Authors's notes: School will be starting soon so I'm making the most of my chances to update~! Here's chapter 8!

the-ultimate-star: I was so happy to get your reviews! I really really appreciate it when people do so. I'm glad you're enjoying the story! that was what I really hoped would happen, that people would enjoy my story as much as I've been enjoying the ones I've read here.

In this chapter, I hoped I've sort of justified just why Killua is acting that way towards Raiha, as you've pointed out he shouldn't that be close to her so fast. I really appreciate the comment! It made a lot of sense, and no no no offense taken at all. He still is a bit wary about her since he doesn't know her that well and yeah I think I could have shown that better. Hopefully, Killua's internal monologues here bring some light to that. I might go back to the previous chapters to edit them again when I find the inspiration. XD Your comment really encouraged me to update this quickly! :D thanks again!


York Shin was crowded as always. Weaving himself skillfully in and out of the rushes of people, Killua headed for a pristine tower that appeared to be covered in mirrors. To say that it was tall was an understatement. It loomed over all the other buildings in its vicinity, and cast the sunlight's reflection almost like small spotlights, on certain parts of the city. 100th tower, the most expensive hotel in York Shin.

"Why again am I doing this.",

It fell in between a question and a statement. Why was he doing this? Just the other day he had been perfectly content just lazing about in the city, devouring the sweet delicacies it offered. Gon and him had been through a lot over the years. Granted it was always interesting, the adventures they had, and to be honest he wasn't a fan of the ordinary, the boring and the safe anyway. But they deserved a lull, some time off, a break. But apparently it wasn't going to happen. Because Raiha had come along.

Why was he letting that girl order him around? It was rather…pleasant talking to her last night. But if he thought about it logically, even after all the stories, he still really didn't know her. She had told him things about her yes, but it was more of a history lesson than really getting to know her. Did he even know her back then? He tried to form an image of her nine-year-old self in his mind and it was proving to be difficult. She was always pestering him back then, asking him questions about his family, wanting to touch this and that. Curious. But most children are, supposedly. He realized that it was difficult because he remembered much more of how he had felt around her, of what they had done, or rather what he did when he was with her. Not her per se. Was he fabricating his idea of her all this time? Why had he let himself open up to her so much? And why did he say THAT?

He was thrown off guard when she asked if he had had a girlfriend. First thought was the real answer: no he had not. Second thought was: why the hell did she ask that of all things? The third thought came after he had answered her: why did he answer that way? That she was enough of a bother? He decided he wasn't thinking straight at the time. It was the smell of that goddamn restaurant! Sweets, even just the smell of them could make him do strange things. And her voice as she said it, maybe it was some sort of rhythm hypnosis? He was thinking too much.

But disregarding all the other issues of their past, the eight year separation thing, and oh God, the fiancée issue, he DID want to be friends with Raiha. Not because he wanted to feel what he felt when he was nine when he was with her, but rather, he wanted to feel what he made her feel now. Feelings!, he thought with a scratch to the head and a sigh. They were still a foreign concept to him even after all these years and he didn't like having to deal with them too much. She reminded him of Gon a little bit. There was something pulling him towards her. With Gon it had been, what had it been? How carefree he was? Them being the only two people in the exam who was the same age? Probably it was the extreme contrast to his own self that did it. People like Gon, rare as they are, are able to pull people like him out of the shadows. Loyal to the point of hardheadedness, so moral it was illogical, and a lot of times, hilariously naïve, these qualities were what drew him to Gon. Raiha wasn't exactly the same as he didn't feel like she was a complete contrast to him. Loyal, she did seem to be, at least as far as he could tell. She seemed to be very protective of her brothers, as Gon was with his friends. Moral, no not so much maybe, he couldn't say, naïve….was she? Perhaps not.

That time at the restaurant she had seemed…somewhat detached. Like she was acting out scenes in her head. Maybe she rehearsed their would-be conversation in her mind. It would be difficult to approach someone you hadn't seen for eight years without a game plan. But in her room she felt more, natural was it? Maybe that was a glimpse of the real her. Maybe that was what drew him to her, the faint glimpses of the genuine her that surfaced from time to time. With her, he felt like he was wading in shallow water, the cold still jolting him from time to time, but he was pushing himself on, ankles, knees, waist deep. He wanted to just dive in headfirst and let himself get used to the temperature. He could let himself get close to Raiha, actually he was already letting himself get close to her, and quite quickly he thought. Drawn like a moth to a flame. Or in his case, like...Like candy. She was like candy. That sounded horribly wrong, but he was drawn to her as he was to his sweets. It was one of those things he couldn't resist doing for reasons he would probably be able to logically analyze later, and probably that was why, that was why he was doing this. Or maybe Gon's overly extroverted behavior was rubbing off on him. He had been in close proximity to that guy for a good five years now. Whatever it was, he decided to keep on wading the waters.


