IMPORTANT!
Kalluto is FEMALE here, okay? XD Alluka isn't though.
(And I'll be using Kalluto's 1999 version cuz' he's prettier there lol)
Anyway, THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR! :D Special thanks to those who are vocal with their opinions, you angels motivate me so! *hugs*
NOTE: Nerys Bloodsworth, the first OC I created that played a relatively big role in a story, will be appearing in this one. For those who already know her… because you know what her appearance means… don't hate me too much! xD
WARNING: Very tiny fluff, could even be boring, but I found it necessary for the plot (esp. what will happen the next chapter) so…
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own HxH
…
CHAPTER 14: Families
Freecs
When Gon reached her neighbourhood she ended up stopping somewhere in the middle of the streets. She could feel it, Ging's well-hidden but flawless aura, even when she wasn't trying to look for him at all. She shrugged and walked towards her house, soon arriving at the doorsteps.
"I'm home." She said, like always, with or without him, and she was met with a grunt of assent. Frankly, with Ging it was more than enough.
"So… how's the shanty area?" He asked, reading the papers. She left a note on the fridge at the off-chance he'd return that night (which he did).
"Good."
"What?"
"What?" Gon threw back in puzzlement, before answering his question. "I said it's good." And she paused, his expression telling him it wasn't the answer he was looking for. "Why do you look so surprised?"
"Good how?"
"The people are really nice." She said. "They were pretty unfriendly at first, but all's well that ends well."
"You went through the wall?" He spat (sounding cynical) before putting down his newspaper (it was turned to the comics section). "Didn't you just have a field trip by the wall so you can see what's outside?"
"You assumed that." She said, giving him a pointed look. "And what? Is it forbidden to go?"
"Well, no, but—" He stared at her. "What kind of club does that?" But before she could answer she felt his stare adopt something more than just a 'look', and she found herself wincing a little.
It was when he lifted himself up from his couch so abruptly that she ended up taking a step back. "What?"
"Nen."
"Yes?"
"You can use Nen now?" He uttered to no one in particular and took a few steps to her. "Since when? When I was last here your aura's all jumbled—" He stopped talking then, and she saw from his large auburn eyes that some thought she couldn't comprehend passed by his head. "I'll be back."
"W-Where are you going?" If he heard her, he didn't show it, for she was already facing his back with him already opening the front door. "Oi, Ging—"
And then he really left, the door returning to its closed state slower than Ging's disappearance. Gon could only look at the door with a baffled expression on her face.
She shrugged it in the end, though, simply because her father had always been weird.
…
Zoldycks
Meanwhile, a couple of kilometres from the wall—opposite side from where the shanties stood—was a magnificent mountain of incredible height covered with eternal snow. At its apex, a place where no normal people would go to—even if they were capable—was a towering estate, protected from the winds by the massive rock formations that guarded it, along with the tall stone walls that separated it from the rest of the world.
Inside, an infamous mafia family lived—the most revered one, actually, and their activities were the most secretive and the shadiest of them all. Surprisingly, however, they were the most detached to the community that directly controlled the world.
They couldn't care less about ruling societies, money, or people in general.
They simply wanted some things to become something else, and if they had to get rid of a people (they almost always had to) to achieve that—then they'd have no problems doing what they must.
One would think they're a family of assassins than a normal mafia.
Sitting alone in the parlor, a figure lit only by the torches erected on the walls, was the eldest son of his generation. He was sitting cross-legged at his dark-colored upholstered sofa, next to the stone fireplace that had no logs. There were two syringe-like needles on his hand, with him effortlessly playing around with them as if it was the easiest thing to do.
He made not a decibel of sound. The enclosed nature of the room, and the stillness of everything within it, made for an eerily soundless enclosure.
Just as he wanted.
It did not last as long as he preferred, however, as he felt a presence nearing his destination. Fortunately for the newcomer, Illumi was rarely mad. There remained the fact that he was thoroughly dissatisfied though, especially when the person who was approaching was barely tolerable.
As always, he had to dismiss the sudden urge to bury his needles on that one spot in the middle of her head.
