Chapter 7: Tension and Travel
His extended hand and baring fingers coated in his blood paused in the air, unmoving for the little girl of messy orange hair who looked up at him with round green eyes. Like a startled wolf hesitating to bite down the head of the small rabbit who presented herself so carefreely. He was stupefied to silence for a moment, when she made her unhesitant offer to him.
Her baffled companions stood behind her. Neither of them had expected this, of Emma to invite this man. What mind compelled her to have this person join them in their travel, when only a day ago he had attacked them? The person who instigated them to fight, and clearly intends to do so now? Does she think she could reason with this competitor?
No way, Killua was certain. He only knew Gon could be this reckless, and it was as foolish as he sees it. There's no reasoning with a guy like this! What is she thinking?!
The falling rain filled the void of their silence. The endless thick leaves above their head granted by the tall trees their only cover, a becoming chill in the air. Emma remained happily waiting for the paused silver-haired competitor in front of her, unfazed by the shocked reaction all around her.
"...Why would I want to do that?" The bloodied hunter finally spoke. A question that even he was wondering the mentality of this girl.
"We're all trying to get more stars," Emma answered with an upbeat voice. "We only have three days left. My friends and I haven't seen any wild monsters around here, and who knows if all the other areas outside this forest have already been cleared? Don't you think we should work together to find enough stars for all of us?"
"But why should I travel with you?" Garou asked her, "What's Beast Valley anyway?"
"It's where all the monsters of this world come from," she responded before Killua could shout for her to stop. Noticing Killua's reaction, Garou realized that she was telling the truth.
"There are lots of monsters there," she explained, "and not a lot of people know about it. So I'm sure we'll be able to get our five stars if we go there! It's a dangerous place, so we could use all the help we can get."
"And you think I'll help you?" Garou slowly made sense of her suggestion, yet was only even more confused. "What makes you believe I'd do that?"
"No reason, other than that you should."
His jaw dropped incredulously at her blunt, short counter. Gon blinked widely at her back, and Killua was now sure Emma misplaced her head somewhere, a disbelieving twitch under his eye.
"You did take us by surprise the first time, but I understand that you were just uncomfortable for being watched," Emma discloses. "We weren't trying to look for a fight. We didn't mean to spy on you, but that's over now. Let's not fight anymore and move on."
"Move on-?" Garou broke to a wild, disbelieving grin, a furious point at her absurdity, "You got some nerve little missy! You think I'll just let you and your friends off like that? After that kid threw his toy that weighed a ton at me? And that other brat punched me into a tree? And don't think I forgot what you did. You're the reason why I don't even have my stars anymore!"
"And this is my way of making it up to you," Emma said. "I can lead you to get more stars if you still need it."
"And why should I believe you?" He challenged, putting down his hand and pressing the side of his hip with his fist, "How would I know you wouldn't just ditch me at the last second or lead me to a trap?"
"You have my stars," Emma reminded him. "They're yours now, but you can also hold onto them while I lead you to the valley, and get the rest of the stars we're all still missing. I can even give you my last star if you don't believe me."
"E-Emma! Are you sure?" Gon asked her. She nodded to him with an reassuring smile.
"I am. Beast Valley is said to be a dangerous place, so I think we should get as much help as we can and go there together." She turned back to Garou who regarded her with widened eyes, "If I give you my last star though, I want you to promise that you won't attack us, and we won't attack you either."
He recovered quick, and Garou responded, "Yeah? Well you sure got a lot of guts to get me to go with you. What makes you think I won't just take your stars anyway?"
The boys were at edge upon this declare, Emma on the other hand, seemed confused.
"Why would you?" She asked with a mild perturbed frown. "We'll get more stars where we're going anyway. It's not like you need to take ours."
"Well maybe I just feel like it, and it'll ruin your day," Garou stated, a half-based response that even he thought was lame, but he wasn't going to let these rascals off easy. Gon was both baffled and angry at the response, and Killua just didn't know what to think of this man.
What is he a kid? Was all Killua could come to. It sounded more like a deflection than a real response, but if he really meant it, he's even more insane than Killua took him granted for.
"That's not really a good answer," Emma said matter-of-factually.
"I don't need a good answer. I'm not a good guy," Garou emphasized before looking aside, straightening his back and raising his chin a little, "You know what though? That place you mentioned does sound interesting."
She was right how there were no monsters roaming around this forest as before, with yesterday's commotion of other competitors; lashing out their powers against monsters caught him off-guard. He had realized too late, after he left this child alone, he should have rigorously sought out his next hunt when he still had the chance.
There was not even so much as a body left for him to scrape by. Even the Devil Serpent that he fought hard for to defeat was gone when he went to recover it from where he left it, either taken by another monster as food, or some other competitor took it. Maybe both.
He searched all morning then, but besides his first star he collected from the scale of that giant white and black snake monster, he had no luck of getting beyond that one star. Two were now held in his hand, but he would rather bleed out all of his blood or even lose all of his stars again than he would to accept this hand-out.
However, if this Beast Valley place houses plenty of more creatures, then he might be able to recover his stars once more. Hunting monsters wasn't his main interest, getting ahead of this competition and ahead of others was. But having to follow these three kids with two he's especially out to get back at and one who held responsible for his troubling situation, that is definitely not what he had in mind for.
Beating up kids wasn't a priority of his, but if kids like these were tough and willing to fight, then they should expect an opponent who won't show them any mercy just because they were children - he certainly hadn't had those kinds of pity when he was their age. It was a harsh reality, and he intends to be the embodiment of such cruelty.
It wouldn't hurt to know where this secret location is though. To have more stars would be to show off his own skills and proofs of successions. Triumphing this course before the beginning round and besting everyone else, and let all know the name of Garou as a being to be feared and reckon with. By then, when he returns to his world, he will be one step closer in his mission of becoming the Ultimate Evil; the Monster of all monsters.
"How about you tell me where it is?" It was a foreboding tone in the dark hunter's question as he looked down at the girl. Blood painted half of his face as it washes with the rain.
"I can't tell you that." Emma denied giving that information to the very imposing and dangerous looking figure.
Garou tilts his head aside, blood and raindrop dripping from the lobe of his ear, "Why not?"
"I don't know where it is." She said.
He takes a pause. "Didn't you say you were heading there?" He raises a white brow at her.
"I have the location, but I have no idea how to find the entrance. There's plenty of clues, but that could take too long." She then smiled, a daring act in the face of this dark, unhinged hunter. "Only I know how to find it easier."
The tracking device that was hidden in her vest pocket. Without it, even if they knew the sign of finding the entrance with the hints given by the kijins, at this location, it will surely be a prolonging, exhausting task that might take them too long.
"Wait Emma-!" Killua starts to move but Garou's sharp gaze had him stopped at his track. While the dark hunter had his hand down, at any moment he could strike forward and kill their only guide who stood close in front of. Even if Killua could retrieve the Monster Tracker, Gon would not take well to Emma being harmed nor would he want to leave his fight with Gaoru unfinished.
Garou returned his focused gaze upon the girl, "Alright. How do I find it?"
"I can't tell you that either, mister," she said honestly. "If you want to know, then you'll have to come with us."
Emma was playing with fire here, and Garou was sure that she is aware of this. "Why don't I just make you tell me?"
She didn't miss a beat. "Then we would be here all day, and it's not like Gon and Killua can tell you. They don't know either. Only I do."
She stretched her arms out from her sides again, saying with a wide smile. "I guess we'll just have to see which one of us breaks first!"
