A Worthy Opponent (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 6: How to Instigate

There she is~

Hisoka kept track of Raine's movements with predatory eyes. In the distance, he watched her take off her heels on the rooftop then disappear into the forest. Hunting down his prey, he ran to her shoes and scanned the forest.

Hmm? Running alone are we?~

Hisoka let out a sigh of relief, finally approaching the situation head-on, then leaped off the roof and followed, maintaining a large distance between them. They ran through the forest effortlessly for an hour, until he spotted Raine stopping by a small lake that glittered under the moon's beams.

I'll have to go uphill for cover and a better view~

About a quarter of a mile away, Hisoka observed her from a tree. Curiosity stifled his adrenaline. Murmurs from the trees shushed him while a melodic atmosphere entranced him to relax.

Raine kneeled at the water's edge and stared at her reflection. The ambient noise of crickets and fireflies surrounded the lake. Her necklace noticeably twinkled in the moonlight. Suddenly, she ripped a part of her dress into a strip and made her way towards something. She crouched by some sort of animal and wrapped one of its limbs.

Helping a wounded animal. A wounded prey~

His excitement simmered to focus his Zetsu, blocking in his aura nodes. Concealing her presence.

So she has a thing for the weak...that gives me an idea~

Hisoka shifted his weight in the tree for a better look. But Raine perked her head up and ran. Hisoka stiffened.

Did she hear that? Where is she? No, the night is not over just yet~

He ran back to the city, having lost track of her, and climbed a building with his Bungee Gum. There, he towered over the people in the streets while crouched by the edge, scanning the citizen. Hisoka shuffled his cards breaking down a plan.

He looked out into an alley at the edge of the woods and spotted his prey. A young boy in overalls and a navy shirt appeared from the shadows. The blonde boy was tattered with dirt, holding a newspaper, and seemed to be coming back from the woods.

Hisoka immediately shot out a card and cut the kid's leg, causing him to fall on the concrete. A shrilling scream could be heard, but with no one around, the streets continued. The boy grabbed his leg and cried as Hisoka joined him.

"Such a sweet boy...scream a little louder for me?~" Hisoka bent down, delighted at his reaction. The boy's eyes swarmed in terror with endless tears.

Just a little more~

His blood lust dripped like a leaking pipe ready to burst. Hisoka moved in closer, ready to fling the card towards the boy's throat.

"AHHHH-" the boy wailed, but it was abruptly cut off by the sound of a rock rocketing through the air.

It knocked Hisoka's hand with a sickening crunch and the card flew out. Hisoka jerked his head at the source to see Raine sprinting for the injured boy at full speed. Her eyes glinting silver and blue with movements inevitable to knockdown. Her presence surged in with crushing pressure. A new side he'd never seen before. Emotions of hate and disgust. Hisoka stepped back, but instead of attacking him, she scooped up the kid and gently put him down by a tree. Her Ren roared like blue flames around her as she finally faced him.

Her eyes glowed vivid and sharp.

Hisoka chuckled satisfied. "I knew you'd come. Catching prey is a lot of work you s-"