The Otonari's Last (Hunter X Hunter Fanfic) [Indefinite Hiatus]

XII - the Journey

After Kurapika's fight with Mizuken and my fight with Kaida, they explained Nen to us. For the first couple minutes, the idea of it was very confusing. I've known about auras for a long time, but it being something that we can manipulate to our will? That was where they lost me.

Kaida went further to tell me that Nen is simply the technique used to manipulate aura. It's very difficult to learn and master, but very dangerous, so the Hunter Association keeps Nen a secret from the rest of the world. She adds that those who have passed the Hunter Exam usually manage to learn of Nen within a few months of passing the Exam.

With that out of the way, they told us that they would be splitting Kurapika and I for individual training. We were both hesitant, mainly because we barely knew them, but we gave in and said our goodbyes.

And that's how Kaida and I ended up in a small apartment she rented in a nearby town.

"First thing's first," she says immediately upon opening the door, dropping her satchel onto a worn, blue chair. She gestures for me to do the same. "You need to open your nodes."

"I'm sorry?" I question, snapping around to face her. She rolls her eyes at my look.

"Your aura nodes," she amends, seating herself on the arm of the couch. "They're how we're able to use Nen. Yours are closed..." Kaida pauses, tilting her head. "Actually..."

"What? What is it?" I ask as she stands up to circle around me. Unabashed, she reaches out and grabs one of my wrists, turning it over in her hands.

"Your nodes are open, but only partially," Kaida states distractedly. She looks up and makes eye contact again. "You haven't learned Nen before?"

"I've never even heard of it before today," I reiterate with a firm nod. "How could I have learned it without knowing?"

"There are actually cases worldwide of that happening," she details, dropping my arm and pointing to the floor in front of the coffee table. She moves to sit on the carpet and I join her. "People that manage to unlock their auras and use Nen without any formal teaching are what we call 'geniuses'." I snort lightly and she rolls her eyes. "I know it sounds silly, but it's true. Have you heard of Benny Delon, the mass-murderer? How about Mukatolini, the lithographer, or Komugi, the Gungi world champion?" I nod. "All of these people are considered 'geniuses' because they learned Nen by themselves, with no help from a Nen master."

"But what does that have to do with me?" I query.

"I think you are one," Kaida answers simply, leaning back against the coffee table. "For the most part, anyway. Your aura nodes are only partially open, which could mean you have a slight ability with your Nen already. Can you do something that no one else you've ever met can? Something that may have seemed to have popped up out of nowhere? Or maybe it slowly faded into your life and you just happened to notice it?"

I touch my fingers to the headphones around my neck. "I have one," I confirm.

"Show me," she orders, but it's less of a command and more of a curious request. I nod, settling my headphones over my ears.

"It only works under a few conditions," I explain. She gestures for me to continue. "First, you need to remain in contact with my headphones." Kaida reaches out and presses the pads of three fingers to the earpiece. "Second, you have to answer a question about yourself truthfully." Her eyebrows furrow with a burning question, but she nods. "What is your name?"

"Kaida Hino," she replies.

"Last, maintain eye contact." She does so, and I feel my eyes go out of focus as her thoughts enter my mind.