Runaway | Kurapika x Reader

Chapter 27 - The Lanterns

I scoffed and took a step back, almost tripping over my gown. "What are you doing here?"

Antonio stood tall, clothed in a short-sleeve black turtleneck, fingerless gloves on his hands. "I live here too, you know. York New is my home."

"I thought Bluefield was your home," I snapped back. I looked around the store to see that it was empty aside from the two of us and the employee who was practically falling asleep at the counter. "Either tell me what you're doing here or get the hell away from me."

He let out a long chuckle. "Scary. But I'm not threatened, sorry. I don't think my exact reasoning is any of your business."

I laughed in disbelief. "You do know I'm aware that I'm stronger than you, right? I could kill you right now."

"Maybe. But you won't because I have answers to questions you have."

I crossed my arms. "It's not like you're gonna answer any of my questions, so what's your point?"

"I never said I wouldn't answer your questions. Go ahead, ask any other question. One you haven't asked before."

Should I actually ask any real questions? His answer will probably just be a lie anyway.

"Okay," I started, looking him dead in the eye. "Whose side are you on?"

He raised his eyebrows and began to walk around the shop. "I'm not on anyone's side. I'm independent."

I shook my head in confusion and threw my arms up. "What does that even mean? You're working with mom and dad, so are you on their side? Or are you on mine since you helped me by letting me hear your plans?"

"Neither. I will allow you to interpret it on your own."

I walked over to the window, where a bit of moonlight was shining through. As expected, Antonio followed me. I focused my aura around my body, letting it envelop my figure. I stared at my brother until blood began dripping from his nose and eyes. "Cut the bullshit."

He wiped his nose on his glove, staring at the bright-red blood. "You won't kill me."

"Why are you testing me?"

My aura grew more intense, and so did the pain I brought upon my brother. His face suddenly shifted into a scowl and he held his hand up to his head as he fell to the ground. He grunted in pain, clearly trying not to yell. "Okay, fine!"

I let my aura nodes close back up as I released him from the pain. I took a step forward and looked down at him. "You're going to stop treating me like a helpless child. I'm stronger than you, not the other way around. You're going to tell me everything, or I'll tell mom and dad that you're a traitor and that I know every part of their plan."

He sighed and stood up, wiping all the blood from his face. "Alright, alright... First, you should be aware of something, but the problem is I'm not able to say it with my own mouth."

"What? What does that mean?"

"I can't say because of Nen."

"Huh?" I was extremely confused. I stood there for a moment, trying to think of what he could mean. "Wait, are you saying that there's some kind of Nen being used on you to prevent you from saying something?"

Antonio nodded, visibly glad that I finally understood.

"Did mom and dad do this? Is there something they don't want you to tell me?"

"It's that they don't want me to tell you anything. This type of Nen won't even allow me to form the words," he explained, pulling his phone out of his pocket and waving it. "I can't write or type it out either. That's why I allowed you to see everything for yourself instead."