First off (I just had to ask): Did no one really notice what I hinted last chap? That the main four will be travelling together again? Or is it that I'm just the only one excited about it? XD
And I'd like to go all googly on everyone and THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE STORY UNTIL NOW!*hugs* And I HOPE YOU ALL WILL HAVE WONDERFUL NEW YEARS~! HAPPY 2016!
Note: I actually had a FB discussion on FB whether the kid's name will be. Hahah. Thanks to the people who joined me~! And as much as I loved them all, of course I can choose only one. ;)
Disclaimer: I wish I own Hunter x Hunter.
二水流
CHAPTER 32: Convergence x Departure x Chains
Mito gave birth precisely five months and twenty-two days later, in the presence of two professional midwives, her mother, Gon, and Illumi. It took them as surprise, as Mito was a few days advanced (the baby seemed to be very excited to get out), and Gon had to run down the town and carry the two midwives to their house (while Illumi had to scare off their shock and force them to actually start working).
Kurapika arrived a couple of hours after the new Zoldyck's birth (if he can assume the name). He was surprised at the child's hair color. It was as silver as Killua's—who was then coming from Greed Island—and suddenly he understood it was a good sign. His not knowing what it really meant or just how deep its importance was to that family, notwithstanding.
In any case, early the next morning, Kurapika was having tea at the then-closed bar, as it would be prepared later on for a small gathering to celebrate the young one's birth the morning prior. He was sitting casually, cross-legged in a gentleman's standard, holding in one hand the petite tea cup, on the other a book.
Along with the soft white indoor slippers lent to him, the Kuruta was wearing dark-colored slacks and a white long-sleeved button-up, which was practically his uniform since he became a guard for the Nostrades. If one would wonder why he was having tea in an empty bar, it was because he was reluctantly asked to be the one to greet the guests, as grandma was too busy taking care of the newborn and watching Mito's health.
Also… he'd rather not acknowledge the certain Illumi Zoldyck who was sitting on the darkest corner of the bar, likely trying to get a breather from soft, warm, things: which in this case was his lover and his son. Fortunately, Kurapika needn't sit so long in silence as the first guests came in soon after.
"Pariston." He acknowledged, without standing up. "You're early." After all, it was barely daylight.
"Nice to see you too, Kurapika." He said flamboyantly, showing off his trademark smile. "How're the celebrants?"
"Upstairs." Was all he said, because he already heard someone coming to the bar from the main house.
"Kurapika? Did I hear anyone comi—" It was Mito, who was surprisingly energetic for someone who has given birth less than a day prior. She still looked pale and weak, but she absolutely brightened at the sight of the zodiac. "Pariston!"
"Hello, Mito." He said, sparkling like always, and Mito smiled warmly in response.
"Welcome back." Then, she paused to look behind him. "Where's Zushi and Bisuke?"
"Oh you know my mother. She prefers a 'demure' pace if she could. Zushi-chan's too polite to leave her there." Then he, too, paused, looking down apprehensively at the woman a couple of inches shorter than he was. "My…" He uttered with his wily voice. "Have you gotten even more beautiful." He said, leaning down so they were only two inches apart. Mito could only stare. "…More so, now that you've given birth."
Paritson only managed to see a flicker of a blush when he sensed a different type of flash and he stepped back, a sharp object barely missing his well-crafted nose. He pulled his head down an inch, avoiding another one. Two more came, and they almost grazed his skin and his very expensive suit.
Almost.
And all of this happened in the span of two seconds.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You shouldn't go around throwing your needles at someone you just met." He said with his trademark eerie smile. "...Illumi-kun~"
Illumi's eyes twitched almost indiscernibly, as he appeared from the shadows.
"You shouldn't go flirting around with other people's women." Was all he said, with that monotonous tone of his, before firmly walking to them and held Mito's arm, to pull her away from Pariston and back to the house where their child stayed.
"You pushed it a bit too far, Pariston." Kurapika said, realizing he unconsciously stood up at the immediate sign of Illumi attacking.
Pariston shrugged. "It's not like I'm lying anyway." He said. "Really, I don't know how those two ended up together."
Kurapika did not disagree.
.
It was around that time that they sensed two new presences passing through the threshold.
"Yahoo~" Bisuke greeted merrily, with Zushi right behind her, and tilted her head around as she entered as if looking for something. "No corpse?" She said, sounding disappointed, and Zushi could only palm his face. "I sensed hostile aura in here a moment ago…"
Whatever the circumstance, it seemed Mito heard Bisuke's gleeful greeting and went down again. (Although everyone, including Zushi, could notice her tomato-red face.) Many could tell Illumi was lurking around (quite literally), but he did not show himself. Bisuke shook her head at this, but first things first—
"Mito-chan~!" Bisuke yelled and gave the other woman a hug. "Congratulations! I wish I was here when it all happened." "Ah~ I remember when I gave birth—"
"Okay then~!" Pariston intervened energetically, not wanting to get into his own birth, as glorious an event that was. "Don't you have work to do here, mother?"
Bisuke looked at the then-reserved bar at that. "So… this is where the party will be held?"
"It's a gathering Bisuke-chan." Mito corrected. "But yes, it will be here."
"Party, gathering—same thing~" Bisuke said, laughing with that high-pitched laugh of hers, before looking at every corner of the room again. The gears and cogs for design were already running in her head. "I'll move most of these tables over there… we'll fill the counter with different drinks… my grand Yorbian wine would be a lovely addition to that… oh my! What a nice painting. Can I have it?" It went on and on.
