Chapter 1: Prologue - Origin
Notes:
if you've enjoyed this please leave a comment or kudos, it's my first ff !!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
I woke up, eyes tired and weary, and looked around me.
Pure chaos.
I could not begin to describe my surroundings.
An 8-year old girl stared at mountains of rubble from her window-view and stood in a considerable amount of dust and ruin in her own room. However that was not what troubled her the most, not even the dead bodies and blood on the streets, it was the vacant rooms and halls in her orphanage, devoid of any human life. It's not like she thought they loved her, she's been the black cat of orphans since well... orphans. Bad things happened around her. However, the nuns were God-abiding women, they would never leave a child behind.
That girl was me.
I would've never thought that the nuns and other kids in my orphanage abandoned me. I might've deluded myself to believe they were abducted or even somehow vanished into thin air by some miraculous divine intervention. Unfortunately though, I'd just witnessed them being reduced to guts and brains in the city's bunker before I had gotten the chance to do that.
God truly does work in mysterious ways.
I did not come out fully unscathed however, that would be too cliche. The terrorists' eyes ended up landing on me. I recall hearing murmurs about "the cursed abandoned child" "karma" "the shitty nuns". But only one phrase truly stuck with me: "Even curses like her get lucky sometimes. It gives me hope."
In hindsight, he likely thought of himself as one too, seeing as how his very next words were: "I'm a curse too. Come join me."
After which I passed out.
And that would be the overly dramatic beginning of me.
The legendary Master Of Puppets.
Do I sound conceited? Perhaps.
But I earned it. After all, not everyone's nen gets activated by a gruesome attack on their town and then trained by the very terrorist who attacked their home.
I wouldn't say he was a loving person, he just found comfort in my "misfortune and misery". Apparently people like me aren't meant to have hope, so that made him have hope. And so I became his next project... For about 4 years before he decided to show me one more brains-on-the-wall art piece.
It was his own this time.
And all I got was his pendant, which he was always strangely adamant that I have when he was "out of service." Which might explain why I've been chased by his terror buddies since.
Anyway, you know a bit too much about me now.
So, Bye, for today at least.
Notes:
JUST TO CLARIFY FOR NEXT CHAPTERS, HER NAME ISN'T EXPLICITLY MENTIONED SO SHE'S NOT REALLY AN OC, REVYN IS ONLY HER WORK ALIAS, THIS IS STILL A READER INSERT !!
Chapter 2: The first step
Notes:
This is a 9 year time skip after where the prologue left off- meaning Revyn (MC) would be 21 now :)
Chapter Text
Stepping into a dark tunnel, the smell of humid air and moist walls filled my senses. My eyes wandered around, trying to take in as much information as possible in the scarce light. My minute of meditation was interrupted when a tag was given to me "42". I wore it on my chest, not giving it much thought and wandering deeper into the darkness . There weren't many people yet, and as far as i could tell no Nen users... a bunch of rookies for the most part. Which didn't change much for me, Nen or not I was here for a reason. I eventually found a corner to sit down in and settle. The wall supporting my back felt prickly and rough. But my mind was elsewhere, it didn't matter if the wall was digging nails into my back. I was here for a reason. After years of a cat-and-dog chase for Naru's pendant. It was time to find out why I was being harassed like hell for it.
This would be a good first step to-
My thoughts were cut off, my senses alert. A player was approaching, the elevator descending floor by floor and the sense of impending danger undoubtedly increasing. I was sure a Nen user was coming. Their aura was full of malice, it was almost frightening, I'd seriously avoid that guy if I were a non-Nen user.
Ding the elevator rang, my eyes darted towards the only source of bright light. Player 44. He was freakishly pale and tall. Fully dressed in playing cards-themed clothing, a tear drop drawn under his left eye and a star under his right. He looked familiar, so the sight wasn't too hard on the eye.
I know him, Hisoka Morow. I watched him spar a few years back in heaven's arena.
His eyes landed on me, his smug expression faltering ever so slightly. He recognized me. I let out a sigh, throwing my head back and closing my eyes. He just made this far more difficult than it has to be. Oh lucky me, he's approaching. His broad figure cast a shadow over me, which I didn't realize could happen in such a dark space. He gave me one look before going on his way, not throwing me another glance for the remainder of our time waiting. Not to say he was not a nuisance, he was sure to cause a scene or two sooner or later. If not more than that.
