Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hisoka! Your goddamn phone!” Machi called out, aggravated by the repetitive pop song blasting from his phone. It was the third time it had rung while he was in the shower, and he still wasn’t out. He had invited her, but she had gotten up early, hair combed and dressed. For the first time in a long while, she had a meeting to attend.

The demise of the troupe had left Machi boundless. She never had so much deep sleep in her life, to the point she began waking up before the sun rose and sleeping at a reasonable time. Most nights. Her morning routine grew more and more intricate, her skin glowing from a new skincare routine she picked up. Lots of time on her hands allowed her to pick up new habits like that. She even got a manicure every two weeks now. Though, that only happened because Hisoka wanted company during his appointments. The first few months she spent alone with Hisoka, they explored the city and Padokea as tourists. They moved out of Heavens arena and into a separate apartment downtown, following the eventual discovery of the spider's death, deciding to go on little adventures. While she had time to herself often between heists and missions, she had an impartial eye to the world around her. With a new eye she explored restaurants, parks, bars, and nooks with him that they had walked past and left unnoticed. 

And for a while, it was bliss. She could focus on herself in a way that didn't involve the troupe. Her training needs adapted from killing and hauling large items to flexibility and the tone of her muscle. Hisoka really liked that. She paid more attention to the world around her. The beauty of the community that lies in a city, the tranquility of small towns she and Hisoka stayed in. She discovered she loved dahlias and peonies in fresh bouquets, the morning chill, and chai with lavender. Simpler things.

She also got to know Hisoka. She had known his body like the back of her hand, but his mind was still a mystery. Living with him meant noticing the smaller habits– For instance, he talked politely to objects around him. He was an artist and doodled everywhere. Interestingly, he ate the skins of oranges and bananas. She hasn’t asked him about that one yet. He also played the piano decently. When he was bored, he watched reality shows and horror movies, masturbated, or read books or manga. He used his nen for conventional things, like grabbing his phone from the bed, or tugging her sleeve from across the room. He left little pieces of himself for Machi to pick up, but she’ll admit she still didn’t know much.  

She felt free in her new life. Too free. Soon enough, she got bored from it all. The food got repetitive and the parks all contained the same trees over and over. She never cared too much about her looks, and Hisoka loved the state of her body even when she had been at the worst point in her life, so there was no point in training. Anyone would be bored if their life was full of chaos and adrenaline that abruptly came to a halt. She missed the adventure, the chase, the rush. Machi even started to understand why Hisoka constantly sought out battles. Though she wasn’t sure if she wanted to relate to Hisoka’s murderous tendencies.

 One day, Hisoka had mentioned a story about taking an exam, and she perked up intently. He never talked about himself, even after almost a year of being together. She didn’t want to pry, knowing him and how he skillfully dodged and lied topics he wasn't interested in, there would be no point. Still… she was curious. 

“I didn't know you went to school,” she said, leaning forward ever so slightly. 

“I’m not talking about a school exam. I took the Hunter exam two years ago,” He responded, indifferent. She was disappointed it wasn’t a story from his origin, though Machi was still shocked. 

How could I not know he was a hunter? She thought, not fully believing him. As if he read her thoughts, a card slid on the table towards her, and she stopped it with her hand. Sure enough, it was a Hunter’s license, his avant-garde signature at the bottom confirming it was his. She scanned it discreetly, reading the small print.

He’s twenty nine, blood type B, and… Two hundred pounds? It vanished from her hands before she could read the rest. 

“I had fun, but it took a while to complete. The fights were mediocre at best. Meeting people along the way is what made it fun,” He said with a small smile, spinning the card around between his fingers.

“That’s unlike you. You hate meeting new people.”

“Well… They’re special.” He sat for a moment in silence, clearly debating whether or not to continue. Of course he did anyway. 

“Maybe you could meet a few people.” 

And while he did get slapped for saying that, he was right. She was lonely, and had no goals in life. Hisoka supported her, so she had no reason to get a job, nor did she really want to. Taking care of old people as a nurse seemed like hell. Just being Hisoka’s ‘nurse’ was its own private hell, even if she was good at it. 

