Chapter 11: Relic

"Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others." ~Niccolo Machiavelli~

A week has passed since the wedding, and Aoi swore she could write a novel on the things that happened with her since she moved in. it was like a strange rom-com telenovella sort of a thing. She did not want to be a sceptic, with all those new people, but the things weren't as easy as they seemed. She would have appreciated if Pokkle stayed; he was a weird sort of comfort to her. But unlike him, the others didn't seem to be platonic to her. Now when everything was official, things started to seem scary. Her room was oddly stuffy today; and it was supposed to be early spring. Taking her Pride and Prejudice with her, she descended the stairs to sit in the living room; thankfully it was the school foundation anniversary in a weekday that meant most of them were out at work; even Chrollo, who was a guest lecturer at her school, was gone to University. Tucking her feet in the couch, she cosily turned the pages.

Between the midday silence of a spring noon and the quiet rustling of the pages, a loud noise of door-slamming startled her breath out of Aoi. She looked up, from the place she suspected the noise was from, and saw Killua, standing on the balcony in his pyjamas, when his eyes met Aoi's he abruptly retreated from her sight. Aoi ignored the matter: this kind of behaviour was now become a norm. Either people ignored her, or get flustered or horny around her- there was no in between.

Suddenly the land phone rang loudly, and being the only one in the living room, Aoi picked it up.

'Hello…'

'Oh hey… it's you!' a familiar voice talked, 'I called to talk with you, but what a coincidence!' it was Pokkle.

'Pokkle-san… what a lovely surprise!' Aoi said 'But how did you know I was home?'

'I went the same school as you and Killu' Pokkle said 'Kurama-sensei called me 'Hawkeye' those days… ah, old glory days…. ' He retrospect, 'anyway, how are you?'

'I am quite well, thank you… how are your practices?'

'Fine… nothing special, or to mention anyway. Coach is giving me hard time for the summer games, and forbidden me to snack on chicken nuggets, which is like a punishment in hell to me.' To this Aoi laughed.

'Goodness Aoi-kun, it is quite surprising… that was a pleasant surprise, hearing you laugh' to which Aoi resisted herself, 'depends on what you had expected out of my laugh.' 'Oh you misunderstand me…' Pokkle replied with relative ease, which was comforting to Aoi 'what you are suggesting is a forbidden topic and-' Pokkle haulted 'that is for another time I presume… you are not a fois gras to be fed everything at once…'

'Pokkle-san…' Aoi stopped him.

'Yes Aoi-san…. What is it?'

'I know it is a strange time, and I am have officially been related to you for only a week now, but I had been here for one month almost and some strange things are happening to me… I don't know who to go and what to tell and I don't want to upset anybody-'

'Are you alright?' Pokkle asked very seriously 'what exactly do you mean?'

'I would appreciate very much if you and I could talk alone… can you manage sometime this weekend?'

'By the way you sound; I will ask my coach rightaway…. Give me your cell number, I'll text you.'

Aoi disconnected after exchanging numbers, and the moment she hung up, she saw Killua standing right in front of her, staring with piercing eyes… my goodness, did he heard?

'Was it Pokkun on the phone?' Killua asked.

'I am afraid yes…' Aoi replied, 'Why, you need to talk with him?'

'No actually….' Killua sternly said 'I was wondering why all of a sudden, in a quiet afternoon you need to talk with him?'

'That's none of your business too, I am afraid, and I am afraid that I am not bound to answer it either' Aoi swept up and walked past him, but missed his slightly hurt eyes that clearly said he didn't meant the harshness. He went outside the room, and hastily dialled a number.

'Hello…'

'Pokkun… it's me, Coco…' Killua harshly said 'you called Aoi?'

'Yes I did! I told you I called her names right? The way Fei-Fei described her, I thought her really unpleasant… he was a tad bit mean to her. I felt really sorry and I apologised. She is a nice girl, and we are friends already-'

'Are you trying to sleep with her Pokkun?'

