THANK YOU FOR WAITING AND FOR YOUR INCESSANT SUPPORT! Good news BTW! I'm FINALLY ON VACATION! Hahaha
This means I will probably be able to update quicker granted that most of you have already read the chapter within the next few weeks.
In any case, I hope you enjoy and it'd really help if everyone allows me to feel their presence.
Disclaimer: I wish I own Hunter x Hunter. The Hiatus god does.
...
CHAPTER 25: Switch x Parallel x Offers
Five years ago, after many months after he lost Gon and the onslaught of the emotional numbness that came after, Killua found a side of the mountain that had been devastated by a landslide. The steepness of the slope rendered few trees to grow rendering its soil weaker than that of the other part of the mountain. It wasn't any special at first either, so he had it all to himself.
Killua eventually realized one could have a great view of both sunset and sunrise there, but he didn't feel very much accomplishment at the realization—as he should have—simply because everything in him felt dead.
He began to drag a five-ton metal boulder at the stiff cliff, at least a few hundred times a day. There was something soothing in doing tenuous repetitive activities, it allowed his mind to leave his body—and to get used to such a heavy burden—it one of the most comforting things he could wish for.
Eventually he calmed down, and he didn't scare off Alluka as much anymore, and that alone would've made all that work worth it.
Now, looking at the bed in front of him, he couldn't help but smile. His two most important persons—Gon and Alluka—were sleeping soundly in the Queen-sized bed. He didn't really mind the teenage Alluka was hugging Gon like a pillow; Alluka might be anatomically male but he'll always be his sister. All he could really mind was that both of them were with him now, something he only thought about in the most unrealistic dreams.
It was true. What 'they' say: The sun doesn't hide behind storm clouds forever.
It was around that thought when he saw Gon stirring. He watched her as she slowly woke from the world of slumber, tilting her head to survey the room, and then catching his eyes. She smiled. "Good morning."
He smiled back and watched her as she carefully moved herself out of Alluka's grasp, and placing a few pillows around the bed to keep the younger girl from falling (and to find a replacement pillow).
"How's the couch?" She asked, as she used her feet to tactilely find her slippers. "You know three of us could've fit in the bed."
Ah Gon, he mused, being innocuously tempting as always. But instead of saying anything he only shrugged. "I like couches better. Bed's much too soft."
She chuckled and, being used to harsher places to sleep like he was, she did not disagree to that at all. Then she looked at his chest, protected only by thin white cotton shirt. "How's your injury?" she asked. It had been a few days since they left the hospital and, since the previous healing that allowed him to walk, he has been refusing all offers of healing from Gon.
"It's healing nicely. And at its own pace," he told her. "There's no need to rush it now."
"Hmn." She said absent-mindedly looking at the part of the wound she could see. He took off his shirt and, he thought of how warm he was feeling... that despite the airconditioner's coldness hitting every inch of his body, he couldn't help but delve into her eyes as she assessed his wounds. He didn't bother hiding his smirk at that small blush on her face every time she saw him half-naked.
And then she began placing butterfly touches on his shoulders, then to his arms, and his body. That smirk of his was quickly wiped off his face. His brain was too jumbled to even think. "When did you grow so much?"
Without thinking, he captured her lips with his—hungrily—and she returned it with equal fervency. His arms pulled her in so not even a millimetre of distance was between them; she kept it with her arms locked around his neck. He didn't know how they magically ended up on the couch.
Then they heard a groan from the bed, the sort that one gave out when one's stretching the lethargy away. Sure enough, Alluka was stirring. And she was snoring again.
"S-Sorry." He said, putting her at an arm's length. She smiled back.
Back in Greed Island they had Bisuke to stop him from going over-the-line. Now they had Alluka.
He sighed. He wasn't sure if he preferred that any better.
…
*Later*
Gon, Killua, and Alluka were eating at the Hotel's buffet restaurant when Gon's phone rang. A few days ago, back when they were still confined in the hospital, they contacted Bisuke just before she re-entered the game. They asked her to find Elena.
