Killua finds out a shocking reveal, a truth that makes black and white impossible to discern, as Nathaniel helps his son, pushing him to find something to latch onto.

Killua curled his fingers inwards, one hand gently holding his sister. The boy really needed to talk to the man, who single handily destroyed Daniel's happiness. Even at the door, Vastorie's presence could be felt, his desire to be left alone radiating through the door.

Yes, the man didn't want to be bothered, for now. But if Killua wanted to get the upper hand on Victor, he needed something from him, a keepsake, a picture of the man. Vastorie was the only one to act like he knew the man, and neither Nathaniel or himself could remember a distinguishing feature.

The only way Nathaniel could even remember his name, was because he wrote it down before he fell asleep. The man's Nen seemed to be activated through the process of sleep. Dealing with such an ability would be no easy feat, especially when it comes to guarding against future attacks. If they ran into the man once more, running would be the best situation.

However, unless Killua knew what he was looking out for, they couldn't escape.

The boy found his hand gravitating towards the doorknob, opening without a second thought. There he found the man, the back of the chair faced towards them. He hadn't moved in the slightest, retracting his aura with a long-tired sigh "What…?"

The boy took his sister's hand, guiding her into the room. As the boy closed the door behind them, his eyes were directed to where the man sat, whom still remained unmoved in his seat. Killua would soon change that, making demands which he hoped Vastorie would be more than willing to accept "We want to know about Vict-"

"He is none of your concern… I'll deal with him."

Killua grit his teeth, hating the fact that a single name, could cause the man who once showed compassion and love for his family, was being reduced to seething hatred; a cold, unapproachable atmosphere.

Not even Killua could make his father react like that. He would always have to act calm, calculative around his father. If not, the discussion was over and he would never be able to convince his father otherwise. Vastorie acted like the complete opposite, vengeful and broken. What this man went through wasn't anything like Killua experience, yet at the same time… he could gather from how Vastorie reacted to his father's name, killing, wasn't out of the question. The thought was calm, unable to deny the possibility to think that Daniel's father, might be an Ex-Assassin as well "Your previous job was an Assassin, wasn't it?"

"What's it to you?"

Bingo! "I want to know what your father looks like…"

"AS I SAID… He is none of your concern… I'll deal with him."

"When's that? Today? Tomorrow? Next week?"

Vastorie finally turned from his spot, glaring at the boy "You're testing my patience, boy…"

Killua slammed both hands onto the table, leaning forward into Vastorie's intense gaze. No matter how much his boyfriend's father wanted to kill him, he wouldn't do it. He already hurt his son once. If Daniel had his memories returned to him, he'll only make his son either give up on life or seek out his father's life "I'm demanding because I want to protect Daniel, unlike you who can't even apologise!"

"He always hated me, so this wouldn't be much of a difference."

"No, he seemed so happy to see you when you two met."

Vastorie let out a long sigh, leaning back into the chair. No, Killua was wrong about that. Yes, he was happy, but that was to see him. The moment he opened his mouth, Daniel could see why he didn't like him anymore. No one ever liked his personality… the only one to ever gravitate towards him was Nathaniel… and Avlas.

In all honesty, he hates his life… his ability given to him at birth. Yet those two made it worth living. Then he lost Avlas and now Nathaniel… He was never meant to be happy, and those everlasting moments of happiness, always ended, made to be forgotten like a lone tombstone.

The man's lack of words made Killua lift both hands off the table "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Don't you want Daniel to remain safe…?"

"Behind the family portrait is safe. The password is Avlas' birthday."

"Who…?"

"You'll understand once you open the safe. 1-8-0-6, that's the password."

Killua approached the photo, removing the picture to find a safe there. Once he opened it, he found a dusty framed photo. Once he removed it, he blew the dust off, revealing a painting. What he saw made his jaw drop.

It wasn't any painting his ever seen before, but it was well drawn, the colours working elegantly together, creating a mirage from a family photo. And this wasn't any regular family photo, it was one of two combined families. The Darkscryers… and the Zoldycks "What's the meaning of this!"

