Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction ❯ Idelian ❯ Unanswered Question ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Unanswered Question

 

Written by Killua

Translated: Kal Kally

 

Author: Many authors, as this fic originally started as a Round Robin. Later, I revised it. I also wrote the last chapters of it.

Translate: This fic was written in another langue. Since I like it too much, I decide to translate it to English.

Disclaimer: No, of course. HxH and its characters do not belong to any of us.

Pairing: Kuroro/Kurapika, Hisoka/Illumi, Killua/Gon (Though this pairing depends on how you view it.)

Genre: Romance/Angst/Adventure

Warning: Rating M for violence and some contents in the future.

~*~

 

The chain clashed to the ground, creating a dry noise. Its metal was wet with blood. The smell of blood was heavy in the air, making it hard to breath

 

Kurapika stared at the body on the stone floor before him. He was still seeing the world through red, but anger no longer clouded his mind. Yet he felt nothing. From the bottom of his heart darkness was spreading out. The darkness that was created by his own weakness robbed away all thoughts and emotions, leaving him only emptiness. The tragic past and the painful present collided, demanding him to face with the question he had always been running from. `Should I kill him?'

 

The sky outside the window was painted with the sorrowful color of sunset. The dim light of the end of a day drifted in through the barred window, illuminating only half of the room. Kurapika was standing in that light while Kuroro was lying in darkness. Would he be strong enough to step over the line created by light and shadow to finish what had been started years ago?

 

The flame once again flared up in his eyes. His hand clenched around the chain.

 

The one who had murdered his people... The leader of Genei Ryodan... He. Must. Die.

 

Kuroro. Must. Die.

 

Kurapika walked closer to Kuroro, entering the dark part of the room. Darkness strengthened his determination and reminded him of his responsibility and hatred.

 

It hurt. He hurt. His heart was bleeding with every step. But he had been so used to pain... Just once more time let his heart be wounded... it didn't matter.

 

The head of the chain from his middle finger sank into Kuroro's chest. He had used much force, yet there was no reaction from Kuroro. Kurapika blinked. The man didn't stir, didn't moan. There was just no reaction at all. It felt as if he had attacked a corpse. Had Kuroro died?

 

For a moment his heart seemed to stop. But then he stepped closer. It couldn't be. The leader of Ryodan would not die that easily.

 

The chain was pulled back. Kurapika stopped beside the body and kneeled down to examine it. His hands were shaking, but his eyes were full of determination. He brushed away a curl of hair from Kuroro's face. His eyes softened for a moment, but then Kurapika scowled himself for doing unnecessary thing. He took Kuroro's wrist, finding the pulse.

 

Suddenly he froze as his eyes fell on a piece of metal that must have fallen out of Kuroro's clothes when he collapsed.

 

It looked strangely familiar. Slowly, a memory returned to him.

 

*Flash back *

 

“Kurapika! Kurappikkaaaa!!!

“Leorio, stop yelling! It hurts my head!”

 

“What are you saying? To find someone this is the most effective way. Try it if you don't believe..” Leorio argued.

 

“No thanks! I don't intend to make myself an idiot!” Killua retorted.

 

“What?!?”

 

“Stop quarrelling.” Gon interrupted. “But Leorio, you have been shouting for 4 hours. Don't you feel your throat sore?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

Gon and Killua sweat-dropped.

 

“Beside, Kurapika is still missing. What if he were kidnapped? What if his enemies found him?”

 

“Kurapika is not a child. Not to mention that he's the strongest of us. I feel sorry for anyone who dares to kidnap him.” Killua said.

 

“But--”

 

Killua pulled Gon to the house's direction. “Just keep finding if you want, but make sure that we don't have to find you once he comes back.”

 

***

 

Far from the house where they were staying, Kurapika was also searching for someone. He had gone deep into the forest north of the house, but still had no sight of that person.

 

It took him a little more, but finally he spotted a man sitting on a flat rock. The man was clad in black coat with hood. A piece of black cloth hid his face, revealing only sharp, cruel eyes. A small thin chain hang around his neck, on it was a round pendant made by some kind of metal. It looked old and rusted, but it was beautifully carved.

