Chapter 7: Ally

"Ah! About time you woke up!" The girl sitting in front of him sighs. What the hell?

The last thing Kurapika remembers is... he was fighting the Spiders and then... a sharp pain in his neck... someone knocked him out!

He abruptly sits up, the blanket slipping off his body to reveal fresh bandages covering his chest. What?

His confused eyes meet the girl's amused green ones. brown hair falling right above her shoulders, paired with an equally brown complexion, and dressed in simple sweatshirt and jeans-- who the hell is she?!

"Damn! Wipe that look off your face. I save your life. Be a little more grateful than angry at the very least." She huffs. "It's Natsumi by the way. Doesn't look like you care though."

"Where's Leorio?" Kurapika frowns.

"See, you didn't even bother telling me your name. Alright, don't glare at me like that. If you mean that other guy with ya, he's fine. I got him out too."

"Thank you."

Natsumi looks confused before she bursts out laughing. "Damn! Never thought I'd hear those words outta your mouth."

Weird lady. At least she saved me... the least I can do is be polite.

"I'm Kurapika. It's nice to meet you. Thanks again for saving me." Kurapika gives a slight bow.

The girl waves it away with a flick of her hand. Standing up, she spreads her arms open, gesturing to their surroundings. "A five-star hotel I rented just for you. Leo's in the room next to yours. His injuries have been tended to as well. The hotel has only been booked for a night. You're welcome though."

With that, a smile spreads across her face before she turns to leave. As she opens the door, she continues. "Left my number on the nightstand. Give me a call if you are down for stomping out some Spiders."

The door closes behind her and Kurapika heaves a deep sigh.

A creak and the door opens again. "Oh! And by the way, you're paying! Thanks!" A creak and the door closes back up.

Kurapika thins his lips.

Nobunaga smiles. "Alright, that's enough for today. Good job."

Gon releases his Ren and falls to his knees, his breathe heavy and laboured. Half an hour in, he really felt like giving up. The thought of getting strong enough to save Killua could only help him last for another fifteen minutes.

They are staying in a villa in the countryside of some unknown place. It's a quite refreshing change of scenery from their previous dreary residence. Some of the Spiders have already dispersed, their missions over-- save for Nobunaga, Machi, Hisoka, Chrollo, Shalnark, and his least favorites: Phinks and Feitan.

If only the last two would be gone too. I could get some relief.

But no-- no matter what he does, he somehow keeps repeatedly encountering them despite their large abode.

He, however, doesn't believe for a second that his life could be easy without them. Nobunaga makes him train like hell, always pushing him beyond his limits. He can feel his aura getting stronger, but like Zushi once said-- rest is also an important part of training. All in all, it has just been three days of being here, and Gon is already quite tired of the swordsman's existence.

As if that's not enough, no amount of pestering Chrollo or Nobunaga gets him any information on Kurapika and Leorio.

"Let's go back inside, boy." Nobunaga prompts him to get up as the last rays of sunshine disappear beneath the horizon.

Gon gets up. "I wanna see Chrollo again."

Nobunaga scowls. "Hey kid! You already know you aren't getting any information on the Chain User."

Gon scowls back. "It's not about that!"

"Fine then." He shrugs. "You can go."

Gon runs back inside, the cold holding onto him. He decides to check the common room, where he finds Chrollo with-- guess who-- Phinks and Feitan.

Hell. This I what he's been talking about. Doesn't matter where he goes, they are there to trouble him.

Are they stalking me or what?! But why?

"We have better things to do than stalking you." Phinks smirks, taking another long drag of his cigarette. "You're too damn readable, y'know. Maybe work on that? With that look you were giving us, anyone could have guessed. Probably not someone like you though."

Gon grimaces. He saw right through my Zetsu. I thought I was doing well!

"I don't need your suggestions!" He scowls as he enters the room.

"Good evening, Gon." Chrollo looks up from his book.

Is he always reading? Guess it's at least better than killing or plotting to kill...

"I know it's hopeless to ask you about Kurapika but I'm not here for that. It has been... three days." Gon shifts his feet.

Should he really appear obedient?

