A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 11: What Lies Beneath

Darnell, and everyone else in the room watched as Red approached Hisoka with alarming tension. Finally, the clown's smile had faded. The mere silence and intensity of her stare seemed to have stunned him, because he didn't react. His eyes didn't narrow or widen and he didn't step back from her heated pressure as others usually had. And without hearing his heartbeat, Darnell could only wait in anticipation, unsure of the impact it had on him.

The steaming atmosphere roamed like a graveyard fog. Her fists were balled beside her waist, shaking, itching to strike him from all the disturbance he caused. At first he thought Hisoka was threatened by the looks of his stillness, but it was only speculation. What would really reveal the jester's true nature was his heart beat...if only he was still in his enhancer's form.

But his regret didn't last long as new questions formed at Red's reaction. Because she held back her violent nature, she must have hesitated on purpose and it left the other members probably wondering the same thing. Did she notice something they didn't? Did something catch her eye? Red had never held back unless the dog stopped her. Only the dog. Which it hadn't done since she joined them. And Hisoka's unscathed body was indeed enough to say he wasn't just anyone to throw aside.

But one thing was for sure. Red was never this serious without reason or cause. The only pattern he could follow for certain within her distant habits.

The other members wearily eased as her violence faded like a fire going out. Even Darnell lowered his guard. His anger had vanished towards the jester and was somehow replaced with awe. Watching Hisoka's now relaxed demeanor with someone of her presence was a sign of respect when it came to the point of confrontation from a worthy opponent. Darnell had seen it a thousand times; the look of those rivals he deeply admired before fights at his gym.

He must have understood the threat at hand. He's more cautious than what he led on.

It was Chrollo who spoke first. "I was hoping it didn't have to get to this point. But yes, she's the reason we're not as concerned with your stay. If anyone were to pick up after your mischief, it would be her." He turned around. "So welcome back, Hisoka. And as always...do play nice."

At the leader's dismissal, Red slowly backed away from Hisoka while her eyes fell to his arm. Then, with a final twitch of her fingers she retreated to Chrollo's side where they both left the room. To Darnell's disappointment, Hisoka's expression was incomprehensible once again, just as the assassin's was. Just a stagnant line of his lips and an ill-slitted gaze. Why did red look at his arm?

"She can detect lies?" Illumi asked. "How useful."

Darnell cocked his head, waiting for Hisoka to sneak a glance at Illumi but he never did. Red doesn't seem to recognize Hisoka either...so then why did the dog appear earlier? Maybe I'm overthinking it.

Hisoka sank back into the couch and looked away. "How fortunate for you I see~" His voice had a tinge of dullness. Maybe disappointed she didn't fight him. From what Darnell gathered from the jester so far, Hisoka's eyes didn't follow Red nor study her in curiosity as he had done with Corrin and him. Darnell feverishly ran possibilities through his head with those details, distinguishing lies from truths, inconsistency in his reactions.

"Darnell," Chrollo said, yanking him into reality. He came back without Red by his side. "Escort them to the bedroom at the end of the hall. Nobunaga, you will share a room with Darnell instead."

"What? I won that room fair and square," Nobunaga argued. Chrollo gave him a side look and Nobunaga ceased the strain to keep going. "So much for getting my own space," he muttered.