In this chapter, I reference Nen of the Flame a lot, but don't worry because I included a short cheat sheet from Hunterpedia at the bottom of the page to help you understand. (:
Chapter 8
Seeking Strength
Before Killua knew it, Alluka was dragging Canary out to the courtyard.
"Come on! Come on! Let's train, Canary Sensei!" She called.
Canary walked along patiently as the stones scuffed beneath her feet.
"I would appreciate it if you tested me really quick." The small girl spoke as she stopped in the middle of the yard and landed into a menacing pose before her. The fierceness in her eyes no longer surprised Canary.
Suddenly Alluka jumped off her feet and attempted to land a high kick towards her head. However, the apprentice butler was quicker and easily swiped her attack away.
"And I would appreciate it if you didn't attack me so suddenly, Alluka sama." She stated plainly.
Alluka looked very impressed before she realized her mistake. "Ah! I apologize, Canary sensei! I – "Alluka's words trailed off embarrassedly as Canary began walking further away from her. She watched as she conjured her cane and made a significant line in the ground.
Alluka was fairly confused, but even so refused to speak.
Canary stepped in front of the line. "Now, if you would like for me to test your true strength properly, simply try to make me step back over the line," she spoke.
Alluka eyed the small line behind Canary and then back to her opponent. "Osu," she muttered quietly before meeting Canary. Killua almost regretted teaching his little sister that line.
Initial Training
He had to admit, he was a bit nervous as he watched Alluka. He knew Canary was a force to be reckoned with and wouldn't be budged so easily. He watched as the wind tossed dead leaves between them. That's when Alluka struck. He swore he could hear the moment Alluka's small fists met Canary's shin, but however it was just Canary's cane blocking her attack. She used it whimsically as she continuously blocked the girl.
They continued this for hours. No matter what combination or diversion Alluka used, she just couldn't make Canary budge. Killua watched intensely as Alluka lay huffing on the ground. Her frustration seemed to pour out all over her.
Canary however, remained unbothered.
"Are you ready to give up?" she asked.
"No!" Alluka immediately called back.
"Well it sure looks as if you are very tired."
Alluka took a few moments to catch her breath before connecting with Canary's gaze.
Her breath hitched as she stared into those familiar eyes, the very same eyes that Gon had that day. She couldn't help but to smile.
"I am not tired!" The small girl called.
"Good! Then show me more."
They began at seven and wouldn't stop until noon.
When they did take a break, Killua made them a simple lunch with the rice they were given. As they ate, it was rather quiet, but not uncomfortable; it was simply filled with Alluka's resolve, something the two older fighters were much too familiar with.
The girl's hands were bloodied with how many times Canary had struck her knuckles and she was sure she had enough bruises to render any grown man useless. However, she knew she couldn't give up. Canary and Killua watched as she ate her bowl with trembling hands and an overflowing heart.
After lunch, they would begin the same routine and at dinner they would walk to the village. This would continue for a week.
When Alluka would arrive into the village, beaten and bruised, it would often leave the people in a hush. Though they had to note, though she looked broke, the spirit in her eyes said otherwise. Connie, the restaurant owner's daughter, would be amongst the few to recognize her intense stare and suddenly understand.
"My grandmother was a tough woman," Connie spoke between drying dishes, "when she realized my older sister and I could use Nen, she trained us relentlessly."
Alluka listened carefully as she helped the girl wash the dishes. Connie often called Alluka back to help her wash dishes. For whatever reason, Alluka had no idea, but she gladly took the kind gesture every time. For the most part she remained quiet.
"Apparently, she was a hunter long before hunters were even thought of. Unlucky for us though, instead of a cane, she had knives. We lived with her for years before coming to live with our parents again..."
Alluka continued to listen to the girl go on as the dishes clanked in the soapy sink.
"She passed away a few years ago, unfortunately and no one knew her true age. That's why I asked Nanika-sama to tell me her age that one day. Now I feel better knowing she lived for so long."
