CHAPTER 11

After getting some advice on how to develop their Hatsu, Killua and Hayuri were each given a book on their nen type. Okume sensei said that their training was over and that they should rest for what was left of the day and pack up. There would be a bus passing by the next day that they could take to the airport.

This news came as a shock to both Killua and Hayuri. Of course they knew they would have to leave one day, but they certainly didn't expect it to arrive so soon. They each retreated to their rooms and started packing up.

As Hayuri packed her belongings on her backpack, she thought about Killua. She would miss him, that was certain. They had spent every day together for the last 3 months and she had really grown fond of him. She wondered what he would do now. Would he train further? Would he work? Would he go home? She didn't even know what to do herself, since she had been told to come home when she already knew all about nen, and she still had to develop her Hatsu. Where would she do that? Also, she was penniless. Was there any way in which she could make a living while learning hatsu?

As soon as she finished putting her stuff away and cleaning her room up, she went out to the garden in hopes to find Killua. It was already late in the evening and she was hoping to get to talk to him one more time as they usually did. When she got outside, she realized that Killua was sitting there on the edge of the floor slab, his legs hanging down, the spot he always sat at when they talked. As soon as she closed the door and took a couple steps towards him he tilted his head sideways to look at her.

"Took you long enough." He complained. "How much stuff does a woman own anyway?"

"Well, Killua. I didn't know you were in such a hurry to meet me." She teased while sitting down next to him.

"Ah." Killua said while blushing slightly and looking away from her. It took her by surprise that he didn't deny the fact. Killua, on his hand, had already accepted that he enjoyed Hayuri's company and, thus, decided to hurry while packing to have some more time to share with her.

"You know, it's not like we won't see each other again. As I told you on the hunter exam, we're fellow hunters and we'll probably meet at least a couple of times." Hayuri smiled.

Killua didn't answer to that. He didn't want to lie to her, but he couldn't give a truthful answer, since it would blow his cover. He sighed and looked up and the trees in the garden, some of which were blooming. It was a strange view since it was the middle of the summer. However, she orange buds were really filling up the space and the wildlife seemed livelier around those trees.

"It was fun." Hayuri said after some time, as her eyes softly observed the garden.

"What was?"

"This. Being here. Training together with Okume sensei. Doing chores with you. Sitting out here and making some conversation, or saying nothing at all." She turned to look at him with a smug smirk. "In the end you were right. You really were the best company around."

"B-baka, stop that." Killua muttered while blushing and frowning down at her.

"Well, at least you're not the jackass you were when I met you."

"Haaaa." Killua straightened up at her teasing. "Maybe I am and you've just grown fond of the jerky me. Maybe you like rough and rude men."

"Hey, no way." She frowned. "I'm pretty sure that's not the case. Besides, I think it's the other way around."

"I like rough and rude girls?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Ahahaha! I don't know about that. I meant that you grew fond of me and stopped being a jerk and pushing me away." She smiled but then intently looked into his eyed. "Killua, you shouldn't do that."

"Do what?"

"Push people away. Yes, there are some downs to associating with people. But there's so much more to win when you're with others! Look at how much fun wave had."

"Well..." Killua sighed. "I guess you're right. I'm just kind of new to all this socializing stuff."

"I can tell. But you're all right and I know you'll make lots of friends if you want to." She pointed out.

"Yeah." He said looking at her. "At least one of us would. Because that bitchy kitchen attitude of yours won't get you any."

"What!" She jumped in her sitting position. "No way! It was just payback for you being an ass al, the time! You deserved it!"

"Maybe being in charge made your true colors shine through." Killua smirked "maybe you're actually an evil wench on the inside."

"Maybe I am, who knows!" Hayuri pointed at him with a smirk. "But at least you can cook now!""

"I told you already. Why would I want to know how to do that?" He shrugged.

"And I told you already. If you marry a young, beautiful, strong, independent woman, she probably won't take any of your stuck ass attitude. You'll have to know how to do stuff. Or marry a granny."

"First of all, I'll probably just pay someone else to do it." He said raising a finger and then a second one. He smirked. "Besides, you don't mean IF, you mean WHEN I marry a woman like that."

"Aren't you confident?" Hayuri rolled her eyes.

"Of course I am. Just take a look at me. Ain't I hot?" He motioned to himself in a teasing manner.

"Jeez, I don't know. Maybe I'm a lesbian." Hayuri said with a poker face.

"You are?" Killua looked surprised. "That would explain the unlady like attitude and the lack of table manners."

"I'm not!" Hayuri fumed. "And besides, that's a terrible stereotype! Not all lesbians are like that."

"No need to make a big deal out of this" He rolled his eyes.

"If I'd been a lesbian I would've probably felt insulted."

"You wouldn't, I know that you're not." Killua smirked.

"Really?" She blinked, curiously "how can you be so sure?"

"You leave a puddle of drool at your feet every time you see me shirtless." He said and his smirked widened, a mischievous glint shining in his eyes. "You're really obvious."

"Haaaaaaa, no way!" Hayuri complained while crossing her arms over her chest. "Why would anyone be attracted to someone with white hair?"

