It Lives | HunterxHunter

do you wanna know (know that it doesn't hurt me?)

[Name] clung to their Divine Dog as the echoes of screams pierced the air, a symphony of terror and pain that seemed to echo through their very soul. With eyes tightly shut, they buried their face into the soft, white fur of the shikigami, gripping its sides with desperation to maintain their balance. They didn't want to accidentally slip off and be at the mercy of their clan's killers. Memories flooded their mind, images of their clan's leader urging them to flee, to carry on the legacy of the Zenin clan. They wanted to scream at him about the other children. What would happen to them? Where they are even? It sounded to them that the clan leader only wanted them to live as they were the future heir to the clan. They didn't even know if there was going to be a Zenin clan left.

Despite harboring a deep-seated hatred for their kin, [Name] wrestled with conflicting emotions. Could they truly wish death upon those who shared their blood? Some, like the children, were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of clan politics. Even as they were bullied for their favor with the clan leader, [Name] couldn't bring themselves to condemn the children for merely mirroring the actions of their elders.

A sharp jolt shook [Name] from their thoughts as a tree branch lacerated their back, tearing through their clothes and leaving them vulnerable to the biting chill of the wind. The distant screams faded into oblivion as their Divine Dog surged forward, its instincts driving them away from the chaos consuming the Zenin clan. The tremors of battle gradually subsided, leaving an eerie calm in their wake.

The sudden onslaught by the Phantom Troupe had blindsided everyone. It was inconceivable. [Name] recalled their mentor's warnings about the unspoken truce between their clan and the notorious criminals. Something drastic must have shattered that fragile peace, prompting the Troupe to unleash their fury upon the Zenin clan. They have heard what the Phantom Troupe did to the Kurata clan. It was big news when it hit the clan, so much so that it warranted a meeting between the elders and the clan leader.

It should've been a sign that the Troupe could come after their clan next unprovoked.

Amidst the chaos, [Name] had been forcibly ushered away by the clan leader, and left the others to their fate. However, they doubt they would've stayed behind to be killed alongside their relatives.

"Shiro?" they whispered, their voice barely audible over the rush of wind. They couldn't remember how long their Shikigami had run, but they could feel their large reserves of nen slowly dissipating. They thank a deity out there for having a large pool of nen if not they would've been defenseless and homeless hours ago.

The Divine Dog huffed softly, coming to a halt. [Name] lifted their gaze to find themselves on the edge of the port, a scene of bustling activity stretching before them. With a sense of cautious curiosity, they observed a massive ship looming in the distance, its imposing presence drawing a long line of people eager to board.

At that moment, amidst the turmoil of fleeing their clan and the mystery surrounding the Phantom Troupe's betrayal, [Name] found themselves drawn to the unknown possibilities awaiting them beyond the horizon. They could now say they were free from their clan's grasp. All they can do now is live. Something they never thought would happen. As a child, they knew it was their duty to become the leader and lead the clan. There is no clan for them to be a future leader. The problem is, that they never dare dream of being something else. They don't even know what they want to do. Maybe the ship is the sign of them finding it.

As [Name] and their Divine Dog descended towards the bustling port, they were immediately captivated by the lively tableau of sights and sounds that enveloped them. Stalls adorned with exotic goods beckoned to them even though they were now penniless. Which is a problem for the future them. Right now, they wish to take the sight in as if the Phantom Troupe would come out and kill them right that second.