Forgiveness

Chapter 10

When Yua's eyelids slowly peeled open the next morning, she immediately rolled over to look out of the window. She always loved watching the sunrise from the comfort and warmth of her bed before snoozing for a few hours more. She gazed happily outside, the sun streaming in through the window, a lot brighter than usual. Yua blinked, confused, trying to get her sleepy brain to comprehend why the sun was so high this early in the morning. After a few more seconds of straining her brain, realisation hit her, and she jumped out of her bed like a rocket blasting into the sky.

'Awah, I overslept!' She cried out, disappointed in herself for being as lazy as always. Yua would have usually stayed in bed this late but today she had things to sort out. People to sort out. She continued to mutter to herself, as she hastily rummaged through her clothes and got ready to go.

Luckily, when she padded into the sitting room, the tv was showing highlights of Killua-Kun and Gon-Kun's previous matches.

'Phew, they are still warming up for today's fights. Though with how quick these kids finish opponents, I'll have about an hour or so to find and sort out whoever wants to greet them.'. Yua glanced at her watch mentally starting an hour-long timer to complete her mission for the day. One glance back at the tv, at the two determined faces staring back, was all she needed to fuel her for the task ahead.

The 200s floor, that she was residing on, felt a lot bigger than the other floors. Yua supposed it was because everyone on floor 200 and above shared an arena near the top of the building, whereas previous floors had to accommodate this space alongside the rooms and training areas. It was going to take a while to search the entire level for the intimidating presence, so Yua decided to visit her new friend on the registration desk to see if she would have any ideas of where to look or whom to look for.

The receptionist, however, was nowhere to be seen when she got there. In fact, the whole floor was so eerily silent, Yua could hear herself breathing as walked the lonely halls from her room to the registration desk. Yua had always been suspicious of silence but broke through this with the pinging of the desk bell, ringing it for service. She waited, her ears focused to hear any sign of life and yet, there was nothing. She frowned. In the short time she had been a member of the 200s, she hadn't seen any other fighter and now, no receptionist.

'Very strange.'. Yua sighed and decided to start searching with the limited information she had. She knew the intimidators were on this floor, she had felt that last night. She also knew who their target was so it was likely they would be waiting to attack near the elevator on the floor. Taking advantage of knowing the intimidators would currently be hiding somewhere on this level, Yua decided to use En to search for them.

On a good day, Yua could spread her En up to 30 meters, nowhere near mastering the skill but still a good distance to help her in situations like this. She took long, slow, deep breaths, feeling her aura build within her body. She focused her thoughts on the intimidators, though she was yet to know their faces, allowing her emotions to entangle with her Nen, and feed from her anger and worry. Once at a good, strong level, she pushed it outwards, allowing it to dance its way across the floor, moving through walls, filling each dark corner and illuminating any presence it touched.

Yua began to walk the length of the main corridor of this floor, so her En could reach every inch of hiding space. She could count only five people currently on this level with her, but her targets were easily recognisable amongst them. Three of the five people were huddled close together, lurking down the nearest hall to the elevator. A fine position to be able to ambush any unsuspecting non-Nen user. Yua checked her watch and cursed, time was passing faster than she could keep up with, she best get going.

A direct route to the hall that the intimidators were waiting in would have only taken a few seconds to reach but Yua's goal here was to scare them away, not to have to kill them head on. After all, she didn't know of their abilities and Chrollo had drilled into her as a child to know your enemy before attacking. Yua smirked at the thought of Chrollo Sama's words of wisdom. She used to mock him with that name but deep down knew every lesson he had taught her allowed her to survive in this world.

She used a stealthier route to reach her targets, moving far enough away from them initially to be able to use In without the disappearance of her presence being noticeable. She then swiftly made her way through the halls to circle behind the group. Though she believed they were nothing more than school-yard type bullies, preying on those weaker than themselves to feel strong, she couldn't be too certain.

Moments later, Yua had successfully reached the opposite end of their hallway without being noticed. She stalked forwards, her footfalls making a noise quieter than a fly's wing beat. She was now 10 meters from her targets and could easily overhear the radio they were crowded around.

'Amazing! In another one hit match, Gon Freecss has won the final match he needed to move up to the 200s! I cannot wait to see the mark he makes amongst the other fighters there! Can Killua-Kun join him in this victory, find out after a short 10 minutes break.'.

'Tsk. Another quick match. They're really not making this easy for me.' Yua whispered in frustration under her breath knowing she would have to act quickly. She focused on the three individuals in front of her, trying to spot obvious weaknesses to exploit.