Things were then quiet between the girls as they passed dishes between each other, but Connie understood. When getting stronger was your only focus, you barely had time for anything else.
When all of the suds had vanished and the dishes were done, Connie used the drying rag to dry her own hands. "Well, thank you for helping me again. Let me know how your training goes tomorrow, okay?" She asked.
Alluka smiled weakly and nodded her head.
Connie looked pleased and the two girls clasped fists.
It wasn't until the seventh day that Canary decided Alluka was ready to go on.
It was a rather foggy and quiet morning. Just above the fog, you could see the light blue sky before it descended back into the grey clouds like a depressing watercolor smudge. Grey geese flew by in large "V" formations. They were most likely escaping the winter storm that was threatening them soon. Throughout the week, it had drizzled quite a bit and was now threatening them with on and off rain. Seemingly, tomorrow would be the day it would all start to pour. This day would be the backdrop to Alluka's clever plan.
According to Alluka's previous training, she was a Specialist with high compatibility with manipulator and conjuring abilities. Since then, she has loosely used these ideas to develop her Hatsu. Of course, it dawned on her early that she could probably use any tactic to make Canary move, but she never thought of implementing her Hatsu. She usually just went along with regular hand to hand combat with Ko* and Ryu* to protect her body (though this was a difficult combination, her Ken* was much too weak and therefore wasn't an option).
Alluka kept five very small knives tucked beneath her kimono which she used often when she fought. She made sure to gain some space between her and Canary before grabbing them in her hand. She crouched low to the ground while she held the knives in her sleeves. "Flying Dagger" she muttered before the knives all came whizzing towards Canary.
Canary had to admit that the knives were coming at a much higher than expected speed. She quickly conjured her cane and spun it around her in all directions to deflect the knives. When they all clattered to the ground and the threat was over, Canary had to admit that she couldn't sense Alluka's aura anymore.
The girl had fled from the courtyard and was now more than likely hiding in the foliage around them. Canary relaxed her body and recognized her crouching in the bushes and tall trees to her right. When the girl came flying towards her with a final knife in her hands, Canary quickly countered her and flung Alluka in front of her by the collar. She then delivered a strong kick to her chest as she floated mid-air, causing her to roll across the stone ground.
Alluka coughed heavily as she lay on her side as the breath had literally been knocked right out of her.
Killua had no other response than to sweat drop. 'She did want her as a teacher after all...'
"That was an interesting thing you did." Canary finally spoke through the cold of the morning. "I was only expecting that you were developing a Hatsu until now."
Alluka huffed as she crouched to her feet. "Yes, I used manipulation to be able to freely control those daggers. I swiped my blood across them, that way they're free for me to use."
Canary noticed the dried blood on the daggers at her feet.
Alluka then reached out her hand and one by one the daggers came floating back to her. Canary watched silently as the girl then carefully placed them back into her kimono.
Killua couldn't help but to become somewhat nostalgic. He remembered the day Alluka had grown fond of knives, it was after one of her most successful target practices. He remembered he had praised her endlessly on her marksmanship that night. They celebrated and ever since she's had a calling towards them.
"Though," Canary interrupted, "you have been able to show me some skill, you still weren't able to make me budge." She reminded her.
Alluka adjusted to her knees and bowed.
"However, you pass for now… We will continue on." She added.
Alluka's face immediately beamed at this. "Thank you, Canary Sensei!"
Canary smiled and walked in the opposite direction of the girl. "I suggest you take a break. We'll continue again after lunch!"
Alluka shot to her feet and began jumping into the air as she waved Canary goodbye. "Of course, Canary Sensei!"
Killua's mind flashed with a familiar vision of a much older Alluka behaving in the same way, but he was quick to forget it.
Alluka turned to him and said something about heading to the village which he blindly agreed to. It appeared as if him and the others had grown very safe in the small area they were staying in. Killua stood from the pagoda and then decided to follow Canary into the trees.
It appeared that Canary was heading to the small waterfall they bathed and collected water at. By the time Killua had reached this area, the apprentice was already in the process of stripping her clothes and laying them neatly over a nearby branch. When Killua noticed this, he quickly diverted his eyes, but not before noticing her bare skin.
