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CHAPTER 36
No time was taken to enjoy the sights, as the four ran through the landscapes, unable to take in anything that would fascinate them any other day. Aside from holding their guard like a spear pointed ahead, everyone was moving at equal and top speed at what could only be described as a punishing pace. The landscape shifted from dense forests to rocky plains, the air growing saltier as they neared the coast.
Eventually, they arrived at a ramshackle dock. Behind the counter inside, they met the harbour master, who was a burly man with a face like a clenched fist.
"Well, well," he drawled, looking at them like they were a poor catch in the net. "What do you lot want?"
"Passage off the island," Gon said.
The man smirked. "That'll cost you 50,000, Jenny. Each."
They could almost hear Killua's patient snap, and they knew they were getting that card, the fun way.
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Killua held his newly acquired card, which would get him off the island. He had made quick work of the harbormaster, practically frying him before he turned into the piece of cardboard between the white head's fingers.
"Got it, with this I can return to the game no problem. I'll ace to exam and come right back."
"Well, maybe we'll finish the game by the time you get back," Sakura said, tipping her hand at him. Killua could feel the vein in his neck throb, promising that he would be back before they could even back it back to Masadora.
Gon grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "Good luck! Oh, magical beasts called Kiriko live at the lone pine near Dolle Harbor. Tell them you're my friend, and they'll take you to the exam site!"
Killua rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance in it. "Yeah, yeah. Have fun breaking boulders."
"Make sure to practice different types in order." Biscuit reminded him. And they knew that was as close to a farewell as he'd be getting from their teacher. But it was appropriate.
"Well, I'm off." Killua turned towards the sun, ready to call out the spell that would take him away, when he felt a presence getting close enough that it was as if a blanket had fallen over his shoulders. And suddenly he was in a familiarly foreign embrace. The same that had given him that strange warmth at the hunter exam.
His body became rigid, as if his bones had calcified and blood turned to ice, but his face felt hot even to the touch. His arms hovered awkwardly at his sides, but his hair nearly stood like a cat taken off guard. Gon looked on with a smile as if this happened every day, while Biscuit had smirked with a mischievous energy that could power a city.
"Uh…hey! Okay bye!" Killua cracked, shuffling out of Sakura's hold, but she didn't look offended when he dared to meet her face. Maybe to see what kind of expression she was making, if it was the same one he had caught in the reflection on the blimp. But she just appeared…soft.
"Don't take too long."
That comment lifted any weight that had fallen on his shoulders, enough to make him turn his heel after offering a cocky smile. "Of course, forgetting who you're talking to?"
Gon waved as Killua took off, lowering his hands only when his friend's presence was out of the slot.
"Now let's go back to Masadora and continue our training!" Biscuit announced, already walking off knowing that the two would follow suit without question. Though Sakura was looking out to the horizon longer where Killua had vanished into.
While Killua walked as if he could stand alone, Sakura hadn't shaken the memory of him turning away from the hunter exam when he discovered Illumi had infiltrated the event to bring him back home. Killua tried to stand like a oak tree, so for his brother to have the ability to make him crumple like paper, concerned Sakura. Because it wasn't that he had done anything to Killua, but the fact that his psychological grip had been strong enough to make Killua severe his goals just to obey his big brother. She hoped that nothing would occurs in the outside world, and that Killua would get back to them before the Zoldyck's even caught wind of his appearance.
Sakura's face must've contorted enough creases that even Gon could read her lines. His hand fell on her shoulder, and for a moment seemed wider than it actually was. "Sakura? "I'm alright," She assured quickly, tapping his hand. While Sakura, Gon, and Killua shared the same status as friends, she wanted to keep them from enduring the same thoughts that could overtake them in times of emotional turmoil; in most senses, they were younger than her, and she held that into account. The boy's thoughts were more simplistic and also more streamlined in certain senses. She didn't want to corrupt that. Especially when they were concentrating on getting stronger. Biscuit called for them. "We'll camp near Masadora from now on. Your card slots are filled with plenty of monsters, so we'll sell the extras in town, and we can finally get some spell cards."
Gon's expression could almost glitter in the sun, the way his excitement came through like the first light through curtains in the morning.
"Osu!"
They turned away from the harbor, already feeling the empty space between them where Killua should be, as they set off.
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The three were nothing but blurs to the animals that could catch sight of the uneven colors of pink, red and green as the three dashed through the area, unaffected by the uneven grounds, soft shifting soil and roots set like traps waiting to trip up any unwelcome guests.