'What?' Pokkle spat 'how could you even say that Killu… that… that's not even right… why would you? Killu… I am speechless right now, how could this even happen between-'

'Don't need to over-react now-'

'Overreact? Killu you realise what you said? That's like… can't say it loud… that's like a moral crime… I am not a monster…'

'It's hard to believe these days…' Killu says 'the house smells like testosterone pool now… It's not like I blame her, heck, it's even not her fault, but I have been noticing things lately which… '

'Killu… what's going on over there? Should I be worried… should I call Mr. Knov?' Pokkle said, and cold sweat was running on his upper lip, poor girl, what the hell was happening there!

'No god… you realise if this gets out what will happen? You are a celeb, you guess… anyway' Killua walked further into the garden, away from the house 'we cannot involve anyone… with my Hunter Exam coming up, I am freaking out already… listen to me Pokkun… we made a promise remember, when you left the house?'

'Yes I do… ' Pokkle said.

'You can't fail the bro-code….' Killua hung up the phone, but he was completely unaware that Aoi spied him all the time from her window. Suddenly her own phone buzzed and Aoi quickly moved away from the window. It was a brief text.

'I'll meet you at the seven-point café in downtown Yorknew, Friday, 3:30 after school ~Pokkle~' finished with an arrow- clipart.

…

Aoi waited at the cafe patiently. With all her uniform, she had been attracting all kinds of weird attentions. She nervously ordered a berry tea and while the steaming tea was wafting with delicious smell under her nose, she texted Menchi, however the overcast of shadow told her that someone was behind her.

'Chi-chan... thank god!' Aoi huffed in relief, ''sup... ' she replied and ordered a Macchiato. 'You told him I was coming?' she asked 'I just texted him minutes ago. I don't know how he will react. He is very blunt I tell you.' Aoi nervously said 'so don't be insulted okay?'

'Listen, blunt is always good... except for pencils' Menchi commented and snapped her fingers 'it's zip, swap and there... gone out the window. So I am prepared for anything. If he tries something funny, I will show him what a bitch I can be. So don't worry!' Menchi said, and with a crisp footstep from their back, the adjourned their conversation to look at the person.

'Ah... so you must be Menchi.' Pokkle shook her hands, and Menchi although she was taken aback by the black cap and the aviators in the low-light afternoon, she snapped back, 'I don't need to know who you are Onii-san...' she winked and Pokkle returned her wink, for her being sensible enough not to mention his name under a public setting.

'So, why here? Why not anywhere else? Aren't you gonna get exposed of whatever beef is going on?' Menchi whispered. 'You finish your drinks girls; I know just the right place.' He replied: Aoi was relieved that Pokkle was that sort of a guy who can keep up with Menchi.

Pokkle paid their tabs discreetly and led them into a comparatively less crowded block. Aoi knew, from the almost ignorable metallic jingling, Menchi was playing with her 880 volts taser in her pocket, should the occasion arise, she will tase him and post his mishap in the internet. She had done it before: during Aoi's 14th birthday, when they watched 'My Little Monster' in opening night premier, a creepy half-celebrity tried to get frisky with both of them. Being a girl of a naval officer, Menchi not only groined him and tased him, but made a huge deal out of it in the social media. She didn't got any backlash for that: why? Because her father is a personal friend of Lieutanant Silva Zoldyck.

