Chapter Twenty-One

Wheels, Hamster Wheels

Prince Tserreidnich is most disconcerted by this new development. The image of a tiny girl walking up to those gaseous monsters, speaking to them in a language he doesn't understand and almost prefers not to, and leaving with them, has burned itself into his mind.

Not only that, but the vacuum left in the departure of their nen devours him.

As long as there are creatures with more powerful nen than he, he's in danger. Suppose his siblings strike a deal with these creatures? Suppose the girl is an assassin working with them?

In politics, it pays to be paranoid.

He stretches in his seat on his father's couch. The chamber still feels haunted by Nasubi's blood. It thrills Tserriednich, softens him, stirs his desire for more.

"Morena, be a dear and fetch Prince Halkenburg for me?" Tserriednich bares his teeth in a smile.

Morena knows that when her loathsome brother uses his falsetto, he's scheming. He's a vicious beast loaded with vices, but he's far from stupid. How can he not see that she's using him to bring about Kakin's demise?

"He's a popular prince, brother," she says. She doesn't exactly trust Tserriednich enough to not remind him of their relationship every other sentence.

"Indeed. I shan't execute a popular, whimsical man." Tserriednich flicks his fingers. "But is it not reasonable that the whimsical chase after the aerated?"

"It is indeed," she says coolly.

When Morena brings Halkenburg before the ruling prince, the broader, baser brother does not waste time kneeling.

"Brother, what are you doing?" whispers the man on his knees.

So he's the sort to plot on his knees. Morena respects that. She'd respect him more if he's done more plotting when children, and not just the country, were in danger.

"As you are my brother, I had hoped you could see me beyond a man usurping the throne, and a man reforming our kingdom. No more must we kill each other," Tserriednich declares.

"Brother, you have no interest in ruling," Halkenburg says, remaining on his knees.

"Ah, yes, but power, now, that is interesting." Tserriednich crosses his arms. "You know me too well to doubt it."

"And when Kakin lies in ruins because our your disinterest?"

"It won't. I'm not interested in Kakin. I'm interested in the plenty here. The treasure. Exotic creatures. Wealth and sex and drink are pleasant, to be sure, but you can find those anywhere, whether you're a king of a mafia boss. The mysteries of the universe, however, now, lie in the Dark Continent, and I intend to seek them." Tserriednich prays his brother understands. Because yes, for all his demons, Tserriednich is a praying man.

"So…" Halkenburg waits for his brother to say it.

"I wish for you to rule Kakin, once the continent is safe from the calamities." Tserriednich extends a hand.

Morena grinds her teeth. She rarely underestimates an opponent, but it appears that now she has.

"And how to ensure the safety of an entire continent?" Halkenburg waits.

"One step at a time, as Camilla used to remind us." Tserriednich pauses.

Halkenburg's eyes simmer at her mention, but he does not accurse Tserriednich of murder. Good.

"Brother, we cannot risk another attack. After the death of Captain Baha, Captain Mercyn reports that it will take weeks to repair the ship." Tserreidnich crosses his arms. "I want you as my right hand man, by my side, to hunt the gas bastards to the end of the earth."

"It will be the end of many's time on earth," Halkenburg replies respectfully, "if we rush in there."

"You'll plan, of course." Tserriednich waves his hand.

"That," Morena says sweetly, savoring every moment she has to interrupt Tserriednich, "will not be a problem. You won't be hunting the Ai strictly; you'll be hunting the Phantom Troupe."

"I don't follow." Halkenburg waits. Tserriednich himself looks puzzled.

"The little magician girl who left with them is a Zoldyck child."

Tserriednich glares at Morena. "Why haven't you mentioned this before?"

"It seemed irrelevant until now," she replies smoothly. A Zoldyck of nen powerful enough to join a calamity without fear, powerful to break her spell, is even more desirable to control, is surely able to destroy Kakin, but she will wait for that.

"The Zoldycks are intimately entwined with the Phantom Troupe," says Morena. "There's little question that the Troupe will attempt an allyship with these demons. Find the Troupe, you find the Ai. Find the Ai, we all get what we want."

"And what do you want?" Halkenburg asks.

Morena's eyes glitter. Halkenburg is not a man to lie to, so she'll settle for a half-truth. "The sight of Camilla, may she rest in peace, looming above our father's corpse was a pleasant start. I want all injustice to end."

"The child is a Zoldyck?" Beyond inquires.