It was demonstrative, she is just as crazy as the vicious, wounded person in front of her. Gon stared at her in mild awe that he actually found it honestly admirable, and Killua has now see the level of questionable intent to the girl. If she had been the least bit faze by what this man was clearly capable of, she hid it impressively well behind that sunshine expression of hers.
Garou blankly stared at her, this little girl that was like a strange little creature in his view. He raises a bloody finger for her face, "...You got some screws loose in your head, don't you?"
Like he's one to talk... Killua thought with a drop of sweat.
"I'm trying to save my family."
A stillness in Garou's whole posture, his raised finger held in place by the abrupt tackle of the serious statement said by the girl. He looked at her longer.
"I want to get the wish as much as I'm sure everyone else here wants it," she began, "Everyone must have their reason, and I'm sure you must have a wish too, mister. But we don't have to fight each other for it, or why you feel that you should, unless,.."
She regarded him with an intuitive gaze, tilting her head slightly, "Is that the only way you think you can win, mister?"
It was like a bottle just broke over his head. His breath halted as the boys felt a chill crawl up their spine. A frozen stunned expression on Garou for a moment, then a bulging vein of fury at both his temples, threatening to burst more of his blood. His teeth shown in a tight clench that could break, his eye twitching even more.
This little-! His teeth tightly gritted in biting rage it stung his jaw, his eyes absolutely maddened. You know what?! Screw it! I'm hitting this kid! I'm sending her sky high!
He was certainly compelled to, fueled by a rage in him that it took about everything in him to not simply do so, his devil-like grin of a face enough to give any little kid nightmares for weeks.
Life was unfair, it was how it always is. So in order to survive such a life, he had to be just as unfair. He didn't care if he gets called out on it, whether hypocritically so or self-righteously so. He was the monster whose own identity was pushed upon him since he was small, that he decided to wear it proudly, and wage war against the whole world. A tragic life, yes, it is a tragedy.
But he did not need anyone's sad glances like he was some kind of beaten, abandoned, lost puppy. If he gets that sort of look even once, then he has failed his mission, and will have to try harder next time. He will try for that sort of horrified awe and vengeful anger than that embarrassing showcase of sorrow that just makes him seem pitiful than the villain that he is reaching to be.
There was no such pity or sorrow in her eyes though, just curious, wondering about the man before him who had terrified her before, and now seemed so strange she wanted to understand. Yet before she could speak further, Killua spoke up, "Emma. Just give it up. He's clearly looking for a fight."
Emma turned for Killua, "Well I don't want to."
His brow twitched and he starts once again, "It doesn't matter. He-"
"No!" She then said, loud and firmly. "We don't have time to fight! So no fighting!"
"Will you just listen-?!"
"No no no no no! No fighting no fighting and that's final!"
She stomped on the ground in loud demands, sticking by her refusal with an adorably fierce face and flailing arms. Gon and Garou had no response to this tantrum, the hero hunter staring incredulous, and Gon actually smiling in amusement at her high spirited self before he looked down thoughtfully. Killua has just about lost all of his patience with this girl.
"What are you five?!" Killua yelled, pointing at Garou, "Face it! He's not going to be the only guy we'll meet who'll want to start something! This is a competition! Whether you're willing to or not, we have to fight! It's basic survival! I thought you would already know that by now!?"
"I do! And I understand" Emma asserts. "I'm not saying I'm not willing to fight back! What I'm saying is that we don't have to!"
"It's not always going to be that easy!" the young assassin told.
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try!" Emma refuted. "What's wrong with avoiding conflict and making sure my friends don't get hurt? I know you guys are strong! You both are really amazing! But that doesn't mean I can't protect you when I can!"
"Protect-? You're the one who got caught by this guy!"
"Of course I did! He's also incredible! That's why I'm asking him to come with us!" She emphasizes, pumping her arms, "So deal with it!"
Garou sniffed in obvious annoyance as he watched the two kiddos enter in their furious spat again. His own hand still out for the girl, yet none of them seem to pay it or even him anymore mind. It was taking all of his self-control not to just hit one or all of these kids in the head just to remind them that he was still here.
Emma paid no fearful mind to the watchful competitor behind her, nor allow herself to be swayed by Killua's sensible argument. Whether this might doom them, or anything else, Emma is a believer and an activist that would try her might to seek the preferred outcome, if only just to take a chance.
There was no contingency plan, what she simply had with her is faith, and an understanding that they were all people just trying to survive and win.
She faces back to the awaiting white silverish haired competitor, "Mister, I understand that you're angry with us, but you don't have to take my friend's stars, or fight them at all."
Doing his best to calm down as it wouldn't be worthwhile losing his temper over what a little kid said to him when she clearly doesn't have a clue about it, he breathed out a question, wondering what her next choice of absurd words will be, "And why shouldn't I?"
"Well, I'm the one who took your stars, so if there's really anybody you want to punch, then I'll take the hit."
The hero hunter's thoughts ceased once more.
"...e...EH?!" Gon spouted in shock after his mind rebooted upon hearing her casual-said suggestion. "Emma! Y-you can't! His punches seriously aren't a joke! We were only able to handle it cause we had-!"
Killua broke out of his equally blatant stupor. A panicked face as he slammed his hand over Gon's mouth before the other boy could spiel their Nen secret ability to the enemy before them.
"You keep quiet!" Why? Why on earth does he have to deal with two simpletons and a lunatic and be the only one with a stable mindset? The assassin who lived a life designed to kill others, and yet he was completely out numbered in insanity by these people!
Garou seemed not to notice Killua's reaction, his own stupor upon the little girl again.
"... kid, you wouldn't even be able to handle a single tap from me," Garou said, all while wondering exactly what is wrong with this kid's head. He pointed matter-of-factly, "You couldn't even take a poke and I wasn't even trying."
Emma nodded, "You're right. The truth is, you're really strong. You were able to fight that snake monster by yourself, and with your own fists too. Then you survived that man's power, and were still able to run and catch up to us. All that must really hurt, but you kept going. That's pretty awesome, honestly. That's why I want you to come with us, we could use someone as strong as you are."
"Don't think you can convince me with flattery, kid," Garou responded with a bite of air. He's seen enough kiss-ass from students when he was still in grade school in efforts to ease up their failing grade, and seeing teacher falling for that pathetic act, it made him want to vomit.
"I still don't see why I should follow you," he added. "Give me one good reason why I should leave your friends alone and go with you?"
"To help each other," was Emma's unhesitating, simple answer.
A mild rumble in the cloud-filled sky. Garou looked dumbfounded, "...that's it?"
"Is there any other reason?" Emma asked him back. "I didn't forget what you told me before. It's true that sometimes, it can't be helped if we fight, or if we fight alone. I've known many who didn't make it, because there wasn't anybody there who could have helped them."
She thought of all her foster siblings who were shipped away, of Conny, of the children who were murdered by Lewis, every Cattle Children in the Demon World, all who ended up perishing, not anyone around that were willing, or able, to help and save any of them.
Garou caught sound of the knowing tone in her voice, a wonder to what sort of experience she had. He kept his expression stoic and stern, though quiet and listening.
"I know though, or at least I can imagine that most competitors probably have their own grief and sadness. Their hopes and dreams. They all must have a reason for competing, just like I do."
