Ah, so the reason it's taking me so long to update these is I've finally graduated highschool. I guess that's good, but... I mean I'm so busy! But anyways, thanks so much for all your support! It really means a lot! Thanks so much for reading!

So here's an extra long chapter for you guys! ^^ I realized I wasn't working much on this so I quickly went to write the last chapter and even wrote lots of this! I'll try to get the next chapter out to you guys just as fast, but I don't have much of it yet, so please be patient! T^T

Guest - XD I knew someone would do that LOL

NoreasonwhyI'mhere - Thanks! XD

Crystal-Breezy - XD Thanks! ^^

Crescentclaw - Yeah, I know, right? I love my improvisational brain. TwT But thank you! Hopefully this chapter came out how you liked? ^^

Sketch Drawers - Thanks! Me as well, that's one of my favorite parts to write. And I will. Here it is!


"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." - Steve Jobs


Re-cap:

"Hello- Melody? What is it?" I could only hear half the conversation but I knew it was bad, and furthermore Kurapika kept glancing at me. "What? - The troupe comes from Meteor City?" Yeah, this really sounded bad.

Eventually Kurapika hung up and sighed. "Basil, you must somehow know the future."

"Huh?"

"The reward's been rescinded," Kurapika explained.

"The reward's been rescinded? Seriously?" Killua said, shocked. I blinked. Oh. Wait. Was this my fault?

"The troupe comes from Meteor City." Kurapika further explained.

"Makes sense…" Leorio pondered. "That explains why their identities are still unknown, and why the cops haven't been able to catch them."

"What's that got to do with it?" I asked, drawing other's attention.

"What's Meteor City?" Gon asked as well.

"A city populated by people who, as far as society is concerned, don't exist." Leorio explained. My mouth made an O shape. I remembered that place! Kai-san was explaining once about Meteor City, said if I'm ever asked where I come from that should be my response from now on.

"There's a city like that?" Gon asked.

"Yeah, I remember now," I said, nodding. "Kai-san talked about it once..."

"Yeah. Officially, it's unpopulated. But it's said that ten million people live there," Leorio started to explain. "It began as a dump over 1,500 years ago." Wow, 1,500 years ago? In my world something like this would have only been going on for the past hundred years at most! "People began to live off the garbage that was dumped there. You're allowed to dump anything there. From garbage to weapons to even people. And the residents will accept anything left there. I've heard that Meteor City residents share a bond, thinner than that between strangers, stronger than that between family."

"Actually, there are those who provide Meteor City with weapons and precious metals under the pretext of garbage," Kurapika explained. I was nearly shaking my head. No one would ever get away with something like this in my world. "That would be the Mafia community."

"What do you mean? But the Mafia is hunting the Troupe!" Gon exclaimed.

"In return, the Mafia recruited people from Meteor city," Kurapika further stated. "People who didn't exist, as far as society was concerned. Perfect for committing crimes. The Troupe destroyed the normally intimate relationship between the Mafia community and Meteor City. But the Mafia has decided to prioritize that relationship."

"No one would ever get away with anything like that in my world," I mumbled, though the others heard me. I stared at them a second, then sighed. "The entire world is governed by different people who hold all the power. There's satellites and all sorts of ways to see everything. Someone can go onto the computer and see anyone's history if they've done a crime, can see any place in the world, and everything that happens can be found online if you look."

"That's the same as here, I don't see how-" I cut Leorio off.

"Every piece of land is owned by one country or another, every product, every sale, every thing. There's no way to exist without spending money on something, and even if you're homeless you were raised by someone who birthed you in a hospital somewhere and got your name printed on paper. The only way for you to become someone who doesn't exist is for you to have been born out on the streets, and afterwords left to fend on your own, your name not even in the books. If you ever try to get any money, steal, anything, you suddenly exist. Anything out of the ordinary." I sighed. "In my world, Meteor City would have officially become a city, no one would be allowed to dump garbage there anymore, and everyone who lived there would exist. The Phantom Troupe would be a terrorist organization and would have the military on their heels at every movement."

"Then tell me, Basil," I paused, looking at a serious Kurapika who was staring at me. "How is it, in such an advanced society such as this, you managed to live for so long being abused by your parents without anyone doing anything?" I bit my lip, looking away from him in shame.

"Simple," I started. "Anyone under 18 basically has no power whatsoever."

