"Shalnark, huh? Well, nice to meet you. The names' James," The man himself said with a nod before giving an abrupt wince.
He groaned as a sudden spike in pain came to his damaged eye. It would come and go like a bad thought. A sharp squeezing pain...
He gingerly touched the bandages with his left as he reached into his breast pocket with his other. He pulled out a plastic bag filled with pain medicine and untied it, taking two into his hand and tossing them into his mouth.
Shalnark quirked an eyebrow and nodded. He took that as an invitation to sit, choosing the seat in directly in front of James. The train was set up in sections that had four chairs facing each other, with a small coffee table in the middle.
Shalnark smiled, "Seems you just finished the Hunter Exam! I can tell by the card sticking out from under your shirt. I'm guessing you injured your eye during the Exam, right?"
James nodded as he swallowed the pills without water. He pounded his chest as the pills decided they would get stuck in his throat.
"Y-yeah. Gak... I shoulda' took those with water... so, I'm guessing your a Hunter too?"
Shalnark answered with a look of surprise, before smiling and nodding, "Yeah. I guess that's obvious, considering I'm asking and all," he ruffled through his back pocket and pulled out a Hunter Card.
James smiled. Pride welling up in his chest and metaphorically expanding his beat colored head two-sizes too big. He pulled out his card from underneath his white button-up and showed it off as the treasure it was.
"It's good to see another Hunter. Not a lot of us around, eh? What kind of Hunter?" he said with a smirk.
"Oh, nothing special! I'm just a Temp Hunter. Don't really have any special aspirations. I just became a Hunter for money and access."
James nodded, but something felt... off. There was a nagging feeling at the back of his head. Shalnark wasn't lying... but there was something underneath it. If the blonde smiling man was being dishonest, he couldn't tell from his face. Was it his wording? Shalnark made it sound as if becoming a Hunter was a walk in the park…
Only monsters like Illumi, Hisoka, and Hanzo could say something like that. And only to be a Temp Hunter? They only take association jobs... and easy ones at that.
The same sensation as when he first met Tonpa gripped his chest... Did Shalnark lie to him because he didn't want to tell the entire truth, or was he a threat? A battle between Hunters starts in the mind... or was he just being paranoid? He forced himself to stay casual and not jump to conclusions…
"Did you meet Tonpa?" James said with a smile and a simple question. A quiz to see if he really was a Hunter. All Hunters knew Tonpa. That man was the figurative proof in the pudding.
"That guy's still alive? When I took the Exam he nearly died running around the desert! Nearly got eaten by a Sand Lion. He dropped out at the Third Phase." Shalnark said with a laugh.
"Huh... Yeah, he's alive. I knocked him out early in my Exam. He tried screwing me over during the pre-exam. I almost got disqualified, but the Examiner was... uh... nice enough to give everyone on the train another chance."
"Yeah, those pre-screening tests are real tricky! I know some people who can't even get past them! One guy never makes it to the Exam site at all! He either gets lost or tricked by the riddles!"
James smirked, "For real?"
"Well, he isn't good at following directions or using his brain," Shalnark said with a shrug before continuing, "Good with a sword, though. What kind of Hunter are you?"
"I'm still a Rookie Hunter. I don't know what I want to be," James said with a shrug of his own. He relaxed...
'Maybe he isn't a threat. Maybe he's just doesn't want to get into why he became a Hunter? God, I wish threats came with blinking lights around their heads... goddamn it...' James thought as he looked away for a moment.
Shalnark didn't seem like he had any ill intent...
The Spider ruffled through his pockets and pulled out a pink cell phone and looked for something else with the other. There was an imperceptible moment of hesitation, then... he suddenly threw the thin piece of metal at James' body...
James caught the pen and frowned.
"It's good that we met! I can help you out with any jobs you need! I don't specialize in any one area, so I don't have any strengths. But I don't have any real weakness either! Actually, that's a lie! I'm great at computers and finding information! My email and phone number are..." Shalnark said as he stated his contact information with a raised finger.
James shrugged and ripped out a blank magazine page and wrote the information down. With a nod, he finished, folded the paper, and stuffed it in his pocket.
Shalnark nodded, "Shalnark's my last name, but my first name is Ryuseih! It's always good to have connections with fellow Hunters! As your senior in hunting, I'll be glad to help you! Since I don't keep my information on the Hunter Website, this is the best way to contact me. I'll help you out whenever you need it. For a price, of course! The first job is free!" the Spider said with a smile.
