Jagged stone walls surround me, nothing smooth from bottom to top to be felt. Glistening gems line the sides of the cave, faint array of color emits dimly from them. Eel like worms can be seen wrapping in and out of them as though the gems are made of water.
The floor is unsettling smooth despite the gravely sand carpeting the ground. Scarce patches of moist moss litter about the area too, adding a slight comforting scent to the stale air. There is a slight floursent glow of moisture linning the bottom edges of the cave walls along either side, a sign of a water source lurks here too.
The high ceiling is speckled with pale stalactites hanging from the shadows above adding to the atmosphere. This cave is filled with ancient echos of a lost world, such an omnipresent and resonant feeling.
A dark and dreary place where the only sound to be heard is that of faint water droplets echoing from within the cavern. "This will be a perfect hidden base Haiji."
A gust of wind blows in behind me and whistles as it rushes over the splintering stone, "I need to block in the entrance, you get to work getting the rock creatures handled."
I step further in cautiously, spotting an oddly gaint sized rock ahead of me, I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on end suddenly. I freeze and press myself against the side of the cave, the cold sting of the stone taking me by surprise.
My gaze then flickers across the unyielding cavern, looking for something unseen. My muscles tense at the unmistakable clatter of claws against stone. Haiji steps foward and lets a fearsome growl out. It echos through the cavern, shaking loose stalactites sending them crashing down.
The appoarching creature stops and the sound of a snout sniffing the air can be heard. I motion Haiji to advance and deal with this lurking meal first.
I bolt upright suddenly, gasping for air. I look around and instead of seeing Haiji, Killua is laying next to me in his place. The memory fading as I stand from the makeshift bed, I look back at the grey fur.
It's definitely a bear species but what one precisely I'll never know for sure. I make my way over the the side of the cave and riffle through a few pots looking for my honey jam and jerky meat.
I stoke the fire adding a bit more wood to it, having Killua with me is definitely uplifting but I have never been separated from Haiji like this. I sigh and tear a bite off from my jerky after dipping it in the honey.
"Can't sleep well?" Kil takes a seat too.
"I was dreaming about how I got that bed back there." I laugh emptily this time, "I miss my kitty."
"It'll be good to spend time apart. You are to dependent on your cat Yuki. It's silly." He play punches me and yanks my jerky away at the same time.
"Give that back, I am eating it still." I reach for it as he yanks it away from me hand repeatedly.
Sticking out his tongue before taking a bite himself, "You said yourself not to pass up an easy meal!" Kil quickly goes to take another bite.
"Fine. Oh just so you know left side has food supplies and the right side of the cave has tools we may need at some point. I refilled my supplies before leaving last time." I get up and go grab a bit more of jerky. "There is a ton of meat over there but no idea what kinds anymore." I laugh at his blank expression, "You are gonna be eating exotic foods for awhile."
"So tell me a bit more about where we heading next." Kil stokes the flames higher, watching the embers flake up.
"We are gonna /shadow travel/ to a burning tree at the base of this mountain and from there hike our way through hell." I shrug
"Simple enough..." Killua leans back and looks up the ceiling, "You know this is the furthest I have ever been from home."
"Nervous?" I elbow his side lightly.
"If shit goes sideways here..." Kil trails off his thought.
"Don't worry, no matter what I can always get you back to this point. Honestly I should have established a crash spot closer to the swamps, but finding even a placs like this is a random occurrence." I stand and walk over to the bed, dropping on it softly.
"How did you find this place anyway?" My little brother eyes me curiously.
"I was being stubborn and trying to fly over the mountain instead of around it." I shudder remembering the sensation, "My wings froze nearly instantly and I crashed." I chuckle, "Haiji warned me but I didn't listen.."
"You should practice using nen to protect them as you fly." Kil eyes me teasingly.
"I tried but it wasn't all that effective regardless. I mean yeah sometimes I include my wings in aura or nen but never really as a defense."
"Dummy. Aren't you supposed to be the big sister?" Kil play punches my shoulder again as he finishes his jerky.
"Har har, I have brute strength and deadly skills-"
"Doesn't mean much if you don't use your head." Kil moves and heads over to the rations, "Which one of these is water?"
"The double bubble jugs. They are just above you hanging."
"What in the world?" Kil picks one up and looks at it skeptically.
