Disclaimer: I wish I owned Hunter but it already belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi :( I just own my idiotic OC, Hitomi... yay...
Chapter 26: Sporting Event x Dodge the Ball! x The Book of Memories
This time, things got easier for them at Razor's challenge. Tsezugera's comrades had already won boxing and bowling, so the team had already two wins.
"Hey guys, you can lose," Razor turned at the other pirates. "Leave the rest to me."
"Wait," the big guy who fighted Killua last time stopped him. "I'm not gonna take your orders anymore. From now on, I'll do as I please!" he then took off his hat, showing the burns on his head, before looking at Killua. "Brat! Let's take this outside! The burns you made itch like hell."
"Outside?" the boy smirked. "Aren't you mistaking it for a ring?"
"Playtime is over! I'll make sure that cocky mouth of yours never speaks again!"
"That violates your contract with me," Razor told him. "You'll be sent back to the cell, Bobobo."
Hitomi tried to not to laugh at it. "Bobobo?" she thought. "Foolish name for a foolish person."
"I don't give a damn! I'm quitting this stupid game, too!" he yelled, before turning around to face his teammates. "Who's with me?"
No one tagged him. On the other hand, Razor emitted a ball with his Nen and threw it to him, killing Bobobo in the process. The filler players panicked a bit but calmed down when Tsezugera told them that they didn't have to play.
"Just a quick question," Killua asked, pointing at Bobobo's corpse with his thumb. "That guy is dead, so who'll be the sumo winner?"
"Oh, you can have the win."
"But... we haven't decided on our contender," he pointed out.
"Even though he kept bugging and bugging all these days saying that he was going to get the sumo guy..." Hitomi thought. "Oh, well."
"I don't mind who you make the winner."
Hitomi grinned, before patting a some random guy from the fillers in the back, who tensed. "Good match," she said. "Congratulations."
"That makes three wins," the boy declared.
"Well, my sport will be an 9 on 9 dodgeball battle," Razor said, after another two pirates took Bobobo away.
Then, he summoned nine players with his Nen, each one having a different number from zero to eight. Seven of them were going to be his teammates while the other - Number Zero - the referee. He then told them that every player was worth a point, so the team who won would have nine points.
The guys who were there to get back home complained, saying that they didn't want to play. They tried to convince them to lose on purpose, but they refused in fright of death.
"W-Wait, timeout," Killua tried to calm them down. "Let's think it through."
"Let's do it by ourselves. Since we're risking our lives, let's settle it with those who can handle it," Gon said, before turning to Razor. "You don't mind if we only have seven players, right?"
"No, I'm afraid that's not allowed," he replied. "You have to obediently play with nine people, as required."
"But in your team it's you and... you," Hitomi raised an eyebrow. "These things doesn't even count as people!"
"Players made by Nen are allowed," he said.
Meanwhile, Gon was feeling a little pissed off because of what happened before then.
"I know that telling a game character is pretty much useless," he said. "But he was your teammate, right?! What did that Bobobo guy do to deserve that?"
"Theft and murder. Rape and murder. And eleven other counts we know of to date."
"That was pretty... uh, informative," Hitomi raised an eyebrow. "You understand our words way too well to be a character, so I can tell you are a person. Who exactly are you then?"
"That man is one of this game's creators," Tsezugera told her. "He is a Game Master and, as you said, a real, living person."
Gon looked at him, in surprise.
"Bobobo and the rest are probably real convicts sentenced to death," he continued. "Given absolute obedience, Pro Hunters use them sometimes. Bobobo not only rebelled, but attempted escape. Severe punishment is to be expected. If he wasn't punished, his employer would be."
"This place is real," Hisoka said.
The four others gaped in disbelief.
"Real?" Gon blinked.
"I didn't notice..." Killua commented.
"I never suspected," Biscuit admitted.
"Now that you think about it, it's quite logical," Hitomi murmured. "Everything looked real because it was real. And also it explains why you don't have any side-effects after leaving the game."
Razor then told Gon that he knew his father, which surprised the boy a little bit. The guy released Nen, freaking the filling-players out and they cowardly ran away. Goreinu then resolved the problem of numbers by summoning two huge gorillas - one white and the other black - with his Nen.
And like that, they had nine people against nine. Reiza proceed to explain the rules.
"The game starts with one outfielder and eight infielders," he explained. "The team that loses all its infielders will lose. However, one player in the outfield may come in once. Just say 'Back' to come in."
Gon nodded in understanding.
"We'll allow for ball cushioning in hitting judgment. For example, if the ball I throw hits someone, then hits another player, and touches the ground, then both are out." he explained. "Of course, if a teammate catches the ball, both are safe. However, if the ball I throw bounces off your player then hits mine and touches the ground, my player is out."
Hitomi smirked, it seemed pretty simple for her. However, when she and Killua looked at Gon, they realized that he was still trying to figure out what he meant.
"That means, either catch or dodge the ball," Killua explained simply.
"Ah..."
The girl then looked at Razor, raising a hand.
"Is a player out when the outfielder hits them?" she asked.
