While cornering Nobunaga and Bonolenov with Gin, Kurapika intensified vigilance toward Chrollo, who began building aura at his vision's edge.
Either not hiding or deliberately making it obvious, Chrollo raised aura while meeting Kurapika's gaze, then looking at Uvogin, finally at Leorio before returning eyes to Kurapika.
Feeling the same terror as learning of the Kurta Clan massacre, Kurapika abandoned chain control and dashed. Chrollo's mouth moved saying "try protecting them" as he exercised the ability recorded in Skill Hunter.
The ability: extremely short-range instant teleportation.
The moment Uvogin's strongest technique—Big Bang Impact—was about to be released toward Gon, he teleported before Leorio's eyes with zero time lag.
Even Uvogin himself was surprised by the sudden development, movements slightly dulled, but having been on the verge of release, Big Bang Impact fired without issue.
Kurapika's and Leorio's positional relationship, Uvogin's slightly dulled movements—Big Bang Impact exploded on Kurapika, who barely made it in time exactly as Chrollo calculated everything.
Confirming the obviously fatally wounded pair vanished into the building, Chrollo closed Skill Hunter, certain of the Phantom Troupe's victory.
"Giiiin!!!"
"Aooooown!!!"
Against the Troupe whose movements stopped from loosened tension, Gon and Gin immediately began action through momentary communication.
When Gin released a full-power "roar," it charged straight toward Gon.
The anger-filled strike over Kurapika's and Leorio's defeat hit Gon's back—Illumi's needle—landing on the equally rage-consumed Gon and generating massive dust clouds.
Ahead where the dumbfounded Phantom Troupe stared at the sudden friendly fire, rising dust clouds were blown away by erupting furious aura.
"Eek!?"
At the end of Shizuku's involuntary small scream was Gon's back, where the needle was removed by physically blowing away the adhesion point.
Though injured, clearly—the muscle bulges sharply glared at the Phantom Troupe like a demon's face.
"Gone mad!? I'll send you after chain bastard immediately!"
Unable to see the demon's face from his position, Nobunaga sheathed his sword, activated Enwithout any carelessness, and closed on Gon to behead him the moment he entered range.
Before realizing it, inside En—an intruder stood at the diagonal rear, iaijutsu's blind spot.
"Just passing through here~"
"Gah!?"
Besides the overly humiliating situation for Nobunaga of being kicked before drawing, he understood the culprit from the electrical current sensation flowing through his body again.
"Welcome back Killua. Sorry, because of me, Kurapika and Leorio—"
"If you say that, Gin and I are equally guilty. Leave that side to Leorio and let's settle this here."
"Guma!!"
Contrary to furious aura and the demon face on his back, Killua and Gin lined up beside Gon, who stood with a near-crying expression.
"Used too much so I was late charging, but thanks to that, I'm not deadweight anymore. I'll stand beside you."
Blood flowing from his forehead, Killua's body clad in aura and electricity sparkled so brilliantly that even the just-faced Phantom Troupe doubted if he was the same person.
"Thanks, Killua. Gin, you might hate it, but could you drink? I don't want anyone else seriously injured."
"Guma."
Gin bit vigorously into the arm Gon offered.
"What are you doing!?"
At the end of shocked Killua's gaze, Gin—mouth dyed red with Gon's blood—underwent transformation.
From his mouth as if flames spread, parts of fur changed to vermillion color, while originally brown parts dyed white like burned ash.
Transformed into a figure with pure white body carved with fire pattern, Gin howled once, then crouched low growling with reason-scraped eyes.
"He dislikes it because wildness gets too strong, but this is Gin's genuinely strongest form."
"Not just you—even Gin transforms? And that's cool."
Killua—setting aside his own electrified standing hair—envied, but seeing Franklin who'd finished Shadow Beasts join Nobunaga's group, tightened his expression.
"Uvogin continues with Gon. The other three are Gin and me."
"Grrr."
"Leave it to me. I'll definitely win."
Awakened lightning kid, beast, and muscle stood blocking the Spiders.
***
Seeing Gon's group facing Uvogin's group, Chrollo felt his aching collecting habit but opened Skill Hunter again to ensure elimination.
It meant acknowledging enemies could crush them, and it crossed his mind whether Leorio should have been eliminated earlier too.
"Everyone go treat poisoned Phinks. Shizuku, prepare—"
"I'm back, Chrollo. Now, shall we go on a fun date? ♠"
Behind Chrollo about to start action, a smiling Clown crept soundlessly.
"Hisoka!?"
Taking evasive action at Pakunoda's scream-signal, Chrollo realized his miscalculation.
Contrary to Troupe members including himself presuming returned Hisoka would target Chrollo first, Hisoka's Bungee Gum bound three non-combatants: Pakunoda, Shizuku, and Kortopi.