"Well Killua sama, it's quite the coincidence to see you here." She stated calmly as she noticed him. She was currently in the process of finger combing through her long braids. Her bare chest lifted into the air as her arms moved about her head.
Killua's eyes remained downward as he spoke to her. "Yeah, well I could've sworn you knew I was coming," He mumbled beneath embarrassed breath. He reprimanded himself for teasing her before their spar only a few days ago, and guessed that this might've been the payback for it.
Canary continued to act nonchalant and simply walked into the cooling water. "Never mind that, I simply thought you knew what I was up to." She reasoned.
She continued her nonchalance, even despite Killua's noticeable quietness, and got comfortable in the water. "It does not have to be such a big deal, Killua sama. So, will you finally join me?" She asked in half frustration.
Killua listened to the sound of the water rinsing over her body before finally agreeing that maybe this wasn't payback after all. "Fine, but only if it's not a big deal."
Canary waited patiently as she listened to him shed his clothes and drift into the cold water.
Alluka walked into the village with a kind of pep in her step. She had every intention of going to the teahouse and telling Connie every last bit of her training. But when she arrived there, the girl shot out of the teahouse herself.
"Alluka! How did it go?" She called as she met her in the street.
Connie gripped Alluka's shoulder's excitedly while she gave her a dopey grin. "Canary Sensei said I passed! ~" She drawled.
Connie was ecstatic and so began shaking Alluka energetically. She continued to shake the girl enthusiastically until realizing that Alluka was all alone.
"Wait a minute, where are Killua san and Canary san?" She asked. "It's quite unusual for them not to be with you."
Alluka shrugged. "Well, my brother said it was alright, so I came anyway!"
Connie was concerned, but still played along with the girl. "Okay! Just to be safe, I'm walking you home tonight, okay? There's no telling what's out there!"
The butlers all happened to agree with two things while bathing on Kukuroo Mountain: 1. You're fine amongst comrades and 2. As a butler, privacy does not exist; it only exists for your masters. In fact, when you're chosen for the position, you practically lose all sense of privacy. This happens for the sole purpose that each of the butlers learn comradery and status apart from their master's. For example, the quarters she lived in back on Kukuroo Mountain had a shared bathing area to enforce this strictly platonic ideology. The butlers would also often bathe together during their longer excursions with their masters and this would be normal. She has bathed with men and women alike and has never felt uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, Canary often remembers bathing with Gotoh when she was younger on their longer travels. She also remembers Master Zeno joining them from time to time; it was simply an act to build camaraderie. So, when Killua joined her that morning, she saw nothing odd about it. Her young master, however, did.
He made sure to seat himself a safe distance away from Canary in order to give her some privacy. 'So, when was the last time you've bathed with a girl?' He asked himself as he sat in one of the naturally made wave pools. Visions of Killua bathing with his little sister passed through his mind, at least before she insisted they were much too old to bathe together. Killua dismissed that thought.
'No, not a girl… Instead, a woman...' He decided. This made Killua's heart beat frantically in his chest. He looked carefully back towards Canary before springing back to the front. She was still just peacefully enjoying herself in the water.
'How in the hell can she remain so calm!'
Canary watched her young master very carefully as she criticized him in the water. 'It serves no purpose whatsoever to behave as rigid as he does; all he has to do is simply relax.' She thought in irritation. Canary stood roughly from the shallow pool and decided to do something about it.
Killua was hyper aware as Canary began walking towards him. He felt goosebumps as she kneeled behind him and inhaled sharply as he felt her cooling hands lingered over his shoulders.
"It would be best if you would just calm down, Killua sama," she spoke softly.
Killua's head was becoming fuzzy as she touched him, yet he mostly blamed it on the fogginess of the day.
"Oh yeah, and how are you so calm?" He asked.
"Butlers have no privacy," she responded. "In fact, I've bathed with Gotoh and Master Zeno plenty of times."