"They are a water plant that grows in some parts. Safest water to drink over all out here."
"Yuki it is creepy.." He turns the gourd around, "Is that-"
"Listen, just bite off the top, below the dried flower. It is fine, even slightly sweet if I might add." I chuckle at his reluctance.
He moves in a swift and fluid motion but does take a good swig, "Ok, it's good... Whoa it grew back over!" Such child like innocence, so adorable.
"Yeah it's pretty nifty to keep it fresh and clean. I'm not extremely knowledgeable on all the fona around here but I know enough to not die." I chuckle as Kil sets it down next to his bag.
"You should write a book-"
"Not interested." I cut him off, definitely not happening.
"Why not?" He turns and uses his jest puppy eyes.
"Because that sounds tedious and unentertaining. I'll leave the books to Chrollo." I burst out laughing at the rapid change of his expression.
"Why is he so obsessed with you?" Kil rolls his eyes and sits next to me on the bench.
"You think it is me Chrollo is obsessed with?" I laugh dryly, "Please, he wants power or maybe just knowledge. Regardless, I don't think it has anything to do with me as a person." I shrug and lean forward, the flames are dancing nicely.
"Is that why you wanted to come out here?"
I don't bother to face him as I answer, "I'm looking for answers Killua, and I think the broken memories I have may help." I furrow with frustration, I don't even know where to start looking if I'm being honest with myself.
"Sooo you're looking for your mom?" He jabs my ribs making me flinch.
"No she is most definitely dead. But maybe there are clues in that area.. I don't really have much else to go on currently."
"Will it be safe?" Kil takes a stick from the pile and starts poking the fire.
"Now who is a dummy?" I flick his forehead, "Don't forget we are lucky this cave is safe. It is an oddity in itself."
"I ment, won't going out there alert the Zarins-"
"They will already know I'm here. My exact location not so much." The sudden serious topic sets us both on edge instantly.
"How do they know?" Kil's tone darkening.
I clutch my chest instinctually, "Because first and foremost they are predators, they can sense intruders." Feeling anxious, I look at the gems along the wall trying to change the mood.
"Are you gonna fight them one day?"
I shudder at his question, "Just two of them at least..." I'm no-where near ready, "I highly doubt anyone will come out aliv-"
"Shut up." Kil says lowly, his eyes scanning the area toward the entrance.
"Wha-"
Killua is in front of me in a second, instantly pulling me up behind him. "There is something at the front end."
"How can-" I go to ask but Kil cuts me off.
"Gon rubbed off, I can feel the change in the air." Kil doesn't shift though, his eyes still trying to find the threat I don't sense.
"At best it's a little frost-" I begin to dismiss his worry.
"It's not little, I think it is messing with your boulder." He points towards it, but it's a good 40 feet done the passageway.
"It won't budge, it is locked in with bungee gum. Nothing ca-"
A guest of wind rushes in stopping me mid sentence and just as suddenly stops. I ready for a fight, sending a few daggers over Kil, aimed straight ahead.
"Oye! Lass, that hurt! Right in the shoulder, yer aim sloppy. Head first always doll." The gruffness his tone carries, nearly forgotten, hits my ears like honey.
"How did you find me?" I walk around Killua heading into a waiting hug.
"I have my ways, plus you know better then to stay in one spot for so long." Renji hugs me tight.
"We only been here for like a da-
"Try like 3 days, this is a delay cave." Uncle chuckles and walks over to the fire pit, "Them gems slow time. The more clustered, the more effective. You're lucky the time eaters ate most of em." He glances around, "Surprised you managed to clear em out."
"Why are you here?" I cut straight to the point.
"To check yer healing, a worried spider was supposed to be bringing ya to me." Renji runs his hand through his bread.
"I'm fi-"
"No she isn't fine. Her senses are off, she was unconsciousne-" Kil goes to rat me out hastily.
"Yes young Zoldyck I know."
"Who els-" I go to ask.
"Don't you worry about my lot, I have my own interest in keeping ya safe." He raises his hand and motions me over, "Come and stand infront of the fire."
Groaning, I walk over with Killua close behind me. His nerves clearly on edge, I can feel his anxiety.
"She has enough shadows following her boy, go sit." Renji shoos him off to the other side.
I watch closely as my uncle looks over my wings, I can feel his nen trailing over each section. He runs his fingers down my spine. The pressure he applies varies as he goes over different muscles and bones.
