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Hiroki perked up at the distant sound of her closest companion, Kurapika, from the other side of the room.
The blind Hunter turns sharply, using her Nen to navigate as she locates Kurapima.
"Kurachan?" She calls, though she knows the sound of his breathing and footsteps are distinctly his.
Hiroki could feel Kurapika's aura as he walked closer, then he spoke back, approaching the sound of Hiroki's voice. He was holding the Blacklist card she gave him out of courtesy in his hand.
"Oh, Hiroki. Where have you been?"
She smiles at the sound of his voice, coming to a stop by his side as she faces ahead blankly, ear in his direction attentively.
"I was held up. How are you, Kurachan?" She asked warmly, trying to gauge his emotional state by his tone and heart rate. From her Nen, she could vaguely sense shifts in his movements, too, and tried to use those to tell what he was thinking.
It only took Kurapika one look at Hiroki to feel the warmth in her question. It made his heart almost flutter with joy because she said his name with such sweetness in her tone.
"Oh, I'm fine," he responded calmly, looking to the fellow Hunter with a little smile. "Just got my hands full working with the boss and researching those Genei Ryodan members. But, I can spare some time. How can I help you, Hiroki?"
Hiroki shrugged, smiling softly.
"Oh, no, I didn't really need anything. I was just checking in on you," she said warmly, tone slowly melting into a reminiscent one.
"How odd it is to think that only three years ago, we were inseparable, traveling together day by day to track down the Ryodan. And now, we see each other so infrequently compared to that..."
Kurapika laughed out loud when she said that because he completely agreed with her statement. Even though it made him a little sad thinking back to the old days, he enjoyed Hiroki's reminiscing.
"Yep. That's what happens when we get older," Kurapika said in a nostalgic manner. "We no longer have the same free and reckless spirits we had when we first met. But, it was a lot of fun traveling with you back then, wasn't it? I'm sure those experiences can never be forgotten."
She smiled softly at hearing his words, her hand grabbing his own gently.
"Yeah. You're right," she said in a quiet tone, voice warm and soft.
In the past years, during their travels, hand holding was a common thing between them. From simple and necessary guiding (back before Hiroki was familiar with Nen and recently blinded), to reassurances, to branches of trusts, up until now.
Kurapika's expression softened at her touch, giving her hand a little squeeze.
"You know, Hiroki," he suddenly said after several seconds of silence, "I must thank you for making my life brighter from the moment we met."
She turns her ear to him, a questioning but friendly smile on her face, before chuckling softly.
"Of course, Kuchan," she squeezed his hand lightly, her head turning to him despite her unseeing eyes attentively as her expression was illuminated. "I must admit, really, that I could say the same about you. You shine a guiding light through my life more than you will ever know. You bring me hope, and happiness."
"I never thought that I would regain those things. Not after..." her hand floats absentmindedly toward her blindfold, resting over where her eyes once were, as she is dragged into a memory, "–since the incident. I don't know how I could ever repay you for that."
Kurapika gently squeezed Hiroki's hand back while he listened to her words. His eyes were locked on Hiroki as the aura from his Scarlet Eyes thrummed lowly. He knew the incident of which she spoke, but only vaguely.
And he knew not to ask about it.
"You don't have to worry about repaying me, Hiroki," he replied, speaking in a relaxed tone. "As long as you're by my side, I can face the horrors of this world I've chosen with no regrets."
She smiled lightly, chuckling at his words. Kurapika's heart raced as he heard it.
"And what did you find on the members we've been tracking?" She changed the subject curiously. Her fingers briefly grazed a spot on her thigh absentmindedly.
Hearing Hiroki's question, he took a look at the short summary written on the note to remember it before responding.
"Okay, this is what I got. Most of the Phantom Troupe each have a unique ability that..." he started.
H×H
Three weeks later, Hiroki and Kurapika have tracked down yet another Ryodan member. Finally, it's the moment of truth, and Kurapika and Hiroki battle the found member...
