Hisoka was the bane of your existence.
To his credit, he wasn't trying to fight you or kidnap you, but you didn't appreciate being followed around by your least favorite person in the world. "Don't you have better things to do? Younger children to stalk? Balloons to hand out?"
Despite your ranting, Hisoka seemed amused by your annoyance, easily keeping in step. "I already told you I'm not going to do anything to you, [N/n]," he promised. The predatory gleam in his eyes, and the way he smiled, though, made you wonder otherwise. Hisoka was not to be trusted, and you weren't stupid enough to believe anything he said.
Huffing, you had sent a text to Kurapika to let him know you were being stalked by Bozo the Clown. Hisoka had definitely noticed it, you weren't discreet about it, but he said nothing. Eventually, Kurapika had texted back only to tell you that Hisoka wasn't going to try anything and he was involved in the meeting.
Great. You were getting whiplash from Hisoka constantly changing sides.
"I hope you know I hate you."
Hisoka merely smiled and shrugged, continuing to walk. "I know~."
God, you hated your life.
"Freecss?"
You and Hisoka turned around at the same time, meeting heterochromatic eyes. Instantly, those eyes widened in recognition of Hisoka, and before anything could happen you jumped forward, right in front of Shouto.
"Nonono, he's not bad right now! We're going to meet up with Kurapika and Hawks!" Unsurprisingly, Shouto looked unconvinced. Considering his last encounter with Hisoka had been right after the fight with Stain and had almost ended in your kidnapping, you didn't really blame him. "Anyways, what are you doing out? Why aren't you at the mall?"
Shouto's eyes flickered back and forth from you to Hisoka, conflicted. ". . . I didn't go. I went to visit my mom instead, and now I'm going to get soba."
"A-ah...."
This felt very awkward, and unsure of what else to do, you gave Shouto a strained smile. "Um, do you want to come with us?"
. . .
For a moment, all three of you were silent, and Shouto slightly shuffled to the side before nodding curtly. "If only to make sure he doesn't try anything." It was cute to think that you and Shouto together could hold up against Hisoka, but you figured the teen could do without the blow to his ego. Instead, you relaxed, grabbing his hand to tug him forward and missing the blush that scattered across his face.
"Your quirk... You can control both fire and ice?"
"Hisoka, shut the fuck up."
About a ten minute walk later, you were standing in the lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel - Kurapika had texted you a room number to go up to - why did he get a hotel room? It made no sense. The secrecy was making you feel somewhat anxious, and as if Hisoka could sense that nervousness, his grin grew wider. He hadn't said anything, but you couldn't help but tell him to shut up again, looking over at Shouto.
"Hawks and Kurapika are up there, so we'll be fine." You weren't sure if you said that to reassure yourself or your friend more.
Taking the elevator up, soon the three of you were standing outside of an unassuming hotel room door, and after double-checking your phone to make sure you were at the right room, you knocked twice.
After a quick moment, the door creaked open, the familiar face of Kurapika taking you all in before opening the door wider. From the back, you heard Hawks call out to Shouto, but none of it mattered as you locked eyes with somebody you hadn't seen in months. He still looked the same, as bright and cheerful as ever, and you felt your eyes tear up.
Shoving past Kurapika, you burst forward, tears already springing free as you engulfed the younger teen into a bone crushing hug.
"Gon!!!"
The teen hugged you back and laughed, and you couldn't help but bury your face into his spiky hair, sobbing. "Gon... You're here! Oh my god, you're here!"
"What are we, chopped liver?"
Pulling back from Gon, you furiously wiped at your eyes, looking over to see two more familiar faces. Leorio Paladiknight and Killua Zoldyck. Looking around, you started to laugh in disbelief, trying to wipe away all of the tears.
"The band's back together."
Killua made a noise of confusion. "It's nice to see you're still weird."
Before you could retort, Gon got your attention, his eyes narrowing in on your neck. "[Y/n], are you bleeding?" Leorio immediately swooped in, and before you could protest, he was tilting your head back in an almost motherly way, yanking down your collar.
"Hey!"
For a moment it was silent, and you saw both Killua's and Leorio's faces turn red. The others started to come over and you pulled yourself away, feeling flustered yourself as you tugged your shirt collar up.
Gon, ever the tactless person, did not stay quiet. "Did somebody bite you?"