"Of course," he replied. "But only one player can come back in by saying 'Back'."
"Something else," Hitomi asked. "If the player manages to catch the ball in mid air, inside the field, but lands outside, are they out or in?"
"Out," he said. "However, if they manage to pass the ball to a companion on the field before touching the ground, well, that's another story."
Once the rules were explained, they stood in their side of the field, with the White Goreinu playing as an outfielder. Deciding to give her powers a chance, Hitomi's eyes shifted to red.
The referee threw the ball upwards and immediately jumped to grab it. The player number six, however, just returned to his side.
The boy passed the ball to Goreinu, who threw the ball to his opponents. It hit Number Four before the White Goreinu caught it.
"Good, that's one," Killua cheered.
Hitomi looked at the white gorilla. "Gimme," she asked.
He gave it to the girl and she jumped high before quickly throwing it. It hit Number Five effortlessly, before touching the floor. She then narrowed her eyes.
"Way too easy."
The Nenju gave the ball to the man. Razor, on the other hand, smirked.
"Good, preparations okay," he said.
"Huh?" Goreinu asked. "What did you just say?"
"My preparations to defeat you are complete," he replied.
"Let's see you try!"
Goreinu then threw the ball towards Razor. He didn't move, but raised his left hand. After that, he caught it with frightening ease.
"Now then, the counterattack begins," Razor smiled.
He then shot the ball to Hitomi, and she saw it coming towards her like a bullet. Using her ability, she quickly got out the way, but soon realized that Goreinu was right behind her.
"Dodge it!" the girl yelled at him.
But no muscle moved in his body. He just froze in fright.
Seeing that he would die if the ball hit him, he used his Nen. When his teammates realized what happened, the ball had hit White Goreinu's face. They turned around, just to see the man panting outside the field.
The ball bounced and Razor caught it. "Nice rebound," he said. "So you can switch positions with your Nenju, huh?"
The Nenju was disintegrated and Hitomi paled at the thought of the shot hitting her at that that time. She tensed a bit, but looked in determination at Razor.
Razor on the other hand smirked at the sight of her eyes.
"So, Ging was right," he thought. "One of them had finally come."
Then, Killua asked the referee if the Nenju was the one out and he said that was correct. But Goreinu could only enter in the field exchanging again positions with the Black Goreinu or using 'Back'.
Razor and the others started to pass the ball to in a lighting speed. Hitomi could be fast now, sure, but her vision wasn't. She and the others did their best to dodge it and avoid getting outfield.
But then, the four little ones paled.
"Tsezugera!" Killua and Hitomi yelled.
"Behind you!" Gon warned him.
He looked behind him and only had time to focus his aura before the ball collided with his back. The man fell in the ground and the ball bounced one time, before Killua managed to catch it. The boy looked at it in surprise.
"Heavy... just like a bowling ball," he thought. "After hitting Tsezugera and rolling on the floor, it still has this much force. This isn't good."
Thanks to his use of Nen, Tsezugera remained alive. He, however, was too weak to play so he was out the field because of the rules. The remaining ones stared at the field, thinking of come up with an idea of what to do.
"We have to prevent them from getting the ball," Killua commented. "But, how?"
"If we only had a rope or something to hit them and get the ball back..." Hitomi crossed her arms in front of her chest, when it hit her. "Wait, he have something like that...! Or Hisoka has, more likely."
"Oh, right!" Gon said, turning to face the magician. "Hisoka."
"Okay," he smirked. "Pass me the ball, please."
Killua realized what they meant, so he passed him the ball. He then hit Number three and it quickly returned to his hand thanks to his Bungee Gum.
"Now, please entertain me," he said. "I just hope this doesn't end things."
"Question," Killua turned to Number Zero. "After the last infielder gets hit by the ball, can he use 'Back'?"
"No, when the last player is hit by the ball, in that instant there will no more infielders so you'll lose," he said. "However, at the time when the last infielder is hit an outfielder can simultaneously use 'Back' to return to the infield."
Hitomi nodded, before looking at the magician. "So, Closed-eyes has to be the last one," she pointed out.
"Yeah, I know," he said. "Here I go!"
He threw the ball again, and planned to take Number Six and Number Seven at the same time, but before that they merged together, formed Number Thirteen and grabbed the ball. Because of that, Hisoka wasn't able to get the ball back and gave up.
"Is that legal?!" Killua shouted at the referee, pointing at them.
"It is," that was his only answer.
"It is?" he trailed off.
Hitomi sighed. "We have to get it back," she said.
"Yeah, in order to stop the ball..." Killua said.
The three kids then nodded. They stood still using Ken, to receive the ball without problems. Razor looked at them and smirked.
"Using Ken?" he said. "Then, you probably won't die. Unless it hits you at the wrong place."
"Probably?" Hitomi mumbled. "Well, that was a great encouragement."
"Here I go... Gon," Razor's aura became bigger.
Razor gathered his aura on the ball and fired straight at Gon. In a flash, he managed to put his hands in front of his forehead and use Ko to protect himself, however, he didn't protect his feet and they lost grip. The ball threw him backwards and shot up to the roof. The boy collided painfully with the wall.