"I didn't expect you to be this enthusiastic. Very well. Your first mission will be very soon. Don't worry about it."

"But that's not--"

Chrollo looks at him, daring him to contradict him. His gray eyes bore into Gon's very existence. Not a hint of bloodlust but...

"I hate you." Gon mumbles and dashes out of the room.

Halfway through the way to his room, he nearly bumps into Machi. Staggering, he tries to get past her.

"Wait." She stops him with a hand on his shoulder. "Where are you going?"

"My room."

"Good then. We can talk."

"About what?"

"About the twenty million jenny you still owe me. Have you talked to Nobunaga or Chrollo about how you're gonna pay it?"

Gon sighs, feeling his patience thin away.

"Hey! I even gave you a big discount because of Chrollo." Machi frowns, hands on her hips.

Gon takes a deep breathe. "Later." He runs up the stairs.

Why is everyone so hell-bent on ruining my day.

He slams the door shut and crashes into his bed. Burrying into the blankets, he decides to skip dinner and sleep early. Unfortunately, he realises only too late that he forgot to turn the lights off.

Gon groans. He is not getting up again!

"Aw! Little kid having a tantrum?"

"Phinks, go away."

"Oh! Pity. Chrollo just asked me to tell you that you're allowed to see your little friend."

Gon quickly sits up.

"Bur first... you'll apologize." Phinks says, an amused smile on his lips.

An awkward silence later, Gon relents. It's just a stupid phrase anyway.

"Fine. I'm sorry."

The man looks suprised. However, it only takes him a few moments to recover. "Too bad. I'm not in the forgiving mood. Maybe try again later."

"Get lost." Gon growls.

"Oh?"

Wide eyes. Bated breathe. White knuckles. An escaped whimper. An extending hand. A smirk. Glinting eyes.

A sudden clash of aura. Gon swallows the lump in his throat, the suffocating aura being directed at someone else.

Gon gulps.

The blur of a skull collar lingers in the doorway for a second before disappearing from his vision.

Kurapika grunts in pain as he stands up. A single step and he falls to his knees, clutching his chest.

Damn it.

His hand feels warm. Blood.

A creak. He looks up to find a concerned Leorio standing in the doorway. Various patches of bandages covering his face and peeking from his sleeves.

Leorio smiles, attempting to lighten the mood. "Hey buddy! Just a few cuts from that lady's ability, nothing special. Don't worry about it. Are you alright?"

"Hopefully." Kurapika manages a smile as he tries to stand up, a hand back on his chest.

With heavy breathes Kurapika sits on the bed. He decides to remove the bandages to understand the extent of the damage.

Just one unwrap and he already has to bite his lip to stop himself from cringing.

A few more and he exposes a deep diagonal cut on his chest, starting right below his left shoulder and going all the way to his abdomen. He pust a hand on his mouth, resisting the urge to throw up. The strong stench of blood reminds him of his fight against the Spider, making his head spin.

Every punch, every attack on the Spiders... made him feel more like them... but why? They do it for fun, while he does it... for revenge. After all, they mercilessly slaughtered all his friends and family. They need to be eradicated from the world. And he's gonna make sure it happens.

"Hey! Kurapika! Easy." Leorio's voice jerks him back to reality. "Hey hey hey. Your eyes are scarlet. Does it hurt too much. I'm sorry I couldn't help you out back there. I really hope it's not too bad--"

"I'm fine, Leorio." He pushes his hands away, earning a small whimper from the older teen.

"Are you okay?"

Leorio looks away, eyes downcast. "Maybe."

Kurapika sighs. His furrowed brows, however, soon turn into a smile. "Guess we both need to take more care of ourselves, huh."

Leorio gives a small nervous laugh as he nods.

[A/N: As usual, I couldn't resist adding an OC to my story. It's kinda hard for me to not turn female characters into Mary Sues but I'll try my best here. I hope it was easy to picture her. I unfortunately don't have enough commitment time to draw her so I hope that description suffices.

Neodigital: Ah yes! I do love putting characters in trouble. Although, it's a bit harder getting them out of it.

Lilphantomtroupelady: Thanks a lot for that. It means so much to me]