And so, she began her research, locating the time and date of the Hunter exam. Hunters had freedoms and opportunities normal citizens didn’t, and passing the exam gave her something small to look forward to. It would be easier too, if Hisoka ever decided to take up a Hunters mission if she was also a Hunter.

Maybe she could take up her own missions, too.

 With the Hunter exam inching closer and closer, she needed to prepare. That entailed a government license, which entailed a birth certificate and a social security and a whole bunch of more bullshit that she didn't have and will never have by legal means. Hisoka set her up with a forger, the meeting she had to leave for soon.

But this insistent caller was still blowing up Hisoka’s phone.

She snatched the phone from the kitchen counter. Her finger almost clicked the silence button before she read the caller ID. 

…Who the hell is Leorio? She thought to herself.

Hisoka clearly hadn’t heard her or the phone, and despite knowing she shouldn’t, she answered and held the phone to her ear. 

“Hey, idiot, if you’re gonna make it impossible to track you at least pick up the damn phone once in a while, eh?” This guy sounded mad, Machi wasn’t shocked about that. Someone’s always mad at Hisoka. Usually it’s her.

“Who is this?” She asked, listening closely to the background noise of the call. Leorio huffed in confusion at the sound of a woman. 

“Wha- Who the hell is this?” 

“I asked first. If you want to talk to Hisoka, tell me how you know him.”

“I’m not telling you bull before you tell me who this is,” The man replied, his enraged tone just barely covering the whispers of two others in the room.

“Then I guess this conversation is over.” She waited a few moments, then a dropped line. Probably some guy Hisoka had fought and was looking for a rematch, she figured… Yet, why would Hisoka save his contact?

Suddenly, arms snaked up her waist from behind, a freshly showered Hisoka pressing up against her. She hadn’t heard the shower turn off while she was on the phone, catching her by surprise.. Thankfully he had the dignity to keep his towel on.

“Who was it?” He asked, mindlessly, hands wandering up her back. 

“Oh, it was just spam. They were asking for a blood donation… You donate blood?” She asks, turning around to face him.

“Well, usually I’m the one who needs it.” He lightly pushes her hand down on the counter, forcing her to drop the phone. He takes her hand and kisses her finger tips, guiding them along his neck and into his wet hair. He peppers small kisses on her collar, and despite the flutter that blooms in her core, Machi pushes him away with a small huff. 

“Hisoka…I have to go. The forger won’t wait long for me.” He let out a soft exhale, hands resting beside her hips on the counter. She was right. Spending the last year with her made it easier to hold back now that he realized he had all the time in the world to please her. And to have her please him. Machi was grateful for that realization he came to. More time spent actually talking to him rather than hearing him moan in her ear. As much as she enjoyed it.

He stepped to the side, adjusting his towel. 

“On the way back… Mind picking up some dye for me?” She was used to this routine and simply nodded as she grabbed her bag.

“What color this time? Blue? Pink?”

“Blonde.” She raised her brows, mildly shocked. She had come to notice that was his natural color, though not from the set of hair on his head. She’d never seen his hair naturally before.

“Sure. Going back to your natural roots? You’ll need a color remover for that.”

“You’re the hair dresser. I’m just the one with great hair,” He said as he ran his fingers through wet hair, the red color shining in the sunlight. She already mourned the loss of his red hair. It looked nice with his eyes.

“Whatever,” She sighed as she kissed him goodbye. She thought back to the phone call briefly, the angry caller named Leorio, and decided to forget about it. Hisoka could fight his own battles with people who didn’t like him. Though in the back of her mind, the thought of who Leorio was and what he knew about Hisoka that she didn't lingers.

-

Killua snatched the phone from Leorio, slamming the decline button.

