Chapter 20
My goodness, I thought that this story was going to end here.maybe a chapter or two left, since the final battle is approaching. Many thanks to the people who have given their comments and reviews on my story so far. It has been really encouraging and heartening to have fellow hunter fans follow the story. Lets keep going.
Leorio sighed as he put wearily replaced the many books strewn around the floor in the operating room. Kurapika and Karen had been arguing non stop ever since afternoon tea, and there were no signs of either side relenting. Even Kurapika's once calm unwavering tones became heated and passionate and he made extensive use of his hands making wild gestures. Likewise, General Kamus' daughter was glaring knives and daggers and her voice laced with brutal venom.
Leorio slammed the last book back in his proper place and spun around to greet the pair who were acting like feuding families. It didn't help that Kurapika's chains were rattling like being shaken by the ghosts of the damned, or that every minute the argument carried on, Karen looked more and more like a demoness on the prowl.
"Would you two quit it already! It's midnight, and you two are still bickering!?" Leorio screamed at the top of his voice. Suddenly, he felt that maybe he shouldn't have shouted at them because now their anger was aimed at him.
"Stay out of it!" both snapped simultaneously, then glared at each other and returned to their little verbal barrage.
Karen's cell phone began ringing and she hurriedly flipped it open when she recognized her father's number displayed on the screen.
"Karen, return to Kastro Court with your cousin's friends.what Misha? Not here? Hold on Karen." there was a slight pause whilst heated words were exchanged in the background between several people. "Come to General Headquarters, behind the Throne Room...should I tell them now? No? All right, do as you're told Karen, and find Killua's friends as well. General Headquarters immediately."
"Yes father." She fitted the phone back into her forearm band and told Kurapika and Leorio to follow her.
"Say Karen-san, where are we going?" the other doctor inquired.
"Father sounded rather serious." She responded with clinical calmness. "He instructed me to take you to General Headquarters, apparently to explain something to us."
Leorio looked at Kurapika, and both knew that when she spoke in that kind of voice, you could get no answer out of her.
==========
Hisoka glumly looked about him in a glaze. He didn't know what he was doing, wandering in some desolate and abandoned courtyard. It only bought back old memories of what a bustling and boisterous place the Forbidden Palace used to be, brimming with hidden plots and intrigues, backroom dealings and bribes passed around. Armies of maids and eunuchs serving different masters used to scuttle across these large yards, carrying secret messages and spreading vital rumors. Now, it was nothing but a silent, empty husk with howling winds sweeping through the abandoned halls and gardens. Spotting an innocent stone bench, Hisoka took a seat and gave a deep sigh. One moment, he was in the heat of passion with Illumi, clothes readily falling to the floor. Next, he caught a glimmer of what he interpreted to be vulnerable desperation in those bright and luminous eyes. A small voice told him that it just wasn't right to take advantage of Illumi after those harsh words the assassin had exchanged with his mother, and so, instead of proceeding to more adult matters, he got up, poured a hot cup of tea and soothed the distraught and vulnerable assassin into a restful slumber.
So now, he was out in the howling winds sitting by himself on a cold stone bench, brooding about his past. And naturally, he memories drifted farther back still to how he ever entered the Forbidden Palace in the first place.
His childhood suddenly became such a distant past, and his adult life raced past him in a blur of drifting and madness. His adult life began when he was twelve, after he fled the Forbidden Palace for killing the Empress' brother. Contrary to what many people who know Hisoka would think, he had a relatively decent childhood, accepted into the Forbidden Palace at the tender age of five after he lost his parents to some severe floods in the country side where he lived. Princess Kim did well looking after her two eunuchs in waiting, and Echlan was there to coach them in the secrets of nen. And all was well, until he turned twelve when the Empress' brother took an unhealthy interested in the (still) unmarried princess and so Hisoka snooped into that man's palace in the middle of the night and killed him for his disrespect. Princess Kim told him to run to where no one could track him, and to change himself into someone so unrecognizable and formidable that people would tremble in fear as he passed. She told him to never return to the stinking cesspit of corruption and decadence that was the reign of Rodimostev II, or as long as the Empress lived. So biting back bitter tears, he ran from the Palace without even saying goodbye to his only friend, Koran.
Thus Hisoka, the world's greatest magician, who killed people for the sheer thrilling pleasure, was born to replace the dutiful eunuch who had once served Kimone Kalinnan Kastro. He became the lying, deceitful and remorseless killer who never looked twice behind him at the trail of destruction that he left behind, or the place that he originally came from. A wandering soul without aim, defying to be bound to anything, to let anything capture his attention against his will.
Until he met Illumi. One look at the young boy, dressed as a girl in pink frills and ribbons in his hair had set his blood racing, partly because Illumi had been pretty all his life, and partly because he exuded the dangerous aura of a ruthless assassin which was so fatally attracting. Something had finally bound him with a bond so strong not even his madness could overcome. Now he was attaching concepts of 'right' and 'wrong' to his actions. If he kept this up, he would no longer be the unpredictable magician anymore and he didn't know whether to cry or be glad.
"There's no time to ponder on the past now, Hisoka-chan." It was a voice that he would never forget, and he closed his eyes to picture his hime-sama, kindly watching over him.
