"Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are."
-J.B.A-
CHAPTER 15: SEPTEMBER RAIN
The next day, a mighty rain graced Yorknew city.
In a luxury hotel suite, a blond teenager gazed out the windows with a sense of comfort. There were low rumbles of thunder echoing from the distance and the sound of raindrops gracing the window sills.
Contrary to the chilling weather outside, the atmosphere inside the room was rather warm and cozy. The blonde was surrounded by his three friends sitting quietly on the sofa, waiting for him to tell his story. The soft golden light from the fireplace reflected on their eager faces as they listened to him recounting his half a year journey.
This was a much-awaited reunion of the four and they had much to catch up on. On stormy days like this, one could easily get sentimental. The nature of this chilly, humid weather could effortlessly evoke people's needs to get close to each other and share their minds.
"A condition and a pledge?" The spiky black-haired boy tilted his head curiously.
"Correct." The blonde nodded with a faint smile. "Nen is a force heavily influenced by the psyche."
He extended his right arm for demonstration. As the surge of aura flooded into his body, chains materialized from thin air and neatly wrapped around his erected hand. The other three immediately gasped in fascination. Such a tremendous aura. This was no ordinary Nen.
"The weight of determination increases my power." He explained. "-But it comes with a risk."
The last statement got everyone's full attention. They unconsciously leaned forward, waiting for him to reveal the final bit.
"My pledge is not to use it on anyone outside the Phantom Troupe." He said. "-So the risk is that… in case I break my vow and go against someone else…"
"I'll lose my life." He casually added after a brief pause.
The air in the room suddenly turned dreadful. His friends broke out in cold sweats from the shocking truth they'd just learned, unsure of what to make of this information.
"The only reason I can talk about it is because it's you. But it shouldn't leave this room." He said, his eyes blazing with an unmistakable trust.
All he got in return was a peculiar silence. His friends apparently did not take it well. At last, a silver-haired boy abruptly stood up and glared at him furiously. "Why? Why did you tell us something that important?!"
"Killua!…" The spiky black-haired boy hesitantly touched his friend's arm in an attempt to calm him down.
"That's right. Why did I tell you?" The blonde held his chin, lost in thought as he reflected on his uncharacteristic move."-Maybe because the leader of the Troupe is gone. I felt reassured?"
"It sucks. There are some of them left, Kurapika!" Killua said impatiently.
"And one of them can read memories!" The silver-haired assassin added, his voice thick with dread. "-She only needs to touch someone to get the information she wants."
"You have no idea! Even if we refuse to talk, it's no use. If she was to discover your secret" He spat angrily. "- It'll be the end of it!"
Killua gritted his teeth in frustration. Why Kurapika decided to tell them something so fatally dangerous was a complete freaking mystery.
A soft beep from the phone in his pocket caught Kurapika's attention. He promptly unlocked the screen to check the incoming message.
The corpses were fake! –Hisoka
Kurapika's eyes widened in horror. "Fuck!"
Out in the street, the rain got heavier with every minute until everything became streaks of distorted colors obscured in the violent downpour.
Clandestia…
Clan…destia...
The teenage professor violently jolted up. She was currently in the bathtub. Her wet brown hair draped on her porcelain skin like a spider web.
Her amethyst eyes frantically darted around the spacious bathroom but she found nothing.
What was that?
She bolted out of the tub and grabbed a robe to cover herself up. Not bothering to dry her hair, she sprinted out and closed the bathroom door behind her, her drenched hair falling dishevel on her face.
She dragged herself to the bed on her shaking feet and slumped on the cold white sheet, clutching her thumping chest.
She took a deep breath and looked around in an attempt to calm herself. There was nothing spooky about her hotel room, just bright and cozy. It was luxuriously decorated with several lights and a big bright chandelier. A pleasant lavender aroma filled the room. Yet she did not feel the least bit reassured. That uncanny chilling sensation was still lingering at the back of her spine, coursing up and down her body in waves.
They're here. The grim reapers. They're watching!
There was no escape.
A sudden thunder roar tore through the sky. She crouched down holding her head, trying to burry a scream inside her mouth. Raindrops were smashing heavily on the window sills. Lightning flashed ominously, threatening to evoke another deafening thunder.
Clandestia….
This time, the voice rang clearly in her head.
Her eyes immediately made out several black figures lurking around the corners of the room.
Our child… Clandest…tia…
Soon they were floating above her head.
Her eyes instantly misted up and her body shook with agony.
The excruciating pain immediately sunk in. It was like her whole body and soul were being crushed and shredded into pieces.
She couldn't breathe and she just wanted to pass out.
This was how they love to torment her.
Somebody …Please! She silently prayed as tears rolled down her cheeks. An image of a certain someone flashed through her mind. Kurapika!
Right at the moment she was on the verge of losing her consciousness, something unbelievable transpired.
All of sudden, there was no more rain or thunder, no more eerie voices calling her.
There remained only an incredibly beautiful musical symphony.
She slowly opened her teary eyes and couldn't believe the scenery that appeared in front of her.
A vast, endless meadow was full of sunshine, millions of colorful flowers, and a gentle wind.
She stepped on soft green grass. No more pain. No more dread.
As the music came to be more apparent, she could smell the fresh fragrance of grass and flowers. She could even hear the birds singing along.
The surreal scenery and beautiful music notes touched the deepest part of her heart and mind.
For the first time in her life, she believed that she had seen heaven.
