Night had fallen on Zabiru Island.
In the dark woods, Hisoka stood out, stepping into a small moonlit clearing. He sat on a fallen log.
A young man emerged from a hole. It was Illumi.
"You took your time," he said.
Hisoka didn't respond. He pulled out a card and began toying with it silently.
"You're oddly quiet, Hisoka," Illumi noted. He smiled. "Did you run into the blondie again?"
Hisoka smiled back. The card in his hand was a five of diamonds. "I can't quite gauge his worth. ♦️" He pointed the card at Illumi. "You, for instance, are worth 85 points."
"What's your basis for that rating?" Illumi asked, not particularly curious.
"Lots of factors," Hisoka replied casually. "But the biggest one is potential. ♦️"
Illumi pretended to ponder. "So, you're saying the blondie's more dangerous than me in your eyes?" He climbed out of his hole and fixed Hisoka with a dark stare. "Are you insulting me?"
Hisoka met his gaze and smirked. "I'm not in the mood. That boy intrigues me a lot. ❤️"
Illumi sat on the ground, hands on his cheeks. "You're making me want to go kill him."
Hisoka gave him a blank look.
"What?" Illumi asked.
"Rest in peace, my friend,,♣️" Hisoka said, making a mock sign of the cross. He sighed and looked up at the night sky. "By the way, I ran into your brother today.♦️"
Illumi's expression shifted subtly for a moment before returning to his usual neutrality. "I see."
"He didn't dare approach me. You're overprotecting him, Illumi,♣️" Hisoka teased with a grin.
"That's none of your business, Hisoka. Focus on your blondie," Illumi snapped.
Hisoka laughed, then grew serious. "Kurapika's too risky for my games. I've found a better toy.♠️"
"If you say so." Illumi stood and retreated into his hole. "Well, see you tomorrow, Hisoka."
Hisoka remained alone in the clearing, eyes on the moon, a wide smile on his lips. "I've got enough to keep me entertained for a lifetime with you, Kurapika.♠️"
***
Meanwhile, Kurapika, Gon, and Killua reached the cliffside cave where Leorio was hiding.
"This is a damn good hideout," Killua remarked, hands in his pockets as he walked.
"The harder to reach, the better. Though it depends on the context," Kurapika added.
Killua glanced at Gon on Kurapika's back. During the trek here, Gon had finally passed out.
"He's just out cold. He'll recover," Kurapika reassured, noticing Killua's worried look.
"Stop! Who's there? One step closer, and I trigger my trap!"
A voice echoed. Killua tensed, ready to act, but Kurapika placed a hand on his shoulder. He stepped deeper into the cave.
"It's me, Celeste," he called as he entered a chamber. There stood Celeste, dagger in hand, with a sleeping Leorio nearby.
Killua followed, eyeing Celeste, then the unconscious Leorio.
"You're teaming up with a criminal?" he asked.
Kurapika set Gon down beside Leorio. "Let's just say Leorio took some liberties." He turned to Celeste. "Celeste, meet our other companions. The one out cold is Gon, and the cold kid over there is Killua." He looked at Killua. "Killua, this is Celeste. Apparently, Leorio's friend."
"Apparently?" Celeste huffed. "We *are* friends!"
Kurapika smiled. "You're not shy about saying it anymore. That's good."
"Shut it, blondie."
Killua shrugged, gave Celeste a casual nod, and sat beside Gon. Celeste, meanwhile, stared at the two boys.
"Seriously, the Hunter Exam lets kids like these join?" she said, shocked.
"That's not the question you should be asking," Kurapika replied, pulling out bandages while Killua peeled off Gon's clothes.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Celeste asked, annoyed by his comment.
"You should be wondering how these 'kids,' as you call them, made it this far and survived."
"Kurapika, you're back?"
Leorio stirred awake. Celeste instinctively rushed to his side, helping him sit up against the rock wall.
"Gon and Killua, you're here too?" Leorio said, noticing his other companions. Seeing Gon bloodied, he frowned. He stood, despite Celeste's mild protest.
"What happened to him?" he asked, stepping closer.
"He ran into the clown too," Kurapika answered.
"What?!" Leorio exclaimed, vividly recalling his own encounter with that guy. "Damn it!"
He rolled up his sleeves and pressed his ear to Gon's chest. "His heartbeat's weak. He needs stimulants." He took the warm cloth Kurapika held and placed it on Gon's forehead. He turned to Celeste. "Get my bag."
"You… you're in just as bad shape as he is," Celeste protested.
"Don't worry, I'm in top form," Leorio said with a grin. To prove it, he thumped his chest, only to wince as a sharp pain hit, letting out a small yelp. Pretending nothing happened, he flashed Celeste another smile.
She sighed, grabbed his bag, and handed it to him.
"You sure you're okay?" Kurapika asked. "I can handle it. You should—"
"I'm recovered enough. I'm taking over, Kurapika."
Kurapika nodded and stood. He glanced at Killua, who was silently watching Gon. "Feel like helping me gather firewood?"
"Sure."
While Leorio, with Celeste's help, tended to Gon, Kurapika and Killua worked on the fire and cooking.
Minutes later, Leorio and Celeste joined them.
"How's he doing?" Killua asked urgently.
"His injuries were pretty serious. He lost a lot of blood, and his fractures are severe…" Leorio began listing.
Killua's hands clenched.
"But," Leorio continued, "our dear Gon's tough as nails. If all goes well, he should wake up by tomorrow."
"Really?" Killua's face lit up.
Leorio nodded.
"So, that means your training starts tomorrow," Kurapika declared.
"Training?" Leorio asked, confused.
"I'm going to train you all for the remaining days on this island," Kurapika explained.
"What're you blabbing about? We're in the middle of the Hunter Exam," Leorio protested. "And since when did you decide you're our master?"
"Can you shut it, four-eyes?" Killua cut in coldly.
"Huh?! Wanna say that again?" Leorio snapped. "I'll have you know I'm your—"
"You're weak."
Kurapika's words silenced the room.
"These four days on this island have shown you that," he continued. "You all have dreams, but you don't have the strength to achieve them."
Leorio and Killua looked away, fists clenched.
Kurapika eyed each of them, then smiled.
"But cheer up!" he said brightly. "Tomorrow, you'll discover a whole new world."
"What exactly are you training us for?" Leorio asked, now more open.
"Tomorrow," Kurapika replied, standing. He looked at Celeste, who was eating in her corner. "We've got work to do, you and I."
"Huh? Me?" Celeste said, startled.
A warm smile spread across Kurapika's lips. But Celeste felt a literal chill. For some reason, something told her tonight wouldn't be restful.
Gulp! she swallowed hard.
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