"It isn't the strange, is it? I love to fight, and this is a temple devoted to the craft. The real question is why are you here?... Just kidding, this meeting is no mere coincidence, I've been waiting for you. Remember how you ordered your tickets for the airship over the internet? With only a little effort on my part, I was able to find out exactly when you would arrive." Hisoka slithered out, with a wide smirk.
'Creeeeeepy.' I thought, gripping on tighter to the fabric of Gon's jacket although I doubt he could offer much comfort with the way all of us seemed to be scared out of our wits.
"Well, in any case, I knew you would come here eventually. And so…. As your senior, I have a little bit of a warning for the three of you. You're still not ready to set foot on this floor…. not by a long shot." Hisoka said, lifting his arm up to face us making us all flinch in surprise, wondering what he would do next. And then there it was, another blast of his ominous "Willpower" that Wing-san was going on about, making the three of us take a few steps back.
"When you will be depends on your efforts. For now, leave this floor." The jester said walking back to the wall to take a seat, watching us with such focus it sent a shiver down my spine. He was not going to let us pass through, and maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
"Wait what?! That's stupid! We just got up here!" Killua complained. I looked at him with an annoyed expression.
"It's fine! Let's not push it, we'll just have to ask for more help from Wing-san." I retorted. Killua shot me a glare, sweat still sliding down his face like a waterfall from the previous scare Hisoka had given us.
"Yuko, four-eyes is no help at all! Didn't you hear him? He obviously doesn't want us to know how to use Ne-"
Another wave of Hisoka's aura interrupted Killua's sentence making me throw my hands up in defense hoping to lessen the scary sensation running through my body. This was much, much worse than before. But despite that, Gon still tried his best to push through, being under too much stress I couldn't muster up any protest to stop him.
"Don't be reckless!" A familiar voice called out, making Hisoka stop. We all turned to search for the source of the voice having a clear picture in our mind of who it was.
"Wing-san!" Gon said with surprise. Wing-san walked out from behind the wall into the center of the hallway. His face serious and stern arms neatly placed behind his back.
"What he's saying is true. You have no defense against his Nen. As it stands, you're both naked in a blizzard, all three of you wondering why it's so cold. If you continue to strain your bodies, you may die."
Killua's face turned from surprised to irritated, throwing an aggravated thumb towards Hisoka. "So, this is Nen? He can stop us from moving forward through willpower. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? You're a liar!"
'Can he be a little more subtle?'
Wing-san sighed, closing his eyes with a small smile. "Yes, I was lying."
The three of us flinched to his confession. I don't think any of us expected him to admit it so quickly, but I guess that means he is willing to help us after all.
"Though some of what I said was technically true. I will teach you the truth about Nen. So, for the time being, I suggest we withdraw."
We all made our way back to Wing-san's apartment hesitantly. If we aren't able to get Nen tonight, which with the way Wing-san had put it, our chances are 50/50, then Gon and I would have to start all over again, and Killua would be disqualified. So, yea it was a risky bargain, but I wasn't too upset about it, Hisoka was protecting us from the 200th floor, I'm sure there was a reason for it. So, we have until midnight.
"Simply put, this is Nen. Nen refers to the ability to control your "aura" which, as you may know, is also known as life energy. Everyone in the world has a small amount of life energy. But in most cases, it simply leaks away. The ability to build up and contain this life energy is known as Ten." Wing-san explained, the three of us watching with intent, Zushi as well, despite knowing all of this already.
"Using Ten you can make your body tougher and considerably slow the effects of aging."
My eyes widened in surprise. "No way…" I muttered to myself. I couldn't believe all of this was actually real. Not only that but everyone could use there Nen if they wanted to.
"Then comes Zetsu, which shuts off the flow of aura. It's quite effective for concealing your presence from others and recovering from fatigue. Which brings us to Ren, it enables you to produce more aura."
Suddenly a feeling of pressure was emitting off of the middle-aged man, causing the three of us to flinch in surprise. Wing-san smiled.
"You feel that?"
"Yeah. It's like pressure…" Killua described.
"But it doesn't feel hostile, like Hisoka's." I said, closing my eyes trying to picture a flow of aura exiting his pressure point nodes4. Then I started to wonder.
'Am I able to block off Nen with chi blocking?'
"Yea, it doesn't feel weird or creepy or anything." Gon added.
"That's because I have absolutely no malice. Aura is an energy dwelling within all humans… which makes it very effective against other humans. For better or for worse. If you attack a helpless person with malice, you can kill using aura alone." Wing-san said before walking over to the wall behind him. "Only one thing can protect you from a user of Nen. You must learn to use it yourself and use Ten for defense. Block the other person's aura with your own.
