Bungou stray dogs x Killua {Uninvited guest}

6 - Whispers Of The Past

Akutagawa attacks first, of course, he does.

Killua weaves around those jaw-like cloths and dashes in front of the man, who barely dodges a slash to the neck, causing a thin line of blood to appear.

'He that fights and runs away, may turn and fight another day.' His father's voice rang in his ear. 'But he that is battle slain, will never rise to fight again.

 A suitable piece of advice, considering the mafioso in front of him is in fact a dangerous man, with a dangerous temper. He learned that much through Atsushi's current condition.

Akutagawa staggard backward, hiding his shock with a scowl. Then, using his ability to achieve a higher ground,  he attempted to strike again. But the boy follows in hot pursuits, stabbing his ability and jumping to reach eye level. He relishes the flash of surprise that crosses Akutagawa's expression.

Surprise, motherfucker.

Killua flung his knife and the man defended by producing a space-devoured red shield, but the boy wasn't even aiming at him. The blade sailed harmlessly past his head.

"Wha-" The knife cut through a water pipe and spews high-pressure water directly at Akutagawa's figure. He was sent crashing to the end of the cargo boat against one of the boxes, and as if on cue, more collapsed on top of him.

"To think you ability users cannot define physics too." Killua snorts, landing.

"Ki-Killua." 

Atsushi's voice made him turn. "Pretty-eyes took you long enough." He scanned his torn uniform. " Damn, you really can regenerate. Go grab Doll-face, we're getting the hell out of here."

"But-"

 An eruption of boxes, along with whips of black and red revealed outstretch in the distance. And Akutagawa rises above the ruins in all his sophisticated glory.

"You know what, I'll get Kyouka-chan."

"Faster." The boy hauls him out. "Mr. Rule sucker isn't exactly happy with the stunt you pulled just now. And I'm not sure if I can defeat Mcdepressed without Nen."

"Wait, did you just call Akutagawa Mcdepressed?"

An enraged howl, followed by a series of bombs exploded - no doubt planted by Kyouka - can be heard in the depth of the haze. From the dust, Killua can vaguely make out a pair of grey eyes narrowed into slits.

"I can only buy you a few minutes! Now, move!"

That seems to jerk the weretiger out of his daze. He nodded and melted into the thick smoke to search for the girl. Just in time too because four black tendrils of cloth had wrapped themselves around the boy's limbs, immobilizing him.

Killua struggled against them, straining to pull himself free, as they lifted him into the air.

"Trickery and schemes." Akutagawa emerged, coughing into his fist. He snarls at the boy. "Is that the best you've got? I was expecting more."

"Sorry to disappoint. I should have texted to deliver you details about myself before we battle to the death. My bad."

"The reason I haven't killed you yet is because you show promise. Speak out of line again, I will personally show you your insides while you're still alive." 

The statement was so ridiculous in so many ways, that Killua had to laugh.

Akutagawa raises a hand and a piece of dark fabric, twisting and hissing like a snake, embedded itself in the boy's leg. The man closed his fist, and yank the cloth out with casual brutality.

Blood sprayed the white tiles, and Killua's laugh became a scream.

He screamed and screamed, and then he choked back the throbbing in favor of what sounded like a sob. He let his chin slack against his chest, his hair shielding his face.

"Now you'll know the consequences of defying me." The mafioso said; he pulled the boy closer. "I give you two options, deliver me jinko, thus joining the mafia, or die."

Killua formed shivered, but he didn't respond nor look up.

But then his shivering only got worse. At first, Akutagawa thought the boy was having seizures. But another choke escaped from his lips, which turned into a suppressed giggle, then a chuckle, then apparently giving up, he laughed again in pure amusement.

The mafioso watched dumbstruck, but any reaction was prevented when the boy lifted his head sharply. His eyes were flat and remorseless, every inch a murderer. 

"Screw. Off."

And suddenly Akutagawa was gasping like a fish without water, his knees threatened to give away. Strangling, heavy, crushing tension caused him to lose his focus on his ability for a moment.

That intent to kill. Impossible, the only time he ever felt like this was when he was with Da ...

Electricity crackled in every direction, and webs of pure white bolts cast out from the boy's body. The hunter lashes his hands out and grabs the fabrics binding him.

"Do you know," he asks; his voice faint. He stares dead into Akutagawa's eyes. "that impurified water is a great conductor of electricity?"

Without even being given the chance to reply, his face had hit the floor and the smell of burned hair and ozone filled his nostrils before he passed out cold. Killua stands triumphantly in front of him, his hands in his pocket.

"And here I was thinking it'll be fun," he mumbles, nudging the Akuatagawa's limp figure.

 'He underestimated me. If he had taken this seriously, I'd be dead meat. Mcdepressed is way more destructive than I thought.'

More bombs erupted, shaking the huge vessel even more.

"WHITE BRAT!" 

"And that's my cue." The boy ran to the edge of the yacht - not even limping - he jumped off and landed on the boat, squashing Kyouka in the process.

"Ow," she said.

Killua didn't bother to apologize, he pushed himself away. "Where's Pretty-eyes?"

She gestures behind the hunter. "Fell to the board and knocked right out as soon as he got to my side." She explained. "His ability must've sap all his strength."

Killua follows her gaze. He finds the weretiger half-sprawled on the ground, the serenity he possesses when he's asleep is somehow assuring.

'Don't get too attached,' a voice whispered at the back of his mind. 'Remember you only help them because they can give you what you want.'

Killua grimaced in reply and staggered to his feet, only to watch black spots dancing in his eyes. He kneeled back down, wincing.

Kyouka's eyes widened at the wound. "Your thigh... will it heal?"

"I have high pain tolerance," he waves her uneasiness away, "I just need to clog the blood. As for full recovery-"

"Yosano-sensei will be able to patch you up with her ability," Kunikida cut in. He glances back at the hunter. "But I would advise you to not waste your energy on your stubbornness."

"Damn to the hells your adv-" As soon as he said those words, his eyelids started to get heavy. The adrenaline he had felt was seeping away.

Kyouka supported his shoulders as he lurched forward. And the last thing he saw was her blue eyes lit with concern.

"Rest," she urges.

And for once, the boy did as he was told.