[[ This chapter is fairly short but the next will be quite lengthy.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this. (: ]]
Zevil Island: Day Three.
A few hours have passed since Tsubaki has cut down her opponent and she has finally regained consciousness and as she looked in front of her, she saw her katana and her target's badge in front of her.
"Someone was here?" Tsubaki immediately looked inside her obi and her badge was still there, "Ryuga's body is gone as well." Getting back on her feet, Tsubaki sheathed her katana and placed her target's tag in her obi.
Then, without any warning, an intense aura of bloodlust was released not too far from where Tsubaki was.
The source of the bloodlust was Hisoka. After his confrontation with Leorio and Kurapika he saw how much stronger they both have gotten and that made him feel "tingly." Having not killed anyone for the past couple of days have fed his blood lust and the next person he encounters, he will most likely kill without a thought.
"This feeling. Could this be Hisoka? It's the same as the night of when his parents were murdered. I have to go find him." Tsubaki quickly made her way to the direction of the bloodlust.
In the middle of the forest was Hisoka; his aura has lessened but the look in his eyes show how he is craving to kill. He walks with a slow pace and a hunched back, waiting to walk into his next target. Up ahead, Gon is hiding in the bushes waiting to ambush Hisoka when he attacks his prey. Hisoka has completely hidden his presence and Gon begins to hyperventilate thinking he'll be found out.
"Just breathe," a voice whispered behind him.
The voice surprised him, he looked beside him and there was Tsubaki.
Why is Tsubaki here? She looks terrible! Is what Hisoka and that other guy said true?
"I'm fine. I can manage something like this, don't worry about me." She gave Gon a smile snapping him back to the situation at hand. "You're planning to take Hisoka's badge right? I'll help you."
"eh?"
"I felt his blood lust earlier, if Hisoka bumps into someone he will immediately kill them. You guys may see Hisoka as a killing machine but he wasn't always like this. To calm his bloodlust and to kill innocent people is not worth it. I'll help distract him, that's what you need right? A distraction." Tsubaki said with a smile.
"Yes but-"
"Shh!" Tsubaki interrupted. "He's coming! Conceal your presence! Also, If Hisoka approaches you… Run."
Gon nodded at her and did as he was told. He then looked at Tsubaki with worried eyes. Don't do anything reckless, Tsubaki!
As Hisoka continues along his path he spots another applicant, Agon, and immediately charges at him. Agon immediately notices Hisoka and draws out his sword. Hisoka lunges at him with insanity filled eyes and a psychotic laugh.
"Now, Gon!" Tsubaki commanded.
Gon cast his fishing rod and was able to latch onto Hisoka's badge. Hisoka lost focus on his target for a second as the ambush caught him off guard. However, as Hisoka's card made the sound of cutting flesh, Hisoka, Gon, and Agon's eyes widened as they realized that another body intercepted the battle.
Tsubaki jumped in to use her body as a shield and suffered a serious blow to her chest with Hisoka's attack. Blood splattered out from her wound and trailed down her arm. Her kimono was also covered in blood.
"Tsubaki!" Gon yelled out under his breath in panic.
Hisoka's killing aura immediately returned and he once again charged at Agon.
"Stop!" Tsubaki managed to yell under her weakened breath. She then slowly moved her head toward Gon and saw how he wanted to help her; she shook her head no.
Before Hisoka dealt the finishing blow to Agon, he stopped his card at Agon's neck, piercing it to the point that blood started to drip. He looked over his shoulder at the injured princess; her face had splotches of blood everywhere but her eyes shone brightly. Her gaze caught Hisoka's eyes and he returned to normal.
H-Here" Agon stuttered while lifting up his badge and presenting it to Hisoka. "T-Take it." Hisoka looked at the badge and then back at Agon, he gave a smirk and Agon's body was filled with fear. Hisoka removed the card from Agon's neck and took the badge. He turned to Tsubaki and began to walk towards her. Agon ran away stumbling on the ground in the process.
"TSUBAKI!" Gon called out. The two of them caught eyes and Tsubaki mouthed the word 'run' to him.
Hisoka turned his attention to Gon and fear struck Gon, Hisoka took a step forward and Gon immediately ran away.
Hisoka then proceeded to walk towards Tsubaki.