"Lift the left wing." I feel a twinge as he applies more pressure to the connective tissues, "Now the right."
I willingly let him move and adjust my limbs as need, I'm use to this. Pervious experiences with exams taught me not to fight. Renji takes each arm and stretches it out, moving them and rotating them. Stoping and gripping each joint as he goes.
He takes out a long rod and presses it against my chest in different spots. The end giving off a faint glow as he goes, pulling a growl from his chest. Setting the device aside, he presses his ear to my abdomen.
"You went and damaged both of yer hearts and there is damage that runs along one of yer core channels!"
"I feel fin-
"You stupid child, outside is fine!" My uncle stands raging with his arms about, "Yer insides are wrecked! Now sit still and let me finish." He brings his hands down hard, knocking me to my ass.
Renji kneels and proceeds to check my legs and calves the same way as he did my arms. Breathing out a sigh, he comes and plops down heavy next to me. I watch in slience as Renji digs around in his coat.
"What's the verdict /doc/?" Kil steps next to me, speaking finally.
"She needs blood and sleep." He switches to the other side, "Blasted, where is the medicine you supposed to be takin?" He looks at me but Killua pulls out the bottles to pass over.
"Smart man that Chrollo." Uncle Renji says as he checks out the bottles, "This blue one here is infused with a specialty nen." He grins and hands it to me, "It'll be good for yer core healing."
"And what of that other one?" I ask perplexed.
"Ah yes that black one," Renji coughs a bit, "He raised hell trying to make this.. It be dangerous if anyone but you drinks this. It will aid in your healing." He hands it over to me, "It's well crafted that's for sure. He has been busy, that guy is seriously chaos incarnate. Pushing boundaries is always troublesome."
"You're ranting Uncle Renji, he has been making me take them bot-"
"As you should be doll, that black vile is damn near perfect replica... never you mind that." He trails off catching himself.
I drink the medicine begrudgingly, "I hate that you agreed with him on this. Chrollo is like a thorn I can't seem to pull out." Rolling my eyes I toss the viles into the fire, hoping they melt.
"Why are you kids out here anyway?" Renji looks over at Killua, "You especially don't belong out here."
"Yuki wants to go past the mist swamp-"
"There aint a reason in the world for you to be trying to push out that far!" Renji rages again yanking me up by the throat. I struggle against his grip, my feet dangling feet off the ground. "The further inland the more deadly it gets! Stupid-"
I rip from his grip only because he allowed it, coughing for air as I shout up at him. "I need answers! Who am I! What am I!" I get to my feet and glare up at him angerly, defiantly.
"You looking for yer birthing area, well don't bother. It has long since been destroyed and over taken by the land." Renji turns and paces around the fire.
"Wha-?" I go to ask him what he means by that but Renji cuts me off.
"Think yer special doll? Different then other creatures? You live, ya can die. You eat, ya sleep. Just like the rest of us." Uncle Renji stops and looks me dead in the eye, "All that was ever done to ya, was my brother alerting yer genetics, mixing it with ours mostly. Trying to create a hybrid to help take more land as the clan's and expand the Zarin numbers."
I stand listening silently, trying to process each statement carefully.
"He tampered with a humanoid's offspring that was rumored to be carrying a prodigy of their kind." He points at me, "That was you. Yer something new, first of its' kind I presume. Kenji thinking you were the answer to growing the clan." Rolling his eyes, he continues "Zoldycks thinking yer ment as theirs cause of looks."
Motioning to my white hair and then to Killua's, "Then that Chrollo thinks ya the key to safely crossing to the beyond."
Finally finding my voice, "I mean that all makes sense mostly, but then what is that inner void inside myself."
"Let me talk and ask yer questions after. What I know of yer birth kin are that they were shadows given flesh." Renji takes a deep breath, holding a finger up to halt my interruptions. "The creature's texture and color varied in the colony we found. Some had wings and other spikes or ridges. The elder there said they can live nearly indefinitely. That's alot of memories for any mind. Having a system like yers could be yalls kind of way to not go insane." Uncle shrugs looking at me.
"I suppose.. then why is it fields of flowers?" I rub my chin, my mind darting everywhere with thoughts now.
