SORRY FOR THE WAIT! HERE IT IS! And I have to give special hugs to those who supported this story thus far, particularly the glorious people who gave me their time via reviewing/commenting/critiquing/fangirling etc xD I appreciate your presence!

DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own HxH



CHAPTER 16: Action-Reaction

"A basic law of nature—for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Wing said as he wrote down every one of the three laws of motion they were to discuss that day, before allowing for a moment to allow them to put the words to their notes. Gon absent-mindedly did so, but she found her head still turned ever-so-slightly to steal a look of Killua. Soon, she realized half the class was doing the same.

Apparently, everyone found out he's a Zoldyck during the ceremony, and his sister came to be his classmate. The younger girl was sitting next to him now, replacing Bisuke who was then sitting somewhere at the back.

Gon thought that Kalluto was a very beautiful girl, with her pale skin, the beauty mark on her face, and her long sleek black hair. It was interesting though, how differently good-looking the siblings were.

Internally, Gon wondered what Killua's other siblings look like…, and realized how much she wanted to understand why he wanted to be away from them so much. She couldn't imagine a life hating her own family, no matter what they would do. And what was that she was hearing about Killua's fiancé…

In the end though, all she wanted was for Killua to find peace again. Because... at that moment, his walls were up so high that even she couldn't find it in herself to climb up and look at what was below.

But then she, along with the other students, were pulled back to the lesson when Wing-sensei demonstrated his point by throwing his chalk to the board and watched it bounce as if it was suddenly a semi-rubbery substance.

It was bouncing to her, she realized, even Wing looked surprised (clumsy me, he thought nonchalantly), but she did not move—albeit only because then her hand would bump to Feitan's, whose hand moved so much quicker than hers.

"…thanks."

"Well, good reflexes, Feitan-kun." Wing nodded, impressed, and looked at Gon (skilfully ignoring Feitan and Killua's glares). "I didn't mean for it to hit anyone. Sorry."

"It's okay." She said, while the two boys (even Bisuke, Wing realized, did not take their eyes off him). It really was just an accident though…, he thought defensively, as if it'd save him from the glares.

In any case, Wing smiled and continued on his lesson while Killua reverted back to his stoic façade as soon as he Kalluto turned back to look at him. Killua could only look at Gon with his mind's eye now, and he wondered if asking her to leave him alone for a while was a wise choice. Not for her, because no doubt this was to protect her, but for his own sanity.

Passively, he watched as Wing pointed on the expensive tile below him. "Even as I am standing," He said. "The floor's normal force pushes me back up." "Everything in nature follows this rule."

"…everything?" One student blurted out, cynical, but embarrassed he asked out-loud. Wing didn't seem the least but startled and he maintained his smile. (Everyone still found it weird that his shirt was still not properly tucked in).

"Yes, everything." Wing said. "Even feelings and virtues,

"For example, when a man experiences punishment for honesty—he then learns to lie." He said, eyes coincidentally ending at Killua, who flinched a little.

The words rang inside his ears and stealing a glance at Gon—who was sharing some casual looks with Feitan—Killua wondered if it'd ever come to that.

...

Later during lunch break, the club met again—like they always do, and they had a little more of Gon's food for themselves because Killua was a no-show. "Where's Killua?"

"He's asked us to leave him alone for a while."

"Until the whole fiancé and sister thing is done?" Gon pushed the word 'fiance' to the back of her head again, and calmed down the wild stirrings in her chest. By that time she was already aware of the rumors—Killua's lack of response was pretty much meant his the lack of denial, as well.

"Yeah."

But still, she found it in herself not to think of anything bad about Killua. She pushed down the thoughts like why didn't he tell me? Primarily because they were just friends. Friends still had so much right to keep some private and personal things to themselves. At least that was what Feitan told her in class earlier, after she mumbled some depressing things, and she knew it was true.

Bisuke looked at her, intrigued. "Why?"

"He just said to trust him." Gon said in response, very firmly. "And we will."

