See, Here's The Way It Works

Chapter Two

            "How would you like to be Hisoka's partner in my assassination company?"

     "Hmm. Interesting offer. What are the benefits?" I asked. I hoped that he didn't translate it into what I meant; "Please offer a room. Even though I'm rich I can't buy a new house and am living in a studio apartment." Illumi looked at Hisoka. Hisoka crossed his arms, thrust out a hip and put an arm up while counting off on his fingers "Well, it pays five billion Jenni a year, it comes with a room in the Zoldyck mansion (although it's a two-person-one-room type of a deal) and..." "AN ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET?!" I scream asked hopefully. Illumi just chuckled. " Well, we eat dinner every night, so I guess so, to the average person," he said, cocking his head to the side. I noticed where I kicked him for the first time. Swelling up, purple around the edges with red in a two-inch radius and a white pointed boot mark in the middle. Blood slowly trickled down his chin, with brown stains on his lower lip. I started shuddering, wishing to lap up the red flow. My bloodlust leached into my aura, turning my knees in, clutching my temples, shuddering. My high pitched laughs echoed across the empty courtyard, sending shockwaves through Hisoka, and somehow making Illumi let cracks show through his normally stoic demeanour.  I saw Hisoka follow my aura to Illumi's face, and his bloodlust started showing through. I guess not killing for five days and his proximity to Illumi's injury was driving his kinda nuts.

     "Oh, no!" I whispered, bringing my hands to my mouth. After knowing Hisoka for thirteen years, I can read his movements and psyche easily, although only around ninety per cent of the time. Hisoka shoved his hand into Illumi's neck and lifted him as if he was a rag doll. "Wait!" I yelled. If either heard, they showed no sign of it. To my surprised, Illumi grabbed Hisoka's arm and swung up his legs, impacting with his jaw. Hisoka threw is head back, blood coming to the skin from the puncture wounds. In the same movement, Hisoka shot his torso back up with a crazed look in his eyes, in the smile he was wearing on his lips. Then I noticed his fist. Streamline. Perfection. Not like normal, when it pulses a bit before impact. I used Gyo to confirm what I already knew, and sure enough, there was Bungee Gum attached to the fist. I didn't think. I just acted, knowing that even though Illumi was strong, he couldn't block that deadly fist with a broken arm. I jumped onto Illumi, knocking him to the ground somehow. The fist landed in my back, and pain shot through my spine and lungs. I felt it rising in my throat. Coating my airways. Filling me with the scent. I whipped my head to the side, and the cough unleashed a large flow of blood onto the tiles, coating the cement and half of Illumi's face. "You...BASTARD!" I screamed, wiping my mouth. I lunged and Hisoka and my now-elongated canines sank into the muscular forearm of the pink-headed-jester. Blood began to flow, and I shook my head to deepen the severity of the wound. 

     " Would you two just...stop," Illumi told Hisoka and me firmly and he held me under my arms, Hisoka's blood trickling down my chin. I licked up the blood as Illumi continued speaking. "Do you accept the offer or not?" He asked both of us. "Yes. Definitely." I told Illumi in an exhausted tone of voice. "And why is that?" Illumi asked me. "Because," I said annoyed as if it was the most obvious thing on the planet. "It pays well, I get a lot of food, and I need to get to a bed. I'm tired as FUCK!" Hisoka chuckled, the accursed bloodlust shed from his aura. " I accept, too."  "Why is that, Hisoka?" "Because," Hisoka drawled. "I have to keep Aypy company. I'm her only friend." I blushed and turned my head away pouting because it was true and painfully obvious that he knew now. "Well, that's good. I was beginning to get worried I would be stuck with older assassins that I may have to kill off soon." Illumi muttered to himself. The bloodlust had sapped my energy and I was having a hard time standing. "Give me the puppy," Hisoka told Illumi. I was confused. Is there a dog? I wondered. "Take 'er," Illumi replied in a monotone voice. "Where's the-" My question was cut off when I felt my body being dumped onto something. I was confused until I realised that it was a human back. Hisoka's arms wrapped under my thighs and my head lolled and came to rest on his shoulder. As we walked, I slipped in and out of consciousness, breathing in the scent of his shampoo. Nice. It smelled like vanilla.

