Nerys is here again! Haha. And again, pretty much to function as a cool slightly-with-depth admiring fangirl. But the good news is this will be the final fully dark/angsty chapter in a while (wohoo!). Next ones will be more light-hearted (maybe even pinches of humor here and there).
Anyway, I hope you enjoy and please don't forget to leave me some feedback. ;D AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY KILLUAAA! :D
Disclaimer: I wish I own Hunter x Hunter.
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CHAPTER 3: Zoldycks X Family X Struggle
MAIN HOUSE, ZOLDYCK ESTATE
It had been a week since her fateful meeting with the very… enigmatic Killua Zoldyck, and a day and a half since she arrived at his huge estate. She had been treated graciously by the servants (which was probably how they treated any guest, which led to the fact that Nerys—knowing she was a special guest—demanded a few things like a different wallpaper for her room, specific flowers that grow on the other side of the world, and other simple items. They didn't seem bothered anyway).
Still, she had been wholly ignored by her fiancé.
Everyone said he was busy, which was probably true, but she assumed the jobs could have waited. They were properly introduced (Nerys buried the recurring memory of his glare) and that was pretty much the last time they were in the same room for more than 10 seconds.
She frowned, sighed, and crossed her arms as she relaxed on her room's balcony, waiting for her precious flowers which interestingly arrived no more than 3 seconds later. It was the copper-skinned woman that was assigned to be her personal servant during her stay: Canary. She happened to hear she used to be the guard somewhere at the feet of the mountains, she moved in for a new job as a servant. Nerys didn't really care, but she was slightly curious as to what would make a person go for a voluntary demotion.
"Serve me some tea will you, Canary." She said and sat on the metal chain next to the circular table on her balcony. "Make that two." She said looking down at the woods below her. "I want to have a chat with someone."
Canary obliged and as she delivered the tea, looked down below as well. It was Killua-sama and Alluka-sama, strolling around and talking. Killua-sama's face was visibly softer than usual. It was still harsh and cold as it was since his return five years prior, but definitely warmer, and Canary was happy that there was still that warmth in her master left and she dare not hope for more.
"His brother, Alluka. I heard a lot about him." Nerys-sama said, sounding nonchalant. "Amazing things. But let's go to his relationship with my fiancé." A pause. "Alluka, it seems, is his favourite sibling. You'd assume he'd smile."
"He is. He's much harsher to anyone else." Canary said almost immediately. "But it's true that the change isn't that much—even Alluka-sama was not enough to give him the life his eyes had once."
There was a pondering silence that followed, and Nerys-sama almost scoffed after. "It's hard to imagine him like that." But then Nerys turned incredulously at Canary at a realization. "You've seen him?"
The girl's expression softened considerably as she nodded. Nerys bet it was because she remembered what her fiance was like before. Nerys paused sipping her tea and stared at the other girl deeply, her eyes slightly narrowing at her lady-in-waiting. "Are you in love with him?"
Canary blushed lightly, almost smiling, but in the end shook her head. "I love Killua-sama, as I do Kalluto-sama, and Alluka-sama. I am sure it is not the same sort you are thinking, however."
"That's good. I don't want you seeing me as a rival and all." She said, thinking 'good for you', and smiled that sweet smile of hers. "In any case, I know you've served the family for a while and—seeing your…affections...I'm guessing you know quite a bit about my fiancé." She paused, sly smile unfading. "You know as his future wife, I ought to know more."
Canary didn't speak for a few seconds and only stared. Nerys did not falter. She was not the type to. "Whatever he's been through—what if I can help ease his pain?"
Canary's eyes widened slightly, frozen, before finally sighing and speaking her thoughts. (She vaguely thought how long it had been since she thought of the past openly). Still, the proposal Nerys presented—as unlikely as it was to ever happen—was still a tempting one. "Killua-sama was happy with his friends."
"He had friends?" Nerys asked and to her annoyance, the surprise and disbelief oozed off her tone. Friends and happy are two words that she would not have associated with Killua Zoldyck.
"Yes, Ms. Nerys, he had." Canary responded in that professional tone of hers. "I'm afraid being apart from them had made him who he is now." She paused, and whispered: "They were very important to him."
"How so?"
Canary let a second of consideration for herself. "I can tell that he—" She paused, allowing herself a opportunity to stop, but the temptation of seeing her master happy again was stronger. "He was willing to give his life to them." Perhaps that is what happened now,she added, but she dared not go ahead of herself and say so out loud.
Nerys was frozen at that, and perhaps the other girl took it as time to leave. The bronze-skinned woman excused herself, leaving a very disbelieving Nerys behind.