Being blind, Hiroki relies on constant Nen usage to 'see'. She sharpens her other senses like touch to feel vibration and hearing for long-distance. Because her Nen usage is so constant, it needs to be actively limited, or else she becomes too weak and sick (like after Kurapika uses Emperor Time). Her limitation is that she needs to pinpoint certain focuses, instead of watching everything, and she pinpoints them with her hearing.
Her hearing is highly sensative and well-trained. It is directly in tune with her Nen, and disruption throws her Nen off, severing her senses.
H×H
Kurapika was focusing on his battle against the Phantom Troupe member, but he noticed that something had become off with Hiroki. He saw her touching her ears as though trying to hear better, and he could tell that she was feeling dizzy.
"Hiroki... Are you feeling alright? You seem to be..." he asked calmly while he turned his attention to her, trying to understand what had happened.
She kneels down, hands coming up to her ears as her expression vaguely contorts in confusion and slight pain.
"What--?" She begins breathily in confusion, under her breath. Suddenly, a strangled cry tears through her throat as her knees give out. She grabs at her ears desperately.
The blindfolded girl falls to the floor in pain. Chest contorting in anxiety and limbs weak with pain. Kurapika's expression goes numb as he exclaims.
Hiroki's ears are screaming in a high-pitched sensation that blinds her senses and rips through her Nen. Her Nen spiked around her in reaction to her catatonic state, almost like it's becoming defensive.
She can't hear or see now.
Kurapika ran to her side quickly and kneeled next to her, his face turned to one of great sadness and worry.
"Hiroki... What happened? What's going on?" he asked anxiously while he tried to examine her condition.
The blind girl cried out, voice tight and breaking.
Kurapika's eyes widened at hearing Hiroki's cries, and he could feel her fear. She couldn't see, like always. But now, she couldn't hear. Her Nen was out of control.
She was lost and weak. She was scared.
Kurapika was not sure what to do. In other circumstances, he would have asked her more questions, but he did not want to put her in a more uncomfortable position now.
"Hiroki... It's going to be okay. You just need to calm down," he said softly, trying to reassure her.
She felt the vibration of his movement through the ground, and shifted sharply into a defensive position while flipping out her blade in protection toward his unidentifiable presence. Her body was compact and backing off like a blind, wounded wolf baring its teeth at the shadows.
"Hiroki... It's me, Kurapika. I'm here to help you..." he said carefully as he moved slightly to touch her shoulder.
All she felt was a hand on her shoulder, all other senses blinded.
Heart racing in fear and adrenaline, she moved expertly to flip her body and bare her knife, slashing at him blindly as she backed away, blade slicing over his hand before she ran away, stumbling and backing away fearfully.
The swift attack took him by surprise, and the blade cut over the side of his palm, though Kurapika stepped back in just enough time so her blade did not cut through his hand.
He immediately thought of the worst possibility and feared the consequences of Hiroki's actions. He quickly ran after her and tried to get in front of her to make her see him before she did anything worse.
"Hiroki! Please!" He called, to no avail. As soon as he got in front of her, he tried to stop her movements by grabbing her arms, ignoring the blood falling from his hand.
A loud cry of shock and fear sounded from the blind girl's chest as she jerked against his touch, trying to shake from his grip and elbow him defensively. Her teeth were bared.
Kurapika tried to calm her down, but she only kept trying to fight him off.
"Please... It's me! Kurapika!" he shouted while trying to hold on to her. He didn't want to hurt her to stop her, but he was running out of options.
She was crying out in fear and anguish, her body shaking in anxiety.
She was desperately trying to maneuver her blade, but Kurapika knew her well and anticipated her attacks.
He could only imagine who she thought he was to have such a fearful reaction to his restricting hold.
Kurapika felt helpless as he held on to Hiroki, who was desperately trying to escape from his grip. He knew that he had to do something quickly before things escalated even further.