"I don't know. You should know."

"Baaka. I'm not into the old looking, jerky kind of guy."

"Oh, well. I think I might die of sadness at that fact." Killua said sarcastically.

"Well, I'll send flowers to your funeral."

"Send? You have to organize the whole thing!" He exaggeratedly gestured with his hands. "It would be your fault."

"If you gave me the money for your funeral, I'd probably dump your body somewhere and spend the money on clothing or something." Hayuri laughed a bit.

"Clothing?" Killua snorted. "You know you'd probably spend it all on food."

"Oh." Hayuri blinked and blushed, while scratching her nape. "You're right."

Killua was suddenly caught in a fit of laughter. When Hayuri complained about it, he laughed even louder. He laughed so hard that tears were streaming down his face. Hayuri was complaining, but there was a softness in her eyes that said she was having as much fun as he was. She didn't mind that she was creating more bullying material. Firstly, she probably wouldn't see him for a long time after tomorrow. Secondly, seeing him laugh like that had always made her day, so it was worth it. However, knowing they'd be parting soon, made the happy feeling more bittersweet. She sighed. She really was going to miss him.

The next day both woke up feeling refreshed and thanked their sensei for all that he'd done for them. As soon as the bus stopped at their street, both got on and sat together on the first row. They spent the two hour ride in comfortable silence, with some occasional comments or light teasing. When the bus reached the airport, Killua retrieved his bag and turned to look at Hayuri who stood in front of him with a frown.

"What's going on?" Killua asked.

"Well... I never really planned where I was going after leaving Okume-sensei's house." Hayuri sheepishly said while looking to the ground.

"Really? Do you even know what you want to do?"

"Well... I'm supposed to develop mi hatsu before going home and, also, I need to make some money. I'm nearly broke."

"Hmm... well... where I am going you can do both."

"Where are you going?" Hayuri asked and widened her eyes.

"I'll apply as a royal guard in Western Padokia. They train you for almost half a year and they only accept people who use nen, so I assume that it's some harsh nen training. Also, the pay is pretty good."

"Haaaaa." Hayuri eyes widened and she smiled. "That sounds perfect!"

"Well... maybe you could tag along. I mean, unless you have any other ideas." Killua scratched his head.

"Yeah, count me in." Hayuri smirked and gave him a thumb up. She was glad that she didn't have to part ways with him yet and they could have some more fun together.

"Ok, come on." Killua said and started walking inside. He hadn't told her that her best option was heavens arena and he knew exactly why. He didn't want her to leave and he had been feeling anxious about it all day long. Knowing that she was coming along with him brought a sense of ease.

So they entered the airport and bought tickets for the next airship flying to the capital of Western Padokia. It would take them a good three days to get there and the blimp would arrive in a couple hours. They aimlessly walked around and looked around at some souvenir stores, but didn't buy anything. At mid-day, they had a quick lunch and then took their ride.

Those three days in the air brought back memories from when they were at the hunter exam. It had only been 3 months ago, but it both agreed that it seemed much longer. They had managed to get to know each other much better and, also, they had rigorous nen training. During their time on the airship, both doubled the time they spent practicing their nen basics in the early morning. Also, they spent the afternoon figuring out individually how to work on their hatsu. They had decided that it would be ideal to start their training as bodyguards with at least one developed hatsu ability.

Killua had thought only for a while about what nen ability to develop. He thought for some time about what his individual traits were; he had plenty to pick. He had been trained to endure electric shocks, poison, pain and he had enhanced abilities on almost every aspect of fighting. In the end, he decided to use his resistance to electricity to his favor and transmute his aura into that element. It had been his chosen trait to base his technique on, because it would allow him to create both short and long range attacks. He had to jet try it on someone, but he assumed that it would be pretty effective, since he had been trained on torture and he knew how little untrained people could withstand it. He had immediately discarded trying it on Hayuri, since he could still remember the stinging and almost unbearable pain that he felt when he was still a child. In the end he decided to wait for a chance to use it on someone that kind of deserved it or that was in the way of his mission.

Hayuri, on her side, had decided to manipulate vital energy itself. She thought about it and decided that if she could, for example, temporarily stop the flow of aura in somebodies aura channels, it would probably restrain that person of using that part of their body. Also, she could maybe enhance her own speed and strength by manipulating her own aura channels. Through this, she would successfully defend herself and, at the same time, leave her opponent defenseless. At that moment, she would have to attack using another weapon. As Okume-sensei's book stated, manipulation usually needed a channel that connected the user to the body in question, leaving the user defenseless. But, since Hayuri wanted to be able to protect herself, she decided that her ability would have to work during just an instant. This second would be enough to create an opening, which she would take advantage of. However, since her ability had to be used quickly, it was no use to put up a connection item. She decided that she'd do the deed by lightly touching the area she wanted to stop the aura flow in. To do that, she could enhance her own movements by manipulating the flow of her own aura.