"Gon!" his two friends shouted in worry.
Killua, Hitomi and Biscuit ran towards him. He had his head dropped and maybe he was knocked out of cold. They couldn't blame him, though. That hit must had hurt quite a lot.
"Are you okay?" Biscuit asked.
He didn't move.
"Hey Gon, get a grip!" Killua called.
He didn't answer to that either, worrying Hitomi a little bit. She tensed a little, looking at the boy's unconscious form.
"For goodness sake, you're scaring me a little," she said, before gently touching his shoulder. "You are not dead, are yo-?"
"I'm completely fine!" he said, all of sudden. Because of the surprise, Hitomi nearly tripped and fell backwards.
"Not, right?" Killua remarked.
SMACK!
"Why did you do that, Hitomi?" Gon whined.
"Can't you have a slow waking up like every normal person has?!" Hitomi yelled, pissed off. "I nearly took your place and died there, you know!"
He apologized briefly and the referee said that he was out because the ball touched the roof, but his team would have its possession since it was inside their limits.
"I'll be the one to say 'Back'," Gon said, determined.
"But you are-" Biscuit tried to argue.
"I will say it," he repeated.
"I wonder who will kill you first..." Hitomi facepalmed. "Your stubbornness or me."
Biscuit gave him a long look, before sighing in surrender.
"Alright," she finally said. "However, use 'Back' only when two or three infielders are left. Got it?"
"Yeah," he nodded.
After that, the game continued. Killua decided to buy time by passing the ball to Goreinu and receiving it back so Gon could rest a little.
Goreinu got the ball again and the memories of his shameful defeat crossed his mind, so he gritted his teeth a little. He took a couple of steps back and everyone looked at him in confusion.
"I just can't accept the fact that I got trashed," he said. "I'll return the favor, Razor."
"Huh?" Hitomi gasped, in surprise. "H-Hey! Wait a minute-!"
Before she knew, Goreinu threw the ball. In everyone's surprise, it was aimed to the Black Goreinu. However, in a split of second, everything was changed. Razor's face was hit in its place, and the gorilla was now in the man's spot.
"Take that..." Goreinu smirked. "You should be in the outfield yourself."
"You got me there," Razor said.
Killua just stared at the hit man. "Even if he's out now, he'll just return infield later," he thought. "Yet forcing him to use 'Back' early in the game is good enough. The ball will still be ours, so-"
Right before then, his thoughts were proven wrong. Number Two quickly jumped in Number Thirteen shoulder and caught the ball. A couple of seconds before landing outside the field, he passed it to Number Eight.
And Goreinu was hit in his face again, in a pathetic way. He was knocked unconscious in the floor, and Black Goreinu vanished in the air. The ball didn't bounce, it just fell right in Razor's hands.
"That's a pretty good technique," Razor commented. "You should polish it."
"Hey!" Biscuit shouted. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Huh? There's no rule against me passing to an opponent," he replied. "Not to mention that according to the rules, attacking the face is legal. That's why the previous attack I took was valid. If the ball touched the ground, I would be out."
The girl trembled slightly, pissed off at the man. Hitomi, on the other hand, just stared at Goreinu for a bit before passing a hand through her hair, sighing.
"His wounded pride ended up hurting itself even more..." she thought. "Well, what can you expect from a fool with the face of a monkey?"
They then told them that if Goreinu woke up before the infielder number became zero, he and Black Goreinu could keep playing... Hitomi rolled her eyes at it.
"As if," she thought. "After a hit like that, I highly doubt he can start running around the place and call some gorillas to join him."
Next turn was Razor's team, who analyzed all of them. After a while, he threw the ball in a straight line, and they avoided it as well as they could. An outfielder caught it little after that and threw it again to a comrade.
"They are too fast," Biscuit thought.
They kept passing the ball around for a little time when Biscuit accidentally dodged the ball in a wrong way. Everyone's eyes wide opened when they saw her.
"At this rate..." Hitomi thought, as anger slowly burned inside her. Her eyes turned in the highest scale of scarlet at the thought of losing a friend. "Bisky!"
She ran in her top speed and kicked the ball at her full power. She then jumped to stop it, but it hit violently her belly. Hitomi resisted the urge to shout in pain, because she saw the roof right behind her back.
"Hitomi!" Gon and Killua yelled.
"I can't get out... like this at least," she thought, before shouting. "Killua!"
She quickly impulsed the ball with the metallic sound of her bracelet. He caught it pretty fastly and she held herself in the border of the hole that Gon had made before then. She sighed, in relief.
"Now, then," he smirked, "Here I go!"
Killua then threw the ball and hit Number Nine, and he was out. Unluckily, it bounced once in the floor, before Razor caught it, meaning that they had it now.
"Yay!" Hitomi cheered despite of that. "One more to go!"
She then swinged a little bit in her place and let go of the wood. She stood in her feet, but suddenly a huge wave of pain ran through body and she winced a bit.
"I'm the most idiotic person I'd ever known! I activated it... without even realizing," she almost facepalmed. "Next time, I should watch my emotions a little more..."
