A Truth In Pieces

__________ POV Ashton__________

Telling him the entire truth might be a bit self-defeating.

So, I'll do something else instead. I won't lie, but I also won't mention how I'm not actually part of the Kurta clan.

I mean, genetically, I am a kurta clan member. So that isn't even technically a lie. Although, it is quite deceptive.

"You want to learn the truth? I've already told you bits and pieces of it..." My cold expression seemed to surprise Kurapika.

"No, I can't trust you to tell me the truth..." The blonde young man gritted his teeth and looked at me with determination.

He truly wants to face me huh? Not only that, it seems that, depending on my answer, he is also prepared to attack me.

It seems his sense of self-preservation has been drowned out by hatred and desire for revenge. I hope this conversation will make him wake up to reality...

"Since I can't trust you... I will determine whether or not you're lying." His eyes turned scarlet entirely as he took out his dowsing chain.

He's going to use his lie detection on me? I can easily bypass that, it won't even affect me. And he should already have that suspicion. So, I'll inform him of it as well.

"You do realise I can easily fabricate the truth? I have lived for an inconceivable amount of time. You can already guess that I have a way to overcome such a method of 'interrogation'..." Being transparent about this fact might earn me more trust in the long run.

Kurapika's scarlet eyes widened a bit. He looked at me as he clenched his fists.

"But, I think it's fine if I tell you the truth at this point. I don't have anything to gain from lying at this point." That, in itself, is a lie. I care about his opinion of me, so I'd obviously try to persuade him to not break off all contact with me.

"What did you even have to gain in the first place?! You could've killed the Troupe by yourself without any issue!" His anger seems to be directed at me, but he seems to be more frustrated than anything.

Be basically wants to know what my deal is. Why exactly did I even approach him in the first place? A question stirred by the fact that he can't really see any reason for me to do so.

But I do have a good answer for that. One that I don't even need to lie about.

"Redemption." I left that word simmer into his mind for a little bit before continuing.

"That's what I've been striving for during the past two years of my life. I look at my past mistakes and inadequacies with displeasure. So many missed opportunities, so many things ruined..."

Kurapika seemed quite interested at this point. I am also technically telling him the truth. I'm just not speaking specifically about the Kurta clan.

I've been forcing myself away from my old ways. I don't want to be the same disregarding, hateful and unlikeable individual. I am sick of it all.

Hate is tiring. Ever since I've departed the Dark Continent and learned more about humans, I've been tired all the time.

Sure, my disdain for a lot of humans remains intact, but I wish to at least build a relationship with a group of people.

It might serve as a bridge for me to stop my hateful charade against people that have nothing to do with any of my hardships. This all started because I was foolish and ignorant enough to blame everything on humanity.

I've been doing my best to help people that had helped me or that I had wronged in the past. Not only that, I wanted to see if I could meet new people.

Momoze is someone who just happened to show up when I wanted to look for people to befriend. I also ended up getting attached to her, more so than I had thought I ever would.

A relationship that never would've happened if I had not forcefully changed my ways. I still have a long road to trek. But, I can at least say that I am not alone. Not this time.

I pushed away Netero, I disregarded Zigg and Linne. I've killed countless people for no reason whatsoever. Or for insignificant reasons at best.

"My own hubris is what has ruined many lives, including my own to some extent. Kurapika, I wouldn't bother speaking to you if I truly wanted to throw you away and use you." He looked shocked for a second.

I guess it all comes down to that. He felt that my meetings with him were just me trying my best to sway his opinion of him. To make him do something for me.

To use him. This is a mindset that a lonely individual will always have. That wariness will always be present.

Me, confronting that mindset and refuting it seems to have him at a loss.

After all, even if he didn't state it verbally. He definitely would detest the idea of me using him to further my own agenda or to accomplish some kind of goal.

Trying to determine whether or not I'm truthful seems to not even be an afterthought to him at this point.

I can even see him tearing up a bit. I guess he is the emotional type under all those obsessions with revenge...

"T-Then... What about the Kurta clan? Were they also a victim of that? Did you t-truly order the massacre?!" He seems to have regained his energy on that last word. Obviously, the death of his family would be a sensitive topic.

"I had never ordered the Phantom Troupe to carry out a massacre. I specifically asked for a few pairs of eyes to conduct that experiment. They were the ones that noticed the 'need' for them in the market afterwards." I could see a hint of anger in Kurapika's grief.

But that's to be expected. I am still completely at fault for the death of a few members of that clan.

Still, he didn't seem to want to fight me anymore. He just fell to the ground and started crying like a small child(which he is).

I couldn't do much besides pat him on the back a few times. I really don't even know if such an action would be appreciated in this situation.

"I hope you understand... That I cannot ever forgive you for that..." His crying lessened as he slowly started regaining his composure after a minute or two.

"I never expected you to. But, I've told you before that the Kurta clan would've perished no matter what I did." I also clenched my fist at this point. My frustration is also surfacing.

"I know... I just... I think I need some time alone..." I just raised my hands. I turned around and started walking back towards the room of the princes.

I've already spent enough time explaining myself to him. I think the princes woke up due to the conflict anyway, so my efforts to not wake Momoze up were in vain.

When I walked into the servant's lounge, I could see some of the princes already awake and walking around. Including Momoze.

"Ashton! I thought you were sleeping. I couldn't even wake you up..." I guess she and the other princes just arrived, as she doesn't know of my participation in this conflict.

"Well... Sorry about that, I left a clone there in my place when I heard the fight, I obviously also helped them... I was off speaking to Kurapika about something." My response made most of the princes just nod.

Momoze pouted a bit, but that's nothing new.

I called the clone into the room and dissolved it near where the other bodies were gathered(no need to make a mess in the already clean spots.

Some of the princes looked a bit disturbed by the way the clone disappeared(leaving a bloody mess behind)

"Now then. I think it's better for everyone to speak about what has happened and strategize about our next steps..."

Everyone's attention was fixated on me, as I called for yet another meeting.

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