"But Hime-sama, I think I'm in love." He murmured in slight protest.
A laugh resembling the tingling of silver bells. "Then make sure you'll look after my nephew Hisoka-chan."
Hisoka opened his eyes and saw Princess Kimone Kalinnan Kastro sitting beside him on the desolate stone bench, her back straight as an arrow, a poise so regal and elegant in her heavy dark yellow robes and the stunning headdress supported by her fine luminous black hair, its diamonds twinkling like stares in the night.
"Welcome back Hisoka-chan." She said gravely. "It's time to be yourself again. All these years alone, braving the terrible storms of this world. You must be so tired being someone else."
"I don't know hime-sama, I don't know what is the real me anymore." Indeed, he did sound so very tired and lonesome.
"Hisoka-chan, the time has come to remember your duty."
"Duty?" he laughed out loud in short bursts. "Ten years ago, I would have rejected any sense of duty towards Rodimostev II or his stupid bitch of an Empress. But Rudy saved Illu's life, so I'll do whatever is needed to repay this favor."
"Dear Hisoka-chan, I'm so glad you've finally returned. I was always worried about what would happen to you." She gave him a solemn smile filled with sadness.
"Hime-sama.." Hisoka heard his voice beginning to crack and waver.
"Follow your heart my little darling, and don't be afraid to look back anymore ok? I've always wanted to say this to you in the event that you returned to the Forbidden Palace. No one is ever going to hunt you down anymore, ever. I'll make sure of that.." The apparition faded whilst Hisoka watched on, his heart wrenching in pain and his throat constricted so tightly he could barely breathe.
The cool winds blew and a single tear trickled down his cheek.
"HISOKA! What are you doing sitting there?" Karen yelled out to him. Hisoka stared dumbly at the trio who were looking back, equally quizzical. "We're going to General Headquarters. You'd better come along with us."
~ time has come to remember your duty ~
The magician snapped to attention. "Is something wrong?"
"If you don't get your flabby arse off that seat now, I'll show you what's wrong." Karen growled, and took off without waiting for a response, leaving Hisoka to run after them, slightly flustered.
=========
Misha and Berenger argued vehemently and extensively on the interpretation of Renard's prophecy. They accepted its worth immediately after the Palace Guardian's sent troops around the walls of the Forbidden Palace and discovered shattered remnants of what the bomb squad recognized to be explosive components. One of the fragments remaining was a timer which showed that the bombs were set to go off at exactly three o'clock past midnight. That was the most convincing proof. They also accepted Silva's theorem that there would be something akin to a full scale attack on the Palace and so plans and emergency measures were rapidly being set up.
"Kurapika! Leorio!" Gon exclaimed in relief as his arrived in safety to the large room, its walls lined with impressive screens and panels upon panels of controls and buttons. Dozens of people scattered to an fro, relaying messages to the guard stations littered across the large city and remote flying cameras were inconspicuously unleashed into the darkness, and the monitors all lit up with shots of the quiet streets, the brightly coloured banners barely visible under the cover of darkness.
Karen immediately stepped next to her father and concentrated on the matter at hand and they all watched her face visibly pale with fright, tension and apprehension. It carried the look of a man going into war with no hope of returning. She gave several curt nods to General Kamus' words, then returned stoically to inform her cousin Killua and his friends of the stakes at hand. Milluki and Karuto also gathered around quietly, so that they too wouldn't be caught up in the ensuing chaos.
"Father says that all the informants that have been planted among the rebels have been terminated. The last we heard from them was that large armaments were being smuggled into the city. Then General Misha lost track of what happened when our links were cut. So the whole Palace Guards are on war footing and everyone is preparing for the worst. I myself would be taking up position in the back lines, here, in the Forbidden Palace, within close proximity of the Throne Room. The Zoldick family has agreed to lend a hand since most of the Generals are out of town, so now I am going to ask you whether you will take part in the last line of defence against Hell."
"You mean to fight for and defend the current Emperor?" Kurapika asked acidly.
Leorio groaned out loud. "Would you two quit it already?!"
Gon looked positively puzzled. "What has Kurapika been arguing about with Karen-san?"
Leorio waved his hand in dismissal of the topic. "Don't bring it up Gon, or they'll start again, and you don't want to be there when it happens."
Kurapika gave Leorio a hard look and then turned to Gon. "Gon, do you want to stand and fight for the bloody butcher who kills on whim just to have her own way?"
"Take that back you sniveling foreigner! Who are you to bring your lofty concepts and ideals here and to judge us with them? Rudy is an honourable and noble person who deserves everyone's loyalty."
"She ordered children, young defenceless children to clear minefields, and sent the rest of them to work as slaves or worse, sold into brothels!" Kurapika strained hard to prevent himself from shouting.
"Emperor Rodimostev saved this entire nation and rescued countless of towns and villages from the devastation of war!" Karen growled back with equal ferocity.
Gon was positively confused. All his life, he had seen people as they were, just humans, doing what they did. His friends knew him as the child who knew no good or evil and never thought about concepts as right or wrong, only that which appealed to him, and that which didn't. But now he was confronted with what he considered to be two very different views of the one person. One which bought good to people and one which walked the world like a devil, treading on the fields of bones of her fallen enemies. It seemed like a portrayal of two very different persons, and he had never had to deal with that before. It only caused him more distress.
