When I arrive at Neon's hotel suite, the guards look at me like they've seen a ghost.

"Were you attacked?" Melody asked with a furrowed brow.

Aww, that's sweet she's concerned. "No, just some friendly sparring," I answer.

Brow furrowed, eyes slipping down my frame probably noting the scratches and apparently a few twigs in my hair and rubble on my clothes, Kurapika puts the pieces together. "Did you and Hisoka...do it in a tree or something?"

I could laugh at how high school that question is. It tickles me how critical and suspicious of me he continues to be. "No, we didn't. Just some love taps." Though I am relaxed and satisfied enough to go for a cigarette right now.

Kurapika's nose slightly wrinkles like a bad smell just entered. "This isn't the time for games. Dalzollene's not answering any of our calls so we think there's a good chance he was killed by the Phantom Troupe."

No shit.

"We have to talk to the boss to figure out what to do next," Melody says.

We enter Neon's room and Kurapika wakes her up to tell her what's happened. I heard she had a tantrum earlier when she found out she couldn't go to the auction, so I'm surprised by how clean the room is. The shootout at the auction, our lost comrades, Dalzollene.

Her blue hair dangles like tendrils over the bed, blue eyes still blinking awake. The pink and red striped top sags on her slightly. She's smaller than I remember. "Did they take the mummy too? I really wanted it," she whines as she rubs her eyes. It's been a while since I worked with Nostrade and I forgot how self-centered the daughter is. The callousness of her comments take everyone else by surprise. "Will there be another auction? When will it happen?"

Maybe I feel bad that I failed Shachmono, Baise, and Ivlenkov at the auction, or my disgust at how sheltered and privileged this girl is is getting to me, but I cannot listen to her bullshit anymore. "Look here you little twat, you may not have cared about those people, but we did. So why not show a little respect for those who died trying to get your pound of flesh and keep you safe."

I can feel the gasp and everyone's wide eyes on me. Kurapika reaches for my arm. "Oby—"

"I didn't ask for backup," I say pulling away from him, "Now get your father on the phone so we can figure out what to do next."

When we hear from Light, he gives us instructions on what to do next. He tries to make me the new leader, but I have no interest in that. So I recommend Kurapika for the job and he begrudgingly accepts. The boy's first order is to dismiss me from the guards.

Kurapika purses his lips. "You come off a bit strong and might unintentionally bump heads with others. I'm just trying to keep the peace. Neon's safety should be the top priority."

I could argue, but I know his mind's made up. Whatever. I'm not interested in working with that snot-nosed wench anyway. "So what would you have me do instead?"

Kurapika looks down at the missed call on his phone. "It's more a personal favor, but I'd like for you to keep an eye on some of my friends for the next day or so. They likely know about the Phantom Troupe robbing the auction by now and will try to check on me, possibly challenge members of the troupe. "

I'm genuinely surprised by this request, but it'd be a nice change of pace. "Sure. Who are they?"

"Gon Freecs, Killua Zoldyk, and Leorio—"

I smirk. "Small world."

"You know them?"

"Gon and Killua yes. From Heaven's Arena. How will I find them?"

"I'll text them for an address and let you know."

I nod my head and give him my phone number. "So, what'll you be doing to keep busy til Nostrade gets here?"

Before Kurapika can answer, I hear heavy footsteps enter the hotel lobby walking towards us. When I turn towards the noise, Uvogin is standing across from us.

"Ah, so that's what you'll be doing..."

*

"You should get some rest. I'm sure Gon and Kilhua will be fine for the night. I'll give you a call around 10am," Kurapika says.

I'm not surprised Uvo couldn't let a kid get away with kidnapping and humiliating him. His pride is as fierce as his mane. But surely even he can tell that this kid is different. Something tells me Kurapika wanted Uvo to find him. That's why he wanted to stay in the same hotel even though it could be found easily online.

This is a revenge kill. Everyone in the Kurta Klan was killed by the Phantom Troupe except Kurapika. I wonder how he survived. Part of me wants to stay and watch the epic fight approaching, to see more Kurapika's nen abilities, but I'm afraid to see who'll lose. I hate to think about Uvo's raw power and fierce loyalty to those he cares about being taken away. On the other hand, Kurapika is such a young, untapped force that could probably do the world some good. And having killed out revenge before, I know that kind of anger and pain is best dealt with in private. "I've been here before. If you're doing this to heal, it'll only deepen the wound."

Kurapika cocks his head to the side while looking at me. "Are you saying he doesn't deserve to die?"

"No, he does. But if your dream is to kill the spiders, you'll feel empty once you do. Your family will remain gone and you won't have the fantasy of revenge to comfort you anymore. You'll still have the work of figuring out how to live without them and finding a new dream."

"You don't know me. I could be saving countless lives by destroying him."

