"Good job, Gon! Now we have a win!" Leorio congrats.
"That was fast!" I say, impressed.
"Once Kurapika and I win, we can advance." Leorio nods.
"Hey, what about us?" Killua, Saber, and I all yell. We glare at Leorio, who sweatdrops.
"Uh, uh…" He sens Kurapika a look, but he just raises an eyebrow.
Leorio turns back to us. "That's…just the order we agreed to! Kurapika and I are next!"
"Since when did we agree to that?!" Killua, Saber, and I all scream.
A clanking noise draws my attention away, as I look over and notice one of the cloaked prisoners had been un-cuffed. Maybe it the lighting or something but…were his arms…blue?!
"All right." Kurapika walks forwards towards the edge. "I'll go next."
"Eh, okay…be careful." I warn, watching as he crosses over. I felt kind of nervous for him, I mean, I know he could take care of himself. But still…who knew what freak he was about to face?
Once he and the opponent are on the platform, the bridges draw themselves in again. I really didn't think it was the light, I was sure that the other guy's arms were blue…what…?
"…Am I going colour blind?"
"Huh? What makes you say that?" Leorio asks.
"Because…is that guy's arms blue?" I point.
Just as I finish saying that, the guy grabs his cloak and rips it off, unveiling…
"Nope…not colour blind…though I sort of wish I were blind right now…" I mutter in horror.
Saber looked like he was going to be sick, and Leorio had this grossed out look on his face. The blue guy was, in fact, all blue. Which was freaky all in itself, like what, did he dye himself? But also his face…was just messed up! One of his eyes looked sore or something, the eyelids were pulled halfway down, and were purple. One of his ears had this metal thingy over it, he had green hair…bandages…scars…NO NOSE, just a freaking hole…tattoos of hearts on the right side of his chest..
"Kurapika…" I whisper, worried. Oh man, oh man!
"I'm next!" Blue guy declares proudly.
"That's one freaky body…" Leorio comments.
"And face." Killua adds.
"He looks like Frankenstein's ugly cousin!" I blurt out.
"Hey!" Big blue glares at me. Apparently he had good hearing, even if his ears were completely wrecked.
I make a strangled noise, and inch behind Leorio.
Big blue turns back to Kurapika. "Look here." He points at the heart tattoos.
"I've killed nineteen people, but it bugs me that nineteen is such an uneven number." He chuckles darkly. "I'm so glad I've met number twenty."
"Oh shit…" Saber mumbles.
My heart feels like it's in my throat. Oh god oh god oh god…
"Now we have a serial killer…" Leorio hisses.
"I insist that we put our lives on the line. I won't accept some half-assed contest."
I bite my nails, my stomach doing flip flops. What if he hurt Blondie, or worse?!
"Blood! Entrails! Agony!" Big blue cackles. If this continued all my nails were going to be bitten to the stub!
"Very well."
I nearly fall. But I quickly right myself.
"Blondie, are you INSANE?!" I yell, my fists clenched.
He ignores me, and continues talking. "You can decide how we settle this contest. I'll agree to your choice."
"Wh-wh-wh-wh…" I can't even speak.
Killua pokes my arm, then looks over at GOn. "I think she's broken."
"O-oh…" Big blue clenches his fists. "You've got balls. In that case, I also propose, a death match, where we fight until one of us surrenders or dies. However, don't expect me to stop when you surrender and beg for your life!" He laughs evilly, again.
"Very well, I accept."
I snap out of it. "Oh my god, HE'S SUICIDALE!" I shriek, waving my hands in the air in panic. I actually startle Killua, who jumps back, eyeing my waving hands.
Kurapika coolly whips off his blue cloth thingy. "Let us begin."
I currently, felt like I was having a heart attack.
"Oi, oi…" Killua stares at me nervously, as I hyperventilate.
WHAT IN THE HELL WAS KURAPIKA TRYING TO DO?! WAS HE TRYING TO KILL HIMSELF?!
"Hold on." Big blue holds out a hand in a stop gesture. "I forgot to mention something. No weapons allowed. We'll beat each other to death with our fists. After all, while I may be hired as an examiner, I am still a prisoner. I'm not allowed to carry weapons."
"I see. I understand." Kurapika takes off the two wooden swords that were hidden behind his back, and throw them on the floor next to his blue cloth-thingy.
