Disclaimer: I do not own HunterxHunter, nor do I profit commercially from these writings.
Author's Note: It seems that people have come to anticipate all of my chapters as humorous. Unfortunately, this one is not a comedy. This is an insight on Noah and the Solomon Ring.
ABC Series
I IS FOR INHERITANCE
The temple of Ryuusei-gai. The place was off-limits to the residents of Ryuusei-gai, but it was an open property for his family. He wondered about it, and pondered about it. His siblings didn't seem to question it, exploring the temple to their hearts' content. But Noah was perplexed. Even when the first time his parents brought him to the temple, he felt like he had been there before. There was something so…familiar. Endearing.
Noah stopped. Before him stood his father, his back towards him and his hands in his pockets. Father was cloaked in his customary attire; white shirt, black blazer, black pants, and black shoes. Mother often teased him whenever he was in this attire; she would playfully call him 'pompous bastard'. Not the most elegant word; but then again Mother was never into elegance like Father. In fact, Noah suspected that Mother stayed away from elegance because Father was elegant.
"Father."
"Noah."
The greetings done, they stood together facing the temple of Ryuusei-gai in comfortable silence. The sun was low on the horizon, bathing the entire city and the temple in golden. The family was on another visit to Ryuusei-gai, and Father had summoned him here to this very spot. When they departed, Mother had thrown Father a knowing glance; it would seem that there was necessary business to be done between him, Father, and the temple of Ryuusei-gai. It would seem to be the purpose of this visit. Mother never did like visiting Ryuusei-gai very much, after all. This had to be important for her to insist on coming along.
After a while, Father turned around and looked him over. He scrutinised him, as if searching for something in him before he made his decision. Noah tried not to fidget under the scrutiny, but found it hard to accomplish. Father hardly scrutinised his children. He would often do it with people to the point of creepiness (as Mother once described it), but not with the children. He only did that when he was going to make monumental decision regarding them, and it was never predictable—either he was going to kick them off the proverbial cliff, or he was going to give them an early Christmas present.
Father took out his right fist and held it towards him. When Noah's eyes were on the fist, Father slowly uncurled his fist.
The Solomon Ring sat on the palm of Father's hand, its brass body gleaming wickedly under the light of the falling dusk.
"You know why you are here."
Noah pressed his lips.
"Yes."
Being presented with the Solomon Ring in such manner, of course Noah knew. When he looked at the circumstances; there was only one reason why he was being summoned here to the Temple of Ryuusei-gai alone without his twin, and only in the presence of his father.
Father had chosen him to inherit the cursed ring.
"Can you hear it, Noah?"
Noah narrowed his eyes as he stared critically to the cold brass ring resting on his palm. He could hear it. He had always been able to hear it.
Master…
For a long time, he could hear them.
Master… Back… Late… back… wish. Say. Master say. Us. The wish. Tell us. Wish. Master. Youareback. Late.
Faintly, he always heard them. They were distracting, like a buzz inside his head that he could not get rid…
Mastertellusyourwish…
Whispering, beckoning…
Yourwishyourwishweshallmakeyourwishcometruetellust ellustellustellus—
"Noah."
He blinked. He looked to Father, and then back to the ring.
"Don't listen to them."
He nodded silently. He was almost drowned in the whispers. Again. The demons, they were clawing at his consciousness. They were trying to claw their way out of the ring. Out into the open. To be free. Free through him.
"Are you ready to take it?"
The words were firm, but Noah could hear the underlying soft tone of concern. His father was concerned for him. Worried for his sanity. He wondered how his father managed to keep his sanity intact, with the whispers always on the edge of his consciousness, on the back of his mind. Persistent. Relentless. Maddening.
Noah shook his head in negative. He felt ashamed, but he knew he had to be truthful. The Solomon Ring could not be in the hand of someone with weak mind and spirit. Mother and the Old Lady Hatsubaba had told him that many many times. His mind was still weak, his spirit vulnerable. He was not ready to take on this responsibility.
A hand rested gently on the crown of his head.
"I was 29 when I inherited the ring. There is nothing to be ashamed of if you're not ready. You are only 18."
His father always knew. His father always understood.
Noah nodded again, this time deeper and heartfelt. Grateful.
"What about Grandmother?" He asked quietly. He had been told the history. Had been told about his father's mother, the previous master of the Solomon Ring.
…
"Your Grandmother wasn't human." There was hesitance when his father said it, but there was no deceit. His father was telling the truth. Noah suspected that this was a case of a slip of tongue—Father wasn't supposed to tell him this. Noah smiled. Mother would be furious at Father.
"Are you?" Noah asked him softly.
"Not exactly." His father answered with a shrug, uncaring in his attitude.
"Am I?"
"You are my son. And so are Meta and Sarai."
Conclusion: He and his siblings were not exactly humans.
"Mother?"
Another pause. Another hesitance. Or was it uncertainty?
"She is as human as she can be."
Father wasn't certain.
"Big Sister?"
"Bia is human." There was confidence in the tone. Bia was completely human. She wasn't their biological sister then.
Noah nodded. It didn't matter. Humans or not, they were family and family was precious.
…
His father snorted at his question.
"She was probably a few centuries old when this ring came to her."
