Chapter 14: Secrets x and x Regrets

"My name is Coal Menfitz and I will be the proctor for the final phase of the 301st Hunter Exam." Killua's words spread through the room, catching the ears of all the applicants. The twenty some that were left. One applicant, wearing a ninja looking attire with a hairless head, had a rancid look on his face and stepped forward from the crowd. His number tag read 185. Number 185 walked up to Killua, practically 2 inches away from his nose. Killua remained undisturbed.

"We've been waiting here," he spread his arms out and gestured towards the mansion, "for who knows how long and you show up 10,000 years late and act like it was absolutely nothing. This is serious. We're here to become hunters!" He looked towards the applicants, and some were nodding, agreeing with the belligerent man, while others looked the other way entirely. Number 77, the girl with the blue hair, looked away.

"Applicant number 185," Killua breathed, "Yoshima Kiyuzaki from the Village Hidden in the Clouds. You passed the first four phases of the exam swimmingly, but conflicted with all of the proctors, for lack of cooperation, respect, and obedience to directions when given." Before Killua arrived at the site of the exam, he studied up on the remaining applicants. They were the Hunter Association's future generation of (wannabe) hunters. "They may have given you slack, but you won't find that with me."

Yoshima didn't back down. His feet were still planted on the ground. Elodea looked up at the man, and Yoshima caught his stare, and his ferocity only deepened. "He even brought a brat with him!?" He turned to face the other applicants and see if they would agree with him, they all turned away. "He obviously doesn't give a rat's tail about-"

Swiftly and before Yoshima could blink, Killua had him locked in an arm bar with no escape. The way Killua held his arm, if Yoshima were to move and try to pry free. His humerus bone would dislocate from his arm socket, fracturing his scapula bone in the process. He couldn't have a broken arm during the exam, now could he? Yoshima's zest left him and was replaced with absolute silence.

"So this is how it's going to work. I'm going to tell you about the test. You will listen to the directions that I will give you. You will then take the test. Depending upon your performance levels, or how much of a moron you may be, hopefully pass the test. Then finally, happily go home with shiny hunter licenses that you will boast about to your friends until they are fed up with you and tepee your house as pay back. Any questions?" Killua said, still holding Yoshima in an arm bar. His face looked squeamish. No one said anything, a few nodded. Killua looked among the applicants then towards the girl with the fierce cerulean hair and ruby eyes. He unlocked the arm bar and Yoshima fell to the ground with a giant thud. He got back up, with a few laughs filling the room as he walked back in line with the other applicants.

Elodea shifted in his stance. His dad was not to be trifled with. He was so cool.

"For the purpose of the exam, I purchased this lovely mansion that you see before you. It will be here, where the final phase of the exam will take place." He looked at the applicants, there were twenty of them left, rare for an exam, especially since half of them were rookies. Then he looked towards his son and placed a hand on his head. "This is my son, Elodea. Before we begin the exam, all of you should be acquainted with each other." He lightly pushed forward Elodea urging him, to one by one, greet and shake hands with the applicants.

For each applicant, Elodea heard their auras. When he stood in front of Yoshima, Elodea tried his best not to laugh. Yoshima's aura sounded like a bicycle horn for a clown in a circus. When he greeted the girl with the blue hair, number 77, he stood in front of her, confused. What he was hearing from her was rather strange. Everyone human being he's come across has one unique aura, one melody that is the essence of their life force. But with her, she had three! Three melodies were playing simultaneously. They clashed with each other horribly, it was as if there were three different people standing in front of him, instead of one. Confused as he was, he carried on.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you. My name is Elodea."

The girl whimsically smiled at him and signed with her hands. Elodea didn't know what she said, for he doesn't know sign language. Killua came up behind him and said. "She said it's a pleasure to meet you and that her name is Madrid Sierren." Killua, a man of many talents, mastered the art of sign language when he was 16 years old. It was a necessary skill to have when he was working as a bodyguard for a man who couldn't speak. A skill that he has carried with himself, ever since.

