A/N: Hello again everyone! This is the second chapter that got broken down from the previous, though it comes with that major event which I had mentioned about. It was actually fun writing this portion, because I had been anticipating for some time reaching the critical event that happens in this chapter as I have another major event planned out that will stem from it.
So much is going on, yet, we are slowly reaching the crucial point that will eventually bring this saga to a close. How events with the Succession War goes down won't end exactly in the same length of time that it does in canon, so it may seem shorter than it does in the manga (although it's incomplete) but should be no less satisfying.
And as usual, this chapter is also not beta'd. If there comes a time where SweetsDreamer can manage to proof it, I will update with a revised copy. Until then, it's as is.
Summary: After securing a new, but fragile, alliance with Third Prince Zhang Lei, he and Chrollo set out to forge a connection with the other royals by using Nen as a bartering chip. As they contend with multiple threats from several sources while trying to maintain a stalemate for their own protection, Kurapika finds out that doing so, in the way he had, turns out to be more than he bargained for.
Kurapika shifted uncomfortably on his feet, the dull throbbing in his head growing more noticeable as time went on. Even the slight tingling behind his eyes became harder to ignore as he could feel the stress of Emperor Time taking its toll. He winced slightly and then caught sight of Chrollo glancing at him in concern.
Hiding his condition was becoming harder to do, more so as the effects of the ability continued to increase noticeably.
If he kept it up for too long, there would be no way that he could stop the aftermath from making itself known.
He had to deactivate Emperor Time and soon.
"I don't mind, but didn't Benjamin and Tubeppa also contact you?"
The prince's words seemed to drown out amid the hazy sensation that Kurapika fought against, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was doing as the sound of his own heart thumped low in his ears. Kurapika grunted softly and tried to concentrate. "Yes, they did. Though it pains me to say this, but—"
A wave of Zhang Lei's hand quickly cut him off, and Kurapika fell silent. "It's fine. Some other time perhaps." The stout prince rose from his chair and rounded the table before standing in front of both men. His eyes swept over Chrollo before landing back on Kurapika. "Also," Zhang Lei resumed, "I heard that you're short-staffed as well?" The question was left to hang between them.
Others knowing there was a lack in their defenses made Kurapika wary as it gave them a potential edge, which could leave them exposed and in a dangerous position. Although he had managed to solidify the truce between them and Zhang Lei, it didn't mean they were entirely safe.
He, Chrollo, and Bill had to find a way to bolster their defenses to keep themselves effectively guarded.
"That is the case, unfortunately," Kurapika admitted, though reluctantly. "Nen Beasts decimated most of our men."
Zhang Lei clasped both hands behind his back and nodded. "Alright. I will send over two of my guards. You don't need to worry. They are skilled and will offer great advice."
Despite the grueling task they faced, receiving any help, even from a temporary alliance, was relieving. "Thank you," Kurapika replied to at least show his gratitude.
Such a show of good faith made Zhang Lei smile, and the prince glanced over his shoulder. "Sakata, Hashito! Guard Princess Woble until the next banquet."
The trek back to room ten fourteen was done in awkward silence; the rhythmic beat of their footfalls in the near-empty corridor only added to the nagging unease, especially now with a third guard in tow. One of Second Queen Duazul's men insisted on joining them, which seemed awfully strange and made Kurapika suspicious.
Along the way, Chrollo had attempted to subtly capture his attention a few times, but Kurapika surmised what his lover wanted and felt it was best to wait until they were alone. Revealing any sensitive information was ill-advised, even before their present company.
At one point, Chrollo's hand gently brushed against his own, the tips of the man's fingers quickly grasping his then letting go, and Kurapika couldn't hold back the shiver that raced up his spine nor the pleasant sensation that roared through his body. It made Kurapika press his lips together firmly as he bit back the sigh that worked up along his throat, and for a split second, he felt heat flare at the base of his neck.
As soon as it subsided, Kurapika readied to berate his lover, but then it hit him that Chrollo was only trying to be comforting.
He groaned inwardly. Making it through this mission would be a miracle.
Relief washed over Kurapika when they reached the entrance to Oito's quarters, and he waited as Chrollo took the initiative and went over to the call box beside the door. The usual sound of crackling echoed over the line. "This is Chrollo. How is everything inside?" He inquired flatly.
It took a moment as a buzzing noise greeted them before Bill's familiar voice came through. "It's all good in here. Benjamin's guard hasn't done anything."
Well, that was reassuring. The man was supposedly keeping his distance and just observing. Even though a spy hanging around wasn't that much better, the constant worry of him possibly attacking dwindled a bit. Maybe it would be less of a struggle figuring out ways around his incessant prying rather than dealing with an outright assassin. It was points such as this where Killua's presence would have been valuable.
Kurapika also wondered if he and Gon plus the Ryodan were having any luck tracking the vault. It had been a while since they had last made contact, and he figured it was about time to check in with them.
At least he was getting regular reports from Hanzo, Biscuit, Melody, and Basho on the other royals in their care.
Slowly the door opened, and Bill popped his head through before pushing it all the way out to grant them access back inside.
Kurapika's eyes found Babimyna the instant he entered. "Oh?" Slakka blurted out suddenly, his attention landing on the same man standing at the back of the room. "Prince Benjamin's soldiers were already here? I'm Slakka, affiliated with Second Queen Duazul. There are some things that I need to go over with you." He motioned closer to Babimyna before they both moved further aside.
After the soldiers were out of earshot, Bill approached him and Chrollo. Kurapika could briefly see Amar dart toward Oito, causing the other two men who came with them to raise their eyebrows suspiciously.
He would have to explain the young Nacknar's presence to them later.
"Did anything happen in our absence?" Kurapika spoke quietly so that only Bill and Chrollo could hear them.
Immediately, Bill shook his head before responding. "It's fine here, nothing out of the ordinary. So who are those guys?" He jutted a thumb in the direction of the other soldiers.
"Prince Zhang Lei's men," Chrollo responded, both hands resting behind his back. "Two of them were sent by him and are being cooperative due to their mission." He conferred, his voice harboring a slight thread of skepticism. "The other one, however—"
"Could become meddlesome, so I need you to keep an eye on him," Kurapika said as he virtually finished Chrollo's sentence.
The notion didn't hit Bill straight away, but he processed the change to their situation as best he could. "Right." He murmured and quickly glanced at the man who was talking to Babimyna. "Will do."
Shortly after, Bill headed over towards Blakka and Babimyna's location, then Kurapika moved to where Oito stood. Amar was glued to her side. Chrollo followed close behind him, almost like a shadow, yet, it made Kurapika grateful that his lover was there. Again, he could feel the strain that Emperor Time was imposing, and between that, plus the limited options they were left with due to the other guards, it made the situation more urgent.
For Emperor Time to remain forcibly active, finding something to use the ability on became dire. Kurapika felt another twinge of pain surge from behind his eyes to his temples, and he winced before swallowing thickly. If they didn't find something soon, he wasn't sure what would happen.
"Um, it appears that things have changed," Oito commented, though her voice sounded remotely distant. He had a difficult time concentrating. "If I manage to find a small animal, should I…?"
"No," Kurapika interjected once he managed to regain steady control over his sensory functions. "It would be too risky using that in front of them. Bill, Chrollo, and I will come up with some sort of distraction if we find a creature to target."
