Yo minna!
I'm trying to update this fic as fast as I can right now
I might not be able to update regularly this December because Christmas season is always a busy time for me
So many things to do =_='…but don't worry, I promise that I won't abandon this story…I love writing this so much…hahaha
A big shoutout to all my reviewers…
You guys are AWESOME!...thank you so much for your very kind words of approval
Please continue to support this story…
Disclaimer
I don't own HXH…
Chapter 9 "Sacrifice x Offer x Test"
"So what would it be?"
"What are you saying?"
"It's actually quite simple; you get want you want and I'll get want I want" he deadpanned "To think that you would come here with none other than my brother, is this what they call fate?"
I stepped back and stared at Illumi
The answers to my questions was finally inches away from me, all I had to do was to accept Illumi's proposal
I froze as I realized what I had just thought. For him to answer my questions there was a large price to pay
The logical part of me was telling me to accept the offer; I promised myself that I would not let anything get in the way of my goal, what are friends anyway?, I didn't need one before. Would losing one hurt me right now? What was Killua to me anyway?
"What are you doing?" I asked
"What does it look like?" He said as he put the chopsticks near my mouth "Here, eat"
"Are you okay?" he asked holding out his hand to me
"Yeah, you?" I answered, taking his hand
"I'm fine" a smirk made its way to his face
He let go of my hand but just as he pulled away I toppled and nearly fell again if he hadn't caught me.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he steadied me as he said this. I held on to his arms because I didn't have the energy to stand by myself.
"I'm sorry" I said softly "I just need to rest for awhile"
I leaned on to his chest. I felt him stiffen at the contact but I was too tired to think anymore.
When he finally relaxed, I let out a chuckle and said "I'm really sorry, you can leave me here if you want, I won't mind"
He sighed before he spoke
"Baka, What good would that do?" I didn't need to see his face to tell that he was rolling his eyes "It's okay, you can sleep if you want, I'll carry you"
I smiled and nodded
"Okay, oyasumi"
Is that really what you want?" there was no trace of humor on his striking eyes and I was speechless with the intensity it held. I gave him a nod, his eyes never left mine and I felt powerless before them.
"I'll do anything I can to help you" he finally broke our gaze and looked up the sky "I promise" his deep voice sent shivers down my back and the force in it left me astounded
Gathering all of my courage, I reached out and took his hand in mine. I felt the heat creep to my face so I turned my gaze on the floor of the bus instead. He stiffened at first so I held on to his hand tightly; I didn't want him to pull away. I saw from my peripheral vision that he turned his attention to our hands for a moment and then went back to his original position. I smiled a little when he relaxed and didn't pull away from my touch. I laced our fingers together; his hand had stopped shaking and I was relieved when I looked at him again. There was actually a small smile on his lips.
I felt disgusted to have seriously considered Illumi's offer. Killua was not just a friend, he was more than that. They mean so much more to me than I thought. Gon and Killua are the only ones in the world that I could possibly care about now. They replaced the emptiness that my parents left behind; they took me in and accepted me, a mere stranger, as one of them. They rescued me from the loneliness and helplessness that I almost drowned in. These two are my important persons now and if knowing the truth will lead to the loss of one of them, than I would rather search for the truth myself.
"No" I looked straight at Illumi's eyes as I took another step back
"Is that so? That's too bad, we could have settled this quite easily" He raised his arm and extended it towards me
I immediately felt his aura become active as he reached for my face. A cold and dark feeling rooted me to the spot and rendered me unable to defend myself. Just as he was about to touch me, Killua appeared out of nowhere and slapped Illumi's hand away.
"Don't touch her" I couldn't see his face but from his tone it was obvious that he was livid
Gon rushed to my side and started to pull me away from the two Zoldicks
"Are you okay Sayuri-chan?"
I nodded, unable to form any words at the moment. My eyes never left Killua's form as I held my breath, waiting for him to step away from Illumi. He was too dangerous, even for Killua.
Illumi let his hand fall to his side "You've removed the needle haven't you?"
