Prepare for a roller-coaster, because this is about to get real emotional from here onward.

Prompt

Nightmare (Cont)

Nathaniel winces as he runs his fingers along the new scars, some deeper than others. He bites his tongue as he pours alcohol along the wounds, disinfecting it. Next taking a needle he proceeds to stitch every mark before dressing the wounds. They are a painful reminder of his mistakes, which still needed to be addressed. It hasn't even been an hour, and the guilt was already welcoming themselves into his heart, crushing whatever happiness he cultivated over the last few days.

Victor had stepped back into his son's life, trying to drive a wrench into their family. He couldn't picture how that scenario would work, how the situation would work in the man's favour. How would destroying his son's life, would want Vastorie to drop everything and be by the man's side?

What exactly was he achieving? How would this unknown attempt, usurp Nathaniel from his husband's life…? Or better yet… manipulate an unwilling enemy?

It was impossible! No amount of seductive, slick moves, could convince Vastorie otherwise. Hell, not even an endless night of pleasure could make that man give up the need and desire to pursue knowledge the following morning. So how the fuck was hurting his son going to make him want to return to his old lifestyle. It made no bloody sense…

But one thing was for certain, this mistake will destroy their trust in each other. Nonetheless, he was sure Vastorie would listen to reason, listen to why he hid the fact, that his father was still alive the entire time he thought he was dead. Of course, once he was at a sound state of mind.

However, that thought didn't help ease Nathaniel's, heavy heart. He'll pay for his mistake, but not before helping others first.

Nathaniel finished dressing his wounds, throwing a shirt back on before heading over to the study "Just in case…" Pulling out a notepad, the man proceeded to write down ten names.

Zaikaria "Vyner" Darkscryer

Eifion Mattocks

Ashton Nieves

Edward Marshell

Mikkel Clausen

Marwin Ratzenberger

Scarlet Sutton

Aunty Katherine

Rosalia Servedio

Victor Tempest

He didn't write the name in any specific order or take the time to write details down on each specific person. A superb Hunter would be able to track these people down with minimal information, Zaikaria and Victor both being the worst to track, and Eifion and Ashton being the easiest, due to the fact they already had information on them.

He also didn't want to write any more than the name, just in case, Vastorie didn't fly off the deep-end, refusing to write down any names because his father was back on the radar.

Tucking the paper into his pants, the man walked back over to the couch in the living room, faceplanting into the seat. He couldn't take it upon himself to sleep in the same bed as Vastorie, holding the man close to his chest from out of fear. While he feared his husband disappearing without a trace, he couldn't bring himself to caress the man, let alone touch him.

But considering the circumstances, that fear was nothing more, than a plausible nightmare in his current mindset. Regardless of what he feared now, he still needed to at least sleep somewhat, resting before the arguments to ensure today.

"~"

Killua woke first, for some abnormal reason feeling refreshed. He vaguely remembered an issue earlier that morning, pursuing someone dangerous… but his mind couldn't place a finger on it. Was it a dream, or reality? If it really did happen, who were they…?

Killua scrunched up his features, failing to draw a conclusion. In a worst-case scenario, he could always pursue Vastorie or Nathaniel for the information, hounding them until they revealed the truth.

Killua's mind snapped back to the originator of the issue, Daniel. He smiled once he realised the boy was safe, sleeping soundly. Although, he wasn't holding him in the slightest, instead turned away, and that worried him for some reason.

Killua stretched out a hand, lightly touching Daniel, the boy scrunching his face slightly, out of annoyance. That's weird…

Daniel would usually lean into every touch, welcoming the warmth of another's skin against his own. Killua then altered the touch running his fingers through the boy's hair, hoping to lull the boy into a woken state. He did want to know how the boy was. Whether or not he was ok… or should be worried.

Daniel's features twitched, slowly drifting between sleep and a state of awakening.

"How are you? Are you ok?"

It took a second for Daniel to realise that someone was speaking to him, and the moment he did, the boy flinched "H- Hi?"

Killua raised an eyebrow at the reaction, a little bit of fear sinking in the pit of his gut "Daniel, are you ok?"

Daniel sat up, looking around "Uhh, this isn't my room. It looks like the… guestroom?"

Oh, maybe it was the shock from his surroundings… Killua thought as he found himself relaxing a little at the reaction "Last night… I believe… someone came crashing through your window."

"You don't say…" Daniel looks back over, smiling slightly at the information. He was more puzzled by the response. He could only imagine by someone, that the boy in question meant himself and not someone else.

"Are you ok?"

"I don't know. You tell me, Mr I like to casually admit I crashed through your window."