Elodea, embarrassingly, shook her hand again, "Ah! I'm sorry. It's nice to meet you too Madrid."

Killua signed, many people believe you are still alive.

Madrid looked surprised, I know. It's comforting to know that my people still have faith in me. It saddens me dearly that I cannot let them know. But I can't return home. Not yet anyway.

I know what that's like. He laughed.

Have you've been to the Kukan'yu Islands before?

Killua looked down towards Elodea and nodded, I have, and it's very beautiful there. The locals are very nice.

Madrid gave a questioning look.

Well, okay, maybe not everyone, but the majority. Very nice. I've been to North Region of the Islands, mainly to Kalamati.

You didn't try to eat those poisonous raspberries on the main road did you? First time travelers always make that mistake.

No one is going to let me live that down. Killua paused, then continued to sign, you did so much for the Islands. You were able to convince the V6 to offer militaristic help driving the rebels off the islands. Madrid was able to convince other allied nations of the V6 to help her cause. She used social media, such as tweeter and face-nook, to spread the news of her home land, and unveiled the truths that were shrouded with dark veils from the world. Once she convinced the V6 that the Kukan'yu Islands had potential as an ally and resources they couldn't pass up; they jumped at the offer and fleets of soldiers came crashing onto the shores. Exterminating the rebel forces one island at a time. The project is still in progress.

My work isn't over yet. There is still more to be done, Madrid tilted her head down.

Over achiever. Killua laughed. I wish you the best of luck in the exam.

Thank you. Do you have any advice on how to pass the final phase?

Well, you should always try your best and if that doesn't work, batt you're lashes and bribe the proctor.

Is that what you would do?

If that person is prone to compliments, then yes.

Other applicants were looking back at each other, then to the proctor, then back at each other in utter confusion. They were absolutely lost in their conversation, for the better. The gutsy ninja whispered with irritation to the applicant next to him, "What on earth are they talking about?" The applicant simply shrugged, not wanting to get involved in another one of the ninja's rants. Killua looked towards the applicants and grinned wildly.

"Oh, if this exam was entirely based on sign language, you all would fail miserably." He walked past Madrid, and as he did, the corner of his eye caught the light from the sun shining off her cerulean hair, reminding him of the waters of Kukan'yu. The waves that have the power to change from being turbulent to calm. A beauty worthy of being in awe of and afraid of. "Except her."

Yoshima huffed, "can we begin the exam already?" He turned to the same applicant and ranted, "Who even needs to know sign language anyway?" The applicant looked at Yoshima and then towards the proctor he was dreadfully in fear of. He doesn't want to be mushed together with Yoshima's bad boy antics. He wants to pass the exam this year, on good terms! This was his third year taking the exam, finally being able to make it to the final phase, he wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste.

Killua looked at Yoshima, sternly, "before I answer to you." He looked towards number 472, "Are you all right? You can sit down if you want to." Number 472, Korey Kuttle, nodded his head sheepishly and immediately collapsed backwards onto the grass, with a loud thud sending dandelions and grass blades fluttering in the air.

Elodea looked up towards Killua, "Daddy, is that man okay?"

"Dunno," Killua puckered his lips.

Elodea shrugged.

Killua eyed Yoshima and spoke, "Being a hunter demands focus, concentration, diligence, patience," then muttered in a low voice, "andmanyotherskillsyoudonotpossess," he coughed "you may not know it, but being a hunter requires many skills, things that are an absolute necessity and others that you've never fathomed before. All the more tools in your arsenal of weapons that you can wield and call yourself a master of, make you more desirable than the person standing next to you." Killua walked closer to Yoshima, step by step, his confidence challenging the ignorant man. Yoshima stepped back.

Killua walked back towards Elodea and pulled out a whistle on a string. He handed it to the boy, who happily accepted it. "This phase of the exam, will only require one skill. A skill that every hunter should know that is necessary for survival. Some of you already know it and for others it will be your first time implementing it today, but I assure you, no one has an advantage over the other. You're all on equal ground."

