Ahaha, now its been almost a year. Urgh. I'm sorry! I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but thanks to everyone for supporting me so far!
Thank you for all the reviews! For the guest reviewers:
Yuki Candy Heart: Haha, I updated before you.
Guest: Ah! Thank you for telling me. :) I'll check it out.
Guest: Hahaha, sorry for the wait.
Guest: Urk, sorry.
SoulXHunter: Thank you! Nothing too dramatic, but we're gearing up for the second arc!
Guest: Thanks!
Linna: Thanks!
Guest: Thank you and here you go!
Guest: Thanks!
Guest: Sorry ajakhfdasjk better late than never?
Guest: Here you go~
Guest: Thanks!
This chapter isn't really something amazing, so I do apologize for making you wait so long for something like this. I needed something to bridge the way from the last arc to the Yorknew Arc!
Anyway, thanks for reading everyone and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Do not own HxH haha.
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Far, far away from the Zoldycks' mess of a meeting, Ayaka was currently thumbing through an old classical book. She had already told Illumi and Hisoka the day before that she would be leaving after she got Illumi's letter to Killua; after all, she's 'got more than enough pocket-money' now.
Both males had looked at her suspiciously. Ayaka wasn't surprised; her first lies are never that good. After a small internal debate, she cracked under the pressure and told yet another lie. This time it was a new fact from her embellished backstory, about how she 'needed money to buy something from the Yorknew auctions'. Luckily, they let her go after that.
Well, it wasn't completely a lie. After all, the best lies always held a grain of truth. And Ayaka had wanted to buy something there.
With that finally out of the way, the young girl went shopping for a few more wigs and outfits (or in other words, a few new disguises). Now, Heaven Arena's rookie-boy 'Hana' was just a cute girl with curly red hair and pink eyes, reading a book at the nearby library.
(Really, the power of make-up was amazing. Before, she had the bone structure of a young boy, now, she looked like a cute fiery girl.)
Well, that was more of a cover-up. What Ayaka was really doing was listening in on Killua's meeting with his ―I mean, their― estranged family. Luckily, both of the pre-teens hadn't found Ayaka's bug yet, and, well, she wasn't that cocky to not reap the benefits when they're right there in front of her.
Also, that little bug was extremely hard to make (Ayaka mourns how she probably won't get it back), so nobody can blame her if she wants to abuse it a bit longer.
Adjusting her earbuds, Ayaka cranked up the volume as she made herself comfortable.
"My, my, my~ Why is my little fruit and his friend waiting so obediently for?~"
And lo and behold, an attack of extreme creepiness is what greets Ayaka. She flinched at the Hisoka's creepy voice. Ugh, why was it always the first thing she hears?
On the plus side, at least she's not the only person who Hisoka teases…
"Where's Illumi?"
Ayaka smiled. Now, that's a voice she wanted to hear. Killua always sounded so cool, even when he's probably glaring bloody murder. Heck, that just makes him cooler (Ayaka ignores the tiny voice in her mind that proclaims her as a girl with multiple brother complexes).
"Here, Killu."
"What did you do to Leorio and Kurapika?!"
…And, there erupts the Gon volcano. Ayaka listened attentively as there were some scuffling sounds and quiet curses ―courtesy of Killua, of course.
Eventually, the noises died down to a silence. Ayaka absent-mindedly flipped a page of her classic. She wasn't really reading it, but a quick scan of the page told her it was about a blond king. With a sword that came from a stone…?
Ayaka scoffed. Her sword was way more awesome.
"I don't recall mentioning them in my letter."
"You wrote 'I hoped it wouldn't come down to this, but if you want information of your loved ones, then meet me'!"
Ayaka paused. So that was what Illumi had written inside the letter Ayaka had delivered. Jeez, when he wrote it like that, it was really no wonder that Killua and Gon got so worked up. It really did sound like a ransom note or something.
"As much as it is nice to hear you think so highly of your little 'friends', Killu, they're not why I called you out. Father wants to speak to us."
"What? That letter was for a family meeting?"
Another pause. Ayaka is slightly relieved at Gon's less murderous tone. The boy was as scary as Hisoka when he wanted to be.
"I'm not going back."
"That is why Father sent me here."
Before Ayaka could face-palm at Illumi's once again not-so-clear words (like, really! Illumi was really bad at expressing himself, maybe he should take some lessons. I mean, how the heck does he even do undercover missions? Oh wait, by acting as a creepy and mute acupuncture freak, of course…), something clicked.
"You're late, Illumi."
Ayaka froze.
That voice.
That was…that was…
That was Ayaka's Papa.
…How long has it been since she's heard his voice…?
No, no, no! The girl shook her head, red tresses bouncing in the air as she attempted to gather some form of normalcy. Ayaka discreetly swiped her eyes. After all, Zoldycks don't cry…
"I apologize. Killu was being difficult."
"Wait, you mean, this is actually a family meeting?"
Settling back onto her chair, Ayaka gave a wet chuckle as she smiled. Oh Killua. He sounded so incredulous it almost was funny.
Wait, it was funny. The girl muffled her giggles as she pushed all her sad thoughts back into a mental box.
"Yes, Killua. I requested Illumi to find you while Milluki had to find Kalluto. There was something I needed to discuss with you. Illumi and Alluka are already aware."
"I have an auction in an hour and I still need to hack into the system to check the items and starting prices. Please make it quick."
