Hisoka was thrilled –he had run out of toys and this one seemed especially tasty. It was like she was a gift wrapped surprise –he liked those the best. Try as he might, he could not fathom the brute force needed to penetrate his nen defense and shatter his right cheek bone. Wincing, he patched it up with Texture Surprise. He'd have to get to healed later.
Hisoka was extremely bored. He'd been bored of the enhancer types that'd fight him head on, telegraphing their moves. What he needed was a nen master, who'd let him feel the rush again. Someone who'd beat him within an inch of his life, push him over the edge. Someone who would truly test him in strength, power, and tactics. Like precious jewels, there were few who'd meet those standards. There were especially few that could surprise him. Hisoka disliked transmuters the most. They were like him. Sly, sneaky, and untrustworthy. But most of the time they neglected physical training.
Kana was like an unpolished jewel he had unearthed. He could not read her. He couldn't make her paralyzed with fear. He sensed that even with all her nervousness, she never felt remotely threatened by him. She was hiding something, and he wanted to unravel her. He wanted to know everything about this deceptively deadly girl he had let touch him.
And that was another thing that piqued his interest. The warmth of her nen was almost addicting. He felt a spark when she first touched him. And then warmth flowing into the arm she healed.
He'd touch her back. He'd paint her a luscious red, force that warm nen to explode out of her frame.
I wonder how she screams. Hisoka wondered. How will she run from me.
He'd be disappointed if she begged. He'd be amused if she fought –which is why he'd have to corner her. Force her to flower prematurely. He wanted to see how he could push her.
But that would have to wait. Hisoka had to be careful around the perceptive medic. Women often thought Hisoka was above killing them. Not true. None were ever strong enough to be considered. Kana was already wary with him from the start. One slip up and she would disappear from his grasp forever.
He watched the unsuspecting medic from afar, using zen to surpress his nen. She had her medic bag slung over her shoulder and her hair tied up in a ponytail, swishing back and forth. She opted not to wear the medic mask today. Kana was commuting home from the cobbled streets of the market. With the smell of rotting fish, cries of wares from sellers, and the bustling crowd, it would be quite difficult for her to detect him.
Kana stopped. Hisoka froze. While he had taken off his make up and washed out the gel, he could've slipped.
Kana turned, and Hisoka prepared to greet her, thinking up an excuse.
But instead, Kana took a long sniff, gazing wonderingly to the bakery she was in front of. She looked longingly at the chocolate cake in the window display, marveling at the intricate frosting. Kana took out her wallet and opened it, frowning.
Hisoka wondered why the medic seemed to be tight with her purse. People would pay millions for her skills. She could easily be rich. Intriguing. She either chose to not offer her skills for pay or she was hiding.
Kana seemed to relent, going in and coming out of the bakery happily munching on a chocolate chip cookie. Hisoka had never seen her smile. Her dimpled cheeks had a smudge of chocolate on them as she licked her fingers.
Hisoka licked his lips. He was hungry.
He followed Kana for an hour, as she walked home, never taking his eyes off of her. She lived in a townhouse on the outskirts of town. The sun was setting, and the path she took was forested, casting long shadows on the secluded dirt path she took back home. It was a relatively small townhouse, just three stories high. It probably held at most 18 people.
Kana entered, walking all the way up to the third floor and opening a window to let in air.
A few hours later Hisoka was still perched on a tree, fiddling with his playing deck to pass the time when he realized she had fallen asleep despite leaving her window open. It was laughable. He could swoop in on this defenseless girl right now and kill her.
He could ravish her. Surprise her in bed. Make her scream as he had his way with her. Hisoka wondered how those soft dimpled cheeks would feel, and what kind of fight she'd put up.
They could be intimate. He always loved to pick the brains of enhancers. Their earnest purity was a contrast to Hisoka's fickle nature. Truth be told, Hisoka was somewhat jealous of a stereotypical enhancer's determination. Enhancers were perseverant, diligent, inspiring, etc. Hisoka bet they never felt the hunger. They never experienced true helplessness. They lived their lives in the sun, taking their enhancer abilities for granted.