…
Killua and his brother were walking across the estate when Gotoh appeared behind them and told him he was being called in the Master's room. He looked at Alluka, who only smiled and told him he'll be alright and he should go before father got mad.
Killua soon reached the iconic door that, even after all those years and so many inches of growth, still seemed gigantic in his eyes. He pushed the twin doors and there he was—as always—In his dark room, lighted only by four torches holding blue flame, with his domineering aura making the air so, so, much heavier than that outside.
The man was staring at him the moment he entered (he guessed even as he stood outside) and did not move his sights away until he was only a meter in front of him. Silva then shifted his gaze to look at the a table in the corner of the dark room, just below one of the azure torches. A piece of paper lied there and Killua knew he was supposed to read its contents.
Slowly, coolly, he went over to the table and lifted the paper. But as he did so, his eyes widened before he even realized it and they immediately narrowed in anger. He angrily whipped his head to glare at his father, automatically crushing the paper in the process. "What is this?" He asked, and the question came out more of a growl than actual words.
Silva, however, did not seemed fazed. If he was, he did not show it. "Do you accept this mission or will you run away from it?"
"You promised not to lay a hand on them if I stay with you!"
"I' m not going to hurt them." He said firmly. "You are."
He gritted his teeth and his aura burst out. There was no way he was going to accept this.
Silva stood up and turned away, apparently thinking there was no way he'd refuse. "We've received too many requests to kill him these past few years. It's time to stop turning a blind eye." He said, maintaining eye contact, and Killua was getting more and more unnerved. "Or is it that you want the blonde to suffer like she did?" He said, and disappeared.
Killua disbelievingly stared at the spot where his father stood a second ago. He knew he would go on this mission—had had no choice. But before he could regain even the slightest bit sanity he had to do anything he was asked to, he instinctively did the only thing he could:
He screamed.
…
Nerys was walking around the estate, talking to Kalluto whom she met by chance, when she heard the scream.
It was so loud Nerys swore many of the birds that lived in the nearby forest flew off to the next mountain. She had been used to hearing screams of agony (mostly caused by her), and this was it. Was someone being tortured to death in the house? And who could scream that loud?
"Nii-san…"
Her eyes widened. Which one? She asked, apparently out loud, and Kalluto only stared not really bothering to tell her. But judging by the sound of the voice she knew who it was. Nerys just had a hard time believing it.
Nerys knew of Kalluto-chan. She (he, she knew, but with the outfit Nerys was simply not comfortable using the latter prounoun), was—still was—a member of the infamous Genei Ryoudan, and despite her appearance, she was not someone to be trifled with. That went with everyone in the house, of course. But she would be her future sister-in-law, and Nerys had too much pride to back-off. "Do you have an idea why your brother would scream?"
Kalluto maintained her stoic façade and nodded. "Oniichan is probably sent to a mission to kill his old friend."
…
NOSTRADE MANSION
Elsewhere, some few hours later, the aforementioned acting mafia boss was discussing an upcoming auction held 10pm that same day. And every time they talked of auctions, Kurapika's mind always went back to his time against the spiders.
The Spiders hadn't showed themselves to him after 5 years—even after the chain broke. They still heard of their activities, but they kept their distance... enough so he could collect many of his clans' eyeballs on the way. He remembered that this was his goal now—it was no longer about blindly taking the Spider's life.
And that change was all thanks to his friends, especially Gon.
"So… who will be attending?" Basho asked as he played around with his chin as if it still had his trademark facial hair (something that got burned by accident because someone he used his Great Haiku on ran to him). He, along with Basho, Leorio, Senritsu, and Neon were then in the house's lobby, ready to leave.
"I'd like to go alone this time." Kurapika said, wanting to be alone for the anniversary of his friend's disappearance. The others seemed to have understood, and they nodded in agreement.
But before they could turn to leave, Kurapika felt a presence—something extremely well-hidden, but his senses caught it anyway. Senritsu seemed to have had the same feeling, and the other three flinched when the two of them stood up.
"What is it?" Leorio asked looking around guardedly and instinctively doing a defensive position. The other, normal guards were slow to react and a few seconds when they finally realized that the nen users in the middle of the room were ready to fight—they were already knocked down. They didn't even had the time to actually take out their guns.
The ones remaining standing all shivered when the said presence let go of his 'In'. They all whipped their head towards the dark corner of the room where the aura emanated from, defensive and, dare he say, scared. And when the figure came out oh-so slowly, they all shivered again—but in a different way.
It was because the said figure happened to belong to an old friend they hadn't been able to contact for half a decade. Leorio, the always boisterous one, was the one to address the newcomer. "KILLUA!?" He yelled from the top of his lungs, but his vehemence was sucked out as easily as it came when he noticed Killua's eyes.