"So is Rudy a person deserving of our help?" He tried hard to avoid, or rather did not understand the concepts of 'good' and 'bad' hence it only made the decision more difficult. It didn't help that Karen and Kurapika both answered differently at the same time. The doctor rubbed her temples wearily.
"It matters not what you decide. I just need to know whether you will aid the rebels and Nihilists?"
"Are Nihilists the ones who drove Allu mad and crippled him?" Killua asked slowly. He received a flat 'yes' for an answer. "In that case, I will not fight for them, but against them. No one crosses a Zoldick and gets away with it, especially after the pain they've caused Allu after all these years, as much as I dislike him."
Gon nodded appreciatively. "I can easily make up my mind against those kinds of people. I certainly won't be associating with them, even if my life depended on it." He said firmly. They all looked to Kurapika.
"I won't join with the Emperor's defence, nor will I aid these despicable people - "
"Then you are with us." Karen said coldly and abruptly "because they will ask you the same question, and if you refuse to be a part of them, then you are against them and you will have no choice but to defend yourself, which means defending the Emperor. That's all the reassurance I need." She turned away just as quickly to speak a few quiet words with her father. The General looked perturbed and his gaze lingered worriedly on his daughter back as she left the room.
"Where has Karen-san gone?" Killua asked his uncle.
"I can't stop her from doing what she wants to do." Kamus sighed wearily. "She wants to take part in the Palace's inner defences, which...can become quite desperate and bloody if the rebels do make it this far. It is...not the most pleasant position to be in." He turned away and spoke no more.
"Umm.uncle, where should - "
"Killu!" Kikyou's voice cut through. "Don't bother your uncle. If you've got any questions, just ask me."
Killua's shoulders visibly drooped and he reluctantly asked his mother where he should go when all the fighting occurred.
"Stick with your friends in the Palace, hear near the Throne Room. If in doubt, stick to Karen-chan or Koran. They'll know what to do."
Berenger coughed loudly, catching everyone's attention. "I've been having a small discussion with Master Echlan and the young lad Alluka here. I think there is a small breakthrough on the third line of the prophecy."
~ Parents and Brothers will turn against each other ~
Echlan nodded and stepped in to take over the briefing. "You see, Alluka had earlier gave us some brief description of the experiments that he had been subjected to by the Nihilists some years ago. He is unwavering on the fact that it was through those many hideous exercises which led to his mind powers. Telepathy and esp is not extensively researched, because most scientists and neurologists believe that us humans cannot use more than the ten percent of the brain. But I've just traveled through the time and space continuum, much to my dislike, and I cannot dispute that Alluka does have some certain abnormal abilities. Alluka-kun, please tell us what you can do with these strange forces?"
With prompting from his grandfather, Alluka reluctantly spilled his secrets. "The first thing I experimented with was simple mind reading, observing other people's inner consciousness with my extended mind. When I found out how ridiculously easy that was to achieve, I thought that if I could read what people are thinking about, can I control that thinking? And if I control the way someone thinks, does that mean I can control the way they act and behave? After much experimentation, I was able to succeed in controlling two subjects - a cat and a mouse whereby I ordered the mouse to attack the cat who I also controlled and commanded it to remain motionless. It was quite amusing at first, and I was sure that I wasn't using my nen, not that I'm the control type anyway. So since then, I've been doing expansive and extended research and information gathering on this new mind development, and I did find quite a few unorthodox sites and groups which kidnapped subjects to conduct further experiments on them. I gleaned a few interesting ideas, but the most striking one was that these little communities of scientists were funded by the Nihilists themselves through respective third and fourth parties to cover tracks. The closest and most constructive guess that I could come up with therefore is that if the Nihilists are involved, and people will start turning against each other, I'm assuming they've got an army of people with mind extensions, just like me."
"An army of people?" Milluki snorted. "Well, I'll just assemble a small army of cyborgs in the meantime. They can't override something that isn't there."
Echlan ignored Millu and continued. "The suggestion is quite sound because it fits in with line four: Fight the madness with the devil..when the seven suns are suspended in the sky. The former Emperor Renard has already confirmed that the young lad is the devil in his visions, so since Alluka has these similar mind powers, he should be the one to deal with them."
"I've got a better idea." Misha grated harshly, clearly disliking the discovery of such phenomenon. He turned to the young assassin. "You've got four hours kid. Scan the entire city, find out where these espers are and we'll blow them off the face of the earth."
"With what?" Kamus looked up sharply.
"Sky Cruisers of course." The madman's eyes glinted fiercely on the pale face. "We'll have every laser cannon aimed and ready to fire on the exact moment that Alluka gives us the co-ordinates."
Sky Cruisers were the unique tech developments of Arcadian war engineers during the ten year war. No longer was air travel solely dominated by slow moving and vulnerable blimps. The engineers and scientists had come up with massive air fortresses each with one hundred and twenty laser cannons, capable of ripping up valleys of mountains and blow away large cities in a matter of minutes.
"General Deathstalker and his contingent are already racing back. He was stationed in Shandrakor, but if the Sky Cruisers travel up to maximum speed, they'll be here in five hours. Between three and four o'clock, we'll just have to have the army on the streets."