James stared flatly at Ryuseih, "Gee, thanks for the hard sell. But I'll keep that in mind-"
"Shalnark."
The rookie Hunter nearly died of shock as he heard a voice come from his left, outside his hundred and five field of vision. It was as if the voice appeared from nowhere. A female voice that might as well have been a ghost's materializing from thin air. Her voice was cold and curt.
James turned to see the coldest looking woman he ever saw. Petite, pink-haired, Japanese clothing, and... pink leg warmers and socks. And a glare that could give James' a run for his money. To say James was confused at what he was seeing was an understatement. The appearance and demeanor did not sync up for the red-head. But he knew that his own appearance did not match up with how he acted.
Machi gave James a disdainful look before turning back to the other Phantom Troupe member.
"Who's this?"
"He was here when I got here. His name is James, and he just became a Hunter!"
Machi made a face, "Why is he here?"
James sighed, stood up to his full height, and said, "Don't worry, I was leaving anyway."
He turned to his right and grabbed Stick, "Nice to meet you, Shalnark. If I need help with something I'll contact you."
Shalnark laughed, "Sure! Don't be a stranger! If you need any help or advice, just ask!"
James nodded, "Will do," he turned to the pink-haired woman and nodded, "I'd say nice to meet you, Frownie, but nah. Later."
He said as he walked passed Machi. He nearly bumped into a samurai while walking down the aisle. The man told James to watch where he was going. James just sighed and muttered to himself as he went into the next cabin. Machi made a face and muttered, "Frownie?"
Machi gave a noise of annoyance and turned to Shalnark, "Why the hell didn't you kill him? And why-"
"Why are we meeting on a train? And why didn't you kill that guy?!" Nobunaga asked, half-yelling and half confused. Top-knot, dark samurai robes, and a Katana on his left side.
Machi snapped back, "I just asked those questions, idiot."
"Wha?" Nobunaga said, confused and angry. He hated coming to meetings out in the open.
Shalnark raised his hands to calm them down while speaking.
"Calm down you guys. I'll explain everything."
The other two Phantom Troupe members grumbled, but nodded and stared down at Shalnark. Shalnark nodded back and began.
"Since Machi was here first, I'll both your questions in her order. Why didn't I kill him? Well, I thought about it when I pulled out my phone. But his appearance matched the description of the nephew of one of the Don's. Specifically, the Evira Tao Long," he paused and raised a finger before continuing, "It'll be useful to keep an eye on him, especially considering what I have to tell you guys. Don't worry, I told him my first name was Ryuseih, so he'll probably refer to me to anyone he knows as that."
Nobunaga already looked bored, while Machi continued to pay attention. Shalnark continued.
"As for this train, it was underbooked and has no onboard cameras. They'll be no evidence of us here, barely any witnesses, and no record of us being here if you snuck on like you two were supposed to. That means I won't have to track down any evidence to erase," he looked specifically at Nobunaga. Machi stared at the samurai as well.
"Huh? What are you guys staring at me for?"
Machi shook her head, "You and Uvogin don't even bother to be subtle sometimes..."
Shalnark laughed, "Most times, actually!"
Nobunaga growled before speaking, "Yeah, yeah. What's this all about, anyway? I'm guessing another job from the boss?"
Shalnark nodded, "That's right! You know how these go. The boss says to meet up in York New, August 30th by noon. No exceptions! Can you relay that to Hisoka, Machi?"
Machi frowned, "Why me?"
"You have the most contact with him. I did a favor for him and messaged we'd be here. I thought he'd come..." Shalnark said with a frown.
Nobunaga chuffed, "Tch. He never does what he's told," he turned to Machi, "Besides, your the one who brought that freak into the group."
She glared back at the samurai and replied, "I didn't do crap. He found out I was a member by himself. We were missing a member anyway, and the boss wanted to recruit a new one. It was either that or kill him."
Nobunaga sneered, but even he would think twice about fighting Hisoka one on one.
"Whatever. I don't like the guy," he finished with a scratch on his cheek and look to his side.
Machi turned back to Shalnark. Something was... something was bugging her. Shalnark wouldn't have picked this train for no reason, and he wouldn't have let the guy from before even know he existed...
"That guy from before... he's important for the job, isn't he?"