Wing-san then placed his hand on the wall with his eyes shut. "Otherwise…." He started, the three of us watching with our mouths slightly parted in suspense. Wing-san took a small breath and with in seconds the wall crumbled to the pressure of his aura, sending three loud gasps of surprise to fly out of our mouths.
"Your body will be shattered beyond all recognition." Wing-san finished turning around to look at our astonished faces.
I blinked a few times, then rubbed my eyes with my arm to make sure what I was seeing was real. It was real all right, and it definitely wasn't caused by measly old willpower.
"Are you kidding me? I'm not the only one seeing this right?" I whispered to the dazed boys beside me. Gon barely shook his head not once taking his eyes away from the wall. And it seemed like Killua didn't even hear me, I couldn't blame him though, what we just saw was insane.
"Nen dwells within all living things, however only a few are capable of using that power. And because of their ability, they are treated as geniuses, leaders, psychics, sages, and even super humans." Wing-san explained.
"How are we supposed to be able to use this power before midnight? It seems just a little farfetched." I said with an eyebrow lifted up.
"Yes, I was about to speak on that. There are means by which to awaken this power. But only two. Either slowly and carefully or by force. Zushi opted for the slow and careful path. Not only was he a quick learner, but he was tireless in his training, so he was able to master Ten in a very short time." Wing-san said, gesturing to the brunette who was smiling bashfully, maybe a little bit of pride as well. I smirked, placing my hands on my hips.
"Good for you Zushi, seems like right now your stronger than us."
Zushi flinched in surprise, his cheeks slowly reddening before he bowed in a perfect 90-degree angle. "Thank you for the compliment!" He exclaimed. My sweat dropped at his formality, before I felt a teasing jab in the side of my stomach from the white- haired assassin. I quickly looked at him in confusion, but he was looking forward, his eyes shut, his lips in a tight smirk. I narrowed my eyes a grin forming on my face.
"Shut up." I told him, a small laugh escaping my lips. He turned to look at me with fake confusion.
"What?" He asked innocently, I rolled my eyes and peered back forward to Wing-san who looked like was about to continue explaining.
"Wait how long did it take him exactly?" Gon asked with a hand lifted up.
"Six months."
I blinked in surprise, seeing Killua step forward in protest. "But that's way too long!" He yelled "We need to learn Ten and pass Hisoka, and we've gotta do it before midnight!"
"What's the second choice?" Gon questioned.
"By transmitting my aura in your direction. Exactly how long it takes is entirely up to you and how well you learn to contain your aura in that short time. So, let's get right to it, shall we?" Wing-san said lifting a hand up to face us, I flinched in surprise taking a step back.
"W-Wait right away? Just like that?"
He nodded.
I swallowed the spit that had been swooshing around in my mouth for far too long and stood still not knowing what else to say or do. Everything was moving so quickly I felt like I was hardily keeping up.
"This is Hatsu, which you saw earlier."
That statement caused the three of us to jump in surprise, a recent image of the wall being completely shattered running through our heads, sweat droplets sliding down the sides of our faces.
'That isn't terrifying at all.'
"And of course, it goes without saying that because I wish you no harm, I'll go easy on you. But this method is still a drastic one. In other words, I will attempt to shock you into awakening. I will rouse your sleeping bodies with a jolt, making it so that you can perform Ten easily. The reason I say 'sleeping' is that your aura nodes are currently closed, preventing the free flow of aura. And so, you see by transmitting my aura through you, I am hoping to jolt those nodes into an open position. Under normal circumstances you would spend your time training, in meditation, learning how to sense your own aura that surrounds you, slowly and carefully allowing those nodes to fully open. Even a natural talent like Zushi here, required three months. But considering your abilities, you could've accomplished it in a week or less. All three of you."
I blinked in surprise hearing a small gasp from the two boys from either side of me.
'Am I really that strong…?'
"Which is why it's unfortunate that we are being forced to use the drastic method.
The three of us where standing determined in front of the hallway that Hisoka was sitting at the end of with a small smirk. We all looked at each other, nodding, before we continued down the hallway, our arms swinging by our sides.
Hisoka sent a snake like smile before lifting his hand up to project his malicious aura onto us. But like expected I felt nothing, only a small tingling feeling of excitement and satisfaction that I had gained a new power. It felt like I had joined some secret club that takes a whole lot to get into. When we had been with Wing-san I was scared he might have miscalculated my strength, because if I'm being honest it doesn't feel like I'm super strong or anything. Even when we where in the middle of the transmission I was still anxious it wouldn't work for me, anxious that only Gon and Killua would be able to harness the power, but fortunately I had nothing to worry about.