She looked back up at him, "That's why if I can help it, I would want to help them too. We should all help each other, because sometimes, everyone can't always help themselves. I wouldn't have gone this far if it wasn't for my family back at my world, so if I could, I would want to help others too. You don't have to come with us if you really don't want to, but we shouldn't have to hurt each other."
She gestured to her friends with arms stretched back, "These guys I'm traveling with, they're here to help someone back in their world. I'm here to help my family in my world. You might have a wish that's also important too, mister."
She concluded with resolve, "What I'm getting at is that we don't need to compete for just one wish; let's all work together and make all of our wishes come true!"
"And how are you going to do that?" Garou asked with genuine curiosity. He didn't correct her about having a wish, that this girl was wrong for her to think that he does. Indeed, he was not here for that so-called prize, but was here to improve himself with his own sweat and blood and life. For that one goal he wants to accomplish, he shall accomplish it himself. Though it brought him interest to hear what sort of plan did this eleven-year old had.
"I have no idea!" She revealed proudly, like a slap to his face that he stared at her dumbly, "but if we put our heads together, I'm sure we'll figure something out!"
"Are you being serious?" Garou asked her.
"I am! Let's work together!"
Killua sighed heavily behind her. It's no use, this guy is certain not to budge. It was decent that Emma would think she can look for a peaceful resolution, though she went about it the most brash way possible. But it was evident enough, this person in front of them won't let them off easily.
"...Hey mister."
Before Garou could allow himself to fathom the girl and her bizarre words prompted by her weird logic, Gon calmly spoke up, his angered eagerness having softened, a thoughtful look about him as he gained the dark hunter's attention. "If I give up my stars, would you leave us alone?"
Killua whipped his head towards his friend, a long "HUH?!" escaping his appalled expression.
Garou slowly turned his attention towards the hunter in green. "...what?" He stressed. Emma also looked at Gon in surprise.
"I still want to fight you," Gon said his feelings quickly, "And if you don't want to accept her offer, then if I give you my stars, will you leave us alone for the rest of the Preliminary?"
He spoke with resolve, stepping forward, a determined shine in his amber eyes, "Any time, and any day. I'll fight you. If you promise you won't attack us right now until the end of the week, I'll give you all three of my stars."
"You've got to be kidding me..." Killua irritably scratched his own head. He thought he had to worry about only one reckless person in his presence, but then realized that there were actually two of those here with him. At this point, he's completely given up, and decides to just wait and see how this will unravel.
"Y-you don't have to go that far, Gon!" Emma immediately told him. While this certainly might help them quite a lot apart from the promised deal of fighting the man another time, she didn't want Gon to risk his position in the competition.
Gon smiled at her, "But you're right. We shouldn't get sidetracked. Besides, we'll get more stars at the valley. It'll be fine."
He walked to her side, looking up at the befuddled silver-haired competitor sternly, he takes out his patch from the pocket of his green shorts, and held it out to Garou. "Well mister? Do we have a deal?"
Garou regarded them with long bafflement, eyes focused on the three-star patch that was offered to him. He looked back at the boy whose frowning eyes shone, he looks at the girl who was worried for her friend and meeting Garou's wild eyes, that stubborn bravado fading at the personal inclusion of her friend.
He then looked at the boy in white, who was just unbelievably exasperated with his two friends, yet still stood there as he said and does nothing more, given up reasoning with the two unreasonable children trying to appease the battle-hungry competitor.
In a fight when his own defeat and life was at hand, yet the opponent stays his killing blow in some self-righteous spiel or some type of mercy, Garou would not accept it, he would tauntingly call it a lost chance of the fools who made the mistake of letting him live rather than finishing him off.
When he was gaining victory and leave those he has hunted and fought, heroes who thinks themselves justified and criminals who think themselves a better evil, broken and dispirited even if they begged for mercy. He would not accept being spared, he would not accept sparing anyone he sees as his next victim and prey...
But this-
No more fighting! Big brother Bat promised he wouldn't expose me to violence!
Was such a huge killjoy.
From his lower hand, he briskly flipped it back up against the small hand that gripped the patch, slapping it away. Gon's retreated his hand and patch to his side, looking on for the next strike, but saw the dark hunter then reached up for his own white spiky hair. Scratching the back of his own head.
"Damn. I'm just standing here arguing with a bunch of kids. This got dull real quick. Lost all that energy I built up now..." Garou muttered to himself. His sharp gaze returned to the awaiting children, looking at him with confused eyes.
"...Here's what's going to happen."
He raises his bloody finger at them. "I'm going to take up on that offer you made, little girl."
He surprised them greatly with these words, "But I'll be holding onto that promise," he pointed at Gon, "We'll finish our fight another time. You can bet after this preliminary is over, I'll be on the lookout for you kid, so you and your other friend there behind you better be ready."
His pointed gesture returns to Emma, and he flicked forward his middle finger.
A tiny thing shot for Emma, so sudden and too quick for her to react, it bounced off from her head with a small pinch and landed upon her palms that hurriedly went up for her forehead.
Gon and Killua were startled and rushed to her side. Emma grasped the thing in her right hand, she lowers it while her other hand held onto her forehead. Opening her right hand to show her palm, there that had been tossed to her was the golden star she had given to Garou.
"You can keep those stars," however, Garou revealed the second star he still held in between his fingers, "I'm keeping this one though since this used to be mine."
Ignoring their stunned reaction, he then added without an ounce of hesitation, "I'll follow you, but I won't help you. You do your hunt on your own, and I'll do mine. We're just going to the same place, that's all, and you better hold onto your end of the deal. If you try to trick me, or try to get me killed on purpose..."
He pointed at Emma with a chilling, unrelenting glower, "You're the one who's going to pay for it, and I won't be so merciful this time. Got it?"
Emma gazed at him in stunned quietness, a slow rise of the corners of her mouth, her green eyes vibrant with delight, "Absolutely!"
She can at least try to act a little cautious, Garou irked this to himself. He eyed at her beaming face for another moment, his left nostril twitched at a gruff sniff.
Gon and Killua were frozen in place, the hunter in green surprised by this sudden change of mind by the dark hunter, and Killua so stunned he gawked dumbly. First, this opposing competitor wanted to fight, threatened to steal their stars that were also attached to his vendetta of retaliation against Gon and Killua. Now, this man was coming with them just so he can refuse their willingness to give him their stars, but still needed some way to get more of them for himself.
This guy's pride was just ridiculous. He really is acting like such a kid.
Killua looked at Emma when she rushes down one path that was now muddy, trickles of rain pouring from above yet there was enough cover to walk through.
"Come on! It's this way! We need to get moving while we still have time!" She remembered the direction of the ogre and the map of her Monster Tracker, she shall take lead from here once again. "Let's go!"
Gon and Killua regarded her with another pause. Garou was the first to move and followed after her, his walk with his injured ankle much better coped than yesterday, though his stomach was still spurning with a dull pain. He resisted the urge to turn and punch the source that brought about this apparent and gradually increasing abdominal discomfort.
"...What just happened?" Killua asked dumbfound, as if he might have just blacked out from the severe absurdity of their situation that went from bad, to neutral, to really bad, and then back down to neutral like an indecisive meter.
Gon offered a slow, unsure smile, "I guess... we're traveling with him now."
A ruthless and vigilant hunter, more monstrous than man, following with an intense observance towards the head of Emma, who was unbothered by his close proximity, wearing a cheerful smile as she moves on.
They just had to be met with the strangest people in this competition.
"They're even weirder than you are," Killua told Gon.