"I can't find him!" Was the first thing that he heard from her, even before she was in sight. "Ugh!"
Nerys Bloodsworth paused a couple of meters away from her (future) brother-in-law, to pull herself together. As annoyed as she was at the moment, she must remain poised—especially in front of this family.
Illumi mused she had likely used all her resources the past weeks to find Killua. Killua was a skilled boy, in many ways, and the one with most potential, even compared to other generations. His skill in hiding was expressed in this situation, but still—even if she would've head-strongly believed otherwise—Nerys Bloodsworth was pathetic.
"He's living the central area," He said with his trademark tone, not particularly caring whether or not she found out. Besides, her quieting down was a welcome bonus. He had quite a bit of things he must ponder about.
And she did quiet down then, and she stared at him incredulously. "If you've always known where my fiancée is, how come you didn't get him?"
"Because knowing him—he'd just run away again." He said, with that monotonous voice of his, and continued on playing with the needles. "I'm waiting for him to see reason, that's all."
"It's been almost two months already, Illumi-nii!" She said with her voice rising, albeit she kept her voice from sounding impertinent, being scared of him. Still, the Bloodsworth heiress couldn't help but speak her fears. "What if he never comes back?"
She was shut by a needle almost grazing her cheek. Almost. Illumi wouldn't go as far as to hurt his brother's fiancé… right? Illumi then robotically turned his head to face her, making her flinch a little.
"Do what you want, then." He said, his head even farther deeper into thought than usual. "Just don't bother me with such useless things."
…
Nerys Bloodsworth mused that she would forever wonder what was going on in that man's head. She sighed and moved on and walked along the long windowless corridor that pretty much characterized that house—absent-mindledly allowing her striking emerald orbs to stare into the darkness. She combed back her pixie-cut hair and, again, sighed.
Not too long ago she wouldn't have thought—so strikingly beautiful and charismatic woman that she was—that she'd be pursuing a man…, let alone so desperately.
She had long past the stage of denying her feelings—that led her to a place so stressful she grew pimples!—and now she knew well what she felt for Killua… that blastedly handsome, skilful, and perfect man: the only sort she deemed worthy of herself.
But then he ran away. The first week he ignored it and mused he'd be thinking of her so much that he was bound to return. Then that week passed and she sent a couple of men to trace him. When after two weeks of failing to finding any clues to his whereabouts—she decided to move, herself.
Not that that did any good.
'Maybe he died from heartbreak of not seeing me for so long.' She mused almost sardonically, given their history, but she was used to being the center of attention for so long that a part of her actually believed that might be true.
"You shouldn't speak to yourself so loudly."
She almost squeaked in surprise. "What—" She did not continue speaking, decided to focus on looking around for the voice's owner. A second later, she spotted the pretty young girl wearing a red kimono, coming out from the shadows. "Kalluto?" She cleared her throat to calm herself (this girl had such perfect Zetsu it was terrifying), and gave her a smile meant for every member of this family. "What is it?"
"You are going to find my brother?"
At the comment, Nerys found herself calming down quicker. She stared at the girl for a moment before shrugging with a disappointed sigh."Yes, but I found nothing in three weeks." "Now I know that he's in the central area—but I doubt your brother's going to expound even the littlest effort to tell us more."
Kalluto looked at her then, the girl's huge deep midnight blue eyes twinkled a little—it was the first time Nerys saw it.
"What is it?" She asked, until she realized what might be happening inside the younger girl's head. "Do you have an idea?"
"Yes." Kalluto said in that trademark demure way of hers, looking at Nerys as her mind pictured a slightly older—and darker—sibling. "Would you like to make a wish?"
…
Nostrades
It was in another estate, far nearer to sea level, wherein a young man of orchid-colored hair stood in front of a large wooden double door that separated the main office to the rest of the house. Gingerly, but with the confidence obtained by simply being needed, he raised his hand to knock.
"Hello, father." He said as he entered. He didn't really need to ask why he was called, knowing full well what it was, and sat at the chair in front of the large wooden one his father used.
He ignored the feeling of something lacking, simply because his mind had yet to wrap itself around the idea of what it could be, and raised his pen two feet from the wooden surface and called on to his ability.