"She's not here!" was the first thing they hear and Gon's ear rang at the intensity. Bisuke was in a bad mood. "Why isn't she here I don't know!" She yelled again, but Gon already had the phone a meter away by instinct. "All I know is that transporting in the island out-of-order and I only got out because Leave's the only one given with reserve Nen."
Then they hear a heavy sigh. "Anyway, I looked for Razor and he said she went out. Said something about getting called by Netero."
She blinked at this. Netero-san? And she smiled in gratitude for the information, as if Bisuke could see. "Thank you Bisuke-chan!" Gon said. "You've helped us save time there."
After a second of silence, Bisuke let out a calm sigh. "Fine," she told them with that usual strict tone of hers. "And you two be careful!" she said dismissively but, before Gon could end the call, Bisuke called her out. "Oh, wait!" "Let me say something to Killua over there."
"Oh… okay." She said and handed the phone to Killua.
"What is it?" He almost added 'old hag' purely by habit. It was weird how the old you would pop out then and again when you were with the people who surrounded you back then.
"I know this is insensitive and all, but I really want to emphasize on this:" There was a pause, a dire one. And Killua already knew what she was going to say.
"You better protect Gon this time."
...
The three teenagers watched as the airship neared their sights all throughout to its gentle landing. It was a blimp bound to land to the Southernside of the Yorbian Continent, just a few kilometers from where the Hunter Association was located.
Killua was agitated and he would only smile at Gon during the few times it was noticeable or when she asked about it. He recalled Bisuke telling Gon once of his hard-trained will to run in face of odds against him... but Killua knew he wasn't like that anymore, he'd fight to the death if he had to to protect the people he loved. He knew Bisuke didn't know that change, but it still bothered him.
As much as he hated to admit it, Bisuke was his mentor. Her distrust of his ability to protect Gon was something he could really do well without.
Insensitive old hag.
But then his brain, which was focusing his annoyance to the image of Bisuke, automatically shifted towards his family, particularly Illumi, his father, and his mother. And then to the Bloodsworths-whats-their-names. The rest of the Injus. The Spiders. Hisoka. As well as all the things those people could do.
He gulped.
"Whoa! So high up!" Alluka yelled in glee as she ran around the airship's naturally-lit corridor, and then sticking her face against the window's glazing. Gon, who was walking a little slower, smiled behind her while Killua—who was just pulled out of his daze—only stared. He didn't realize they were so deep inside the ship already.
He watched Alluka squeak in the littlest of things, and Gon watched her with a similar smile.
It was then Killua frowned at another thought. "I realize she had never been on a plane (or a boat) before." He said; every time they went from to a far place, they always teleported. There was primarily one feeling in his head that moment though, and that was guilt. "We really shouldn't teleport anymore unless it's an absolute emergency," he said out-loud. "It's important to avoid tiring poor Alluka out, as well."
Gon nodded at this. "It won't be fair for her to miss an adventure—same goes for us." She told him, albeit a bit cryptically. "One has to have a goal. Because then every moment will seem more meaningful because it is part of the way there."
He stared at her and she looked at Alluka in response; the youngest being so happy with just the view. "I'm saying…" She said more slowly for him to understand, her hand finding his in the process. "That we should start enjoying the journey again, like old times."
His eyes widened a little, slightly startled at her words, before sending her a light yet meaningful smile.
"Oh, and I've been thinking." She looked at Alluka again and he did too. He thought that even when Alluka is only a few years younger, they both look at her as if she was their child. He blushed at that thought. "I think we should take Alluka to see a little bit more of this world before going to the Dark Continent."
He gave her a shy peck, then, and grinned. "Deal."
…
Meanwhile, inside a large room in the Nostrade mansion, Kurapika was reading a book on his bed. It was on architecture, because he found it fascinating to be creating something beautiful and pragmatic. Don't get him wrong, he wasn't going to be an architect, he had just always been fond of knowledge, and a part of him wondered what would've been his path if his clan hadn't been murdered in the first place.
