Chapter 12: Freedom

"We're going back in there," Gon insisted as the guards slammed the heavy gold front gates behind them as they tossed them out. Killua's entire body felt numb, and he was already regretting not fighting his way back in there.

Kurapika cocked an eyebrow at him. "You couldn't have fought your way in there."

Killua scowled.

"Anyways," Kurapika continued as they ventured further from the Lorvell property, "Aliara has an escape plan."

"She what?!" Killua asked in disbelief.

Leorio made a sound of disgust. "Well, a hell of a lot of good that does us now. She's gone!"

The blond boy held up a neatly folded sheet of manila white paper. The other boys gawked at it. "She handed me this when she grabbed my hands."

Gon grinned wildly. "Wow!"

"That's really smart of her," Leorio admitted, smirking. Killua blinked. Leave it to Aliara to think of something like that. Kurapika carefully unfolded the note, and the other boys crowded around to read it. Killua narrowed his eyes.

I've got my brother Ano disabling the security system tonight. The cameras will be off from 1am to 2am, no sooner, no later.

Gon's hair is dark, he can pass for me. Use him as a distraction to get all the guards out of the picture so one or two of you can come and break the lock on my window. Second floor, west side of the building. Look for me. I'll be waiting.

I miss you all.

-Ali

Killua. We should talk.

Killua groaned. She couldn't have been more cryptic if she tried. How many guards were there? Were they all skilled? Will there be people watching her room? He shook his head furiously, repeating the last line of her letter in his head.

Killua. We should talk.

Shit, she was mad at him.

"She's given us an attack plan," Kurapika said quietly. "So, I say we split into two groups. The distraction and the rescue. Gon, how do you feel about dressing as a girl, temporarily?"

Gon grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "If it gets Aliara out of there, sure!"

"Leorio should go too," Kurapika added. The suited man cried out in disbelief but Kurapika shushed him quickly. "You can pretend to be running away with her. Gon is fast, he'll be fine. Killua and I will scale the building and find her room. How does that sound?"

Gon and Leorio nodded. Killua didn't say anything. He felt anxious.

"So," Kurapika said, smiling, "let's go find something for Gon that looks slightly feminine, hmm?"

12:58 in the morning. Leorio was yawning loudly (and was punched by Kurapika so that he would shut up) but Killua wasn't the least bit tired. He was extremely anxious, nervous, and a bunch of other emotions he couldn't sort out. Gon was dressed in black pants and a blue hoodie, which they all agreed was something Aliara would wear. Leorio spent half an hour taming Gon's hair so it hung down instead of pointing up.

He actually passed for Aliara.

"My hair's really weird," Gon complained, laughing as he petted his head.

Leorio smacked his hand away. "Oi, don't touch it!"

"It's time," Kurapika told everyone, glancing at a watch that was latched around his wrist. "Everyone ready?"

Killua swallowed. "Yeah."

Gon flashed a big thumbs up in Kurapika's direction. "Yup!"

Kurapika handed Leorio a small communication device, like a walkie-talkie, and told him to use it if he needed help. The four had no problems sneaking past the gate. Killua caught sight of many guards and many video cameras, but they managed to get all the way to the mansion with little difficulty. Leorio botched their cover accidentally, but Kurapika and Killua knocked out the guards before they could say anything. They found the west side of the building.

Gon grinned at Killua and he took off (loudly). Leorio followed behind him. They caught the attention of a dozen guards, and soon, there was a scramble and shouting as there was a stampede after Gon and Leorio.

Kurapika and Killua waited until they were all gone before they started climbing. There were plenty of fancy decorations and windows for footholds, which made the mansion relatively easy to climb. Killua's eyes widened- this place was five stories high, and massive. Aliara said... Second floor.

He caught Kurapika's eye, and the Kurta clan member jerked his hand one way. They would split up. Killua nodded and started hopping from window to window. The first window held a large room with a set of four beds. A few men lay sleeping- staff rooms, he guessed. He couldn't see into the second window, because it was pitch black inside. He frowned, and moved on.

The third window was much more promising.

He peered inside, and saw Aliara.

Killua motioned quickly to Kurapika, who saw him and started climbing back over. Aliara noticed Killua peering in and her eyes widened. She jumped up on a huge stool that she had placed by her window, and that brought her up to eye level with the pair. She pointed to the window's corner. Killua saw a small lock.

That's nothing. His fingers slightly sore from holding onto a ledge, Killua used his unnatural strength to break the lock, setting the broken metal down on the window ledge. He nearly slipped from the ledge, but Kurapika held him steady. Aliara threw her window open. "Get inside," she hissed quickly. "More guards are already heading out."

Killua didn't need anymore motivation, and he threw himself through the window, tucking into a roll. Kurapika shook his head. "Leorio called me. He and Gon need help. Can you get her out of here?"