Kurapika, who hadn't seen the hickey, choked on what was probably his own saliva, and you felt your face redden even more. You loved Gon but god, this was the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to you.
"Who--"
Cutting Leorio off, you clapped your hands, unable to hide your beet red face. "ANYWAYS, now that we're all together, let's get this meeting, um, started!"
You received a foul look from Kurapika which let you know that this conversation was far from over, but for now you ignored it.
Everybody fell quiet, as if nobody was sure of where to start. Sitting on the hotel bed, Hisoka sighed, spreading out his hands in front of him and giving an over-dramatic sigh. "I suppose I'll start," he said, golden eyes eyeing everybody in the room. You didn't like the way his gaze lingered on Gon, and you subconsciously stood in front of the teen to shield him. Hisoka smirked.
"Chrollo's nen has been removed," he stated. This wasn't news to you, Kurapika, Hawks, or Shouto, but your other trio of friends reacted differently. Killua pursed his lips and looked back at Kurapika, a silent 'I told you so' being told loud and clear. Hisoka continued, ignoring Leorio's loud outburst of "WHAT?!". "Furthermore, Illumi is now in this world~."
"Tell us something we don't know," you grumbled in irritation, crossing your arms. Hisoka's eyes narrowed in contemplation.
"The last nen user... His name is Pariston Hill."
Crickets. It wasn't a name you recognized, and nobody else seemed to recognize it either. Damn, this meant you all were facing a new foe, and you weren't sure about how you felt about it, especially if he was as strong as Hisoka, Chrollo, or Illumi.
Next to speak was a very skeptical Kurapika, although he was quickly putting things together. "I'm assuming this Pariston removed Chrollo's judgement chain," he said, crossing his arms. Hisoka said nothing, but the twinkle in his eyes seemed to say that Kurapika was on track. "Pariston must be the one who wants [Y/n], and I'm assuming his stipulation in restoring Chrollo's nen was for you to bring her back. Correct?"
Hisoka hummed lowly, his aura starting to seep out, and it took all you had to not shiver. Shouto stepped up right beside you, and you sought out his hand immediately to hold.
Clearly getting everything right, Kurapika continued. "You're here because you're no longer interested in helping the League of Villains - your goal was to get Chrollo's nen back, and now that it is..."
"I plan on fighting him."
You huffed, scrunching up your nose. "Is it too much to hope that you both kill each other at the same time?"
Glancing over at you, Hisoka didn't retort, instead carrying on as if you hadn't spoken up at all. "I have no interest in being in this world anymore. Once my end of the deal is met, I'll be returning to our own world."
Hawks frowned. "Your end?"
"I made a promise that I intend to fulfill. I'm just here as a warning," he said, standing up languidly from the bed. "The League is planning on making a move soon. Pariston intends on capturing [N/n]."
Beside you, Shouto stiffened up, the two of you exchanging weary glances.
"None of us have met Pariston - what does he look like? How do we look out for him?"
Leorio vigorously nodded in agreement. "Yeah, yeah! What if we've already seen him?!"
Tilting his head, Hisoka thought for a moment. "He's blond, and a proficient nen user," he started, face neutral. "And he has a tendency to wear the most obnoxious suits."
"That's rich, coming from you," Killua grumbled, but you barely acknowledged the witty comment, too busy realizing in horror who Pariston Hill may be.
"This... Pariston. Are his eyes brown, kind of soulless looking?"
Hisoka regarded you fully, and you didn't appreciated the way he looked at you. "You know him."
Gulping, you could feel yourself grow a bit lightheaded. "No... Well, yes, but not by name. I never knew his name. . ."
A hand steadied itself on your shoulder. While Shouto held your left hand, Kurapika was on your other side, looking at you in concern. You felt nauseous and sick, cold and clammy. Were you going to faint, or throw up? You weren't sure, but everything seemed to have come into clarity finally. You all had your missing piece, and things seem to have gotten a whole lot more complicated.
"Who is he?" Gon asked, brown eyes worried.
You closed your eyes and took a deep breath to steady yourself, bracing yourself for the words that were going to leave your lips.
"That rat... Pariston... He's the one who taught me nen."
"EHHH?!"
Gon and Killua had similar outbursts, exchanging looks. Those two had heard your horror stories of that man and your brutal nen training. Leorio had heard similar, although not as many, and seemed just as confused.
"Why would he want to kidnap [Y/n], though? If you two know each other, it seems like it'd be a lot easier to just seek you out."