Killua looked at the girl for a seconds and then furrowed a little. He swore that her eyes shifted back to her original violet, before returning to a rather dull red. Like she wasn't going to hold in for a long time.
"Are you okay?" he asked her calmly, hiding his worry.
"Of course," she lied, standing up. "Just a little sore, that's all."
Killua stayed silent and raised an eyebrow at her.
"Hitomi?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I'd told you this before, but..." he scratched the back of his head. "You really need to learn how to lie."
Her body tensed a bit, before relaxing slightly, since she knew that, deep inside, he was worrying a little for her. Hitomi gave the boy a sweet smile.
"Don't worry, I'm oka-"
A light tap in her belly stopped her in mid sentence and her warm expression got transformed into one of pain as a soft yelp escaped from her lips. She clutched her wound with hands and grimaced, as her eyes watered a little.
"Oh, yeah," Killua replied, sarcastically. "You are way too fine."
"Shut up!" Hitomi yelled, a little embarrassed. "Just... Focus, okay?"
"Whatever."
And like that, she walked far away from him. Razor bounced the ball a couple of times, analyzing the situation.
Now there was three against four, but it wasn't an equal situation, since the kid's team was the one under pressure. Half of the players retired, an injured Gon as the only outfielder. The enemy, on the other hand, had secured the outfield, so they could attack from anywhere. And Razor with a 'Back' option, playing as an infielder, holding the ball.
Oh, just wonderful.
"Well then," Razor said, making all of them tense in response. "Who will be next?"
He then threw the ball straight at Killua, who eyed it for a second. Hitomi on the other hand looked at the situation and panicked. Biscuit and Hisoka were standing in line.
"What should I do? Can I catch it?" Killua narrowed his eyes. "No, it's impossible. I can't catch it, so I'll have to evade it..."
"Killua!" Hitomi yelled.
In fear of him dodging left, she quickly tackled him to the right and avoided the hit. Killua then flinched when he looked at the ball changing its direction.
"Bisky!" he warned her.
The girl instantly jumped out the way, while Hisoka just bended backwards to dodge it. However, next to him, Number Five caught it and was about to attack him while he was in a position in which it was impossible to escape.
Luckily enough, he was able to activate his Bungee Gum. He was pushed back a little but managed to stay infield. His face was bleeding a little though.
Hitomi didn't say anything, as she walked away from Killua. She was trying to hide the fact that she was awfully angry with the man.
"Even if Hitomi wasn't fast enough to push me out the way, maybe I could've dodge it without a scratch," he furrowed his eyebrows, as he gritted his teeth. "But I could've also dodged to the left. If that were the case... I would've been caught."
"Player Biscuit is out!" the referee shouted. "Please move outfield."
Their heads all snapped at her direction, swearing that she had dodged it. The skirt part of her dress was burnt, hit by the ball.
"Clothes are considered part of one's body... am I right?" she said, a little irritated to herself. The referee nodded. "My loss."
Hitomi gave Biscuit a long look, as she passed by her. She growled a little, before going to the referee, really pissed off.
"Couldn't you say that a little later?" she said, angrily. Number Zero, as expected, didn't answer her question. "Hey, answer to me!"
The Nenju didn't answer to her. Her eyebrow twitched a bit, before turning to Razor.
"You should program that thing again," she told him. "He is leaving off some important rules."
"Really?" he said. "I thought it would be obvious."
"Well, it's not," she replied. "So, open your eyes for once - in a literally and not literally way - and notice when someone doesn't get all of your little damned points! Therre are only three of us because of your pathetic assumptions!"
"Oh, sorry," his smile didn't disappear, pissing the girl a little more. "But don't worry. There won't be three of your for a lot more."
Hitomi blinked twice. "What do you-?" she was about to ask.
"BACK!" the shout cut her sentence.
She then noticed Gon walking infield. She glanced at Razor, whose smirk widened, before softly growling and walking closer to her friends.
Meanwhile, Biscuit passed by Gon, who had his forehead already bandaged.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah," he just nodded.
"Listen," Biscuit turned around. "Don't overdo it."
"Yeah."
Biscuit narrowed her eyes. "What's one plus one?" she asked.
"Yeah."
Hitomi bit a laugh, struggling to remain serious. "He sure is paying a lot of attention to her," she thought.
"This is useless..." Biscuit shook her head. She then slapped him in his back. "Okay, defeat him even if you have to die!"
"Osu!" he nodded in determination.
Hitomi then shook her head at his response. "Was he listening or not?" she facepalmed.
Gon then walked to his team and nodded once again when his friends asked if he was okay. However, Hitomi could tell that he was far from being okay. He was really angry.
"I noticed something," Hisoka commented. "When it's relayed by the outfielders, the ball's power diminishes," he then showed them his hand. "Without using Ko, only two fingers got hurt."
"That means if we watch out for Razor's throws we can avoid heavy damage," Killua concluded. Hisoka nodded.
"If we do that, it won't feel like we've won," Gon said, seriously.
