Chapter Sixteen

Landfall, with Emphasis on Fall

"What is this?" Kurapika coughs through pea green smoke. It smells faintly sweet, in direct contrast to the panic aboard, and that only serves to further Kurapika's alarm.

For a moment, he fears this is Chrollo's doing. His plan to steal more. Or even to remove his eyes.

"Nen," Chrollo says grimly, pulling his coat around him. He seems more irritated than anything else. "Whose, or what, I don't know."

"I have to find the queen." And save Pairo's eyes. Kurapika is not losing his friend's eyes to the sea. Although now he realizes that something similar could have happened to the remaining pairs, and he'll forever search in vain.

"I'll have to find the spiders." Chrollo tightens his grip on Kurapika's biceps and traces his lips the nape of Kurapika's neck. "Don't get yourself killed, impulsive one."

"Same." Kurapika rolls his eyes, because he can't tolerate the idea, before rushing out of Chrollo's cabin. He's not saying goodbye, because Chrollo isn't going to die, and besides, Kurapika's still warming up to the idea that he actually likes Chrollo.

He trips over his feet as he dashes for Oito's chambers. The ship is listing to one side.

He should have been in his cabin besides hers, not laughing as Chrollo covered him with kisses. Kurapika curses himself for neglecting his duty once more.

How is Chrollo unfazed? Kurapika not only finds his actions towards Chrollo incomprehensible, but Chrollo himself is an enigma.

"Kurapika!" Melody spots him in the hallway first – or, more likely, hears his heartbeat.

He stills. He's been avoiding Melody these last few days. Because she'll know.

But Melody just offers him a light smile for his twittering heart before becoming deadly serious. "Gon texted Hisoka."

Killua barges out of the door. "Alluka was with Kalluto tonight!"

"Then let Kalluto handle it!" Leorio wrestles Killua in vain. "You can't run off and cause more chaos!"

"Killua, don't. Please." Gon lunges onto his friend. His face is stricken.

Killua doubles over. "But they're just kids."

"So are you," Melody replies, and Killua can't protest, but even so, he's never been a kid, he never fucking has.

Leorio's phone buzzes. "Hello?"

"Kurapika, thank goodness." Oito throws open her door. She gasps with relief. "Do you know what's happening?"

Kurapika shakes his head. "I think it's best to climb to the deck, though."

Oito nods. "I can't…I can't help but fear it's another plot on Woble's life. Or the other children."

Kurapika has no reassurances. Other than Hisoka being a terrible captain – which is entirely possible – that seems the most likely explanation.

Leorio hangs up. "Kurapika, we have a problem."

"We have many problems," Killua says tersely.

"No: Kurapika specifically. In case you've forgotten, we're technically members of the Zodiacs." Leorio rubs his forehead. "That was Cheadle. They need us to rescue Beyond."

"I'm on guard duty," Kurapika snaps, glancing towards Oito with anxiety written over his face. Yes, so I am a member of the Zodiacs Intelligence. He hopes she doesn't think he was spying on her.

"We can guard the queen," says Gon, motioning towards Oito.
"If she'll have us." Killua nods.

"Go, Kurapika," Oito says softly. "Besides, you're silly if you think I didn't already know that about you."


"What the fuck is happening?!" Hisoka swings from his bungee gum, holding Illumi by his hand. He wonders if this is what panic feels like.

He and Illumi have crashed three floors down into a narrow cavern that seems to be rapidly filling with water. He's holding on to a splintered floorboard to keep from falling further...much, much further.

"Someone blew a second spout hole in the Black Whale," Illumi replies, calm as ever for someone dangling in the air.

"In the bottom!"

"Yes. It seems to go all the way through to the top." Illumi squints.

"I have to get to the wheelhouse." Hisoka flings Illumi back onto solid ground and rushes away.

To his pleasant surprise, Illumi follows him, though he is demanding on his phone. "Killua? Where are you?"

The first mate looks stunned as Hisoka, with his messy red hair and smeared face paint, bursts into the wheelhouse. "Who are you?"

Hisoka transforms into Captain Baha. "Does this answer your question?"

"And births many more," says the man.

"There seems to be a hole in the center of the ship. At least one." Illumi crosses his arms. "How close are we to land?"

"Who is this?" demands the first mate.

"My husband. Don't be rude." Hisoka winks before cussing. "And, no, we could wreck ourselves upon the shoals if we're not careful. There's not enough time."

