by Yomi
Chapter 20
The shadow of his past
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters to Hunter x Hunter or any other of the anime.
The whole house was quiet in the dead of night, the secretive silence having condensed and solidified around every single object in the house giving them imaginary weight.
Lola soundlessly pulled out the chair in front of the computer and her eyes flickered around the room once more, surveying in particular the only entrance where Karasu might come in and interrupt her. She was about to access the highly confidential information that Salar had allowed her to take away a few days ago and she hadn't actually scanned through the contents of that CD until now.
Didn't want to scan through the contents actually, not until she heard Leona's story on Iori Yagami. Though Leona's account of the horrors may in fact have been exaggerated and embellished, there was no denying that Hisoka's baby cousin had indeed turned into a savage and feral fiend. Even though Northside was considered by many Anime City citizens as Hell's foothold on earth, it wasn't as bad as their imagination had hyped it up to be. Sure, it was lawless, it was violent, its rules of survival were brutal, but some ideas of honour were common to all humankind, no matter where they were living.
Could Iori's information and downfall be detailed inside the CD? There was only one way to find out.
She took in a deep breath and double clicked on the CD icon and let her eyes settle on the doorway one last time until she had satisfied herself that there were no shadows dancing nearby. Only one message appeared on her monitor:
= = = = = = = = =
Target: Illumi Zoldick
= = = = = = = = =
The doll maker? The clothes designer? Surely there had to be some mistake – that fragile young man was only small fry. She thought that Salar would have been out to catch larger fish to recruit into his department. She shifted the cursor over the name and clicked twice, bringing up another screen – a general profile that had evidently been hacked and stolen, from the looks of things, the Hunter Works' database.
Lola rapidly absorbed the information, noting nothing extraordinary or exciting. The twenty four year old man went to a good university, took up design, went to Mirriston High, which looked to be a prim and proper Anglican school and had a handful of siblings.
His father died around eight years ago not long after Illumi had finished high school and the family moved out of town before settling in Anime City. According to the latest news and gossip columns, Kikyou was getting quite intimate and close with the infamously unapproachable director-cum-president of Hunter Works, Silva Zoldick.
The only piece of information of value and interest in the profile had to be the death of the father – presumably, he was not old when he died, so was it due to poor health, a tragic accident or –
Putting herself into the highly suspicious mind of her brother, she grimaced. Had she been Salar, the new Salar who personified the most repugnant aspects of humanity, the idea of foul play behind the death of Illumi's father would have definitely been an avenue of possibility to head down and explore.
She forced herself not to think about her brother and concentrate on the task at hand. Could Illumi's past, somehow connected with the death of his father, reveal something extraordinary or enticing about him, enough to earn her brother's fascination?
She double clicked on the demure portrait of the man and the monitor jumped, bringing up another blank screen with the only words in the centre:
= = = = = = = = =
The Diary of Milluki Zoldick
= = = = = = = = =
She'd heard of Milluki too; he was another new face in Anime City though not so new in the IT industry. He was a genius at creating game engines and ran a pretty respectable internet service provider at the youthful age of eighteen. How on earth could the diary hold any significance for the subject at hand?
Clicking on the words bought up pages upon pages of words and diary entries, all personally typed up by Milluki Zoldick an astonishing twelve years ago. Lola shook her head and scowled in disgust – Salar had even managed to acquire a copy of something as personal as someone's precious memories. He must have either bought out someone close to Milluki Zoldick or he hacked through the boy's security and helped himself to the boy's inner most secrets.
Laughing softly as he did so no doubt. Sick man.
Lola thought she heard a soft rustling of clothes near the doorway and started, eyes widening and a knife appeared in her hand from the concealed holder. No – there was no one there; she could feel no presence or hear any breathing. It had to be her guilty conscience playing up in her mind.
Damn you Salar – you know I hate doing dirty things like this.
She decided not to waste any more time. She blocked out all other concerns and strained her eyes on the luminous monitor.
= = = = = = = = =
25th December, 1991
Big brother got me this laptop and said that I would enjoy it. I heard from mum that this machine was expensive so I should take good care of it.
I have taken up big brother's advice and am starting this diary. I think this will be good for me. At least I will now have someone to talk to. I have no friends at school. Dad owns the school, he's the principal, so I can't say anything which I don't want him to hear. I have set a password to this diary, so I can say a lot of things that I don't want him to hear.
I wish my dad would die. There's not a day where big brother doesn't have some sort of bruise on his face. Dad hates big brother and I hate dad for that. Big brother's a nice person. He looks out for me all the time. He looks out for a lot of other girls in my year level. We are all very scared of dad, but who will believe us? Big brother will, but he gets beaten up by dad for that.
My Christmas wish for this year is that I hope dad dies. I really do, and when he does, I hope he is frightened and in pain.
= = = = = = = = =
27th December, 1991
I wonder why mum never cares about what happens at home. I watched dad punch big brother in the face today and all this blood fell onto big brother's front shirt and wouldn't stop running. I admire big brother sometimes. He never cries when he's hurt. There are never see tears in his eyes.