"I painted that. It was an oil canvas based off a photo that no longer exists."

Killua looked back at the image, scanning through the faces. Illumi was there, glaring at Zaikaria as she did the same. Milluki was stuffing his face as per usual. Alluka was here as well, hugging her brother along with Daniel, both of them as beyond happy, radiant a love which would be impossible to reproduce right now. Kalluto to their side, glaring at them. Next, he found Vastorie and Nathaniel together, both smiling as well. Zeno was in the photo as well, calm, relaxed with a crooked smile alongside Killua's parents who both didn't want to be there… and someone else.

The man was tall, one arm leaning against his father, a cheerful smile etched into his features. Like Illumi, he had deep black eyes and black hair, which was tied up into a ponytail, resting against his shoulder. He had a slender build, wearing a similar outfit to his father.

Killua had no idea who he was, but the fact he was so casual with his father, meant that he knew him… possibly as a child. Killua brought the photo over to Vastorie "What is the meaning of this? Who is he?!"

"That man is… or should I say was, your uncle."

"I don't have an uncle…"

"You're right, at least not in this alternate timeline… He was erased through my ability… my original ability…"

Vastorie since young could always remember having this innate ability, a way to communicate with the dead. He always feared it at a young age though, dead people coming to him, begging him for things he could never do.

The older he got, the weaker its hold became, rules and regulations being put in place without his knowledge. Little by little, the ghosts could speak less to him, and he became less scared of them. The first time he ever opened up to any ghost, he was eight at the time.

It was a boy close to his age, scared like he was. The ghost although, might have been younger than him, calling out to their 'papa'. He remembered trying to comfort the boy, but his father deemed it unfit, striking him every time he showed signs of emotion.

Unintentionally, that was the same moment he gave away his ability to his father. Although the man couldn't see it, now that he looked back on it, his father could definitely sense something different about him.

Losing his mother was enough to make him lose his humanity, and every friend he lost, dampened his emotion a little at a time. By the time he reached twelve, he had nothing, but the next paycheck to live for.

Killua found his mouth opening slightly, still a little confused at the words. His original ability? Yes, his witnessed different sides to Specialists, Neferpitou being able to heal as well as control and contort their body, even after death. So, the fact that Vastorie has two different abilities shouldn't be a stretch by any standard "What do you mean?"

"My true ability is to converse with ghosts… I can talk to, as well as summon the ghosts of the dead, as long as I: One, know who they are… The person who wants to summon them knows who they are… And lastly, if they want to be erased forever."

"Erased…?"

"Imagine it this way, how much of your life would change if you never met Daniel?"

"I… I would still travel alongside Gon… maybe even fall in love with him, eventually… possibly after it was too late."

"Well, Vic- that man, in this specific timeline… used his ability on you, and Avlas was the one who managed to take the man's life before dying. But we hadn't anticipated what would happen when… when Victor died. His ability intensified, instead of erasing your memories, it erased your personality, throwing you into a deep slumber."

Killua's jaw dropped further, trying to understand the situation "Wa- wait a minute! Why did he attack me?" NO, that's not important! I don't even remember any of this happening, at all. If that's the case, then… the form of 'erase' his speaking about, is one where the person was never born…

"He wasn't aiming for you… he was aiming for Daniel. You just got in his way. Both Daniel and Alluka were pleading all of us, to save you, which brings me to a little news which may unsettle you…"

Eyes gazing to Alluka "None of us could make a Wish. None of us could request Nanika to save you."

Killua grit his teeth, baring his fangs at Vastorie. In alternate memories, the man still retains his memories of Nanika's wish-granting ability. How much did this man know? Does he know every detail… every rule? "How do you remember?! What do you know?!"