"Ghost Writer."
But there was nothing. One of his eyebrows rose in puzzlement as he tried again.
"Ghost Writer."
Nothing
From the edge of his sight he could practically see his father's lips form a thin line, a habit of his when he worried. "Is there anything wrong, Neon?"
Neon ignored the question as his eyebrows furrowed, sending the pen a glare as if doing so would help him. "Ghost Writer." He hailed, but this time with a much firmer and wilful voice.
And yet…, nothing happened. Again.
He must've tried a dozen more times before he was pulled back to the present by his father clearing his throat. "Perhaps you are tired." He said as if it wasn't nine in the morning. "Go."
And what was he supposed to do but follow?
Neon would keep trying for the days that followed, pushing down the clouding dread harder every time, and several times an hour. But with time, the frequency decreased, as did his will.
"It could be that you're sick!" Basho said encouragingly late night that same day. He and Vaise almost never left his room until he forced them out. Even Light occasionally checked up on him, and every time looking more and more unkempt.
Then the weekend neared its end, with his ability remaining broken. That was to say: Nothing changed from when it began.
Well maybe except for the fact that now…, his dishevelled father could no longer look at him.
…
The Kuruta
It was late Sunday noon when Kurapika arrived in the spot she then stood, a few hours travel by foot from the main city. She automatically heaved a sigh as she stared at the massive hill in front of her and the large and wide staircase leading to the estate at its peak. Perhaps it was because of the imminent long walk to her destination, but she knew it was because what she was about to do would yet to stop being emotionally draining.
Yet she kept doing it. For sentiment. For purpose.
She climbed the stairs, eyes never leaving the bright sky that appeared to envelop the scenery. Only her sights didn't feel blank as she moved, her feet taking her whole being up as if it had free-will. All she could feel—all that she could register—was the feeling of strong gust of wind uninhibited by non-existent imposing structures and the soft rustles of leaves that adorned it.
The instant she stepped on the highest staircase, it felt like her whole consciousness was brought back down from far, far, away up the air. She was disoriented for a second, but the sight of her old home stabilized her once more. Something it never failed to do.
Events from the trip shook her well. She only went to this site once or twice a year in the past few years, but it was only because she gained the ability to compartmentalize—to push back depressing thoughts and focus on success.
She walked to the clearing that surrounded the large rococo-styled home, standing magnificently on top of a hill, with the rich blue sky as its background. She ended up looking at the meadow as she walked. As always, it was kempt. It wasn't maintained as it had been, of course, but somehow they never grew—or were never allowed to grow—unsightingly high.
Even the house itself was maintained enough so it wouldn't become dilapidated. But this been happening for so long, and not once had she caught the person doing the upkeep—whoever he or she was. And because of this, as a child, she dreamily imagined it was the souls of her family and their loyal servants who was keeping the place clean... because they knew she'd come back someday.
She walked to the vestibule, slipshodly tracing her hand to the textured wall along the way. She climbed up the small stairs and stood in front of the large double door that was the focus of that foyer. It was adorned with stained glass, glass depicting her family history…, showing how they reached the success they had achieved.
Ha, she paused at that thought with irony oozing off her tone, success.
Alas. In a similar way she knew spending time away in a place of the dead would not bring them back, but right now it was one of the few things she could think of to honor their memories, and the time she had with them.
The clenching in her chest definitely reminded her not to rest until she had brought their deaths to justice.
It was time well-spent.
She entered the door and was greeted by the musty smell of an old house. With the fact that it was still somehow maintained, the smell was almost quaint.
But then she began walking past the ante-room, walking past that one wooden tile that almost always creaked, even as a child, and she reached the living area.
How ironic it was called like that, considering she found all those dead bodies in that very same room.
The smell of blood was no longer there, but she could see the red so vividly—even the sharp contrast of the silhouette that towered above the corpses.
She unconsciously ended up gripping the drapes, the dust that lied with it flew shamelessly through the surrounding air, as if it didn't have enough. It was blue, she remembered well, but she saw violet. Everything in the house wore a sharp shade of red, as it did every time she had been there for more than a minute.