The blood stopped running after big brother tilted his head back and pinched his nose when Dad walked out of the house and banged the door shut behind him. I asked big brother if I could do anything to help him but he just smiled at me. Not his usual smile which makes you feel good. His smile made me feel scared, but I wasn't scared because I now big brother would never hurt me. I'll bet he will smile like that at dad someday, a smile that says "I hate you" instead of "I like you".
= = = = = = = = =
December 30th, 1991
Big brother asked me a very strange question today. He asked me if I liked girls with long hair. I told him that I didn't like girls. I think I like chocolate chip cookies better and he laughed quietly when I said that. I asked him why he asked. He said he was going to grow his hair long, just like a girl in my class. She has very nice long hair.
He asked me if he would look pretty with long hair. Would he be prettier than the girl in my class he asked.
I nodded because I thought that would make him happy. He laughed and I think I was shivering when he continued to laugh. Brother does that sometimes, but I get used to it. It's a very scary sound but I know not to be afraid because brother loves me and won't hurt me.
= = = = = = = = =
January 2nd, 1992
I haven't worked out my New Year's resolution yet. Big brother said that it's something that you make at the beginning of the year and you try to stick to it throughout the rest of a year. Something to aim at.
Big brother said that his New Year resolution was to grow out his hair and start to wear different clothes. I asked him why he'd want to do that but he said that he just wanted to do it.
I wonder how big brother can still manage to smile. I guess it was a good day today but I never feel like smiling. I hate dad. Maybe I'll make it my New Year's resolution to pray to god every night that he'll die because then he'll stop hurting people and I can stop hearing all the screams from the basement.
I hate the basement.
= = = = = = = = =
January 3rd, 1992
My ribs are hurting. Dad kicked me today when I was typing up the diary. He said I was fat and useless. He called me a piece of shit and an idiot. He was going to kick me some more but big brother stopped him. I wish that he didn't. Dad doesn't like people talking back to him, but big brother does it all the time. I grabbed the laptop and fled to my room when dad took out the whip.
I am such a useless coward. I'm not brave like big brother. I can't stand up to dad like he can. I think I was screaming when I heard dad's shouts and the whip cracks. I hate you dad, and when I am older, I'll be the one hitting you with your own whip.
= = = = = = = = =
January 5th, 1992
Big brother still looks so terrible. He still can't open his left eye and there are some really ugly looking cuts on his back. But it looks like he hasn't cried at all. He's still smiling and he acts as if he wasn't in pain.
I know that's a lie.
Mum was silent when she saw what happened to him. I don't know if she was angry or not. It's hard to tell with mum as well. Big brother is a lot like mum – you can never really tell what they're thinking. I think mum cares, but she never does anything to help.
I am glad that it's still the holidays. Then no one at school will laugh at big brother. People laugh at him and me all the time. He doesn't seem to care. He smiles all the time, those "I hate you" smiles. But I know big brother loves me. He tells me that all the time.
I want to repay big brother some day. I'm going to help him just as
he always helps me.
= = = = = = = = =
January 9th, 1992
That girl in my class last year, the one with the nice long hair, she came to our place today. I saw dad bringing her in and I ran to my bedroom and buried my head underneath all the pillows I could find in my room. Mum's out working and big brother was out shopping so I was the only one at home. I'm not brave enough to do anything but to run.
I heard her screams from the basement and lots of crying. They were really loud at first but after a while I couldn't hear them any more. I could hear dad groaning and saying things like "suck on it bitch". Her parents came to pick her up at night. I bet dad must have made her scared enough not to talk. Dad's very good at making us all scared.
Not big brother though. Big brother's not scared of anything and beatings
don't hurt him. He smiles and never cries.
= = = = = = = = =
January 12th, 1992
I told big brother what happened when he was out shopping a few days ago. He looked a lot like mum when she saw all the bruises on big brother – he went all stony and wouldn't talk. I knew dad wasn't home at that time so I told him that I hated dad and my New Years resolution was to pray to god every night to make dad die. I asked him if god was going to be angry at my prayer.
And then brother said the best thing that made a lot of sense. He told me that there either was no god or if there was he is an idiot who we should spit on. When I asked him why, he said that god had let someone like father be a priest so that he could hurt all the pretty girls in my year level.
I never thought of things that way and the more I thought of it the more right it sounded. We have to go to church every Sunday and pray to god and tell him that we've been good but here's dad, beating up big brother all the time and he's a priest. Does god approve of dad making girls scream in the basement? If he does, then he's a bigger idiot than me. I wish god was dead as well so that my dad can't be a priest and hurt people.
Big brother then said that 'in all likelihood' (big word), god didn't exist. He said that only stupid people believed in god and only stupid people would get hurt. He said that if no one believed in god, they wouldn't go to church and they wouldn't let their daughters come over to our place to scream and cry. All the smart people stay away from the church, and they don't get hurt.
I think big brother is very smart. My New Years resolution is to no
longer believe in god, or if there is a god, I have to remind him that
he is the world's most 'disgusting creature'. I'm going to be smart just
like big brother and tell people not to believe the lies anymore. I don't
like seeing people hurt.
