Skylar and Killua set off to the nearest airship and bought their way into first-class seats.
"So where exactly are we going?" Skylar asked from their private sitting area.
"Kukuroo Mountain. That is where my home is. There is a small cottage for the people who take care of our guard dog Mike, a home for the butlers further up the mountain, and the main house where the me and my family lives at the top." Killua told her. He has been distant since he killed Bodoro.
"Killua." Skylar called out to him.
"Hmm?" He looked at her.
"I don't care what your brother said, don't listen to him. Gon and I already see you as our friend, and bet that Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio will come after you to bring you back." She mmoved next to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Everything will turn out alright." She whispered.
Killua smiled at her. "I know, thank you. When I get back I will face my demons and be ready for when Gon and them come." He hugged her back.
"But, of course, you will introduce me to your family first, right?" She reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah, quit reminding me would ya?" Killua sassed back.
"Well if I knew you wouldn't 'conveniently forget' I would." She stuck her tongue out at him.
Killua stuck his tongue in return.
Soon the duo were wrestling around.
"Ha! I win!" Skylar cheered when she had finally pinned Killua.
"Oi, get off!" Killua struggled to get out from underneath her.
"Only if you promise to buy me some new clothes and a book bag when we land." Skylar started to tickle him.
"Alright, alright! I promise!" Killua shouted in between bouts of laughter.
Skylar got off, and the two started laughing again.
"I'm tired. I'll see you in the morning." Skylar said as she fell instantly asleep.
Killua laughed about how quickly she could fall asleep and fell asleep himself.
...
Skylar woke up cuddled next to Killua and smiled.
"Want to get breakfast?" She asked him.
"Why? We land in about ten minutes." He asked her.
"Fine. I'll wait till we land. Then you can buy me breakfast and take me shopping." She smiled as his groaned in pain. "What? It beats you going home early." She said as if it was the better choice.
"I think they're roughly around the same." Killua whispered.
Skylar 'accidentally' elbowed him while yawning.
"Geez. Sorry." Killua whined as he rubbed his head.
Skylar just gave him the 'yeah right' look.
Skylar went into their private bathroom and freshened up.
She took a quick 5 minute shower, used her nen fire to dry her hair, brushed her hair and put it in a high ponytail, put on a silver tank-top with black lace on the top, dark-wash shorts that when to the middle of her thigh, black and purple striped leggings, and her black boots.
"Perfect timing." Killua told her when she stepped out. It took her a total of ten minutes.
"Too bad I didn't have anytime to try to do makeup." Skylar was actually interested in being more like a girl.
"Who are you, and what did you do to Skylar? Or did Illumi get you too?" Killua looked at her as if she grew a second head or something.
"Nothing like that happened. I just had a really good time with the ladies on the airship." She told him as she grabbed her cloak.
"Don't." Killua grabbed it from her.
"But I don't have room to put it anywhere." Skylar pouted.
"Then I'll carry it and buy you a book bag first." Killua told her.
"Fine." Skylar gave in.
They were walking off the airship when a little girl holding something came up to Skylar. "Are you The Skylar Reed?" She asked excitedly.
"Yes?" Skylar didn't now how to answer that.
"Can I have your autograph! I saw your fight during the Hunter Exam! You're my Hero! When the announced they were making this month's Hunter's Magazine all about you, I stayed in line just to get one!" The little girl got very excited.
"Do you have a pen or something?" Skylar asked her. 'Remind me to kill Netero.' She thought to herself. She didn't like people recognizing her.
"Yes! I bought a lilac sharpie because it's your favorite color!" She pulled out said sharpie.
"So what's your name?" She asked the girl.
"Reimei." The girl blushed from her asking her name.
'Dear Reimei, Thank you for being the first person to ask for my autograph. I really appreciate it. :) I hope you grow up and become great at whatever you choose to be. Love, Skylar Reed.'
Skylar wrote on the front page of the magazine next to her picture.
The little girl's eyes lit up. "Thank you!" She jumped up and down.
Skylar chuckled at her enthusiasm and hugged her. Then the little girl's mom and dad came over.
"Thank you. We're glad she has chosen such a great role-model." They bowed to her.
"No problem. Take care, Reimei." Skylar told them before she and Killua walked away.
As they walked through the airport, more people began to notice her.
"Killua, can you please be my bodyguard?" Skylar begged him.
