• Akari •
Akari knew her thirteen minutes were up when Illumi appeared before her at the library counter.
"So, what will it be?" Illumi got right to the point.
Akari thought quickly. She was super conflicted about getting into a partnership with Illumi. Worst case scenario would be him ending her life. She still wanted to live. On the other hand, he might have valuable information for her. He was an assassin, after all. He had to have a reliable source of information for his missions.
"I guess I will agree, but only if certain conditions are met." How bad could this be?
"I see. What conditions?"
Did this man ever speak without being so forward?
"Well, first of all, I want to live." Akari studied Illumi's face for any signs of mischief. Instead, he appeared to be completely serious. She continued. "Second, I want to ensure that the information exchanged between the two of us is of equal value."
"I can agree to both conditions. Anything else?"
Akari was surprised. "You won't kill me?"
"Not if you don't give me a reason to," Illumi stated.
"Fair enough." Akari peeked at her watch. "When should we begin?"
Illumi looked to the library doors leading to the outside. "Later, perhaps somewhere more secluded."
"How about the Hunter library?"
"That'll do. Let's meet later tonight. I've got something to take care of right now."
Akari nodded. "Any specific time?"
"9:00."
Illumi made his way out of the library, his hair swaying with every step he took.
What a peculiar character, Akari thought. Now where's the other pest?
"I'll be leaving now," Chrollo spoke up.
Akari jumped from the unexpected encounter. She hadn't seen him in over an hour. "Bye."
Chrollo followed Illumi out. Akari hoped she wouldn't have to see him anytime soon.
• Kurapika •
Kurapika observed Akari. He frowned when he saw that Illumi and Chrollo were on speaking terms with her. He saw them as a threat, and he wanted to do anything to protect the female Hunter.
After a little while, Kurapika noticed the two had left the premise, so he made his way to the Crime Hunter.
"Akari."
She looked up.
"It seems our information sharing was interrupted by Gon and Killua earlier. If you don't mind, would you be able to meet with me again?"
Akari smiled. "Of course I don't mind. I won't be able to meet with you today though. Perhaps tomorrow?"
Kurapika was happy to hear that she was making room for him in her schedule. He was sure she had quite a bit on her plate. "Tomorrow sounds good. I am available around breakfast time again, or we can meet later on in the evening." He wasn't sure what her schedule looked like.
"Let's do breakfast again. We can meet at the coffee shop down the block. It's right by the hotel."
Kurapika immediately knew which coffee shop she was referring to. "9:00 again?"
"Sure."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Akari smiled, and Kurapika's mood lifted.
• Akari •
It was 8:57, and Illumi was nowhere in sight.
Guess he's running late, Akari thought, as she made her way towards the Hunter library. She decided she would at least prepare for their discussion. Luckily, no one else was in the Hunter library tonight.
Illumi showed up at 9:00 on the dot. He sat down at at the table across from Akari, who was currently busy reading about nen abilities and drinking hot tea. The aroma of the tea filled the space around her.
"A tea drinker, huh?" Illumi asked awkwardly.
Akari looked up. "Yeah. Raspberry pomegranate green tea."
"Smells good." Illumi looked down at Akari's book. "You look busy. Is this reading for a current mission or something?"
"For informational purposes." Akari pointed to her head. "The more I know, the easier it is to come to plausible conclusions and such."
"Mmm, you really are smart, just like Killua said."
Really? Killua said that? "Uhh, thank you?" Akari wasn't sure how to respond to Illumi's statement.
Illumi looked her in the eyes. "Okay, I'm ready to start whenever you are-"
"Just a moment," Akari stopped him. "I have a question about communication between the two of us."
"Sure. What is it?" Illumi watched her intensely.
"So, if I ever needed to get in touch with you, how would I go about that? Should we exchange numbers or something?"
"I'll give you the number to the Zoldyck estate." He explained that Akari could call, ask for Milluki, his younger brother, and give him any pertinent information. He would pass that information onto Illumi himself.
"Is it because you don't trust me? Why do we need a middle man?" Akari felt a little hurt.
"No, just following the Zoldyck protocol." Illumi studied her. "Don't take it personally."
"How would you get in touch with me?"
"I would find you myself. I don't send messages to anyone outside of my family."