= = = = = = = = =
January16th, 1992
I feel a lot better now. I think throwing out my copy of the bible really helped. It means nothing anymore when dad tells me that I will burn in hell and suffer endless pain and be terrorized by the devil if I tell anyone what I hear from the basement. There is no hell – he thinks I'm a dumb idiot who will buy into his story and be afraid. I'm not so afraid anymore of hell because it doesn't exist. That's a good thing. Finding out that Santa didn't exist was not such a good thing.
Big brother saw me typing yesterday and said that I was getting quite good at it for my age. He asked me whether I liked the laptop and I said yes. I like how the computer does everything I say and I like it how it doesn't yell at me or try to hit me. I think my computer loves me too.
Big brother was wearing one of his new clothes today. It was a pink
shirt with a frilly collar that I had seen some girls on TV wearing. He
said that pink 'complimented' his skin tone.
= = = = = = = = =
January 18th, 1992
I got another present today even though it is not my birthday yet. Big brother looked really excited when he gave me these two books and told me that I should think about reading through them. One's got something to do with 'Photoshop' and the other one is about 'HTML code' or something. The books are pretty heavy but big brother said that since I like the laptop I should have a read through these books.
Big brother smelled nice today. I wonder if he's helping himself to
mum's perfumes.
= = = = = = = = =
January 21st, 1992
School holidays are almost over. Melissa, the girl with the nice long hair, she came over again today and I thought her parents were the most stupid people in the world for thinking that my dad was a nice person. Fortunately, big brother was around today and he said that dad taking us to the park would be a very good idea and that we could spend the day riding our bicycles. Melissa's parents loved the idea and said that they would pick Melissa up from the park and they even walked us to the park and stayed for the whole time in the end whilst big brother pushed our swings.
I knew dad wasn't happy, even though he was chatting in a nice way to Melissa's parents. When we got home, he wouldn't stop hitting big brother.
Big brother actually cried this time but it looked like a pretend cry to me, but it made me want to shiver anyway. It reminded me of all the crying that I hear in the basement all the time. Dad looked like a bee had stung his butt when big brother was rubbing his eyes with his hands and after kicking big brother once more, he ran out of the room.
Not long after, big brother stopped crying and smiled that horrible smile again. I think that big brother could be a great actor and told him so and he laughed aloud that made me very frightened. It didn't sound like my brother at all but he told me that he was going to get rid of dad. I asked him how but he shrugged, the way older girls do, and covered his smile with his hand. I asked him why he did that and he asked me who it reminded me of when he did that. I told him he looked like those bigger girls at school and his smile grew bigger.
I still don't get it.
= = = = = = = = =
February 21st, 1992
I haven't written for a month because I've been reading those books big brother bought me. I really like the books and he took me to the book store today to see if he could buy me some more. I think he was very impressed with the website that I made. It's all very easy actually, but brother says that I'm just very good at it.
Wow – I'm good at something. No one's ever said that to me before and
big brother looked deadly serious when he said it. I'm going to believe
him. I'm good at something. I'm good at HTML code and making websites and
I'm going to be even better still. I'm going to make him proud of me, so
that he can smile those "I like you" smiles more.
= = = = = = = = =
March 10th, 1992
Ginny came over today. She was shaking like crazy even before she even stepped in. She's in my brother's class and she's round and fat just like me. Her plaits are very neat today but I think her mum did it for her. She knows what happens to girls who come to our house and she looked like she didn't want to have anything to do with us.
Big brother just made it back from sewing lessons when Ginny's parents left and he stared at dad. He's got guts that I don't have. I could never look at dad like that let alone look at him like a teacher as if dad was doing something bad and wrong. I took Ginny's hand and tried to tell her it was all right and wanted to take her out the back door.
But dad shouted at us and told us to get to our rooms and leave Ginny with him. Ginny was crying already and dad looked really happy about it. But big brother walked in front of dad, smelling of mum's perfume and dumped his belongings on the kitchen table whilst he got a drink. It was a hot day and he was wearing a short white top that showed his belly button and really short shorts. My brother's got long legs, white like milk. Dad was staring at him again, like someone had bitten him on the bum.
Big brother then walked up to dad and flicked his hair back the way the girls do on tv and he crossed his arms and said to dad that he should let Ginny go. He even pouted in a very girly way that made Dad gasp but then Dad returned to normal and started smacking big brother around. I took the chance to be brave and pushed Ginny out the door before running up to my bedroom.
Big brother cries these days when he is hit but Dad seems like he can't stand to see him cry or something. It can't be because he loves us can it?
Poor Ginny – at least she only suffered a fright. Not like Melissa. I tried to talk to Melissa at lunch today but she just ignored me. She ignores everyone these days and doesn't smile anymore. Did I tell you that she had a pretty smile as well? I don't think she'll ever smile again.
God, if you exist, you are a sick and filthy bastard. I hate you too
and wish you were dead.