His grip slowly started to tighten so that she would not be able to try to move away any longer.
She was still struggling, but her limbs were weakening and her head was splitting painfully.
Kurapika felt a little bit of relief knowing that she was starting to weaken. The loud noise ringing through her head was overwhelming and painful, blinding her senses, and she could feel her consciousness slipping.
Dread clenched her abdomen, and her heart was beating wildly.
"Hiroki…" he spoke softly while trying to keep her body still with all his strength.
Her head was nodding off in slow loss of consciousness as her elbows jerked at him unpredictably, before she finally collapsed.
Adrenaline was pumping through Kurapika's veins and his heart was pumping. He could only imagine how terribly that might've gone if he wasn't able to predict the blind girl's swift attacks so well.
As soon as he felt Hiroki collapse in his arms, Kurapika lowered her gently to the ground and then kneeled beside her. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hiroki..." he called her name softly in hopes of helping her wake up. She didn't react.
When he looked at her face, he noted how it was contorted in pain and characteristic resistance. Her body was tense and her heart was beating fast in her odd comatose state.
"Hiroki... Please wake up..." he said softly, taking a closer look at her face. He had never seen Hiroki in such a difficult position before, so he really did not know what to do next. Kurapika's expression slowly turned serious as he tried to diagnose the situation the best he could.
Finally, he decided. He needed to get them out of here. He was ready to pass up the opportunity. When it came down to it, the Phantom Troupe could wait. His friends –especially Hiroki– came first.
Kurapika stood, Hiroki in arm, as his Scarlet Eyes grew bright. He needed to get them out of here. All the information he had gathered thus far was only secondary to making sure that Hiroki would recover.
Maybe Leorio could help Hiroki? Kurapika hoped desperately he could, despite the rift between himself and his former friends. Leorio does have a medical degree...
So, ruthlessly he cut down the small swarm of faceless foes who tread in his path, eyes Scarlet as he rushed in a single-minded endeavor to reach the sanctuary of Kurapika's home, and hopefully seek Leorio's medical advice.
H×H
When Hiroki next awoke, the first thing she noticed was the feeling of a cushioned surface under her body.
She didn't know where she was. Her instincts had her reaching for a blade hidden on her person. (This blade, Kurapika had insisted to be left on her, for when she awoke, her first course of action surely would be to find comfort and assurance in her steady weapon. And –unsurprisingly, given the nature of their close relationship– Kurapika was correct.)
So, the blindfolded girl sat up, brandishing the blade in front of herself protectively, listening intently for any sign of nearby life or movement. Kurapika was sitting nearby, head down as he sat in a chair with his arms crossed, resting patiently.
He heard Hiroki awake, and looked up sharply. Kurapika slowly approached her so as not to scare her and gently tried to talk to her.
"Hiroki... It's me. It's Kurapika. We're safe. Try to calm down, okay?" he said softly while taking a small step closer to her.
Her blade did not lower, and she was still on edge.
"Kura...?" She said hesitantly, guard down briefly, before her expression hardened. "Prove it."
She presented a steady hand. A gesture only he would instinctively respond to.
Kurapika was not surprised by the request, since she was always so careful and alert. He immediately reached forward and took her hand while slowly sitting near her. He knew that this would be the only way to make her lower her defenses.
"It's me. It's Kurapika," he said calmly while holding her hand and making sure to give it a gentle squeeze in response to her gesture. "How are you feeling?"
Her body immediately relaxed in relief, recognizing his touch, and she set her blade down. It was only then he could tell just how heavy she was breathing; her hands were shaking.
Kurapika could sense the tension leaving Hiroki's body as she leaned more relaxed against him.
Her trembling hands explored his gently as he spoke, as though seeking unseen assurance or comfort. The blind Hunter was using his presence to ground herself.
"I–" she hesitated in responding. "I'm okay. ...a bit disoriented, and very shocked, but okay."
