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CHAPTER 17: Trust

"Just don't look at any other man, okay?"

Killua maniacally scratched his head at the recollection of that. What was he thinking?! So embarrassing—

Besides, what if Gon didn't get the implications (totally possible) what if she'd take it literally? And that would raise certain questions to the others, and he'll be in an even more embarrassing position.

The school bell rang before she could reply anything to his request. By her expression he'd guess at the time she was still absorbing what he said.

"Do you have dandruff?" "Or lice?"

He flinched and robotically turned his head to the sister that was suddenly standing behind him. When he told her he needed to go to the rest room, he didn't think he'd have to tag 'alone' with the statement.

If Kalluto noticed the sudden stiffness—the change from his relaxed stance to the stoic one—she didn't say anything.

What she did comment on about, however, was the light scowl on his face. "I didn't want you out of my sight for so long again, onii-chan." She said. You can't get rid of me so easily.

"What if I had to go again?"

"Will you use the small window to escape?" She asked in a way that told him she'd be so very indignant if he said yes. He was tempted to do so, but that would've been out-of-character for the Killua that Kalluto knew.

So he sighed and continued walking back to the classroom. His eyes—as always—ended at Gon, having to force himself to pull it away before it was too late. Then his eyes ended up on Bisuke, who was somewhere in his line-of-sight, and he remembered the odd aura surrounding both Kalluto and Bisuke when they returned after lunch break.

Maintaining his uninterested façade (which really wasn't hard—all he had to do was remember how his facial muscles work before he met Gon), he looked sideways at Kalluto as they sat in their respective seats. "Anything happen when Bisuke took you around the school?"

"Well I found out you decided to work together to get rid of me." She said a matter-of-factly, and Killua's eyebrow rose on its own.

So that was why she was being a little clingier than usual.

"And we also met Nerys," Kalluto added which in turn made his eyebrow furrow. "She and Bisuke didn't get along well."

That was too easy to imagine. And he was also a renewed sense of gratitude to Bisuke because she also saved him the headache of meeting the Bloodsworth. And at her own expense, too.

"Bisuke also said she was your girlfriend."

He had no idea what expression was on his face at that moment. It took him a lethaly-long three seconds before he could respond.

"…what?!"

Everyone whipped their heads at him by reflex, but then they only stared in puzzlement for a second until they realized it was him—the usually stoic Zoldyck—who exclaimed. Kami-sama forbid him to sound like a normal person.

He face-palmed his head and decided to keep quiet. But then Kalluto asked if it was true or not and he almost yelled hell it is but something light hit the back of his head. He ended up turning his head to Bisuke who shrugged, but one look at her fingers and he knew the small ball of paper came from her.

She gestured her head towards the door and, seeing as the professor wouldn't be there for another ten minutes, that meant they'd probably have a chat. He stood up then, sternly, avoided looking at Gon (because he'd buckle and he needed to appear unsympathetic), and told Kalluto he needed to speak with someone.

He went out the door and he was shortly followed by Bisuke. "What the heck was that old hag?!"

Her eyes twitched and he could see her hands forming knuckles but all she did was punch him in her head, probably thinking it was too troublesome to have to pay for the broken ceiling if she did what she wished. Killua, seeing as Bisuke wouldn't be attacking him at the moment, composed himself. He crossed his arms defensively.

"Why?"

"Because that Nerys girl annoyed the hell out of me."

He couldn't help but give her a disbelieving but very pointed look. "That's it?"

"Oh for goodness' sakes no—how old do you think I am? Seventeen?" She said with a scowl, stepping forward to decrease further their chances of getting eavesdropped. "I thought it'd be better if I sway away her attentions from Gon—that is why you're not hanging around with us, right?"

"But—"

"Remember that Hanabusa brat? He's one of Nerys' followers. He somewhat revealed that we're friends, along with Neon and Kurapika, and it's just a matter of time before Gon's name comes out."

Then he was quiet. If it was for Gon…

But then he remembered what he dared say to her but now that Nerys was after him—and Bisuke was pretending to be dating him and—

Gon would think he's a hypocrite.

She'd hate him!

The mere thought made his stomach feel like it dropped all the way to the floor.

