Whispers of the Sky (Hunter X Hunter)

Jester X From X Hell (Yllina's PoV)

To whom do we owe the pleasure,
That even in death we are mocked?
-*-

"Get back!" It doesn't take a heart beat before I'm pushed behind Rhode's back, her body tensed and eyes locked at Hisoka who found our entire entrance intriguing.

I didn't even think that we'd meet him. All I asked for was to meet up with Kurapika and Leorio whom I had thought were still keeping up with the examiner. My eyes trail to Leorio's unconscious form, a terrible bruise forming on his face. Luckily, he was still breathing, a sure sign he was just knocked out but the worry that he was still being held haphazardly by Hisoka lingered, my feelings reflecting on both Gon and Kurapika's faces.

Only Killua didn't harbor such a stare but the fear in his eyes are just as evident as mine. He looked about ready to flee like a deer about to be hunted and yet he tried to stand his ground.

"We can't fight him." Rhode's clipped tone said it all, that even strength in numbers wouldn't be enough to defeat someone like Hisoka.

"But we just can't leave Leorio behind!" Gon easily voiced my thoughts when I couldn't. In an event of war, as the elders told me, one sacrifice for the sake of all is a common hurdle that must be considered.

But what if that person is your friend? Would you still be saying the same thing? That was the dilemma I was in, the wavering decision on who to save plagued me. If even Rhode deemed it impossible to beat Hisoka, it was obvious that we were clearly outmatched.

But Leorio needed our help. The memory of having to abandon another person again clearly over riding my decision for the majority of all.

"W-we have to at least try." I defended Gon, Rhode's sigh heavy and worn, the same tone she'd use whenever she knows she can't overrule my command. Even though I didn't want her to think of it that way, it's obvious she would prioritize my life over them even if we had become friends with them.

It's a terrible realization but right now it was the only thing I could suggest if it means we can save Leorio.

"Are you insane?! How can we even defeat a guy like him? He's like a hundred leagues ahead of us." Killua yelled at us in complete frustration, the fear in his eyes never leaving.

"We have no choice. If we run, he'll kill Leorio." Kurapika admitted, his twin wooden blades already out and ready.

"Hmmmm... What's the rush? Your friend here was just a little warm-up~ won't you come and let me judge you too?" Hisoka finally spoke, sending shivers down my spine at his beckoning voice that held a murderous and sadistic aura in them.

The wind around me is in a frenzy, warning me incessantly that we had to get out but I couldn't. Not without saving Leorio.

I can't afford to lose anymore people around me.

"Tsk. That's a sick bloodlust right there. Damn, old man had to get himself in such a dangerous game." Rhode clicked her tongue before turning to me, Killua, and Gon.

That knowing stare on her says it all and it scares me. The last time she had given me that look, she had nearly died. On that night two years ago, on the day I lost everything.

"Killua, Gon! Take Yllina and run. Kurapika and I will hold him off." Rhode pulls out her twin dao blades upon the command she had given out, Killua and Gon's eyes mirroring my own.

"Eh?! I can't do that!"

"You really have lost your mind! You'll both die faster that way."

"Don't worry. We'll flee the moment we get Leorio. We'll meet you at the second phase soon." Kurapika assures us, something that would have been believable if not for the fact that their opponent is a killer that could've killed us all while we were bickering here.

"But-,"

"Go now!" Rhode's loud voice silences the whole place in an instant, her burning magenta eyes easily causing us to back away. Gon doesn't even get the chance to finish but his knowing gaze as he stares at them gets me.

The eyes that shows he believes in them and that he would come for them no matter what.

"Watch over her for me, will you?" My eyes widen at the way she says the last line, my eyes darting to her back that overshadows my small frame.

Those words... I don't get the chance to argue back at her choice of words. Killua easily lifts me up in a second, both him and Gon easily sprinting away from Rhode and Kurapika's form who are easily swallowed up by the fog along with Hisoka.

"Watch over her for me, will you?"

--*--

"Let me go!" I scream, hitting Killua's back in futility, knowing that my hits aren't affecting him the slightest.

"Will you stop screaming?! It's hurting my ears." Killua counters back angrily, several tick marks appearing on my head in irritation.

"I didn't ask you to carry me! And you're screaming too, right?!" I argued back, making sure to yell again just to spite him. His eyebrows twitch in annoyance before he glares at me, the intensity of his cobalt blue eyes making me freeze.

"Good." He must’ve noticed my silence when he said it. The way he looks at people like that slightly scaring me. Cold and distant... Like Hisoka's but a bit subdued with a small hint of blood lust that he uses to intimidate other people to get them to shut up.

"The last time I heard those words... I lost everything." I don't even know why I tell him that even after he glared at me to shut up. Between him and Gon, it's obvious he could care less about all of us. He was willing to flee back there if given the chance but just like Rhode and I, Gon had done something to him for him to waver like that even amidst his fear. That even amidst those eyes that look devoid of emotions sometimes, there's a part of him in there that Gon tells us we could trust him.

Maybe that's why I ended up telling him.

"Why are you telling me that?" As expected he asks me that question but as I answer him, I know that in my heart, I can trust him to know why.

"Gon trusts you. He has an amazing way of knowing who to befriend. So if he trusts you then I do too. Even Rhode, who has a hard time trusting people believes in you so I know you're a good person." I admit making him scoff which I had already predicted.

"That's a shallow reasoning, you know."

"Believe it or not, but I'm just as good in reading people, Killua. If you have the ability to draw people like us to you then you aren't really the lone wolf you try to make yourself out to be. If you didn't give an ounce of care for us, then you would have abandoned us back there..."

Killua doesn't speak up after my explanation. His face hidden by his bangs as if he's deep in thought. If I'm right, then it just goes to show that Killua does indeed care for those he considers friends. I don't know what hinders him though. The fear in him always tries to eat him up, something I can't understand since he looks like a decent fighter that can go up against Rhode if given the chance.

"You don't know me so don't go jumping into conclusions. I don't know what Gon's making you believe about me but you should stop it." Once again, like Rhode, he builds up those walls of his to prevent us from breaking in.

It's frustrating to be honest. It's like dealing with another Rhode. I want to argue with him and probably get Gon to join in to defend me but the moment I look up to call out for Gon, my eyes widen in alarm when I see nothing but an expanse of fog behind us, that signature green attire and spiky hair nowhere in sight.

"Killua... Where's Gon?"