Stick to the Shadows (HxH)

24: The Long Route

Rilluma's P.O.V 

Killua shook my shoulder waking me up. Since I'm such a light sleeper, I was surprised by the fact that it actually took a few moments for me to respond to him. My eyes opened slightly allowing the light to flood into my vision. 

"We've got five minutes until the door opens." Killua told me. I blinked. For some reason I couldn't get my mind to communicate with me. I knew that I needed to get up so we can get going, but my whole body refused. My eyes dropped again as I yawned making Killua look at me puzzled. He felt my forehead checking for a fever. "You feel okay." he said. 

"I'm just a little tired, Killua. It's nothing." Of course he watched me with curiosity. I shook my head and tried to stand, but I couldn't. The moment I got onto my feet my whole body fell forward landing on Killua's chest. 

"Obviously not. Come on, Rill. Look at yourself." I raised my shaky hands up towards my face. "Change into a smaller creature. I'm carrying you." I shook my head again. As much as Killua's offer tempted me, I couldn't let them slow down because of me. 

"No. I can't make you do that." I told him. 

"Go ahead. Don't you trust me?" I watched him closely. I've seen him do a lot of bad things in my lifetime, but none has outmatched the horrors that I've done myself. Compared to me, Killua is a saint. The truth is, that's the problem. Killua is to nice for his own good. Which is why I shouldn't be taking his offer, but my body didn't want to move. Let alone run. So I sighed and shifted my form. Instead of the cat, I chose something smaller. A mouse.

He picked me up and placed me on his shoulder. There was another yawn before I snuggled up next to his neck. Gon looked over to me with a smile. Then we all waited for the door to open. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. GO! We ran through the door and down the hallway. With no time to think logically we ended up rushing through the options. At least until we came to a strange room. I gave out a little squeak seeing it. 

There were chains on the wall and weapons hanging next to them. Two sets of chains, two people unable to leave. That's what the note said, and it made my heart sank. Two people staying here, and since Killua and I are supposed to fight as one in this assignment that means if we were on the wall it means neither of us would pass. It's not that I thought we would end up losing. If it was a fight I'm sure Leorio and Tonpa would be the ones in chains.

"There is no other option. We've got to take the short path." Leorio said about to press the button on his wrist band. He was stopped by Gon. 

"No!" Gon yelled. Leorio halted to a stop looking back at him, as all of us did. Gon was in deep thought, or just really stubborn. Probably both. I stared at him and ran my way down Killua's arm and down to the floor. Gon looked troubled. "We aren't going to fight. There has to be another way." 

"Gon." Kurapika reasoned. "Even if there was another way, there isn't any time for us to figure it out. We don't have that much time left." I looked towards Gon trying to see if he was going to agree, but he obviously was going to hold his ground. It was a stupid battle, but I couldn't think of something to say. Was I trying to agree with the others, or Gon?

"Look guys. I'll make the choice easier." Tonpa said walking towards the wall. He locked the chains around his wrists. Killua narrowed his eyes slightly. I knew what he was thinking, because I noticed it too. "This is the farthest I've ever made in the hunter exams so I think it's good enough to say I've played my fair share."

I looked towards Killua nodding my head. He narrowed his eyes seeing my judgement.

"That's good. At least we dont have to fight." I said scurrying down Killua's arm. "But there is one probelm." I said shifting into my cat form. Killua knew what I was doing, but everyone else backed away slowly. Eating eachother isnt against the rules of the hunter exam, but Tonpa didn't really look that tasty anyway. This was a test. I liked my lips. "I'm hungry."

"Woah. You're really going to let her do that?" Tonpa said to Killua. He shrugged. I growled nearing him, but stopped as Gon stepped in front of me--his arms spread to each side. Gon gave me a glare looking down on me from above.

"No one is eating anyone." Gon ordered. 

"And what are you going to do to stop me?" I asked him. 

"Anything I can." It surprised me just how determined this kid was, even for an act. Gon was probably to thick headed to see my game, but this makes me think about what I would do if this wasn't a game. Illumi is still looming over my shoulder, and I can't help but feel his plan. He has an agenda, and if I can't get control he will use me. I turned around bowing my head. 

"The man your protecting is a liar." I growled. Tonpa jumped up in surprise. 

"You forgot to lock your cuffs." Killua added. Tonpa pulled off the wall in anger. My eyes widened seeing Tonpa pick up a large axe and run towards Leorio. I lunged for Tonpa grabbing the handle of the axe in my teeth. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel the need to save Leorio or grab the axe instead of the neck. I just don't have the time to allow a fight like this to continue. Tonpa pulled against his axe trying to make me release, but I didn't. 

"Let go!" Tonpa yelled. I just growled in response. 

"Enough!" Gon screamed behind us. He stormed right up to us and pushed me by the head and Tonpa by the chest. Due to his surprising strength both of us were forced away. "Tonpa. Drop the weapon." Gon ordered. I watched as Tonpa lowered the weapon to the floor hesitantly. Then he backed away slowly. Then Gon looked to me. "Rilluma. Sit." I hissed. 

"I'm not some animal Gon." 

"Well it looks like it to me. Sit." When I refused Gon too a step closer to me towering over me. The look in his eyes was frightening as it is. I hissed again before sitting on my haunches. "Now then. I have an idea, but your all going to have to trust me." I narrowed my eyes in anger.

"What is it Gon?" Killua asked. 

"Everyone press O. We're going through the long route." He said. 

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Kurapika asked. Gon nodded. Everyone did as he said and opened the door to the long route, but he then picked up the axe that was lying on the floor next to Tonpa. We all watched as he walked through the door and turned to the side. Everyone's jaws dropped as he began chipping away at the center wall. 

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Word Count: 1244