"Why? You can easily keep them away." Killlua got snippy.
"But I thought you were my cuddle buddy and didn't want anyone getting too close?" She reminded him of their time on the airship before the Third Phase.
"Ok, get on my back." He crouched down a bit.
"Yay!" She cheered as she jumped on. Killua sped off out of the airport and towards the town.
"Let's get breakfast." Killua told her when they finally had gotten away.
"Fine by me." They entered a cute little restaurant.
"Hi. Table for two please." Skylar smiled at the lady.
"Are you, by any chance, The Skylar Reed?" She asked her.
"Yep." Skylar beamed.
"Right this way. And don't worry about the tab, it's on us." She informed them as she showed them to their seats.
"Thank you." Skylar and Killua said together.
"What would you like to drink?" She asked after she handed them the menus.
"Oooh! Peach tea, please." Skylar said.
"Chocolate milkshake." Killua said with his cat ears popping out. 'He really loves chocolate.' Skylar sweat-dropped.
"Ok, it will be out in a minute." She said as she walked away.
"Seems like you're famous now." Killua told her.
"Great." Skylar rubbed her temples in frustration.
Killua laughed at her frustration and went back to looking at the menu.
Skylar looked at her's. 'Hmm. The fruit bowl sounds good, maybe I could get some yogurt too.' Skylar thought as she looked at menu.
"We're back, Sissie!" A familiar voice yelled.
"Reimei?" Skylar looked at the front.
"Skylar!?" The girl looked excited and surprised.
"Nice to see you again."Skylar laughed a bit.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were still at the airport?" Her mom asked.
"No, my friend here, Killua, let me jump on his back and we ran out. Then we came here for breakfast." Skylar explained.
"That's coincidence. We happen to own this place." Reimei's father told her.
"Awesome. Would you like to sit with me, Reimei?" She patted the seat next to her. She and Killua were in a booth sitting across from one another.
"Yes, please." She said with a bright smile.
Soon the lady from earlier came out. "Here's your peach tea and chocolate milkshake. Have you decided what you'd like to eat?" She asked as she pulled out her pa of paper and a pen that was behind her ear.
"I'll have the fruit bowl and some yogurt, please." Skylar told her.
"I'll have some chocolate pancakes with whipped cream and some strawberries." Killua said.
"Ok, and what would you like, sis?" She asked Reimei.
"Same as Skylar." She beamed at her big sister.
"Ok, I'll be out with your food as soon as possible." She told them and then left.
"So what's your sister's name?" Skylar asked the girl next to her.
"That's Raegan. She's 15 and I'm 6. I also have an older brother who is almost 12. His name is Ryson." She told her idol.
Raegan brought out their food.
After a few minutes, more and more people entered, saying "I'll have the same as Skylar Reed." And stuff like that.
Business was booming for the small place.
Killua and her finished quickly. "Here's my number in case you ever need to contact me." Skylar smiled as she gave the paper to Reimei's mom.
"Thank you so much. We were honestly on the verge of closing, but after today, I think we'll be ok." The woman had tears in her eyes.
"Well, I love the food here. It's some of the best I've had in a long time. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll stop by." She told the woman as she walked out the door with Killua.
"Now let's get you a book bag and all the other stuff I promised." Killua said when they were finlly out of there.
"Ok." Skylar said as she jumped on him again.
Killua and Skylar came across a few stores.
He got her a dark purple bag and some extra clothes to put in it. She also took her cloak back from Killua and put it in there too.
"Let's meet the family." Skylar said as she jumped back on to him, but this time with a book bag on her shoulders.
Killua sighed at the thought of seeing his family again, but he knew he needed to face his demons eventually. At least he had Skylar with him, and he knew Gon would catch up to them eventually.
With determination in his eyes, he set off with Skylar to Kukuroo Mountain.
...
When they got to the gate, they saw Zebro and Seaquant there.
"Oh, who is this?" Zebro asked Killua. Meanwhile, Seaquant sneaked inside and told Butlers what was going on.
"This is my friend, Skylar. Skylar, this is one of the people who cleans up after Mike, Zebro." Killua introduced them.
"Nice to meet you, and who is Mike?" Skylar asked him.
"He's our guard dog. I'll let you meet him when we go inside." Killua smiled at her.
"Ok. Bye, Zebro and random person hiding in the guard room!" Skylar waved at them.
