Thank you for bearing with me thus far~! HUGS! Plus, hopefully, I could stay longer in this fandom so I could upload more chapters of this and THC within a short span of time. XD
I hope you like this chap. even when after so long! But don't hesitate to tell me what you thought! I'd be glad to read, and appreciate, all of what my readers has to say.
[As a note, the Eye Pair is not an official pairing yet. I'm still deciding, depending on how Neon'll be developed. XD]
READ, PLEASE?
I will try to end this arc by Chapter 16 ok? So for those who don't like the spider arc at least bear with me until then! lol. I'm sure the Chaps on the GI will hopefully be better and less canonical. :)
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own Hunter X Hunter
…
CHAPTER 15: Trapped X Confusion X Hope
FLEA MARKET, YORK SHIN CITY
Along the busy streets of York Shin's busiest markets..., stood two beautiful children. They did not even notice the few spectators who paused to stare at them, occasionally holding their chest as if they were watching some romance show on television.
"He hadn't called yet. Are you sure he will call?" Gon asked worriedly and Killua frowned.
"No. But I'm certain that you shouldn't worry too much."
"Demo…"
"He said he's busy with work. It could easily serve as a distraction." It was true, anyway. Goal-oriented people could easily find excuses and distractions away from what distracts them from that goal.
"Distraction?" Gon walked closer to him, and he flinched. "From us?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Why?"
"Like I said, he had his goals."
"But they make him sad."
"That was his choice, Gon."
"B-But..." She stopped herself when Killua walked closer before sighing deeply.
"I suppose it is our job to help him as his friends." He kissed her cheek (which frankly lasted longer than usual), and smiled at her weakly. "But for now, we can only wait for him to come back."
…
They eventually decided to walk back to Zephile and went to the exhibit. And exhibit where they could show off their treasures. They certainly had a blast. Well, Gon did. She learned a lot of things that time but she didn't get why everyone was laughing at the knowledgeable bald man.
The knowledgeable bald man who was initially looking glorious and proud as he said some facts that increased the treasure's probability of being fake.
Killua cackled along with the incredulous Zephile. Did Gon not know they were being criticized? Probably not. Her brain was programmed to see the good in everything first, after all. It was refreshing, really, and Zephile wanted to help them more and more.
When they came out, he told them another secret- -making an opening on your own. He said it was fool-proof but no one did it since it required great skill. He also reassured them that thanks to Gon (much to her puzzlement) the value of the rock with treasures didn't go down too much, despite what the baldy tried.
They were about to continue a gleeful conversation about how to trick people when a noise from Gon's pocket disrupted the flow.
Ring! Ring!
They flinched and Gon, after almost dropping her phone, answered. It was Leorio, and Killua was quick to jump beside her so he could hear as well
"Gon! Killua! I found a lead! Two of the spiders are found!"
The day only got more stressful after that.
The two kids bid their 'see you later' to Zephile, and ran to the meeting place. They sat inconspicuously at a table of the neighboring restaurant where the two spiders were spotted.
Sadly, the realized they didn't stand a chance.
And yet Gon and Killua staked the two spiders anyway. And... they easily got captured.
Sigh
The two sighed mentally as they were ushered to an abandoned building by their supposed "targets". Prior to capture, they were following the two with their perfect In and pushed through despite knowing they were going to an isolated area. After all, it could either be a trap… or they were going to their hideout. Finding the location of their hideout was good money in itself, as well.
Unfortunately, they didn't notice that the two had accomplices who were following them. They were no match to the 4 people who were at least as strong as Hisoka.
And so there they were… hoping that they were not going to get tortured.
HIDEOUT
THUMP!
The sound of flipping cards halted at the sound, and Hisoka's sharp eyes shifted slightly to his left albeit everything else kept still. It was his companions, blabbering like children. Uncute ones though, if Gon was used as a standard. He suddenly wondered when he'd get to play with her again...
"OI! What was that for?!" Cellphone-chan yelled in aghast as he held out his precious little mobile phone.
