We all stood in an empty room inside a hotel that the hunter association owned and listened as Netero explained the rules for the last phase of the test. We're having a tournament for this phase, the one who ends up last will be the only one who'll fail. He showed us the bracket and I looked at it nervously. I was beside Leorio and would be the one to fight after Bodoro and his battle. I put a hand to my chest and looked down. I'm going to have to chase after Killua after he kills Bodoro huh..
Some of them questioned as to why the brackets are made like that. Netero started to explain it based on three major criteria: Physical strength, mental health and overall impression. I didn't really pay attention to it because I knew how the bracket was made from watching the show. I was more concerned about that damn Illumi. I still haven't removed the needle from Killua's head for his sake of developing.
They announced the start of the tournament and we all went to the side to watch. I stood in between Killua and Hisoka and just frowned when Hanzo kept talking to the referee. I don't like how this will end and I don't want to hurt Leorio and Kurapika. Should I tell them? Should I? Should I not?
"Kurapika…Leorio.. " They both looked at me curiously.
"in this battle.. Gon will be very hurt.. Hanzo is stronger than him. He will be tortured in front of your very eyes…so whatever you do, don't stop Gon" I said seriously. Leorio and Kurapika smiled.
"Gon is strong for a kid. He's got this!" Leorio said with a thumbs up. Kurapika nodded at that and I looked down.
"Believe in him Hana" Kurapika said with a soft tone.
He will be hurt… I warned them.
I smiled at Gon who smiled at me back. I don't want him to be hurt really…but I gotta believe in him. I whispered a 'good luck' and he nodded me as thanks.
The battle started and Gon did a great first step but Hanzo easily cornered him and hit the back of his neck. That move could be proven fatal if hit in the wrong spot which shows the difference between Gon and Hanzo. Gon flopped down on the ground. Hanzo picked him up after a little while and stretched his back with his knee. Hanzo tried to let Gon give up but Gon wouldn't allow that. He hit Gon over and over again but Gon refused to give up. I could hear Menchi and Buhara's conversation about how crazy this system is.
For three hours, Gon was constantly hit .
"Enough, already…I'm gonna kill you! I'll fight you in his place!" Leorio screamed at the top of his lungs.
"If you can't take it then leave, it'll only get worse after this" Hanzo replied.
After that he broke Gon's arm. I flinched at that and teared up. I can't handle this kind of thing.
Kurapika and Leorio were mad at Hanzo to the point that Kurapika's eyes turned red. When Hanzo started to explain his background I got pissed at his ninpou shit that reminded me of Naruto , he even did handstand! So screamed at the top of my lungs:
"DON'T GIVE UP GON! YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE TO SOME OVERLY TALKATIVE BASTARD!YOU STILL WANT TO SEE YOUR DAD DON'T YOU?!". Everyone looked at me crazily; even Hanzo did; which gave Gon a chance to clear his head and kicked Hanzo on the face.
I winced when Gon fell down and smiled up when he started to talk again.
"My head's cleared a bit, after all the pain and that long explanation."
Leorio cheered for him and wanted Gon to kick him while he's down.
"If you're eighteen, then you're only 6 years older than I am! Besides, this isn't a battle to see who's stronger. It's to see who's willing to surrender first!" Exclaimed Gon.
Hanzo stood up with a nosebleed which made me laugh out loud before he wiped it and showed his blade. He threatened to cut off Gon's leg if he doesn't give up.
"I won't accept that!" Shouted Gon.
Everyone looked at him dumbfounded.
Gon and Hanzo argued there which made me smile. Gon is really amazing, he even stated about the disqualification if he dies. I looked at Killua who looked like he questioned a lot of things and tugged his sleeve.
"Gon is a stubborn child Killua. Hes lightening up the mood by his stubbornness.. " Killua raised his eyebrows at that and we heard a blade swing then watched.
Hanzo talked about how they're not on the same footing. He then questioned why he won't just give up and if he wanted to die easily. Gon then explained about his dad and that he needed to meet him now or never. Gon never yielded and instead stared at him. Hanzo then surrendered and how he should just try his might on the next round. They yelled at each other after that before he uppercut Gon and Gon landed on the ground unconscious.
Hanzo made sure that they'll let Gon pass and that if Gon fails that would make our other fights meaningless. With that Gon's victory was assured and he was treated. Killua then Hanzo why he let Gon win when Hanzo had the skill to make him surrender without killing him. Hanzo explained that it was easier to be hated forever when you torture someone but Gon didn't have that gleam and in short terms Gon won him over. I smiled sadly at that and looked away. The chimera ant arc would change him and break him...
...I'm not ready for it.
Kurapika and Hisoka fought but Hisoka gave up after he whispered about the phantom troupe in yorknew city.
I yawned and pulled out my music player before I listened to music for most of the time until…
it was Killua's turn to fight Gittarackur I watched as Illumi removed the pins on his face and Killua just froze on the spot. I put my hands together and bought it up in a sort of praying stance. I watched the entire thing as Illumi talked to Killua about how he heard that Milluki and Kikyo got stabbed and that she cried tears of joy. Illumi asked if Killua wanted to be a hunter and that he needed this for his job. When Killua said he didn't really want to be a hunter, Illumi said things so horrible like their facts. He said that Killua is a puppet of darkness and that's how he was raised. Killu then said that he had something he wanted to do and that was to be Gon's friend and that he's sick of killing people and wants to live a normal life. Illumi then said he'll never make friends and that his only concern is that if he can kill him. Gon is too dazzling for his eyes so he had urges to kill him cause he had the soul of a killer. Leorio then screamed that he was already friends with Gon and that's how Gon feels for sure.