Would he have been a scholar?
Would he have met the friends he had now?
It was a dilemma on its own: Two paths, and a too big a chance that they would never cross. So it was one life over the other. His family or the current him. If he had been given a choice, which one would it be?
But he shook his head; it was a pointlessly stressing line-of-thought. His will to distract himself from other thoughts had been going out-of-line. He was thinking of things more painful than the thoughts that put him in there in the first place.
"So what are you going to do now that Light's pretty much recovered? Will you stay with them?" Leorio once asked, a few days before he left, when he was staying for more days than needed in case Light would retrograde. Still, everyone knew that the biggest help Light needed the most came from himself.
"What about you?" Kurapika remembered asking and Leorio responded with a proud grin, saying he'd continue doing what he had been doing the past few years: making sure even the remotest of places in their continent received the medical facilities they needed. "I'm almost done, too!"
He mused on how Leorio's decision to focus more now on the reason he became a hunter in the first place, albeit he had been doing so during half his time as the family's consultant, and he found himself slightly envious.
Then he paused all thoughts to the present and he realized he was still on the same page as before. It was around that time when a knock was heard on his door. "Come in," He said and saw Neon's familiar pink hair, showing her head a little to show her shy intrusion.
"Tea?" She asked and allowed the tray in her hands to show through the door. Kurapika took a few seconds to decide—stealing a glance towards a certain corner, for her own safety—before nodding. He sat to the side of his bed and watched her place the teacup on his side table.
"Thank you."
She smiled. "I figured it's the least I could do before you go." She said but her eyes were a little wide. He knew she was half-hoping he'd deny her claim, and her posture slumping when he didn't confirm the thoughts. But then she straightened up again and gave him a bright smile.
"Actually I lied." She said, grinning proudly, and hid that small disappointment well. "I do have a surprise." She said and ran outside only to return a few seconds later. It was a box, a box with a very familiar shape and size. His eyes widened and he whipped his head at Neon, and didn't bother to hide his surprise.
"…thank you, Neon." He said, holding her hand firmly to show his gratitude. Now all of his clan member's eyes were complete, after 10 years.
She shook her head. "Leorio and Senritsu helped. We started looking when you left to find Gon." She said with a sad smile. "They allowed me to have the honors of giving it to you when you needed a boost."
He couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Thank you."
Neon blushed and chuckled with him, before taking a few steps back until she lumbered all the way to the door. She waved her hand. "Good night then, Kurapika." She said. "I hope you have pleasant sleep."
And she closed the door.
Kurapika was about to go back to his old position when that someone standing in the corner finally spoke up.
"She has feelings for you, you know."
He didn't flinch. He knew she was there since her arrival five minutes prior, but he understood her enough to know her motivations that she wasn't there to attack him. Her aura told him she was there to watch. Watch what exactly, that was something he'd figure out soon.
"Yes." He said coolly and sipped his tea. "But she is moving on." He should too, really, and he'd like to think he actually was.
His lack of surprise made her frown. "Did you know I was here?" A pause. "I can kill you if you mock me you know."
"You shouldn't be threatening me, Nerys." His eyes widened at the expression she gave out, as if him calling her name was touching.
"You misunderstand." He said anyway, conjuring his chains. "There is only one ability I can't use on you, but otherwise I easily overpower you." Kurapika told her with a sigh. "I would appreciate, however, if you do tell me why you're here. You're obviously not here to fight."
"I'm obviously waiting for any of those two to contact you."
She was a good liar, but he went against using his chain to determine whether or not she was telling the truth. "Is that so?" He voiced out, and decided to tell her the truth. As he'd appreciate some distraction, he'd really rather be reading a book than get into a fight. "Well then, you will be disappointed," he said. "We don't make contact as often as you'd think."
"Hmn."
He ignored her and went on reading his book and sipped his tea, and pretended she wasn't there… as it was before she spoke up. This made Nerys frown deeply, but she was used to Killua's ignoring her that it the annoyance wasn't as much a hit to her ego than simply being ignored.
