THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT SO FAR EVERYONE~! I hope you enjoy the chapter and as always please don't hesitate to leave your feedback below the chapter. In fact, please do! xD
Disclaimer: I wish I own Hunter x Hunter.
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CHAPTER 11: Temptations x Dilemma x Choice
Whale Island
It had been an eventful day, the group chatted far deeper after the sun went down. There were smiles beaming, rekindling hugs given, and jokes thrown more occasionally to alleviate awkwardness caused by issues buried deep enough to show themselves—only at the most unexpected moments.
When night came, and everyone assumed it was time to rest, Gon found that she still didn't want to go to sleep. And so, after little thought, she climbed up one of the trees that became an integral part of her house.
She had peaceful several minutes as she stared at the horizon filled with trees alone. She looked up the sky (something that was a habit of hers then) and saw that the moon that had circles surrounding it, due to the clouds, indicating that rain would come soon.
"Do you wish to be alone for the rest of the night?" Someone asked below, she did not flinch, and she shook her head. She didn't look down but instead scooted a little deeper into the branch's overhang as an invitation.
"Join me." She finally said and at that time he was already climbing the tree. He settled by branch's connection with the tree and Gon stared at him for a moment. He was wearing a long-sleeved collared button-up, like he was earlier, but this one's of a paler color, and black slacks. It would take her a while to get used to seeing him not wearing his traditional Kuruta clothing, and it filled her with longing for the old days—the days when she didn't feel so uncertain.
"What's wrong?"
She didn't answer for a while (she partially tuned it out, in fact), not ready to discuss those things just yet. Instead, she found herself staring at her old friend more, trying to memorize him again… in case she forgot about him again. She unknowingly held out her hand to touch the tips of his blonde hair. "Shorter hair looks good on you, Kurapika." She said with a soft smile, which he shyly returned.
"Longer hair looks good on you."
They grinned, before turning away from each other again, but this time it was Gon's smile that disappeared first. "Did you know?" She began sometime after the silence. "I haven't thought about you or Leorio for five years." She whispered, tentatively looking back. "I'm sorry."
Kurapika didn't answer at first, a little startled. He always thought she was somehow threatened into not contacting them, but he kept that to himself, for now—he didn't want any sort of bitterness to seep into this moment. "It was difficult at first." He said. "But when I found out you were okay, nothing else really mattered." His hand found hers and squeezed it. He smiled.
"Glad to have you back, Gon."
…
Moments of comfortable silence passed by and the air got more and more humid. When droplets of water began dropping down from the sky, neither moved an inch. They just sat there as if nothing was happening. The tree's leaves were dense enough to protect them from the water, anyway.
As they listened to the tiny sounds of water hitting the leaves, the roof, and everything else its cloud covered, Gon began to discuss more about the tree.
It was rather poetic, Kurapika thought, of how a couple found two trees standing so close together above a hill. How the couple built a house in the space between. And how the trees, as generations passed, began bending towards the house and eventually becoming one with it.
"…like the two trees are lovers." Kurapika said so warmly that Gon couldn't help but stare. Kurapika blinked at this. "What is it?"
"Didn't think you'd be a romantic." Gon said with a grin. He grinned back and thought he thought so too. Until her, of course.
They allowed themselves to go to more idle chatters afterwards, and fortunately Kurapika's innate curiousness managed to distract him to more pressing, poignant, issues at hand. They eventually reached a surprising topic about Gon's home for the past five years.
"I didn't know the Dark Continent had so many humans…"
"Well, tribes and small towns." Gon corrected. "There were areas like valleys and plateaus where they can manage to survive." She waved her fingers like she was drawing a continuous line of valleys and plateaus in the air. "Valleys and plateaus… reminds me of Mito's mood earlier."
It was true, one moment she was bubbly, the next she was sobbing. Her slip-ups and pent-up bitterness were the ones that required most of the jokes to soften the mood. It didn't help that she occasionally revealed her nervousness about her lover, a lover Gon only knew by how he affected Mito in so many ways.
"She's pregnant." Kurapika finally said, not knowing what better way to put it. It was better to be straight-forward with Gon, anyway. He watched her as she absorbed what he just said. She finally did, a second later.
"EH?!"
He nodded grimly, knowing he'd have to drop another bomb. "With Illumi's child."