Suddenly, all the applicants jumped to their feet in surprise, a giant digital timer lit up on the walls of the mansion. The time was set for three hours. The exam was finally beginning.

Killua set his hand on Elodea's head, "whether or not you pass the exam does not depend on me, it depends on him. You will have a time limit of three hours to conceal yourselves in the mansion. If Elodea finds you, then you are disqualified. If you remain to be unnoticed for the full three hours, then you pass."

Yoshima held up his hands in confusion, "Wait, what is this necessary skill we have to implement? And why is this munchkin our proctor?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Killua looked towards Elodea, then back at the Yoshima, "a good hunter knows how to be a predator, but a great hunter knows how to be the predator and prey. Hide from my boy and you all pass with flying colors."

"This is going to be easy," Yoshima laughed.

"I warn you, he's that good. I'd say by thirty minutes into the exam, the number of applicants will be cut in half, maybe even less." Killua hypothesized.

Yoshima gulped.

"You all are going to be given a five minute head start. You can hide anywhere inside and outside the mansion. Leaving the property will result in automatic disqualification, and lay one hand on the little proctor," Killua narrowed his eyes, "and you're as good as dead."

As soon as the gates opened, the applicants rushed in. Each in pursuit of attaining their best hiding spot, in the epic final phase of the prestigious hunter exam held only once a year. They were betting all their luck on this way too hyped up version of hide and go seek.

So what if their egos grow and visibly give away their hiding spots? So what if they angrily stump their feet on the ground and complain to the chairman herself about this incredibly subjective exam? Killua fairly warned them. Didn't he?

Seeking, was Elodea's forte. As long as their auras speak and pound and resonate throughout the walls of the mansion. He will find every last one of them. Under an hour.

Three hours was just being indulgent.

It was child's play.

Elodea ran throughout the halls of the mansion, with the silver metallic whistle dangling around his neck. Bouncing against his chest with every leap he took. He wasn't running down the halls by himself. Several feat away from him, he was accompanied by two supervisors. They were there to escort the disqualified applicants away from the exam site and to make sure things went swimmingly. No fuss was necessary.

A smile spread across Elodea's face, "This is AWESOME!" This was the most epic game of hide and seek he's ever played. Not only was he having a great time, but he was also helping out his dad with his work. It was killing two birds with one stone, metaphorically. When he was greeting all twenty applicants, he got a good listen to their auras, what each sounded like. Now being in the mansion with all of them clustered together, reverberating off the walls, he could tell where each of them were. First he found a man hiding inside a giant vase. Elodea blew his whistle and the supervisors politely escorted the crestfallen applicant out of the mansion. Then he found a woman hiding on top of the roof, hiding in the shadows of the brick chimney. One after another, Elodea gleefully discovered each of their hiding spots. The high pitch whistle echoed fear into the hearts of the applicants that were yet to be found.

When there were only a handful left, and an hour has not passed, Yoshima and a group of others were hiding in the air vents, devising a plan.

"What is with that kid, he's a blood hound!" one said.

"He found mori, dori, and lori in less than 10 minutes and they are professional survivalists," another said. "We shouldn't underestimate him. I mean, lets get real, he's a hunter's kid."

"Pssh!" Yoshima gestured, "His dad probably gave him the blueprints of the house, so he can memorize it before hand and now he knows all the major hiding spots. You need to get real." He retorted.

They heard another whistle, and they froze in the vents. Silent. Another applicant was found, not too far away where they were from.

"Look, Yoshima." the man snapped back, "Whatever methods that kid is using, he's doing a pretty dang good job at it. AND personally I don't want to be in the same proximity of your big, LOUD mouth. Its going to give us all away."

"You want to start something," Yoshima leaned forward in the air vent, spiderwebs caressing the tip of his nose.

"Bring it on," the man leaned forward with steam hissing out of his ears. These two applicants were ready to rumble, ready to do anything, other than pass the exam. oi vey.

