Itsy Bitsy Spider

67. It Means...

"On three."

"Okay."

"One..."

Rein stood up on 'two' ("T-Ah, wait, Rein, no!"), throwing both Killua and Gon off balance. She could stand well enough and walk a few steps, but her energy wouldn't hold for her to function normally. According to Machi, to make a full recovery she would need to walk with help from others and practice doing so until she didn't need assistance anymore. For this, Kalluto and Zushi were too short, and everybody above Lucky's age was too tall. The only options left were Gon and Killua, who were conveniently slightly taller than her for optimal walking support.

"Ah, Rein?" Gon spoke up after Killua finished complaining to her about listening to instructions. "I'm sorry I couldn't get your phone out of the lake. I tried going back to look for it this morning, but I couldn't find it."

She shook her head. "Don't sweat it. I probably wouldn't have used it after all this anyway." It had already served its purpose. Though she knew Shalnark would be annoyed about this later, she could deal with that bridge when she came across it. "And... you didn't find anything at all?"

His eyes crinkled apologetically as he exhaled a breath. "I couldn't find your rock either."

Rein simply nodded. She had expected to feel something for its loss, her lucky rock she'd always fumbled with to calm her nerves. It had been with her for the majority of her remembered life, almost a comfort blanket or a teddy bear she'd once thought she would need forever. But she didn't have any urge to reach for it now, no reason she made an excuse to twirl it around expertly at her fingertips. She hadn't felt that particular need for a while, actually, not even during the past few days.

"You know what?" Rein raised her eyes, smile easy and loose.  "I don't think I need it anymore."

"Really?"

"Really."

The two boys helped her out, and she was greeted by Lucky, Zushi and Kalluto behind him. "Let's go rehabilitate you," Lucky said. "Most of the grown ups left to go get supplies in the closest town, and they won't be back until dark. You can try to rebuild on your strength during then."

"Aren't you an adult?" Killua raised an eyebrow. "If you aren't, then your height is freaky."

"I said most of the grown ups." Lucky's head gazed off to the side. "I didn't go, but neither did Emo Loser. He locked himself in his room a little over an hour ago, and has been weirdly hostile since."

While some of them commented on the fact that it was by a miracle Lucky hadn't been killed using the blatantly rude nicknames he did, Rein broke free from their arms and walked by herself towards the Spider's room, trying to keep upright as she did so. She knocked. "Fei? If you want to come, we're going to-"

"Don't come in and don't bother me," he answered, a rough edge to his voice showing that he meant it. It must have been indicated in her breath that she was about to argue, because he raised his voice and ordered: "All you get out. I stay alone. Go."

Rein let out an exasperated sigh, and nodded to let Killua and Gon know they could move on now, who had come to her sides to act as crutches once more. She would have to make up to them for it later. "Love you too, Fei," she called as they all started to do just as he said, purposely phrasing her words in such a way to tick him off in his already annoyed mood.

(Something was off. Something was so terribly off about him, but she concluded she was only overthinking.) Rein, feeling lighter than ever, managed to blow her first teasing raspberry at the firmly closed door in what felt like years.