C H A P T E R T W O
Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter. The wonderful characters are the creation of Togashi-sama. Any original characters who do appear however (and there will be plenty) belong to me.
Summary: It all began when Illumi was caught wearing women's clothes and competing in a beauty competition. However, it would seem that there are other reasons for his cross-dressing, and winning the prize not all that important.
Rating: M 15+
Hisoka stared in disbelief at the two boys happily licking ice-cream in front of him. Their short legs swung merrily and bumped against the public bench, and they sure made no intention of removing themselves any time soon.
"That's your twenty sixth cone," Hisoka said steadily, "Lets get moving. I want to find out why that jewelry box is so important."
Killua licked off some ice cream that had melted and dribbled down the cone and onto his fingers. "General Kamus could easily afford the replica headset, and he sure wouldn't need that contract. I wonder why he is willing to pay ten billion for the box."
"Well, you brother did say it was for sentimental reasons." Gon said slowly, meticulously wiping his hands free of that sticky ice-cream that had also run onto his fingers. Killua lightly knuckle rapped him on the head, mouthing the word 'baka'.
"That's exactly what they all say to prevent you from running away with it and selling it yourself." He leaned back and gazed up at the clear blue sky, touched by reminiscence. "But my brother's a real professional, so he doesn't really care what the box is for. It's always 'do as your client tells you to do Killua.'" He mocked, mimicking that empty tone Illumi used when he gave his lectures. Strangely, the ethereal quality of hollowness in his brother's voice seemed to an even more everlasting impression on his mind.
"Killua, we are assuming that Arammi-san is your brother's false name."
"Of course!" Hisoka butted in. "It even rhymes with his name. Illu can't lose."
Killua nodded. "I'll have to agree with you on that one, and I speak from personal experience. You have no idea how many times men have tried to pick up big bro back when he used to take me with him on his easier missions." Killua chuckled, then added, "And women always glared at him for no reason."
Gon joined in the laughter. "Do you think Mito-san would also glare at your brother?"
"I don't know Gon. I'm not too concerned about this whole thing though. Illumi's always got his jobs to do, and I never really pry. Besides, he's just getting an artifact for someone who's got too much money on his hands, so what's the big deal?" the young assassin shrugged.
"It's just that…your brother seemed a bit…..distant this morning day."
Gon muttered, starring at the ground.
Killua snorted. "Che…he hasn't been anything but distant his whole life."
"But," Gon continued to protest, "he didn't even give me a dirty look! It was like I was just invisible to him. Me, the kid who led you astray and turned you into a rebel who went against each and everyone of his mother's wishes."
"You shouldn't worry about Illumi, Gon. To him, it's probably not profitable to spare you any thought, especially since dad probably told him to back off about trying to get me home as well. Anyway," Killua took a deep breath and jumped to his feet and stretched luxuriously, "he would say to himself: I could do more jobs without having to chase after them…..unlike some idiot clown who can't seem to find anything to do!" Killua broke off, glaring at Hisoka with his hands on his hips. Hisoka took no note, the intensification of a strange uneasiness, which had been nagging on the edge of his consciousness ever since he stepped inside that museum, had finally becoming too uncomfortable to dismiss.
"There it is again…" he murmured, his shuddering clear for all to see. "Can't you boys feel it? There seems to be….nen….everywhere. It was especially strong in the museum…"
Killua became suspicious of Hisoka's words and hidden motives. "How are we supposed to feel? Right now, it feels like a good, sunny day." You could never let your guard down around the magician, even if he was purportedly on your side. He could well be lying just so he could pull some sort of reaction out of you for his sick satisfaction.
Hisoka wrapped his lean and muscular arms around him, shivering violently as if he were struck by the arctic winds. His eyes were glazed and he feverishly muttered something under his breath.
"It's a gradually oppressive feeling. You don't notice it at first, but it accumulates until the pressure just builds up against you, leaving you cold and naked, vulnerable and…alone" he trailed off. Hisoka squinted hard and breathed loudly whilst his clawed fingers etched fine lines of red down his pale arms. His face was beaded with sweat. "What a miserable feeling…it's so depressing that it makes me sick."
The magician managed to stand up straight, exerting all his control to keep his shakings and shudders to a bare minimum (although failing) and tried to clear away the multiple visions. He turned around and began to walk away with his shoulder's drooped, back slightly hunched and arms hanging lifelessly by his side. His mind had already forgotten that the boys were even there. "I need to lie down."
Following the diminishing sound of Hisoka's footsteps, Gon and Killua finally dared to breathe again and looked at each other, puzzled.
"That was freaky." The assassin commented, easing back onto the seat again. Gon's look was one of concern and curiosity. His primal instincts told him that Hisoka didn't seem to be lying, but then and again, he lost his match to Hisoka at the Celestial Towers because of the magician's deceitful trickery which he took at face value as truth. Either how, Gon made up in his mind that Hisoka wouldn't put on this sort of act just to get their attention – he was certainly…creative…enough to think of other ways to do that, hence his concern.