Hitomi just raised an eyebrow, giving him a long look.
"Well, Gon, you know... If we don't do that, it won't feel like we've won either," she commented. "It would feel like we've died, more likely..."
"She's right! Quit kidding, Gon! Unless we win using all means, it won't count," Killua agreed. "Cool down, idiot!"
"Aren't you two mad?" Gon asked, making both of them eye him for a moment. "If Hitomi hadn't pushed you, you could've dodged left, Killua. Then, you'd be dead now... Right?"
Killua narrowed his eyes a bit, understanding his point. Hitomi looked at said boy with the corner of her eyes, clenching her fists a little. She was a little mad at the thought of him dying because of a ball.
"I'm really mad right now," Gon continued. "I won't just win... I'll completely defeat him."
"Whoa, calm down," Hitomi said. "You don't have to worry, because Hitomi-sama already protected the damsel in distress, so he isn't dead."
A vein popped up in Killua's forehead. "Damsel in distress... As if..." he mumbled.
"Sounds like you have a plan," Hisoka handed Gon the ball. He nodded, taking it.
"Killua, can you stand over there?"
Hitomi watched in curiosity as Gon made his friend stand still, holding the ball in front of him a little clueless of what was that for. Gon then focused Nen in his fist.
Killua finally got it and tensed a little more.
"First comes Rock!" he chanted. "Rock, Paper... Rock!"
He hit the ball and it fired like a cannon ball. It immediately hit Number Thirteen and he was pushed out the field, and out the game. It bounced and Number Two caught it.
Hitomi tensed a little.
"Well, here I go!" Razor shouted, before throwing it.
It went directly to Gon, who focused Nen in his hands again. However, from the side, Hitomi jumped and caught it, pressing it against the floor.
"Thanks for that, Hitomi," Gon said.
"That was a good move!" Killua commented. "How did you catch it?"
"It's just way too easier to catch it from another front. I should've realized it later," she turned around and looked at Killua, passing him the ball. "Here."
As soon as the ball touched his hand, he winced involuntarily, before trying to hide the pain he was hiding. Hitomi realized that, though, and narrowed her eyes a little.
"Alright! Let's give it another shot!" he shouted to Gon, cheerfully. "Give Razor one big enough to bust him!"
Gon was a little surprised at his determination, but accepted anyway. He used his technique again and it shoot right at the man.
Razor slid into his receiving pose - more like a volleyball one - and waited for it. The ball ended up being thrown upwards. Hitomi panicked at the thought of him catching it, so she turned around.
"Hisoka!" she called.
"Yeah, I know," he replied. He used his Bungee Gum and retrieved the ball. He then looked at the enemy, "No good, no good. You must firmly hold onto the ball."
He was out, but he quickly used back again. Hitomi panted a little, but hide her tiredness after that. She could've never tell that keeping her eyes red would be that difficult.
"I must endure, I'm not the most injured after all..." Hitomi thought. "Gon must've used nearly all his Nen in these two attacks, Hisoka can't use his right hand anymore and Killua... well, his hands are another story."
Meanwhile, Biscuit asked Hisoka the ball. She then hit Number Two, leaving Razor all alone in the field, but with the ball in his hand.
"Timeout!" Tsezugera called.
They then asked them to come with him to talk, right before asking the referee if it was allowed leaving the field for the player's own decision. He said yes, but that they couldn't return after then.
"Gon, if you move outfield, I can hold the ball for you," he said. "Killua's hands are far too damaged. They're probably in no condition to hold the ball firmly. I can move my aura around my body at lighting speed. Let me hold the ball, so you can bring Razor down from the outfield. That's the only way we can win."
"That won't do," Killua replied and Gon nodded. "That would mean that we ran away."
"Now is not the time to say such things!" he snapped.
However, his pain emerged once again. He placed his hand in his wound and coughed a little bit.
"Don't push yourself, old man. You're in a pretty bad condition too, right?" Killua said. "I'm fine. It's not as bad as you think."
Hitomi narrowed her eyes a bit.
"Good thing, then," she fake-smiled him. She raised her hand. "Then, high-five me!"
Killua flinched at the thought and glared at her, hiding unconsciously his hands further in his pockets. A smile drew itself in her features, pissing him off a little bit.
"What are you trying to do with that?" he tried to play dumb.
"Exactly that," she replied. "Showing how liar you can be."
"I'm not lying," he assured. "I'm fine-!"
He stopped in mid-sentence when Biscuit grabbed his arm and pulled his hand out of the pocket in which it was stuffed. They all winced at the sight of it. It was at least twice bigger than it used to be. Also, it was all in a red color, with a lot of scratches and burns.
"Look, you probably can't feel a thing except pain!" Tsezugera shouted.
Killua just looked away, breaking free from Biscuit's grasp.
"Why can't it be me?" Hitomi pointed at herself. "My hands are way more fit for this, at least more than Killua's at the moment."
"You can't, Hitomi," Killua told her. "You've been the one stopping Razor's attacks all the match. We'd be all out if your hands gpt injured like... well... mine."
Hitomi gazed at her feet, frustration getting all of her.