Bisuke watched her students as they did their basics, seemingly peaceful and thankful for the distraction training gave them. She understood what Gon's troubles were. She also heard a lot about what happened to Neon from his guards, both of whom approached her when he wanted to be left alone—heck, the two were still watching him from behind the trees, actually.

Kurapika, on the other hand, seemed to be a natural for being an enigma.

A little before class would resume she called Kurapika and asked her to come with her. They went to another side of the clearing, just far enough for normal volumes to escape Gon's earshot (and that automatically meant everyone else's as well).

"You know I'm your advisor, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm not here just to advice you on your skills." She said in a business-like yet empathic manner. "I'd like to think that, as an adult, I can advise you on other things as well." Bisuke heaves a deep breath. "Tell me what's bothering you."

Kurapika only stared for an awkward moment, no doubt weighing her options and possibly thinking of a way to veer away from this particular topic. "Well, there's Neon's predicament for one." The younger blonde said. "I'm relieved he wasn't being pulled out of the club—considering it was stolen from him during one of our missions."

"I'm guessing because his father doesn't care anymore, poor child. The real family he had was those two." Bisuke said and looked somewhere behind the trees. "And I'd like to think he's growing fond of us too."

Bisuke knew he's very fond of Kurapika already, but she didn't say so.

"But alas, I'm sure there is something else." She finally said (rather bluntly) and Kurapika stiffened in response. Bisuke blinked at this and she sighed in disappointment. "Mah, just tell us when you're ready." "You know that you don't need to keep everything to yourself from now on.

"Like with Neon—you, too, have a family here."

And with what looked like a contrite-but-touched smile, Kurapika nodded.

The chime of the bell tower told everyone that class would be resuming soon. Nerys, who was then surrounded by fawning men, looked out the window. Why Killua hadn't approached her yet (likely to warn her away, like always), she wasn't sure, but she enjoyed this attention.

It wasn't often she got to hang around with men around her age, and they worship her even more!

Ah, she mused, what she'd do to get Killua to do the same.

Soon enough, the students who ate outside the room (she got her gourmet lunch delivered to her by a few admirers) came in. One of her admirers, a decent-looking brunette, was looking out the door, waiting for someone.

"Kurapika-san'll be entering soon."

"Kurapika?" She uttered out, because it was her way of trying to recall things at times. "The blonde?"

"Oh. You're still more beautiful, Nerys-san."

"I know." Nerys said, never quite acknowledging anyone would be prettier than she was, before turning to see that pink-haired guy a lot of girls and guys seemed to have been murmuring around lately. Nerys noticed this because she had come to expect she'd be the hottest topic.

But of course she wasn't an immature brat who'd do anything to get all the attention to herself—she prided herself for being the opposite, in fact. Despite her upbringing filled with adoration, she was still the daughter of one of the most powerful underground Mafia bosses (not that most people knew), and she had been exposed to quite a few gory things and she was no longer naïve enough to think everything must orbit around her.

At the young age of ten, one eight-year-old Killua Zoldyck made her understand that. And since then, she swore than she would make his world, at least, revolve around her.

"So… what's up with them?" She asked, leaning a little closer and she could almost hear the boy's heart skip a beat. "They seem well-known."

"Well, N-Neon is a Nostrade." He said as if it explained everything. And it did.

"Oh." Before putting up an innocent façade. "Oh I've heard of what's happening."

The boy nodded eagerly, evidently wishing for the conversation to continue. "Everyone was shocked to see him friends with the Ice Queen."

"Ice Queen? Kurapika?" She said and looking at the blonde, she knew she was the type not to enjoy the sort of attention she was getting. What a fool. In any case, the boy nodded in assent, and Nerys only looked at him deeply. She could see his cheeks burning up under her stare. "Would you do me a favour and don't use 'Queen' so lightly?"

"A-Ah—hai! Sorry."

Nerys looked behind the boy then, finding her eyes staring at the door that just slid open.

The professor (a handsome guy named Pariston) entered the room then, he was with his floating glitters. Nerys watched as everyone took their seats, nonchalantly staring at Kurapika and Neon's backs in alteration... and shrugged.

Now that she's here, people would lose interest in them soon. They better be thankful.

