Note: I know that there was a really long hiatus, but we're back! This second chapter is shorter than the first, but it is easier for me to get back into things this way. I hope to update at least once a week, now that it's summer. I hope you are all still interested in reading this.

Chapter 2

Illumi, blank faced, looked at the girl who stood before him. Why didn't I just kill her on sight? He asked himself. She stood there, black curly hair framing her pale face, seemingly helpless. Illumi could tell that she is a nen user, but she had no visible weapons with which to defend herself.

Palm looked at the pins in his hand, which was still raised in the air, the yellow bulbs posed to attack. Although the man had no expression on his face, she knew better than to step forward and try her luck.

"Why are you here?" Illumi asked, with just a hint of curious annoyance in his droning voice. "You must be aware that this is private property."

"It looked abandoned," she responded carefully, eyeing all the cobwebs and dust in the cottage, "and I needed a place to rest." She studied his pale face carefully, checking for any signs of emotion. "Listen," she began defensively, " if it makes this situation any better, I just got here-"

"Turn around." Illumi commanded. Palm hesitated. "Now." He ordered. Slowly, Palm turned her body around so that she faced the nearest wall. Knowing that she would be searched, she began to walk toward the wall. Her steps were slow and deliberate. She knew that any sudden movements could set him off, and that in a fraction of a second she would have a pin in her brain.

Illumi approached her and checked for weapons. He removed 5 knives from her torn dress, and set them aside, out of her reach. He turned toward Palm and raised his hand up again, between each finger a pin. Palm was still against the wall, but sensed a change in the strange man. Without looking at the tall Zoldyck, she boldly, and stupidly, asked, "Why haven't you killed me yet?"

Illumi froze. Why hadn't he killed her yet? This is Illumi Zoldyck, the emotionless assassin. Palm was, at best, some second-rate nen user from a garbage pile in the distance. The woman was disarmed and clearly obeying his orders. Why hadn't he taken out such an easy target?

Palm inched forward while Illumi was caught in his reverie. Gently, she raised her hand to bring his down. But the second her skin made contact with his, Illumi snapped out of his thoughts. Upon instinct he knocked her back into the wall with his trademark Zoldyck force. Upon impact, Palm's body crumbled the wall and she fell unconscious to the ground. Illumi was not used to being touched. And he certainly wasn't going to let this random woman take advantage of him like that.

Illumi surveyed the damage he had caused and made a brief list in his head:

Broken wall (1)

Unconscious Palm (1)

Debris (many)

Potential Trouble Level (3)

Illumi did not particularly like this girl. She had broken into his safe place and had tried to touch him when he was (uncharacteristically) distracted by his thoughts. She deserved to die. But when Illumi looked down at the limp woman he had thrown into the wall, he didn't exactly see a reason to kill her either.

If my parents knew… Illumi thought as he walked to his closet and took out a broom and a dustpan.