"You still haven't told me what you think."

Gon looked to the bright pink haired woman walking beside him. Machi was now wearing her pajamas, a simple blue tank top (that partially revealed the Spider tattoo on her back), and matching shorts. It was late night now, and most of the other Spiders, including the Boss, were fast asleep. But not Gon. He still had the most important thing left. He trudged beside her, once again following her through the now very dark lair. Whereas before, he was boiling with doubt and resentment, this time, though, his heart beat with anticipation. Finally, he was going to see Killua. Machi had told him that they had been held for several days. He still remembered how he had felt when he woke. He could only imagine how Killua did, with his injuries being far worse than his. One thing was for sure though. He would be hungry. So, Gon was carrying a simple cheese pizza with a plain bottle of water. It would be best to not push him too hard after everything.

As he watched Machi, Gon couldn't help but still feel some gratitude towards her. Though little it was. It had been bitterly disappointing when he had learned his time with Killua was limited to no more than two minutes. When he had told Machi, she had gone to Chrollo and argued his case. Ten minutes wasn't much, but it was better than two, or nothing. It was a relief when she had come back with the extension. And now, she was about to do him another favor.

Machi gave him a reserved smile. "You mean about that outfit?"

"What else?"

"It looks...good Gon," She said turning her head away.

Gon frowned. "You don't like it."

"I preferred the older one. Let me guess, Feitan's choice?"

"Yes," He sighed. It seemed his own impressions weren't mistaken after all. "Why do I have to wear this anyway? What was wrong with my usual clothes?

"I don't know Gon. The boss never cared about this sort of thing before. But you are a special case."

Special case? You mean someone you forced into your club. Perhaps noticing his bitterness, Machi turned to him with a contrite look. "I just want to say I'm sorry Gon. About everything. It was never my idea. But...now that you're here, I think you'll feel a lot better if you make the best of it."

Gon stared at the pizza box in his hands. "I'll try."

"Good." Machi took a left. They were now in a particularly narrow hallway that led to a lone door on the opposite end. As they stopped in front of it, Gon noticed, despite how distinct it seemed, the door was still tearing and rotting like any other in the building. Only barely held closed by an antique metal latch. Gon's heart started to thump in his chest as Machi undid the latch and opened the door with a creak. "Remember, ten minutes."

"I know." Gon stepped in, and heard the door shut behind him.

The room was dark, but not as dark as he expected. Enough pale moon light flowed in from the window, opposite to the entrance, that Gon could easily make out the boy lying beneath it. It was also large for a supposed cell, evidently a bedroom, with doorways on each side leading to what looked to be a closet and a bathroom. As he took a step closer, Gon saw that Killua looked even worse than in the video. His face was now swollen, the deep gashes stretching from his left temple down to his cheek clearly visible, but most of all, was the strange arrangement of his left leg. Legs weren't supposed to bend like that. Gon grit his teethe almost crushing his friend's dinner between his hands.

Responding to the disturbance, the white-haired boy began to stir. "Wh-Who's there?"

Gon put the food and drink on the windowsill, and knelt down to his friend. "Killua, it's me."

It took him a few moments to register. "Gon? Where you've been?"

"They caught us both Killua. The Troupe."

"Yea I remember. Shit." He cringed in pain as he sat himself up. "What happened to you?" He looked Gon up and down. "What're you wearing?"

"Don't worry about me for now. How're your wounds?" Gon examined them closely, and each time they seemed to get worse. His nose was also broken, and he was missing a few teeth.

He gave gesture of apathy. "I've been through worse. Now tell me what happened to you."

Gon held back his tears as he spoke. "They forced me to join them, Killua. To become one of the Spiders."

"W-What? Why? How?" He thought for a moment. "Because of me?

Gon nodded. "They told me they would kill you if I didn't accept."

Killua shook his head. "I don't understand. Why would they want you? I remember that Nobunaga was interested in you, but I thought that was just.."

"I don't know. And it doesn't really matter." Gon looked at the large window above them. "This room. It doesn't seem too difficult to escape from. Maybe if you weren't injured..."

His friend gave a small painful laugh. Those deep cuts had opened again and were seeping blood. "Don't you think I would have already tried that?" He looked around his prison. "No. There's something strange about this room. It repels attacks. It must be fortified with some nen ability."

Gon smothered the bleeding with his hand. Machi could have been listening to everything they said. No, it doesn't matter. Let her listen. "Then just wait. I'll come up with a plan for you to escape."

"If they're letting you go out on their missions, then you should have plenty of chances to escape."

"Then they'll kill you. Just give me some time. I'm sure some chance will come up. Besides, the boss said he'll let us go after a little while."

