lHey after a long time I am back... I know there were a lot of fillers and stuff, but those were almost half –hearted and unintentional... so sorry...

Any further delay, let's get jammed...

Chapter 7: Betrayal

Killua and Gon were left at the road, they did not say anything to each other; Gon was too overwhelmed and after that he faced Killua and punched him.

Smack

'What the fuck was that?' Killua bellowed after the punch, wiping of his bleeding nose.

'You have grown up, eh Killua... Hiding stuff from me... ' Gon said so coldly that it was unlike him 'maybe I thought, of all people, you won't betray me' Gon said and he stormed off. Killua, angry and bewildered grabbed him by his collar and jerked him towards him 'What do you mean by that, huh? What' wrong with you... You are behaving odd' he said; Gon freed himself from his grip and straightened up 'nothing wrong, according to you anyway...' he sneered in such a way that the sunny smile was almost gone off his face 'it was my fault that I trusted you... I trusted you all along...'

Killua popped a vein on his head, but it was anything but comical 'what do you mean... spit it out'. Gon did not say a word and walked off, but Killua took a fistful of his hair and seized him 'SPIT IT OUT... YOU SON OF A...'

Gon's eyes were so hurt that for that moment it looked he had lost it 'what... What Killua? Why did you stop... spit it out' Killua opened his mouth but no word came, and Gon went on 'you thought perhaps I won't be able to keep your little family secret did you, Killua? You did not trust me at all, did you...? All along I was a burden to your ambitions, your achievements... Well I am sorry because I have no brains like yours and the super talented assassin skills like your dirty little family...'

'SHUT UP... SHUT UP' Killua bellowed and threw him across the street where Gon hit a wall, then rushing towards him he pinned Gon against a shadowy wall 'you don't know anything... you don't know anything about me... about her... and I don't suppose you to do... after all you're a orphan left by a father who did not want you-'

Killua had pushed the button and Gon was boiling in fury, he broke free and clenched his jaw and his words were unnaturally calm; colder even-

'Yeah right... I am blasted and my father left me at my aunt's doorstep... but she didn't torture me to death from my birth... at least I have a human spine unlike yours... I am not the sort who would hold back my tears from my best friend...'

Killua's eyes were shining with tears of rage 'oh, so where does it go whenever I talk or mention Megumi-san...?' Gon looked as if a lightning has struck on his head 'so this is all about it, eh Killua... Megumi-san... you are accusing me for a girl... You are accusing your FRIENDSHIP FOR A GIRL!' Gon bellowed and his eyes were streaming with tears and Killua broke off 'fine then, if I am so bad and I am so unworthy, and then leave... Leave and GET OUT OF MY DAMN SIGHT!'

Gon didn't say any word and stormed off from the place, after a split second his aura vanished without a trace. Killua was standing alone in a dingy alley, and his hair mockingly shined in the dark; his angelic blue eyes baleful. A whimpering sob concealed itself in the faraway noises of cars in the York shin New Avenue.

...

Kurapika dialled his phone impatiently but an annoying engaged tone followed every time. His calm face was clammy and anxiety spread all over his handsome angelic features. Leorio was clicking his desk-light on and off randomly out of patiencelessness. The room was astray; telephone indexes left wide open on the floor the bustle of the road was long gone.

'It's 2 am... still they haven't come back...' Kurapika said 'this hasn't happened before.' Leorio got up from the table 'have you tried your Dowsing Chain, yet... so that we get to the place...'

Kurapika's face lit up with faint hope 'good thinking... should have thought of it before-

Before he could find a map and use a Dowsing Chain, a soft clung followed after a soft footstep and the person came inside the room, Kurapika turned towards the door hoping to see a mane of platinum hair or a tuft of raven hair with perhaps old familiar brown or sapphire eyes, but it turned out to be a petite girl with dishevelled chestnut hair and hazel eyes looked horror-struck.

Kurapika couldn't fathom the astonishment and quite unknowingly he breathed out her name.

'Miss Bennett... What brings you here?'

