Opening Vividus's room door, she slammed the door shut behind her. Her body ached, her mind was muddled, the Kurta woman didn't know what to do.

After taking a quick shower to soothe her soreness, Vividus put on a pair of loose shorts and a tank top. Staring at herself in the mirror, Vividus saw the bullet wounds that Pakunoda left on her body.

As she traced her delicate fingers across them, she let out a small sigh. "No, now is not the time to think of them." She said to herself. Not wanting to think of those bastards, she started to think back on what happened in today's sparring match.

After exiting the bathroom, she would throw her towel onto a nearby chair and collapse onto her bed. Pulling her large pillow towards her, she would embrace her fluffy pillow.

She felt somewhat defeated after Hizashi declared her defeat to Hisoka. She did not care that the punishment that awaited her was 1,000 squats, far from it. If anything, she was angry with herself because she couldn't defeat Heroka with her own strength.

Despite their duel being just a sparring match, Vividus wanted to try and win without her vessel control and her scarlet eyes. Even though they boosted her fighting ability, she still didn't feel like using them. She felt like it was cheating.

However, as her mind rewinded to the match, she realized that the moment Hisoka invaded her thoughts again, her focus had slipped. Vividus knew her fight towards the end was based on her flustered emotions.

On top of it all, she couldn't get the image out of her head of how Hisoka ended the battle.

The look on his face when he dipped her backwards, how shamelessly he held her close to his body in front of the chairman and Hizashi, that stupid, charming grin he had when he knew he had won the match.

Despite everything he did, she was still flustered.

She understood that Hisoka and her always had a strange relationship. As far as she could remember, the Jester's introduction into her life changed everything.

When she was in the Arena when Hisoka lost her memories: He was nothing but selfish and only cared about himself. The only reason why he wanted to interact with her in the first place was he wanted to fight her.

The Jester became even more attached to her when she regained her memories. Especially with how recent events have been going.

To make her mind even more jumbled than before, she's starting to develop these weird feelings towards the man. An emotion that she hasn't felt in a really long time and too scared to act on. Every time she sees Hisoka's face, her face feels flushed or the little things he does seems to always get to her now. Even when she does her best to keep herself composed.

Ever since Hizashi and the Elementos had given her a spot on their squad, she tried her hardest to focus on the mission. While using the Elementos's resources to find her brethren's eyes, and hunt down the Phantom Troupe. She felt like no matter where she went, Hisoka was always there.

Even after she recovered her memories, Hisoka continued to be somehow involved behind the scenes. Pulling strings that she did not realize he was pulling till now.

She flipped over and laid her back against the bed. Groaning to herself as so many thoughts are filling her mind again, she began to rub her temples.

"I should stop overthinking this," Vividus said to herself, "Hisoka was just gloating and just wanted to show off. Nothing more, nothing less."

After saying those words to herself, she stared at the ceiling, trying to focus on something other than what had just transpired.

Even though she tried not to think about him, the image of Hisoka dipping her back like that made her blush even more. Groaning to herself, she buried her face into her pillow and started to scream.

"Stupid Jester!" She shrieked into her pillow, her sounds muzzled by its fluff. "Stupid Hisoka!"

While Vividus screamed and flailed in her bed, she didn't realize that someone was knocking on her door. After a couple of more knocks, the person decided to let themselves in and see what all the commotion was about.

The person laughed softly when they saw Vividus throwing a hissy fit on her bed. She talked softly towards the embarrassed Kurta woman.

Vividus heard thick accent, "my goodness, the sparring match did you a number, didn't it?"

As the pouting Kurta woman lifted her head from her bed, she looked toward her bedroom door. With her eyes widening a bit, there stood Gaia, one of the members of team Elementos that represents Earth.

In her room, Gaia slowly closed the door behind her and walked towards the blonde woman. Her hair was tied up with a bandana consisting of leaves in a maxi dress with golden light shining brightly. Her dark earthy green eyes compliment her dark earthy skin.

Even if Vividus was in a sour mood, seeing Gaia always made her feel better. She didn't know why. Despite knowing her for a short amount of time, she noticed that being with women always captivated her.

"Gaia?" Vividus pouted in question. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard what happened," she replied, sitting down on the edge of Vividus's bed. "Usually, a situation like that wouldn't get to ya...but clearly there's more to it than just that. What's going on?"

Burying her face in the pillow, Vividus pouted again. Closing her eyes, the memory of Hisoka dipping her back like that got her all worked up.

"It's more that I feel embarrassed," Vividus said, "I'm not upset that Hisoka won. I'm upset that the way he ended the battle was so...uncalled for."

"Oh, you mean the way he dipped you back?" Gaia asked, holding her chin in thought. "I don't know darlin', I think that was pretty smooth on his end."