"Anything else? If not, I'd like to get started."
"Uh, I think he left his sanity somewhere back there…" Saber murmers.
"I bet Buhara ate it." Killua jokes, as Gon tries to calm me down.
"It's okay Lin, Kurapika can beat him." Gon pats my back, murming reassuring words.
Saber raises an eyebrow at the 'Lin' nickname, but doesn't comment.
I nod, starting to breathe a little easier. "You're right Gon, I bet Blondie has this under con-"
Suddenly Big Blue crouches a bit, and he makes a sort of growling noise. And right before my misbelieving eyes, he get's even bigger! His muscles start to bulge, and he becomes, if you can believe it, even more terrifying!
"KURAPIKA!" I yell. This was really, really bad! Why wasn't he just forfeiting now?! What if he got beaten to a pulp?! I don't want to see him beaten to a pulp!
I think Kurapika does turn back at this, looking a little surprised. But he quickly turns back to Big Blue, trying to make sure his eyes stay on his opponent.
"Hey now, is Kurapika going to be okay?" Leorio asks worriedly. "This guy looks dangerous."
"I was thinking of something more along the lines of monstrous, but whatever floats your boat." Saber shrugs, but joking aside I could see how worried he was. For one thing, he had gotten closer to the edge, his fear for Kurapika's safety stronger than his fear of heights apparently.
"In what was does he look dangerous?" Killua calmly asks.
"Uh, in every way." I dead pan.
Killua just puts his hands behind his head, completely relaxed. "As far as I can tell, this guy's just a blowhard who doesn't have the guts to hit anyone, let alone kill anyone."
"You don't need to worry." Agrees Gon.
"Why not?" Leorio asks.
"Because when I look at him, I don't get chills." Gon says, like that explained everything.
"Well I do." Saber snorts.
"What does that mean?" Leorio bends down, hand on hips, eyeing Gon.
"Time to show you the ace up my sleeve!" Big blue declares, smiling evilly at Kurapika. Everything this guy did seemed evil.
Suddenly he leaps up, waaaay higher than a guy his size should be able to it, and yells "I'll see you dead!"
Leorio cries out. "Here he comes!"
I clamp a hand over my mouth, my eyes wide with horror. DODGE IT!
And he does, Kurapika leaps back, getting nipped by the flying rubble and skids to a halt. He is bended on the ground with one knee, as he surveys the damage.
"Wow…" Tonpa mutters.
"He made a hole in the floor with his bare fist!" Leorio gasps.
It was true, Big blue's punch had actually made a crater in the ground! What if that had been Kurapika's head?!
Big blue stands up and I immediately tense, guessing he was going to strike at Kurapika again. But to my surprise he just turns around…
"Oh no." I murmer, eyes widening at the tattoo on his back. It was a black spider. Kurapika's words suddenly spring to mind.
"When I was 12 they were all brutally killed by a group called the Phantom Troupe. My Clan was sought for their scarlet eyes. They only shined scarlet when the owner was feeling extreme emotion. The Phantom Troupes' symbol is the spider."
It couldn't be…it wasn't…no…
"A tattoo of a spider with twelve legs…" Leorio observes. "That's…"
"Yeah, I recognize it." Tonpa interjects. "Anyone aspiring to become a Hunter has heard of it. That's the symbol worn by members of that notorious band of evil thieves, the Phantom Troupe!"
You have to be kidding me. This monster was on the people who…my heart skips a beat. Was Kurapika going to be okay? This…this was too much.
"Really?" Gon looks up at Leorio, who nods.
"Yeah, definitely. They're famous. I heard about them straight from Kurapika."
I stare at Kurapika, who hadn't moved. My fists clench.
Kurapika gets to his feet, and my breath catches in my throat. I couldn't see his expression, but I could guess…
"What's wrong?" Big blue laughs, and I feel fierce anger inside me.
How dare he taunt Kurapika! How dare he!
I step out from behind Leorio, and glare at Big Blue, but he doesn't notice.
"Cat got your tongue?" He continues, enjoying himself. "I'm Majitani, one of the Phantom Troupe's four kings! Consider that first strike my way of saying hello."
Kurapika doesn't move. I bite my lip.