"We need to plug the hole, then," Illumi says simply. "Now. If only we had someone with a waterproof aura that was also sticky enough to hold the ship together."

"I'm needed to steer the ship," Hisoka says in a saccharine tone, not missing the point.

"How hard can it be?"

Illumi reaches for the wheel, but Hisoka stops him.

"Look." The First Mate crosses his arms. "The Black Whale is the first of its kind. Unless you have extensive experience sailing, don't bother. And I, for one, am not going to send our captain on a suicide mission."

"You and what army?" Illumi says pleasantly, as he pulls out his pins.

"Illumi, he can call the Kakin army here." Hisoka swallows.

Illumi has already prepared a plan. "Well then. There's only one option left."

Hisoka feels cold. "And that is?"


"Steal Hisoka's bungee gum? Is this heaven?" Chrollo can't resist asking his phone. He makes his way through the crowded corridors of panicked and angry families, scanning for a bespectacled woman or a pair of large, rambunctious men.

"You'll return it, of course," Illumi says crisply.

"Certainly." Chrollo certainly hopes Illumi isn't going to specify when.

He's only heard from Bonolenov, Franklin, Feitan, and Machi. Phinks is notoriously terrible about answering his phone, and right now, Chrollo chooses to believe that is the reason for his silence.

Machi and Feitan are after Kalluto. Franklin is after Phinks and Nobunaga, and Bonolenov for Shizuku.

Chrollo can't lose another member, he vows as he makes his way to the wheelhouse.

Hisoka waits there, without his Baha disguise. He looks physically ill.

Chrollo scans Hisoka up and down. He hides the smile he feels despite their dire circumstances.

"Well?" Hisoka bursts out.

"Show your Bungee Gum to me." Chrollo conjures up Bandit's Secret.

Hisoka uses his Bungee Gum to snatch the book and slam his palm on its pages.

"Do you think it's strong enough to hold the ship together?" Chrollo asks.

"It was strong enough to fight you with," Hisoka shoots back.

"And lose. Poorly." Chrollo's smirk breaks through as he holds out his hand. But inside, his heart twists, because he's still grieving Kortopi and Shalnark, and he may always be.

Hisoka hesitates, as if he's noticed something emotional in the man's eyes.

Illumi snaps his fingers. "We don't have time." He takes the book from his husband and tosses it towards Chrollo.

Chrollo catches Bandit's Secret in one hand and manifests Bungee Gum in his other. "Oh my, this is fun."

"Fuck you," Hisoka says, wilted. He gestures for Illumi to bring him the map.

"That's Illumi's job," Chrollo says before turning around and fleeing. Cold. Greedy. A strong leader.

He thunders down the central staircase. He hopes Kurapika has reached the deck by now.


"Kalluto!" Machi coughs through the toxic brume, running against the crowd fleeing in the opposite direction. It's thicker and more potent near her child's cabin.

"Stop!" Feitan hauls her back. Machi gapes, staggered by the hole plunging down to the ocean beneath the ship. And filling with swirling water and nen smoke.

"Hold on." Machi shoots her nen stitches across the hole. "I said hold on to me, Feitan."

He grabs her waist as she swings them across. Kalluto's cabin isn't far.

"Machi!" A swirl of paper hits them.

Kalluto's normally sleek bob sticks out every which way. Alluka clutches her brother's hand.

"Oh, thank god." Machi hugs them both, and Alluka, who only ever remembers being hugged by Killua, nearly falls over with delight.

"Can you pat my head?" She can't help it. Every time someone gives her affection, she craves more. Even if the circumstances are inappropriate. So does Nanika, usually, but Nanika is hiding from the Dark Continent.

"Sure, kid." Feitan rubs the top of her scalp, and Alluka wonders if she's already drowned and flown to heaven.

"Boss says to get to the deck as quickly as possible." Machi scans her phone.

"Did he talk to Hisoka?" Feitan asks bitterly.

"I already asked. Not yet. Illumi, answer your fu – I mean, your blasted phone!"

"You're always one step ahead of me," Feitan grumbles. "So you should know what to do next."

"Obviously." Machi wraps her stitches around the two children. "I'll swing you across this foul hole first."

For a second, she feels dizzy enough to vomit.

"Are you okay?" Feitan asks.