"Oh…"
She stared at him blankly at that, and he thought she was just having a hard time absorbing it..., or perhaps waiting for him to say he was just joking. But he wasn't, and later he realized that the blank, unsurprised, expression was actually just that: Unsurprised. Not because she knew it was him—she didn't even know Mito was pregnant—but it was as if she didn't recognize who Illumi was at all.
Then a thought came to him, and he found himself facing her completely. She unconsciously mirrored him, and tilted her head in puzzlement. "When you said you haven't thought about us… what do you mean?"
She scratched the back of her head, a habit of nervousness, and shyly looked to him, guilt on her eyes—and Illumi momentarily forgotten. "I forgot about everyone here, except maybe Mito and grandma."
He must've shown a very troubling expression to make her fumble. "I-It's—I'm sorry." She said. "I didn't mean to forget everyone. Everyone's important to me."
Kurapika nodded gravely. "Do you know who Illumi's brother is?"
"Who?" Should she?
She doesn't remember Killua?
"Kurapika?" She called on to him nervously. He wondered if his eyes were suddenly red.
"Do you know someone by the name of…" He paused, a little terrified, honestly. "Killua?"
"Yeah." She said quietly, and he felt his shoulders slump a little. "He… was one of the first people I met."
His lips formed a thin line at her words. Coincidence is never this cruel, he mused dourly. Fate, however, is.
Too much so.
"He told me he was one of my friends before." She said, already moving past the fact that she was the one who surmised it. "I thought that maybe… them—his family—making me forget about him, made me forget about everyone else. I've been a horrible friend."
But Kurapika did not respond so readily, because he did not agree. He knew the answer to her problems, and her being a bad friend was definitely not the cause. It was the opposite in fact…, and for someone who knew her well, figuring it out had been so easy.
It was because she would forget anyone too closely associated with her time with Killua—and that was everyone.
If forgetting family wasn't particularly anomalous, she probably would have forgotten all about Mito and her grandmother as well. But how was he supposed to explain it to her?
That she forgot about them because she had loved too much… too deeply?
"It doesn't matter." Was all he said before he realized their proximity was reduced to a mere foot. "I just want to make up for the lost years."
He didn't know how it happened nor did he realize his hand was already caressing her long silky hair until it was there. Kurapika noted how the natural tint of pink suddenly adorned her face, her long eyelashes framing her orbs, and her wide innocent eyes…
Kurapika was being tempted to do something impulsive, he realized, and he was about to lose his control—heck for a moment he didn't even care—until memories of his last encounter with Killua dispersed all over his head. Images of how he yelled at Killua, how furious he was at him… and just how much he wanted him dead… came so vividly. So clearly. So painfully.
Remorse was a powerful emotion, and it made him freeze.
So he lifted his hand to pat her head instead, and then sent her a small smile. "Gon…" he said.
"Want to spar?"
…
Meanwhile, on another part of the world—with an ironically more temperate in weather—a certain Nerys Bloodsworth was trying desperately to calm the stirrings inside her. It was annoyance, anger, offense, and one more thing her brain seemed to refuse to acknowledge.
In any case, there was only one person to blame her predicament to.
"How dare he?!" Nerys yelled loudly, but only loud enough for the people in her room to hear, as she threw the pillow to the wall, getting the feathers within to fly to every direction. It wasn't easy to remain cool while talking to Illumi and Milluki, having all these inside, but having to keep these emotions contained made her anger so much more irritating.
Sitting stoically by the upholstered chain beside door, Canary watched on. And after waiting patiently for Nerys to calm, Canary finally voiced out her thoughts. "It will not be easy getting through to him."
"Obviously." Where's the fun in that? Was what she wanted to think, but it wasn't like that anymore—to her chagrin. This was too stressful to be even remotely fun.
How dare he. How dare he— "How dare he humiliate me?"
"This makes me think master Killua is merely a conquest." Canary said out-of-nowhere, a statement, and Nerys straightened her body up. That was what she thought at first, now she wasn't so sure. But hell she'd admit that to a mere servant.
Nerys raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"Then you cannot expect my help in that matter, Nerys-sama." Was all she said, and was calmer than Nerys expected her to. The girl stood up and bowed her head, heading to the door. However, as she held it open, Canary turned her head slightly to her.
Nerys felt just a little nervous but stared coolly in response anyway, appearing to wait carelessly for what the dark-skinned girl was about to say.
