[WARNINGS]: Fighting, talking of being ripped apart (nothing described in detail), one line insinuating non-consent (absolutely no detail, you may not have even realised without me giving this warning, but I wanted to just in case). 

It's so sad. This used to be chapter #44. Not any longer! As all the fans know, Hioka's number is 44. #44 is the number of death. It was Hisoka's participation number in the hunter exams :)

Enjoy!

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Steam, which usually saturated Violet's skin and warmed her soul, couldn't reach far enough. The shower helped, but with a body teetering over its limits, the queen-sized duvet was the only thing calling to her.

After setting her phone alarm to mid-afternoon to be roused in time for the evening fight, she collapsed into the puffy sheets. Clicking the light by her nightstand, darkness consumed the room. She tossed, restless and worried for several minutes.

"I've already had a night terror. I should be okay to sleep." A hard swallow followed the verbal reminder. Her mind knew from dealing with several victims of After Effects that the facts were true. Anxiety plagued her mind all the same. "Stop it. I have to sleep as much as possible while I can."

With a long and deep sigh, she closed her eyes and thanked her luck for such a comfortable bed. Allowing the high-thread-count sheets to embrace her, Violet slept without dreams for the first while. But when they began, it was a non-stop back-to-back reel with no escape. Running from demons with no ability to fight back—salt, Nen, water; nothing hindered their assaults.

Surrounded, she wailed as they ripped her flesh into pieces over and over. She had enough mental fortitude to know they were night terrors; it did nothing to help her escape the mind-based torture chamber.

Ice-blue eyes pierced through the darkness, paired with the most sinister grin. The rest of their face shrouded in darkness, but she knew them far more than she ever wished she did. Not a demon, but far worse than any that had assaulted earlier in the After Effect night terror. 

Pain shot through her chest like thin, daggered needles with every pound of her heart. Flesh burned as it pressed against hers. The smell of iron biting into her bloody skin and the taste of leather whipping and striking forced a harrowing cry. She thrashed, losing all sense of reality.

It was too painful.

Too personal.

Too real.

A familiar voice screamed through the nightmare prison. It called to her, but she couldn't understand the words, only the familiarity of the disembodied tone. Heat and pain stung her face shortly after the nameless summoner quieted. This prompted further effort in the form of crying and thrashing against the assault. She clawed at the dream flesh, digging nails deep into her arms as much as the dream enemies she faced.

Ice moved into her veins and spread like a torrential river across her skin. Shrieking, Violet's eyes shot open, and her muscles tensed as her cold-shocked body roused. Shivering with burning frost against her skin, she sat under the shower stream in her washroom. The cold contrasted with a burning sting on the left side of her face. Awareness of how her cheek burned brought attention to the discomfort of minor lacerations along her arms.

Orienting further, she widened her eyes, confused at her position dangling above the ground. Searching, she found Hisoka's tense eyes looking down on her as he kept her restrained under the shower stream in his arms. Fresh scratches and cuts decorated his arms and face, visible even as his face make-up washed down his cheeks.

Even as she fought to control her mind as much as her body, sharp pain continued to radiate from her heart with every pump. She attempted to find her voice, but only a struggling cry escaped. Panic tightened across her throat. She squirmed against Hisoka's restraint as logical control slipped in and out of her grasp.

"Settle down~♠"

The magician gently deposited her to the ground under the raining water of the shower spout. She watched the mixture of green, red, and brown swirl past her bare feet as his face paint washed down the drain.

Hide it! Don't let him see. Violet reached around, pulling down her nightshirt, clinging to her flesh. Don't let him see the scar. No one can see it.

She stumbled forward to distance herself. Swaying, she grabbed the sides of the shower in a rush to remain upright. Hisoka steadied her with a firm grip on the back of her arms. He didn't restrict her movements further, and despite her appreciation, she couldn't stop the trembling of her body.

He won't see it. Calm down. Calm down...

Precious minutes expired while she settled her responses. Breathing became easier, and her heart slowed to a normal pace; each pound turned to a quiet, neutral hum. Hisoka reached forward to turn the facet and warm the water. Her mental space to worry about the reasons behind his actions was non-existent.  The sting on her face throbbed, and she reached to cup her left cheek.

