Kindred Spirits? X Self-Disclosure X Another Unexpected Encounter

Kurama: =口= ……orz, could your recognizability be any higher? ==

Even though he instantly recognized the person approaching, Kurama frowned as the other drew closer, but he didn't let a trace of his thoughts show. After all, the one he knew was Jitaraqu in Illumi’s guise, not the Nail-Faced Monster Jitaraqu. So, it was best to act as if he knew nothing and simply brush past the stranger; Kurama didn’t think this person had come for him, nor did he feel any need for them to interact—ever since meeting Gin, the demon fox had nearly given up on connecting with any other characters from the story.

This wasn’t because Gin had disappointed him or was lacking in any way; rather, the demon fox felt that in any unfamiliar world, having one or two friends you genuinely connect with was quite enough. So, with a calm, nonchalant smile, Kurama walked past Illumi as if nothing had happened.

He’d thought that would be the end of it, but before he could even breathe a sigh of relief, a slender yet powerful hand gripped his arm tightly.

Kurama turned his head and saw Illumi, wearing that rather terrifying face full of nails, blink at him, and then—

“Ka-tata-ka-tata, ka-ta-ka-tata.”

—A string of completely incomprehensible Nail Planet language spilled from his lips ==

***

Of course, Illumi hadn’t come here for Kurama.

In fact, he’d just finished a mission near Saba City. After checking the list of pending tasks that the butler Wutong had prepared for him, Illumi realized there wasn’t enough time before the Hunter Exam started to complete any more assignments. So he chose to wait in Saba City.

With no missions for a few days before the exam, Illumi found himself with a rare bit of free time. He had no particular favorite pastime; whether he stayed in his room or wandered about, it was all the same to him. But he’d heard there was a highly acclaimed cake shop near Saba City’s famous food street. Thinking of his little brother, a die-hard lover of sweets, Illumi decided to check it out.

This, despite having just received a message from home about Killua injuring their mother and Milluki, then running away.

Walking down the bustling street with his horrifying nail-studded face, Illumi still attracted plenty of stares—even in this world, where the presence of Hunters had raised the average person’s tolerance for the unusual. But the eldest of the Zoldycks didn’t care in the least.

Hisoka had once asked him, out of curiosity, why he didn’t disguise himself as someone more ordinary and inconspicuous, which would suit an assassin far better. Illumi remembered not answering at the time.

Really, what other reason was there? Simply… because he wanted to.

Indeed, the eldest son of the assassin family was far more willful and self-centered than anyone realized. But hidden beneath that perpetually expressionless face—so easily frozen by years of training—very few ever noticed.

Hisoka, skilled as he was at manipulating and lying to people, might have caught a glimmer. But only a glimmer. Illumi certainly didn’t believe Hisoka truly understood him.

He turned the last corner, stopping across from the legendary cake shop. He propped his chin on his hand, scrutinized the shop’s decor, and decided it did seem promising (although on what grounds, really?). He was about to head in when a figure stepping out of the cake shop made him pause.

It was him.

The one who… interrupted his “agreement” with Hisoka last time.

Raising an intrigued eyebrow, the eldest Zoldyck realized, after all… it hadn’t been his imagination.

He was interested in this boy.

Of course, not in any special sense. As an individual, Illumi found himself experiencing a rare curiosity about this presence before him. Perhaps it was the way the boy had behaved during their first encounter—cool, rational, decisive, cunning; so contradictory, yet so harmonious, giving the impression…

That he was far from as simple as he seemed.

But that wasn’t all that piqued Illumi’s interest. In fact, it had something to do with Hisoka as well.

Why had Illumi agreed to Hisoka’s proposal back then? Even now, the eldest Zoldyck wasn’t quite sure himself. Maybe he’d grown tired of Hisoka’s constant nagging every time they met, or perhaps the man’s persistent, suggestive calls had finally worn him down. Or maybe, he had indeed become interested in the proposal.

Being over twenty and raised in the Zoldyck family, Illumi was certainly no stranger to such matters. He’d experienced the “initiation” his family had arranged for him and had dealt with his own needs since. So to say he was simply curious about physical pleasure would be inaccurate.

Looking back, the only thing Illumi could be sure of was that, after agreeing to Hisoka’s suggestion, he’d felt a faint trace of hesitation and uncertainty.

And once he’d agreed, there was no going back; whatever reason Hisoka might attribute to his change of heart, Illumi just knew he wouldn’t like it.

It was then that Kurama appeared.