Shalnark smiled.
"Well. The job does involve his Aunt. I'm doing research. He'll definitely be useful when we go to York New City."
Nobunaga looked at Shalnark flatly, "Huh?"
Machi gave a single 'hmm' as she thought it over.
"What's going on?" Nobunaga said with a squint between the two.
Machi answered him with a dismissive squint of her own before shaking her head at Nobunaga. She already understood the implications. They would rob the Underground Auction in September.
The Don of U.S.S and her organization were considered by many to be the most dangerous of the Eleven Mafia families. With them in control, nothing ever happened in York New City without their permission. While the Phantom Troupe wouldn't think twice about robbing the other families blind, this one... was far different from the rest.
Not a bad idea to get some leverage.
She sighed and began walking away, "If that's everything. I'm going. I'll see if I can contact Hisoka."
Nobunaga looked at her confused, "Hey! Wait! Is anyone going to explain anything to me?!"
Shalnark laughed, "Sorry, but if you didn't get it from the information I just gave you, that's your fault. The boss told me not to reveal too much. Anyway, I'm going to talk to that guy some more. See if I can learn some more from him and get him to trust me some more. Later!"
The intelligence gatherer of the Phantom Troupe stood up and walked past Nobunaga. His smile never fading, Shalnark walked passed the curtains that divided the compartments of the luxury train and walked into the other cabin.
Nobunaga looked towards the gone Shalnark, then behind him towards the vanished Machii. He kept looking back and forth down the two aisles as if one of them would give him the answers if he turned in each direction fast and often enough.
Completely confused and at a loss for words.
"Damn it! Can someone tell me what's going on?!"
Claudette opened the door to the Twin's apartment, letting her sister in. Briannaisa moved precariously, balancing a stack of enough steaks, cat foods, and cat toys in her arms to signify obvious Cat Lady Syndrome. But Claudette was a kind person. She didn't want to bring up the fact that Briannaisa definitely had a problem.
Briannaisa wobbled to the left. She wobbled to the right. She teetered backward. Then began charging forward.
She maneuvered the stack of cat materials into a crash, landing onto the table of the bare apartment with success. The brunette raised her hands as if she scored the game-winning point before turning around and placing her arms on her hips.
"All right, where's the baby! Have you been feeding her corr-, hey? Where is she!" Briannaisa said as her bright eyes and smile turned into a glower. She only hung out with the brats so she could play with the snow leopard! Where is she?!
Briannaisa turned to her sister as though she held the answers. She didn't. The blonde woman shrugged, her dress flowing with her movement.
Claudette was wearing her bright dress as she usually did when not working. A sun-yellow dress that matched her hair and eyes. Briannaisa, ever the one for function over form, was wearing a hoodie and stretchy jeans. The older Tao Long sister scratched her chin with all the grace of a gangster.
"Actually, where the hell are those two? They told us yesterday to come around at two pm! What the hell?" she said as she walked around the bare apartment.
Claudette shrugged again as she went into the open kitchen to search for food, before commenting on it being too hot and opening the small window in the kitchen...
As she walked the breadth of the large, empty apartment, Brinnaisa felt a pang of sympathy. She found the Twins annoying, yeah, but they were her friends. She just found it frustrating that two of her closest friends were seven years younger than her. As well as far more talented, while taking it for granted.
But, it's not like Claudette and Briannaisa could find people who understand what it's like to be in their position. The children to powerful people. Few people understood the pressure that was felt living up to parents like theirs. The fact was, as she looked around the sparse, ill-maintained apartment... becoming an adult because you were 'powerful and old enough' sucked. She didn't enjoy seeing people being left to fend off on their own. It reminded too much of her and her sister's time in NGL…
"Jeez. We come and clean up for them and it's still a pigsty," she said as she walked over an empty pizza box, weights, and Japponnese comic books. She didn't know why she expected two teenagers with too much time and power to be responsible, but a person could hope...
"Ow!" she grabbed her foot in pain and looked at the offending item with a glare, "Stupid weights! Kalvin! Clyde! Where are you?"
She continued her journey through the house of teenage independence, "There's like, six bedrooms in this place... Can you come out already- EW!" she kicked underwear off her feet as she continued to walk down a long hallway filled with too much crap for her liking.
Briannaisa heard a noise from the room furthest down to her right. It was the big cat equivalent of a purr, but far deeper and more of a strange roar. She made that sound when she thought they were playing.
