Chapter Nineteen
Phinks Shares His Anger
A mere second ago, Chrollo had been smiling up at Kurapika with dreamy eyes, his muscles soaring full of freedom and hope.
One crash and a scream later, Chrollo barely has time to teleport Kurapika behind him, out of Phinks' path.
"You fucking bastard!" Phinks' fist lands on the tree besides Chrollo, splintering it.
"Wait," Chrollo says urgently, throwing himself in front of Kurapika. He scrambles to pull his coat to cover himself, as Kurapika wraps his tunic around his legs.
Phinks doubles over, hyperventilating. "What – what – you mean he wasn't –"
He screams at the top of his lungs.
"I appreciate your concern." Chrollo glances nonchalantly behind him to Kurapika's flushed face. He's not going to dignify Phinks' question with a direct answer. "It appears we need to get better about locking the door."
"We're in a jungle, idiot," Kurapika pants. Despite his distaste, he finds himself huddling behind the head of the Spiders. Chrollo. The man he might love.
"What is happening?" Phinks squeals.
"What's wrong?!" Nobunaga leaps through the trees.
Chrollo winces.
"Shit!" Feitan and Machi follow immediately to grab Nobunaga. Machi's stomach heaves, but she's not letting go.
Hisoka laughs maniacally, Illumi attempts – futilely – to cover Kalluto's eyes, and Franklin looks to be developing a migraine.
"What's going on?" Nobunaga whispers.
"Isn't it obvious?" Hisoka makes a rude hand gesture.
Phink's eyes sweep the scene. Chrollo and the unforgiveable Chain Bastard, both with tousled hair, in states of undress. Chrollo, his nen book open, positioned in front of Kurapika as if defending him. And a bruise, a very obvious hickey, on Chrollo's neck.
Phinks is now considering gouging his own eyes out.
Bonolenov hangs his head in the background. Shizuku clings to him, but she, too, seems unsurprised.
"It seems we were behind the times," Franklin comments, crossing his arms. He's more intrigued than offended.
"You two are – you were – " Phinks blubbers.
"I did, yes." Chrollo refuses to feel ashamed. "It's good to see you alive, Phinks."
The jungle is silent, save for rushing water, hooting birds, and buzzing insects.
"Did Uvogin mean nothing to you?!" Nobunaga spits at last. Feitan tightens his grip on his wrist.
"Nobunaga!" Shizuku glares at him. She winces at the sudden pang in her head.
"What?" he cries. "Danchou – Danchou acts as if this bastard were a family member, instead of our killer."
"He certainly did not act like a family member," Machi mutters. "I think that's the point."
"Why?" Nobunaga stomps his feet. "I demand an answer."
"It's not your place to demand anything of the boss," Feitan says coldly. "Whatever Danchou did, he did for the Troupe."
"Of course," Chrollo says smoothly.
Illumi tilts his head. He does not approve. Because Killua's friend, whatever his face with the angel hair and devil eyes, acts like a man in love. Or, in denial about love. Same thing.
And from Kalluto's narrowed – but still open – eyes, his brother feels the same.
But from Chrollo's stance besides Kurapika, Illumi has to wonder if Chrollo does, in fact, feel more than lust for Killua's friend. He allows himself to feel enough emotion to hope that is the case.
"I can't accept this," Nobunaga protests.
"I don't want to," Franklin says, "but I think we should hear him out."
"I understand reasons for cooperation. But this? He killed my best friend!" Nobunaga pulls on his hair. "And Paku, who didn't deserve any of this."
"I know, Nobunaga," Chrollo says quietly. His eyes are wet.
Because he misses Paku and Uvogin every day. But he sees why Nobunaga would think he has desecrated their memory.
And yet, and yet, has Kurapika not suffered worse? If Kurapika can forgive him, and he might, can Chrollo not forgive Kurapika? Or has he already, from the moment Kurapika voiced Uvo's last words?
"Do you? Remember the last time you kept me from fighting someone bent on our destruction?" Nobunaga whirls around to point at Hisoka.
"I was a member of the Troupe at that time, and Kurapika is not," Hisoka reminds them.
"Whose side are you on?" Kalluto asks with exasperation.
"Why does someone always ask me that? Oh, right, me." Hisoka wiggles his eyebrows.
"Illumi, keep him from making this worse," Machi says, focusing on holding a straining Nobunaga.
