Chapter 5: Training
Leorio madly paces the room back and forth. Gon and Killua went to follow those two Spiders yesterday... they should have returned by now... but... even their phones are switched off...
Leorio curses himself for not being able to help them in the chase. He wracks his brain for options. The only one he can think of is to call Kurapika... but...
Leorio sucks in a deep breath. It's gonna be okay. Kurapika will understand. He'll surely get severely reprimanded by him for letting them go so easily, but... he's more concerned about the blonde's stress levels.
Leorio considers asking Zepile for advice but he doubts a man with such a strong hangover can be of much use.
"Fine... Damn it..." Leorio mutters to himself as he dials Kurapika's number.
After a few rings, he finally picks up.
"Leorio, the Spiders are all dead." A hollow voice answers.
Leorio sinks to the nearby couch, the phone ready to fall from his trembling hands. "H-how?"
"The Zoldycks... they were hired by the mafia... the ten dons"
Leorio gulps. Could that mean Gon and Killua are actually okay? After all, the Spiders are dead now.
"Hey... uhm... Kurapika?"
"I'm listening..."
"Gon and Killua... they kind of... uhm... went after the Phantom Troupe."
An awkward silence reigns before Kurapika bursts open.
"HEY! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN THEY WENT AFTER THE PHANTOM TROUPE? WHY? ARE THEY OUT OF THEIR MINDS? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, LEORIO! WHY THE HELL DID YOU LET THEM GO!"
"Uhmm... I'm really sorry..."
Through laboured breathing Kurapika replies. "Text me your address. I'm coming over right now."
"Got it, Pika."
"Hey, kiddo. Wake up!" An excited voice calls him out of his short restless sleep.
Gon growls as he pushes the blankets off of himself. Can't even get a wink of sleep around here.
He shoots a dark glare at the smiling swordsman, before managing to sit up.
"So, Gon-- that's your name, right?"
No response.
"Alright, I get it. You're a little pissed. But don't worry! Welcome to the Spiders!"
Another dark glare from Gon finally wipes away the smile from his face.
"I was trying to be nice." Flexing his bloodlust, he maintains a serious voice. "There, you just ruined it. Go get ready. It's pretty late already." He says as he kicks away the broken chair.
Gon huffs and marches into the washroom to get ready. He hates obeying them.
"I wanna see Killua." Gon demands once he's back.
"If you're good enough." Is the curt reply before he starts walking out the door. "Follow."
Gon hisses but obeys.
Gon passes through multiple dreary hallways once more, each step increasing his longing for some fresh air. Finally, they come upon a bruised wooden door. Gon sniffs. The air smells a lot less stale... fresh even?
The door gives way under Nobunaga's kick and Gon's hope gives way to relief. They are outside! With no Spiders other than his despised companion! He could--
"Don't bother." His despised companion warns, a slight shift in his aura for emphasis.
Gon huffs. Fine. He doesn't wanna escape without Killua anyway.
Outside, it's a fair-sized area with wires for fencing. It looks rather gray but relatively tidied up-- if you consider shoving all the rubbles in a row to make a few seats tidying up. Nonetheless, Gon's heart feels lighter as they walk over to the middle.
"How long have you known nen for?" Nobunaga asks as he sits down on one of the make-shift seats.
Gon wracks his brain. "About... six months?"
An impressed whistle. "How did you come upon the concept?"
"A Shingen-ryu master taught me after I took the hunter exam."
"The same one that taught your friend?"
Gon grimaces as images of his visit unceremoniously flash in his head. Damn it! I need to focus. I need to get stronger! He's evaluating me right now, so--
"Hey! Pay attention, kid!" An annoyed voice yells, breaking his thoughts.
"Yeah. We learned Nen together."
"Alright, I want you to tell me every bit of information you know about Nen."
Gon takes a deep breath. Everything? Where should he even start from... okay...
"Nen is the manipulation of our aura-- aka our life energy. There are four major principles of nen-- Ren, Ten, Zetsu, and Hatsu. Ren is the bringing forth of our aura. It is mainly used for offensive purposes. Ten is shrouding our body with aura. It is mainly used for defensive purposes. Zetsu is turning our aura off. It is mainly used for sneaking by and healing. Hatsu is putting our aura to use? Like making an ability? We also learnt about two advanced applications-- Gyo and In. Only learnt how to use Gyo though. And... that's it?"
"Hmm... guess I couldn't expect much outta someone who has just learnt nen. Alright, kid. Today we'll review. Your Zetsu while you were tailing us was pretty good. So, let's start from that. I'm sure you've played hide and seek at least once in your life, right?"