"Not me, doofus! It was- wait…" Killua turned his head slightly to the side, now leaning forward towards Daniel, which only made the boy lean back in response "YOU do know WHO I am… don't you?"

"Nope, not a clue…"

"This isn't a joke… you can't be serious!"

"DAD…?" Daniel called out, now worried for his safety. He found himself backing away, the boy in front of him, the boy barely reacted to his own movements. Was this boy really a threat to him? Or was this some massive conspiracy, built behind a ruse.

Killua pulled back slightly, something heavy now weighing his heart. This had to be some cruel joke of some kind, one which Daniel shouldn't be playing at all during a time like this. He believed they were attacked last night by someone else, and now thanks to the elusive attacker, Daniel was acting like Killua never existed or worse… was the attacker from last night.

There were loud steps coming up the staircase before the door was opened, a concerned father stepping into the room. He didn't slam it open like Daniel originally thought he would, but once Nathaniel had stepped into the room, he could see that his father knew there was something wrong with the situation "What's going on…?"

"This kid is in bed with me… why? Is this one of Vastorie's jokes?"

"Wait, what? You know this boy… it's your boyfriend, Killua."

"Ha… Ha…" Daniel laughs at the serious joke, something he would've never expected to come out of Nathaniel's mouth. Although, after his own reaction, he had realised that it was a biased one, considering if Vastorie was the one to walk in and say the exact same thing, he would've snapped at the man in disgust "No, seriously…"

Killua hides his features within his bangs. What Daniel said, was genuine, at least to his ears. There was not a single doubt in the boy's word. His boyfriend really believed that he didn't know him at all, and that slaughtered him. The white-haired boy was afraid to show those feeling of powerlessness, especially to his sister and Nathaniel. So, he did what he believed was best, to joke it all off like nothing had phased him "Yeah, it was totally a joke."

"Hey-"

Killua already heading towards the door, dismissing Daniel's father's words mid-sentence "Your parents set it up. Thought it would be funny, but I guess it wasn't. See ya…" He made sure to quietly whisper the next part, his voice breaking already breaking from the utterance "maybe…"

"Hey-" Killua slammed the door in Nathaniel's face, the man more furious than before. He had made the worst decision of his life to let Vastorie's father escape unharmed, but hurting him, wouldn't have saved Daniel, but rather worsen the situation. He had to make everything right again, to reverse the damage of his major mistake. He clenched his fist, back turned against Daniel.

"Dad, that was a lame joke for even you and-"

"Enough…" The man let out a long, guttural growl. Stilling his emotions to at least think calmly about what to say and do with Killua "I'm taking care of breakfast this morning. Have a shower, get dressed and we're all going to have a talk downstairs."

Slamming the door in his son's own face, Daniel twisted his face in disgust. He hadn't said anything wrong. If anything, this was all Nathaniel and Vastorie's fault, not his! They were the ones to set up this cruel joke, convincing that boy to pretend he was his boyfriend.

They should've realised how he'd react! That having someone pretending to know everything about him, when he knows nothing about them, only makes him bare his fangs, growling in hostility towards the pretender "What did I do…?"

Nathaniel heard steps going down the staircase as he left his son's room, calling out to Killua to stop. He shouldn't go far, not like this! Not when his emotions were through the roof. The man would be anyone's shoulder to cry on, even to a stranger he just met. He'll comfort anyone, especially those he is close to. He saw Killua like a son to him, one he loves and adores "Hey, wait! Killua…"

"Leave me alone…"

The man continued to chase after the boy, even with the boy's hallowed voice was begging him to stay away. As Killua managed to reach the bottom floor, Daniel's father caught him by the hem of the boy's pyjama's pulling him into his grip "I said hold it!"

"No, let me go… Let me-"

Killua had no time to react once he was dragged into the man's waiting arms, nor could he hold the pain in any longer. He wanted to get far away, to at least be by himself for a while. But the moment Nathaniel held him within his chest, that feeling of warmth, the same he'd experienced with Daniel, was nothing more than a painful reminder of what he had just lost. And it was all done, within the span of a single night.

He sobbed quietly, voice breaking as he cried his heart out into Nathaniel's chest. He hated this part of himself even more so now, especially after letting Nathaniel see this side of him. He could handle Alluka and Daniel seeing this, but not his now lost boyfriend's father.

All Killua could do was ask the man between every sobbing breath "why him…?"

And although faintly, every so often between tears, Killua could hear the words "I'm sorry" being uttered back to him. Those words couldn't help him… nothing in this world could save him from the pain, of having his heart crushed by the one he loved. Maybe one day he'll get over it… But first, he needed to escape with Alluka, to run far away from this place.