So, Hayuri had three things to work on. Firstly, she needed to learn how the aura paths on the body worked and learn to easily spot them with Gyo. Secondly, she had to learn how to use her aura on this channels quickly, which meant learn to effectively manipulate her own aura and somebody else. Finally, she had to further develop a weapon skill . She decided to use a short sword that she carried around. She convinced Killua to spar with her some time every day after they got off the airship. During their travel she read a book on some ancient healing art that she bought online; it was went exactly about life energy and its channels. She was sure that it talked about nen, since when she used Gyo and focused enough, she could distinguish the exact same channels that the book mentioned.

At the end of the trip, both Hayuri and Killua had developed their Hatsu techniques to some extent. Killua was now able to create some electric sparks, which were not that much, but would most definitely hurt an untrained person. Hayuri was now able to stop the flow of aura on a channel or enhance, but her current level allowed her only to slow down the movement.

When they got to the luxurious building where Killua had once been before, they had to wait for a while. After that, they were individually called in to see the manager. When they had been asked if there was anything they could see, both immediately used Gyo and recognized the hatsu drawing of that the man had created with nen. After that, they were required to use Ren, which they did, and both got accepted. However, the man had said 'I think it may suffice' and 'mm, this might be enough'. They were thankful for Okume-sensei's rigorous training on their basics, since if he hadn't forced such a regular basic training on them, maybe their Ren wouldn't have been good enough. However, they were told that, to officially start their training, they would have to pass one more test, which would be held in two days at a certain address.

So, both Killua and Hayuri went back to a hotel and checked in for two nights. They left their bags inside their rooms and left the building.

"So, where should we eat?" Killua asked with his hands in his pockets and walking with his typical nonchalant attitude.

"Hmmm.. I don't know. Maybe pasta?" Hayuri said and Killua shrugged, so they entered the first Italian restaurant they found. They asked for a table of two and sat down, immediately realizing that they were surrounded by couples. A waiter approached them soon.

"Good night. Here you have the menu." He said one to each. "We have a special offer today on a meal for two that includes main dish, salad, dessert and coffee or tea."

"I like it." Hayuri said while checking out the dished that were listed on the promo.

"Me too." Killua nodded in agreement.

"All right." The waiter wrote down a couple notes and then turned to Killua. "Sir, we have a discount on flowers if you want to buy some for your girlfriend."

"Haaa?" Killua jerked his head to look at him with a scowl and raised his voice a little. "She's most definitely not my girlfriend. So no, thank you."

"Killuaaaa." Hayuri said as soon as the waiter left. She was looking around with a slight blush on her face. "Damn you, you don't have to say something like that so loudly. Everyone's looking at us now. Jeez, you keep on embarrassing me all the time."

"Huh?" he said and glared at the surrounding couples, who immediately turned to mind their own business once again. "There you go. I don't know why you care about what those strangers think."

"It's not like I care what they think, but it's embarrassing to be treated like that. Please refrain from yelling out how undateable I am the next time, ok?" She said with a slight blush and frown on her face. She didn't know why, but hearing Killua say that aloud got to her more than it should've.

"All right." Killua said noticing that Hayuri had somehow been affected by the comment a bit. "I won't. I just don't see why make such a big deal out of this."

"Well, you have it easy. You're too handsome to even wonder if you're undateable."

"Haaaaaaaaaa. I'm too handsome?" Killua smirked, raised an eyebrow and leaned forward on the table, supporting his chin on his right hand.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Hayuri straightened up and put her hands in front of her in a defensive manner.

"We already know that you can't help but drool every time you see me." he leaned back and crossed his arms.

"I don't! And the fact that you're handsome, doesn't mean that I'm attracted to you, you know?" she said pointing an accusing finger at him.

"It doesn't?"

"Of course not! Attraction it much more complex than just looks."

"What else is there?" Killua asked with real curiosity.

"Haaa? Have you never been attracted to anyone before?"

"Haa, have you never been attracted to someone before?" Hayuri looked at him incredulously. "Well, whatever. Listen, being attracted to someone is more than just liking that person's looks. It's about the whole package; the way the person talks, the way they carry themselves, the eye contact, their interests... but most importantly their lersonality."

"Let's see. I'm handsome, confident, cool, fun to be around -that one according to you – and strong. So, taking into account what you said, probably everyone's attracted to me." He said lifting a finger with a playful smile.

"There's just no way to bring you down from your cloud, huh?" She rolled her eyes but smiled as well, knowing that the arrogant act was just for fun.

"What can I say, I'm just being objective." Killua leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head. That was when their order arrived, which made them realize how hungry they had been. Hayuri had ordered ravioli and Killua lasagna. So, during the rest of their meal they hardly talked as they gulped down their food.

After paying they headed back to the hotel in a comfortable silence with occasional comments about the most random stuff.

When they got there, they said good night and Hayuri entered her room. She closed the door behind her and leaned back while looking at her feet. Talking about Killua like that made her realize something that had been bugging her for a couple weeks already. She had pushed the thought away and managed to succeed until now. But now she had the vague feeling that she might feel a little bit attracted to Killua. He had, after all, every trait that he had pointed out earlier. Hayuri frowned and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

There is no way in hell I'm going to give that cocky jerk the pleasure of finding him attractive! I refuse!