"I tried to wake you without the shower. You can ice it later if needed."

Violet let her hand drop from her face. It was him screaming. 

Keff, her late husband, had always woken her during a nightmare. At the time they were together, she was disoriented from losing her memories, injured, and re-learning how to survive. With her confusion came nightmares nearly every night. When the terrors of her recent past struck, the nightmares started again, and she desperately missed Keff's support late at night. That desire had been fading fast over the last few months. 

"How long has this been happening? ♠"

"It started today," Violet said, her voice hoarse and dull with exhaustion.

The night terrors weren't constant yet. Dread saturated her mind at the prospects of what the upcoming months would bring; if she lasted that long. Hisoka moved to lift her from the shower.

Gasping, Violet pushed against his chest. "I don't need your help. I can get out of a stupid shower."

She pressed forward, snatching a towel from the rack without looking back for his expression. She held a hand firmly on her shirt, ensuring it stayed well below her lower back as she found her way to the closet to change into dry clothing. Options were limited, but she selected a plain pale pink t-shirt and black shorts before returning to the main room.

Hisoka leaned against a far wall, watching her with his right hand on his hip and left hanging loosely at his side. Water dripped irregularly, creating a playful melody as it soaked the floor beneath the magician.

"Thank you. I'm fine now," Violet said. You can leave.

Hisoka walked closer, forcing her to match his gaze with intimidation alone. "Tell me what you know that you weren't earlier ~ ♠"

Hissing, she looked away and answered, "That could be as long a conversation as if you told me the things you know that I don't."

"Good to see your attitude is intact." 

Violet sighed. "I'm going to make tea first. Do you want some?"

Hisoka raised an eyebrow and shook his head. Nodding, Violet forced her towel into his hands.

The click of the automatic kettle set the hum of the heated coils to work, spreading warmth to the water within their touch. Mesmerised momentarily, Violet watched the water dance to life with bubbles and heat. After finishing the tea set up, she faced Hisoka, leaving the water to finish its dance.

Heat rose to her cheeks as she spotted the shirtless magician drying himself. His perfectly toned muscles, complete with an eight-pack, glistened in the dim lamp illumination of her living space. A dance that matched the kettle flowered in her chest and abdomen. Darting inside her closet, she located an oversized T-shirt she used as PJ's.

"Th- this might fit...until... your clothing... dries."

Violet kept her face glued to the floor, shifting her gaze to random spots around the wooden tile of the apartment, refusing to make eye contact with any part of him. She knew her face burned, but he took the shirt. The attraction towards Hisoka may not have made sense, but she experienced it all the same. 

As the kettle sang with steam, she returned to the kitchen and continued, "People who survive severe demon attacks tend to have night terrors, bad ones, for a few months following." Violet poured the hot liquid into the cup, letting the tea steep. "Not everyone gets them. Mostly, it will be night terrors, like what I'm experiencing."

After removing the teabag around the two-minute mark, she brought her drink to the couch and set the mug on the coffee table.

"It passes in time, then?"

"Well. Yes..." she lied. The weight of Hisoka's glare pushed her to continue, "However, some die of the After Effects alone. One man thrashed so much he broke his neck. He was paralysed and died later of cardiac arrest caused by another terror."

Sipping, the tea blasted to life on her tongue as bitter met sweet in such a way as to dull her frayed nerves.

"How did he compare to you?"

"He took a third of the venom I did," she answered before needle sensations nipped across her face and forearms. Violet narrowed her eyes. "Control your bloodlust, Hisoka. Unless it's me you're planning on attacking, you cannot fight a night terror."

"Is that why you visited tonight? These After Effects?"

She exhaled. "I just wanted to see if... maybe if I did the successful purification of the demons on myself daily...would it help?" Her expression soured with a frown and furrowed brows. "It was a long shot."

"Rain."

Pursing her lips, Violet turned to spy through the patio door window. The dark night showed the perfect backdrop for the stars, which tangoed and sparkled, but not a single cloud obscured the nightly twinkling miracle. "I don't—"

"It started raining shortly after our fight. It disintegrated their bodies." Hisoka hummed and brought a hand to his face. "There was an odd scent and texture to it. I took you into the rain, and it cleared the venom."

