Chapter 14: Fragile mind, powerful body.
"I love puzzles. I'm trying to solve one right now. But I'm missing a few pieces. I'm trying to find the last pieces. I need to solve the puzzle. I need to find me. But the pieces I have aren't right. Too small, too big. Too many pieces to sort through. Can you help me find the pieces? Please?"
...
"Time passes. Things rot, disappear and are never remembered. The puzzle pieces remain, but the person is gone. I want to know who this person is... They say she's mommy. Who is that? Please help me put the pieces together. They've been scattered and rearranged. I don't know how to put them together. Where should the pieces go? Do I need these ones? Or these one? Help, please."
Hello, People! Glad you came back. Sorry for the wait. Life and stuff made me busy. I hope this chapter makes up for it. I also noticed that the views gradually got lower as the chapters are added. Oh well. At least I know who are my faithful readers. Love you~
Dragonbooks249: I forgot to talk about it before (I do that a lot :P) But you got two right. Easiest guess ever. Gon and Killua. Doesn't matter which order. The rest, I feel I should inform you, are a bit odd. You might not get it soon. Or you might get them. We will see. I'm glad you actually tried to guess what the armored person is. Guess what? You guessed right! He'll come up soon. Okay, questions. How long (more of an idea) he's been alive is said in this chapter. The two parts of his life will influence how he will act later in the story. As for O, as I said, I, the story or anyone in the story will never outright say what O is. It will only be hinted at. Look for who O talks to. Who hears him and when. What's said. Etc, etc. I know I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatched. When I'm finished with the story I will write another HXH story about what happened before. I wanted to write that one when I first started watching HXH, but there were a few reasons why I didn't. Main one is that the character Villanueva hasn't been properly established. I had him play a major role in another story I started a few years ago (Still rewriting) but since I lost my inspiration I stopped writing and the story never got to the point that Villanueva is introduced. Once he becomes more known the story will make more sense. When this story is done, I won't go to the story when Villanueva first came to the HXH world. Might work on others. I don't like to look to the future. I'll focus on the now and work on this stories.
Thirteen (Guest): I love putting twists on everything I do. Go ahead and ask. If it spoils anything I won't answer, if it comes up in this chapter let me know. Hope you get your account and review soon. Love you~
Schattenlos: Thank you for the comment. Hope you review soon.
I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Villanueva.
Doctors looked down at Villanueva and the line that marked the first incision, marked by a black line and the mark from the last time it was cut open. The surgeon was pale as he was memorized by the black tattoos that covered Villanueva's body. He took a breath and looked to the woman next to him. "Nurse. The scalpel."
She nodded and got one from the tray then gasped when her eyes stopped suddenly. She gasped loudly, drawing the attention of the rest when she saw Villanueva's eye wide open, and staring right at her. She backed away and looked to the doctor next to her. "He's awake!"
The man nodded. "Yes."
"But shouldn't we put him under?!" She asked in confusion.
A older man on the other side of the operating table shook his head. "We have been pumping him full of the strongest sedatives that are borderline illegal, yet he shows no signs of losing consciousness. We gave him a high dosage of anesthetic, but we can't be certain how long it'll last, or if it even works in the first place." He was just as pale as the surgeon next to the nurse.
The doctors exchanged looks. "We don't have a lot of time. So nurse, please, the scalpel."
She nodded and handed it to him. She looked back at Villanueva who was still watching her. He showed no sign of fear, only curiosity. She watched as he blinked when the scalpel started to cut into his flesh. When they reached bone they opened the chest like book, fully exposing the rib cage. They watched as his heart continued to beat at a casual rate. As if he wasn't being operated on.
"Okay. Let's get the artificial kidney out first." The others nodded.
The fake kidney had a ruptured tube and was leaking a strange fluid into his body. The doctors went to work while Villanueva patiently waited.
Kurapika.
All the applicants that passed gathered in a room to get briefed on what the Hunter's licence did. Many listened in fascination at the fact that the Hunter's licence, a piece of paper no less, gave them all so much access to that which would be inaccessible to normal people. And the ability to do so much. But a few were more concerned about the Examiner of the Last Phase. Kurapika, Gon, Killua, and Leorio were discussing what happened at the end. Oddly enough, Sangue and Vanessa wanted no part of the discussion.
"Where do you think they took him?" Leorio asked. "I'm not sure of the injuries, but he may have had been taken to a hospital."
Killua glanced toward the front. "No. I think they have a place to give him medical treatment here."
"I agree." Kurapika shifted slightly in his seat. "Although what we saw was not like anything I've ever seen."
Gon was staring at Vanessa and Sangue. "Do you think they know?" Vanessa and Sangue were keeping to themselves on the other side of the room.
"It's possible." Kurapika admitted. "But we can't be certain now."
Killua looked down. "When do you think we can go see him?" No one had a answer for him. Villanueva had done all that to keep Illumi from taking Killua, and now he was severely injured.
"Killua?"
Killua looked up at Gon, who was trying to get his attention. "What?"
"What do we do?" Gon looked worried.
"We should ask that old man where he is, then we talk to him." Killua stared at the old man in question and frowned.
Netero finished talking and asked if there were any questions. The ninja raised his hand. "What happened to the Examiner?"
Netero tilted his head. "Villanueva? He's receiving medical treatment as we speak." He informed them.
"I figured. But what happened? He seemed fine even though he was injured by that guy with the pins." He was eyeing the old man.
"Villanueva has had a artificial kidney for some time now, and would need to get it replaced every month or so." Netero explained.
"So this was caused because he didn't replace it like usual?" Leorio asked.
Netero shook his head. "No. Some time during the Exam the device malfunctioned and started leaking some hazardous liquid into his body."
Kurapika felt sick at the thought. Could it have been when he was fighting that woman? He looked at Vanessa who was staring off into space, silently humming a song to herself.
"So where is he?" Gon asked.
"He's here. But he won't be out of surgery for a couple of hours though." Netero said, a worried expression on his face.
"Surgery?"
