A/N . Hi there everybody. This is going to be a short HXH story revolving around Illumi. Unfortunately I'm not too intense about details. And all my loveable characters happen to be villains in the anime. But that's just how the world works. -(' = ')-. Have fun.

To catch a Zoldyck

Chapter 1

An order. A single command from the lady of the house and I was a sitting duck awaiting to meet my demise. My fingers continued twitching and trembling. What does Lady Kikyo wish to accomplish by sending me to this particular room? Taking in the dull gray wallpaper, the room is unusually clean even for him. Should I sit, stand or maybe lie down on the floor. No matter what I do I am still intruding in his private quarters. Even if Lady Kikyo gave the order. The door knob clicks. Instinctively my spine straightens and my fists tighten. Standing it is. Dark empty eyes stare at me before checking his door and then looking my way again. Despite how unusual my presence is he is not moved and his empty expression rattles me even more.

"I didn't order for a training dummy today. Even so I think I'm a bit rusty. My last kill was a few hours ago."

He effortlessly rolls a golden pin between his middle and index finger. I can't help trembling.

"It won't be much of an exercise if you don't activate your nen. Do so quickly."

Whatever I'm going to say will mean the difference between my life and death. He grabs three more pins with his left hand and observes them with the same unflattered expression.

"Please don't maime me!"

I couldn't help it. I blurted that statement to one of the scariest people on the planet. But oh no. That wasn't enough.

" Or torture me! Or kill me!"

His foot takes a step forward. Why do I feel his presence overwhelming me all of a sudden? It's suffocating. His eyes are even more frightening than before. His already huge eyes widen and zoom in on me. After gathering whatever information he needed his eyes returned to their normal uninterested state.

"You're not a nen user. Nor can you fight. What is a useless creature like yourself doing on the Zoldyck estate? Quite plainly you don't have the ability or knowledge to trespass. Who brought you here?"

"Master Illumi I apologize. Lady Kikyo..."

"Mother did?"

His right eyebrow curves to the slightest of degrees. It's almost unnoticable.

"Speak. Why did my mother send you to my room?"

"Lady Kikyo ordered me to keep you company in anyway that you see fit."

Illumi picked up the needles again.

"In anyway that does not include torturing, maiming or killing me."

Dealing with him was like dealing with a one track minded killing machine. If it moves it's a target. If it beats it's a target. This must be a new record for Illumi. Surviving a minute without killing the strange woman his mother sent to his room.

"You are useless as you are to me now. If I had turned you into a nen doll your servitude to me would be at its best."

"I suppose so Master Illumi but that's not why I'm here tonight. Is there anything that this humble servant can do for you?"

It didn't take him a moment to decide what he wanted.

"There's a katana behind my bedside post. Slit your throat."

Does all he want to do is kill me? If I had read the job details with a magnifying lens I wouldn't be in this mess.

"I apologise Master Illumi. Killing myself is not a part of the arrangement either."

He blinked once.

"Oh. Then leave."

I bowed my head once.

"As you wish Master Illumi. I bid you a good night."

The moment my entire being had exited the devil's cavern my soul was at peace. I was never doing this again. The feeling of anxiety nibbling away at my resolve to live. My clammy hands. It didn't help that my shirt stuck to me like I'd spent an hour doing a gruelling exercise.

"Aaaah"

I am amazing. I fictionally battled for my life with the oldest Zoldyck sibling and lived to tell the tale. Life has never tasted so much sweeter. Speaking of life I've never been this exhausted before. I might as well as retire to my room. The Zoldyck mansion is huge. I'd received a detailed guide from their trusted butler Gotoh-san but I still managed to get myself lost. But eventually I stumbled across my room. Where a red cyclops eye bobbled excitedly in my direction? Why was Lady Kikyo waiting by my door? Was it a precaution. To see what returned faster. Me or the body bag. Thankfully I won this round.

"I'm simply delighted. My son didn't disobey his mother this time. Or could it be because you were too weak to begin with."

Did she just use me for beta testing? But I had to suck it up. Life is too precious to forfeit.

"Manami."

"Yes Lady Kikyo."

"Tomorrow you shall repeat the same exercise at today. Consider it as your training. Let's hope that your luck wouldn't have run out by then. It's not everyday that Illumi grants a nobody life. But for your sake try by all means necessary to live."

"I understand your order lady Kikyo."

With those words she dismissed me. What was this? Up until last week I was a regular girl living an ordinary life until I received an offer I couldn't pass up. The flyer proclaimed that a woman needed someone to keep her autistic son company. Simple enough right? But the rest of the details where written in nen so of course I couldn't read the rest of the fine print. Knowing all this lady Kikyo hand picked me to face her terrifying eldest son. With the reputation the Zoldycks have it's a surprise that a simpleton like myself managed to survive even for a second. And now lady Kikyo wanted a second round of today's horrifying ordeal. I collapsed on the floor in a defeated heap. I just can't do it again.

I know that I said that I wouldn't return to his room again but I'm in the lion's den. It doesn't matter where I run to. That's right. There's nowhere to hide since everything in the estate kills. So I'm back in his dimly lit room. This time I'm on my knees with my had bowed down. And I wait silently. The door opens and closes.

"Good evening Master Illumi."

"Are you ready to die yet?"

Good evening to you too buddy.

"Unfortunately no. I'm sorry master."

"Okay."

Does he mean it? It's fine if I keep my life. I'm so happy that I could die.

"Lock the door."

I stand up and make my way to the door and painfully seal away my only exit. One deadbolt after another. I feel a hand tug my promptly done milk braid.

"Are you naturally blonde useless creature?"

"Yes master. But please call me Manami if it's to your liking. "

"Manami. So you're a useless sea creature."

I already regret telling him my name. Turning around I find myself confronted by Illumi's towering figure. What should I do? What can I do? His emotionless eyes look into mine.

"Do you want to know why you're here Manami? Why I asked you to lock up the door Manami? The reason why you can't stop trembling Manami?"

Everytime he says my name I feel like I'm stepping closer and closer to the end of the world. It doesn't help that his finger is still coiled around the end of my braid.

"Yes Master Illumi."

His eyebrow twinged in a semblance of muse. Was I that stupid?

"It's quite simple useless creature. You're here to continue the family bloodline Manami."

End of Chapter 1

A/N : I did promise to make the story short. But not to worry. I hope you liked this chapter. Your Author VELVETSIN.