Aki (A Naruto/HxH Crossover Fan Fiction)

The Knight

Hisoka

"Hisoka."

Ah. I can hear his voice.

"Hisoka!" I opened my eyes to see Chrome's face as he stood over me. His pale face was flushed and there was obvious strain in his breathing. Looks like he just finished running. Small, glistening beads of sweat traveled from his jaw line to his chin—then dropped to my cheek. 

I smiled, closing my eyes to revel in his presence.

"Oi, Hisoka!!" I opened my eyes, and Chrome was gone. Instead, I was met with the sight of my... 'colleague'. It was Machi. 

"What is it?" I gave her a smile, careful to hide my distaste.

"I heard about your bet with the Boss." 

I shrugged. "What of it?"

"You... did you really abandon Aki just because he turned out to be Shinikage?" Her voice was shaking, probably in fury. Sheesh—the Phantom Troupe and their idolization of Akira Shinikage.

I hummed. "And? A deal is a deal. Or, are you telling me to go against your beloved Danchou?"

Machi bristled in anger. And I was half-amused by her emotional state. "You—" She clenched her fists and I prepared myself for a hit. But, it never came. Machi let out a sigh, releasing tension from her knuckles and giving me her usual dirty look.

"You're trash." 

"I know~"

My answer seemed to aggravate her more. However, it seems the rules of the spider was more important than responding to her rage. She left quietly after that to await orders from the Boss. 

How boring. I wouldn't have minded if she were to start a fight. In fact, I would welcome any disturbance at all—if it would keep my mind from wandering to Aki. Her expression bothered me. 

Why?

I decided to ignore the obvious. Instead, I focused on achieving my long awaited goal—Chrollo. If everything goes according to plan, my desire would be fulfilled and I can finally discard the tattoo on my back.

But, it seems nothing is going according to plan.

"Hisoka, I want you to track Aki. Take her to this restaurant. I'll meet you there at 10." Ah, Chrollo. I can't wait to fight you at your best. I'll be sure to squeeze the last inch of your life as repentance to all the things I've had to do under you.

Meeting Aki at the subway, I didn't expect him to respond amicably. Nevertheless, I also didn't expect his hostile reaction. 

"Come with me Aki." 

"Hell no." 

I chuckled. Same old Aki. 

"Still ma? It's not like I broke your heart—" I couldn't continue my words at the sight of Aki's expression. His eyes were moist, and his lips was turned down in an ugly frown. I've seen that face before.

He punched me. "—You're scared of being attached." I frowned. Scared? Me? As I studied Aki's changing expressions, I couldn't help but smile. This was the face of someone who had become attached.

"Then I guess you got pretty attached to Killua and Gon, hm?" It was scary. As Aki's expression darkened, I couldn't help but fiddle with my cards. 

I aimed for Killua's head.

Of course, I had expected Aki to intercept. That's why the first attack was meant to be a decoy. It didn't take me much to have the light haired boy in a deadlock. 

"HISOKA!" He charged towards me, only to stop when he realized I wasn't going to let him any closer with Killua's life on a thin line.

Ah~ Hearing Aki call my name with such rage sent shivers down my spine. The look in his eyes was sublime. Attachment has made him a fool. Nevertheless, I did appreciate how his much his Nen improved.

"Do you remember when I asked you what the jack of clubs mean?" I wondered.

I knew he didn't know. But, I had expected him to at least learn a bit of cartomancy. How upsetting. But, the next thing I know, I was forced to witness something even more upsetting. 

When I witnessed Aki crash his lips on Killua, I had to suppress the urge to kill them both. I didn't know what came over me. I just felt my whole body stiffen, almost to the point of petrification. I was brought out of this state when pain shot from my shin. 

"Let's go." Aki walked ahead of me, his tone domineering. 

As we walked through the busy night street, I couldn't stop thinking about Aki's kiss with Killua. It bothered me. But, why? I myself had my share of flings, regardless of gender.

So, why?

"Tell me why you left." I looked at the back of Aki's head and frowned. Why is he asking the obvious?

Then, the brat began to rant about how I was the worst dad. Please. Like I was one to begin with. It wasn't me who told her to start calling me 'Oyaji'. In fact, wasn't that an insult? I tried to banter, but her reactions only made me remember the worse of things. 

It hurt. My chest throbbed in pain. But, I couldn't understand why. Why am I disappointed? Why does Aki act like he's the one who's suffering? As I continued to stare at the back of his head, I felt the urge to just kill him, even though by doing so, I would go against my personal rules. 

But, before I had the chance to, another pest appeared before me like fungi. Why is this brat so damn popular with questionable people? That's another question I'd like to have an answer to.

Good thing Aki had enough sense to run away from that devil—Con. I knew who he was at first glance. He was the man who killed my mother. Though his looks haven't changed in decades, I knew for certain it was his eyes I saw that night.

I licked my lips at the reminder. He's a man to be hunted. But, for now I decided to fulfill my task of bringing Aki to Chrollo. Besides, I know now that if I stick around with that man, tracking down Con would be an easy feat.

"Don't get caught up trying to make sense of everything." I gave Aki my sound advise. I didn't realize I was the one who needed that advice more than he did.

When Aki had an episode, I couldn't stop myself. Before I knew it, I was by his side. I took him in my arms, disregarding Chrollo's gaze that studied my actions—and disregarding all the thoughts of killing Aki. 

As I left Chrollo with Aki in my arms, I felt a sense of relief—a breath of liberation, as if I had just escaped from prison. Aki remained unconscious as I carried him to where he needs to be—with Killua and Gon. 

That's right. They need him, and he needs them too. I no longer had a part in Aki's space. I was the one who left first. And yet, what is this grief? This unnamed sorrow of being unable to hold Aki for a moment longer? 

I stared at Aki's visage as he soundlessly lay in my arms like he did, months ago. I studied his features, committing them to memory.

You will always be my Chrome.

My mother used to say. Only now do I understand what she meant back then.

The Jack of Clubs. A dangerous person; a young man whose intentions are hidden and could bring sorrow and pain. Don't you understand Aki? The Jack of Clubs cannot become a knight.

But just for tonight, let me be one.