Killua pushed open the gate to gate three.
"Can I try?" Skylar asked him.
"Sure." Killua let her slide off his back.
Skylar activated her nen to give her an extra boost to open the doors. Seaquant told all of this to Gotoh, the head butler.
"Ok!" She yelled as she pushed. She was able to open up to gate ten thanks to her nen. If it was her strength alone, she could maybe get to four or five.
"Woah! You're awesome." Killua complemented her as she jumped back on his back.
As soon as she was secure, Killua began to trek up the mountain side.
They came across Canary next.
"Welcome home, Killua-sama." She bowed to him. "Who is this?" She asked him.
"This is Skylar. She's one of the friends I made during the exam." Killua told her as he carried Skylar past her.
Canary bowed her head as he passed her, though she smiled at the knowledge that he had made more than one friend.
It had taken quite some time, but they had finally made it to the mansion. Awaiting them, was the butlers and Killua's mother.
"Kil, who is this?" She said in a deceptively sweet voice.
"This is my friend, Skylar Reed." He kept her on his back the entire time.
"Why did you bring her here?" She went straight to the point.
"Because I could." He told her. "Skylar, this is my mom." He informed her of who she was.
"I like her dress." Skylar told him.
"Of course you do." Killua deadpanned.
"What gate did she open to?" She asked Killua. "Or did she go in with you?"
"I opened gate ten, ma'am" Skylar was polite to her. She really did like her dress.
"Oh, and she has manners too. My name is Kikyo Zoldyck. You are?" Kikyo asked her. 'Did she really not listen to him when he said who I was?' Skylar thought to herself.
"I am Skylar Reed, Mrs. Zoldyck." Skylar decided to be polite. I mean, as strong as she was, she WOULD be killed if she pressed too many buttons.
"Hmm? Yes, dear." She said into her head gear. "It appears Killua's father wishes to meet you, Skylar. Killua, follow your brother." She ordered the boy.
"No. I promised to introduce her to my family. I will do that first, then I'll follow Milluki." Killua told his mother outright.
Kikyo sighed. "Fine." She knew arguing would be useless with thee boy. "Follow me." She instructed the duo. Killua carried Skylar inside.
"This place is like a gothic mansion. Awesome." Skylar said as she looked around while on Killua's back.
"I guess, if you're into that sort of thing." Killua said nonchalantly.
"Of course I am. You forget, Killua, I'm the scary morbid one. Remember?" She flicked him in the back of his head.
"Oi, cut that out." Killua growled at her.
"Say 'please' and I'll think about it." Kikyo listened to their banter with great interest.
"Never!" Killua yelled, so Skylar flicked him again. "That's it, you're walking on your own." Killua pouted as he nursed his hurting head. Skylar flicked him again.
"Nope." She told him simply, and flicked him again.
"Ok, ok. Please stop and I'm sorry for being annoying. Now stop!" Yelled at the girl on his back.
"Don't test me, Killua." Skylar warned him.
Killua visibly paled, as if he was pale enough, at her comment. "Sorry." He whined out.
Skylar giggled and played with his hair. It was surprisingly soft and silky. "I'm sorry too." She said as she played even more with his pretty hair. Killua let out a sigh of relief.
"Here we are."Kikyo said a few minutes later. One of the butlers opened the door for them and all three entered the room. "Darling, Kil's here, and he brought his apparent friend, Skylar." That irked Skylar and Killua.
Sitting on a comfy-looking couch, sat a man who looked very similar to Killua. He was very muscled, tall, and had a commanding authority. Danger rolled off of him in waves.
"Killua, why are you carrying her?" He gave an exasperated sigh.
Killua looked at Skylar, and Skylar looked at Killua. "Because we're cuddle buddies!" They both said in unison. It was pretty much their catch phrase.
Everyone in the room did an anime drop. Skylar held in her laugh.
"Son, I would like to talk to her alone." He told his son.
Killua held on to her tighter.
"Killua, quit being stubborn." Skylar flicked him once more.
"Hey! I told you to stop doing that." He yelled at her.
"Well if you weren't so stubborn I wouldn't have to do it!" Skylar yelled at him.
"I'm not stubborn!" He defended himself.
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
Yes!"
"Ow! Quit doing that!"
"Not until you admit you're stubborn!" She flicked him multiple time.
"Ow! Ok, ok! I'm -ow- stubborn! Happy now! Ow!" Killua yelled at her.