The brunette crouched down and smirked. She knew what was happening and strengthened her Ten. A look to her left and then to her right made it obvious she was in the middle of two entrances. The door to where the Leopard was only two doors away.
An ambush. She grew excited…
'Whiiich door are you going tooo~-"
The moment she felt a vibration, she lept. A single bound sent her up into the air, knees tight to her chest as her right hand braced the ceiling as if she was doing a handstand against the objections of gravity. A large, victorious smile spread across her face as the door to her right exploded into splinters as Clyde sprung through it as if it were made of straw. Splinters and some pieces of metal went off in every direction as the enormous teenager closed his arms around nothing but debris and air.
With a grin, she pushed off the ceiling and tried to land on Clyde without hurting him, as she always did when the Twins tried to play fight with the Tao Longs. But, to her surprise, he moved as though he were actually fighting. Moving with precision, ferociousness, and intention as he took half a step back to avoid her counter. She landed on the floor in a crouch and looked at Clyde with confusion.
He was dead serious. A scowl and a glare carved into his face.
"Hey-"
Clyde slammed his massive, stocky right arm halfway through the floor - missing Briannaisa by a hair's breadth as she leaned back with a scowl of her own. She jumped back to gain some space and stared at him in shock.
"Hey! Aren't you taking this a bit to-"
She didn't finish as Clyde roared and pulled up his arm. Along with the floorboard. He launched broken wooden planks at her with all his strength. Not even a second later, Kalvin exploded out of the closest room to the living room like a rubber ball. He bounced around, pinballing against ceiling, wall, and floor as he ricocheted faster than Briannaisa could keep up. The Tao Long cursed as she lifted her arm up to block the debris, pieces of wood hitting and peppering her body.
Briannaisa lowered her arms to reveal a frown and a glare. This wasn't how they normally played around. Something was wrong, but she didn-
Halfway through her thought, a giant Sabertooth Snow Leopard tackled her through a wooden door and into the next room. With annoyance and ease of practice, she rolled with the tackle and tossed the enormous cat and as gently as she could into a nearby bed. Ren ignited all around her as she sped out of the room and back into the hallway.
She saw Kalvin grabbing Claudette and bounding through the kitchen window. Rage burned right through her as she looked towards Clyde, who was halfway through the living room and to the kitchen.
Outside her specialist ability, Claudette wasn't much of a fighter against other Nen users. The Twins knew that and took advantage of it to set up whatever plan that involved kidnapping her. It incensed Briannaisa that they would take advantage of her weakness and friendship.
Her big sister instincts firing on all cylinders as she felt the familiar sensation of fury.
In a single step, the floorboard beneath her collapsed in itself as Briannaisa cleared haf the distance to Clyde. He turned, eyes wide, as Briannaisa came down on him like one of the Furies herself. She was focused and serious as he had ever seen her in his entire life. Not once had he saw her go all out. And not once had he or Kalvin actually fought her at her strongest.
He realized how much he miscalculated. He only had half a second. At most.
She wound back, pulling her right fist back as she flew forward to punch Clyde into oblivion. A short hop, a spin, and slamming of his wrists together was his response as he raised his guard to block the oncoming attack. He gritted his teeth and braced for impact as he activated his rubber form Hatsu, Contortionist's Delight. A shield of muscle, bone, and an elastic bouncing body against the titanic hit that was flying towards him.
His eyes widened in horror. Her fist flew past his right ear and as he hung in the air. Vise like fingers latched to the back of his head.
His world became distorted as he was rotated in mid-air and slammed, face first, into the wooden floor. Floorboard crumbled underneath his face as his rubber-like body did nothing to stop the force that rippled through his head into the rest of his body. Briannaisa bracing the back of his head to stop the teen from bouncing around and dissipating the impact.
Briannaisa sighed as Clyde groaned in pain, mind wavering, falling back and forth into unconsciousness. She stood up slowly from her crouch and turned to the kitchen. There was no way she was going to catch up to Kalvin.
She looked around at the destroyed apartment, then down at back at Clyde. She frowned sadly.
"Damn it, Clyde..."
Briannaisa dropped Clyde onto the green carpet floor of her mother's office. Thick, metal chains that would more than restrain his absurd strength bound the Domo child. A piece of cloth in Clyde's mouth serving as a gag. She sighed as she looked down at her young friend before speaking.
