Note: I do not own HxH.

Ch. 4

As soon as Palm Siberia turned the corner, an aura began radiating from her body. The black cloud of stress soon filled the bathroom and swallowed her being. She turned on the water. He owes me, in the very least, this shower, she thought as she turned the faucet to a cold setting.

Palm locked the door, though that would definitely not stop Illumi from coming in. Somehow, she knew Illumi would not kill her. Yes, she has only just met the cold man, but she knew that he would have taken her out already if he wanted to. As she began to disrobe, she felt his presence outside the door. She neatly folded her dress and spoke through the door. "Yes?" she called out. There was a brief pause. From the other side of the door, Illumi spoke. "There is no need for that strong of an aura. Turn it off, or I will take you out." He stated.

Palm stepped into the coldness of the shower, and her black aura faded slightly. "It's caused mostly by stress. If you want it to go away, I just need some space. I'm not going to do anything funny in here. And… even if I did," she continued, "it wouldn't take much for you to stop me." Illumi considered this. Of course he knew that he could just end this by killing her at any moment.

He walked away from the door and walked over to his bedroom down the short hall. He closed the door and sat down on his bed. She's quite a bold woman, he thought. I don't know many people who would talk that way to a Zoldyck, especially when I have a clear and absolute advantage over her. Illumi pushed his straight black hair out of his face and sighed, displeased with himself. As much as the cold assassin hated to admit it, he didn't dislike Palm. Of course, she's very strange in her ways and bold in her words. But many people took one look at him and immediately shut down, defensive and afraid. As they should… he thought with a slight smirk.

Illumi stretched out over his bed. It had been a long few months for him. Between his missions and the hunter exam, he had had no time to himself. Although Palm was a surprise at his cottage, it was still nice to be back here. Suddenly, Illumi felt drowsiness wash over him. Despite this feeling, he was not comfortable enough to drift off with a stranger in his house. He would not show that kind of weakness.

Illumi froze. The sudden lack of noise hit him, and he realized the the water had stopped running already. The black haired assassin got up and opened the door. Had he really been so deep in thought that he had let her slip away, unnoticed? Illumi could not sense her nen in his home. She must have turned it off. Illumi turned the corner and found Palm in his kitchen. Making tea.

Palm turned toward Illumi. Her hair was still soaked, dripping all over his floor. It was no longer a dark black, but a dark brown. Her dress was soaking under all her hair. The tea kettle let out a shriek and she poured the hot water into two mugs. "We've both had a long day," she began, offering Illumi a mug. "I thought this would help."

Illumi, for the first time in his life, was completely taken aback by the scene before him. He had killed thousands. He has witnessed the most gruesome of scenes. But this? This was weird. Palm smiled her wide smile and began pouring heaps of sugar into her own mug. "It's right here if you want it," she said, leaving his mug on the counter. Palm slipped past him and sat at the table, wildly slurping her tea. Some of it dripped down her chin and onto her dress.

Illumi put his hand up to his head and rubbed it gently. This woman was giving him one hell of a headache. Palm looked over at him and smiled. Illumi frowned, but gave up. He sat down at the table across from the dripping woman and sighed. What's getting into me? Illumi wondered, tilting his head back and running his fingers through his hair. He looked at Palm. When their eyes met, Palm tried to hold his icy gaze, but looked away, a slight pink coloring her pale cheeks.

Illumi's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and picked up the call. Palm heard a faint voice from the phone but could not make out what the person was saying. After a minute Illumi responded, "I'm on it," and hung up. "You've managed to keep me from killing you." Illumi spoke suddenly, catching them both by surprise. "Since you are one of the few people who can manage such a feat, I suppose you deserve to rest here." The dark haired Zoldyck stood up and left the cottage, leaving Palm to her own devices.

As Illumi left the cottage, he couldn't help but to look back. You know what? He thought to himself, Whatever happens, happens. This thought surprised the young man. He has been controlled and controlling people his entire life. This one thing is out of his control. It was a weird feeling, leaving fate to decide what will happen. But it was oddly freeing to Illumi. The same thing that causes him pleasure simultaneously drives him up the wall with a mixture of anxiety and worry. Uncharacteristically. Illumi walked away from the situation and toward the town.

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