The more Kurapika pondered their nagging conundrum, the worse it looked. With events transpiring as they were, finding a solution seemed less likely. It perplexed him even more as the realization that he underestimated Emperor Time's conditions was slowly becoming a frightening reality. When the ability was initially created, he never imagined it would turn into something so deadly. Proceeding without better insight had been utterly foolish.
Back then, he didn't expect to fall in love with the leader of the Genei Ryodan either. Had he had known, the situation could have turned out differently. But alas, that wasn't the case. Kurapika could only bid his time until he could transfer the ability. Once the Succession War was over, he would have to evaluate the necessity of keeping Emperor Time.
Still, Kurapika could virtually hear Chrollo berating him for such a thing once he found out. There was no getting around it and was also something that he would never hear the end of after all that's happened.
An emphatic thud reverberated through the hall as the body of a Mafioso ruthlessly hit the ground, the impact causing a groan of pain to soon follow. Not long after, a flash of metal rushed ahead, the sound of it slicing the air as several cuspated objects whizzed by and narrowly missed their target, each one firmly lodging into the closest wall. The attack was then quickly supervened by a frontal assault, two blows from fists that were easily outmaneuvered by rapidly darting out of the way.
It only took just a mere second for Phinks to counter the strike by swiftly bringing the brunt of his elbow down into the center of the person's back.
They also crashed to the floor with an audible thump before going still from unconsciousness.
Phinks stood up fully, his shoulders cracking as he snapped his head from side to side, then rubbed his sore fist as he could tell that, unfortunately, his knuckles would bruise later. Oh well. Not that it mattered. He would get over it and heal as he had any other time after getting injured in a fight. This time was no different.
Plus, he had access to Nen, which seemed to aid in healing minor injuries faster than anyone who was actually mundane.
Once Phinks removed the brief stiffness from his neck, he walked over to where the rest of his comrades were finishing up from their own battles. Even the two boys appeared to have efficiently held their own as a few Mafioso were lying knocked out around them.
Seeing it made him crack a quick smile, then it faded when his eyes finally landed on the three additional figures that had joined in toward the end of their skirmish. Shizuku pushed up her glasses nonchalantly as Blinky twitched in her hand while Bonolenov lowered his boxing gloves. Kortopi stood just off to the side, only one of his electric blue eyes visible amid his wild crop of hair.
Besides them, no one else was present. It made Phinks surmise the rest had split off to search in other directions.
Doing that wasn't entirely unheard of, as their group tended to break down into smaller ones when on much more complex missions. Considering the size of the Black Whale, it made sense.
"I suppose it's a good thing that we happened to come this way," Shizuku commented in her usual airy voice. "From the looks of it, those guys were giving you a rather hard time."
The remark made Phinks snort, and he heard Feitan do the same. Nobunaga merely frowned. Gon and Killua exchanged looks.
As if they had been in any real danger from the start. Dropping a few uppity Mafiosos was practical child's play and wasn't anything they hadn't done before. For Shizuku to even dispute that was ridiculous and nonsensical. Then again, she didn't exactly have the best memory and tended to forget essential details. Did she actually dismiss the events of Yorknew from her mind as well?
It wouldn't be surprising if she had. Phinks knew how Shizuku was. Then again, most of them had gotten used to her general insouciance. Everyone had in the Genei Ryodan had their own quarks, annoying or not.
He huffed again but kept his temper from rising. "We could have taken them out one way or the other," Phinks retorted, then crossed both arms. "These assholes were merely small fry for us, even if the majority of them were Nen users." He furthered, voice stiff.
Shizuku nodded before pushing up her glasses again. The woman's gaze swept over Feitan and Nobunaga before glossing over Gon and Killua. She appeared to analyze the kids for a moment, almost as if she didn't recognize them, but it faded a minute later, and she instantly remembered who they were.
Meanwhile, Bonolenov and Kortopi watched the exchange, yet the man in bandages moved as if he had something to say. "While that is indeed true," he began, the wrappings over his mouth shifting as he spoke, "I think there is a more pressing concern."
Almost every head swiveled in his direction.
"Yeah," Nobunaga replied, his sword making a grinding noise as it was slid back into its sheath. "We have to find this damned treasure vault, which is not in any of the areas that we searched so far."
One of the Mafiosos lying on the ground had shifted, then groaned before slowly attempting to rise, and Shizuku casually used the base of her Nen vacuum to coldcock the person again. "Same. None of the places we combed through have yielded results either. Bono and I don't think it's on any of the lower decks."
Both groups fell silent as they pondered their current situation, almost indecisive on where to go next when Feitan dispelled their uncertainty. "Didn't one of those kids say they knew where it is?" The stout man slurred and turned his beady eyes toward Gon and Killua.
"That's right," Phinks chimed in, his attention also directed at both boys. "Apparently, the Zoldyck kid said he came across information on its location after finding one of the Mafia's main offices."
Feeling the sudden pressure had put both Gon and Killua on edge, but they stood intractable, even when every one of the Ryodan was staring at them.
Killua scowled at them, his mood souring by the negative attention, and his annoyance was directed toward the next person to approach them, which happened to be Nobunaga. As usual, the Samurai had a genial smile and expression when addressing them, but it didn't cease the frustration welling inside of him. Killua watched the tall, slender man approach before dropping fluidity to one knee.
"Now, boys," Nobunaga chirped with a bit of saccharine in his tone. "Please tell them what it was that you found. I think it was you, Killua, who came across the information on where the Kakin treasure vault is?"
Although it was vexing to deal with the Ryodan's constant lack of respect, Nobunaga used their names at least. He glared at the man disapprovingly, then sighed. "Yeah, alright." Killua put both hands behind his head and leaned slightly to the side. "Back when our group was on deck four, I had decided to scout ahead after we came to an area that was strangely devoid of guards. During my investigation, I found quite a few locked rooms and managed to break into one, though I figured out quickly it was an office of sorts." He paused and shot each of them a look before Nobunaga nodded for him to continue. "I scoured the place and managed to find documents revealing the location of the vault." Killua immediately fell silent afterward as he let the Spiders chew on the information he gave them.
It was definitely a lot to process.
"About those documents," Phinks said abruptly. He didn't quite remember the kid mentioning that part before. "You have them?" He questioned firmly and came up beside Nobunaga. The close approximation made both Gon and Killua lean back a little.
"Of course I do!" Killua shot back once he managed to recover from the sudden invasion of space. "I did make sure to grab them before I left." He grumbled, then reached into his backpack and pulled out a few pages of torn parchment before handing them over to Nobunaga. The Samurai accepted them gratefully.
Everyone waited patiently - or as patiently as a group of criminals could - while Nobunaga scanned the documents one by one, his eyes shifting rapidly back and forth in the process. He attempted to digest all relevant information, mainly focusing on the areas that mentioned the vault, its contents, and exact location. During the entire analysis, Nobunaga's expression never changed. Instead, the man retained his neutral demeanor.
When he finished reading, Nobunaga looked up. "Well, they seem to be authentic." He stated and reached up to scratch the back of his head awkwardly. "It describes exactly what is inside the royal vault and where it can be found. Unless these were forged somehow, we could use this to reach it and break in."
Nobunaga rolled up the thin stack of parchments afterward and tucked them in a separate pocket that was hidden within his robes. Then, he waited for the others to speak.
