Chapter 25: Paying x Back x Debt

January 14, 1999 (Zevil Island: Day 3)

Levi jumped down from the tree. Today was the day. Today was the day he was going to take his badge.

First things first, he needed to locate him. He decided against using En because he didn't want to let his presence be known.

He reflected at the last time he had seen Feitan as he climbed a tall mountain to get a better view of his surroundings.

He was wearing his badge on his clothes. That meant he wasn't afraid of anyone and would actually love a challenge.

Hmm... Levi thought, If that's the case then... maybe he's not even using Zetsu so that he can attract people...

Finding him should be easier then... still if his target would be someone from the troupe he could be using Zetsu to tail them... or maybe...

Levi shuddered to consider the possibility of him being Feitan's target. He instinctively scanned his surroundings. No one. He sighed.

From the top, he could see some of the weaker participants. Not a hint, however, could be seen of any of the nen users...Levi couldn't even located Killua...perhaps he already knew Zetsu as he was an assassin. Despite them keeping their badges on their clothes, they weren't being reckless.Levi groaned. He had no clue. The only way to find him now would be through dumb luck. He dismissed that idea as he might as it felt too inefficient.

Once again, he considered using his ability or at the very least some En... No... the lady was still watching him...

His eyes widened. Not one, but three ladies were watching him now. He whipped around to see Pakunoda approaching him with a sly smile.

Could he be her target?

"Hey..." She narrowed her eyes. Levi could feel her scanning every inch of him. He took a fighting stance.

"Stay back," he said.

Thankfully, Paku stopped.

"I'm here to make a trade."

Levi raised his eyebrows.

"First... tell me, is the other lady-" He pointed towards a tree, "-who is hiding over there, the one observing you?"

"Yes. Now, I already know what your badge number is and since you're not my target, I would like to make a deal."

"How do you know you're not my target?"

"You wouldn't have asked me that question if I would have been your target. You would have either attacked me straight away, or would have been eager to hear the trade."

Levi gulped. She was right. He still didn't trust her to not have him as her target.

"The deal is simple. As you can see here, I'm injured. " She pointed to her bandaged arm as Levi made himself look as small as possible. "You already know whose fault it is, so I need you to do me a favor. My target is Shalnark, and I want you to help me get his badge. In return, I may help you with acquiring your target's badge."

Her target's Shalnark... Levi loosened his stance a bit.

No, He tightened back up, She could just be lying... Still... maybe she could have a nen ability to help track Feitan...

"What's your nen ability?"

"I will tell you mine if you would tell me yours."

"Can't do."

"Can't do either then."

"Fine... by the way... my target is... Feitan."

Paku suppressed a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Levi frowned.

"You have a really bad luck. I may be able to help you track him but that's it."

"Fine!"

"So, deal?"

"Yeah!"

Pakunoda smiled and started slowly approaching him. Levi tensed. She crouched down in front of him.

"You haven't cleaned up your wound yet... It's deep." She clasped his cheek. His breath hitched.

"Your blood is attracting the Hemotropic butterflies. You should know that... this is how I found you in the first place."

Levi's heart skipped a beat as he noticed the red-winged butterflies around him. Uh oh... He had not noticed their attraction to him earlier...

"Do you want me to clean it up?"

Levi slowly nodded, not tearing his eyes away from her. Despite her soft tone, the atmosphere was very tense.

"Let's go to the river. I can wash your wound there."

He frowned. The river could be a trap but... her body language screamed trustworthy so he gave in, still keeping his guard up.

"Ok."

Amidst the sound of a noisy river, Pakunoda's soft voice reached his ears.

"I'm curious... where is your badge? It's not on your clothes and your pockets look empty." Levi visibily flinched. The lady has his face in one hand and was dabbing a damp piece of cotton on his cheek with another.

"Where is yours?" Levi countered."Can't say."

It was his turn to say the dialogue now. "Can't say either."

Paku only smiled in response.

A few minutes later, after carefully putting a band aid on his cleaned wound, she sighed. "Done!"

"Thank you!" Levi beamed. The smile made his cheek hurt a bit due to the band aid and of course, the injury itself, but he didn't care.

Pakunoda stood back up. "It's your turn now. Get Shalnark's badge for me."

His right eye twitched. Right... Almost forgot...

"How much time do you think you'll take?"

"Uh... two or three days at most."

"Very well. We'll meet here 3 days from now, at sunrise."

"Oh ok!"

Levi was running through the woods at top speed. To be more precise, he was actually jumping from one branch of a tree to another. He had decided to scout the island again and was keeping his guard up.

Fwish!

Levi did a backflip mid-air to dodge the projectile.

Wh-

A strong hand slammed his head into a tree. The aura covering he made on his head in the split-second was enough to keep him concious. His vision was still kinda blurry though.

When the dancing colors in his eyes disappeared, he realised he was in a choke-hold.

How could he have gotten himself caught so easily!

His eyes moved to the face of the man in front of him. It was Phinks.

"Aww!" He smirked. "Got caught so easily and you're not even putting a fight right now. How pathetic."

"Wait... troupe members are technically not allowed to fight with each other!"

Levi's eyes moved to the person standing behind Phinks. It was Shalnark.

"Huh? I think this is fair. We are not allowed to have any serious fights and I'm not trying to kill him right now, so? You know what, just ask the kid."

"Hmm... I'm fine with it. Danchou probably thought of us having to fight each other but let us go anyway who proves that we are allowed to have these kind of fights."

Shalnark scratched the back of his head. "Fine... makes sense, I guess..."

"So, why did you attack me in the first place?" Levi asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Well, what's your badge number and who's your target?" Phinks' aura darkened.

Levi frowned. It didn't seem like he had much of a choice.

"My badge number is... 513 and my target is--"

"Feitan!" Shalnark gasped.

"How did you--"

"Oh, I got the target card from your pocket."

"Heh" Phinks smirked. "Tough luck kiddo"

He loosened his hand enough for Levi to slip through and land in a sitting position. "Well, at least you aren't our target."

Levi unconsciously let go of the previously unknown burden in his chest. "So... have you two teamed up?"

"Yeah!" Shalnark smiled as he tossed back Levi's card to him that was unfortunately marked with a '50'.

Levi caught it and put it back in his pocket. Then, with a sigh, he eyed the #223 badge on Shalnark's shirt. It was so exposed... he just needed an opening... Maybe he could use his ability to make one...

He slowly stood up, holding the trunk of the tree for support. Taking a deep breath, he took a few staggering steps.

"Hmm... I think you hit him too hard."

"Not my fault the kid's weak."

Levi rubbed his eyes and glanced at Shalnark's concerned face.

"I'm fine..." He gave a weak smile.

"Doubt it." Shalnark frowned and approached him, his antenna in his right hand.

Before Levi could gasp, his nape had been pricked by it.

"What the-" Shalnark had no time to finish his exclamation as Levi grabbed his badge and ran.

"Why you!" Levi could hear Phinks growling right behind him.

He jumped on a branch of the nearest tree. The sudden movement created a split second blind-spot for Phinks that Levi was quick to exploit.

Fwish!

He threw it as far away as he could. The duo's eyes were quick to follow the projectile.

Another blind-spot, Levi grimaced as he turned on his Zetsu and leaping from branch to branch, attempted to make his escape.

"The brat's gone!" Phink's irritated voice and Shalnark's exasparated sigh was the last thing Levi heard from them for a good amount of time.

He finally got Shalnark's badge in an attempt to pay his debt to Pakunoda. However, the nearly-impossible task of getting Feitan's badge still madly grinned at him from the depths of his pocket where his target card was kept.