At this, Killua's face immediately turned red, but he quickly played it off.
"And that's not embarrassing for you?"
"Of course not, my job is to keep you alive after all."
Killua felt his shoulders tense at realizing this and Canary released her hold on him. He sighed into the foggy air. 'That's right, that's all she can think of me as; a job,' he thought. He didn't shy away as she made herself more comfortable on the pool ledge slightly above him.
They listened to the waterfall gush more and more water before finally speaking to each other again. Surprisingly, the sun made its way through the fog and the foliage and lit up the water like sparkling stars.
Killua gazed over his shoulder at his loyal butler. The sparkling water bounced off her dark skin and imitated the night sky as she relaxed closed eyed in the pool. He tried to ignore the velvety skin that lay beneath her neck, but failed as soon as he decided. Her skin was rich and like velvet. He decided she was beautiful. He turned back in the water and let himself relax.
"You know, I never told you, but I appreciate you for training my sister," Killua admitted into the silence, "thank you."
He couldn't see her expression, but he knew she was smiling. "No problem, Killua sama."
He enjoyed the water and decided to never rid himself of beautiful moments like these again.
Connie and Alluka quickly ate and finished Connie's chores at the restaurant. They both had an idea, and it involved them both finally sparring together. Alluka was sure that Canary would want to see it too, so they hurried back to the pagoda after they were finished.
They took the trail back to the pagoda, but was interrupted as they nearly arrived there. Apparently, Connie witnessed it first. She squealed and quickly ran over to grasp Alluka by the shoulders.
"Okay, listen," she spoke. "I know a lot of weird things have been happening, but I'm going to need you to be calm before I show you this." Alluka was confused, but decided to agree with her.
"Okay, but what –"
Alluka was cut off as Connie showed her what she was talking about. There right in front of Alluka was Killua and Canary enjoying an intimate moment together. Alluka's eyes grew as large as saucers as the two adolescents crept closer to the scene.
"It's so cold out here! Don't you think they'd get sick?" Connie whispered.
Alluka grimaced at the thought of that. They often made her bathe in the cold just as they did, but she hadn't built as much immunity as they had so the biting water kind of hurt her. She wasn't looking forward to that later.
"So," Connie continued after she received no answer, "how long do you think they've been in love with each other?" She whispered again as she watched Canary lean her ear very carefully to Killua's moving lips.
They leaned into each other and he sat sideways to face the girl above him as they exchanged words. The boy seemed absolutely transfixed, his eyes never separating. The sun glistened off the water and illuminated their warm faces.
Alluka stepped back with mixed emotions before finally smiling. "I have no clue. But hey, we should hurry and get back!" She exclaimed. Connie stopped watching the two and instantly agreed "Mhm!"
Killua and Canary dressed together as they finally realized it was time to head back. But now instead of the awkwardness surrounding them, it was full of mutual comfort between the two. They were aware of Connie and Alluka's creeping aura earlier, but decided to ignore it as Killua was way too busy with current endeavors. He was almost glad they missed lunch.
Canary was the one who suggested that they meet the girls back at the camp. Their walk back together was quiet, but Killua would remember the silent smiles and glances they passed each other while reaching the pagoda. When they finally arrived there, Connie and Alluka were heavily engaged in a sparring match.
Connie deflected Alluka with her legs spinning in quick circles as she balanced on her hands. It seemed just as Alluka, Connie was very flexible. Next, Alluka easily moved away from the girl with a few consecutive back handsprings before connecting with her again. It seemed they were pretty well matched, though Connie obviously had some longer training. She would make a great rival for Alluka.
Connie repeatedly kicked high into the air as Alluka eventually lost her footing and stumbled backwards. By then, they had both noticed Killua and Canary enter the clearing. Alluka quickly readjusted herself before turning towards them. "Hey guys!" she called.
"That was very interesting to watch." Canary admitted. "You should come by more often, Connie san.
Connie froze as she realized she was being complimented. "O-oh, thank you, Canary san! I'll make sure to!" It wasn't every day that someone of Canary's stature complimented her, so Connie made sure to commit it to memory.