It was Phinks who was the first to reply. "Huh." The man enunciated, the syllables falling slowly off his tongue. "So then it's not bogus after all. In that case, good job kid." He complimented while glancing at Killua.
Again the lack of getting addressed by his name made Killua snort, and the silver-eyed boy simply shrugged. "Did you even have to doubt me?" It seemed the Spiders conveniently forgot that he was an assassin by trade - or nature even - and was no idiot. Maybe he messed up at times, but he always managed to make up for those oversights somehow. This was just one of those instances. It also proved that he and Gon weren't useless.
Nonetheless, they had more to go off of now than before.
"Alright. We should begin making our way then," Phinks noted, his eyes scanning the hallway beyond where Shizuku and Bonolenv were standing. Then he turned to her again. "Oh, by the way, any idea where Shal and Machi are?"
Shizuku regarded him carefully and shifted Blinky into her opposite hand before peering at him from beneath the rim of her glasses. "Both Shalnark and Machi, along with Kalluto, went ahead of us to figure out how to breach the passageway between here and deck two. Franklin decided to remain on deck five to keep an eye on things there. Apparently, the only way up from here is guarded heavily by the royal military. So they wanted to see if there were any breaks in their defenses." Once she finished, Shizuku pushed up her glasses for a third time with her index finger.
Trying to remember all that made her brain hurt. She sighed wistfully.
Not waiting for a second longer, Phinks shot a quick look at those around him, even Gon and Killua, before making his decision. Lingering where they were would do them no good. "Let's go then. We should eventually catch up to Shal, Machi, and Kalluto. Also, someone make sure our findings are reported to Chrollo." He added quickly before moving.
"Don't worry," Shizuku replied and fell into step behind him, as did the others. "I've already been relaying any information we get to Danchou. I'll make sure to update him on this." She reached into a pocket on her pants and retrieved a cellphone. The woman turned the screen on afterward.
As Shizuku proceeded to call their leader, Gon and Killua began following them, both young boys gazing at each other before trailing behind the group on their trek toward the hatch leading to deck two. If anything, their objective may become easier as nearly all the Spiders had reunited. Looking back on how events had transpired thus far, their chances for success were likely greater if more of them were present.
In any event, he was prepared to help the Genei Ryodan however he could. Gon was the same. Completing this mission was important, especially for one person in particular. Kurapika.
The name crossed his mind, and Killua hoped that both he and Chrollo were okay regardless of the treachery they all faced. However, survival was prevalent, and like it was for the Spiders, he would also do what it took to help Kurapika reach his goal, even if that meant crossing lines they never would before.
He and Gon had only one job to do, and he intended to carry it out.
Kurapika paced the length of the floor restlessly, the pattering of his footsteps becoming plangent around him. At his back was Oito with Amar close behind. The clicking of the young Nacknar's claws on the ample tile accented the noise his shoes made. Even the persistent whirring of Stealth Dolphin buzzed in his ear, which added to the panging sensation that he felt already from Emperor Time alone.
In the distance, but close by, Kurapika felt eyes watching him. Chrollo had been adamant about staying close as his lover's concern was still highly evident, though he continued to be supportive no matter what happened. The older man had just finished speaking on the phone when those eyes had landed on him again.
Nonetheless, they had bigger issues to deal with anyway — finding something quickly to unload the ability still residing within Stealth Dolphin.
Each of them attempted to remain inconspicuous as they subtly inspected the quarters for a small but proper creature to target for Little Eye. Unfortunately, locating one had become quite vexing and tedious, the lack of something viable making the situation more desperate. Allowing it to drag out didn't bode very well, especially since a representative from Fifth Prince Tubeppa was heading to their location. Even the guards sent by Third Prince Zhang Lei watched them curiously, their eyes trailing nearly every movement they made.
The search had led Kurapika back into the common room once again just as the doorbell rang. Shimano ran over to the callbox to answer the person outside their door. "This is Maor." A man announced, and Kurapika immediately knew who it was.
"Let him in." He commanded gently, and Shimano scurried forward to open the door for the Fifth Prince's guard.
Moments later, a tall, middle-aged man with greying hair and thick eyebrows entered the room. All eyes turned toward Maor following his entrance as they were solely on him. Even Amar watched him cautiously, both ears lowered slightly. So far, most of the newcomers were accepting of the Nacknar's presence - albeit reluctantly - and had managed to deal with him being in the room, though a few were still tentative around him.
The sound of a faint growl made a couple of them shuffle uneasily, but it vanished once Maor was standing before him. Thankfully, Prince Tubeppa's guard didn't seem to notice.
Yet, a soft but gentle touch from Oito's hand seemed to calm Amar down.
"The person standing before you is Prince Tubeppa's Captain of the Guard. We're planning to form a truce in exchange for information on Nen. So as you can see, knowledge is shared equally," Kurapika announced once everyone had calmed down and gone still, the entire group finally regarding him. Chrollo moved to stand at his side, ready to assist if need be. "To reduce any lingering doubts," Kurapika resumed, "I want every guard present for this. We'll relocate to the antechamber. Bill, stay with Amar to protect Oito and Woble." He concluded before preparing to move away.
Just as Kurapika was about to lead the group toward the next room, Babimyna motioned forward to halt their advancement, the man's voice firm and authoritative. "Now hold on," he stated, both hands resting lazily inside the pockets of his coat, "the queen and princess need to also attend. Gathering intel and protecting them are both my duties. It's not negotiable."
In the blink of an eye, Chrollo stepped forward, not even giving anyone the chance to react as he looked at Babimyna pointedly. "And exactly why is that so important? Do you not trust the queen's own guards to guarantee her safety? We have managed to do fine this far and without the extra help." He stood there, both posture and expression rigid as if he was daring the man to answer.
"Chrollo…" Kurapika addressed him softly, but the raven-haired man kept his eyes fixated on Babimyna, the two of them watching each other as if they were participating in a standoff. He could understand Chrollo's inquiry as Babimyna's implication questioned their lack of skill and aptitude, which also bothered Kurapika. But challenging Babimyna wasn't going to solve anything.
"No." He replied instantly, causing Kurapika to flinch slightly. "I would really like to hear what he has to say since it's evident that he thinks we aren't adequate enough to carry out our sworn duties."
The response even surprised Bill as the older man's expression seemed to change. His eyes went practically wide, lips parting slightly in shock as a result.
To incite the challenge even further, Amar closed in, his lips curled back slightly to expose his fangs. "I agree with Chrollo." He growled lowly. "We essentially don't need the help as the three of us are capable of protecting Oito and Woble no matter the circumstance. For you to imply otherwise is a direct insult."
Amar's intransigent words hit Kurapika almost hard, vicious, like a brutal wake-up call back to reality. But, on the other hand, it was incisive, straight to the point, and resolute. The young Nacknar was steadfast about those he cared about, which had also extended to Oito and Woble. He had shown that multiple times already with just him and Chrollo alone. So, it was a factor that Kurapika understood, considering the nature of his species and how completely paradoxical he was from them. And yet, due to the complexity of Kakin's politics, interfering brashly with any orders given to royal military personnel was a temerarious act.
Before anyone else could retaliate, Kurapika quickly positioned himself between both Chrollo and Amar and Babimyna. He could see the slight indignation in Babimyna's demeanor, but the man hadn't budged from where he stood. Chrollo and Amar, on the other hand, were visibly flustered, but they had ceased their progression the very moment that he raised both hands.