The place started filling up with people, and consequently, chatter sooner rather than later. Amongst a plethora of applicants, a certain player caught my eye. #99, Killua Zoldyck. I had worked under his family for a year as a temporary guard. I eventually left when their original guard came back, Canary. Regardless, I don't think he noticed me. Or he did and decided to pretend I wasn't there. Which really is understandable, his family is overbearing enough to send someone to spy on the boy during the exam.
By the time the exam was about to start, there were only two other Nen users. I believe the second user, #301 would be Illumi Zoldyck. These are his pins for sure. I could recognize them any day, I hate to admit they inspired me to change my Hatsu technique. Previously I had been using stickers to manipulate my target, but the pins were just far more convenient.
Among the increasing chatter, a few rumors caught my attention. After all I was sitting alone and bored. And people loved to gossip, and contrary to popular opinion, men even more so.
"I hear the Master Of Puppets is taking the exam this year" "Oh c'mon you think that legend's real?" "Who do you think the Master Of Puppets is?" "I bet it's that red-haired guy playing with the cards, he's real creepy." "Oh yeah I agree, did you see the way he made that guy's arms disappear?" "You guys there's no Master Of Puppets, people can't make you a doll to their will, think!!" "Whatever, just watch out for that guy."
I'd like to say I built this legend for myself but for the sake of honesty, a guy accidentally witnessed me amidst my work, fully cloaked in white. I guess he didn't use Nen, which likely freaked him out. That's not to say my skill isn't lethally potent. My self gloating ended when a tall slender man appeared from the dark tunnel, introducing himself as Satotz. He announced the beginning of the first phase of the 287th hunter exam, to keep up with him. Everyone followed behind him into the dark tunnel, as he progressed down the tunnel he picked up his pace. Overall it was a moderately difficult exam for the untrained body, Will power alone couldn't get you through this. Along the way I found myself jogging next to an ill-mannered magician. Color me unsurprised, I was sure this was a deliberate act.
It's time for games, I suppose. I thought to myself, approaching him. He threw me a side glance with an amused look on his face.
"It's you, isn't it?" I asked him, my face still as ever.
"Whatever do you mean, dear Revyn?" He asked, his smirk only getting wider.
"They say the Master Of Puppets has joined the Hunter Exams this year." I replied, eyes still ahead.
"So they say... and you think it's me?" He asked, he loves playing mind games.
"Just a hunch, unless you're still not over your bungee gum phase?" I asked, a smirk making its way onto my face. His smirk faltered ever so slightly.
"As snarky as ever, aren't you now?" He asked, barely containing the vein about to pop out of his forehead.
"I guess so. But don't let that distract you from the fact that bungee gum has the properti-" He sent me a glare, a nonverbal signal to stop before we start fighting.
"Fine, I'll stop." I said, leaving the "for now" part to myself.
"Indefinite Replication isn't really your skill now, is it?" He asks, suspicious of my skill. He never got to fight me or see me in action. I don't fight unless necessary. And furthermore I don't let on to the fact that I'm a manipulator let alone use the Master Of Puppets skill. There's a bounty on my head I'm not willing to give in to just yet.
"Why would you say so?" I asked. Unbothered and unshaken by his question, after all I've been through this exact situation way too many times. It's obvious it isn't my skill, but I let people on to another secret, a lie of course. Makes them think they figured me out.
"You're nothing like a conjurer." He answers ever so confidently.
"What am I like then, psychic Hisoka?" I retorted.
"A transmuter." He replied after a long pause. Nen affinities have become the Zodiac signs of our time.
"Good guess." I answered, unimpressed. Feigning impression however.
"So I really was right, huh?" He says, almost proud of himself.
"Yeah, you're like a psychic you know?" I replied sarcastically.
He sent me a glare, another one. "You lied?"
"Isn't that what transmuters do?" I said.