“That was a spider. I remember her,” Killua said, looking at Hisoka’s contact. Gon, Leorio, and him sat in Gon’s hotel room. Kurapika had been missing for a few months, completely MIA from anyone who ever knew him. Leorio called the two boys a few weeks ago, breaking down at how worried he was Kurapika died. Killua, knowing Kurapika’s tendencies of straying off on his own, did not fully understand his desperation but offered to help find him anyway. Gon joined at the last minute after he bribed his aunt with enrolling himself in summer school.

“So they didn’t all die, huh? I would’ve suspected Hisoka would kill them all…” Gon added thoughtfully.

“Asshole… I could’ve gotten more information!” Leorio snarled at Killua, crossing his arms.

“Yeah? And told her what? ‘We can’t find Kurapika, the guy who killed your friends? And by the way, aren’t you guys supposed to be dead?’” 

“Maybe none of them are dead,” Gon thought out loud, trying to break their animosity. 

“No spider activity for a year… it doesn't check out. They have to be dead, or at least, disbanded,” Killua said.

“Let’s say they did disband. Why would a spider answer Hisoka’s phone calls? Are you sure that was a spider?” Leorio asked.

“Yeah… Pretty sure. The one with the pink hair that trapped me with her abs. I was pressed against her for so long I recognized her voice,” Killua said, suddenly feeling a chill from the memory.

“If the troupe disbanded, why would she have his phone? Even if she stole his phone or something, why would she choose just now to answer? I’ve called him multiple times over the past year, no answer,” Leorio questioned.

“Maybe she's looking for revenge and only recently stole his phone,” Killua responded.

“Why would Hisoka ignore you before that?” Gon mumbled, frowning slightly. It didn't make any sense. He thought they all had at least a little bit of friendship with Hisoka, after everything. 

“Honestly… Who knows. Don’t take it personally Gon, you can never tell with that guy.” Killua said with a thoughtful look.

“Hold on… Let's circle back. The rest of the troupe is definitely dead. They’re not the type to just disband because they can’t handle the heat. They were the heat,” Leorio added.

“So Hisoka killed them?” Gon asked.

“Well, most. If not him, someone.” 

Gon huffed frustratedly, leaning back in his seat. They had gotten no leads on Kurapika, it was starting to worry him. Surely Kurapika would’ve said something if anything happened. He had to. 

Leorio felt similarly, more frustrated with the fact Hisoka was nowhere to be found. That bastard surely knew something, and was avoiding them. Not to mention the woman who answered the call, who definitely knew everything. 

“Do you guys remember anything else about the woman who answered?” Leorio asked, breaking the silence. The two boys shook their heads.

“Other than her nen having something to do with strings… No.”

“Kinda like spiderman,” Gon added absentmindedly. The two boys stared at him momentarily, but didn’t press. 

“Whoever she is,” Leorio continued, “She’s alive and she knows something. We need to find her. Remember those fake corpses they staged when they faked their death? Maybe we can find their names online.” Gon perked up at that, before Killua rebutted. 

“Just because their bodies were found doesn’t mean they were identified by name.” 

“Ughhh…” Gon huffed, rubbing his face. It seemed like this conversation kept hitting dead ends. “What if Hisoka's dead too…?” 

“Why would a spider care about Hisoka’s connections if he was already dead?” Killua asked, a bit annoyed. “We’re never getting anywhere.” 

Suddenly, Killua looked up from his cloud of funk.

“Hey… It’s possible a spider could have visited his place at Heavens Arena. Maybe we can check some kind of guest list to find names?”

“And if they’re fake?” Leorio added, not fully buying into the idea.

“It’s worth a shot,” Gon said, fist on the table. He was determined to find Kurapika, no matter what. Even if it was a shot in the dark. 

After the past few months, nenless and at home, Gon needed something exciting, and it was obvious to Killua. He only hoped his enthusiasm was not purely selfish, but out of some desire to locate Kurapika. After losing his nen, he didn’t really know how to handle that side of Gon anymore. He stood up with a sigh, grabbing his sweater. 