= = = = = = = = =
April 1st, 1992
Big brother's hair is long enough to tie up now. He spends a lot of time in the bathroom now and every night before he sleeps, he brushes his hair at least one hundred times. It is very shiny and reminds me of Melissa's hair. She cut hers last week during art class and the teacher was shocked. Why did you do that? she asked and Melissa just shrugged and began to cut other things. I think she'll have to get a new uniform next month – her parents will be angry.
I finally asked big brother if he had been using mum's perfume. He said he has his own and that it's called 'deodorant' and that all young girls in his class use it. He said he was using a raspberry fragrance and asked if I liked it. I said that he smelled good but wondered why he was acting like a girl these days.
He smiled and it made me shiver. I was very cold when I saw him smile and he must have seen me react because he then quickly reassured me that he knew what he was doing. He said he was doing everyone good but I told him that I didn't understand. He hid the smile behind the hand again and acted all girly with the blinking. He didn't answer my question and asked me how I was going with all the new books. I told him that I like them very much and he suggested that I start up a 'small business' and earn some pocket money making websites for people.
Pocket money is good. I could save up and leave home and never have to see dad again.
= = = = = = = = =
April 29th, 1992
Dad is bringing young girls home when big brother is out doing his classes. He knows that I can't stand up to him like big brother can. I find myself eating more and more when I feel helpless. Big brother is becoming very concerned for my weight. He says that I weigh two times the weight of people my age and I told him that I couldn't help it. I eat whenever I'm not happy and I even begged brother to be home more often so that dad can't bring any more girls over. I even told him that dad was acting like he was avoiding big brother or something.
He fidgeted with his plait and looked like he liked the idea that dad was avoiding him. It is like dad is doing all his hateful stuff only when he is sure big brother is not around. I can't believe my big brother can make dad scared, or whatever dad's feeling. I think big brother's plan is working, but how his plan is working I don't know.
I've also been busy setting up that website company. I made some business
cards and printed it out on some nice paper and brother had that laminated.
I had five hundred cards at the start of the week but there are only sixty
left. A lot of people were very interested in the advertisement that big
brother and I made. I then put the ads into all the neighbour's post box
and left 'contact details' on my website. It's got over two million hits
now and I get plenty of email every day. Big brother suggests that I should
charge about $40 an hour for making a website. He says that I should take
an 'average' of five hours on the small business homepages and about ten
for middle sized businesses. I think I'm going to be the richest six year
old in my year.
= = = = = = = = =
August 13th, 1992
I can't believe that my bank account has over $20,000 dollars. I've found that I can actually make websites in under two hours but I bill people for five anyway, or ten if they are middle sized. I received an offer today of $5000 to make this website for a local franchise company! $5000! I can upgrade my laptop with that!
I offered to split my bank account in half with big brother – since he really does deserve to have half. He came up with the idea of making websites in the first place. But he said that I did all the work and should keep it, but asked me if I would lend him some money so that he could buy some more clothes and makeup in the future. I said yes straight away. I will never deny my brother anything.
I told mum about the business she didn't even know I had and she was overjoyed. She said I was smart and intelligent and that I was a genius. I told her it was big brother who started it all up and she took us two out to dinner. We haven't had dinner together for a long time and I really enjoyed it because dad wasn't there.
Mum said that big brother had a good head for business and he really liked the idea. His glossy lips smiled the "I like you" smile that I also hadn't seen for a long time and he said he had more plans for me when I was ready. He said that I could earn much more money making and selling programs.
PS – the waiter thought my mum had a 'really pretty daughter' and a cute son.
= = = = = = = = =
"Miss Lola! Where did you get this?!"
The older woman was actually startled, surprised by the intrusion she should have been able to detect. Salar's boy – well trained in all arts and doubtless 'walk in stealth' would have to be one of them. Kurei's face was ashen grey as he stared at the screen and the diary entries and he was trembling from foot to toe.
"Relax kid. Salar gave this to me and said I could look at it. How did he manage to get his hands on Milluki's diary?"
Kurei drew a chair beside Lola and wearily sank into it. The light from the monitor accentuated the dark eye bags and the hollowing cheeks, giving him the look of a man too old for his years. His nights away from his mentor must have been fitful rather than restful.
"Mentor bought out one of Milluki Zoldick's close assistants. She was naïve and innocent and I was told to get the information from her. Poor thing – she thought she was doing something completely harmless. I swear to you Miss Lola that this disc will be destroyed once mentor's objectives are accomplished. No one else will see it."
He felt her hand reassuringly clamp onto his shoulder. "My brother didn't use to be like this – unscrupulous and immoral, a downright bastard with no honour. I'm sorry you ever met him."
"No, please don't say that about mentor. He's been very good to me."
She gave a rude snort and quickly smothered it as she remembered the time but the frown retained its severity. "He beat the shit out of you and threatened to break your legs." She stopped suddenly and her frown disappeared, replaced by a coy smile. "Although I must say that our plan is working. You've been gone for a week and he is getting nervous."
"He is?" Kurei's wide eyes stared at her.
"Yup. He even came to find me today and asked if I had seen you around. He appears to be most nervous and couldn't keep the worry from his voice. He told me in rather direct terms that you had no friends in Anime City so you have no place to hide out and he's at a complete loss as to where you could be."