That concluded our conversation for the rest of the way on to the second phase. Which gave me plenty of time to think back to the first time I met this evil spawn. My contract had just ended with the Zoldyck residence and I ended up in Heaven's Arena, mainly to pass time. When I made it to the 200th floor he was already there, I'd only seen him fight once before he set out to leave. However he decided I was too intriguing to be left alone, he kept asking for a fight which I consistently refused. In an attempt to convince me he told me everything there is to know about his Nen ability, to which I still refused. And so his final request was for me to at least tell him about my Nen abilities. Which I refused.
"What? You're that scared sweetheart?" He asked in the most condescending tone I have ever heard. To this day perhaps.
"Indefinite Replication. I'm a conjurer. I replicate things. Now leave me alone." I said. Which was insanely effective, I almost regretted not saying it earlier. He lost all interest all the moment I said that. And indeed, he left me alone. I guess there is light at the end of the tunnel. Metaphorically and literally, as we have just arrived at the site of the second part of the Hunter Exam's first phase.
TBC
Chapter 3: Misty Forests
Notes:
BTW IF U GUYS THINK A CHARACTER SHEET WOULD HELP PLEASE DO SAY SO IN THE COMMENTS !! THANK YOU GUYS FOR READING THIS I HOPE U ENJOY IT WFFGISGI
Chapter Text
The light poured into my eyes as we ascended up the stairs, a set of hyperactive kids sprinted past me. Killua and the overly cheerful kid next to him made it through the tunnel with a big spectacle, arriving before Satotz, asking him to judge who of the two had arrived first. The two were truly treating the exam like a game. Following them were a few applicants, whom the doors shut behind, leaving many incompetent players behind. Probably for the better, they might've died if they had continued any further.
Satotz's voice interrupted my thoughts and announced the next part of the first phase, where he would lead us to the second phase of the exam. He immediately warned us of the deceptive and unpredictable nature of the Milsy Wetlands' creatures. Almost conveniently, a very disoriented man drags an unconscious ape with a face like Satotz's, accusing him of lying and claiming to be the real examiner. I let out a sigh, people were about to freak out. And I was proven right! Chaos ensued, everyone was pointing fingers, but amidst all that chaos, were a few flying playing cards, cutting through the air effortlessly. They were aimed at both Satotz and the disturbed man. Their accuracy was scary, seeing as one of the two ended up dying and getting brutally eaten by vulture-like birds.
That would be the demented guy, Satotz was just fine. The voices quieted down and all the attention had shifted to the tall figure standing beside me. To him, he had just concluded who the real examiner was. For others, he was a real menace to keep your distance from. That's not to say he's undefeatable, he isn't a force of nature that cannot be dealt with, Hisoka was given a warning, being told he'd be disqualified for attacking an examiner if he repeats that kind of behavior. Which really brought back the levels of fear in the area way back down.
"Well deserved." I muttered under my breath.
"I'll kill you." Retorted Hisoka.
The earlier threat to get disqualified however had only made the man more desperate for blood, yearning for his next victim. His bloodlust reeked into the air, forming a dense shroud of ominous energy around him, and to be honest. It stank.
"Hisoka." I said, my voice stern before taking off into the forest as per Satotz's instructions.
"Hm?" He replied intrigued and amused.
"Control your bloodlust. You reek." I said, unsure of who it was directed at, it didn't matter though. He was sure to find a victim sooner rather than later. I took off and followed the white haired boy closely. Just in case. The boy and I were never particularly close, but I did grow a bit protective of him. He never truly fit in with his family of assassins. He was quite the troublesome kid, always rebelling and retaliating, which I only ever got to witness. If I were to estimate how many times we'd interacted when I worked at the Zoldyck residence, I'd say no more than twice. I trod behind the white haired kid, next to him was his oddly cheerful friend, yet again. His voice sank in the humid air, he was warning the green-haired boy to create some distance between himself and Hisoka. He claimed he could smell the bloodlust on him. Which left me unsurprised, a fool could sense it. The boy next to him however seemed a bit slow as his instinctual reaction was to take a whiff of the air and declare that "Hisoka doesn't smell!". Although dense, the boy was very clearly a compassionate person as right after his slightly stupid comment , I heard his voice call out to his friends. Who replied by saying they were doing fine alone.