End Re-cap


I sighed, staring out the window down to the streets below and the buildings along the way. I was exhausted, I really wanted to sleep, but I knew there was no point. I'd just wake in my world. It wasn't like I could just make another wish to stay here. It wasn't like I hadn't already tried that several times. Plus...

They needed me here. To help. To catch the Troupe and, and...

And what? What reason did I have for being here? To get stronger? Have fun? Help my friends? Sure I could do my barriers but what good would that do against a troupe member? Probably only stall them for a second... If I was lucky. And it didn't seem luck was ever on my side...

Plus I'd only come to see my friends again, not to be dragged once more into trouble! Honestly all I wanted was to live a simple life, free of worry and anxiety... But then why? Why was it I'd decided to become a hunter? The money? Something to do? A challenge? Freedom? It could have just been an opportunity, one I was too eager to grasp onto.

But no, I knew that was only me lying to myself. I remembered that young girl's smiling face, and the freedom and hope I'd brought to Maki. All those girls... They were able to go out and do what they wanted because I managed to help them. I smiled at myself as I stared in the window. Yeah, that was it. I wanted to bring freedom to others, the same kind of freedom and release I'd felt when I first came to this world. Yes, even for Killua, Gon, Kura, and Crisei... Leorio even. I wanted them to be free of regrets and burdens and be able to succeed. To help Leorio become a doctor. To help Killua escape his fate of being born an assassin, to be friends with Gon and myself. For Gon to find his father. For Crisei to succeed and do the things he's always wanted to do. And Kurapika...

I wanted to help Kurapika find his family's eyes and to get revenge on the troupe for taking them in the first place. Yes.

That was why I was here.

I started back to the others and chuckled as I saw Killua and Gon fighting as always.

"Stop being coy and spit it out..." Killua said angrily, choking Gon in a headlock.

"You're strangling me! I'm going to die!" Gon yelled. I knew Killua wouldn't really do it, but still, I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Killua... You should let him breathe..." I said nervously. Killua flashed me a seemingly annoyed look, which I blinked back at, frowning, but let go of Gon. I sighed, glancing away from the silver haired boy.

"You should sleep." I immediately looked back at Killua. "You look exausted." I shook my head.

"Later. I'll be fine. I can go several days without sleep." I smiled at him, but he upsettingly looked away, lips moving slightly as something that sounded like 'not something to be proud of' left them.

"It'll be fine Killua," Gon said with a smile. "Anyway, I'll work something out for the game. So for now, let's stick to the troupe."

"Do you really have a plan?" Killua asked, looking back at the other boy. I watched the two, looking back and forth between them.

"Yep, but it's not guaranteed to work." Gon replied.

"How likely is it going to work?" Killua questioned.

"Huh?"

"What percentage do you think your plan has of working?" Killua questioned further.

"Eh… Seventy percent." Gon replied, a look of thought.

"Seventy?" Killua repeated, slightly surprised.

"M-Maybe more like sixty.,.." Gon corrected, scratching the back of his head and smiling nervously.

"What's the plan?" I asked.

"He won't say," Killua responded with a huff, So that's what the fight was about. "But he can have it his way." He looked back at Gon. "I'll let you handle the game. But we can't deal with the troupe alone. We only move if Kurapika helps us."

"Okay." Gon replied with a nod. The two started off, and I followed.

"You wanting to help as well?" Killua asked, glancing at me, seeming upset. I was taken aback for a moment, but nodded.

"Yeah. I want to help people with their goals," I replied. "So they can be free of the burdens of revenge, regret, fear, loneliness, hatred, and the like." I smiled at Killua, who made a small noise, turning his head back away from me once more.

I swore he was blushing. He couldn't have been, could he? Nah, it was just the lighting. It had to be.


"You're not planning to intercept them, are you?" Was the first thing I heard when we rounded the corner, coming from Leorio's mouth. "That's crazy... How can you confront them without Mafia support?!" Without Mafia support? Oh right, no reward anymore... Was that what he meant? Or did Kura-Nii-san have the Mafia backing him up this entire- no, Kurapika wouldn't have acepted that.

"You have it wrong Leorio," Kurapika replied. "I never had any help from the mafia." Thought so.

"Kurapika, let us help. We're willing to do anything." Gon siad as the three of us got behind him. The blonde turned around, looking at us.

"The reward was rescinded," Kurapika replied.

