Sorry for the short chapter before, I hope I made up for it with the double update... Anyways, here's another chapter! And this one is longer, I hope you like it. Thanks so much for reading!
havanatitiana - Yeah, I'm sorry about that, but here, I hope I made up for it with the double update and this long chapter! And yes, Killua is starting to get REALLY protective of her. It'll really show later. XD
BizzyLizy - I don't have to do exams, thank god, but still, graduation practice... And after I graduate I'll be working full time so I won't have time for fanfics and art... T^T But I'll try! And thanks, I'll correct that. ^^ You're welcome!
Zeladious - Lol, ^^; You know the Japanese, always weird names. :P I just chose something random. :P Ah, thanks for the correction. ^^
iiWolvesofRuin - I'm trying! I'm trying! T^T I'm just so busy... But here's an extra long chapter for you. ^^ But thank you.
Crescentclaw - XD Good. Hope you enjoy this chapter too!
"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of." - Jim Rohn
Re-cap:
"Hey guys! Look who I found! Remember how I was telling you about my brother Trance? Guys, this is him. Trance, meet Gon, Killua, Basil, and Kurapika."
"Not a very warm welcome," Gayle, Trance, whoever he was said with a small chuckle. My posture relaxed instantly. His voice was clearly different. His tone, his posture, everything was different. But he was clearly the same guy... My brain started racing with possibilities. Killua seemed to visibly relax too.
"Sorry, we thought you were a man named Gayle," Killua said holding his hand out.
"Gayle? Never heard of him." Trance held out his hand to shake Killua's without hesitation. Yup, this was definitely not Gayle. But... Why did he look so much like him?
"You wouldn't happen to have another brother would you?"
"Nope, it's just me and my younger brother!" Crisei said, flinging his arm around his brother's neck.
"Younger? I cried first! I demand reconsideration!" Trance replied with a laugh. I smiled at the two. They hadn't seen each other for years yet here they were... But the fact Trance and Gayle still looked like one another bothered me. Was there a possible way to use Nen to control someone's body, become a host? Imitate them? I think it's possible...
"So I'm going to hang with Trance for a while. Call me if you need me!" Crisei said as the two of them started off. I waved.
"They still looked the same," Killua said. I nodded.
"And it wasn't a resemblance either."
"Gayle and Trance..." Killua needed say no more. I nodded.
"Hey, I'm going to call Leorio," Kurapika said, getting Gon, Killua, and my attention. "We can go to the hotel." I grinned.
"Yeah!"
End Re-cap
It wasn't long before our group arrived at the hotel. My mind was still swirling with thoughts. Gayle and Trance were definitely the same people, even though their attitude and personality were different. Split personality perhaps? And where was that girl? I'm sure if she showed up, having warned Crisei about them, he'd call... But then again Trance was his brother...
"It's been a while since we were all together!" Gon exclaimed happily, drawing my thoughts.
"Where's Zepile-san?" Killua asked. His and my gazes met and I could see in his eyes he could tell what I was thinking.
"He wanted to validate our check and find more hidden gems to sell," Leorio replied as we reached the elevator. He glanced at Kurapika. "Anyway..."
"What?" Kurapika said.
"You've got this intensity about you... You seem a little more intimidating now," Leorio replied. I nodded.
"Yeah Nii-san." I'd noticed it too. It wasn't only his looks that'd changed. I blushed noticing him looking at me and cast my gaze elsewhere.
"Really? You don't seem to have changed much," Kurapika replied to Leorio.
"And you're more annoying too!" Leorio said slightly offended. I chuckled.
"But Basil, you have definitely changed."
"Huh?" I looked back at Kurapika.
"The way you speak and stand, you're a lot more confident," he clarified. I smiled. "You're a lot less scared of everyone." My gaze hesitated, looking down for a moment.
"Yeah, I guess... It's all thanks to you all."
The elevator dinged and I looked away from the others and to the opening doors. Our group got in, though it was a little crowded, I didn't mind much. Or rather, I wouldn't have if Killua hadn't managed to squeeze himself between me and my brother. I wanted to hear all about his adventures thus far...
"Oh, I heard you defeated a member of the troupe," Killua said, glancing over at Kurapika with a look. "Having only just learned Nen, how did you manage that?"
"If you're looking for advice on catching the spiders, then stop." Kurapika replied, only glancing down at him.
"That's not the only reason," Gon put in. "We want to master Nen. Because we'll definitely need Nen in the future."
"Then you don't want my advice. It won't do you any good." Kurapika replied, still frowning.
"Why not?" Gon asked curiously. I too was curious, but stayed quiet and listened.
"My power can only be used against the troupe." Kurapika replied. My mind started swirling with Nen information and how that was possible. My eyes widened. Don't tell me he-
"Huh?" The boys said, confused.
"Nii-san..." I watched him as he looked at me. As our eyes met my suspicions were confirmed. He'd made his Nen stronger by making a rule that he could only use it on Phantom Troupe members. I sighed, shaking my head slightly.