"He didn't suspect you were lying?"
She winked deviously at him. "I was trained to lie at the age of two and have been lying all my life. Not even Salar can tell the difference from truth and falsity when it comes to me. And he wouldn't suspect that I'd lie on your behalf, so he totally believed me when I said I hadn't seen you."
"So mentor has no clue where I am?"
"He's worried that people from Northside have nabbed you. Well, he didn't say it out loud, but you could tell that was exactly what he was thinking. So you just stay here for another week or so and I'm sure Salar would be sticking up posters that say: 'Kurei, come home! I promise not to hurt you again!'" Lola giggled at her own joke and Kurei wished he could share in her mirth. He cast his eyes down, glum and stroked the brown toy in his lap, his only company for the past week.
"He probably just wants Quacker back," he muttered, letting the plastic bills nibble at his fingers.
"Illumi Zoldick gave Salar that toy didn't he?"
"Yes, he did. That man's……you've read the diary entries. I wouldn't want to cross the Zoldick if I could help it."
"I haven't finished reading it yet. I don't know if I want to."
"You should Miss Lola, you really should. You'll be introduced to quite a character."
"I take it that you've read through the whole diary then."
"I have," he replied gravely, his indigo eyes finally meeting hers for the first time. "It's just another person's story and how they deal with their hardships and trials and sufferings. There are two billion other stories like that in the world. What makes his remarkable is that Illumi's intentions were honourable but his method questionable. I've seen plenty of cases of domestic violence and child abuse, but what he did…"
Kurei swallowed hard and looked away. "What he did, the way he did it is what attracted mentor's attention."
"I'm guessing that it's not what one would call 'positive attributes'?"
He gave her a smile that shockingly reminded her of Salar – a self-mocking and slightly cynical smile tinged with fatigue. "It depends on what perspective you look at him. What's negative to you could be positive to others."
"Bah! Damn you sound just like my brother and will never give a straight answer!" she exclaimed immediately before realizing her mistake. A flash of pain passed through Kurei's eyes and he dipped his head down in depression again. She shook her head.
"Sorry kid – I was never known for being sensitive."
"I was wondering Miss Lola…how did you come to be friends with Mentor?"
It was his turn to realize that he said something wrong for the grin on Lola's face was more than wicked. It was devilish and diabolical and reminded him of Kaéry when he was conceiving a plan to ruin someone's business.
"Oh, it was a very amusing incident. Let me reassure you that your respect for your mentor will plummet after hearing this."
That got his attention. He sat bolt upright and leaned forward, eager to catch every word.
"You know how Salar is absolutely terrified of women?"
He frowned. "Terrified wouldn't be the way I would describe it. We use 'despise' at Vallanor."
"Of course!" she cackled, "he wouldn't want people knowing that a General of Vallanor is actually afraid of women so he covers it up by pretending to be contemptuous of women." How Kurei was reminded of Kaéry just now when Lola's usual aloof and impassive manner was cast aside and she allowed herself to indulge in gossip.
"He was about eight at that time and he was thinking: 'Oh, since I'm so smart, I don't think Northside will pose any of a challenge to me' sort of thing. How wrong he was. The first people who jumped on him weren't muggers, robbers, serial killers or psychopaths. He was in my guild's heartland and two of my older female associates, generously busty I might add, jumped him."
Kurei worked his mouth and tried to make the words come out. "What do you mean by 'jump'?"
"Oh, just the usual. They were mild nymphomaniacs and Salar was a cute boy, my husband included. They had him cornered against a wall and were, how to say this…pushing their breasts into his face whilst crooning about how they'd ravish him."
"Dear lords no!"
"Yes! He was so frightened that he couldn't even squeak for help!" Lola's shoulders rocked violently as she tried to contain the laughter and not wake up the entire house. "Fortunately, I was there at the time and told my dear sisters to back off. Whilst Salar didn't exactly wet his pants, I think that incident permanently scarred him for life and he therefore has a phobia for women – breasts in particular."
"I don't get it Miss Lola. If mentor is afraid of women, why is his best friend a woman?"
Lola shook her head with a patience one reserved for slow children. "We are brothers by blood pact. I used to be the biggest tomboy in town and even though I have long hair, I fought like a man, drank like a man, argued like a man and generally was pretty mannish. I think Salar actually looked effeminate compared to me. He doesn't see me as a woman – he treats me as a brother he never had."
"So you mean all those rumors about a romantic relationship back then…"
"Complete and utter jargon. It was so off the mark that we didn't even bother with it because it was so ridiculous."
After only a moment's hesitation, Kurei spoke up. "Mentor…doesn't really talk about you at Vallanor Miss Lola, if you don't mind me saying. I only learnt about your friendship with mentor when I came back to Anime City last month."
She knitted her eyebrows. "What bought this topic up?"
"People probably don't know," Kurei continued as if she never interrupted, "but Mentor is actually a terribly lonely person. Lord Vallissa's five Generals were established a long time ago, so they are all good friends and mates. Mentor is like the odd one out, the one who they think is an intruder trying to steal their territory. He's working really hard to prove to Lord Vallissa that he deserves the Generalship so he's completely engrossed in his work. His Marshall doesn't give a scrap about his General and our department is small and often under resourced. Mentor…really needs someone who can help him by his side."