It was interrupted by the lurking presence that seems to be gesturing to leave the room, likely knowing there was no need to stay. Bisuke's beam was immediately replaced by a serious expression and she looked at the direction of the door heading towards the living area. "I thought you'd come out by now." "I mean it's pretty rude to hide out there the whole time…"
Everyone was silent for a while, most of whom knew who Bisuke was talking to and why he wasn't showing himself in the process. However, Illumi Zoldyck was never openly one to hide out of cowardice. And so, after a couple of furtive steps, he appeared, the shadow slowly retreating behind him.
To their surprise, they heard a seemingly unwarranted shout amongst them. "You!" Zushi barked the moment he saw him. Illumi showed no remorse. "Why are you here?!" He yelled, on the verge of explosion, and by reflex a burst of aura came out both protectively and out of spite.
But the sudden shrill voice of a baby crying resounded upstairs, and once more they entered a lapse of silence—the only sound being the cries and the echoes it created.
No one spoke for a while until Mito finally managed to calm the child. Soon, she arrived downstairs with the baby. Pariston sparkled and doted on the baby, skilfully ignoring Illumi's glare. Why Illumi even stayed there for so long, when he could've left and avoided the imminent drama, no one really knew.
"Zushi," Bisuke finally asked, just loud enough for her protégée to hear. "Why are you so hostile?"
Zushi's eyes were downcast, thinking, but his eyebrows were furrowed and eyes so constricted in a way she had never seen before. He was doing his best to contain the rage; and he was failing. A second later, he snapped. "Don't you know him?!" He yelled, catching everyone's attention. Of course Bisuke knew him, he was Illumi Zoldyck. However, she was caught by surprise by what Zushi said next. "He was the one who got me attack Killua!"
Bisuke gaped at him for a second. Still, Bisuke whipped her head to face Illumi. "That was you!?"
"...what are you talking about?"
They turned to look at the befuddled Mito. The contortions in her face told them she wasn't clueless, but she didn't quite absorb it yet. Rather, she did not want to. Nobody told her because it'd hurt. And it obviously did.
Illumi avoided her gaze, and the baby's, who was innocently looking at him. "It was an accident," he said, "And a lot of people became collateral damage."
Zushi had been seeing red for a while so, when he finally noticed how Mito looked at Illumi (and how soft, no matter how indiscernible, Illumi was looking back)—and finally realizing the child's hair color—his eyes widened.
Illumi Zoldyck was the father?
No.
He couldn't believe it. He didn't believe it.
A monster like this shouldn't… reproduce. But he did. And he actually cared for people.
Sensing Zushi's deflated will to fight, Bisuke snapped him back to reality. "Demand an apology, Zushi!"
Bisuke had suspected it was Illumi was the one who killed Wing, too, but she kept her mouth shut. There was nothing good to come out of making this problem bigger. In her long years of experience with conflict, she understood the only way she could honor her former student's memory now is to make sure his student grew up in a way he would've wanted.
"I will not apologize." Illumi announced, and Bisuke's eyes twitched.
"Why you—"
"…for apology will not be enough."
There was a pause, with everyone trying to absorb what exactly he meant by that.
"I will owe you." Illumi's monotonous voice rudely pulled him back to the present. "Having a Zoldyck owe you is worth millions of zennies, and this will be an offer of a lifetime." He told the boy. "Will that be okay?"
Zushi's eyes widened, conflicting emotions passing through him. "…ah," was all he could utter for a while, before looking away, unsure of what exactly to feel. "But I will make sure you will be forced to save many lives."
Bisuke decided not to speak anymore and closed her eyes. She swore to visit Wing's tomb—and tell him how Zushi had grown.
Although Bisuke, herself, would never forgive Illumi. She simply was not that honourable.
"Isn't Killua with you?" Kurapika asked, knowing any topic regarding Killua would catch everyone's attentions.
"A-Ah," said Bisuke, still smiling with pride and relief. "But he left a day before we did. Considering it only took him a couple of weeks to complete the game, I'd say he's in a major rush."
No one said anything after that and—noting Gon was nowhere in sight—they all knew where he was, anyway.
二水流
From one of the apexes of the mountain range, an indiscernible force was making its way down to the foot of the mountains. A line of trees shook one-by-one as it went down from the mountain's peak. And within instants before each bump, one could see—if one looked closely and narrowed one's eyes to slits—the fast-moving blurs of brown, olive, and silver.
"I'm going to win!"
"You had several second headstart!" Gon yelled. "But nope—I'm still gonna win."
When he didn't sense her presence in the house, he didn't bother coming in (his facial expression was for-Gon-only), and went to where he'd likely find her. Sure enough, she was playing around with the animals, and ended up on the back of the foxbear they saved years ago. He was large now, and very powerful.
He managed to catch himself a passing foxbear and somehow, before an actual greeting, they ended up having a race.
"I am definitely going to win!" He exclaimed, the instant he saw he had was inch ahead. Gon only laughed, as if he was the silliest boy in the planet.
They went quicker and quicker and their eyes barely squinted as they saw the light. A second later the bears stopped—just before they fell to the river—and they were sent flying at a projectile, bodies landing on the water.
It was pretty deep and their whole bodies were submerged. They could even feel their bodies moving along the current. Killua opened his eyes and swam up, breathing in as much air as he could. But then he quickly felt a hand on his head that playfully pushed him down. Bubbles came out his nose before he stopped the air's free flow and his hand moved towards his attacker to tickle her.