As a scuffle was going on in the air vents, there were others in the mansion, acting more diligently.

Killua leaned back against his black velvet chair and stared at the screens in front of him. Camera's were inconspicuously placed all around the mansion, watching every move of those within it. Killua saw Elodea, yet again finding another applicant. A dual look was captivated on his face, one of disappointment and the other of satisfaction.

"Do any of these nimrods know about nen or how to use it?" He asked, mainly to himself, but Satotz was also in the room. Watching how the final phase of the exam would play out. He was excited to see how the rookies would turn out this year. To prove Killua's hypothesis, he needed someone who was more capable than the others, not in strength or speed. Someone who can hide and camouflage themselves against a predator. Killua, himself, tried to camouflage his aura around Elodea as a test. It made no difference to Eldoea, he could always hear Killua's aura. Killua thought it was because of what Gon said "Since Elodea was a young child when he was first introduced to your aura, it became second nature to him." Just as the rustling of the wind and crashing of the waves and the beeping of car horns are common sounds to people in every day occurrences, so is Killua's aura is to Elodea.

If Elodea was introduced to new people, whom he's never met before, does he clearly hear their auras like a sharp ring of a bell? Or is it something he must be exposed to for a prolonged period of time to truly take notice of?

"Knowing nen isn't a prerequisite for taking the exam. Anyone can take the exam, as long as they are diligent and critical thinkers," Satotz said, proudly.

"There is more to the exam than just that."

"Is that so?"

"Someone who doesn't know about the existence of aura and can't wield it is vulnerable in a world that cold-heartedly demands it."

"So you're unnecessarily weeding out those who have the potential to use nen, but are blindsided to it at this current state of affairs."

"A hunter's job is a dangerous job. It's not for the faint of heart."

"With that I do agree. Although, I saw some promising applicants get disqualified. Are you okay with that?"

"Sometimes the only way to win a battle is to just survive and fight another day. A skilled hunter, no, a future member of the association would have the common sense to know that not every battle should be fought on the same day. Retreating is not always the bad option." Killua leaned forward in his chair, staring at the screen; a grin poking at his cheeks. "Now take her for example, she knows exactly what she's doing."

Something was leading Elodea astray.

It sent him endlessly making circles around dinner tables, jumping over couches and chairs, and sprinting down hallways inconsistently. By the time the little lad got a severe headache from spinning around in circles. He flopped unto the ground, a nauseous mess.

No this couldn't be happening! He swore he could hear the distinct sound of aura in front of him. Are his ears deceiving him? Or is it his eyes? The sound of aura he is hearing is that of sticks tapping on wood, a very sharp and distinct sound. Alas! There was no person to match the aura with! There was not a single person in front of him, yet the aura sent him on a wild goose chase. It was here, it was close, and he was standing right in front of the sound. But no one was there.

Elodea huffed a fed up breath and stared at the ceiling, agitated. The sound of the aura took on a different tempo, one that was quicker and jubilantly erratic. He puffed his cheeks in annoyance to the sound, because he knew what it meant. He may not be able to see the person, but he knew certain of one thing in the pit of his stomach.

This person was laughing. Specifically at him.

"Woah, can you believe this Madrid!? He can't see me or hear what I'm saying, but I think he can sense me." Puntos laughed while floating over the exasperated boy with the amethyst eyes. Puntos, with his scaly skin, fish like tail and monkey skull for a head was spiraling in the air. He waved his tail at the boy's nose. Elodea was oblivious to the act, and remain undisturbed by the gesture, but he did twitch his nose a bit. Puntos laughed hysterically.

"He may not be able to see you, but from easily finding all the other talented applicants, it's obvious he is highly attuned to aura. He can't hear what you say?" Madrid questioned. She was currently hiding in the elevator shaft of the mansion, masking her own aura using zetsu. Blocking her own aura from leaving her body to remain undetected. She had Thalassa hovering above her left shoulder, communicating telepathically with Puntos from afar. A useful feature of her nen beasts is that they can be used as walkie talkies.