Too bemused to feel any offense, Gon merely chuckled behind his grin. "Yeah... but then that means they're even weirder than you!"
Touché.
/.\
A resuming hike across the wilderness, littering water from the sky as the chill breezes through the openings of the large trees. They were closer to the edge of the forest, once they leave this place, they will make their one-day travel to their destination. However, the weather was becoming increasingly harsh, and if they leave this forest now, there will be nothing to protect them overhead.
Even with Gon and Killua's Nen ability - Ken, to defend them from the rain, it cannot be held up for the entire day, while Emma did not possess such ability, let alone knew what Nen is to begin with. If either one of the children were to fall ill after enduring this cold wet climate prolonging, their trip will be further delayed, and more than likely, unfit to properly hunt. They will have to take refuge within the forest until the rain passes.
An hour passes since they left with their new traveling not-companion, and the children have found their temporary shelter at an opening beneath a short cliff, boulders stationed at each side as walls, and the top of the cliff extending wide enough to make as their ceiling. Garou refused to follow them in, so the children entered without him.
They set up blankets as their curtains at the entrance, shielding themselves from the cold, humid air. Emma helps Gon set up and start the campfire with some twigs and rocks as their igniter.
Garou awaited outside, far from their company, yet near enough to still remain watchful of their existence. Killua sat beside the entrance as the lookout, peeking through between the boulder and blanket, a wary staring match between him and the dark hunter. The rainfall had since overwhelmed the leaves of the trees and was now clouding relentlessly where they were once traversing on foot, a close call.
"Is he really just sitting out there?"
Emma crawls her way to him on her front hands and knees. This shelter was small, but otherwise manageable for small children like them. Warmth was birthed inside their nature-granted bunker, the light of the campfire bringing an orange glow, and its faint heat a comforting sweater that will dry their damp pieces of clothing soon.
"Yeah," Killua confirmed, returning his sight through the entrance. "He's found himself a spot under a log over there."
Emma slightly pulls aside the blanket curtain, the mild cold of the outside touched her little nose. She looks around briefly until she's found their distant watcher, several feet away from them. He was in a ditch with most of his body hidden, his head shadowed over by a log that was held up by a boulder at one end of the ditch, keeping Garou mostly secured from being soaked by the weather. The sharp glint of his dull gold-like eyes, like a lion watching the three rabbits that hide within their own home, aware of each other's presence.
"He's keeping an eye on us in case we've decided to run and leave him behind," Killua intuitively explained. It was uncertain how far this man would catch up to them, but he felt no confidence in considering it.
"We're not going to run away though." Emma did not share that mindset, her intention keeping true to their deal made with that lone wolfish competitor. "He'll get a cold if he stays out there like that, but I'm more worried about his injuries. It'll be bad for him if he doesn't get it treated."
She starts to think of assembling medicine and bandage wrappings, it wouldn't do any of them good if that man falls into worse shape, and also can hardly imagine the kind of pain he must be feeling. She never saw Garou with a backpack, had he lost it some time ago?
"He'll be fine. Like you said before, that guy's strong," Killua said, and if that competitor does end up keeling over, it will be even better for them. "Besides, it's not like he has any reason to trust us, we're only together until we find Beast Valley. Until then, he'll be keeping his distance from us."
Though remaining worried, Emma retreats her face back to the warm sanctity of their shelter, "He's really stubborn to stay out there in the rain without a fire to keep him warm."
She would have invited that man in, or give him some bandages since it looks like he doesn't have anything to treat his wounds, but he was determined to keep himself from them. She could probably push it onto him, though how that might turn out may risk themselves at another brawl, since he was more than willing to fight them even while hurting.
"Yeah, I get the feeling he's not "all there" upstairs..." Killua leaned back to hid himself from that dark hunter's sight and pointed his own head, exemplifying Garou's. He then turns for their campfire, "I still can't believe you managed to convince him. You know what you did was dumb, right? And you just walked up to him without any care. If he wanted to, he could have just killed you right then and there."
"I don't think so," Emma said confidently. "He might have punched me, which he also didn't do, but I don't think he would have killed me."
"What makes you so sure?"
"He didn't kill me before when he could have."
Gon looked up to them, his hands handling their meals of hunted animal meat gifted by the Kijin clan, cooking them with the fire. "He really didn't harm you at all, huh?"
She shook her head, "Nothing that bad honestly..." Apart from his harsh poking and yanking her around, but nothing of genuine harm.
"Really?" Killua asked, finding it difficult to believe the person they had fought yesterday would have some form of mercy.
Emma huddled herself close, bringing up both her knees, "He told me that since we're competitors, we would have to fight each other. I told him I didn't want to, and... he kind of just left me alone. He might have wanted to hit me. He could have, but didn't."
She rested her chin on her knees, eyes softening with a solemn sadness, "He reminds me of someone else. That someone, when my family and I first met him, he wanted to get rid of us. He was an orphan like me, and was one of the other cattle children who escaped the farms. When they tried to look for a way to get to the Human World, he lost his whole family, and was all alone for so long. He must have hated seeing my family, because it reminded him of his own. He wasn't a bad guy in the end, even for all the times he led us to danger, he was just in so much pain."
She looked at the boys, "I don't know anything about that man outside, but I think deep down, he's not all bad. He did bad things like attacking you guys and that competitor we saw, but... There was just something about him I've noticed a little. He's... I'm not sure how to explain it. It's like, he's not as harsh as he acts."
"His hits sure felt like it," Killua rubbed his cheek as he remembered his fight with that dark hunter, even with his Ken to defend most of the heavy attacks, that competitor's strength was enough for those punches to still be felt. Without knowing how to make his aura into an invisible armor, he and Gon would surely have had suffered broken bones.
Gon looked down in deep thought. "You know... I think you're right, Emma."
She and Killua looked at his way in surprise. "What? You think so too?" Killua asked the boy who just moments ago wanted and was ready to fight with that dangerous competitor. "What makes you say that?"
"You didn't notice?" Gon asked back. "He did try to hurt us, I think he realized that there was something protecting us from most of his punches that would have hurt badly if it reached us fully, so he kept trying to make his punches stronger. But even when he did, even when he tried to keep us down, he never attacked us like he really wanted to kill us."
Killua considered his friend's word, and thought back their fight against that competitor, remembering every move made. While certainly that man's attacks would leave anyone badly beaten, they weren't inflicted to be deadly, only detrimentally. He realized then that Gon was right. Looking back at it, none of that man's punches and kicks were done in a way that would have been better inflicted if they were intended to be fatal. Did that guy go easy on them?
Or maybe since he wasn't sure how to break through their Ken, he was only testing how strong of an attack he has to give in order to best them. With that last thought to consider, they can't be sure if that man wouldn't have intended to kill them if he had successfully broken through their Ken.
"That reminds me!" Emma suddenly said with perked eyes, "I've been thinking about it for a while. How are you guys so strong? I didn't think it was possible for kids to be that tough and stand against someone older like that guy. I mean, I can probably understand Killua, since he was raised in a family of assassins, but what about you Gon?"
She remembered his story of capturing the Lord of the Lake at his home island, how on earth did a boy so young be able to pull in a baby-whale size creature just by himself?
"Me and Killua trained a lot," Gon answered, smiling at the memory. "I've fished and hauled in big catches back at my home island, and would run or climb around the forest almost every day. I've always been active since I was little."
