Two chapters at once! Yay!

Chapter 10

New Blood

Later that night, the three travelers lounged over the hilly backyard of the monastery with their new friend as they faced the sky. Thanks to there being little to no trail lights, the stars were a perfect view tonight and every night. It looked entirely of stardust.

The two girls sat back to back as they stared off into the distance, glad to have earned a day off. Canary and Killua sat opposite each other, encircling the girls as if protective parents.

"There's supposed to be a full moon tomorrow." Connie spoke into the night.

"Oh, and what's that supposed to mean?" Alluka asked.

"Change."

Canary stared off into the night sky as the moonlight washed over her strong features. Her once innocent eyes were now hardened, yet still undeniably beautiful. Her cheeks that were once so childlike were now more defined and her poise held an elegance that was only once imitable. Killua wished just once that he would be able to fan his fingers through her long braided hair. He admitted he was transfixed on her like a moth to a flame. He held onto the presents still held in his pocket as he gazed at her.

Connie stared back at the young man and smiled fondly at his adoration. She yawned loudly.

"Well, it sure is getting late, me and Alluka should be heading back," she mentioned.

Killua suddenly perked up. "Would you want me to walk you back?" He asked.

Connie looked confidently towards the protective older brother. A powerful aura shrouded over her that was not dismissible. "No, I am sure we are more than capable of defending ourselves," she answered proudly.

Alluka looked over to her older brother with the same focused expression and agreed. "We can take care of ourselves, Big Brother."

Killua sat back shocked and somewhat amazed at the growth of the two young fighters. He had never heard his sister speak so surely. He realized this must've been the same reaction adults had towards him and Gon when they were much younger. Canary and Killua shared a mixed response before agreeing.

"Go ahead. Just be safe," he answered.

Alluka nodded firmly before the girls began following each other onto the trail.

The wind was slightly chilly, but still bearable as the two left sat in silence. It was getting warmer, which meant more bugs were appearing with the coming spring. They listened to the grasshoppers chirp rhythmically in the dense grass. The stars twinkled and the moon somehow entranced Killua as they both moon bathed into the night.

It was Canary who broke the silence.

"It's so beautiful," she admitted into the cold night air. "There's not many things that can leave you so awestruck with beauty." She continued. Killua noticed the girl's eyes practically reflected the entire moon in her gaze.

"I agree," Killua responded quietly. Canary quickly shot her eyes towards Killua as she barely caught his response, yet she noticed he was already gazing back at her. She stared deeply into his eyes and realized he was not referencing the same open sky she was; he was talking about her.

He looked full of pain that has been suppressed, she decided, like he has been battling something for quite some time now.

They began questioning each other, 'Is this really happening? Is this okay?' She became overwhelmed by this, yet she knew the actual question of the night was: would she allow it, or would she just leave it to die? A feeling deep within Canary's heart began to grow warmly all around her and she cursed herself.

He was beautiful. His eyes were piercing and yet so vulnerable at the same time. The feelings that ushered from him to her was enough to make her body shudder. Did she want him back? She couldn't answer that question. She did not dare ask herself that question.

Killua began fantasizing about the beautiful girl beside him, finally ready to dodge all responsibility and take what he wanted. Canary on the other hand, did not dare move.

Almost instantly, an eerie feeling crept over them in the dark. They both stiffened and their eyes focused intently. It was not a second later that each of them had dashed off onto the trail.

"Alluka, that was so bad ass!" Connie shouted into the night. "I never would have thought they'd trust us by ourselves like this!"

Alluka smirked and tightened her fists as the excitement overflowed her. They really trusted her now.

"I bet we could challenge Canary san to an actual fight now! Wouldn't that be surprising?"

Alluka nodded as tears began to well in her eyes. "Yes, absolutely!"

The girls chattered amongst themselves in high spirits, highly unaware of the pair of eyes watching them in the shadows.

Their high voices died down as a throwing star was flung at their feet.