"haa.. haa…" Tsubaki lay on the floor while breathing heavily.
Hisoka knelt down beside her. "Why did you risk your life for a weakling like him?"
"Ta-taking ano-another's life isn't worth it…"
Hisoka gave a chuckle. "Aren't you supposed to be an assassin? Your job is to take people's lives no matter the reason."
"You…haa… You're not like that…haa… You're not a killing machine… S-Soka… What happened to y-your warm smi…haa…le..?"
Hisoka stayed silent and carried her in his arms princess style.
"Hnn…" Tsubaki was in immense pain. Hisoka dashed for the nearest river, he lied her down in the grass and opened her kimono, revealing her chest.
"W-what… haa…are you doing?"
"Don't worry, I'm not interested in your body." Hisoka reassured her.
Tsubaki rolled her eyes and gave a scoff, as that was not what she was implying.
The cut was from her shoulder blade to the middle of her chest. Luckily it wasn't as deep as to cause any life threatening means. Hisoka also saw many other scars on her body; he gave them a questioning look. These scars, they weren't from Machiyo training or Aiko, so what…? Tsubaki slowly moved her hand to grab onto Hisoka's wrist as if she knew the scars have caused him to hesitate.
Hisoka looked away and started to cup the water in his hands and pour it over her wound to wash away the blood. Hisoka then took off his shirt and started to rip it into pieces. He took a piece of cloth and put it into the water to wipe away the blood on her face. He used the other pieces of cloth like a bandage and wrapped up her wound.
"W-why? "Why are you…haa… s-saving me now? W-Wouldn't it be better for all of us…haa…i-if I just died?"
"You have yet to fully develop, it is not your time yet. Your death would be a waste." Hisoka explained as he wrapped Tsubaki's kimono back up.
"T-Then why didn't you save me…" Tsubaki's voice was drowning out, "Years… ago…" Tsubaki stopped talking and her body lied still; her eyes were closed and she didn't move a muscle.
Hisoka listened for a heartbeat and it was there but very faint. He gave a sigh and carried her on his back, "You are quite a reckless Princess, Tsukime." He said while looking at her. What exactly happened to you when you ran away from the Royal Family, Tsukime? Who else do I need to kill to protect you? Hisoka took Tsubaki and looked for another spot to hideout at.
"Tsukime!" The red headed boy called out in excitement.
"Eh?" The white haired Princess turned around and saw her friend running toward her with a purple cloth in his hand, "Soka!" she replied with a smile.
"Ne, ne! Tsukime, look at this! My new parents bought me this magic cloth that I saw on the TV!" the boy said enthusiastically as he showed off his new toy.
"Magic cloth?" Tsubaki questioned tilting her head and asking in a confused voice.
"Yeah! It's for magic tricks! I've been learning some magic tricks lately and my parents finally bought me this cloth! Ne, do you want to see a trick?" He said with a big smile.
"Sure!" She replied with a smile.
"Alright!" The two children sat face to face in the middle of the field. "Tsukime, extend your right arm."
She did as she was told and held out her right arm. "Like this?"
"Yup! Just like that!" Hisoka then took the cloth and draped it over her wrist covering a bit of her hand as well. "Ready? 1…2…3!" Hisoka then removes the cloth and a gold bracelet appeared on Tsubaki's wrist. There was a charm on the bracelet and it was of the joker playing card. Tsubaki was stunned and she looked at Hisoka who had a big smile on his face. "Happy Birthday Tsukime!"
"Ah, you remembered. But, where did you get this? It looks pretty expensive."
"My new parents are actually much nicer than the ones I had before, thanks to you. They started giving me an allowance and I've started to save. The bracelet isn't as expensive as it looks but the storeowner said that it was one of his bestsellers. Do you like it?"
Tsubaki gave a smile, "Of course! It's beautiful. Thank you, Hisoka. And the magic trick was amazing! Just like a real magician!" She gave a giggle.
"Really? Waa, that's great! I wanna be a magician when I grow up, that way, I can always put a smile on Tsukime's face!"
Tsubaki started to blush and made her way to a bush and plucked a few berries. She squeezed the juice in her hands and drew a red star on his right cheek and a green teardrop on his left. "There, now you look like a real magician!" She lifted up a mirror she carried with her and showed Hisoka what he looked like.
