Disclaimer: I do not own hunterxhunter. All characters and plot of the said manga/anime is under the intellectual property of Yoshihiro Togashi. This is a work of pure fiction whereas names, OC's, places, or events are products of the author's imagination. If there is any resemblance to actual/real persons, places, or events, then it is pure coincidence. Furthermore, I do not own the cover image and give full credit to whoever owns it.
Case File #5
2.03.2008
Dr. Navi Riche
Precisely 14 days have passed and there have been no signs of communication from 0007. The board has decided to let 1-week pass before sending another Sparrow to investigate the situation and reason behind 0007's sudden lack of communication. Once 1 a week passes without any signal from 0007, we will be deploying 0001 due to the crucial nature of this mission.
Mission Status: Ongoing
Volume 1: Chapter 5
His Revenge
The crowd of applicants started to stretch out as the examiner continued to quicken his pace gradually. Two hours have already passed since they started running and many applicants have already dropped out.
I underestimated the Hunter Exam. Leorio thought as he was starting to struggle to keep up with the pace. Every person here is a monster. It's a gathering of monsters!
Erin noticed the man struggling to even out his breathing. He was already sweating so hard and lagging behind her and Gon, so she slowed down and matched his pace. "Leorio, are you okay?"
"Huh? Of course, I am!"
Erin paused. Hmm… At this rate, he'll get left behind, which means Gon will also stay behind… Well... It's quite easy to motivate simpletons like him.
"Is that so, Leorio?" Erin tilted her head and wore an expression of concern. "If you're getting tired, I can carry your briefcase for you." She extended her hand and attempted to grab his briefcase. "Here, let me help you."
Leorio yanked his briefcase away and shouted defensively, "I don't need your help okay! I'm doing just fine, thank you very much!"
"Okay…I believe you. I know you're strong enough to catch up." Erin replied with a smile. Intentionally, she slightly raised her eyebrows at him then started to run faster, quickly putting a growing distance between her and Leorio. Well, that should be enough motivation.
When she reached Gon's side she noticed Kurapika running a far distance ahead of them somewhere in the crowd. Should I also check on him too?...
"Gon, I'll go talk to Kurapika for a minute okay?" Erin informed him.
Without a hint of suspicion or hesitation, the boy replied, "Okay!"
Erin quickly ran off towards Kurapika as she started to hear Leorio suddenly shouting at someone. She didn't bother to look back. Based on whatever he was he was complaining about, it didn't seem like something alarming enough to make her concerned. I wonder who he's trying to irritate now?
Kurapika made sure to keep a pace that would help him conserve his stamina and at the same time, keep up with the rest of the applicants. He would occasionally cast a small glance behind him to see if his unlikely group of friends were still keeping up, and so far, they were which made him feel relieved.
"Kurapika."
The blonde immediately whipped his head to the girl who spoke and was running beside him. "W-when did you get there?"
Erin tilted her head, "I just did. You didn't notice?"
"Not at all." Kurapika slightly chuckled, "You surprised me." Gon and this girl are just full of surprises.
"Oh. I apologize." Erin replied.
Kurapika slightly shook his head, "There's nothing to apologize for." He looked back at the people running in front of him and then immediately turned to Erin again. "So, what brings you here?"
Erin paused for a moment then smiled at him, "I just wanted to check on everyone. But it seems that I didn't need to do that for you. You're keeping up extremely well."
Kurapika couldn't help but be taken aback by her honesty. "Well, that's quite kind of you, Erin. Thank you for your concern."
"The person who really needs my concern right now is Leorio." Erin giggled while glancing back at the man who was currently arguing with Gon and… Who's that? Erin narrowed her eyes as she quickly assessed the silver-haired boy.
Kurapika's chuckle prevented Erin from going down another analytical thought process and brought her gaze back to him. "I guess you're right about that. But… I think he'll be fine."
"He doesn't look fine to me." Erin casually joked earning another small chuckle from Kurapika.
The redhead stared at him for a few seconds. I thought this guy's on a path to revenge? He seems pretty cheerful and kind for that. I wonder what he was like before his clan was massacred.
"Can I ask you a personal question, Kurapika?" Erin asked with the kindest voice she had.
Kurapika eyed her in surprise. "Sure… But I can't guarantee I'll answer it."