"Not really." Skylar said.
Killua just pouted. "I can't ever win, can I?"
"Nope." Skylar said with a cheery, bright smile.
Silva and Kikyo watched the whole thing. They were surprised anyone was able to win against Killua in anything, even an argument.
"Killua. I only want to talk to her. She will remain alive, and you will see her after I'm done." Silva told his son.
Killua sighed in defeat. "Fine." Killua allowed Skylar to get back on her feet.
"So this is what walking is like?" She teased Killua.
"I didn't see you complaining." Killua stuck his tongue out at her.
"True." Skylar laughed.
"Come here, Kil." Kikyo motioned her son to leave with her.
"I'll see you soon." Skylar waved at him. Then the doors shut.
"Come up here and sit." Silva motioned to an empty spot on the couch.
Skylar went up and sat cross-legged as she faced him. "This thing is even comfier that what it looks like." Skylar accidently said out loud.
"Yes. So what is your name?" He asked her.
"I'm Skylar Reed." She told him.
"The butlers say you opened up to gate ten, is this correct?"
"Yes, sir. However, that was using nen. With out nen I believe I could open either gate four or five." She told him. She remembered from the anime that he was a strong nen user, so it is ok to tell him.
"You know nen?" He was actually surprised by this. He hadn't thought that a child around Killua's age would know it.
"Yes, sir. For almost two years now." She told him.
"So what category do you fall into?" Silva asked her.
"Specialist."
"Hmm. I'm curious to test your abilities." He admitted.
"I don't think I'd last very long against you, sir. I can tell just by feeling your aura that you are very powerful. I wouldn't do too well against Illumi either." She told him.
"Oh? Is that so?" He said to her.
"Ye, sir. I lack experience and I'm still perfecting my own style. I also have a few conditions to use some of my power." She decided being entirely honest would be the best course of action here.
Silva looked thoughtful. She was being very honest with him and he could tell she respected him. "How were you raised?"
Skylar visibly flinched at that. She hating remembering her past. Silva took note of her actions.
"I was raised as an assassin since I was four. My dad started it that late because my mom was against me learning it, but then she was killed by a rival assassin, so dad did what he wanted. He preferred using guns to snipe people off, but he was well versed in other ways too. Almost two years ago my nen master was on our property fighting off some bandits and was injured due to the sheer numbers. Iwas able to help and I took hi m into my home and patched him up. He then offered to teach me, and so I left home. I recently took and passed the Hunter Exam. I then came with Killua here." She told him what had happened up until right then.
Silva was very shocked she was also raised as an assassin. Not too many kids were. "I will think on this. You may leave now." He told her.
She got up and turned to him. "Yes, sir." She said as she bowed to him. Then she turned to leave. As she got close to the doors, they were opened by the butlers.
"Skylar!" Killua called to her/ tackled her.
"Ack! Killua?" Skylar was knocked to the floor.
"I didn't know if you got hurt or not." He told her.
"Well if I wasn't before, I certainly am now!" She pouted from her position on the ground.
Killua offered her his hand, and she took it. "Come on, I want you to meet the rest of my family." The doors were still open, so Silva watched the whole thing.
"Ok!" Skylar said as she jumped on his back again.
"I'll let you meet Piggy next." He told her.
"Piggy?" Skylar laughed at his nickname.
"You'll understand when you meet him." Killua looked annoyed at the thought of his brother.
...
"So what do you think of her, Father, Grandfather." Silva asked the two in the shadows of the room.
"I think her and Killua get along great." One said.
"I like her. A breath of fresh air." The other spoke.
"I agree." Silva said to them.
They all watched the screen as security cameras tracked Skylar and Killua's movements.
...
"Oi, Milluki! Open the door!" Killua banged on the door.
"No!" A voice rang out from the other side.
"If you don't open the door, I'll break everyone of your figurines one by one." Killua said as his cat-look came back.
"What do you want?" An annoyed, obese person opened the door.
"Is that Sailor Moon?" Skylar asked as she peeped in to see the figurines.
"You know what Sailor Moon is?" The person, presumably Milluki, said.
"Yeah, it's an anime. I watch a few here and there, but I'm not an otaku (Crazy Anime Fan).
Milluki had tears in his eyes and ran towards Skylar to hug her. "You know anime!" He cried tears of joy.
