A/N: Netero, Menchi and one of the lesser used characters, Bononorefu - the one who looks like a mummy. He probably only appeared in the entire anime about twice.
Over Tea and Bandages
A stormy sky, white mountains and bronze fields look interestingly similar to shapes on a childish painting, like a bunch of wheat tipped huge arrows aiming at the frowning brows of the goddess Hera. Surroundings always appear stranger when one is upside down, thinks President Netero of the Hunter Committee. The day seems to hold a grudge. "Hi! You called for me?" However, when Menchi the culinary Hunter appears for their little meeting, things brighten a tad. It must be her pink hair and unrestrained attitude.
"Care to spar for a while?"
He admits his frustration to himself as they exchange blows. She has her double swords out, as she doesn't like to use the culinary knives for fighting. Cooking knives are not for fighting, she once said to him. They are purely for cooking. However, that is not the source of his frustration. The dark world has begun to move again, this time more powerful than ever before.
She aims for his chest; he ducks and whips the staff at her legs. Their flips and fancy footwork in midair may look like an odd dance from a faraway perspective. Because he is distracted by his thoughts, she quickly corners him against a thick tree. "Got you," she triumphantly smiles.
Instead of surrendering, he zips around the old plant to give her a sharp stab in the lower back. Before she can turn, he pins the back of her neck to the ground. "Ouch," comes the murmur. "A good workout. I resign." She sighs while propping herself up in the grass. "Stupid old man. Taking everything out on me." She rubs her back and neck, where she was attacked a minute ago. "What's bothering you, grandpa?"
Surprised, he inspects her face. Then he smiles. "Am I that obvious?" She's been calling him 'grandpa' ever since she became a part of the Hunter Committee at the age of twenty-one. He sits down to join her on the grass. Then he materializes a cloth and basket for a makeshift picnic. Being a full-time Specialization nen user has its benefits. Taking the tea set out of the basket, he diligently pours them some tea. Black Lilies tea, to be exact. Handing her the cup, he sips some from his own. She stretches and lies back to look at the gray clouds, listening expectantly for his answer. "Just the new underground alliance between the Zaoldycks and the Spiders."
HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH HXH
Bononorefu watches casually as the Jyonen user recovers his energy, while pulling at the bandages on his chin and hands. They itch sometimes, but overall come in handy - especially if their salesman, or captive, tries to escape. It turns out that his name is Harazenki, and he has a few other abilities aside from nen removal. As a Materialization user, he can also make voodoo dolls to torture people and, like Coltopi, track the objects that he makes with his nen. Rather handy, indeed.
He watches Harazenki fidget uncomfortably. It is understandable - not everyone can immediately get used to this damp, rotten and murky old building that they Spiders call their nest. Of course, since their little thief organization happens to be nomadic, technically there are nests all over the place. Due to his interesting past, Dancho just prefers to reside in these creepy spots, Bononorefu reasons. As for himself, his duties mainly include keeping certain people captive within the Spider's nest. Since fighting is not his forte, he leaves that to the other Ryodan members. When the more belligerent legs are out fighting, he has Shalnark, Pakunoda and Coltopi for company, back in the base.
"Hey, you." He snaps up to stare at Harazenki's face. "Look, I did what you're paying me for. So, when are you going to give me the money, and let me leave?" Oh, ho ho. Quite irritated and spirited, aren't we? Bononorefu shrugs.
"When the Dancho commands. Listen, I just wait for his orders. This is the Genei Ryodan. I suggest you don't piss him off, lest you never see the outside world again. In the mean time, just don't give me too much shit, right?"
"Just tell me -" His speech gets cut off by the mummy's suffocating bandages. The constraints grow tighter, until he can barely breathe. He doesn't have time to materialize anything. He stops struggling. The mummy holds his nen-wrapped bandages for a second, before releasing them. The captive sighs in relief and holds up one finger to indicate a final question or statement. Fine, if it's that urgent that he needs to know immediately - risking even death. Bononorefu nods. "When will your Dancho be back?"
"He's out to hunt and steal - after all that time without nen. Probably a few days." Harazenki seems tired, suddenly. His expression reads, that's too long. But I can't do anything about it. Bononorefu himself wants to see the other members of the Spider again, as well. Soon, the reunion will be nigh.
Ending Notes: What do the Zaoldycks and the Spiders plan to do? I wonder. Any suggestions on how I can improve my fight scenes?Leorio will make an appearance next, I believe.