"So?" I said. "We want to help you."

"I want to stop the Phantom Troupe. That hasn't changed." Gon continued. I smiled at him, then glanced at Killua, whose face betrayed that he was against this whole idea. Was he seriously in it just for the money? If he ever wanted I could just go back into my world and- Oh. I forgot to tell them how much I made and give them their share of the money...

"You'd be risking your lives," Kurapika stated. I glanced back at Gon. He wasn't budging. Neither was I. I've risked my like all too many times. "Okay let's put together a plan."

"Uh-huh." Gon nodded. Killua let out a dramatic, upset sigh. I chuckled at that, which caused the ex-assassin to glare at me. I just playfully stuck my tongue out at him as the five us us started over to a comfortable spot to sit.

"First, we'll need someone to watch their base, and to provide updates," Kurapika stated, sitting down.

"I can do that," Killua said immediately with a small sigh, sliding into the seat near the window. Leorio sat in the opposite space across from him, next to Kurapika, while I sat on the other side of my adoptive brother.

"The target is the woman named Pakunoda. You can ignore everyone else," Kurapika said to Killua.

"Okay," Killua replied with a nod.

"Be very careful," Kurapika added.

"Don't worry, I won't push my luck." Killua

"I'll need a driver to accompany me," Kurapika continued. "Leorio, could you handle that?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah…" Leorio replied, somewhat startled.

"It'll be fine. You'll be safe if you're with Kurapika." Killua said with a smile.

"Hey, Killua... Don't make it sound like I was scared or something!" Leorio yelled. I chuckled at their little squabble.

"Kurapika, what about me and Basil?" Gon said. I glanced at Gon, then nodded at Kurapika.

"Yeah, I want to help. I'll do anything!" I said.

"Gon, I need you to act as decoy, to throw the enemy off," Kurapika replied with no hesitstion.

"Got it." Gon said with a nod.

"What about me?" I quickly interjected.

"The troupe doesn't know you and it'd be bad for you to get near them," Kurapika replied, looking at me. "Plus you can't do Zetsu, but your barrier would be a great help to stall. I'd like you to stay with me."

"Hold on," Killua said, leaning forward, serious. "Isn't Gon's a dangerous role? He'll have to face the troupe members again!"

"That depends on our strategy," Kurapika replied.

"Strategy? What strategy will we use?" Killua asked questioningly.

"A very simple one," Kurapika responded. "While the enemy is occupied with Gon, I'll capture Pakunoda and escape by car."

"That sounds a little shaky…" Killua said suspiciously. I nodded.

"It has to be. To form a good plan you need room to be flexible for unknown circumstances," I responded, then glanced at Kurapika, who had a slight smile on his face as he looked at me.

"Basil is right. There are too many uncertainties for me to devise a concrete plan. I'll let Gon decide his strategy." Kurapika looked at Gon. "But I'll need you to draw their attention for at least half a second… a full second if at possible."

"One second, then?" Gon repeated.

"Yeah," Kurapika said. He turned to me. "Basil, I'll be relying on you as well to manage a barrier, or maybe multiple. Can you do that?" I hesitated a second, but nodded.

"I will try my best," I replied. Kurapika frowned.

"I need to know what you can and can't do, or else there will be issues. You and Gon are key. Can you handle it?" Kurapika asked again.

"I'm not sure. I'll need to think about it," Gon replied, thinking. I nodded.

"I can do a single barrier, but multiple..."

"You have six hours," Kurapika stated. "If the auction proceeds as scheduled, the spiders will make their move before then."

"Hey, why are you accepting our help now?" Killua asked suspiciously.

"Because the risk I'm taking has increased," Kurapika responded. I inwardly chuckled. I don't think Gon or I would have settled on him not accepting our help anyways. "I have to eliminate Pakunoda immediately. No matter the cost." There was silence a second.

Kurapika had really changed. He was way more serious, way more driven. It'd consumed him...

Would I have eventually become like this? If my fear had consumed me? Would I have become so fearful and timid of everything? If it hadn't been for Kai-san... Would I have become different? Something... Someone else?

"Kurapika. Put a Nen blade in me!" Gon said, interrupting my thoughts.

"A nen blade?" Killua asked.

"Gon, weren't you listening?" Leorio shouted. "Kurapika will die if he attacks anyone who isn't a troupe member!"