Thalassa and Puntos are manifestations of Madrid's nen from a vow she made to herself a long time ago. A time when her peaceful days of Kukan'yu were usurped underneath her, forcing her to plunge into a world of darkness she wasn't prepared for. Her memories of Kukan'yu, memories of her father reading to her by the warmth of the hearth on a cold winter night, memories of her mother lovingly brushing her hair, memories of her brothers that were far too young and innocent to live short lives. All those memories seemed as if they were a sweet dream, and she was caught in an endless nightmare. The tranquil days she can never go back to and the loved ones that will never return.

But Madrid had a goal, one that she was dead set on accomplishing. She closed her eyes and breathed in slowly.

"Are you feeling alright Madrid?" Asked Thalassa, sweetly. Thalassa tapped her webbed hand unto Madrid's shoulder. Despite the grotesque appearance of the nen beasts, no more than a foot in length and resembled the design of Fiji mermaids. They had only one purpose for their existence in life and it was to serve Madrid.

Madrid released a breath, "I'm fine, thank you."

She remembered when she was first acquainted with Elodea in the beginning of the exam, he stared up at her curiously. Noticing something different about her. Specifically, taking notice of her two nen beasts upon her shoulders, invisible to the human eye. Elodea may not have been able to clearly see the two beasts, named Puntos and Thalassa, floating above Madrid's shoulders. Elodea could clearly hear their aura. Nen beasts, just like humans, have a unique sound to their aura, unmistakable if heard.

"Yeah, I cracked a couple of jokes and he hasn't laughed not even once."

Thalassa interrupted, "I don't blame him because all your jokes suck eggs."

"Nobody asked you Thalassa. Madrid, did I ask for Thalassa's opinion? No! I don't think I did." Even though, Thalassa and Puntos originate from Madrid's own aura. They have developed their own unique personalities over the years. They have their opinions, views on the world, likes, and dislikes (especially of each other, they bicker with each other constantly. Madrid is always the one to end their silly disputes) like normal human beings.

"Would it kill you to act more dignified? Oh, I'm sorry, that must be an impossible request for someone of your caliber." Retorted Thalassa.

"Kiss my tail fin!"

"Shh, both of you. Puntos," thought Madrid, "I'm going to need you to travel around the halls a few more times. The time limit is almost up and he hasn't found us yet. Keep him occupied, because it looks like he is starting to become disinterested."

"Roger that Madrid." Puntos floated right in front of Eldoea's face and wagged his tail. "I'm right here, c'mon, don't you see me." Then he floated down the hall and floated above a pot of flowers. "Catch me if you can."

Elodea now heard the sound of the tapping aura coming from the potted plant, consisting of dahlias and baby's breath flowers, on the marble coffee table. This was becoming odd. Very odd.

Elodea borrowed his brows and turned his head. He was done with this hopeless endeavor. He decided he would go on and find another aura. He was wasting too much time, the exam would end shortly.

Puntos was baffled. The boy was no longer paying attention to him. Ugh! How dare he! In retaliation, Puntos flew and swiveled in front of Elodea's face to gain his attention once more. The boy waved the air in front of him, unknowingly smacking Puntos across the jaw. Sending the poor sucker flying across the room, smacking the wall, and then finally, landing tail first into the garbage can.

Elodea heard another aura coming from the outside. It sounded like a horn. A clown horn to be precise!

He stepped on the grass, bypassing the wishing flowers with their white parachutes of petals traveling through the air. Sending off wishes to the vast unknown. Elodea looked up the trees, then lowered his head, then finally staring straight at the bark of the tree in front of him.

"I found you Yoshima!" Elodea exclaimed.

Yoshima lowered the camouflaged bark drape from his head, with a nervous sweat drop rolling down his bald head. Elodea was just about to blow the whistle, until Yoshima hobbled forward with a mischievous plan.

"Wait! You don't want to do that." Yoshima said, with his arms spread out.