The two decided to part ways with the other duo and continued ahead. I followed behind carefully, making sure that dirty magician doesn't get his hands on Killua. The progress went smoothly for the most part, I couldn't see much through the mist but my other senses made up for it. I could hear the sound of some sort of body of water nearby, the smell of animal mucus intensified the more we walked, indicating there was likely a beast close by. I squinted my eyes. The kids were blissfully ignorant of the danger lying ahead. My body tensed, my legs felt like rods of steel, my vision sharpened as though there was no mist surrounding us, I felt my heart beat faster. Soon enough my suspicions were confirmed as I witnessed the two boys falling into a gaping hole, which turned out to be a beast's mouth.
My body quickly reacted. And so did my mind, it was pure silence in my head, all that mattered was that I react accordingly. My hands reached for my belt, throwing two of my laced darts on the monster, immobilizing it almost instantly. My legs bolted forward and I leapt over the hole. My arms reached out grabbing the two boys by the back of their shirts as though they were weightless. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't held in my breath the whole time. The landing was smooth, right by a tree where we could all see the pale and shriveled up frog. I let out a sigh of relief. My eyes twitching ever so slightly at the sight of the boys. My mind travelled back to the sight of Ranu's brains over my bedroom wall. Tense posture and eyes wide. The resemblance was uncanny.
"You two okay?" I asked, my mind focused on the current situation.
And I had almost unsurprisingly gotten a glare from the assassin. His teeth were clenched and eyebrows furrowed, like I had just taken away a kid's favorite toy. I simply stared back, my expression blank. He's a hardened kid, I know what it's like, I'd be more surprised if he had said something like "thank you" or even smiled.
"Thank you so much!!" The chirpy boy's voice interrupted my thoughts, and our stare-down. My focus shifted over to him. This deepened my belief that he was thick-skulled. He never even thought of the possibility that I might've been following him. But it was nice to hear some words of appreciation so I chose not to say anything.
"No need to thank me." I said looking at the green haired boy briefly before turning my attention back to Killua. My head was in the wrong space, I'd be lying if I said I could focus on anything but Killua and my very own childhood at the time.
I need to snap out of it. I thought to myself, one more second and I'd be looking like a creep. Right as I was about to wish them good luck, and find an exit from the whole situation. The cynical boy had formed his hands into fists, his expression far angrier than before. And in the blink of an eye he had worn his blank face again, although it was slightly menacing.
"I know you, I remember you. I know who sent you. Leave us alone."
The only person more surprised than me was the poor golden eyed boy.
"Huh? Killua? What do you mean?"
Before the boy got the chance to answer, I threw Gon my idea of a trustworthy look. Not really sure what that looks like.
"I worked for his family for about a year. I'm guessing he thinks his dad sent me to stalk him." I told the confused boy. My eyes darted back to Killua.
"You flatter me, but I'm here for my own hunter license. I haven't spoken with anyone from your family in years. I just happened to not want you to be swallowed whole by a frog" I told him, which seemed to only make him angrier.
"I can protec-" Just as the assassin boy was about to retort, his friend interrupted.
"Oh okay, so you're a nice lady!" He said as in a strange moment of epiphany. Which almost made me laugh.
"But Killua doesn't like you.." He said right after, looking at Killua for confirmation.
"I don't care." Replied Killua, looking away.
I let out a sigh.
"Whatever, I'm leaving. Good luck to you both." I said in a strange moment of vulnerability.
"Okay ! Thank you nice lady !" Said Gon, a bit over-enthusiastically.
I walked away enough to disappear, but I could still hear and sense the two. I couldn't even tell you why I hung around, but I did.
TBC
Chapter 4: Culinary War
Notes:
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH I GOT 4 KUDOS THE FIRST DAY WEFUHSIG IM SO EXCITED AHAHAHAHA
Chapter Text
The spirited boy ended up parting ways with the assassin, saying he was worried about the duo they left behind. I paid that no mind though. While he was a sweet kid, I took this path to look after Killua. He's a very capable fighter, but if he had faced Hisoka he'd be dead meat. I kept my distance from the boy, I just decided to use En to sense where he was going and if anyone else was in the area.