"It's useless. Useless things should be destroyed." Ninja-kun said monotonously and continued walking farther and farther from cellphone-chan.
"You didn't say that when you agreed to play Sour loser." Ninja-kun flinched but he generally ignored the taunt. Cellphone-chan 'hmphed' and let out his tongue to mock the smaller assassin.
And right on cue, the door opened. No-brows, who was on the front line paused as he stared at Cellphone-kun. "That is disgusting, Shalnark. What are you doing? Licking the air?"
"Pfft- -"
Cellphone-kun winced and quickly composed himself, sending a glare at the apathetic Ninja-kun and the little mop who was making the slightest effort in stifling his giggle, before looking back at the new arrivals. He noticed a nanosecond later there were 2 other people there. Two kids, to be precise.
"Ora?" He said, but that was all. The others flinched at the unfamiliar kids though and, he, the joker sitting on the highest wooden box piled in their hideout was no exception.
Indeed, Hisoka was quite surprised even if he didn't show it. He knew the Kuruta was in that city. But he was not expecting these two kids. Especially not captured by the dangerous group he had infiltrated.
He stared at the two kids with a few almost invisible sweat-drop on the side of his head. To his relief, he sensed the young Zoldyck assesed the situation quickly. He knew they ended up choosing the same course of action: Pretend to not know each other.
"AH!" Gon exclaimed placing more nervous sweat drops on their faces. Thankfully, the two seemed to have met another one of the spiders beforehand- -letting their relationship go unquestioned. He then looked back at the two kids as they pointed at the glasses girl, who was apparently the one they met before. Interestingly, it seemed megane-chan lost in arm-wrestling with Gon before. She was using her left hand, sure, but he was impressed all the same.
He smirked before letting his eyes end on another on of their members. He wondered why Machi wasn't saying anything... Probably because she was interested in what was going to happen? Mah, he'd find out soon enough.
Hisoka watched the events unfold, but showing the most innocent type of interest in the situation. Samurai-kun who was in a bad mood for a long time now, challenged his Gon for a match. After all, his gorilla of a best fried was probably already dead, and he went all dramatic as he arm-wrestled with Gon.
Hisoka could tell that Gon was getting angrier and angrier for reasons that had nothing to do with how her arm was getting damaged every round. Not that Gon ever hid her emotions…
And soon, for the first time after a few dozen loses she used her nen to defeat Nobunaga.
BAM!
That was the sound effect, and he watched the inverted wooden box they were using to shatter, a split second before Ninja-kun moved. He flinched, but assessed it wouldn't be a good move.
He felt Killua move as well, and Hisoka did the most natural thing to do: stop his movement. The young Zoldyck gulped and just stared at his… friend, and so did Hisoka.
Really, that girl would not keep her mouth shut even if it killed her.
And apparently, fortunately or not, she seemed to remind the samurai of the Gorilla.
"Join the Ryodan." Hisoka liked the sound of that. But unsurprisingly everyone else were against it. Samurai-kun ended up guarding the two kids by himself, announcing the danchou would be the one to decide.
Hmn..., he mused. It would have been interesting if he sent a text to the Kuruta now. He'd definitely come to their rescue. But he decided against it. They would survive this, Samurai liked them.
Unless… they decided to be stubborn and try to escape.
…
It was a few hours since they were held captive, and now there was only one spider there. Gon and Killua sat on a huge concrete slab, letting the tension fill the air.
Killua kept remembering what his brother said when he returned home all that time ago.
You can never have friends. It's not like you.
He couldn't accept that. He could have friends. He didn't want to go through this again; he didn't want to trouble Gon with his insecurities like he always did.
He would prove that he deserved to be by her side.
"Run." He ordered. There was no way they were going to follow the specifications of the people who caused their friends so much pain- -even if they risked their lives. He let out a deep, but firm, breath and gestured to come to Nobunaga who was then guarding the door- -ready to kill them if they went as close as two meters away from him.
But then, his hand got grabbed from behind and -BAM!- His head suddenly felt rather... sore.
