Leorio blinked, his vision blurry. "Where am I?"
"Shut up," Celeste snapped, pressing a bandage against his cut. Her fingers trembled.
He flashed a gap-toothed grin, eyes closing again. "You're worse… than my aunt…"
Celeste froze, the cloth slipping from her fingers.
Kurapika turned his head, pretending to check their water supply.
Night fell, cold seeping into the crevice. Celeste poked at the tiny fire, glaring at the stubborn flames.
"Why'd you save him?"
Kurapika, leaning against the wall, opened one eye. "He's my friend."
"No." She jabbed her stick into the embers, sparks flying. "In the clearing. You took your time before stepping in."
Silence.
"I wanted to see how far you'd go."
The flames crackled.
"And?" Her voice was too high.
He tilted his head toward Leorio, asleep. "You didn't run."
She gave a brittle laugh. "Didn't have a choice."
"Chains are easy to break when you try."
A stick snapped in her hands.
A distant howl shook the air. Celeste curled up, knees tucked under her chin.
"What the hell was that?"
"Candidates. Or beasts."
She laughed, a nervous, raspy sound. "Great."
"Sleep." He stood, his shadow dancing on the walls. "I'll keep watch."
"As if I'd…"
Leorio's sudden snore made her jump. She stared at him, jaw dropping.
"…Jerk," she muttered, an unwilling smile tugging at her lips.
---
Dawn painted the sky a milky gray. Kurapika gently shook Celeste, who was slumped against a rock, asleep.
"I'm going for the others."
She blinked, disoriented, then leapt up. "You serious? You're leaving us here?"
He pointed to the hidden traps around the entrance. "Stay quiet. No one will find you."
"What if you die?" Her nails dug into her palms.
"Not likely."
"Cocky."
"Keep him alive," Kurapika murmured, brushing past her.
She stood frozen until his footsteps faded.
An hour later, Leorio jolted awake.
"Where's he at?"
"Gone." Celeste sharpened a knife against a rock, its shrill scrape echoing in the crevice. She'd swiped it from a candidate.
He tried to stand, paled, and slumped against the wall. "Damn it…"
"Don't move," she hissed, pinning him with a glare. "You're useless like this."
He closed his eyes, a rough laugh escaping. "You're sticking around… to babysit me, huh?"
The knife stilled.
"I'm here 'cause I want to be."
Silence thickened, broken only by distant dripping.
"Thanks…"
"SLEEP."
He slept.
---
Screams tore through the clearing, raw and desperate. Men lay scattered, limbs broken, blood splattering the trampled grass.
Killua stood in the center, eyes cold, fingers stained red. His breath was steady, lips tight. He stepped forward, boots brushing past still bodies.
A woman in a criminal's uniform, on her knees, raised trembling hands, eyes swimming with tears. "Please!" she sobbed, voice breaking. "I'll do anything!"
Killua stopped, his empty gaze pinning her. His sharpened nails gleamed. A bitter smirk twisted his lips. He raised his hand, swift, precise. A flash, a gurgle. The woman collapsed, eyes fixed.
Killua lowered his hand, blood dripping onto the grass. "I'm an assassin," he murmured, voice flat, almost lifeless. 'That's all I'll ever be.' His fists clenched, nails biting his palms.
A light laugh broke the silence. "Wow, you've been busy!" a voice called, mocking, casual.
Killua spun, eyes narrowing, muscles tensing.
Kurapika stepped from the trees. His smile was easy. "Honestly, Killua," he said, leaning against a trunk, "I knew you were dangerous, but this? You've raised the bar."
Killua gritted his teeth, fingers twitching.
'Kurapika, that's his name?' he thought, a flicker of disdain crossing his eyes.
He crossed his arms, nails still wet with blood. "What're you doing here?" he growled, voice sharp. His eyes scanned Kurapika's relaxed stance. 'He looks weak. I could take him out in a second.' He flexed his fingers.
Kurapika raised an eyebrow, smile widening. "Oh, I was looking for you," he replied, voice teasing. "But you seem like you need an audience for your little show." He tilted his head, eyes scanning the scattered bodies. "Impressive, though."
Killua felt his cheeks heat, fists tightening.
'He's mocking me?'
"Get lost," he spat, eyes glinting. "Or I'll make you join these losers."
'One strike. That's all it'd take.'
But an image of Gon, laughing with Kurapika, flashed in his mind.
'Tch. Why's he popping up now?'
Kurapika didn't move, smile intact. "Threatening me?" he asked, crossing his arms. "Come on, Killua, you're smarter than that." His voice was soft, but his eyes sparked with challenge. "Or do you really want to test me?"
Killua clenched his teeth.
'He's underestimating me. I'll show him.'