'So where are we going?' Aoi asked curiously: this part of Yorkshin was unfamiliar to her, she hadn't been here before, it was sort of shady and dingy, and it was sort of the kind of place which boys will call 'hood'. Menchi was almost clenching her fist out of anger but Aoi could tell she was doing her best to hold back for if she does something Aoi will get the heat. The tensed moments increased more where Pokkle ended up standing in front of an old-fashioned run-down house with weeds growing all over the front gate. Aoi was so nervous that her legs won't seem to move: all the negative thoughts were pouring into her, and with the reputation of Matsuhashi Brothers, she could imagine anything. She mentally blamed herself to trust Pokkle: god she was so simple, and she lead Menchi right into it! Those who are related by blood are practically connected by taste and psychology... especially those rabid brothers. His 'fair talk' was all rubbish! He was just another-

'Come inside...' Pokkle said cheerily which did nothing to Aoi's internalised nervous breakdown, she was even afraid to look Menchi in the eyes, fearing that she will lung herself on Pokkle and bite his ears off, and it was not advisable for two purposes: firstly he was professional athlete and could tackle her easily to make things worse, secondly: family drama and all the 'what-who-when-where-how' situation.

'Pokkle-san, if it's a trap house and if you gonna get your buddies from the hood, you should have told us straightaway...' Menchi jutted her hip and folded her arms.

'Menchi...' Pokkle straightened himself 'you should watch your tongue young lady... I am Aoi's brother and an international athlete. Besides, it's my coach's house... he died last month and I bought this home just couple of weeks ago. I still haven't cleaned it up, because I didn't know you were coming.'

'Then why did you bring us here Pokkle-san?' Aoi implored.

'Because I don't know where to go else... it's like a frigging crowded at the evening and I couldn't think ' Pokkle said nervously, 'sit down—please, I insist.'

After they sat down, he rested his chin on the bridge made of fingers interlocking together; he looked intently at Aoi and Menchi and asked solemnly, 'what's going on?' his tone softened as it went, from caution to concern, to which Aoi melted instantly and barfed every incident that happened since she entered the house. Pokkle's jaw clenched and Menchi's temple rose: Aoi was practically a wreck, and then a moment came, when all the feelings got lost into a big messy knot.

'Do you hate me that much?' Aoi asked to Pokkle, teary-eyed, 'believe me my dad did not marry Palm-san for money! We had enough of our own... he just wanted a big family for me-' her entire frustration came down in tears, and Pokkle, to Menchi's surprise, looked so perturbed that he could do anything to make her stop. 'Please Aoi... Please don't cry—I can't take when a girl is crying in front of me...' he came to her and hugged her tenderly and again to Menchi's surprise Platonically... so he wasn't after her cooters then. Aoi kept crying over him and slowly, with Pokkle's skilled ministration and Menchi's comfort she calmed down.

'I am so sorry Aoi... My brothers were a bad example...' Pokkle replied serious and kissed her forehead.

'Onii-san—what are you hiding?' Menchi got up on her feet and looked down at him, 'you did not said a word against Aoi when she told you Chrollo-san, Hisoka-san, Illumi-san, Omokage-san, Kurapika-san and Shalnark-san tried to seduce him. Any normal guy would have called her a whore-'

'Menchi-chan-'

Menchi held up her palm to Pokkle's face, and continued 'I am very concerned about her not only because she is my best friend, but our fathers' reputation is at stake at this. You know my father right? Lieutanant Morel Mackernasey Kitagawa... he and Knov-san are tightly knit. Both people are the mercy at your family and your family can like... ruin us. Do you want us to be dishonoured Pokkle-san? Because I think you are not that sort of a person-'

Menchi won him over as Aoi could see in Pokkle's helpless, determined and frustrated face.

'I can't believe I am doing this-' he said frustrated 'please... what I am about to tell you, you must believe every word and this must not go outside.' The girls slowly nodded.

'You know Hunter Corporation is our family business right?' he said, 'well then you must know ... We thirteen are not actually related.'

'You're kidding right?' Menchi sarcastically retorted, 'so what are you? Make-belief doll house of 19 and counting?'

Pokkle laughed at her reaction 'you're funny Menchi chan, and yes... we are actually a Doll House.' Pokkle sadly said 'my mom... ' Pokkle hesitated, 'no... My parents were cousins.'

Even Menchi was out of her words.

