Itsy Bitsy Spider

57. Nen Ideas

"This is something else," Killua commented, leaning down to touch the dirt with his fingertip. "I don't think any normal person can tell that Lucky got his guts shot out right here."

Lucky squinted at a leaf, but it would take a luminol reaction to determine if the smear on it was blood or dirt. "Since I went through all that pain, I'd at least like someone to notice."

Rein looked through the gaps in the woods, looking for the flash of a rifle or traces of an ambush. "I just hope that group is really gone."

"It's concerning." Killua brought his hands behind his head and lay down on the grass. "An attack pulled back so suddenly has to have some other motive behind it. The whole operation was organized and carefully executed. There were lots of talented Nen users too, and you guys only managed to get away alive because of me."

"And me!"

"And Gon." Killua's eyes trailed clouds through cracks in the canopy. "Think about it. The enemy force was too perfectly parred with the members of your group. They knew where you were going and were waiting for you to pass by with a plan in mind to keep Feitan occupied, and a buttload of machine guns to keep it that way, because they knew that only one wouldn't be enough to hold him back. Isn't that weird?"

"Then they retreat for no reason," muttered Gon, a hand cupping his chin. "I guess that is weird." He sat down, and everyone followed. He asked Killua, "Do you think Kurapika has anything to do with it?"

"The reason they retreated was because two people they weren't prepared for came crashing in." He gave Gon a small, triumphant fist bump. "But the reason they aren't coming back despite the fact that we've received casualties means the retreat was probably, like you said, because of Kurapika."

"So," Gon gave a hopeful grin here, "He'll pull away from the organization?"

"Idiot," he drew out, sitting up to look at Gon like he was crazy. "With that kind of optimistic thinking, we wouldn't be here in the first place."

Lucky shivered when the wind ran through. He zipped his jacket up all the way, trying to huddle in its warmth. Today was the last day Machi said he would need to keep his bandages on, but because most of the injuries were on his thighs or torso, his normal denim jeans had been replaced with loose khakis, and he'd refrained from having a shirt entirely because it hurt to put it on. Since the bandages covered up most of his chest anyway, he'd figured it would be easier to go without a shirt. But now, outside in a thin jacket, he was having some regrets.

He pulled up his hood to his neck. "That friend of yours is in a bit of a situation, isn't he?"

"More than a bit," Killua laughed, but there was a bitter undertone to it. "It just doesn't match him. Not around people like that. Not doing that line of work. He doesn't belong there."

"Really?" Rein asked. "Could you... why would someone... after all he's done, why can you say-"

"Hm." Gon crossed his legs and held them close, rocking back and forth. "Kurapika is a good person. I just know, just like I knew you were a good person, even if you lied. What people did... Aunt Mito says it's more about what they do, you know?" Not giving her a chance to speak, he changed the topic. "You guys said you wanted to think of your Nen ability, right? Need pointers? I think your Hatsu is going to be super important from now on."