I stood beside Feitan as I watched Machi and Nobunaga spank Phinks' head. I mentally laughed at that. He deserved it for being too reckless about this.

Feitan took a glance at Paku before to me, "Stay here. I'm going to hear things out." He mumbled before going away from me and to Paku, intending to overhear their conversation.

I caught up with stares from Gon and Killua at me. I turned and sighed, "Pretty sure you're mad. Sorry doesn't really fix anything. I'm pretty stupid when it comes to decisions.".

"You betrayed us." Killua's eyes were stern.

"I did but it's because I like the spiders. They make me feel like I'm home. Don't you ever wonder what it feels like when you're somewhere you don't belong? You don't..understand my feelings. There's actually a reason, but I can't say. It's hard to explain. I still care for you two though, I'm not even ready to face you now that I joined Genei Ryodan. In fact, I'm afraid and reluctant when it comes to facing you. All I can say is that.." I bowed both to represent an apology and my gratefulness to them. "I am grateful when you decided to be my friend and I apologize that I betrayed you. It's not a friend thing but I'm not even ready or worthy enough to call myself your friend. I've done so many sins and took lives without mercy. Practically, I deserve to have your anger upon me. It's retribution."

Their small glares at me softened and they showed..forgiveness..? Wait, that's foolish. They could never forgive me for betraying them. "Etherell-sama.." I'm ready for them to badmouth me, whatever it takes. "Lift your head up. Don't hurt yourself."

I did so, but with a shock face. Gon and Killua are..forgiving me..? Shizuku and Kortopi were shocked too. Though, I wasn't sure about Kortopi because his face was covered by every strand of his hair.

"You're..forgiving me?"

"Of course." Killua smiled, "Even if you did betray us, we still remain as friends. I mean, you're just joining Genei Ryodan, alright? Don't be so hard on yourself. We're still friends."

"But what I question is that..if we ever encounter ourselves in a situation where we kill each other, can we really do it?" Gon softly asked.

I smiled a bit and replied, "I know you won't. You're a remarkable kid. You could never take a life." I perked my head down, thinking about this carefully. "But I can.. I'm a badass person alright. To think that things could get this severe. I won't kill you because I can't, but I will defeat you even if it's by the boss' orders."

Killua sighed in a relaxed way, "What a pain. This logic is killing me. Whatever. What matters is that we still remain as friends!" I chuckled with that as Gon laughed as well.

Feitan went by my side and suspected everything. "Did I miss something?"

I chuckled and smiled a bit, "Kinda. So what happened?" We moved away from Gon and Killua because he wanted to.

"The chain user didn't want anyone to overhear their conversation." Feitan replied, followed by a click from his tounge. "That piece of crap is really hiding things from us..!"

I sulked, "I wouldn't say that if I were you, Feitan. He has associates that could hear somebody even if it is from afar." He still had his poker face and shrugged about it. People like Feitan can never really react to those things. Is he used to it?

"This chain user.. You've met him before, right?" His brisky gaze pierced through my soul severely. I know that I can't feel pain but I'm seriously feeling his tension pricking my skin. "Any info of how his power works?"

I shooked my head, "Remember that interrogation you did last time? You could tell that I was clueless about this chain user, right? I only found it out from Killua and Gon. I've never seen chains around the chain user's arm." Just labelling Kurapika as the chain user make me feel unsteady. I'm more comfortable with the name Kurapika.

"So he's a Conjurer."

"I'm not gonna say that I told you 'cause it's your fault for finding out anyway." I rolled my eyes before he dragged me back to the gang and the hostages.

"So are you kids friends with the chain user or.."

"We have nothing to say to you!" Gon snapped at Phinks who grown an irk mark on the ridge of his eye since he doesn't have eyebrows.

"Still asking questions even though we know they won't spill them, huh, Phinks?" Feitan told him. "You do realize we can't hurt them even if they say no. Can't you have one day without punching someone?"

"Enhancers sure are a top-notch when it comes to punching." I added.

"Aren't you an Enhancer yourself?"

I shrugged and told him, "Do you think I count as an Enhancer even though I'm an On user?" He didn't reply after that. I chuckled mentally. Don't you just love it when you've won over a fight?