It was quite the fight and he lost count on how many times they both ended up near the bottom of the river, as well as how many submerged rocks they had to avoid by pure brute strength. But the next thing he knew they were already above water and he was already pinning her against the nearest rock.
"Ah…" They breathed out simultaneously. "I missed you."
"You haven't gotten into too big a mess while I'm gone have you?" Killua said after he got enough oxygen to speak.
"Maybe…" She shrugged. "Did you know? I'm an aunt now." She said and absent-mindedly allowed her hand to move from his shoulder to his cold pale cheeks. Gingerly, her caress moved down to the back of his neck and she felt him shiver a little. "You're hair has really grown so much longer."
"Hmn," Killua responded as he dipped down his head slightly so their soaked faces would be a mere inch apart. "It's been too long, after all."
"How was the game?" She asked from under her breath, only half-there. The other half of her mind was focused on Killua's breathing.
"It wasn't the same," said Killua. "You said it before—the journey's the fun part. It was boring without you." He mumbled before finally closing in. Gon met the gesture by wrapping her arms around him and meeting his lips with even more might, as if the force of the rock against their bodies wasn't enough to diminish the distance between them.
It was soothingly long and the caresses were an incredible mixture of passion and gentleness… until Killua licked her bottom lip and an involuntary moan came out, allowing Killua to deepen the kiss even further. They entered a realm where they could release the longing they felt when they were apart.
It was weird. During the separation they managed to live by normally, doing the tasks they had to do with focus, and allowing their minds to think of their other fleetingly several times a day… but then when they were finally together they wonder just how they could managed to do that in the first place.
Then, as strong as their lungs were, they needed to separate for some air.
"We… should get out of the water."
Gon chuckled. "Yeah."
They swam to the edges and just as they were lifting themselves up, a frigid gust of air passed by them. Gon shivered. "Cold."
Killua smiled at this and pulled her to his hip. Gon blinked at this. "Mou. It's like we're suddenly glued together."
"Are you complaining?"
"Nope."
Killua slid his hand under her neck to pull her closer to him like a pillow. He placed his chin was on her head, and her stomach was covered with his other arm, and Killua closed his eyes—savoring the warmth. Gon didn't say nor do anything for a while, a little surprised that Killua wanted to hug her in such a comforting way all of a sudden. She closed her eyes and let go of the strain, completely relaxing her body to him.
She didn't mind when, after a while, the arm on her stomach moved and she felt her hand tracing the top of her arm to her hand. She only opened her eyes when she felt something particularly cold slid into one of her fingers.
"Eh?" She uttered as she unconsciously raised her hand, now adorned with a golden ring that had a familiar-looking stone attached to its prongs. It was azure, and white at the same time—much like the sky, and it reminded her of the days she sought refuge in the sight of the sky. She later realized it was because she was reminded of Killua's eyes.
"For me?"
"Yeah." He said, and raised his hand as well, showing he had one too, albeit a more masculine version. Killua knew that in many cultures it was practically synonymous to a marriage proposal, but he didn't say so out loud. "Can you guess what the jewel is?"
Gon stared at it, her head rummaging for a certain memory, and her eyes widened the instant she figured it out. "The Blue Planet!?"
"Bingo!"
"How? —didn't Bisuke take the only one?" Nanou mentioned that Agatha found two, but she kept the other one.
"Well, she traded it with something else…" He mumbled. "The Long Lost Delivery card."
Gon dipped her head a little at this. "…what she wanted to find must've been important—for her to trade her most prized possession." Then she lifted her head, and this made Killua flinch a little. "I'm curious why you suddenly wanted to give me one."
"Other than the fact that your mother has the only other piece?" He asked sardonically and smiled, feigning thought. "Hmn… let's see…" He looked up, thinking. "Well, do you know that it was called a 'gift from the sky'?" "By now you should be aware of the many names I call you in my head, right?"
She chuckled. She didn't want to embarrass him by asking to say those names out loud. Killua leaned down so his chin was resting on her shoulders, his whole body practically leaning on her back and she manoeuvred herself so they'd both be comfortable like that.
He thought they could stay that way for hours but alas, Gon's waterproof (how he wished it washed away) beetle phone rang again. The moment was broken, but they're too used to it already to care.
Gon brightened at the voice on the other line. "Ora! Leorio."
Killua groaned. "You again?!"
Leorio obviously heard Killua, but was apparently not in the mood to goof around. "I need to meet you guys soon."
"You do know Mito-san's throwing a party tonight for her newborn right?"
"It's a gathering." Gon corrected, Killua shrugged.
"I know," Leorio uttered, a hint of panic betraying his voice. "I just need you to be ready as soon as I get there."
"What? Did you just have some sort of Eureka moment on your way here?"
"Nope." He said without a hint of uncertainty. "Anyway, see ya."
二水流
The four—Leorio, Kurapika, Gon, and Killua—sat on one of the bar's circular table, as a lot of other people (Bisuke, Zushi, and a couple of other villagers) put up simple but elegant (as Bisuke proudly explained) decorations for their party (slash-gathering).
The first moments of their reunion were joyous—everyone was just happy to see everyone's faces. But they did not last long, as their problems were too big that it pulled them back to reality a bit too readily. The atmosphere around the table was an odd mix of joy, nervousness, and stress.
"I, too, wish to tell you of something." Kurapika said, eyeing Neon, and had a feeling she was there for Leorio, which almost made him smile. "But I'll go after Leorio."