Tess couldn't talk at all and fainted on the floor. Kurapika went to her and scooped her up from the floor and laid her on the couch. With the general medical reflexes Leorio read her pulses and tried out the accurate pressure points on her, while Kurapika sprinkled some iced-water and slowly she fluttered her eyes.

'Miss Bennett?' Kurapika asked hesitantly.

Tess sprang up on the couch, her arms fluttered uncontrollably as if she suffered a nervous trauma, her eyes rolling in fear and she only groaned, no words came out of her mouth. Leorio took her pulse again and with a flicker of his iris Kurapika fetched smelling-salt from kitchen and after applying it, Tess calmed down.

'Please... please... do something... do something... that thing...' She then burst into tears. Her weeping and hiccupping subdued to a quite a lesser level due to Kurapika's constant careful ministrations, Leorio rubbed her palm and she was fanned by a porno.

'What are you talking about Miss Bennett, what thing?' Kurapika asked more tenderly as ever which astonished Leorio as he helped her gulp some water.

After a lot of whimpering Tess opened her mouth 'I don't know... I don't know... it's very scary... it's ...'

While she talked Leorio examined her exposed skin to detect if she was exposed to any physical violence, but she was clean and flawless.

'What happened to you...? Why did you come here?'

'I was doing a group-study in my friend's house... Making Coq a VIN for my exam; it's a gourmet school where I go.' She spoke quietly 'it was late... about 11:30, when I departed from her house, I took the train and by the time I reached the station, I felt someone was stalking me... I tried to evade from the stalker by taking the highways and the most crowded routes... from two hours I roamed around the circular road... I could not take my alley to home, because somewhat I felt that wasn't just some mere stalker... it was something more... more coldly and malicious... you know what I mean?'

Kurapika and Leorio exchanged meaningful looks.

'Then when it was about 1.15 in the morning, I took a turn to the dumpster, and then the moment I entered the place, the lights started to flicker... Like they are hit by some strong wind and then with a massive jerk they blasted... All of them at the same time... And... and...'

She shivered at the very memory of it and curled small on the couch. 'I was thrown across the street, what felt like a strong massive chilling wind and then... A black-purple smoke like stuff... chased me and I barely remember how I get here... and I think it's still chasing me...'

Kurapika cut her off in the midways and helped her with some water, 'what you saw there, was a hallucination... pressures for you exams... you need a good sleep, you can take my bed, I will inform the others, don't worry.'

'but-'

'Please Miss Bennett, you have to listen...' Kurapika led her to the bed and fetched a soft sheet on her 'get a sleep...'

Kurapika shut the door of his room as quietly as possible; his brows were contorted in a frown. Leorio examined his face carefully but dared not to say anything.

'Leorio... are you thinking what I am thinking?' Kurapika asked. 'The descriptions, the effects... I could tell that was no hallucinations she had... She had indeed-'

'Caught up by someone's Ren'

Kurapika looked at the door, someone with fluffy white hair stood at the door, eyes looking at the floor, with the most defeated expression he had ever saw on his face.

'Killua?' Kurapika said but then was backfired by the tears of his eyes 'What's the matter?' Kurapika shook him by the shoulders and looked over his shoulder-blades 'Where's Gon... Answer me... Is he alright'

'I lost Kurapika... I lost...' Killua wept 'it is as I feared... I ended up doing it'

Kurapika looked at his face and raised it by Killua's chin 'is he alive... DID YOU HARM HIM...? IS HE ALRIGHT?'

Killua sank on the floor, Leorio was on his feet, and he came to him 'what's it brat?' he asked gently 'tell us; don't just weep on us...'

'I betrayed Gon... I betrayed him... He left me... No... he didn't, I told him to leave me...' Killua said.