"Nerys-sama." Canary said calmly. "When you were rejected… what did you feel?" She asked, and Nerys did not bother to answer. Primarily because she didn't know how.
"Rather than feeling offended…" Canary's tone indicated her questions were rhetorical, so Nerys only stared. A moment later she thought she should've interfered.
"Don't you think that you just feel hurt, instead?
"If so…, then please let go of your pride." She paused, just before leaving. "…because otherwise you will stand no chance."
…
Stupid Canary, saying some stupid things and then leaving her to her own devices. Nerys continued mumbling internally as she began walking through the corridors.
It was really to calm down her nerves. Now even Canary was pushing her buttons and unlike how she was used to—she couldn't do anything to make everything better. It was disgraceful, it was humiliating, and it really just had to end.
She didn't know how long she was walking until from one of the windows she saw him—the cause of it all—only a floor above her. From below, she watched as Killua brooded at the estate's highest balcony.
It felt like hours (it probably was), and she hated the fact that she loved watching him so much. It was that one other object she loved looking at for a long time, that wasn't her own reflection.
Then, out-of-nowhere, without facing her, he spoke. "I'd like to think that me ignoring you would give you a message of leaving me alone."
Her eyes widened. (He talked to her. Of his own will, too!) But she shook those thoughts away and buried them to the back of her head. She was not happy just because he talked to her. That would be debasing.
In any case after she gulped down her nerves, she jumped up and manoeuvred herself to the gracefully land to the upper floor. Nerys sauntered toward him and stood beside him in the balcony. She let her eyes wonder from his face down to his lean but muscular arms, and then to his hands.
She flinched at the sight of it, because it was sharp and ready to be used as a weapon.
He didn't need to say it: he did not want her there. But Nerys didn't leave. She wasn't weak—and the feelings she was having these past weeks were making her feel that way. She was going to change that.
Besides, Nerys always got what she wanted. "My brothers do say that I love what I can't have." Of course, she always had what she loved in the end. "But be flattered—you are the first person I wanted."
He didn't react nor did he even flinch.
She realized he wasn't just ignoring her for the sake of overlooking her –he wouldn't have problems with that—but now she knew he was actually staring at something, making his dismissal of her presence easier for him to do. Nerys looked out the dark horizon and saw nothing but clouds.
She wanted to know what was so good about this sky, and she ended up looking at what it covered. Somewhere near the horizon line was a small village, surrounded by forests and clearings. She unconsciously hid her presence, a habit when she wanted to observe something without being sensed, and she turned her head to look at him.
Doki
He was wearing that blasted yearning look she hated to see because it made her insides burn. Burn with what—anger, annoyance, or a yearning of her own—she wasn't sure anymore. Still she was Nerys Bloodsworth, and like hell she'd show weakness to a man who didn't even look at her.
So she combed back her silky hair and straightened herself up, resting her weight on the stone balustrade. "I'm guessing something happened with Gon there."
As always, the mention of her name could change his face so easily. From his yearning look, his face showed guardedness and annoyance again. She was getting used to this (or at least she'd like to think so) and she gave him a confident smile which usually never failed to make men's heart stop.
Instead, Killua looked at her with those cold eyes of his. Honestly? Even when her stomach dropped, she wasn't really surprised. Of course him being immune now didn't mean he'd stay that way forever. "So… did you two finally break up or something?"
Something in Killua's eyes twitch that made her fear for her life. "Go ahead. Kill me." She said, carefully eyeing his sharp hands. "You know what both our families will do to them—"
He turned his body to face her instantly, his teeth oddly seeming sharper as he gritted them. "Don't you dare threaten them in front of me." He growled, reflexively placing his sharp hands as a threatening knife over her throat.
She backed away, and almost turned to run. But then her feet stopped when she could manage to think past through the ringing of her ears, and she realized he didn't even address her anymore—never by her name—and now not even by a pronoun.
She didn't want to be nothing to him.
Then she realized Canary was right: She felt so much more hurt than offended.
And that meant this was more than just pride. Then she recalled those moments his lips was against his. That longing, that love—she wanted to feel that again.
And with that acceptance, she knew she was screwed.
But she was a strong woman, she told herself. It was something she took particular pride in. So she kept her stance and looked into that beautiful, beautiful, deep dark eyes of his.