Paku walked up to us and proclaimed, "The chain user wants to talk to one of us, except Feitan." She still had the phone in her hands. Pretty sure Kurapika could hear our words. Feitan clicked his tounge in irritation.

"I'll do it." Nobunaga raised a hand. Paku escorted him somewhere far from the hostages and the gang.

I kept an eye on to them and mumbled, "Kurapika's really great at organizing.."

"Who?" Feitan appeared, suddenly behind me. I gave him a small smile and told him that it's nothing.

"Etherell-sama.. Why do you trust him?" Killua's voice chimed in, which rendered Feitan to angery. "Isn't he a killer?"

"Urusee.." He snapped but I laid a hand on his shoulder and gave him a look.

I turned to Killua and replied, "I'm from Genei Ryodan now." He nodded and entirely understood me. At least I think. I turned to Feitan and smirked, "Don't get too angry. They're my friends, remember?"

"I'm not angry." He huffed.

"Then what? You pissed?" I chuckled, "I'll have you know that that's still the same thing as angry." He clicked his tounge once more which made me giggle.

"Privacy.. Privacy.." Kortopi interrupted.

Shizuku additionally agreed, "That's right. Don't flirt in front of your Troupe members, Etherell-san. It's unappropriate." I blushed and nodded. Dragging Feitan away from them with myself, I blushed hard. Even Gon and Killua were laughing, but lately was warned by Shizuku to be quiet.

"You blush to your worst." Feitan mumbled, tucking his mask up to his cheeks. I could tell he was in the same situation as I am right now.

"Wow. Says the guy who needs a mask to cover up his blush." He blushed more as I chuckled. It's pretty fun teasing him. At least he's not angry, right? Usually, when somebody teases him, he gets angry. I felt glad that he was blushing. Just then, I realized Paku left without a word. The others realized this as well. I silently watched her leave.

"Oi, Paku!" Phinks called.

"Matte." Nobunaga interrupted. "Let Paku go by herself. We're returning to the hideout." Fine by me. "Orders from the chain user."

"What's your point?"

"If we disobey, he'll kill the boss!"

"Are you an idiot? If that happens, we kill the chain user." Are they really going to let Danchou die? That seems odd. Even though it's a rule, you just can't afford your leader to die, right? It's something wrong. "And that will be the end."

"It's what the boss would tell us to do." Feitan noted. Is he serious as well? "Nobunaga, you insult the spider." He slightly snarled.

"We have to follow Pakunoda now." Phinks gave to his fullest. "This is an absolute necessity!"

"I concur." Agreed Shalnark. "There's no point in letting Paku go alone. If we continue to follow his orders, the fortunes will come true."

"How is it there no point?" I quirked a brow, shocking Feitan. "Our Danchou is captured, and he'll die if we follow Paku. Doesn't letting Danchou die already count as a betrayal?"

"It doesn't count as a betrayal if we're following the rules!" Phinks snapped which made me furrow my brows.

"I agree with Nobunaga and Etherell." Machi proclaimed, "We should follow his orders for now."

"I agree." Kortopi simply agreed.

"For now?" Phinks snapped. "How long do we have to listen to him? Until half of our limbs are gone?" He clicked his tounge. I watched them agrue all the time. Later, Nobunaga was knocked out by Shizuku.

Shal's phone rang. He pulled it out by hand and with his other on Gon's shoulder, "It's Danchou." Everyone turned. Everytime we hear that name or noun, we're always hooked by it.

"I'll take it." Phinks walked up to Shal and took the phone. Answering it, he said, "Moshimoshi--"

"Put one of the hostages on the phone." Kurapika's voice snapped. Haha.

"You little.." Phinks cursed before placing the phone next to Killua's ear. "Here."

"Are they all together?"

"They are right now. But they're talking about going after Pakunoda--"

"Watch your mouth, kid." Phinks put the phone away as he snapped. "Moshimoshi?"

"You have thirty minutes to return to your hideout. You can try any trickery you want but your leader will die. I'll call again shortly."

"We won't be able to follow Paku now." Shizuku noted right after Kurapika ended the call.