Then he heard a sigh. "You can just explain it to her."

Oh. Right.

But still

Bisuke sighed again, but this one's a lot more annoyed. "You should seriously trust that she knows you more than you give her credit for, you brat."

He scoffed and then looked at her nervously. "We… don't have to act like a couple do we?"

Both their eyes twitched at that, and both of them really wanted to puke. "No way." "That'd be out-of-character for you."

What a relief. It would've been very troublesome if Gon had to see that.

"Professor Satostu's already here—"

Both Bisuke and Killua's heads turned to the newly arrived Gon, who was then eyeing their proximity, and they stepped away by reflex. Bisuke shrugged and gave him a quick pat on the back before walking to Gon for an awkward nod. Killua watched her as her eyes followed Bisuke as she walked past her.

He wanted to know what she was thinking. But most importantly he didn't want her to misunderstand. So as he walked to Gon, who was turning to the door again—without looking at him—he ended up grabbing her arm.

"Gon—"

And before he knew it, his lips were accidentally touching her cheek. Despite himself, he delved into the feeling of her breath against his skin.

But the moment he realized what he's done his eyes widened and he stepped back and she stared at him. "W-W-We should get back in." And then he walked back to the classroom. Not because he wanted to appear cool, but simply because he was pretty sure he'd do something more embarrassing later on.

And as he entered, a second or so after Bisuke, he tried his best to push down his wild blush. But judging by Kalluto's almost gaping expressing it meant he didn't succeed enough to escape her eyes.

And yet..., at the moment he couldn't find it in himself to care.

Satostu hadn't even finished a section of his discussion yet when Nerys Bloodsworth barged into his classroom. Judging by her poise, she seemed to have walked there (along with her entourage) with the pace and grace of a princess.

"So you were the one approaching?" Killua mumbled and this made Nerys' eyes twitch.

He never even bothered trying to remember her presence!

Bisuke grinned. "Ouch."

Nerys whipped her head to look at her rival, then. "You—" Then she looked at the stoic Killua. "Tell me you're not dating that ugly bitch when you have me!"

Ignoring Bisuke's sudden fire at the insult, Killua had to fight himself to avoid looking at Gon—and explaining to her everything—but the eyes he wanted her to be invisible to were too present. "Bisuke wasn't lying." He just said, and sent Nerys a glare for appearing and forcing him to do all these in the first place. "I just don't like you. Go away."

Everyone else shivered and gaped and watched in terror as Nerys' face turned redder and redder and she glared at Killua and at Bisuke in alteration. "Whatever you're playing—I don't buy it." She said with as much dignity as she could. And she sauntered away.

"A-Anyway…" Satostu-sensei mumbled as he held up a bundle of paper. "Drag your desks closer together by your partners." "Here's a quiz."

Feitan stared at Gon as she absent-mindedly dragged her desk to him. She was only a feet away from him then, but at the same time she was a mile away. Elbow on his table and knuckle lazily supporting his face, he called on to her.

"What was that about?" When she didn't answer, he used his free hand

"Hmn?"

"What was that about? With 'them'?" He repeated.

She shook her head and remembered the scene she saw when she called them in. "I wonder why he kissed me in the cheek earlier…" She mumbled, obviously not knowing she was saying so out loud, and the energy seemed to have seeped out of her all of a sudden. This made Feitan frown.

"That bastard."

"Hmn?"

He only sighed. "Nothing." He said and pointed at the paper in front of them. "We studied this before." "Answer it." It'll distract you nicely.

"Feitan…"

"Remember what I told you after you chose to go with Killua at the ball?" He whispered and he saw her gulp in nervousness.

"..yeah."

"That still stands."

After looking deeply at him, she looked back down the paper, and really did let it distract her some more.

Feitan truly wanted to punch that silver-head in the face. It was after class already and he was just walking across the corridor when he saw the bastard's younger sister facing the windows. He ended up stopping beside her and following her line-of-sight.

The girl—who was surprisingly a few inches smaller than he was—was watching her brother and the blonde from afar, who was emotionless while his companion looked like she was walking alone. They were talking occasionally, but nothing else. He wondered what they were playing at.