So was I, yet even Emma did not think she would be so strong as to pull in such a large haul just by herself, she would need her whole family for that. If she had been that strong, she would have punched down that wall surrounding Gracefield and they would have noticed that cliff much sooner. Although, that would have been far too conspicuous, and mama would have surely found out. Maybe simply being able to hop over that wall that was taller than even the trees would be enough, but she digress.
"There was also something you guys did," she added with a bit of insistence to know more about her new companions, "I didn't see it clearly, but I kind of felt it."
Like needles prickling her skin and goose bumps to crawl her skin. "There was something that happened when you were fighting that man. That last big punch from Gon for example. What was it?"
She's perceptive, Killua noted. Air-headed as she was, to notice something that much about them, and be direct enough to ask them rather than logically dissuade herself that it must have been her imagination, she was actually smart in this way. Perhaps she was the sort of person who had the instinctual sensitivity to notice strong aura, an individual of perceptual aptitude.
"Oh. You must have felt us using Nen."
Killua looked at Gon, surprised at the casual telling. Emma blinked a few times, "Nen?"
"You want to tell her?" Killua asked for certainty from the other boy.
"Sure. Why not? She's been helping us this far. Also, it would be better that she doesn't have to worry about us if she knew," a very sound reasoning that supported the simplicity of Gon's way of thinking. Killua had to nod in agreement. It would be well that she knows. The young ex-assassin looked out through the entrance again, that white silver-haired competitor was still a distance away and eyeing at them, it should be fine so long as that person doesn't overhear this.
"What's Nen?" Emma asked Gon, curiosity flickered in her verdant eyes, reflecting the orange light dancing from the twitching flames of their campfire.
"Well, let's see, how did our teacher Wing explain it to us...?" With a moment to organize his thoughts, Gon then answers Emma his and Killua's knowledge of the power they have been training with for quite some time now.
Nen. The ability to manipulate one's life energy, otherwise known as "aura". All living things have aura that grants them their life, and so all living things are capable of manifesting the technique of Nen. Non-Nen Users are people whose aura continuously leak from their bodies, thus causing them to age as it would be deemed naturally.
However, when a person uncovers the ability to control the "leakage" of their aura, they are able to slow down the aging process by several decades or more, and with vigorous training and the contribution of a person's character, the user will be able to morph their aura into a weapon - this is what Nen is.
There are several complex varieties of Nen, but Gon covered only the basic, as that was as far as he was only capable of without Killua to assist him. Essentially, Nen-Users can strengthen their bodies by infusing their Nen into themselves, and use their aura for means of attack, defense, or any other task to comply with the Nen-users wishes. Gon explains in basic form that he had infused his fist with his aura, a time-consuming ability with destructive results. He called this Nen ability: Jajaken.
Gon admits he came up with the name on the fly when he met an opponent who demanded to know the name of his signature move. Killua called it an unimaginative piece of zero effort, which he still makes fun of Gon for. The first "Ja" was actually a stutter, but his opponent at the time mistook it as part of the name, and Gon decided to go with it.
"Turning your aura into a weapon..." Her great amazement dazzling in her expression, Emma then turned to Killua. "Then, did you also used your Nen?"
Killua nodded, "Yeah. It was supposed to stun the guy, but I didn't think he'd be immune to electricity."
"I didn't see anything electrical though..." Emma said, frowning.
"Nen can only be seen by other Nen-users," the young boy in white added. "Few people can actually tell it's there. For a lot, it's practically invisible. All Hunters from our world knew how to use Nen, my family knew too, but not everyone knows about it. It's kept secret from the public so to keep really bad people from knowing how to be even more dangerous. Learning Nen can be tough, and who knows, there might be other competitors here who could use something like it."
"Wow..." Emma said. "That's really awesome..."
So humans could indeed be so powerful. She wondered how it could have been, if she and other humans in her world, would have learned Nen? Would they have had a better chance against the demons? Would the demons also know Nen? If so, then it would have left the war between Humans and Demons at an impasse, except with a greater body-count than it already was long ago in her world.
But she wondered if humans had not known how to have the power to make them stronger, but they had later on, wouldn't that make a whole world of a difference? Wouldn't it keep her family much safer and much ahead of those who desired to drag them back to their kennel?
With that kind of power, the last she would want to do with it is to kill, but if it can be used to protect her family...
"It really does sound like it, huh?" Killua said. "It helped us get out of a lot of situations. We wouldn't have survived long as Hunters without knowing Nen, it was basically a requirement."
"Which makes that guy we fought really, really strong!" Gon said, although previously holding a grudge against that dark hunter, his eyes were vibrant with impressed. "People who don't know Nen wouldn't have been able to fight against someone who does. Our teacher Wing tells us that normal people wouldn't survive a direct Nen-based attack."
"So for that guy to not be dead even after Gon hit him with his Jajaken," Killua said, "He really wasn't someone to mess with. I hate to think how he'd be if he did learn Nen."
It was a thought that actually made him and Gon shudder inside. Emma looked out the blanketed entrance for the unseen dark hunter, in quiet contemplation.
/.\
The sky darkened as the rain continues. Garou took a guess that it was getting close to nighttime. He settled in a ditch that allowed him a clear view of the small shelter the three young competitors took house in.
The rain and cold temperature was not a bother to him, he had once for a while took training at the mountains during the coldest of climate after his Master banished him from the dojo.
He had lived the life of a bum, the most freed way of living, and took to harsh environments rather quickly, though not easily. This weather was easy to relax under, though he remained on attentive alert for if the children competitors were to move at any moment.
A rumble of lightning in the cloud-filled sky with a faint flash of light, it prickled his skin from his heightened senses to the vibration of the sound. He remembered getting struck by lightning once.
Wasn't a pleasant experience. Pretty sure he passed out and probably died until he was brought back, and they say lightning never strikes twice. He was certain God was trying to get under his skin.
Well too bad for the Man in the Sky, the hunter of heroes was still kicking, and shouted just as much with a hardy boisterous laugh, regardless of how it made him look. There wasn't anyone around to see anyway.
"Ngh..." He grumbled, rubbing his stomach. This had been the longest pain he had to endure, over a day and it was still throbbing underneath the skin of his abs, it was starting to concern him. He probably just needs to keep sleeping it off, it usually goes away like that, at least until he catches something big to fill up his stomach, that'll do away the injury real quick, by ceasing his hunger.
When the surroundings became so dark that it was certain night had come, he lies against the dirt. He made sure he could keep his focus on the children's whereabouts. That kid in white might throw him off with that disappearing presence skill, and it's likely that the other boy could do it too.
That girl didn't seem to know it though, she would have done it while she had the lead before Garou had caught up to her. He will just have to pay close attention to her specifically, and those other boys should undoubtedly be close.
He'll know immediately if they decide to run or even sneak away from him. Garou is always a vigilant man, far more vigilant than those shameless heroes who get drunk on a whim than being worried about any ambush or attack from either criminal or monster, and those drunks are the heroes people rely on. It was disgusting.
Rolling to his side, he sighed out deeply through the mouth, holding onto his stomach as he takes his rest. The endless drops of rain prattling against the log above his head, like a hollow melody of wood being beaten lightly.
/.\
Day 5.
The rain stopped. Morning sun streams like glorious angled curtains made out of light showered the entire forest. Emma, Gon, and Killua woke up, Garou popped his back with a single stretch, a sweet relief to his spine, though not as sweet as his still apparent stomach-ache. He really ought to punch that kid in green just one time. He'll have his vengeance one day.