"He won't tell me where Claudette is. Is there a way to bring Zelle here so we can see his memories?"
Clyde squirmed as his face made it plain that he did not or would not consent to have his mind read. Brianniasa didn't care. No one touches her sister.
Evira, Acardi, and the second in command of Red Squad, York, stared at Clyde with disinterest.
"Unfortunately, that is out of the questions. If Mr. Domo finds out we violated his son's mind... there would be very few people who could stop him, as injured as he currently is..."
York stood next to Acardi as he looked down at the boy. A black flat cap on his head, a brown and black sweater vest, and a long sleeve shirt was his outfit. His eyes were covered in folds and wrinkles, making it almost as if he couldn't see past a perpetual old man squint. His natural tan, worn, leather-like skin and grey hair added to his aged appearance. A large, grey, brushy mustache flopped over his lips.
A typical, old, York Shin fogie that anyone would pass over and ignore at a glance.
As any hitman should look.
No theatrics. No warning. Just death.
The short, old man bent a fraction and looked down at Clyde with a smirk on his weathered face.
"Ya' should have isolated Claudette better, had better intel on your enemy, and had a concrete exit strategy. What'd'ya' think, kid?"
Clyde glared at York and mumbled something.
"Hehehe. Yeah, sometimes ya' don't have time, right?
Clyde stared at the man with wide eyes. Briannaisa face turned into a scowl.
"Stop taunting him, geezer. He's in over his head..."
The old man whispered a curse about her and looked away. The brunette glared but said nothing. She refused to get into a fight with York again…
Evira looked over her desk and down at Clyde. He may be the son of her ally, but no one touches her family. On principle as a Don and as a mother.
She turned to York, who turned back to the Don with a placid face.
"From how he's acting, this is a rushed job. The other kids are already here in York New, I guarantee it. Whatever they're goal is, they're trying to do it before your nephew gets here. I'd say they're trying to get leverage for negotiations."
Acardi nodded, "Yes. That's obvious. I can think of several ways they can use her to undermine you. I doubt they would kill your wards-"
"They're my daughters. Remember that, Acardi," Evira said with a glare and a measured voice.
Her advisor nodded, unperturbed. He continued, "Apologizes. As I was saying, they would not kill her. But they may keep her away from you. Claudette and Briannaisa here are in charge of bodyguard and custodial services. While Briannaisa is still here, it we would be-"
"Acardi. Please get to the point."
Acardi nodded, "Yes, I understand. We have several important meetings in the coming months, not even including the Auction. We are already three months behind because of all the resources put into training your nephew. I understand the need to keep him safe against your rivals, but we cannot afford any more inefficiencies."
York chuckled, "I'm surprised you let the Rohan brothers continue to undermine you like that. Your nephew could have had a normal life if they didn't start this whole 'line of succession' shit. I say kill 'em both and be done with it."
Acardi adjusted his glasses, "Do you think it's that simple?"
York tsked before speaking, "I didn't say it'd be simple. But they are, and always been, a thorn at your side Evira. You know Mercutio is itching to kil-"
Evira glared at York, who stopped short. Acardi and Briannaisa stared at the situation in front of them with lukewarm resignment. They knew what was to come. Evira had this discussion countless times with York and Mercutio. It always ended in shouting matches.
Instead, Evira took a deep breath and answered.
"Right now is not the time to discuss this. I agree the brothers should die. But we both know how much resources it would take to rid them. I have plans for them, but right now we focus on what's in front of us," she said calm and collected, but angry right underneath the surface.
York took it as it was: an out from that particular conversation. He nodded, "Yeah, yeah... all right. Right. Mercutio has Marlin and Sparrow out on marching duty, on top of all the regular associates we got. Since ya' got half the fucking Kakin Royal Family marching through this damn city, manpower's low. What the hell is the point of inviting them anyways?"
Evira titled her head as she stared at York. That was for a future she wished to prevent. But that information was beyond the scope of York's duties. York took the hint and sighed.
York scowled and continued, "Whatever the reason, it's like we have seven fucking heads of state walking around damn city. Keeping everyone safe is stretching us thin. That nephew of yours couldn't have picked a worse time to cause trouble."
Evira clenched her jaw. It seems James had a knack for always picking the worst times. But that comes with the territory...
She looked to the three of them, who straightened up when they saw her eyes. That steel stare meant business...