Killua nodded slowly. Aliara waved at Kurapika. "Good luck!"

Then, the blond boy was gone. Aliara jammed her window closed again.

Killua finally got a good glimpse of her room. It was huge, yet so empty. Aliara had changed out of her pink dress from earlier and was now wearing a black hoodie with navy blue jeans. She was barefoot.

"Ali," he started slowly, watching her gaze rise from her feet to his face, "I-"

"I'm not mad at you," she said, quickly and quietly. Killua clamped his jaw shut. "Not at all. I jumped in the way."

"But still," he protested, scuffing his shoes against the fuzzy, carpeted floor, "I... I kind of lost it. And I still hurt you."

"You mean this?" Aliara pulled off the black hoodie, revealing a dark purple tank top, and pointed to the long scar on her shoulder. Killua winced- the scar was red, scabbed over, and very obvious. She shook her head. "I'm good as new. I got in the way, it was my fault." She looked up at him, zipping her hoodie up again. "But... Don't shut down on me next time, okay?"

He felt himself nodding. "I'm... sorry."

Aliara looked surprised. "Wow, you actually apologized."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, ghost boy," she mocked playfully, "you're not the type to apologize."

"I know," Killua agreed, smiling, "so don't expect it again."

She smiled. "I'm just glad you came back."

Aliara stepped up to Killua and hugged him tightly. Killua froze up for a brief second before he relaxed, wrapped his arms around her waist, and hugged her back. He'd never really hugged anyone before, except for his younger sister Alluka at home. He enjoyed it, the warmth of the hug, before she pulled off.

"My older sister Iyami told me that Adrianna locked my shoes up in the spare room," she said quickly. Killua frowned at her, raising an eyebrow. "Adrianna's my mom."

"Ah," he replied. "Do you really have eight siblings?"

"Seven," Aliara corrected, "And they're all more skilled than I am."

Killua shook his head. "No way."

"I appreciate the self esteem boost," she said (Killua noticed that her cheeks tinged pink. Why was that?). "I'd like to get my shoes, but I'll only do it if you come too."

The white-haired assassin shrugged. "Yeah, of course."

"Perfect," Aliara declared, turning to her door. "Let's fight our way out of here, shall we?"

"How skilled are the guards?" Killua asked as he walked up with her, facing the tall, white and gold door.

Aliara made a face. "Not bad. Nothing near your level, but better than your average security guard."

"Can I kill them?" he whispered.

She nodded. "Except for the blond one. His name's Harris, and he's nice to me."

Killua smirked, and Aliara grinned back. He didn't know what he had been sweating over in the first place. Kurapika was right- he'd have to thank him later. Aliara pulled the door open, which was unlocked (Aliara told him afterwards that it would be too much of a hassle for the guards to unlock it and re-lock it every time) and Killua saw two tall men. One was blond, like Aliara had said, but the other had combed black hair.

"Hey-"

Aliara sprang at the black-haired one and Killua kicked the blond one down, raising his hand to his throat. "Not a word," he whispered, and the man got the message, nodding. If this man wasn't Harris, he'd kill him anyways.

He looked over to his friend. The guard was laying on the ground, his neck twisted at an odd angle. Dead. Aliara smirked at Killua. "Thanks for leaving him alive," she whispered. She looked the blond man in the eyes. "Harris," Aliara said bluntly, "you're alive because of your kindness to me." She shoved a small brown bag at him, and Killua moved his hand away.

Harris made slow nods, and the two took off down the hallway. "What was that?" he asked after they had taken down two more guards.

"Money," she replied. "I've had a secret stash since I was little, because I planned to run away. I did run away, and left the money behind because I didn't want to use it. I figured, if I'm going to ruin him at his job, may as well make it easier for the next job he has."

"That's the nicest thing you've ever done," he said with a smirk, peering around a corner.

Aliara giggled. "My good deed of the year."

The pair made it down the staircase when the mansion's lights shut down. Small lights started blinking red. Aliara cursed. "Lock down mode," she explained as they ran. "She knows I'm trying to escape."

They were almost there when a tall ginger boy popped out of nowhere, trying to swing a punch at Aliara and missing. "Hey!" he cried out as he swung. Killua's eyes widened- the black-haired girl was already behind him, shoving him to the floor. She said she was slow?!

"Not today, Yuno," she snapped, then turned to Killua. "He's normally faster, but I think he's drunk." Killua almost laughed as they continued to run. Aliara stopped in front of a door. "This is it." She tried the handle and cursed. Locked.

Killua thrust his foot out and kicked the door down. It fell with a loud clatter, and his friend shrugged. "That's one way to do it." Killua and Aliara ventured into the room quickly, and immediately pointed out the small bag in the corner of the room. Grinning, Aliara ran over to it and unzipped it. "They're here," she cheered, holding them up for Killua to see. "I guess she got Yuno to put them away, because they weren't well hidden and he's not very bright."

