The Reason We Fight

Chapter 20. The Bargain

Pakunoda had arrived alone at the airport, as Kurapika had instructed. Next to him, he held the leader of the Troupe in his Chain Jail, mouth covered.

"I will present each of you with two conditions. If you abide, I will release your leader." Kurapika turned to the leader. "Let's start with him. First, he is not to use Nen. Second..." He hesitated. The man was undeterred, smiling confidently. Damn him... He told the truth. The Spider will survive without its head, so eliminating him will lead to nothing. This is all so pointless. What can I do at this point? There is nothing I can do. No. He knows it too, he knows my weakness, he thought, enraged. He continued. "Second, he may not contact any member of the Troupe. Do you accept?"

She accepted in her leader's place. He used his Judgement Chain on his heart, to seal the deal.

"Now here are yours, Pakunoda. First condition, you must release Gon and Killua before midnight, no tricks. Second condition, you may not speak a word about me or my power. If you have no objections, I will use my chain on you."

She nodded. In the back of his mind, he sensed that something was amiss. As he watched her leave, he couldn't help but ask her.

"One more thing. Answer truthfully, Senritsu will know if you are lying. Kakume Reznikov. Is she currently working with you?" Pakunoda seemed surprised at the mention of that name.

"No", she answered simply. He glanced at Senritsu. She nodded.

"Very well, you may go".

Why? Why did Pakunoda come alone? The leader seems to think the rules of the Spiders are ironclad, and accepts them and his death as a result. But what of the others, like that woman? Kurapika's heart was thumping loudly, his nerves on fire. Are they truly as cold and merciless as they seem, or are they capable of love and loyalty for one another?

He began to question his motivations. Could it be that theirs were not quite so different after all?

-

"No, I'm telling you, Hisoka, that wasn't us. It must have been the Red Hands, like that Nen tape they put on TV", Machi insisted.

"Oh? Is that so?" Hisoka was thrilled to hear that. So, it was you, he thought, smiling ear to ear, buzzing with excitement. Pakunoda returned and the Troupe debated their options. Hisoka wasn't interested. He intended to slip away soon enough, having just gotten an OK from Illumi to replace him temporarily, changing his face into his with his Nen needles. His pulse quickened with exhilaration as he contemplated his impeding clash with Chrollo. You'll be next, Wraith. Do not think your actions went unnoticed. Your appetite for destruction can rival only mine, it seems... When we face, you will show me your true power. The one only born from overwhelming pain and rage. And in the sweet moment those emotions take over you, only then you will be ready.

Anticipation fuelled his every thought, a tempest of excitement swirling within. He sent her a message:

Before you leave, you might want to check that mailbox on Lingdale.

He followed Pakunoda on her path to make the exchange. As they walked downtown, giant screens showed a broadcast on the side of buildings, as opposed to their usual advertisements.

"Authorities are searching for the perpetrator of this crime. The main suspect is thought to be Kakume Reznikov, female, age unknown. Investigators believe she has a connection to the Red Hands, a terrorist group with bases all around the world. We have no reason to believe that she is affiliated with the Phantom Troupe, the notorious band of thieves responsible for the series of robberies that occurred during this year's auctions.", the broadcaster said.

He received a call. "Thank you for the tip, Hisoka." Tam's gruff voice resounded. "One must wonder, though... has the girl finally lost her marbles? Seriously, revealing her identity to her pursuers... Is she quite mad?"

"Many have asked that question of me", Hisoka said coyly.

Tam chuckled. "True enough, however one might say there's a certain method to your madness."

"High praise, coming from you."

But the man was done playing games. "I will track her, but have sore need of you. You know I ain't a team player." He paused. "If, by some miracle, you manage to get your hands on her before I do... Well, I'll allow you to have a go at her. I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you, though."

Hisoka prepared to answer, but Tam had already hung up on him. Well, no matter. One fight at a time.

-

Tam looked at his computer, a wolfish smirk upon his lips. 60 million jenny. 95 million jenny.

Kakume's face was plastered on the screen of the Hunter's website. 210 million jenny. 550 million jenny.

You think you've won, girl, but I know you. I know how your brain works, he thought. 780 million jenny.

The puffed-up little bitch probably thought it was terribly funny, to reduce his objective to such a commonplace idea. Tam was a contrarian. Just the thought of following the wave filled him with contempt. And she knew how much he hated it. But that won't stop him. Not this time. 2.5 billion jenny. 7.2 billion jenny. My, oh my, the Mafia and other such elites are certainly not playing around. She really bruised their ego.

You'll try to stay incognito, but that won't last. Because you are not meant to be a regular girl, my dear Kakume. Because the allure of upholding justice will be too much to resist, Tam contemplated. And when you finally succumb to the temptation, that's when I'll appear. 

15 billion jenny.

-

Kurapika looked on from the airship. Pakunoda again followed his instructions, there were only three of them – her, Gon and Killua. He narrowed his eyes, seeing a silhouette in the distance. Who... Hisoka? His phone rang suddenly. It was him... he must have sensed that he noticed his presence.

"Allow me into the airship with them. If you refuse, I will kill Gon and Killua."

A bluff, probably, but he wasn't willing to find out, given Hisoka's unpredictable nature. "Bastard", Kurapika hissed.

The magician chuckled. "Worry not, my target is the leader, as you well know. Or did you forget our pact? Once he's released, I'll get off the airship."

Kurapika accepted begrudgingly. They took the airship to a remote location.

They made the exchange, and boarded back into the airship. From a distance, Kurapika looked on at Pakunoda and the leader in distaste. If you contact them, you will die. You will get a taste of your own medicine... know what it feels like to lose your home, he thought.

He looked at the men below, along with Gon, Killua, Leorio and Senritsu. The figures were getting smaller, but they noticed that Hisoka was leaving, without having fought the leader.

Not surprising, he thought. Without his strong Nen, he is not worth the effort. He stood up suddenly.

"It's not over... I still have to..."

But the world blurred, edges smearing into obscurity. Sounds became distant echoes, muffled. A heavy lethargy gripped him, pulling his surroundings into darkness. He collapsed.

-

The large industrial cargo ship was about to sail. Kakume hesitated, then marched on, resolute.

Kurapika... as much as I tried, I couldn't stop myself from caring for you. But now that it is over, it's best for both of us if I never see you again, she thought.

When she opened up her phone one last time, before destroying it once and for all, she noticed that Senritsu had left her a message:

Kurapika is not doing well. It would mean a lot if you were there.

She sighed. Ah. Damn it... what other choice did she have?