Violet frowned and knitted her brows. "What was off about it?" Demons aren't affected by water...

"There is nothing I've tasted to compare. Pepper, possibly a touch of lemon. It was far from distinct." He crossed his arms. "Had I not been raised in the environment I was, even I may not have noticed it. But certainly, something was off about the rain. The clouds developed quickly without much of a dip in pressure, too."

"How you're raised affects your senses?"

"Yes, for those raised in difficult places, as myself. Once your Nen develops, these senses are drastically heightened beyond what most others would deem natural."

"Don't senses increase for all who learn to control their Nen?"

Hisoka smiled. "Indeed. But if you've already honed the senses well once inside this world of Nen, you're far above the bar. You're not dissimilar in that respect, correct?"

"True, I have heightened senses, especially smell and reflexes. But I don't remember my rearing years, so I didn't realise that was the connection." She frowned. "There was a lot off about the demons in general. I don't know what to make of it," she contemplated aloud. "They didn't speak. Usually, you cannot get demons to fucking shut up, but they never spoke once."

"It's possible they weren't demons but rather someone else's Nen beasts ~ ♠" Hisoka interjected.

"Nen beasts?" Violet cocked her head, interested in the new term.

Nodding, Hisoka explained, "Some Nen users can project their Nen and create objects that look, act, and hit for them. There are several types of Nen users. The ones that usually use this skill are conjurer types, but specialist types will do so on occasion as well."

"How many types of Nen users are there? How do you discover your type?"

Hisoka raised his palm in a stop sign. "I'm not here to give a lesson. There are more pressing matters. These After Effects of yours versus an unseen Nen enemy."

Violet hummed. "So, you think someone copied the demons I know?" She brought the tea to her lips to infuse more of the concoction onto her tongue. The heat was perfect, prompting her to partake in larger mouthfuls.

"Possibly." Hisoka crossed the room to sit in the armchair opposite her.

The tea could only starve off exhaustion so much, and she signed to keep it at bay. "They were stuck in the host bodies. They worked together. Demons never work in big groups," she said. "Of course, your theory might be the reason for these things, but those were actual people they killed and possessed. Won't Heaven's Arena investigate their absence?"

"True," Hisoka responded. "That part was more of a specialist or manipulator technique. They won't look for the fighters that died. People leave without notice all the time. They may look into their employee's absence, but quietly."

"I assume those are the other types of Nen users?"

Hisoka smiled and nodded. "Some of them."

"There are still gaps," Violet said. And how would they have seen something from my world and be able to copy it so closely? I'm missing a link somewhere. "Why am I having After Effects if it wasn't demons?"

"That's more noxious a topic," Hisoka's expression soured with intense eyes and a deep frown. "At first, I considered post-mortem Nen. When a person dies, if their Nen is on you, it strengthens after death. It grows until the task is complete. However, the attacker was never found. So, that's unlikely, as the culprit wasn't killed."

"They were demons, then. At least a version of them." Violet sipped the last of her tea and rubbed her tired eyes. "How can Nen work after you die? It comes from soul energy, doesn't it?"

Hisoka smirked. "Curious little kitten, aren't you? You'll need to get a Nen teacher to have these questions answered." Despite her scowl, he continued, "However, growing your Nen will help. These After Effects are attacking your mind and, through it, your body. Nen shields us against most illnesses. Fortify your mind with Nen, and it should stop it."

Well, it's a better plan than anything I had. Violet responded, "I plan to build my Nen up. You don't have to worry about that. If it helps with this, all the better."

"Will you be ready for the fight tomorrow?" Hisoka crossed the sitting area to sit on the opposite end of the couch from her. "You'll need rest."

"It won't be a problem. They're not a Nen user or anything. I took a page from your book and did a bit of stalking." She offered a weak smirk. A look he returned, but with strength. "It will be an easy win. It's the one I have to fight after that will be the most annoying. The one soaking my couch through with wet clothing." She rolled her eyes.