Then, her fingertips felt a bandage on his hand; unbeknownst to her, the product of her defensive attack in her catatonic state. She frowned slightly.
"How'd this happen?" The blind Hunter asked. "Usually, you're too quick for the Spiders. ...should I be informed of any new hostiles?"
Kurapika hesitated to answer.
When her hand touched the bandage, he immediately understood that she hadn't realized she had hurt him. But she was already dealing with plenty of stress and information.
"It's nothing serious," he responded softly as he put a hand on her cheek. He smiled gently. "I'm just glad that you're doing better."
Hiroki's lips pulled into a faint disbelieving frown, but she didn't question him. Instead, she found her mind calming at his soft touch on her cheek, and allowed the tension in her limbs to dissipate as she leaned into his heartwarming touch that captivated her senses.
She chuckled softly.
"Yeah, me too," she said with a faint smile. Her hand rested over his momentarily, fingertips lining the edge of the bandage in thoughtful concern. "So, what happened back there...?"
"It was nothing, just a small commotion," he responded, avoiding the question.
She frowned slightly.
"You and I both know that's not true, Kurapika," she said, using his full name in almost warning. "Come on. Don't try to sugar-coat things like that to me."
She pulled slightly away from his touch, sitting up straighter.
"I need to know what happened."
Despite his efforts, Kurapika he knew that he wouldn't be able to hide anything from her for long.
"It…" he said reluctantly as he reached for her hand. He still wanted to keep some details from her, but he would tell her about the incident at least. "First of all... we need to talk about that..." He pointed towards the bandage on his hand where she had cut him before.
The blind Nen user pursed her lips.
"Yeah, well I'm not sure what 'that' is supposed to be, but I'm assuming something important, so...?" She said with a sarcastic undertone, tapping her blindfold as a reminder of her lack of sight.
"You cut me," he replied calmly while still holding her hand. "You had fallen into a catatonic state, and you were trying to fight someone off."
He paused for a moment, remembering that moment. Hiroki's behavior at that time had been completely different from her normal self, and he still felt a little troubled by it.
Her lips parted slightly in surprise and realization.
"Ohh, that was you ...?" She said, expression melting into a small grimace. "Oh, I'm sorry ...! I had no way of knowing! It– I mean, I was literally blind, then!"
Kurapika paused for a moment, smiling at her apologetic demeanor despite himself.
"So... are you feeling better now?" he asked softly. Hiroki pulled her legs into a cross-legged position, beginning thoughtfully.
"I mean, when that noise went off, it was, like... loud. Really loud, but quiet at the same time. It was like it was inside my head. I don't know how, but... it was incredibly overwhelming. All my senses were disoriented and my head felt like it was splitting in two."
She sighed softly, tone going quieter and almost foreboding.
"Imagine being surrounded by nothing. An endless, vast nothing. Not shadow, nor light, but true lack of anything . A void. Then, imagine that void like laying down after a long, restless day, and all of your perceivable senses spinning and falling down at the same time."
"Then, the largest migraine in your head. Feeling like two crowbars jabbing into your skull and ripping it in half, with all the ease of an apple. All while a factory whistle, or a screaming tea-kettle, rams through your ears," she described in length. If not for the terrible situation, Kurapika would have fondly noted her imaginative nature. "That's what I felt. It was horrid. I couldn't think. I couldn't sense anything."
Hiroki paused.
"Kurapika, I have never known such fear. Nothing compares to the utter powerlessness I felt in that moment."
Kurapika was silent for a moment, digesting her words.
"That sounds terrifying," he said softly, slowly rubbing his fingers against hers. He did not want to see her suffer like that again.
"Could you recognize what triggered that intense response in your brain?" He asked with a tinge of curiosity, hoping to gain some insight into what caused it. Hiroki's ability to detect hostility was normally a useful skill in her job, so what caused her reaction this time?
