Chapter Twenty
Amorphous
"I don't know why these people aren't getting better," Leorio confides to Cheadle Yorkshire.
There's over a hundred people crammed into floors, shelves, and the few beds they have in the medical bay. Most are beginning to stir and cough. A few, however, continue to vomit, growing paler and colder.
"Use your nen," the doctor replies, tapping the button she wears on her nose.
"Auras?"
"Mmm. It seems those who are able to use nen recovered the most quickly. The less experience they have with using their auras, the less likely they are to survive." Cheadle's voice drips with disapproval. "Eugenics, in a way."
"Do you think the prince is that powerful?"
"Someone is. I don't really care who or what they are." Cheadle shakes her head. Her lily-like voice sounds poisoned. "Whenever I find them, I'm going to stop them. And force them to look at all these suffering people!"
"Do you think they'll even care?" Leorio would like to think they would. But he's no longer sure.
"I won't know until I try it," she seethes. "My bite is worse than my bark, I assure you."
"I believe you." Leorio holds up his hands. "Beyond, how's it going?"
"No more sick people, at least," says their temporary guard. "A few fakes."
"The fakers are also concerning," Cheadle muses.
"It's as if someone's controlling them," Beyond agrees.
"How do you figure?" Leorio holds up a bucket before their eldest patient, a fail woman who gags up more bile every minute. She's probably the next to go, if he had to guess – though Cheadle has commanded him to never guess – and it kills him that he cannot save her.
"Nen illnesses are the trickiest to cure. Remember that." Cheadle nods towards him. Despite her firm tone, her eyes waver at the sight of the elderly woman.
"There must be something. I – I can't be helpless again!" Leorio shakes. Again. Again, he's watching Gon die.
"Well, what have we hear?" says a Beyond, sounding startled. Still, he opens the door.
"Hi, I'm here to see Leorio," says a familiar voice.
Leorio turns around. "Alluka! What are you doing here?"
"This is terrible, terrible, terrible," Illumi mutters. As the troupe heads towards the beach, he yearns for Hisoka's comfort. Gon and Melody have their arms around Killua. Machi and Feitan are holding Kalluto. And Illumi is all alone.
"You know, Chrollo," Hisoka says instead, "if we're about to risk our lives, I'd like to be able to defend myself."
Of course, Illumi thinks. Of course Hisoka is focused on Bungee Gum, not Illumi. Illumi is selfish. Illumi caused this, because he's not the great assassin he was raised to be. He's a failure.
Chrollo sighs, but he did promise Illumi, and Illumi is a spider. He conjures Bandit's Secret, rips out a page and thrusts it towards Hisoka.
"Thank you, asshole," Hisoka whirls bungee gum around.
Woble gasps and grabbles for the pink cloud surrounding his fingertips. She nearly tumbles from Oito's arms.
"Whoa, there." Hisoka is taken aback. It's not often he sees a child reach for him.
"Don't corrupt the Prince, clown," Phinks says.
Hisoka snorts. "I did name it Bungee Gum, after all. It's perfect for a child, when you think about it."
Oito blinks. "I used to love that candy when I was young."
"Can we make her Queen of Kakin?" Hisoka winks. "She has good taste. Quite literally."
Illumi bites his tongue hard enough to taste blood. It's how he grounds himself. Always has. Grandfather could be flogging him and Dad injecting poison and Mom screaming at him because he let Killua stalk fireflies at night, but he could always keep his bearings if he could taste his salty, metallic blood.
His husband is joking right now, as if he doesn't care that Illumi's brother – no, his sister – is missing, and that Killua now hates Illumi. As if all he cares about is getting Bungee Gum back so he can have fun.
"Stop," Melody gasps suddenly.
Chrollo likes Melody. She's a quiet one, but everyone listens immediately. She is powerful, more powerful than she knows. In a way, she reminds him of Kortopi.
He'd like her power for himself, but he also knows Kurapika would kill him. And so he won't, because he'd rather Kurapika like him.