The lesson went on, and on, and then ended, and Nerys Bloodsworth could barely recall a word. She was busy fantasizing her grand reunion with Killua. It was so exciting; she could feel his presence in the next building. Maybe she should go to him? But she went against it. It seemed too desperate. She was too good for that.

She kind of regretted promising Kalluto she'd be the one to have Killua guide her around the school, but meh. She wouldn't have found her so quickly if it wasn't for the siblings so she'd let it slide. Hence, she just went ahead with idling and mingling and feeling like the princess that she was... knowing full well her paths would meet her beloved's soon.

Killua, she mused with glee, I'll see you soon. You better be ready.


Two hours later, the bell chimed two times—signalling that the day's classes finally reached its end.

In the freshmen's building, Kalluto watched as everyone relax and began chatting about things she couldn't care less about. Her eyes gravitated at someone's movement, but she took her eyes off that small person—a guy around her height—and turned to look at her brother.

He was sitting beside her; they were finally together again.

Granted, he always hung around Alluka—then probably sleeping or playing with her new toys in their suite—but he was the brother she admired the most. Probably the only one she admired.

Because he was really the only one who had so much life in an estate filled only with death.

In any case, the long break time would be perfect for him to guide her around the school. And this almost made her smile. "Onii-san." She whispered and he turned to look at her, calm as always, partially interested in what she was about to say. "The school… I'm unfamiliar with it."

"I see…" He only mumbled and Kalluto couldn't quite tell if he got her implications. It was then he turned to look behind her, stoic but alert, and Kalluto followed his line-of-sight. It was a blonde who was smiling brightly.

"Hello, Kalluto-chan~!" She said. "I am Bisuke, nice to meet you!"

Kalluto thought she seemed to have had the assumption they were friends. The idea didn't really appal her (if anything, a part of her actually liked the thought) but this blonde had a horrendous timing. So, Kalluto stared and barely responded, hoping she'd get the message and leave.

"You're new here. So I'd take it upon myself to guide you."

"What?" She asked and then stared at her brother who was then staring—no, gaping—at the strange blonde who approached them. Kalluto mentally shook her head to stare at the blonde. "Sorry, but my bro—"

"You should go." He said with that usual apathetic tone of his, making her stiffen. "You should get along with as many people as you can."

She couldn't help but nod. It made sense after all, her brother's pretty much stuck with her now, and there was no harm in making new friends.

"Yay! I'm excited to walk around with a new girl." Bisuke squeaked (although Kalluto had her suspicions that she was squealing for a different reason entirely). "Shall we?"

She nodded and as she took a step, she paused for an instant to steal a glance of her brother—whose eyes met the strange blonde's—and it made her eyebrows furrow. What was that she saw in her brother's eyes?

Gratitude?

But as she got wisped away by their classmate, she saw her brother turn away from her—to look at someone she wasn't able to see, thanks to some random classmate blocking the view by accident—and she lost the willpower to react, and just let him face away from her as if he forgot her existence already.

It had been what she was doing her whole life, anyway.

Killua's cerulean orbs automatically gravitated towards Gon but he pulled it away to look at Kalluto, fearing what she saw. He watched her the whole time until she got completely taken away by Bisuke.

It was the first time he felt so grateful to the old hag.

His and Gon's eyes met. "I want to talk to you." He said and turned his eyes to Feitan, who was looking at them, before staring at Gon again. He felt guilty for having to ignore her. And he felt worse by being apart from her for so long.

But then Gon gave him a relieved smile and all his worries were washed away, and he mustered the courage to ask her to go somewhere.

And she agreed readily, and soon Gon and Killua ended up in another side of school, fearing those who knew them would see, and ended up on a nice willowing tree. It was very pretty, and it felt like wine the vine-like twigs it was welcoming them to climb up. And they did. (They both had a fondness of high places, after all).

He had to look away because Gon climbed up first.

"Listen." He said, clearing his throat. "I know you'd be hearing some rumors…"

"Is it true?"

