Whispers of the Sky (Hunter X Hunter)

Spiders X And X Killers

And so the spider's trap is sprung,
Who will be eaten? The spider or the fly?
-*-

"Man, how hard did he even grab you?" Leorio exclaimed, his fingers running over the bruise which made Rhode wince.

They had a brief respite of five minutes before Rhode and Gon tossed the coin, the face appearing on the heads part determining who went next while the tails determined who would be the opponent.

Leorio took this momentary break to inspect her wounds, most of which were bruises and light scratches. Rhode couldn't help but commend him for his astounding medical background regardless of having yet received his certificate, earning her a blush from the said soon-to-be doctor.

"Nah, It's nothing! I mean, compared to your fighting skills, mine's not really worth bragging about."

"I would like to believe otherwise, Leorio. Doctors are just as indispensable as fighters."

"W-well if you put it that way..." Leorio tried to say humbly, except his voice came out as more of a person bragging than what he was meant to portray.

Kurapika couldn't help but roll his eyes before tuning him out to check up on his somewhat injured friend. "He didn't look like a tough opponent, Rhode. Why did you hold back when you could have ended it faster by just killing him?"

Rhode flinched at his observation, the action not going unnoticed by Kurapika. "I admit that I had the upper-hand in this fight but I couldn't afford to kill him. I'm glad he hadn't realized it, otherwise I'd have surely lost this round," Rhode sighed as she explained.

"This is the Hunters Exam we're taking you know," Kurapika couldn't help but point out in a near-scolding manner. "Sooner or later a danger will arise and we'll have no choice but to make that decision."

"When that happens," Rhode emphasized with a somber look that didn't escape her two friends' gaze. "Until then, I'll hold back from killing as much as possible."

"Why are you so adamant about not killing anyways? I mean, sure it's not really morally right to take a life but-,"

"I was once the youngest of the three generals of our country," Rhode began, her unusual shift in topic enough to spurn both Kurapika and Leorio to stop and listen. It was a good time as any to at least explain her stubbornness from taking a life. "It was an alarming feat for a child of barely twelve to hold such a very important position in the army."

"Of course, my unyielding oath to repay Yllina's family pushed me to work hard- both mentally and physically. They called me a child prodigy but I prefer to call it hardwork," Rhode recounted, a thoughtful ghost of a smile on her lips as she recalled the wonderful memories she spent with Yllina and her family.

The memory was merely fleeting though before a grim look settled on the amaranthine-haired woman's features. "There was a time when pirates once tried to attack us. They pillaged the outer villages, taking both valuables and women with them. It was during that time that I had been sent to dispose of them- a mere twelve-year old against twenty bandits."

"Are you kidding me?!" Leorio breathed in horror, unable to comprehend the absurdity of Rhode's tale. "What kind of person sends a lone kid to battle men twice her age by herself? Aren't you suppose to have soldiers with you?"

"Unless," Kurapika interjected with a hint of slight disbelief in his tone. "They were planning to get rid of you?" Rhode suppressed a smirk at his claim- indeed, he truly is a dangerously perceptive person.

"My relationship with the royal family is a sketchy one at best to those who consider me an outsider. Clearly those jealous of my position sought to destroy me and take my place. In retrospect, it was obvious that, to them, a mere outsider like me didn't deserve a trusted spot so close to the royal family."

"But the enemy misjudged your capabilities," Kurapika continued for her, the smirk finally making its way to the former general's lips at his observation. "Yes, they misjudged me terribly and they paid for it with their life."

It was at this moment that Rhode mellowed, a hint of sadness settling in her eyes as she continued her story. "They never stood a chance against someone who swore their own life to the kingdom. I don't want to subject her to that same experience again so that's why I refuse to spill unnecessary blood." She shook her head ruefully, her eyes trailing to Yllina.

"It was like the sky rained of their blood on that day. I didn't know when I had lost it. I guess when they mentioned that they were going to turn Soevenia, the only home I had ever known, into a slave country- I ended up drawing the first blood. They didn't see it coming, the way their Captain's head was sent flying."

"Ever since then, no one questioned my capabilities again... I was an honored hero- but to Yllina..." Rhode trailed off, eyes distant and tinged with slight hurt in them.

"It was the first time she had begun to fear me."

As Rhode finished her story, an unsettling feeling gnawed its way into the atmosphere. Neither spoke a word and Rhode wanted it that way. They both knew, after all, that no words of encouragement would ever break through that high wall she put up just to protect  her sister.

"Five minutes are up!" Theda announced, a bell signaling the start of the next round.

"Please flip your coins so that we may begin the next battle," Theda's sister Efil added, Rhode immediately taking out the coin she had placed in her pocket.

Her face had now been crossed, Efil explaining that you could only fight once. So now it was either Kurapika and Leorio who would go next while Gon's group would have either Killua and Yllina taking part.

Given the rules of their game, whether Rhode liked it or not, chances are that Yllina would have to take part.

--*--

"That's one scary looking guy," Leorio spoke the moment Kurapika walked on over to face his opponent.

Kurapika's opponent was indeed grotesque but not imposing enough to scare Rhode. She surmised that he was all bark and no bite, his appearance merely a form of intimidating his would-be opponents who were weak enough to fear him.

The hulking man looked like a corpse incarnate, with blue skin and a face so distorted he looked like a monster. Nineteen hearts were tattooed on his left chest causing Rhode to wonder what those marks meant.

Pointing to his chest as if reading her mind, the man spoke. "My kill tally thus far is nineteen. I hate odd numbers so I'm glad I get to even it up." He smiled wickedly before cracking his knuckles.

"So it's serial killers now, huh," Leorio's face showed worry, prompting Rhode to assure him with a huff.

"Kurapika will be fine. The enemy's just as strong as my opponent so he'll pull through without even breaking a sweat."

She could see Leorio visibly relax a bit at her reassurance but Rhode couldn't blame him for still being on the edge.

After all, Killua's opponent was someone not to scoff about.

"Johaness the Dissector..." Leorio breathed the name of Killua's opponent, his eyes observing the man who was known as Zaban's most prolific serial killer.

Rhode didn't know if Killua could handle facing such an opponent, even though she knew the boy could kill due to her observation of his habits. She wanted to have faith but-

*Boom*

The ground shook as if a bomb had been set off, Rhode's eyes leaving Killua's fight to turn to Kurapika's- to where the source had come from.

It seemed the battle had just started, Kurapika's opponent launching the first blow. Kurapika was a few feet away from his opponent, a crater marking the place between them where Rhode had presumed he was standing on before the fight started.

"Kura-," Rhode's voice died in her throat the moment she felt the air around Kurapika turn taut. Pent up rage was seeping out of him as his breathing turned ragged and harsh.

"That tattoo... Could it be-," Leorio pointed out in alarm just as Rhode's eyes followed Leorio's gaze-

The twelve-legged spider tattoo- the symbol of the Phantom Troupe glared at them from across the arena .