"What about you Basil?" Kurapika asked, still looking at me, drawing my attention back to him and the other's to me. "You knew Nen before any of us, I'm sure you can give them tips." I shook my head.
"Unfortunately I'm a special case..."
"Special case?" Gon and Killua repeated.
Before long the five of us were in the hotel room, sitting on chairs and facing each other. I'd explained about my Nami and how I couldn't do Zetsu because of it, and the translation device which inhibited me. I also explained about my world travelling ability and how that seemed to not be effected too much by Nen, but unlike the others I was a specialist and was training my abilities to protect me where my faults were. The only advice I could give them was to try and develop a Hatsu technique. Afterwords I let Kurapika speak and explain his situation.
"Restraint and vow?" Gon asked after the explanation. Yup, I was definitely right. The problem was the rule... What was it? How did it impact him? Would us knowing it be detrimental to him?
"Yeah. Nen is strongly affected by your mental state," Kurapika continued to explain. I nodded, already knowing this. "The stronger your resolve, the more power you receive. However, you also incur a big risk at the same time. In return for Nen power, I vowed to use it against the spiders alone. I established a rule for myself."
"What's the rule?" Leorio asked.
"If I use my chains on anyone who isn't a spider, I forfeit my life." Kurapika finished. I balked, everything filling into place, but I bit my tongue back and held my body still. That idiot!
"Huh? What do you mean?" Leorio asked with slight worry and suspicion.
"There is a Nen blade pointed at my heart. If I break the rule, that blade will pierce my heat, killing me. This is the rule that shows my resolve," Kurapika further explained. "Restraint and vow. My power is the product of pure hatred. It only works on spiders. I'm telling you because I trust you. Don't tell anyone else."
"Why… Why did you tell us something so important(Why would you do something so stupid)!?" Killua and I yelled at the same time, glancing at one another as we now stood.
"I'm not sure. With their leader's death, I must have relaxed." Kurapika explained, calm as ever.
"It'll be fine if we keep our mouths shut." Leorio further said.
"It's too dangerous. One of the surviving members can read minds," Killua explained. I glanced at him in worry. "If they find out, Kurapika won't be able to beat them!"
"But she didn't learn anything last time." Gon questioned.
"That's because we didn't know Kurapika was the chain-user." Killua explained.
"Then we just have to stay away from them," Leorio said. "They've already checked you so they think you're clean."
"So?" I said. "If they checked them then all it means is they know they're out there and they can catch them. They could try to go after them again. And what if they see me and decide to check me?"
"Yeah, that," Killua said. "But there's also a guy named Nobunaga. He's especially dangerous. He's looking for Kurapika, and he's still trying to chase us down."
"Is he aware that you guys know Kurapika?" Leorio asked.
"No…" Killua said.
"Then it's okay! As long as no one around the mind reader knows Kurapika, then you're safe." Leorio said. I shook my head.
"Leorio, you don't understand. If he sees me he might check me. Or even you."
"Then just make sure not to be around Killua or Gon," Leorio said.
"Well, I've also been in contact with Hisoka." Kurapika said.
"What?"
"Hisoka?"
"He knows that I am the chain user. We made a pact, but his target, the leader of the spiders, is now dead. So I don't know what he'll do." Kurapika explained. My mind immediately started to go to work, thinking of possibilities and what'd happen.
"What do we do?" Killua interjected, pausing my thoughts as I listened to him. "Now that we know Kurapika's secret, it's dangerous to wait around. If Nobunaga captures me or Gon again, we probably won't be able to escape, and with Basil here that risk increases. But we have Kurapika with us now, and Basil has her barriers. We should take them out before they have a chance to recover and escape. We know where their current base is. If we take too long, they might get away. We need to move fast. They could be making an escape as we speak. We don't have time for too much thought."
"I don't think my barriers are strong enough to withstand attacks from them," I said, explaining. "My barriers reflect my will and strength. If I'm physically weaker than my opponent, my barriers won't do much..."
"And the woman you mentioned is certainly a threat…" Kurapika continued. "But since their leader is dead, I'll do as Gon says, and focus on recovering my brethren's eyes."
"Seriously?" Killua said. I frowned, as my brain was still working and thinking.
"Yeah." Kurapika replied with a nod.
"You're sure about this?" Killua continued to ask.
"Kurapika made up his mind. We can't force him to change it." Leorio said.
"Sorry, Killua. Thank you for the valuable information." Kurapika said, nodding with a slight smile. I frowned. Killua sure seemed upset and uncomfortable in his situation...
"Kurapika..." The Kurta looked at me. "You're mainly focused on the leader being dead. What would you do if their leader actually wasn't dead, or a new one quickly stepped up in their place?" Kurapika paused at that, thinking, eyes widening in thought. "Also, they're strong. What if the Mafia decided not to hunt them anymore in fear of losing too much men? Or if the remaining members continued to go after you?"
"That would be-" Kurapika paused as a ding from his phone, signalling he got a text, sounded. He opened his phone to check his text. "Then that'd be a different story..." He paused again. "It's from Hisoka..."