"Why didn't we feel it Killua?"
"I for one and not going to believe him," his friend declared in defiance, "Nen is a personal power that has to be emitted. I don't think it can be 'everywhere' as he puts it."
"Hey, what do we have here? Two kids sitting around talking like they have an absolute knowledge and understanding of nen." a cheerful and good-humored voice rumbled behind them. Gon startled and Killua froze.
When did he sneak up on us? both glanced at each other, communicating the same thought.
I'll handle this Killua, Gon nodded at his friend with large eyes conveying the message and he slowly turned around.
He saw a man of about fifty, tall, well built with an impressive broad chest, beaming them a friendly smile. His hair was thick and black, gelled back to reveal a high forehead. However, stark strands of premature white hair also stood out, particularly at the sides. His eyes were the colour of coal - warm and reassuring. His posture was unthreatening and the aura around him was steady and without malice.
Gon laughed and rubbed the back of his head, the classic approach of an innocent and naïve boy. "Actually sir, we know only as much as the basics of nen and hatsu."
"You must be an expert at nen and eavesdropping then jii-san?" Killua just couldn't help adding with one eyebrow raised.
The man held up his hands in apology. "Just nearby when I caught onto your interesting conversation laddie, no need to become so agitated!" He grinned patronizingly, "And aren't kids supposed to be polite and trusting of adults?"
"No," Killua flatly replied, "kids are supposed to avoid strangers and not talk to them," he put extra emphasis on the last four words and then sniffed in disdain. "Like a jii-san would know what we're talking about anyway."
The man took no offence and actually shuffled them further down the bench so that he could sit beside them. His mere sense of presence alone hushed up Killua's insolent tone. For a moment, Killua felt that he was within the proximity of his father – an authoritative and demanding figure who put up with no crap or silliness and was strictly business. Had it not been for the man's unwavering placid features and fatherly smile, Killua would have automatically adopted his defensive stance and flared his nen in warning.
"I'm not an expert on nen young man, but I've been around long enough to know that nen dominates a large part of Arcadian history. It is rumored that the first nen users originated from Arcadia from the various mystic cults and shamans in ancestral times. In the Forbidden Palace, there is rumored to be a hidden room with a device that stores up the nen emitted by people through the eons and then turns it into a power to protect Arcadia. I don't know whether this device exists, but right now, nen is flowing all around you, like vapors curling around your ankles, tickling your face like a small wind. It is especially strong since we are in the Capital and so close to the Forbidden Palace."
"So why did the nen spook my friend out?"
A sad smile touched the man's lips. His eyes dimmed with sadness and longing. His sigh sounded very much like the one the museum porter gave only hours ago when he was recounting Arcadia's history. "There are those who say that nen is the will of the dead - that when nen-users die, they expel their nen from their bodies and leave their mark on this world. Frequent sightings of ghosts, especially around the Palace, are probably the random manifestations of the nen left behind, shaped by the last will of the dead. Of course, the Palace has had its fair share of brutal stories, hidden murders, treachery and deceit. Not everyone is a happy ghost."
"Then…how come we don't feel it?" Gon looked puzzled.
The older man leaned back on the bench and sighed again, eyes focused on a point very far away. "In my entire life, I have only felt it once. I don't know whether I was deluded or on the verge of death, but I saw many dead people, once great people, defending the Palace during the most desperate period of the war when the capital itself was under threat. I certainly didn't have enough troops to destroy the sixteen divisions ringed around this city, but I'm alive. The old texts in the Palace Library say that some people are more intuned with nen, and some are especially sensitive to it. The museum for one, would be flooding with torrents of nen - "
Killua clicked his fingers as he understood the general direction of what the man was trying to get at, "Because of the old artifacts!"
"Yes. All those clothes and jewelry, those portraits and paintings – they are all tainted with the nen of their former masters. The Emperor is the only person I know who can actually take this nen around us and use it. I have not seen anyone sensitive enough to actually feel the pressure around him" He frowned, "What is your friend's name?"
"Hisoka." Killua said quickly as if that were a mere passing thought and didn't matter. He was however becoming interested with Hisoka's peculiar condition. "So why did he feel all sick and depressed? Was that to do directly with the will of the nen?"
"I can't say for sure, but we've just been through a war, and many good and honourable people perished, and their grieving relatives soon after…the Capital is an unhappy place."
Gon stared deep and hard at the man who had a twisted and bitter smile on his face, and the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place.
"You're the Palace Guardian! The one the porter was talking about!" he cried out excitedly. The man blinked at the suggestion, and after an awkward moment's silence gave a deep laugh of clear and unfettered amusement.
"No boy, I'm not the Palace Guardian and don't let him catch you calling me that! I am one of the Emperor's ten generals - Kamus Kalinnan Kastro."
Both boys sucked in their breath.
"You're the one who hired by brother!"