Lola turned away and sighed, tapping on the keyboard for the procedures to shut down. She knew what Kurei was trying to get at, and it made her wonder whether smuggling Kurei into her house was actually just another ploy by Salar to get his protégé to persuade her to join Vallanor. Kurei sensed her tight agitation and vehemently denied her thoughts.
"It's not like that Miss Lola! I swear Mentor didn't get me to come here and try to lie to you. I'm too stupid for that and you're too smart to be fooled by that. Please, don't take it the wrong way. But Mentor…"
"Kurei, no more. I am not going to be part of his Department. I live in Anime City. I am married to Karasu and I have the most adorable child who I'm not going to give up for the world. If brother can't handle the stress and pressure, why doesn't he just drop the damn title and come back home?"
He balked at her irritated tone and cautiously tuned his voice to neutral. "He's completely taken by Lord Vallissa. I asked him once why we couldn't just leave and he hit me for even suggesting that and said that if I ever uttered something so blasphemous again, he would kill me. He won't leave Lord Vallissa."
"What is so fucking damn good about Lord Vallissa?" Lola sighed, dejectedly watching the monitor switch off. Kurei was silent for a moment and she turned to see whether he was struggling with the answer. He was sitting taunt and stiff and he looked like he was ready to cop a beating for saying something that he should not say.
"I should imagine that mentor sees a lot of you in Lord Vallissa."
She really didn't want to hear that.
Sunday, 12:30pm, Endless Parade
Gon was with Killua on Sunday afternoon, implementing one of Mito's suck-up-to-the-Director's-son strategies. Thankfully, out of the many plots and plans that his manager hatched, spending time being friends with Killua was actually enjoyable. In short – this was the one and only chore that he liked to do and didn't really consider a chore. Surely, if you liked doing something, you couldn't call it a chore now can you?
Today, early in the morning, they had received a message dispatched by Shura which immediately bought them together to do some rapid talking. The message informed them of Kaéry and Xelan's plans. Gon felt his eyebrows literally fry off whilst Killua had bit the insides of his cheeks to stop the grin from splitting his face apart when the older child spread the news. Both had originally planned a relaxing, turmoil-free day but plans were hardly reliable in Anime City. At any moment, something drastic would happen and you found yourself either formulating plans to stay away from it or get into the thick of it.
"What won't they try?" Killua said, smirking with unfettered glee. "We're not going to tell any of the adults about this ok Gon? When someone entrusts a secret to you, you swear to maintain the secrecy upon your honour otherwise you face the wrath of the other actor."
Gon dubiously studied Killua's ever ecstatic features and felt shivers running up and down his spine at Killua's expectant stare. "You're starting to sound a lot like Hisoka with the Code Duello stuff. Don't you think we're a bit too young for that?"
"Don't try to lead the topic astray. I need your confirmation to secrecy or I ditch you here, tell everyone that you're a snitch and never talk to you again."
Gon rolled his eyes. "Well, since you put it that way, can I really say no?"
The Director's son gave a dismissive laugh. "I doubt that you were going to run off to Xelan's parents and dob on him anyway. But you do look troubled. Ok – what's worrying you now you worry-wart?"
Gon never liked that nick name but he conceded that it was an appropriate nick name. Out of all the child actors at Saturday school, he found that he had a propensity to be the most worried and nervous of the lot hence earned the informal title of 'worry-wart'.
"I just hope we all get our stories right so we don't stuff up Prince Kaéry's plans."
"They didn't give us details because they don't expect us to hand a story over to their, whom I predict to be anxiously inquisitive, parents."
"They don't?"
Killua made a face, half in awe and the other half in disgust. "Yes – because then it'd look too much like a set up if everyone was repeating verbatim a script that they'd prepared. Xelloss and Karasu are very intelligent people so Kay is playing it safe."
"But if we all say different things to their parents, how is that playing safe?"
"Use your brain for once Gon!" Killua said in exasperation and lightly rapped his knuckles on Gon's temple. "The parents aren't expecting stories. They're expecting observations and that's where the genius of the plan comes in. We all have different degrees of observation – some observe more than others, so everyone's account will be different. It has to be different and it's going to look even more convincing that way."
Gon groaned. "I can't understand these twists and turns. You just tell me what to do, and like the good little actor I am, I'll do it and I'll do it convincing and right."
"Glad to hear that!" Killua gave him a wide smile. "If Filia ever comes to you for information, just be vague and suggestive and don't give too many details. She'll just think that you're not a very observant person."
His friend resented that suggestion but swallowed his protest to ask the question "But what happens if Miss Filia does press me for more information, given that she's likely to be desperate?"
"You don't know any details. You restate that you only know what you know and have never given it any thought. We have to avoid the feeling that this is all a set up remember? So none of us have any lines remembered. You might have a few that you'd like to say in your head, but that's it! Don't make it complicated. The best lies are often simple."
"Hail the genius Liar, Prince Killua."