Stepping out of their shelter, Emma's eyes adjusted to the luminous daytime. The sky was cleared and very blue. Forest animals delighted their noises in good mornings. Emma stretched her arms as Gon and Killua followed in suite.
"Alright!" She turns to her group. Gon picking up and putting on his backpack. Killua putting away the last of their things and regarded her with a cool, yet friendly gaze, his pale hands in his pocket. Garou held the side of his neck, a pop at the slight tilt of his head. He was less bloodied now, taking advantage of the freshly fallen rain that made into a puddle beside the foot of his ditch and washed himself most of his own blood away (it was incredible how he didn't seem to develop pneumonia). A short roll of his shoulder that lets out another crack before his narrowed gaze heeded her.
"It'll take us a day to reach where we need to go. If we hustle, we might be there just before tonight, and we can get to work the next morning."
Two days remained. They must make their efforts count this very moment. "Let's do our best!"
"Osu!" Gon shared her enthusiasm. Killua nodded before cautiously side-glancing at Garou, who felt his eyes and send back his own suspicious glare.
They then began their trek towards an exit out of this area, and to the hidden place where endless bounty awaits.
Collection of Point Badges.
[Emma: 2 stars.]
[Gon: 3 stars.]
[Killua: 3 stars.]
[Garou: 2 stars.]
Number of badges required: 5 stars.
The hunt was on for this group of four.
/.\
They had reached the edge of the forest. Climbing over one final, massive root that was the size of a house, the children slid down until their feet touched upon the grassed ground, Garou stood above them, glaring down at the three youngsters, and taking heed of the new plain they were entering.
It was a massive field. Nothing but grassy hills, and few flowers everywhere. A grassland. From far away, the dark blue silhouette of mountains. Judging by its distance, it'll take a while to reach there on foot. The little girl mentioned how it was a day-long journey, which would leave them only two days to gather five stars in time. This day will be spent trying to get to the place where these children are going for, and likely longer to seek out the entrance to this valley.
Glancing down at the children who were discussing amongst themselves. Garou was certain the little girl had checked something from her vest pocket before looking up and spoke to him, informing him that they are going to start jogging straight ahead, an essence to their vigilance.
He watches them start running ahead, the two boys catching up with her in ease. Hopping down from the root, he leisurely follows after them with long steps, if they think to escape him now, he most certainly will not allow them to. He has his intention to keep a close eye on them.
/.\
They traveled across the seemingly endless, serene field. A beautiful clear blue sky, as if the rain yesterday never happened. One would think that this would be an opportune time for monsters to be apparent here, but at a closer inspection, as they walked across the hills, they found no sign of monsters, but evidence of battle. Meteor-size impacts to the ground, trenches that were carved unnaturally by some kind of a large sharp weapon, other sights that were blackened from burnt, or lay shattered of the earth, and all other things from the aftermath of a demonstrated ability from several competitors.
Emma was marveled by it all, and wondered endlessly what other sorts of abilities do the other competitors have, like Gon and Killua, or like the young mister following behind them, who used extraordinary fighting styles she was sure was martial arts, and only knows of it from books.
But his strength and attacks were so swift, quick, and powerful, was it based on some other strength like what Gon and Killua relied on? Or were they really from his own humanly capabilities? If so, how? How could he have achieved such awe-struck strength and speed? Or that man with the explosive touch? How were they so strong?
Maybe it's different for people living in other worlds, Emma considered. She would have liked to seek that kind of strength had she known it was possible to do so, just for how cool it was. Maybe she would have had the power to carry that bazooka she saw at the underground shelter hidden weapon storage.
Though personally, she preferred a peaceful life, but wouldn't mind being that strong either. Just like how she saw mama to be...
/.\
They ventured on. For several hours, rarely do they stop for only a brief minute. The nice peaceful scenery, though rather uneventful if unaccounted for the lingering looming presence that kept himself at a certain distance, not too far but not too close, as he observed them in follow. Emma was not as disturbed as Gon and Killua were wary, holding her Monster Tracker in both hands.
"-I remember this one time, there was a holiday mom introduced to us called Easter. She made an activity where everyone has to find one-hundred eggs. All of us wanted to find the most eggs, and it was really fun looking for them," Emma idly tells an old memory of her time at the Gracefield House. They ought to fill the rest of this long trip with some conversation. "Me, Norman, and Ray were able to find the most, but there was one egg was that still missing. We all decided to work together then and searched the whole forest until it got so late. Norman ended up finding it hiding in the library, he was always so good at finding things."
"That's really cool. My aunt Mito and I painted Easter eggs and left them outside our houses as decorations. Wild animals would sometimes think they were real eggs and would try to eat them or take care of them. It was kind of funny," Gon told his story, a wonderful smile at the recollection, "Those eggs were so much fun to make, we made a lot of them! Aunt Mito was the best painter!"
"Mm," Killua hummed, "I never did any of that stuff, my family was never interested in holidays."
"Well then we definitely have to show you!" Emma insisted.
Gon immediately agreed with her, "Yeah! We should! We could find some eggs or make some shells ourselves and paint over them!"
"It's fine guys," Killua dismisses, "It doesn't sound like anything I'd be into anyway."
"We should still do it!" Emma asserted, Gon nodding along. "It'll be fun! You'll see!"
"You know, you really are pushy," Killua told her. "Does your family ever tell you that?"
"Sometimes, but I think of it as encouragement," Emma responded. "But anyway, you should really try it!"
"I'll pass," Killua disregarded with ease.
Garou remained watchful as the three child competitors talked without a care in the world. He'll let them have their blissful moment, but once they officially enter this competition, it's fair game between them. He side-glanced the area that had traces of furious engagement between strong opponents of various abilities. Opponents whom he should be more careful to cross, less he would have himself at the end of a powerful fist from the unassuming, or suffer that short-handed result against that man with the deadly touch.
Remembering that encounter which his wounds were still healing from, Garou still couldn't believe that such a technique existed. A skill that made his skin crawl, and muscles explode as it did. To cause people's bodies to implode at a simple graze? It was a terrifying ability that would shake the entire Martial Arts community, if not the entire world of which Garou hailed from.
Garou had barely noticed what was being done to him, he wasn't even sure even though he had realized something was happening between his quick assault, but mistakenly thought it to be that man's poor attempt to defend himself. He never imagined it was just pokes, and he'd never imagined what would have come from it. And to think, if what that man was being truthful, that technique was used with just a small percentage of power. He wouldn't have likely survived at its fullest, this he had to suspect and admit if he is to somehow overcome it.
How would I fight against someone that can kill me up close? Garou pondered. If direct contact will only promise severe damage or death, then he would have to keep his distance, use range attacks somehow. Throw some rocks or boulders if he has to, even swing a tree at him. It was a cheap tactic, but against that sort of ridiculous fighting style, he had to make do with anything he could to win.
It was unfortunate that he wasn't able to get a good look at how that man imposed that ability of his, he wonders if he even wants to learn it. Such a messy outcome was far more than the opponents Garou has left bleeding and limbs decapitated, a single touch not only means an eruption of the human insides, but also instant death at the precise inflictions.
One touch would mean an automatic loss for those under the pointed mercy of that finger. It was such a ridiculously unfair power Garou wanted to laugh as if to cry.
These competitors seriously are the real deal, Garou thought to himself, even stronger than most of the heroes I've fought.
