ANIMOSITY | hxh

nineteen

"Are you sure it was her?"

Leorio asked, a hand around his chin with thought. "I don't think she would just walk away after making direct eye contact with you, right?" The elder teen asked, looking between Gon and Killua. The albino boy ran a hand through his hair. "I don't think so?" He said, although he was completely unsure at this point. None of it made sense to him. Why would Tsuno be here? Was that even the same girl?

More importantly, she didn't look like she recognized him at all.

Gon blinked, furrowing hos brows. "This is making my head hurt." Leorio huffed with exasperation. Killua stood up, frowning, "I swear it was Tsuno. At least, I think." He said, averting his eyes. "Same hair color, same eyes. But everything else was different. She wore different clothes, and her hair was a lot shorter... but it still stands." Gon and Leorio looked between each other awkwardly, causing him to sigh.

———

Kurapika had gotten himself a job.

After learning nen by his hobo of a teacher, he fully mastered his technique that he was going to use to purge the Phantom Troupe and retrieve his clan's eyes. But he needed money as well, so he got himself a job as a bodyguard. He, along with a couple of others, are guarding Neon Nostrade, the daughter of an elite Mafia chair member. She has a hobby of collecting strange items, including body parts such as the very eyes he is searching for. But he will bypass that for now, he needs this employment.

They have planned out their movement for the first night of the auction. Neon couldn't go herself due to her father's wishes, much to her disappointment, so it was to Kurapika and the rest of the bodyguards to retrieve the items she desires. Currently, Kurapika is watching the front of the building with a co-worker named Melody, as no more than groups of three are allowed into the auction under one representative. So far, everything was fine. He and Melody has learned about each other a bit more. He told her of his backstory, and the disgraceful purging of the Kurta Clan. He emphasized how important it was he get those eyes, in return she told him her story. Melody had been cursed by a demonic sheet of music and is now looking for it to prevent anyone from making those same mistakes. They bonded over their trauma and shared a peaceful moment.

But the Underground Auction was about to begin, and everyone was in for a surprise.

———

Tsuno whistled, "What a massacre."

In front of her were hundreds of bodies, and pools of blood everywhere across the room. You see, just moments ago there were nobles and mafia all over the place, anticipating an auction. But, courtesy of Feitan and Franklin, they now no longer breathe. It was her and Shizuku's job to make sure no one got out. Two of them made it out the door, but Shizuku easily dealt with them.

"You could've joined us." Franklin smirked, while Shizuku cleaned up the bodies. Tsuno clicked her tongue, "You know how it is."

Not too long ago, Chrollo had told her something strange.

"Steal everything, and kill everyone who stands in our way." Chrollo announced, wearing a subtle smirk as he observe the Troupe with cool grey eyes. "Hell Yeah!" Uvogin cackled, cheering rampantly while the rest of the Troupe either smirked or snickered. Tsuno sat against the far wall, as these types of things didn't pertain to her. She usually wasn't allowed to do anything big like killing or stealing.

"Aurum." She heard his voice call, causing her to jolt up and look at him. "That means you too." Her eyes widened, as her mouth nearly fell open. She didn't know how to feel about this. What does it mean? Is she a part of the Troupe officially now? She had never killed anyone, at least not in hr mind. Although it was ominous how unperturbed she was to people dying. "But only under one condition," he added, causing her to furrow her eyebrows. He looked at her, his eyes lowering slightly as if filled with vision that no one else would understand. "When you do it, I want you to have the spotlight." She squinted at him, he was always so cryptic. How on earth was she supposed to know what that meant? "Yeah, whatever." She mumbled, pressing her knees closer to her chest.