He realized the cause of it was no other than Gon's pretty little forehead. He shook that last thought away, and frowned. "W-What was that for?"
"Don't say something stupid!" She spat, her head still a little red from the headbutt.
"It's my role to do that, remember?"
.
.
"HAHAHAHHA! You two remind me of me and Ubogin."
"Eww."
A vein popped on Nobunaga's head. "Nani?"
"I said 'Ew-"
"I know what you said."
"Then why are you asking, you weirdo!"
Nobunaga's eye twitched again, partly in offense and partly amusement. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Gon suddenly brightened up.
Gon suddenly remembered (consequently ignoring the samurai's glare) a certain technique they learned earlier that day, and simultaneously thought of a plan to escape. Her sparkling eyes reached Killua, and he too, sparkled.
Frankly, Nobunaga did not like this feeling.
Hisoka scoffed as he watched from the highest floor of an adjacent building. They really did try that, escape he meant. He wasn't sure why since Samurai was not planning to kill them either way, so long as they wait for the Danchou. They were running quite swiftly away from Samurai-kun, who at the moment, was using his En to claim territory of a nice radius around him. He was thoroughly ready for the kill back at the hideout.
Back at the hideout, where his targets no longer hid. He smirked and looked down on the running children, intensifying his hearing with nen.
"We have to ask Kurapika." The young Zoldyck said as they ran, Hisoka stood up and followed them. He faintly heard Gon's puzzled questions.
"Why?"
"I… he's probably the chain-user."
"EH?" Yeah, Hisoka was pretty surprised when he found out the Kuruta killed the Gorilla too. In any case, Hisoka hid his presence well and continued to follow the two from above.
Killua took out his phone, and turned to Gon as he pressed the call button. "I don't know how he got so powerful so quickly, though-" No answer.
Hisoka smirked, seems like there was no one answering the phone. And so... he thought it was the time for a nice entry.
Flop
"He's not answe-"
"Yeah, I'm intrigued with that too." he intervened with his trademark shrill voice, landing gracefully beside them. He was pertaining about how the kuruta got so strong, of course. "I'm guessing he probably chose an interesting limit."
And as always, the kids had a delayed reaction when it came with him. "H-HISOKA!" they yelled and jumped in to their battle positions.
"Don't worry, I'm not with them for now so we could talk."
"Huh?" They gaped at him. Last time they checked he was with the spiders. The young Zoldyck opened his mouth to retort when he saw him playing with one of Gon's ponytail.
"My, my… your hair sure got longer since we last met." He smiled and Gon blinked. The boy's eye twitched.
"OI!"
Hisoka turned to him and frowned. "Illumi's very interested in your whereabouts, by the way."
"Why y- -"
"Anyway," he cut him off, "The kuruta was working with me. We have a… mutual relationship to achieve our goals."
"Really?"
"He's lying Gon."
He remained impassive. "No, I'm not." Silence ensued for a moment, as the Zoldyck tried to asses the situation as objectively as possible.
"What's your purpose?" He finally asked as he looked around.
"No one's watching. Or listening. I didn't want to get killed because of stupidity either, you know." Hisoka smirked. "I don't need to tell you that now, do I?"
Killua glared at his snide comment. "Why tell us you work with Kurapika then?"
"Because you don't trust me."
"And do you think we do now?"
"Gon certainly does." The boy looked at Gon. Hisoka smirked at how true it was.
"GON!"
"W-What?"
His smirk widened at the sight of the panicking ex-assassin and licked his lips. "As a reward, I'll tell Gon my reason."
"Ha?" Gon voiced out and he only nodded.
"Promise you won't tell anyone though."
Killua, when he realized he was gaping, flinched. "No! How do I know you won't harm her?"
"She's not in my way, nor is she strong enough to challenge again. So no worries." He said nonchalantly, making Gon pout.
"How rude…"
"Still no." Killua muttered firmly, making one of Hisoka's eyebrow to rise.
"You're certainly getting in my way, though." He paused. "Wanna see what happens?"