'My dad was the son of my grandpa's late brother's son... maternal grandpa.' Pokkle clarified, lest they mistake something else, 'Grandpa Netero was never related to our family... he just runs as the President, to give other people impression that my father is his son, and my mother is his daughter-in-law. That was the contract all along. Grandpa Zeno has been renewing it every 10 years.'

'Why?' Aoi asked increduled.

'Why?' Pokkle said 'why else? Even though Zeno practically owns the company, invincible with his partnership with Netero, he never wanted the company to go out of the hands of the family. Hunters are owned by Zoldycks.' Pokkle exasperatingly said 'it's not what you think it seems, nobody knows it, and is not supposed to.'

Menchi and Aoi was stunned and Pokkle continued.

'The ownership is not based on Primogeniture, or else Chrollo-san would have already gotten himself in the company, which he always wanted. The system is based on 'prodigy heirloom' as they call it. The best child inherits the throne... and how you know who is the best? Simple Darwinism.' Pokkle said resignatingly.

'And which part of it relates to "We thirteen are not actually related."?' Menchi asked sarcastically 'do tell me, cuz I am dying of curiosity.'

'I am getting to that—our dear mom, soon found out that her cousin/husband was irresponsive, but she had to produce multiple heirs to the throne: believe me, mom was never on board with it-'

'How do you know?' Aoi asked, her voice did not shake.

'Because she told me so Aoi-san, honest and clear.' Pokkle said 'she had multiple affairs: renowned hunters and all, adoption under the veil of pretended pregnancy, everything. It broke her, that's why she doesn't live here. She never wanted you to live with them too, but she couldn't help it, because of Zeno grandpa...' Pokkle added, 'the world we live in is not actually normal. Parents are like military superiors and we are bound to follow orders—anyway, that's what she did. No one knows who our real fathers are: hell it could be anyone, but she won't tell. Believe me, my mom isn't a slut—she was forced to do it. Out of this dysfunctional marriage, one good thing came out—'

'Let me guess... Killua' Aoi mumbled.

'Yes, Killua is the only biological child of our mom, and turns out he gets the entire blow of the Zoldyck's blood. True heir... but no one knows that yet, that we are not related, and I wanna keep it that way.' Pokkle said.

'That's seems a little conspicuous, how cannot everyone know?' Menchi asked.

'Because, every single one of them failed the Hunter Exam...' Pokkle said, 'why do you think there is such close-range and then a huge cleaves in age gaps amongst us... don't you see? We are raised like cattle to inherit family business. No one cares for us. No one ever did.' Pokkle said, 'and besides, we brothers, well some of us are, well-knit. It is impossible to crack us almost, well some of us.' Pokkle said, 'they think that you might run in the exam as well, like Killua, so they are trying to distract you, by breaking your morals with petty tricks that makes you feel—excuse my language—like a slut. They are harsh on Killua because they fear he may succeed and soon he will drive him off into the streets... believe me, the heir is invincible.'

'What if nobody inherits the business... what if the prodigy is never made?' Aoi ask, 'who does the business belong to?'

'Our parents... till their death and the majority of the share to the husband...' Pokkle said, 'that's why all those years, Mom had to keep her mouth shut, despite being a Michelin star hunter.' Pokkle continued, 'and the husband, in case Knov-san, who is not related to the Zoldycks by blood, can do anything with his share, more explicitly...'

'Pass on to Aoi.' Menchi mumbled, 'and according to the Zoldyck blood rule-'

'Her husband shall also be the inheritor of the property.' Pokkle stated finally, 'so you see? Stop Killua from succeeding, marry Aoi and get the Princess and Kingdom together. And blood-related or not, there is no legal hindrance for marriage between step-siblings.'

'Why marry my dad then? Why now? Why didn't Zeno-san stop her?' Aoi asked.

'I don't know Aoi... but I am glad that mom married Knov-san. He is a really good man.' Pokkle grabbed Aoi's hands securely.

...

So, that's why brothers are after Aoi... concerned? Or terrified.

Lemme know in the Review.