Hisoka loved to break their minds. To plunge their world in despair.
Hisoka waited until Kana's nen dulled. She was lying curled around a pillow, the moonlight illuminating her tranquil face. The book she was reading was still open.
Noiselessly, Hisoka swung into her window, his figure shadowing hers as he crouched on the window sill.
Still no response. It was getting harder to fight his building erection. It didn't help that she was quite beautiful in her own way. Her jade eyes were unique, making a sharp contrast with her pixie cut. Her long lashes cast slight shadows on her pale cheeks. Her dimples were no longer there—her tiny mouth fully relaxed.
Hisoka easily distributed the weight in his feet perfectly so that the floorboards wouldn't creak. He was master of stealth.
Leaning over, he picked out a few lines in her book,
"Remember; no matter how desperate the situation seems, time spent
thinking clearly is never time wasted."
A self-help book? She didn't seem the type.
"1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don't need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair."
Perhaps it was a book on the art of mass killings. Or war. Hisoka found those books boring. Killing came naturally to him, he had no need to read a book for it.
But then he saw the last line:
"But no matter what happens to the surviving humans, there will always be the walking dead."
Hisoka couldn't help himself, what on earth was this medic reading...
His hands gingerly picked up the book, noting the page number. Flipping it over, he read:
"The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Guide on Surviving the Undead"
Hisoka threw his head back in silent laughter, rocking his body back and forth. Out of all the bedtime books he thought this composed medic would be reading, a gag book on zombie survival tactics was the last.
After dutifully restoring the book to its original place, Hisoka turned his full attention on her.
You have one of the most deadly fighters in the Celestial Tower right next to you and you don't even realize it.
It was hysterical. He deserved a medal in patience. Unable to help himself, he reached out with his index finger, holding his breath.
It came as a shock to him, when his finger came into contact with the soft skin on the exposed nape of her neck. He shuddered with desire. This close to his prey, and he still wasn't noticed.
He could kill her now.
Kana shifted, Hisoka darted his hand back. He'd been too bold. If he kept his back to her, and covered the moonlight with his figure, perhaps he'd be fast enough out of the window.
Instead, Kana curled into an even tighter ball instant, toes rubbing each other.
"Mmmmm" her brow puckered, rubbing her cheek against the pillow.
What he would give to know what she was thinking about now.
Hisoka remained still as a statue, watching her even breathing.
He would have to leave—unable to control himself further. In a whimsical gesture, Hisoka grabbed a red quilt from her table. With a flourish, he laid the blanket on top of her. Stealthily, Hisoka climbed out the window, and shut it softly.
Tonight would be his little secret.
Kana's exchange with Hisoka in the medic room was just the first of an odd series of confrontations. He would pass her in the hallways, appearing unenthused, barely sparing her a glance. Then the next day he would focus on her with such intensity that Kana wondered why the walls didn't crack with the pressure. He would leer, laugh, skip, smirk, growl, etc. He was unpredictable. Kana would only nod, or perhaps hurry down another hallway as fast as possible before he could catch sight of her. She didn't know how to deal with him.
One time he caught her eye, and Kana had only given him the slightest of nods –she was busy that day. When they neared, Hisoka had feinted at her, almost nipping her ear in a playful bite. She flinched, almost backing into the person behind her.
His laughter reverberated through the halls as Kana profusely apologized to the miffed woman. Damn the clown.
Another time, she had spotted his cone of flamboyant orange hair through the crowds. Kana immediately hid behind a corner for 5 minutes until he had disappeared. Much to her dismay, she had been scolded for showing up to work late. And she earned some very odd looks from people passing by.
Kana was called in today to do some light healing from some 100s matches. Nothing worse than broken bones were to be expected –she'd be in and out in an hour or so.
100s fighters were not afforded the privacy of single rooms. Today she'd be in a larger room with a few other medics.
Much to her surprise, Hisoka strolled in this time, with, as best as she could say, a jolly spring to his step.