But … this Zoldyck child might be better off without her power, from what Chrollo can deduce.
Suffice to say, Chrollo's unsure of his future direction, and he hates being unsure.
Melody gasps again, and Gon reaches to take her withered hand, without a second glance, because he's Gon.
For a moment, Kurapika thinks he's forgotten to breathe. And then he sees everyone hacking for air, as black gas rushes through them like ghosts.
In another second, however, Kurapika feels himself inhale again. The gas is gone.
Killua curses. Ahead, a vaporous fog slinks across the shallow bay. "It's heading towards the ship!"
Tserriednich is not in the least surprised that the Troupe has escaped. If they survive the Continent – and even the most skilled hunters have failed – they'll provide a useful distraction for his citizens.
People are very predictable, and very boring. People run after whatever someone else declares just without thinking. It's convenient for a ruler; dull for a people-observer.
The ship rolls, sending Tserriednich into the wall. His nose spurts blood; well, the smell of salt has always interested him. "Theta, be a dear and check that for me?"
His bodyguard, the one woman he doesn't want to sleep with because she frightens him, dutifully exits the room.
The Spiders aren't so stupid as to try to slaughter 200,000 people. He esteems them higher than that. They're fond of shows, but no one would hear of their victory here. There's no impetus for a fight right now.
Theta soars back into the room. "It's – it's – your Highness, you must see this."
Tserriednich pokes his head out of the door to see black, grinning waifs suspending in air before the ship.
"Ai! Ai! Ai!" They cackle.
"What are these?" he wonders. While others cry and cower, he is mesmerized. He imagines one of these entities in a tank, and the brilliance it would take to capture one.
Alluka?
Alluka, listen, sweetie.
Please?
Aren't we friends?
Didn't you say we could be sisters? Nanika shivers as Alluka steps closer to the tall doctor, the funny one who is Big Brother's friend.
And beyond him is Doctor Yorkshire, tending to an elderly woman who is going to die very soon.
Nanika screams. Wake up!
But Alluka won't stir. She's hypnotized by whatever that bad lady did.
Where is Big Brother? Nanika doesn't know what to do. If anyone can break this spell, Killua can.
Alluka's questions float back into Nanika's mind.
Nanika? Nanika?
What?
What if we – what if, instead of being asked, we just do?
Nanika has never really been allowed to do her own will. She's bound by nen. She's trapped on a continent not her own.
What do you want? I will give you three things. So the elders told her. When you're a nebulous entity, anything is possible from your imagination. It was a right of passage for all of her cohort.
Everyone had the most abstract of desires. And then Nanika's turn had come.
A name.
A body.
And the third: a person to love me.
They were too concrete. She failed her test, failed her life, but got her wishes.
If she uses nen again, she'll squander any hope she has that her former home won't return to find her and slaughter the tangible humans.
And then she will never have love again. And Nanika craves love.
Alluka eyes Cheadle, and the scalpel behind her. Nanika squeezes her eyes shut.
Nanika? Nanika?
What?
What if we – what if, instead of being asked, we just do?
'Kay. I'm taking control, Alluka. And I'm healing you first.
"They're Ai; have you never read the chronicles of previous voyages?" Chrollo asks. He crouches along the forest edge, watching the beasts hover over the ship.
"That sounds boring," Hisoka says.
"You captained a ship to a place whose dangers you didn't know?" Illumi is appalled. This goes against all his training.
Ai. Ai. Ai.
Kalluto's face crumples.
And Killua glances at him, unable to deny it any longer. "You see it, don't you?"
"See what?" Illumi asks importantly.
"Illumi, listen," Kurapika croaks. He looks ill, and with a grimace, Chrollo realizes precisely why.
Ai. Ai. Ai.
"They're like your sister," Feitan says. For a rare moment, he sounds truly nonplussed.
"They sound the same," Machi agrees. Hisoka narrows his eyes at the two of them.
Illumi looks at Chrollo. His voice rings hollow. "My sister is one of the Five Calamities."