The younger man's orbs were empty, dark, and full of sorrow—a look Kurapika knew too well, and it wasn't something he expected to see in Killua. Especially not when he was fortunate enough to be with—
"Where's Gon?"
The rest, hearing his unusual tone, flinched immediately and looked at Killua. They were now as nervous as Kurapika was.
"Killua," Kurapika repeated, as evenly as he could. "Where's Gon?"
The newcomer looked away. "I was sent here to assassinate you, Kurapika." He said as if answering his question. "There were many requests these past few years. I suggest you stop doing what you're doing if you want to live."
Kurapika, however, did not care for his warnings. What he heard was that Killua had been updated in the killing business for the past few years—and that fact unnerved him to no end. "Answer my question Killua. Where's Gon?"
Leorio, sensing the increasing hostility, stepped up. "Guys—we're all friends here. Can we calm down a bit?"
"Killua!" Kurapika strode to Killua and grabbed his shirt, and now the two very tall men were face to face. "Killua. Why aren't you saying anything?"
Still, Killua made no answer, but the emptiness in his eyes were enough to push him to the edge. Kurapika punched Killua's face with all his strength and he didn't even hear any of the protests from his friends. Killua managed to regain balance before falling down and absent-mindedly wiped the blood on his mouth.
Kurapika's body felt numb from rage but he had too much power to keep in and he attacked the assassin relentlessly. "Answer me!"
Still Killua remained silent. What was worse? Killua never bothered to avoid his attacks—he welcomed them.
He just kept standing up every time he fell, wordlessly taking the attacks every time. Kurapika felt he was going to go insane with that abominable combination of anger and fear that surged through him. Kami-sama please don't let Gon be—
"She's dead." Killua finally said, getting everyone to stare at him and lose coherent thought. "She has been for five years now."
There was a long time of heavy silence that passed by them, the others no longer moving to try to calm him down, and Killua finally looked straight into his eyes to show him just how serious he was, and maybe how much he had lost.
"I killed her."
It was then that Kurapika felt something inside snap—a string. The string that tied insanity with control.
"KURAPIKA! Stop it!" Leorio was yelling nearby again. "If you use your ability you will die too!"
Do I look like I care?
Kurapika refused to believe it, and he unconsciously turned his head to Senritsu as he thought so. But his friend's shocked face gave even more confirmation into Killua's world and it made him feel like he was being torn apart.
Irrational thoughts controlled him and he attacked Killua relentlessly. But Killua avoided them all. "Why the heck are you suddenly scared?" Now you avoid my attacks?
"Gon would not have wanted you to die."
All he saw was red. "How dare you!"
But Killua somehow managed to catch his chain and stare right through him, pleading. "Stop, Kurapika." And for a moment that beseeching stare calmed him down. But he couldn't keep calm, not now, not for a long time.
Kurapika pulled his chain towards him and dematerialized it, grabbing Killua's neck in the process. "I do not need my ability to kill you." He said, not noticing how much his voice was cracking. As he gripped his neck tighter, he released an aura that made the others step back. They can't stop this.
"All you had to do was protect her." He roared, ignoring the fact that Killua wasn't doing anything to stop him. "How can you fail?!" He yelled and he started to feel bones cracking, and felt a strong pang of remorse and he could feel his hand starting to slip.
But then somewhere inside the room he felt a sharp object approaching and stepped back by reflex, realizing it was a needle that passed between him and Killua.
"We sent you here to kill someone, not to get yourself killed." A monotonous voice said before its owner appeared before them. "You fail the test brother." He said before robotically turning his head towards Kurapika, and Senritsu and Leorio, along with Bansho, put themselves between them.
Illumi did not flinch. "As much as I want exercise," He paused. "I'm here only to see my brother." Before turning his sights back to Killua, who was the grabbing his neck and staring at him with rare wide eyes—filled with fear.
The sudden appearance of Illumi was a shocking reminder of that day, Killua's resolve to do anything disappeared and he found himself frozen in position, and no part of him cared.
Illumi knew what his effect was and he stepped closer to kneel to his brother's level. "Who knows…" He said, with a snake-like quality in his voice. "Father might appear again, and this time?" He paused and motioned his head to Kurapika and his entourage. "Maybe he'd crush those people's heads, too."
Illumi took in Killua's broken state blankly: guilt, empathy, and remorse were parts of him he always left somewhere else. He then turned away, catching yet another assassin's shocked eyes, and left without another word.