He laughed. "Let's get out of here."

"Right!" Aliara threw the bag over her shoulder. They bolted from the room, up a flight of stairs, and ducked into the sitting room, where Aliara had met with Leorio, Killua, Gon, and Kurapika just yesterday. The pair skidded to a stop, and Killua's blood ran cold.

Adrianna, Aliara's mother, stood in waiting in front of the door in a fluffy white nightgown, her hair done up in elaborate curls. She flanked by a dozen security guards in black suits. "Running away again, Aliara, dear?" she said through clenched teeth. Killua clenched his fists and glanced at Aliara- her face was beaded with sweat, and she was biting her lip. "And this is Killua?"

To his surprise, Aliara straightened up. "Yeah. Adrianna, meet Killua Zoldyck."

"Zoldyck?" her mother mused. Killua kept his poker face. "The chairman of the Hunters' Society mentioned that it was a Zoldyck who gave you the injury." Her emerald eyes narrowed. "Why is he here?" Killua's insides tied themselves in knots. So she knew.

"He's helping me escape," Aliara replied honestly.

"He injured you."

"Not as much as you have," she countered. Killua didn't know what to do or say- this argument looked dangerous. "And he's my friend. One of my only friends, thanks to you, and I don't want to ruin that."

Aliara's mother's nostrils flared, and she raised a hand. The security guards pulled out guns and pointed them at the two twelve-year-olds. Killua tensed- guns were expensive, so obviously, Aliara's family could afford them. Guns were annoying.

"Killua's taught me more than the stupid trainers you hired ever could have," Aliara snapped, her voice low but scary.

Killua found his voice. "I didn't mean to hurt her."

"Didn't mean to!" Aliara's mother barked out a laugh. "I wish you had hurt her on purpose! It's her own fault, anyways! Aliara has been taught that there are no friends in this world. Only allies, enemies, and tools to be used. And you, Zoldyck, are just a tool she's using to get out of here."

"Shut up!" Aliara screeched, stomping her foot.

"She's using you," Adrianna breathed, "because that is how she was raised, that is her nature. She brings nothing but trouble, and will get you killed."

Killua glared at her, hating her more and more. Aliara's expression was tortured. "Funny coincidence," he snapped, "because I've been brought up to believe that I'm only meant to kill people. I guess we'll cancel each other out."

Adrianna's eyes flared. "Imbecile!"

"Rhythm Echo," Aliara whispered, and Killua knew exactly what she meant. Together, they took a step forwards

"Rhythm Echo?" Adrianna cackled. "You're a failure, you've never succeeded in learning it. Guards, fire!"

But the guards let out shouts of alarm. There were now twenty copies of a white-haired boy in a long-sleeved, black t-shirt, with a murderous expression on his face, and another twenty copies of a girl with long black hair and cold green eyes. Forty copies in total. The guards started shooting, but only managed to take out the copies. As quick as light, Killua and Aliara killed the twelve guards, unharmed.

Adrianna's eyes widened. They were behind her, at the door, which was swung open wide. She whirled around, her blonde curls bobbing. "You-"

"Bye, mother," Aliara snapped with an incredible amount of loathing and hatred in her tone. "I hope I never see you again."

Killua grimaced. "I wish I could say it's been a pleasure." He flashed her an innocent smile.

"Ali-"

They slammed the doors and took off down the lawn. Their path was free of guards. Killua pointed out where they were meeting the others as soon as they got out of the gate. Sure enough, Kurapika, Gon, and Leorio were already there, smiling upon their arrival.

Aliara was buried in a group hug, which was started by Gon and ended by Leorio.

"Thank you," she said quietly, her smile wobbling. "Thank you so, so much."

All the boys flashed her brilliant smiles. Then, Leorio dropped off his feet, asleep. They all laughed and started the walk down to the nearest town in search of a hotel of anywhere that they could stay for the night.

"You said you wanted to be free, right?" Killua asked her as they were walking.

Aliara nodded, her face lighting up.

"I think you are."

"I think so too," she agreed, wrapping her arms around Killua in a bear hug. "I'm free."

Killua squeezed her tight. "Yeah. You are."

Night Owl: Thank you so so much! Your review made me laugh XD Yes, Doucheard was the first thing that came to mind!

SpiritedSilver: YES GON IS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE! Don't worry, I'm doing my best to follow the Hunter X Hunter timeline, and I won't make huge changes. I hope. Thanks for the review! :)

Reading1dragon: Thank you so so so much! :)

We've gotten to a point where that is all I have pre-written. I've been trying to write in advance (I had about seven chapters ready before I published it) but I will do my best to keep to update time up to a week at the most.

Thank you all so so much!~