Gon was rather happy by the degree of affectedness Killua was showing to recent events. Putting the long outburst he had this morning aside, Gon could see positive developments in his friend, like the open familiar way he conversed with Raiha. Killua was not a people person. He wasn't introverted exactly, but he was…picky, he thought the appropriate word would be. Picky with whom he lets himself get close to. He had wanted to ask his best friend more questions last night, but how could he resist the call of the bed? Especially after that heavenly meal he was finally graced with after waiting so so very long to eat. The truth was he really didn't mind helping Raiha. He loved adventure and this felt like it would be a good one. Besides, she had asked for their help, and gone to such lengths to find them, how could they refuse her? He liked the idea of making a new friend too, and even more the idea of Killua making, or was it remaking, a new friend. He could use more friends. Maybe it was because they had known each other before that Killua wasn't being as guarded as he would have been, but Gon felt otherwise. There was something in Raiha that made you want to lower your defenses, that made you want to get to know her more, that made you want to be her friend. Her eyes had flashed defiant, grown vulnerable, and shown sincere happiness in the few hours since he had met her. He wanted to see her other expressions. But for now, he needed to meet Mr. Foxbear Linar, or ...? What was his first name again? He shrugged and figured he would just stick with Mr. Linar. The City View Hotel wasn't all that far from the hotel they were staying so he made it in fairly good time. First things first, ask the receptionist.

'Hello, I"m looking for Mr. Linar?"

"Please wait for a moment.

We have three Mr. Linar's staying here sir. Which one would you like to meet with? Mr. Kiero Linar, Mr. Cualo Linar, or Mr. Kyozo Linar?"

"Oh errr…"

Why did they sound so similar? He memorized the man's face to a T, but not his name. Maybe he could show the girl his picture?

At that moment, Linar, the Linar that Gon was looking for, Kyozo, walked up to the counter next to him.

"I'd like to request the transportation service to pick me up at 11:00 today."

"Yes sir."

Gon looked at the man from the corner of his eyes. There was no mistaking it, this was Foxbear. He smiled at the receptionist and told her he would get back to her later. He looked at the clock hanging above the receptionist desk. 30 minutes to 11:00. Foxbear was walking over to one of the couches in the room. Gon followed him but sat in the couch opposite him, quite a distance away. He took out his phone and messaged Raiha.

"Foxbear in sight. Will follow."

Foxbear had his eyes closed. Up close, Gon noticed that his muscles seemed even more prominent. Where would he be going? He would find out soon. Gon shifted his eyes just in time. Across from him a phone was ringing. Foxbear opened his eyes slowly and took out his phone. Brilliant. An average person could not eavesdrop but Gon was far from average when it came to his senses.

"Yes, the auction. You'll be there? All right…...No. I have one piece I want to show you. Hahahaha! Yes it's worth your while. I've had my eye on it for quite some time….Yes, that's fine. I'll see you then."

Very very suspicious. Gon sat up straight. Looks like he'll be going to an auction.


Across The City View Hotel, quite a some distance away, Raiha was sitting in the lobby of Aviva Suites, her fingers alternating between twirling and straightening her pale hair. It wasn't the best time to be showing such signs of nervousness, but what her mother said earlier had really taken her aback. She stopped breathing for a few seconds and then took three consecutive deep breaths to calm herself down. Why hadn't her mother told her sooner? Why did she need to be kept in the dark? She felt anger brewing in her but she sighed and dismissed it. Getting angry right now wouldn't help her at all. She needed to be calm, collected. She would freak out later. Then she remembered Gon and Killua and felt her stomach churn. She had a lot of explaining ahead of her. She was glad to have these…two friends? They were friends right? Probably not. She had just met them last night. Or re-met Killua at least. But maybe they were in that getting to be friends stage? She hoped. Those two, they had agreed to help her, she could trust them couldn't she?