It felt like we were all progressing together.
Once we had reached the end, Hisoka's smile deepened, making be feel slightly sickened a the sight, before we stopped as if we were waiting for him to say, "go ahead."
"Welcome to the 200th floor." He mused, his smile never once leaving his face. "Seems I needn't bother with the traditional initiation. I think I can guess why you've come to Heavens Arena. You intended to get some training in before challenging me, correct?"
"That's right." Gon responded, not an ounce of amusement in his tone. "But I didn't expect I was gonna find you here. That saves me some trouble."
Hisoka let out a low chuckle. "I wouldn't get too brash just because you learned to use Ten. There is much to learn about Nen. To be honest, I feel absolutely no urge to fight you right now." Hisoka stood up. "However… If you manage to win a single match on this floor, I'll accept your challenge." He said meticulously before walking away, sending a small wave behind his back.
I crossed my arms over my chest with an irritated eyebrow raised.
"Why is it so hard for him to not be creepy? Seriously if he just tries a little bit, he'd actually be attractive." I said. Killua scoffed.
"You'd have to be batshit crazy to ever find him attractive, let's go, Yuko, Gon." Killua said before turning around down the other side of the hallway, Gon and I quickly following behind.
Welcome to the 200th floor, please go ahead and fill out these forms." The blue haired lady behind the counter said, placing three sheets of paper in front of us. "So, would you like to register for a match right now?"
We all looked at each other.
"And because this level incorporates a self-service system, you're permitted 90 whole days of fight preparation. During those ninety days you can call me for a fight any time you desire. You're free to fight every day, of course Or if you'd prefer, you can wait until the very last minute. It's up to you! Once you've participated in a fight, your 90 days of preparation time starts over again. However, if you don't fight before then end of the 90 days, you'll be disqualified, and your name will be stricken from all of the official records."
My eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
'She sure does talk a lot.'
"You can say that again…" Killua muttered.
I blinked in surprise. 'I said that out loud?'
"Yup."
"Wait, lemme get this straight. We're gonna have more than one fight up on this level?" Gon questioned taking a step forward. I internally groaned because I knew after he asked that questioned, she wasn't going to stop talking.
"Yes!" She said with a wide smile. "The only way for you to clear this floor is to rack up ten victories! However, if you lose four times before secure ten wins, you'll be disqualified. Also, if you do win ten times, your reward is that you'll have a chance to challenge the Floor Masters! The Floor Maste-"
I tuned her out and walked up to the counter to slide one of the sheets to me, the two boys watching her crazy cartoonish passion with blank expressions, while I began filling out the form. After doing so, I realized she was still talking and filling out that sheet barely took up anytime at all, and with that I let out a disheartened sigh as I leaned against the counter on my arms tuning myself back in.
"Sure, whatever you say, lady. Is there anything special about the top floor?" Killua inquired. The lady pushed herself against the window in absolute distraught, causing me to jump up a bit from surprise.
"That's what you want to know?! The champion of the Battle Olympia gets to live on the top floor! How about that? It's an incredible honor! A penthouse that's a thousand meter's up! It's a life of luxury! Don't you get it?!" She yelled.
I grimaced at her volume, backing up from the counter so she could no longer yell in my ear. "You talk really loud you know…" I mumbled.
"But Killua your house like 3,700 meters up, isn't it?" Gon questioned. I turned around and smiled at Gon. "Oh yea it is! That penthouse is like a baby compared to Old man's house, it's on a fricken mountain!" I said with a wide smile thinking back to how amazingly large it was, it had to be the biggest place I've ever seen in my life. The lady completely deflated, her skin pale and tired. I'd never seen anyone more passionate about their job than she is, it made me kind of feel bad for not being as excited as she hoped.
"I'm sure it's super cool and everything but we're not interested in all that." I said with a shrug, and then turned to the two boys beside me. "right guys?"
"Yea, if that's the floor's big secret I don't really care anymore." Killua replied.
"Yeah! I just want to fight Hisoka! Forget all that other stuff!" Gon said with excitement. I smiled and turned back to the lady.
"You see we-, oh she's on the floor…o…kay? Um so are you guys going to sign up for a fight?" I asked turning back to the two boys. I hoped they'd wait a little bit, I didn't really want to fight right away but if they do I will too.