"Oh that?" Killua hissed "I've been meaning to thank you for that" he added sarcastically
Illumi's face betrayed no emotions as they had their little exchange
"Are you serious with that offer?" Killua said, a little too casually
"I have no reason to joke around Killua"
"It can't be helped then" Killua sighed deeply and scratched his head in irritation
I felt Gon tense up beside me as Killua's word started to make sense to us.
"No" Gon muttered, his eyes going wide
"So it's settled then" Illumi placed his hand on Killua's shoulder and patted it "Why don't you go up to the mansion, you should at least greet our father and mother after being away for five years"
Killua shrugged off his hand and scowled
"NO!" I run up to Killua and forced him to turn around
Gon was beside me in an instant "What are you doing?" his voice was shaking from fury
Killua hid his eyes behind the bangs of his hair as he spoke "This is the only way to get the answers from him"
"Are you stupid?" I shook his arm "Agreeing to that ridiculous offer, stop joking around"
"I'm not joking around"
"Stop deciding these things on your own" Gon grabbed him by the collar of his shirt
"GON!" I went between them and pushed them away from each other. Gon was glaring at Killua while the latter refused to even look up. I placed my hands on their chests and waited for Gon to calm down. When I was certain that he was okay I faced Killua.
I clutched the front of his shirt tightly "Stop it already, don't do this please" the tears started to fall from my eyes
Killua lifted his head to look at Gon "Gomen, but I have no other choice"
They stared at each other for a while before Gon nodded at him. Killua turned his attention to me and wiped away the tears that were falling from my eyes
"Geez, you're such a crybaby, it's not like I'm going to die"
"Don't do it" I said in between sobs
He placed his hand on top of my hand which was gripping his shirt "I promised that I'll do everything to help you"
I shook my head furiously "No. you don't have to do it. There has to be another way so-"
It was his turn to shake his head "Don't be stupid, this is the only way and you know it" he pried my hands off his shirt and started to walk away "I'll catch up with you guys later"
Killua walked past his brother and Hisoka.
"KILLUA!" Gon shouted "You better come back okay?"
He stopped and looked back at us. I could see the sadness in his eyes even though he tried to keep on a straight face; he gave us a swift nod before continuing on.
A giggling sound escaped Hisoka's lips as he watched us intently "Honto ni omoshiro (This is really interesting), but transmuters are such liars, don't you agree Gon?"
Gon's fist clenched at his side as he glared at Hisoka "He's not lying, he'll come back to us"
"Don't look at me with such eyes, it gets me excited" Hisoka gushed out before licking his lips
"Stop it" Illumi gave him a warning glance "It's not the time for that" he turned to me and gave a nod
"I believe that we had a deal" he started to walk towards us and stopped a few inches away from me
I glared at him but it didn't faze him
Leaning in, he placed his head besides mine and whispered in my ear "You will find what you seek within the Hikari clan"
My eyes went wide and my hands flew to my mouth
Illumi stepped back "Go to the island of Himitsuki, look in its vast forest, you'll find the answers and the revenge you want in there"
"Wait" I grabbed his arm "Who wanted my parents to be killed?"
He removed my hand from his arm "That I don't know, the client who hired me contacts me by phone, I do not know his identity"
"His?"
"Yes, my client was male and his job for me was simple; kill Ryu and Keiko Hikari"
"Why?"
"I don't know, that is all I can tell you so if you'll excuse me"
"Aww, is the fun over already?" Hisoka pouted at his friend "Too bad"
They turned their backs to us and began to walk away. We stared at their retreating form until it disappeared from our view.
My heart was pounding so hard in my chest
The Hikari clan again? It seemed that I was more connected to them than I thought. Gon's voice snapped me out of my reverie.
"Sayuri-chan?" He looked at me with concern etched in his features
"Gon" I reached out to him and buried my head in his chest when he opened his arms to me. I couldn't take it anymore. It was too much for me to take in. I let the tears soil his shirt as my mind desperately tried to cling to consciousness.
He placed his arms around me and rubbed my back soothingly "It's okay Sayuri-chan"
"I'm so sorry" I whispered to his chest "If it wasn't for me then Killua-"
His arms tightened around me "He'll come back, he'll definitely come back to us"
I felt that Gon was reassuring himself more than me. The guilt was so heavy; I tore them apart for my own selfish needs. It would not be enough even if apologized a thousand times, I don't deserve the friendship that they gave me. I shouldn't be seeking comfort within Gon's arms; I wanted him to be angry at me so that my guilt would lessen. Even so I felt happy that he was comforting me instead of pushing me away, I really am such a selfish creature.
