Chapter 28: Facing X The X Spiders

The plan was executed.

Gon, Kurapika in disguise, and Leorio stayed in the car in the city street while Killua and I became the lookout for the Phantom Troupe's hideout.

Although I prefer facing the Troupes rather than sneaking up on them, Gon insisted I to be with Killua so he can't be lonely. For me, I wouldn't worry if he can be the lookout alone since his Nen ability is almost at the same level as my Master, and not to mention he's from a family of assassins.

"No good. There are so many buildings." Killua stated out of the blue as we scanned every building that we see.

I agreed to what he said, there are so many wrecked buildings in the area, it's different from what he heard, and all of them are just the same as the other.

Wait! The same...

I used my Gyo once more to scan every building and just as I expected them to be, they're all being surrounded by Aura.

"They're made out of Nen," I said to Killua, which took his interest. "All the other buildings are exactly the same, and they're all wrapped by the same Aura."

"You're right!" Killua shouted in a whisper as he stared at the buildings, made me think that he's using Gyo at that time. He formed a smile, but not at me, and suddenly paused and looked at me. I can see his cheeks grew red and looked away, hiding his face from me.

"D-Don't think this the wrong way, okay? I mean, everyone knows that those buildings are made out of Nen! I was just happy that a stupid girl like you knows about it," he shouted out of the blue, his cheeks still red, and started to ruffle his white hair. "And, y-you've improved so far... I guess."

I gave him a warm smile for giving me compliments. I know that he wasn't a straight-forward person, so he just ended up insulting me instead of praising me just a little. I can feel that he's proud of me, like a father would, even though he didn't show it right to his face.

"So that means... one of the Troupes can copy objects using his Nen," Killua said in thought with his chin lying between his fingers. "We mustn't be reckless. We must call Kurapika first."

***

NARRATION

The phone's ringtone echoed inside the car, which turned out to be Kurapika's. He grabbed it from his pocket, still in his woman disguise, and answered the call.

"Hello, Killua?" He said to the other line.

"Kurapika, we've got trouble. There are many same buildings here. It might be risky to inspect each building and ran into one of the Troupes." The other line said, which is Killua.

"Got it. I'll call a colleague." Kurapika answered and ended the call immediately to try another. He pressed some numbers on his phone and put it back to his ear.

Meanwhile, Melody went outside to go shopping with Neon. Her phone suddenly ringed in her pocket. She tried to reach it despite the shopping bags she was carrying in both of her hands and answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Melody, I need your help in capturing the Troupes. One of my friends needs your help. I'll give you the address." The voice said.

"Are you sure about this, Kurapika? I don't want you or your friends to get hurt." She answered.

"Don't worry. They might not look like it, but they're strong and they know what they're doing." Kurapika said in a calm tone, not showing a sign of annoyance because of her question.

"O-Okay. Alright, I'll help."

She ended the call and waited for the address through message while a frown was clear on her face, clearly worried about what will happen next. She sighed and continued shopping.

***

SECCO RASVIN

Killua and I continued to wait for some backups from Kurapika. It's not that really long, but I'm getting tired of waiting for someone to come to help us.

"Someone's coming! Be quiet." Killua warned me as he looked in the other direction. I turned my head to look at what he's looking at and saw a figure on the other side of the building. I couldn't see his face clear. He's small and wears a hat. I noticed his long black hair, driving me to the conclusion that he was actually a girl.

Suddenly, Killua's phone rung in his pocket. He picked it up and answered the call. I leaned my ear to the other side of the phone so I can also hear the other line.

"Hello, you're Killua and Secco, right?" The other line said with a beautiful female voice, and I think the person on the opposite building is the one who called. As I thought, she's a girl.

"I'm Kurapika's colleague, Melody. I was asked here to help you." The girl named Melody continued. "I can track the Troupes by following their heartbeat. I can test it on you if you want. Just give me a command in a whisper."