She still hadn't moved on, it seemed. Just as she wished.
Riiiiiiiiinnggg
Her eyes widened and her hand automatically reached for her pockets.
Gon.
At the interruption, her will wavering to and fro, deciphering which to give her attention to, her eyes unconsciously drifted up again, now seeing the house in its true colors. She almost dropped her phone then, and she came to realize how beautiful her home had been once. It still was.
Knowing full-well that, if she stayed, she'd be in the verge of crying very soon.., she ended up answering the call.
"We've been trying to call you for ages!"
They have? She checked her phone's log as she heard of it. She realized it was true. "…what is it Gon?"
"Ah… it's just that Vaise called us to try and contact you because they couldn't seem to get through." Gon let out a huff as if she was exhausted. She probably was. "Thank goodness you finally answered! Did you know? This is my 3rd time calling you."
"Why did you call?"
"They said you should call them back," was all she said for a moment, before adding: "They said it's about Neon."
…
It was in the park, the one nearest to the city from her estate, where they met half-an-hour or so later.
She saw him sitting alone in one of the benches and, being far from the city center, the park that had few to no people at all made it look like he was alone in the whole area. Perhaps he was. She'd definitely think so if she hadn't sensed his guards giving him a respectful distance.
There was something in his eyes looking at the air in front of him, and the way he slouched—a contrast to his usual dignified stance—that easily told her he was tired. And it was more than just physical fatigue.
Vaise and Bansho were polite to keep their distance. It didn't seem like it was Neon's idea, calling her, and getting pulled so far from the city. In the end, however, he didn't express an ounce of distaste when she came to sit beside him.
"Sorry to have called you in like this." Neon said, without moving. "Did they interrupt anything?"
She shook her head, because she'd come to understand more and more clearly that she could only think of her family in terms of their deaths. It was disconcerting, now that she had made progress with her new… family.
"No…" was all she said, looking at him. He didn't do the same. Obviously everything wasn't fine, so instead she asked: "What's wrong?"
"I guess right now it'll be good to know what you'd do if you were in a situation I am in." He mumbled without looking at her. "You know… because you're… the smartest person I know."
She gave him a sad smile. "What is it?"
"What will you do if the only thing that set you apart from everyone else—is suddenly stolen?"
Kurapika's eyebrows furrowed at that and her lips formed a thin line, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"My special ability." He said (looking as if he vomited the words out), and turned his head to look at her again. "It's stolen."
Kurapika's stern pauses extended by a torturous second from then on.
"Your nen ability?" She finally voiced out. "How?" He shrugged at her question, his body sagging, and she knew this had been so much worse when he first figured it out. So after a moment, she willed herself to change her tone. "…since when can't you use it?"
"After the trip." "Remember when I told you I fell asleep while I was walking?" He laughed ironically at that, pitying himself. "Apparently I didn't fall asleep.
"Now everything will go down." Neon supplied, image of his father on his mind. "I know it."
"What do you mean?" Kurapika's eyes never left him, trying to piece every piece she could together, in the hopes of helping her friend. "Will you tell me what it is? Your ability, I mean."
He turned to her again and gulped, as expected, for he was to tell her something he hid for the longest time. "I could see the future."
Her eyes widened at this, half-awed, half-mortified. Neon watched every miniscule expression on her face, absorbed every detail, before looking down at the asphalt pavement and continuing his explanation. "This was how we gained all our wealth, really. Now that I'm useless, I don't think he'll see me as a son."
"Light is a fool."
Neon whipped her head to look at her, not really surprised by her answer, but by how quickly it came out.
Kurapika was surprised as well.
And they just sat there in silence for a while, neither moving at inch.
Kurapika mused on how… happy she felt lately. It had been so long. The past few years had been blank—she couldn't even remember majority of the events then, only what she had studied and read—because it had been so banal.
She looked at Neon, who was all but about to give up on his father. She couldn't blame him. There had been countless of times she decided to just move on from her family's memories—only to be haunted by the guilt. Yet she sensed something different with Neon's case.
In his… there was hope.