Hisoka chuckled. "If you prefer, I'm more than happy to remove my clothing~ ♥" He started moving for his belt.

"No! You're fine!"Her cheeks burned so much she could appreciate every pulse of new blood rushing into them. She pointed to the clothes she'd given him, which he had left on the coffee table. "You can change into those, but in the washroom..."

Hisoka halted, but his eyes were saturated with his typical dark lust. She looked away, thankful for his short pause to allow her to settle.

"Once you win the fight tomorrow, you won't have to sneak up to the two-hundredth floor and higher. You'll belong there ~♣"

"It won't be fun anymore, is what you're saying?"

Hisoka laughed, and soft heat flowered within Violet's chest. It wasn't like his other laughs. The amusement flickered into his eyes.

I never noticed before... it doesn't reach his eyes when he's smirking at others, only with me... She couldn't help but find herself enjoying it. "I'll have to find other ways to practice my sneakiness, I suppose. I'm sure I can manage something."

He grinned. She didn't dislike spending time with him when he wasn't acting like a complete asshole. A little bit was fine and almost part of his charm; she didn't even mind that he was a creep. It played into part of what attracted her, but earlier...

"Hisoka?" Violet asked with a sombre tone. "What happened earlier?"

Hisoka froze before the fake smirk reappeared, and the light left his eyes. "Frightened, kitten?"

I loathe that new name. She shook her head. "You weren't you. I hated it, but—"

"I'm certain you've heard the rumours around me by now," said Hisoka, but the heat of his resolve tapered near the end.

Violet yawned. "I've heard them, but rumours are often inflated and fabricated. Nothing spoken from fear is of value to me."

Hisoka pulled a card deck out and focused on it with intensity as he shuffled.

"I'm not a frail, weak woman. I won—"

"I know you aren't. You're powerful and cunning," Hisoka admitted. "I wasn't planning to have that slip tonight. I don't break toys until they've reached their peak. I didn't intend to harm you, physically or otherwise."

He's dodging the answer. Keep your secrets; I have my own to protect. But... Violet frowned as she watched him. I should be terrified, but he seems so... alone. He did stop himself. And I'd have ripped myself to shreds without his intervention tonight. She watched him mess with his cards, busying his hands. "I should kick you out..."

"You may have another night terror," he said without taking his eyes off the cards. She noticed the tension in his arms as he shuffled. "I'd rather not leave yet."

Violet frowned. She started with a meek whisper, but her voice raised halfway through as she responded, "You attacked me. You saved me from the demons, and the night I fainted. Then you turn around and do that! I'd be a fool to let you stay." She lost her temper near the end and needed to breathe through the frustration to calm herself enough to continue while holding back tears. "I'm nothing but amusement to you. That was made perfectly clear tonight."

"Yes, you're amusing. I enjoy spending time with you." He paused, considering his words. They were soft and sincere—a first in any of their interactions. "Promises are easily broken. However, I would not have taken it any further without your consent. I only want to be certain you don't have another After Effect. I will wake you if it happens."

Violet watched the floor. She was exhausted but couldn't deny her anxiety was non-existent with him near. The connection between Hisoka, who embodied true chaos, and her calmness remained a complete mystery. But there was no denying the link existed. 

She stared at him with as much fierce strength as she could muster. "If you ever come so much a hair's breadth close to what happened earlier, I will never speak to you again. I'll keep my word on the fight, but I will not look at you except to defend and never utter another syllable to you." She signed before continuing, "I find you helpful, and don't dislike spending time with you. But I'm only going to take one last risk on you."

Hisoka nodded. "I'll see it doesn't repeat."

With another sigh, she allowed her eyes a break and sank deeper into the couch. The sofa groaned sometime later as Hisoka's heat crept closer to her position. Once settled, she couldn't help but let the comfort of his closeness surround her. Swaying between half awake and unconscious, she continued to enjoy his presence. 

When his arms wrapped around her waist, she nuzzled into the security as if sliding into a comfortable glove found at the bottom of the closet. The kind lost long ago and not by choice. Happiness from its rediscovery crept deep into Violet, enough that she could ignore the danger hidden behind the ease of being with Hisoka.