She pursed her lips softly, shaking her head.
"All I heard was the loud, high-pitched whistle described and then it started," she said listlessly. Then, she fell silent for a moment, free hand drifting up to her blindfold absentmindedly as she faced away. "...maybe I could offer more information if I could have actually seen it..."
There was a forlorn regret in the blind girl's tone.
"Do you think seeing it would've helped you identify the source of the whistling noise?" Kurapika asked. He didn't know much about Hiroki's abilities.
"...I don't know. I hope," she said. Vulnerable, compared to the side Hiroki had expressed upon waking. Her hand held Kurapika's hand more tightly at her next sentence; her form of eye-contact. "Kurapika, I'm scared."
Seeing someone he loved with such uncharacteristic vulnerability wrenched at Kurapika's heart painfully.
"...I don't know what they could do to me if that goes off again... and..." she sighed softly, chin turning up to face Kurapika. "You don't understand, Kurapika. They can't get to me... I can't let them. I'm scared..."
"Because if the Ryodan reaches me, I will kill myself without hesitation. Game over."
He was completely caught off guard by Hiruko's words. He hadn't expected this sudden change of tone from her.
"Hiroki!" He exclaimed in surprise and concern. "What are you saying? Killing yourself is not an option!"
Kurapika tightened his grip onto her hand. He was shocked and scared. He didn't want to lose her. He wanted her to be safe and happy.
Her hands trembled as she shook her head firmly.
"No. No, I'm not doing it, Kurapika," she said insistently, voice tight. Like she would cry if she had eyes to cry with. Voice breaking. "You need to understand, Pika. I can't be around them. I won't let it happen. I won't. I'm sorry."
Her hand clutched his.
"Under no circumstances will I withstand the presence of those Spiders... if they find me, I'm ending it all. Immediately."
"Hiroki…!" Kurapika exclaimed, his tone sharp with emotion. "I won't let them get to you. I won't let them."
"I'll do anything to protect you." He said softly while squeezing her hand tightly. "I'm here for you. I won't let the Spiders hurt you."
Hiroki's mind was bitter with the irony in his words.
Her hand was shaky as she gripped his, and she pulled him into an embrace. He was surprised, but returned the gesture automatically.
Even as she held him, Hiroki's mind was resolute.
She knew. If Kurapika couldn't protect her from the Ryodan, she could forgive him. But she would never forgive them. And she would kill herself if it came to it. If she was taken captive.
She only hoped that Kurapika could forgive her, if it came down to it.
"It's okay..." he said in a whisper, carefully kneeling and hugging her back. He blinked tears away, dismissing his fear at her statement with them. His eyes looked on to the distance as he thought.
Determination filled his voice when he next spoke.
"...I won't let the Ryodan hurt you," he said, holding her firmly and closely. "I promise."
"You have to stay strong…"
Hiroki nodded assuringly.
"I will. I'll stick around, don't worry," she said comfortingly, voice quiet and gentle, before reciting her promise to him in a whisper. "'Till the end of the line, remember...?"
"That's good to hear," he replied, gently rubbing her back. "You better hold onto that promise."
She chuckled lightly, nodding as she held Kurapika close. She was still a bit shaky from her previous little outburst, but was overall calm in his arms.
She struggled for a moment to ignore a dumb, overwhelming impulse, but instead just buried her face in his enveloping and secure warmth.
Kurapika felt content and relaxed at the natural feeling of Hiroki against him. Yet, a part of him was being eaten alive.
He still couldn't believe that Hiroki had just said those words so casually. He also was now unsure of how he should proceed from this point onwards.
Eventually, Hiroki slowly parted from Kurapika.
"Thank you," she said calmly.
Kurapika let out a sigh of relief as he removed his arms from Hiroki. He was glad that she was feeling better now, but deep inside he really wished that she could've stayed like that a little longer.