"I can do it! I can handle one more shot," Killua snapped before facing Gon. "Gon, let me do it, okay?"
"That's impossible," the man argued. "Gon, you tell him."
Gon too, just looked at the floor for a long time.
"I... knew all along. I knew about Killua's hands... all this time," he confessed, surprising everyone. "Tsezugera-san, I'm sorry but I won't step outfield. The ball holder... has to be Killua. Nobody but Killua will do."
Killua was just surprised at that statement. Hitomi, however, wasn't. She just smiled for him.
"Even if it's Bisky or Hisoka I probably can't hit with my all," he confessed. "I could focus and strike with my all because Killua held the ball for me."
The boy then released a soft laugh, just to hide the embarrassment he was feeling. "Well, understand now, old man?" he said. "Just go back and rest."
At the end, Tsezugera gave up and left. Hitomi give her friends a long look before shaking her head, with a small laugh in her features.
"Stupid young men's friendship," she mumbled under her breath.
"Oh, my, are you jealous by any chance?" Killua teased her.
"Oh, yeah, I'm dying of jealousy because I didn't recklessly get my hands as red as my eyes," Hitomi remarked, sarcastically.
"But you know you're still part of us, right?" Gon asked.
"Got it... got it..." Hitomi sighed. "Can't we just stop with the sickly sweet stuff?"
They both laughed and walked away. Hitomi grinned, but growled after she took a step. Her vision was getting a little dizzy.
"Damn," she cursed to herself, feeling already a little light headed. "That's no good."
She forced her eyes to stay scarlet, as she stood behind her team, since it was Razor who had the ball. She had to catch it. If not, she wasn't going to forgive herself that easily.
"Gon. Don't tell me you forgot that, unless we get the ball from Razor, we can't attack," Killua told his friend. "We don't know if Hitomi can catch it. She's not in top condition either."
"She'll do just fine," Gon assured. "She doesn't look that bad-"
THUD!
They turned around, just to see that Hitomi had collapsed in the floor. Not long after that, she got up like nothing and blinked a few times, placing a hand on her head.
"Let's hope they didn't see me..." she thought
"Hitomi!" Killua and Gon called, running up to her.
"Oh, shit," her eyebrow twitched.
She however, tried to play dumb. She scratched the back of her neck, grinning sheepishly, as they reached her, along Hisoka.
"Are you okay?" Gon asked her.
"Yeah," she released a soft laugh. "I just tripped."
Gon bought it, and released a long sigh in relief. Killua, however, didn't. He scowled a little bit, still staring at her eyes.
"You're not okay," he said, making her twitch slightly. "You didn't trip. You've just fainted."
The other boy looked at him in surprise and then to the girl, frowning in worry as well. Hisoka just stared at the situation, without saying anything.
"What are you talking about?" she thoughtlessly jerked, smiling sheepishly. "Don't you see I'm good as always?"
"Then, why are your eyes violet then? Weren't they scarlet a couple of seconds ago?" her eyes opened slightly after noticing it. "I bet you can turn them anymore."
Hitomi tried to do so. Her eyes shifted in scarlet for a bit, before returning to their original color. A sharp pain ran through her head as she placed her hand on it.
"So she can't run fast anymore," Hisoka commented. "What are we gonna do then?"
They thought about it a little. An idea crossed Hitomi's mind, making her smirk at it. The others looked at her, waiting for her explaining what was going on.
"I have an idea... it's a little risky though," she said.
She then told them all of it, making Hisoka give her an amused laugh and Gon a wide grin. Killua just raised an eyebrow.
"Always coming up with crazy ideas," he said, under his breath. "Like when we were in Yorkshin."
"Yeah, the blackout was a crazy thing, but it ended up saving your skin, didn't it?" she chuckled, walking by the boy and giving him a soft tap in the shoulder. "I'm counting on you too, Killua."
Razor then snapped his fingers, as the Nenju returned to his body, meaning that he was gathering all his strength for the next shot.
And like that, the plan started. Hitomi stood behind Gon, who had his hands stretched to grab the ball. She then leaned her back in Killua's and Hisoka stayed behind them, using his Bungee Gum.
Finally, the enemy threw the ball upwards and jumped high in the air, slamming it down like a volleyball game. And it hit Gon's hands, making Hitomi use her hands to support his back, but supporting her body as well by pushing herself in Killua's back, as he did the same thing with hers to support himself as well.
Tsezugera just gaped in amazement, getting the strategy.
"Gon catches the ball... Hisoka surrounds it... Killua and Hitomi supports them," he thought. "That's pretty clever."
At the end, the four got pushed a lot, but caught the ball still inside the field. Gon grinned at their friends, as he held the ball. They smiled back, panting slightly and sitting down in the floor, without any energy left.
"HE CAUGHT IT!" their teammates cheered.
"He?! You mean we!" Hitomi turned at them, pissed off a little. "We did a lot more than him, damn ignorants! If it wasn't for my master plan, he'd be still stick in that wall like a freaking fly!"
After releasing a long sigh, Killua took the ball and held it in front of him once again.