Netero nodded. He smiled. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
Satotz glanced at the Chairman. "Chairman, if I may, might I inquire as to when you first met Villanueva?"
The other Examiner, although they wouldn't voice it, were also just as interested when the Chairman met the Devil Hunter. "That's fine." Netero looked at them with a distant look on his face. "When we first met, I was still in diapers."
Menchi gasped. "That's impossible!"
"It's true." Netero responded.
"How old is he?" Satotz asked.
Netero hummed. "Well, if you want my guess, it will be... nearly as old as humanity."
Villanueva.
The doctors were in a panic. Villanueva was bleeding out and no matter what they did the blood wouldn't stop. They tried everything, but it seemed hopeless.
"What do we do?" The nurse asked.
"We tried everything. There are no signs that the bleeding is going to slow down." The man shook his head. "Let's stitch him up and see about giving him some more painkillers and ease his passing."
The female doctor looked at the male doctor in shock. "But..."
"Nurse." The doctor said sternly. "He's done."
Villanueva's hand shot out and grabbed the doctor by the wrist. The man gasped loudly. Villanueva was glaring at him. "You are being paid over ten billion of my own money. You do what you got to do to fix this." Villanueva laid down and sighed.
Villanueva let go of the doctor and he fell to the floor, a large bruise forming on his wrist. The medical team was quick to get back to work, even though the blood still flowed. Oddly enough, Villanueva showed no signs that he was bleeding out except for the blood itself. No paleness. No rapid heart rate. No signs of fatigue. In fact, he seemed more energetic now than he did when they first started. There wasn't a visible symptom from the bleeding. Nothing.
Villanueva started humming, startling the doctors. The humming echoed throughout the room. Villanueva was staring at the ceiling. The doctors went back to work hesitantly. Villanueva's humming slowly turned deep, and increasingly eerie. A grin slowly spread across his face.
Immortal Realm.
Enocente.
Staring at the stone floor, unable to meet Orion's gaze, Enocente gave his report. Orion stared down silently at the old man. "How many memories did he lose?"
Enocente shivered at the stoic tone. It was just too inhuman, even for a Blackblood. "As far as I can tell, all of them."
There were a few other Immortals in the room. Most were Pure-bloods, but they were too young to know anything about Villanueva. "How much does he remember?"
"The past ten years, I have come to understand, but he's slowly regaining them." Enocente told him.
"Then we have nothing to worry about." Orion shifted in his seat.
Enocente still couldn't raise his head, but he could raise his voice. "But the memories he's remembering are the memories he repressed."
"What memories?" Orion asked, a bad feeling coming over him.
"When he first faced Ova after the genocide of the Guardians, the Lord tried to use the memories of the slaughter to break him. So Villanueva sealed them away so he can fight him and keep Ova from using his memories against him." Enocente explained.
"Where did he seal them?" A Keeper asked.
Enocente shook his head. "I don't know. But I believe it was intentional, unlike when a person represses a memory to save themselves."
A Mundai spoke up. "Do you mean that he has a sort of... forced amnesia?"
Enocente shrugged. "Yes, but the reason for such a thing is unknown to me. He could have sealed those memories subconsciously for all we know." He rubbed his chin, momentarily forgetting where he was. "He might have been driven to the point to madness by someone or something and in order to save himself, his brain sealed the memories of what was breaking him away."
"But when he seals them, he would leave a way to retrieve them... no, archive them in a physical form. Like a book or something like that." Orion stated to everyone. "The only thing I can think of that could store something like memories, something almost no one or thing can touch or explain..."
Enocente's eyes went wide as saucers. "Surely, you do not mean..."
"Yes." Orion stared at the window. "The Devil's Heart. Made by cutting off a part of your soul, then forming it into a physical object. Sound familiar?" Orion got up and walked to the door. "I think Enocente is right. He must have experienced something that drove him over the edge, so he sealed his memories using a technique similar to that used to make a Devil's Heart."
"Where are you going?" Enocente asked.
"The Mortal Realm." He answered simply.
Enocente took a step forward. "The Gateway is braking, but it will still try to keep you here. And if you force your way through, you'll open the way for Golad to get his forces to humanity!" He yelled, successfully stopping the old Blackblood. "Do not let your personal feelings cloud your vision. If you do, humanity will suffer."
Orion sighed. "I know."
Villanueva.
Many years ago...
A loud sigh sounded in the office room, the person sitting at the desk scrolling through emails. He had bags under his eyes due to a late night. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. At the moment, Villanueva was at the building he worked and lived at when he was in Yorkshin, and the office he was in was directly below the penthouse where he would sleep. The penthouse was added to the building after he bought it, mainly since he needed a place to stay while he was here. Luckily the building was fairly close to the center of the city. He was only around fifteen years of age, but owned most of the city. He was tall for his age and could pass off as being older, but he didn't want to take any risks. To cover up the fact that he was indeed very young he had a man, an old friend be his stand in for meetings. That old friend used to own the building he was in right now.
He looked up when a knock on the door got his attention. "Come in." He called.
The door opened and a man wearing a suit walked in. "Sir. The bodyguard you requested has arrived." He moved to the side and exposed the person behind him.
Villanueva stayed silent for a moment before he hummed thoughtfully. "Thank you. Please wait outside. I would like to speak with hims personally."
"Yes, sir." The man left and shut the door.
The room fell silent and the two made no move to break it. Villanueva was taking in the guard's appearance while the guard stared straight ahead, not making eye contact. Nothing peaked his interest right away. Villanueva's eye trailed up and down the blond's body. No visible muscle, so strong is out. No weapon. Probably a hidden blade. Villanueva thoughts made him doubt the efforts he took to get him here.
Villanueva broke the the silence. "So, your name is Kurapika, correct?"
"Yes." He answered simply.
"I called you here because I wanted to hire you. Of course, you know this. But what I don't understand is why you would look for such... specific employers." Villanueva's eye narrowed slightly.
"I beg your pardon?"