Surprisingly, the rest of the adventure was uneventful, pleasantly so. Seems like someone else got to experience Hisoka's wrath and ruthlessness. I almost pity them, but they should've known better than to approach the guy accused of being the Master Of Puppets. Towering gates and a pool of exhausted applicants came into view as we left the misty woods. The first phase was over and it looked like Killua's friends made it. The oldest however laid on a tree, perplexed and at a loss of the events that had unfolded. I guess that was Hisoka's victim.
A familiar voice cut through the intense atmosphere, bidding us goodbye and handing us off to the next examiner. Almost perfectly the gates split open to reveal a luxurious mansion full of cooking stations. Two examiners stood at the gate of the mansion. A comically huge man, not sure how he's real, and a very energetic woman who announced our next challenge would be cooking. I'm sure you can imagine the following mockery and cackles. Their requirements were very simple : cook something with pork that they both enjoy, the exam ends when they're both full. But seeing as how they're Gourmet Hunters, I'm very sure they will be hard to please. The big guy began the second phase with a slap to his hanging belly. Which would've been really funny if he didn't almost cause an earthquake doing that.
I began descending to the forest, looking for my source of meat. I wasn't too confident about this round. I was sure that the easiness of the task was only superficial. And before I knew it. There were herds of carnivorous pigs chasing us. Everyone was struggling to kill any of them.
I knew it. Were the only words I could mutter before I had to dodge a few attacks myself. I settled on a tree branch. The pigs had abnormally large noses, they were likely to protect a weak spot. The same goes for many species, even humans instinctually hide their vital organs when dodging attacks. Go for the forehead, see what happens, assess and retreat. I plunged down, my feet landing on one of the pigs foreheads, only making it angrier. But soon after the pig fell unconscious. Next challenge, get through a herd of angry pigs and freaked out humans while carrying a huge pig on your back. My luck seemed to get better though, as people started figuring out how to kill these boars themselves. I began my way back to the exam site.
I didn't particularly care for the examiners' approval, I would've used my ability to gain their approval anyway. I need the hunter license, not a culinary chef certification. I slapped the pig on a stick and began roasting it, I honestly guessed when to stop cooking. As applicants began to have their creations judged, a pattern emerged. The fat man ate anything and everything, the perky woman hated everything. Yeah there's no chance I'm passing this without cheating. Applicant #404 seemed to have a real chance, but apparently even his cooking wasn't good enough. Soon after, the two examiners decided they've had their fill, and that everyone failed. I didn't even get a chance, neither did many. I let out a sigh, there must be something I could do about this, I can't fail because of female Gordon Ramsey over here. Everyone rioted, stations were broken and screams were heard, but all to no avail. One guy even confronted the bitter woman directly, telling her that all pork dishes are the same. Thank God I'm not that guy. Many more beatings and punches were exchanged before I decided to intervene.
"Miss Menchi, is it?" I spoke up. All eyes were on me now, which I really dreaded every moment of. She gave me a skeptical look.
"We all could never amount to the skills or the standards of a Gourmet Hunter." I said, my Ren surrounding me, using In to conceal it. It wasn't malicious, it had the energy of an innocent florist and determination of an athlete. Ah the sweet joys of being a manipulator.
"We've all been trained to throw punches and avoid critical hits, that's about it. We're untamed beasts. And the art of cooking really does require far more intricacy and delicacy than our simple minds will allow." I could see that I began gaining her approval as she leaned over, intently listening.
"Seeing as how you and your partner are the strongest two in here, will you give us a chance to pass by battle? It really would be a challenge for us, and we would've still learned our lessons by having felt the fear of failing. So, what do you say?" I'd like to say she was fairly intrigued.
"Fine, each of us will take on 5 of you, for the sake of fairness." I bit my tongue to hide my smile.
"No such thing will happen." An old man landed from the sky, a cloud of dust surrounded us all, a big aircraft was right above us in the sky. What an interesting turn of events
"Menchi, it would be excessive to fail every applicant." He said. There was lots of give and take between the two to determine the next course of action, which I would've paid attention to if someone didn't yap endlessly.
"A manipulator." A snarky voice slithered from behind me, Hisoka had finally figured it out.
"So, finally you know." I said.
"That was risky, using Nen on an examiner." He said to me, almost impressed.
"She likely knew, I don't actually think my Ren fooled her." He gave me a look, signaling for me to continue.