But something in the deepest, hopeful part of his mind told him that was impossible.

The boy felt Daniel's father hold him closer, mouth inches away from his ears. Even though the cries of agony, he could hear the boy's father as clear of day. It was a warning, but also request for him to remain hopeful "Don't give up… I'll help you fix everything! Just don't let go… Please, stay by Daniel's side."

He couldn't stay if Daniel started to hate him…

It'll be worse than torture, worse than being electrocuted every single day for twenty-four seven. At least after all that torture, he can go back to his everyday tasks. He couldn't survive having his heart ripped out and tossed aside, over and over again.

So, as much as Killua wanted to run away, if Nathaniel can indeed help him, he'll try his best to stay and help. It took him so long to fall in love. He is after all, secretly madly in love with Daniel, and the thought of having to run away made him sick to the stomach.

He is strong, he'll survive…

He always survived…

And with the faintest glimmer of hope, he'll have to be strong… He has to!

"~"

The room was painfully quiet, Daniel stealing glances in Killua's direction every so often. Killua felt it hard to eat, not only because of what he went through but with Daniel's scrutinizing gaze only made the situation harder to digest, let alone touch his food.

Daniel truly had no idea who he was, and with this situation, Alluka could only swallow thickly. She could see what Daniel was doing to Killua, and not only was it hurting him, it was hurting her as well, at least indirectly "Daniel, you should-"

"You want more pancakes?" Nathaniel asked, cutting her off before she could question the boy. If there was one thing about Daniel he knew, it was that his son hated someone who knew more about him, than he knew about them.

"No, as-"

Killua coughed loudly, stopping his sister from what she was about to say. He hadn't had any time to warn her about the change in the situation, and why she should pretend that she's introducing Killua for the first time to Daniel.

Daniel frowned slightly at the thick tension "That's rude. You shouldn't cut off Alluka like that."

Killua's eyes widen slightly at the news, it seems that Daniel's memories of Alluka remained untouched. It was a fact, that Killua was the one to tell Daniel about Alluka, so he shouldn't remember a single thing about her. This was an inconsistency he could build a bridge through, where he hoped to at least repair some of the damage done so far. He needed to at least get on Daniel good side, until he figures out a way to bring back the old Daniel, the one he loves.

Killua's cheeks flushed at the memory, but forcing his feelings aside, he spoke up "This is a little weird…"

"I agree…" Daniel leaned back, sneering at Killua in disgust "Both you and Nathaniel just cut her off before she could say what she wanted to me. Which reminds me-"

"No, I mean…" Killua stopped to think, accusing Daniel of not knowing who he was wouldn't be good, so he went the roundabout way "hasn't Alluka told you about me?"

"Huh, what you mean…?"

Killua sent a glance towards Alluka, pretending to frown "Alluka, I'm surprised you haven't told Daniel about me."

"But, big brother… Daniel already knows you. You his boy-"

Killua cleared his throat, but he was a little too slow. Daniel already picked up on what she was about to say, and he was already whining about it "NOT YOU TOO! Next, I expect Daemon to suddenly say it as well. We~ aren't boyfriends!"

Killua reeled back in pain, hiding his features quickly before Alluka or Daniel could see how much those words hurt him "Agreed." Killua dismissed the topic entirely "As Alluka says, I'm her brother, Killua Zoldyck."

Daniel pursed his lips, thinking hard about what had transpired. Maybe he has been a little too hard on the guy. He should at least apologise for snapping at him, but the moment Killua brings up something else about his life, he'll know Killua wasn't playing games, and really is pretending to pay the 'boyfriend' role.

Even if Alluka is pretending to roll with the disgusting joke, he should at least apologise somewhat to the boy. After all, they only just met "Alright, I guess I should apologise to you. It was mean for you to pretend to know me, but it was just as cruel for everyone to tell you to do it, especially how I act to those who tell me things about myself when I know nothing about them."

This is going to be hard… Killua faked a smile "Noted." The boy returned to eating, at least putting something in his stomach, no matter how much it hurt to do anything "Oh, that reminds me. Seeing as Alluka didn't tell you about me. I was going to pick her up and travel the world together. Your father, Nathaniel was helping me… and he suggested I take you along too."

Nathaniel spat out his coffee, not expecting Killua to act so casually, throwing him under the bus without a second thought.

"Did he now…" Daniel turned slightly over the chair, now glaring at his father. First, he asks Killua to pretend he's his boyfriend, and now he failed to mention not only Alluka has another brother, but he was coming over as well to take him along without question.