Villanueva closed his eye. "You found the agency that would point you in the direction of those in the mafia looking to hire. From time to time the agency would contact us and recommend someone. And as you should know, you can narrow the results by stating what your looking for. An easy job, challenging, all of the above."
Villanueva eyed Kurapika as he continued. "When I decided to look for a bodyguard, I happened to notice that there was someone that stood out leaving the building. When I asked the woman said that this person was looking for an employer that dealt in rare items. Items you could never sell publicly." Villanueva grabbed his mug and took a sip from his coffee, frowning at how strong it was. "I was looking for someone that was actually wanting to be a bodyguard, but, shall we say, you peaked my interest."
Kurapika stayed silent as he pondered this. "It's true. I wanted a employer that dealt in rare items."
"Why?" Villanueva questioned.
"I wanted to get something rare and the easiest way would is to find someone that made obtaining rare items their profession." Kurapika reasoned. "The item I want is very important to me."
Villanueva nodded in agreement. "I see. That makes sense. I try to keep out of the illegal stuff as much as I can, but if you tell me what this item is, I might have one or at least know where one is. In exchange for this item you'll take the job and become a bodyguard." Villanueva leaned back and waited for the blond to respond.
Kurapika was taken back by this. "Why would you offer me the job that easily? I could get what I want then kill you." Kurapika wasn't liking this.
"Because I think it'll benefit both of us." Villanueva answered truthfully, a blank stare in place.
The blond was unable to look away from the pale eye that stared at him. If he knows the risk, then why would he still offer me the job? But if he's serious, then he can help me get my clan's eyes back. Maybe even... Kurapika looked up, eyes showing his determination. "The items I am looking for are called Scarlet Eyes."
Villanueva tilted his head to the side, his cross earrings drawing Kurapika's attention. Items? Since when does 'Item' turn into 'Items'? Villanueva glanced at his computer and started to type the name in. He was surprised when a picture of red eyes in glass containers popped up. "Oh." Villanueva's best response. Ever. Kurapika noticed a strange look come across Villanueva's face. A distant stare from his eye.
Villanueva rubbed his chin. "Well... That was not what I expected. I thought it would be a family heirloom, or something. Well, I don't like the idea of body parts stinking up my warehouse so I don't have any, but I do know a few people that sold and bought them. And I thought I had disturbing hobbies." The last part was more to himself. "Okay. We can-" He cut himself off and eyed the screen silently. Scarlet eyes... Important... is he... Villanueva slowly turned his gaze toward Kurapika.
Villanueva got up and turned to Kurapika. "Why would something like this be what you want?" Villanueva almost sounded offended. Kurapika didn't have an answer, which was going to prove fatal. Villanueva stalked towards the blond and got right in his face. "Was there something you wanted to share? Hm? A few things that might clear up some of my confusion?" The pale eye staring into Kurapika's wasn't showing any emotion. To Kurapika Villanueva looked like he should be blind or at least have trouble seeing, but that was not the case.
In fact, that pale eye was so piercing, that Kurapika was feeling as if Villanueva was looking into his very soul. "There is no reason." He answered.
"You said it was important to you. Does that mean you owned a pair and someone stole them?" Villanueva was getting impatient with the person in front of him, so much so that he was actually jumping to conclusions. They both were close to the same age in reality, but Villanueva was still taller, which allowed him to down at the blond. "Why do you care for some meatballs?" Kurapika started to glare at Villanueva.
The two were glaring at each other intensely, ready to attack when a voice was heard on the other side of the door. A child's voice. The door opened and a child no older than eight came in with the man in a suit following, saying, "You can't go in!"
"Huh? Why not?" Gon asked and stopped in his tracks.
"Mr. Villanueva is having a meeting right now... and..." The man slowly realized that they both were in Villanueva's office.
Kurapika had looked back when the door opened and was now staring at the boy. He turned back to Villanueva who was still glaring Kurapika. "Villanueva?" Gon called.
Villanueva's glare faded and a smile spread across his face. "Not at all. Come in."
The guard let go of Gon and walked out, shaking his head and shut the door. Gon smiled widely and ran towards Villanueva. Villanueva didn't glance at Kurapika once as he walked around him. The two were smiling and when they got close Villanueva picked Gon up and held him up high, his hands under his armpits. Gon laughed happily while Villanueva smiled. He hugged the small boy, who hugged back. Villanueva put Gon down and the boy took his backpack off and rummaged through it while Kurapika watched in confusion and shock.
While that was happening Kurapika was trying to calm himself down. He was furious with me. He wanted answers and I'm certain he would do anything to get them. So why did his personality change so drastically when this kid got here? Kurapika was watching them as the boy looked through the bag. Then he took a step back and composed himself.
Gon pulled some papers and held them out to Villanueva with a sheepish smile. Villanueva looked them over and quickly noticed that Gon got a passing grade, but some points were taken away. Villanueva smiled. "That's a good grade, Gon, but why did you lose so many points?" He looked over the rest of the problems. "All these seem right. Only a few misses here and there."
"It was because of this." Gon held up two more papers with a ashamed look on his face.
Villanueva grabbed the papers and looked over it. It was a written essay. The question was at the top of the page and on first glance, Gon answered it perfectly. Then he looked at a note the teacher no doubt left after grading it. Let's see. 'This is a incorrect format'? Then what format should this be... Villanueva jumped at the realization. This format is taught to high school students! These teachers are evil... Villanueva shook his head.
Villanueva knelt down to get to Gon's level quite literally. "You answered the question, but you used the wrong format. Do you not know it?" The teen asked softly.
Gon shook his head. "No. And all the other kids call me stupid and the teachers don't help." The slight quiver in the child's voice made Villanueva seethe on the inside.
"Well, how about this? After dinner I'll help you practice this format so you can show those brats how smart you are. Sound good?" Villanueva smiled at the small boy.
Gon looked up quickly. "Really?" Villanueva nodded. "Thank you!" Gon tackled Villanueva in a big hug and the teen just laughed.
The laugh, however, affected Kurapika. It reminded him of his own father and his own mother, in a sense. The laugh was the product of a mixture of pure joy and happiness. "Mr. Villanueva."