Leorio nodded at this, signalling he'd begin. "I got a call from Cheadle while I was on the boat and I couldn't wait." He paused. "It's about the virus that showed up a couple of months ago."
Gon gulped as a small line of tears threatened to escape her eyes. She just remembered how the whole village—filled with good people—died because of it. Killua held her hand, before turning his head to Leorio. "You mean the one that took Reina's village?"
Leorio nodded. "As you know, we contained it a few months back." "But some stupid extremist hunters decided the chimeara ant siblings had no place in this world." Leorio gritted his teeth, obviously recalling an annoying memory. "They had no idea how practically indestructible they were. They were hunters, and I can assume they're pretty strong, but I don't think they were much of a match for creatures from DC."
"They didn't kill him of course," Leorio added, for the sake of the ant-kids. "But they got away without realizing they were wounded."
This was troubling, they knew. "But what about the kids?" Gon asked, worried, and Leorio gave her a small but reassuring smile. "They didn't do anything else, nor bring reinforcement because Kaito and his gang finally arrived."
They let out a sigh of relief, before Kurapika steered the conversation back to the hunters, instinctively knowing a big problem roused from them. "The wounded ones who escaped?"
Leorio did not say anything for a long second, his eyebrows furrowed even more than before. They realize he had a hard time saying it out loud. "Well… Forty three people are now dead in a city in NGL, over 200 shows the symptoms." "It doesn't seem fitting to say, but we're lucky that the city isn't as dense as cities like York Shin. We'd have lost thousands, if that were the case.
"I'm rudely reminded of something Kaito once said to me." Leorio mumbled. "Time is like a sword.' He said grimly. 'If you don't cut it, it will cut you.'"
No one spoke for a while, mental images of so many people dying from a plague occupying their heads. Finally, Gon broke it. "What did Cheadle say?"
At this question, Leorio straightened his back and looked directly at Gon. "Here's the part I really need to talk to you about," he told her. "She says there was only only person she knows who has seen the plant:
"Ging."
"Eh?!"
As the death of many people saddened them, the last part was a particular news that made Gon and Killua smile, and Kurapika gape in surprise. There it was: the one silver lining. "That means—"
Then the door opened, revealing Kikyo and a graceful and beautiful Kalluto right behind her.
"Where's my grandchild?"
The four found themselves standing up so abruptly it felt almost like they were in an elevator. "Kikyo!"
They put up defensive auras, and some were ready to fight-to-the-death—
"Oh hush, stop over-reacting." She said coolly with that high-pitched voice of hers. Leorio couldn't stop staring at that weird contraption that served as her eyes.
It was around then that Illumi appeared, looking calm as ever, and they suddenly realized Kikyo wasn't particularly hiding her presence. They would've easily sensed her if they were more attentive. That meant she had nothing to hide. "Come with me, mother."
Kalluto met his brother's eyes and followed behind slowly, but she ended up eavesdropping on the conversations as they sauntered.
"Ne… Killua…" Gon asked quietly. "I've been wondering how did Kikyo, you know, become like that?"
"I dunno," Killua shrugged, not particularly interested in things concerning his mother. "I asked once, as a kid, back when curiosity was forgiven." "All they said was she got it from a trip."
Gon and Kurapika froze at this. It was Gon who spoke first, eyes suddenly with intense curiosity that made Killua flinch. "A trip to where?"
"The Dark Continent." Kalluto, standing a meter from the door, answered for them. She blinked at her interruption before turning away to continue trailing her mother.
"Wait, Kalluto-chan!" Gon almost yelled, standing up to follow. "We have things we have to ask you."
Killua raised an eyebrow. "We do?"
"Yes." But it was Kurapika who answered.
"Better make it quick." She said, pushing her long hair back. "I'd like to see my nephew." Kalluto paused, stating a disclaimer before anything else. "And do know this happened before I was born."
Gon nodded in understanding, taking a step forward. Kalluto frowned at the proximity, but she did not say so. "Do you know if she was pregnant with Alluka, then?"
She asked making Killua and Kurapika gape at her, apparently having an inkling on what the question was about. Leorio and Kalluto, on the other hand, had no idea. When Kalluto did not answer immediately, Gon quickly supplied: "You know... when she went there."
"Yes." The four stared and she sighed. "If that's all—"
Killua cut her off by whipping his head to Gon. "Are you saying that Nanika could be from the dark continent?"
Kurapika seemed apprehensive, but definitely considering the possibility, which actually just made Killua more nervous. "It makes sense," the blonde said, to no one in particular, but there was something showing in his eyes that told them he was fascinated. "There are a number of mysterious creatures in gas form—one of the calamities are gases with sentiment.
"Nanika can easily be like that."
.
The world was suddenly askew.
"If that's true that it's funny," Killua said, even when he felt nowhere near amused. "Dad always thought it was his fault—Nanika's existence—for exercising his freedom when he was a teenager."
"Wait—Silva was a teenager?"
"That's beside the point, Leorio." Kurapika said and his eyes ended up on Kalluto again, as it had been doing for a while. They eventually recalled Kurapika seemed to want to ask Kalluto a question as well, and sensing they were waiting for him to speak he cleared his throat.
"Kalluto…" "Aren't you a member of the spiders?"
Silence
"Yes."
Leorio seemed finicky all-of-a-sudden, ready to serve as a mediator when needed. "Kurapika, you do know that—"
"I'm not a child, Leorio. I'm not going to attack her just because she entered a group I despised." Kurapika coolly cut him off. "I'm asking why she isn't in the Dark Continent. The rest of the spiders are."