This is just what he needed. This what he has been hoping for. If he could defeat every strong opponent he comes across in this competition, witness others fighting abilities he can copy and impose, he'll be capable of facing against every hero in his world, against the S-Class heroes: King, Terrible Tornado, and even the top dog himself - Blast. To endure this competition, he will become the strongest monster.
Boom...
A sudden subtle sound grasped his attention, clipping his instincts with a subdued shrill. His thoughts erased and dropping his eager smile, he stopped, turning his head fully towards one end of the forest and as far as he could see the field. A faintest, vibration of something fallen upon the earth. Nothing was seen, however. Just more shapes of the distant mountains. A few birds suddenly flew from field, startled to flight, though only he witnessed this.
He heard ceased steps from the children and looked back. Gon had stopped, curious eyes looking at the very same direction Garou was. Had he felt something too? The boy in white and the girl of orange hair continued their walk, neither of them seemed to have noticed, only those with the strongest, instinctual animal-like senses as honed as Garou's and Gon's could have caught it. It was a very far away sound, beyond several dozens of miles at least, as if something heavy from the other side of the horizon had hit the ground.
"What about Children's Day?" Emma inquired to delve into Killua's knowledge of holidays. Living in the sort of enclosed life as she had, she has only ever known a few holidays.
"Ah. I've heard of it," Killua answered. "Don't really see the point of it. What do you even do on that day?"
"I don't really know. I didn't get it either, but mom wanted to do it for some reason and we all just followed along. We made white helmets out of paper and ate rice cake."
"That sounds like something only little kids do."
"I mean, we are kids..."
Gon snapped his focus back to the leading children and he hurries after them. Garou paid longer attention to that one direction he felt a sensation from, his eyes narrowing for a moment before then proceeding his follow of the younger competitors.
/.\
It was a relatively dull trip, which Emma did not mind at all. Under normal circumstances, it would be most welcomed, but a lack of monsters is a sign that all the other competitors have indeed cleared this grass field area as well, and with what they have seen of other holders are stars, more than five are indeed being collected. It seems rather excessive that so many would hunt over more than what is required, perhaps there were multiple reasons, or perhaps the other entrees were just that competitive.
When day went and night came, they were much closer to the mountains, its snow-top region and colossal size that reached hundred-thousands of meters, a dirt plain with forests surrounding the territory. Emma, Gon, and Killua take rest beside a small cliff. The grassland that they traveled through long behind them and could be seen at a distance, in between them and the grassland was a red-brown stone field that stretched for several miles and shone under the moonlight like a frozen glow-tinted sea, cracks of the ground for its lack of hydrant sources, with only a few green shrubs in small sizes at some places.
Garou was near, though he went somewhere without giving a reason. Emma had thought to share their food garnered by the kindness of the Kaji clan, but a quick glance at the returning dark hunter and he found him carrying over his shoulder a dead cougar of all things, the first she has ever seen.
Her monster tracker was unable to detect other life forms including wild animals, so while it was evident that he had hunted the creature for himself (she never thought eating a cougar was a thing people of other worlds do), it was helpful that he had looked out for any wild animals that would have taken Emma by surprise, with much amazement that he had done it with his bare hands.
Emma stared as Garou walked to the other side of the cliff, until Killua ushered her the food that was done cooking by their campfire, offering her a stick the held small chunks of beef meat. Taking the stick, she thought of the monster clan. It was fortunate that she was able to convince that dark hunter to come.
If that man hadn't been appeased, she worried that he would have eventually discovered the Kijin clan if he had remained in that forest. Whether he would have fought all of them for just one star he can only achieve per different monster, it was a safer bet this way to keep them allusive. She hoped that the Kijin clan were recovering well, even though, if it is true, that they would disappear by the end of this Preliminary, everyone should be allowed to live their lives in peace.
"You should leave him alone," She heard Killua said to her as she takes a bite out of the beef, and eyed him curiously.
"You heard that guy, he doesn't plan on helping us while we're traveling together," the young assassin further mentioned, "It's also obvious that he isn't interested in getting to know us."
He takes a bite of his food as Emma thought over his saying. "Even with our aura as shields, his punches still hurt," he added. "You kind of did us a favor actually, that guy was far from normal from what Gon and I could tell, and we've seen a lot of strong people before, and they had their Nen. We'll have to be careful and keep an eye on that guy."
Gon then looked to Emma, "You've been so willing to help us this far. I'm really grateful. We'll help you get the rest of your stars and get you to help your family, definitely."
Emma graciously smiled, "Thank you. I'll help you guys as much as I can also. We'll figure out a way to share the wish later, for now, let's win this preliminary."
"Tomorrow's the sixth day," Killua reminded, his eyes focused on this very fact, "We'll have to hustle, rest while we still can and start before sunrise."
Emma and Gon agreed and resumed their eat together under the star-filled sky, chewing their food as Garou behind the cliff ate the leg of his captured predator turned prey in lone content.
/.\
A little trail of white-gray smoke rises from the put-out fire of the cooling branches. Emma laid against the cliff on her side, her eyes half-opened slowly, turning on her back. The sky was still dark, the crescent shape moon behind a cloud at the closing edge of the horizon. She hears the soft snoring of Gon at the other side of the campfire, and Killua silently sleeping on his side near her beside the cliff. She looked over to the boys, seeing only Killua's back and Gon's peaceful expression.
She quietly sat up, rubbing her cramped neck and rolling her shoulder that had been pressed against the hard surface of the ground they laid on.
She stiffened at a low grumble somewhere behind her, turning to see nothing there, but her mind immediately reminded her of their distant, barely non-hostile associate who was traveling with them. She quietly stood up, careful steps so as not to wake the boys.
She walked around the cliff as she continued to hear strained noises of minor pain.
"Maybe I shouldn't have eaten that cougar raw..." She heard. When she reached the other side of the cliff, there she saw their joined traveler sitting on the ground, slightly hunched over. The muscles on his dark back could still be seen even under this low-lit night, his black shirt of torn places from his exploded wounds.
He stopped his complaint as soon as she saw him and turned his head, his sharp eyes like a pair of tiny gold lights that stared right at her, an animal of silver hair in the midst of darkness. Emma immediately stopped all movements, locked by his gaze that sends a shot of fear through her veins, fleeting but a lasting impression.
"A..." She started, her voice at first quiet, "Are you okay?"
He stared for another moment, "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
Emma was startled by his diverted question, rubbing her fingers, "I heard a noise. Are you still hurting? I have some medicines." Healing medicines that were natural-based, as taught to her by Sonju and Musica.
"Don't need them." He returned looking at the open, vacant land.
"Are you sure? I don't think I've seen you wrap up your wou-" Her eyes trained at his figure once more, and they widened, "Wait. Are your wounds healed already? H-how...?"
Looking at him longer, through the torn open places of his shirt, his flesh was fully repaired. Not a drop of blood or even healing bruises that usually comes from such a trauma to the body, as if he never received devastating attacks. It stunned Emma. No human could heal that quickly. Was it an ability of his? Was he something other than a human after all?
Garou scratched the side of his head through the white spike of his hair, he didn't really like this sound concern as if he was a wounded puppy, "Just needed something to eat and I'll be good to go." Aside from the stomach ache but that'll pass, hopefully.
"O-oh? That's... really amazing." She's heard how enough nutrition would benefit the body's development, but she never thought it could be this instantaneous.
He looked back at her, observing her quietly like a perched wolf, attentive.
"I'm Emma, by the way," The little girl said. "The boy with dark hair is Gon, and the other one is Killua. Can you tell me your name, mister?"