"The boss..?" He gaped at him. "Don't tell me you believe him Gon!"

"No but...just give me some time."

"Who knows what kind of things they'll make you do as one of them!" Killua choked. "Forget about me. Escape the first chance you get."

"No. I'm going to play along for now. I promise I'll get you out of here. Now wait a sec." Gon went to the door and called in Machi.

Killua's eyes grew wide at the sight of one of the Spiders. "What's going on?"

"She'll heal you."

"Heal me...why would she?"

"I'm not doing it for you," said Machi. Her face showed no sympathy for Killua. "This is just a favor, for a fellow Spider."

Killua grimaced. "Spider? Like hell he is! You just used me to force him into joining!"

Machi turned to Gon. "If he's going to act like this, then I'm sorry." She looked back at Killua. "I'm not going to deal with this."

Gon clenched his fist and looked at his friend. "Just be quiet Killua. Please."

Killua opened his mouth then seemed to think better of it.

After a few moments Machi seemed satisfied with his silence. She strode close and knelt. "Now sit still." She surveyed Killua turning him this way and that, without any regard for the boy's cries of pain. Eventually, she settled at the wounds on his face. Her aura glowed and she began to transmute those same blue threads Gon remembered binding him before. Sitting beside Machi, he was completely enamored as she began her work. "Nen Stitches." Gon couldn't recall if had ever seen such dexterity before. Machi's movements were the mere definition of precise, of elegant, not missing a single beat as her fingers expertly danced through each stitch. Within a second, the left side of Killua's face looked as if it was held together by strange luminescent wires. Machi gave a pull, and the wounds disappeared leaving only faint scars under the residual blood. Even Killua stared stupefied. "That should do for those," said Machi dismissing her nen.

Killua took a few moments to regain his senses. "What about my leg?"

Machi looked at it with a frown. "My stiches can't do much for blunt wounds, but I can make you a primitive brace." She looked around the room and her eyes locked on a block of wood lying in the corner. Not an uncommon sight in these ruins. "Gon, could you get that?"

Gon handed her the block, and she cut the end to match Killua's leg. "Perfect. Now I just need something to tie this." She looked at Killua. "Take off your shirt."

The boy frowned. "Can't you just use those nen stitches of yours?

She gave a sigh of exasperation. "Not unless you want them cutting into your injured leg for however long the boss chooses to keep you here. Now, just do as your told."

He moved to comply but Gon interjected with, "No, I have a better idea."

"What?" Machi turned to him with suspicion.

"Just gimme a minute." Gon stood. "I'll be back." He had never seen Machi look so confused as he ran out the door. After a few minutes, he returned with the white tunic Phinks had given him (it must have been quite awkward for Machi and Killua to be alone together for that short time). "Here use this."

"Didn't Phinks give you this?" asked Machi as she took it. She gave a cheeky smile. "He's going to be so angry if he finds out."

Gon returned her with his own. "I hope he does."

Killua watched all this with sheer bewilderment. Which was only broken by more pain, when Machi began to twist his leg to the correct orientation. "Hey, take it slow!"

Once again pretending she heard nothing, Machi tightly wound the wooden brace with the large tunic around the boy's left leg. Her nen power may have not been suited to this task, but it was clear that she was still a master at it. "Good idea Gon. This works a lot better." She looked at Killua "Now, don't move the leg if you ever want to use it again. And I think we're done here." She began to stand.

"What about his nose and teeth?" Gon asked.

Machi inspected the white-haired boy's nose with another sigh. She clutched it and gave it a twist. Killua let out another cry of pain. "There. Fixed. As for your teeth, I don't suppose you're still carrying them around?" She questioned with the hint of a smile.

"He can have mine!" Gon offered with fervor.

"No!" Killua interjected. "Idiot."

"But -"

Machi shook her head with irritation. "I'm not transplanting teethe." She leapt up and headed for the door. "Come on Gon. Your time's up."

"One second." Gon put the food and drink from the windowsill in front of his friend. "Here."

Killua's blue eyes lit up at the sight. "Thanks Gon." He then gave him a pleading look. "When will I see you again?"

"I don't know. I'll visit you as soon as I can." He wanted to reassure Killua about their escape, but Machi was standing right behind him.

Gon put his arms around his friend and pulled him into a tight embrace. He only held him for mere moments when Machi interrupted with, "Gon!" Tears flowing down his cheek, Gon bitterly let him go. He glimpsed at Killua one more time before he followed the Spider out the door.

His last sight of his friend was him lying alone, wounded, in a dark room, sobbing.

I know another chapter of nothing but dialogue. I promise there will be some action soon (next chapter in fact). And even more later.