"She was looking for something to impress her, that was her whole premise, challenging an examiner and overstepping by using Ren? That likely intrigued her." I said, finally looking at him.
"And I was so excited to see you fight." He said with a sleazy expression I was dying to slap off his face. This man was the final boss of creeps. Thank God our conversation was cut short, as the second phase's repetition was announced.
We all entered the airship, apparently we were going to boil eggs. I was starting to wonder if the pendant was worth all this effort. After I embarked on the ship, the chairman Netero, followed. His eyes were anywhere but on my face though. I was unsure of whether the man was a sleazebag staring at my breasts, or if he was a sleazebag staring at my pendant. Either way, I was sure this man knew something he wasn't letting on. I had a whole plane ride to think about that though.
TBC
Chapter 5: Mixed Signals
Chapter Text
Everyone began evacuating the air ship, and soon enough it was empty, utterly devoid of any human presence, the only thing I could feel in that vehicle was the lingering bloodlust in Hisoka's former place. I was the only one left behind, my mind was elsewhere. A million thoughts raced through my head, a million possibilities. My brain had become a computer, brute forcing every single scenario. My ears processed every word, but my mind didn't. My body reacted to every word, my footsteps were heavy on the ground. The sight of the infinite abyss tempted me. My eyes had soon followed my brain in its isolation, the darkness engulfed my vision. My arms flung and held on to a stretchy rope, my feet dangled in the misty darkness. Before long, a strand of hair grazed my cheek and my body went flying, holding on to a cold hard object like it would break if I let go of it. Almost without delay, I found my body in a synchronized harmony with the wind, and as though magically, the light hurried to hit my eyes, and just as fast, it had dragged my brain away from its solitude and back into consciousness.
Many eyes laid on me, I could feel it. No, I could see it. I could process it, fathom it. I had finally snapped out of my haze, finally left the computational matrix I was trapped in. Clarity settled in my mind, I knew my next course of action. The hard object I'd held on to finally registered, the instructions of the examiners did too. I had completed this phase.
"42, 42, 42!!" The voice grew increasingly vexed. Which did the job at snapping me out of my moment of epiphany. My head snapped to the source of the voice, it was the examiner from before.
"Jeez you really are deaf. You have completed the second phase of the Exam, now hand over your egg so I could add it to the pot! " She said, responding to my hum. My eyes darted towards the boiling pot, only one other egg inside it. I gave my egg up, still disoriented.
Did I just complete this phase before she even showed us how? Or perhaps simultaneously? Whatever, it doesn't matter. I think I've figured Netero out.
The rest of the applicants started attempting the challenge, many had died trying and many had quit before they even tried. I paid it no mind though, my moment of epiphany had granted me a weird sense of serenity, proximity to my goal even. The rock beneath me shifted as a weight had settled on the opposing side of it, Killua's hand offering me a portion of food. His eyes never met mine though, he averted my gaze like it were the plague. I took his offer, maintaining the silence. I was unsure why the boy had approached me, but I knew it wasn't out of hostility or hatred, it almost felt like a peace offering. The genuineness of Gon may have softened the boy ever so slightly. I can't say that I see a good ending to this.
"You okay?" His voice muttered, barely audible. I held back a chuckle.
"Why do you ask?" I pushed.
"You seem to have a death wish." He said, trying to threaten me. But I assumed he meant my earlier dive into the abysmal crack.
"I'm fine." I reassured the boy. He spared me one look before walking away.
"Try not to die." He managed to let out before he was too far away for me to hear. His words concluded our conversation. The silence was broken by the next phase's announcements, subsequently, everyone hurried to embark on the aircraft once again.
The fact that I had managed to decipher Netero had put me in a very lucid state. That alone however didn't mean that war was over. In fact, it would have just begun. It was neither exhilarating nor grey. It was neither refreshing nor suffocating. I was neither enraged nor triumphant. All I was, was certain, sure, determined. And that was more closure than I had had in years. The old man's words flew right past me as he stood there introducing himself. All that mattered is I had time. Time to execute my plan. People scattered throughout the airship. I sat in a corner, mentally going over my findings.