"Kusoga!" Phinks cursed, making me mentally laugh. We headed back to Base from afar. During the trip, I was keeping an eye on Gon and Killua. Not because I'm cautious of their escape, I'm just not..comfortable the way Feitan holds Gon very tight.

I went beside them and gave a small smile, "How's it going, you two?"

"Pretty fine, except this brat keeps on squirming."

"Your--Your grip's too tight!" Gon cried out.

My eyes glinted in fear of Gon's arm breaking. I fumbled my fingers to Feitan's hands and said, "F-Feitan, don't break his wrist!"

"Are you actually siding with the enemy?"

"I'm not siding with anyone! If you hurt Gon, Danchou dies!" I snapped. He looked into my eyes and saw a husky gaze. He heaved a sigh of defeat and let go of Gon.

"You hold him then." He grumbled as he shoved his hands in his pockets. I did so what I was told, holding Gon gently. I know he won't escape. I know Gon, and he doesn't want Kurapika to murder or do dirty work either.

I glanced at Feitan and heaved a sigh, "Sorry. It was too much, wasn't it?"

Feitan shooked his head and replied, "No. It's normal for people to yell at me, like some people.." He murmured that last part. I think he was eyeing at an unconscious Nobunaga at that time. He was being carried by Phinks on his shoulder.

"Then are you..upset?"

"No. You were right anyway. I might hurt the hostage." He looked away from your glance. I smiled a bit, reaching out my hand. I took his hand and intertwined it with me, with the other on Gon's shoulder.

"It's fine. You don't have to shoulder the blame." I saw a small smile under his mask, a happy smile. That's what I wanted to see from him. And not..a sadist's smile.

"You two seem pretty close.." Gon interrupted. He locked his eyes at our intertwined hands, "Actually, scratch that. More like..mutually more than that."

I heaved out a sigh, trying my best not to blush. "Gon, when you're at my age, you'll experience something like this." He's a kid, right? He probably doesn't understand this. Gah, that probably word.

Gon sheepishly laughed, "Is that so? I hope not."

"Shut up. Hostages aren't supposed to talk." Feitan snapped, glancing at Gon briefly then back at me.

Gon frowned, "I know that Etherell and you are very close, well, more than that, but I just don't understand why you're very rude!" He snarled huskily, "How can Etherell love you if you're like this?"

"What was that, kid?" Feitan's murderous intent was leaking out. Both eyes of the two locked on each other. Feitan was prepared to kill while Gon was determind.

"You know what I said." Gon looked pretty hostile. "How can Etherell love someone like you? You don't have pentinence, right?" He snarled. This is one of the few times I've seen Gon pretty hostile and mad. "I can't believe I'm asking this again but why do you kill people who have nothing to do with you?"
Feitan clenched his sharp teeth. His mouth opened in ajar, ready to speak something rude to Gon but I sheepishly sighed and got between them, "Now. Now. Let's not have a fight here, alright? Pretty sure Melody's hearing our conversation so please stop fighting. I don't want anything bad to happen to Danchou."

Feitan cooled down and Gon sighed. "Sorry, Etherell."

I smiled a bit, "Gon, an apology is not what I want. It's a truce." The three of us stayed silent 'till we got to the Base where we had to wait for Paku to return. It took a matter of time for her to come back and discuss Kurapika's conditions.

He wanted Paku to come with the kids before midnight, no one else should come. It was a rainy day and lightning struck the Base, giving a husky thud and flash of light. "Does he really expect us to accept those conditions?" Phinks huskily asked and demanded an explanation and Kurapika's location.

"I refuse to tell you where he is, and I am taking the kids alone." Paku stated. "Don't interfere."

"Interfere? Who's the one interfering with OUR plans?!" Paku didn't reply which rendered Phinks into more of an angered state. "Dammit!" He turned to me and demanded, "Eth, you can see everything, right? Tell us where the chain user is!"

"Kotowaru," I protested which shocked his side. "I want Danchou to live, and I also want Gon and Killua to live."

"What?!"

"No one's gonna kill anyone." My eyes turned into an On user's eyes. "Don't make me repeat myself. Phinks." My aura expanded around the room. They knew I was prepared to kill. I turned to Feitan, "Sorry Fei, but this is what I want."