The beach is full of Killua sobbing into Gon and Leorio's arms, Kalluto punching the sand besides Machi and Feitan, and Illumi staring blankly at his brothers while Hisoka and the remainder of the Troupe guard him.

"She wasn't trained like us. Nanika emerged too young," Killua says, wiping his eyes. "And they locked her up."

"How old is she?" Beyond frowns.

"Eleven years, eight months, two days, six hours, fifteen minutes." Illumi says, as if this is information he's memorized.

"The fuck?" Killua asks.
"What? I know about all of you. I had to." Illumi looks away.

"Creepy," Feitan remarks, patting Kalluto's shoulder.

"Your parents kept your sister locked up?" Oito is appalled.

"We couldn't control it. There was a risk that her powers, or wish-granting, would destroy our entire family," Illumi says. "It was my idea."

"What." Killua turns to him.

"Mother and Father said she was a dangerous creature and not to be considered a human. Because you cared for her, I had her locked up as opposed to killed," Illumi says, as if it's natural, as if he's done a favor. "Milluki designed the doors."

"But then you tried to kill her!" Killua leaps to his feet.

"You were older and perhaps better able to understand then. I had reason to believe we would all die if you saved Gon," Illumi says firmly. "If you had told me the other rules, perhaps I would not have."

"You would too," Killua shoots back. "You just wanted to be free of her. You always did! You – you're probably happy now!"

Illumi wants to reply that the entire family is safe, so of course he's happy, but he really can't be happy when Killua hates him. And when Kalluto is angry. And when Alluka is missing due to that Thing inside her.

"Nothing? You have no words?" Killua taunts.

"Kid, your brother looks miserable to me," Bonolenov says quietly.

"It's an act. It's always an act." Killua shakes his fist. "Right? Lesson one. Never reveal your real emotions!"

Hisoka purses his lips. Of all people's eyes to meet, he meets Chrollo's. But, to his surprise, there's an understanding in the leader's eyes. Because growing up in Meteor City, acting was all you had for defense when you were a child.

"If Alluka could be safe and join our family in full, I would gladly accept her," Illumi replies tightly.

"That's not love. That's control! And I'm sick of it!" Killua screams. Gon looks firmly at the ground, refusing to raise his eyes. "You! You even put a needle in my head to keep me safe! Well, I'm happier without it and I'm happier without you and I bet Alluka is too!"

Illumi gasps.

Happier.

Without.

Him?

But Killua is everything to him.

Kalluto sighs. "Killua."

"What?!" Killua yells.

"Illumi didn't put the needle in your head because he wanted to. It was Father's idea," Kalluto says dully. He doesn't exactly wish to help Illumi, but he does wish to be important to Killua and Alluka.

Killua's mouth opens and closes.

"Don't blame Father," Illumi says quickly.

"Well, someone needs to be blamed. Do you want it to be you?" Machi demands.

"Maybe no one needs to be blamed," Beyond says.

"I don't know. I think parents putting a controlling device in one kid's brain and considering killing another deserve blame," Oito remarks acridly. "I feel pretty confident about that."

"Stop," Illumi commands.

"Fine. I'll stop talking to you and just go find her." Killua turns to go into the forest, but Hisoka's bungee gum is already around his waist, and Chrollo has already sucked him back with nen.

The clown and the Spider glare at each other. So, are they uneasy allies now?

"Look," says Chrollo, breaking in. "There's not much we can do until tomorrow, when it's light. And while Killua is not technically a member of our troupe, I propose we stick together until we find your sister."

Killua frowns. "Huh?"

Chrollo approaches Killua. "Illumi and Kalluto are Spiders. I can't very well allow their sister to be taken, can I?" He extends his hand.

"Danchou is right," Franklin says. "Besides, if anyone stands a chance against that nen, we do."

Killua is flabbergasted. "You...you'll help us?"

"Remember," Kurapika says feebly, "They do occasionally do charity work."

Phinks looks incensed, but Shizuku uses Blinky to suck his mouth shut. Nobunaga, meanwhile, is held back by Franklin.

Chrollo looks at him. "You'll come?"

"Killua is my friend. I wasn't there for him before. I'll be there now," Kurpaika replies softly.

"Well, I can't stay with just one bodyguard," Oito says. "I'm coming, too."

Melody nods.

"You'll need doctors," Cheadle says, elbowing Leorio. "And another guard, right, Beyond?"

"Right," he mutters.

Both Killua and Illumi are stunned.

"We have one problem now, however," says Shizkua. "We'll just be liabilities flailing in the dark if we go now."