"Come on, Connie, I'll walk you home." Killua stated. "These two have some catching up to do." He finished as he winked playfully at Canary.
Connie was reluctant to go, but followed anyway. "Oh man, Canary san was just beginning to compliment me too…" she muttered.
Canary simply looked back at the pair as they disappeared down the path.
"Once a day, we will dedicate a large amount of our time to Ten meditation." Canary spoke as the two sat opposite each other before the pagoda. "That means we will take time to maintain and strengthen our freely surrounding Nen, our constricted Nen, and our released Nen. I've noticed you are already fluent in Gyo, Ryu, and Ko, but this will enable you to strengthen your Hatsu*, your Ken*, and your In* and En*. This is the basis of all Nen application. When I think you have done well, we will move onto the next lesson." She concluded.
Alluka absorbed the information from her teacher easily and began to rest her body as she drifted into her Nen state. "Now that you have begun to meditate, imagine your Nen slowly flowing around you, but never leaving your body."
Alluka did as she was told and Canary acknowledged her. "Good, now hold it there for the rest of the day."
Alluka was no stranger to Ten training. For days, it would seem that Killua would have her meditate nonstop just in an effort to become stronger. So, she hunkered in for the training that day and only imagined how long Canary would push her for.
She managed to last until evening and by then, Killua had long returned and decided to join them. It was said that those comfortable enough to mediate with each other held a strong bond and it was evident as the three sat around each other in a perfect calm. By noon, the sky began to turn into a blackish horizon, so the three headed back into the pagoda. It seemed as if the slight sunshine they got earlier was merely a fluke, so they waited the day away in patient meditation as the dark clouds lingered.
They finally ate together, and by nightfall, Killua's two female companions decided it was time to bathe for the night. Killua mentioned that he'd stay behind and bathe tomorrow as they both instead washed away the trials of the day's training. They eventually would head back to the pagoda in the slight drizzling rain and Alluka would drift off to sleep while Killua and Canary still tirelessly watched over her.
Just a quick reference:
Nen of the Flame
Ten (点, Point): Focus the mind, reflect upon the self and determine the goal. (纏, Envelop; Shroud) is the process of keeping the nodes open, but also having aura flow through and around the body rather than away from it
Zetsu (舌, Tongue): Put it into words. (絶, Suppress; Null) stops the flow of aura from their body altogether. By closing all of their aura nodes
Ren (錬, Temper): Intensify your will. (練, Refine; Enhance) is a direct application of Ten. Since a user is capable of keeping aura from leaking away from the body, it's also possible for them to produce more aura around themselves without having to worry about losing it
Hatsu (発, Release): Put it to action.[6] (発, Release; Act) is the release or transmission of one's aura so it can be projected to carry out a certain function.
Advanced Techniques
Gyo (凝, Focus) is an advanced application of Ren by which a Nen-user concentrates a larger than normal portion of their aura into one specific body part.
Ryu (流, Flow) is the term for real-time use of Gyo (the adjustment of aura concentration in various body parts) by a Nen-user in battle
Ko (硬, Temper) is an enhanced version of Gyo in which all of an individual's aura is concentrated into one particular body part.
In (隱, Conceal) is an advanced form of Zetsu used to almost completely conceal one's aura
En (圓, Circle) is an advanced application of Ren and Ten. In Ren, aura usually envelops only a small amount of space around the user's body. En is when one extends their Ren so that their aura extends further than normal, then uses Ten at the same time to give shape to the aura, usually a sphere. 50m – 300m for experts
Shu (周, Enfold) is an advanced application of Ten. Shu allows a user of Nen to extend their aura's envelopment onto an object, allowing them to use that object as if it were an extension of their own body
Ken (堅, Fortify) is the advanced version of the basic Ren and Ten techniques. Ken is a defensive technique where a Nen-user maintains a state of Ko over their entire body, allowing them to defend against attacks from any direction without the need to use Ryu.
*All Nen info taken from Hunterpedia*