"Haha! I look just like the joker on your bracelet! Oh! I need to tell you a secret about the bracelet. It has superpowers."
"Superpowers?"
"Mm… It lets me know if you're in trouble, whether it be at home or not. If you're in danger, it will let me know. I will immediately come by your side to protect you but, It won't work until you get stronger, that was the condition in order to make it work. Sorry Tsukime."
"It's okay!" She said with a warm smile. "I'll definitely get stronger!"
Hisoka sits by a tree while Tsubaki's head rests on his lap, darkness has fallen and only the moon provides light. Hisoka looks at the moon with wavering eyes and he looks down at Tsubaki. He takes his hand and removes the hair lying on her face. He begins to look at her with softer eyes and focuses his gaze on her bracelet. Shall I activate its powers now? No, not yet. It's been years since we last saw one another and this is how you pop back into my life? How cruel of you Hime. Let me stop worrying about you for just a little longer and then, I will protect you as promised.
Hisoka gently places a hand on her cheek and looks at her intently. "You, you did this to me, you know?" Hisoka leans closer to her face and admires her pale face and her plump rose lips. A moment of hesitation occurred but he leaned closer and gave Tsubaki a kiss. He quickly breaks away from the kiss as if he regrets it and looks at her with narrow eyes full of remorse and conflict. "I'll find whoever gave you those scars Hime and I'll definitely kill them for you. It's a promise."
"Where… Where am I?" Awakening from her slumber, Tsubaki looked around the room as everything was blurry.
"Oh. Looks like you're finally awake." A familiar voice commented beside her.
Tsubaki turned her head and saw Chairman Netero sitting beside her IV, giving her a gentle smile.
"The exam?" She asked in a weak voice.
"Don't worry child, you passed the Fourth Phase."
"Eh? Last thing I remember is that I was attacked and almost died. How long have I been unconscious? Where are we?"
"From what applicant #44 told me, he carried you to the end point after the third day and you have been unconscious ever since. We are now in my blimp and are heading toward the Final Phase."
"I see…" Tsubaki then tried to position her body to an upright position but a sharp pain cringed in her chest. "Ahh…" she held her hand over her chest and had a painful expression on her face.
"Whoa, I wouldn't move around so much, your wounds haven't fully healed yet." Netero said while helping Tsubaki lay back down. "Don't worry; your wounds will heal quickly. If your wounds weren't properly taken care for earlier then you most likely wouldn't have survived. It's a good thing the exam ended when it did. Once we got on the ship he immediately requested that you be hospitalized until your wounds heal."
Hisoka did? A gentle smile appeared on Tsubaki's face; I suppose in the end, you're always the one saving me, huh?
"But," Netero began, snapping Tsubaki out of her thoughts; "I would like to have a word with you, Tsubaki-Hime." The atmosphere instantly turned serious.
"I… Understand. What is it?"
"You know about your brother correct?"
"Yes, though I haven't seen him in years, is he alright?"
"Oh, he's fine! However, you may or may not know this but he has created an information exchange group to protect you from the wrath of the Machiyo as well as the Royal Family. I have been informed by one of the members that an auction is going to be held in Yorknew City. I'm not completely aware of the details of the auction but we were able to get a name: Fuuto, and it seems that you are the number one wanted item on the auction list."
Tsubaki's eyes widened and fear took over her entire body. Her breathing becomes heavier and her heart is racing. She holds her hands up to her face and starts trembling. Multiple images pop into her mind as she shuts her eyes and closes her ears. Netero looks at her with pitiful eyes and tries to comfort her but Tsubaki twitches in reaction to his physical touch.
"You…" Tsubaki began. "You can't stop an auction like that…?"
"I'm sorry. We Hunters only play a certain hand in the government, an auction like this is very hard to find. It is, after all, an underground auction. But if there is anything we can do to protect you, we will."
"You won't be able to protect me. I can manage on my own. I know about Fuuto and his auctions. I'll be okay, so please, don't worry about me anymore Chairman." Tsubaki faces Netero and looks within his eyes. She puts a smile on her face but her eyes do not match the bravery behind her smile, her eyes waver and are filled with fear.