"Don't do this," Kurapika pleaded, though it was more so to his lover and Nacknar companion than anyone else. Although Kurapika knew that Babimyna may also require a sort of concession for what happened, he currently wanted to defuse any potential assault there may be, verbal or physical.
Though it seemed his words hadn't entirely sunk in as Amar lowered a bit more, the glint in those abyssal eyes foretelling that he wasn't satisfied with the answer. "Why shouldn't I? This man is only here to undermine us." He argued. The sharpness in his tone was very prominent.
Chrollo appeared to mirror Amar's sentiment, and Kurapika turned to him, cerulean eyes staring down into deep greys. This time, he was practically begging for them to stop.
"It's fine! I will be alright! Please don't worry!" Oito abruptly shouted, and Amar's head instantly snapped in her direction. The Nacknar's eyes searched her face intently. "You both have done well so far." She complimented them with a smile, hoping it would help ease their concerns.
Her quick thinking seemed to impact both parties as Chrollo and Amar mutually relaxed afterward. Babimyna's expression also slackened a little, his demeanor no longer defensive while his aura had settled from the increased tension that was present only moments before. Kurapika could still sense the man's En, but his energy wasn't currently exhibiting any aggression.
Sighing, Kurapika glanced at all three of them one last time, then lowered his arms. If problems like that continued to arise, the stress it caused would likely give him a coronary. Kurapika rubbed his forehead as another twinge of pain swept through his head.
"Okay then." He uttered after a few seconds and cleared his throat. "With that issue… settled, let us move to the master bedroom since the antechamber was the scene of violent deaths." Kurapika motioned for Queen Oito to join them and swiftly gazed at Bill one more time, silently gesturing for him and Shimano to continue searching.
Again, he attempted to shuffle the party out of the room when Babimyna interjected again. "Why do you keep insisting on moving? Can't you just explain everything to us here in the living room?" He inquired, one eyebrow raised.
"This is completely ridiculous," Chrollo responded, his voice cold. "Why do you continue to question our decisions?"
Babimyna's expression darkened, and Kurapika rolled his eyes in frustration. Their session was turning into a literal three-ring circus. However, there was merit to his lover's statement.
"You have to understand that people were killed in here not long ago. Put some thought into how the queen feels. Surely you can't object to that!" Kurapika hissed, his eyes flaring evanescently behind his contacts.
The man's lack of compassion had also earned another low-rumbling growl from Amar.
Everyone silently regarded each other, unsure of what to do as it suggested that Babimyna was unwilling to yield. His expression was stoic, apathetic, practically bordering on emotionless, leaving them at a virtual standstill. The weight of tension rose in the area, surrounding the entire party, as Kurapika breathed out slowly, ready to bang his head on the wall given how many times someone persisted in halting their progress.
He was about to speak again when Maor stepped in. "Kurapika has a point." The older guard pointed out, his eyebrows furrowing. "I don't want to be complicit in raising Queen Oito's stress, so let's make this quick. Don't you agree?"
All attention turned to Babimyna, who merely shrugged at the comment that Maor produced. It was distinct there was no arguing the matter.
Now that Prince Benjamin's soldier was finally compliant, Kurapika ushered the entire group into the master bedroom. Along the way, Maor slid up beside him and Chrollo. "Did you expect for so many to sit in?" He asked while glancing over toward the middle-aged guard. Maor looked to be lost in thought.
"Honestly, it's not a problem." He explained, though his eyes were cast forward. "All we want is the information on Nen. The value of it, however, depends on how it's used."
Considering the offer to openly share knowledge made the playing field abjectly even. Keeping the other royals at bay was necessary, primarily to stave off any further attempts to make them targets. Kurapika instigated such a gridlock hoping to bid their time until they found out more about the Nen Beasts and the ceremony that created them. Once that was done, he, Chrollo, and Bill could figure out how to combat them.
Though, Kurapika didn't forget their other ace in the hole, as Amar had magical resistance just like the rest of his kind. It was a vital aspect that would also help them when dealing with the parasitic creatures.
Now all they had to do was learn about what made them tick.
"And so, a Nen Beast is a supernatural-like creature with Nen abilities created by the ceremony. They feed on the princes' and princesses' auras for energy to materialize and act. What form they take is affected by the nature of the royal. Each one is diverse in appearance and abilities, so use extreme caution. One thing they have in common is the need to protect their host, but there is no guarantee that it's their top priority."
Kurapika carefully gauged each of their responses after finishing his explanation. The discussion had taken longer than expected and was ungodly winded, but he was confident the point got across. Chrollo stood beside him the entire time and calmly helped to describe the basics and nuances of Nen.
His lover's assistance made dealing with it somewhat easier.
The ticking sound made by Chrollo's watch announced that it was starting to get late, and Kurapika considered ending the session for the day. He flexed the fingers of his right hand, the chains tinkling as he did so, when Oito's movements caught his attention. At first, he wasn't sure what she was doing, but Kurapika decided to glance at whatever it was she had focused on, and that is when he saw it.
Exactly what they had been seeking was right there in plain sight.
Of all times, why now? Letting go of such an opportunistic chance would be a waste and ill-advised, but he couldn't exactly let them find out about the queen's ability, either. Doing so would be exceedingly asinine. They would have to work something out.
Quickly, he nudged Chrollo to get the older man's attention.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for his lover to notice.
Only, the sudden attraction toward the cockroach scurrying along the archway drew the eyes of all the other guards in the room. Their realization of its presence only complicated the situation. Kurapika could hear their speculations.
"Well, don't just stand there!" Queen Oito blurted out abruptly, her voice loud and boisterous. "Get rid of that thing! It's disgusting! And don't think about squashing it here! Do that somewhere else!"
Her sudden outburst nearly made the men in the room jump, save for Babimyna, who abstractedly watched the scene unfold. The other three guards hustled compliantly over to the entryway just below where the cockroach was crawling, their attention locked on it.
"Want a leg up?" Slakka asked the other two.
The distraction brought Kurapika to his senses as he inwardly thanked Qito for acting so quickly. Using the roach as a focal point would make the situation appear natural and give them a chance to transfer the ability unnoticed. Only, would it be feasible to do so right beneath their noses?
He felt Chrollo lean in close. "Do you think it will work?" The older man casually whispered.
An idea then came to mind. "Bill! Shimano!" Kurapika hollered purposely. "Please come here for a second!" Within moments, the spindly guard and stout servant entered the room, their faces harboring a mix of confusion and interest. Kurapika immediately pointed toward the insect on the wall, drawing Bill's eyes with it. "Catch that cockroach." He instructed while keeping it lined within his sights. "But do so using Nen."
Due to Kurapika's direction, Bill's confusion increased as the request was beyond what he considered farfetched. "Uhm… okay." He mumbled warily.
Whatever it was that made his comrade come to that conclusion only baffled him even more. Bill eyed the young man curiously and waited to see what he would do next.
Naturally, Kurapika was aware that Bill wasn't the one who would be controlling the insect, but they had to make the others believe that was the case, or their farce would be for naught. It would be a mishmash of truth and lie, but there was no other conceivable way.
"Seeing is believing," Kurapika continued, his voice level, "so we will use that roach as an example to show you part of what Nen can do."