Said person looked up and got up, making Gon get up too. When he did Villanueva snatched Gon up and held him securely, the boy laughing all the while. "What's your answer?"
Kurapika glanced down then looked up. "I accept your offer." When he saw the look on Villanueva's face, obviously a result of the wrong question being answered, he quickly added, "I'll answer any questions you have later. In private."
Villanueva gently gritted his teeth, but with Gon there he didn't want to discuss the topic of eyeballs around him. "Okay. Here's your assignment."
"Yes-" Villanueva dropped Gon into Kurapika's arms, startling the teen. Gon was just as confused as Kurapika. "I don't-"
Villanueva cut him off again. "Your job is to guard so you'll be guarding Gon. Gon, Kurapika is going to be your personal guard, and when I'm away, he'll be your escort, your guardian, your nanny, your best friend. Okay?"
Gon squirmed out of Kurapika's hold, ran up to Villanueva and grabbed his arm. "What do you mean? Why am I getting a bodyguard?"
"I can't be with you all the time and I can't take you with me when I need to travel for work." Villanueva said.
"But I don't want a babysitter!" Gon whined.
"'Babysitter'?" Kurapika mumbled to himself.
"Gon." Villanueva used a stern voice to stop the boy's protests. "You are getting older, I know this, so I'm letting you have more freedom by letting you go outside more, but you are still too young to be going off on your own."
"But I go on my own in the forest behind the temple, remember? I can go for a walk on my own." Gon reasoned desperately.
Villanueva shook his head and gave Gon a stern look. "Not in this city. All kinds of sick people live here. They'll take you and..." He gritted his teeth and felt his lip twitch. "You won't ever see me again. I don't want that to happen. Kurapika will be somewhere in this building waiting for your call, but will not leave your side when I'm away and when you leave for any reason."
Gon saw the worry on Villanueva's face and was reminded of a fading image of his aunt Mito. The last time he saw her she... "Okay..." Gon said as he looked down.
Villanueva patted him on his head. "It's only until you can defend yourself, okay?"
"Then why don't you have a bodyguard?" Gon asked.
"Because I can defend my self." He answered.
Gon glared at Villanueva. "But your not an adult!"
"I don't need to be an adult to defend myself. All I need is to be strong. I'll be an old, fragile man when I'll consider getting someone to protect me!" Villanueva had a ridiculous and hilarious look on his face which made Gon laugh.
Gon smiled, a sparkle in his eyes. "Yeah! And when you get old and weak I'll protect you!"
Villanueva laughed. "Not in a million years! I may get old, but I'll be no weakling." He ruffled Gon's hair.
"But what if you meet someone stronger than you? Someone you can't beat?" Villanueva's smile faltered as the question was repeated in his head. A soft nagging started up in the back of his mind. A distant fear of the unknown and always changing possibilities of reality. Anyone can claim the title of the 'strongest person in the world', but there will always come a time someone as strong or stronger will come along. This scared Villanueva. "When that happens I'll protect you! I'll beat up the person that beat you up and we'll go home!"
Villanueva was pulled from his thoughts and was slow to respond. "And live happily ever after, huh?" The words that came were not meant to be said. They were words, when put in that order, words that Villanueva despised. No one gets a happy ending. No one.
"Yeah! I'll get stronger so I can protect you, no matter what!" Gon declared.
Villanueva sighed. "Gon. I appreciate the gesture, but someday you are going to have to protect that special someone, not me."
"'Special someone'? What do you mean?" Gon asked innocently.
"When you get older, and you start making friends you'll find that you like one of them more than the others. No, no. That's not right... One of them, or maybe someone you just met will make you feel... odd." Villanueva was having difficulty explaining and this was clear to both Gon and Kurapika.
"Odd? In a bad way?" Gon asked, hoping that what Villanueva was saying was either not true or something good.
"At first it might, no, it will confuse you. You'll feel your stomach twist. You might not be able to talk to that person properly, although unlikely in your case. Especially since you sometimes don't know how to stop talking." Villanueva nudged Gon when he pouted slightly. "But in time, if you pursue theses new feelings, you might find that you get happy when your around this person. That you feel that a part is missing when they are away. You'll smile when do, you'll cry when they cry, you'll hurt when they hurt. You'll find that the person that makes you feel that way, is the person you love."
Gon stared at Villanueva with wide eyes. Gon was trying to take it all in while Villanueva was hoping he hadn't said too much. "So, I'll have to protect the person I love?"
"Yes!" Villanueva said, glad he understood.
"But what if your in trouble?" Gon asked.
It made Villanueva smile, knowing that Gon always thought of others. And it worried him when he didn't think of himself. "I'll manage." He assured him.
Gon still looked troubled. "But what if both of you are in trouble? Who do I help then?" This was the most important question that needed to be answered, Gon felt.
There was only one answer to that question. "You leave me and save the one you love. Don't give it a second thought and just run. Leave me."
Kurapika's eyes went wide at the answer and the look in Villanueva's eye. That's what he really feels? He's fully prepared to die for Gon and anyone he cares for. It's so moving. And terrifying. Kurapika suddenly felt that he shouldn't make either of them his enemies.
"No!" Villanueva jumped as did Kurapika. "I won't ever abandon you!"
"But, Gon-"
"No! I'll never abandon you!" Gon shouted. "I'll make sure the one I love is safe then come back for you!"
Villanueva was feeling a mixture of happiness and pain. "Gon. My life isn't worth going back for, if it means your happily ever after is in danger." He looked to the floor, not wanting to look at the child he was no doubt hurting emotionally. "If you or anyone you care about are in danger, and you have to choose between them and me, choose them. Please, Gon. Choose your happiness over my life!"
Is he... really prepared to just give up his life just so Gon can be happy? Kurapika moved away, feeling that he had no place there. He considered leaving, but felt that he needed to stay.
