𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟐𝟓 | 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀

Everyday Pleasures

AFTER the overseer let his hand fall and after Garo had lunged at (Y/N) with a speed she hadn't seen the last time when facing him, all she did was catch his fist that had curled to punch her. A shockwave ascended through the stands at the fact, several gasps forming to bring a quiet hush over the crowd. Garo stared into the shadow of Reaper's hood with disbelief before he was thrown out of the ring entirely, landing with a pained grunt against a wall that forced blood from his mouth.

The fight was over in barely under a minute.

The crowd was silent.

Then, all at once, a thunderous applause ringing with cheers filled the space.

"A-Amazing!" Cocco cheered with slightly more enthusiasm than what was needed as she cackled into her microphone. "(L/N) had no need to pull out that signature scythe of his at all! Why would he when all he has to do is use his brute strength to throw his opponent out of the ring! Looks like the beast Garo will survive though in comparison to Ripper, but yet again (L/N) is the winner of tonight's match!"

(Y/N) gave a wry smile underneath her hood due to the cheeky announcer's words before approaching Garo who was now struggling to sit up. Extending a hand out to him just as she did before, she waited, watching as his eyes glimmered with distrust before he once more took her hand to allow himself to be pulled up. Staring at her, his hand over his ribs that she was sure she had broken, Garo's frown deepened the longer he stood there.

"Reaper," he uttered after a moment's silence, his gaze still hard. "Seems we've met again."

"Yes, we have."

"I guess I should call you '(L/N)' now?" He raised a brow as he glanced upwards towards the announcer's box where Cocco was still perched in. "That is what you were called tonight. It gives a much more... humanizing aspect to you."

"I've been told that," she hummed. "But, call me whatever you like."

"Okay, (L/N)... have you also been told that you are extremely confusing?" Garo sighed, wincing due to the way the movement struck up the pain from his broken ribs. "Why did you spare me? That announcer said you killed your last opponent. So... why have you reached your hand out to me yet again?"

"My opponent yesterday deserved to die," she proclaimed simply. "You don't."

"Huh?" He frowned. "Why?"

"I choose who I kill when I am fighting them based on what my impression of them is, that's all," she replied, her hood's shadow shifting softly to reveal a slight glimmer of her (E/C) eyes, something that made his own widen. "I remain neutral when I am fighting no one, though. It is what... keeps me balanced, you could say."

"You?" Garo scoffed. "Needing balance? Don't make me laugh."

"I'm not trying to," she stated as she slowly began to circle him, staring him down to an almost uncomfortable point. "I've killed tens of thousands. You need balance when you see that much bloodshed."

He swallowed thickly.

Keeping his eyes on her, knowing he shouldn't turn his back on her, his gaze trailed her movements. Then, as she gestured with her head for him to follow her, he didn't hesitate in keeping pace with her, forcing his body to move even under the excruciating pain he felt. After all, he could handle such a minimal amount of pain to be able to further explore the enigma known as 'Reaper.' Continuing down the brightly lit halls of the 200th floor, Garo then stopped short when (Y/N) did due to the two figures blocking their path—more specifically, because of Hisoka and Illumi blocking their path.

Illumi stood in front of her without so much as budging, choosing to just stare.

With no doubt, (Y/N) was taken aback by the assassin's sudden appearance, but by the almost inaudible chuckle from Hisoka, she realized that their meeting was not by mere chance. Garo stayed tense, finding that when meeting Illumi's and Hisoka's gazes, their reaction was anything but friendly, instead sending nothing but hostility and animosity that was almost wrathful in feeling.

"Hello again, Reaper," Illumi finally spoke as he stepped closer to her, his dark eyes taking in her form despite how she still donned her cloak. "More so, hello (L/N). I didn't think the legend would have a name, much less a last name."

"I am not that legend," she announced once more. "I've told you this."

Not anymore.

No... never again.

"It doesn't matter if you deny it," Illumi continued with a nonchalant wave of his hand, completely disregarding her words since it served no purpose to his narrative. "Your power and mannerisms give you away. All I know is that there is a reason why you're denying your truth. It's intriguing. It makes me want to find out what."

"Try all you like, Illumi," she uttered, her voice cold. "You will find nothing."

"We shall see."

"What a fun reunion~," Hisoka hummed as he shuffled a deck of cards in his hand, his eyes curving in delight. "So frigid... so fun."

Bristling at the comment, (Y/N) was just about to speak before she was distracted by the TV mounted on the wall beside the two men. A familiar boy was on-screen facing off against a person draped in red who didn't stand like one would expect, instead raised up by a rod of some sort that grew from his torso along with a cane in his hand that acted like legs. Her frown grew the longer she watched Gon attack the man.

"So... you let Gon and Killua pass?" (Y/N) addressed Hisoka, her gaze still on the TV.

"They were ready, I guess," he voiced smoothly. "Though, it was quite a boring wait without you. But, tell me..." His eyes darkened as his stare slid over to Garo who had been keeping silent, muttering out, "...that this isn't who you left me for, is it?"

"He was my opponent," (Y/N) bluntly answered. "He lost."

"Ah!" Hisoka grinned. "Makes sense."

"Perfectly," Illumi nodded in agreement.

Garo's brow twitched, unamused.

"But... why is he not dead?" Hisoka questioned with a tilt of his head. "I assumed you would have disposed of him just like your last opponent."

"I don't kill when I don't need to."

"I guess that's why I'm still alive?" He chuckled humorlessly.

"Precisely."

"Ever cold, aren't you?"

"I have to be when dealing with the likes of you, but perhaps that was the wrong choice considering how you incessantly follow me," (Y/N) muttered with a rather acidic grimace that Hisoka chose to ignore since it was so obvious through her body language what her expression was, no matter the shadow hiding her face.

Illumi watched the two bicker.

Tilting his head, he pondered over what the dark feeling curling inside of him was the longer he took in Hisoka's smirk at (Y/N)'s annoyance.

His gaze lingered on (Y/N).

What is it indeed?

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To be continued...