"Listen, Killua." She said, begging herself to push away the arrogance. She wanted him. And as Canary's words began to finally ring in her ears, she thought that maybe—just maybe—she needed to do another approach. "She spent five years afar from you, not even knowing you exist." And she paused, readying her feet to run at what she was about to say, just in case.
"Maybe she already has a lover."
His eyes widened and for that moment she was able to peek through that closed window that was his heart. And managing to know the right places to hit gave her the courage to push further.
"It will never be the same." She continued on. "Gon is—
"No." She stopped herself. Enough about Gon. "But rather than sulking your years away… why don't you settle for 'something'?
"It's better than nothing…" She pushed on, and it tasted bitter. Alas, she swore he'd change his mind after she was done with him. "I can make you feel… warm, again."
Killua was frozen. Because of which sentences, she couldn't tell… yet. But Nerys remained in place, staring.
He had been suffering for five years, and she kept giving him a choice: a choice to continue suffering, or to feel something again.
And this time, when she turned to leave, she left with her dignity. And as she sauntered away, she could not help but let out a satisfied smile.
How long could he resist?
…
"Illumi."
Deeper into the estate, to a room where no natural light enter, another meeting between father-and-son was held.
"Yes, otou-sama."
The last time he was there, a few days back, he was sent for a mission to another continent disallowing him to meet Mito again. It put him in a fouler mood than he had anticipated. The targets died a lot faster that night.
"I've heard they've made contact." Silva said to him, as he stood firm a few meters in front. "The two kids."
He flinched at his father's words. He knew he never told anyone of that, not yet, and he told himself it was because it was not yet time. It must have been that Nerys girl who informed her father, the nosy brat.
Still, he would not lie to his father. "Hai, otou-sama."
"You are the one who watches her family, yes?" He nodded. And Silva stared at him for a while, Illumi stared back, waiting patiently for his orders—like always. He barely noticed the watchful eyes of his father then, as if waiting for him to reveal something he did not want to show.
Still, perhaps too soon, Silva spoke. "Kill her aunt."
Silence passed by then. But in contrast to the fact that it was usually how preferred it, this time it was deafening.
Flashes of her smile, her laughter, her brightness flashed through his head. But he closed his eyes and put them at the back of his head—like he was erasing the pictures with jet black ink.
Family would always come first. This time should be no different.
And with that, he looked at his father the way he used to and nodded readily. "Consider it done."
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 11
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 12: Delusion x Family x Fidelity
Nerys dreams on, Gon celebrates her birthday, and Illumi returns to the Island.
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Slytherin Studios – Thank you for reviewing~! Haha And I'm really glad you still find the chapters so far nicely done. ;)
Bluelup28 – Lol it's progress alright! Hahah. I apologize more in advance because the progress seems pretty slow. xD Glad you liked the chapter btw, and thank you for reviewing~
KG-Ai – I just remembered that cool coincidence you thought of with your name xD KilluaGon Love? Or is it KurapikaGon Love? Hahaha. And it's cute how you're like running a commentary with your OC over there haha. Thx for the review btw~
LittleChomper – hahha. Which image? xD Tell me and I'll try to help. *cackles* And no worries~ in the end Kurapika will be…er… not as miserable as he is in canon, I guess? Ahahha. Thanks for reviewing and glad you liked the chap! :D
Dolce-tasie – Your ships will get messed up? Well then, I hope it does! Hahaha. *cough* I'm sorry. xD Anyway, glad you thought the chap was great and thx for reviewing! :D
Trizsh15 – N'aw you're not fickle. Anime guys tend to confuse us often. Hahah. Anyway whoa! I'm pleasingly surprised that you want a Guardian pair moment! Hahha Wohoo! Oh and thx for the review btw~
Jonica77 – Thank you for reviewing~! xD Here's the next chappy! Full of Kurapika here in this chapter. Hahaha. I hope you like it! :D
Chosanbhir - Ahaha Yinyang pair ftw! But alas goody pair is so cute I couldn't help but put a lot of them. Heheh. Hope you like this chap and thx for the review! :D
Pri-Chan 1410 – Yay! Glad you love the chapter. Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Haha. Thank you for reviewing, btw~!