“Alluka and Nanika are at school. I have to pick them up soon. I don’t think I can leave her for over a week with a nanny without her missing me. So if we’re going to Heavens Arena, it has to be quick.” Gon stood up with Killua, facing him as he began to leave. 

“Can I come with…?” He asks, suddenly sheepish that he had to ask in the first place. 

“...Sorry. They get jealous,” Killua said, closing the door behind him.

Gon sat back in his seat, looking at Leorio with a resigned look.

Chapter Text

Machi’s mourning for her fellow spiders was never ending. For the most part, she had gotten over it considerably well. Their past actions resurfaced and she realized how bad she had it, how her abilities were taken advantage of just because she needed to be around her family. She found some enjoyment in stealing– The jewels were pretty, the artifacts shiny, but she couldn’t tell you half of the things she had ever stolen. Her fellow members weren’t even all that great to each other. There was often some tension in the room because two others had been bickering and everyone silently picked a side before Chrollo called them out. Meetings were tedious near the end.

It didn’t hit her till months later that despite the way things ended, she still lost her family.

They stole, originally, because there was no other way to survive. They stole because it was all they ever knew. They were good at it. She was proud to be in a band of like-minded kids who looked after each other. But if she had told herself back then who they’d become, her younger self wouldn't believe it. Not only because of how they were able to grow incredibly strong, but because of how they became the greedy creatures they swore to wreak havoc on.

She kept telling herself it was for the better. She was still human. Yet she spent her nights awake, their loud voices echoing in her mind, calling her name, fighting amongst each other. She had dreams, dreams that were sometimes too real that she’d wake up next to Hisoka and remember everything and it would hit her all over again.

Hisoka noticed. She was normally in a funk, but some days her mood would be so bad just a simple look from him would set her off completely.

“It’s all your fault, you know… That whole mess would have never happened if you just never showed up!” She’d scream, for minutes on end. She’d then lock herself in the bedroom after yelling, and after an hour, she’d come back out and kiss him like nothing ever happened.

He had no doubts in his mind that she loved him. But on those days she’d get caught up in the past he couldn't help but realize how weak minded she could be. He knew he couldn’t blame her, while the troupe was practically her family, it was also her entire life. He wished she could see how much more she could do- Yet he often felt like he was babysitting a tantrum prone child. He didn't want to think that way about someone he admitted he loved, but old habits die hard.

He looks at himself in the mirror, his freshly dyed hair gleaming gold under the light. The absence of Machi, who had been taking the Hunter Exam for a week now, left him alone for the first time since the spider had fallen. Everything about his life had changed as it began to revolve around her. But he hadn’t. His usual thirst for freedom now conflicted with the woman he slept with every night. He loved her, yet he was losing who he thought he was, his old ways of thinking coming back to him. He knew something had to change between them. He knew that she knew, too.

But was he truly capable of change?

-

The three boys met at the base of Heavens Arena to begin their search. They had attempted to call his room, but no matter how many times and when, they never got through. His prolonging periodic fights meant someone in the building definitely saw him, and someone had to know something.

The girl at the front desk, specifically.

Gon approached her first, since it was publicly known that he and Hisoka were acquainted. His more charming personality also made it easier, since, either Killua nor Leorio had the patience for idle chatter.

“It’s so sweet you’re such a caring friend!” The girl at the front desk smiled when Gon first approached her, relieved she seemed to be in a good mood. Killua scoffed quietly, arms crossed, pretending to study the posters behind them. Gon didn’t notice, or pretended not to.

“Normally, I cannot give out information on our fighters. But since you were a fighter yourself, and knew Hisoka personally, I can give you some information. I normally work the afternoon shifts, so I hardly ever saw Mr. Hisoka himself. He was hardly ever here at all, and only showed up on weeks he was required to fight to keep living here.”

Leorio sighed. “So basically nothing useful.”

“Shh,” Gon hissed softly without looking at him. The boys exchanged glances. Killua’s gaze, cold and guarded, Gon’s too bright to meet it for long.