"For now, it's the best we can do. James will arrive in four days. I have a feeling they'll be after Pairo next, but they could go after one of the Princes too. Station a few dozens of associates and have one of Mercutio's men near Pario's at all times."
Evira turned to her daughter, "You know how Killua looks like. See if you can help with the search. If they're in the city, it shouldn't be hard to find them."
The four of them were at a disadvantage. She fought back a smile.
Especially since Killua and company were on the side of a man with tangibly bad luck.
Killua looked up as Leorio with a glare of pure annoyance. The older gentleman was fidgeting in his outfit, wig, and makeup. A grey wig, a grey mustache, and a blue sweater. Three days until James arrived and they haven't found a clue on the whereabouts of Pairo.
As Killua followed next to Leorio through the hustle, bustle, and the crowds of the York New City, he sighed. He didn't like his disguise either: a yellow wig and blue overalls, a checker patterned long sleeve shirt and black shoes. He hated how he looked. But at least Killua wasn't ruining their cover by making it obvious they were in disguise.
"Cut it out, Luca. You'll blow our cover..."
"Easy for you to say! You don't have this mustache! Or this scratchy wig! What is this thing made out of, horsehair?! It doesn't stop itching! Damn it, we've been here for two days and we haven't even found a sign of Kurapika's friend," Leorio grumbled as he completely failed to follow Killua's advice.
Killua frowned and looked to some higher power for help with this idiot. He was paired with Leorio because he had access to Nen and he was the smarter of the two. Same reason why Gon was with Kurapika. He didn't want to imagine what would happen if Leorio and Gon were paired up.
Probably immediatey take off their wigs, that's what...
Killua scanned the crowd subtly as they maneuvered through the concrete jungle. Past panhandlers, pedestrians, and police officers. Drab grey and worn clothes for the first, colorful, garish clothes for the second, and blue and black for the last. To Killua, they all were the same to him.
Enemies…
When you own a city, everyone can and might work for you. Panhandlers became informants, pedestrians, potential foes in disguise, and the police armed soldiers. Not that they were a threat to Killua. But that wasn't the issue. It was their ability to inform someone who was a threat. All it took was one phone call for the Mafia to roll in, guns blazing. He now understood why his older siblings hated the advent of cellphones...
"I thought J- Jay, was supposed to have his contacts help us? So far we've been wandering around blind," Leorio said with a bottom lip firmly up in the air in agitation.
"It can't be helped," Killua said as he continued to around, "Jay can't contact anyone or else he's at risk of revealing the plan. If what he says is true about those maids, then there's no way we can win in a fair fight."
It annoyed Killua. The revelation that the older of the two maids was at least on par with Hanzo without Nen was disheartening. Killua knew from working for Evira that she had several people who might use Nen, one of which being Mercutio. He was loath to admit it, but the man was as deadly an assassin as someone like his brother. Unlike the Zoldycks, the man hated attention or recognition. He tried to be as assuming as possible...
He heard Leorio next to him complain as someone bumped to him. A growl escaped the teenager as Killua turned to see what happened.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" Leorio said to a black man in a blue and white hoodie, jeans, and blue and white sneakers. The man carried himself with lazy confidence as he scratched his head.
"Hey, sorry big man. Didn't see you there-"
Killua squinted at the man, taking in his appearance. A hand in his hoodie pocket, a small black afro, and blue eyes. He looked to be around twenty-six, and about ten centimeters shorter than Leorio. He looked as unassuming as anyone could be.
The hairs on the back of Killuas neck stood up.
Killua's eyes widened as he saw the telltale sign of a person recognizing a target. Pupils dilating slowly. The man was good, Killua would give him that, but that split-second of hesitation gave it away. What the child felt next confirmed it.
The Zoldyck was in Zetsu, and so he felt the flair of Aura far more potently than he normally would. The man was using Nen...
In an instant, he grabbed Leorio and lifted him over his head like he weighed nothing. Then he ran as fast as he could, the world losing shape as he moved to find safety. He felt something squirm in his hands as the surrounding air turned into a wind from the speed of his movement. Something wrapped around his hands...
He looked up to see his arms beginning to be cocooned by the fabric from Leorio's sweater. It became tighter and harder as it wound around the child's wrist, becoming stiffer by the moment. With a curse, Killua moved hands apart and tore the living clothing to pieces before jumping away from Leorio.
