Disclaimer: I don't own Hunter x Hunter.
CHAPTER 35
Stormy Night
(Part 1)
"It's really pouring out there." Iris commented as she looked at the rain outside the window. It was really raining hard and the sky rumbled with thunder and lightning.
"We're lucky to be here then." Leorio grinned as he relaxed in the sofa.
"Is this really okay, Iris? This is your parents' house, right?" Kurapika asked as he placed his tea on the table.
"Of course, its fine. And this house is more like a property that my dad just bought on his own whim. There's nothing special to it, really." Iris answered as she turned away from the window and sat next to Kurapika.
"It still nice and cozy though." Gon complimented with a smile.
"Thanks, Gon. Mom will be happy to hear that Dad actually bought something nice for once." Iris smiled back.
After the seven of them left the Zoldyck property, they took the train and went to the neighboring town where the airport was the nearest. It was already dark when they arrived and it was raining to boot. That was when Iris suggested that they stay at a property her family owned in the area.
The house was empty when they arrived but it was clean since Iris's father had hired people to clean the house periodically. The lock only required a fingerprint to open and since Iris was registered, they had no problem entering the property.
They ordered dinner since they were too tired and too hungry to cook. After their lively dinner, they all relaxed in the living room sipping tea. Well, not all of them at the moment.
"Where are Eclair and Leila?" Gon asked as he noticed that the two youngest girls of the group were missing.
"The dwarf dragged Leila somewhere." Killua aswered, sounding a bit irritated. "Dwarf said something about a talk or contacting someone."
"Well, Eclair actually bought a laptop before we went to Kukuroo Mountain. I guess she's using it now." Iris said. "Maybe she's calling home or something."
Gon tensed at the Iris's words. 'Home? Is Eclair going back home? Is she going home after all?'
Kurapika was the only one who noticed Gon tense up though. The others were too busy. Killua was busy being irritated because Leila was out of his line of sight. Leorio was busy stuffing his mouth with the snacks on the table as if he hasn't eaten dinner yet and Iris was smirking.
'That smirk can't be anything good.' Kurapika thought.
"I really wonder who Eclair's calling though. Is she really calling home?" Iris started.
Gon tensed up again and again only Kurapika noticed.
"But then again, why does she need Leila with her?" Iris continued while intently looking at Killua. "Maybe she's introducing her to a family member? A brother of her's, perhaps?"
This time it was the silver haired pre-teen who froze. Looks like she was right after all. There was more to Killua's feelings other than friendship. Then a shit-eating grin later.
"Oh! Maybe Eclair's setting Leila up for a date with her brother?!" Iris practically sounded over dramatically cheerful that anyone in their right mind could notice it was nothing more than a tease.
However, Killua wasn't on his right mind so the next moments happened in a flash. Killua quickly sprinted across the room and Kurapika quickly sprinted after him. The next second, Kurapika had his arms under the struggling younger boy's arms to stop him from barging in.
The others sweat dropped at the scene while the mischievous mastermind was laughing her ass off in the corner.
Meanwhile...
Eclair sat on the bed and turned on the laptop she was carrying.
"Eclair, what do you want to talk about?" Leila gave Eclair a questioning gaze.
"Leila, you want to discover your real identity, right?" Eclair asked. Ever since Leila told her about her amnesia, the idea had been nagging Eclair at the back of her mind. She was supposed to tell her after the exam but a lot of things happened and Eclair lost the chance to tell Leila until now.
"Yes, I do." Leila frowned in confusion. "Why do you ask, Eclair?"
"I think I know someone who could help you."
"Really?"
"I can't guarantee anything though. He's um... a private detective... I guess... you could also call him an information broker... maybe. Anyway, back when we were still stealing frequently, he usually does the information gathering like the security loopholes and such. Nowadays, he does business with information. His usual clients are mafias and some rich men. With the right amount of money, he finds out information for people going as far to find murderers in some cases that those idiots in the legal side of the law can't solve. Well, technically he's a merchant with an overvalued and overpriced merchandise."