"Yes, but that's not why you're doing it, is it?"

His eyes grow wide as he bites lip. I know it hurts, but it's better that he knows, even if it doesn't change what's about to happen. Uvo wouldn't let him walk away even if he wanted to, but maybe a seed can be planted. "You're okay killing civilians, but you'd spare a bad guy."

I fold my arms."I kill as a last resort in defense of myself and others. You're just angry and bitter right now."

Kurapika looks down, his bangs cast a shadow over his eyes. "It's too late."

I brush his hair back from his face and see his steel grey eyes. How restless they are. "You still have time to forgive."

Uvo clears his throat, a growl like a lion waking from slumber. "If you're done mothering him, we have some unfinished business to attend to."

Kurapika pulls away from my hand and continues looking at the floor. "You should go."

"Good luck." As I walk away, the light seems starker than it was before between all of us.

Legs firmly planted, one hand on his hip Uvo looks me up and down. Before I walk past he scoops me to his waist. Our bodies smack together quick and hard like our hips are magnets. His green eyes stare so deeply into mine, I get goosebumps. "After I finish this, wanna meet up?"

I can still smell the cigarette smoke on his breath from our kiss earlier. Even though my answer is no, I realize I felt something when I was by Kurapika's side that I don't feel as strongly in Uvo's arms. Something that could make the difference in who wins this match. Beyond pain, anger, vengeance, or youth. Aura.

When I touched Kurapika, it felt so strong I could feel his heartbeat, the roots of all his bones and muscles becoming one. This battle could be the catalyst that unleashes a new level of power for him. What an interesting opponent he'd make in a few years. Though I never underestimate adversaries, tonight could very well be Uvo's last night, so what would be the harm in granting him some peace of mind? "Sure."

He grins and leans in to kiss me. My lips touch his, my arms wrap around his neck as he lifts me higher on his body, pressing my breasts into his chest. Being lifted towards the sky, I realize I forgot what a giant he is. I suck his bottom lip, remembering he used to like that, and taste the beer he must've had recently. Thank goodness I don't love him, or this might be hard to do. When he starts to grope my ass, I know it's time to leave. Kurapika grunts and blushes before turning away from us.

Uvo places me back on my feet, his hand still pressed into the center of my back. His eyes stay on me as I leave the hotel. My skin buzzes with exhaustion of the evening, numb to any short-lived moments of pleasure I had. It all feels like a dream now. Hopefully my brief kindness stays with whoever loses, so they don't leave this world feeling completely alone.

*

The phone rings and causes a dull tap in my head. The last thing I remember was taking a bath and having a glass of wine before bed. Maybe too much wine. I think it was around 4 when I went to bed. Or was it 5? I'm on the couch of the apartment I keep in the city. My dreads are still damp underneath me with a crème towel's draped over my body. When my vision clears I see the time is 11:00am. 10 missed calls. Fuck. How did I sleep through my alarm? I pick up the phone on the fifth ring.

"Where the hell have you been? Gon and Kilhua could be dead by now!" Kurapika shouts into my ear.

I put him on speaker phone and go to my bedroom to get dressed. "If that were true, I highly doubt you'd be on the phone with me."

"I trusted you to watch after them—"

"I'm not in the mood for a lecture. Where are they now?" I interrupt.

Kurapika sighs. "They're going after two members of the Phantom Troupe."

I put on an exercise bra and grab an azure crop top hoodie. "What? That's suicide."

"Apparently the mafia put a bounty on the spiders' heads. Gon and Kilhua are bullheaded enough to think they can take some of them down. I tried telling them not to, but they won't listen to me," he responds.

I sigh. "Where are they now?"

"I talked to them about 10 minutes ago and they said they're at The Square downtown," he says.

That's a 20 minute car ride away from me. My best option is to go on foot. "I'm on my way now," before I hang up, there's one other thing I want to know, "Where's Uvo's body?"

There's a moment of silence before Kurapika clears his throat and answers me. "We fought in the Gordeau Desert. Just outside the city. I buried him there."

"Thanks. I'm glad you made it out. I'll call you when I have the boys." I hang up before Kurapika can say anything else. Not that there is anything left to say. Or anything to feel sorry about. It was bound to happen sooner or later, but it's nice to know where I can pay my respects when I'm feeling sentimental. I grab a pair of crushed velvet cobalt shorts and black chunky combat boot heels nearby. Not exactly the outfit I envisioned saving the day in, but it'll do. I put my hair up in a ponytail and say a prayer the boys haven't been kidnapped or worse.

When I arrive at The Square, I see two spiders; a petite woman with long pink hair, doe eyes in a purple and black track suit and a tall slender male with fish eyes, sleek black hair, and a samurai sword resting on his knee. Machi and Nobunaga. They're sitting at one of the tables in a sea of people. It's so hot the sidewalks are sweating. Pigeons fly in and out of the sun as they look for scraps to eat on the ground.