"Come chase alone. ♠ Otherwise I'll kill them. ♪"
Bungee Gum stretched freely—though small, three people were dragged into night's darkness in an instant.
Hisoka himself glanced at Gon once, cheeks flushed, then disappeared pursuing Pakunoda's group.
"Boss! We're fine here, so chase Paku's group!"
"All Shadow Beasts are immobile. Don't worry about Phinks either."
Urged by Nobunaga and Franklin, Chrollo hesitated briefly but ultimately valued Pakunoda's group's abilities and withdrew from battlefield pursuing Hisoka.
"Good. Now we finish quickly and chase Boss too, Uvo. ...Uvo?"
Nobunaga called Uvogin after electrical numbness faded, but instead of usual noisy excitement, he glared at Gon with unprecedented stern expression.
Franklin and Bonolenov also noticed un-Uvogin-like behavior and tilted heads, but silently saw off his advance toward approaching Gon.
"Somehow weird, but won't lose. We'll overwhelm with numbers quickly."
At Franklin's words, Nobunaga and Bonolenov shelved questions temporarily, concentrating on Killua and Gin repositioning to avoid involving Gon.
The long-yet-short decisive battle rushed into final phase.
***
Leorio—blown into the building—ignored his aching body, crawling out while minimizing shaking of overlying Kurapika, confirming condition.
"...!"
Kurapika's chest was comically collapsed—any amateur could easily judge it fatal.
Rather, surprising was not only not instantly dead but slightly conscious. Though not a second could be wasted, Leorio's hands involuntarily stopped at the condition.
"—, ——"
Perhaps lungs also crushed, making no sound at all, but with unfocused eyes, Kurapika desperately moved his mouth.
Though completely unable to read lips, Leorio understood it said return quickly to support Gon's group. As one engaging in medicine, he understood triage-wise, abandoning Kurapika was correct.
"Damn it. Kurapika, sorry."
Nearly crying yet hands supporting still-mouth-moving Kurapika moved to lay him on ground.
As if Leorio's feelings transmitted, Kurapika's eyes closed with relieved expression, and aura as life energy faded while mouthing final words.
"'Love you.'"
Not heard as sound, not read through lip-reading, moreover incomprehensible being Kurta language.
Still, Leorio clearly heard those words.
Strongly gripping the hand about to release from Kurapika's life, he resolved to commit lovers' suicide with his comrade—the "woman he fell for"—heading toward death right now.
(Believing and choosing, driven to suicide and goddess's kiss. Is that it? Prophecy-me and earlier me—what stupid choices!)
Deploying En only encompassing Kurapika and himself, he activated One-Man Doctor full power.
Treating normally would absolutely not make it—then no method except betting on abnormally minuscule possibilities.
"Please work, Hurt Hurt Fly Away, Damage Convert. Push it, Leorio! If I can't save here, I can't live laughing ahead!"
What Leorio would perform was application of Hurt Hurt Fly Away, Damage Convert existing only in conception—genuinely unrehearsed, recklessly unreasonable attempt.
"Don't know if you hear, but apologizing first! If it's your first, I'll take responsibility!!"
Leorio building full aura entered extreme concentration. Closing eyes, shutting out extra information, he immersed only in exercising ability.
The deep, deep kiss exchanged in tattered bodies and tattered room tasted of bright red fresh blood's hot, bitter iron.
***
Kurapika heading toward death dreamed.
From childhood spent with Kurta Clan through nine months since meeting Gon's group—not long life, flowing until finished didn't take much time.
Noticing, in pure white space with nothing, just one person playing in about-ten-years-old figure from carefree times.
"What will Kurapika-chan do in future?"
Usually Kurapika played most with same-age friend Pairo—rare in Kurta Clan—but when playing at home, mother was invariably nearby.
"Took after me becoming tomboy, huh? Watching you makes me think the Kurta Clan terrarium is small."
Just casual daily life yet somehow remaining in memory, mother's words repeating again in revolving lantern now.
"Remember well, Kurapika. True, Kurta Clan has strong victim aspect. But we're not noble people who did no evil either."
Many things learned leaving Kurta settlement—among them, retaliation close to grudges making Kurapika think Kurta were evil.
"For better or worse, Kurta were swayed by Scarlet Eyes. I understand they have demonic charm. But there should have been more—more wonderful things."
Kurapika worriedly watched mother with subdued usual brightness, but next moment suddenly began speaking like maiden in love.
"It's almost a fairy tale even elders haven't seen, but a story Mama heard from Grandma!"
Scarlet Eyes: demonic color arising from negative emotions like sorrow and anger.
Then no reason radiance from positive emotions like joy and love couldn't surpass it.
"Even the color hasn't been passed down, but supposedly way prettier than Scarlet Eyes!"