Akari wasn't sure how to feel about that arrangement. Why should she have to go through Illumi's family to contact him while he could just find her? She pushed that thought away and decided this was the right time to shift focus.
"Anyway, what's your target's name?" Akari asked.
"Cliff."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Why?"
"It's just that Cliff is my father..." My Kurta father.
Illumi blinked.
"...and he's already dead."
• Illumi •
Upon hearing this, Illumi jumped out of his seat. "You're joking."
"Why would I lie about my dead father?"
Illumi struggled to grasp this information. In fact, he wasn't sure what to do. He decided to ask his father about the contract.
He called the Zoldyck estate and was immediately connected to Gotoh, the main butler.
"Who am I speaking to?" he asked.
"Gotoh, this is Illumi. Please put me through to Milluki."
"Yes, Master Illumi. Right away."
Illumi waited for a brief moment before hearing the familiar heavy breathing.
"I thought you said I'm useless? Now you need me?" Milluki said.
Illumi ignored his questions. "I need you and Dad on the phone right away. It's urgent."
"Fine, whatever."
While the two waited for their father to arrive, their mother entered Milluki's room. "Milluki, I heard Illumi called?"
"Yes, he's on speaker right now." Milluki reached into his family-size chip bag to grab a handful of chips to munch on.
"Milluki, stick your hands in that chip bag one more time during this call, and I will cut them off when I get back." Illumi was so tired of hearing the stupid bag rustling, making it difficult for him to hear what people were saying.
"Grr, fine."
"Illumi, sweetheart. How are you doing?" Kikyo purred.
"I'm fine."
"Oh, you sound so harsh! I'm so proud of you, Illumi. I can't wait to see you at home!"
Illumi didn't care for his mother's affection. She was just another assassin after all. "Milluki, I asked for you and Dad, not Mom. So what is she doing in your room?"
"I can't control that," Milluki complained.
"Yes, you can."
Just then, Silva showed up. "I heard this was an urgent matter?"
"Yes," Illumi responded. "First of all, I want to make sure that the only two in Milluki's room are Milluki and Dad. Mom, please leave."
"Oh Illumi, I won't talk-"
"You heard the boy," Silva turned to his wife.
She huffed in anger as she exited the room.
"We're ready, Illumi."
"Dad, how did you get a contract to kill a person who is already dead?"
"What do you mean?"
"I just found out that my target is already dead," Illumi repeated.
"That's impossible," Silva said.
"Who's your source?" Milluki asked.
"A fellow Hunter."
Milluki laughed. "How do you know they're not lying to you?"
Illumi paused. He had no reason to believe Akari would lie to him, but he decided to check anyway. He looked down at the sitting female and asked, "Are you sure about the target's death?"
Akari looked up at him. "Yes."
Illumi turned his attention back to the phone. "Why would she lie about her dead father?" He listened for a response, but none came. He could practically hear the gears turning in their heads.
Milluki spoke up. "Maybe there's another target with the same name. Did you check for that?"
Silva was next. "Illumi, what's the name of your target again?"
"Cliff."
"Unless someone out there is posing as him, it's impossible he's dead. Your grandfather and I scoped out this target, saw him with our own eyes, and decided to hand this job over to you."
Illumi narrowed his eyes and turned back to Akari. He wondered how to confirm whether his father and the Crime Hunter were talking about the same individual. Oh, he thought. I'll just ask both of them to describe him.
"How long has your father been dead?" Illumi asked.
"It's been over five years," Akari answered.
"Can you describe his appearance to me? Any notable features?"
Akari shrugged. She thought for a moment before proceeding to describe her father to her business partner. Even if he was somehow alive, time would've changed him.
Illumi nodded, then asked his father the same. "Dad, now you describe the person you saw."
• Akari •
The two descriptions did not match. Akari exhaled sharply, relieved that her father wasn't somehow faking his death.
She decided this was a good time to visit Cliff's old friend, though he would be difficult to track down. He was always going to the most remote parts of the world, always thinking about how to restore the next archeological ruin. However, around this time of year, Akari knew the general area her father's friend would be located.
She and Illumi parted ways shortly after the phone call. She quickly rushed home, packed a few things, and hopped onto the next airship out of Yorknew.
➖