Disclaimer: I do not own HxH.
Summary: When a soon to be 18 year old Gon receives word that an incurable disease has stricken Whale island, he returns home to a dying Mito. However, Hisoka decides that the fruit will soon be ripe and begins the hunt for his prey. Can Killua save Gon from Hisoka's woven web, or will Gon's 18 birthday be his day of downfall?
Pairing: Killua x Gon; Hisoka x Gon; Hisoka Illumi; One sided Mito Jin
Warning: I am notorious for my lack of updates. However if I do continue expect lotsa shounen ai, yaoi, non-con, masturbation, kink ( All lemons will NOT be posted here, if I write any at all.), a hella lot of mind-fucking via Hisoka, and a lot of other disturbing themes. A/U, I'm taking a lot of liberties considering the series isn't finished.
Killua-centric! Not much Gon… but it has Killua feeling angst over Gon. Also very slow moving. This chapter is info filled, despite being kinda short.
Title: Surreal Symphony
In the bible a lamb is herded by the shepherd. It stands as a reference to wayward humanity and the need to be guided through life. Protection from the wolf is a necessity of the shepherd.
The wolf stands, in reason, to be the darkest of natural human emotion.
For wayward sheep lost from the shepherd, it is almost guaranteed to be devoured whole be the wolf."
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
He was never one to deny the use of intimidation. The many factors contributing to his innate ability to have people cower in fear were to many for him not to be lulled into some form of enjoyment. His height and build were two factors that held sway when he encountered people, but for those who believed themselves brave, a glance at his eyes or the whisper of his name gave away his true nature as a born killer. After all, the Zaoldyeck name was known world wide.
Unfortunately, some people still needed further persuasion.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but the doctor isn't seeing anyone right now." The secretary sitting behind her oval desk had made a point to look down her nose as she spoke to him, her glasses hanging precariously close to the tip. Wide brown eyes gave her an odd effect when coupled with her stern features. However, Killua was not one to be deterred and compromise wasn't an option. He needed in that office now.
When his fist hit the wood top of her desk, the loud splintering of wood caused the woman to jump and clutch the neck of her blouse in shock. "I think," Killua spoke slowly through ground teeth, "you should give the good 'ol doc a try on the phone first before you make that decision."
The secretary stared wide eyed at the lean figure in front of her. The man could probably snap her like a twig before she could scream and he looked capable of doing it too. Slowly she reached towards the phone that had been sitting rather lose to the now splintered and cracked portion of her desk. A frown marred her features as she dialed a number.
Killua couldn't stop from smiling. After all, what worked, worked, right? He would admit to the enjoyment he felt at the fear that crept off his victims in his presence. Admit to almost anyone who asked. He might have be a liar as well, but he was an honest liar who only did it when it was necessary. Like if Gon ever asked him about his liking for domination of others. The only person he would ever deny it to. Killua had his reasons though, and Gon's innocence and opinion of him came first above all else.
He probably already knew, though. He knew everything about Killua.
Gon, Always pure and true. Killua just couldn't help the feeling that crept into his gut. The feeling felt strangely like guilt whenever he thought of Gon during the moments he took to bask in the terrified look on the faces of his unassuming prey. Now, he was sounding oddly like another nin-user he'd met long ago, one he hadn't seen for quite some time.
More guilt.
What kind of person was he to take pleasure in the fear portrayed in others? Did that really make him and that horrible person the same? He vaguely remembered that the nin-user Hisoka had once claimed the same thing. He had given Killua a disturbing prediction of Killua's own motives for befriending Gon. Predictions that he was weary about picking apart, if only because of the truth he was afraid to find in them.
Killua could also clearly remember other predictions that had been made by different people - predictions that claimed he'd fall short of his standing as 'friend' to Gon when the time came. From abandoning him to killing him himself, he'd proven all of these to be wrong so far.
But that was not completely true, either.
There had been several times he had attempted to leave Gon behind, if only because he had felt unworthy of the friendship bestowed upon him. And, just as he had sworn to follow Gon, it was Gon who would turn to embrace the hardships and follow him. It was always at each of these points that Killua was reminded that he would always have Gon's friendship - no matter his short comings. It was Gon that wanted his friendship. If that was what Gon wanted, then that's what he would give. He'd never abandon his friend's side again.
If that was the case, though, where was Killua, now? Gon wasn't beside him here.