"You've gone crazy Misha! Sky cruisers in such close proximity to the Forbidden Palace? What if one of the beams go astray? Have you any idea how populated this area is around here?"
"We still haven't figured the part about the suns though." Gon spoke up. "I think it's important because Alluka is supposed to do something important when there are seven suns in the sky."
"We can't even begin to fathom what on earth that means, and Renard can't remember his visions clearly anymore. Alluka, lets just stick to the part where you start scanning every inch of this city and find out what or who will send people fighting against each other." Kamus poured over the map. "Have troops currently out on patrol be informed of what will happen in the next few hours. Rope, I want lots of it. When the madness begins, we'll distribute rope to the sane ones and let them tie down the ones who are under control."
"But the Sky Cruisers." Misha whined.
"No Misha." Kamus responded harshly, his glare hard and unyielding. "No fireworks, just simple, efficient prevention."
"Speaking of fireworks, I better get some Illuminators ready. I'm putting money on that they will try to cut off our electricity. Begin power backup buildup, relay message to all troops. Also start drawing in the runners. I'm assuming that they will try to jam our frequencies too."
Echlan gestured to Hisoka and Koran, the two childhood friends who could almost be passed off as twins. He presented each with a slim sword encased in a silver scabbard, its bone handle gleaming sickly in the bright light.
"You're assigned to the North Gate - the main entrance. It might be the place of the bloodiest battle as the rebels try to ram their way into the Forbidden Palace. That's why I'm placing both of you there and giving you these swords that you've been longing for ever since you've laid your eyes on them. I trust you two still remember the steps?"
Hisoka grinned at Koran. "How could we forget? You practically branded them into our minds." They both drew the swords at the same time and marveled at the way the light was unnaturally absorbed into the dully gleaming blades. It was a blade longing for the taste of blood.
"I trust that your minds are still thoroughly connected then." Echlan also smiled, but it was the coy smile of a dangerous predator. "No one's seen the Meteor Rain for at least two hundred years. Make sure it's spectacular."
Hisoka and Koran murmured their promises and could only look into each other's eyes and giggle hysterically, in that homicidally murderous way.
"Meteor Rain?" Zeno said. "What a curious name. It's a martial arts technique I suppose."
Berenger nodded vigorously. "Eunuch only though because of the strength, speed, skill and grace required. It got its name because of the superstition that when people die, you see a shooting star, which is, in essence, a meteor."
Leorio's mind flipped. "You are implying therefore, that this technique brings on massive destruction?"
Echlan gave the laugh of a villain. "Yes! Stars will be dropping from the heavens in showers like droplets of water in the rain. It is the ultimate killing technique."
"Trust Hisoka to know it." Gon murmured to Killua.
Kikyou ushered her children and Killua's friends outside the Throne Room after the briefing was over and regarded them solemnly. She studied them all, from her youngest daughter Karuto who stood quietly, calm and unaffected, to Alluka, who was already beginning to reach out with his mind to sweep and scan the city, then to Killua and his older brother Milluki.
She chose her words carefully. "Hell will come for us at three o'clock. It is not an understatement, and I don't think your training ever covered such chaotic situations. War is different to murder." She made sure they all paid attention to her before continuing. "It will be very confusing and at times, you will find yourselves isolated. Please look after yourselves and take care."
"That's ok mama, we're smart and strong people. We know how to look after ourselves." Milluki quickly said, suddenly embarrassed by his mother's show of affection.
Kikyou nodded slowly. "Millu, you don't know nen, so it's best for you to stick with Killua, just in case. Karuto.will you stay by mama's side?"
"No okaa-sama, I'm going to stand guard near the East Gate and fight."
"But mama's never seen you fight before."
Karuto stepped closer to her mother and stared at her with eyes alive with a furious intensity. "Ni-chan always buys me the prettiest dresses." She said firmly. Kikyou didn't understand why her daughter's voice had suddenly become so serious and emotive, and she was sure that Karuto was trying to express and imply something in those few words alone, but couldn't put her finger on it. "And Ni-chan made me Belle." She held up the hideous doll again, the fierce determine still burning bright in her expression. "The Emperor saved Ni-chan and is ni-chan's friend, so Belle is going to kill anything that tries to hurt the Emperor."
"You're going to fight for Illumi?" Kikyou asked incredulously.
"Belle is going to kill anything that tries to hurt ni-chan's friend." Karuto repeated, and Belle just continued to smile her sickening smile.
"Killua, why don't you head over to the East Gate then, and keep an eye on your sister for me." Kikyou turned to her rebellious son with slight pleading. Killua readily accepted.
"Mama will be part of the defence between the North Gate and the Throne Room. If anyone wants to get to the Emperor, they'll have to get through me first. You'll know where to find me if you've got trouble. Dad will be there too."
Kikyou left after a few more words and the group looked at each other. All eyes turned to Kurapika.
"So what will you do then?" Leorio folded his glasses and placed them in his pocket.
"Like Karen said, I have no choice but to defend myself when the Nihilists break through. I'll stay with you and watch your backs."
"We've got until three o'clock. What's the rush? Why don't we raid the Imperial kitchens? I'm starting to get hungry." Milluki suggested. For once, everyone thought that was a relatively good idea.