"You know this?" Killua asked. "Is that what you're going to tell us?"
Gon's eyebrows were particularly furrowed, and Kurapika did not miss this.
"I am going to the Dark Continent," he quickly told her, specifically. "But not because of them." In the midst of the silence, he tucked out the letter he'd been holding on to and handed it to Gon, who in turn gingerly opened it and held it out so everyone could read.
Like him, their eyes widened at its contents. Almost instantaneously they finished reading, and pulled their sights away from the letter to stare at him. Their eyes were hopeful, and they all knew what this implied. Still, they obviously wanted to hear him say so out-loud.
"I'm going to the dark continent to meet the other Kurutas."
Everyone—sans Kalluto, who was stoically escaping to see his nephew—beamed in glee.
"Well, then." Gon said sighing, but in a light-hearted way. Almost like relief, but more on joyful. "I guess this party will also be a voyage gathering for our journey."
二水流
That night was a humble gathering with a couple of musicians from town playing country tunes, yet everyone felt the utter joy in the air (perhaps Kikyo would've felt it too, if she stayed)—almost as if it was some sort of scent.
"I'm guessing it's the baby." Leorio shrugged, eyeing the small basket on one of the tables, being watched over by Mito's mother. "Baby scent."
"I don't know what else to suggest so I guess I'll agree with you." Kurapika said while Killue grinned as he turned to Gon.
"You think so?" "Well, speaking of scents…" Killua said, leaning down so his nose touched her shiny dark-colored hair. "You smell wonderful, Gon."
"Eh?" "Well, I did just take a bath…" "Thank you?" As someone who used her smelling for pragmatic things, it'd take a while for her to catch that it was a line for flirting. Killua let out an airy chuckle before grabbing her hand and pulling her to the small area cleared at the backmost part of the bar, near to the musicians, and a place where people could dance.
The beats had been upbeat for a while, and it stayed like that when they entered, but the musicians seemed to have seen them dancing and decided to play a slower song. At that one of the oldest couples they saw, the baker's parents, entered the dance floor with them.
Gon rested her neck on Killua's shoulder and his hands were on her back. It was relaxing, and soothing, and intimate. Gon opened her eyes when the music entered its last stanza and her eyes met Kurapika's. His eyes widened a little—he had been watching her for a while—but he didn't look away. Instead, he allowed the unconsciously pining stare turn to one of warmth, and he smiled.
The song ended and the musicians decided on a quicker tune again. Surprisingly, the old couple danced with it. Granted, their movements were slow, but they tried. And they were beautiful to watch. Watching them gave Gon some sort of mild eureka moment of how happy they were and how long they've probably spent with the other…, and how much they'd endured together.
"I wonder if we'd look like that fifty years from now." She whispered and she felt his chest vibrate out of laughter.
"I think we'd still be fighting monsters."
She laughed.
The music went on, along with the chatters, and the laughters, until the gathering finally neared its end. "Good evening everyone!" Mito greeted from the makeshift stage beside the musicians. "First of all my family and I—along with my fiancé—would like to thank you for coming to this blessed evening.
"As promised, we will announce our son's name tonight."
"A beautiful boy gifted with silver hair and pearl-like skin." "A boy whose birth brought many, many, lives together—paths that, perhaps, easily never would've met at all." "And a gift from the heavens, to people who never thought they even needed such a gift." "And…" She said, without a hint of malice. "A gift we helped create."
"And thus he shall be named as such." She said, kissing the infant's snow-white skin lovingly. "Miluto."
二水流
The next day..., everyone was about to leave, and many towards a place where thousands had lost their lives.
As joyful and celebratory the previous night was, the next day was all but met with bittersweet farewells. Mito, grandma, and Miluto. Illumi was sending them off, too, albeit at a comfortable distance of at least fifty meters, and in the masking protection of the forest.
Gon, Alluka, and Killua were first to finish packing, being used to travelling. Kurapika and Leorio, who had been working more white-collar jobs the past years, were taking a little longer.
"I wonder if Ging already found Agatha…" Bisuke asked to no one in particular, and Mito flinched a little. But, granted, it didn't make her feel so scared anymore. She loved Gon, so much like her own daughter but... she gave birth to a new life now.
It was time to accept all she'd be able to do now was watch her first baby bird fly.
Gon, sensing Mito's stare, walked closer and leaned on to her shoulders, eyes ending up on the baby on her arms (who was soon ogled upon by Alluka). They didn't say anything for a while, and it was only then that Gon answered Bisuke's question. "I don't know," she mumbled, snuggling closer to Mito. "But I don't think it matters now." "Things will come when they come."
Bisuke let out a chuckle. "So carefree…"
"Stress really doesn't suit Gon very much." They turn to the source of the voice, who was trying his best to look cool in his normal but comfortable (and relatively costly) black suit. He had just left the house and was a couple of meters away from the group. He walked towards them as he held his very expensive (10-million-zenny) briefcase with one hand, letting it rest on his shoulder.
"You didn't bring that briefcase to show off your richness, right? You didn't become even more impractical these past few years, didn't you?" Killua asked, totally mocking him. Leorio scoffed at this.
"Of course not. This is expensive because it's so practical." He said and threw the bag to Killua, whose eyebrows rose a bit. It was much heavier than it seemed. He calculated only a man who had opened at least one of the doors of death would be able to carry this.
"Not bad." He said, even when he made the compliment sound stingy. Of course, Leorio only heard the compliment and grinned.
"Of course!" The doctor said. "I'm not a Zodiac for nothing!"