The two girls immediately joined back to back as they searched for their common enemy. Their breath rose and fell heavily as they circled around their surroundings, but no sense came from anywhere. It wasn't until a quarter of a rotation that a woman stood before them. She must've been about Canary's age. Her face was covered with a painted mask and her aura was well hidden so the girls wouldn't recognize her, yet Connie would not be fooled.

"Baby sister, "the young woman spoke, "it's been awhile."

Alluka assuredly knew this wasn't her sibling as she then looked at Connie in confusion. Alluka was no stranger to older sibling threats, but in no way, did Alluka imagine Esmeralda to be this hostile considering what high regard Connie put her in. She watched as Connie continued the lethal grip on her small knife.

Soon enough, multiple versions of Esmerelda began appearing around the two girls. Alluka was surprised, but Connie still remained focused on the original clone.

"It's time to test something."

However, before Esmerelda could take a next step, Canary and Killua arrived surrounding Connie's older sister from front to back. She stiffened as they seemed to completely bypass her clones and were instead immediately at her neck.

"Wow, I must say, I didn't even get a chance to sense you two," Esmerelda admitted nonchalantly. She seemed to have an unconcerned air about her.

"Well, we most definitely noticed you," Killua responded as he pointed a lightning charged finger at her nape. Canary stood in front of her, making sure her staff was neatly tucked underneath the girl's chin. "Now tell us what you want," he continued.

"Stop! Stop it!" Connie called as she pulled on Canary's uniform. "This is just my sister! It's how we greet each other!"

Killua was confused before the clones disappeared and the girl removed her mask. She held her hands up in surrender. "It's true – I only wanted to see how much stronger my little sister had grown."

The young woman had thick dark hair just as Connie, yet it was somehow more voluminous. She was an obvious beauty. She adorned a beautiful headpiece that lay jewels against her forehead and kept her hair out of her face. She only wore a single gold nose hoop which contrasted Connie's whose continued to connect to her ear by a beautiful chain. They noticed the girls both wore the same wrist jewelry which further confirmed their sibling likeness.

"Yeah," Connie agreed. "There weren't many people I could spar with before Alluka came along."

Canary and Killua then lowered their attacks.

"Well, a warning would've been nice. She was this close to being finished," Killua replied smartly.

Esmerelda ignored Killua's slight quip as she instead gazed at Canary who had mentioned nothing by now.

"Oh, and who are you?" She asked in peak interest.

"None of your business," Killua answered for her.

Esmerelda seemed to further ignore Killua as she then picked up one of Canary's elegant hands. "My name is Esmerelda," she greeted. "It's truly a pleasure to meet you," she continued as she then placed a delicate kiss along her knuckles.

Canary stiffened, but wouldn't admit the creeping blush already growing along her entire body. Alluka was surprised and yet Connie was irritated.

"Sister! Could you please take that somewhere else!" She commanded hotly.

"Oh Contessa, must you be so jealous all the time!" Esmerelda answered with her hands now on her hips.

"I am not jealous!" Contessa rebelled, though her pouting and crossed arms said otherwise.

Killua then realized he was soon bound to have quite the mess on his hands.

"It's getting dark. I should be heading home anyway," Esmerelda admitted. "It's been a long travel to get here and I need to rest up properly," she professed as she stretched her arms above her head and groaned loudly. She began walking away in the opposite direction before pausing in the middle of the trail.

"Well, baby sister, will you be joining me?" She asked.

The young girl nodded solemnly as she then followed her older sister into the dark.

Alluka stayed behind as the three companions watched the two sisters disappear into the night.

Hint: Contessa and Esmerelda are of Punjabi and Chinese descent – Punjabi is more prevalent to them considering their father's mother raised them for most of their lives. Also, they both take a greater interest in women rather than men sexually/romantically. Esmerelda prefers women and men, but seems to only lean towards men for some kind of economic gain. Contessa plainly prefers women and has developed a crush on Canary.