Bill nearly swallowed his teeth at Kurapika's insistence to use Nen on the cockroach. Instead, he tried to secretly cue him again, hoping the young man would catch the unspoken message. "Uhhh, hello… I don't have an ability to catch it that way." Bill mouthed wordlessly.
Even then, it looked as if Kurapika hadn't even seen him. Bill gulped down air as his co-worker continued his speech without missing a beat. He wondered if Chrollo may have noticed his numerous attempts, but the raven-haired man was fixated on both Kurapika and the group in front of them.
This was going southward and fast.
"To note, Bill is a manipulator. As the term implies, they can control objects or living things. He will discharge aura toward that roach, and though you cannot see the aura, we will show you what he can do with it."
Again, Bill wondered if that would be the point when everything they worked so hard to achieve would come crashing down to ash around them, but the brief shuffling of someone behind him suspended that thought. From the edge of his sight, he could make out Queen Oito's outline. The woman had strode in close, Woble cradled protectively in her arms. Amar was attached to her side as he had been since arriving.
It was after that when the realization struck Bill. It wouldn't be him controlling the insect, but Oito herself.
That changed everything. "Alright then. Here I go!" Bill announced and prostrated himself to fling an invisible line of aura at the roach climbing the wall. Oito remained almost stationary.
In the back of her mind, Stealth Dolphin's voice buzzed as it reminded her that it was ready to launch the skill at her command. Though she would be the one unleashing the aura, everyone else would be convinced that he was the one doing it.
She carefully monitored the sway in Bill's stance, waiting for the exact moment to act, and right as he outstretched his arm, Oito instructed the dolphin to deploy the ability. "Sending aura now!" Bill yelled from beside her, and at the same time, both the insect and control of it became hers.
"Synchronization complete." She heard Stealth Dolphin announce. "You've hacked into the target's senses and can now control it!"
For a moment, there was nothing but silence as guards were utterly stupefied by what had just transpired. Each of them kept their eyes trained on the cockroach as they awaited for when Bill's assumed control would make it forcibly move. A round of hushed whispers surrounded them, yet, Kurapika couldn't comprehend much of what they were saying.
As each second passed, the tension grew as he waited for when Oito would carefully bid for it to move, though Kurapika didn't catch it when she gasped before stumbling backward.
"Lady Oito!" Amar cried out and darted in front of her to prevent the woman from falling. She hastily grappled at his fur, and he straightened fully to ensure that it kept her stable. Then, he gently helped guide her to stand before nuzzling into the crook of her arm. "Are you alright?" He uttered slowly.
"Yes, I'm fine." Oito confirmed and placed a hand over her eyes and forehead. "It's just, so much has gone on. I need to sit down. Shimano, take the princess."
She carefully handed Woble over the moment Shimano was at her side, and the servant ambled off to place the infant in her crib once she was secure in both arms. Afterward, she let Amar guide her to the closest chair, the peaceful creature ensuring that she was fully seated before resting his head on her lap. Shimano returned once Woble had been laid within her crib and brought a warm, moist towel over. She took it graciously and placed it over her eyes while idly stroking through Amar's soft, downy fur.
Once he was confident the queen was resting, Kurapika faced the men in the room again.
"Are you sure that it will work this time?" Chrollo mumbled quietly, and Kurapika brought a finger up to the base of his lip.
"It should. No one will know it's her." Kurapika replied quietly and used one hand to comb through his golden locks. He amply pushed the strands away from his visage.
Maybe his lover was right and that it would be fine since no one could see the entirety of the queen's face to suspect that she was actually controlling the roach instead of Bill. Laying down and concealing her eyes like that was a rather good call and potentially made things easier for them. Now it was just Bill's turn to put on a convincing show.
Kurapika gave a brief thumbs-up, and his co-worker understood instantly. "Alright then. Got any requests?" Bill gazed over each guard, eying them closely. "Tell me something specific that it wouldn't usually do."
They all stood there just pondering, then Babimyna hummed and spoke up. "How about making it making it fly in circles through the air and then land on your finger."
Right away, the suggestion nearly made Bill choke. He reached into his pocket to retrieve one of the pens he carried. "My finger? Give me a break. This pen will suffice." He chided while holding the object before him.
A hushed silence fell over the room as all present watched the roach with bated breath. Some time passed without it moving, the insect only flicking both feelers occasionally before it suddenly launched off the wall. Long, thin and veined wings that were transparent in nature spread from its back as it began gliding through the air, a faint vibrating sound following its abrupt movements. A few of the guards shouted, obviously surprised to see the insect actually flying, and Bill used their immersion with the scene to finally issue the thing some commands.
"Okay, before anything, fly clockwise." He mandated explicitly, and as if he had mentally synchronized with Queen Oito, the cockroach began to fly precisely as he had said. Next, Bill commanded it to fly in circles vertically, then in a reverse figure eight, all of which the insect did without a moment's hesitation. Afterward, it landed on the tip of the pen as he stated it would.
Both of Prince Zhang Lei's men approached Bill to inspect the bug, which he readily obliged, and they were able to conclude that it had no strings attached or that it was robotic in nature. Realizing they seemed convinced, Bill started to walk away. "I'll go dispose of it." He announced and left the room.
Sensing that his preemptive farce had so far been a success, Kurapika was ready to take the illusion to the next level.
He could see the barely noticeable grin on Chrollo's lips before turning to lecture the guards. "With Nen, setting certain conditions will allow you to utilize more powerful abilities. Mental, physical, environmental, or quantitative. It can be anything. However, I must digress; the principal is always high risk, high return." He paused to give them a minute with processing the information, thinking about his own experiences for when he initially set the conditions for his own ability. Back then, he had been so convinced it would work, now Kurapika saw it as a curse. He regarded the chains on his right hand. "Learning just the basics, your strength can grow half a dozen times that of someone who is mundane. So there is a substantial difference between someone who uses Nen and someone who cannot. Basically, it's akin to night and day." Kurapika then swiveled to look at Babimyna. "You're also a Nen user, do you have anything that you wish to add or clarify?" He wondered.
The request instantly snapped Babimyna's toward him, and the man scanned him over before replying. "Admittingly, it sounds fine," he confirmed straightforwardly, "but what they actually want to know is something else."
Right away, Kurapika knew just what that alluded to — how long it would take to actually learn Nen.
It was something that he knew was coming as it was entirely unavoidable. "I see. It's whether or not they can learn this ability in a relatively short amount of time. The simple answer is yes, as that may be possible. Truthfully, it will take about two weeks to learn the basics, but it will reduce the risk of being left defenseless against a Nen attack."
His averment was like practically releasing the flood gates on a dam. Slakka's jaw fell open as it almost hit the floor, his narrow eyes bulging. "Hold up. Does that mean you're going to teach everyone?" He stepped forward, practically enthralled by the announcement.
The man's ambition made Kurapika blink, then take a slight step back. Getting them ramped up was, without a doubt, part of the plan, but the fervor in their voices and hunger that shone behind their eyes made him slightly apprehensive. Pushing harder to maintain a stalemate was taxing as is, though as deep as they were going, Kurapika began to ponder if he had ultimately created a monster. Sometimes it made him if there would ever be any going back.
Or perhaps they were already past the point of no return.
Still, it was the only option there was.
"Yes," Kurapika stated unequivocally. "Though I will do it on one condition. Let all of the royals know so they can decide if they want to participate or not."