"Hisoka-sama, 200s fighters are to be treated in their own private rooms," the head medic rubbed her hands nervously. He was an unpredictable beast. While he had not harmed a medic yet on purpose, he had once gone and killed a couple of fighters who tried to forfeit prematurely in the match. Unfortunately he had been either completely blind of or just didn't care for the screaming medics trapped in the room during his last carnage.
"I seemed to have done so much damage in the last match that all the healers in the 200s were called to treat the last fighter," Hisoka shrugged, eyes deliberately landing on Kana's figure. Kana searched around, desperate to find any patient that needed her. He had seen her gawking.
He's a perfect specimen. It's scientific awe. Kana grumbled inwardly.
"Hisoka-sama," the head medic bowed, "I will treat you personally. Kana respected the head medic – Mira. She was strict, but she took responsibility. Mira had noticed that Hisoka was indeed the biggest threat in the room—Mira was brave to take him on. Silently thanking Mira, Kana rushed out of the room, intent on "going to the bathroom." She couldn't stand being in the same room as him any longer. Distance was best to dissuade the eerie effect Hisoka had on her.
"I want her," Hisoka gestured a well-manicured thumb over towards Kana's hastily retreating figure. Kana froze, not daring to turn back. Instead she settled for half way, placing an antiseptic bottle on the shelf.
"Hmm…" Mira eyed the two curiously. Kana eyed Mira meaningfully. "I'm afraid Kana seems to be be….busy" Mira slowly said.
"I insist." Hisoka mused. "Kana~!" he called. "You've been avoiding me all week, don't keep me waiting."
"If Hisoka-sama insists." Mira beckoned over to Kana.
"Let me know if you are in trouble" Mira whispered to Kana as she walked by briskly, and left Kana standing alone in the middle of the fluorescently lighted room with Hisoka.
"You didn't seem so scared of me the last time you treated me." Hisoka looked down at her, hands settling on his hips.
"You're unpredictable." Kana scowled. She didn't know what would incense him. What would make him tick. What she did know, was that she was playing a very dangerous game. Unable to keep her temper controlled, Kana felt the need to quip at him.
"You're the reason why I'm busy 24/7." Kana scowled. "I had to surgically remove a card from a poor fighter's frontal lobe."
"He survived?" Hisoka looked at her, a grin spreading across his features.
"Didn't think you'd be concerned about his health." Kana looked at him quizzically. Perhaps….he was just crazy in the ring.
"Oh no, I don't remember who he was. But to think – you managed to save him after I impaled him in the forehead. You must show me some time."
"Are you going to impale someone again?" Kana said, half joking. Hisoka's mischievous grin stopped her cold. This guy was insane.
Hisoka remained silent, waiting for her to continue embarrassing herself.
"Where are you hurt." Kana sighed, gesturing for him to take a seat on a stool. On the low stool, his head only came up to her shoulder. However, it did nothing to diminish his presence in the room. In fact, it made Kana more uncomfortable seeing his golden eyes up close.
"Maybe you can find it?" Hisoka propped his chin on his hand, clearly delighted in making her life difficult.
"Hisoka," Kana was exasperated. Mira turned around, her hawk like hearing catching Kana's sigh.
Kana gulped, turning back to Hisoka, "I'll do the best I can" she replied, in an overly sweet voice.
"That's the spirit." Hisoka chirped. The bastard had won.
"Promise you'll stay still." Kana pleaded. The last thing she wanted was to have another playing card chucked at her face.
"I'll be still." Hisoka promised, remaining in position. Satisified, Kana removed her cloak and medic mask, getting ready to find his injuries. It would be like an autopsy. Sort of.
He looked like The Thinker, chin resting on his fist, sculpture perfect muscles, and marble skin. Except his eyes remained open, following her movements. A slight smirk graced his otherwise stone like face.
Kana started with his right arm, placing both of her hands on his biceps. She smoothed her hands down his arm slowly, sensing for any exceptions in his ligaments or muscles.
Her Gyo infused eyes could easily find injuries caused by nen – but Hisoka had none. She would have to spread her nen throughout his body to gain a feel for any injuries.