My goodness, I thought that this story was going to end here.maybe a chapter or two left, since the final battle is approaching. Many thanks to the people who have given their comments and reviews on my story so far. It has been really encouraging and heartening to have fellow hunter fans follow the story. Lets keep going.
Leorio sighed as he put wearily replaced the many books strewn around the floor in the operating room. Kurapika and Karen had been arguing non stop ever since afternoon tea, and there were no signs of either side relenting. Even Kurapika's once calm unwavering tones became heated and passionate and he made extensive use of his hands making wild gestures. Likewise, General Kamus' daughter was glaring knives and daggers and her voice laced with brutal venom.
Leorio slammed the last book back in his proper place and spun around to greet the pair who were acting like feuding families. It didn't help that Kurapika's chains were rattling like being shaken by the ghosts of the damned, or that every minute the argument carried on, Karen looked more and more like a demoness on the prowl.
"Would you two quit it already! It's midnight, and you two are still bickering!?" Leorio screamed at the top of his voice. Suddenly, he felt that maybe he shouldn't have shouted at them because now their anger was aimed at him.
"Stay out of it!" both snapped simultaneously, then glared at each other and returned to their little verbal barrage.
Karen's cell phone began ringing and she hurriedly flipped it open when she recognized her father's number displayed on the screen.
"Karen, return to Kastro Court with your cousin's friends.what Misha? Not here? Hold on Karen." there was a slight pause whilst heated words were exchanged in the background between several people. "Come to General Headquarters, behind the Throne Room...should I tell them now? No? All right, do as you're told Karen, and find Killua's friends as well. General Headquarters immediately."
"Yes father." She fitted the phone back into her forearm band and told Kurapika and Leorio to follow her.
"Say Karen-san, where are we going?" the other doctor inquired.
"Father sounded rather serious." She responded with clinical calmness. "He instructed me to take you to General Headquarters, apparently to explain something to us."
Leorio looked at Kurapika, and both knew that when she spoke in that kind of voice, you could get no answer out of her.
==========
Hisoka glumly looked about him in a glaze. He didn't know what he was doing, wandering in some desolate and abandoned courtyard. It only bought back old memories of what a bustling and boisterous place the Forbidden Palace used to be, brimming with hidden plots and intrigues, backroom dealings and bribes passed around. Armies of maids and eunuchs serving different masters used to scuttle across these large yards, carrying secret messages and spreading vital rumors. Now, it was nothing but a silent, empty husk with howling winds sweeping through the abandoned halls and gardens. Spotting an innocent stone bench, Hisoka took a seat and gave a deep sigh. One moment, he was in the heat of passion with Illumi, clothes readily falling to the floor. Next, he caught a glimmer of what he interpreted to be vulnerable desperation in those bright and luminous eyes. A small voice told him that it just wasn't right to take advantage of Illumi after those harsh words the assassin had exchanged with his mother, and so, instead of proceeding to more adult matters, he got up, poured a hot cup of tea and soothed the distraught and vulnerable assassin into a restful slumber.
So now, he was out in the howling winds sitting by himself on a cold stone bench, brooding about his past. And naturally, he memories drifted farther back still to how he ever entered the Forbidden Palace in the first place.
His childhood suddenly became such a distant past, and his adult life raced past him in a blur of drifting and madness. His adult life began when he was twelve, after he fled the Forbidden Palace for killing the Empress' brother. Contrary to what many people who know Hisoka would think, he had a relatively decent childhood, accepted into the Forbidden Palace at the tender age of five after he lost his parents to some severe floods in the country side where he lived. Princess Kim did well looking after her two eunuchs in waiting, and Echlan was there to coach them in the secrets of nen. And all was well, until he turned twelve when the Empress' brother took an unhealthy interested in the (still) unmarried princess and so Hisoka snooped into that man's palace in the middle of the night and killed him for his disrespect. Princess Kim told him to run to where no one could track him, and to change himself into someone so unrecognizable and formidable that people would tremble in fear as he passed. She told him to never return to the stinking cesspit of corruption and decadence that was the reign of Rodimostev II, or as long as the Empress lived. So biting back bitter tears, he ran from the Palace without even saying goodbye to his only friend, Koran.
Thus Hisoka, the world's greatest magician, who killed people for the sheer thrilling pleasure, was born to replace the dutiful eunuch who had once served Kimone Kalinnan Kastro. He became the lying, deceitful and remorseless killer who never looked twice behind him at the trail of destruction that he left behind, or the place that he originally came from. A wandering soul without aim, defying to be bound to anything, to let anything capture his attention against his will.
Until he met Illumi. One look at the young boy, dressed as a girl in pink frills and ribbons in his hair had set his blood racing, partly because Illumi had been pretty all his life, and partly because he exuded the dangerous aura of a ruthless assassin which was so fatally attracting. Something had finally bound him with a bond so strong not even his madness could overcome. Now he was attaching concepts of 'right' and 'wrong' to his actions. If he kept this up, he would no longer be the unpredictable magician anymore and he didn't know whether to cry or be glad.
"There's no time to ponder on the past now, Hisoka-chan." It was a voice that he would never forget, and he closed his eyes to picture his hime-sama, kindly watching over him.