Before he could get close to her on Killua's back, a metal rod from behind him stopped him. "Try to hug me again, and I will kill you. I do NOT like people touching me." Her eyes turned red as she glared at him.
"Then why do you let me?" Killua asked her.
Her eyes went back to normal and she put her rod away. "There's always an exception to every rule." She shrugged.
Killua sweat-dropped.
"Kil, no fair! I want her!" Milluki yelled at him.
"No way, Piggy." Killua motioned for her to jump back on.
"Wait! Are you The Skylar Reed." Milluki asked her.
"Yes?" She was still unsure how to answer that.
"Can I have your autograph! I watched your fight live and I already have three copies of your Hunter Magazine!" His eyes were practically sparkling.
"Ok?" Skylar said awkwardly. He ran back into his room and grabbed all three copies and another purple sharpie.
This time, however, she only signed her name.
"No fair, Kil, why do you get all the cool things!?" He whined.
"I'm not a thing." She glared at him. He totally ignored her.
Killua took this time to escape his brother. "Next is Kalluto." He told her.
...
Those watching on the monitor were laughing at Milluki's actions. Though they were also surprised Skylar was a celebrity.
"Poor girl. Now Milluki will never leave her be." Zeno said while laughing.
They may be assassins, but they still had a sense of humor.
...
They found Kalluto next to Killua's mother.
"Oh, Kil, Skylar! Are you here to meet Kalluto?" She asked them.
Kalluto stared at Skylar.
Skylar got off Killua's back and squatted down to meet Kalluto's eyes.
They just stared at each other. Then Skylar broke the silence. "I love your eyes. They're very pretty." She complemented him.
"I like your eyes too." He said quietly.
Skylar smiled. "I'm Skylar. What's your name?"
"Kalluto." The boy gave her a small smile.
Kikyo and Killua were shell-shocked. Kalluto never shows emotion and hardly ever talks. He was just as bad as Illumi.
"It was nice meeting you, Kalluto." Skylar said as she stood up to get back on Killua's back.
Kalluto waved and went back to following his mother.
...
"Looks like she's winning over our family." Silva said as he watched the previous events unfold.
"It could be worse." Zeno told him.
"True." Maha agreed.
...
"So who's next?" She asked him.
"Either my grandpa Zeno, or my great-grandpa Maha." Killua told her. "If I can find them."
"But I already met them. The were in the room when your dad was questioning me. One was in the top left ceiling and the other was behind a wall panel on the right side." Skylar told him.
"What!?" Killua yelled. "Why didn't you tell me sooner!?" He demanded.
"Because I knew you'd act this way." Skylar told him flatly.
Killua sighed again. She was right. "Well, then I'm going to drop you off in my room and face my mom and Piggy." He told her.
"Ok. Just try to not toy with him for too long." Skylar told him as he ran to put her in his room.
"Ok." Killua told her.
...
'She knew?' All three occupants thought to themselves.
"She knew, but still told the truth?" Zeno was stunned.
"I never thought I'd see the day." Maha said.
"Interesting." Silva concluded.
...
"Bye, Killua!" Skylar waved as he left the room.
She was alone now.
"Hmm? Oh hi Illumi." She said as she opened the door.
He blinked at her. She smiled at him.
"Why did you bring him here?" He asked her.
"He needed to face his demons. When Gon and the others arrive I will be leaving with him." She told him honestly.
"Why do you tell the truth?" Illumi didn't know what to make of her.
"What good would lying do? If given the right reason I'll lie, but if the info doesn't hinder me or kill me, I try to stat honest."
"You are a strange assassin." He told her.
"I haven't been an assassin since I was twelve. I'm almost fourteen. My Master saved me from the self-destructive road I was on. I was nicknamed 'The Reaper' before I ever learned nen. I had no kindness, I had no friends, I barely even had my dad, and he was the only family I had." Her eyes became dull and empty as she remembered her past. She looked at him and her eyes became blood-red. "And if you think I've forgiven you for putting Killua into that same state of despair and emptiness, you are sorely mistaken." She glared at her.
His eyes widened a bit and he turned away.
Skylar looked directly at the hidden camera that was watching the whole thing, eyes still red.
"I will save Killua from himself." She told it before her eyes went back to peach.
She smiled brightly at it and returned to Killua's room.
It was then that the Zoldycks knew she would was already a part of their world.
