Part 21: Trouble X in the X Woods

"Archi!" I shouted his name on the top of my lungs but I couldn't hear any response, and the noises that I only hear were the crickets hiding in the bushes and trees.

"Archi!" Java shouted beside me but to no avail. I sighed in frustration that we couldn't find where he is.

"Let's go on separate ways. You'll go on that side while I'll go to this side," she instructed me and I nodded as obedience to her order.

We go on separate ways and I continued to shout Archi's name. I wish I should have known his struggles. He became so comfortable to be with and I didn't notice his sadness.

I was about to take a step forward when suddenly, a hand immediately grabbed me by my face. His grasp was so strong that no matter how many times I tried to pull it out of my mouth, it still holds on like glue.

After minutes of trying to be free from the grasp, the place surrounding slowly fading away. I closed my eyes and unconsciousness welcomed me.

***

Java's POV

"Tsk. Where is that annoying brat?" I muttered to myself as I bit my lip in frustration. I know and I trust Secco that she wouldn't do such a thing to his uncle. But why would she kill someone? I should've asked her earlier.

I walked deeper into the forest and there was no sign of him anywhere. Until I realized where he will be at this time. I usually saw him right there when he's remembering his uncle and ended up in sorrow.

I ran faster to reach the destination until I finally found the place. In front of me was the end of the forest, and on the other side was the edge of the cliff. I saw him with his legs wrapped in his arms and head buried between them.

"Why did you run like that? You're acting like a girl." I shouted out from the near distance. He raised his head and was surprised to see me with his eyes fresh from cries. But that shock was gone and looked away.

"Shut up. You didn't know how it feels like," he said to me in his rude voice but I can still feel sadness between them.

"Secco was really worried about you. If you can't accept the fact that she's really the one, then why don't you ask her? You're just making this worse, you know?" I lectured which made him think about it.

"F-Fine. I'll talk to her," he said and stood up.

I smiled at him, knowing that he was already recovered from the harsh truth.

We were about to walk away from the cliff when all of a sudden, something vibrates in my pocket vest. I grabbed it and it was actually my phone ringing. Someone was calling me. Perhaps that man again.

I opened my phone and it was an unknown number. I wonder if he changed his number. I accepted it and put it in my ear.

"Hello?" I tried to greet.

"Long time no see, Java." an old unfamiliar voice said on the other line. Knowing that that person wasn't him, I became alert.

Archi also heard the man's voice and became serious and carefully listen to our conversation.

"Who are you? What do you want?" I asked the man on the other line.

"Looks like you're the one who wants something from us. It seems like you left your little girl in the forest so I picked her up." the man said. After knowing who he was talking about, this triggered my mind into nervousness.

"Don't ever do anything to her!" I shouted at the phone and panicked.

"Relax. We won't do anything. She might attack us with her Nen if we do that."

Tsk. He even knows that Secco already knew how to use Nen. They might be waiting for this moment where her mind was fully occupied by Archi's conditions so they can attack her.

"We don't want anything. We just want to fight you, dear Weapon hunter. Our gate was made of metal, so it's easier for you to find it, right?" he said. He even knows my Nen. After seconds, he hanged up and left us confused.

I don't really know what to do right now. Secco was kidnapped and I didn't know their true purpose yet. I'm worried about other things but now, her safety is our top priority first.

Archi heard everything and I knew he was more angry and nervous than I am. Ever since I tried to make Secco his friend, he's been attached to her.

"Archi" I called out for him since he spaced out. He came back to reality and looked at me with a serious face. "Let's go... and make sure they regret kidnapping Secco."

***

Secco's POV

I opened my eyes, curious about the noises of unfamiliar voices around me. I widened them and looked around the room where I was. My body was tied in a rope of chains and my feet felt no ground. I was hanging in the ceiling, couldn't be able to move.

Noisy people with bandannas covering their faces are arguing with each other. Some have visible scars on their face.

I realized that they were one of the town bandits I fought the other day. They must be made by their leader's Nen. Java taught me about the Nen of the bandit leader I met. He can be able to bring his dead comrades back to life in the form of necromancy.

"The Chief is coming!" one of the noisy bandits shouted and all of them lined up beside the door to give way to who will open it.

At last, the door opened and a familiar man came out. It was the same bandit leader I met. But now, his mask didn't cover his face and was being tied behind the back of his head.