"Che."
"Gon~" Hisoka called and stepped back, calling Gon to follow him. Killua's eyes widened.
"G-"
"I think it's fine, Killua." She smiled, looking at them alternately obviously not wanting an unnecessary brawl. She would definitely want to know everything she could- -especially if it had to do with one of her most precious friends. "I'll be back before bedtime. Promise."
And with a reassuring smile like that- -Killua had nothing else to say. He sighed in defeat, letting Hisoka mentally grinned in victory.
"Fine."
The next day, Leorio munched his food as he stared alternatively at the two kids. He woke up that morning surprised that Killua was already awake, pouting. Maybe he didn't sleep at all. Gon, on the other hand, just woke up and offered they eat breakfast.
Killua was silent and staring at her, as if mentally boring a hole or something. Gon puffed her cheeks and stared back.
"What? I came before bed time."
"I'm still annoyed that you won't tell me."
"Mou… But I promised." She said and then looked back down. Considering how much she was fidgeting, Killua realized how hard it was for her to keep it to herself.
Darn it, Killua cursed and mentally punched himself. He was being selfish yet again…
But every time he recalled that clown's face, he felt annoyance well up again. He couldn't bring himself to apologize.
"Che."
Gon could only sigh and eat her cereal. She stared at the scrumptiously chewable pieces of wheat,
Munch Munch Munch
And before she knew it- her mind already wondered.
-Flashback-
Hisoka took her to a very isolated on a rooftop to talk. He made sure Killua was no longer following them. Killua seemed to really start getting on his nerves more than an annoying prey to his predator, he said so himself. But she pushed the worry away, prayed that Hisoka wouldn't do anything rash, and proceeded to asking the questions that had been bothering her for a while.
"How... is he?"
"Who?"
"Kurapika." Gon whispered and looked down. "He had been ignoring us for a while."
"Genei Ryodan obviously would make anyone busy."
"Well, yes, but…" she frowned. "Why are you working with him anyway?"
"I wanted to battle the boss."
"..."
"His team is on the way. The kuruta could take care of them for me."
"Oh..."
After a while of silence, Hisoka leaned down and smiled at her. "Promise you won't tell anyone of my reason, ne? I'd rather not die prematurely."
She blinked before grinning widely in understanding.
"Okay! I promise."
-End of Flashback-
Staaaaaaarreee.
"What?"
"So what did Hisoka tell you?"
"*cough* H-Hisoka?" Leorio patted his own back to settle the gag reflex. The two kids, though, were too serious to notice.
"Yeah. He's a spider." Killua nodded apathetically. "Apparently he's working wit-"
"Psssh!" Gon cut him off by placing a finger over his mouth. "We don't know who might be listening."
Killua barely blushed. His eyes were too busy jerking.
Gon was taking this 'top-secret' thing way to seriously.
*A few hours later*
FIRRIPIN BUILDING
Doki
Doki
Inside a large, well-secured building in the middle of York Shin City that night, acertain light-haired ojousama was in the comfort room holding her chest tightly, and was staring deeply at the mirror. She had gone in from drinking with a stranger who said he was an old acquaintance of her father. He helped her get inside the building and for that she was extremely thankful. They decided to pass the time in that café, and now she excused himself in an attempt to hide her flustered state.
She gulped. He was, indeed, a very handsome and charismatic man. He was several years older than her but he didn't look like it. She had been interested in him, honestly.
But then he asked her to do a prophecy and he cried.
It was the first time she saw a man cry.
It was especially surprising for her since her goal was to make a certain blond bodyguard show some sort of soft emotion because of her. But now all of a sudden a stranger showed it to her.
Doki Doki Doki
For a girl who had hadn't truly loved living people for years, she seemed to have fallen for two.
Kurapika let out a deep breath. It was the night of the auction and it seemed that it would be cancelled again. What made everything worse was the miss had escaped. But as always, Kurapika remained stoic. She would probably be at the auction, anyway, he knew.. but he also knew the place would be a battlefield. Not hastening his pace might cause the girl's perish.
