Chapter 2: The Nen Remover
"So what are you guys doing?"
"Um...Kaito said he'd heard about the fact that there was a nen remover in this country, and we found out that he lives in this forest, so we're trying to track him down," Gon said.
Killua looked angry that Gon was revealing all this to me. I giggled.
"So, why do you need this nen remover?"
"We don't really need him, we just want to get a hold of him before the Ryodan does. We don't want the nen that Kurapika put on their Danchou to be erased," Gon said.
"I see, we're pretty much going for the same thing then."
Gon smiled happily and continued further into the woods.
It wasn't long before we approached a small little wooden cabin. I approached the door carefully and knocked.
"Hello, is anybody home?"
No response.
"We're looking for a nen remover?" Gon asked.
No response.
"If you don't answer, we'll break in," Killua said. "We know you're there and we're just trying to help you. The Genei Ryodan require your services, and we're trying to protect you from being captured."
"Genei Ryodan!?! What do they need me for?" the man asked, growling. "Oh, fine, come on in."
The door swung open and we entered a small cabin.
"The Genei Ryodan are looking for me?" the man asked.
He didn't look that strong. He was a middle-aged man, and was relatively short for his age. My guess would have been that he was around 40, maybe a bit younger?
"Uh...yeah, aren't you a nen remover?" Gon asked.
"Yes," the man said, "pardon me, where are my manners? I'm Shilar. And you are?"
"Gon," Gon said, "this is Killua, and this..."
"Meiko, nice to meet you."
Killua didn't seem to pay any attention to us at all, he was more focused on the changes in wind outside.
"Something really bad's going to happen soon," Killua said.
"Yes, that's true," Shilar said.
Killua turned around.
"Oh, I'm a fortune teller too," Shilar quickly mentioned.
"Really??? Okay, then what's going to happen to us?" Gon asked.
"I have to warn you, I'm not that good yet," Shilar said.
"That's okay, old man! Just do it," Gon said happily.
"...old man?" Shilar asked.
Killua quickly smacked Gon.
"Um...he doesn't make sense sometimes, just don't listen to him," Killua said.
"Hm...okay, I'll take your word for it," Shilar said as he sat down and began to meditate.
Everyone was silent, until the man finally spoke.
"One of you will soon leave to attempt to rescue someone, whether you will succeed or fail, I don't quite know. The outcome of that depends on the trust you place in your comrades. All of your efforts in the end, will be in vain. If you need to make a choice between death and another option, no matter what choice you make, it will rip you in two. And in the darkest hour, do not doubt your friends, they are the ones that will make you see the light," the man concluded. "Again, I'm not sure how accurate this will be, I'm only a novice at this."
Gon, Killua and I stared at each other.
"That can't be right."
"..." Gon was completely silent, so was Killua.
"I just do the fortune telling, whether or not you believe it is up to you," Shilar said. "Well then, are we going to be leaving, or staying here? Honestly, I do not want to become the Ryodan's pet, so I will follow you around for a while. You, Gon, you have a pure heart, one that I can trust. I will believe you."
"Okay, then, let's go!" Gon said.
"No, Gon, let's stay here for tonight," Killua said. "With Meiko around, we should be able to take turns keeping watch."
"Okay," Gon said, a little disappointed.
After making all the necessary preparations for the night, we dozed off. Killua took the first watch, and woke me up a couple of hours later for second watch.
"Someone or something's out there, Meiko, I can't pinpoint their exact location, but they've been watching us for a while without moving," Killua warned.
"Okay. I'll take over from here."
Killua yawned and collapsed into his bed as I went outside. I was quite glad to be alone actually, I needed to do something important, but I hadn't got around to it all day.
I dialed Kurapika's number.
"Hello, Kurapika?"
"Oh hello, I was wondering when you were going to call...it's about time, isn't it...Meiko?"
I gasped in horror.