Sierra. Steinbrecher – Yep! Poor girl's gonna die. Then Whale Island will have, like, one kid left. Hahaha. And thank you for reviewing. :D
Digilover23 – Thank you for reviewing~! Oh and although I would've loved to read the review for the previous chap, it's the thought that counts right? Don't mind don't mind~ *brofist*
Dianamehhh – Lol your hopes will be answered! In a sense. I'm no good with the open fighting for that one girl sort of story. xD Anyway, super glad you like my writing! And thanks for reviewing~! xD
Jennosaur – Thank you for reviewing~! I'm really happy to know you love the story so far! I'll do my best to keep at it xD. And sure! Just tell me and I will. ;)
Mytiaaa – Yep! Hahah. Thank you for supporting my FB pages, then! xD And yes! It is romantic! Altho some would prefer to see it as platonic. In which case it is platonic. LOL. Thx for reviewing too~
NariGray – Whew! I'm glad that you didn't mind the filler-y chapter then! :D And I'll be here~I could get a day or two late, but I don't think I'll exceed 2 weeks. Thx for reviewing as well~
Darlingfedz x 2 – Thank you for the reviews! Hahha. Relieved that you thought even the filler-y chapter was great! xD And lol. So many questions! Questions that'll be answered…eventually lol. And oh don't worry I'm one of the friendship-over-romance people so I won't be destroying friendships by love tris. *wink*
XKilluaX – You check every day?! I apologize I was a few days late then! xDD Hope the chaps are worth it, and thank you for commenting! :DD
ShoujoNoTadaina – Thank you for reviewing~! Glad you enjoyed the chapter, despite the utter lack of Yinyang (this chap too though, unfortunately). Hope this one didn't disappoint~
Mona Kleine – Ehh?! Whoa thank you for thinking it was the most heart-warming scene you've seen, then! Hope the subsequent KuraGon moments doesn't disappoint. xD And lol. You don't have to request 'that' scene! Because it's gonna happen. *wink* *Wink* Thx for reviewing btw~
Grapes – Thank you for reviewing! Suupper glad the whole KuraGon reunion, albeit short, did not disappoint! *giddy dance* You even thought it was perfect xD
Guest [Sept 2 2014] –Don't worry, an angel/reviewer will never be a bother to me. Which part btw? I'm planning on showing the whole AgathaxGing thing rather than telling, you see… and thx for reviewing~
TECKK – Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the chap. And don't worry, I'm not that sadistic Hihi. She won't fall for Kura-kun. *wink*
Tochiome-chan – Lol me neither. I can't imagine the anime Illumi being romantic at all! (I had to rely on fanarts lol). Glad you liked the pairing and thx for the review! :D
Queen of the Avant Seas – IKR. Haha. Illumi's lucky but he doesn't know it yet. Oh and yeah. Haha. I can only say Kurapika won't be as miserable as he could get lol. Thank you for reviewing btw!
Phoenix-thunder - Yay! Glad you liked the addition of Noko. She needed it! They were the only kids back in the day after all. Thank you for reviewing and happy you think the chap was great! xD
drawingRAMPAGE – Ah exams. Darn them, but then we appreciate holidays even more! Wohoo happy holidays! xD Congrats on feeling good about the exams btw, not a lot of people feel that way. :D Oh. OH! A milestone! *fires fireworks* 10 chappies! Wohoo! Super glad you liked (and noted) so much of the elements in the chapter, even the tiny ones, and the smallest details. xD The long review made me grin the whole way. Thank you for that! And whoa! When's your bday? :D
fireandcrystal101 – Thank you for commenting! Super glad you found it interesting. I'll do my best to maintain that. xD Hope this chap doesn't disappoint~
Guest [Sept 7 2014] a.k.a. Bunny – haha thank you for reviewing~! But I won't spoil anything with the whole KuraGon thing *cackles* I just hope they don't disappoint. xD Here's the next chap! Enjoy. :D
Yugao702 – Aww haha glad the chapter made you squeal so much! xDD Not sure how I'll do a whole explicit KilluaxKura fight tho. By experience I don't do those scenes well. Who knows tho! Anyway, thanks for reviewing~
XHunterzX – Thank you for reviewing~! Glad you liked the chapter! And the KuraGon meeting too! And I hope this Killua-inclusive chap won't disappoint. xD
chani - Awww so sweet, thank you for incessantly trying to review despite the obstacle. I appreciate that. :D And all your wishes will come true… in due time. Hahaha. I need Killua to get over his trauma first. xD
…
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