"Ahh… well, Sir, I… No… I never meant…" Killua came back to reality in time to see the wide eyed receptionist try not to cry over the phone. Her hard features had softened. She was being chastised.
"Forgive me, Sir. Of course." The woman sat the phone back on the receiver. Killua's lips formed into his tell-tale cat like grin.
"The doctor will see you immediately if you please, Sir." God damn it. Her eyes looked like Gon's. Too wide and too brown. Killua couldn't stop the sigh or the guilt.
"Hey, I told you that you shoulda' let me in." The soft sad look in her eyes turned angry at his comforting attempt.
"I think you made your point, Sir."
"No need to snap." Jeesh, he'd just been trying to help. Killua tuned sharply on his heel to head towards the door on the far right of the waiting room. Making people feel better had always been Gon's job any way.
Killua's shoes made a tapping noise on the it's-so-clean-it's-reflective linoleum. He pulled out the hand he had reflexively shoved into his pants pocket to reach out and turn the door handle. He stopped just as the door opened.
"If it makes you feel any better, he wasn't expecting me. The only reason he's even seeing me is because we go back a long way." Killua quickly opened the door to step into a plush carpeted hall. He wanted to avoid as much confrontation with this Gon look alike as possible.
"Why are you being so nice now?"
"You were only doing what was normal. I never gave you a reason to trust me." And then he let the door shut behind him. The sound of the door latch coming into place was enough incentive for Killua to sag against the smooth wood, happy about the lack of prying eyes. What is wrong with me?
A few deep breaths later and Killua was back to his search for the doctor. His hands shaking and his own words hitting to close to home. The realization was almost unnerving.
He'd never given Gon a reason to trust him, either, but he did.
Gon had placed his faith in him from the beginning, taking him at face value. He'd chased Killua nearly to the ends of the earth to chastise him, but had never lost faith in him.
In the end, it was him that had lost his faith, in himself and therefore in Gon. The weakness in their relationship had always been him. Did that mean he'd never been a true friend? Especially now that his friend wasn't here, wasn't beside him?
Killua's fist tightened as he stopped in front of the last door in the hall. If this was a new test in his worth to Gon and his affection, he'd triumph like every time before. This time he would go to the end of the world to prove himself to Gon and he was bringing a cure with him.
Killua opened the door with determination, he wouldn't fail. Purposefully he moved towards the doctor bent over a desk and a pile of papers.
"It's been awhile, where's Gon? I would have expected him to be here." The unsaid 'with you' wasn't lost on Killua.
"Leorio, I need your help."
"So can you help?"
"So Gon's gone home, huh?" Leorio placed his hand on his chin. " That's a bummer."
"No shit! Of course it's a bummer, people are dying." Killua was beginning to wonder why he had felt the urge to contact this man. It had been hard enough as it was just locating him. He'd wasted precious time researching the man's whereabouts, he didn't need to be mocked for his efforts. "Are you going to help, are not?"
"Of course I'm going to help!" Leorio looked agitated at the accusation. "This is for Gon , right?" However, it's not like I can just pack up and leave…"
"What? Why not!?" If this guy said he was going to help just to turn around and give excuses, then he wasn't leaving with out blood on his hands.
"Well…" Leorio used his finger to push his glasses back on his nose and looked towards the ceiling. He leaned back in the comfy looking office chair. Killua would be damned if he wasn't drawing this out intentionally.
The doctor took a deep breath before he spoke next, breaking Killua of his internal debate of the justification of Leorio's death for the sake of Gon. "Brace yourself for this, kid." Leorio sounded more mature and fitting for his status as doctor in that moment than Killua had ever seen him. Needless to say he had his complete attention
"If you haven't noticed this run down old place is filled with sick people, too." Killua started to interrupt, but Leorio held his hand up to silence him. "I already knew about Whale Island."
"What?" Killua's earlier debate came to a conclusion as justified at the doctor's seemingly callouse statement.
"Listen first to what I have to say. The disease slowly infects the body, then devours the energy from the virus's host. It continues in this fashion until death. The infection comes in four stages : One, infection of the virus. People who become infected often aren't aware of it.
"Two, when the virus has completely affected the host it begins to devour the energy stored in the body. Obviously, extreme fatigue eventually occurs and as a result is stage three. Eventually they become bedridden or, in most cases, lapse into a coma."