"Melody can hear for us," says Kurapika.

"Yes," Melody says hesitantly. Why is she still hearing an extra heartbeat?

"No. It's too dangerous, on a new continent. I propose we rest tonight and take shifts guarding – both threats from the ship, the forest, and keeping Illumi and Killua put." Chrollo pauses as the two Zoldycks sulk. "The Ai move faster than us anyways. We'll never catch up. We need to find their village."

Kurapika and Bonolenov glance at each other. They both know a thing or two about finding hidden villages.

"Well, in good news," Beyond says, digging into his pockets. "I have, like, two dozen cans of beer with me."

"You what?" Phinks laughs with joy.

"I'm not even surprised," Cheadle mutters. "I knew even Netero's son couldn't have muscles that thick."

Illumi makes no move towards Beyond, but to everyone's surprise, neither does Hisoka.

Hisoka's eyes are on Machi, who has been tugged aside by Melody. They stand a few meters back, so he can't hear what's going on, but Machi's face is red.

Melody pats Machi's arms as an usually frantic look crosses Machi's countenance.

Hisoka would pay to hear this conversation. Has someone else noticed Machi and Feitan? Machitan, he will call them. Will he have more fun exposing them or waiting for the dense Troupe members to wake up? Considering they couldn't see Chrollo and Kurapika – Kurokura, he'll say – he might be waiting a long time, and Hisoka is not a patient man.

"When did Nanika take over his sister?" Beyond asks quietly, as he dumps the beers onto the sand.

"Nine years ago? She was about two," Leorio says, helping himself to a can. "Beer, Cheadle?"

Cheadle narrows her eyes as she shakes her head. Beyond looks almost relieved.

"How many are there? Of your siblings?"

"Five," Illumi replies. Grabbing a beer like he's become Hisoka and it's his lifeline, "Alluka is the only girl."

"But were there not two younger boys after Killua?" Beyond strokes his beard.

"How would you know?" Illumi asks sharply. "Oh, Grandpa. Naturally."

"Alluka was born a girl in a boy's body," Chrollo adds, shooting Illumi a look.

"I see." Beyond looks thoughtful.

"Do you have something to share with the class?" Cheadle asks.

"No," Beyond says. "Not yet."

"Can I talk to you?"

Chrollo is surprised to look up from where he has sat besides Kurapika and see Gon. "Hello."

"I'm worried about Killua."

"We all are," Kurapika says.

"No. He reminds me of – me – before Pitou, the Chimera Ant." Gon tears up. "I used up all my nen to defeat them because I couldn't bear to lose anyone else. I don't want that to happen to him."

"You lost all your nen?" Chrollo is both thoroughly impressed and thoroughly concerned.

Gon nods.

"Hisoka must have been devastated to lose a future fighting partner." Chrollo can't help the comment.

"He actually tried to help Illumi kill Alluka. Sort of." Killua hurries over, and Gon clamps his mouth shut. "They almost succeeded."

Killua remembers the bloodlust. And Gotoh. He misses Gotoh, and for all Illumi's faults, Killua is certain his brother did not kill their butler.

"Did he?" Chrollo's eyes sweep over to the newest spider. "I doubt Hisoka planned on allowing Gon to die. For all his faults, he is loyal to his fun."

"Is he?" Kurapika asks. "Or is it a mask?"

Chrollo sighs. "I think we all wear masks, Chain Bastard."

Kurapika nods. His eyes fill as he remembers the Phantom Troupe, and the humanity he unmasked. Now he'll have to unmask the Zoldycks, and the complexity of the world threatens to drown him.

"So you met your father?" Kurapika asks instead. If he's going to be a better friend, he should probably ask his friends about the important details he's missed from their lives.

"Yes." Gon looks…empty.

Kurapika's lip twists. He knows that look. He felt the same emptiness after capturing Chrollo in Yorknew City.

What must it be like to have Hisoka care more than your own father? Is Kurapika, perhaps, better off than Gon to have his parents dead? Has Kurapika been pitying himself and ignoring his friend's pain? How is Gon so selfless that he can focus on his friends instead of his injustice?

"I encountered Ging Freecs once. In Meteor City." Chrollo smirks. "I hated tourists who showed up to see the common cannibalism and acute disease. So I punched him."

"You punched my dad?" Gon asks.

"I've done the same thing as Chrollo?" Leorio cries from the grass he's supposed to be sleeping in, as if he's suffering an identity crisis.

"I did."