Villanueva looked up to speak, but the words became stuck in his throat when he saw tears flowing down Gon's cheeks. "But I... I..." The boy could barely get the words out. "I don't want... I don't want to lose you!" Gon threw himself at Villanueva and wrapped his arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder. "I couldn't leave you... not after everything we've been through! You want me to be happy, but if being happy means I have to lose you, then I don't want to be happy!"
Villanueva was stunned and was unable to say anything. He held the boy tightly as he cried. How and why Gon, a human child, would care for him so much is something Villanueva never understood. He gently rubbed his back, hoping it'll calm him down. "Please don't leave! I don't want you to go anywhere, ever!" Gon cried, voice muffled by Villanueva's shoulder.
"My life isn't worth that suffering it'll bring." Villanueva said softly. Gon shoved him back and hit him on the head. Villanueva stared at him in confusion. The punch and shove weren't very strong, but it was more damaging either could realize. "Gon..."
"Idiot! Your life isn't worthless! Even if others say it is, your life is still important. You always said that all life is important. So yours is too!" Gon glared angrily at Villanueva. "Your life... it means so much. To me your... your..." More tears rolled down his cheeks and Villanueva was once again rendered speechless. "I will protect you. No matter what." Gon said through his tears and sobs.
"You gave me everything. A home, food, clean clothes. You mean everything to me." His voice was becoming hoarse form the yelling and sobbing. "You said I should protect the one I love, right?"
"Gon." Villanueva didn't have anything else to say.
"Right?" Gon asked again as the tears and snot flowed. "That's why I want to protect you. It's because I love you."
Villanueva stared straight ahead, emotions slowly disappearing. What Gon said was all true. Gon loves Villanueva because he had taken him in and nursed him back to health when he didn't have to. Then he gave him new clothes and allowed him to live with him at Villanueva's temple up in the Northern mountains. Time passed and when he got better, Villanueva organized a transport for him to be taken to the mainland and even made an bank account and put money into it. But Gon, over the year they stayed together, had gotten attached to the teen. To Gon, Villanueva was everything. He was his brother, his sister, his mother, and his father. Gon could tell him anything and do almost anything with him. This made Gon turn back and run back up all the stairs leading to the temple, crying that he didn't want to go.
Villanueva knew this, but he also knew that at some point, a choice will have to be made. And it tore him to pieces. "I know. I love you, too, Gon." He opened his arms and Gon rushed to be held. Gon can be mature at times and can be just a small, scared child at other times. Villanueva was used to this. "I'm sorry. I promise that as long as I am able, I will stay by your side to ensure your safety, and your happiness."
Gon looked up and wiped his tears away. "Yeah. I promise, too. "I'll protect you, and everyone I care about. And if you are ever in danger of a bully, I'll rush to your side and beat him up!" Gon smiled, eyes red and puffy from the crying.
Villanueva smiled. "I'm sure you will. But for right now, don't you have homework?" Gon jumped and Villanueva smiled. "Thought so. Run along now. I have a few things to discuss with Kurapika before I come up."
"Okay." Gon ran off, leaving the teens alone.
Kurapika glanced his way and Villanueva turned. "What?"
"Nothing." Kurapika felt that he saw Villanueva's true self. A kindhearted person who's care and love knew no bounds. Someone who, even when face with harsh reality, will always think of others.
"Are you sure?" Kurapika nodded. "I mean, you have been smiling for the past two minuets." Villanueva pointed and chuckled when Kurapika realized that he indeed was smiling.
"I just thought what happened was touching, that's all." Kurapika looked away.
Villanueva chuckled and got a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, do you need a tissue? No need to get sentimental on me."
"I wasn't." Kurapika denied calmly.
"If you say so, Blondie." Villanueva shrugged.
Kurapika glared at him. "'Blondie'? I don't appreciate the name calling." He told him.
Villanueva chuckled. "Did you forget that you accepted my job offer? That means that I am your boss. So I can call you what ever I want. Hah!" Villanueva stuck out his tongue childishly at Kurapika.
Kurapika was about to retort when he realized that Villanueva was right. He sighed and slouched slightly, muttering, "I'm going to regret this, aren't I?"
Villanueva laughed. "Why have regrets? That means you're holding onto the past. How absurd! No better time than the present!" Villanueva happily sat down in his chair and smiled at Kurapika, yet another side showing itself. "You and I, Kurapika. We will do extraordinary things together. Won't we?"
The smile on his face made Villanueva look a bit younger. If it weren't for the scars over his left eye, he would look almost like a normal teen. The smile, the gentle gaze, the kind heart and a seemingly endless supply of understanding and wisdom. It all made Kurapika question his previous thought about just rejecting the job, and leave. Villanueva was just... Well, there were no words Kurapika can think of that could describe Villanueva.
"I am quite aware that I am sexy, but I do get uncomfortable when people stare." Villanueva told Kurapika with the same friendly smile.
Kurapika jumped and looked away, turning red with embarrassment. "I wasn't." That was a bad response.
"Liar!" Villanueva called out dramatically, but the smile never faded. "My sexiness aside, I will ask once more. Will you help me do the extraordinary?" Villanueva held out his hand, the ring with the red gem glowing ever so lightly.
Kurapika walked over and took Villanueva's hand, silently noting how cool it was in comparison to his own hand. "I will."
Villanueva smile widened. "Great!"
"Just don't refer to yourself as sexy. Ever." Kurapika deadpanned.
Villanueva let go and got to flex. "Oh? You don't think I'm sexy?" He flexed his muscles, shaking from the laughter that he was suppressing.
Kurapika smiled and shook his head, letting himself chuckle. "Not at all."
Villanueva sat down and held his chest as if he was wounded. "Right in the chest, your words have pierced." He said dramatically.
"But you are kinda cute." Silence followed. The tiniest sound made by a bug could be heard. Kurapika slowly comprehended what he just said at about the same time as Villanueva.
"What?" Kurapika turned around and made his way to the door, nearly running. "Where do you think you are going, mister? What did you call me?"
Kurapika opened the door and was met with the guard, slightly surprised by his sudden appearance. "I'm going to patrol the building!"