Ayaka blinked in surprise. W-Was that…M-Milluki-niisan? Wait, really? Wow, this was the first time Ayaka heard his voice live…
A sigh from Papa. Ayaka almost pitied him. All his children (not including her! Ayaka was a good girl! Though then again…she ran away from home…) were so stubborn and ruly!
"Of course. I'm assigning you all to a long-term mission."
Silence. From both ends. Ayaka felt her mouth drop open in shock.
…
…
….
The heck?!
What was her Papa thinking? Why waste so many resources on one task? Ayaka wasn't important or anything. She wasn't the heir, like Killua. And even Killua had only Illumi assigned to him!
Were…were the main house so scared of letting the competition know about their weak-link? Was that why they want Ayaka back so desperately?
"I'm not going to do it."
Ayaka winced as her ear buds erupted with noise, as though Killua's protest had been the catalyst. She discreetly turned down the volume. Her poor ears.
"Listen to the mission briefing first. We need you to find someone who has left the main house."
Ayaka blinked. Papa seemed to switch into his 'mafia boss' voice now.
"Why would you need so many of us to bring back a prisoner?"
Hey! Ayaka resented that! Even if Ayaka was alone in her room all the time―
Wait. That voice did not sound like Killua. Too sweet and soft. It didn't sound like Milluki either. Illumi's voice didn't have so much emotion, even if most of it was faked. And Alluka wouldn't be attending a meeting like this, he'll be briefed on his own…
Does that mean that this was…
Kalluto?
Really?
Ayaka smiled, hiding her blushing face in her book. There weren't any recent footage of either Milluki or Kalluto. In fact, videos of Kalluto were as rare as footage of Alluka. Even Ayaka, with all her skills and time, could not find any.
Next time she was so building a camera into her bugs. She wanted to see her brothers too!
"She's not a prisoner."
Brr, Illumi's voice was always too cold. And really, this topic was kind of debatable…
"Yes…she is your―"
Shuffles, oofs, and wailing exploded into her ears. Ayaka cringed, hurryingly turning down the volume again. She forced down more cold guilt that dripped down her throat to settle like a rock in her stomach. Oh, it feels like forever since she heard the voice of her mother…
"She ran away from home! My poor baby flower doll!"
"Who ran away?!"
Milluki shouted on top of all the noise. It was quite an achievement, really. Ayaka was just glad that she had turned down the volume, lest her ears be slaughtered by her family.
More shuffling, and her Mama's voice became only a noise in the background. It seemed as though Silva had finally reclaimed the screen. Ayaka cranked up the volume again.
"The one who ran away? That would be your little sister, and the main family's youngest Zoldyck."
…
More stunned silence.
…
Ayaka finally gave into the urge to face-palm. Omigosh. Papa was a top-rated assassin, known for killing people and lying like no tomorrow! He knew how to twist words around; it was basically an art form for him! So really, why does he keep breaking the news of Ayaka's existence like that?!
Was the man doing it for fun or something?
Should Ayaka be glad that she never let her first meeting with her brothers be organized by her father? Was Silva going to just plop her in one of their dinners and be like, 'by the way boys, you have a little sister, pass the salt Illumi'?
"I…you're lying. Alluka is my only sister."
Killua's words, no matter how hesitant, felt like a stab in Ayaka's heart. She clenched her fingers around her book, mentally trying to calm down.
Silva hummed softly, before Ayaka heard Killua make a strangled sound.
"She has your silver hair and your eyes, doesn't she Killua?"
Oh, did her father show them a picture of her? Though most pictures were outdated, from her toddler days…unless new pictures were taken secretly…?
"Now, I've taught you better than this. I've already given you my promise, why would I break it with a flimsy story like this?"
"…Did she really escape from our grounds by herself?"
"Nobody was home, and miraculously the child didn't stumble across any of the servants."
Ayaka smiled, dark mood disappearing as Killua sounded like he was starting to believe Silva's far-fetched tale. And, well, that wasn't true. She did run into a certain guard dog whilst she was escaping…
A pause and then a grunt.
"…Of course, this is all under the assumption that she left willingly."
Sharp intakes of breath filled Ayaka's ears. On the other hand, she was shocked herself. Her parents were entertaining the idea of her being kidnapped? Of course! Ayaka could finally understand now. She was always sweet and good, so what would make her run away? And, add to the fact that her parents didn't think much of her skills, the way she made a clean getaway was suspicious as well.
Was that why both her parents seemed so much more worried than when Killua left?
"However, considering the fact that not even you, her siblings, knew her, I doubt our enemies would. Her running away by herself is the most plausible answer."
More silence. Ayaka supposed that silence was better than yelling, at least for her poor eardrums. On the other hand, since she was only listening to this, she couldn't read any gestures that might have been made in the silence.
"Fine."
Killua's voice broke through the silence and Ayaka felt herself smile. Her brother thought she was important enough for him to be employed by the family he hated once more. If that wasn't true love Ayaka didn't know what was.
More murmuring sounds of agreement passed through the other siblings and Ayaka felt her heart leap with joy. And also nervousness. She had gotten away in the beginning because she had been all alone, but now...
With all her brothers working together to find her, how long could she stay out in the world and explore?
"Then the meeting is adjourned. I'll send you all more information about your sister."
Silva's voice spoke up once more before sounds of leaving made their way to Ayaka's ears. With a sigh, Ayaka also packed up.
She was going to Yorknew City now.
-(*+*)-
Thanks for reading! Next chapter (when it comes) will be the start of the Yorknew City Arc! Please drop a thought on your way out~