Hello everyone! I'm sorry I've been putting this off, I've been super busy! But I promise I haven't forgotten about this fic! Or any of the others! Just don't have a lot of time for writing anymore, but I will continue fighting! In the meanwhile, since finals are coming up, here's an early present for all of you all who need that extra boost of motivation to get through the end of the semester!
Kurapika followed Shalnark into Chrollo's room with mixed feelings of regret and uneasiness, letting his cousin shut the door behind him as he made his way to sit on the bed.
"So, I got a call from my parents," Shalnark prefaced when Kurapika had sat down. "They didn't seem too pleased that you were here."
Kurapika frowned.
"They're not easy to please."
"Kurapika, they told me to get away from you or to kick you out of the house. What happened?" Shalnark asked, looking worried. "They said that you would taint me, but that doesn't make any sense given that you are most definitely not the worst family member in the clan, and you and I both know that."
"Shalnark, do you remember when I called you a week after my graduation party a few years ago?" Kurapika asked, ignoring his cousin's last comment and keeping his eyes to the ground. "Do you remember what I said?"
Shalnark paused, frowning slightly before nodding.
"...yeah, I do. It was that the family couldn't be trusted with any secrets. I still don't understand what that meant exactly, but it was ominous enough that I haven't told them much after that… What made you say that?"
"You probably weren't told for whatever reason, but at the graduation party I was exiled from the family upon popular vote." Kurapika said solemnly, risking a glance at Shalnark's face, taking in how his cousin's jaw had gone slack.
"You- why would they-"
"Because I was myself. Because I felt like they were ready to know, but I was wrong."
"...I don't understand."
"Shal," Kurapika sighed, locking gazes with the other. "I told them I was gay."
Shalnark was shocked into silence, his mouth opening and closing many times before forming into a circle as he slowly exhaled air.
"Oohh, oh so that's what you meant… oh, I'm… I'm so sorry I didn't know…"
"It's okay, I didn't expect you to."
"But Kurapika, to estrange you? Why were- no, why are they so upset about it?"
"Because to them that means I wouldn't be carrying on the Kurta name, and they're pissed about it." Kurapika said almost bitterly, looking back down at his hands in his lap. "Besides, they didn't even listen to what I said completely about the subject."
"Well, what did you originally say?"
"That I was within the asexual range with a preference for men if I ever had to find a romantic interest if at all, and all they took from what I said was the fact that I kind of liked guys." the blonde sighed, holding his head in his hands. "I haven't even been able to talk with my mother since then."
"Aunt Anahita?"
Kurapika gave a nod.
Shalnark stayed silent for a while and Kurapika didn't even bother to see what he was doing until he heard him speak.
"Don't yell at me jeez- yes, he is, now can I finish talking to the rest of the family?" Silence. "No, I don't want to talk to him right now, not after he yelled like that… I don't care what he said he'll just have to wait. Could you please give the phone to Aunt Ana please?"
Before Kurapika could register what Shalnark was doing, Shalnark shoved his phone into his cousin's hands.
"I'll be outside." was all Shalnark said before retreating out of the room, closing the door swiftly behind him.
Kurapika looked at the door for a while before he picked up the phone and put it to his ear, wondering if the other person had waited long.
"Shalnark, are you even there?" he heard someone ask in an annoyed tone, though it wasn't one of malice, but endearment. Kurapika took a deep breath, letting it out shakily before speaking.
"...Mom?" Kurapika breathed out, surprised at how quiet his voice was, but his mother still heard him, gasping slightly. There was some muffled talking in the background and a few shouts but it started to fade, soon being nothing but the sound of someone walking on a hardwood floor. He waited till she spoke again, her voice having softened greatly, sounding almost sad.
"Kurapika… it's been such a long time since we've talked," she hesitated, sighed, then asked "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Kurapika said with half truth. "And you?"
"I'm… good."
She didn't sound confident in her answer, but Kurapika refused to challenge it. He let a silence stretch between them, not knowing what to say until she sighed again.
"I'm sorry." she said, sounding close to tears. "Ever since your graduation, I've regretted not being able to talk to you. You disappeared so quickly and you haven't even been home since then… I couldn't protect you when you needed it most and I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault mom. I'm not expecting you to walk away from your family for me."
"But Kurapika I should have!" she said, sounding angry at herself. "You're my family too you know! And you trusted us with something that was so deeply apart of you and we rejected- no, they rejected it and then they banished you and then you disappeared-"
"Wait," Kurapika interrupted, "are you saying you voted against them?"
"Well of course I did! Your father and I both did, as did Pairo! But no one else seemed to care! Augh! Just thinking about that night makes me furious!" Anahita said under her breath, as if trying to be quiet from eavesdroppers. "Also, I looked up what you told us about after the party, and honestly I think the misinterpretation was for the best."
"You mean the one about me being gay?"
"Yes. If they even had an inkling of what being asexual was I doubt you would've gotten off with just banishment. This family is so unforgiving, I can't wait for when one of their children end up being anything but what they want them to be and then are forced to banish them-"
"Mom, mom, relax. It's okay. It's over with; I'm okay, you're okay, and it's for the best that I left."