"We need to escape this smoke. I'm fine." Machi tosses her head, pretending her eyesight isn't swimming.


"Do we have to rescue Tserriednich, too?" Leorio whispers as he rushes down the stairs with Kurapika.

"We'll see how dire it is." Kurapika is not ready to free the prince. The prince who will surely pluck his eyes, hunt Woble, and place another bounty on Chrollo.

"Melody said your heartbeat is happier."

Kurapika shakes his head. His stomach flips again. "I don't want to talk about it."

"For God's sake. I'm happy for you. You may not believe it, Mr. Masochist, but your friends want you to be happy," Leorio retorts.

"Can we have this conversation later?" Now both Chrollo and Leorio have called him a masochist, and Kurapika doesn't want to consider this.

"Provided we survive, sure."

The bottom tier is waist-deep with water. Green smog swirls above the eerily quiescent flood.

"Shit," Leorio whispers.

"Let's hurry." Kurapika tucks the container of Pairo's eyes into his pocket. He slips into the water, noting with relief that the sea is warm. He swims through the hall of flickering lights, towards the almost-covered sign for the brig.

"It's too close to the fissure," Leorio says nervously. "It's probably underwater by now."

"We have to try." Kurapika turns the corner.

"Oh, my captors have returned!" booms Beyond's jovial tone. The water, despite spouting up from the center of the brig, only reaches his waist.

"Where's Tserriednich?" Leorio demands.

"Why are you here?" Kurapika cries instead.

Because the water spurting forth should have filled this room by now. Instead, Shizuku Murasaki stands there, using her vacuum to suck in most of the water.

"Trying not to die, unless your quest wishes to add 200,000 people?" Shizuku glares at him.

"Quest?" Beyond raises his eyebrow. "You two know each other!"

"Don't ask," Kurapika gripes. "We're here to free you."

"Tell me, what does an esteemed member of the Zodiacs have to do with ruffians like the Phantom Troupe?" Beyond positively quivers with excitement as Leorio fumbles for the key.

"Everything, to him," Shizuku remarks, turning back to her vacuum. She's long suspected that where his little friends were, there the chain user would be. But if he has the Zodiacs on his side, this rat could be a problem.

Kurapika bites his lip. Because, yes, the Phantom Troupe is everything to him. Because they set him on this path. They stole his hope – or, his home, at least. And now Chrollo is stealing his feelings, too, but it's not really stealing because Kurapika is giving them freely, and he oscillates between crushing self-loathing and exuberant abandon.

"Shizuku, I have nothing against you." Kurapika says finally. His voice grows raspy from the smoke. "You weren't there."

"No? Did I not I massacre your friends in Yorknew?" Shizuku looks up in surprise.

Kurapika looks away. They were people, too. Shouldn't their deaths haunt him as much as his tribe?

"Phew, freedom!" Beyond steps out. "How fucked are we?"

"Very, from the looks of this." Leorio hesitates. "Lady, how long do you think that vacuum can stay ahead?"

"We're losing ground, but only slowly," Shizuku responds.

"Why are you helping?" Kurapika asks. Unlike before, he wants the answer to be noble. To be good.

"I don't want to die." Shizuku shrugs. "I want to keep my treasure."

"And others?" Kurapika steps forward, resisting the urge to drown himself in these waters.

"It'd be nice if they survived, too." Shizuku smiles knowingly. "You didn't think I'd be entirely honest with you, Chain User?"

Kurapika's shoulders slump. "No, I suppose not."

"Kura! Shizuku?" Chrollo wades through the water. His eyes begin to tear from the smoke.

"What are you doing here?" Kurapika demands.

"You two know you're each aboard," Shizuku observes.

"Something like that," Chrollo says pleasantly, with a wink towards Kurapika, who is now blushing.

"He's blushing like a maiden!" Beyond breaks into deep-throated laughter.

Shizuku is flabbergasted. "What on earth…"

"I'm here to relieve your duty, Shizuku." Chrollo pats her shoulder. "And patch this hole."

"With your ego?" Kurapika can't resist. He's not blushing. Not even a little. No way.

"I was thinking your righteousness, but it's a bit porous, now isn't it?" Chrollo smiles back at Kurapika.

He summons his book. "I've momentarily acquired a most useful ability."

"What the fuck?" Leorio shrieks at Chrollo's Bungee Gum. He breaks into another, more violent coughing fit.

"Are you serious?" Kurapika is horrified.