Continuing on, she examined his other arm. True to his word, Hisoka remained still as a statue. If he hadn't seen the quiet rise of his chest, she would've thought he made a perfect statue.
"My butt hurts," Hisoka's breath brushed on her hand, tickling her. She was looking at his fist.
Kana's cheeks colored, snapped her eyes to his, "Wha-"
"Just kidding," Hisoka smiled before she was about to shove him off the stool.
"Alright, I'm going to need you to stand, please take your shirt off."
"I was wondering when we'd get to the good part."
"Why do you always have to be so…so perverted?"
"I saw you examining a near naked Ugo – you didn't seem to have any problem with him." Hisoka cocked his head to the side, tossing his shirt onto the table.
He's not attractive as hell.
"He's not looking at me like his next meal." Kana countered, willing herself not to blush.
As she was examining his chest, he asked, "Why don't you fight back?" Hisoka asked.
"I don't need to." Kana replied, probing his side.
"Even if I could kill you?" Hisoka hissed in her ear, too soft for anyone to hear.
Kana stiffened, "No. Even if you could kill me." She whispered. He would never be able to kill her. No one could. Her mother made sure of that.
"That sounds like a challenge." She'd kick herself later if Hisoka did force her to situation where escape wasn't possible.
"I don't want to hurt people." Kana replied. "Killing is overrated."
"You think you can hurt me?" Hisoka's eyes glittered dangerously.
"I'm a healer. Healing is an art form. Murder is not." Kana sidestepped the question.
"You have not seen me fight, have you?" Hisoka chuckled.
"I have." Kana admitted reluctantly. She had to admit, he was graceful. He never wasted a movement, and was a perfect tactician. She seldom saw any of his good matches—ones that lasted over a few minutes. But when anyone did come close to matching Hisoka in both strength, speed, and wit, it was a breathtaking match.
Until she had to clean it up.
"Look, I don't know where you're hurt, and I don't want to take off your pants." Kana snapped, fed up with Hisoka's teasing. Their conversation was spiraling down on a dangerous path. Again.
"I'll save that for another time." Hisoka laughed. "But this whole time you've been examining me, you've never looked me in the eye," he pouted, disappointed.
Kana's eyes snapped to his face, and comprehension dawned on her face.
Her hands shot forward, placing her hands on the sides of his face. Hisoka leaned down to accommodate her, hands bracing his knees. Kana was too preoccupied with his injury to note the uncomfortable intimacy of the situation.
His cheek was crushed from where she last kicked him.
"I'm sorry." Kana said, ashamed of herself. He had come in to be treated for the injury she had inflicted herself.
"Like I said, it was a good kick." Hisoka chuckled, breath tickling her hands. Kana concentrated on his face, immersing his cheekbone in her nen. Within a minute, it was good as new.
"I didn't realize I hurt you. You didn't look hurt!" Kana wrung her hands, extremely embarrassed.
"Oh I've had much worse." Hisoka shrugged. "But if you want to make it up to me, please allow me to take you for dinner tonight."
"Dinner?" Kana sputtered, incredulous.
"I must apologize for my terrible behavior last week." Hisoka insisted, a perfect smile stretching across his face.
Too perfect. He was obviously up to something. Out of all the weird expressions he had made at her, this was the most normal.
And that definitely set her on edge.
"I know a wonderful ramen place that has amazing green tea mocha."
"I'm busy tonight, you know how it is, boss working you really hard." That was the best excuse she had. Seriously, an excuse? She should've just told him 'hell no'.
"Kana you are not needed tonight." Mira swooped in. "I'd hate to think that I was working you hard." Mira commented drily.
Kana almost melted on the spot.
"I'll pick you up tonight." Hisoka waved Kana's attempts to explain herself away.
Kana watched Hisoka's retreating figure in disbelief.
She whirled around, "Mira!" She threw her hands up in an uncharacteristic sign of impatience.
"I've always wondered what Hisoka's type was." Mira mused, smoothing away the wrinkles in her hair.
"Dead. His type is dead." Kana groaned.