"Mhm..." Gon frowns.
"Good. We'll be playing hide and seek today. I'll seek, you'll hide. You have the entire hide out, from top all the way to the bottom-- no more than that though. I'll give you ten minutes to hide. Got it? Last at least half an hour and you'll pass."
Gon nods, excited. Unbeknownst to him, he's gonna free Killua and escape! Ten minutes should be more than enough time!
"By the way..."
"Huh?"
"Don't expect me to go as easy on you as the time you were trying to escape. I admit I underestimated you back then, but I rarely repeat my mistakes."
Gon grimaces. "That's okay! I still have ten minutes of prep time!" To save Killua...
Nobunaga smirks. "Your time starts... NOW!"
Gon dashes off back to the building. The stuffy corridors seem more suffocating now but he ignores it, turning on his Zetsu.
Up a flight of stairs... down the next corner... right... left now... maybe another left... wait no, right...
After a few dead ends, he finally finds the right corner. Just as he turns it, almost reaching Killua's roo--
Wha-
His breathe gets stuck in his throat, waves of terror washing over him. Gon curses his luck. How the hell did he end up running into him?!
"Came to check up on your little friend." A malicious grin spreads over his face, the surroundings darkening with his bloodlust. "Seems like I just caught a stray dust bunny."
Gon's chest tightens. Gasping for breath does nothing to help his collapsing lungs. His feet dig into the ground. His fists tremble, nails digging into his palm. Why? I don't wanna... feel this stupid fear... why...
A hand stretches out, reaching to grab him. Perhaps, he'll shove him against the wall, pressing one arm in front and another behind. Maybe after that, his hand will go through the same abuse as before... his flesh being ripped from his bones... his bones being torn from their sockets...
"You really thought you could outsmart us, huh. Guess Feitan didn't drill the truth into you well enough."
The name enough makes his blood run cold. His heads feels lighter and heavier at the same time. A whimper escapes his mouth. Better him taking out his anger on me rather than Killua...
"Phinks, serious fighting between Spiders is not allowed." A calm voice through the storm of emotions. Chrollo.
The bloodlust is retracted. Gon falls to his knees, his head hitting the ground. His nails dig into the cold cement. He's finally able to breath again... but at what cost? He showed how weak he is... once again... The overwhelming terror... he's just not strong enough to combat it... perhaps... he never will be...
"Hey, Gon!" A distant voice calls. For a split second, the concern in the voice makes it sound like Killua's... but no... Killua's voice isn't this heavy...
"Hey!" Someone gently picks him up by the collar, putting him in a sitting position.
Gon peeks through his arms which cover his face. . . Nobunaga?
The swordsman sighs. "Should've expected you to persist on. After all you have got Uvo's spirit. Alright, now, get up. We'll find a different way to train--"
"Nobunaga," Chrollo's voice politely cuts in. "I believe it's time for Gon to get a break."
"A break? But we just got started!" Nobunaga complains.
"Indeed, but you remember the decision we came to, don't you. We'll have to let Uvo's spirit rest now. We can deal with the Chain User later. As the prophecy stated, it would be better for us to leave York New."
"Fine..." Nobunaga frowns.
"I wanna see Killua." A shaky voice demands.
"You saw him just yesterday, brat--" Phinks growls.
"I WANNA SEE HIM AGAIN!"
"Why you--"
"Very well, Gon. You may." Chrollo's voice cuts in again.
Gon stands up with a sniff. He feels ashamed... he's completely at their mercy... this feeling... this feeling of being... dominated so much... it's so... frustrating...
His hand trembles... almost wanting to reach his own flesh... tear it apart if he can't no other... it's all his own fault anyway... he's the weak one...
"Gon, I said you can see him." Chrollo reiterates.
"I KNOW THAT!" Gon rushes to Killua's room, nearly crashing into a scowling Phinks on the way.
"Hey kid, don't yell at Danchou." Nobunaga's stern voice reprimands him.
"Why can't you just shut up..." Gon mumbles as he kicks open the room's door.
"Let him be. We can't instill all our rules in him at once. It'll take time for him to learn." Chrollo commands, before the two run after him.
"That was blatant disrespect. Doesn't matter whether he's a Spider or not, that brat will pay for--" Phinks snarls, bloodlust building up around him.
"I understand your disposition, but you must understand his as well." Chrollo explains with a tone of finalityp.
Phinks snits, biting back his next comment.