"Only as much as Avlas told me. He only told me, because he trusted me… there was nothing I could wish for. Regardless, Mitsuba ran into him first, and rather than alerting his sister-in-law like a good brother-in-law, he ran to you. Because out of everyone in the family, you were the closest to her. You told him the basics, and he kept everything a secret. She was never caged… locked underground because of what she could do. The next time she made a wish, it was with Avlas… and the wish he made, was to never make a wish again…"

Vastorie cracked a smile, remembering the words he would carry to the grave with him "because no one wants anymore, then for you, Alluka and Nanika, to be happy. It kept her safe, as well as keeping Nanika alive. Sure, Nanika had no reason to come out as often anymore, but that didn't stop Alluka from talking to her… for you and Daniel to reach out to her. Because of that wish, we couldn't save you… So instead, I had to make the worst decision of my life…"

Vastorie dropped his gaze, looking at the image of Avlas, the only remaining image of the man he once cared deeply about "using my body as a host, I requested Avlas to take your position instead. It worked… but it fucked up the entire world. Everything I remembered, was completely different to Zaikaria's… to Nathaniel's…"

Drawing a finger out to Killua, the man's gaze met him "You, were the inconsistency. You ran into Daniel again, out on a mission and… No, that's not important. What is, however, is the world is connected through a series of strings. We do things differently if someone is erased. However, erasing Avlas destroyed so many lives… and for that, I'm sorry. Alluka had to suffer because of my decision."

Killua clenched his fist. He hated this information. But, it wasn't enough to get him to hate the man. Yes, his sister had a better life in that alternate universe, but if he remained in an eternal slumber, Daniel and Alluka would forever remain destroyed… and from the sounds of things, he also never met Gon "Was… Was I trained to be an Assassin?"

"No… Avlas took up the mantle. He wanted you to make the decision, instead of being thrust into that life. Your Brother, father, as well as your mother, objected. But not only Avlas, but Zeno as well painfully reminded them, that he could have easily taken them on."

The chair squeaked as the man leaned against the armrest, a finger being used as his head rest "The butlers wouldn't have been able to stop him… not, that he planned on attacking them. He just reminded them," Vastorie's eyes narrowed slightly as if we're using the statement to enforce his own ideals "that his ability surpasses theirs, including his training. He was after all," with a wicked smirk, the man paused. He wanted Killua to make sure he was listening, now more than ever "More experienced than them…"

Killua knew that story had a bit of realism added to it. But no matter how much the man wanted to scare him away into believing he was powerless in this situation, he won't buckle. "My father wouldn't agree to that…"

"He wouldn't… but ultimately he did, only because of one thing… he couldn't beat Avlas. True to the man's word," Vastorie sat up straight "he always beat him using conventual methods. During one round, the both of them destroyed three rooms."

"I… still don't believe you," Killua struggled to figure out what part was real, and what was made up. It was all made up in a sense, a part of a world which no longer exists. People tend to alter someone's personality in one way or another, but this… this sounded off. His father, wouldn't even let other members of the family, get in the way of what he believes is right for Killua. Hell, there was a war based on the internal conflicts of what was the right thing to do with Alluka. "My father wouldn't agree, not even then."

"What if I told you he lost forty-eight fights out of fifty."

"FORTY-EIGHT?!" Killua grit his teeth. "Don't lie…" Wait, if his father couldn't beat Avlas, why did he win two out of fifty fights? That was inconsistent with being unable to win. "How can Avlas always win, if he lost two out of fifty?"

"Then don't believe me," Vastorie swivelled in his chair, facing his back to them. He no longer wanted to talk about his past, this act being an indicator that he wanted to be left alone. "My story has no impact on what you do now. A draw is neither a loss or a win. Your actions change the future, not those, who have passed. I only told you, because it will affect everything you hear about me. It will change you're perceptive of me… that's why I told you. I'm a monster, who took so many lives… for what? A moment of happiness? Sure, because that's all I deserved. Nothing more… nothing less…" He paused, voice sounding further way, as though he were no longer in the room, even if it had come from his own throat, "That's why I envy you."

Killua flinched in surprise. He hadn't expected anyone to envy him, let alone Daniel's father "What could you, possible envy from me?! You weren't forced to kill animals you loved… you didn't endure torture every GOD DAMN DAY!"