"We should go" Gon suggested after I calmed down
I looked at the road in front of us, hoping that I would see Killua waltzing back to us with that smirk on his face
"He won't come back right now Sayuri-chan"
"demo-"
"He'll be back, just not right now"
"When? In a few hours? In the evening?" I asked hopefully
Gon's crestfallen expression was enough for me to realize that Killua would catch up much later than I thought
"They won't let him go would they?"
"No"
"And he knew that didn't he?"
Gon nodded and glared at the ground "He'll find a way to escape, we just have to trust him"
We started to walk back in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. So many emotions were in my hearts right now; anger, guilt, sadness and a little sliver of hope. I just couldn't understand the way Killua thinks. He obviously hated this place so much that he would run away from it but now he willingly went in and stayed for the sake of a promise. He could have at least thought this one through before agreeing to Illumi's offer. I thought that he didn't want to be away from Gon, so why would he sacrifice being with his most important person for someone he just met?
I thought of several ways to solve this problem but most of it seemed stupid and unrealistic. I stole a glance at Gon and what I saw nearly broke my heart. He was in pain from losing his best friend again; and it was my entire fault. It was then that I understood what I could do, what I had to do. I needed both of them a lot but they needed each other much more. I could give up a few years for that, my goal won't change, I'll just have to take a different direction towards it.
I stopped walking
"What is it Sayuri-chan?"
I gave him a determined look "Gomen Gon, but I can't let it stay this way"
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I won't be selfish anymore"
And with that I turned my back to him and run as fast I can towards the Zoldick Mansion
"SAYURI-CHAN"
He tried to pursue me so I placed my palms on the ground and made gaping rift between us. The earth shook as he stopped to regain his balance. I gave him an apologetic look before running again. I heard him curse loudly and call my name but I paid no attention to his voice.
After a few minutes of non-stop running I saw two persons walking up the path
"ILLUMI"
I called out to him and he turned at the sound of my voice. I stopped a few feet away from him and tried to catch my breath. Hisoka looked at me; his eyes twinkling in amusement
"Where's Gon?" Hisoka looked behind me hopefully
"Sorry to disappoint you but I'm alone"
"Who said I'm disappointed? I never get bored with looking at unripe fruits"
I glared at him before turning to the Illumi
"I told you everything I knew"
"That's not the reason why I'm here" I stated "I have a proposal for you"
His brows shot up in surprise though his eyes remained dull and lifeless
I continued when he said nothing "Take me"
"What are you saying?"
"I'll take Killua's place and become an assassin, just let him go"
"What makes you think that you could just take his place?" Illumi walked towards me and circle around the place where I was standing "Killua is a prodigy, a genius in the art of killing. Do you think that you can match up to him just like that?"
"Yes" I declared confidently
"Can you kill?"
"I have"
Hisoka laughed and I threw a glare at him "What's funny?"
It was Illumi who answered for him "You are Hikari-san, you are quite confident of your skills"
"I am" I was starting to get ticked off at their reactions "So, do you accept my offer?"
Illumi stopped circling and stood in front of me "I think that I should test your abilities first before I answer Hikari-san"
"What?"
"How about we make a deal?" he pulled out a needle from his chest "If you manage to defeat me then I'll accept your offer"
"And if I can't?"
"Then Killua stays" he pulled another needle out "Do we have a deal?"
I eyed the needles in his hand nervously as the memories of the night he attacked me came flooding to my mind. He was no doubt stronger than me and to engage him in battle would be suicide. Too bad I was too stubborn for my own good; once I decided on something it would take a lot to change my mind. And this is what I decided; it was time to get back at Illumi for what he did not only for my parents but also for my friends.
I smirked as I got into my fighting stance "I accept your offer Illumi-san"
Another cliffhanger…hehe…^_^v
What do you guys think?
If anyone has suggestions tell me 'kay…
Please Review!