"Don't mention it," he responded simply. Kurapika was still a bit concerned about Hiroki's sudden change in mood. He couldn't imagine her being ok after telling such a dire warning.
She shrugged softly, smiling jokingly.
"I won't die that quickly. You've got nothing to worry about," she smiled, yet again joking morbidly about serious matters, just as he knew her to.
Kurapika shook his head in disbelief as he sighed softly.
"Can you at least promise not to attempt to end it all?" he asked slowly and with a serious look on his face.
"Please."
Kurapika made sure to emphasize that last word while softly gripping her hands. He wasn't sure that he could be strong enough to handle the weight of Hiroki's words if she were to express them again. He didn't want to lose her.
She pursed her lips.
"Kurapika…"
Her heart was thumping stressfully. She could tell this was a tense, important moment.
"You know..." she began in a crestfallen tone, "I can't promise that... Kurapika."
"You can't?"
He immediately felt overwhelmed with a sudden surge of panic.
"No, Hiroki, please..."
He didn't know how to react to a statement like that. Kurapika was feeling desperate for a solution, but he couldn't think of anything at the moment.
She sighed softly through her nose. She could feel the panicky speed of his heart through her Nen. Her hands slid up his chest delicately, resting on either of his cheeks, palms on his jaw.
Kurapika could feel Hiroki's hands on his cheeks and he knew exactly what that meant. His heart started pounding even faster as he listened.
"Kura..." she said softly and comfortingly, trying to get his attention. "I care about you. So much. You are my reason for life. And I won't let you down. I know it. I made a promise, Kurachan. I intend to stick to it... okay?"
Then, her tone shifted slightly into a sad kind of warning. Her fear and mournfulness was evident.
"But, I'm not going to make it if I fall into the hands of the Ryodan. I know that, too. If it comes down to it, one way or another, my life will end in that awful place... so I need it to be by my own hands. For my honor and self-worth. ...and for your sake, too."
Her tone becomes low. Chilling.
"I will die if I fall there. So I won't fall there. I can't promise you that, but I know I will fight it till my dying breath. So, when I die... I know it will be with you. Even if not in person. Because I promised..."
"I promised you, Kurapika. And I won't lie to you. I never have. I keep my promises."
"And I promised... that I would be with you... 'till the end of the line. That I will fight until my dying breath... and that I will always be your friend."
He didn't know what to make of her words. He was terrified at the thought of losing her. Yet, he could tell how strong her conviction was.
"No, don't..." he began.
Kurapika tried to protest, but it was now impossible to refute her reasoning. He knew his best friend better than anyone else and he knew that she would never make an empty vow.
And so, heart burning with anger, heartbreak, and denial, he made a promise himself.
He would never let her fall into the hands of the Ryodan. Not if it meant losing her. Never.
Kurapika gave Hiroki a firm look. He was determined to protect her and to make sure that her life was not threatened again.
"I'll make sure that your life is not at risk. No matter what it takes," he swore. "If all I can do is protect you with my life, I will do that with all my energy."
Hiroki smiled sadly hearing this. She felt as though she would cry, if she had eyes to cry from.
She took Kurapika's hands and pulled him forward to her, wrapping her arms around him lovingly and mournfully.
'Till the end of the line...
Kurapika didn't know what to do other than hugging her back. He felt completely at a loss for words in this situation.
His best friend, whom he cared for more than anything else in the world, had just told him that she would take her own life if she fell into the Spider's claws. He was desperate to try to convince her otherwise, but he knew that he had to think about what it would take to achieve that goal.
He tightened his grip around Hiroki, not wanting to let her go.
H×H
But, she was bound.
Hiroki was bound to the Spiders.
Eternally, and irrevocably.
Because a Number 8 Spider tattoo is hidden underneath a terrible scarring on her right leg. Because the Head of the Spiders was once her closest friend. And because the Spiders had eradicated her clan.
Well, her and Kurapika's clan...
But, he didn't know that yet.