"So you got the job? That's great! Could use a new face around here. Huh? Why is your face red?" The man asked.
"Shut up! I'm going on patrol!" Kurapika rushed past him and quickly went down the hall.
The guard turned to Villanueva. "Should I go after him?"
"No. Go and switch out with Ricky." Villanueva ordered.
"Sir." The man shut the door before he left.
Villanueva sat down in his chair with wheels on the bottom. He stared at the screen of his computer. "Call me cute, will ya?" He understood how some people found his somewhat rough looks to be attractive to a certain few with certain tastes, sure. The whole 'bad guy' look. He understood the scars and pale eye made him seem intimidating. But never in his long existence has anyone, friend or relative has ever called him cute. "Humans are weird."
He pushed himself away from the desk and started spinning, giggling madly. "Whee! I LOVE HUMANS!" He jumped out of the chair, sending it flying at the window. The chair hit it, but left no mark, not even a scratch. He chuckled and walked up to the window. The window could withstand an explosion, hence the reason for buying it. Villanueva didn't like it all that much since it made the view dull; too thick. He placed his hand on the window, and with a twitch of his fingers, several large crack spread across the window in an instant. Then with a soft push, the window shattered and fell out.
The shards fell and fell onto the humans below, creating a commotion down below. Villanueva looked down at them. The small, weak, insignificant humans that he found to be so fascinating. They were so weird and so hard to understand, but that was what Villanueva loved about them. "Dear Humanity, I love you! The End." He smiled as he continued to look down. "And that's why I exist."
Villanueva.
His eye slowly opened. Cold air stung his skin. Villanueva scanned the room, no one in sight. Then he glanced down at his body. Bandages were wrapped around his stomach, but he got the feeling there was no need for them. Not anymore. Villanueva sat up and started to remove the bandages and observed the stitches. He slowly placed his hand on it then started to take deep breaths. White flames covered the incision and within seconds the flames disappeared and the wound was healed. He knew the new kidney was in place, he gave them a good enough scare. Oddly enough, he felt that he had more energy than before. He looked back to the ceiling when he laid back down and pondered the memory that flashed.
"Gon. Kurapika." Villanueva place his hands over his eyes and blocked his vision. He could faintly see the image of Gon crying, and immediately felt anger surge inside of himself. He tried to calm himself and took his hands off his face. That wasn't Gon, at least not the one he knows now. The same thing with Kurapika. He rubbed his forehead as a headache hit him, hard.
"I'm not human." He said to no one. "I'm not a Half-Blood. I'm not a Immortal." He raised his hand towards the ceiling and stared at his fingers. "What am I, and where am I from?" He asked, silently praying someone would answer.
No one did.
No one will.
No one can.
Soft footsteps made Villanueva turn to the side. Erwin was watching with a timid look on his face. "I just had a fake kidney taken out, ineffective painkillers, and when I tried to sleep memories that are from... well, I'm not sure, but it definitely has been from more than a few decades ago came swarming in." He listed and started to frown. "And the first face I see when I wake up is yours? I must be in hell."
Erwin tried to smile. "It could be worse."
"Oh?" Erwin jumped at the tone. "Do you remember when you first got here, and you felt like you were being crushed?" Erwin nodded. "That was you obtaining a human body and it getting used to this world's physics. Now a part of this world has attached itself to your soul. No matter where you go, or how long you will always be able to return here and not have to go through that experience."
Erwin nodded. "Yeah. Vanessa filled me in."
Villanueva continued to frown. "And yet you claim it could be worse. How many times have you come to the Mortal Realm, Erwin? Any world. Ten times? Maybe more? How long did you stay? A few hours? A couple of days, tops? Did you even realize how hard it is for us to exist here? You don't." Erwin down looked at his feet. "I have to deal with things that none of our people ever had to deal with. Desires I've never felt. Greed, lust, love. Things that don't come naturally to us."
Erwin was silent. "All these things are for humans. These feelings are for humans not us. Do you understand? I mean, when we told of this place I knew it would be tough, but the things I've done and want to do are... terrifying." Villanueva admitted. "I've fallen, Erwin. I will never see the Light again!"
"You're wrong!" Erwin placed his hands on Villanueva's shoulders. Villanueva frown deepened then both eyes snapped open when Erwin's eyes started to glow. "Forgive me." He said and wrapped his arms around Villanueva, and the light grew brighter. The room started shaking and all the monitors and lights flickered. All the Keepers and Vanessa felt the surge of energy. "I see the Darkness in your soul. I will not believe you allowed it to pollute your soul. And if you did, please, forgive me." Erwin whispered as Light was surrounding them.
The energy being shared wasn't like any power in the Mortal Realm. It was what humans call, Holy Magic, Divine Power, etc. It was extremely powerful, effective and drew the attention of everything that lives in Darkness. Erwin didn't care if all things that were evil were drawn to him, as long as Villanueva survived it didn't make a difference. The Darkness was being purified and hopefully the memories were being restored. Villanueva, on the other hand wanted to scream. The searing pain that was shooting through his body was unbearable. Then it stopped.
Erwin was panting while Villanueva stopped breathing all together. Neither said or did anything until Villanueva got his breath back. Villanueva sat up, his right eye was pale, and full of confusion. His left eye opened and the glow coming from it was brighter than before. His breaths evened out and he slowly relaxed. Erwin smiled at Villanueva who stared back blankly.
Villanueva slapped Erwin across the face, making the boy fall off the bed and onto the floor. "You had no right to do that to me." Villanueva said angrily as he got up. "You will never understand how hard it is being here. Having to suffer each day of each year of each decade. I can't go home. I fell." Villanueva gritted his teeth and forced back tears.
"Just because you fell doesn't mean you can't return as a soul." Erwin tried to console.
"What does that mean?!" Villanueva snapped and forced himself off the bed. "I wait my days out here? I fucking die?! I can't even kill myself because It's against the rules. I could be here for another eighty years, Erwin."