The older man mumbled as he turned into a human caterpillar composed of cloth. His thrashing movements and nose poking out between threads were the only sign he was fine. Mostly. But Killua wouldn't be able to grab Leorio as long as whatever ability was binding the man…
"Damn it..." Killua said as he turned to his right. The man was walking lazily towards them, sighing.
"Man... Can you just come with me? I'm not gonna' hurt you guys. You guys are guests, ya' know?"
Killua crouched down as his eyes dilated into something resembling a stalking predator. His Ren flared as Killing Intent drowned the air. Throngs of people backed off from the boy as they felt the unfamiliar sensation of blood lust escape from his body. His fingernails became sharp claws as he flexed his fingers.
He couldn't afford to hold back against a more powerful enemy. Not when Leorio and the plan were on the line. He didn't want to kill, but it was the only way he could see himself beating the man…
The man in blue leaned his head back a little, hands in pockets, and whistled.
"Man. You sure are scary," he said tiredly. His body language and face anything but scared.
The crowd screamed as Killua suddenly disappeared and reappeared before his opponent, hanging in the air as he attacked. A right hand with outstretched daggers barreling towards the man's eyes.
The man moved his head slightly to the left as Killua's hand harmlessly sailed over his shoulder. He didn't even remove his hands from his hoodie pocket...
Killua didn't hesitate. Stab after stab rained forward as fast as the boy could throw. The crowd could only see a falling boy with a wig slipping off his head. With arms that disappeared from inhuman speed. His opponent moving his head and upper body ever so slightly to avoid invisible attacks. The only thing showing anything was happening other than sheer shared delusions was the sharp sound of wind being cut.
The boy landed, wide eyed and in shock. He threw over twenty stabs at the man in less than a few seconds, and not a single one landed. His pupils quivered in fear.
All he saw was a quickly approaching punch hurtling towards his face. It was too fast to dodge...
Gon and Kurapika are in big tr-
The cracking sound of a fist hitting flesh reverberated through the street.
Gon jumped off a vendor's stall as he avoided a Mafia goon lunging in for a grab. The man fell onto the table, crashing through it when Gon landed on the man's back. He didn't even hesitate as he hopped off the man and took of in a sprint. Several others ran past their defeated comrade and chased after Gon with no chance of catching up. Only by sheer numbers were they even any way threatening. The open air-market looked like something out of a dramatic mobster movie as throngs of black-suited men charged the two.
Kurapika danced through the Tao Long Associates as they tried and failed to pin him down. His movements too fast and skillful to be denied as he tore through them. Jabs, kicks, uppercuts. A hurricane of limbs and pain. He propelled a man with a straight right punch through two men other men, knocking over the men like a bowling ball slicing through bowling pins. He jumped through the maze of stalls and people.
'The fact that they attacked us here means Pairo is nearby. But where?!' Kurapika cursed in his mind as he dodged several people who thought attacking a man with the strength of five men was an outstanding idea. They regretted it as they flew back into another crowd of similarly dressed men. It was as if a mob of humanoid ants in suits was agitated by the two Hunters and were being swarmed.
He felt a vibration in his back pocket. With practiced ease, he spun around a goon going for a punch and pulled out the phone. The man fell face-first into a nearby stall as people scattered. Kurapika sprinted past several mobsters as he saw Gon in the distance. It was mayhem, but they had to stick together.
Kurapika ran as he caught up to Gon. He looked down at his phone and nodded before putting it away. He turned to Gon, who no longer had his wig on as he threw it away at the first sign of trouble. Much to Kurapika's chagrin.
"Gon! James just sent me a message with the location of Pairo. We need to hurry!"
Gon nodded as they ran through the market. The entire area was crawling with a seemingly endless amount of men. The moment one man called with suspicions, it was as if mobsters appeared from thin air… and endless reserve of foot soldiers.
Even if they arrived at Pairo's apartment, the Tao Long was making sure that they would never reach the other remaining Kurta Clan Member…
Gon ducked and punched a man in the gut, before turning to his friend, who was currently disguised as a woman. His face dead serious, even at the absurdity of the situation, "Kurapika! We need to figure out some way to shake these guys o-"
The sound of exploding stalls echoed through the area as something started rampaging through the market with reckless abandon. A giant, speeding dust cloud tore right through empty stalls. Sending tables and equipment sailing overhead that fell back to earth as a shower. A shower of debris, pain, and destruction that fell onto countless Mafia associates with no care or regard for them. The lucky ones that weren't immediately knocked out by the aerial bombardment ran for their lives as a peal of rhythmic laughter echoed through the area. Coming from whoever raced toward Gon and Killua at blistering speeds...