"Of course," Erin assured him then asked, "… Why did the Phantom Troupe massacre your clan?"
The blonde tensed up with anger after hearing the name of the bastards that killed his whole family but was still able to compose himself. He stayed quiet for a moment, internally debating if he should tell Erin, which also meant exposing a part of himself.
"… Our eyes…" Kurapika finally spoke after a momentary silence.
Erin immediately perked up and paid attention. Showing Kurapika that she was all ears.
"I belong to the Kurta clan. Each and every one of us, whenever our emotions are heightened, our irises turn scarlet. Our eyes in that state are considered to be one of the most beautiful colors in the world and are treated like rare treasures or jewelry by many. Our Scarlet Eyes fetch a high price in the black market, hence, why they would be considered as a bounty by a band of thieves."
Erin continued to listen. Kurapika glanced at her and the gaze she gave him somehow put him more at ease. He wondered why there were many instances when Erin would give off eerie glances and such, however, there were also times when she seemed extremely genuine.
"That's why," Kurapika continued, "I swear to retrieve all the eyes of my brethren, and put an end to the Phantom Troupe." He gritted his teeth as he spoke their name as if he was spitting out venom.
Erin tore her gaze away from the Kurta and stayed quiet as she looked ahead. "So you're out for revenge…" she finally spoke. "Kurapika… I want to be honest with you… Will you allow me to?"
Kurapika raised his eyebrows in question, wondering what the peculiar girl wanted to say. "Go ahead."
Erin nodded. "Personally speaking, I think revenge is a double-edged sword. Once you take the life of others, you'll also be taking away that one thing that makes a person human."
Erin's words were something that was supposed to offend him, but Kurapika waited patiently as she continued.
"Even I don't know what that 'one thing' is. What exactly makes a person human? That question's always on my mind. So I know I also don't have any right to stop you from going down that path. But I just wanted to tell you…"
The redhead looked at Kurapika and held his gaze. "If you want to keep that 'one thing' that makes you human, in the far future, once you're in too deep, if ever you have people to rely on, don't push them away… no matter what."
The Kurta stayed quiet and let himself absorb her words. She sounded like she was speaking from experience, not of her own, but as if she was a witness to someone else's life of revenge.
As the two ran quietly, unknowingly for the Kurta, Erin was in deep thought. Why did I say that? I have no business prying into his principles. I've noticed this for a while but… Ever since I've been with those three, there have been many times wherein I felt strange.
Erin almost wanted to click her tongue in annoyance but refrained from doing so. I just won't do it again. Control. Let it pass. Focus.
The redhead looked at the blonde running beside her, and she focused on the sad yet driven expression he wore. Erin looked away and successfully hid her frustration.
It's because you all wear those kinds of faces…. Erin thought while remembering Gon's joyful grins, Leorio's angry outbursts, and Kurapika's kind yet lonely smiles. Because of that… I can't help but wonder when I'll be able to do the same.
.
.
.
.
"I know who one of the Phantom Troupe members are."
Kurapika turned his head towards Erin in shock, "… What did you say?"
"I have partial knowledge regarding that member," Erin stated monotonously then glanced at the Kurta who was now fuming with rage inside, but still kept calm. "Let me help you." For some reason, I want to help you. Erin thought.
Kurapika's breathing started to get uneven, and his eyes were on the verge of becoming Scarlet. He closed his eyes shut for a few seconds. And once he opened them, he began to calm down and said to Erin quietly, "I think we should have this talk somewhere else."
"You're right," she agreed. "There are too many eyes and ears here." Erin glanced around the applicants.
How does she know about one of the Phantom Troupe members? Kurapika thought to himself. Is she associated with one of them?
The Kurta furrowed his eyebrows. No. That can't be it. Erin couldn't possibly be... He then looked towards her, "Erin, can I ask if you –"
Suddenly, for the first time, Kurapika saw shock and concern etched on Erin's face as she looked towards somewhere in the crowd. It was only for a moment though, then her usually stoic face returned.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?" Erin glanced at Kurapika. "Oh. I thought I recognized someone. I was mistaken though…"
Kurapika tried to read her if she was lying. He still couldn't tell. "I see."
"I think I'll go check on Gon and Leorio. Well, specifically, Leorio." She emphasized. "I'll see you at the end of the tunnel."