"I couldn't imagine my brother in love with anyone." She said, without looking at him. "I don't get what he sees in Bisuke."

He shrugged. It wasn't the first time people suddenly told him personal things out-of-the-blue. He guessed it was because of the cold and apathetic atmosphere around him that made people feel like they could tell him anything. Not in that sappy sense, but rather similar to when one's telling their deepest secrets to a tree.

"I thought at first they were just planning something again. But then I saw him give an expression never saw him wear before. I didn't even think he could do that."

Feitan was sure the person who caused that expression was not Bisuke.

"TSK."

Kalluto turned her head to him. "What?"

But he didn't say anything so all he did was shrug.

It was several moments later that he felt her presence—a presence that he found himself looking for every single day. One'd think he'd be fed up, after being rejected, but he only looked at her more. He watched her as she walked in a daze, barely escaping bumping into pretty much everyone in her path.

He sighed and stepped into her path, spreading his legs a little farther apart for stability against the upcoming force that'd hit him.

"Oof—!" She touched her nose and stared at his face for a second until she realized he wasn't a column. "E-Eh?" She exclaimed. "Feitan?! I'm so sorry."

"You shouldn't walk around when you're mind's in another planet." He said, without looking away. How could he? When she was suddenly flustered because of him. "It's okay." He added softly, and remained oblivious to how the ebony-haired Zoldyck was watching them. Gon blushed a little under his stare. "Gon…"

He placed his palm over her head, despite only being an inch smaller than he was. "What is it about that guy?" They had the same smell—him and that silverhead but only recently did he discover why. Unlike him, he wasn't going after two women. He'd only look at Gon.

And thinking of the view not too far below them, he looked at her deeply. "Perhaps it's time to reconsider your response."

And then he walked away.

"He likes you." Kalluto said out-of-nowhere. Gon looked at her and slowly nodded.

"Ah." "We're friends." Then she stiffened a little while looking at the view below. Kalluto, however, was intrigued by the interaction she just witnessed, and did not let her eyes stray away from Gon.

"You know I mean something different."

Gon stared at the younger girl. There were very few things she hadn't quite told her friends, and even fewer things that she managed to keep to herself without them figuring it out somehow. One of them was Feitan's confession.

All they knew was that she rejected his invitation to the ball, and she decided to keep it that way. Feitan was a strong, strong, man… and his feelings were something she had to treasure. Telling it to people who weren't involved felt like diminishing that value.

In the end, Gon smiled at the younger girl, and the well-controlled troubles in her stomach momentarily forgotten. "I do." "But we've already settled this. We decided to remain friends."

"Even when you rejected him?"

"Feitan-kun's really kind that way." She said. "He will find someone good for him soon." "He's a good man to love."

"You're only a little older than I am but you know so much." "I don't know how to love."

"You love your brother though. Isn't that why you followed him here?" Kalluto lifted her head to look at the taller girl.

"My brother…" "He had always been the brightest among us siblings. But regardless, back then he doesn't show emotions at all." She said and recalled his unusual expression with distaste. "It makes you weak."

"Showing how you react to things is weak?" Gon said softly but firmly and Kalluto only stared. "It's just being honest. It's liberating."

The younger Zoldyck stared at her. She vaguely noticed her presence—which was something as she rarely acknowledged anyone but her brother. She had a bright aura, an honest smile, a beam that made most people gravitate towards her, and Kalluto had the feeling she was the opposite of weak.

"Where does it go? Those feelings?" "When they're mutual, that is."

"Love leads to both sacrifice and gain. It is both giving and receiving—kindness, affection, honesty, trust…" She said. "And many many more I probably don't know yet—You should try."

"Try what?"

Gon smiled and patted her head. "Tell him how you feel." "Maybe you'd be the siblings you always want you two to be."

Killua was saw the atmosphere between Gon and Feitan during class and hell did he hate it. But he had to stop himself from throwing darts at the smaller man. But still—being thrown between two women he didn't particularly like while being away from Gon, who was subsequently getting closer to his biggest rival, had put him on an edge.

He and Bisuke went down the gardens to talk of a plan. All Bisuke told him was to tell Gon everything as soon as he could and believe she'd trust him not to worry (or, for that matter, fly to another man). But that meant pretty much confessing his feelings for her and it made his feet feel like pudding.