Elodea lowered his silver whistle and looked at Yoshima, confused. "Why not?"

"Uh Well, that is because," Yoshima had to come up with a lie, and he came up with one quick. "That is because this is my fifth attempt taking the exam and my mother would be so disappointed. It would just break her heart." Actually, this was his first time taking the hunter exam. What a sly rookie.

"Really?" Questioned Elodea. He dropped the whistle, now dangling around his neck.

"Yes," Yoshima nodded, confidently. "She has all her hopes set on me to become the hunter in the family, since all my other siblings backed out of it. I'm the only one who can restore the honor in the family." If Yoshima was Pinocchio, his nose would be the length of a golf club. Yoshima didn't have any siblings. He was an only child. And the stuff about restoring honor in the family, heck-no, his mother could care less. She was more concerned about winning the weekly jackpot to win a month's supply of free groceries down at the discounted supermarket. Fruits and vegetables are expensive now a days.

"Would it really break her heart?" Elodea asked, concerned.

"OF course it would." Yoshima retorted. "Plus, there is that incurable disease, I don't know how much time she has left before she…..you know….." On the contrary, Yoshima's mother is a healthy as a horse. Just last month, she ran a 10 K marathon and carried two men on her back who had broken their legs while running. What a woman.

He brought up his elbow to wipe away his fake, crocodile tears. He momentarily looked up to see Elodea's reaction, and to see if the child believed the lie.

"Before she what? Retires?"

"No you idiot-I mean my sweet, sweet child," Yoshima corrected himself, "You know," He pointed up towards the sky and slid a finger across his neck, exaggerating a discomforted face.

"She's going to go skydiving?"

"No!" Yoshima smacked his face with his palm. "She's going to die!"

"Oh no!"

"So you see, if she sees me with my hunter license, that single wish fulfillment will give strength to my weak and very feeble mother to get better. She'll become cured and rise from her bedridden state and give a hug to her son, whom loves her so, so much. Please, find it in your heart Elodea. It's for my mother."

"For your mother?"

"For momzie." Yoshima nodded.

Elodea looked towards the ground and thought of this. If he was in Yoshima's predicament, he wouldn't want his father to be disappointed, and especially if it was going to make them feel better. So what if he let one applicant slide? Someone was going to get better because of it. Right? "I guess I can let you pass," Elodea said solemnly.

"AH! Thank you! Now I know my mother will be cured! Thank you!" The only thing his mother needs to be cured of is to get rid of a good for nothing son, who doesn't return her calls and doesn't visit during the holidays. How rude!

But then, Elodea felt guilt in the bottom of his stomach. He remembered what his dad told him. Killua entrusted Elodea to do this single most important job! He couldn't let him down! Elodea lifted up the whistle from his neck and said, "Sorry Yoshima, but I can't let you pass. Maybe next year." He brought the whistle closer to his mouth, until Yoshima grabbed ahold of Elodea.

Yoshima grabbed Elodea's hand and covered his mouth. "Listen, pipsqueak. I am going to pass this year, or else there will be consequences that you will pay for."

Suddenly, Yoshima realized that he would be paying for the dire consequences. He looked up and held in his scream that sounds like a little girl. IT was the proctor! Or the proctor's father! Killua looked down on the man. He had his hand clenched on Yoshima's arm. His hand twisted upon the man's arm and a glorious, high pitched scream could be heard all across the mansion.

"You're disqualified," said Killua, coldheartedly.

The birds flocked away from the noise, and Elodea blocked his ears. It sounded like someone's scapula was broken mixed in with the sudden realization of failure.

The exam ended with two applicants passing the exam, Madrid Sierren and Korey Kuttle. Madrid proved herself by cleverly masking her aura and using a deco to distract the proctor. Korey, with no prior knowledge of nen what so ever, was able to conceal his aura and avoided the attention all other applicants and even Elodea himself. One could say he disappeared from the exam site completely.