Killua shook his head and sighed. Now all that was left was Kurapika. Leorio looked around and noted the same thing. "Where's Kurapika?" Then he sighed, as if he had been waiting there for ages. "Geez. He gets ready like a girl."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, then." A voice near them said and they turn their heads again, albeit this time their eyes widened, actually impressed, and Leorio pouted a bit at this as he recalled the apathetic response to his cool intro.
It was Kurapika, and he was wearing a traditional Kuruta garb—much like the one they had first seen him on. The tabard, though, was bigger and designed for a male adult. It was form fitting enough to emphasize Kurapika's impressive and lean physique while maintaining its characteristic modesty.
"Oh my…" Bisuke mewed, sounding slightly like a teenage fangirl that she almost always appeared to be.
"It looks good on you." Gon said and he smiled warmly in response. Leorio watched the exchange with a shrug, while Killua stared blankly.
"Does Elena-san know how many of us she'll be transporting?" Kurapika asked as he reached the group, eyeing everyone who would be coming. There were five of them, and Kurapika realized how difficult it would be to transfer all of them at once. Leorio blinked at this.
"I thought the card was supposed to have no limits?"
"But they're done on the island," Killua told them. "We're in the real world."
"Greed Island is in the real world."
"Yes, but—"
"Elena warned we'll just be a little off-course." Killua said. "But that shouldn't be a problem since you sent Momo to tell them you're coming soon right?"
"Well, I guess…" Gon said and shrugged, shaking the weird feeling in her gut. She knew she should've listened to Killua. She ate way too much food the previous night.
Killua took out the cards. Holding up a card, he uttered 'gain' and it glowed, emerging as a different card: the Paladin's necklace. The others watched in awe as this happened.
"This is cool." Leorio mumbled. "I should play that game someday."
Kurapika nodded in agreement.
"Anyway, this is just like old times!" Leorio said, giving them a group hug. "Only this time I'm actually responsible for several thousand lives…" Leorio said and his happy posture sagged.
"Old man, if you don't let go soon the card will be folded." Not that it would affect its performance but still.
"Oh whoops. Sorry." Then he realized—"Who are you calling old man?!"
Killua ignored him, and went to Gon who was saying last goodbyes to her aunt and grandmother, which could have been redundant, but this was Gon. He joined her and so did Kurapika.
Alluka, on the other hand, had her eyes suddenly stuck with Leorio the instant he stood directly in front of her. She held out her hand and gestured he lean down so they can talk privately. "Your tie is nice." Alluka said, seemingly out-of-nowhere. "Can I have it?"
"Eh?" Leorio said, looking down at his average necktie. "O-Okay then," he said, and handed her the tie.
"What about your shades?" Leorio sweat-dropped, and leaned down so their eyes were completely level. "Is the glare bothering you?"
Alluka did not answer, but only smiled. It was then he realized what was happening and his eyes widened. But he was not able to react, because the three were now with them and egging everyone to be ready right that moment. "Is everyone ready?"
Eyeing Alluka, Leorio thought he was not ready. "Uhm—"
"Wait!"
They blink and turn to the source of the sound. It was Neon and Bansho. They wait for the two to arrive and to catch a breather after what seemed to be a while of running. "Where did you go?"
"We went to get a package. They delivered it in the clearing not too far away from here."
"Package?"
Neon nodded and stood up straight, having rested enough. "Sorry it's late. I wanted them fresh, you see. But here…" She handed them a box, filled with various luxury food from the mainland. "I figured you'd want to eat more food from this part of the world when you get there. You can also eat them in your travels." She said as she handed the food to Gon, but her eyes lingered towards Kurapika, and stayed on Leorio.
Neon and Bansho them said their goodbyes and walked towards Mito and the others. Killua looked around one more time and beckoned them to gather, but this time no longer asking if they were ready, no longer finding the need to. He looked at the others to silently ask them to step back. Leorio met Neon's eyes then, and the connection stayed, and they didn't move until Killua uttered a syllable.
"Accompany ON!" The Zoldyck said, holding the card up. "—Ging!"
Following his words, the card glowed and disintegrated—forming a light that expanded and expanded immediately surrounding the group of five.
"Bye everyone!" Gon yelled, one more time, before an upward force pulled them to the sky.
It was a gut-wrenching sensation, almost like falling, and their path stabled just before Leorio was about to barf. Soon enough, Leorio adjusted and realized this was actually quite fun. "Whoooooooo!" He yelled, extending both his arms and flapping them like he was a bird. "So this is what it feels like to fly!"
"Like a child." Kurapika said, shaking his head, albeit wearing a smile that meant he was enjoying this as much as everyone else. Leorio, however, only heard the insult.
"Shut up!"
The three younger ones laughed as they manoeuvred themselves to turn on an axis, playing around, and having fun. They even bump onto each other, and they bounce along the axis like some sort of bungee, and they laugh for a long time. They soon pass the sea and enter the mainland.
Eventually, of course, they did get tired. After an hour or so of flight, they were still in-land. Even through air, it was going to be a long travel. They soon fell asleep.
Or at least Leorio did, and his nap was interrupted by a strong nudge on his back. "Look! Look!" It was Alluka, pointing at the group of whales right under them. One even blew water up to a meter below them. "Get me that!"
Leorio blinked and gasped when he realized they were above water again, although he could not see an inch of land anywhere. "Whoa! We're at the ocean now." He gulped. "This is kinda scary."
"This is the Great Lake, Leorio."