Nearly everyone either grunted or breathed out slowly. The guard's expressions became a comingle of perplexity and shock. Only Babimyna seemed to remain unaltered by the proclamation. His expression was still rigid.
Chrollo, on the other hand, was astonished. He pursed his lips together. "Give us a moment, please." The older man said before taking hold of Kurapika's arm and dragging him off slightly to the side. When they were far enough away, he bent in close. "Are you sure that is wise?" Chrollo impugned, his voice tight.
It happened so fast, and Kurapika barely had time to speak his mind before Chrollo had abruptly pulled him away, but the young, blond man merely frowned before looking right into his lover's eyes. "What else would you have me do?" He snapped back harshly. "We have several royals at our throats, and offering information or training to only certain groups would impose an embargo. That could very well cause the situation to flare or become exasperated. Moreover, I am sure the First Prince has already declared war against us after what happened to Vincent."
Practically after he finished speaking, Chrollo's lips dipped just a fraction more, causing his frown to become more noticeable, but he straightened and said nothing else. For once, it seemed, or perhaps it was one of those rare times where Chrollo actually listened to him. Kurapika didn't blame his lover, as there were instances where he screwed up, and the older man had to bail him out.
But right now? Kurapika grunted. He had a firm grasp of the situation and knew what he was doing.
"Alright. If you think that it's the better way to go. I get that you're attempting to enforce this stalemate as long as possible, though I just hope that it doesn't backfire." Chrollo's gaze bore into Kurapika for only a bit longer, then he spun on his heel. "Let's return to the group," Chrollo said afterward. Kurapika was definitely tactical and intelligent beyond recognition, but his lover was also mortal and subject to human error. All he wanted to do was protect his precious angel.
He loved Kurapika that much.
Kurapika quietly followed the older man to where the royal guards had stood waiting, and instantaneously, he could sense the weight of Babimyna's En. The man had it cast over the entire room, making it rather tricky to do much without his notice. Despite Chrollo's words, he already suspected that Babimyna may be aware of what Bill was up to, yet, the man's stance hadn't changed, so he couldn't tell either way. At the worst, he would find out that Queen Oito could use Nen and had control of the roach instead of Bill.
Regardless, they had to press on. It was paramount to find out the statuses of the other princes and princesses, including what their Nen Beasts were and how many guards they had. Unfortunately, he had only gotten a few scant pieces of information through Biscuit, Hanzo, Melody, and Basho, so it wasn't quite enough to get a full read on the scenario.
The insect scuttled along the air duct rapidly, its spindly legs carrying it at an even pace as it approached a source of bright light. Then, it carefully moved toward the metal slats of a vent as it used both feelers to get an idea of its surroundings before poking slightly between the bars. Below was Thirteenth Prince Marayam, the young boy resting on the floor with who appeared to be his mother, Seventh Queen Sevanti. Beside him was a guard, and at his back… a large, imposing Nen Beast.
It had been some time since the events took place in Queen Oito's chambers, but she had sat staunchly in a chair aptly chronicling the events she observed. Rapidly the pen she used scraped over the notepad that Kurapika had given her, both he and Chrollo at her side while Bill stood guard at the entrance. Amar sat unmoving near the front of the desk she was sitting at, though he made sure to stay close to her.
And just a few centimeters away was Babimyna as he watched them obstinately. The man's gaze was unremittingly intense.
Fortunately for them, he couldn't make out what she was writing with his field of En alone. The ability gave him heightened perception, but it wasn't enough to make out what she was jotting down on the paper in her hands.
Nonetheless, she hastily described everything she saw, down to what she interpreted Marayam's Nen Beast as, which appeared to be a rather giant, imposing dragon-like monster of sorts. Then, Oito finished tallying the number of guards and servants the prince had before deciding to move on to Twelfth Princess Momoze's quarters.
She gazed over at Kurapika, who had a slight tinge of worry on his otherwise pristine features. He was indeed pretty, and she could see why both Amar and Chrollo seemed to care about him as they did.
The second she turned, their eyes met.
"Are you alright, your highness?" Kurapika inquired, and she bobbed her head in response.
"Yes, I am fine. Don't worry," Oito voiced, though she knew there was a vein of worry to her own voice. Hopefully, Kurapika understood. Even Amar had perked up at the sound, and he looked back at her with concern, but she smiled at the young creature to assuage his stress. "It's alright, my precious Amar. Nothing is going to happen." She furthered before resuming her work.
"I pray that you are right," Amar responded and tilted his head. His ears wilted just barely. "I only want to protect you."
It was a noble thought, and Queen Oito nodded again. She was appreciative of their continued care, love, and support. Even Chrollo and Kurapika were important to her and Woble, and she was thankful for them.
"Just don't push yourself. If you feel tired at any time, let us know," Kurapika reaffirmed and gave his own nod before facing forward. He could still sense Babimyna's imposing energy, its range forcefully encompassing the room.
Although his presence and Nen was a minor setback, he still calculated the time since he activated Emperor Time and the duration that it has remained on. Already three hours had passed, and he was concerned for the physical strain it proposed rather than the reduction of his lifespan. However, the very moment that thought popped into his mind, he could hear Chrollo berating him again mentally.
"I really should be concerned for that as well." He thought inwardly after deciding that it was also of significant importance. The more life he lost, the less chance he had for a future with Chrollo. And there was still a lot that he wished to do. Plus, he knew that it would be devastating for Chrollo if he were to die before his actual time. The older man had practically stated as much.
Kurapika breathed out heavily. The sooner they completed their observation of the royals, the better.
Tearing away from his wayward rumination, Kurapika caught sight of Oito turning the page on the notepad and knew that was the signal that she had finished her survey of Thirteenth Prince Marayam's quarters and was proceeding to the next. A laden silence descended around the room again, though it was instantly shattered at the sound of the queen's high-pitched scream.
Nimbly, Kurapika pivoted on his feet while Chrollo turned partially to see what had happened. Amar was already on his paws and had darted to Oito's side.
"No! Stop! Make him stop!" She howled, every part of her body jaunting upright and going stiff. Even Babimyna's attention was drawn to the scene. "Princess Momoze is in danger! He's going to kill her!" The woman screeched again.
"Lady Oito! What is wrong?!" Amar said as he tried to console her while nuzzling her arm gingerly.
He looked up a second later when Kurapika and Chrollo had appeared before them, the young man's hands grasping Oito's shoulders. "Your highness! Please calm down!" Kurapika pronounced, his words taut. "We're in your bed-chamber. You're exhausted and had a nightmare. Try not to stress."
Following his comment, he subtly gestured toward Babimyna with his eyes to indicate the man was still in the room and watching everything they did. Neither of them could let on that she was able to use Nen. Yet, it didn't seem to be enough to calm her raging emotions even then.
Oito swiftly knocked Kurapika's hands aside, her expression turning dark as a disapproving scowl appeared on her painted lips. "This is no time for games!" She quipped and turned to walk away. "If you won't go, then I will!"
Paws hit the tile as Amar raced to position himself before Oito, immediately blocking her passage. "Lady Oito, please!" He implored, the look on his features showing abject concern. "You'll be putting yourself in danger if you go out there alone." He furthered, both ears falling back.