In the year of the 301st hunter exam, two overly qualified applicants passed the exam and were worthy of being called the prestigious title that many strive to attain in their lifetime, known as a hunter.

Elodea, wearing his hardcore rocket ship pajamas, bounced up and down on his bed; with every jump a squeak from the mattress sung. Messing up his sheets and tussling his blanket, today was way too exciting. There was no way he could go to sleep at only 8:30 PM. He has too much energy to go to sleep.

Killua opened the door and said sternly, "We're leaving for Saherta in the morning and you need to get up early tomorrow. It's time to go to bed. So get to it." Elodea, midway in air, crisscrossed his legs like a pretzel and fell down on the mattress with a defeated look and mumbled an okay. Killua closed the door, but only to return a few minutes later when he heard giggling and squeaking sounds coming from the room.

Killua opened the door, and Elodea immediately stopped his fun activity of aerobic mattress jumping and sat on the bed still as a statue, holding in his laughter. That mischievous smile of his was giving him away. Darn it, he was about to jump high enough to touch the ceiling too, until his dad showed up.

"Goodnight, Elodea," said Killua.

"Goodnight, Dad," said Elodea.

Killua closed the door behind him and waited there for a couple of seconds. Not to his surprise, he heard the continued sounds of joy and laughter. He opened the door again and this time, tucked Elodea in bed, nice and tight.

"What will it take for you to go to bed?"

"If you tell me a story, please." Elodea cupped his hands together, along with pouting his lips paired with puppy dog eyes. No one can say no to that, not even Killua.

"You drive a hard bargain. Okay, move over." Elodea was not only exited that his bedtime would be extended, but that his dad is going to tell him an epic story. Killua moved and laid alongside the edge of the bed. "What will it be? Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Bean Stock, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," said Killua scrolling through a mental list of fairytales.

"Can you tell me the story of how I got my scars," Elodea said. "It's my favorite." Ever since Killua rescued Elodea from the burning house in Kukan'yu. Elodea has permanent red scars on the sides of his ribcage. The wounds did fade a bit over time, but they are still obviously visible. But Elodea didn't mind the scars, the story that went along with them excited him.

"Not Cinderella or the Three Musketeers?"

Elodea shook his head, adamant about his decision.

"Okay," Killua told this story to Elodea whenever he requested it and the boy loved it ever since the first time he heard it. To Elodea, it became a myth, a legend of a valiant hero journeying on a dangerous adventure. Seeing the smile on Elodea's face, didn't make Killua feel guilty he was telling a lie. Only a little though. Killua breathed and started out the story the way he always does, "You were outside, laying in the crib."

Elodea smiled.

"I only went inside momentarily to grab a milk bottle for you. You were incredibly fussy." Killua shook his head, playfully. "While I was in the kitchen, I saw something flying in the sky, it was too small to be an airplane, but too big to be a bird. 'What could that be?' I wondered to myself. When it got closer, I was surprised! It was a giant falcon. Six feet tall, with massive talons, and hungry eyes. It was a mistake to dress you in a pink onesie. Especially on a baby with a bald head, the falcon mistook you for a worm. It picked you up with its talons and flew away with you to its nest."

"What happened next?" Elodea asked only for dramatic effect. He knows what happens next, his favorite part was coming up soon.

"I followed the falcon. That's what happened. It dug its talons into your sides and intended to take you to its nest." Elodea looked down towards his ribcage, then back up at Killua. "It carried you across open plains full of ravenous wolves and coyotes. But that didn't stop me. I ran past them. It carried you across the merciless jungles full of venomous, man eating plants and ferocious jaguars. But that didn't stop me. I cut them all down. It carried you across the raging ocean full of savage sharks and killer whales. But that didn't stop me. I swam past them all."

"I think I remember that. Looking down on the earth," Elodea said.

Killua laughed, "How was the view?"

"It was awesome."