You shook your head. "No... You don't know him like I do," you started, seeming to be dazed, [e/c] eyes not focusing on one thing. "He's a conniving bastard - he always has some sneaky plan up his sleeves, and only cares about his own entertainment. I consider him worse than Hisoka in that regard," you admitted, finally looking over at Hisoka. His face seemed more serious, eyes not leaving you. "Hisoka doesn't pretend. If he wants something, he doesn't hide it, and despite being a total fucking freak... In a way, you're a bit predictable." Oh, Hisoka did not like that comment, his lips twitching downwards.
"Pariston, on the other hand, is a two-faced, snakelike piece of shit person that will play you like a fiddle. You won't know until it's much too late. I'd deal with Hisoka any day over Pariston."
"Worse than Hisoka, huh . . . ?" Leorio looked perturbed, and you couldn't blame him.
Pulling away from both Shouto and Kurapika, you walked towards the window, expression solemn. ". . . If I had known that it was Pariston who was here . . . I would have been much more careful. Him being here changes everything. He tricked me with my own nen ability, and probably knows me better than anybody."
Your voice was barely a whisper, and nobody responded to your comment. The atmosphere in the room had grown somber, everybody letting this weigh on their thoughts. Kurapika finally broke the silence, thoughtful on your words of Pariston.
"If he's really as sneaky as you say, then why remove Chrollo's nen now? Why not wait for [Y/n]?"
Nobody, not even Hisoka, seemed to know the answer, and finally you came to the only conclusion, your voice contemplative and slow. "Something changed. Whether it is on their side or ours, Pariston must have deemed it too risky to keep Chrollo's nen subdued. Whatever they are planning, they probably need him now."
That was not a pleasant thought, but there didn't seem to be anymore ideas.
Deciding he had had enough of this conversation, Hisoka had started towards the door, and at the same time, Hawks stood up, red wings fanning out.
"I can't let you leave," he started, his own eyes narrowed in on Hisoka. "You're still a villain in this world, meaning I'm going to have to take you in."
At Hawks' challenge, Hisoka's bloodlust heightened, seeming to engulf and smother the entire room. Your chest tightened, a bead of sweat rolling down your face as you whipped around, your expression still, waiting for Hisoka to attack. He didn't.
Nobody was unaffected as Hisoka went to the door, not sparing anybody a second glance. As soon as he touched the door handle, the aura disappeared, and Hisoka gave you all a wanton smile. "I'll keep in touch. Bye bye~."
When he finally left the room, you let out a long sigh, leaning against the cool glass of the window. "Please," you croaked, voice nearly breathless. "Never antagonize Hisoka again. I'm too young and pretty to die."
Your comment broke the tension as Killua snorted, eyebrows knit together in confusion. "You? Young and pretty? You're almost as much of an old hag as Bisky!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY, BRAT?!"
Gon butt in before you and Killua could go at it, raising his hand up. "Hey, [Y/n]-nee-chan, you have to tell us everything that's happened since you've been here!"
Your smile softened, [e/c] eyes flickering to everybody in the room. That's right... It had been ages since you all had been together like this, and you couldn't believe how much had changed. Where did you even start in telling Gon what all had happened since you first got here? U.A., the attack on USJ, the nomu, the Sport's Festival and your fight with Stain, your nen abilities... There was so much to catch up on that it made your heart clench painfully.
"E-eh?! Are you tearing up again?!"
You wiped at your eyes and pulled Gon into another tight hug, squeezing your eyes shut. "I've missed you so much," you admitted. "I was so worried! You're the only family I have, and to be separated from you for so long..."
Gon laughed sheepishly, hugging you back. "We're together again, and now we can take down the villains here together."
Pulling away slightly, you gave the teen you considered a younger brother a fond smile. "Yeah. This world is pretty different from our old one, though."
Looking back at Kurapika, your eyes drifted up towards the ceiling in thought. "Kurapika... Do you think Aizawa would be alright with us all reconvening at his apartment? We have a lot to catch up on."
Kurapika sighed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he had shrugged and started to call up Aizawa, turning away from you all.
"Wait . . . Aizawa-sensei?"
Oh, yeah. You totally forgot that Shouto didn't know about your psuedo-adoption by your teacher, and pulling away fully from Gon, you laughed, rubbing the back of your neck.
"Ahaha... It's a long story, Shouto. A very long story."