 

That form... strangely looked like someone.... Kurapika shook his head lightly. It couldn't be. His archenemy couldn't be here.

 

Kurapika walked closer, his head filled with thoughts. This person had left a note in front of his and Leorio's room, telling him to go here as he had information about Ryodan. Kurapika was sceptical, but he decided to go to meet the mystery man in the end.

 

The man didn't say a word, just staring at him intensely. Kurapika didn't feel danger, however he didn't feel safe either. He made a step forward, but hesitated, unsure if he should raise his voice first.

 

“You don't need to say anything. You just need to listen.” The man suddenly said.

 

It was as if the man could read his thought.

 

The man laughed. “The answer is `yes'. I can read your mind.”

 

Kurapika startled. His eyes sharpened, but he didn't move from his spot. This man was dangerous, and....

 

“Arrogant.” The man finished his thought for him and chuckled.

 

Kurapika tensed. He grabbed the chain tighter, ready to fight if needed.

 

“What do you want from me?”

 

“Did I say that I want anything from you?”

 

“But... Aren't you the one who left the note before my room?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You told me that you wanted to meet me here!”

 

“Oh... I forget. But beside that I don't want anything from you.”

 

“You... I don't understand.” Kurapika started to feel annoyed. “Then why do you call me here? Is this a joke?”

 

“I called you here because of something so interesting that I'm sure you'll like it very much.”

 

“Just spit it out or shut up!”

 

“Don't be furious. Impatience is not good for someone who seeks for revenge, you know.” The man said with teasing voice.

 

What did he say? Kurapika startled. Revenge... that single word made his blood seemed to stop flowing. Why did he know? No one except his friends knew about his painful quest. No one else...

 

“Who are you?” He voiced out his suspicion.

 

“You're not supposed to ask me.”

 

“But I know you will answer. Who are you? Why do you know me?”

 

The man laughed again. “So impatient, aren't you. Fine. I'm Reficul.”

 

“Why do you know me?”

 

“I want to help you. That's all what you need to know.”

 

“Help me? What for? I don't need anyone to help me.”

 

“Are you certain you don't need help in your revenge?”

 

“This is my own problem. No one else has the right to interfere.” Kurapika said bitterly.

 

“So stubborn. But you'll soon see you'll get much with this. But first, answer me. Who is your enemy?”

 

“It's not my duty to answer you.”

 

“Then should I read your thoughts?”

 

Kurapika frowned, but he replied reluctantly, unwilling to have anyone walk into his mind. “Genei Ryodan and...”

 

“...Kuroro Lucifer.”

 

The name was said through clenched teeth. It still didn't die, the longing that burnt in his chest every time that name was mentioned. How he loathed himself for it, but still all he could do was just trying to suppress his feelings.

 

“So, are you confident that you can eliminate the Genei Ryodan?”

 

“What does it have to do with anything?”

 

“You know your skills aren't strong enough yet.” Reficul ignored him.

 

“Quit reading my mind!” Anger seeped into his voice.

 

“Let me help you. I'll make you the strongest. And then revenge will just be as easy as a child game.”

 

This new turn of event surprised him. Kurapika stared at the man, then asked slowly. “And what do you want from me in return?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“It's simply `help'?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You won't regret?”

 

“I won't”

 

“I'll be strong enough to kill all of them?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“And how do you intend to do that?”

 

The man chuckled. “I know you would ask that question.” He continued after a short silence. “In this world, there're many people who seek to be a hunter, but only a few of them succeeded. They`re thought to be all strong fighters. But even so, their strengths are still very limited. After all, they're just human. But people with special ability or body can push their nen nearly to the limit, which makes them extremely powerful. But the strong is usually the ambitious. Many years ago, a group of that kind of people formed. They joined force with the strongest crime organization in those years and attacked the Hunter Association, claiming that once the Association fall, no one would be able to stop them from conquering the world. Their destructive power could not be match, and they caused havoc everywhere they go. The gifted fighters and the strongest criminals called themselves `Night Hunters'. It was a dark time for everyone. Almost all members of the Hunter Association had died, and so did many of the hunters that fought for them. Everyone felt the end had drawn near. However, in a night, all the Night Hunter disappeared.”