She would have to think about it later. Right now, her main concern was finding out whether Smite had taken Umi. At that moment, the middle aged man stepped out of the elevator. He was wearing a business suit similar to the one he had on in the picture, and was carrying a dark brown brief case. Raiha didn't hesitate to approach him. With a man like Smite, you get right down to business. He admired frankness. The man soon caught sight of her and and he stopped walking until they were face to face.

"Raiha Kanakiri. Quite a long way from home aren't we? To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"There's something I would like to discuss with you Mr. Smite."

The man raised his eyebrows in surprise. He stared at the girl in front of him before slowly breaking into a strange smile. She had gusto, this one, to be addressing him so. If he took out the Mr,. she was addressing him almost as if she was his equal. His eyes drifted a bit to the slim sword that hung at her side, strap slung across one shoulder. Raiha followed his eyes and instinctively put one hand on the blade.

"Why don't we go to a café near here and have some coffee?"

"Lead the way….sir."


It wasn't hard for Killua to spot Tora Nichika upon entering 100th Tower. He was making himself quite conspicuous. Seated on a long couch, with his arms and legs spread wide and about five girls surrounding him. They were all cackling like a bunch of chickens. Killua knew boredom when he saw it, and it was written all over that guy's face.

Killua decided he would try to catch him off guard and see how he reacts. He went up to him, the cackling girls quieting briefly to look at him before turning their attention back to the blonde.

"You're Tora Nichika right?"

"That I am. And I'm speaking to?"

The blonde had an amused expression on his face. Hanging around with these girls was a constant bore and he wanted something interesting to happen. Unfortunately they weren't the easiest thing to shake off.

"Raiha's….friend."

Killua watched the blonde's face carefully. His expression went through the motions of recognition at Raiha's name and surprise at the word friend. Killua tried to find any signs of stress but he could fine none. The blonde stood up and waved to the girls, eliciting a disappointed groan.

This guy. He was strong. Killua could see as much. He was built around the same as him, but slightly taller. He wasn't overly muscular but the arms coming out of his short sleeves were toned. He put one arm around Killua's shoulder. Killua almost flinched at the overly familiar gesture but he held steady.

"So Raiha's friend…Tell me, how is she doing?"

Swiftly taking the blonde's arm and placing at it's owner's side, Killua replied cooly, "Fine."

"Not the friendly type are we? Are you going to tell me what this is about? Or should we play 20 Questions first?"

Killua decided to try the direct approach. If Tora becomes hostile he could always just fight it out with him. It would speed things up and this guy looked like he could put up a good fight, and that he needed to be taken down a peg. "Raiha is looking for something. She thought you might have an idea of where it is."

"She said that?" Laughter. "Never thought Raiha Kanakiri would come asking me for anything. Speaking of which, why isn't she the one asking me? Couldn't stand to see me huh.' Tora looked…proud of himself while he said that. This guy's arrogance is hitting a nerve, thought Killua.

"So what is it, what she's looking for."

"A sword."

For a split second, Tora's expression changed. The arrogance was replaced by surprise, and was that, worry? Then it returned to its former expression. This guy definitely knew something. Killua smirked inwardly. He was right for picking blondie. This was going to be interesting.

"A sword huh. Maybe I know something, maybe I don't. So why don't you do something for me, friend. Tell Raiha to meet me here tomorrow, 7pm. If there's anything to tell I want to tell her myself."

"That's not necessary. Anything you want to tell her, you can tell me."

"Aren't we the helpful friend?" The blonde put his hand on Killua's shoulder, and green met blue as they stared at one another. "Do as I say."

Killua laughed and the blonde boy backed away a few steps, frowning. "Is that your attempt at threatening me? Because it looked to me as if you were just trying to make me laugh with its complete ineffectiveness."

"I wasn't threatening you, I was giving you a chance to save yourself before I had to MAKE you do as I say."

"Look dude, just tell me what it is you want to tell Raiha."

"I just did. I told you to tell her to meet me here tomorrow."

The two glared at one another for a few more seconds before Tora let out a smirk and said, "Tell you what. We'll arm wrestle for it. If I win, you be a good little friend and tell Raiha to meet me here. If I lose, then you get what you want."

Killua cracked his knuckles as his stared at the the blonde. "Deal."