…
Nerys couldn't believe what she just saw. She didn't think Canary was telling the truth. Sure, she knew the girl wasn't lying but it was still beyond difficult—impossible—to believe. She had already seen the events unfold in front of her and she still found it hard to swallow.
What made it worse was she felt insecure—she had never truly felt it before, not like this, and she had no idea how to deal with it.
In any case, Nerys watched Killua silently stand up without looking at the blonde and disappear. She followed silently, and somewhere along the way—in some deep forest not far from the mansion—Killua stopped his tracks, his back suddenly feeling even broader.
"I didn't think you'd be nosy enough to follow me." He said, voice baritone and cold. Nerys pulled herself together and stood behind him with as confident as he could.
"I'm your fiancé." She said, trying to ignore that flinch in his back. "I can do whatever I want."
He didn't bother answering and she saw him gesture to walk away. How dare he. "Killua, as your fiancé, I want to know who this Gon person is."
He stopped walking then, and she felt strong chills coursing through her veins. He tilted his head only slightly to her direction. "Do not even utter her name, woman."
"I'm your fiancé!"
He turned to her, eyestelling her that it would never matter. She fought the alien feeling of terror inside her and stood up confidently. She was not going to be dismissed like this. "I demand to know."
He didn't say anything, no doubt not wanting to spend an ounce of effort on her. And this fact caused many veins to break. "I may continue the job for you, you know." He fully turned to face her then, and she was partly proud, and partly scared. Still, she was not going to back down. She sauntered towards him so that they were merely a few inches away. He's so beautiful, she thought, and the dangers he posed made him look like the forbidden apple she had a sudden urge to bite.
"You underestimate how strong I am." She said seductively and lessened their distance even more. "Besides, I heard everything—that Mafia Lord cannot use his ability on most people, yes?"
She saw his eyes widen again then, something she only saw when it came to his friends—the only time she could catch a glimpse of his soul. It both annoyed her and enticed her.
She shortened their distance to kiss him.
But instead of his cold lips on hers she only felt his cold murderous hands on her neck, strangling her as he was strangled by his old friend. She felt her back hit the rough tree trunk and she was now sandwiched between two forces. But what hurt more than those two were the way he looked at her as if he was ready to take her life then and there. "Try that again and I swear I'll kill you."
"You are rejecting me because you are afraid to hurt me as well?" She yelled in response, desperately wanting to get through. A part of her knew she was full of herself, but she wanted to hope that a flicker of emotion will rouse from his eyes—guilt, recognition, love—and she was the one to cause it.
And she did rouse emotions. But they were murderous.
He grabbed her neck tighter and she let out a raspy sound in response, "Don't talk about her as if you can take her place." His deep cerulean eyes bore into her like she was butter. "You will never be able to catch up to her. No one will."
And he let her go, just like that, and coldly turned his back to her.
Nerys felt her legs give in and she sat on the damp grass and felt the roughness of the tree and its roots behind her. She was shaking, she could tell, her breathing uneven, and the hands on her neck could feel how strong her heart beat was. She didn't even notice the wet drops of tears on her face until they couldn't be stopped anymore.
Nerys Bloodsworth had never felt so terrified.
.
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END OF CHAPTER 3
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 4: Puzzles x Light x Entrance
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Digilover23- Hehe Super glad to know you're still excited! *brofist* And YES. As much as I don't wanna spoil, Lorcan and Killua will meet. I won't say anything else tho! LOL. In any case, thank you so much for reviewing! :D
Mystic - I'm flattered that I'm currently a fave of yours. Thank you! And hehehe—I wonder when she'll actually remember Killua *looks away innocently*. Super glad to know you love the sequel and here's the update! Hope it's fine, and thank you for the review!
Yuki Candy Heart - Aww don't be sad, they'll be okay soon. xD And no worries, Nerys will be very hate-able. Haaha. And here's the update! Enjoy and thanks for reviewing~
Rigoudon3 - Oh man *hugs* so sorry to make your chest ache. We'll make it feel better soon! And thank you so much for commenting~!
Denizen of the night - First off thank you for reviewing! He-hehe at least we have more Killua this chap! No Gon tho. /shots xD Oh, I don't wanna answer your question but I guess I will. Gon doesn't remember any of the Zoldycks. xD
Chani – Oh you will see Yinyang pair fluff soon!Just not in this chapter. Hehehe. Super happy that you still love this story and thank you for reviewing (twice) xD~!