 

“You know what happened?” Kurapika asked, a little more interested now. He had read about the Night Hunters in a history book before.

 

“The truth was hidden from the eyes of people. Only few remaining members of the Hunter Association knew what had happened. In that night, one of them had used an ancient source of power, which was called `Idelian'. They succeeded, but all were terrified by what `Idelian' could do. They realized `Idelian' was not something that should fall into the hands of human. In the end, they reached a decision that they would seal `Idelian' forever. The reason the Night Hunter disappeared was the topic of discussion and rumors for a long time. But more than 300 years had passed, finally everything fade from the mind of people... The legend of Idelian... the story of the Night Hunter... and the fate of Roy, the hunter that held responsibility for protecting Idelian. What Idelian did in that night was forever a mystery. But there was one thing for certain. It is a dangerous and extremely powerful artifact.”

 

“If it's such a secret why do you know it?'

 

“I have my source of information.”

 

“So what's Idelian's role in my revenge?”

 

“It has no role at all”

 

“Are you crazy?!? Then why did you tell me all that crap?”

 

“It's the `Night Hunter' that I want to tell you.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“The strongest fighter among the `Night Hunter' was a member of the Kuruta tribe.”

 

“What?!? It cannot be. I've never heard about anything like that! Oh...” Kurapika fall silence. Could it be that person? He had heard the elders talked about a traitor, a black sheep of the tribe.

 

“I'm telling the truth. And I also know that you inherit that person's power. You have the potential to be the greatest Hunter in his story, and I could help you to wake up that ability.”

 

“... What a joke!” Kurapika murmured and walked away.

 

“I take it that you refuse my help?”

 

Kurapika stopped for a moment, but didn't turn back. “I don't consider revenge a child game. And I don't need help from people that I don't trust.”

 

“What an insolent brat.” Reficul's voice wasn't angry, but amused. “However, I will help you no matter if you agree or not.”

 

“You--” Kurapika swirled around angrily. He blinked. Reficul had disappeared from sight...

 

... and reappeared right behind him. He had no time to react, immediately being held immobile by a strong arm. Reficul turned his head to his side. His eyes widened as he felt the other's mouth on his, and a second after, a sour fluid flowed into his mouth. He struggled, but his strength was no match for the man. Panic, he used nen, finally broke out of Reficul's hold and crashed to the ground.

 

Kurapika coughed violently, both hands pressing on his throat. He tried to spit out the sour fluid, but he had already swallowed some of it.

 

When he looked up, Reficul had gone.

 

“What did you make me drink?!?” He screamed.

 

“Just a medicine that would help to awaken your sleeping ability.” He heard a calm answer.

 

“I don't believe you!”

 

This time, the reply was a hollow laughter which became fainter and fainter as if its owner was going far way. Reficul had left, leaving Kurapika alone in the forest, cursing himself for having decided to come here alone.

 

Kurapika wiped his mouth violently, disgusted with the fluid. Not only it tasted bad, it also smell horrible. He stood up, looking around. There was no use following Reficul. If that guy didn't want him to follow, he would never leave a trace behind. The fluid he had been made to drink made him worry, but Kurapika knew that if he went to a hospital, they could help him to get rid of it.

 

It was getting dark so he decided to come back. There was nothing left to do here.

 

“One who wants to find `Idelian' must answer a question: `What is the center of the world?'”

 

Kurapika quickly turned back and darted his eyes around. There was no sight of anyone. Staring at him were only dark leaves. It was strange, since the voice was not Reficul's.

 

“Who's there?” He yelled.

 

“The center of the world.... hahaha...”

 

There was something dark and sick in that laugh. It made his skin crawl. Kurapika run to the direction that he thought the voice come from, but suddenly that voice erupted from behind.

 

“Think. Little boy, think... The center of the world... hahaha...”

 

The voice quickly became fainter and fainter and finally returned the forest to the only sound of the wind blowing through branches and leaves.

 

***

 

Kurapika stared at the round shape, shocked... Near Kuroro's hand was a small pendant. The metal surface was stained with blood, making it hard to see exactly what was carved on it. Yet he realized it was exactly the pattern he had seen on Reficul's one.