Leila sweat dropped at the description. "But if it's as you say, Eclair then would cost a lot to ask help from him."
"Not for me."
"Eh?"
"I have the sibling privilege." Eclair smirked, remembering her siblings. They may not be the most law abiding citizens but they are the most loyal family members a girl could ask for. "I still think there's a chance he could help you. Are you willing to bet on it?"
"Yes!" Leila exclaimed. Frankly, she had no idea how start looking for her real identity. There were too little clues of her past so Eclair's offer was truly something she couldn't afford to pass up. "Thank you, Eclair. It really means a lot to me."
"No problem. Don't get your hopes up though. I told you I can't guarantee anything."
Leila shook her head and smiled at Eclair. "This is more than enough, Eclair."
"Ok. I'll contact him now." Eclair begun to operate the laptop. "Don't show yourself at the camera till I tell you to."
"Ok." It was strange request but Leila had no qualms accepting it. She trusted Eclair anyway.
The video call connected and a boy who looked about 14 to 15 years old appeared on the screen. The boy had handsome features, black hair and onyx eyes. He also wore a red trimmed eye glasses on his face.
"Hello, my dear four eyed brother." Eclair greeted one of her adoptive brothers.
"It was about time you contacted us, brat." The boy replied. There was mirth in his tone.
Eclair rolled her eyes. "You're not much older than me, nii-chan."
"I'm still older." The boy replied. "Why did you choose me to contact me though? I'm sure there are a lot of other options. Do you need something? If there is, then spill it now."
"I want you to do me a favor, nii-chan." Eclair said seriously.
"What is it?"
"I want you to find someone's identity."
"Someone's identity? Who? Did someone rob you?"
"No. I want you to find my friend's real identity."
"Friend?" The boy laughed. "Stop joking, Eclair and tell me the truth."
"..."
"Really?" The boy looked at Eclair in disbelief. "You mean to say you found a friend with that bitter and sour attitude of yours?"
Eclair rolled her eyes and gestured Leila to come over and show herself to the camera.
"Hi" Leila greeted the boy politely but then...
"Aaaaaaargh!" The boy suddenly screamed at her sudden appearance. Then there was some crashing noise and the boy disappeared from the screen.
"Is he ok, Eclair?" Leila asked her friend in concern.
"He's fine." Eclair snickered.
"Why did he scream?" Leila asked.
"He's afraid of girls." Eclair deadpanned.
"I'm not afraid of them. I just don't like them near me or touching me." The boy argued as he appeared back on the screen.
"Let me introduce my brother with the girly phobia, Nate Sankrei." Eclair said to Leila.
Leila nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm Leila. Leila Sparks, Eclair's friend."
"Seriously? You're her friend?" Nate asked in disbelief which Leila replied with a nod. Then the boy's expression turned to genuine awe. "Wow...you must be insane..."
Leila pouted. "I'm perfectly sane. If you must know, Eclair is a very good friend to me and I'm very grateful to have her as one!"
Nate and Eclair were quite surprised at Leila's sudden outburst. Eclair got fully reminded at how embarrassingly honest Leila could be at times and Nate was just... impressed. He fully knew what his sister was like and then he just found out that she gained a friend who could bravely and sincerely defend her. It was just unbelievable and downright amazing.
"That's a very good thing to hear, Leila-san." A new guy appeared in the screen.
It was a guy on his early twenties. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. Leila also noted the man had a very kind smile on his face.
"Nii-san, since when-" Nate begun to ask.
"Just a few seconds after you screamed, Nate." The man responded.
"Nii-san." Eclair greeted the man with a rather rare smile.
"You look well, Eclair and I'm guessing you passed the exam."
"I did." Eclair said proudly.
The man smiled. "Well done, Eclair."
Eclair smiled back sincerely. "Thanks, nii-san."
