Chapter 7: Yami no Sonata, part 2

When I get up in the morning, I can hear Senritsu's flute even from my bedroom.

It is calm, soothing, but a little shaky, as though she can't completely support her breath. My guess it that the music is for herself. After all, she's this close to accomplishing her goal. If I were her, I'd be nervous too.

I think about that while I take a shower, cold water pounding at my back from the manual pump. Yes, I've relaxed a little on my goals. Although collecting the eyes is going steadily, I'm still far from collecting them all. And then there are the rest of the Spiders to contend with...

At least Kuroro is not free from my Judgment Chain yet. But I can sense it won't be long before he'll be free from it. If only because Hisoka has as much determination as Gon Freecs, in some respects.

Well. It's not time to think about that, anyway. Today...today is for her. Today I will step out of this little selfish circle I've drawn around myself in the name of vengeance, and help another person get closer to her goal.

I dry off, stepping out of the shower, shivering. Mongolia is a rough place. Even in the middle of the summer, the nights are freezing and the mornings not much better.

Dressed, I knock on Senritsu's door. She opens, her small bag already packed. "Are you ready?" she asks.

"In a minute," I say, and hurried pack up the few belongings I've brought before rejoining her. I think for a moment, and then add something I haven't used in over a year under my loose-fitting shirt.

A small breakfast of who-knows-WHAT-but-better-not-ask, and we've arrived at the stable where Senritsu has arranged to rent a horse. The owner, grinning a dark-toothed grin, hands over the reins of a horse, which she takes, wordlessly, handing over the agreed amount.

Using the few words I know of Mongolian, I ask, "One horse? We need...two horses."

He shakes his head, still grinning. I manage to make out, "Only one. Need the other one for myself. Don't worry, she's strong."

I narrow my eyes at the mare, doubtfully. She's skinny and small.

"Don't worry, Kurapika," Senritsu says softly. "You're a tad underweight, as it is, and I'm lighter than I look."

I lick my lips apprehensively. Still...a forty mile ride...

We attach our bags to the saddle and I hoist her up. "Good trip," the man says, and I glance at him before getting up in front of her. As we begin to trot, she places her arms around my waist.

Well, what else did you expect? I tell myself.

It's just a weird feeling, that's all.

Forty miles later, much much stiffer. I haven't ridden a horse since my village was slaughtered.

After a long, hard canter across what is mostly dry desert and stunted plants, we had picked our way up a narrow trail into what seemed the heart of the mountain. The Dowsing Chain came in quite handy.

Now, we've arrived at our destination. The opening of the cave looked enough like a mouth, with stalagmites and stalactites appearing as jagged teeth, that I can't help but think twice about actually going in.

I glance over at her. Her face is already hardened into determination. She slides off the horse and begins walking towards the opening.

"Wait!" I, too, dismount, tying the horse to a nearby branch, and put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from moving further. She gasps, looking back up at me.

"Let me check for traps, first," I say, and cast out my Dousing Chain.

We both gasp in surprise as it completely disappears where the entrance begins. I tighten the corners of my mouth. "Well, that's a problem," I say.

"What?"

"We can't use Nen in that cave. It's sealed to Nen users."

She swallows hard. "So we need to use Zetsu."

"Yes."

Silence. We both rely so much on our Nen, going into such a situation without it is like walking into a bull's ring without a rope. We'd have to rely on nothing more than our own speed and agility.

"Well then, shall we go?" she whispers, voice still undisturbed, though I can tell she's nervous.

I take a deep breath, close my eyes. When they are open, I stare determinedly into that mouth of a cave.

"Let's go.

Author's Notes: Hi, all ye strange, wonderful people who read my very odd fanfic. I'm going to start updating weekly now, not because I've run out of inspiration, but because if I don't pace myself, I write too much and don't get anything else done! So look for updates every Sunday.

Arigato gozaimasu!