 

“He is... This is... Why does Kuroro have this?”

 

Kurapika picked the pendant up and examined it carefully. Reficul's pendant in his memory was larger, and brighter while Kuroro's looked smaller and had the color of rusted metal.

 

“It can't be him. It can't be... Must be accidental...”

 

But the thing Kuroi wanted them to get was also `Idelian'. There was just too much coincidence for it to be just purely accidental. Kurapika shook his head lightly, clearing his thought. Even if it were a trap, there was nothing he could do except walking into it as Gon was still imprisoned by those people.

 

“The center of the world?” He whispered, remembering the voice from the past.

 

There were footsteps and voices outside. Kurapika startled; someone was coming this way. He couldn't stay here any longer.

 

Kurapika made a glance at Kuroro, murmuring something silently. His eyes had lost the crimson shade and returned to the usual gentle green. There was neither disgust nor fear in his look, only a hint of longing. Either in love or hatred, his fate was bound with this person. Maybe... Maybe... until he found `the center of the world.'

 

Put the pendant into his clothes, Kurapika quickly stood up. If he couldn't break the bars, then the whole wall must be gone. He could do it, but only when Kuroro was unconscious and couldn't see what he would do. All his nen was focus on his two hands, which placed tightly on the wall, creating a massive source of power. After several second, there was a dry noise. The whole wall cracked, and finally crumbled.

 

The voices and footsteps outside were getting stronger as if people were rushing to the cell.

 

Looking back at the battered body, he whispered even though he didn't know whether Kuroro was dead or not. “See you later... At the center of the world...” Kurapika jumped over the pile of bricks and quickly escaped.

 

The unanswered question was still screaming in his head. Kurapika pressed a hand on his chest while didn't stop running. What should he do now? To betray his people, or to betray his heart?

 

Strangely, somehow he suddenly felt that he would find the answer when he reached that place. `The center of the world'....

 

***

 

“Hahaha... What a good play!” Kuroi's voice echoed in the cell. His fat hands clasped together in fake admiration.

 

There was no answer. Kuroro was still lying immobile.

 

“You can stop acting now. The boy had gone, my dear Kuroro.” Kuroi laughed.

 

The body covered in blood suddenly stirred. Kuroro sat up, looking perfectly calm and expressionless. He didn't seem to be in pain, even though blood was still oozing out from the wounds on his body and face.

 

“You act perfectly.” Kuroi walked closer.

 

“Thanks.” Kuroro replied coldly, using his hand to clean the blood on his face. He didn't succeed though, as his hands were also smeared with blood.

 

“That's typical of you. Always cold. But anyway, you've done a good job. Now find Idelian for me.

 

“Fine.” Kuroro answered half-heartedly.

 

Kuroi clapped his hands three times. Somebody appeared behind him and stepped into the dim light of the cell. Kurapika?

 

Why was Kurapika here? Didn't he just leave? Why did he go with Kuroi? The expressionless facade was crumbled for a moment, replaced with surprise.

 

No, it wasn't Kurapika. The hair was dark, and the eyes were violet. But everything else, face, form, height... was alike. It wasn't Kurapika, but a perfect copy of the Hunter.

 

“What's this?” Kuroro asked skeptically.

 

“A present.” Kuroi shrugged. “You can do whatever you want with him.” He smirked lewdly. “It's an useful present, don't you think so? Call him Roy.”

 

“You must be crazy.” Kuroro shook his head and stood up. “But that's not important. You'll have what you want. And I'll take what I want from you.”

 

“Fine. Now I must say goodbye. You see, I'm a busy person. Just do what you promised me, and in return, I won't forget what I promised you. Idelian is mine, and that person will be yours.”

 

Kuroi left. In the cell remained only Kuroro and Roy.

 

“Kurapika, you still haven't found your answer.” Kuroro sighed and whispered, then turned away, paying no attention to Roy.

 

“The center of the world is cemetery. There hatred will become love.” A voice erupted faintly, almost like it came from inside his head.

 

Kuroro startled and turned back. There was no one except Roy.

 

“What did you just say?” He demanded.

 

There was no answer. Roy just smile, a strange and angelic smile.

 

TBC...