“But…” She said with a cautious look, propping her chin on her hand. Gon nodded, wide eyed, his childlike charisma unwavering despite the awkward bloom of adolescence just starting to show. Killua’s eyes flicked toward him again, and something complicated crossed his face. Fondness maybe, but laced with something heavier.

“There had been some talk about him amongst my coworkers. Allegedly of course…” She said with a raised brow, hinting to not let this slip to her superiors.

“Allegedly,” Gon repeated, zipping his lips. The exaggerated motion made her giggle.

“There was a woman who claimed to be a nurse who came every now and then. She never gave the front desk a name, but she had called room service a few times. Hime, an attendant for the kitchen, said Mr. Hisoka called her Machi. Allegedly.” Her love for gossip was apparent by the way she leaned forward on her arms. But the three boys didn’t say anything. If anything, this annoying trait was getting them more information.

“After a while she started coming back with him every night. At first the girls and I thought, she has to be some sort of a celebrity, because she’s gorgeous. Buttt… she’s actually kiiiind of a bitch. The morning shift girl, once told her good morning and apparently, allegedly Machi ignored her. Not to mention how she ignores the elevator girl every time. Fitting that her name sounds like Hachi,” She said with a scoff.

Leorio rubbed his temple. “Machi, huh? That’s enough to work off of, I think.” Killua scratched away at a notepad, writing down all possible spellings of her name, though there weren’t many.

“Thank you, miss!” Gon said with his usual bright smile, the girl still emotionally caught in her own gossip.

“Oh, that’s all you needed? If you ever see her, don’t say a word about what I said, okay? She’s annoying but God, shes terrifying…” She said as the boys walked off. Killua silently muttered, “You really haven’t changed at all.”

Gon shot him a quick glance, confused, then guilty, but said nothing.

Leorio watched them both for a second, scratching the back of his neck. “You guys good?”

“Fine,” Killua said quickly.

“Yeah,” Gon echoed, forcing a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

-

“You’re telling me,” Machi said with a scowl, arms crossed over her chest in anger, “You’re not letting me in because I don’t have my ID? I have my fucking hunter’s license. That’s all I need.”

“I’m sorry, miss,” the clerk stammered, “it’s just-new policy. We need to verify it’s not fraudulent-”

Before he could finish, thin threads of Nen flashed through the air, wrapping around his neck. Not tight enough to choke, just enough to make her point.

”It’s not.” She said flatly.

“Scan it,” Her patience was already thin. It had been a few days since the Hunter’s Exam was over, and she admitted she was anxious about being away from Hisoka for so long.

The exam itself had been easy, almost insultingly so. Most of the contestants were loud, arrogant, and too eager to prove something to people who didn’t care. She hadn’t needed to try since her Nen alone cleared most of the tests before anyone realized what happened. Watching them scramble and argue reminded her of the Troupe’s early days, before things got bloody. But the memory only soured her mood further. None of it meant anything. She had her license now, and now she could do whatever.

Plus, her new Hunter’s license was the only thing she owned that wasn’t forged, and being questioned over it burned worse than usual.

The man fumbled, scanning the card. Her name and picture appeared on the screen. His throat bobbed. “R-right, all clear.”

Machi’s threads vanished. “Thank you.” She took the card and walked off without another glance, her irritation still visible in the stiffness of her shoulders.

She found an open computer station and sat down, typing into the Hunter Database. She wanted to see what was available to her now as a Hunter, and maybe even find a mission or something to do. The clunky machine lagged with every click. She sighed through her nose, tapping her finger impatiently against the monitor.

“Come on…” She grumbled, antsy. The screen turned blue with a large loading sign.

“Damn it..!” She huffed as the screen buffered, crossing her arms again. She slapped the side of the terminal, folding her arms.

A hand landed on her shoulder.

“Machi Komacine? I’m afraid we’re going to have to ask you to leave after assaulting the receptionist,”

Her jaw tightened. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

A few chairs away, Gon’s head snapped up at the sound of her name. He peeked from behind their cubicle, locking eyes with the pink haired woman. His eyes widened. He nudged Leorio and Killua.