The radiance lost from Kurta Clan—which gave up engaging with world, progressing toward gradual destruction.
"You'll surely go see the world. See many beautiful sights, meet many wonderful people. My kind, strong, adorable Kurapika-chan will surely be united with the best person."
Before knowing it, Kurapika changed to current appearance, facing memory-mother at same eye level.
"Live, Kurapika. Until your child I wanted to see, harboring Kurta's lost radiance—coming here is forbidden!"
That face smiling full of playfulness has no pupils, but surely reclaim them, vowing anew in heart.
"Leorio-kun's also trying hard but it's tough. Hurry wake up and help!!"
Receiving full-power slap on cheek for some reason, burned into eyes were waving mother and watching Kurta Clan everyone with fading consciousness.
"—!?"
Consciousness awakened by tremendous pain assaulting chest, Kurapika's widened eyes saw close-up of eyes-closed Leorio spreading, freezing several seconds from pain and confusion.
(Hurts, can't move, Leorio's close, something in mouth, hurts, ...!?)
Understanding the situation somewhat, Kurapika tried moving from haste and embarrassment, but questions arose at the body not moving like lies despite pain, and Leorio not budging.
(Definitely fatal wound. Not just crushed ribs and lungs—heart should have ruptured. What? Not just sensation around there, existence itself feels hazy.)
Above all, visible range—inside Leorio's One-Man Doctor—filled with pitch-black aura obviously recognizable as bad.
That aura generated from Kurapika, and Leorio appeared to inhale and purify it.
(Treatment ongoing. Leorio's new ability? Still, what's this black aura? Feels impatience about to explode.)
Kurapika somehow conjured Link Chain that had shattered and vanished, wrapping Inspire Chainaround Leorio's hand.
(Not returning to support Gon's group but treating me—can only pray this isn't wrong choice. ...? ...!?)
Idle from immobility, when Kurapika confirmed surroundings with chains, he noticed Leorio's chest also vanished besides his own.
Moreover, as if Leorio himself received tremendous damage, blood not Kurapika's invaded his mouth.
(What's this!? Why is Leorio injured!?)
This situation Kurapika couldn't understand resulted from Leorio's Damage Convert application.
Originally ability storing impact in objects and releasing for ranged attacks, but Leorio considered methods using it for treatment in conception.
Treatment converting received wounds to aura and releasing, maintaining life with One-Man Doctor.
Even if the person couldn't understand principles, Nen activates if feelings are strong—Leorio's once-in-lifetime grand gamble focusing on that, successfully activating in exchange for corresponding risks.
The binding: damage sharing, and if failed, released wounds rain on both multiplied.
Moreover this time, because Kurapika's state was too dangerous, Leorio took on more wounds during damage sharing.
Leorio now—while bearing wounds beyond damage leaving Kurapika unable to move a finger—continued treatment without breaking concentration.
In Kurapika's mind, blowing away anger and sadness, emotions of joy and happiness exploded.
Still vague but attracted Leorio literally betting his life trying to save him.
The sensation of mutual auras entangling as if becoming one held addictive properties hard to release like drugs for Kurapika who'd lived lonely.
(Caught between past Uvogin and present Leorio, someone besides me makes my choices. I see—Leorio's and my prophecies paired. Leorio believed in Gon's group, chose saving me!)
Thought dying was fine after accomplishing revenge, even when receiving fatal wound gave up early—but the meddlesome, frivolous, supremely cool man wouldn't release hands.
(Want to live! Memorial service for Mom's and others' eyes, want to be with Gon, Killua, Gin, and Leorio more!!)
From intense emotions, tears overflowed from eyes returned to original color, dramatically changing their hue.
Different from fierce scarlet—vividly shining crimson-purple.
That deep pink eyes included in one primary color, and aura overflowed from Kurapika's body depths.
(Don't want to die, don't want to let die! Now prophecy changed, I'll grasp future with these hands!)
Inspire Chain's tip wrapped around Leorio changed from arrow to heart, enhancement rate dramatically increasing incomparably to before.
(Answer this feeling of mine—Empress Time!!)
The Kurta Clan's lost eyes awakened again in Yorknew City.
***
Author's Note:
Supplementary explanation about the "Crimson-Purple Eyes" that caused Kurapika-chan transformation.
If Scarlet Eyes manifest when emotions like anger intensify, the Crimson-Purple Eyes were born from the author's wish for eyes manifesting from emotions like joy.
Since positive emotions reaching climax at death's threshold is nearly impossible, preservation after death was impossible. Because of Kurta Clan's fairly tragic past and present with no manifesters for long, it was only passed down as legend.
I fantasize the radiance only those awakened to true love can produce is surely more beautiful than Scarlet Eyes.
Can't abandon love, right?
***
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