"Would Pakunoda want us mourning at the extend of the Spider?" Feitan asks.
"Uvogin would," Phinks says.
"Uvogin's heart was bigger than his brain." Feitan sniffs. "You know it."
Kurapika squirms at the obvious moisture in Chrollo's eyes.
"He died to save you all. He didn't want to answer my questions," Kurapika forces himself to speak.
He still recalls the moment as vividly as it happened. The moment his chain pierced Troupe Number 11's heart, and Uvogin fell before him, and he didn't think it real.
"I wasn't expecting him to care about you." Kurapika stares at the earth.
He buried his enormous body, all in a cloud of shock and because it seemed the lone decency he could extend to the Troupe without desecrating his family. And, after killing, he had needed to prove himself better than the Troupe.
Had he done the right thing then?
Or has he never questioned it because he can't bear to think that he has committed something so staining as murder?
"You hate him." Chrollo addresses Nobunaga. "He took Uvo and Paku, and that can't be undone. But…we took Pairo. And his elder. His mother, his father, his sister. And one-hundred-twenty-three others."
Kurapika gulps. So Chrollo does remember all the names. And the numbers. He – he still has the list, doesn't he?
"Are you saying he was justified?!" Phinks snaps.
"I am not. Just that…perhaps we are not so different." Chrollo glances from face-to-face. "I myself do not want a spider married to Hisoka. But right now, it doesn't matter what I want. What matters is our survival, and to do that, we have to cooperate."
"This is more than cooperation," Phinks mutters.
"And your point is?"
"I'm pretty sure that yell decimated all their plans to lay low," Killua says, heading towards the sound.
"Are we sure we should be heading towards it?" Oito queries, hoisting her daughter further up on her hip.
"It was a yell of confusion and despair, not fear," Melody says. "I hear angry heartbeats, some ill, but none like they've been attacked. Twelve – no, thirteen – in total."
"The whole troupe and Kurapika must be there. And your siblings," Gon says to Killua, who nods with relief.
"Wonder how they're taking Kurapika's presence," Killua says.
"Maybe that's the reason for their anger," Melody says.
"One of these days," Oito says carefully, "I would like to know the full story of my bodyguard and the Phantom Troupe."
"It's not a nice tale," Gon says.
"Do I look like a nice lady?" Oito shakes her head.
"Kind of?" Killua grins.
Oito makes a face at him. She hopes Woble will grow to be a strong child like Gon and Killua.
In the midst of the trees, Killua spies Kurapika's blonde hair. "Kurapika!"
Their friend turns around, a guilty expression on his face. His chest is bare, and his tunic sags around his legs.
"Where are his clothes," Oito mutters to Melody, who cringes.
"Oh, Queen Oito." Chrollo turns around, and he, too, appears to be wearing only a coat. "You'll have to forgive our disheveled appearance."
"We just escaped disaster; who of us is not a mess?" Oito surveys the troupe.
"Some more than others," a ponytailed man says, throwing a glare towards Chrollo. "I'll accept you, Danchou, but not this relationship. If I see even a hint of him moving to kill you, I'll remove his head."
Kurapika cringes. In front of his employer?
"Now I know where my bodyguard's been spending his spare nights. I did wonder," Oito says wryly.
"I apologize, Queen Oito," Kurapika says in a reedy tone.
"There's nothing to apologize for." Oito gives him her most reassuring smile. She wonders what it would be like to be with someone physically attractive. She'll never know.
"You're really a queen?" Phinks' face turns red.
"I am, and this is Prince Woble." Oito nods towards the child in her arms.
"But she's a girl." Phinks scrunches up his face.
"All the royal children of Kakin are Princes. Haven't you paid attention?" Hisoka asks.
Woble claps her hands and reaches for Kurapika.
"She misses her friend," Oito says with a smile.
Nobunaga huffs as Kurapika tightens his tunic before taking Woble. He dangles his chains before her, allowing her to tug on them and cackle with so much glee even Nobunaga's heart softens. Though just for the Prince! Not the Chain Bastard.
"Well. Have we a plan?" Oito asks.
"We heard your plans for Meteor City, Queen Oito," Franklin says. "Thank you."
"Hmmph, and he's your bodyguard, you say?" Nobunaga points towards Kurapika. "I'll tolerate him if you can control him."
"I will try my best," Oito says calmly. "In exchange, you will each give me a lesson in nen. Otherwise, I may have to order him to kill you."