He sighed and stared at the girl's father. "Ojou-sama seemed to have escaped." He said and as expected, Light reacted quickly. No one can go faster than a frantic father trying to go after his run-away daughter, after all, especially if she was his source of income and influence.
He used his chain to confirm her whereabouts and he was right. She really was heading towards the battlefield and this utterly caused the man to panic. It didn't take long for them to arrive to their destination.
She was in the hospital room with doctors seeing her when they arrived. They said she collapsed all of a sudden but the doctors didn't have an answer as to why. Light became furious and after threatening the doctors to find the cause immediately or else- he swore to hunt whoever did this to his daughter down.
Kurapika was the only level-headed person remaining there, so he walked to the next sane person left and asked more information. It was one of the building's officials, and he seemed thoroughly afraid of the boss. He managed to squeeze some information from the man and found out that the ojousama was apparently with a dark-haired man when she collapsed .
Light heard of this and he even got angrier. After all, he had something to direct it to now. Light just knew that man had something to do with this.
Could they have poisoned his daughter? Why couldn't the doctors trace it? Could they be his alli-
"Calm down, boss." it was Kurapika, bringing his thought process to a temporary halt. "Please concentrate on how to get your daughter to safety."
That did calm him down, but he did not understand why the boy was ordering him to do something like it. "Wouldn't it be safer if she just stayed here?"
The boy shook his head. "This place will become a battle field."
His chest halted. They were in a war zone? But before he could utter anything else, the boy already excused himself. In such a firm way that even he, his boss, could do nothing else but watch him go.
Light did not know why he shivered in fear.
Tap
Tap
TAP
BAM!
Kurapika glared at his hand that made a few cracks on the wall. He knew it. Everything was the spider's doing, after all. He could feel it ages ago, but hearing the yells and incredulous voices over the guards' communication devices... and the fact that the ojousama, who's ability would be of interest to Kuroro, was attacked was more than enough proof.
He would encounter them again- -soon- -and it set his blood on fire. He exhaled and continued to walk, every step it got increasingly harder to contain his composure.
But then, he felt something that brought his steps to an abrupt halt.
En.
He could sense strong nen around the building and an unbelievably large radius made by En. They were all impressive, different nens and fluctuations of different types. He reflexively looked around, even when he knew there was nothing interesting happening nearby the spot he stood at. But he knew very well that somewhere within the building- -battles had already commenced.
BANG!
Another explosion from outside was heard. He estimated that the mafia was probably near its complete wipe-out by now. Those Genei Ryodan were too powerful.
And he was going to put an end to them.
But for some reason it felt as if some weight climbed up to his legs and made him pause his steps once more.
What will come of him after?
His master's words echoed in his head.
Emptiness and of blood-stained hands.
Opposite of who he used to be- especially after meeting his friends. But would it matter if it changed so much? Of course it would, he would not lie- he had already stressed himself too much trying to deny that. But enough so he would stop? Never.
He would become a nothing after this, he had prepared for it after hearing the news of her clan's massacre. His life of meaning, could not be the same as a life of Happiness. Not anymore.
That would be impossible for someone like him. After his mission- -that would be it, nothing else. Nothingness.
He willed himself to concentrate for his upcoming battles. But as his breathing calmed, his phone did the opposite.
It rang.
He slid his phone open and apathetically held it to his left ear, his breathing heavy from the tension but relatively calm nevertheless.
It was Senritsu, who was outside the building. He had ordered him and Banshou to come and get the mistress prior, but it seemed like it wouldn't happen any time soon. The explosions were too strong and widespread that they couldn't risk walking in. So, instead, he asked for them to stay put on a safe distance and by no means never to battle those people. They willingly followed.
"I wouldn't even if you ordered me to." Banshou even commented before closing the line.
But then, before he could take another step. His phone rang again. He paused. Could something have happened?
"Kurapika!" A high, enthusiastic voice, echoed inside his ears. His eyes widened.
Gon
"You finally answered!"