They were an odd-looking bunch but, luckily for Yua, that's where their interesting traits appeared to stop. Of the three of them, the tallest was a skinny man who seemed like a watered-down painting. He was so pale in his features that any attempt to wear darker clothing would make his body seemingly disappear. The second man was the most animated of the bunch, though he was confined to a wheelchair. His purple spiked hair whipped around his head, only kept under control by a tight yellow headguard. The final man was the strangest looking, mainly because Yua couldn't actually see any of his features. He appeared to be using a single metal prosthetic to replace the obvious absence of his legs. He tried covering this with a head to toe red sheet but Yua wasn't sure if this was a strategic move to hide the prosthetic or maybe just a way to make him feel more normal. Either way, this uncertainty made Yua more alert to any concealed ability or weapons.

She looked between each of the men and noticed they were all quite severely and permanently damaged. The tall pale one had no left arm and the other two could not walk unaided. Suddenly it seemed to click for Yua, they had undergone the same treatment that they were about to wreak on Killua-Kun and Gon-Kun. These wounds were clearly inflicted by a powerful force that they previously had no hope of defending against. It had been a Nen attack from when they had originally made the 200s but as non-Nen users themselves. This was a twisted type of revenge.

Yua growled to herself, these men know how debilitating an attack like this could be and yet they seemed eager to inflict it on someone else. It didn't really surprised Yua. Weak people like preying on those weaker to make themselves feel powerful.

Yua grabbed her knives from her trouser pocket and moved towards them without removing her In. She moved right behind the three of them without being noticed. She lent down and whispered into the closest one's ear, deciding to let her icy breath announce her presence.

'So, you are the lovely welcoming party who greeted me yesterday.'.

Yua grinned at their reaction. The animated, purple haired man that she had whispered to, suddenly shuddered and froze on the spot. His body immediately recognising danger but not knowing how to escape. The other two jumped away and turned around on the spot, their faces a mix of surprise and horror. Finally, the tall, pale one worked up the ability to speak.

'What are you doing? Our business is our business. Go away.'. Though he intended the words to strike her with fear, they came out uncertain and squeaky. Yua smirked and less than a second later was stood behind the man with a knife pressed into the jugular of his neck. He immediately gulped, digging the knife into his skin and drawing blood.

'Well you see gentlemen, the two boys on their way here are my business. So, it is you who should go away.'. Yua spoke the words in a cheery manner, but the threat was clear. To add to her words, she revealed a further two knives in the palm of her free hand, patiently waiting for their moment to taste blood. Yua pulled her mouth into a sinister grin, challenging the men to try and tell her to go away again.

'The initiation is our pleasure to do. The other 200s fighters accept this rite of passage and leave us to it. Why can't you?' The red cloaked figure mumbled, his walking stick shaking in his hand. Yua snarled at these words and threw one of her knives in his direction. It landed just next to his head, embedded into the wall, however a tear was now visible where the knife a just brushed against his red sheet.

'Your initiation disgusts me.' Yua shouted, making the men before her whimper again. 'Whilst I'm here, no initiation will take place, so follow my rules or make me leave.'.

She daggered them with her stare, looking at each one in the eye until their gazes shifted away from the challenge, admitting defeat. Suddenly, her ear twitched at the sound of the elevator ding. She held her breath, waiting for any of the men to make a move to defy her threat. They didn't move a single muscle; they were terrified of her. She relaxed slightly but gave them a hearty grin. 'Good, I am glad you clever boys understand. Now leave'.

All three men looked more unnerved by her sudden change in expression than the knives she had just held to their throats but none of them needed any further words to scarper from the scene.

Yua didn't move until she heard them disappear towards the back of the floor, away from Killua-Kun and Gon-Kun. She couldn't quite understand why she felt so protective over these young boys who she had only met once before. Maybe it was seeing so much of herself in Killua or the innocent look on Gon's face. Was it Gon's face she saw when she looked at him or another's who she had failed to protect?

She couldn't think about that now. Yua sheathed the knives away now she was certain the men weren't going to return. At least not today. 'Awah, I hope the other 200s fighters aren't as wimpy as this bunch. How disappointing!'. She laughed to herself, brushing off any lingering nostalgic feelings. She was about to set off to find the two young boys when she felt it.

An invisible presence, weighing heavy in the air, squeezing the breath out of anyone it touched. Yua first felt it like a prickle on her skin, the hair on her arms stood on end and she immediately spun on the spot to try an find the source. An aura, which appeared like a purple mist, was flowing into the hallway. It was only just reaching her, but it had frozen her solid on the spot. A chill ran up and down her spine like a cold fingernail dragging along a point so vulnerable it could shatter. Deep red tendrils of bloodlust seductively snaked through the air, now flicking out to brush against the walls and crawl on the floor of this hallway. Only one person had an aura like this.

Hisoka.