"Kurapika...?" Gon asked, worried of the angry look on the blonde's face.
"The dead bodies were fakes…" Kurapika said, phone shaking in his hand in anger. My eyes widened. I knew it! I knew it couldn't be that easy! Didn't Killua say his family even couldn't handle them? There was no way they'd have gone down so easily!
"Huh? You mean the dead bodies of the Troupe members?" Leorio asked, shocked, glancing at me."
"Yeah, the dead spiders were fakes! It would be possible for a Conjurer to accomplish that. Dang! Why didn't I realize this sooner?" Kurapika yelled angrily.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy," I mumbled. Killua glanced at me.
"The situation's changed. What now? We're here to help," he said.
"Uh huh." Gon agreed.
"Yeah." Leorio also chimed in. I nodded as well. Kurapika thought a second before a phone call sounded and he put the phone to his ear.
"Hello- Melody? What is it?" I could only hear half the conversation but I knew it was bad, and furthermore Kurapika kept glancing at me. "What? - The troupe comes from Meteor City?" Yeah, this really sounded bad.
Eventually Kurapika hung up and sighed. "Basil, you must somehow know the future."
"Huh?"
"The reward's been rescinded," Kurapika explained.
"The reward's been rescinded? Seriously?" Killua said, shocked. I blinked. Oh. Wait. Was this my fault?
"The troupe comes from Meteor City." Kurapika further explained.
"Makes sense…" Leorio pondered. "That explains why their identities are still unknown, and why the cops haven't been able to catch them."
"What's that got to do with it?" I asked, drawing other's attention.
"What's Meteor City?" Gon asked as well.
"A city populated by people who, as far as society is concerned, don't exist." Leorio explained. My mouth made an O shape. I remembered that place! Kai-san was explaining once about Meteor Ciy, said if I'm ever asked where I come from that should be my response from now on.
"There's a city like that?" Gon asked.
"Yeah, I remember now," I said, nodding. "Kai-san talked about it once..."
"Yeah. Officially, it's unpopulated. But it's said that ten million people live there," Leorio started to explain. "It began as a dump over 1,500 years ago." Wow, 1,500 years ago? In my world something like this would have only been going on for the past hundred years at most! "People began to live off the garbage that was dumped there. You're allowed to dump anything there. From garbage to weapons to even people. And the residents will accept anything left there. I've heard that Meteor City residents share a bond, thinner than that between strangers, stronger than that between family."
"Actually, there are those who provide Meteor City with weapons and precious metals under the pretext of garbage," Kurapika explained. I was nearly shaking my head. No one would ever get away with something like this in my world. "That would be the Mafia community."
"What do you mean? But the Mafia is hunting the Troupe!" Gon exclaimed.
"In return, the Mafia recruited people from Meteor city," Kurapika further stated. "People who didn't exist, as far as society was concerned. Perfect for committing crimes. The Troupe destroyed the normally intimate relationship between the Mafia community and Meteor City. But the Mafia has decided to prioritize that relationship."
"No one would ever get away with anything like that in my world," I mumbled, though the others heard me. I stared at them a second, then sighed. "The entire world is governed by different people who hold all the power. There's satellites and all sorts of ways to see everything. Someone can go onto the computer and see anyone's history if they've done a crime, can see any place in the world, and everything that happens can be found online if you look."
"That's the same as here, I don't see how-" I cut Leorio off.
"Every piece of land is owned by one country or another, every product, every sale, every thing. There's no way to exist without spending money on something, and even if you're homeless you were raised by someone who birthed you in a hospital somewhere and got your name printed on paper. The only way for you to become someone who doesn't exist is for you to have been born out on the streets, and afterwords left to fend on your own, your name not even in the books. If you ever try to get any money, steal, anything, you suddenly exist. Anything out of the ordinary." I sighed. "In my world, Meteor City would have officially become a city, no one would be allowed to dump garbage there anymore, and everyone who lived there would exist. The Phantom Troupe would be a terrorist organization and would have the military on their heels at every movement."
"Then tell me, Basil," I paused, looking at a serious Kurapika who was staring at me. "How is it, in such an advanced society such as this, you managed to live for so long being abused by your parents without anyone doing anything?" I bit my lip, looking away from him in shame.
"Simple," I started. "Anyone under 18 basically has no power whatsoever."
Alright, finally finished! Thanks for reading! T^T All the feels... Ah! It'll get interesting next chapter~! ^^
Speaking of which, I'm still trying to write this but I've gotten so busy! T^T I'm trying my hardest to work on this more and finish it and get it to you but... Life... So if I receive 10 or more reviews this chapter, even just saying boop or something, I'll make this my top priority. ^^ Seriously.
REMINDER! I have a poll on my profile about the Greed Island Arc, I wanted to know your all opinions. The poll be up until the GI Arc starts, and I'll be reminding people until I get a decent amount of votes. I really appreciate all the votes I've gotten so far and it's really a relief, and honestly I wish I didn't need to keep posting this reminder but the top three are so close, neck and neck, and I want one to be further than the others before I choose it. Thanks!