His timing was so perfect, interrupting events at precisely the moment Illumi most wanted things to stop.

Thus, the black-haired assassin instinctively felt a certain favorable impression toward him.

Curiosity and interest followed.

It was only natural.

In the few seconds it took to spot Kurama, Illumi’s mind ran through a whirlwind of complex analysis.

But none of this was a real reason to approach Kurama. Even with his curiosity, Illumi wouldn’t normally initiate any contact.

What did prompt him to grab Kurama was the two large bags of cake in the fox’s hands—Illumi had seen on this shop’s flyers that, once a month, they offered a limited-edition cake, an annual treat you could only get on that day. Judging by the shop’s size and the amount Kurama carried, Illumi easily deduced that if he went in now, there’d be nothing left to make Killua happy.

So, as the ever doting brother, he reached out and stopped the boy about to pass him by.

“Ka-tata…”

His language channel hadn’t switched over in time, so the first thing out of his mouth was a disaster.

—And that was the truth behind this accidental encounter ==

The two stood on the street, staring at each other for quite some time. Suddenly, the Nail-Faced Monster spoke again, and this time, instead of alien gibberish, a normal language flowed from his throat:

“Good afternoon. May I have a moment of your time, Nanaya?—Oh, I forgot to say, I’m Jitaraqu.”

“………………”

Kurama was, for an instant, utterly speechless.

Not out of helplessness, but surprise.

Although this wasn’t Illumi’s real identity, just blurting out his name and the fact that he was in disguise—was this really okay? What on earth had gotten into the eldest Zoldyck?

Blinking in genuine confusion, Kurama nonetheless cooperatively followed Illumi into a nearby café.

Influenced by Killua’s preferences, Illumi had developed a mild fondness for sweets himself, so instead of coffee, he ordered a cup of hot cocoa. This choice, so inconsistent with his image, unexpectedly revealed a touch of sincerity in his demeanor, prompting Kurama to relax a bit as well.

“Jitaraqu,” Kurama said with a light smile and just the right touch of surprise, spreading his hands in feigned exaggeration, “honestly, I didn’t recognize you at all.”

Illumi made a couple of clicking sounds; Kurama guessed he was trying to express amusement ==

“In fact, this is one of my usual disguises. Occupational necessity.”

“I see.” Kurama nodded, but didn’t pursue what sort of occupation required it.

He murmured a quiet apology to Illumi and bent his head to carefully prepare a cup of milk tea just delivered by the server for Mokona.

Having traveled together for over two years, Kurama was very familiar with Mokona’s tastes—extra milk, extra sugar, sweet but never cloying. The little one always loved this flavor, no matter which shop they visited, as long as Kurama prepared it, Mokona was satisfied.

Illumi raised no objections. He simply watched Kurama and Mokona, his eyes occasionally flashing with contemplation and curiosity.

When Mokona was settled, Kurama turned back to face the eldest Zoldyck, still wearing that nail-studded mask.

“So, what did you want with me, Jitaraqu?” the fox asked directly, not interested in playing coy.

The mask made it impossible to read Illumi’s expression—even Kurama, master of reading hearts, couldn’t guess his feelings.

He considered all sorts of possibilities, including the remote chance that his past actions had somehow drawn the Zoldycks’ attention.

Yet Illumi’s reply was nothing Kurama expected—or rather, something so remote in his memory he’d simply forgotten about it—

“I just wanted to ask if you’d be willing to share some of this month’s limited-edition Lafio cake. There’s a child at home who really loves it.”

…Cake?

Kurama was stunned.

…Forgive me, but just how far does your brother complex go? To stop a stranger in the street and reveal your identity for a piece of cake—this really does shatter the image a bit, orz.

Kurama began to wonder if he’d landed not in canon Hunter x Hunter, but a wildly off-kilter fanfiction. (==)

Illumi said nothing more, not pressing his request. He felt his demand was reasonable, especially since the two of them were, by Kurama’s own admission, “kindred spirits with the same taste”—if not friends, at least on familiar enough terms. Kurama didn’t look like a sweet tooth himself, so the crucial issue was the little white creature beside him.

Sensing how much Kurama cared for Mokona, Illumi was about to speak again when suddenly a shadow fell over them both…

“Oh? Little Illu?”

That voice—sensual, with a dangerous lilt—belonged to none other than…

“And this is… who, exactly? What are you two…?”

“—On a date?”

The red-haired man narrowed his eyes, his tone gentle yet filled with a chilling, murderous intent.