Killua was an assassin, from a clan of assassins going back many generations.

Killua was the head of the family, ever since his father died a year ago, expected to carry the Zaoldyeck name with honor.

Killua was, as far as he knew, the only member of his family to ever get tired of being an assassin.

Killua was a thirteen-year-old boy, almost fourteen.

This is Killua's story.

"Hey, Mom, can I take the Hunter Exam this year?"

Kikyou looked stunned at the idea, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, Killu, why would you want to leave? Isn't your home enough?"

Killua already knew he was fighting a losing battle. If it was up to his mother, he'd never leave except on missions. But it couldn't hurt to tell the truth, just for once. "I want to play. The Exam sounds like a really fun game."

"Don't you understand that you're special to your mother?" Here we go again. "You've always been our little prodigy. I don't want you to put yourself in danger just because you're bored."

Uh-oh. Bringing up Silva, even indirectly, meant that she was soon to go apeshit on the nearest object that looked like it might be able to move. Especially the first time...

"Your father would be ashamed of you, doing such a thing..." Killua suppressed a grin. Using his father's money to buy candy as soon as he died was probably not the most tactful thing he could have done, but it tasted so good!

Hopefully, he'd be able to get in his best arguments before she got too annoyed.

"But I'm not doing this because I'm bored," Killua said. "Or at least not just because. You were saying" – at least once per week since he had turned thirteen – "that I should be engaged to a strong fighter. Someone who could help me raise my children in the Zaoldyeck tradition."

Killua relaxed as he watched his mother calm down. All that practice in front of the mirror had been worth it.

"The Hunter Exam would be a perfect place for me to find such a person."

It was a few moments before Kikyou spoke. "My little boy is all grown up now... I suppose I would have to let you go someday, no matter what. Your father chose well." He almost flinched, but his mother seemed more sad than angry. "You have my blessing."

Walking away, Killua realized that what he said meant that he'd almost have to come home with a 'special someone'. Oops.

AN: A user called Panda Master X has adopted this story.