"What is it about her?" she finally asked, after a long moment of silence. "About Gon?"
"What?" He turned to her, at least now having his full attention.
"I could've found you attractive, you know." She said (blurted out) in response. Both Kurapika and Killua had a way of making her blurt her words out gracelessly. "But I have an allergy with men who has feelings for that girl."
"Why?"
"It's a huge turn off, falling for her." Kurapika stared at the girl in front of him, with all her bravado, and was oddly reminded of Leorio's words during Senritsu's wake. "It will remind you to do better next time."
Senritsu and Nerys couldn't be any more different. But perhaps it was time to notice them more. Kurapika had yet to forgive her for attempting to take Gon's life, but he'd spent too many years vent on revenge—and being in that dark place was something that would disappoint Gon. In any case, he knew that Nerys needed to understand: Going after Gon would only pave a way for an even worse self.
"That's not it." He answered bluntly. "You are terrified to be compared to her."
Her eyes widened and a burst of aura almost escaped her grasp. Almost. But instead, she heaved a sigh, and sent him her angriest look.
"Am I wrong?"
"Yes."
"Why are you angry if I am wrong?"
"You—" She stopped, unable to think of a retort. Kurapika looked at her, and she crossly turned away. "I shouldn't have come here."
He didn't disagree.
But even with the regrets she voiced out, she looked at him deeply anyway. "They say you're a genius." She said with an uncharacteristically quiet voice, and he realized it was because of her confession she was suddenly showing a vulnerable side. "Tell me something comforting, then."
His lips remained thin.
"Tell me something that will make me leave Gon's back for good."
His eyes suddenly blinked at that and his brain obviously trying to figure out something to say. She resented the fact she had to use her name every single time she needed to see someone vying for something. "Maybe you were in love with the idea of love."
Her eyebrows creased. "What do you mean?"
"Perhaps you do not truly love Killua himself, just the fact that he would love you."
"Is there a difference?"
"Well, yes." He said, and if they weren't each other's enemies one could even call this conversation casual. "But I think that is something I can't truly say much about, as I have not experienced it—being attracted to the idea of something so troublesome." Unfortunately for him, it just happened.
Nerys stared at him for a while. "How can you even propose it in the first place, then?"
At the question, flashes of the past decade passed by his head, rousing several emotions inside him. "Because of the thin line between love and hate," he finally told her. "My hunger for revenge is analogous to attraction to the feeling of love. One is attracted to that end, not caring the means towards that end would be.
"All I am certain of is that I have loved Gon, likely to always will, for who she is and what she does."
"Then show me."
Kurapika was silent for a while, looking at her—really looking at her—and it almost made her blush. She had always been look at, but never quite by the person she wanted to, but now—
"I don't think I have to."
She glared. "What do you mean?"
"You already know, don't you?" He said and the image of her and Killua's kiss passed by her head. And she froze when her emerald eyes met his cerulean ones, staring at her as if he could see right through her.
"Because otherwise you wouldn't be so desperate."
…
Nerys honestly thought in the event she'd be speechless and humiliated and caught-off-guard, she would be able to make a stoic retort and coolly make an exit. However, that wasn't the case.
She ended up sprinting towards him for an attack, in the back of her head surprised that she hadn't released a burst of nen out of anger. "You and Killua are idiots. You think you're so smart? You're worse than he is." She whispered vehemently, because it would be more humiliating if she were to shout.
Kurapika stared up to her, she expected him to push her away—her straddling him and all—but she continued speaking, and he continued to stare. "What are you protecting?" She asked, angry bubbling inside her gut. Still, she managed a smirk—as superficial as it was. "You're only friends with Gon, no need to be loyal to her."
He remained unmoved and she leaned down closer to him; they were only a few inches apart now. "We all know Killua got the girl." She whispered and he flinched, and she continued to enumerate.
"So, what are you protecting? Your honor?" She laughed. "You're ripe of age, and who protects their virginity at that age anymore? What are you? A girl?"