Gon's heart lightens as he enters the room. Killua looks a lot better, blood no longer on him. His eyes look dark, but that's about it. Machi must've healed him up...
"Killua." Gon whispers as he kneels before him, gently pushing his fringe off his face.
"Gon... I'm an idiot..." A sad smile forms on Killua's lips. "... I should have considered what they must have put you through. I don't blame you for joining them."
"Killua... no... I'm sorry... I'm too weak to save you from them, let alone myself." A tear finds its way out of Gon's eyes.
"Idiot... I have more fighting experience... I should have protected you..." Killua argues, his voice still rough and weak...
"Aw! How sweet!" Phinks' voice mocks from the doorway.
Both the boys tense up.
"Leave." Gon snarls, glancing a scowl at him.
"Oh?" He raises a non-existent eyebrow, stepping forward.
Gon flinches. "Go... away!" He mumbles weakly, fear creeping into his voice.
"Too bad for ya, kid. I'm in charge here." Phinks smirks. Marching forward, he grabs Gon by the collar and throws him outside the room. Before Gon can scurry back in, he slams the door shut.
"Get up, brat."
Gon scrambles to his feet.
"Go back to your room."
Gon stands facing him defiantly for a second, before the man's hard look finally wears him down and makes him run to his room.
Kurapika madly paces the room back and forth. His blood boils and his eyes turn scarlet. He can't afford to lose any more friends to the Spiders.
But how? How is he supposed to get them back? He has no clue where their hideout is. It's practically impossible to search the entirety of York New. What if the remaining Spiders have already left York New by now?
What the hell is he supposed to do?!
"Hey, Kurapika. I think I have a plan." Leorio finally stands up from the couch.
Right as Phinks closes the door behind him, Gon breaks down. He falls to the ground, his eyes clogged up with tears. Even breathing seems unnatural to him. His stomach grumbles. His throat is dry.
He doesn't wanna live in this wretched world... he doesn't wanna be at someone else's mercy... it was different with Hisoka... he kinda had a chance to draw away from him... but these people... the Spider's webs are inescapable...
Wait... Hisoka?
He pretended not to know them earlier. Come to think about it, he protected them when they first reached the two hundredth floor at heaven's arena too. Maybe... he could... but would he?
[A/N: Many thanks for reading this chapter! Some more Gon abuse here but I wanna break him, since that's the only way he can join the Spiders.
On a brighter note, I finally got my older sister to watch hxh. We finished the hunter exam arc last night and she was in pieces during Illumi vs Killua (who can blame her tho TwT). She absolutely loves the anime and I'm super glad she does because now I have someone I can nerd out to 24/7.
Her favourite characters are Hisoka and Killua btw lol. And she despises Illumi and Leorio (because of the trick tower stuff).
Also, thanks a lot for everyone who review/suggested. I planned to make this chapter more Kurapika centric but this came out. I do have more Kurapika planned for next chapter tho. In all honesty, Leorio is not that much of an important character for me. Like, sure he punched Ging in the face (yayy!) and is important for the dynamics but... he doesn't even have that much screentime. Most of it is in the hunter exam arc where he was really weak. Zoldyck arc gave him some time to shine but it was better in the manga for him (he opened the testing gate on his own in the manga). After that, he got the comedic relief role and helped the duo in finding the Spiders during York New. And yeah, he was the driver too but??? He was there in the election arc too but there was still not properly in the spotlight... He's legit so underused :( but I have high hoped for him in the unwritten DC chapters.
Now that, that essay is over.
Neodigital: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
As I mentioned in the essay above, Leorio is super underused in my opinion and is usually played off as comic relief. So, I plan to make him some time to shine. (maybe make him stronger by learning a certain something... earlier on in the story?)
Lilphantomtroupelady: I was almost stuck on how Leorio would approach Kurapika, but yea, your idea's the safest so I implemented it. Thank you.
Ah! It took me a lot of brainstorming to figure out Chrollo. He's definitely easier to write interacting with other Spiders. Gon's anger was the real problem so I decided for Chrollo to melt Gon with his words.
Guest: Woah! A Hispanic reader. I'm really glad you're liking! Thanks a lot!
Ps. I'm sorry about the update schedule. My entrance exam for a certain school is in a few months and honestly, I've never studied this much before. The competition is pretty high so I'm really scared. Hopefully, my efforts won't go to waste tho, but my update schedule might get even worse.
Also, I didn't expect for the Author Note to end up being so long lol. I hope you don't mind.