He had been avoiding them for a while now. You just wanted to hear her voice, Killua yelled before and he realized how true it was.
Should he hang up? This was the worst time for distraction…
Or… was it?
"We were captured by the Ryodan."
Yes. It was the worst time.
"You what?" His fuse seemed to have exploded. He couldn't remember how long ago this happened. "Didn't you know how dangerous they are? Are you idiots?" And in that split moment he became a nag.
"Such a nag." He even heard Killua mutter in the background.
"Mou… Kurapika… We know that now. So, are you okay now?"
"Why wouldn't I?" he said guardedly.
"You sound tired. You're not going to battle them at that state, right?"
"What if I would?"
"Do you need help?"
"No."
"Kurapika..." She pleaded, making his heart stop. "And please don't hang up."
He felt silent for a moment, forcefully composing himself. He let out a deep breath.
"Do you have anything else to say?"
She made a sound to say that she didn't. But she added something before cutting the line. "No, but...
"We'll be waiting for you, Kurapika."
BEEP
Kurapika stared at his phone, before smiling sarcastically at himself.
That was just like her... that Gon.
Pressuring him to want to survive like that.
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 15
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 16: Loss X Spider X Freedom
REPLIES TO ANGELS
Stancha . Strawberry-Charms - I mentioned this, too, in the A/N for this chapter... Eye Pair's not official (yet) XD Thx for the comment!
AsukaSaru- Haha. I'm glad you liked those Nostrade-centered scenes, then~! XD They need more spot light don't you think so, too? lol. Thanks for the review~
kyouno-aru - Thank you for the review! XD Relieved that Neon was actually adorable in the chap. Haha. I wanted her to be a little more likeable. ;)
Papilio . Ageha- Haha. No offense taken! I get you tho, I didn't like Neon before And the kiss was just on the cheek. I don't think he could do that! Lol. And yes, Gon is too dense. ;) And thx for the review!
Phoenix- Thunder - The Neon thing originally started out to lenghten my chappies. haha. It's not like that now tho *quiet!* I'm relieved to hear it was a suitable decision, too! hahaha. Glad you liked Killua's development, too, and thanks for the review! XD
The Another One- Thanks for the comment! And I'm so so so sorry this came out late! I'll try to upload the next one quicker...! lol
RhiAnnin- Thanks for the review~ Glad you thought so! Plus the genderbender genre is mostly for the people like us who are not that comfortable with slash pairings (yet). Agree? lol
SheShe GUEST- Kabayaaaaan! XD First of all thanks for the review and viewing my profile. lol. I'm happy to hear you like my story, despite the epic grammatical errors. XD And glad you liked the fanarts, too! Loved making them very much. ^^
walkandtalk- Nyahaha. Okay, okay! XD I'll... try. lol. I wanted to give jealous Killua a little breather. ahaha. Thanks for the comment~!
Elma Avalonia- Welcome back to the Hunter X Hunter Fandom, then!XD Thanks for the review and I would totally keep updating~ ;D
KuroHana- I will at the start of this chapter. haha. Just a lil' bit though since it wasn't that... deep and that they're in public. Haha. The other questions'll be answered in the next (16) chap tho~ And finally, thx for the review!
herseybarrules- Nyahahaha. He... will! Relatively. haha. Don't worry (yet). lol. And thank you for the comment! XD
AJ-Machado- Ah, I also mentioned in the A/N above but the eye pair isn't official yet. Not sure who the other side pairings will be yet. XD Thanks for the review, btw~
titaniacherry- *Blushes like hell* EH? That's so sweet! XD I'll try to stay in your top 2, ne? Haha. And welcome to FF. net as well. ;) As for the new story, i can't do that yet since I have so many lined up.I can suggest some fics for you though. Demon's Light is GonxKillua pair also but Killua's the girl. ;) Finally, don't apologize for the long review, I love reading every single word! hahah
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Thanks for reading~!
If it's not so much trouble, please write down what you thought? I'm fine with anything readers wants to say! XD