Kurapika gave her a nod as she slowed down her pace, leaving him alone to ponder about who exactly his new friend was, and if he should really call her a friend.
Unbeknownst to him, Erin, the peculiar and mysterious redhead, never went back to Leorio and Gon.
"Rehan," Erin whispered to the teenage boy running beside her.
The boy heaved an exasperated sigh. "Out of all the people… I just had to meet you huh?" He turned to look at Erin, glaring at her with his emerald eyes. "What the hell do you want?"
"Why are you taking the hunter exam?" Erin immediately asked without wasting any second. She didn't bother to use any kind of tone or persona. Erin knew that it would be pointless to do that with Rehan, and so she chose to handle the conversation with her actual monotonous voice. "For someone like you, this is quite dangerous."
Rehan scoffed and turned back to look at the crowd ahead of him. "Are you actually worried about me? And for your information, I'm quite capable of passing this exam."
Erin eyed the amount of sweat dripping on his dark olive skin. He wasn't sweating as much as Leorio was two hours ago when she last saw the snarky man, but the length of the course was unknown, and Erin concluded that if he's already starting to get even a little bit tired at this point, then that wouldn't be good.
Hmm… we've only been running for four hours straight and he's already sweating that much. Erin thought while remembering how Gon looked completely fine and full of energy before. This guy clearly has less stamina than Gon, but perhaps enough endurance to keep up.
"I'm only concerned." The girl replied, "Dr. Navi would've been too –"
"Don't you dare say his name. It's disgusting to hear it from your mouth." He spat out the words at Erin with all the hostility he could muster but kept his voice down, enough for just the redhead to hear. "And don't even try to f*cking pretend that you're concerned for me just because of what my father did for you." Without turning his head, he fixed a threatening glare at Erin. "I know deep down that you don't feel sh*t." The redhead held his gaze and never broke it, choosing to remain quiet. The boy scoffed once again. "Look… you can't even deny it."
Even after everything he said, she still looked unstirred. "Then may I ask why you want to become a hunter?" Erin continued.
"Are you seriously interrogating me right now?" The familiar hollow and vacant expression that she wore only infuriated the boy more. "I guess you can't break old habits huh?" Erin remained, waiting for an answer. After a few seconds, he said, "I'll tell you under one condition…"
"Go on."
"If I tell you then don't ever approach me again and always stay out of my f*cking business." His voice wasn't loud, nevertheless, it still sounded like a low threatening growl.
Erin paused then replied, "Alright."
Rehan didn't waste any second to answer her question, clearly wanting her to get away from him as soon as possible. "I'm going to end it…" He furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm going to make sure that Khamat will fall… All the shady sh*t that the higher-ups have done just to become the most untouchable country – I'll make sure to end it. I'll hunt down that damn Puppet Master and every single doll under his wing."
The redhead blinked at him then looked back at the crowd in front once again. "Well… With such a difficult goal, wouldn't you need help from someone like me?"
"Do you think I would ever want help from a Matryoshka?" It was evident in his voice that he was starting to lose the composure he was trying to maintain.
Erin turned her head to him and firmly replied, "I'm not one anymore."
"Is that your attempt at being convincing?... Bullsh*t." he cursed and looked at her with clear resentment in his eyes. "I still don't know why my father would choose to kill himself and leave his son behind in order to save someone like you."
Rehan didn't want to say those words out loud, not because he was afraid of hurting the girl he was talking to, but because he respected his father so much that he didn't want to acknowledge that his sacrifices might've all been for naught. But at that moment, he could not hold back the grudge he held against this little girl casually running beside him, the rage he felt inside made him want to hurt her. He wanted to see pain cross her face even if it was just for a fraction of a second.
But her face was still empty.
And instead, Rehan was the one who felt pain inside as he thought to himself, To think that my father gave up his life… for something that doesn't even feel alive... something so… lifeless.
"I can tell…" He muttered with a desolate voice.
Erin noticed how his mood suddenly shifted from a furious one to something full of melancholy. She could easily read the change in his emotions, but she could not understand why– and so she waited… and remained quiet.
"Looking at you now… Talking to you… And seeing how you're not agitated or affected by my words even one bit… Tell me… What did my father die for… if you still feel like the soulless doll that you were back then?"