"Ha ha. I know you're just jealous. Imagine all the extra freedom you could have if you could lie to your manager more effectively."
Gon openly grimaced. "Today is Sunday, no mentioning my manager day."
"Just remember, we are playing the outsider this time. We're not the main actors so we don't know anything for sure and we may find some things strange in their behaviour but never thought to question it. Always say that they hold hands whenever you've seen them, that they give each other 'looks' and that Kay is very possessive over Xelan's attention and vice versa."
"But Killua," Gon scratched behind his ear, infuriating his friend once more with his blank expression, "they do do that."
The albino smiled evenly, showing two rows of pearly white teeth. "Then we can tell our conscience that we're not lying and telling the truth and the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
"So…does that mean they are gay then?"
"I don't know," Killua said, shrugging off an issue which clearly didn't give him cause for concern. "Of late, I've discovered that relationships are a very complicated thing indeed. People may act in a certain way towards each other, but depending on who does it with who, you may get totally different ideas."
"Such as?"
"Take my dad and 'mum' for example. Are they really a couple? All of Anime City seems to think so, but only we at Hunter Works know that the whole thing is a sham. For all we know, Dad is probably having a wonderful time cracking up at the outrageous stories that the press make for him on this little issue."
"Killua?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still believe that the Director and Miss Kikyou being together is just an act?"
Killua sucked in his breath and eyed him sharply. "Not you too Gon, you can't believe the papers!"
"Well," Gon looked around, unable to meet Killua's unwavering gaze, "I mean, I do have my own powers of observation and if you think about it, Miss Kikyou's role in Hunter x Hunter is really small, and I mean really small. Now, do you really need to go into a whole 'family charade' over five lines of dialogue?"
Killua refused to answer and stalked off, leaving Gon jogging beside him to catch up.
"Look, I'm not making fun of you or anything Killua, but some things are only obvious to idiot people like me. You know there's that proverb or something which confirms that. We're both actors – we know when people are acting. It doesn't feel like they're acting. Killua, I'm just hoping you're prepared for the day when they do announce that they're lovers."
He had been anticipating uncontrollable shivers at the possibility Gon put to him and imagine the surprise he endured when it didn't affect him at all. He stopped dead in his tracks and incredulously looked at Gon.
"Oh my god. I think I'm ok with that."
Taken aback by Killua's calm, Gon pressed a palm to his friend's forehead to check that everything was still properly functioning inside.
"No….anger or sense of betrayal?"
"I suppose not," Killua tapped his chin, rolling his eyes in thought. "I mean, sure, the pains they took to cushion the possible transition is questionable and involved a fair amount of lying and deception, leaving me in the dark to look like a fool whilst everyone kind of worked it out. But Kikyou's been playing mum for the past month or so now that I wouldn't feel uncomfortable calling her mum. Strange isn't it?"
"I think the Director knows you very well Killua."
"He sure does. I'm possibly going to embark on the greatest change in my life and I think it's ok. I think I'm very fortunate."
"You are – Kay and Xe aren't taking it as well as you for sure."
Killua dramatically clasped his palm over where his heart should be. "It's because I have a great dad who's smart and intelligent and I'm relatively sane and not hideously stubborn. Which reminds me – we shouldn't divulge any of this information to Kurapika ok?"
"Aww…I don't want to have to lie to him."
"Too bad Gon, but Kurapika's on Filia's side and Filia's very good at manipulating people."
"I suppose so."
"Hey, speak of the devil! There's my brother-to-be!" Killua tugged Gon's sleeve and pointed to a café. Sitting on the sidewalk over coffee and sponge cake was Illumi, heavily engaged in conversation with a woman they had never seen before in Anime City. They managed to catch glimpses of feather layered black hair, pale, almost ivory grey skin and the corner of blood red lips.
"We should go and say hi. I still feel bad that Menchi and her sister still maltreat Illumi at the studio."
Killua acquiesced to the suggestion and they skipped across the road and ambushed Illumi with their biggest and cheekiest grins.
"With your girlfriend bro?"
Gon was frantically tugging the back of his shirt, vying for his attention to turn to the woman sitting across Illumi who had taken to the intrusion well, without a flicker of emotion to be exact.
Her midnight blue eyes would have been horrifying had she been in a bad mood, but for now she casually looked down upon them as one would with insignificant insects.
There was no denying it however. Her beauty rooted Gon to the spot and his legs felt weak, so weak that he could collapse and continue to quietly drink in the image that had him enthralled. Presumably, Killua choked on the same reaction.
"Have I got some chocolate still on my face Illumi?" she leaned forward and quietly asked. He hastily assured her to the contrary and shook the two boys out of their stupor.
"Wow big bro – a pretty girlfriend!" Killua said in an explosive breath, still unable to tear his eyes away.
"Please Killua. Dad has taught you more manners than this. Sorry Miss Valerie – allow me to introduce my impudent brother and his equally impudent friend – Killua Zoldick and Gon Freecs. Please, do forgive them Miss Valerie, they are only young."