"Keep your voice down!" Kurapika yelled back at him. I stared at Kurapika a moment. I really did kind of feel bad... His voice, at every tone that came out of his voice I could hear the tiredness from him. This was going to further consume him. I could tell. I wanted to help but, what else could I do? Kura would become strong and dangerous, but at what cost?

What cost would I have had to give? What costs will I still have to atone for for these friends, this new life, these abilities? There was no way I was going to get out of this for free.

"Then why is there a Nen blade in Kurapika's chest?" Gon further questioned, pointing at the Kurta. "Kurapika isn't a member of the troupe." There was a second as that registered in everyone's heads. I stared at Kurapika. Gon was right... Why hadn't I realized that? How did he... What if he was attacked by someone not in the troupe? Wouldn't... Wouldn't he be left defenseless in that case?

"What I'm about to tell you will increase my risk further," Kurapika stated.

"Okay," Leorio said, standing and going to leave. He paused, looking back at Killua, then to me. "Hey Killua... Basil..." Killua looked at Gon, who nodded, then stood to leave as well, clearly slightly perterbed to be having to go. I hesitated however. I was curious, but... I mean I didn't want Kurapika to be in anymore risk than he was in...

Kurapika glanced at me. I knew I could keep his secret. It didn't matter what kind of torture I went through, I could keep his secret. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was the woman Pakunoda. She could read minds, so even if- No, I trusted myself. She wouldn't get anything from me. No matter how much probing and torture she did, I'd already conditioned myself. I was the perfect secret machine. So the issue wasn't Pakunoda, it was the fact of Kurapika himself. The fact that he was telling Gon, and even telling me would increase his risk. But how would the knowledge of how he can fight and defend risk him? No, it wouldn't risk him as much as it'd give away more secrets to his ability, which he wanted to keep secret. For the knowledge of how one's ability works is the way some can defeat their opponent. So in actuality, me leaving was more a sign of respect.

"Good luck Nii-san," I said, starting to stand. "I trust your decisions." However Kurapika stopped me.

"You should hear this too." I stared at him a minute. "Since I'll be using your barriers for protection, it'd be a good idea for us to stay informed of each other's limitations so we can work well together. In return I'd like to further talk about your ability later." I nodded, sitting down next to Gon's right so Kurapika didn't have to move his head too much. Leorio and Killua left around the corner.

It made sense. In return I'd tell him my secrets. Honestly my barriers were the only real protection and support I had, so telling how they worked to someone would further increase my risk as well. But it was a risk I was willing to take.


Hey guys! So again, thanks for the reviews lol, but I didn't get 10 like I thought so I'm not going to make this my main project. HOWEVER! I am going to be now working on this daily unless something comes up. I made sure to add it to my daily list so I'll do at least a paragraph a day. ^^ ALSO! Sorry this is also a long talking chapter, if you hate those. If you like them, good, you'll have fun with this. For those action lovers you'll like the next few chapters. ^^

Anyways, the reason I got this to you so fast if because I'll have no time to work on it tomorrow! Why? I'm going to be doing a livestream! XD It'll be an all day 24 hour livestream, so make sure to check it out! The information is on my Deviantart. My username is IsellaHowler. Thanks for checking it out if you do! XD And if you comment during the livestream that you're one of my fanfiction followers, I'll add a little something special into the livestream for you. ^^

Oh, as for a special tidbit of information, did you know that not even I know what is going to happen next? So this entire story it's like I'm reading it as I'm writing it? XD It's my method of writing, I have things here and there, big story things like the ending or where some big thing will happen to advance the plot, and even Killua, Kurapika, and everyone's lines pre-written to follow along their journey; and if it breaks off I have both sides written because I don't know yet which path Basil will take, but I never know what'll honestly happen next! Gayle and the girl? NEVER thought about them or knew they were going to be in they story till I was writing them in. Crisei having a twin brother? Not known until I wrote it. Same as the other 95% of stuff Basil says or does! Isn't that interesting? Also means if you suggest something I might add it~

REMINDER! I have a poll on my profile about the Greed Island Arc, I wanted to know your all opinions. The poll be up until the GI Arc starts, and I'll be reminding people until I get a decent amount of votes. I really appreciate all the votes I've gotten so far and it's really a relief, and honestly I wish I didn't need to keep posting this reminder but the top three are so close, neck and neck, and I want one to be further than the others before I choose it. Thanks!