"I didn't betray our agreement, Kura. Hisoka gave it willingly." Chrollo brushes his hair back.

"I'm going to treasure this for as long as Illumi lets me keep it." Chrollo sends his new hatsu into the hole. "Well, that should hold for a bit."

"Thank goodness. Blinky, we just need the remaining water drunk," Shizuku commands her vacuum.

"Guess we'll escort Beyond to the top deck," says Leorio.

"Oh, surely you can handle him." Chrollo shoots another strand of bungee gum around Kurapika's waist and pulls him closer. "I want company."

"You asshole!" Kurapika wraps his chain around Chrollo.

Chrollo's eyelashes brush Kurapika's forehead. "Guess we're stuck."

"I'm going to be sick," Leorio says at the same time Shizuku voices, "They're almost…sweet."

"I need to escort Beyond and rejoin the queen," Kurapika whispers.

"I know." Chrollo releases him first. Kurapika's chains fall away, and he watches his bedmate – perhaps lover – chase after his duties once more.

Did Kurapika really think he'd already betrayed their agreement? And hurt Hisoka during a crisis, risking his Spiders' lives?

He swears to himself, because he wishes Bungee Gum could fix the hole he feels in his heart.

"What's the news?" Machi and Feitan, with Alluka and Kalluto, crowd into the wheelhouse.

"Look who returned!" Hisoka cheers. Illumi moves just slightly in front of Hisoka. He won't let anyone hurt him when he's nenless.

"Hisoka!" Feitan spits his name like a curse. His face is purple, and all of them cough like they have the plague.

Though Illumi notices the small man's arm around Kalluto. And Alluka's hand entwined with her little brother's. They're almost like a family, and he feels gutted that he's not included.

"It's not good." Hisoka looks a bit pale to Machi's eye. "Our best bet might be to wreck ourselves on the shoals."

"And then what? We're stranded?"

"We can rebuild, provided we run aground at the right place." Hisoka's knuckles are white. Why the fuck did he sign up to be responsible for 200,000 lives?

And why the fuck does he care?

He doesn't, that's why. He merely wants not to be arrested for accidentally killing several hundred thousand people. Purposeful killing he'd accept. But not accidental.

"Look, it depends how much longer Chrollo can hold the ship together."


"Agh." Beyond, despite his strength, has spent the most time of anyone exposed to the smoke. He bends over and retches on the stairs.

"Breathe. Just breathe." Leorio holds the much larger man upright. Well, while he's here, he might as well seize the opportunity. "You're serious, Kurapika?"

"About what?" Kurapika asks thinly. "We need to get away from the smoke."

"You're just going to leave him there, son?" Beyond shakes his head. "Hoping he'll die and free you of whatever it is you're fighting inside?"

"You have no idea." Kurapika's eyes burn. That may be partially the smoke.

"He's not wrong," Leorio says.

"It's my duty."

"You're always punishing yourself by what you think you need to do." Leorio points at him. "Let your friends shoulder your duty. And go."


Chrollo doesn't know how long he's been here, but the smoke has mostly dissipated.

He can't feel his fingers, and all he sees is green smoke piling up below the bungee gum plug. Ready to implode.

Shizuku is slumped in the corner. She looks alive, but vomit runs from her lips. Chrollo has managed to tie Fun Fun Cloth over her mouth to keep her from breathing more in.

He almost feels heroic. Maybe there's an echo of good left in him. Not that Chrollo has ever enjoyed labels like good and bad. But this feels pretty good. Good enough that maybe Kurapika will think fondly of him.

His eyes fade. He stumbles, and before he can catch himself, Kurapika's slender arms hold him up.

"Nen smoke…" Chrollo murmurs. He feels so, so weak right now. This is a new feeling. "Don't let me pass out, Kurapika."

"I've got you." Kurapika summons his Holy Chain and presses it to Chrollo's throat. He coughs through the remaining smoke. "We're not breathing it in anymore. We've just got to survive whatever we did breathe."

"Sure," Chrollo slurs in his ear.

Kurapika tightens his hold on Chrollo. "I know you don't want to let 200,000 people die."

"No, you don't." Chrollo, in addition to this penetrating weakness, feels contrary. "I would if it got what I wanted."

"I don't believe you." Kurapika is perfectly willing to argue if it keeps Chrollo conscious.

