Chapter Thirty
Fight and Flight
Kurapika barely registers the open door, or the golden incandescent light interrupted by two distinctive shadows. He's at peace, curled up on the floor, his face buried in Chrollo's shoulder, Chrollo's scent in his nostrils.
They've a disheveled heap on the floor, though a bed looms less than a meter from their bodies, and Kurapika doesn't want to move, to break this night.
Chrollo, however, jolts awake. His tension is immediately palpable and paralyzing. He scrambles to sit up as Kurapika wipes sleep out of his eyes.
Kurapika clamors to his feet before his mind has even comprehended the figures standing in the doorway.
"You," he blurts.
He knows them.
The two Zoldyck assassins from Yorknew. Killua's father and grandfather.
The hulking figure of Silva, Killua's father, one glowers at Kurapika, though the smaller elder seems almost amused at the half-dressed duo.
"It seems an assassin fell victim to his prey," Zeno says.
Both are bare-chested and covered in love bruises. Their pants are rumpled.
There's no denying that the infamous Chrollo Lucilfer, Leader of the Phantom Troupe, cares about someone.
Kurapika colors as he squares his shoulders to resist his urge to shrink away in embarrassment. "Yorknew was a long time ago. Alliances changed."
Chrollo realizes, with some surprise, how they must have met before.
He's at once grateful that Kurapika never met him during Uvo's requiem, grateful to not have killed him, uneasy for the deaths he caused, and furious at the Zoldycks for appearing now, at all times.
"What are you doing here? We'd have returned soon enough." Chrollo raises an eyebrow, as if he isn't sick at their presence.
Because the last time he showed Silva Zoldyck he cared about someone, Tybalt wound up missing half his throat. Dead before Chrollo could even say goodbye.
You'll be okay. I'll defend you.
But he failed. And he will never forgive Silva for murdering that kid.
"We have a mission," Silva says.
"Undoubtedly. To kill me, again? Need I remind you that two of your sons have joined us?" Chrollo watches them carefully. They could spring into action at any time.
"Don't be a narcissist, brat. Lucky for you, you're only a bonus this time," Zeno says.
Chrollo catches his breath.
Kurapika's eyes swim with crimson as understanding dawns on him.
Who did he cross? Whose fingers did he break, who did he threaten to the point that they hired a Zoldyck?
Has he buried himself so deep that even Nanika's power cannot keep him alive?
"You won't get him." Chrollo throws one arm in front of Kurapika. The other holds Bandit's Secret.
We can't kill them, Kurapika thinks dully. He's Killua's father. I went to his house.
"Not him. His eyes, which he's done a marvelous job of confirming for us," Zeno says.
I'm a thing again. Kurapika's heart aches. No matter if he's changed Chrollo's mind. To most people, he's still a thing.
"Your client will have to be disappointed." Chrollo manifests Tserriednich's decay, but Zeno's dragon lance shoots forward.
Kurapika dodges shards of the dragon as Chrollo destroys it. He doesn't want to use Emperor Time after today – but – short life is better than none.
How does he fight if he can't hurt himself?
Why did he make all of his abilities hurt himself?
He doesn't know – he has to save Chrollo – Chrollo can't be harmed – but it seems Chrollo is harmed when Kurapika harms himself –
Silva frowns at the young man's hesitation. Why isn't he using nen? Something else is occupying his thoughts.
Two people who care about each other are always the hardest targets.
As Chrollo sends Zeno's dragon head smashing into the wall besides them, flute music floats into his ears. Music from above.
Melody!
He gasps with relief and, with a smirk, directs his own decay into the wall to crumble it faster.
"What are you doing?!" Kurapika knocks Chrollo out of another aura blast, and immediately presses Holy Chain to his bruised head.
Chrollo shoves Kurapika away from the men, as he uses teleportation to send them flying down the hall, into the staircase. He disintegrates the door handle until it sticks, but it won't be long before the Zoldycks break through.
They won't both escape from this tiny stairwell. "Get out of here."
"Without you? Like hell I will." Kurapika's eyes rage scarlet.
"You're the one they want. I'm just a bounty, or a useful hostage, if you recall." Chrollo can't believe he thinks himself worthy enough to be a hostage. But Kurapika thought that of him, a long time ago.
He can use that.
Kurapika will not become Tybalt. Chrollo's throat dries.
"Kurapika." Chrollo grabs Kura's head and yanks his lips to his as he directs Indoor Fish to guard the door outside. "Go."
"No chance in –"
Chrollo snaps his fingers, and Kurapika teleports to strike his head on the wall up the stairs.
Kurapika collapses as the door flies open. He's caught by Melody's arms.
"Thank you, Melody." Chrollo motions her away and faces the door.
She nods and drags the unconscious Kurta away.