Erin paused once again, not showing even a tiny crack in her stoic expression, then she asked, "Even if I had valuable information, you still wouldn't accept it?"
"No. I wouldn't risk it." He replied bluntly. "I know better than to fall for your 'I want to repay your father's deeds so let me help' act. After all, that is what you're good at. Taking on different personas while secretly doing inhumane things without batting an eye." With a mix of contempt and pensive sadness in his eyes he looked at Erin and said, "The only reason why I'm not planning on killing you… is because then it would make my father's death really be in vain."
After everything he said, Erin simply replied, "I see."
"Then get the hell away from me," Rehan said then abruptly turned away.
"Yes," Erin said. However, even after a few seconds had passed, she remained beside him. Rehan was about to curse at her again when she spoke. "But before I go, let me impart some advice. After all, it seems to you that I am an expert in something regarding this."
What the hell is it now? Rehan thought to himself. He didn't want to reply or say anything more to the redhead. After all, he wasn't obliged to answer her. Right now, to him, she was a stranger.
Still, Erin continued. "The path you have chosen to take is a dangerous one. You'll definitely be forced to choose between two evils, your morals will be contravened, and you will sacrifice countless lives." She lowered her voice and coldly whispered, "If you don't want to end up a corpse before taking one step closer to your enemy, then I suggest that you prepare to strip away your pride, dignity, and never harbor any personal feelings." Then the redhead gave him a warm and dainty smile. "In short, you have to become someone like me."
Rehan tried to keep a straight face but his eyes glared at her.
"Then I'll be off… Don't worry, I'll follow the condition. From now on, we're strangers and don't have anything to do with each other at all." After saying those words, she ran off to another part of the crowd, without looking back.
"Leorio! Kurapika!" Gon called out to his friends, "We're going on ahead!"
"See ya later old man." The silver-haired boy running beside Gon said smugly.
"You brat! I'm not old!" Leorio shouted, "I'm just a teenager like you guys!"
With his remark, everyone momentarily stopped in their tracks, all wearing the same dumbfounded expressions.
"Seriously?!" The silver-haired boy exclaimed and didn't even bother to hide his shock.
"Yes!" Leorio barked at him then murmured, "How rude…"
After glancing at Kurapika and Leorio's sides, Gon then started to look around, "Huh? Where's Erin?"
Kurapika furrowed his eyebrows in concern. "I thought she was with you," The Kurta replied, "She was with me before but after a while she ran off to another part of the crowd to look for you."
"Was she also looking for me?" Leorio asked.
"She didn't say." Kurapika teased him, putting Leorio in an even grumpier mood. The Kurta looked at Gon to see slight concern etched on his face as he continued to glance behind them. "She did tell me not to worry about her and that we'll just meet at the end of this tunnel. So don't worry, Gon. She's quite capable." The Kurta reassured him.
"I'm sure that little brat's fine!" Leorio assured Gon, "That sharp tongue of hers is already a weapon in itself. Heh! No one would ever want to be the victim of her snarky remarks."
"You're one to talk." Kurapika added. "Erin wasn't being snarky, you're just too sensitive."
"Huh?!"
"Anyway, we're going ahead alright!" Gon informed the two.
Kurapika nodded, ignoring Leorio. "Sure, go on ahead. We'll keep our own pace."
"Well, I'm off!" the silver-haired boy said and quickened his pace without warning.
Gon immediately tried to catch up to him. "Ah! Killua!" he called out to the boy who ran off first. "No fair!"
"You snooze, you lose."
Eventually, Gon catches up to Killua and the two boys run up the stairs, side by side. The silver-haired boy glanced at Gon and asked, "Who's Erin?"
"She's my friend!" He smiled widely. "We came here together along with Kurapika and Leorio. She's also our age."
Killua hummed. "Well, if she's that far behind then she probably won't make it."
"Nah. She's fine. Most probably… she's already ahead of us!" Gon grinned widely and chuckled, making Killua think that the lively boy seemed to be very fond of this friend of his.
"Is that so?" Killua replied indifferently.
The silver-haired boy changed the topic and asked Gon why he wanted to take the hunter exam. With that, the two boys continued to chat until they finally see the exit from the tunnel. They gave a final sprint and quickly raced towards the light.
That's odd. I used to handle conversations like that a lot easier before… And Rehan's character is an easy one to read.