"Killua, I'm giving it my all," Gon warned, as his aura leaked in all his body.
"Of course," Killua smirked. "If you hold back, I'll pulverize you."
Gon just nodded, as he slid into his classical attack stance.
"First comes Rock..." he chanted. "Rock, Paper... Rock!"
The ball was fired and flew at full speed at Razor. He, however, didn't try to dodge it. He put himself in a receiving pose once again. He reflected it and was shot back to Gon.
"Gon, dodge it!" Tsezugera yelled.
Hitomi looked at Gon, panicking a little bit. She knew the boy way too much to know that his stubbornness wouldn't allow him to do so. He didn't want to win like that.
But he didn't do anything, just fainted in the floor just in time to avoid being hit, surprising everyone. However, at the same time, it was to be expected. He'd released a lot of aura in the last attack.
"I knew that he had an incredible luck at his side but..." Hitomi raised an eyebrow, still smiling in amusement. "That's too much."
"It's not over yet!" Hisoka smirked behind them. He extended his hands forward, with the space between them covered with his Bungee Gum. "We're going to win undisputedly, right, Gon?"
The ball hit the gum, stretching it. Hisoka moved his arms around, making the ball bounce back at Razor, who tried to receive it once again.
Things didn't go that smoothly for him, though. The ball wasn't reflected, but got sticking in his hands and pushing him back.
"My Bungee Gum has properties of both rubber and gum," he reminded him.
For everyone's surprise, when the ball stopped, Razor was outside the bounds.
"Catching the ball outfield is illegal," the referee said. "Player Razor is out! Therefore, Player Gon's team wins the match!"
They all started to cheer in joy. Hitomi grinned at Killua.
"We did it!" she cheered, as she slapped his hand. He groaned in pain, holding his sore hand with the other one. "Oh, sorry, does it still hurt?"
"You did it on purpose!" he yelled, pissed off.
"Ah, was that obvious?" she sheepishly smiled.
Killua then swore he was definitely going to kill her one of these days. Meanwhile Gon woke up and looked around, cluelessly.
"Geez," Killua looked at Hisoka. "In the end, he stole the limelight."
"Everyone contributed to make it possible," he said. "This is what's called a team victory."
"Somehow, those words don't suit you," Gon commented.
"Yeah, I think I prefer the creepy-clown act," Hitomi sighed. "This goody-goody clown is freaking me more than the other one."
Hisoka just raised an eyebrow, giving them an amused smile. Razor then told them that they were going to leave the island, reminding them their task.
"But before, I'll answer your questions about Ging, Gon," he said. "And I also have to tell you something, Hitomi. About the eyes."
She was surprised at this, but reminded silent. He told them to talk in other place so they followed him at the other side of the place.
"To set things straight first, Ging is not here and I don't know where he is," he said. "But I can tell you he used to be my friend. I used to be a criminal. He arrested me and then contracted me to play here. And that day... he brought with him a item from the real world... The Scarlet Eyes."
"Why is that for?" Razor asked, looking at the pair of eyes.
"It can bring some interesting people to the island, and even one of them. I will prove that they still exist," Ging grinned like a child. "Who knows? Maybe they will come with my son here, to Greed Island. Oh, also, when he comes here don't hesitate to knock him down, okay?"
"So, I can kill him if I want?"
"Don't underestimate him," he smirked, his blue eyes shining with confidence. "He's my kid, you know."
Hitomi blinked. So, Gon's father had brought them for fun?
"Before you say something, Hitomi, I can't be sure if he did that only for fun. I can tell that item has Nen of its own, and it didn't disappear after death," he said. "Also, he asked for program there some strange book and a house as well, his favourite one back when he got at the massacred Kuruta Clan. Who knows why. He's weird."
"Book?!" she yelled, almost getting what was he talking about. "What book?!"
"Calm down, you can see it for yourself," Razor said. "However, just two of you can go there."
Hitomi turned at her teammates, who had been overhearing the conversation all along. It was crystal clear that she was going to be one of them. The others glanced at the other two kids, saying that it was okay for whoever of them to go.
Killua looked at her and then to Gon. He was kind of unsure of what to do.
"Go with her, Killua," Gon smiled, making Killua look at him in surprise. "I want to ask Razor more about my father."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yeah, just go."
He then nodded and looked at Hitomi, who was gazing at the floor without believing the situation. She was finally going to find a pair of eyes, like she had promised.
But, she wasn't feeling prepared for this.
She then felt a hand on her shoulder, like silent support. Hitomi looked at Killua's sincere smile and she did the same thing. She just couldn't express with words how grateful she was feeling to him, Gon, and everyone else.
"Over here," Razor said, meaning them to follow.
There was a huge door, and Hitomi looked at it for a long while. Seeing that she wasn't going to move at all, the boy took the initiative and opened it. She followed not long after that.
"What the hell is this?" Killua asked.
She then gaped at it. There, in front of her, was a huge wooden house which she recognized almost instantly.
"That's..." she mumbled. "... my house."