"I haven't dropped so desperately low to sleep with just anyone."
Her whole face twitched. "I am not 'anyone'. I am Nerys Bloodsworth—why can't you or that guy just see?!"
Kurapika, under all the hushed anger she sent him, remained cool, his eyes never leaving hers, and that was destabilizing in itself. She let out a squeak and—tired of everything—placed her head on his shoulders. Please, she begged. "You have nothing to lose."
"There will be consequences."
"If you're talking about me getting pregnant then you don't have anything to worry about." There was an unexpected bitterness in her voice and it seemed she had no energy to keep it down. "I'm barren." She said and looked up as if she was surprised she slipped it out. "Women born in my family are rare for a reason."
Beyond the bravado he saw the emptiness and suffering, and an unassailable feeling of self-pity.
They were similar, he and Nerys, vying for people they couldn't have. Because big fish worth fishing were worth it—even when you don't catch them. She took his silence as an affirmative, and leaned down.
And Kurapika did not move away.
…
HUNTERS ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS
Two Days Later
Gon, Killua, and Alluka arrived at the Hunter Association Headquarters after over a day of travel. Bean greeted them gleefully (and proudly) and lead them to the President's room with no questions. They saw him as soon as the double-doors opened, sitting over his table, because—really—that chair is just a prop.
The old man hadn't changed, Gon and Killua thought. He still had his long ponytail and beard, and sitting in a half-lotus position while using one of his fingers to lift his whole weigh up, making him look as if he was floating.
He peeked with one of his eyes and laughed. "My, you two have gotten so big! Ho-ho." He yelled, gracefully manoeuvring himself to stand properly. "What can I do for you two?"
"We're here to ask for Elena-san. We were told you asked her to come here."
"Oh, Elena?" he voiced out, looking at the ceiling as he recalled. "That cute tsundere with blue hair?" He laughed again. Neither could imagine Elena as a tsundere but Killua and Beans thought Netero must've been hitting on her. "I'll be using her for the Hunter's exam this month."
"Exam?" That was Gon. "In the middle of the year?"
"We needed hunters," Netero told them with a shrug. "The Dark Continent's really increasing our demand for manpower." And he finally looked at them. "She's not here at the moment, but she agreed."
"Okay, thanks!"
"Wait."
"There's something you have to do for me in order to meet her."
"This is suspicious," Killua voiced out before Gon mindlessly agreed to this again. "If we reject it?"
"I haven't even made my offer yet." He laughed again, and he was reminded of that deal he offered during the exam. Sly, bored, old man. "You know what they say 'Don't cross the stream to get water'."
"What?"
"Means you have to take what you get." He said with an oddly amused dead-panned expression. "Anyway, if you want to meet Elena." He began just before pausing for long seconds, and then looked at both of them straight in the eyes.
"…be examiners!"
And again…, he just laughed. Killua palmed his forehead, thinking that with all his foresight he definitely had not anticipated this turn-of-events at all.
Damned, bored, old man.
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 25
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 26: Horses x Desert x Traitorous
To the Hunter Exam! To be examiners, of course. :D
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Chicckick404 – Yay I'm happy too! And I am glad I made you happy and that you think I portrayed Killua well and that I am an amazing writer *blushes*. Huehuehue. Thx for reviewing!
Slytherin Studios – Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad to know you still like how this is going! I hope to keep it up. :D
Pri-Chan 1410 – It will it will! xD if anyone's gonna suffer from now on, it won't be Mito. Hehe. And here's the update! I hope it's nice and thank you for reviewing~ :D
Digilover23 – Here's the next chappy! A few more YY pair moments but I'm hinting some others. Hope it's enough fluff-fix tho! Hahah. Thank you for reviewing! xD
Fingersofbone – hahaha cuz' she's pregnant! Not sure yet exactly to what degree the baby will play but I'll get there. Anyway, glad you liked the chap, and thx for the review! :D
00Misty – Yay! I'm glad that despite the originally thrilling part is now over (YY pair being apart) this is still exciting. I'm relieved, and thank you for telling me!