"You do. You thought I hurt Hisoka…" Chrollo sways again, and Kurapika pulls him against his chest.

Chrollo's phone, though waterlogged, rings.

"Hello?" Kurapika snatches it from the fluffy coat pocker. He doesn't care who's calling.

"Oh, Kurapika." Illumi sounds calm as ever. He doesn't even sound surprised to hear Kurapika instead of Chrollo. "How much longer can you hold it?"

"I don't know. Long enough. I hope." Kurapika wipes his streaming eyes. The salt of dried sea actually feels good against whatever poisonous grime coats him.

"We're going to try to run aground, but I don't know how long it will take."

"What does that mean?"

"It means don't let the smoke get the best of you," Illumi says curtly.

Kurapika's blood chills. Illumi and Hisoka are all the way towards the top of the Black Whale. "Who's sick?"

The only response is a click in his ear.


Illumi paces the wheelhouse. Hisoka clicks his tongue in disapproval, but otherwise the clown is silent – definitely not a good sign.

Alluka and Kalluto are fine – Alluka, most likely due to Nanika's influence and Kalluto due to his Zoldyck training. Feitan, however, has been vomiting for an hour, and Machi lies moaning on the floor. Hisoka is trying not to collapse, but his legs grow progressively shakier.

"Please be okay." Kalluto shakes his pseudo-mother. "Machi."

"I'm fine!" She slaps Kalluto's hand away before groaning. She moved too fast.

Illumi bends over his brother. His image reflects in Kalluto's furious eyes.

He's not sure Kalluto's friends – and his, or his semi-friends, or they could be friends if he wants friends, but he's not sure he does and he's not sure he doesn't and that's all very confusing and irrelevant right now – will make it another hour.

And where the hell is Killua? Doesn't he care? Is he dead? No, the poison wouldn't hurt him, but Illumi can't see him to be certain.

Well, if Killua isn't going to save the day, Illumi will. He'll do it. He'll use the power, even if it's not his and, provided Killua doesn't change his mind, it never will be. "Nanika?"

"Nanika is scared of you," Alluka informs him.

"Well, I'm not asking, Nanika." Illumi sounds strangled. "I'm commanding."

Alluka's shoulders sink.

"Illumi, are you sure?" Hisoka asks nervously.

"Nanika, beach us in a place shallow enough that we won't sink and deep enough we'll be able to escape." Illumi ignores Hisoka's glare and Feitan's twitching jaw.

Nanika looks terrified. "'Kay."

She closes her eyes, and with a violent rush, Illumi feels the ship soar ahead.

The entire ship shudders, and Feitan flops around the floor. Illumi barely keeps his balance, and Hisoka is sent sprawling over the wheel.

"Are we beached?" Illumi demands. Fine. He'll be the villain. He just saved his family's friends and his husband. And now he'll ask for her to heal the rest of them.

Nanika squeals and covers her ears. "You don't know what you just did!"


Kurapika is thrown into Chrollo. He tries to right himself, but Chrollo has already sunk to the floor. His Holy Chain has only done so much against this smog.

"Chrollo!" Kurapika gasps as water – and sand – begin to re-enter the ship. Between Shizuku and Chrollo, he's not sure he can –

He doesn't have time to worry. Kurapika, hacking in the remnants of toxin, throws his Chain Jail around both Spiders.

Chrollo might hate him for this – though why Kurapika cares, he's stubbornly unsure – but Kurapika activates Emperor Time. He needs Enhancer-level strength, and for that, he needs his Eyes.


Bonolenov leaps down the stairs. They've heard from everyone except Shizuku, and then came this bratty wannabe doctor insisting she's in the brig.

Trying to save them all. Of course.

His bandages offer him the most protection against whatever is sickening the passengers. And so Bonolenov is charged with rescuing Troupe Member 8.

He's truly afraid of losing another member. He can feel the fear coruscating off all of them. How much more can the Spider bear?

He hears the coughing first. There, two flights below: a figure crawling up the stairs, barely ahead of the water slowly leaking in. His heart quickens; this is too large to be Shizuku. And she cannot have been stupid enough to drown.

"Help, please," croaks the figure, in an unfamiliar voice.

Bonolenov halts as soon as they come into focus.

Every hole his clan marked in his body sings with rage.

Shizuku, and Chrollo, chained and unconscious. They lie, helpless, before the kneeling, spent figure of the Chain Bastard.