Just buy them enough time to free Kura. Chrollo smiles lightly as the door up the stairs closes behind them. He readies himself by leaning casually against the wall.
The door he melted explodes, and Chrollo forces a smile. "Now. Gentlemen, would you like to see how a Class A bounty fights when he's trying to kill you?"
Where is Illumi? Hisoka is becoming very impatient – as pleased as he is that Illumi has rekindled his relationships with his siblings – when a text from Melody, of all people, cross his phone.
Zoldyck elders aboard; Chrollo trying to hold them off
They seem to want Kurapika
Your husband isn't answering
Hisoka wrinkles his forehead. You're joking, right? ⤜( º ▾ º )⤏
Do I ever?
Hisoka curses. How? How are the Zoldyck parents aboard?
He can't call Melody, because presumably she's listening to whatever fight Chrollo is involved in – ooh, that would be magnificent to see, but there's no time – wait, when has he started prioritizing Illumi over himself? – so he grabs his phone and dials Illumi.
No answer.
Rolling his eyes, he tries again. This time, Illumi's phone turns off.
Hisoka feels a dull burning in his stomach. Is that fear? Maybe just worry. Either way, he's certain that something is very, very wrong.
Chrollo teleports up several flights of stairs to avoid a blast from Silva. If only he could get close enough to use Convert Hands, or Sun and Moon – but then Illumi and Kalluto would be devastated –
Fuck. Is he really not trying to kill them, despite his declaration? Chrollo curses himself.
No, he realizes. He doesn't want to. But he will. Because unless they die, Kurapika will. And Chrollo will not let Kurapika die.
The door opens behind him. Chrollo whirls around to see –
Illumi, whose eyes for a moment plead with him, with a desperation he's only seen in people he's killed before, before returning to their stoic state.
"They approved the deal. Kil's friend is safe for now." Illumi nods before sending a needle towards Chrollo.
Chrollo ducks, but an aura orb from Silva, sent at the same time as Illumi spoke, as Illumi gave him hope, sends all of them crashing down the stairwell.
"Is this your idea of a practical joke, clown?" Kalluto demands. A dark with Hisoka's signature gelled hair slides open their door.
"Do you ever sleep, kid?" Hisoka tosses back.
Killua stirs. He and Gon have their arms wrapped around each other, and if it weren't a potential emergency, Hisoka would send a picture back to taunt Illumi.
"What's wrong, Big Brother Hisoka?" Nanika rubs her eyes as she shakes Alluka awake.
"I don't know."
"But something is. Where's Illumi, for starters?" Killua jumps out of bed.
Hisoka throws his phone to Gon, who leans over to read the texts with Killua.
"Are you fucking kidding?" Killua exclaims. "Father and Grandpa?"
"Will they be okay with Nanika?" Alluka asks.
"We won't let anything happen to you," Kalluto says, hurrying to his sisters' side.
"I take it Illumi's gone missing." Killua glances towards Hisoka, who does his best to diffuse the tension with a failed smirk.
"He wouldn't. He's changed, right?" Gon grabs Killua's arm.
"I …" Killua trails off. He had just barely, barely begun to like Illumi again. He'd barely begun to hope for him. "I don't know."
"Then let's find him and find out," Hisoka says crisply.
"Kalluto, can you bring Alluka and Nanika to Feitan and Machi's room? As a guard?" Killua asks.
"Nanika can help find Illumi." Alluka sticks out her tongue. "Get over it."
Nanika nods with excitement. She's useful! "Oh…he's with your dad and granddad…and Mr. Chrollo."
Kalluto opens his paper dolls, and the resulting conversation silences every single listener.
"The little brat's gotten even stronger," Zeno remarks, standing over Chrollo's panting form.
Kurapika…will be safe…for now.
Illumi grabs Chrollo by his collar. "In exchange, they want this one alive."
His eyes look hollow, and Chrollo tries to muster any faith he has left in his spiders. There's no way Illumi would betray them willingly.
Chrollo is dragged to his feet before Silva. Illumi restrains Chrollo's wrists behind him as Chrollo summons a chuckle. "You must be very angry you can't kill me."
"Illumi asked us to spare your life, and we shall," says Silva, yanking back Chrollo's hair so he can peer into his hateful eyes. "For now. The rest will be up to the mafia."
"You and I both know what they'll choose." Chrollo keeps his face expressionless.
"You gave yourself up for your Kurta catamite. I'm sure you have more surprises in store," Silva replies. He knees Chrollo between his thighs, and Chrollo fights to keep himself from vomiting at the resulting pain – or the insinuation.
Chrollo's eyes simmer. You'll never get him.
He couldn't save his family from the Zoldycks previously, but he will now.
"We should get him to the ship," Illumi says. His fingernails dig into Chrollo, but his dutiful son mask – if it is a mask – never wavers.
"Stop!"