The boy jumped in his spot, but didn't say anything. She, however, walked inside and he followed after her. She looked around in amazement and surprise.
"It's exactly like that!" she exclaimed, before running somewhere.
"Hey!" he shouted, trying to catch her up. "Wait up!"
They both investigated the house, and Hitomi swore that her heart was beating like mad. The kitchen, Kurapika's room, her parents' room... everything was exactly like five years ago. So, that meant...
"Where are you going?" Killua asked.
"Upstairs!" she shouted, getting the stairs. "Where my room used to be."
Killua arrived at the room not long after that and examined the room. It was pretty tidy, or a lot more than he had expected it to be. Seeing Hitomi now, he thought it would be a little more disorganized, books everywhere and clothes too.
However, that was different. Clothes on their place, the even books were organized by colors over a shelf. But, something caught his eye...
There was a huge, wooden wardrobe. He watched as Hitomi walked towards it and placed a hand over the doors, before opening her.
Memories of a little girl, shouting for help in silence and crying, praying to not been seen, were triggered in her mind. She scowled a little, trying to forget about her younger self, but just couldn't
"What's that?" Killua asked.
"That's where Pairo hid me at that time, to protect me," she smiled bitterly. "Risking his own."
His eyes flew opened, before they softened a little. He looked away from the sad girl, and noticed something else by doing so. There was a book.
He got closer to it and stared at it.
"Journey to the New World - East Edition."
"Hey, Hitomi..." he murmured. "Maybe you should take a look of this..."
Hitomi turned around and she froze for a bit at the sight of that old, worn book. She went towards it and slowly touched the front.
It was Shelia's gift.
The memory of she riding it, along with her brother and Pairo broke her heart, but a smile appeared in her features because of the happiness she used to have at these moments.
"With it all started. This is the book that awoke my and my brother's desire to be a Hunter... from where we met the outside world," she told Killua. "Thanks to this thing, I was able to meet you all. Leorio, Gon, Bisky.. and you. That's why I should be thankful to it."
Killua was surprised at first but smiled softly. He looked away, blushing in embarrassment.
"Now that I think about it, it was Pairo the one who found the girl who gave it to us. In a way, he's responsible of this," she closed her eyes, trying to not to cry. "So... thank you, Pairo... my friend."
She then felt a warm hand cover the one she had in the book, making the girl open her eyes to see a boy. Brown hair and big chocolate eyes looking at her.
The girl blinked and her eyes watered.
"Thank you too, Hitomi," he smiled.
"Pairo?" she murmured, in confusion.
Killua tensed slightly and just stared... and stared. If that Pairo guy was dead, what was he doing here? It was freaking him a little.
And then remembered Razor words about this.
"So, that's because of Pairo's Nen? The Nen he had never developed..." Killua thought. "Trapped inside the eyes... Was he waiting for someone like Hitomi to find them?"
Hitomi couldn't talk nor think. She froze upon the sight of the friend that had died a long before, in front of her eyes, smiling as warm as she remembered.
He put something in her hand and gently closed it.
"I want you to have it," he said. "You, and only you."
"But-" she wanted to talk. But her words just died down in her throat.
"Take care... and say hi to Kurapika for me, is that okay?" he smiled, as he started to fade away in front of her, slowly backing off.
That was when Hitomi reacted. She took a couple of steps forward.
"Pairo!" she yelled, trying to run after him. "PAIRO!"
"Hitomi!" Killua shouted, grabbing her arm and stopping her. "Stop it!"
"Let me alone!" she tried to break free.
Pairo looked at her and his sweet smile widened, breaking Hitomi's heart even more. He moved his lips while he whispered her something.
"Please, for now on, be my eyes and see the outside world, the one that we always wanted to see the three together. Enjoy it at its fullest," he said. "And when we see again, like I told Kurapika that time, I'll ask you something too..."
Her eyes opened at it.
"Was it fun?"
And then Hitomi stretched her hand at him, but he vanished in thin air before she could even touch him. When she realized that he was gone forever, she let her arm fall limply at her side.
"Hitomi..." Killua murmured, sadly but without an idea of what to do.
He then felt a pair of arms wrapping around his neck, and quickly realized that it was Hitomi. She buried her head in his shoulder, as she let the tears she had been trying to hold roll down her cheeks.
Killua didn't know what to do or say at a situation of that. The only thing he managed to do was hug her back tightly.
End of the chapter!
I have a couple of things to apologize about (again). First, as always, horrible, long chapter and lame end. Second thing, I won't be updating next week :( You see, I have a camp with my school and I won't be able to publish anything...
Either way, that's life. I can't help it.
JokeLover123: Yeah, you were the first one XD Love the name 'killutomi' and I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.
Elisablackcat: Hehe, thanks XD Also, thanks for reviewing and I hope you liked this update!
Kri: Thank you for leaving a review! Hope you enjoyed it :)
SoulXHunter: Sorry if the chapter is too long, but the fight against Razor is alrady over. Anyway, thanks for the review and I wish you enjoyed this chapter :)
Silent Readers: Thanks for passing by this fic! Let's hope you had fun :)
See you all later!