"Torture, yes… Kill, no. But I'm not talking about that." Vastorie twisted the chair back around, frustrated that he had to once more deal with his son's boyfriend. Nothing is more frustrating than having to relive his past over and over again, a broken record which now matched his broken mentality. "I was seventeen when I joined the Hunter's Exam… you were twelve. You got out early, I didn't…"

The man's lips twitched in anger, a presence of bloodlust slowly leaking out, entwining with Killua's aura, battling to see who would buckle first. His son's partner, or himself. "I only joined the hunter's exam, because of my father's request. I needed one… but then I met Avlas and Nathaniel. Everything became history. But I still hold that fear of loss, avoiding them like the plague. I had to check to see what changes occurred. I found out Nathaniel pursued me because I seemed so lonely. Netero took me in because of my father, he was surprised once he learned who he was. Sure, I had this wonderful life…" He opened his hands, resting them both on the table in front of him, an open gesture which dared the boy to fight him on his position. "But every second, that could have been taken away from me. I held that fear until now…"

Killua looked down, that, he could understand. Illumi can take away his memories at any given moment and had done so on numerous occasions. He even took his memories of Alluka away from him.

Alluka had sucked in the information, remaining quiet until now. Walking up to the desk, she reached out to Vastorie taking his hands within her own. Maybe she could reach out to him, even though his body language, gave away how much he wanted to be left alone, to suffer, "Then don't make Daniel suffer the same. Help my big brother protect him. Isn't there anyone who can save him…?"

Vastorie took his hands away, leaning back into the chair as he crossed his arms "No one I know of. Zaikaria might be able to return his memories, but she won't do it. She hates your guts Killua."

"WHY?! What did I do to get her to hate me so much…?"

"Ask her…"

Killua shot the man a glare, which only made Vastorie return a blank one, uncaring for the hostility he was now receiving. In all honesty, he looked more broken, like he had stopped caring about how much he was suffering, like his own actions from earlier. Was it true? Was he luckier than Vastorie right now?

Killua shifted his gaze from Vastorie to the photo, wondering where everything went wrong. If what Vastorie told was the truth, that his memories were from a different timeline than what he was experiencing now… Then those last few days, were they a lie living in the truth, or he was just playing along because that was all he had left from his past life.

Killua leaned across the table. "Tell me the truth. Did you mean everything you said back then? Downstairs to Nathaniel. Would you wish you could erase your father's life, even if it costs Daniel's…?"

An empty gaze met Killua's, leaving the two siblings in an eerie silence. All that was left, was the truth to be discovered from the father's story.

"~"

Nathaniel woke his son up, fingers gently calling his son back to life. Daniel's puffy eyes looked up at him, the sight making him struggle to remain to sain when tears threaten to fall. He loved his son, and he was certain Vastorie loved him too.

He was sure that his actions and words, were only because of his fear of loss, hopelessness in a situation where he personally couldn't do anything. He had nothing to latch on, nothing to move or call upon, to bring back the son, he was sure his husband loved.

Yes, he had a weird way of showing that love at times, but those were all from the way he was brought up. Incidentally, Nathaniel also enforced those ideals on the Vastorie. He accidentally proved that strength is the way to protect those who needed it. His distorted form of love came from sex, and now that he looks on it… he only added fuel to the fire, enforcing this self-abuse.

In Vastorie's case, being fucked senseless.

Nathaniel brought his hands up, intending to rope his fingers through his son's hair, but like every other time, his hand was knocked aside. A painful silence, looming between the both of them.

"Daniel… I know you are hurting inside, but you have to let me talk to you. Please, open up to me."

"Is it true… Nathan, does he regret having me?"

"NO, NOT AT ALL! He's just… in a bad place right now. He's not upset at you, but rather at me."

"Why don't I believe you…" Daniel crawled out from underneath his father, resting his head against the pillow, back turned against his own father. It was strange considering he was the one who he has always loved getting attention from. But now, from that lie, he couldn't discern whether or not he deserves to seek out happiness.