"And four?'
"It should be obvious," Leorio said caustically, chair swiveling to better face Killua. "Death." Leorio had a strange look on his face. It was a look of distaste, but oddly detached, like he had recited this many times before.
"What do you mean 'it feeds off of stored energy'?"
"Imagine a nin-user who can latch on and steal your own power. It results in the same effect if that person drained to much, or even if you used to much energy, you'd kill yourself."
"So, you think this thing might be a nin-user." It was a statement not a question.
"Normally, I'd say 'no'. This virus is too widespread."
"Widespread? So, it's more than just whale Island?" Killua was developing a horrible sinking feeling.
"Three months ago at 4:20 a.m. a man passed out from an unknown source of fatigue at his late shift job and immediately fell into a coma. He'd complained previously for about a week or so that he 'might becoming down with something'. He died a week later. That same day, a Brazilian tri-athlete also collapsed into a coma while at a doctor's office for what he was sure might have been the flu. At the exact same time as the man from Brazil, many other people also collapsed and lapsed into a coma.
"I've found no form of medicine to work. The disease its self is completely random, infecting young and old alike. However, just because someone has become infected with the disease doesn't mean the whole household will. There is no record of it starting in one area before spreading to the next. It was all at once, and it hasn't taken long for the numbers to rise. The statistics are higher in more rural towns and places, like whale island than it is in bigger places like cities. Normally more people in an area would mean higher chance of infection."
Killua shook his head before settling with his hands in his pockets. "But if this is so big, why isn't it being broadcasted."
Leorio couldn't help his scowl. "Why would they? It's mainly inhabitants of rural areas, remember? People in the city tend not to care for something that doesn't effect them directly or their main economic source, and in today's world farming and fishing have been kicked back in favor of technology. "
"Large cities, huh? So, if it is a nin-user, he's at least capable of calculating some form of a plan… The one thing bothering me, is how can a nin-user hit so many different spots at once? Generally a nin-user of that sort would need to be with in a certain range of the victim."
"And that is the question." Leorio allowed his finger to wag back in forth as if he had just made a point.
Killua nodded. "I think I finally understand. There is some research I need to do. Thank you, Leorio."
Killua had turned around, intending to leave, when Leorio spoke once more. "I can join you and Gon at Whale Island in two weeks."
Killua didn't say anything, he didn't need to.
In the bible, the Egyptians greatly angered God and so he sent them many catastrophes. The last was a devastating plague that swept away all first born children, including the Pharaoh's own son. In his sorrow the Pharaoh released the Jews whom had been persecuted be the Egyptians for thousands of years.
The Jews fled into the desert towards the red sea, terrified of Egyptian retaliation. However, soon the Pharaoh's sadness turned to vengeance and called his army forth to down the newly freed slaves. Forward they marched until God showed all his power once again.
Killua was seething when he pushed open the door to the lobby. The unhealthy bang as the door hit the stucco walls didn't quite register to Killua nor did the receptionists terrified scream. He didn't even notice he'd made his way to the street, pedestrians clearing a path at the sight of his curling lip.
If some nin-user wanted to play God, Killua would show them what it meant to meet the devil.
Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:
But the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door:
By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
And shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life,
And that they might have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd:
The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,
Whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming,
And leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:
And the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling,
And careth not for the sheep.
- John 10: 7 - 13
Hooo boi. Is it good to be back. Like any of you actually missed me.
1) I told you all I would not give up on this story. Who didn't believe me? Fufufufu
I'm an evil person.
2) The next chapter will also have a lot of Killua. :D
3) In my absence on the site, I have continued SS on my own and it has… become a monster. Lotsa twists and turns you won't expect in the future. All of them fun, dark, and angst ridden. :sigh: Isn't it great?
4) The story is currently without beta. I will remedy that shortly, however, until further update on the subject, expect mistakes. Lots of mistakes.
5) The formatting is kinda screwy in this chapter... Also soon to be remedied.
6) Last, but certainly not least, all the people who held on to the belief that I'd come back to the story. And I'm here now (months late). This story will be finished. I love it too much. And hopefully, you all love the story enough to stick with me through it. I'll post the chapters every 2 weeks on Friday. However, since it's been so long since I've posted anything, I'll post the next chapter next week if I get a lot of reviews :D
I'm such an attention whore.