Hisoka crouched again, his face so close to Gon's that their breaths mingled. "I'm not going to kill you. ♣️" His voice was a whisper, almost tender, but his eyes glinted with cruel delight. "Not today. You're not… ripe yet. ♦️" He tilted his head, red hair brushing Gon's shoulder. "But one day… oh, one day, you'll be a lion. And then…" He chuckled, a sound that sent a chill through the air. "Then you'll be worth it. ♥️"
Gon blinked, his breath ragged. 'He… he's not going to kill me?' His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms. He stared at Hisoka, searching for answers in those eyes, but found only cold, unfathomable amusement. "You're… you're completely nuts!" he spat, voice shaky but defiant. He tried to stand, but his leg buckled, and he collapsed with a grunt, face twisted in pain.
Hisoka laughed, a clear, almost joyful sound that echoed through the clearing. "Nuts? Maybe. ♣️" He rose in one fluid motion, eyes scanning the surroundings again. 'Kurapika… he's out there somewhere, watching.' His lips curled into a sly smirk.
Suddenly, he turned, eyes locking onto a specific spot in the brush. A tree at the clearing's edge, its branches faintly swaying. *Oh?* His eyebrows rose, smile widening. 'A spectator.' He took a step in that direction, fingers toying with a new card—a jack of spades. 'Little assassin, did you think I wouldn't notice you?'
Behind the tree, Killua froze. His heart pounded so hard it throbbed in his temples. 'Damn it. He spotted me.' His eyes widened, lips trembling. He slapped a hand over his mouth to muffle his breathing. 'Don't move. Don't move.' Illumi's image surged again, black eyes piercing. 'Never challenge someone stronger than you.' His legs shook.
He bowed his head, white hair falling over his eyes. 'Sorry, Gon. Sorry.'
Hisoka chuckled, eyes still fixed on the tree. "Planning to stay there, little assassin? ♦️" He took another step, the card gleaming between his fingers. "Or do you want to play, too? ♥️"
Killua gritted his teeth, breath caught in his throat. 'He knows I'm here. He knows.' His fists tightened, nails cutting deeper into his palms. 'I've gotta… I've gotta do something.' But Illumi's image returned, sharper, his voice hissing in his mind: 'You're not strong enough. Run.' Killua punched the tree, bark splintering under the blow. 'Shut up!'
Hisoka paused, his smile softening, almost indulgent. "Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. ♠️" He spun the card, turning it into a joker with a fluid flick. "You've got time to grow, too. ❤️" He cast one last glance at the tree, then turned away, eyes settling back on Gon, still sprawled in the dirt.
Hisoka ran a hand through his hair, lips stretching into a satisfied smile. 'I'll wait. It'll be… entertaining.'
He walked off with a light step. "See you soon. ♥️" He threw a final glance at Gon, then at the tree where Killua hid, his smile widening. "You too, assassin. ❤️" His figure melted into the brush, his laughter fading in the breeze.
Gon stayed on the ground, breath jagged, eyes fixed where Hisoka had vanished. 'He… he's gone? I survived?' His fingers trembled, clutching his thigh, blood seeping between them. 'Why didn't he kill me?' He bowed his head, forehead nearly touching the dirt. ,'I'm… too weak.' A tear fell, mixing with the dust. 'Damn it!'
Behind the tree, Killua slumped against the trunk, body shaking. His fists unclenched, hands falling limp on his thighs. 'I let him down.' His eyes stared at the ground, lips quivering. 'I'm so pathetic.' He punched the dirt, fingers digging into the earth. 'I won't stay like this.'
In the shadows of the trees, a few meters away, Kurapika watched.
'Gon… you survived.'
He closed his eyes for a moment, his breathing slowing.
He opened them.
'Hisoka… waiting for a lion?' His eyes narrowed, a cold glint dancing in them. 'I'll give you a monster.'
Meanwhile, minutes after Hisoka's departure, Killua emerged from his hiding spot and rushed to the barely conscious Gon.
"Gon!"
The boy on the ground turned his gaze toward the voice. Though his vision was blurry, he recognized the figure.
"Ki… Killua…"
Killua crouched urgently and tried to lift Gon. The latter could barely stand, forcing Killua to sling him over his shoulders.
"Gon, I'm sorry," Killua muttered, face hidden by his hair.
"Huh? What… what're you saying, Killua?"
Gon looked dazed, barely able to steady his breathing.
Killua's teeth clenched. "I couldn't do anything to help you. I'm…" The rest of the words stuck in his throat.
Gon looked at his friend and ruffled his hair. Killua's eyes widened, staring at his friend in surprise. Gon smiled, though pained.
"What're you talking about, Killua? Even together, we couldn't have taken that guy."
"But…"
"He's really strong," Gon cut in, clenching his fists. "I really thought I was gonna die. I'm too weak, Killua…"
And without either realizing, they both started crying at the same moment.
"That's about to change, friends!"
A voice interrupted the moment.
Kurapika appeared, strolling casually.
"You…" Killua held back. "Where the hell were you? Gon almost died!"
"You're here too, Kurapika?"
"He found me first," Killua explained, "and we were coming to find you."
"That's awesome!" Gon cheered. "We're almost all back together. Just Leorio left."
Kurapika approached with a smile. "As it happens, I found Leorio first, but he's in rough shape like you, Gon. We're going to join him."
"Hey! You gonna tell me where you were?" Killua snapped.
"Killua, what's wrong?" Gon asked, startled by Killua's sudden anger.
"You didn't see him like I did, Gon, you wouldn't get it. But if this guy had stepped in against that clown, things would've gone differently."
Gon stared, bewildered, at Kurapika, whose gaze remained smiling.
Kurapika looked down at Killua. "If I'm understanding," he said, "you're mad at yourself for hiding like a coward, so you're taking it out on me."
"I…"
Kurapika placed a hand on his shoulder, cutting him off. "You're right to be angry, but only at yourself."
Killua looked away. Kurapika continued, addressing both boys: "I'm going to give you a weapon to unlock your potential. You'll experience true growth and stand among this world's masters." He fixed on Gon. "Gon, never forget today's crushing defeat until you can boast you'll never lose again."
He turned and said to Killua, "Give me Gon. I'll carry him. We'll move faster."
Killua hesitated, recalling their earlier race. He handed Gon to Kurapika's back.
"How'd you find us?" Gon asked, curious despite his half-conscious state.
Killua looked at Kurapika, equally curious.
"You'll learn soon enough," Kurapika replied. Glancing briefly at the sky, he added, "For now, let's join Leorio."
With that, they broke into a run.
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