"I bet Killua will be back in a week."
"I'll take that bet,"
"I told you two to concentrate!" Biscuit scolded, realizing they were moving off the track that he had set for them on this journey. She wasn't intent on taking it easy just because they were a player down. And a run was hardly any detriment to their respiratory system, and Biscuit intended for them to sweat and gain experience through every step they took with her. Seeing that they would have a ways to go to get back to Masadora without much to entertain, Bisciut decided to give them a new challenge to keep their competitive spirits high and their conversation to a minimum. They had to manipulate Nen on their fingers and form numbers from the energy source. They had to change from 1 to 9 in a minute. However, couple that with running at high speeds, it was like balancing on a tightrope while playing the accordion. That was the level of difficulty for this game. But even so, Sakura and Gon were still determined to play the game and be the winners.
Biscuit found that the nature of their relationship was a great catalyst for overcoming their own individual weaknesses. They took away each other's doubts and insecurities, their voices filling each other's heads. There was a reason Biscuit didn't train many students. They didn't have the patience or the desperation to endure or truly change for the price she was offering. And at times, some would turn away from becoming a Nen user regardless of their potential, simply because their minds weren't strong enough.
It was more than the potential that allowed them to flourish at this growth rate. The fact that they were doing this together had removed many obstacles that would affect their psy"Hey, I'm already at three!" Sakura could feel Gon glaring at his finger as he attempted to play catch-up, shifting the nen and moulding it into a number. It wasn't an easy feat; what Biscuit failed to mention was just how hard. If Nen were like a puppet, it would have dozens of strings, each with its own special combos and pulls; you'd need to know which one to tug on in the exact order to let it move the way you wanted. And the more specified a movement was, the harder it was to command. Biscuit didn't even glance over her shoulder, performing the same practice as the two, even though she wasn't playing the game. Gon and Sakura were in sweats, but neither wanted to admit the strain.rain.
"I got it-Ah!" Gon, who was running beside Sakura, was suddenly out of her line of sight. Both and Biscuit stopped and found him behind a tree, clutching his forehead. It was turning red, and Sakura saw a small indentation in the trunk as well.
"That hurt, "Gon, really, you've gotta be more careful!" Although she was scolding, Sakura's hands were already trailing over the bump to soothe. Biscuit pursed her lips like she was sucking on a straw, 'She's so doting on him, she better be careful, all they'll get too spoiled.' He didn't seem adverse to the attention. It was a cute dynamic to watch now, but she wondered if it was going to become a problem in the future...e...
Biscuit flicked a leaf off her shoulder, "If you two are finished, we need to get moving."Just as she was about to call them back to training, a blinding light split the sky, signaling a teleportation spell was in the mix, or a potential attacker was incoming. Postures and stances became rigid for defence as someone emerged from the light. A tall man with a familiar face, Sakura identified him as one of the members of the alliance. The one Gon had walked them away from.m..
Taking in details fast to determine his potential as a threat, Sakura examined the man checking for signs of weapons or shift in his stance for attack but there were none. What stood out to her, and where she sensed Nen was coming from a device strapped to his shoulder, it's screen displaying a countdown.
Biscuit was quick to sense something off, putting on her innocent child facade effortlessly, she looked at the man. "What's that on your shoulder? Did something happen?"
The man's gaze flickered to Gon and Sakura before returning to her. "The Bomber got us. Will you hear my story?"
The countdown on his shoulder beeped once like a warning.
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…
They all decided to take a seat after it was suggested they were going to be in for a long tale. Sakura, Gon, and Biscuit sat in front of the man, giving him the center stage. He introduced himself as Abengane before sharing his explanation. He told them of the alliance Gon, Killua, and Sakura had nearly joined, which was now trapped under the Bomber's thumb.
The alliance had collected 90 of the restricted slot cards before Genthru, one of their members, revealed himself to be the Bomber. He recounted the massacre in the cave that had been their hideout and rendezvous point. How one of the players, Jispa, had tried to strike from behind, only for his face to be blown apart by Little Flower. How Genthru had laid out his terms with cold precision like a man determined to take everything he wanted, even if he had no right to it.