"Go, Pakunoda." Machi insisted. "We'll stop them."

"Stop us?" Feitan's aura leaked out, along with the others'. "Are you trying to insult us?" My aura was more bigger and thicker since it's On. It's a tendrilous aura that is able to strangle and suffocate one to death.

"You're serious?" Phinks snapped. "I don't get it. Have you lost your minds?"

"No, we haven't." I spoke up, my aura was crushing one of the pillars of the building. "Do you want Danchou to die, Phinks? I l am certain that you're loyal to the spider and him but you care for Danchou, right? What you're doing now is wrong. Watch yourself, Phinks."

"Gah. Shut up, newbie!"

"I bet they were defeated by the chain user before we arrived." Mumbled Feitan. "They're probably under his control." I saw Gon clench his teeth on the corner of my eye. "This is a waste of time. I'll make them talk."

"Is it really hard to understand?!" Gon interrupted. "You don't understand why Pakunoda wants to leave without a word? You don't understand why Etherell says you're wrong? You don't understand why Machi is stopping you? You honestly think they're being controlled?! They want to rescue your boss! Is it so hard to understand the desire to save a friend?"

"Shut up, kid!" Yelled Phinks. "Are you that desperate to be spared?!"

Gon broke the chains out of rage, prompting Phinks and Feitan to leave into a twinge of shock. Gon stood up from his grounds and snarled, "I'm not doing this for my sake. Take back those words!"

Killua looked up to Gon for a minute and sighed, "Good grief." He broke the chains and sat up as well but was stopped by Feitan engaging his Nen. Phinks stopped him by beckoning an arm.

"Nah. If you've got a problem, come here." Phinks clawed his hands, ready to fight. "The second you take a step, I'll rip your head off." If he really does that, I'll harm Phinks, even if there's a rule that members aren't supposed to harm or kill each other.

"Then I won't budge an inch!" Gon yelled and sticked to his spot. "Kurapika isn't like you! No matter how much he hates someone, he wouldn't lose control and kill them without mercy! If he makes a promise, he will definitely keep his word!" He turned to Paku, "After meeting him in person, Pakunods knows this. If you follow his conditions, he'll return your boss!"

"That's enough, kid!" Phinks snapped. "Don't think you can say anything you want! I'll rip that mouth of yours right now!" He was about to enact an attack but my aura suddenly spiked, a Specialist's ability was happening.

My aura filled the whole room with my eyes as the eyes of an On user. I discharged one of those purple circular bolts and ready to launch them to Phinks. My tentacles from my nape had also growned out, if he moves an inch, I'd have no choice but to cut his head off with my sharp tentacles. "Try that and I'll gouge your eyes out instead. Don't make me do this, Phinks.." I threathened with my eyes filled with fury.

"Gimme your best shot then!" He bumped his fist together, ready to fight but was interrupted by Feitan.

"Don't try to kill yourself by fighting an On user, Phinks. She's on a completely different level, capable of deafeating an Enhancer."

Phinks groaned in irritation before Shal's phone rang. He pulled it out from his pocket grudgingly, "Moshimoshi--" Again, he was cutted off by Kurapika who implied to put the hostages on the phone. Phinks angrily threw the phone to Gon who luckily caught it, much to Shalnark's angry snap. Afterwards, Gon threw it back, being snapped too by Shal. Phinks reported that we'll follow Kurapika's orders for now.

My aura and On state disappeared as I watched Paku take the kids away. I'll be keeping an eye on everyone at the Base. If anyone tries to sneak up, I'll break their skulls. By automatically using my Eyes Of Perception, I was completely aware of what's happening to the kids and Pakunoda, even if I'm distrctacted. I went up to one of the stairs. I'm not allowed to leave the Base but I can take a stroll, right? "Why were you on their side, and not on ours?" I stopped my tracks and turned to see Feitan.

I gave him a reasonable reply, "Didn't I say it before? I didn't want any of my companions to die. They are someone important to me, that's why."

He sighed and said, "Are you actually a good person or a bad person?"

"Neutral, maybe." I blinked, "I never know. Sometimes I'm prepared to kill, I feel bloodlust either way. I have the self-indulgence to murder somebody. In other words, addicted to murder." I rationalized, pretty sure he wasn't sure if I was really neutral or not. "But I still have mercy. I want to save my friends and protect them with everything I have. I am even willing to sacrifice myself for them."