In a flash, he lunged, nails aiming for Kurapika's throat.
'Too easy!'
But at the last second, a hand caught his wrist, stopping him cold. Kurapika, still smiling, tightened his grip, eyes twinkling. "Hey," he said lightly, "that's not how you say hello, is it?"
Killua blinked.
'What?'
He yanked his wrist free, stepping back. "You're fast," he growled, eyes narrowing. "But not fast enough." He charged again, nails targeting Kurapika's side, then chest, attacks chaining like lightning.
Kurapika dodged, body flowing. He tilted his head, avoiding one strike. Pivoted, dodging another. His feet grazed the grass, movements seamless.
"Not bad," he called, voice still teasing. "But you're telegraphing too much." He leapt back, evading another attack.
Killua clenched his fists. "Stop dancing!" he shouted, voice rising. He lunged, attacks faster, fiercer.
Kurapika dodged again, lips curling into a smug grin. "Getting mad, huh?" he said, hopping onto a low branch. He crouched. "Breathe, Killua. You're better than this." Before Killua could snap back, Kurapika sprang, his fist crashing into Killua's jaw. Killua staggered, hand clutching his cheek, eyes widening.
'He's… strong.'
Killua spat onto the grass, jaw throbbing. "You're not just some clown, huh?" he growled, straightening. He adjusted his stance, lips twisting into a smirk. "Do that again, if you dare."
Kurapika raised his hands, smile softening. "No need," he said, voice warmer. "Taking you down would be a waste of time." He crossed his arms, eyes studying Killua. "I'm here to get you and Gon."
Killua froze, eyes narrowing. 'Gon,' he thought, heart tightening. He lowered his hands slightly.
"Where's Gon?" he asked, voice shaky but firm.
'If something's happened to him…' He swallowed, nails digging into his palms.
Kurapika crossed his arms, smile softening. "He's alive," he replied, scarlet eyes glinting. "But you…" He tilted his head, lips curling into an amused smirk. "I've got a hunch about what got you like this."
Killua blinked, brows furrowing.
Kurapika raised a hand, gaze piercing. "You ran into your brother, didn't you?" he said, voice calm but heavy.
Killua froze, eyes widening. He clenched his teeth, cheeks flushing with rage.
"You with him?" he spat, voice rising. "You working with Illumi, is that it?"
'If he's with him, I'll kill him. Now.'
Kurapika raised an eyebrow, smile fading slightly. "I know of your brother," he replied, voice steady. "But I doubt he knows me." He took a step, eyes scanning Killua. "And you'd be wise to come with me."
Killua blinked, lips parting. "Huh?" he muttered, fists tightening.
'What's he talking about?'
"You lost your mind or what?" He stepped back, eyes narrowing. His fingers twitched, ready to strike.
Kurapika sighed, crossing his arms. "Words aren't your thing, huh?" he said, one corner of his mouth lifting. "Actions speak louder."
He paused.
Suddenly, a crushing aura enveloped the clearing. The air grew heavy, oppressive, like invisible claws gripping Killua's throat. His eyes widened, heart racing.
'What…?' he thought, cold sweat trickling down his temple. His legs shook.
'This feeling…' An image flashed: Illumi, his black eyes, his empty smile.
'It's him.' Killua stood frozen, breath shallow, nails biting his palms. 'No… not him…'
Kurapika tilted his head, smile returning. "You know this feeling, don't you?" he said, voice soft, almost mocking. "It reminds you of someone."
Killua gasped, cheeks pale, eyes wide. He gritted his teeth, fingers clawing the ground. He looked up, meeting Kurapika's gaze. His breath quickened, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
Kurapika released the aura, the air lightening. Killua collapsed to his knees, hands pressed into the grass, breath ragged. 'He can do that too?' He looked up, eyes glinting with a mix of fear and awe. 'He's not just strong. He's dangerous.'
"I can teach you," Kurapika said, voice calm but firm. "How to create that feeling. How to control it." He extended a hand to help Killua up. "You coming with me?"
Killua blinked, lips parting.
He stared at the outstretched hand, fingers trembling slightly.
Kurapika gave a soft smile, eyes warming. "Good question," he said, voice kind. "Because we're friends."
Killua froze.
'Friends?'
"Tch," he muttered, kicking the grass. "You're weird."
His lips twitched, holding back a smile. 'Like Gon.'
Kurapika laughed, a clear, almost joyful sound. "Maybe," he said, gesturing to the forest. "Come on, move. Let's find Gon."
Killua hesitated, eyes drifting to the bodies in the clearing.
But an image of Gon, laughing, running beside him, took over.
'Damn it…'
He shook his head, silver hair sweeping his forehead. "Wait for me, idiot," he muttered, lips twitching. He followed Kurapika.
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