"Yea, I'm ready! These opponents are different and I'm not leaving 'til I find out just how different!" Gon explained with excitement.
"Of course, why did I even ask? What 'bout you Killua?"
"Nah, I'll wait a bit I guess."
The lady in the booth slapped another form on the table her body slightly turned away from us with an annoyed expression. "In that case, I'll need you to fill out this form as well."
"Kay." Gon replied.
Whilst Gon filled out his form and Killua finished his, the two of us flinched after hearing and sensing people approach us from behind, making us turn around to see a guy in a red cloak with a cane and a…pogo stick? Another dude in a wheelchair with huge wheels and a weird looking helmet. And another who looked like he didn't have an arm or any eyes.
I lifted an eyebrow and Killua and I glanced at each other in confusion.
"You want something?" Killua asked after turning back to the bunch of freaks.
"Oh no. Not really." The one in the wheelchair said with a smirk. I narrowed my eyes.
"Okay well the way you said that makes me think otherwise." I said crossing my arms over my chest.
"We're simply waiting in line, so we can register for a match. Right?" The one missing an arm uttered. I rolled my eyes, hearing their tacky laughs exit their mouths. I already hate these guys.
"Oh, I see. Ne Gon. I think these guys wanna fight on the same day you do." Killua said leaning against the counter. Gon turned around from filling out his form to look at the three his expression blank. Gon then turned back to the sheet and checked off a box before handing it to the blue haired lady.
"Alright I'm ready!" Gon said.
"Well You heard him? Now quite stalking up on kids like that. It makes you guys seem like pedophiles." I said turning back around, a small snicker leaving the white-haired boys throat.
"Sounds like you want to fight us. How 'bout it little girl?" The red caped guy asked.
I blinked a few times. What if I did? I mean, they don't seem too strong, and this way I could shut them up. But then again, I don't want to give them any sort of satisfaction that they pissed me off enough for me to do what they want.
"Nah…I'll pass for now. But doesn't mean I won't later..." I said.
"Now. Mister Gon will be in room 2207, Mister Killua in 2223, And Mrs. Yuko in 2230." The lady said, setting down three keys for all of us to pick up. I froze.
'We're not sharing rooms? I have to sleep alone?' I thought, feeling my stomach sink slightly. The only times I've ever slept alone was when I first got on the boat to take the Hunter exam, even then I couldn't sleep, in fact I barely slept at all. I wasn't going to say anything though because this should be something that's not a problem, and I certainly don't want to make it one. We all have our own rooms, there are no reasons to share, accept that I want to. But that reason is embarrassing, and I can already hear Killua's voice in my brain saying that I'm a baby over and over again. So, I can't. 'not this time Yuko. It's not a big deal, who cares if you lose a few hours of sleep. Right?'
"Let's go Yuko." Killua called from ahead alongside Gon. I jumped in surprise and then quickly ran up to next to them, feeling slightly nauseous.
'This isn't good.'
"I'm willing to bet that those guys must have gone through the same tough initiation, four-eyes was talking about." Killua said to the two of us while Gon was unlocking his hotel room with his keys. My eyes widened to Killua's statement.
"That makes sense. I thought the red caped dude guy was on a pogo stick turns out he really just doesn't have legs. I should call him pogo stick from now on, that'd be funny." I said smiling impishly, seeing Killua lift an eyebrow at me.
"Seems a little insensitive."
I rolled my eyes, air exiting my nostrils sharply. "Oh yea? Since when did you become Mr. Angel? Huh?"
Killua shrugged, before the two of us looked to see how Gon was doing on unlocking the door and it seemed he was struggling, small grunts and groans of annoyance leaving his throat as he incessantly tried to stuff the upside-down key into the lock hole.
I chuckled. "Gon I'm not an expert on locks or keys, or anything, but maybe try turning it over." I suggested.
Gon blinked a few times, before doing just that and plugging it in. A small clicking sound was heard and so was Gon's sheepish giggles as he rubbed his head before opening up the door, so that all of us could get a good look inside. My eyes widened in surprise, loud gasps exiting Gon's mouth after peering around the polished room.
"Anyways, all three of us could've ended up exactly like they did." Killua continued off from the conversation I thought was over, he obviously wasn't fazed by the beauty of the room.
"Wow! This room is huge!" Gon said before venturing off into the bathroom, while I walked over to the red couch and took a seat melting into the softness of the fabric.
'If my room has this couch, I'm definitely sleeping on it.'