Erin was now effortlessly sprinting up a set of stairs, dodging a few collapsed applicants here and there, while unconsciously slipping deep into her thoughts.
Why did I bother to say those last words to him?
Does it almost sound as if I was hurt by everything he said?
I don't think I was though?
Erin placed a hand on her chest.
But, for a short while… my chest tightened for some reason. Is that what being hurt would feel like? Hmm… Well, I wouldn't know.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I want to see Gon.
Erin immediately stopped in her tracks at the thought. But because of the inculcated reflexes in her body, she quickly started running after only a second.
Huh?... Why did that thought suddenly cross my mind…?
She shook away the feeling of a slight pang in her chest once again.
He's only getting closer and closer with Kurapika and Leorio so alienating them isn't an option anymore. With just short profiling, I can tell that they're not ill-intentioned people and that I can easily handle them… or get rid of them if my initial profiling turned out to be inaccurate which is very unlikely. Hmm… Well, it's a good thing Kurapika isn't a burden since he's very reliable. I can't say the same for Leorio though; if he were alone, he'd have less than a thirty percent chance to pass this exam… Oh… He seems to be quite proficient in medical care so I guess that doesn't make him completely useless.
All I have to do is to get closer to Gon, keep him away from dangerous people as much as possible, and make sure the two of us pass the exam. Afterward, I'll be one step closer to my objective.
With one final step, Erin was finally outside of the long dark tunnel and was greeted by the cold humid air of the swamp forest that she beheld before her. Right away, she quickly scanned the smaller crowd of applicants gathered in one spot, looking for a familiar figure with gravity-defying hair.
"Ah! Erin!" Gon called out.
The redhead turned to her side to see Gon casually sitting down by the exit of the tunnel, smiling widely while waving.
And there it was again. That odd feeling. Whatever it was – it was a feeling that her brain could not identify. Hence, though only minimal, she was starting to get a little bothered by it. Still, Erin kept her smile and walked towards Gon.
As long as I stay beside Gon and keep him safe.
Then her gaze landed on a silver-haired boy also sitting beside Gon. The boy who was arguing with Leorio in the tunnel. There was an air of nonchalance that surrounded him and he was staring at her with his sapphire blue eyes.
Him again… Who is this? Erin thought as she refrained from narrowing her eyes at the boy sitting beside Gon. Immediately, she turned back her gaze to the raven-haired boy. "Is this already the Second Phase?" She asked Gon while keeping her pleasant face.
"Nope. Satotz-san said that we still have a long way to go."
"I see," Erin replied and glanced at the crowd. "Are Kurapika and Leorio already here?"
Gon nodded. "I was waiting for you. Kurapika said that you ran off somewhere in the crowd. Did something happen?"
"Oh. I was actually looking for you. I thought you'd be with Leorio so I slowed down to check the back of the crowd." Erin lied easily.
"Really? Then we must've crossed paths without noticing each other then." Gon stated then suddenly shifted to an expression that showed like he just remembered something. "Ah! Killua," he turned to the boy beside him, "This is Erin. The friend that I was talking about." Still wearing a wide smile, he looked back at the redhead and gestured to the silver-haired boy. "Erin. This is Killua. I met him in the tunnel."
"Yo," Killua replied casually. His eyes met hers and in a fraction of a second, with just one look, a silent and unperceivable clash occurred. Erin was still standing so she wore a refined smile on her face as she intentionally looked down towards Killua.
What's with that look? Killua thought in suspicion. Everything about her demeanor exuded kindliness and goodwill – all except her eyes which said otherwise. With just one short moment, they reminded him of something he couldn't quite point out – it felt like a gaze that he's seen before countless times. And even though it was too subtle, it was enough to alert his highly polished instincts.
And so without hesitation, Killua decided to act cynically towards this girl.
The brief moment ended as Erin said with a smile, "…I see. It's nice to meet you... Killua."
Author's Note:
I'm baaaaaack! It's been so long ugghh I really missed writing this. I'M REALLY SORRY for the super late update. My family's business really took a toll because of the COVID pandemic, so I had to put aside my hobbies to help get our business back on track. To whoever was waiting for the update and still sticking with this story, thank you so much! I hope everyone's safe and sound during this pandemic and that this story would somehow lift your spirits, even if it was just in a small way. See ya'll next chapter! 3