"This is your last chance to surrender." Big blue informs. "I'm still willing to-huh?"
He stops speaking, looking confused. I could guess what had happened, Kurapika head was raised now.
"Wh-what's wrong with you?" He asks nervously.
I blink, were my eyes playing tricks on me or did Kurapika just vanish?
Suddenly Kurapika is in front of Blue, a hand clamp on his jaw he lifts him off the floor. With one hand.
"HOLY SHIT!" Saber cries.
I gulp, my hands shaking slightly.
"O-O-Okay!" Blue chokes out. "Wait! I get it! I surrender!"
POW!
Kurapika punches Blue into the ground, and I catch a glimpse of his eyes. I can hear Saber gasp beside me in confusion, I just stand still. I knew that look, Kurapika's eyes were bright red.
Kurapika leaps back, and lands on the ground, watching calmly as Big Blue bounces on the ground a bit before lying still.
Killua whistles.
"Consider this a warning…" Kurapika states, his voice full of suppressed anger. "First, a real Phantom Troupe tattoo has the member's number on the spider. Second, they don't bother counting how many they've killed. Third, never mention the Troupe again. If you do…"
He turns and glares down at his defeated opponent. I couldn't see his eyes, but a shiver still went up my spine.
"I'll kill you."
Everyone had different expressions, ranging from interest, to shock, to horror. I had seen Kurapika like this before, but only now did I realize how what happened before was only minor compared to this. W-What would happen if he ever met a real member?
"W-Wow." Tonpa comments.
"Kurapika..." Leorio mutters.
"Well, saw that coming from a mile away." Killua says.
"Yup." Gon agrees.
"Say what?!" Saber yelps.
"His opponent was obviously weak." Killua shrugs.
Saber gives him a dead pan look. "Oh, obviously."
Killua's eye twitches. "Are you being sarcastic?"
"Noooo, of course not!" Saber gives him a huge fake smile.
Killua glares at him, but before he can retaliate, Kurapika walks over. He had his blue cloth thing back on.
"You okay, Kurapika?" Leorio asks.
"Yeah," Kurapika replies, sounding a little out of breath. "I'm not injured."
"Uh, also…" Leorio sheepishly backs up a couple steps. "Is it safe for us to be near you?"
I feel a little annoyed at his comment, of course Kurapika wouldn't hurt us…ok true he had been a little, er, rough with the whole spider on the air ship thing… But he hadn't really hurt me! But this was Leorio's first time seeing him like this, and it was pretty extreme. I guess if I was in his shoes I would also be a bit wary…
Kurapika sighs, putting a hand on his forehead. "From the moment I saw him, I knew he was weak."
Saber inches a step closer to me, and whispers in my ear. "Ok was I the only one who thought he looked terrifying?"
I shrug. "Nope, but apparently everyone didn't think so."
Leorio and Gon lean closer as Kurapika talks.
"And mentally, I knew that tattoo was a fake. But as soon as I saw that spider…everything in my sight went red."
My hand rises slightly, and I wonder for a second if I should put a hand on his shoulder, try to comfort him. But I draw back. Killua gives me a questioning look, which I ignore.
Leorio stands back, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Well, I can't really blame you…"
Tonpa keeps well behind us, looking nervously at Kurapika.
"Actually, to tell the truth…" Kurapika continues. "Even when I see a real spider…"
For a second he glances at me, and I tense up.
"My personality changes, and I enter a frenzy...I can't control mysef, even when I want to."
The others just stare at him.
"Uhhh…" Saber laughs nervously, glancing around anxiously in case a spider happens to pop up.
"You should have told us sooner…" Leorio mutters.
Yep. I knew all about that. From experience.
Kurapika walks into the little hallway section, he slides to the ground, laying back against the wall. "But this means that, the rage in me remains as strong as ever…I suppose I should be happy"
"…Is that really a good thing…" I mutter to myself.
Gon whispers to Leorio. "We should keep Kurapika away from spiders."
"Definitely."
A minute passes or so passes when…
"Okay! I'll secure our victory!" Leorio declares, confidently taking a step towards the edge. "Toss out that guy, and send in your next competitor!"
"We can't do that." A feminine voice calls out.
"What's that?" Leorio growls.
"What are they talking about?" Saber asks.