Kurapika and Gon began running for their lives as the enemy came down upon them...
Kurapika cursed as a thought crossed through his mind as an avalanche of dust closed in on them.
We only had a day left-
The sound of crashing echoed and pained shouts echoed throughout the market.
I stepped off the yacht feeling amazing. I spun the necklace of flowers around my collar in good fun. Shalnark was good with his word and sent the information on Pairo without issue. I forwarded the information in a text to Kurapika with a cheap phone I got before I left on this voyage of luxury.
Even with all the self-indulgence… something didn't feel right. I walked across the wooden planks of the dock with forced relaxation. Even though I deserved the R&R, it felt all wrong. The tension was eating me up inside…
I didn't receive a text from anyone like I was supposed to. We still had a time, but an hour or two remaining wasn't what I'd call a lot of time or hopeful…
If they met with enemies beyond their capabilities... fuck.
An explosive sigh escaped me as I finished walking across the dock and onto solid land. My good times were gone as I entered the street in front of me. My ride was waiting for me… even though I didn't tell Evira.
There was a scraggly looking man with a five o'clock shadow, black a pinstripe suit, and an actual, honest-to-god, fedora. Not a trilby that some freshmen at my college used to wear before the internet beat that to death. An old-school fedora. This guy looked exactly like a mobster.
The man looked tired, with tired eyes and a tired, long face. Greasy, shoulder-length hair was underneath that fedora of his, but somehow pulled off the slicked-back look. Looking at him reminded me of a Koala, Sloth, or some creature with slow-moving confidence that never matched their appearance or ability. Even his eyes were glassy as he stifled a yawn.
He stood in front of a black car with a sign that had my name on it. Barely holding it up in one hand. I'd peg the car as a Lincoln Continental from the mid-seventies. It looked beat up and used. There was a woman in the driver's seat who looked like a racecar driver combined with an airplane... pilot.
I squinted at the woman with a single, horrified eye. I looked back at the man with incredulity, who stared at me me with indifference.
"I ain't getting in that car. I'll bet money that's Spaolo Forza's apprentice. She looks exactly like that madman." She looks like his gender-swapped doppelganger. A female Racer X mixed with Amelia Earhart, except this woman had long hair underneath her aviator cap.
He nodded his head and opened the door for me, "Don't worry. She's an excellent driver."
I sighed and got in the back. Not like I had much of a choice.
Thirty minutes later and I was exiting the car and moving through the condo I was familiar with. That appeared in all those months earlier. Everything was a blur of movement, anxiety, and tension. They led me around like a presidential candidate with guards stationed around me at all times. The woman (who was as tall as me and yoked like a female body builder) and the man (who was shorter than me, but had was eerily calm) led the way. I felt like the guards were more for my containment than my protection...
Everything moved so fast as I tried to calm myself down. I was only a few minutes away from meeting with Evira, speeding up an elevator with several people surrounding me.
And no phone call yet… not a buzz.
For the first time in a long time, I felt extreme anxiety. The fear for my friends making my stomach flip, my mouth dry, and my chest hard to breathe. I bit the bottom of my lip hard enough I could taste blood.
Why weren't they calling? Were they captured? Did they lose their phone? Were they killed…
Cold sweats hit me as my mind went wild. It was so much easier being the one in danger than worrying about others in danger…
With a ding, the elevator opened, and my mind hit me with sheer, mind paralyzing dread. I couldn't string a thought. Whats going on-
They brought me out to the topmost floor and led to a room that wasn't the room that I met Evira in.
It was an office. Her office. Her real office. But my mind couldn't let me take in the environment in my state. There were people in here, but their faces and details didn't exist to me. All I could see was her... the world wavering around her like a shimmering mirage of terror.
For the first time in a long time… it felt like I was the same person I was three months ago. Without confidence. Alone. Out of my depth…
She stared at me, boring through me with that steel glare of hers. Fear and uncertainty grabbed at my lungs as I stared back with one eye and gave-
Bzz. Bzz. Bzz.
A vicious grin.