Erwin got up and took hold of Villanueva's hand. "That is nothing compared to an eternity of Darkness." He was referring to the dark abyss that awaits for those that died in sin. If religious stories were to be believed.
Villanueva glared at Erwin and tore his hand away. "You never answered my question. How long have you been in the Mortal Realm? A few day? I've been stuck here for over ten thousand fucking years." His tone got low, sadness and anger lacing it. "That has felt longer than an eternity." Erwin backed up and Villanueva looked down at himself. "Where the fuck are my clothes?!" He yelled and Erwin took that as his cue to leave.
Villanueva had to settle for some plain pants and a shirt for the moment since his clothes were being washed. Not that he believed the black fluid could be washed out. He started to meditate and search his memories. The past ten years were very clear. He remembers arriving at the temple, leaving the temple, finding someone that'll introduce him to some mafia big shot, getting the attention of the Dons, and everything else falls into place. But when he tries to remember things from a longer time ago, he would notice flickers in the images. A scene could be playing out then it suddenly switched to something else. There were gaps in his memory. Things he has yet to remember. It would seem that what Erwin did jogged loose a few of his long forgotten memories.
A soft knock made Villanueva jump, a voice silently calling from the other side. "Villanueva?"
Villanueva sat down on the bed and sighed. "Come in."
The door opened and Killua poked his head inside. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Villanueva nodded and gestured for him to come in. "Just you? I expected a welcoming committee." He mused.
"The doctors would only let one in." Killua shut the door and walked over and stood next to the bed. "You look good."
"Yup. Despite having collapsed, had surgery, I think I'm doing pretty good." Villanueva nodded. "Unless I died." He pursed lips.
Killua rolled his eyes. "Yeah. You look pretty good for a corpse." Killua smiled then remembered why he was there. "I need to ask you something."
"Sure, what do you need?" Villanueva smiled.
Killua hesitated. "Um, Vanessa, before the last Phase told us something about you, and I wanted to know if it's true."
Villanueva tilted his head to the side. "What did she say?"
It was now or never. "She said you... cared about me and Gon... like if we were your children." Killua shifted form one foot to the other.
Villanueva didn't care. It was his feelings. "That's true."
Killua was shocked at how casually he admitted it. "Why?"
Villanueva shrugged. "I suppose, if I had to say, you and I have similar stories." Villanueva scooted over and patted the spot next to him. Killua sat on the bed next to Villanueva, feeling that he needed to. "You and I both were trained to kill people. We had our childhoods taken away. Then we both escaped to live a happier life. But that is where the similarities ends."
Killua looked at Villanueva. "What was different?"
"I quickly found that killing people was all I knew. I only knew of killing people and nothing of the outside, unlike you. I just killed and that was it." Villanueva leaned back and chuckled. "I ended up killing again to make a living. Killing is my art, my skill. But it's not defining who I am, and neither is it defining who you are either."
"And Gon?" Killua asked.
Villanueva chuckled. "I think it's a similar reason as yours." Killua wasn't sure what he meant so Villanueva elaborated. "Gon just draws the weirdest people to him like a magnet draws pieces of metal."
Killua shook his head. "And your not weird?"
"That would imply that I suggested that I wasn't weird." Villanueva nudged Killua who shook his head. "Gon is full of energy, is extremely happy and is the optimistic of cynical."
"You can say that again." Killua smiled.
Villanueva rubbed his chin in thought. "He's too innocent, though. He's true trusting."
Killua nodded. Then the moment of when they were holding hands made him blush. He tried to shake the thought away, but a image of Gon smiling made him blush harder. Villanueva didn't know this was happening as he was still thinking. "Gon..."
"What?" Killua jumped, having remembered where he was. "You said something. What was it."
Killua became flustered and said the first thing that came to mind. "W-what about Sangue? Why do you care about him so much?"
Villanueva hummed. "Well, we both had our childhoods ruined, so I guess I wanted to give him what I never had, but got attached as time went by. Before either of us realized it, we both were depending on each other, even though we won't admit it, even to ourselves." Villanueva chewed this information in his mind before adding, "Don't tell Sangue."
The fact that Villanueva seemed genuinely concerned about it made Killua laugh. "Don't worry. I won't tell." Killua smiled, feeling that something was still being kept from him, but felt that if it was really important, Villanueva would tell him. "Thank you."
Villanueva glanced at the pale boy and tilted his head to the side. "For what?"
"For keeping Illumi from taking me home. I don't want to go back. Ever." Killua pulled his legs up to his chest. He chuckled, confusion Villanueva even more. Killua felt ridiculous for opening up to him, but almost like Gon, he couldn't really keep things a secret. Both Villanueva and Gon cared for him and wanted to help.
Villanueva placed his hand on top of Killua's head. "And you won't. I promise. As long as I am able, I'll make sure you never do anything you don't want to. Except brushing your teeth. I don't like smelly breath." Villanueva ruffled Killua's hair playfully, making the boy blush lightly.
"Knock it off." He brushed Villanueva's hand away. Villanueva poked him in the cheek. "What?"
When Killua turned he was startled to see Villanueva holding out his hand. "Take it." Villanueva was acting weird again.
Killua took his hand and felt how cool it was. It was abnormal, but as Villanueva squeezed, warmth spread his hand and up his arm to the rest of his body. "I, Villanueva, promise to keep you from being forced to go back to a life you don't like. In return, I ask that you, Killua, never let me catch you saying that you don't deserve anything."
Killua's eyes went wide. "Don't ever doubt that you deserve happiness. Allow me to help you. Let me help you get your... happily ever after." Villanueva got a gentle look in his eye.
Killua nodded. "Yeah. Sure." He let go and noticed how warm the room was getting. It was as if the sun was shining on him. It made him feel relaxed; safe.
Villanueva smiled. "No matter what happens, no matter how much time passes, I will be happy to help you. You need help, I'll be there. If it's the biggest obstacle ever, I'll help you overcome it." Villanueva smile was gentle and reminded Killua of Gon. "Even if it's as simple as a place to stay, I will leave the door open for you."