"You know what I learned after all this years of seeking justice for the family that I lost?" She asked rhetorically, voice soft, and a feeling of fondness circulating inside her. "That family isn't limited to those who share the same blood with.
"Good friends are family too." She paused to meet his eyes. It was something they already knew, deep inside, and yet it was something that had to be voiced out for them to understand. "They certainly give you strength as a true family does."
Then, she smiled. "It's only a matter of making Light see you more as an asset," said Kurapika in a tone a little lighter than usual. "And we'll be with you as you try to do so."
It was then when faces of her birth family flashed inside her head, their features and habits still so clear in her head, the pain of losing them fresh but scarring. "Remember that at least you have one more blood relative to call your own." She said.
"So don't give up on him just yet."
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 14
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 15: Cave
A cave is a metaphor for two things.
REPLIES TO ANGELS
LittleChomper – Thank you for reviewing~! Hahaha. And I'm glad you found the chapter cute (I was nervous cuz' of all the themes I put), and I do hope I can keep it happening~
Queen of the Avast seas – hahaha. Yes, yes they do! But alas, kissing scenes are hard to write. They will tho! In a few chaps. xD Oh, about Neon. Well…, there should be someone likeable having unrequited love. Lol
Phoenix-thunder – Yay! Thank you for reviewing. xD Soo happy you liked the chapter and Lol I had fun with Killua, too~! Glad you liked it. And yes. Illumi will be appearing in this chap. He's a little like the overlord type atm tho hahaha. All he needs is a cat on his lap. I found it weird, but it happened.
Guest [oct 7 2014] – (ch3) haha. Yes, I liked that chapter as well. Glad you found it funny and I hope you got all the way to this chap! xD And thx for commenting~
Laine Klein – Hi there~! First off thx for giving the fem!Gon story a chance. I bet it's weird, ne? xD Anyway, your questions will be answered soon and little by little. Thank you for reviewing, and I'm glad you liked the story so far. ;) And no worries~ I enjoyed your story, too. :D
xXxRizaHawkeyexXx – Hahah you're here! xDD And yay!Glad you love the pair as much as I do. And yep~ I'll show more Kuroro, little by little, as the chaps pass. Hehe. And don't worry about Neon. XD I thought there has to be someone likeable with an unrequited crush somewhere. LOL. And Thank you for reviewing, btw~
bearsofalthain - *group hugs* because hugs are good for you. LOL. Anyway, thank you for reviewing~! xDD Super glad you liked the lil' Eye pair moment, Hatori, and even the Killua-and-his-house scene. Haha. I'll do my best to keep it up~
darlingfedz – Whoa. Haha. I hope there won't come a time you get in trouble cuz' of me! xDD Well anyway I hope it helped you relax, and super happy you liked the themes I injected and that you enjoyed the story regardless. Thank you for reviewing~! :D *brofist*
KG-Ai – Whoa 3 hours of sleep due to studying? I was that hardworking only when I reached College lol. Don't burn yourself out! Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and I hope I didn't get you too deep into trouble. Lol. Well, I guess I'm hoping I helped you relax. Oh, and thx for reviewing~! And yep! See you soon~
Flickering Ember – Thank you for reviewing~! xD And yep! Neon has a lot of growing up to do. I can only hope I do it in a believable way. And yes also, Kurapika's emotionally unstable. This is reminiscent of the Spider arc. But no! I really want to hear your rant about Gon, Killua, and Bisuke! Tell meee! xDD
Stormy003 – Awww, thank you for reviewing and I'm glad that you wish people'd get inspiration from this. xD I hope the future events will continue to interest you, and I hope you enjoy this chapter. ;D
Guest [Oct 21 2014 ] – Here it is! xD So sorry it's late. AU stories are particularly difficult to write. Hope this was worth the wait tho, and thank you for reviewing~!
CelestialFireKey – Thank you for reviewing! xD So glad you liked the chapter as well! Despite all those usually-boring themes I injected. I hope you enjoy this chap~
Tochiome-chan – hahah no prob! xD And yeah I envy her too, and I'm similar to you in that aspect. If it helps tho, I know a girl (17 yrs old) who is very much like Gon. xD They do exist! Lol. Thx for reviewing btw~
…
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