Killua continued, "The falcon's nest was located on the top of a rocky mountain, surrounded by boulders spiked like knives. So I scaled the mountain. When I reached the top, I saw that the falcon was holding you from its beak. It was going to feed you to its hatchlings! Those featherless new borns were jumping up and down, knocking over one another to get their greedy share of the meal. I was furious, outraged. As if my anger transcended into the sky, lighting struck the top of the mountain. While the falcon was distracted, I threw a rock to its heart. It stumbled around the nest and let go of you from its beak. The hatchlings were disappointed for a lost meal."

"Serves them right." Elodea nodded. "I'm nobody's meal ticket."

"Finally," Killua paused for dramatic effect and softened his voice to a whisper, "I held you, safe in my arms. That bird may have left scars on you, but that is proof that you can survive any hardship in life. You are a tough little warrior."

Elodea smiled, then asked "What happened to the hatchlings?"

"We had falcon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a whole week. We got fat from it too. They were just too delicious." Both were laughing.

When Elodea's eyelids became too heavy for him to keep open, he asked another question, "Dad, are you asleep yet?" Elodea yawned.

"No, not yet."

"Okay, just checking."

"Elodea, are you asleep yet?" Killua asked.

"No, not yet," Elodea deeply yawned once more.

"Okay, just checking."

"Dad."

"Yes?"

"What's a regret? The guy at the exam site said you would regret something." Elodea said in a drowsy voice with his eyes closed. His head was resting on the pillow, soft as a cloud.

Killua remembered at the end of the exam, he had to disqualify Yoshima Kiyuzaki from disobeying a very important rule. The exam committee had to escort Yoshima away from the site, because he was causing such a ruckus. He was hauled away, wearing a sling around his arm because Killua broke his scapula, screaming at the top of his lungs, 'you will regret this! One day, you'll see! You'll regret this!" What a sore loser.

"A regret," said Killua, "is when you feel guilt over something that has been done, or sadness over something you wish you could have done differently."

"Do you have any regrets," Elodea said through sleepy mumbles.

"None that I'm aware of."

"That's good." Elodea smiled, then fell sound asleep.

Killua kissed the top of Elodea's head and whispered goodnight. He stayed by Elodea's side and started to feel drowsy himself. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. He thought of the idea of regret and thought it was preposterous. Sure he made bad decisions here and there, but nothing momentously worth taking back, but then he thought of one thing. That he truly, deep in his heart regretted.

He leaned further back on the pillow and turned towards Elodea, who was sleeping soundly. He was probably dreaming of concurring the falcon on top of the mountain. He said to the still air, cool wind, and light of the nightlight which barely lit the room. What he said fell on death ears, and whispered, "I regret missing the first eight months of your life. Eight months I will never get back."

Killua, too, fell asleep.

HI! Thank you for reading chapter 14! I so so so so so appreciate it *high fives*

(and thanks to my sister, b/c she named this chapter title for me, thanks!)

I know this chapter came a lot later than the previous ones and I want to apologize for that right now. Sorry. There is school and homework and yah-da yah-da. So I want to say that chapters will be coming out at a slower pace than before. When the winter break rolls around, i'll be writing more chapters at a faster pace (hopefully) than I am now. I'm not hiding in a hole or rock or crater or any other large space, in the meantime I'm thinking about the story and how to structure it. Because the events in part 3 are turning my head into a convoluted jigsaw puzzle. WOoHOHOH!

OH! There are so many things I want to do! In this chapter, it reveals that Madrid is alive (yay!) I want to write a little flashback chapter related to her. It might be the next chapter or later on. And there are other flashback stories I want to write about too! I can't say for who else, but I think I want to write one for Illumi too, maybe...Then when the festive holiday season comes around, I want to write a Christmas story. These are all just fun flashback chapters. Just some things to maybe expect in the future.

I wacked out the whole hunter exam in one chapter, (Yoshima, i feel so sorry for you, but you were so much fun to write XD ) and now Killua and Elodea are off to Saherta to meet up with Gon and Alluka. We're almost rearing the end of part 2.

Thank for reading, faving, reviewing, following! I really appreciate it and I'll see you next time!

Bye!