Although Oito cared deeply for her devoted Nacknar companion, as he had been so sweet and kind, now wasn't the time to try and sway her. "I have to go." She despaired. The expression on her face was that of sheer terror and urgency. "I can't just let my stepdaughter get killed." With that, she slipped past Amar after smiling sadly at him and proceeded for the door.
It was then Kurapika stepped forward. "No, please wait, your highness." He implored adamantly. "One of us will find out what is going on. Bill! Make a call to room ten-twelve and check on Princess Momoze."
"Alright." The older guard conformed.
Before Bill could even take hold of the phone, Babimyna cleared his throat. All heads turned in his direction. "They won't connect you unless you work for a higher ranking prince or princess." He said sternly. "I'll act as an intermediary in this case."
Babimyna's suggestion gave Kurapika immediate pause; even he was caught totally unawares by it. The last thing he expected was for the man to suggest going in their place. From the time Babimyna arrived, all he had done was constantly monitor them with unremitting scrutiny, his En becoming a force to ensure that none of them could do anything without his notice. It left Kurapika skeptical as he didn't entirely trust the people Benjamin sent as the First Prince was cruel and vindictive, but so far, Babimyna hadn't acted at all in the same way that Vincent did. At least, not yet.
His presence was still intimidating. Kurapika was sure Babimyna intended for that outcome to prevent or attempt to prevent them from stepping out of line and taking control, though combating that idealism wasn't too hard. Nevertheless, Kurapika wanted to be prepared for whatever came at them.
Instead of responding with his approval, Kurapika let the silence in the room speak for itself. Babimyna took that as a sign to go ahead and decisively took his leave. No one uttered a word after that.
Receiving the news had been agonizing, lugubrious, even painful; the mere thought of what happened almost too much to bear. Twelfth Princess Momoze was dead, killed by an unknown assailant. The air was somber as the royal army slowly rolled the body away within a sealed, ebony bag sitting atop a metal gurney. When Babimyna had returned to inform them, Queen Oito fell rapidly into despair, her body wracked with sobs as she began crying.
Amar was at her side, his head in her lap as he sat at her feet while feeling morose himself, though he still tried to comfort her as much as he could with his presence alone. Listening to her cry tore roughly at his heart, the very aspect of seeing her break down making him feel utterly helpless.
If there was anything he could do for Oito, even turn back the hands of time, he would. As Oito continued mourning, Amar brought both paws up to rest them on her lap, a soft whimper escaping his throat.
"I could have stopped it!" She wept, both hands covering her face. "I might have been able to save her!" A second later, Oito started to cry harder, the tears forming thick rivulets as they steadily ran down both cheeks and dripped from her chin.
Seeing her increased stress caused Amar to jerk upright as he tried to touch one of her arms gingerly with his cold nose, her raging emotions making the Nacknar's concern grow even more.
Just like Chrollo hated to see Kurapika in pain, Amar felt the same way about Queen Oito. Knowing that she was suffering only enraged him further. It made him want to take away her sorrow and give her peace and tranquility instead. He swore that no matter what it took, even if it killed him, he would protect her. There was no way he would let her or Woble die on this infernal fucking boat.
And once they made it to the Dark Continent, he would stop at nothing to see that she never succumbed to his own kind, let alone those other bastard royals.
Damn them all to hell, especially that asshole of a king.
Thinking about it made him seethe, but Amar stayed composed for Oito's sake.
A short time later, the solemn atmosphere was broken when Chrollo and Bill came back into the room. The raven-haired man had stepped out, most likely with Babimyna to assess the situation regarding Princess Momoze, and he carefully slid up beside Kurapika. "Apparently, the cause of death was asphyxiation. She had been strangulated," Chrollo reported, his voice low. "From the statement that I received, Princess Momoze's guards were always outside her room while she slept. Besides the two on break, the other four guard's testimonies match. Nobody had entered her room."
So knowing that Princess Momoze was alone at the time of the attack readily piqued Kurapika's attention. Since her chamber was supposedly guarded at the time meant that the culprit was possibly among her employees. It put Kurapika more on edge.
"Did you find out anything else?" He asked. "How did the other royals react to the news?"
"Only that Queen Sevanti took what happened as a sign that all six guards are colluding with each other. She already reported them to the king," Bill filled in, his face lined with weariness. "They were taken into custody to face a court-martial."
Once again, Kurapika was upended by the information he was given. "Strange." He murmured, perplexed by the timeline of events. "It just doesn't add up as the timing was too perfect. Extra caution is definitely needed after this." The complexity of the situation on the Black Whale and the status of the Succession War kept getting worse and worse. It was an entanglement that he hoped to get out of.
At the current rate, though, would they ever?
The sound of someone addressing him brought Kurapika away from his thoughts. He looked back to see Sakata approaching him. "Got a minute?" The man questioned.
Quietly, Kurapika moved to the side so that he and Sakata could speak privately. Chrollo raised an eyebrow at that but watched him go without interference. "Earlier, you said that each prince and princess have a guardian beast." He commented staunchly.
"Yes," Kurapika replied as the guard watched him keenly.
"Then," Sakata continued, "why didn't Princess Momoze's guardian beast protect her?"
Kurapika wasn't surprised by the inquiry as he expected that someone would eventually question it. He had already prepared an answer. "Well, the clue is in the time that she went to bed," Kurapika supplied carefully.
"What do you mean?" Sakata looked confused.
"Twelfth Princess Momoze had retired much earlier than usual from the testimony given by her guards, so it's safe to assume that something made exhausted today."
Contemplation swiftly appeared on Sakata's features as he was soon hit with an anamnesis. The man hummed. "Right. You did say the beasts are parasites and feed on their host's aura for energy." He commented and began to stroke his chin slowly while gradually processing the information.
Luckily for them, Sakata accepted the aspect without any vacillation. Kurapika was concerned about what may have gone down had the man felt otherwise. Explaining the intricacies of Nen and how the beasts worked - from what they already knew - was taxing as is. If he could just maintain a line of trust with Zhang Lei's men, at least they had some sort of leeway.
It was one reason why the stalemate he instigated was so crucial.
The tightness in Kurapika's chest increased, as did the pressure behind his eyes. Keeping ahold of himself was more challenging than he thought. "Exactly." He replied and steadied himself again. "If one of the two Nen Beasts that attacked our guards had belonged to Princess Momoze, then she must have expended a considerable amount of aura. That, in turn, made her run out of energy, and the assailant used it as an opportunity to strike. So, that means they are familiar with Nen."
"Possibly. But, it will increase the demand for information on Nen," Chrollo stated as he had decided to approach them. Bill trailed at his side. From over his shoulder, Kurapika could see Amar had remained with Queen Oito. "However, using that as an incentive for prolonged cooperation would be a vantage point for us." He added, solidifying the prospect of a foothold they very much needed.
The idea was too fortuitous to pass up.
Going that route would give them an increased glimmer of hope, but they still lacked the crucial information necessary to keep Princess Woble and the rest of them safe. He really wanted Oito to continue investigating, though now wasn't the time. It would be too cruel and heartless otherwise.
Kurapika expelled a sharp breath just as another wave of dull pain shot through his temples again. It made him swallow thickly and close his eyes momentarily as he waited for the sensation to pass. Footsteps nearby made him reopen them.
The sight of Babimyna filled his vision.
"Your majesty." The man called and positioned himself before Oito. "May I ask a question?"