"I knew that." "Anyway," He said coolly, with a tinge of embarrassed blush on his face. "It's huge."
They followed the sunset for almost an hour, but flying past it was still morning and then even further back the day. Gon rotated her head (along with her whole body) to have a 360 degree look at her surroundings. "Hmn… I'm guessing we'll be early risers for a while when we land."
"How so?"
"Timezones," she said. "We're heading west so…"
"Speaking of jetlag." Leorio murmured massaging his head. "We'll probably feel a heck of it."
Kurapika nodded, already thinking of how to deal with it especially since they'd probably be landing in a dangerous situation. He could only hope an adrenaline rush would be enough, if that was the case.
It was around that time they caught sight of a massive amount of land, thick forests, and…
…moving mountains?
Killua and Alluka seemed impressed. Kurapika narrowed his eyes, unsure of what he was seeing. Leorio actually scratched his eyes. "What."
"Those are creatures," Gon told them, as a-matter-of-factly. "Pretty average around here."
"What—" Leorio gasped, while Kurapika all but face-palmed.
"What did I get into?"
In any case, the moving mountains were the first of many marvels (and terrors) they encountered in their flights. They saw elephants as large as buildings, Rhinoceros with overtly sharp horns that appeared to be made of steel, craters in the ground (which they realize were made by digger animals), and there were even about a score of flying dinosaurs and barely got past their massive bills when they opened it for a bite. "Holy crap—"
Gon shook her head in disapproval. "No cursing, Leorio."
"HOW THE HECK CAN I NOT CURSE?!"
This time, only Gon and Alluka seemed to be enjoying themselves.
A while after that was the same, albeit with different species as they passed through certain landforms. They soon got used it, at least to a degree wherein they could appreciate the beauty of the scenery. There was nothing like it, truly, and there were so many species of flora that were so bright and colourful they felt surreal.
They became so engrossed in the fantasy-like new land that they barely felt the turbulence in their flight. Things happened too quickly, from then on.
From below the light would look like it separated into two, as if hitting an invisible rock in the middle of the sky. The smaller one accelerated and ended up somewhere East, while the larger one didn't go off-course and seemed to follow their destination.
Unbeknownst to them, they just encountered a hurdle—a major one.
And they haven't even landed yet.
.
.
END OF
Two Rivers: 5 Years Later
COMING EVENTUALLY:
Two Rivers: Dark Continent
What adventures await the gang in the infamous continent that have taken so many lives?
二水流
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Pri-Chan1410 – Thank you for reviewing! Hehe. I am so glad you liked how the character grows. I was hoping it wasn't 'too much' to the point of OOCness, you see. Here's the next chap, btw, and I hope you enjoy!
Little Numbers – I am so relieved Illumi's still in character! I was quite nervous, tbh. xD Glad you enjoyed the chapter! Hope you feel the same with this one! Thx for the review. ;D
RavenZaoldyeck – Thank you for reviewing! I am very happy you thought the chapter was amazing, and I hope this one is also satisfying. Enjoy~ Oh and the 'she' there is Mito. They're having a son. :D
Giotto27 – Yinyang pair BANZAAAIII! Hahaha. I am sooo happy to know you still love the story so far! This is one of my best chaps so far (for me) and I do hope you like it. Thx for reviewing~!
PrincessBluetree – And thank you so much for reading and reviewing it! xDD And lol you're not alone. Almost everyone hates Nerys. Good thing she lost a body part. Haha. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well, btw! :D
Grandpamuffin – aww shux, and yes I saw and Thank you for reading that one too! And a (very) subtle proposal, accepted! It is seriously subtle tho so don't expect much. Haha. Lol gosh I'm flattered to be a celebrity in your eyes *blush* and I'll try my best to deserve that. xD oh! And the Chinese character means Two Rivers. Literally. Lol.
Digilover23 – Thank you for reviewing! I am very glad you liked that chapter. This one (ch32) is for me one of my best. Hope you think so as well! :D
RaNDoem – Ahahaha. I apologize for the heart attacks I give you, I do. xDD Unfortunately, they're fun to write. Lol. Oh, and thank you for reviewing! So glad you enjoyed the chapter. I hope you like this one, too!
Pitou77 – Thank you for reviewing! Hehe. Glad the action sufficed. This one has too! Altho a totally different kind. xD
Phoenix-Thunder – hehehe. As always, I am supperrr glad you liked the chapter! Similar pacing will happen in this chap, so be warned! Haha. And Yay for Spiders in DC. Now I'm hoping they actually go there in canon. Lol. And thank you so much for sticking with me! How long has it been?! xD
Reah-Kitsune – Thank you for reviewing! Thanks for telling me I help raise your spirits as well~! Hehe. And the letter? Oh yeah that is a bit important, although it'll be a while before I show how. And I'm doing a time skip here! Hope it doesn't disappoint. And do enjoy~
Angaebi – tehe. Glad you liked the chap! There's more of those shifts here, and I do hope you enjoy them as well. Thx for reviewing~!
Guest [Dec. 12, 2015] – (ch1) haha. Hi there! I know, I know, it's ridiculous. But I call them Guardian Pair, yay! xD Still, glad you liked it! (ch31) HEY YOU! You're here! Haha. Thank you for bearing with me. Here's the next chap! Hope you like it. :D And thx for the reviews!
AngelKitty27 – OMG 'A protective little brother' would be so cute. Considering his appearance, he'd be like a MINI KILLUA! OMG. Hahaha. Major timeskips would have to pass before we see that tho. Thx for reviewing btw!