Killua and I looked at each other, not sure if we will believe everything that Melody had said. He turned off his phone and looked directly at the girl on the other building. He opened his mouth to speak in a whisper.

"Raise your right hand."

My eyes widened as I saw that she raised her right hand, just as Killua said earlier, shocked by the results. She was amazing! She can even hear us a mile away!

"Cool!" I heard Killua shouted as he turned his to me with his face full of enthusiasm, similar to a kid who just saw a talking robot. I also made the same as him with sparkling eyes.

***

"Kurapika, the Troupes are heading on your way! I think they noticed us!" Melody shouted on her phone as we all jumped from roof to roof on the city street.

In the crowded part of Yorknew City, we were chasing some of the Troupes that had been running all of a sudden. I don't know how long I will stop running, but right now, my top priority is to keep track of the Troupes for Kurapika, so he couldn't seek revenge and join the Nostrade again.

But when you look at the Troupes' faces, they don't seem triggered by us stalking them. Did they know that we were following them all along?

"Okay. I'll chase them!" Kurapika said on the other line.

"What?! Are you crazy?" Killua shouted, with his annoyed and irritated face. It seems like he doesn't like Kurapika's plan of charging them at the same time. He forcefully grabbed the phone from Melody as we ran.

"Listen, don't do anything stupid! The plan might—" Before he can finish his sentence, the other line hanged up. I took a glance at his surprised face as he carries the phone on his hand.

"Damn it!"

I took the phone from his hand to keep from being thrown by Killua and gave it to Melody. I thought that the Troupes knowing our plan is our only problem, but Kurapika made it worse by facing them on his own. Does he want to commit suicide?

After long hours of running, Melody suddenly stopped at her actions. Even though I don't know what is going on, I followed her and stopped jumping. I turned around to Killua who also did the same.

"What's the matter?" I asked her for her sudden action.

"They're... not moving." She answered, which made me think of the situation deeper. Why would they stop? Did they encounter someone? Or did they...

"They're facing Gon and Kurapika right now." She added.

What?! How did that happen? If Gon will going to face the Troupes again, I'm not sure if he will survive anymore. I'm scared of losing them again. That's right. I must go with them.

I increased my speed into maximum and started jumping faster than before.

"Wait! Secco!" I heard Killua shouting my full name from afar but I didn't care. All I think about right now was Gon's condition. I can't let him fight on his own. I must save him.

I must.

After minutes of jumping, I finally found them, some of the Troupes and Gon and Kurapika hiding in the corners of the street. I used my Ten so my Aura couldn't be recognized.

"Show yourself. We know you're there." One of the Troupes, the man with a cross on his forehead, said at no one in sight, but I know it was my friends he was talking to.

Gon showed up from his hiding spot, with both hands raised, admitting defeat. When I saw the show in my view, I couldn't help but be nervous about him. My heart beats faster than ever, and nobody knows how much I wanted to jump there and protect him.

"You again?" The Troupe said. I heard Gon trying to explain why he's been following them every time until he was interrupted by other.

"There's another one in the corner." one of them said out of the blue. I can feel the tension between them because I knew that they were talking to Kurapika, their one, and only target.

I can feel Kurapika's murderous Aura in the corner and I can see him grabbing his chains, ready to attack the gang. His foolish actions ended them up in this tight situation. If never for him, the plan wouldn't end up like this.

I was about to save Kurapika and take his place but suddenly, a hand pulled my arm and dragged me away from my position earlier.

"Shh! Be quiet!" A familiar voice whispered to my ear. After some seconds of silence, he finally let go of my mouth. I took some short breaths first and later, it became longer and deeper.

"Killua?!" I exclaimed.

"Let me take Kurapika's place. You help Leorio in capturing the Captain," he said to me.

When I heard what he said, I remembered Gon, how he was caught by the enemies. And now, Killua was volunteering to join him. I don't know how to react to their actions.

