it displeases you so much I will not do such things again."
"You better not," Kurapika sulked. "Ugh, I'm so tired."
Maybe it was the way he scrunched up his nose, but Illumi was smiling at him fondly, a slight smile which made Kurapika's heart skip a beat again. Behind those dark, dark cruel eyes which had always seemed so bottomless, Kurapika could glimpse a light which had been tightly locked up for years, the chains slowly unraveling. He gulped nervously, his wandering mind realising that Senritsu would tease him again tomorrow because she would know he was starting to feel a little something for this mysterious man.
Illumi ruffled the blond locks with a gentle palm, and in an instant he was gone, leaving Kurapika to stare at the window, out at the starry night sky, wondering what he had just gotten himself into.
**End**
XP: You know how it goes, R&R thank you :)