"We can't move him yet, because his match hasn't been settled." She explains, walking towards the platform. I could tell she was female by her voice, but I didn't know what she looked like because she hadn't taken off the hood.
"The match hasn't been settled?" Leorio repeats. "What do you mean?"
She walks over to Big blue and crouches next to his body, he was facing the ground. "He's still alive. He was only knocked out."
"…Shit…" Saber mumbles.
"Did you forget?" The women continues. "This was a death match. The fight doesn't end until one contestant surrenders or dies. He's still alive, and he hasn't surrendered."
And with that said, she giggles and walks back to her companies.
Leorio crosses his arms, "Tsk, damned technicalities."
"But she's right." Killua adds.
"I agree." Gon nods.
I nervously glance over at Kurapika, who has not opened his eyes He had his face bowed to the floor. What was he supposed to do now? Just go over and…kill the guy? What? Just push him off the ledge or something? What the hell?!
"Oh man…" I whine sliding to the floor in a sitting position, opposite him.
"I see…" Leorio whirls around. "Hey Kurapika! Go finish off that worthless trash."
"I refuse." Kurapika stats, his expression doesn't change.
"Huh…Why?!" Leorio yells.
This time Kurapika does look up, his eyes open, but he isn't looking at anyone. It seems more like he's thinking to himself.
"The fight is over. He'd already lost his will to fight, when I punched him. I will not fight someone who's lost."
I could actually understand his reasoning, it was very honorable. Too bad Leorio didn't think the same way.
"Screw that!" He roars. "Then what do we do? They're claiming that the match hasn't ended!"
Kurapika just closes his eyes. "Let him handle that."
"Huh?!"
"Once he wakes up, we'll have our answer." Kurapika replies calmly.
"Hey now, we only have so much time left." Leorio points out. "We can't afford tojust sit and wait!"
I bite my nails again.
"I have no intention of killing him!" Kurapika refuses.
"Come on!" Leorio grouches.
"Hey, if you don't want to dirty your hands, I'll do it." Killua offers.
WHAT?!
"Hey, hey, do you really know what you would have to do?" Saber asks.
Killua nods, turning back to Kurapika. "You haven't ever killed anyone before, right?"
Kurapika just lets out a sigh.
"Are you scared?" Killua asks.
"This conversation just keeps on getting darker…" I mutter, wrapping my arms around my legs, as I watch.
"I have never considered whether murder is frightening. But this is a one on one battle. You aren't permitted to interfere." Kurapika points out.
"Okay, then…"Killua sighs, then looks up. "But we're working as a team, so you shouldn't be too selfish!"
By then I had stood up and walked over beside Saber, feeling a little stifled by the atmosphere.
"Is it really selfish to refuse murdering someone?" I whisper to Saber.
"What's wrong with these people…" He mutter back, sweat dropping.
"Oh! You do say useful things sometimes!" Leorio cries. "Keep it up!" He turns to Kurapika.
"Don't you understand that you're screwing up our chances?"
"I'm sorry." Kurapika says, not sounding at all sorry. "But I won't change my mind."
Leorio gets on his knees, leaning in Kurapika's face, who still isn't opening his eyes.
"You stubborn fool…" Leorio growls.
"Fine!" Leorio jumps up. "A majority decision, O to kill him, and X to leave him alive!"
"Wait…we can do that?" I blurt out, confused. My finger hovers over the X button, I wasn't going to force Kurapika to kill, no way, no how.
Saber shrugs. "News to me." His finger also hovers over the X button.
"Ready, and…" Leorio clicks a button, so do Saber and I, both of us still very confused by the sudden events.
The screen stays blank.
"Why isn't it working?!" Leorio yells.
"Oh, guess you can't…" I mutter.
"Maybe it's because we're asking the question?" Gon chimes in.
"Huh?" Leorio looks over at him.
Killua explains. "The watches only work for questions presented by the examiners."
Leorio grumbles. "I see…Okay!" He raises a hand.
"Then we'll use a show of hands."
"Geez…" Saber puts his face in his hands; I pat his back, knowing exactly how he feels.
Leorio ignores him. "Those who agree that he should be finished off…Now!"
Leorio's the only one who raises a hand.
He glares at us; I look away, feeling very uncomfortable about the whole thing.