He shook his head vehemently, eager to clear things up. "I never really saw her as my fiancé—I didn't even expect she'd be the one with Kalluto. It was an arranged marriage, one of the many reasons I ran." He paused to look at her, despite his ever-lying fear of how much he showed when their eyes met. "I…I don't even like her, you know."

"Oh." The moment he found the courage to look at her didn't last that long. He had to look away, because she was even brighter than usual.

But the beautiful tree they sat on, a tree that seemed to connect the sky and the earth, somehow managed to give him the courage to look at her again to admire just how beautiful she was, especially when her face was adorned with that pretty shade of pink and her eyes twinkling and dilated.

And then he wondered what it would feel like to finally tell her what he felt.

"Gon, I…" He began, but then he couldn't continue. It was humiliating how his throat just closed.

"Never mind." He said with a sigh. "I'll tell you soon. Just—"

He looks away, unable to contain the heat on his face. "Just don't look at any other man while I'm away."

Meanwhile, at some random relatively empty corridor in the school building, two very pretty girls stood firmly a meter apart.

"Who are you?" Kalluto said guardedly. She couldn't help but recall that short exchange of a glance and her instincts told her it wasn't a coincidence—her brother and this woman knew each other, and not just as acquaintances, and they worked together for something.

Was this something to get rid of her? She didn't really want to know.

"I told you, didn't I?" The blonde said in her usual squeaky voice. "My name is Bisuke Kruenger."

Kalluto frowned at this, deeply. She was not one to involve herself in pointless conversations. This was turning out to be one of them. "How close are you to my brother?"

"Well, we're classmates Kalluto-chan~"

Kalluto's eyes twitched at this and, ignoring the two other students who just passed by them, turned her hands into knuckles. She did not like being made a fool off and, she could almost feel Ren come out and at an instant she saw Bisuke flinch—

"Whoa what's with this atmosphere?"

Kalluto and Bisuke whipped their heads toward the intruder. It was a bespectacled ebony-haired man in a lab coat.

"Could it be a confrontation over a boy?" Then the air changed in a way that made him fear for his life. "WHOOPS." Women are scary.

"Go away old man." Bisuke did not disagree. The implications of this brat over another brat made her cringe a little.

It was around that time when a new wave of students were about to pass through that corridor, being the way towards the 'lawn of the elites' which meant the richest kids would be passing through there soon. It wasn't something Bisuke nor Leorio wanted to see or hear so the conversation ended. Kalluto was puzzled by this, but she shrugged in the end.

At least she wasn't going to get in a fight, after all.

Not that she wasn't ready in the first place.

But then she, too, ended up being passive. She sensed Nerys' aura. She didn't particularly like the girl, and she had thought she wouldn't have to deal with her until they get back to their apartment. "I think we should go now, Bisuke."

"I agree."

Leorio blinked, not knowing what just happened (they were suddenly getting along?), and then he just shrugged, mumbling Women before turning away.

For a moment, Kalluto's head spun on ideas on how to avoid a confrontation with her brother's fiancé. But then Nerys' presence seemed to approach them even quicker. Kalluto was startled and didn't move from position. Both Bisuke and Leorio could only stare in puzzlement at her sudden frozen state.

"Ora." A new voice, one that seemed to overpower all the chatters nearby, caught their attentions. "Where's Killua?"

"Nerys-san!" The boys huffed. "How quickly can you walk?"

"I think it's admirable."

"I think it's idol-worthy."

"Boys…, can you all go ahead before me?" She said eyeing the other few students going past them, only partially minding them as they passed by. "I just have to speak with my sister-in-law."

Bisuke stared. So this is the girl. She scoffed. Against Gon? Really, I thought Killua would do better.

Then her eyes met the Kou kid. Oh, she blinked, it's that Hanabusa brat.

"You."

"You know her?" Nerys asked, interested only because Kalluto was with her and not Killua, as she hoped (looks like she rushed there for nothing) "She's friends with Neon and Kurapika.

"And with your fiancé, too." He added as an afterthought. He was also about to add that cute girl he had hit on (before he found out she was monstrously strong) but Nerys seemed to be in her own world—staring at the younger blonde rather deeply so Kei kept his mouth shut.