Netero's toying with me, he knows I'm on to him. He knows about the pendant, and he wants me to know that, he's trying to pull the strings. He wants me to think I was the one to figure him out, but he'd beat me to that. He knows why I'm here, and he wants to use it to his advantage. He set up this trap perfectly, and had I not fallen into a haze earlier, I'd have fallen for his trap by now. This year's exam was a set up.
THROWBACK:1 year back
I sat in an internet cafe, my breath hitching in my throat. I had just been chased and ambushed, yet another attempt of Naru's minions to rob me of this pendant. It wasn't fun, these people made sure that my life would be living hell as long as I had this pendant. Bounties on my head, countless Nen-users, spies, assassins and even Phantom Troupe members, it was merciless. A hectic two weeks of a ruthless chase led me to the only safe place. This internet cafe. It was eerily quiet, nearly empty. My breath the only sign of life in that place. It was dark, the only source of light coming from broken monitors. I took a seat, the chair hellishly uncomfortable. I sat in the darkness for hours, contemplating my whole life.
What am I even doing? What do I live for? Why do I fight for this pendant? I have not one fond memory of that diabolical mentor. Why not give up? What even is this pendant? Why do I care if they have it? Why do so many people want it? Why do they want me dead because of it? What makes it so valuable that my own life would be a reasonable price to pay for it? I've worn it for 8 years, my life's only become more difficult since. It's a curse. That's what Ranu called himself, a curse. Perhaps he was referring to this nightmare of a responsibility. That's what he called me too, was that why he entrusted me with it? 'Cause I'm a curse? Or perhaps he thought I'd do something he approved of with it?
All these questions fought for space in my head, it was the first moment of true quiet and silence I'd gotten in a long long time, and all those suppressed thoughts had finally resurfaced. At that point the voices weren't going to quiet down, they were dying to quelch their thirst. So I gave them answers, I tried turning the monitor facing me on, it took some kicking and punching to get the thing to work. That was the beginning of a very lengthy search for information, almost all routes led back to square one.
"TO ACCESS THIS WEBSITE, ENTER YOUR HUNTER ID AND CODE"
That was the moment I decided to take the exam.
THROWBACK OVER
Netero had led me right to where he wanted me, under his watch. He knew what I possessed and he planned on getting me to join his side. He was above methods of robbery and stealth. The man played chess while everyone else played checkers. If my suspicions were right, the man knew my identity. He knew who The Master Of Puppets was, and he wanted him or her on their side, he knew who possessed this pendant, and he wanted the owner on their side.
Well, Netero... checkmate.
TBC
Chapter 6: Bishops and Knights
Chapter Text
The serenity had left my body, as though there was never any to begin with. The more time had passed, the more enraged I was. This man was playing children's games to pass time. I'd waited for hours, a little bit of my sanity slipping away with every tick of the clock. By the time the clock's short hand hit 4AM, I had been dripping with bloodlust. The air around me thick and suffocating, this acted as a repellant for the majority of applicants. No one dared to wander within my proximity. Except a particularly twisted man. He could not stay away from me. His moans and cackles filling in the heaviness of the hushed atmosphere, sitting across me would be none other than Hisoka, dying to be challenged, itching for a single move on my part, a single word even. He had strolled in like a drunk man desperate for more. With every passing moment my anger only grew, my vision sharpened and my mind got more lucid.
Finally, my feet bolted into the ground, my hand on my knee pushed me up, not paying the hungry man any mind. My footsteps were deliberate, my Ren extending further with every step I took, laced with malice and hatred. I found myself standing before a door almost instantly. My hands wasted no time pushing the doors wide open. I had eyes on one thing only. Netero.
"Killua. Gon. Out" My voice dripped with venom, the two boys were bolted into their positions, too afraid to make a move, their legs not cooperating with their commands. I stepped in the room, Netero giving me a face so smug, it only left me more eager for blood. I threw Killua a look, to which his body instinctively leapt back.
"I said out." I reaffirmed my words, to which the two boys scurried out of the room. The tension in the air was palpable. Even Netero was on guard.
"I know what this is," I said. My thirst for blood began to quench at the sight of the old man's forehead dripping with sweat. We were on equal ground. That however only quenched it momentarily, as mere seconds after that I was on the verge of launching my most voracious attack on the old man.