As the music gradually came to an end, everything slowly disappeared into thin air.
"Lady Clandestia." A soft female voice called her.
She realized that she was back in her hotel room. Someone with tiny hands was holding her face worriedly.
"Melody?" She asked in surprise. "-How did you get here?"
"I heard your frantic heartbeats so I came to check on you, Milady." The music hunter sighed.
"I…I heard some music notes." Clandestia exhaled, a little confused about what just happened. Her heart had calmed down for a while. Oddly she had forgotten all the pain that the grim reapers inflicted on her. There only remained the heavenly music still playing in her head.
"That was my Nen flute." Melody smiled, showing her a beautiful flute in her tiny hands. "-When I came in, you seemed to be in pain. So I played a piece to calm you down."
"So that was you." Clandestia smiled faintly. '-It was… incredible!"
"So you feel alright now?" Melody asked gently.
"Of course. Thank you, Melody!" Clandestia sat up, at last, feeling relieved.
Pleased by her answer, the music hunter smiled at her affectionately. "Then I guess, I should go now."
As Melody was about to pivot her steps, a dainty hand suddenly reached out and tugged on her tiny arm.
"Wait." The teenage professor hurriedly said. In fact, she still feared being left alone at this moment. She didn't want to face the grim reapers again.
Melody turned around with a surprised look but sensing her young boss' insecurity, she quickly asked. "Yes, Milady?"
"I have an idea." Clandestia smiled.
At the end of the hallway where the Nostrade accommodated in Hotel Beitacle, there was a mini auditorium with a grand stage. This avenue was for events and performances and at this time of the night, usually, no one would visit it.
On this gloomy rainy night, the place was unexpectedly filled with elegant piano sounds.
From the mighty blow of the few first gentle narrating chords, the journey of the symphony led to more troubling, fervent notes, building, and twisting.
Sonata quasi una fantasia. It was a popular classical piece. The more well-known name was Piano Sonata No.14 or …the Moonlight Sonata.
Sitting side by side on the white grand piano on stage, two pairs of hands, one long and dainty, one tiny and chubby, danced across the long white keyboards in an enthusiastic duet.
The music hunter occasionally glanced at her duet partner with delight twinkled in her eyes.
Her companion, the young girl in her nightgown, was completely immersed in playing the notes. Luminous amethyst eyes shone brightly like stars in the night.
Melody sighed contentedly and let her little fingers dance the rhythm to the end.
When their hands finally came to a halt, they both looked at each other and laughed heartily.
"I'm surprised, Lady Clandestia." Melody exclaimed. "-That was good."
"Not at all." Clandestia shyly touched the back of her head. '-It was super hard just trying to keep up with you."
"Technique is not everything, Milady. It's the feelings that count. I can clearly feel your enthusiasm conveyed into the piece." The music hunter smiled. "-And you should believe me. I've been in this business all my life."
"Well, maybe because this is my favorite piece. I can really relate to it somehow." Clandestia smiled wryly.
"Hmm, I see. The piece does seem similar to you actually." Melody noted.
"How so?" The teenage professor asked curiously.
"Heartbeats are like musical pieces to my sensitive ears. I can hear people's feelings." Melody explained. "In your case, I hear a deeply tranquil and nurturing rhythm. A really pleasant rhythm!"
The music hunter tilted her head as if deep in thought.
"But… I also sensed a profound solitude buried underneath it." She added after a short pause.
"Oh, is that how it seems?" Clandestia sighed.
"You know, I really like talking to you. You have ways to make others feel relaxed and I gain new insight every time. Thank you, Meldody!" She said with sincerity filling her eyes.
"I'm glad it helps." Melody smiled.
"Actually… there's another thing I really wanted to say but I don't know how you'll take it." The young professor said hesitantly. "The Nostrades, like most mafia families, are full of misdeeds and vices."
"But Neon… I hope you guys don't resent her too much." She added somberly.
Strangely, Melody wasn't surprised as she calmly waited for the girl's confession.
"I can't open up to Kurapika about this since he might take it the wrong way." Clandestia confessed softly. "-But with you, I feel like you'll understand it somehow."
"I'm not trying to defend her but... Neon wasn't always selfish like that." She added sadly. "She's just an unfortunate girl at the merciless wheel of fate. And if anything… it's me that was the real bad guy!"
The young professor closed her eyes in agony as she forced herself to finish the last sentence.
"What do you mean?" Melody asked in utter confusion; her voice was full of concern.
"Let's just leave it at that, please." Clandestia murmured, feeling drained of all energy.
Melody sighed and put a hand on the young girl's shoulder.
"Okay, I think you should get back to sleep now, Milady!" The music hunter smiled gently. The relationship between Clandestia and Neon turned out to be much more complicated than she thought. It's undeniable that the two sisters share an incredibly strong bond. At the same time, there seems to be a dark secret lurking between them. Some outrageous, unsettling secret. But it was not her place to pry any further.
As Melody and Clandestia found their way back into their own rooms, the night was ceasing. The rain had subsided and everything was calm and silent.
Little did they know that the following days of September would turn into a restless chase.
A/N: Well, I have to admit this is one of my least favorite chapters. But still, I have to do it to follow the original storyline.
As always, please share your thoughts about the chapter by hitting the review button, guys! It'll help me a lot. Thank you!
Yonah7: Yes, Neon is terrible but there's a reason why. I'll explain in further chapters =)