"But Hime-sama, I think I'm in love." He murmured in slight protest.
A laugh resembling the tingling of silver bells. "Then make sure you'll look after my nephew Hisoka-chan."
Hisoka opened his eyes and saw Princess Kimone Kalinnan Kastro sitting beside him on the desolate stone bench, her back straight as an arrow, a poise so regal and elegant in her heavy dark yellow robes and the stunning headdress supported by her fine luminous black hair, its diamonds twinkling like stares in the night.
"Welcome back Hisoka-chan." She said gravely. "It's time to be yourself again. All these years alone, braving the terrible storms of this world. You must be so tired being someone else."
"I don't know hime-sama, I don't know what is the real me anymore." Indeed, he did sound so very tired and lonesome.
"Hisoka-chan, the time has come to remember your duty."
"Duty?" he laughed out loud in short bursts. "Ten years ago, I would have rejected any sense of duty towards Rodimostev II or his stupid bitch of an Empress. But Rudy saved Illu's life, so I'll do whatever is needed to repay this favor."
"Dear Hisoka-chan, I'm so glad you've finally returned. I was always worried about what would happen to you." She gave him a solemn smile filled with sadness.
"Hime-sama.." Hisoka heard his voice beginning to crack and waver.
"Follow your heart my little darling, and don't be afraid to look back anymore ok? I've always wanted to say this to you in the event that you returned to the Forbidden Palace. No one is ever going to hunt you down anymore, ever. I'll make sure of that.." The apparition faded whilst Hisoka watched on, his heart wrenching in pain and his throat constricted so tightly he could barely breathe.
The cool winds blew and a single tear trickled down his cheek.
"HISOKA! What are you doing sitting there?" Karen yelled out to him. Hisoka stared dumbly at the trio who were looking back, equally quizzical. "We're going to General Headquarters. You'd better come along with us."
~ time has come to remember your duty ~
The magician snapped to attention. "Is something wrong?"
"If you don't get your flabby arse off that seat now, I'll show you what's wrong." Karen growled, and took off without waiting for a response, leaving Hisoka to run after them, slightly flustered.
=========
Misha and Berenger argued vehemently and extensively on the interpretation of Renard's prophecy. They accepted its worth immediately after the Palace Guardian's sent troops around the walls of the Forbidden Palace and discovered shattered remnants of what the bomb squad recognized to be explosive components. One of the fragments remaining was a timer which showed that the bombs were set to go off at exactly three o'clock past midnight. That was the most convincing proof. They also accepted Silva's theorem that there would be something akin to a full scale attack on the Palace and so plans and emergency measures were rapidly being set up.
"Kurapika! Leorio!" Gon exclaimed in relief as his arrived in safety to the large room, its walls lined with impressive screens and panels upon panels of controls and buttons. Dozens of people scattered to an fro, relaying messages to the guard stations littered across the large city and remote flying cameras were inconspicuously unleashed into the darkness, and the monitors all lit up with shots of the quiet streets, the brightly coloured banners barely visible under the cover of darkness.
Karen immediately stepped next to her father and concentrated on the matter at hand and they all watched her face visibly pale with fright, tension and apprehension. It carried the look of a man going into war with no hope of returning. She gave several curt nods to General Kamus' words, then returned stoically to inform her cousin Killua and his friends of the stakes at hand. Milluki and Karuto also gathered around quietly, so that they too wouldn't be caught up in the ensuing chaos.
"Father says that all the informants that have been planted among the rebels have been terminated. The last we heard from them was that large armaments were being smuggled into the city. Then General Misha lost track of what happened when our links were cut. So the whole Palace Guards are on war footing and everyone is preparing for the worst. I myself would be taking up position in the back lines, here, in the Forbidden Palace, within close proximity of the Throne Room. The Zoldick family has agreed to lend a hand since most of the Generals are out of town, so now I am going to ask you whether you will take part in the last line of defence against Hell."
"You mean to fight for and defend the current Emperor?" Kurapika asked acidly.
Leorio groaned out loud. "Would you two quit it already?!"
Gon looked positively puzzled. "What has Kurapika been arguing about with Karen-san?"
Leorio waved his hand in dismissal of the topic. "Don't bring it up Gon, or they'll start again, and you don't want to be there when it happens."
Kurapika gave Leorio a hard look and then turned to Gon. "Gon, do you want to stand and fight for the bloody butcher who kills on whim just to have her own way?"
"Take that back you sniveling foreigner! Who are you to bring your lofty concepts and ideals here and to judge us with them? Rudy is an honourable and noble person who deserves everyone's loyalty."
"She ordered children, young defenceless children to clear minefields, and sent the rest of them to work as slaves or worse, sold into brothels!" Kurapika strained hard to prevent himself from shouting.
"Emperor Rodimostev saved this entire nation and rescued countless of towns and villages from the devastation of war!" Karen growled back with equal ferocity.
Gon was positively confused. All his life, he had seen people as they were, just humans, doing what they did. His friends knew him as the child who knew no good or evil and never thought about concepts as right or wrong, only that which appealed to him, and that which didn't. But now he was confronted with what he considered to be two very different views of the one person. One which bought good to people and one which walked the world like a devil, treading on the fields of bones of her fallen enemies. It seemed like a portrayal of two very different persons, and he had never had to deal with that before. It only caused him more distress.