She emitted a low laugh and patted Gon's cheek with icy fingers to show that she didn't take offense to the situation. The sting of the chill from her fingers blasted Gon back to reality and he recoiled from the touch.
She blinked and Illumi wondered what he had ever done wrong so that Killua and Gon decided to act up on one of the most important conversations of his life.
"Miss Valerie, I'm so terribly sorry for their erratic behaviour. I assure you that they're not usually like this. Please, Killua, I'm in the middle of something here. Could you just – "
"It's ok Illumi. Don't sound so upset. Waiter! Another two seats for these two young gentlemen please."
Illumi was lost for words – she actually wanted the two to sit down?"
"So big sis, if you're not big brother's girlfriend, who are you then?"
Illumi inwardly winced and wanted to tape Killua's mouth shut. He knew his distress was visible and it felt like his future career was falling to pieces.
"Prospective buyer. I'm very interested in your brother's designs in fact. I've got some important functions coming up and I've been advised that I should look the best for these occasions and out-shine every other female at the functions. Who better to turn to than the designer behind Fantasia's clothing?"
"You're the most beautiful lady I've seen you don't need to dress up," Gon mindlessly babbled. She narrowed her eyes with catlike playfulness and laughed again.
"What a flattering tongue this little boy has. Alas, Anime City is home to many gorgeous and stunning women. You just haven't met all of them."
"Oh, I have!" Gon sat forward in his chair and eagerly spoke to the woman whom he'd instantly reverred as a goddess. "I've been to more functions and balls than I care for, because my manager wants me to establish connections. I've seen ladies with faces pasty with makeup to cover up their flaws and ugliness. But you ma'am, you don't need anything at all. I'd say you were the most beautiful lady in all Anime City!"
Killua wondered what had overcome Gon, who he could picture as an eager dog fiercely wagging his tale as the older woman laughed once again at the compliments. She was undeniably striking in her incredibly defined and distinguished features of sharp chin and high cheekbones. But he didn't find the beauty attractive – he found the aesthetic face something to be admired and admired only. It did not instill in him the kind of adoration and worship that had overwhelmed Gon. Not that it was an offence to Miss Valerie or anything, but had he been a man, he would have steered clear away from her. There was some deformity in her character that couldn't be observed from the surface, but the sense of deformity helped him to overcome the initial awe of her immortal beauty.
Judging by the way that his brother looked like he was en guarde confirmed that Illumi shared similar opinions.
"Well Mr Zoldick, give my regards to your mother and tell her that I will most definitely be dropping in Fantasia in the next two days to get a good look at the fabric. Can you loosen up a bit and give me a smile? I think you'd look quite pretty if you smiled a bit more."
Illumi gave a tentative laugh and shook his client's hand and after a few more words of formality watched the tall and gaunt figure trace her way through the parked cars to her black Porsche. When the car was well out of sight, he expelled an enormous breath and slumped into his white plastic chair, clutching at the cramps gradually easing up in his stomach.
"Miss Valerie is a very polite person but just sitting and talking to her gives me the creeps," he said, looking wearily at his brother who gave a small nod.
"She looks like a rich woman."
"I suppose she is – you know how ambitious and determined women are these days. They are successful entrepreneurs in their own right and it shows when they're negotiating. Think of it this way Killu: women have bought their powers of bargaining from the markets to the corporate world. What a terrifying turn for the world."
"Big brother, there's something strange about her…."
"It's her eyes," Illumi shortly replied, taking a sip from his coffee. "I've figured out that they either don't blink often enough or they have a way of seeing right through your soul and into your secrets."
"Or maybe both."
"Maybe," the older brother replied, draining the entire cup before setting it back onto the saucer with trembling hands. "But it's a shame – that incredible beauty wasted. What's the point of beauty if you cannot attract people with it?"
"Is there any way that you can just reject her business?"
Illumi shuddered and reclined back into the chair again, hoping that the sun could start up the circulation of his frozen blood. "In this world Killu, money talks and I let money talk to me this time. She's offering a sum that I cannot refuse, not even if I'm crazy. If I can just get the advance deposit alone, my doll shop is well on its way to coming into existence."
"I've never seen her around before. You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yes – I think she's related to Vallanor."
"Could she be like Salar, you know, a General of Vallanor or something?"
Illumi shook his head. "No – she's got more presence and class than that. I think I may be dealing with Lord Vallissa's wife."
Author's Notes:
Even though the reception for the fanfic was weak in the last chapter, I place quality over quantity. Thank you for the very insightful reviews. They have made my day. A big thanks to Queen of Vegetasei and her opinions about my original characters. I know that many people do not like AU fanfiction dotted with original characters whom they're not familiar with and I thank you very much for giving my story a shot and finding that it was to your liking. Greatest appreciation for the time you spent reading and reviewing my fanfic. I say this to all the people who do because my chapters are always so damn long. As per the finer points of your review, I will contact you through email - communication is more effective that way.
To all the loyal readers - thank you for continuing to stick by this fanfic. My exams are over, my clerkship is almost over meaning that updates should become more regular come Christmas and New Year. I love the holidays.
Seasons Greetings to everyone and have a safe holiday.
Yomi