𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝟖 | 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐗𝐀𝐌

Everyday Pleasures

"I... don't get it," a man gasped for breath, sweat dripping down his lined face as his hands gripped his spear tightly. "Why... won't you fight back?"

Hisoka stood before him, a hand on his hip.

His smile was one of amusement.

Possibly pity, as well.

Yet, he was never one to pity anyone.

"I only need to evade and you'll die eventually, yes?" Hisoka hummed, his golden eyes zeroing in on the colorful bursts of red fluttering around the man in one spot in particular on his back. "I can tell by the large swarm of Hemotropic butterflies that your wounds are quite serious." He watched as the man collapsed with grit teeth, merely continuing, "Someone had already wounded you, correct? I understand wanting to end your life fighting as a warrior."

"If that's true..." the man grunted out, struggling through his pain. "And you really do understand... then why? Why do you refuse to fight me and grant me the death I desire?"

"Because I have no interest in the dead.

"What? But wait— I'm not—!"

"Do you know how I know that you're dead?" Hisoka queried as he sat down on a nearby fallen tree, a type of sadistic glee glimmering in his expression. "Your eyes. It's always the eyes. Goodbye."

The end of the spear collided with the ground as the man used it as support to stand back up in defiance against Hisoka's claim, roaring in anger whilst rushing forward with his weapon drawn to attack. However, his attack was short-lived when he immediately stopped in his tracks, a choked gasp escaped his lips when several pins suddenly embedded themselves into his face.

He fell over, dead.

Hisoka hummed, unimpressed.

"Sorry, sorry," a voice announced from the bushes behind Hisoka, Gittarackur soon revealing himself with an expression that suggested he was another but apologetic—it very much wasn't in his nature. "I was careless and he got away."

"Don't lie to me," Hisoka smiled. "He probably begged you to grant him a last request and you relented. Am I right?"

"Well, I may have felt sorry for the man," Gittaracku proclaimed as he walked up beside Hisoka, his entire clacking as he did so. "He was going to die."

"You really need to stop pitying those who serve no purpose."

"But you're guilty of that yourself. You've walked away from opponents before finishing them."

"I do have standards," Hisoka chuckled as he straightened, his smile turning almost unhinged with such a statement. "Why waste time on people who are utterly useless? I only spare those whose premature deaths would be a waste." His eyes then glanced down to Gittarackur's chest, raising a brow as he asked, "What of your badge? Don't tell me you were bested?"

"It's true, as unfortunate as it is," Gittarackur answered monotonously. "The one known as Reaper took it. He was a worthy opponent, just as I expected of him. He truly lives up to his name. As for my badge, he offered me a trade with it. Since one of the badges he had was my target, I agreed."

"Oh?" Hisoka mused.

Very quickly was his interest peaked.

The mysterious figure known as Reaper whom he knew next to nothing about defeating his companion was a rather intriguing notion.

"And his?" Hisoka then questioned as he gestured to the fallen warrior in front of them.

"I already took it," Gittarackur stated, rummaging through his pocket before tossing the badge to Hisoka. "I have six points now, so I don't really need this one. Want it?"

The magician caught the badge easily, flipping it over to reveal a bold 80, humming out, "Whose is this?"

"It belonged to someone who tried to snipe Reaper and I," Gittarackur informed the magician. "I killed them, though. Well then."

Pulling a pin from his head, it wasn't long before Gittarackur's purple hair began to blur before turning a dark shade of black. Continuing to remove his pins until all were gone from his face, it gradually started shifting and shaping. It wasn't until he possessed long dark hair which flowed down his back, pale skin, and large eyes dark with glimmers of red in them did the shifting stop, revealing someone entirely different than perceived.

"Hm..." Hisoka's eyes curved in delight. "That's always so fun to watch."

"It does take a toll on me, you know," the man once known as Gittarackur proclaimed. "Though, transforming back is always a relief." Crouching down, he struck at the earth again and again until there was a hole large enough to fit him, turning back to Hisoka deliver one last line, "Well, I'm going to sleep until the deadline. Best of luck."

Hisoka flipped the badge in his hand as he watched the transformed man disappear into the ground before standing up, his eyes alit with mischief.

Now...

Shall I go find Reaper?

As if she could hear him, Reaper whirled around quickly to let her (E/C) eyes scour the area she was in, the last rays of the sun fading into the horizon as twilight approached, the stars already high in the sky with the cover of darkness. No one was in sight, nor was there anyone she could sense with her Nen. Wondering what the sudden presence she felt was, she decided to discard the phantom feeling as she turned and trekked deeper into the darkening forest. Since she had all six points, she pondered over what to do with the rest of her time.

Should I meet up with Gon and the others?

Hm...

Perhaps not.

If we are to be hunting our targets, would it not be wise to do so stealthily? Trying to find them while doing so would harm more than help.

I guess all that's left for me now is to sleep.

After scouting out the area, she found a cave that was hidden from the wandering eye, a natural repellent of anyone who would be foolish enough to try and steal her badges. Lest they wished to lose a hand, she hoped they would stay away. Lining the floor with a cushion of leaves and moss, she lay down and closed her eyes. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, that last bit of her that was conscious felt the presence of another, quickly waking her. Stilling, however removing her scythe from the (F/C) mist, she waited, ready to kill if necessary. However, all the found her was a piercing set of yellow eyes that seemingly glowed in the dark, meeting her own with hunger lining their dark irises.

"Found you~" Hisoka trilled, obviously pleased with himself for locating her.

She merely stared at him, unamused.

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To be continued...