(I finished this a while back but didn't feel ready to publish Just saying.)
Author's note:
Recently, I read The Book Thief and loved it. So, of course I had to read another book by Markus Zusak! Shortly after finishing I am the Messenger, I found a lovely anime to watch! Naturally I'd make the connection as seen in this fanfiction.
Disclaimer: I own neither Hunter X Hunter, nor The Messenger. Both belong to their respective owners and I do not make money from writing this.
Playing Cards
He had been anticipating this moment for so long. So, torturingly long.
It was the moment when the joker card, addressed to his home, would come into action.
He knew because of the odd stranger sitting on his couch- casually flicking playing cards so that they would be lodged into the opposite wall.
Ed hadn't even thought about the cards and wall upon seeing the pink and purple haired man. And it wasn't just the hair! The guy was abnormally thin, but only in his torso, and didn't even try to hide it, wearing a fit, bubblegum colored garment underneath a large, but short shirt. The rest of his outfit had the same purple, pink, and white color scheme.
On his face, a raindrop-like shape was painted under one eye; a yellow star under the other.
Yet as silly as the man could've looked, he was simply terrifying, with a sharp, evil look in his eyes, and a grim form in his lips. Not to mention the air he had about him. Just terrible.
It made Ed's heart leap, the first sight of him.
And then of course, the man spoke.
"Ed Kennedy," a smooth, deep voice came in some sort of greeting. "I hope you enjoyed the little adventure I sent you on."
Ed said nothing. He didn't move an inch. His fingers twitched on the Doorman's leash, and sweat formed at his forehead.
"You know who I am. You know why I'm here."
And it was true. Ed did know. But still he did nothing.
A card, the king of hearts, flew past his head, lodging itself into the wall with the rest of them. He gulped.
"Well?" the figure asked. "Are you going to say anything?"
He tried again to remain calm, and said, "It was life changing."
The intruder laughed horribly. "I'm sure it was. Is that all you have to say?"
Ed shook his head. "Get on with it- why you're here."
"I'm here to confess. To show myself to you." He faked directing a card at the man, and put them in the box. He stood again, to collect the others implanted in the shack. "I did it all. I watched all of those people. I killed your dad. You were chosen long before the robbery. That was just to set things in motion. To give you a scare. Or to seal the deal. Maybe a whim for once?" he scratched his chin in thought.
"Whatever the case, it happened, and our business is done."
With that, the man left and they knew they would never see each other again. There was no purpose of any more. All of it was finally over.
Author's note: I honestly wrote the first two thirds of this a while ago. I don't have the book to reference from, nor do I remember it so easily… I do remember that the guy who orchestrated it all was probably supposed to the author, himself, though! That was a nice touch! So anyways, this ending isn't exactly correct and was therefore rushed but whatever! it's alright, i guess.