All the cafes, pizza shops, tea stores are open with a bunch of tourists walking up and down the strip. The spiders are having a beer, looking down, probably trying to pick up on the aura of someone. Thankfully I'm far enough behind them where they can't see me, but I turn on my In just in case. Do they know they're on the mafia's hitlist right now? Or maybe, they suspect that Uvo's dead and are trying to catch his killer.

I look around trying to figure out where those little shits could be, but there's no use with this many people. If they're smart, they'll be inside a building nearby on one of the higher floors. I think I'll have to wait it out until everyone moves. I go to a stand and buy some green tea to help me wake up. About an hour goes by before the spiders get up and leave. The boys will likely follow them on a higher plane because it'd be easy to find them on the ground, especially if the spiders go to a secluded area.

I scale one of the buildings and see Gon and Kilhua shortly afterward. They lay low, but if they're in sight for more than a moment they could get caught. I stay one building behind so they don't spot me and blow our covers. By this point, Machi and Nobunaga likely know they're being followed and are trying to draw their trackers out. Don't take the bait, guys. Eventually the spiders stop on a gray narrow street where it's just them. Gon and Kilhua head into a dilapidated building, likely to wait for the right moment to attack.

I hope they don't think any of the troupe would be dumb enough to lead them back to their hideout without a trap being in place. Gon and Kilhua would've had a better chance in the crowd, but even still, they're not strong or fast enough. Maybe they could catch one spider if they worked together, but not one of the stronger members. Hell, I'd only take them 1 on 1 if I had to.

I slide into one of the building's windows. The boys likely haven't mastered all 4 levels of nen yet. They're probably so focused on the spiders, they won't even know I'm here as long as I'm quiet. I hear rubble slide against the floor and follow the sound. After a few moments I hear one of their voices, not the spry one, so it must be Kilhua's.

As I get closer, I feel another aura in the building, subtle but building up, it feels too advanced to be Gon's. Was someone tracking them? Another one of the spiders? If that's the case, they'll be upstairs in a minute. I only have time to rescue one of the kids and'll have to come back to rescue the other one later.

I speed down the hallway peaking through holes in the walls, jump over piles of rotten wood and weeds. Once I see Kilhua leaning over near the window his eyes wide, face sweaty, I approach him. "We need to leave now," I say, but by the time I grab his hand and turn, it's too late. There's a blonde man in a green and white tracksuit with angry, fire-like eyes behind us. Phinks. Some other members are probably on their way. I kick a nearby piece of rubble in his face. He'll tear through it easily, but it'll give us enough time to escape. I jump up and kick a hole in the ground and take Kilhua with me down several floors.

As I try to jump out a window on the opposite side of the building, the little brat pulls away from me. "I'm not leaving Gon!" How could he be so stupid? Before I can grab him, the blonde man sends me to the ground with a punch. I don't know what hurts more, his fist or the cement floor. I lift my core and legs and launch myself towards Phinks. My kick lands square in his chest knocking him against the wall. As I stand, I hear a sword unsheathe. I turn my head and see Nobunaga with his blade to Kilhua's throat. "Move and the boy dies."

Bullshit. They're going to question the boys to see why they were following them and try to track down Uvo's killer. Kilhua's face is paler than normal and his blue cat eyes grow to the size of saucers. Phinks gets up, rubble crumbling around him, coughing up blood. He uses his left arm to support his right as he winds it several times. I see a glow travel up his arm. There's only one thing left to do. I step back until I fall out the window. My dreads drape my face as I see a ball of fire fly out the window through the air and into another building. The ground begins to shake.

I catch myself against the wall of the building, scaling it until I can jump to another one. Once there, I climb through one of the windows. I have to clear this area fast, put at least a mile of distance between us. I go through several buildings before going down a set of stairs where some pedestrians are. God, I would pick today to wear heels. Thankfully my toenails are healing relatively fast, but my feet are still sore. The troupe won't look for me for long. That fire will cause a crowd and firefighters to come out. They'll have to clear the area and go back to their hideout.

When I get down the last set of stairs to walk outside, an short old lady walks in front of me. The kind that walks so slow she's basically moving backwards. Under normal circumstances I'd just wait, but I jump over the woman and swing the door open. I only take two steps outside before a foot lands square in my jaw, knocking me on the sidewalk. The world slows down and becomes a blur. I can feel cracks in the pavement, ants and weeds tickle my back.

I hear a voice that sounds like broken glass. "Be grateful I didn't snap your neck."

Probably Phinks. As I turn over, a rod-like object jabs me in my side and again in my hand. It's the old lady's cane as she walks past me. The broken glass voice gives a muddled laugh as I see her throw me side eye before continuing on her away. Figures that evil could walk that slow and still get ahead of me.