"Yeah, thought you'd like to travel the world with someone your age."

"But didn't Vastorie plan to help me train my Hatsu?"

"Didn't he…?" Killua questioned, which looked like a mistake on his part. Because as soon as those words left his mouth, Daniel was turning to glare at him "How would you know?!"

"I didn't… I vaguely remembered Alluka mentioning about how Vastorie had a unique way of training people." How Daniel is swallowing up this information, I don't know… But ones for certain, it doesn't look like he can read through my lies like he normally would. On the plus side, it doesn't look like he's reading too deeply into the scenario, but rather going along with it…

"Oh, well you would be correct then. He… I guess he weaves his aura along with yours, dragging you into this alternate world where he had all these books on topics, which could be read as a little informational guidebook. They also have a feature that lets you summon weapons. I kinda broke mine by accident…"

"Neat! Although, sorry to hear you lost your weapon."

"Not as sorry as when I heard the value. It was insanely expensive."

"Right…" Killua dismissed the topic, afraid that he'll accidentally bring up the name. He'll have to do it baby steps, considering how Daniel reacted to just a minor detail. He can only lie so much before he breaks under pressure "So, anyways, will you be coming along?"

"I did promise…" Daniel quirked an eyebrow, sounding though he was a little confused on the matter. Who exactly did he promise about that? "I sort of promised 'her?' that I'll help show her the world. Actually, that reminds me, I need to ask Vastorie about-"

"That wouldn't be wise… He'll be grumpy when he wakes up." Nathaniel interrupted his son's thoughts, wondering if it even would be ok for Daniel to talk to his father about anything, considering what happened last night.

"Oh right… he mentioned that yesterday. Will he wake up today?"

"Maybe later… You should go to the market with Killua and Alluka, take them around as you pick out bags. You're going to need one if you're going be travelling the world, as well as clothes. Oh, and I washed your clothes, they should be dry."

"Thanks, dad!"

"Yours should be washed as well, Killua."

"Thanks…" Killua quietly whispered, thankful for Nathaniel making that comment as an afterthought. Who knew how Daniel would've reacted to hear that their clothes were washed at the exact same time.

Alluka fumed from being left out of the conversation, how Killua was so comfortable with pretending that he didn't know Daniel. She could see that it hurt her brother, that it was killing him slowly. She wanted to know what was going on, but both Nathaniel and Killua had stopped her from interrogating, even yelling at Daniel to apologise.

She wanted to ask Killua, but every time she opened her mouth, Killua would always look at her with a troubled expression.

Daniel soon smiled, and when Killua looked into the boy's eyes, he clutched his own pants sleeve under the table, hoping that he wouldn't crack. He just had to survive long enough to fix Daniel, and then everything will go back to the way it once was. He willed his trembling lip to still, even when Daniel's smile was being directed at him "Alright, we'll get changed, and then head out. Alright?"

"Alright…"

"~"

Killua could see her expression long before he turned around, the anger radiating off his sister's aura. She had every right to be pissed, but not now… not when his own heart was already so fragile "Yes…?"

"What's going on! Why are you playing this game that's hurting you so much? Did you hurt Daniel did you-" When her brother looked over, all her anger seemed to dissipate at her brother's expression. Tears fell down her brother's face, running so freely, just like when she first chastised him for hurting Nanika.

From her current imagine of Killua, she could now tell that he wasn't hurting Daniel. In fact, something unpredictable happened, and that's what was hurting Killua right now. Did she read the original scenario wrong? "Big brother… what happened?"

Killua wrapped his arms around his little sister, burying his face between the crane of her neck. He already cried once, letting all his frustrations out within the span of a couple of minutes. He still needed time to recover, to get to a comfortable state of mind, but at the same time… he had to tell her.

She needed to play the game as well, at least until Nathaniel helped Killua figure out a plan of attack "Daniel… As you know, we were attacked last night. Something… or someone cursed Daniel… He's forgotten about me, pretending as though we never existed. But, he remembers you, so that means… maybe… just maybe… somewhere in the back of his mind, he still remembers me. So, please go along with it, even when it hurts me so much… pretend that his meeting me for the first time today… can you do that? Please…?"

Alluka nodded, tears streaming down her face. As much as she wanted to walk over to Daniel, to hit him until he remembers and apologises to her brother for forgetting everything, but seeing her brother like this, she felt as though it would achieve nothing. That it will only hurt Killua more in the long run. As much as it pains her, she'll listen to her brother's request "Ok… but if it gets too painful, at least talk to us… even Gon or Sakura."