"Hmm." Gon doesn't look happy. Just…empty.

"What's your dad like, Chrollo?" Killua asks, an edge to his voice. Back off Gon, Spider-Boy.

"I've never met mine. He's probably dead; people in Meteor City don't live very long. Disease or murder usually catch them. Sometimes both. Except Hisoka's benefactor." Chrollo has never really met that man, either, but he finances the circus and always had numerous women around him. He was the Troupe's first heist.

"Benefactor?"

"Hisoka was one of the lucky ones in Meteor City. He learned enough circus skills from his Mafia mentor to leave." Chrollo shrugs.

"I see," Killua says. He didn't know Hisoka was from Meteor City, though he isn't surprised.

"At least we get beer out of this." Phinks holds out several cans. "Or – well, do you mind, Queen Oito?"

"Just call me Oito, and I only mind if I can't have one. Do you know how long it's been since I drank beer? It's always luxurious wine with exotic flavors not worth the price."

"You're not that old," Phinks scoffs.

"How would you know?" Oito raises an eyebrow as she accepts a beer from his hand. "Whoa, Woble. No beer for you."

Her child whimpers.

"Start the kid young." Phinks grins. He pokes Woble's nose, and the prince giggles. Distracted and happy once more.

"I think not. She likes the shine, I suppose." The queen settles besides Phinks and Shizuku. "Tell me more about yourselves."

"Why do you want to know?" Shizuku asks.

"I like hearing people's stories." Oito closes her eyes as she savors the taste of cheap beer. "People are always more than they appear."

"Was Nasubi?" Phinks asks. He can't help himself.

"Certainly. Just not in the ways that counted." Oito frowns. "What kind of person marries a monarch just to allow their children the chance to die for a throne?"

"Many of you royals, apparently," says Bonolenov, as gently as he can.

"Not me." Oito looks sorrowful as she recalls Swinko-Swinko's demand. "And you might be surprised."

"Catch, Machi." Hisoka tosses a can towards the pinkette wonder, his favorite tease.

Machi does indeed catch it with her nen stitches, as always. But in another second half the can is poured on the ground, and then handed to Kalluto.

"You get half," Machi tells him.

"Suitable parenting," Hisoka mocks. "I won't toss you another."
Machi rolls her eyes. "I'm fine."

"Are you?" Hisoka takes a long, luxurious swig. "I've never known you to turn down beer."

"I'm fine," Machi says quickly. "I think the gas might still be affecting me, is all."

"You look all right to me," Cheadle calls. "But I can check you out later."

Machi swallows. A pained expression crosses her face. "Uh, sure."

The wheels in Hisoka's brain – colorful, obnoxious hamster wheels, of course – begin to spin.

Machi leans close to Kalluto, who seems all too comfortable between his pseudomom and pseudodad.

Hisoka grins. A whine bubbles in his throat alongside the beer. Could – no – oh, God, please grant me this.

"Something's bothering you," Chrollo says to Kurapika, once Gon and Killua have settled down away from them.

Kurapika hugs his knees to his chest. "Killua's parents hurt him. Gon's dad doesn't care. Leorio's childhood friend died because his parents couldn't afford treatment. Hisoka's closest parent was a Mafia mentor exploiting his skills. You don't even know your dad."

"People are very interesting, and very sad," Chrollo says with a sigh.

"Why have I been so focused on myself?" Kurapika asks.

Chrollo gives him a quizzical look. He pulls Kurapika closer. "I think your entire clan's slaughter was worse than most. But either way, you're allowed to feel however you feel about it." He grins. "So long as you don't try to fight us! It's technically Troupe rules."

Kurapika has to laugh. So he's subject to Phantom Troupe rules, now, is he? He'll think of it later. For once, he wants to stay present. To be a better person and help Killua and maybe atone for ignoring Gon. "Nobunaga is looking at us."

Indeed, Nobunaga's eyebrows are drawn together in displeasure. Danchou sits far too close to the Chain Bastard.

"Hmm. He'd best grow accustomed to us." Chrollo looks troubled.

"Am I allowed to be petty, just once?" Kurapika asks.

"Once?" Chrollo snorts.

Kurapika grabs Chrollo's face and pulls him close for a kiss.

"You know," Chrollo murmurs, his lips against Kurapika's, "it's a bit unfair to use me against my own Troupe."

"You're not exactly complaining," Kurapika replies.

"No, I'm not." Chrollo pulls Kurapika onto his lap so he can kiss him deeper.