"I got a theory on that sis. I think it's cause it suits you. I mean, you even have a skill to seed and root out your nen." Killua smiles lightly trying to lighten the mood, "And not to mention when you get serious your nen almost looks like a lotus flower, I seen a few in Joppon before." Killua bumps his elbow into me again.
"Great so I'm a monster flower," I roll my eyes, "But then if that's how it all is, why haven't you ever told me any of this before Uncle?"
"Telling someone I care for as my offspring, that cause of me they are forever isolated and alone? It was always too soon doll." His tone carries regret.
"So then why did my family get involved?" Kil asked his looming question he has held for awhile, successfully changing the subject too.
"When Yukinaru was younger, she slowed on maturing and we had an elder from the Zoldyck clan drop in that suggested we send you to his family. To see if it helps. And it did, exceptionally well." Uncle Renji nods in clear approval of the outcome.
"That's why I was left there?" I was hoping it was a bit more exciting, I sigh feeling alittle disappointed.
"Yes doll. Ya needed something we didn't have, I assume that's the other side of your original species."
"What? I am so lost." I raise a curious eyebrow at my uncle.
"Ya know we don't got da best parent ways.." He huffs out avoiding the last half of his statement.
"I remember most of it now.. It was definitely different living with Zoldycks, probably some of my happiest memories are in those halls." I smile feeling Kil lean against me now.
"Then you all took her back, why?" Kil asks him with a hint of sadness.
"Indeed.. It weren't up to me but Kenji thought it was enough."
"Then why did he send me back-" Again my uncle cuts me off.
"He wanted yer offspring doll. Nothing ever came of previous excursions, mind you. He have Kaijiru alter yer mind and send ya off again." I listen to the heavy exhaustion this conversation is creating in his voice.
"You weren't an easy young one. You had alot of spit fire in ya, and pushed tempers for laughs. My brother couldn't control you an it scared him in the end."
"No one can control Yuki, not even Yuki." Killua laughs out suddenly.
"So that's really all there is to it then?" I ask Renji with laiden skepticism.
"It is doll. These questions ya have are common amongst many creatures of intelligence just so ya know.. As for who ya are, that's on you. Who are you child?"
Both him and Kil are looking intently at me, expecting an answer.
"Who...am....I?" I stop and have to really think about it.
Memories most dear to me surface in my mind, the game of chase with Gon and Killua. Illumi holding my hand as a child, Zeno doting on me with true affection. Renji training me in the snow and filling the lonely nights with stories.
Haiji curled up in my kneck as a kitten. His soft purs, a lullaby to my ears. The way Hisoka looks at me with such a mischievous grin. The tingles his touch leaves behind as he trails his hands down my skin. Even moments with Chrollo flicker about.
I think about all the new feelings I started having as I met new people in the Known World, how they effected and changed me. The dread at seeing some and the joy with the others.
I look up at Renji as I realize, "It's feelings that makes us, us!"
"You've always been you doll." Renji chuckles, his body bouncing slightly with the sound.
"Just different sides surface at a time, I could've told you that dork." Kil joins in and his laugh pairs so nicely with my uncle's.
"The things ya like about people an things ya don't like about em, make em who they are... What you decide to do, what you don't do." Renji stands, patting down his coat.
"I'm still gonna go forward though, at least alittle. I have to try regardless.." I say feeling a twinge of guilt. I think that's the right word.
"I'd expect no less from you." Renji looks over at Killua, who is making his way to the bed.
I watch as he sits, falling deep into thought. Resting his chin on propped hands, elbows creating deep creases on his thighs as he sits.
Uncle leans closer to me, "How far are ya gonna take the boy? I didn't just come for a friendly chat.."
"Who sent you then?" I cross my arms, keeping my voice low.
"Master Illumi has hired me to retrieve the boy alive. He wasn't supposed to come here."
"Give us three days and I'll return here. Then you can take him, but please go fetch Haiji. I can't reach him and it's bothering me." I smile, hopeful he agrees.
Renji stands and walks towards the darker part of the cavern, "Three days then." He disappears silently, smiling at me as he slides back out the door.
YOU ARE READING
Wings and Webs 2: Discovery
Fanfiction(First draft Book 2 still writing) ~ The continuation of Yukinaru's journey to find herself and her place in the world. Her adventure picks up in a cave with her brother Killua on the Dark Continent. Will she find what she seeks or fall e...