Nathaniel didn't let his son sulk for long, sweeping him back into his arms, embracing him. The warmth of the man's chest made Daniel feel protected like nothing could go wrong. But the boy's mind refused to accept it, making him struggle against his father's unbreakable vice-like grip.

"No, just listen. Daniel, I want you to know that what your father said, it's not true. He doesn't hate you at all. HE LOVES YOU! He wants the best for you… So, as payment for his crimes, he gave me this." Nathaniel brought out the piece of paper, showing it to Daniel.

Daniel's hollow gaze looked at the names before speaking "You're lying. You wrote this…"

"He told me to write these names…"

"I don't believe you…"

Nathaniel could only break down at how destroyed his son sounded at that moment. His tears hit the boy's back, making even his son freeze on the spot. Was there really no hope with bringing his son's happiness back from the brink of destruction? Will the boy forever wallow in this idea of being unwanted? No, he had to hold on a little while longer.

If his son got back his memories, he'll find that he wanted by someone, even if in his mind, he sees himself as being unwanted by his family. Nathaniel brought the paper closer to his son, making sure that the boy did grasp onto it like it was his last piece of hope in the world. "I know you feel unwanted now, but other than myself, there are others who still need you more than anyone else in the world."

"Who…? Who could want me…?"

"Zaikaria, Alluka, Gon, I think you mentioned someone by the name of Sakura?"

"It's not them… It's that… I feel like a piece of myself has been ripped out of my chest. I feel so… lonely right now."

"Then Killua…"

"His some nobody, who just happens to be Alluka's brother."

"Give him a chance, please… for me. I know one day you can come to care about him."

"I won't… I just don't see it."

Nathaniel let out a small huff "Stop being stubborn like Vastorie!"

"I'M NOTHING LIKE HIM!"

"Then don't act like him. Give him a chance!"

Daniel grits his teeth at the accusation, only to relent at the words. Fine, he'll trust Killua. But if Killua kept pushing this distort form of affection on him like Yanick did, he's leaving before the boy could even raise a finger in objection. He might join Gon and Sakura as a third wheel or something. Or maybe he'd just travel the world on his own until he finds someone else who wants him as much as he does "Fine, but one mistake… and I'm leaving."

Nathaniel ran his fingers along Daniel's side, the boy feeling uncomfortable at the action. It wasn't that the touch felt unwanted, it's like his brain was trying to associate it with something that never happened at all. It felt tingly, too… disgusting. "Please, don't touch me like that…"

Nathaniel let his son go, even though he didn't feel like he should've done so in the first place "Ok. So, you'll go with Killua."

"Yes… But like I said-"

"I know. But, you'll let him speak his mind one day. You will let him tell you about his life in a way that may contradict your feelings?"

"Maybe…"

"Maybe is better than no. Come here, give me a hug."

Daniel reached out, arms hugging his father. Nathaniel did the same, but he left it open, so as soon as Daniel felt ready, his arms will leave Nathaniel's. But they never did, always remaining by his side.

It made Nathaniel smile, even when it was only slightly quirked upwards. A hug can mean a thousand words in the right context, and for Daniel, it was no different. Even when he had begged to be left alone an hour ago, his grip was now pleading for him to remain at his side, even when his next words threaten to destroy that world "Can you pack your bags. You'll leave by tomorrow at the latest."

Daniel nodded, fingertips loosening from his father "Sure, as long as I get to write a few things down. I want to get stronger… although, I don't have a reason as to why yet."

"Then find that reason… you have the whole world, waiting to give you a reason."

"Thanks, dad…" His smile was soft and sincere, perplexing ideas curling only around his heart. Was that really the right choice? Was leaving his parents to travel the world with Alluka and Killua the right decision to make right now?

His heart screamed out no, that he should try to stay, to find out more, including how to fix it. Even so, he didn't know how to face his father Vastorie. What does he say to the man who wished he never had him? Even when Nathaniel says he doesn't believe his husband meant it, Vastorie may still hold true to those convictions in one way or another…

I guess the only answer, is to seek out those who've met him at different times in his life.