"Smooth?!" Vividus exclaimed, "How was that smooth?!"

"Just think about it," She said, looking back at Vividus. "He didn't care at all whether Hizashi and the Chairman were there. His main focus was you, and you alone. Had anyone ever done that to me, I would've been left speechless."

While giggling and cupping her own cheeks, Gaia shifted from side to side, staring into space with a starry gaze. "You and Hisoka are absolutely adorable!"

Picking up a nearby pillow, she threw it at Gaia. Watching the pillow knock her back when it hit her in the face. "There is no love between us." she said.

"You say that," said Gaia, cuddling the pillow that Vividus threw at her. "But the chemistry is already there; you just don't notice it yet."

Vividus grunted, "Nonsense is all I hear, Gaia. I don't get why you think I have something with Hisoka, let alone a chemistry."

Hearing Gaia move around on the bed. Gaia is now laying next to Vividus. As the platinum blonde gazes over at the green-eyed woman: all that she sees is her usual toothy grin on her face.

"Has the phrase "the red string of fate" ever crossed your mind?"

She looked over at Gaia curiously, blinking a few times, shaking her head in confusion. "No, I haven't, what is it?"

Raising her hand up, Gaia looked up at her hand. Smiling warmly and started to explain it's story. "In Japponese lore, it's said that human relations are predestined by a red string that the gods tie on people's pinky fingers. Those who are connected will find each other in life."

She said, "Legend has it that people connected by this thread will have an important story. Regardless of the time, place, or circumstances. The red string might get tangled, contracted, or stretched. But as things happen in life: it will never break."

Gaia lowered her hand as she glanced over at Vividus. As she glanced over, she could see that the Kurta woman was now lost in thought, as she took in this story.

"I see..." Vividus murmured.

Gaia laughed softly and stood up from her spot on the bed. She stretched her body out and then made her way towards the door. "Anyway, that's enough storytelling. Go get some sleep, okay?"

Sitting up on her bed, Vividus nodded her head and waved at Gaia. "Thank you so much again for stopping by Gaia. It really means a lot."

"Anytime child!" Gaia exclaimed, now opening her bedroom door. "Now get some rest, I need you two to meet me tomorrow. We have a lot to discuss regarding the mission. Have a good night!"

Gaia then closed the door behind her, leaving Vividus alone with her thoughts.

Turning off her lamp, she flopped back on her bed and lifted the covers over herself. Her only light source was her alarm clock as she shifted around and lifted the covers over her body.

She stared up at the ceiling, thinking about the story Gaia had told. Raising her hand up, she narrowed her eyes and stared at her pinky. The topic catching her attention, it triggered those simple words the old lady said before she lost her memories.

"When the spider bites you, you will lose all sense of yourself. However, with the Jester's smile: you will rise once more."

'Was that what the old woman was talking about?' Vividus wondered to herself. 'If so..why Hisoka?' Why him instead of anyone else?

Vividus remembered the old woman's words and put her hand down to her side. As her body moved to face the window, she let out a small sigh. She stared out into the abyss of the night sky with her bright eyes.

"Red string of fate, huh?" she wondered longingly, "If Hisoka is on the other end of the thread...I wonder what the outcome is...life, or death?"

Feeling the sudden butterflies flutter around in her stomach. She would place her hand on her stomach. Frowning as Vividus is feeling this sensation again.

It wasn't pleasant. The last time she felt this way: she was taken advantage of and betrayed. Doubt began to creep into her mind as small memories of Chrollo, and the spiders began to creep into her thoughts again.

Her year with them was the happiest she's been since leaving the village. Yes, she travelled the world and trained under Biscuit: but something about them was a unique experience. She met her first real group of friends.

However, she didn't realize that within one night she lost everything.

The more she thought about it, the more she bit her lower lip. She felt cold shivers go up her spine due to how cold and cruel those memories were—the feeling of betrayal and trust breaking in one night.

She feels trapped in the spider's web no matter how hard she tries. The spider's silk grabs hold of her body and soul and just drags her into the bottomless pit of darkness.

Even if Hisoka reaches out to get her out, she's afraid to accept it. The last thing she wants is to be shattered into a lifeless being again.

She couldn't bear to endure that again.

"I just can't," she said, closing her eyes. Trying her hardest to hold back her tears. "Never again."


Author's Note:

4k VIEWS?! NANI?!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Just wanted to say thank you all again for reading up to this point. I appreciate you all 3 ;_;

ALSO!
I'm working on another art project...but this time it's a manga panel ;)
I'll post it...eventually. HUEHUEHUE

Last note: I was thinking working on a Kite fanfic..what you all think?

Anywho, stay safe: and take care!

love,
-NezuVIX