Reah-Kitsune – lololol. Alluka shall be the cockblocker for now. Haha. Cuz 17 is still too young for 'that'! Anyway, super glad you liked the story so far, and thank you for reviewing! :D
Grapes – First off thank you for reviewing! I'm super happy to know that my characterizations are still good enough and you enjoyed the chapter! ;D
Jennosaur – Ah thank you for the offer! I just rushed the proofreading cuz' of the super long update. Thank you for reviewing, and it would be awesome if you point out some mistakes in this chap as well. ;D
Guest [Mar 29 2015] – I'll reveal more on the whole parents thing in the Dark Continent story arc. I hope you'll like it, whenever it will come out lol. Thank you for reviewing, and glad you thought the wait was worth it! ;D
Darlingfedz – *2 months later* Still no Togashi! Haha. Darn it. Anyway, Thank you for reviewing! Haha. I'm so glad you're still liking my writing and I shall do my best to keep it up~ *brohugs*
RaNDoem – Yay! I'm glad you're blushing, Killua and Gon will be happy. Lel. And thank you for commenting! Glad you enjoyed the chap.
Pitou77 – IKR. She will get closure though... eventually. Huehuehue. Mito's sometime around her first trimester. xD Thank you for reviewing by the way~! Happy you liked it.
Kaeberlily – You're back! Welcome back! And yeah~ I'm excited for the DarkContinent arc too. If only Togashi updates I'll be able to write a more canon-based setting. *sobs* Thanks for reviewing btw! xD
Phoenix-Thunder – Hahah yeah. I update every once in a blue moon now. *cries* I'm blaming Togashi. Haha. Anyway, I miss reading your stories. Lol. Update? Hueheueheu. Anyway, glad you enjoyed the chap and that it's worth the wait. Hope you enjoy this one too!
Guest [Apr 13 2015] – And Thank you for reading and reviewing. Hope you liked this chap!
Jewel of the Dark – Oh lololol me too! Gotta love the over-protective dads! His reaction kinda reminds me of Leorio as a daddy tho. Huehue. Thx for commenting btw~
Chosanbhir – (ch21) hahaha you had to start from the beginning?! Actually I'm flattered you put the effort. Thx for that! (Ch22) haha. Thrown out by Bisuke? And it's spewing Killua blood. Hahaha (ch23) Nope and OMG is that Milluki? You have a crush on Milluki?! XDD (I'm not judging) lol. Thanks for the reviews, btw! *brofist*
SlightlyYandereMelissa – Yep more action indeed! I'll try~ And so happy you loved the fluff! (don't die tho pls) haha. Thank you for reviewing btw~ And hope we'll find out Ging's reaction soon enough. ;D
Kaiko-pyon – Thank you for reviewing! And for the compliment on my writing *blushes* I'm glad you think so and I'll do my best to keep at it~! :D
XIIIsirius – I'm very happy you enjoyed it! I'll do my best when I get to those situations, and I hope you like them as well! xD Thank you for reviewing, btw. :D
Bluesonicblast – (ch1) They will, they will! In a couple of chapters. xD (ch3) I know xD Many hated her, which makes her a nice little villain, ne? Annoying rather than threatening, but I try. Lol (ch4) I'm glad it touched your feels. xD It's not really amnesia tho. Not exactly. ;D (ch8) It will, soon! xD I hope you get there. (ch11) Hope you don't drop it and you're actually reading my replies. Haha. Anyway, thank you so much for the reviews here and the prequel! *hugs*
Giotto27 – (ch12) Hahaha yeah. If Killua and Gon aren't perfect for each other, I would've made her end up with Kura. xD (ch24) I'm am very happy you love it and yay for Yinyang! Thank you for the reviews. ;D
...
Thank you for reading!
And Yay for vacation~ I'll write more quickly now, obviously, but
it'd really help me if I know just who are still with me on this. (Togashi definitely isn't).
So please don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts. :D