"So is Rudy a person deserving of our help?" He tried hard to avoid, or rather did not understand the concepts of 'good' and 'bad' hence it only made the decision more difficult. It didn't help that Karen and Kurapika both answered differently at the same time. The doctor rubbed her temples wearily.
"It matters not what you decide. I just need to know whether you will aid the rebels and Nihilists?"
"Are Nihilists the ones who drove Allu mad and crippled him?" Killua asked slowly. He received a flat 'yes' for an answer. "In that case, I will not fight for them, but against them. No one crosses a Zoldick and gets away with it, especially after the pain they've caused Allu after all these years, as much as I dislike him."
Gon nodded appreciatively. "I can easily make up my mind against those kinds of people. I certainly won't be associating with them, even if my life depended on it." He said firmly. They all looked to Kurapika.
"I won't join with the Emperor's defence, nor will I aid these despicable people - "
"Then you are with us." Karen said coldly and abruptly "because they will ask you the same question, and if you refuse to be a part of them, then you are against them and you will have no choice but to defend yourself, which means defending the Emperor. That's all the reassurance I need." She turned away just as quickly to speak a few quiet words with her father. The General looked perturbed and his gaze lingered worriedly on his daughter back as she left the room.
"Where has Karen-san gone?" Killua asked his uncle.
"I can't stop her from doing what she wants to do." Kamus sighed wearily. "She wants to take part in the Palace's inner defences, which...can become quite desperate and bloody if the rebels do make it this far. It is...not the most pleasant position to be in." He turned away and spoke no more.
"Umm.uncle, where should - "
"Killu!" Kikyou's voice cut through. "Don't bother your uncle. If you've got any questions, just ask me."
Killua's shoulders visibly drooped and he reluctantly asked his mother where he should go when all the fighting occurred.
"Stick with your friends in the Palace, hear near the Throne Room. If in doubt, stick to Karen-chan or Koran. They'll know what to do."
Berenger coughed loudly, catching everyone's attention. "I've been having a small discussion with Master Echlan and the young lad Alluka here. I think there is a small breakthrough on the third line of the prophecy."
~ Parents and Brothers will turn against each other ~
Echlan nodded and stepped in to take over the briefing. "You see, Alluka had earlier gave us some brief description of the experiments that he had been subjected to by the Nihilists some years ago. He is unwavering on the fact that it was through those many hideous exercises which led to his mind powers. Telepathy and esp is not extensively researched, because most scientists and neurologists believe that us humans cannot use more than the ten percent of the brain. But I've just traveled through the time and space continuum, much to my dislike, and I cannot dispute that Alluka does have some certain abnormal abilities. Alluka-kun, please tell us what you can do with these strange forces?"
With prompting from his grandfather, Alluka reluctantly spilled his secrets. "The first thing I experimented with was simple mind reading, observing other people's inner consciousness with my extended mind. When I found out how ridiculously easy that was to achieve, I thought that if I could read what people are thinking about, can I control that thinking? And if I control the way someone thinks, does that mean I can control the way they act and behave? After much experimentation, I was able to succeed in controlling two subjects - a cat and a mouse whereby I ordered the mouse to attack the cat who I also controlled and commanded it to remain motionless. It was quite amusing at first, and I was sure that I wasn't using my nen, not that I'm the control type anyway. So since then, I've been doing expansive and extended research and information gathering on this new mind development, and I did find quite a few unorthodox sites and groups which kidnapped subjects to conduct further experiments on them. I gleaned a few interesting ideas, but the most striking one was that these little communities of scientists were funded by the Nihilists themselves through respective third and fourth parties to cover tracks. The closest and most constructive guess that I could come up with therefore is that if the Nihilists are involved, and people will start turning against each other, I'm assuming they've got an army of people with mind extensions, just like me."
"An army of people?" Milluki snorted. "Well, I'll just assemble a small army of cyborgs in the meantime. They can't override something that isn't there."
Echlan ignored Millu and continued. "The suggestion is quite sound because it fits in with line four: Fight the madness with the devil..when the seven suns are suspended in the sky. The former Emperor Renard has already confirmed that the young lad is the devil in his visions, so since Alluka has these similar mind powers, he should be the one to deal with them."
"I've got a better idea." Misha grated harshly, clearly disliking the discovery of such phenomenon. He turned to the young assassin. "You've got four hours kid. Scan the entire city, find out where these espers are and we'll blow them off the face of the earth."
"With what?" Kamus looked up sharply.
"Sky Cruisers of course." The madman's eyes glinted fiercely on the pale face. "We'll have every laser cannon aimed and ready to fire on the exact moment that Alluka gives us the co-ordinates."
Sky Cruisers were the unique tech developments of Arcadian war engineers during the ten year war. No longer was air travel solely dominated by slow moving and vulnerable blimps. The engineers and scientists had come up with massive air fortresses each with one hundred and twenty laser cannons, capable of ripping up valleys of mountains and blow away large cities in a matter of minutes.
"General Deathstalker and his contingent are already racing back. He was stationed in Shandrakor, but if the Sky Cruisers travel up to maximum speed, they'll be here in five hours. Between three and four o'clock, we'll just have to have the army on the streets."
