ANIMOSITY | hxh

seven

Tsuno stood in front of the muscular prisoner.  She had her arms crossed confidently over her chest with a grin stuck to her face as she gave him a piercing stare. He looked down on her, but she tried not to let it go to heart. 

"Oh? What's this? A little girl?" The man sneered. "Shame, if this is what your betting on." Tsuno clicked her tongue. "Watch it, old man." He laughed in her face. "She's got bite, how cute." Tsuno growled, glaring at him. 

"Uh oh." Leorio commented, observing from above. "He's trying to get under her skin, and unfortunately, it's working." Kurapika noted, a bit of worry in his furrowed brows. Leorio scratched the scruff under his chin. "She didn't look like the type to get angry easily." Kurapika and Killua side-eyed him, mentally calling him a hypocrite. 

"Anyone else over there would've stood a better chance, in my opinion." He just kept talking. "But it's whatever. I was going to propose a fight to the death but I wasn't planning on fighting a little girl — mnph!" He couldn't finish his sentence. As soon as he blinked the girl was already in his face. One of her hands pulled on the collar of his shirt towards her, while the other hand squished his cheeks together and forced his jaw open. 

The prisoner felt sweat run down his forehead. She was so fast. And her expression was horrifying. Her eyes were wide with fury, her lips curled in a snarl. She threatened him with such a ragged growl that for the first time in a while, he felt pure fear. 

"You're done." Tsuno said softly, gripping his shirt tighter, before dropping her weight and forcing the heavy man to his knees. Moving in a blur she reeled back her fist and slammed it right into the side of his jaw. The prisoner almost fell back from the force but her tight grip wouldn't let him. It was followed by a fast flurry of punches that you could see in a blur of color. 

Tsuno let out all her rage onto his face, not giving him a moment to breathe. When she finished, she dropped her bruised knuckles, panting from her efforts. The prisoner's mangled body dropped onto the concrete floor, dead. 

The intercom sparked up again. "Ah, that won't do," Lippo spoke, "The battle rules weren't decided. You cheated, so the win goes to the prisoners." The area was silent as he finished, too stunned to speak. 

She blinked at the body before her. Tsuno had never killed someone before, she thought. She'd grown to love battle through "him", but she never recalled any of her opponents dying. Tsuno never thought about what it would be like to commit murder, but she only felt numb. Not an ounce of pity or regret. 

The lavender-headed girl didn't hesitate as she silently walked back to the ledge she came from. The annoying 'ding' of a point being received resounding behind her back—to the prisoners. A devastating reminder of the loss she suffered. She let out a breath, too empty to get angry again. She stepped onto the platform, looking up to see everyone's reactions. 

"Woah, Tsuno I didn't know you were so strong!" Gon said brightly, not a hint of devastation on his face. Tsuno blinked, her lips parted in surprise.

"I... uhm— what the hell am I supposed to say..." Leorio muttered, sweat all over his face, but have her a shaky congratulations. He fears her, Tsuno could tell. She gave a small hum before walked towards the blocked off exit, choosing to sit in the shadows. She felt their stare for a few moments before they moved on.