Musicalocelot – Aw shux, I love it when people talk my eyes off! Lol. Tell me whatever you want. I'll read them wholeheartedly. *wink* Oh, and thank you for reviewing! And thanks for pointing out all you did, esp. the things I did right lol.
Starlingg12 – Hello~! Welcome to the story and thank you for getting this far. I'm so happy to know you love my writing and my twists and that means a lot! And yes! Kura deserves more than Nerys, which is why she ends up with thin-Milluki. Hehe.
Darlingfedz – (ch29) Oh my you're here! I missed you! xD Thanks for the greetings and no worries. You're here now. I hope your work is going well~! (ch30) haha. Tonpa wouldn't be Tonpa if he didn't get humiliated at least thrice a day. Kekkeke. And yes! I hope the whole Alluka-DC connection is canon. Otherwise I'd have some major problems. xD (ch31) Awww shux. Thanks for telling me I fill the empty space HxH left behind. That darned Togashi! Haha. Anyways, thank you so much for the reviews and I hope you had a wonderful new year!
SweetSerenade5281 – Hello kabayan! And yes! Ging and Killua made contact! Haha. It's way briefer than what we all would've preferred but it's a start. Lol. Belated happy holidays btw! Hope you had a fabulous new year. ;)
二水流
200 feet above sea level
1226 km/hr
Despite the relaxing flow of wind against his face, Killua found himself playing around with his collar, as if it was suffocating him. He only had a vague idea of what Ging looked like, because there was no clear photo of him even with Gon. He knew he had large inquisitive eyes like Gon's—which he adored—but he felt intimidated by Ging, regardless.
He wondered what he would say. Should he just greet the man? How would he introduce himself? Will Ging kill him if he told him the blunt truth from the get-go? Should she omit a confident aura? A humble one? What would a guy like Ging prefer?
But before he could turn to Gon to ask her, the flight suddenly changed pressure—it was speeding up—and a moment later Killua's eyes narrowed due to an uncomfortable glare. He frowned and, after he past the critical angle, turned his head to its source.
His narrow eyes widened immediately at what he saw: a city made of marble, gold, and gems. He heard Leorio utter an curse (of awe) and Kurapika sigh in fascination. They were not given time to react anymore than that, as their path swiftly turned towards a mountain of sort. Unlike the buildings, it was made of earth. It was also steady, and they were reminded by those moving mountains they saw a couple of hours prior.
For a moment they thought they'd hit the landmass directly and were about to ready themselves from the impact, but the path changed slightly and they realized there was a cave opening—around a storey in diameter—and it was precisely where they were headed.
They went deeper and deeper and deeper into cave—which was suspiciously neat and uniform—until they just landed somewhere deeper, darker, and colder. It had been so dark that it took a couple of seconds even for Killua to adjust to the darkness, and that alone gave him an idea of just how deep they were.
Leorio even shivered from the cold, despite his perfect 'ten', while Kurapika noted the sound of dripping water.
When their eyes adjusted, the first thing they saw was metal—which they quickly realized formed chains. The trail of metal which begun at the curved walls of the tunnels and headed inwards, and their eyes followed it.
And there he was—a half-naked man—with chains wrapped around every tendon of his body. Every single appendage was covered with metal, connected on for parts of the cavé, and his whole was body hanging.
Killua could only stare, Leorio unconsciously assessing the prisoner's situation, and Kurapika was eerily reminded of his own chains.
They flinched when he suddenly opened his eyes, which quickly lit up a little when he saw the three of them. He even managed to raise a hand, to form a wave of greeting.
"Yo."
.
It took them a moment to absorb the situation. For a man of such situation, he didn't seem to be in pain at all. But there was something familiar in his eyes, and they all flinch as he looked at them alternatively. "Ging?"
"That's me." He said with a smile and then his eyes swept through what was in front of him. His smile turned into a puzzled frown. "So…" He asked, no one in particular. "Where's my daughter?"
Eh?
They look around, frantic, a slow-burning sense of panic rising. "Gon?" He called, hoping like hell she'd answer. No such luck.
It was also then that he realized: Alluka was gone, too.
"What?"
Kurapika's eyes widened. "The turbulence," he said, as if it explained everything. This only made an all-too familiar ringing resonate inside Killua's head.
Nonononono, he thought. Not again.
He held his head with his palm, because it felt like it was going to fall down any moment. But the ground rumbled and slowly they sense something approaching. Something long and just big enough to fit in the tunnels…
Until they realized it was what created it.
Sharp razor teeth lining a circular mouth soon emerged from behind Ging. Ging blinked and twisted his body a bit, breaking the chains as if they were toothpicks. He flopped down to a spot in front of them and crossed his arms. For a moment he stood there, between them and the gigantic worm.
But then he sighed and nonchalantly walked behind them.
"Take care of that thing for me," he said, as if it was a house chore. "I'm guessing from your reactions my daughter's nearby anyway." Then his feet stopped when he was in line with Leorio. He looked down and Leorio realized he was holding something of interest. "Is that food?" Ging asked, albeit he didn't seem to find the need to ask permission to take it anyway.
He turned around slightly, and raised his free hand.
"Bye," he said.
"And thanks for the food."
二水流
…
Thank you sooo much for the epic support you gave the story!
This shall be a short goodbye (because I do have other HxH stories), and words aren't enough to tell you how awesome you people are.
In any case, I hope you enjoyed the story til' the end.
And I would love to know what everyone thought before you go. ;)
Don't leave the story without letting me know you were ever here.