Leorio raised him from the floor and slapped him so hard that he was thrown into the couch. 'you... Unworthy... Foolish... Nincompoop... You BETRAYED GON... AND YOU STILL HAVE THE NERVE TO SHOW UP YOUR FACE?' he yelled at the top of his lungs, 'DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES... HOW MANY TIMES THAT KID'S GOT BEATEN UP FOR YOU...FOR SAVING YOU ASS...' before Leorio could advance further Kurapika got hold of him, 'Leorio... Stop it... I am sure there's an explanation... Killua, what happened, please tell us...' Kurapika implored with a steady voice, but it shook as he choked. Killua slowly told everything from the beginning and how they split up.

Kurapika shifted on his place, rocked to the core. He couldn't believe what has been done to them, Leorio stood at his place, speechless- a single tear rolled over his cheek. He tried to open his mouth to apologise, but Killua prevented him, 'it's okay... I deserved it anyway, Bisky was right... I can only betray people... Illumi was right... I am a puppet of darkness...'

No one knew that from Kurapika's bedroom Tess silently wept.

...

The next morning was quiet. Tess went to her apartment silently without any complains, stopping Kurapika from any explanation, fearing that it would only complicate things, then calmly she made breakfast for all.

'Where were you last night... we called you so many times...' Kegan asked as she cut up her egg-n-bacon pie. Tess gave a start and pouring over some maple syrup she said 'over Mimi's home, Key-chan... and I dropped my phone at the station-'

Nobody said much and munched down the whole breakfast, Rene of all stood up awkwardly without her usual graceful sweep and greeting curtly for the food she swept off the place. She stormed off the stairs, not bothering for elevator. In the third-floor landing she stood still, her eyes streaming.

'Rene? Are you alright?'

Rene within a flash turned back and saw Tess standing at the stairs, looking disturbed and anxious; she wiped her eyes as Tess approached to her. 'Yes, I am fine... I am fine.' She said.

'Rene... near the stairs, I found this... it has your name on it...' Tess flashed an object similar to a credit card, which flashed two intertwined 'X' beneath a blue-and-silver background, with a name in red letters 'Rennesme Isabelle Nevada Jonson' Rene almost snatched it and mumbling a 'thank you' she set foot on the bottom stairs-

'That was a Hunter License... wasn't it?'

Thunderstruck, Rene looked over her shoulder, her pink eyes aghast. 'How ... Did you... Possibly know it?' she asked.

'Rene... There are some things which are ought to remain their secrets, without it they fall apart... Rene, I don't know why you kept it from us, but I know it's for a good reason... whatever you're doing, no matter what, I will always support you...' Tess added sympathetically.

'Why? Didn't I just lie to you? Didn't I just break the vows of friendship?' Rene said, but in spite of the situation Tess shook her head, her face oscillated between peace and sorrow 'no, you didn't... You just did what a real friend would have done; you saved us from any upcoming danger... But Rene, you aren't entirely successful... Whoever is your enemy, knows that we are your friends and perhaps they are trying to harm one of us.'

Seeing Rene's intrigued eye, Tess helped them in the third floor storage-cupboard and explained about last night and how the boys helped her.

'And how did you possibly knew it was Ren?' Rene asked.

'The moment I saw it I guessed it would be, and it was conformed when... when... that White Haired Dude confirmed it... ' Tess said. Rene shook her head 'that's not the point; normal people cannot see or feel it... Are you sure you didn't imagined it?'

Tess' face was colouring up 'imagined? How can I possibly imagine such horrible thing Rene...' her eyes were watery 'if you don't trust me ask Kurapika-san how I reacted that night, and I am not a good actress'

Rene pursed her lip looking down at her feet, 'Tess, listen to me carefully... Don't go outside the apartment unless it's absolutely necessary... In case you do, take someone with you and don't stay outside for late, and if anything happens, call at my cell okay...' Rene opened the door, squeezed Tess' shoulder reassuringly and stormed off.

'Don't worry Rene; whatever you're doing... you will always get Kegan, Megumi and Me on your side... I will not let that thing repeat, when my sister was eaten by those bugs.'

So Tess can see and feel Nen... What else she can do... does she have superpowers? Do others have superpowers, you must be wondering, and for knowing all this you must stay tuned to 'It's complicated'

And R&R of course...