'Touch me and say 'I caught the Bomber,' and the bombs deactivate. This was what he had shared with them, after revealing they were already in his snare, hence no longer had any reason to hide it.Abengane's fingers tightened around his knees, as he looked at his feet, as if he couldn't bear to see any pitying expressions, for his own lack of judgement. Greed Island was a game created for Hunters. The implications of danger should've been as clear as polished glass. Yet, he, along with so many, had fallen into a pit of trust and what they thought was mutual understanding, all based on the need for survival. How pathetic it truly was. To have made the critical mistake even children are warned from. Don't trust strangers."The others are waiting at our hideout, hoping the Bomber will disarm the bombs he planted on us. But I know he won't. Our fatal mistake," Abengane muttered, "was letting him leave the game. Our minds couldn't process what we were seeing. And he struck when we were at our weakest, right after we'd combined our spoils before we could even examine them. We were celebrating. We never saw it coming. "Can't something be done?" Gon asked, his fists shaking. He was emotional, but he wasn't irrational, trying to take off without a clear set path, only knowing there was a goal, but no idea where the starting line was. Unlike a knucklehead, Sakura knew.w"If you all attack at once, many of you will survive his little flower," Biscuit pointed out, though she already knew it likely wouldn't happen.en. Who would want to jump at the chance of suicide?
"The first dozen or so to jump him will be sacrificed; who would want to go first?" Abengane pointed out, a bitter smile playing on his lips.
"It's embarrassing to admit, but I didn't even notice him using Leave."
Sakura crossed her arms. "So what do you want from us?"
Abengane's gaze locked onto hers. "Out of everyone on this island, I believe you're the ones I can rely on the most."
Sakura didn't buy it for a second. But she held her tongue. Better to get the full story, laid out with every crevice of the picture clear before she decided to tear through it.
"If you find any other players, please inform them about the bomber. Once everyone knows about his abilities, they should be able to protect themselves and, if possible, avenge us. At least don't let him clear the game,"
He then took out his book and pulled out a card, "Return on Bunzen!"
And just like that, he left the three. Sakura clicked her tongue, turning away from the fast-moving light to Gon, who had a familiar look on his face. There was likely nothing they would be able to do about the bomber right now, but at least they knew who he was and how his technique worked. So they were at least left with more than just a pointless burden.
Biscuit stood up, "Let's get going.
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The forest was quiet between the three for a while, with only the rustling of leaves and light footsteps following. Their Nen exercise is on hold, and their pace is slower. Gon was ahead, his footsteps sounding heavier than usual and his energy dulled. Likely by the weight of what they were told. Sakura didn't like seeing him in this state. It's always like walking away from a pot ready to boil over.
Then his footsteps went silent, getting the girls' attention. "I think we should stop by the base."
Biscuit didn't even ponder, "They're already out of time,"
"But-
"Besides," she continued, "he didn't even tell us where it is. And even if he had, we don't have a spell card that could take us there."
Gon's hands clenched at his sides. "Some of them might have survived the explosion. Sakura could heal them."
Sakura exhaled sharply, and she had to take a second to consider her answer when she looked into those hopeful eyes. "I'm not a miracle worker, Gon. I can heal injuries, sure, but if they're severe enough? Even I can't help someone."
Biscuit nodded. "And they probably are. If the Bomber's strong enough to plant bombs on all of them without anyone noticing, he wouldn't have made the kind of mistake that leaves survivors."
They were capable enough to get into this game, and that was no small feat from Biscuit's appraisal, it also spoke volumes of the people who were able to take down all these capable individuals in a few simple moves, and without any of these seasoned hunters realizing they had become prey.y..
Gon's shoulders slumped, his gaze dropping to the dirt. For a moment, the only sound was the distant cry of a bird. Then Biscuit added, "However, if we continue playing this game," she said, turning to face him fully, "we'll probably run into him eventually."
The shine returned to Gon's eyes, it was hard for Sakura to understand because players would be passing away all the time in this game, and even when they left, it had been on a personal sour note for Gon, the way they spoke about his father's game. And yet he was here now, looking like he had just lost comrades. Was he truly that kind-hearted, or was it just not inconvenient enough for him to abandon thoughts of others? It didn't matter to her as long as she could see him smile.
"We need spell cards," Biscuit declared. "So let's go to Masadora. Sell our monster cards, buy what we need, and prepare."
"Okay!" Taking Gon's hand, Sakura began to run at high speed forcing him to match her's and she didn't let go until she saw Gon smiling at her again.