Slytherin Studios- Thank you for reviewing! I'm happy to know that you enjoyed that chapter. :D
BoomBANGBam- Hahaha yay! Glad you liked the pair name. Huehue. I was always fond of odd pairs. xD And indeed~ Father/daughter moments are also fun to write. xD Thank you for reviewing, btw~! ;D
XxHunterxX- I'm happy that you guys are happy! Haha. And no worries, he won't be much of a rival… for now. (really haven't decided yet), and thx for reviewing! xD
Vanizo- Yep that isn't the case since I updated w/in a week! Wohoo. xDD Glad I managed to do the Gon POV chap decently, and thank you for the review~! :D
Kyouno-aru – It made you sad? Owww *pats back* Well, this chap isn't any more humorous so *pats back again* heheh. Next chapy tho! xD And yay thanks! I always wanted to fly so I never forgot that technique. xD Thx for the review btw~! :D
Mytiaa- Yeah Bad Silva! xD And oh—I'll explain why she forgot about the others in a few chapters! Not soon tho, and thank you for reviewing! :D
Retz- Whoa! You have a way more colourful love life than I do! xDD Oh well. *shrugs* Btw, writing overprotective Ging was super fun, and glad you liked it! xD And thank yoouu for reviewing.
Kh07gl – Killua will…! Just not in this chapter. xD And I so agree! I shall make up for the YinYang Pair moments that the manga so thoroughly lacks now! lol. And thx for the review~
KG-Ai – Hahah yep~! Oh, and the dream's like her unconscious telling her something's wrong with her brain LOL. And yeah actually. I'm fond of making heroines' fathers overprotective so poor Ging's no exeption. xD And no offense taken! (What am I supposed to be offended about?) and thank you for the reviews! :D
Jonica77- Let us chant together! Gon, remember him! Remember! *cheers her on* xDD Thank you for commenting, by the way!~ *brofist*
Yorumi1- Gahahaha. OMG, unfortunately you'd have to wait. xD At least for a little while. I'mso sorry! Hahaha. Hope the chaps are hooking enough tho! And thx for the comment~
Charlotte Hevelesca- Hahaha indeed!After three chappies of no GonKillua I'm so very depressed. Hahaha. And sure! Where you from, kabayan?! (*o*)9 And thank you for reviewing~!
Pitou77- Hahaha yeah, there will be battles! I'm not particularly confident on my action-writing abilities to make it viscous but I shall try! And thx for comment, my friend! xD
Apo D – Thank you for reviewing~! So happy to know you love my fic so far, and here's the next chap! I hope you enjoy it, despite its angst. xD
Guest [Jul 1 2014]- Hello Bunny~! xD Super sorry I made you cry! And glad I managed (I think) to make it up to you. Hahaha And yes! They're going to reunite… soon, Gon and Killua. xD And thank you for reviewing~!
Ot4ku-Girl24- ahahaha. First of all I'd like to thank you for reviewing~! ;) Ging doesn't know about Killua, nor does he know Gon meeting Silva. :D And oh—It wasn't love yet at that time, Nerys' feelings started as a morbid fascination. xD Hope you enjoy this chap~
LittleChomper- I'll explain why Gon forgot about the others as well in the future, and yeah I don't make OCs often and I hope they didn't seem unnecessary. xD Glad you liked the twins btw~ And that I hope the OC still has depth despite being hate-able. xDD Tell me if I'm failing, and thx for reviewng~! XDD
Kawaiishiella- O-Oh *blushes* Thank you for telling me I'm good. xD Super glad the twists managed to stay twists! I try my best lol. Oh, here's the next chap! Enjoy~
Bushwah- (ch1) Wohoo! Glad you agree with me on the Guardian pair. xDD You do, right? Lol (ch2) Only Gon doesn't remember. xDD Killua, well, he believed Gon's dead and everyone she loves is threatened. Got twisted, that boy did, I'm super guilty for doing that to him. xD Thanks for the reviews, btw~!
Kazumi Rin- You mean the main four? That's Killua,Gon,Kura, and Leorio. And yay Lorcan! He's actually Kura's counterpart, if he took the scholarly path rather than revenge. xD Won't be dealing with him for a while tho! Hehe. And LOL I'm a sucker for overprotective dads haha glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing~! :D
Phoenix-Thunder – Thank you for reviewing~! Haha Glad you liked the chap, this chap is more angsty but I hope you like it too. xD Oh, and Kura/Leo will appear here! hehehe
Guest [Jul 3 2014] – I can't say for sure but if support keeps like this I'll be able to update weekly or every two weeks. *crosses fingers* Hope that's the case. And cool kabayan! What can I call you (certainly not 'guest' for long)? And thx for commenting~! :D
…
Thank you for reading folks!
I hope you enjoy this final angsty chapter in a while,
and do allow me to know your thoughts. :D
Write your thoughts here please! For me? :)