A Genius Thrown to the Wolves

Intermission Ch. 11

Menchi finished chewing and gave her mark of failure to Kiyotaka. She watched him shrug and walk away. "Wait!" She called after him perplexed. "You're satisfied with my answer?" "I was warned this would happen so I'm not really surprised. But I do intend to pass the other half out to reveal your true intentions. (He paused) Even if I was to be the only one that passed. I saw what crossed your table." The other contestants who'd been listening were either embarrassed or grew angry at the cocky sounding Kiyo. Hisoka only stood delightfully laughing at the entertainment that was being provided to him. The angry ones snatched the treat of the platter when it was offered to them. All of them taking an angry bite followed by a face of bliss, before they plastered a scowl on their face and finished the rest, not wanting to admit that their dishes were nothing to what they had just put in their mouths. When Kiyotaka got to Hisoka he skipped him and gave one to all the others. Some bloodlust was accidentally released on Hisoka's part and the people surrounding him took several steps away from him. Eventually, when all the treats were gone but one, Kiyo stood in front of Hisoka, offering him the last one. "Did you do something to it?" Without missing a beat Kiyotaka responded "I poisoned it." Hisoka's hand stopped before he could pick up the treat. He looked at Kiyotaka, not being able to tell if the boy was serious. There was plenty of time for him to poison it. The question is, did he really take to opportunity to? Hisoka took a gamble and took the dish, biting into it and throughly enjoying the burst of flavors in his mouth. Kiyotaka just watched him and after a minute took the spot next to him letting a quiet yet frustrated "damn." Out under his breath. "What's wrong Kiyo~? Did you want that one?" "That's not it" he said as he pointed to a participant that 'suddenly' collapsed, foaming at the mouth. Hisoka stood in place. Kiyo, his new play thing, had tried to poison him! He'll have to be careful from now on ... or maybe he could put it to good use. His shook turned to a smirk.

'Of course I didn't mix up the poisoned treat. I just need Hisoka to think I did. He's far too confident and pushy for my liking.' Kiyotaka thought. Thinking his plan had had the results he wanted. The thing he couldn't fully account for just how warped Hisoka's thinking was. That could spell hell for him later.

While all the contestants were waiting, they saw a big hot air balloon darken the clouds above them and start to make its decent. When it landed an old man emerged from it, observing the scene like he didn't already know what was going on. He'd taken Menchi aside, still in view but out of earshot. Everyone watched as her head sunk for a minute before peeling back up again and looking excited. She turned back to them with an excited smirk with a hint of malice in it. It made Kiyotaka slightly excited to see what she'd come up with. She walked towards the group and cleared her throat. Though she didn't need to since she already had everyone's attention. "Alright, since Boss Man over there says I can't fail all of you, you get a second chance! I will warn you a simple miscalculation will be your death, unlike this last challenge. Or your up for the risk, I got the boss to give a ride to our next destination! All Aboard!!" She said, a little too excitedly given her outlook on them just a few minutes ago. But most paid no mind and rushed to explore the flying vessel. A specific green haired boy had been the most excited, saying it would be his first time in one of them. If he was honest with himself, Kiyotaka was also curious seeing as he's never been in anything but a car or train. Hisoka took notice of this and scooped him up, walking inside the giant air ship. "Why did you do that?" Kiyotaka asked not liking being touched unnecessarily. "I felt like it. Also you were just standing and starring so I figured I'd help you out. "Right. So ... don't do it again." "Why must you be so cold, I truly only intended to help." "I'm sure." Kiyotaka said, offending Hisoka with the disbelieving tone Kiyo took. He was about to refute the implications of his tone, but saw Kiyo looking out the window, he was silent and his body still, but his eyes were anything but. They moved to rapidly scan everything they could. His eyes were desperately devouring everything he saw, not letting a single thing escape him. So Hisoka remained still as well. He admired this side of his kitten, and wondered what made him so desperately hold on to something as trivial as this view. It was quite sad if he really thought about it. It would make since something happened involving him being held captive in some way with how adamant he was about his freedom and his choices being his. He'll get his plaything and his plaything will get to see the world! That's what he decided. A little sappy and a little warped, but ... who knows?

After waiting for almost 15 minutes Hisoka finally left to go get the both of them something to drink. He returned soon after, expecting Kiyo to have run off, but he was still there. Something about the sight made Hisoka feel weird, he didn't like it. In order to quell this feeling he did what his gut was telling him to. He left the drinks and came back carrying a couch. He set it down and pushed it right behind Kiyo. He took a seat himself before lightly pulling on Kiyo's hips to signal him to sit. He did. Without a word. Without looking away from the window. Hisoka was board at first, but soon found the need to just sit, he wasn't enthralled by the view, and occasionally tried to sense where Illumi was but didn't feel like moving either.

It was now a little past sunset, and the ground below was barely visible, yet Kiyotaka didn't look away. Hisoka figured with his cat like features and behavior he mush also have the same eyes. Despite Kiyotaka's determination to take everything in, Hisoka could see his eyes beginning to droop, and his shoulders begin to sag. He gently reached over and guided Kiyo's head to rest on his lap. He began playing with the boys hair and dozing off himself with Kiyo's quiet purring at the forefront of his mind and a satisfied smile on his face. It was one of the only times in his life that he'd been this soft, and this content.

A/N: Sorry I didn't post for a while, but I hope you like this new chapter and had happy holidays!! See you in the next one!