Killua was speechless at such kindness from someone. The only person that was kind to him before he met Gon was... Killua clenched his fists.
Villanueva turned to face Killua, his smile small, gentle, and genuine. "But you must never forget, even if you don't feel the same way, or if you ever hate me, I will always welcome you as my own." A distant look in his eye, a hidden sadness coming to surface.
Killua's eyes went wide as Villanueva shocked the boy. The kindness was so much like Gon's. Villanueva, someone he knew for only a few days is doing so much more for him than anyone in his entire family. He didn't know what he wanted to do if he became a Hunter, but now... now, there was Gon who wanted to find his dad, Sangue, the boy that thought Killua pursuing his goal to be happy was more important than anything, and finally Villanueva, the secret examiner, one of the kindest people he's ever met. It can be hard to gain his trust, but now that Killua earned it, he will never abandon him. He'll stay by his side, protect him, care for him, and never betray him. That's what Killua believed.
Killua felt tears well up in his eyes and he was quick to wipe them away. "Damn. Why am I crying?"
Villanueva opened his arms as his aura spread throughout the entire room, making the atmosphere beyond comfortable. "Because I want you to be honest. It's best to be honest with others, but most importantly, to be honest with yourself."
Killua stared at him in shock, allowing the tears to flow. He moved closer and wrapped his arms around Villanueva and let his emotions flow. The tears soaked Villanueva's shoulder. Villanueva rubbed his back and hummed softly, hoping the tune was helpful. It was one his older sister used to hum to him when he was sad. Killua whimpered softly and went limp in Villanueva's hold.
Kurapika.
In the dinning area, the only ones still there were Leorio, Gon, Kurapika, Vanessa, Sangue, Hanzo, and Hisoka. Everyone else left not too long ago. The reason for Hanzo staying was unknown by all of them.
"What's taking him so long?" Leorio asked.
Gon asked next. "Do you think he's okay?
Kurapika nodded. "Yeah. I'm sure he's just talking about something. Like that thing Vanessa said to you two. Maybe since the doctors are only letting one person in, he's getting all the information he can to tell you." Kurapika wanted to talk to Villanueva first, but he didn't want to let them know he has a thing for him. Although he was sure they had their suspicions.
Gon nodded and took a sip from his juice before he looked up and a large smile broke out on his face. "Killua!" They turned to see said pale boy saunter into the room, a happy look on his face.
"Hey, Gon." He greeted with a smile.
"Hey. What took so long?" Leorio asked as he walked up to the boys with Kurapika.
"Villanueva had a lot to say." He answered. "He's fine and seems even more energetic than before. He wanted me to tell you all he should be able to leave later."
Leorio smiled. "Well, at least he recovered well enough."
Kurapika let out a relived sigh. "I need to go talk to him."
"Don't bother." Killua told him.
Gon looked at Killua in confusion. "Why not?"
"The doctors threw me out, saying I was disturbing the patient and would get in the way." He made a face. "They were being a bunch of jerks, saying that they needed to make sure I didn't make him overexert himself." He crossed his arms. "Idiots! He didn't have any wounds anywhere. He was completely healed. Villanueva threw a fit and tried to throw them out!" Killua laughed.
Kurapika sighed and sat back down, the others following soon after. Completely healed? Doctors throwing out Killua? Could they... No they wouldn't be hired if they couldn't be trusted. Kurapika started eating with the others while Killua got his food. He's mafia. He has many allies and so that would mean he has a lot of enemies. Kurapika's eyes went wide.
Kurapika shot up and started running. Gon jumped up too. "Kurapika?"
"Hey! Where are you going? " Leorio called after him.
"I think someone is trying to kill Villanueva!" Kurapika yelled back.
He kept running down the hallways and past some random people. By the time Gon, Killua and Leorio caught up to him he reached the medical wing. He stopped when he saw two doctors laying in a puddle of blood. He covered his nose to block out the smell. Gon and Leorio halted as soon as they saw them, but Killua walked in casually. They saw that some were shot while most were stabbed. Killua ran to the room Villanueva was resting in and saw the door was broken down.
Kurapika followed while Leorio kept Gon back. Yelling made Kurapika burst into the room. Killua sharpened his nails and dashed in and stood next to Kurapika. They both stopped when they saw Villanueva strangling two men with his hands. They held guns, but were more concerned with the hands crushing their throats.
Villanueva dropped one and wrapped both hands around the throat of the other one. The one he was holding was wearing a doctor outfit, having tried to trick Villanueva. "Not a very good idea, huh? When I told you to leave and let my friend stay, it was a hint that I knew you were trying to kill me and that you should leave." He told him before he snapped the man's neck.
The other man in a suit whimpered loudly. "As for you." Villanueva addressed the man. "Why don't you tell me who sent you."
The man looked up at him. "If I say anything, they'll kill me."
Villanueva looked annoyed. "Kill you? Motherfucker, I'll kill you!" Villanueva grabbed him and pinned him against the wall. "I'll just enjoy it more."
"I'm already dead."
"Yup." Villanueva jammed his fingers into the man's eyes, making him scream bloody murder. Villanueva pulled the man's eye out and let it hang by its optic nerve. "You have one more chance." The man only whimpered. I think I went too far. At least I didn't lose my edge. But I am losing my control. I'm falling apart. Villanueva tore the eye out, severing the optic nerve and did the same for the other eye. The man passed out when he took the first eye out. Villanueva dropped the man on the floor.
He looked back and bit his lip. Kurapika was wide eyed while Killua was surprised. The blood was on his hands and all over his clothes. The blood was soaking his feet and was flowing over the floor. Villanueva felt a need to say something.
"Hi."
Well, I hope that was paced well. I hope questions were answered. Villanueva recovers, baffling the doctors with bleeding out and not dying or showing any sign of being affected. Killua confronts Villanueva and gets his answer. Villanueva recovers another memory: when he first met Kurapika while he was already living with Gon.
Come back soon for more. Review and let me know what you think. Are things going too fast, too slow?