"Right…" Killua sniffed once before pulling back, wiping the tears away from her eyes while actively ignoring his own "I have to tell Gon to keep quiet, at least until I can get Nathaniel to help me deal with the scenario."

Alluka broke out into a smile, the act causing even Killua to smile somewhat, even if it was out of sadness. He was glad to have so many kinds and understanding people around him. He'll have to make that call soon, just in case Daniel calls Gon first "Alluka, can you go get changed? I'm just gonna call Gon now…"

"Yeah!"

"Good girl…" Killua ruffled her hair before leaving to escape through the back door, Daemon already hot on his heels before he could realise. The hell-hound nudges Killua's hand, the boy forced to run his fingers over Daemon's head.

He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over the call button. He couldn't believe he was already calling Gon, and a week hasn't even passed yet. Hitting call, Killua brought the phone up to his ears. Please don't ask too many questions…

"~"

Gon's features lit up when he saw the name. He was so excited to see a call from someone he cared so much about. But it's also too soon for Killua to call. He hasn't had enough time to get over how they parted, but an aspect of him recognized that he needed to pick up.

Killua wouldn't have called so soon, without reason "Killua!" The boy belted out loudly, only to be met with a long, silent pause, he felt his throat constrict, that maybe this was a prank call from someone who has stolen the boy's phone.

"Hi…"

Gon let out a long sigh of relief, happy to hear it was just Killua being cautious. But there was something unsettling with the boy's voice. Could he detect a hint of sadness "What's wrong?"

There was another long pause before he heard Killua's voice "Nothing is wrong… per say. It's just, there was an… incident. I need to ask a really big favour of you."

"Uh, huh…?" Gon got more worried, hearing a request from Killua out of the blue, did not bode well.

"I need Sakura on board with this as well. Daniel…" Killua bit his lip, having to repeat it so many times in a single day was so taxing on his mentality "Daniel has been infected by some kind of Nen ability. His forgotten some things…"

"Somethings like…?"

"Me…"

Gon paused, biting his tongue at the question he was about to ask. He felt fearful for a moment as if he already knew the answer to the question "You? How much of you…?"

"Everything…"

Gon heard a sniff on the other side of the call, Killua must be holding in everything, all his emotions, the pain. It wasn't good to do and he should let it out "Kil-"

"Don't! I know what you're going to say… I can't let my emotions rule me all day long! In any case, I need you to remain quiet while Nathaniel, Daniel's father and I deal with the-"

"Killua?" Gon heard Daniel's voice through the receiver, the boy biting his lip.

"I have to go! Not a peep! His on edge right now, and thinks of me as nothing but a creep, a perv… Please, don't ruin my chances of fixing everything!"

"Alright… Just… I'm here for you."

"As is everyone else…" Killua muttered under his breath, Gon barely catching it. But he fired no remarks, instead offering what Killua needed to hear "Alright, I'll tell Sakura."

"Thank you…" Killua hung up before Gon could say anything more, the boy now looking at his phone in distress. This was troubling news, more so for Killua than himself. He cared about Killua, and finding out Daniel no longer knew Killua, no longer cared deeply about the boy like he once had… Well, Gon could only imagine how much it killed his best friend.

There must be something he can do, but that warning at the end left him troubled. The way Daniel looked at Killua now, well, he felt as though he saw it before. With someone else… back in Heaven's arena. The scene being described reminded him of how Daniel spoke to Yanick.

Gon could only imagine the pain Killua was going through if Daniel was treating him the same as Yanick, but if there were people helping Killua, people closer to Daniel… well, he hoped that they could truly help Killua and Daniel.

"Sakura…? I just spoke to Killua, and I have some bad news…"

"~"

Killua slipped the phone back into his pocket before Daniel could notice. The boy wiping away the tears quickly, before turning to smile at the boy "Yeah, sorry, I'll get changed. I just had to make an important call."

"Sure, just don't take too long. Alluka is already ready. And I want to try to get back early as soon as I can. I want to hit the library before we pack. Vastorie may be a perv, but he's got…" Daniel pulled a finger to his chin "secrets I wish to divulge in."

Killua nodded before clenching his fist behind his back, hiding the aggrievance he was experiencing. Daniel doesn't trust him at all. His unwillingness to let go of his motives or tell him anything he wants to do. This was no longer the boy he fell in love with, but rather a mock image with a twisted personality "Right…"

Killua left the scene, tears threatening to spill once more. Soon everything will be back to normal, hopefully before he breaks like a fragile glass jar. He just had to survive until they have a solution to fix Daniel's memories.

If not…

Well, he dreaded having to let go of Daniel's hand…

Just like he did with Gon's…