Silence descended between them. Father broke it when he turned around and gestured at him to follow.
"Come."
Obediently, Noah followed him. They entered through the front gate of the temple, passing certain rooms almost ceremonially. Noah wondered if his father was doing this purposely, he wondered if this was the ritual. They went through the temple ground, and entered the forest beyond the temple. Noah could feel the beasts residing in the forest observing him critically from the distance, as if studying him to determine his worth. It was unnerving.
"Father…"
"Hm?"
"When the time comes for me to inherit the ring from you…Will I have to do it like how you did to Grandmother?"
Father's footsteps faltered for a second, before he composed himself and continued walking as if Noah's question had not unsettled him at all.
"No. You will not have to kill me to inherit the ring, Noah."
Noah breathed a furtive sigh of relief. He had dreaded it for a second. He was so preoccupied with his relief that he almost missed his father's soft muttered words that followed:
"I wouldn't put my son through the same torture that I had to suffer…"
Greetings, Kuroro Lucifer.
"Greetings, Lady. It has been a while."
Indeed. The Lady of the Lake tilted her head ever so slightly. I see that you bring someone else with you. Your son, I presume?
"Indeed." His father answered politely. There was respect in his voice, as well as wariness.
The similarity is uncanny. I feel like I am looking at you from decades ago. The Lady smiled with fondness. She liked Father.
"My gene is strong in him. So is Isthar's."
The Lady fell into contemplative silence, the air around her curious and…wistful. Immensely. She was close friend with Grandmother then.
It is as you say. I see Ishtar in him. The Lady turned to Noah fully. Come closer, child. Allow me to look at you closely.
Noah turned to his father, and received a nod. He stepped forward with firm steps, although he was reluctant to leave the protectiveness of his father's back. The Lady floated further from her lake, hovering at the edge while bending down from the waist so that her face was closer to his. Noah stood his ground. The Lady was safe. She meant no harm.
What is your name, child?
"Noah Lucifer Kuruta, Lady." Noah gave a polite bow.
Impeccable manner. I am impressed, Kuroro. There was mirth in the Lady's voice, as if she was teasing Father.
His father merely shrugged. The Lady's smile grew softer.
What is the purpose of this visit? I do not think this is a social visit, nor is it a visit to simply introduce your brood to me. You never brought your children to me for introduction before, although I would love to meet the rest of your offspring. The Lady asked as she drew back, and Noah took the opportunity to return to his post slightly behind his father.
"I am the fifth master of the Solomon Ring. He shall be the sixth." His father said succinctly.
The Lady's body language was tense for a moment. There was surprise and shock on her features, which soon morphed into that of…anger? Indignation?
He is but a youngling!
"I am not giving him the ring now, my Lady. I am merely introducing the next successor to you. Call it a precaution, if you must." His father said lightly, as if the implication behind those words did not disturb him in the slightest.
You say it as if you have planned your demise early. The Lady said after a contemplative silence, voicing out Noah's thoughts.
"Death is part of life, my Lady. You are well aware of that. Death comes like a thief, swooping down on unsuspecting victim without prior notice. I would not risk leaving the Solomon Ring without a master because of sheer recklessness and lack of foresight."
The Lady was quiet for a while before she spoke again in a soft voice.
You expect me to look for him in the unlikely event that you perish before passing the ring to him.
Noah could not hold back the shudder. Unconsciously, he inched closer to his father, as if to ensure that he was indeed there physically and alive. That he was not going anywhere soon.
"Unlikely, indeed, but not improbable. I am unwilling to take the risk." His father said firmly, his voice allowing no argument.
Very wise and responsible of you. Ishtar would be immensely proud of you, Kuroro. The Lady smiled gently, and her visage seemed to glow brighter. Depart with your spirit at ease, my boy. I have seen your son's spirit, and so I will seek him out when the unfortunate happens.
"My gratitude, Lady." Kuroro bowed in respect, and Noah followed the example.
And likewise you have my gratitude for upholding your duty to the fullest. Now go. I fear that poor Anansi might not be able to fend off Kurapika any longer.
There was a laugh in the Lady's voice. It surprised neither him nor his father to hear that his mother was trying to trespass into the temple ground for the sake of checking out on them. Noah saw his father rolling his eyes with a fond smile on his face—it wasn't a secret that Father thought it cute when Mother worried about him or the children so much.
Noah followed his father as they turned around to walk towards the temple. Noah could feel that his father's mind was at ease but Noah's heart was heavy. He did not like the Solomon Ring. It burned his mind. The prospect of him becoming the master of the ring, guarding it alone until the end of his lifetime, was dreadful. He didn't want the ring. He didn't care for the promises that it offered him.
Because when he finally inherited the ring, that would mean that his father had died.
Noah hated the Solomon Ring.
Author's Note: Kuroro was being paranoid, Noah decided that he despised the Solomon Ring, and poor Anansi had to take on the role of a bouncer against an antsy Kurapika. Reviews please!
And by the way, kicking someone off the proverbial cliff is referring to the old saying that lions kick their cubs off the cliffs to teach them survival and independence. And don't you feel for poor little Noah? I'd try to destroy the goddamn ring first if I were him.