"I like this feisty lady," Phinks says with a grin.
"Wait," says Killua anxiously. "Melody, you said there were thirteen? I only count twelve – Illumi, where the hell is Alluka?!"
Alluka wipes her frantic tears. She stops to catch her breath and hiccup. She can't find Killua. She's useless without Nanika's powers.
Useless.
All she's wanted is to help, but it's always Nanika helping. She's just a shell for Nanika, a useless shell.
Nanika? Nanika?
What? ask her petrified friend.
What if we – what if, instead of being asked, we just do?
"Are you okay, dear?" The scarred woman who'd supported the bad Prince stands behind her. In a slinky black dress Alluka would have liked have when she grows up.
"I'm fine!" she cries, stumbling back.
"It's scary, I know. We'll succeed. I promise, you will be safe." The woman reaches out a hand. "No need to fear me; I have a soft spot for children. I'm Morena."
"Your friend is cruel," Alluka says, refusing to take her hand.
"Indeed he is." Morena touches her scar. "But I pity him. He's the product of a cruel system…in which children are carelessly created by callous parents…as byproducts of pleasure."
The kid seems to jerk at the mention of parents. Raising an eyebrow, Morena decides to continue. "Only to be scarred for life if they don't fit…or forced into a killing contest. All because of their ridiculous family, something they could never choose."
Alluka hesitates. She knows a thing or two about families not liking you.
"What did your family…do to you?" Morena asks, inching closer. "They've abandoned you, haven't they?"
"My brothers love me," Alluka says. And they do, don't they? They even love Nanika.
Morena leans close, too close. "I can give you a new family."
"Stop!" Alluka gasps as the woman's lips bite into hers.
"Ew!" She drops to the ground, wiping her mouth. "Ew, ew, ew…"
Nanika screams. Internally.
Because Alluka is falling silent. Her brain is morphing, becoming – she's liking this Moron Morena.
Nanika does not like her.
"Now, I've seen you around the doctors, hmm?" Morena leans forward.
"Yes," says Alluka dully.
Alluka? Alluka? Nanika shrieks her friend's name, but there is no response.
"I want you to kill the doctor. Cheadle Yorkshire." She's refusing my followers – your new family – entry to the infirmary." Morena smiles.
Alluka? Nanika demands as Alluka nods.
Alluka? Alluka? Can you hear me?
Wake up!
Alluka!
"We have to get back to the ship," Kalluto cries.
"No," Killua says, fighting to maintain his wits. "We call Leorio."
He throws Illumi the dirtiest look he can manage. Gon follows suit, holding Killua in a hug.
"Can't Nanika just teleport her over here?" Illumi asks. Killua hates him again, and he didn't even mean harm this time.
"What is Nanika?" Nobunaga asks.
"Later." Machi waves her hand.
Kalluto looks troubled. He remembers what she said just before the destruction. "Nanika is scared of her power right now."
"Has she used it recently?" Killua stops. "Illumi!"
"She's why we're alive right now, Killua," Illumi says with a calm he doesn't feel.
"You used her! Like she was a thing!" Killua yells back. "You hate her!"
Illumi can't win. He's always going to disappoint Killua. Even when he saves his life. This is why his parents favored Killua. They made the right decision, because Illumi is nothing.
"Why do you hate your sister?" Franklin frowns at their latest member.
"I don't," Illumi says. "Killua, I only wanted to save us all. I promise. There wasn't any dark motivation."
"Like I'd trust you."
Illumi looks heartsick. "I didn't…"
Hisoka would like to defend Illumi, but there's not much of a defense to be offered. He was kind of an ass to the kid.
"We'll find her," Chrollo declares. His mind whirs; with such a strange power, is it possible Nanika is from the Dark Continent? Is this why she's afraid?
He'll discuss this with Kurapika once they find the child.
"We promise," Oito adds. "Let's move closer to the beach for better signal."
Phinks catches Kurapika's elbow as soon as Chrollo has moved two steps away. "Just a second."
Kurapika stares up at him. Chrollo keeps walking, leaving him with Phinks, like he actually trusts his Spiders. Of course he does.
Phinks pulls Kurapika closer. "If you hurt him, I'll ensure you suffer the slowest, most painful death possible."
"You're the third to tell me thus," Kurapika replies as cattily as he can.
"Guess we'll have to tear you to enough pieces for the rest of us, then."