"Hah! You're awake, little girl," he spoke to me as he watched me hanging on the ceiling of the room.

I didn't give him a response and just stared at his villainous grey eyes that seem to be free from any despair and fear.

"Well, teachers teach their students the same," he said with a smirk on his face.

He stayed there for a minute until a huge explosion caught the attention of all the people inside the room. The leader doesn't seem surprised by the explosion, in fact, he's smiling widely like he's been expecting this to happen.

Because of the explosion, a wall was ruined, forming a huge hole in it. Behind this hole were two silhouettes walking towards the room. One was a tall woman holding a trident, and the other one was a boy carrying a big mallet.

Wait! Those are Java and Archi!

I thought to myself, couldn't be able to know how they found this place and where did Archi get that big weapon.

They are in serious expression and their eyes are fierce. Before the bandits will be able to attack them, Archi and Java immediately charged them and killed them fast. Their body turned into smoke, leaving only the worn-out clothes on the floor.

Java turned her head around the leader. "I don't know what I did to you, but let my student go. She has nothing to do with this."

The man just smiled at her. "Fine. But first, I have one condition."

Java and Archi stopped from moving and I can see their cold sweat falling from their head. Even I got nervous about what will the condition be.

He suddenly moved into a fighting position."Fight me, Java."

Java was slightly surprised because of what he said, but that didn't make her lose her focus and grabbed out her trident to fight.

"Here I go! Die!" the man shouted at her with eyes filled with anger and charged towards her place, holding a large knife. Java didn't move a single inch at her position and just concentrated her eyes on his movements.

When the man was only inches away from her, a lot of small metal wires started to wrap around his body, making him unable to move freely. The wires took the knife off of his hands and wrapped around it.

"I hate unreasonable and serious conflict, that's why I'm collecting dangerous weapons so no one can use them for bad intentions." Java started lecturing the man.

"Geez, I really don't get people. Ancient times, the battle was a sport to test your strength and to declare the highest title, not to kill someone for vengeance or irritation," she added.

Java let me out of the chains using her Nen which is Magnetism and set me free. The man told us why is he acting like this and fighting us. His comrades were actually killed by a woman with purple hair during their fight with her. They thought it was Java since it matched the description.

But Java swore that she didn't kill any humans before. She also guessed that maybe it was the girl from the famous gang Phantom Troupe since they also have the same description.

Not just Kurapika's clan that they have massacred, even this man's friends were also murdered by them.

"You should think more carefully before suspecting anyone," she said, which triggered me to our issue with Archi. I turned to look at him but he looked away.

We went back to the beerhouse since it was already night time. I was about to go to the inn when suddenly, Archi held my hand to stop me from going.

"Secco, I need to talk to you... right now," he said and I followed him. I stood straight to listen to his story.

"Dentora Incident..." He started. "Many people died inside a train towards Dentora region, and my uncle is one of them. A hooded man with a dangerous and disgusting arm killed them all, and left the train with blood."

"Secco, I-I just wanted to know if you're the man I was talking about," he said with nervousness on his voice.

I normally shook my head and smiled at him. "I didn't do it. I promise."

I lowered my head to continue.

"Yes, I killed a few people. But they're not on a train..." I told them my story like how I told Gon. After knowing my story, he smiled at me and gave me a big hug. I was surprised by his actions that I didn't have time to react.

He immediately let go and waved goodbye to me. I waved back and walked towards the inn.

I wonder if that man he was talking about was just like me. Living a burden because of the disgusting arm. I must find some clues about him.

I jumped on my bed and fell asleep.

***

Tomorrow came and I was getting ready for the training. I ran towards the training ground with all excitement.

I saw Java doing some harsh training to Archi but the latter didn't complain anything. My master finally noticed me and waved at me to come near them.

I took a glance at Archi and smiled at him. He suddenly became red and looked away.

"So, what's the training all about now, Master?~" I said with all excitement.

"Getting all excited, huh? Well, since you've finished the four fundamentals of Nen and a few of the techniques, let's add some fun twist in your training."

"Fun?" I didn't know what part of training is fun for them but I'm very excited to know what it is.

"It's about..." Java gave it a dramatic pause and pointed her index finger to me.

"...Finding your Hatsu type!"