"Well then, I can't help but overhear your conversation. I hope you don't mind, Leila-san."
"No, it's okay. I'm very sorry for yelling too." Leila apologized.
"Don't be sorry, Leila-san. I'm very happy to know that Eclair has gained a very loyal and kind friend like you."
"Thank you very much...ano..."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Fye Sankrei, Eclair's oldest brother. Nice to meet you, Leila-san."
"Nice to meet you too, Fye-san." Leila gave a little bow.
Then suddenly the sound of the door violently opening was heard through the speaker of the laptop on Eclair and Leila's side. Then two unknown boys appeared on the screen. Leila noted that the two were mirror images with each other. The two of them had spiky orange hair that was styled identically then identical brown eyes. The two of them looked about as old as Iris.
"Our dear nerdy-" One of the boys started.
"Banshee screaming-" The other one continued.
"Four eyed little brother, we have come to your desperate need!" Then the two of them stated the last statement dramatically and simultaneously.
Nate miserably groaned at the stupid theatrics. "I don't need you so will you two get out of my room?"
"That's cold-"
"Freezing-"
"We just came here because we're worried of our darling little brother and that's how you treat us?!"
"Unacceptable, horrible, utterly incorrigible! Where have we gone wrong in raising you, my son?!"
Nate face palmed while Fye just smiled.
"Now, now...I'm sure they are just concerned for their little brother, Nate." Fye chided.
"Well they can show their concern without the stupid theatrics and if you didn't notice, they just called me their son which is absolute bullshit-" Nate cursed and then he stopped after he saw the very sweet smile on Fye's face. That smile can't be anything good.
"Um...Eclair? Who are they?" Leila asked. She was rather lost in the current development.
Eclair was about to answer her when the two newcomers noticed them. They came up nearer towards the camera and excitedly greeted Eclair.
"Our vertically challenged-"
"Socially impaired-"
"Dear little sister Eclair!" Again they spoke simultaneously.
"Hello to you too, my idiotic brothers." Eclair simply rolled her eyes and greeted then she turned to Leila. "Leila, these two are my stupidly insane older brothers, Raku and Ruka Sankrei. Don't bother trying differentiate them now. Those two are identical twins. Only Nii-san and Mira-nee can identify them right."
"Eh? Leila?" Raku noticed the girl beside Eclair. He noted that she was quite pretty and her eyes was quite unusual.
"Who is she, Eclair?" Ruka asked.
"She's my friend, Leila." Eclair answered coolly.
Then the two brothers looked at the Eclair in disbelief. Then they took a step back and...
"Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!"
"Eh? Eclair, why are they screaming? Are they afraid of girls too?" Leila asked in panic.
"No, they are just idiots." Eclair deadpanned.
"Eh?"
"Please behave, Raku, Ruka. You are scaring, Leila-san." Fye reprimanded gently but it seems that it was enough for the two boys to stop their screaming and obey their older sibling.
"Is this real, Nii-san?" Ruka asked.
"Is she real, Nii-san?" Raku followed.
"Very much so." Fye replied. "So you two calm yourselves and behave. I believe Eclair, Nate and Leila-san had an important discussion before we barged into their conversation."
The twin grumbled and mumbled a bit that sounded like 'the end of the world', 'unbelievable' and 'impossible' but nevertheless, they obeyed their brother.
Nate cleared his throat. There was something he needed to ask his sister first. "So who's identity do you want me to find, Eclair?"
"It's actually mine, Nate-san" Leila replied.
"Yours?" Nate looked at the girl in surprise.
"She has amnesia, nii-chan. She was washed ashore on Whale Island four years ago with no memories of her own." Eclair informed.
"That is very unfortunate." Fye commented.
"Well, yes but I got luckily picked by a really good family, Fye-san." Leila said giving the man a kind smile.
"That's wonderful to hear." Fye smiled back.
Nate cleared his throat again. "So you really can't remember your anything from your past life?"