"A member of them, yes," Chrollo says, as if it's just another piece of news he doesn't care about. But someone has to remain calm. "Have you truly not suspected?"
"Why would I suspect?" Illumi's face twists. "Killua!"
"I didn't know, either," Killua says angrily.
"So what?" Gon asks. "She's still Nanika! And Alluka. We like them. They're still our friend."
"How did they know to come here?" Oito asks, hugging Woble.
"Isn't it obvious?" Hisoka points at Illumi. "Now we know what you just did."
Illumi pales. Hisoka didn't actually know that was possible, but apparently it is.
"You motherfucker!" Killua clenches his jaw.
Illumi's lip trembles. Just a moment. Killua ignores it, but Kalluto is stunned to see his eldest brother undone.
"Language," Machi says, as Nobunaga laughs.
"I'll fix this." Illumi insists. It's all he can say. It's all he knows. When you break something, you fix it. And fixing usually means killing.
"We don't even know what they want," Chrollo says.
"Does it matter?" Illumi strides towards the water.
"You can't just run off," Melody exclaims.
Illumi ignores her. For Killua's sake. He'll save Alluka. No matter what Calamities. His life is nothing with Killua hating him.
"Nanika?" Leorio pats the child's head. "Nice to see you. Are you okay?"
"Alluka is asleep now," says Nanika.
"What is that?" Cheadle wonders if she's just witnesses an illness or a demonic possession. The cute little girl's eye are now pitch black, as is her mouth.
"I'm Nanika." The black-eyed creature steps forward to touch the sick old lady. "Hey, feel better."
Cheadle's mouth falls open. Color returns to the woman's pallid face.
"Aren't you a cutie," says the lady, beaming at her like she's a lovable savior.
"Thank you!" Nanika cheers before rushing towards the next person.
"Nanika, are you sure you should be doing this?" Leorio squeaks. He really doesn't want to be crushed to atoms.
Nanika turns to him. "You should run."
"Why?" Leorio protests.
"What is going on?" Cheadle grabs the girl's arm. "As the head of the medical bay, I demand an answer."
"She's also Chairman of the Hunter Association. Pretty impressive," Leorio says.
"You're nice." Nanika grins wider.
Cheadle does her best to control her fear; for all her wisdom, she's never much cared for the unknown. "What is happening, Miss Nanika?"
"Healing people," Nanika replies, turning back to the young child, younger than Kalluto, whimpering as he holds his stomach. "Nanika is good."
"You are," Leorio affirms, and Nanika squeals with delight.
Praise, praise, I could live on praise.
The ship shudders, and Cheadle curses. "You've got to be kidding me. Not again!"
Ai.
Ai.
Ai.
"Huh?" Leorio claps a hand over his ears. The noise is high-pitched enough to hurt.
"They're here," Nanika whispers.
"Who?" Leorio turns to her.
"Ai, obviously," Cheadle says tightly. "One of the Five Calamities. A gaseous species of unknown power."
"Hi, hi, Ai," Nanika mumbles, hurrying from person to person. She can't heal them all, there isn't time, so she'll heal them halfway. Their bodies can do the rest.
"Ai." Cheadle turns to her, slowly. "Say 'Ai.'"
"Ai." Nanika replies slowly. Will she be praised or hurt? She feels once more like she did when the Zoldycks began to note her presence. Desperate for love, expecting punishment.
Cheadle's eyes widen. "You."
"Did you call them here?!" Leorio looks stunned.
Beyond, however, merely looks outside. He almost seemed to expect the answer.
"No." Nanika sniffles, continuing her healing. Neither Cheadle nor Leorio move to stop her, at least.
"But my nen did." She hunches her shoulders, like she's afraid.
"Nanika – that's your name, right – do you like the other Ai?" Cheadle asks. Now is not the time to panic. Or to be angry.
"They don't like me." Nanika begins to cry. "They made Nanika leave, and never come back."
"That's horrible!" Leorio doesn't care if Nanika is a Calamity. She's Killua's sister, or one of them. He likes her.