"...Why would I?"
He directly stated like it was a dumb question he answered to, less that he was being intentionally rude, like affirmatively uninterested in sharing his lunch that was rightfully his.
"Why not?" She asked him just as direct, blinking.
He turned fully, remaining seated as he pointed at her, "Look. I'm still angry at you, kid. I'm barely tolerating your friends as it is. No offense, but I'm not looking to be chummy with someone who punched me in the gut and lost my stars."
"But I want to know more about you mister," Emma insisted. "Like... what kind of fighting was that? That you did against that snake monster?"
Garou at first thought to deflect before catching his interest at her question. "You've never seen Martial Arts before?"
"Oh, is that what it was? I've only heard a little bit of it, and only in books. Our Mama - or, our caretaker at the orphanage, didn't really like for us to learn it," it was most likely so that neither of the children, as precious products, would hurt themselves or each other to the point of damage, or know even the slightest knowledge of self-defense so to be less of a struggle when they were being taken for shipping.
"You're an orphan?" He craned his head to the side in added curiosity.
Emma nodded, "There's several other kids there beside me," she held her hands together as a sweet clutch at the mention of it, "We weren't related by blood, but I think of them as my family. Do you have a family?"
There were two that took the role of parental figures. One, a father, one, his Master. The memories resurfaced like a passing leaf, of enduring moments that indulged in hardship, as well as peace.
"...Used to. Not any more," Garou answered without a hint of emotion, keeping hold of his expression to a stale as he eyed away and stared at a tall blade of grass briefly.
"Oh. I'm sorry..." A hurtful look as she heard that, several reasons could have lead to the meaning of his answer, but the idea of no longer being with a beloved family was the saddest thing to imagine by the girl.
And Garou did not like the look of it at all. He just gave an answer, he didn't want to be pitied by it. "Not like I'm the one asking what your personal life is like."
"You asked if I was an orphan though."
"...That's different," he asserts after a blank pause, and no elaboration to justify how it was, "and you're the one who gave it away."
"It's fine for me if you asked," she offered quaintly.
"Well I'm not going to," Garou denied it, grabbing his waist and leaned sideways, looking right behind her, "Especially when someone's eavesdropping."
"Guh-!"
Emma spun around at the sound of two voices behind her. Gon showed his head around the cliff, "How did you know we were-?!"
"Don't just show yourself!" The unmistakable voice of Killua as pale hands pulled Gon's shoulders back into hiding, pointless as it was.
A dispassionate glare from Garou, his grudge against those boys still very apparent, "We're still competitors, getting friendly won't end nicely for any of us. Better keep that in mind, and not just with me."
He gestured with waving fingers around the other side of the cliff, "Now get some sleep, we'll be on the move at dawn. That's what you said. So you better have enough energy to get us where we need to go."
Emma regarded him momentarily, arms at her side with a thoughtful look.
"Alright, but I'll still want to know more about you, and you can ask anything about me too if you want. It'll be important if we're going to help each other, so you should be a little closer when we go search for the entrance to Beast Valley."
She starts back for the cliff, "Good night," she added pleasantly. Garou had his gaze at her small back until she rounded the corner of the cliff. He then sat back down. Lying on his back with his arms crossed behind his head, and stared up at the stars.
If she was just an ordinary civilian, he might have been a little nicer, but they were competitors, and he cannot be careless around potential opponents, just as he had been with those boys, and others he came across. Such was the way of this harsh reality, the way which he himself despised. The common reality of life and the world he will one day turn over its head.
/.\
"Ow!" A hand chop to her head, gentle but hefty enough that it would hurt. Emma grabbed the top of her head, looking on in startled pain and a muffled shriek, confused round green eyes blinking at Killua.
"What do you think you were doing?" Killua demanded from her. "Geez, you really don't listen, do you?" She and Gon really are just too alike.
"That was a little mean..." Gon said about his friend's action and puffing his cheeks in offense to Killua's jab at him.
"Yeah right, I was being nice," Killua declared in deadpan.
"I was just talking to him..." A complaint from Emma as she rubbed her head suffering in soreness
"Yeah? How did that go?" Killua asked.
Her face turned determined and her words were firm, "Really well! I'm sure it'll be better tomorrow."
"You..." He sighed, rubbing his head. "Whatever, come on. Let's get some sleep, we still have a few more hours. If getting into Beast Valley might lead us to monsters immediately, we all better have enough energy to fight."
Emma and Gon nodded in understanding. They moved to return to their sleeping spots, Emma still holding onto her head as she sourly mumbled her hurting. Killua watched them go, though his eyes turned serious as he looked back to the direction of where their thus far non-hostile wolfish competitor lie.
He knew that we were watching, even though we were using Zetsu... The ex-assassin boy was outwardly collected, but a chill had traveled up to his spine. That guy... he really is dangerous...
A/N: I will now be answering questions.
Maxim7: Hi Maxim7. Yeah! Garou is a beast under life-threatening cases that makes him even stronger before, but I think that since Kenshiro's technique was so baffling and it kept him down, he needed a short time to get used to it and cope with his damaged joints before he would be ready to fight back with his all, which he would know was risky if he is touched again by Kenshiro.
He would have definitely forced himself to stand up even with damaged joints and fight for his life if Emma didn't use the Flash bullet, which led Garou to take this chance to fall back and away from the deadly fighter, re-thinking his approach to fight Kenshiro another day.
If Garou had seen how Kenshiro used his technique, Garou would try to copy it, but because Kenshiro was discreet, Garou barely noticed and didn't see. He'll likely experiment the trick of getting people's muscles to blow up. It was read in Fist of the North Star, one supposed Genius fighter there - the Toki imposter, tried to mimic the technique but with failing results.
Garou would call this imposter a "hack of a genius", and personally I believe he would have better results imposing the Hokuto No Ken, although it will take several trials and errors with the use of dummies as his targets, as Garou wouldn't want to carelessly blow people up. He leaves so many people he's fought bleeding and beaten and broken and all kinds of messed up, but I think even he would see the Hokuto No Ken at it's fullest potential to be a bit too messy. (Also another reason, which is a defining trait of Garou.)
I hope you've noticed that hint with Garou complaining on the tree in Chapter 5 and in this chapter as well. If you remember Hunter x Hunter when Gon and Killua fought Rammot during the Chimera Ant Arc, after Rammot got hit with Gon's Jajaken, he suffered a long while afterward until his nen was unlocked. Essentially, if the person who faces a Nen-infused punch and survives, their aura unlocks.
Since Garou is such a badass with insane pain tolerance, he's gonna push back the pain like a total champ for a few more days until he can't anymore, and then... well, we know what will happen.
I guess you can say that Gon's Jajaken was still affecting Garou when he decided to face Kenshiro. Garou was not at his 100%, and if no one is at 100% against Kenshiro, then even against Kenshiro at his 1%, it would have been a hopeless battle to land a devastating hit at the manliest man of all anime men, especially if they're even a decent fighter. Life has always been so unfair to Garou...
If you have any more questions, I shall answer them to the best of my ability and if there are some mistakes I made concerning the characters and their powers, please feel free to express them in the reviews and I shall correct my mistake at once. I try to make it as accurate as possible with character personalities. Thank you again for your review! I look forward to reading your next one if you would!
vwheel10 and 1020: You got it! It's a reference to That time I got Reincarnated as a Slime! Good catch! There will be several more anime references down the line. Gotta Catch 'em All!
Thank you for reading. Until next time!