'Dull and Empty'
【ＫＵＲＡＰＩＫＡ】
Kurapika wandered aimlessly around the forest searching for his target, his friends, and his enemies.
He did this for about 30 minutes before finding Leorio talking to Tonpa. The blonde hid behind a tree and eavesdropped on their secret conversation. Kurapika could hear only a small sum of words but the rest were gibberish.
Having nothing to gain from eavesdropping on something he couldn't hear Kurapika considered escaping but it was too risky and he could be easily spotted with his blue covers.
He stood there a bit longer contemplating an escape plan before hearing leaves rustle an shouting. Kurapika noticed the chubby man running towards him and stuck out his foot.
Thud.
Leorio momentarily caught up and breathed a thank you sigh to the blonde savior. Kurapika gave a small smile in reply before calmly taking his target's tag.
Later both boys tied Tonpa to a stake and put a sign in front of him reading 'Do not feed'.
〜
After grabbing Tonpa's tag Kurapika walked on his own for a bit observing.
While wondering he found Erika on a branch with her hair in a bun. Kurapika gasped and started stuttering, his eyes widened into large circles.
He looked distraught and confused standing there rigid. A moment later the purplette turned to look his way.
Her eyes were void of emotion till she laid them upon the tense blonde. Seeing his expression Erika touched the back of her neck and her mouth began opening into a large 'o'.
Once Kurapika gained part of his composure he ran like hell away. Silvery tears waiting to drop appeared in the corners of his eyes.
Meanwhile...
【ＥＲＩＫＡ】
Erika sat on the top of the branch frozen. Her eyes strained to see beyond the lush forest leaves and her arm still reached out to her beloved Kurapika.
Finally realizing the situation her hand involuntarily covered her mouth as wails and sad noises erupted. Tears streamed down her violet eyes and dropped onto her black leggings.
She hastily untied her bun so her hair draped onto her nape covering the curse-ed arachne tattoo.
Her sustaining taboo had finally broken and Erika realized it was meant to be this way.
Karma slapped her right in the face for all she had done and took away her most precious desire.
Her Forbidden Desires.
〜
The tears continued constantly flowing as the purple haired teen curled into a ball and clutched her aching heart.
It was over.. Her life would repeat as it was before the exam and she'd live regretting her feelings forever.
This continued for a what felt like an eternity before Erika heard the echoing bush rustle with movement.
She didn't care if they took her tag or murdered her at that instant all she felt was grief at the moment.
"Erika-san..?"
Gon's voice rippled through her head increasing the rapid rivers of salty liquid and loud wails of distraught.
"H-he knows..."
She said through her desperate wails.
The boy nodded before kneeling to her current height and wrapping his arms around her figure in a warm embrace.
A gasp left Erika's mouth before her wails became muffled on the green haired boy's shoulder and warm purple flames encasing her crying self with Gon beside her.
In that moment a new form of friendship sprouted nourished by the care and raw feeling the two felt in that moment, whether is sadness, pity, or safety, the two grew closer together.
---
An hour before the 4th Phase ended Erika wiped all her tears away, thanked Gon for his companionship, then rid the irksome emotion that still loitered about.
The two walked silently side by side to the meeting place where the boat was docked and, hopefully, participants lurked.
When the trees gave way to the sandy shoreline Erika averted her gaze to the brown-barked trees beside her. She could feel a certain pair of eyes watching her intently but she willed herself to look away, for her sake and his.
---
Time quickly decreased as few people were left in the Exam and once the time stopped only a handful of participants remained.
To be exact the dastardly Hisoka and ticking Illumi remained as well as Bald Ninja, Robin Hood, old samurai, Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika.
The tiny amount that remains got onto the boat and readied themselves for the final phase they would soon be faced with in the day to come.
---
After they hopped off the speed boat a blimp much like the one Chairman Netero used awaited these few participants and they soon were on another vehicle.
The people were allowed to wander, sleep, or eat as they please during the day's worth of time flight, most though using the time to catch a good night's rest.
Erika sat on one of the many cushioned chairs that were accompanied by a medium sized window that looked out on the world alone.
Audible footsteps echoed through the narrow passage way and continued to get closer as the seconds ticked away.
Turning her miserable head Erika found surprisingly Leorio watching her with pity. It frustrated the girl that they felt bad for her or sympathized her at all. The concern was as foreign to her as the American language.
"You know sympathizing me only makes me more depressed, right?"
Leorio sweat dropped then took a seat beside the pretty 16-year-old.
"Are you really a.... Spider?"
Erika nodded her head grimly and looked away too ashamed to face her companion.
"I-I guess.. I accept you... Killua and Gon do too.... J-just give him some time, okay? He's been thinking a bit too much lately... Just... Give it some time.."
The awkward chat was put to an end as Leorio then walked back in the direction of which he came from leaving a heavily thinking Phantom Troupe member.
Time.. If only I had it. After this I have to return to the troupe.. I wish I could go with them... Wait....
---
Thanks for waiting for this chapter to come out! Sorry that it off schedule but now I do have one. This book will be updated every Monday and maybe even sooner!
I hope you enjoyed reading this and please check out my latest book of Assassination Classroom One-Shots!
Until next time, bye!
~Erinna