He leans down and growls at Killua. "You traitor…weren't you just lecturing Kurapika with me? We're supposed to be a team…A team!"
"But it's pointless!" Killua argues. "He's not going to change his mind."
"Hey, Gon, Talin, Saber!" Leorio turns to us. "Why do you oppose killing him?"
"Kurapika's right." Thankfully Gon answers for us. "He was on the verge of surrendering, let's wait for him to wake up."
I do have to add one thing…
"And…" I glance over at Kurapika, who still isn't looking at us. "I mean, forcing someone to kill, when they already refused…just…" I rub the back of my neck, very, very, out of my depth.
Saber nods. "Yah, that's just…wrong…really wrong."
Tonpa doesn't say anything, he honestly didn't seem to care much. Heartless jerk.
Leorio frowns. "But we don't know how long it will take for him to wake up. I should just…" He glances over at the ring.
"You shouldn't force others to do things." Tonpa suddenly interjects. He sounded very smug. "Different people have different circumstances and ideals."
"No one asked your opinion." Leorio counters.
"Hey…" Tonpa spreads his hands out. "A majority ruling implies that you're asking everyone's opinion."
Leorio clenches his hands into fists. "Damn it! Fine! Do whatever you want…" He puts his hands in his pockets and slinks into the little hallway, dropping to the ground in front of the bars, his back facing us.
"Leorio…" Gon mutters.
"Man, what's wrong with these people?" He grumbles.
"Now he's sulking." Gon observes.
"None of these matters if we can't even progress." Leorio continues. "Don't you people get it?"
His sulking voice reminded me of a mafia person or something.
"Just leave him alone." Killua advises.
"I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole…" Saber mutters.
Killua goes to edge and sits down, his feet hanging off, and Gon starts stretching. Saber nervously looks around, and then sighs, leaning against a wall he starts tinkering.
Tonpa just stands there, smirking, as he stares at Leorio.
"What's your problem?" I mutter, crossing my arms.
He shrugs. "Nothing." And turns away.
My eyes narrow but I don't say anything else.
A couple hours go bye. Tonpa sits across the wall from Kurapika, Leorio is lying down arms behind his head, still looking away from us, Kurapika still hasn't said anything or looked at anyone. Killua is leaning against the wall next to Kurapika, looking like he might be falling asleep; I'm sitting down near the edge drawing, next to Gon who is staring intently at Big Blue. Saber was having an awkward time, as he didn't want to be really near the stressed out Leorio, but didn't want to be near the edge either. So he settled for sitting behind Gon and me, close to the little hallway.
Hardly anyone had said anything. Do you realize how awkward this was?!
Saber and I had actually tried to get something going before…
oOoOFlash back An Hour Ago oOoO
Saber and I whisper furiously.
"No one's saying anything!" I comlplain, nervously eyeing the others.
Saber nods. "Yah. I've realized. We have to do something or I'm going to suffocate under this heavy atmosphere!"
We both glance over at Kurapika and Leorio, then look at each other. We nod.
I walk over to Kurapika, while Saber goes to Leorio.
I look down at Kurapika, he doesn't open his eyes, or look up, even though I'm pretty sure he knows I was there.
I glance over at Saber, who seems to be taking a deep breath.
I turn back to Kurapika. "Um…"
Shit. Where was I going with this again?
"Are…you…okay?"
Brilliant going Talin. Seriously. Nice job, perfect. GOD I'm going to throw myself over the ledge!
"I'm fine." He replies, camly. Still not opening his eyes.
Well ok then.
I glance helplessly at Saber, who's having his own troubles.
"Um, hi Leorio…"
"Eh, what do you want?" He opens one eye and glares at Saber.
"Er…" Saber rubs the back of his neck. "Just seeing how you were doing…"
"We're stuck on the Second Phase, for who knows how long, and all our chances for become Hunters may have been ruined by a certain idiot, and his friends. How do you think I'm doing?"
I glance at Kurapika, who doesn't say anything, but I think he frowns a bit more.
"Uh, not very…good." Saber mutters, regretting this whole conversation very much.
"You got that right." Leorio grouches, rolling over on his side away from Leorio.
Saber and I glance at each other, and shrug helplessly.
Tonpa snickers.
oOo End Flashback oOo