“That’s her,” he whispered.

Their research had been unsuccessful, but their timing was impeccable.

-

“Great, not only did you not help me, you kicked yourselves out too. Nice going,” Machi said, composing herself. She fixed her hair, her bangs shuffling in the wind, preparing to leave.

“Not so fast…” She froze, glancing up. He was taller, broader, but his aura was unimpressive. In one swift movement, she grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and pushed him down to the pavement. He grunted as she sat on his back, pinning him.

“W-wait! We just want to talk!” Leorio barked.

Machi held the position a beat longer, scanning the two boys behind him. They didn’t move. They weren’t lying.

She released him with a sharp exhale. “You can’t walk up to a woman and say something like that, you know. It’s not my fault I knocked you down.”

Leorio grimaced as he rolled his arm painfully, his anger catching up to him.

“We just helped you! Why the hell would we try something after that?”

“No, you got yourselves kicked out attempting to help me. You could’ve been doing it just to follow me.”

Leorio opened his mouth, then shut it again. Machi smirked faintly at his hesitation.

“So,” she said finally, crossing her arms, “you gonna tell me what you want?”

Killua stepped forward, expression tight and serious.

“It has to be somewhere private,” he said.

“Ha.” She scoffed. “No way in hell. Do I look like a moron?”

His answer was calm, but his eyes were sharp. “It’s about the chain user.”

Machi froze. The words hit like a trigger, memories flickering: chains, eyes, Pakunoda and Uvogin.

Their boyish faces had grown more mature, not to mention they were taller, that's why she could barely recognize them. Worse yet.. They knew she was a spider, an active one at that. If it got out she was still alive, that’s bad news.

Better to play along..
“...Fine,” she said at last. “I could go for a matcha. You’re paying, though.”

-

Machi took a long, rewarding chug of her drink in the back of a nearby cafe. Unnervingly so, she hardly spoke to the boys on the way there. In reality, she was rather exhausted, and the small bit of caffeine helped jump start her mood again.

She placed the half empty glass down, Leorio taken aback by the way it was almost empty. It wasn’t cheap, and unfortunately for him, he was still a broke university student.

“Have you heard from Hisoka recently?” Gon asked to break the ice, Leorio and Killua slapping their foreheads at his straightforwardness. Machi tried not to react, but she flinched a bit.

“I thought this was about the chain user,” She said calmly. Tread lightly, Machi, she thought.

“It is,” Killua continued, “We want to know if they’ve been working together.”

“Why?”

“Ever since your leader died, he’s been dead silent. No one has heard from him.” Machi looked down at her lap, the mention of Chrollo causing a slight pit in her stomach.

“That’s too bad. Maybe he’s living a normal life now.”

Leorio laughed, obnoxiously.

“Yeah, right, like you know him! Just answer the question, alright toots? We know you’ve been with Hisoka these past few months, so drop the front. Can you tell us where he is?”

Her brows furrowed, hand tightening around her glass.

“What do you mean you know we’re together? Who told you?”

“I didn’t say you were together, I said I know you’ve been around eachot-”

“You’re together? Like, together?” Gon blurted, wide-eyed.

Machi cleared her throat. “I didn’t say we’re together. I thought you were implying that.”

“Are you?’ Gon asked.

“That’s irrelevant,” she crossed her arms, looking off to the side.

“I haven’t seen him in a while and I don't know anything about the chain user recently. Can I go?”

“The troupe has been inactive for a long time. We already know your leader was killed, what about the rest? Have you heard from them?” Machi suddenly had an impending feeling of doom, and grabbed her sweater.

“Look, I can’t help you, okay? None of us know anything, and we won’t. So fuck off, okay?” Gon suddenly grabbed her hand, though it wasn’t rough.

“We just want to help our friend… That’s all. We’re afraid of the worst. You would do the same for your friends, wouldn't you?”