"Is anyone listening to me…" Killua grumbled. Killua said watching Gon exit the bathroom and run to the bed, placing his backpack on the red velvet bed coverings.
"I've never seen such a big bed in my whole life!"
"Yea this room is really nice." I mused with my eyes shut a small satisfied smile on my face, snuggling into the couch. I felt moving beside me indicating someone had taken a seat, but I didn't bother opening my eyes I knew it was Killua, with the way I couldn't hear his footsteps at all as he approached me.
"Man, this couch is comfortable." Killua said.
"Right?" I responded blissfully. Then I heard small pitter patter of Gon's feet as he ran over to us and plopped in between Killua and I, a small giggle leaving my throat knowing he didn't want to be left out. All three of us relaxed into the couch and the silence of the room. It feels like we haven't' been able to catch a break in a while, and I realized it was much needed.
My brain was venturing off into the past thinking about Kurapika and Leorio and how they where doing, as well as Kho, wondering if he had actually made friends like I had asked him too. I started to think about Nen too, what I could do with it and all the unlimited possibilities it seemed to hold, it was all so exciting. And then I thought about Killua and Gon, and how close we had gotten in such a short time, how Killua had gone form treating me like nobody to actually joking around with me like he does with Gon. Or how Gon had gone from someone who I admired for being able to stay so happy and stick to his morals, to someone I felt a strong love for, that was growing more and more the more I'm around him and I learn about him. And I know Killua would never admit it, but I think he felt the same as well.
And then my brain traveled to my Mother. Making my features harden slightly.
I never understood how Gon could be so infatuated with someone who abandoned him. No matter how hard I tried I could never think of it positively, and not an ounce in me wanted to know her reasons for abandonment. And I knew it was because I could just feel that the truth would only hurt me, but I also just didn't want to even be associated with her. That woman. At least Gon's Dad had a decent reason, an exciting reason, but my Mom? What could possibly be more important than her own daughter? What could possibly drive such a lazy woman to go the distance, just so that she could get rid of me. Why would she do that? Why am I thinking about this all of a sudden? It doesn't matter. Who cares? Definitely not me.
"Gon?" I asked carefully, my eyes still shut so I couldn't see his face, but I could feel him looking at me.
"What is it?"
"How do you feel about your Father? Or… I know you want to understand him…but how do you feel about him?"
It went silent. Gon was probably thinking about it, wanting to figure out the right thing to say to me.
"Well, I don't really think of him as my Father you know? In my brain, it's like I separated him into two people. One would be him as my Father, and the other would be this super cool guy who's a Hunter. And since I've never met him before, I don't know how to feel about his Father side, since I've got nothing to go off of. So instead I just see him for what I know of, and that's he's a Hunter and being a Hunter is fun and exciting". Gon responded, his voice sounding neutral, not a trace of sadness. My eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"But don't you also know that he abandoned you? Doesn't that make you mad?"
"Well that's why I'm trying to find him. I don't want to make any assumptions or create an image of him because if I do, and he's completely different than I'd imagine, I think I'd be unfair of me. I'll decide what I think of him as my Father when I meet him." Gon concluded.
My eyes had opened wide by then, staring at the ceiling as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, my heartbeat picking up pace as I began to feel the urge to punch Gon's Dad in the face for leaving such a forgiving child behind.
A solemn smile etching across my face as my eyes closed once again.
"Oh…I see."
BRING!
My eyes snapped back open as I looked forward seeing the Tv screen was now on, showing what time Gon's match would be. The two boys beside me sitting up to take a look themselves.
"Your battle has been set for 3 P.M., March 11." I read out loud.
"What? Tomorrow? That's fast." Killua said with surprise.
"I don't think I can win yet. But that's okay! I just need the experience. I need to find out what I can do now that I have this power." Gon said with excitement, Killua and I both smiling at him.
"Alright don't over do it okay?" I said. Gon nodded.
"Right."
Hey, It's me NoodlePooh. I hoped y'all enjoyed this chapter. I'm sorry it was so long, but I don't want to dally on this arc for too long. I know it's summer and everything but I'm lowkey already bored so you guys might get another chapter soon. My fanfiction crew is lucky because I post chapters way earlier on here then I do on quotev. Lol.
I'd also like to respond to someone's review. Sorry I'm blanking on your username, but you'll probably know this is directed to you. But about the chapter where Yuko fights Malachi? Yuko won was because her task for Malachi was to "Get the hell out of here". So, he had to either do the task or be disqualified, and either way he would've been disqualified lol. I hope that made more sense :) Thank you for reviewing and reading my story. I appreciate it!