Wings and Webs: Journey

Chrollo -Broken- 49

    I step through my gate and see the faces of my Troupe, even the wayward spider has shown up.
    "Where did you go Boss?" Machi questions hastily sitting next to Kalluto.
    "You did vanish quickly, even for you." I look over to see Feitan standing up, worry on his face.
    Hisoka glances from the shadows, watching me as he shuffles his deck. I turn towards the family that is my Troupe. "Spiders listen closely. I have a treasure I want to find. I heard a story of an ancient relic that came from the Dark Continent. Possibly split into pieces."
    "Do we know what the relic looks like?" Machi ask.
     "It probably is a medallion of sorts." Nobunaga states loudly.
     "It is more complicated then that. We need information first. Go spiders follow the whispers of Dark Continent." And with that they instantly disappear.
     "That is quite the mission." Hisoka steps into the light.
     "Indeed. We need all the available information. Rumors, stories, myths and legends. Whether written or spoken I need the knowledge." I walk over and take a seat next to Hisoka.
     "You were whisked away by Yuki weren't you ◇~" He clearly wants to details.
     "Yes, she wanted her bed. Illumi fooled her well and I encouraged her to see the Zoldycks." I pull out a book.
    "Why send her there ♤~?" He questions with such calmness.
     "Conceived as a demihuman and tamed by monsters. Imagine being trained by true assassins as well." I sigh deeply, "You should do whatever it is you do Hisoka. I am taking my leave." I close my book and turn, too much is on my mind to deal with him.
      "There is something you aren't telling me ♤~" Hisoka turns his aura on me.
     "Are you going to return to the family Hisoka?" I question firmly.
      "After all I have done, you still ask?" He coos annoyingly.
     "You are inanity selfish and strongly driven as well as insane. It was my failure as a leader that I underestimated your desire to fulfill your urges." I stop momentarily realizing the true effects Naru is having on me. I chuckle, "She truly is marvelous!"
     "Indeed she is. I shall reclaim my position Chrollo but I will still do as I please ♤~." He turns his back to me, "What are you hiding?"
     "All in do time Hisoka." I instantly vanish not giving him any more explanations.
    After months of travel, I stand in front of Tall Tales Book shop at last. This store is run by a book hunter named Dorian. I have been waiting for him to return for nearly a month now and today is the day he is due in at last.
     I watch closely as a cloaked man unlocks the door and steps in. I follow closely behind him and relock the door behind me.
     I grab his shoulder and whip him around, "Dorian, I trust you already know who I am."
     "Chr..ollo Lu..cilf..er. Leader of the Phantom Troupe.." He chokes on his words, fear filling his eyes.
     "Do you know why I have come then?" I slam him against the back wall.
    Books rain down from the shelves as Dorian crashes hard. It echos loudly in the vacant shop and he glances around with pain in his eyes.
     "You are here for information on the Dark Continent. I will help but please do not hurt my books." Slowly he begins to stand and pick books up off the floor.
     "What information do you have on the Book of the Moon?" I watch intently as Dorian freezes mid step.
     "Not much...but I can tell you what I do know." He cowers before my harsh gaze.
     "Go on then."
     "It is a book of myths and legends passed down since the creation of the Known World. It tells of the creation of the planet, even thought to hold information of lands beyond the Dark Continent that surrounds us." Dorian takes a breathe and regains some composure as he continues to pick up fallen books.
    "It is said to be bound of a thick blacken hide of a beast and a tree etched into it. The words are said to be written in a strange black blood and the ink itself is alive. I hear it even holds details and descriptions of ancient gods that once reigned over the world."
    "What else do you know?" I demand firmly, my bloodlust beginning to show as my excitement grows.
    "I heard one rumor that a person tried to read it but their head exploded in mere moments of opening it. That the book itself fell from another world... I am not sure of much else." Dorian fiddles his fingers together looking at the ground now.
    "Do you know of the keys to the world?" I ask him next.
    "Only what the rumors tell of. It is said there are 12 keys and 12 gates beyond the beyond. That there locations may be written in the book you seek."
     "What else Dorian, Master Book Hunter. You know plenty-"
    "I swear Chrollo that's all I know!" He cuts me off before I can finish and that is a huge mistake on his part.
    "I have a feeling there is much more you aren't telling me. Now where is the Book of the Moon?" I tighten my hold around the book hunter's throat.
     "I do not kn-"
     "More lies. No matter, all I need is in your mind." I let the the hunter go and watch as he crumples to the ground.
     Wasting no time I pull out my Nen book and place my hand upon his head. He screams and withers in pain, but the knowledge I seek finally surfaces.
     "Oh I see. It is in a place you can not reach. Thank you so much for your help." I smile maniacally as I drop his corpse to the ground.
     His mind nothing but mush after I took his knowledge to make mine. Such an array of books now fill my mental library, I will have much to write down later. I close my book and turn leaving the shop. I am one step closer to obtaining the forbidden knowledge of the world.
     I know that Naru is only one of the keys to reach the beyond but what door does she open. Where would her gate be? What does she need to awaken to her truself? I have many more questions then answers yet again.
     "This is beyond a simple puzzle. I need more information, I need more skills to reach even further." I rub my head, flustered that the book I seek is somewhere in the Federation of Ochima. "Where could it be though, the Book Hunter never finished gathering all the intel."
     That continent is vastly unexplored and the country itself is apart of the world's main leadership. That alone will make this endeavor all the more complex.
     In the past, the Federation even sent expeditions out to the Dark Continent in the southeast. They were hunting for a special kind of rice yet all fell prey to HellBells before even making it to the swamp biome. Maybe one of the survivors found the book and brought it back with them.
     Wanting to gather my thoughts, I head for the den we all meet at. The church is still one of my favorite places to collect my thoughts. Once there I head for the main cathedral and sit atop the ruble.
     Moments Haiji erupts from my shadows, his eyes conveying panic. I watch his shadow spike erratically and her essence lingering just below its surface.
     "Why hasn't she come out yet?" The shadow next to Haiji is still rippling but nothing is appearing.
     I look to her pet and he nods looking down. Without hesitation I reach in, her limp form brushing my hand. I pull her hard into my lap.
     She is covered in blood and extremely pale. Her nen failing and with that countless wounds and slices appear. *SHE IS BROKEN!*
     "Finally....help...please.." She can barely talk.
     "Yes of course my Jewel." I whisper gently but the rage swelling inside me is anything but gentle.
     Knowing what I must do already, I take my own blood into my mouth. Bringing my lips to hers, I force her to swallow deeply. I feed her till her breathing at least steadies, the cold feel of death leaves her skin.
     "Machi!" I call to my spider, many of them are staying close to me now as of late.
    "Yes Boss?" She walks in behind me.
    "Help her immediately!" I turn and reveal my broken treasure to Machi.
    "Of course Boss! What happend? These injuries are incredibly bad." Her voice thick with concern.
    "I will find out." I turn darkly towards Haiji, "Bring me to Hisoka. I know you can do this. I will jump through her's to you."
     The cat creature vanishes instantly, accepting my demand I watch Naru's shadow ripple. I jump without hesitation and arrive in the middle of the woods somewhere.
     I see Hisoka and Illumi laying on the ground motionless and battered. My seal drops, my rage fueling my motions as I move towards them.