Bisuke coughed. "*cough*Sissy *cough*"

"Why you—"

"I see you two are having a what? A date?"

"Nerys."

"Dump her and I'll forgive you."

"Why would I need your forgiveness?"

"Because I'm your fiancé and despite what you think you are still a Zoldyck."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Hey. How did you find me anyway?"

"You think I'd tell you?" "Besides, Illumi-nii knew where you are way before we did. He didn't really say much though. We had to find exactly where you are ourselves."

Killua froze. What is he planning?

Nerys seemed to have been satisfied with shaking him a little and, once again, sauntered away. He could feel the electricity between the two women but he didn't care about that.

They really found him. And he realized there was only one way Nerys and Kalluto could've found him with minimal help from Illumi.

And then he realized. There was only one way:

Alluka

"You alright?"

"Ah." He said and sat on the nearest bench. Bisuke took it as a sign to leave him alone. He realized that meant alone with Gon.

"Ah, Gon." "He's all yours."

"What happened?"

They walked around, they neared the gardens nearby the storage building, a place almost no one but the gardener and some students waiting to be intimate went to.

"Ah…, well new trouble roused." He said, pushing that last thought aside.

"Did you break up?" He would've been relieved by that hint of hope in her eyes had he not been so ashamed.

"What? No—" "We're not a couple, okay?" "We're just… pretending."

"Why?"

"Because… Nerys annoyed Bisuke."

"That's it?" "Why?" "There's something else—"

"I didn't want them to see you. My family's too dangerous to know who are important to me." Then he flinched at the look on her face. "I'm just trying to protect y—"

"But Bisuke is allowed?"

"She's strong."

"That's why you're pretending to be a couple?" "Because you think I cannot take care of myself?"

Out of all the things he'd done—his lack of trust in her abilities was the one that angered her.

…and could he blame her?

"Gon, I—" But she was already turned away from him. And as he watched her walk away from him, frozen, he thought he'd hate him, too.

The storage building would find a pretty large crater on one of its walls a few seconds later.

.

.

END OF CHAPTER 17

Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 18: Confessions


REPLIES TO ANGELS

Faithyhetalia – Thank you for reviewing! I am super glad you liked the chapter..., and more KilluaGon indeed! Do enjoy this chap.

SlightlyYandereMelissa – Call me whatever you want! What shall I call you, tho? :D And lololol I agree. Leorio needs to appear more. I'll arrange that. Hahah. Anyway, thank you for reviewing! XD

SernaJ – Yes she is! She appears first in Two Rivers. And I understand. I'm too lazy to skim also. Lol. So...Nerys has short raven hair, green eyes, and that model aura. Huehuhue. Thx for reviewing btw!

Darlingfedz – Thanks for the review! xD Glad you liked the chapter. And no worries! Togashi is King of Hiatus. I will never dare be like him. Hahaha. Anyway, do enjoy this chapter~ and thx again for reviewing! :D

Dragonbooks – Awww shux *blushes* thank you for the lovely compliments and telling me that you enjoyed the story and why! I'm glad you liked the story, and I am very happy to know I'm doing well, esp. with those elements you've mentioned. Thx again, and I do hope you enjoy this chap!

Fingersofbone – haha congrats on passing the finals, then! I'm sure you did well. xD And I agree! Kalluto deserved more screen time. So now we'll give him fanfic time! Lelelel. And, of course, thx for reviewing! :DD

Panitaxchan – hahaha glad the chapter made you happy! Hope this one manages, too. Hehehe. Nerys vs Bisuke, banzai! xD. And thx for reviewing!

Phoenix-Thunder – Cardcaptor? How nostalgic...! And yep. Kalluto needs more screen time!—*takes popcorn from Leorio* *gives you some popcorn*— and screen time, she/he shall have! Lelele. And here's the next chapter! Hope you like it, and thank you for reviewing!

Nat. lixuan. Ong – Well, if she's so hated that means she's playing her part well. Haha. Glad you hate her, I'll try too deepen her character a little tho. xD Thanks for commenting, btw~! :D



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