Leila shook her head.
"Is the name 'Leila Sparks' your real name?" Nate asked.
"No."
"Do you have any clues of your past?"
"The only things I have from my past is the dress I wore when I was first found and the barrel that Mito-san found me in."
"That's not much to go on."
"When are you exactly found?"
"January 29, 2xx6. I don't know what is the exact time but Mito-san found me at dawn during her walk. There was a storm the previous night when I was found."
"Is that so..."
"Will accept my favor, nii-chan?" Eclair asked.
Nate paused for a moment then nodded.
"Thank you very much, Nate-san." Leila expressed her gratitude.
"Call me Nate. Drop the -san. It's annoying. Don't bother adding any other honorific. And I apologize for calling you insane." Nate replied.
"Apology accepted, Nate." Leila smiled at him brightly.
Nate blushed at the girl's smile. She looked really pretty. He noted her pretty face, black hair and very unique purple eyes. He immediately calmed himself down but Fye and one of the twins still noticed it though.
"Well then since I already accepted this job, I must know how old are you." Nate asked.
"I don't know my real birthday but the estimate was eleven or twelve." Leila answered.
"Is the color of your hair natural?"
"Yes"
"Your eyes?"
"Yes"
"Are you wearing any make up at the moment?"
"No"
"Alright. I'm taking a screenshot of you and I must ask you to give me permission to freely look at your personal information. Is that ok?"
"Yes."
Nate took a few screenshots of Leila and Eclair. He asked a few more questions to which Leila honestly answered. Then Nate declared he was done.
"Since that is done with, I would also like to ask a favor from you, Leila-san." Fye said.
"Huh? What is it, Fye-san?" Leila asked.
"I would like to personally meet you and I'm sure the rest of the family would like to meet you too, the moment they hear about you so if it's ok, I would like you to come and visit us here."
"That's a great idea, Nii-san!" Raku cheered.
"I totally agree, Nii-san!" Ruka then gave his agreement.
"Eclair?" Leila turned to Eclair.
"It's fine with me." Eclair shrugged.
"Then I accept, Fye-san." Leila smiled.
"That's great. I can't wait to meet my little sister's very first friend." Fye smiled back.
"I'm not really her first friend. Gon befriended Eclair first." Leila said.
"Gon?" Fye asked in confusion.
"He's my other friend." Eclair said but Fye could somehow make out some red hue on Eclair's cheeks as she said it.
"You have another one? Are there others too?" This time, it was Nate who asked.
"Well, there is gramps, ossan, Kurapika and Iris." Eclair replied.
"Gramps?" Raku asked as his eyebrows knitted in confusion.
"Ossan?" Ruka asked, also quite confused.
"She actually means Killua and Leorio." Leila sweatdropped. Eclair doesn't really call Killua by his name and even though Eclair could call Leorio by his name just fine, she was more fond of calling him ossan.
"I see. Then I would like to meet them too. Will you bring them too if you can?" Fye said.
"If they can and want to, Nii-san then maybe..." Eclair answered.
"Alright, I'll accept that for now." Fye conceded.
"By the way brat, the game Greed Island you are searching for, it'll appear on the York Shin city grand auction on September 1st." Nate suddenly informed.
"Really?" Eclair raised an eyebrow in surprise.
When Leila and Eclair went out of the bedroom, they were greeted with a very unusual sight. It was Kurapika holding a struggling Killua, Iris holding her sides trying to contain her laughter and surprisingly, the only people who looked sane at the scene was Gon and Leorio.
"What the hell happened?" Eclair deadpanned.
Author's Note:
I'm really sorry for not posting new chapters for a while. I had to think and re-think some things I had planned for the story so I took some time off. I'm not exactly done with the thinking yet but I think I'm ready to post some new chapters now.
A big thank you for those who reviewed, followed, and put this fic on their favorite list. You made this student really happy. :)
Favorite, follow, review!