"So cut to the chase, what do you know." I demanded rather than asked. He offered me a smile in response.
"How about we talk over coffee?" The man was taking me lightly, this was beyond condescending, this was straight up outrageous and insulting. But I could not give him the upper hand, I bit my tongue, suppressing a retort of my own, I clenched my jaw, closing my eyes for a mere second before opening them again. And like nothing had ever happened, I was smiling, hiding my fury behind a facade.
"Sure thing." I said, hoping my eyes don't betray my true emotions. I'm giving him too much to play with.
He led the way to an enclosed space, I followed behind, counting my inhalations and exhalations, timing them to tame my temper. Two cushioned chairs sandwiched a coffee table, surrounded by a table sprawled out with all kinds of desserts on it. In the corner was a pristine record player, not yet turning with any vinyl, our footsteps the only voices in the room. He took a seat, his eyes fixed on my figure, gesturing to me to do the same. I hold back a huge sigh, feigning indifference and taking a seat.
"What do you know?" He asked shamelessly, like he was the one coming to me for answers, perhaps this was his attempt at taunting me, biting my tongue won't work anymore. My hand glided up to my hair, fiddling with a pin, pretending to fix it, the Master Of Puppets had to take over. Even her powers weren't in use, even if I'm merely cosplaying her personality at the moment, it didn't matter, that version of me was invulnerable, and I needed invulnerable.
"Me? Oh I'm but a clueless girl." I feigned ignorance, not too much though, I was truly clueless as to what this damned pendant does. "All I know is that I have something you want." I teased, while he's the one with the knowledge here, I possessed the true prize. I can't say he liked that, his expression was ever-so-grim, as though I had just revealed his weakness, naked and bare.
"I understand that you are unaware of the origins and uses of that pendant of yours." He says, it almost came out as a question, as though he himself was unsure of that statement, like he was asking for confirmation, but by omitting the question mark, he had preserved some of his dignity. I didn't give him an answer like he wanted, because he knew the answer.
"I'm sure you know the answer, Netero." I said and threw him a glare. "Afterall, I don't think you were surprised to see me as an applicant here this year." There was no more room for games, he knew everything, and so did I.
"I see." He said, as though my last statement had cleared something up for him, or better yet, it had determined his course of action. "While I can't say I'm not impressed, " He paused, looking me straight in the eye. "I won't disclose anything." My breath hitched, what did he mean? He engineered this perfect game and led me straight to his lair, he went through all the trouble of writing a perfect mystery only to leave it unsolved?
"Whatever do you mean, Netero?" I asked, pushing down panic. "I was sure there was a deal to strike here." I admitted.
"You are right, there was." He said, like it was obvious. "However, as long as you remain where you are, any deal would destroy you before it begins." Whatever the fuck that means?? I only grew more enraged, see this guy really didn't want to strike a deal and that pissed me off. He acts like he has the upper hand here !
"Netero, I'm not exactly sure what that means." I said, calmly, the storm inside me not daring to leave its place. He didn't falter, he sat in the silence, forcing me to sit with it too, like I was his prisoner, like it was his right to drag me into this hell-ish silence. I held my breath in, my voice stuck in my throat, the silence persisted, it felt like hours until his voice finally cut through the quiet, and had it not , I just might've snapped. "Wisdom doesn't come for free," He said, a smirk plastered on his face "not mine anyway..." He let the silence drag on a bit longer, like he was enjoying my anticipation. "And I understand this is a price you're not willing to pay."
I finally spoke up. "You don't decide that now, do you?" I asked, almost taunting him, like I'm fishing the truth out of him. He simply let out a sigh, saying his next words like they were a nuisance to even mention. "You move under my eye, or not at all." He was right, this was a price I was not willing to pay. "I see." I let out, smothering a grin. At first glance, I should be devastated, 8 years of chasing a locked safe, only for the lock to be unpickable. However, if you look closer, you see the hidden key. Power. This pendant was a source of real power, and he just confirmed that.
"Well then, I'll take my leave if that's it." I said, not waiting for a response before I left the door thudding behind me.
What a cute hint you gave me there, Dear Netero. You have just shown me how dangerous I am.
TBC