"I'm sad. They're going to be mad I'm back," Nanika says, not stopping her healing.
Leorio and Cheadle scamper after her. "Can you talk to them? Can we help?"
Cheadle interrupts. "What do they want, Nanika?"
"You to go 'way."
"And if we don't?" Cheadle asks tremulously.
"Squish." Nanika claps her hands together. "Condense the matter. Condense the tangible."
"Can you talk to them?" Leorio asks again. "I mean, Nanika, I'd be real happy if they squished that loathsome cockroach of a prince, to be honest, but I'd rather not the rest of the people die."
Nanika hesitates. The chef who let Alluka and Kalluto leave with stolen ice cream. Chrollo, who thinks she's cool. Killua, wherever he is.
She doesn't want them to condense.
"Come." She finishes her healing – a sloppy effort, but she thinks it will work – and grabs Cheadle's hands. "There is a Morena who wants you dead. I saved you from Alluka. She was hurt by her."
"Morena Prudo?" Beyond looks incensed. That bitch.
"Don't blame Alluka."
"We don't blame either you or Alluka," Leorio assures her. "We never have."
"Illumi, stop!" Chrollo teleports him back to land as soon as his bloodlust becomes noticeable.
Hisoka, for all his faults, shows relief as he grabs his husband. "Don't get yourself killed."
"The Spider has lost too many already," Chrollo continues.
Kurapika winces as Phinks elbows him.
Chrollo glares at Phinks, who glares right back.
Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai. Ai.
The sound is childlike, yet so unfamiliar Killua fears he may go insane from dissonance alone.
Suddenly, the cloud begins to retreat. Chrollo readies Fun Fun Cloth, ready to hide everyone if he has to.
But four solid figures join the amorphous cloud of dozens, no, hundreds, of creatures. Three are thrown onto the beach, and the final figure settles her feet on the ground.
"Leorio!" Gon cries.
"Ha?" Their friend spits out sand.
"Miss Yorkshire." Kurapika nods stiffly. "And Mr. Netero."
"I should have known you'd be involved in trouble," Cheadle mutters.
"He is the Rat, after all." Beyond guffaws.
"The Chain Bastard's in the Zodiacs, too?" Nobunaga complains.
"Alluka." Illumi stares at his sister as she hovers about the sand.
"Alluka and me have to go 'way for a bit," says Nanika. She looks very, very sad.
"No!" Kalluto tries to run forward, but Feitan restrains him.
Illumi thinks, with annoyance, that he should be the one protecting Kalluto. Feitan isn't a brother, after all.
"Okay. Then take me with you," Killua says.
"Can't."
"Why not? I thought we were friends," Killua says, his eyes pooling.
"We are. I love you, Big Brother." Nanika vanishes, and Alluka returns, rubbing her eyes.
"You can't go with them!" Killua points at the Ai. "They'll hurt you!"
Though he must wonder if they'll hurt worse than the Zoldycks.
"Oh! Killua." Alluka gulps. "I don't mind going. I got kissed my some weird lady and then I tried to kill Dr. Yorkshire and then Nanika saved everyone." She smiles tearfully. "So I don't mind going for a little bit."
"It might not be a little bit," Illumi says. "You can't trust them."
Ai. Ai. Ai! The creatures advance upon Illumi.
"Stop, Illumi," Phinks says.
Kurapika throws Chain Jail around Illumi. "He's now in Zetsu."
Illumi looks horrified to be so helpless. Chrollo smiles slightly at Kurapika, and even Phinks begrudgingly accepts this once the Ai stop their movement.
"Ai. He's fine. He's my biggest brother. Ai," Nanika says, emerging once more. "Good-bye, friends."
Killua collapses to his knees as the Ai retreat into the forest, leaving him once more without his sisters.
A note: I will be away for a few days, so the next update may take a bit longer (still, think ≤a week at most). But I will post it as soon as I can! 3 Thank you SO much for reading and for your lovely reviews!