"No, that is not the best. I'll tell you what, I can't wait till half of these geezers just drop dead, they just refuse to change and- oh! Did I tell you about how Pairo wanted to go to a public college and they chastised him and tried kept him under lock and key? Unforgivable!"
Kurapika paused. "They what now?"
"Oh goodness, that story will take a while, but let's just say those elders got their way! Well, mostly anyway. I was so proud for Pairo for trying to stick up for himself, but unfortunately not everyone here can appreciate a good rebellion when it happens!"
"Wait, so you're saying Pairo is still…"
"Oh no dearie! We, your father and I, we remembered what happened when we didn't do our damndest to fight for you, so we took on Pairo's battle. He's currently living with us and going to the college he wanted to go to, but that's put a strain on us between the family. We convinced them that having him exposed to the 'real world' would have him wanting to come back, but so far he's stayed there for two years and doesn't want to come home at all!"
Kurapika smiled, glad that his friend was able to have his freedom. "Thank you for doing that Mom."
"Don't mention it! He was practically like a son to us anyway with how much you brought him over, we don't mind! Though, we're still currently trying to make a case for you, to help bring you back-"
"No," Kurapika said abruptly, "I'm not going back. They won't change their minds about me, and I don't want to be walking around eggshells when I'm with them. I appreciate your efforts, but I think the separation from the main family was the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"You can't honestly think that…" Anahita said softly, though her words sounded hollow. "Kurapika, I understand that you don't want to, but if we are to not take this step into forcing them to accept you, I worry for anyone else who might be like you in the future."
Kurapika wanted to argue against it but knew that the suppression would continue to happen if no one challenged it. He took in a deep breath and let it go, not wanting to have to decide so soon.
"I'll think about it." Kurapika said eventually. "I just… I don't want to think about that right now."
He heard his mother sigh on the other side of the line followed by silence before she spoke again.
"Okay, that's fine. It's probably tough for you, after all of this time… You've probably adjusted somewhere without us… wait, how does Shalnark know where you're at? How did he find you?"
"What do you mean how?"
"The family put up measures to make sure no one from the clan could ever encounter you, but I guess they lost track of you some time ago."
"Wait, they were following me?" Kurapika asked incredulously, wondering how they could've ever managed it. Sure he had kept his surname but to know where he was at all times was a bit overboard.
"That's what I was told. Most weren't informed, but they said that we couldn't interact with you at all and that you would be constantly surveillanced in order to be aware of your movements, allowing for them to force avoidance from you." Anahita said, sounding rather miffed at the idea. "Always thought it was stupid. The inner council wouldn't even listen to how that was violating your privacy-"
"Mom, if you could, would you please find out some more information on that." Kurapika inquired, intrigued and concerned by the idea. "I want to know when and where they lost track of me. If that isn't too much to ask, that is."
"Of course not." Anahita said soothingly, shortly after coughing and then, with a change in her voice, continued. "Ah Shalnark, I'm so glad everything is going well! I'm going to have to pass over the phone now- oh? You're busy and can't talk anymore? Okay, I'll let them know! Goodbye!"
And with that, the phone line went dead, a long tone following afterwards. Kurapika let his hand drop to his lap, the phone showing that the call had ended and how long it lasted. He had a lot to think about, what with being tracked and being forced to never even see his family again. It was all a bit much, and Kurapika was tempted to just curl up and cry about it but suppressed the feeling when Shalnark knocked on the door.
"You doing alright in there cuz'?"
"Yeah, the call ended, by the way." Kurapika said, getting up when the door opened.
"Alright cool. I hope you enjoyed your talk with your mom. She was always so nice to me and-"
"Shalnark, did you know they're following me?"
Shalnark gaped at him, then closed his mouth and pressed his lips into a thin line. He closed the door behind him and leaned on it, taking the phone back from Kurapika when he was offered it.
"No, I didn't. But now I do." he said, watching as he flipped his phone over and over again in his hands. "Did your mom tell you this?"
"Yeah, she didn't say how, so I was going to wait till she got back with me on it."
"She doesn't have your number."
"But she has yours."
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room that didn't permeate from them, but from the situation of it all. They listened to the noises from outside the room, absorbed in their own thoughts until Kurapika spoke again.
"Mo- er. Anahita told me that they surveillanced me to make sure no one could meet me; that's why she was confused as to how you got in contact with me."
"That'd make sense." Shalnark said, shaking his head. "Still, they went a little too far with that. I'll help your mom out with searching for info and I'll get back to you with what we find."
"Alright. And also, as of right now, this stays between you and me." Kurapika clarified. "I don't want anyone, especially Chrollo, knowing about this."
"Understood." Shalnark nodded, placing hands on his hips. "We don't know who is tailing you, and having people be protective over you would only alert the clan that we know what they're doing, especially since they know I accidentally made contact with you."
"Yup." Kurapika said, though he smiled at how quick Shalnark caught on. "You seem used to this."
"I play a lot of online games that have lots of missions like this. This should be a piece of cake!" Shalnark grinned, giving the other a thumbs up. "And by the way, speaking of family, you did say you wanted to know how you became an uncle right?"
Kurapika blinked, having forgotten he had wanted to know but nodded, sitting down on the bed again when Shalnark walked over and plopped down next to him with a smile.
"Okay," Shalnark said. "Let's get started shall we?"