Dainty fingers slowly moved away as she gazed up at Babimyna through tear-coated eyes. She nodded faintly.
"There were no benefits to you crying out. Why did you do it?"
Straightaway, Amar's head shot up, his gaze landing intently on Babimyna. His lips curled back as he began to snarl. "How dare you insult Lady Oito once again!" Amar accused, the hackles on the back of his neck rising. The Nacknar pulled away from her reluctantly with an intense resolution to protect her honor. "Don't you think that you have done enough?!"
Babimyna's callous disregard incited a budding rage that projected outward from deep within to the crux of his impetuosity. Ever since the man was sent to them by that accursed Prince Benjamin, his intolerance for Babimyna had increased. Dealing with Vincent and his devilish acts had already put Amar on edge. Hearing Babimyna cast aside any form of compassion to someone in a delicate position such as Queen Oito only made his temper snap.
He was prepared to bring the man down if need be, no matter the consequence. Amar's growling steadily grew more low and menacing.
"Calm down," Babimyna commented solicitously. He placed both hands up in defense. "I am not looking for a fight, nor did I mean any offense. It was merely something that I was curious about."
Slowly, Amar examined the soldier's features while looking for any outward discrepancies. He wasn't immediately convinced as his trust in disingenuous humans made him predominately skeptical, especially now. Although it seemed as if Babimyna was being sincere, Amar remained steadfast in his decision and wasn't willing to move until Oito's haggard voice changed his mind.
Before Amar knew it, the queen's body started to tremble uncontrollably. He could tell that something was wrong and moved back to try and comfort her.
Pessimism shone heavily in Oito's dark eyes as she began to laugh sarcastically. "No benefits, you say." Her voice was heavy with sorrow and bitterness. "How ridiculous. It must seem so odd for those who are too caught up in the survival game that I don't simply stand by and let my stepdaughter be killed. I have nothing more to say to you." And with that, she weakly threw her arms around Amar and pulled the young Nacknar close, his fur the only thing that could soothe her anguish.
One paw came up to rest on her delicate shoulder as he immediately closed his eyes and let his snout come to rest on the other as if he was enveloping her in a gentle hug. "Oh, Lady Oito. I am so sorry." He cooed and just sat there consoling her.
Seeing the woman fall so far only solidified his convictions.
"Sakata, let's go," Babimyna stated, and Kurapika looked away from Oito and Amar just in time to catch sight of the man's back as he whirled around began heading toward the door. Neither man gave anyone in the room a second glance. "Leave Kurapika in charge. We are done here."
Confusion marred Sakata's expression. "Why?" He stammered.
"The queen can't rest with us present. I will talk to Slakka as well."
With that, both men disappeared from view. Babimyna's En faded away soon after.
Chrollo moved up beside Kurapika, his hand resting on his lover's shoulder. "I didn't expect it to end like that." He commended offhandedly, his eyes shifting from the younger man at his side to Oito and Amar. Not once had he expected their Nacknar companion to react so diligently. He felt admiration swell in his gut at the notion.
Some time passed before Oito let go of Amar and sat upright before giving him a thankful pat on the head. She then reached over to pick up the notepad once more and resumed jotting notes down on its pages. The movement caught Kurapika's attention, and he shifted from Chrollo to look at her directly. Judging from her appearance, Oito was ungodly haggard.
He reached forward hastily. "Your majesty! Don't push yourself," Kurapika urged and stepped closer.
Oito stopped what she was doing and warily glanced up at him. A frown creased her lips. "I'm doing this for Woble, not you." She said crisply and went back to writing.
The arid response caught Kurapika by surprise, and he merely stared at her flabbergasted. It was evident that Oito was gradually reaching a breaking point. He decided to leave her be for now.
Movement from across the room caught Kurapika's attention, and he shifted away from the queen just as Bill came over to where they were standing. "Good news. We got a headcount. Besides the second and sixth princesses, the rest want to send their guards."
Both men eyed Bill for a second. "Hmm. That sounds like more than we anticipated," Chrollo mentioned, his focus landing on Kurapika, who seemed to be just as surprised.
"Indeed," Kurapika intoned, "even the First Prince as well?"
Bill crossed his arms over his chest. "It's more so the captain of his guards wants to check on us."
"Strange. What about the rest of the hunters?" Kurapika continued, though he squinted slightly as the ache in his head became prominent again. It was steadily becoming harder to concentrate.
"They're working with us to help keep the story straight. All hunters are cleverly faking either incredulity, curiosity, or both about learning Nen in a short amount of time to goad everyone into participating. However, they were mainly concerned about the two-week limit that we specified."
Placing such a deadline on Nen training had intrigued Chrollo majorly as it wasn't something that was generally done or was even supported. It was counted as unorthodox but not entirely unheard of. "Learning Nen in less time than usual isn't impossible, although there may be risks involved." He confirmed while keeping his gaze primarily on Kurapika.
His warning didn't go unnoticed. "Don't worry, I do know the risks and have a plan for it," Kurapika soothed, his tone level. Afterward, he felt another throb of pain just behind his eyes and grit his teeth as a result. The act made Chrollo raise an eyebrow again. He tried to ignore it and playoff what happened as nothing.
Whether or not it worked was an entirely separate matter. Chrollo was skeptical of his health condition as is.
"That's good, yet, there are two other problems," Bill's voice cut through, and Kurapika hissed quietly.
Damn the physical taxation of Emperor Time.
"Two?" Chrollo answered for him.
"Yes. One is that several of the princes and princesses want to send multiple guards, which is a safety concern for us."
The notion was alarming. If more guards were admitted than what they could feasibly handle, it could inadvertently cause unforeseen issues for them, down to the possibility of risking Princess Woble's safety. Kurapika frowned and wrinkled his nose. "Restrict them to only two each."
As the last word left his lips, he groaned when a sharp, excruciating pain shot through his temples before going down his very spine, the strain to his body finally catching up. Kurapika wobbled as his legs became unsteady, every modicum of strength ebbing away, his chest tight and feeling enervated. He rose one hand to cover half of his visage while the other reached out in a vain attempt to grasp something and steady himself but found nothing instead. The lack of balance ultimately forced him to completely teeter forward.
Both eyes closed, and right before Kurapika crashed to the floor, as his consciousness faded away into nothingness, the last thing he heard was Chrollo's voice calling out to him through the void. "Kurapika!"
After Thoughts: The end to this chapter was exactly the point I had been itching to write as it's what is going to lead into something else I have planned and will become a crucial point in Kurapika's life. Though I won't say exactly what it is (as where is the fun in spoiling the surprise lol), there is definitely going to be a big event in the near future. So far, there have been many dramatic changes in RoF's storyline, and this one will be no different. Chrollo and Kurapika's relationship continues to evolve, and with it, the connection between them. Granted, there isn't much romance going on currently as it's not a primary focus for this arc, but they're still deepening their bond along the way, and will continue to do so as the story progresses.
I will say that it's definitely been nice to finally write from Gon and Killua's perspectives, along with the Genei Ryodan. Composing their interaction scenes has been interesting at the very least, and to see how those connections unfold is quite enjoyable. While I love writing interactions between Kurapika and Chrollo, getting to do some from other character perspectives is quite the experience and I am sure it's also fun for everyone else to see what happens. As Gon and Killua make their way with the Spiders towards the vault, the situation between them and they work together will gradually change. :)