A shout rings out as Silva shoves Chrollo onto the odd-looking airplane. Chrollo glances behind him to see Killua, Kalluto, and Nanika racing towards them. Illumi's fingers tighten on his wrists.
"Illumi!" Killua doubles over, screaming. "Why?"
"For our family; what else?" Illumi's eyes plead with his.
Please.
Please recognize me.
Kalluto stiffens. Illumi looks wrong, though he's not sure how.
Illumi should backtrack. Illumi should laugh and explain why he's doing the right thing.
But Illumi just stares instead.
"Why are you taking our leader?" Kalluto asks instead, determined to find more information. "He's like second family."
But Killua cuts him off. He looks nauseated. "Was everything a lie?"
"I don't lie to family," Illumi says.
"Oh, but Alluka and Nanika aren't family, am I right?" Killua seethes.
Nanika's eyes well up, though Killua wraps an arm around her.
She's already been forced to leave Alluka behind, with Gon, in their locked cabin. Because the Zoldycks parents might reject her.
But Illumi had just accepted her. She doesn't understand.
Killua's heart races. He could ask Nanika to stop everyone. But he – he wants Illumi to stop this – he wants Illumi to have really changed –
"I hate you!" Killua screams in defeat. "Was everything a lie?!"
"Killua," Silva says sternly. His hand grabs Illumi by his shoulder. "Your brother is doing his duty, knowing his place – as you will someday learn."
"I won't!" Killua wipes his eyes. "Assassinating people – you're all evil!"
"But a thief isn't?" Zeno tightens Chrollo's restraints.
"Now just a minute." A razor-sharp card appears at Zeno's throat.
Hisoka springs into the midst, waving more cards with his Bungee Gum. Something tells him he should not reveal himself as Ilumi's husband, or they could all die right here. Fortunately for the old geezer, Hisoka has nothing against him.
If he had Silva in his hands, he would have cut through without hesitation and called it justice.
Illumi turns his back to Hisoka. "You're a fool."
Chrollo's heart pounds. Nanika should not have to kill her semi-father and grandfather. And if Hisoka does, then the mafia rescind on their deal. They will just send another Zoldyck, another member of Illumi and Kalluto's family, to kill Kurapika.
"Number Four," Chrollo says.
"Danchou?" Kalluto can't believe that, of everyone present, Danchou is talking to him.
He has to speak the next words. But it's not the same as before – it's not that he devalues his life. It's that he values Kurapika. "Let us go."
"Where's Chrollo?!" Kurapika awakens in a panic to Melody dragging his limp body by his wrists.
She shakes her head. "From what little I heard, Illumi made a deal – Chrollo, captured, for your life."
"I have to find him!" Kurapika wrenches himself free.
"You're too weak – get back here!" Melody chases after her disaster friend as he scrambles to stairwell.
His heart stops. It's obliterated, but there are no bodies to be found.
Melody gasps for breath behind him. Why is he like this? "There's something happening outside."
Kurapika dashes back into the hall. He's going to find the nearest functional stairwell – he's not going to leave Chrollo alone – he's not losing more family because of his Scarlet Eyes.
"Stop!" Melody shouts, with an authority that startles Kurapika.
He obeys, and follows her finger to the nearest window.
A small plane – or something like it – flies away.
Kurapika can't make out the people, but he feels it. Chrollo is with them.
He doubles over again. "Melody."
"I know," she says quietly.
"I'm – I'm tired of my friends sacrificing themselves for me." Kurapika sets his jaw. "If he wasn't killed, there's a reason. We're going to get him back before they kill him."
He stalks off in the midst of his sentence. His heart drums the reason in his ear – the mafia, the mafia, the mafia. They'll make him suffer worse than death. Like Neon.
"Where are you going?!" Melody chases after him.
"Rallying help." Kurapika begins to feel dizzy again; Chrollo must have given him a concussion to ensure he wouldn't interfere. Not gonna stop me, asshole.
He'll use Holy Chain when he's finished this part of the mission. Right now, he won't stop for anything, even healing.
Melody begrudgingly follows Kurapika to the nearest Phantom Troupe quarters.
The door opens.
"What do you want?" Phinks – surprisingly sans Oito, looks up from the bunk he shares with Nobunada.
Kurapika stumbles forward. He's so weak; he's not sure he can stop them should they decide to kill him. But he has to try, for Chrollo.
"Kurapika?" Alarm crosses Nobunaga's face. "What are you doing sneaking up on us, Chain Bastard?"
Kurapika falls forward into the light, on his hands and knees.
Phinks stiffens. The Chain Bastard's lip is split, his eyes swollen and bruised. "Where is Danchou?"
Kurapika wants to scream he's gone, he's gone, he's been taken and please don't blame Illumi, but he can't allow them even a fraction of a second to get the wrong idea. "He needs help."