"You've gone crazy Misha! Sky cruisers in such close proximity to the Forbidden Palace? What if one of the beams go astray? Have you any idea how populated this area is around here?"
"We still haven't figured the part about the suns though." Gon spoke up. "I think it's important because Alluka is supposed to do something important when there are seven suns in the sky."
"We can't even begin to fathom what on earth that means, and Renard can't remember his visions clearly anymore. Alluka, lets just stick to the part where you start scanning every inch of this city and find out what or who will send people fighting against each other." Kamus poured over the map. "Have troops currently out on patrol be informed of what will happen in the next few hours. Rope, I want lots of it. When the madness begins, we'll distribute rope to the sane ones and let them tie down the ones who are under control."
"But the Sky Cruisers." Misha whined.
"No Misha." Kamus responded harshly, his glare hard and unyielding. "No fireworks, just simple, efficient prevention."
"Speaking of fireworks, I better get some Illuminators ready. I'm putting money on that they will try to cut off our electricity. Begin power backup buildup, relay message to all troops. Also start drawing in the runners. I'm assuming that they will try to jam our frequencies too."
Echlan gestured to Hisoka and Koran, the two childhood friends who could almost be passed off as twins. He presented each with a slim sword encased in a silver scabbard, its bone handle gleaming sickly in the bright light.
"You're assigned to the North Gate - the main entrance. It might be the place of the bloodiest battle as the rebels try to ram their way into the Forbidden Palace. That's why I'm placing both of you there and giving you these swords that you've been longing for ever since you've laid your eyes on them. I trust you two still remember the steps?"
Hisoka grinned at Koran. "How could we forget? You practically branded them into our minds." They both drew the swords at the same time and marveled at the way the light was unnaturally absorbed into the dully gleaming blades. It was a blade longing for the taste of blood.
"I trust that your minds are still thoroughly connected then." Echlan also smiled, but it was the coy smile of a dangerous predator. "No one's seen the Meteor Rain for at least two hundred years. Make sure it's spectacular."
Hisoka and Koran murmured their promises and could only look into each other's eyes and giggle hysterically, in that homicidally murderous way.
"Meteor Rain?" Zeno said. "What a curious name. It's a martial arts technique I suppose."
Berenger nodded vigorously. "Eunuch only though because of the strength, speed, skill and grace required. It got its name because of the superstition that when people die, you see a shooting star, which is, in essence, a meteor."
Leorio's mind flipped. "You are implying therefore, that this technique brings on massive destruction?"
Echlan gave the laugh of a villain. "Yes! Stars will be dropping from the heavens in showers like droplets of water in the rain. It is the ultimate killing technique."
"Trust Hisoka to know it." Gon murmured to Killua.
Kikyou ushered her children and Killua's friends outside the Throne Room after the briefing was over and regarded them solemnly. She studied them all, from her youngest daughter Karuto who stood quietly, calm and unaffected, to Alluka, who was already beginning to reach out with his mind to sweep and scan the city, then to Killua and his older brother Milluki.
She chose her words carefully. "Hell will come for us at three o'clock. It is not an understatement, and I don't think your training ever covered such chaotic situations. War is different to murder." She made sure they all paid attention to her before continuing. "It will be very confusing and at times, you will find yourselves isolated. Please look after yourselves and take care."
"That's ok mama, we're smart and strong people. We know how to look after ourselves." Milluki quickly said, suddenly embarrassed by his mother's show of affection.
Kikyou nodded slowly. "Millu, you don't know nen, so it's best for you to stick with Killua, just in case. Karuto.will you stay by mama's side?"
"No okaa-sama, I'm going to stand guard near the East Gate and fight."
"But mama's never seen you fight before."
Karuto stepped closer to her mother and stared at her with eyes alive with a furious intensity. "Ni-chan always buys me the prettiest dresses." She said firmly. Kikyou didn't understand why her daughter's voice had suddenly become so serious and emotive, and she was sure that Karuto was trying to express and imply something in those few words alone, but couldn't put her finger on it. "And Ni-chan made me Belle." She held up the hideous doll again, the fierce determine still burning bright in her expression. "The Emperor saved Ni-chan and is ni-chan's friend, so Belle is going to kill anything that tries to hurt the Emperor."
"You're going to fight for Illumi?" Kikyou asked incredulously.
"Belle is going to kill anything that tries to hurt ni-chan's friend." Karuto repeated, and Belle just continued to smile her sickening smile.
"Killua, why don't you head over to the East Gate then, and keep an eye on your sister for me." Kikyou turned to her rebellious son with slight pleading. Killua readily accepted.
"Mama will be part of the defence between the North Gate and the Throne Room. If anyone wants to get to the Emperor, they'll have to get through me first. You'll know where to find me if you've got trouble. Dad will be there too."
Kikyou left after a few more words and the group looked at each other. All eyes turned to Kurapika.
"So what will you do then?" Leorio folded his glasses and placed them in his pocket.
"Like Karen said, I have no choice but to defend myself when the Nihilists break through. I'll stay with you and watch your backs."
"We've got until three o'clock. What's the rush? Why don't we raid the Imperial kitchens? I'm starting to get hungry." Milluki suggested. For once, everyone thought that was a relatively good idea.