"Oh so that's why he allowed her to guide me instead?" Kalluto even added, making Nerys frown all the more.

"I… see…" Nerys said, her emerald eyes eyeing Bisuke…, assessing her. And there were very few things strong and prideful women hated more than being assessed (or rather looked down upon,) by another woman.

And so, Nerys and Bisuke developed an automatic (and grave) dislike towards the other.

"Go ahead with the others Hanabusa-san." The Bloodsworth princess said without looking. "Be sure to save me a seat, okay?"

"A-Ah, yes of course!"

And the Hanabusa, along with his cronies, disappeared and soon enough the students walking through the corridor—all of whom gave them a passing curious glance—began disappearing deeper into the corridor as well.

Leorio meanwhile told himself he stayed because he smelled trouble brewing and as an (apprentice) faculty, he took it upon himself to watch over the women.

"You know Neon and Kurapika?" Bisuke asked with pseudo-sweetness that made Nerys frown.

"They're my classmates." She said coolly. "If you're a friend, I'm sure they mentioned that to you."

Bisuke frowned at this. Obviously this girl was trying to make her feel unworthy to be friends with the people who were as popular as she was. "Eh…" She said, maintaining her demure façade. "Neither Neon or Kurapika mentioned you."

And then she paused. "…seems like you weren't meant mentioning."

Leorio looked at the women alternately and he could practically see all the veins about to pop, and he feared their abilities to make themselves look pretty at the same time.

'Oh look.' Leorio almost voiced out. It was weird how unprofessionally blunt he was that day. Must be the energy drink he had to take. It's the clash of the vains.

Call him indecent, but he really wished he had some popcorn.

.
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END OF CHAPTER 16

Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 17: Confessions


REPLIES TO ANGELS

KG-Ai – I know, I know! I'm a sucker for the whole sweet-siblings thing. xD Alluka won't be showing up this chapter either tho.! Unfortunately, there's quite a bit of Nerys. Hehe. Anyway, glad you liked the story and thank you (and Reiji-san) for commenting!

Phoenix-Thunder – Thank you for reviewing! And yep, let us sob together esp. with quite a few bits of Nerys in here. Haha. Anyway, the whole Kuroro plan won't be showing up this chapter, but I hope it doesn't disappoint. Glad you liked the chap btw!

V - Here it is! Soo sorry I take so long. xD I hope this is worth the wait, and thank you for commenting!

Darlingfedz – Haha yay! How is work lately btw? :D Hope it's going fabulous! Ah, speaking of Leorio he's making a brief appearance here! Haha. Banzai! Hueheuheuehue And I am very happy you still like the story! *brohug

Maechixx – Thank you for reviewing and I'm happy you like the story! About Kurapika's endgame however, I can't say for sure, although I'm leaning towards Kuroro. xD Who do you want it to be? Just out of curiosity.

Guest [Jan 4 2015] (ch8) I feel you bro. xD I'll be adding a few more ship materials here and there. They're paired with *Toot* and *toot*, respectively, tho. XD

SernaJ – hehehe I am so glad you got this far and isn't bored at all, despite being a school life story! Thank you for reviewing, I am very happy that you did. :D

Saria Forest14(ch14) Thank you for reviewing! I am so glad to know that this story showed my improvement after all these years and I am thankful that you pointed it out. *hugs

00Misty - I am happy to know that my writing can make you feel that way! Haha. I hope I can keep it up, and thank you very much for the review! :D

Laine Klein – Thank you for reviewing! Here's the next chapter and I hope it's nice. And tell me if anything confuses you! ;D

Ms. Blueberry Muffin - *blushes* Thank you for the review! I'm flattered that you adore my writing and that you think I write the best HxH stories. xD Here's the next chap btw; I hope it doesn't disappoint.

Fingersofbone – Hihihi I'm really happy to know you're getting emotional due to the story and I'm even happier to know you're fond of my writing. xD Thank you for reviewing! *hugs*


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THANK YOU FOR READING FOLKS!

I hope you enjoyed this and that it's worth the wait,
and it will inspire me sooo much if you tell me your thoughts so far/abt the chapter! :D