As my companion was about to leave, I grabbed his arm immediately. My tears start to flow on my cheeks.

"Why are you always doing this?! Why are you always the one who's at risk?! Why can't you just let me do it?!" I've gone berserk and shouted any words that I've been keeping on my heart. Finally, I've said what I wanted to say.

Killua just stared at me, didn't say anything. I can't. I can't let them leave me behind. I can't let them go in danger this time.

"Look, Secco. I'm not gonna die, okay?" Killua said, tapping my shoulder. I raised my head to see him, my eyes' still wet from the tears. "I'm trying to protect Gon... and you."

After what he said, my eyes suddenly widened in surprise. Did I hear that right? Killua actually cared for me? Me that he treats as nothing but a burden before?

I noticed his cheeks grew red as he looked away, keeping it away from me.

"N-Now are you satisfied?! Geez! Because of you, I'm saying embarrassing things!" He said and sprinted away from me and towards Kurapika, who was almost got caught by the Troupes.

Killua also showed up with Gon and the Troupes took them away. I approached the hidden Kurapika and guided them back to our car.

After minutes of jumping and running in the roof of the houses, we finally made it to our car, where we can see Leorio sitting in the driver's seat and Melody on the back.

Before Kurapika will open the door of the car to get it, I quickly grabbed his hand to face me on the back. I saw his face in shock because of my sudden action. After that, I raised my bandaged arm in the air and sway it towards his cheek, slapping him.

I didn't move a single step and just let the situation go worse. The whole world was in a slow-motion and I couldn't hear anything except the sound of my hands slapping his face.

What did I just do?

I pulled all the air that my nose can consume and spread the words in my brain out of anger.

"You're an idiot, Kurapika!" I shouted at him. Again, tears are falling on my cheeks. Darn! Why am I a crybaby? Stupid me! "Because of your stupid revenge towards the Troupes, Gon and Killua were in trouble! Because of your impatience, they got caught! We're doing this for you, but you're the one who's causing all these failures!"

Kurapika was surprised at first, but his face turned serious. "Listen, Secco. I'm not the one who told you to get in my way! They chose to join me. If they, and especially you, didn't expect the plan to be this risky, then they shouldn't have insisted on bringing them with me." He argued back.

"B-But... but still..." I stuttered my words. My legs felt tired of all the jumping so I dropped in my feet, bowing on the ground, letting my tears fell on the street. "T-They're your friends... How could you do that to them?"

"Don't worry." Kurapika turned his back to me. "I'm going to bring them back."

***

After hours of waiting in the plane, finally, it's time to come out. After our argument with Kurapika, we decided to capture the Captain, in which we did, and negotiated him for Gon and Killua. We ended up in one of the large plateaus near the Yorknew City.

I came out of the plane, only to find Leorio and Kurapika with the Troupe Captain, standing. I joined them and stood beside Leorio.

"Are you sure this will work out well?" I asked both of them in a whisper as I formed my hands into fists. No one answered. So I guess I'll take that as a 'no'.

I saw Gon and Killua on the other side of the area and I don't know how much I wanted to see them. Are they all alright? Are they tortured?

The hostages are started walking passed each other and when they made it towards us, I couldn't help myself but to ran to them and gave them my great big hug.

"I was so worried!" I cried as tears falling on my cheeks again.

"Well, we're here now, Secco. There's nothing to worry about anymore." Gon said to me as he patted my head from the back.

"Y-You're overreacting, you know that?" Killua insulted but I just ignored what he said and hugged them so tightly. Because of my tight hug, they started complaining that they couldn't breathe freely. With no other choice, I let go and let them breathe some air.

After that short reunion, we went back to the plane to head us home. The others are finally climbing in the plane's stairs, leaving me and Kurapika behind.

"Kurapika," I called out his name as I walked forward, following my friends. I turned my head around to see him in my peripheral vision. My mouth formed a smile to him.

"Thank you for bringing them back."