Illumi threatened to kill Gon which made everyone freeze. He then stated that Killua doesn't need friends cause that'll only slow him down. Illumi then walked towards the door and even attacked an overseer but was stopped by Kurapika, Hanzo and Leorio. After that, he said that he'd kill Gon after he passed. I couldn't listen to it anymore and covered my ears in fear for Killua's sake.
I can't stop this… I wanted to but I can't! I'm too scared! Why am I scared?! I should've been able to handle this..I should be strong for Gon and Killua! The needle..there's a needle! It's not his fault!
I was stuck in constant worries in my mind and before I knew it, it was Leorio's match with Bodoro. I froze when, in a blink of an eye, Killua killed Bodoro. That's not the only thing that made me froze, it was his eyes..they were empty and..scared. When he walked out, I debated whether or not to follow him.
I gathered all my courage and ran towards Killua.
"Killua! Please wait!" I called out to him. He stopped and didn't look at me which was fine for me.
"Where are you going? Please don't leave or Gon will be lonely!"
"…Why aren't you scared of me?I'm a Zoldyck..." He said in a soft whisper but loud enough to be heard.
"Why should I be scared of you?! You're my friend no matter what! I told you that! And Gon sees you the same way!" I exclaimed and walked towards him. He turned to me, surprised yet confused.
"I just killed a man in front of you! You heard my brother!As a Zoldyck, I'm a puppet of darkness and nothing more! I…I'm not even—" before he could finish I slapped him and teared up.
"You're not a pupper of darkness! You're Killua! Even though you're a Zoldyck who said you had to be an assassin your entire life?! Also, even if you're a puppet of darkness you're always going to be my friend!"
He was stunned at that. He touched his cheek and smiled a bit.
"You're a mess… " I hugged Killua and cried
"I-I know I am! Idiot! Don't let me do that to you again!" He patted my head before he pushed me away gently.
"I'm still going home though…. To apologize and all that stuff. I can't bring you there because it's too dange-"
"If you won't let me go there then at least tell me where your home is! Tell me where to go so Gon and I can come pick you up when he's ready!"
"Geez! Can you stop cutting me off? Alright. I'll tell you and wait for you guys. I don't know what they'll do to me, they might even torture me for all I kno-"
"TORTURE!?" I shook Killua and he just flicked my forehead.
"Remember I stabbed my mom and brother" He stated as a matter of factly.
'They deserve it' "F-Fine..We'll try to go there before they can do something extreme!"
"I live on top of Kukuroo mountain. I'll wait for you there at my house" I nodded and locked our pinkies together which made him go blush.
"I promise that I'll come see you again Killua! Not for long! " I grinned at him and he just smiled.
"Alright. I'll hold your word on it. " He said before we pulled away and he walked away. I watched him leave and looked up at the sky in determination.
We will save you Killua! I swear!
I went to Gon's room and was told not to bother him but I pushed through them and stood beside his bedside. I softened my expression and stroked his cheek. Satotz went in and saw me before he offered a seat and we just sat in front of each other with a table being our only divider in silence.
"Satotz-san.. please explain to Gon what happened. I'll be here when he'll wake up I just…I don't know how to explain to him what happened when he asks.." I said in a pleading voice. He nodded and held my hand.
"You're still too young to worry about the big things Hana…Why don't you go to your room and rest for a while? It must've taken a toll to you on what happened" He said and I just shook my head.
"I'll sleep on the couch. I want to be here for Gon when he wakes up. I want to be by his side as his friend." Satotz stared at me before he sighed and nodded.
"I understand. I'll at least give you a pillow and a blanket. Will that suffice?" I nodded at his suggestion and put my chair beside Gon and held his hand. I fell asleep after a while.
I woke up in my room. I blinked and sat up.
This isn't the same dream I had with Alluka. It's different since I'm pretty sure I'm alone. Was the one with Alluka a one time thing? I hope not..
I looked at my room and smiled softly. I haven't been here in what feels like to be forever. I can even hear the same old show my mom always watched. I laughed at that. I stood up and went to my table and started to draw a happy Gon and happy Killua…
I suddenly started to cry. Why am I crying? Is it because I still don't know which is which? Am I living in a dream or living in reality? I don't know.. I'm confused.
My eyes widened when I remembered someone very important to me.
That's right.
Him. My boyfriend.
I quickly tried to find my phone and grabbed it as soon as I saw it on top of my drawer. I dialed his phone number in hopes that maybe…..just maybe…...I can communicate with someone from my world. There was no dial tone on my phone. I sighed and threw my phone to the side.
I went out of my room and walked to my mom's room to see that she isn't here. Of course, this might just be a recollection of my memories.
Though I don't wish to be here.
I can suddenly hear screaming from downstairs and quickly hid. Where they here? My abusers?
"ELLA COME DOWN HERE QUICKLY! I'M IN A BAD MOOD SO GET YOUR ASS DOWN BEFORE I PUMMEL YOU!" I gasped and hid behind the closet. It was impossible, right?! This is just a dream!
The voices suddenly disappeared and I got out of the closet. I swear that scared me.
"Aiz? You there?"
"Yes master. "
"What is going on here? Why am I having a simulation of my old world?"
"It's your unconscious wish, master. To be able to go back to your world but this is the most I can do. I cannot recreate the people you value without meeting them."
"I see… I guess even you have your weaknesses "
"I apologize. I cannot recreate life without copying it directly from a living person that I have come in contact with. So far I can only recreate your friends and the people that have been around you even if you have not interacted"
"I see..not even an illusion?"
"Your wish isn't an illusion of them but the real deal. Did you wish to see them again via illusion?"
I shook my head "I'd rather stay it this way,,..it only adds pain to me,… can I ask you not to make the voice and illusion of them though?"
"As you wish master"
With that I closed my eyes…
…and woke up.
With a missing Gon.