Just then, his brows furrowed in anger. "Sacrifice? Yourself?" He pinned me against the wall which made me feel unsteady. He slammed both of his hands on either sides of my head and menacingly and slowly asked, "Why would you sacrifice yourself? How come you're sure that person wants to live longer?" All I could say was that he was pretty offended with me saying that word. "I can accept anyone's death, but yours? Never. In fact, I would never forgive that person who killed you."

"What exactly are you saying?" I frowned, fortifying my grounds. "Aren't you addicted to death? Why would you care if I die--?" Suddenly, he embraced me tight in a shock. My eyes grow wide and my pupils contrasted.

"I..care about you... Because.. Be-Because.." This was the first time I see him fully stutter. He was blushing. "Because..I... I..like you." He managed to croak out. My eyes widen most. I smiled a bit, feeling a twinge of happiness and hugged back which gravely shocked him.

"I like you too." After pulling away, I stared at his purple orbs. "We should head back before anyone worries about our disappearance." I turned my heel and started walking away but he grabbed me by wrist and smacked his lips onto mine. My heart from skipping a beat to throbbing intensively, I blushed hard. Later, I kissed back passionately. It took a matter of seconds for the both of us to pull away. That was my first true kiss since a few days ago, that was by accident or is it?

(Does meeting your lips with someone else's by mistake even considered as a first kiss? I don't know. Correct me if I'm wrong)

We were blushing. I inhaled deeply, trying my best to remove the blush. If the others see this, they'd question me and make me redder. I looked over to Feitan who had no problem hiding the blush since his mask was covering it but his ears were red so it could be visible.

I looked over to the window to see Paku returning all the way here. "L-Let's go.. P-Pakunoda's making her way here.." I stuttered and was afraid to grab his hand because it was awkward but HE was the one who grabbed mine. I blushed hard and tried to stay quiet.

He dragged us down back the stairs and earned a question by a person. "What happened to you guys?" Phinks asked which I didn't reply and Feitan just told him to shut up. But he creased a grin and said, "Wait a minute. Both of you are completely red then that's gotta mean something."

I gulped and could feel Feitan having the same feeling too. My heart was throbbing, not on love but fear. This feels unusual because I never felt fear, well, except when I was a child back then. "Yeah. Tell us what happened, Eth-san~!" Shal joined in with a playful smirk. The others kept quiet and watched them toy with us.

I took a deep breath and snapped, "Not the time for that! Paku's coming!" I hope that fooled him. I wanted him to stay attention on Paku's situation than ours. And he did, well, only because Paku arrived.

"Where's the boss?" Phinks asked.

"He won't be coming here." I noticed Paku holding her gun in her hands. She's planning to do something but wouldn't that kill her because of Kurapika's Judgemental Chain?

"Don't mess with me. Explain yourself!" Phinks jolted up and outstretched his fingers, saying, "Depending on your response.."

"Don't worry." Her purple aura suddenly surrounded her whole body as she raised her gun. Everyone was in alert of that. "Etherell, you saw everything with your Eyes Of Perception, right?" I nodded silently in response. She then focused on the remaining people she soon called, "In return.. Feitan, Phinks, Machu, Nobunaga, Shalnark, Franklin.." She aimed the gun at the six of them. I moved aside so I won't get shot by her memory bullets as well. "..Do you trust me?"

"Paku, you can't mean to.." Machi frowned a bit.

"Oi, are you veing controlled by--"

"Phinks! Have some faith." Nobunaga cutted him off. "It's Paku." Paku shot the bullets at the six of them, straight on the foteheads. I kinda reacted in fear when Feitan was shot but I know he'll be alright. All six of them were at shock after being shot on the forehead.

I could feel Paku dying at her heartbeat. I could see her eyes numb all the way from here. When she landed, the six members startled in a shock as memories were implanted in them. Various if images were shown. Shizuku walked up to Paku and examined her, "She's dead." She turned to the six, "What's going on?"

"Let me explain." Phinks spoke up. "I understand..everything. Pakunoda was.."