Seeing through the Flames (Killua x OC) (Kurapika x OC)

Chapter 11

WARNING: If you are uncomfortable with death, grief, and/or child abuse, please skip the dream sections or skim through them quickly. Thank you.

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The night was young, and the carmine moon bled into the dark sky - a violent stain. It had only just been a while since Uvogin left to find the 'chain-user' and avenge his pride, not long enough for them to question his win, which they believed in like gospel.

Sitting with a closed book in his hand, Chrollo looked at the troupe members. "You mentioned earlier that two people escaped. Tell me more about that."

"Well," Franklin began, unsure of how to explain...all that. "There was a little girl around thirteen years old, dragging around an older guy and kept on passing through things. She was very clumsy in using her Nen though, and kept on yelling about some Raymond."

Feitan looked immediately annoyed upon the reminder of the little girl.

Interest glinted in Chrollo's previously impassive gaze. "I see... But, if she was clumsy in using her Nen, then how'd they escape?"

Tilting her head, Shizuku answered, "Anal?"

Chrollo stared for a moment. "...What?"

Feitan's scowl worsened. "If I see that twerp again, I'm going to torture her to death."

"I don't think a twerp should be calling anyone a twerp," Phinks murmured from the side.

Glaring at him, Feitan sharply answered, "I'll torture you first."

Sighing, Franklin interrupted their banter by properly answering Chrollo's question. "No, that is definitely not how they escaped, boss. The little girl cussed a lot and was very hyperactive in both her words and actions, and she escaped the same way she evaded our attacks. By passing through things, taking the man with her."

"I see..." Staying silent for a moment, Chrollo thoughtfully placed a hand under his chin, looking at nowhere in particular before pondering aloud, "Raymond... He was a considerably powerful Nen user. I wanted to steal his Nen, but he died a year prior."

"A powerful Nen user? What kind of Nen did he have?" Nobunaga asked.

Removing the hand from his chin, Chrollo looked back at Franklin and the rest. "As far as I am aware, he was a manipulator who could alter the permeability of certain objects or bodies of mass, more accurately."

"?!" Shock clouded their expressions. "If that is Raymond's Nen, and that girl is using it... Boss, are you trying to say that she has a... similar ability to yours?" Pakunoda questioned.

Closing his eyes, Chrollo chuckled dryly. "Perhaps." He then opened his eyes with a smile as dangerously curious as the gleam in his eyes. "I wouldn't know that unless I made sure myself."

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Tossing and turning in her bed, Ai pursed her lips before sighing.

Her mind was bombarded with thoughts, all helpless and absolutely hopeless. Every time she was about to fall asleep, she would simply dredge upon that border of wakefulness and slumber, always sauntering over to the former with a suffocated feeling; to say that she was worried was an underestimation.

"Kurapika, Kurapika..." Sitting up on her bed, Ai hugged her knees. "You better be okay. You better be... Or else, I won't ever forgive you..."

She wished she could disobey Lawrence's orders - to escape her hotel room and make sure of Kurapika's safety. To just be by his side.