Machi stared at his fingers for a long second. He meant it. They were just boys, earnest and stubborn like she was. Looking out for their friends like she once had, too.

“No,” she said quietly. The word surprised her in how hollow it sounded.

She realized now that there was no harm in telling them anything. Even if they did tell the chain user, who could easily kill her, about her whereabouts, Hisoka wouldn't let that happen. Even if it meant giving up some of her pride in letting Hisoka fight for her. But if Kurapika had been gone for this long with no appearances it’s likely he wasn’t after her at all.

The silence stretched. Outside, a bus hissed by. Inside the café, her chest felt too tight, full of things she hadn’t wanted to name.

She drew a slow breath and let go of the glass as if bracing herself. “The rest of the troupe is dead. Hisoka and I killed them all.”

The spoon she’d been idly spinning clinked against the saucer. Gon’s grip slackened. Killua’s expression, always hard to read, went very small, dangerously small. Leorio made a choking sound.

She clutched back onto her cup, and began, appropriately, telling everything.

“I was trying to kill him. But I couldn’t. I swore to him that if he ever killed Chrollo I’d get my revenge. And I meant it. But every time I tried, I couldn’t finish it. I found myself… seeing him anyway. I lied to the troupe when they asked questions. I didn’t betray Chrollo, he would have understood, maybe, but the others didn’t. Things went wrong. It spiraled..”

Gon didn’t say anything right away. He only stared at her, mouth parted slightly, eyes full of a hurt confusion that wasn’t for himself, but for her. Killua’s gaze was harder, sharper, but it didn’t quite reach anger. Leorio leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, trying to process what he’d just heard.

“So…” Leorio finally broke the silence. “You’re telling us Hisoka wiped out the rest of the Troupe, and you just- what? Decided to help him finish the job?”

Machi’s hand twitched around her glass. “I didn’t decide anything. I just… stopped fighting him. After Chrollo, there was nothing left to avenge.”

Killua’s eyes narrowed. “So you’re saying you loved him more than your family.”

“That’s not what I said,” she snapped, tone cutting. “Don’t twist my words.”

“Then what are you saying?” Killua leaned forward. “You expect us to believe that after everything your group did, after everything he did, you just let him live?”

Her voice was even when she answered, but it carried a kind of tired finality. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“I might,” Gon said quietly.

Machi glanced at him, surprised by the softness in his tone.

“When you care about someone who’s done terrible things,” he said, “you still want to believe there’s something good left in them. Even if you shouldn’t.”

Killua shot him a quick look, his jaw tightening. Machi’s eyes flickered between the two boys, the air thickening with something unspoken.

She sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Maybe that’s what it was. Or maybe I just didn’t want to be alone. Either way, it’s over.”

“Over?” Leorio asked. “Then where is he now?”

Machi’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I told you. I don’t know.”

But even as she said it, the faintest flicker in her eyes betrayed the truth. Killua caught it instantly.

“You’re lying,” he said flatly.

Machi didn’t respond. She just picked up her drink and finished the last sip, eyes focused on the glass instead of him.

Leorio exhaled hard, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “We’re not here to pick a fight, alright? We just need to find Kurapika before someone else does. If you know anything—”

“I don’t,” she cut in.

Gon’s shoulders sank a little, disappointment tugging at his features. “We’re not trying to hurt Hisoka. We just want to make sure he’s okay. That’s all.”

Machi’s expression softened, barely, but enough to notice. “No way any of you could hurt Hisoka. I’m not worried about that. And you don’t have to convince me. I get it. You care too much about your friend. It’ll kill you one day.”

Gon tilted his head, almost smiling. “It already almost did.”

That caught her off guard. She blinked.

A quiet passed between them. The hum of the café returned, the sound of clinking dishes, the low chatter of strangers.

Killua stood, chair scraping the tile. “We’re wasting our time.”

“Killua-” Gon started, but the other boy was already walking toward the door.

“If you do see him, please, will you tell him to contact us?”

“I’ll do what I can,” She replied, coldly, grabbing her sweater and cup.