Hunting for a way home - Shalnark x Reader

Chapter 32 - Thing is, Reunions can be weird.

Today was the big day and you weren't sure how to feel about it. A twinge of nervousness was crowding into the emptiness that had begun to consume you in the last few weeks after the day at the park.

Fighting Hisoka had become a goal. A very unhealthy one at that, you recognized that you let it consume your life to not focus on everything else and somehow you couldn't make yourself care. He was also the first nen user that was not a manipulator you'd be up against.

You had clung to the training you'd had with everyone up until reaching heavens arena. But it didn't feel like enough so the last few weeks you'd intensified that training.

You'd taken to practicing your Hatsu outside the city around Heavens Arena. That allowed time for Aster to have an outlet in the wild instead of being cooped up indoors at all hours of the day. But it also gave you a chance to not be monitored by the others and be alone.

Remembering how Hisoka is able to turn his bungee gum invisible by using IN you practiced doing the same with your fire. It had taken a few days but you could make your flames perfectly invisible. Somehow it felt important that you learn and master this technique.

You had definitely overexerted yourself. Mentally you kicked yourself for letting yourself get this exhausted. Hopping out the shower you noticed the dark circles that had begun forming under your eyes as you faced the mirror.

With that you decided on some light makeup. Nothing too flashy but something to enhance your features a bit and hide those forming circles seemed necessary especially with all the onlookers.

The fights that paved the way to the 200th floor ultimately weren't fights, not really. You had always had the advantage. This time you'd be fighting a real opponent that would most definitely be a challenge. It hit you this was for real and there'd be a crowd, along with this being televised for people ready to watch as you either succeeded or failed.

Already having an aversion to people the few times interviewers had tried cornering you to get an interview out of you, you firmly shut them down by walking away.

It kind of surprised you that some of the others on the 200th floor hadn't taken to trying to challenge you, especially after your first day on the floor. Briefly you wondered if Hisoka had something to do with it but shrugged it off.

Thankfully Wing had resumed training for Gon and Killua yesterday. Both boys ecstatic at the chance to see the fight.

Picking up the jeweled dagger laid on the bathroom sink from the mission at the mansion you examined it. It was hard to look at it and not think about the man that 'Shal' not be named. At times you wanted to just get rid of it but you couldn't help but carry it from room to room unable to part with the unintentional gift.

The past few weeks in your down time you'd picked up your phone so many times you'd lost count. It would always go the same. Pulling up his contact, finger hovering over the call button before you'd toss the phone right back down on the bed before promptly throwing yourself into another round of exercises.

Sometimes you wondered why he'd been so quiet. It's most likely because he truly didn't care. Even if his actions at times seemed to contradict the things he'd say if he truly wanted to be around or talk to you he would have by now.

But then again didn't you tell him to stay away pretty much. Maybe this was your fault? Maybe you should just go pick up the phone and- And what make things more confusing?

Why should you care about seeing him anyways? Why should you care about talking to him? In fact it was good you guys had no contact. It only complicated things further.

He was apart of the phantom troupe and even if you weren't some pure little Angel.. well you still felt like you were apart of the quote on quote 'good side'.