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The stars were resting high when they reached Masadora, coming to the cute panda-shaped shop, its mouth acting as its doorway. The women at the counter commended their timing as they had just received a shipment of new spell cards. They bought out several packs and didn't linger any longer in the city.
The three stood around, tearing open the packs to check their stash and pack the cards in their books. While Biscuit was going through her book, she caught sight of a rare card.
"Look," Gon and Sakura peeked over her shoulder. It was an S-rank with a limit of 10 called Prison. It permanently protects one page of restricted slot cards against theft or destruction by other spells. "Should we save it or use it now?"
Gon went quiet, but Sakura and Biscuit could read his thoughts full of distress all over his face. The way his lips twisted into squiggles, and his eyebrows went crooked, before he grabbed his hair and voiced his expression.
"I don't know what to do!" Biscuit slapped a gloved hand over his mouth, her eyes darting around.
"Shh! People will get suspicious!" Despite how strong they had become, the three of them still looked like a group of little kids, or in better terms, easy meals. Even if they could counter the players physically, if they attacked with cards, there would be little to stop them from stealing without using spell cards. For Sakura, it was like having a trove full of ninjutsu at the tip of your fingers.
"Let's keep it in the binder for now and use it when we actually get a hold of more restricted slot cards," Sakura suggested, keeping her voice low.
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The day ended pleasantly without incident, no player's attempted to steal their new collection of spell cards and they ended up having extra portions due to Killua's absence. It should've been enough for a good sleeping spell, but Sakura had woken up feeling the camp a little empty. The campfire had burned low, with its embers casting uneven shadows into nothing. Despite this Sakura could feel someone was missing from their circle and it wasn't Biscuit. Maybe it was training every day that had kept her senses this sharp, but to Sakura it an empty sleeping bag was like someone moving from their place right next to you, and their warmth turning cold instantly.
She sat up, her eyes scanning the darkness without squeezing her eyes, until she felt his presence.
Gon was further from the campsite, higher on a rock with his hands tucked behind his head, he stared at the star studded sky. Bathing in the moonlight. That's how Sakura found him when she snuck up on him. He when she landed on top of the platform, sitting up.
"Hey, can't sleep?"
He smiled when he saw her coming his way, "Just thinking about Killua. I really miss him,"
"Oh?" Sakura sat next to him, tucking up her knees, "Wondering if he made it to Kiriko's house by now?"
"Yeah." Gon nodded
"Knowing him, he probably did," Sakura said, leaning forward to rest her chin on her knees. "He is an assassin. Tracking people down isn't hard for him."
"But they're not people," Gon pointed out.
Sakura chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "You know what I mean."
In an unexpected but not unwelcome gesture, Gon shifted, leaning his head against her shoulder.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, wrapping her arm around his shoulder.
"No," Gon murmured. "I just like leaning on you like this. Is that okay?"
"Of course,"
The silence between them felt warm, only broken by the lightest sounds of the winds around them. Sakura knew Gon was probably missing Killua.
"I remember when you were like this at the Zoldyck estate, too. You were so determined to get through that gate. You trained through the nights."
"I really wanted to see Killua," Gon admitted without pause.
"That's what I admire about you, Gon," Sakura said, her gaze drifting to the horizon. "When you want something, you go for it, no matter how hard it is."
Gon ducked his head slightly, "I want to be strong like you, Sakura. So you don't have to keep protecting us,"
And so that he could protect her instead. Gon didn't know why, but he felt the words catch in his throat for the first time.
She laughed, the sound light in the night air. "Well, then you're going to have to train really hard to get to that point."
She couldn't tell Gon that her own motivation for getting stronger had been lost to the pages of a book, one that had brought her here, to this world, to them. She wondered, not for the first time, if the story was still being written somewhere, even though she hadn't opened it in so long.
Now that she could feel it really feel it she realized the book was probably made of Nen, or perhaps enchanted by it. Either way, it was her only tangible connection to the dimension she'd come from. Useless as it was right now, she clung to it with quiet, stubborn hope.
Gon's voice pulled her back. "Sakura?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
She smiled, resting her cheek against the top of his head. "Anytime."
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EARLY CHAPTERS FOR MEMBERS NOW: BUYMEACOFFEE
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (101, 102, 103, 104)
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter (45, 46, 47)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter (37, 38, 39, 40)
-Through the Looking Glass chapter (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
- (Bleach crossover) Kunoichi amongst Reapers: (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia (PART 1 & 2)
- Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi