Chapter Two
Holier Than Thou
"Aren't you going to ask me something?" Kurapika asks bitterly, shifting in his seat on the airship Pakunoda has managed to commandeer. They fly east, towards the blinding sunrise.
"Like what?" asks Kortopi from behind his wall of hair. Kurapika prefers the name Mop-Man.
"Like why he killed Uvogin!" shouts Nobunaga.
"Nobu, we're in a closed space. Calm yourself," Franklin says.
"Hisoka hired him. Right?" Shizuku blinks at Kurapika.
She seems so innocent.
"I'm not an assassin." Kurapika looks at his hands. He isn't, right? He's not like the Zoldycks. "There's…plenty of stories about the people you've massacred. My friends were among them. I wanted to keep you from hurting others."
"I see." Pakunoda frowns.
This woman unnerves him more than anyone else. One touch, one use of her power, and he's done for. Feitan will remove his eyes and teeth and probably skin.
He's not sure why Chrollo hasn't ordered her to interrogate him yet.
He's not sure why Chrollo isn't giving orders, period. Isn't he a tyrannical thief with no regard for humanity?
"We don't only kill," Shalnark says merrily, as if they were discussing the weather, as if their Danchou is his older brother. "You'll see."
"Where are we going?" Bonolenov asks.
Are we there yet? Kurapika mimics in his head. Bono bears the classic holes of the Gyunyandond people. How could someone from a fellow a disenfranchised tribe kill the Kurtas?
"Meteor City," says Chrollo.
Finally speaking again, I see, Kurapika thinks.
"Rumor is a Chimera Ant has ousted the Council of Elders."
"Good riddance," says Phinks, ever obnoxious.
"A Chimera Ant?" Machi asks slowly. Kurapika hates her, because he almost likes her, and she's his enemy.
"Yes. An ant that takes on the likeness of whatever it eats," Chrollo explains.
"In what dusty encyclopedia did you read that?" Shalnark teases.
Chrollo smiles, though his tone remains grim. "It seems they've eaten humans. And are building an army of the inhabitants of Meteor City."
Feitan sucks in his breath. He grips his sword.
"I take it back," mutters Phinks.
Kurapika's eyes widen. Just slightly.
Don't tell me you all actually …
…
…care.
"Hisoka, you had to know this was a possibility," Illumi says, ever nonchalant. He sips his coffee, which he has ordered for himself and Kalluto at this seedy Yorknew Bar.
Hisoka, meanwhile, is chugging beer.
"I wasn't counting on that angel of self-righteous indignation sacrificing himself," Hisoka says. "He usually minimizes risks."
"He sought out the Phantom Troupe," Illumi replies. "I don't think he minimizes risk."
"Maybe I should fight him, too," Hisoka murmurs with an eerie grin. He moans. "No. Only Chrollo will do."
Is it Hisoka's imagination, or do Illumi's dark eyes flicker?
"You sound like Milluki obsessing over the latest collectible," Kalluto says.
"Chrollo is my favorite toy," Hisoka says. "Sounds apt. I like this brother, Illumi."
"Gon is not your favorite toy?" Illumi would be happy if Gon died. Then he could have Killua back. Then Killua's love wouldn't be distracted from him.
"I don't think you can kill Chrollo. Not even Dad would," says Kalluto.
"I spoke to soon. I don't like you, kid." Hisoka snorts. His voice rises. "I can kill him and I will. He – "
Illumi glares at him. If you say he turns you on, I will castrate you.
Hisoka coughs. "He excites me so much, Illumi."
Illumi is appreciative for Hisoka's self-restraint in the presence of Kalluto. That's not a feeling he has often.
"I want to join the Troupe," Kalluto adds.
"What?" Both Hisoka and Illumi turn to stare at the kid.
"Between you, Killua, and this one, this one might actually be the most fucked up." Hisoka rubs his eyes.
"You haven't met Alluka or Milluki yet." Kalluto smirks.
Illumi pales at the mention of Alluka. "Kalluto, explain yourself?"
"There's an extra space, right? Because you and Uvogin are gone." Kalluto nods. "It will teach me assassin skills, Illu."
"You're not joining," snaps Illumi.
"Aw, afraid of abandonment?" Hisoka teases.
"It's not good for assassins," Illumi says automatically.
"How so?" Kalluto challenges.
Illumi blinks. "Because it's not."
Don't leave me alone.
"You're such a killjoy, Illumi." Kalluto chugs his coffee and storms out of the bar.
"Let him go. He'll be back," says Illumi, to Hisoka's unease.
Because an hour later, Kalluto still hasn't come back.
Kurapika is stunned by Meteor City. For such a beautiful name, Meteor City is hideous. The putrid odor of rot infects his nostrils. The humid air sticks to him like a disease.
Scrawny children run through heaps of rubbish.
"Give me your stuff!"
Kurapika leaps in surprise at the gaunt boy pointing a rusted screwdriver at him.
"We'll give you something better," says Franklin from behind Kurapika.
An apple. The kid looks like he's about to cry.
"I don't need your handouts."
"You do," Kurapika says.
"No!" he runs off, and Kurapika is held back by Machi.
"He was probably trying to score points with his friends by fighting us. We're rather well-known here."
"But he needs food," Kurapika says.
"Yes," says Feitan. "Welcome to Meteor City."
Bonolenov steps closer to Kurapika. "It took me a while to get used to this place, too, Kurapika. Not the fields and forests of our childhood, eh?"
Kurapika gapes at him, but Bonolenov has already moved away.
"Milluki, I need your help," Killua snaps into the phone. Leorio, Gon, and a friend of Kurapika's named Melody pace inside their cramped hotel room.
"Me?" Milluki's disbelief is palpable.
"It's a long story." Killua sighs. "My friend Kurapika just joined the Phantom Troupe, but the person he kicked out is furious and wants revenge, and that person has hired Illumi and Kalluto!"
"Okay," Milluki says slowly, trying to follow.
"The point is, I need you to help me track Illumi so my friends and I can intercept and stop them."
"What makes you think I can track them?" Milluki asks, stuffing a cookie into his mouth. Sugar makes him feel happy. Hopeful. When he was younger, Mother wanted him to be "sweet like Illumi," so he forced himself to eat sugar and more sugar because he thought that would make his personality sweet.
"You sound suspicious," Killua says sharply.
"I am. Who told you about the needle?"
Killua freezes. Gon and Leorio turn their worried gazes to him. "What needle?"
"Oh dear," says Milluki. "Forget it!"
"No." Killua's anger and fear builds. "What needle, Milluki?!"
A hall of moaning ants, paralyzed from fear, tears across Kurapika's expectations. Victims, former humans turned into monsters.
And by the door stands a green chimera guard, with long golden fags and thin limbs. A tuft of black hair sits on its exoskull.
The entire crowd, from the victims to the guard, frightens Kurapika – and he finds himself more frightened because he's frightened. Kurtas look different, too – why should he judge ants?
"Come over here, and I'll teach you babies how to fight," scoffs the ant.
"Will you?" Chrollo asks calmly.
"Don't acknowledge a brat like him," Kurapika suggests. To his surprise, Chrollo nods.
The ant lunges for Kurapika, who narrowly dodges.
"Why aren't you taking on the queen, Chrollo?" Kurapika demands.
"Feitan can handle himself." Chrollo teleports the ant towards Kurapika.
"You don't trust me to fight alone." Kurapika isn't using his chains; he can't, after all. The ant is not a troupe member. He merely summons them, without using a single link.
"Would you?" Chrollo looks away, drawing the ant closer to him. "You may be a member of the Spiders, but not yet. You killed my friend."
He teleports the ant again, but Kurapika misses with his chains, as if he wasn't even trying. Chrollo's gnawing suspicions grow.
My friend…
Kurapika winces. "I did not think a leader of infamous thieves would be so sentimental."
"Prepare to encounter more surprises, then." Chrollo turns to the crowd of moaning, miserable ants. Former citizens of Meteor City. No, still citizens.
Chrollo hates to use multiple abilities in a fight, but right now, it may be necessary.
"Order Stamp," he says, looking towards them.
"What are you doing?" Kurapika's voice rises.
"Think of these ants as puppets. They can fight for us."
There it is. Kurapika is grateful for his contacts, because his true irises are bright scarlet right now.
You may look human, Lucilfer, but you too are a monster.
"No, I have a better idea."
"Stealth Dolphin." Kurapika conjures a small dolphin, to Chrollo's amazement. The dolphin flies towards the ant and pricks it before it has a chance to react.
"What?!" The ant thrashes about.
Stealth Dolphin returns with a syringe of aura for Kurapika.
"He borrows abilities," Kurapika explains.
"Like my book," Chrollo holds up Bandit's Secret.
"No, I only borrow. I can return the hatsu any time I wish," Kurapika replies, injecting himself with the needle.
"Ah, so you're holier?" Chrollo asks, darkly amused.
"I didn't say that!" Kurapika conjures a hatsu whip and sends the ant sprawling.
Chrollo conjures Fun, Fun Cloth and shrinks the ant down to true ant size.
He tosses it on the floor and crushes it beneath his heel.
Kurapika looks grave.
Why do you kill people who have nothing to do with you? His friend's voice echoes in Chrollo's mind.
But it's different right now. This is his city. The ants have very much to do with him.
"Let's find Feitan," Chrollo says.
"Wait." Kurapika approaches a sobbing man-dog.
"Please," begs the man, "kill me. I'm a freak."
As Chrollo watches, Kurapika seizes the man's hand. "A long time ago, I was branded a freak, too, sir."
"You look just fine!"
"I disguise myself. People wanted to kill me for my looks. And then they killed all the freaks like me and I was the only one left." Kurapika's voice catches.
Chrollo feels very, very unsettled. No wonder Kurapika would respond so violently to the deaths at the auction, then. Memories, and suspicions, claw his mind.
Kurapika points to a small girl who appears to be half bat. "Doesn't she matter?"
The dog-man hesitates.
"Then you do, too. If one person matters, everyone does." Kurapika wipes his eyes. "Rebuild your life. Don't every give up. Please."
"I never had one," says the man.
"Then make one," says Chrollo, and Kurapika begrudgingly notices how the man brightens merely being addressed by a Phantom Troupe member.
These thieves and murderers truly are hope to Meteor City.
Kurapika rises to his feet. "Are you gonna be okay?"
The man nods, and Kurapika feels Chrollo's hand on his shoulder.
"You were disappointed that I killed the ant," Chrollo says as they pass through the door, on their way to Feitan.
"It had to die. But I…pitied it."
"But you did not pity Uvogin." Chrollo hesitates. "What were his last words?"
"He killed my friends. Their names were Baise, Ivenkov, Shachomono." Kurapika inhales. "I'll never know their last words."
"So lives are more valuable when you know them?" Chrollo tilts his head. "I wish you had joined us sooner, then, and known Uvogin."
"No…just more valuable to me." Kurapika hangs his head. Chrollo stops walking – because he must have that much faith in Feitan, to take the time – and stares at him.
"Welcome to the Troupe, from one freak to another," says Chrollo quietly, watching every tic and squirm on the newcomer's face.
He can't restrain an impish grin. "…But if you wanted to hate me, you should not care if I damn myself with my actions, dear Kurapika."
"Screw you!" Kurapika exclaims, and to their surprise, both men laugh.