***

      "Aypy-chan. Wake up~" Hisoka's voice brought me to my senses. I apparently slept for about three-ish days, given I didn't sleep through the whole Hunter Exam, which added up to thirteen days. "What's this?" I asked, trying to get off of Hisoka's back. "It's the testing gate, Aypy-chan," Illumi told me. Hearing of the testing gate from Killua, I went over to the door. "All I gotta do is open this big-ass door, right?" I asked Illumi. He only gave a not of approval. I walked over to the gigantic door and rammed my shoulder into it. Three doors opened. Hisoka walked up behind me and opened the last three with a roundhouse kick. I shook my head in a joking way. "You're always so extra, Hisoka," I told him as we walked. "Well, I still wanna show off for the little puppy. You're always so amazed by everything. Ever since you were seven years old." "You say that like you're my mom. You're only three years older than me, you clown!" I laughed. The forest leaves crunched under my boots, so I lightened my tread. Suddenly, Hisoka, Illumi and I all sensed something. Somehow, I reacted first. I kicked a switch-blade out of my boot and shot is towards that sickly-sweet smelling aura was coming from. I heard the blade make contact with human flesh, felt the crunch of ribs send vibrations through the veins of my eyes, the marrow of my bones, the roots of my teeth. Hisoka sashayed over to where my knife disappeared. "Aypy-chan just saved your ass, Illumi." Hisoka laughed. The man was carrying a box of tarantulas with a note that said to open them when they saw Illumi. I was confused until I looked behind me.  Illumi had curled up on his side, arms locked around his knees. "Is Illumi an arachnophobe?" I asked Hisoka, whispering. "Yes, and a very big one at that," Hisoka responded.

     "It's not funny, you guys." Said Illumi, cracking in his stoic demeanour. "Sure dude," I said. "I am your boss now. You must refer to me with a respectful name and proper honorific." Illumi scolded me. "Yes, Zoldyck-san," I said, surprised at his sudden seriousness. "Don't be so hard on Aypy-chan." Hisoka retorted. "If you make her too uniform, she becomes depressed and takes it out on other people. She could definitely kill you if she tried or was filled with her wonderful blooodlust~" Hisoka purred dangerously. I looked at him. What is going on in that head of yours? I wondered. Sure, we're friends. "But you don't normally stand up for me..." I whispered. "Hmm?" Hisoka mused. "Nothing. Forget I said that."  We walked in silence till we came to a little concrete wall. "Hello, Master Illumi." Said a little African-American girl. "Who are these people. Are they permitted to enter through to the mansion?" The girl motioned to Hisoka and me. "These are my new employees, Canary. And yes, they are free to be let past. Let us through now." Illumi walked through the gate and we followed him through. I skipped ahead and realised something. It was REALLY  hot out. I looked back to see if Hisoka and Illumi were looking, and they weren't. They were talking to each other. That's good. Now, this won't be awkward. I removed my hoodie, and the relief was sweet. I felt the wind rush over my upper thighs, my stomach, my neck, the top of my chest, my arms and fingers. I spun in a circle, still walking. I felt my bloodlust returning, but I shoved it down, as our next mission would undoubtedly begin soon.

     My mind started returning to Hisoka, as it normally does when I'm distracted. His hair smelled nice, I wonder how it feels. Does he like baking? How does he act when he's alone? Does he ever sleep, or cry? Does he prefer the woods or the beach? Where does he buy his outfits? He likes to play hide-and-seek, even at twenty-three. And... I looked behind my shoulder, what does he write in that little journal all day? I was so focused on my thoughts, that I didn't notice I was stumbling. "What's wrong with her?" Illumi asked Hisoka. I looked down at my legs. "Oh! It's because I've only slept for a few days. If I stay up for over almost two weeks, I have to either not walk for a few extra hours, or sleep for five days." I explained. My knees gave way and I stumbled. " C...can I get o...on your back again, H...hisoka?" I asked, my cheeks flushing. " I have a better Idea~" Hisoka picked me up and put me on his shoulders. I was going to object, but being five foot four on a good day and not being able to use my legs kinda defeated the point. We walked for a few extra hours and I walked for the forty-five minutes. When we stepped into the Zoldyck Manor, I noticed that Kikyo, Milluki and Kalluto were all their. Kikyo pointed to me and ecstatically asked, "Illumi! Is this your girlfriend?" Milluki looked at Hisoka and said, "I don't know if we can trust them, Momma." Kalluto just looked at all of us and squinted.

I knew that the night's dinner would require a lot of talking.