Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Phoenix
Dazzling city lights gleaming in the city that Phoenix and the three boys were flying over. Phoenix sat on a seat furthest away from the window. Watching Gon out the corner of her eye she frowned sadly to herself at the melancholy look in his eyes.
Phoenix sighed silently to herself just as Kurapika and Leorio came back into the room with the food they went to get for the four.
The toxic green eyed girl watch as Gon muttered slightly to himself not paying attention to anything around him. He was surprised when a fry was suddenly shoved into his mouth by Leorio.
"What's with the long face, Gon?" The bespectacled teen asked in a cheerful voice.
"We'll be in the Republic of Padokea by morning. You'll see Killua soon" Kurapika added handing Phoenix her fries and burger.
Gon nodded in agreement before looked back outside but with a determined expression instead of a gloomy one.
Phoenix smiled softly at her friend before beginning to eat.
As she was eating she through back on the other day when the Chairman ask to train her. She still hadn't told Kurapika or anyone just yet, not knowing how to bring it up.
'There's something special about you my dear and I won't say what exactly until we begin training but I do hope that you'll accept my offer' Was what he had told her but she didn't have a single clue about what he was talking about. What was so special about her that made her stick out then any of the others? Was there something wrong with her that the Chairman was worried about so he was going to train her to keep an eye on her?
Shaking her head to rid herself of those thoughts she scolded herself for thinking so negatively. 'If there was something wrong with me then The Chairman wouldn't have allowed me to leaving and move around on my own' Phoenix told herself looking up. Kurapika was staring at her worried, while Leorio and Gon looked expectantly at her.
"Um...what?" She asked timidly, not sure why they were staring at her like that.
Leorio gave her an annoyed looked and Gon looked sheepish. Kurapika didn't look like his worries were any lessened by her lapse of awareness.
"I ask you if you know anything about the Zoldycks!" Leorio told her grumpily.
"Oh, sorry" Phoenix apologized giving a small sheepish smile to Leorio before thinking about his questions, "Well I know that their all assassins and have always have been but that's all I know right now, sorry" Phoenix explained trying to think of anything else.
Leorio sighed in disappointment, "The same as the rest of us" He mumbled before standing up and pulling out some blankets and pillows from the compartments above their head, "Anyway, let's get some sleep so we're not tired tomorrow" he said passing the bedding out before making himself comfortable going to sleep, Gon joining him quickly.
The blonde male got ready for bed but once he was settled in he didn't fall asleep instead he looked at his friend who hadn't moved since taking the bedding from Leorio.
"Nix" Kurapika called out to her softly so he wouldn't wake up their friends. His brows furrowed slightly as Phoenix jumped, obviously lost in thought again, "What's going on? You've been quieter than usual these past few days" He asked concerned.
Phoenix looked at Kurapika for a moment before looking down her hands resting on the pillow in her lap. Clenching her fist she sighed out the tension in her stiff body before moving so her back was leaning against the armrest and she was facing Kurapika.
Resting her arms on her legs that were tucked under her chin she looked back to the blonde, "I'm okay, really. I've just been thinking is all" She told him honestly.
Kurapika didn't say anything for a moment, "Is it about Killua or what the Chairman spoke to you about?" He asked gently.
"I'm worried about what's happening with Killua but I'm thinking more about what the Chairman and I spoke about" Phoenix said. Pausing she looked up at Kurapika from she had dropped her gaze to see him looking at her encouragingly. "He asked that once we get Killua back that I return to the Hunters Hotel so he can train me..."
Kurapika stared at the young girl before in stunned silence. To be trained by the Chairman would be a great honour but he knew that Phoenix didn't care about that normally something like this wouldn't bother her enough to get lost so deep in thought like she has been, so that can only mean, "You're scared about being alone again, aren't you?" Kurapika asked tenderly.
Phoenix bit her lip and nodded, "Yeah, I... I haven't been on my own for four years and I'm scared of being by myself just like back then" Phoenix muttered before burrowing her head into her knees, holding back tears.
Kurapika sighed before leaning forward and using his fingers to lift her chin so he could look into her eyes that were filled with hesitation and sadness, "Everything thing will be okay. We might not be together for a while but doesn't mean we won't ever see each other or we won't talk every night" The blonde smiled at her reassuringly but a hint of sadness in his own eyes.
While his words were true he was also reluctant to let Phoenix be on her own. He knew that they weren't going to be travelling together now that the Hunter's Exam was over because now they had three new friends who would do anything for them and Kurapika wanted Phoenix to go with them while he went after the spiders. He never told her but he never wanted her to get involved with his revenge, not because she was weak, she was far from it but because he didn't want her to fall into the darkness like he probably will.
Phoenix nodded unaware of what was going on inside the blondes head before she crawled over so that she was lying against him. She smiled softly to herself as Kurapika freed her hair from its bun and ran his hands through her hair just like he always did when she was stressing herself out.
"You're the best, Kurapika-nii" Phoenix whispered as she drifted off the sleep not noticing the way Kurapika frozen for a second before smiling with tears in his eyes and drop a soft kiss on the top of her head, following her into sleep land.
The next morning the four finally arrived in the Dentora region of the Republic of Padokea where Killua lives. They travelled by train to the town near Kukuroo Mountain and were looking out the window at said mountain.
"There it is. The base for the family of assassins is on that mountain? It sure looks creepy..." Leorio said quietly to the others.
Phoenix silently agreed with the older teen. The peak of the mountain was cover in a dark fog that could be mistaken as clouds and just gave off a dangerous vibe. As much as it crept her out it also excited her.
"Yes. Once we reach our destination, we should start gathering information" Kurapika told everyone as they all nodded with agreement.
"Okay... Thank you taking Lamentation Tour today" The guild of the bus that the four had taken after getting information, bowed, "We will be visiting Kukuroo Mountain, home to the famous Zoldyck family of assassins"
"Look" Leorio said leaning forward to whisper to Phoenix and Kurapika who had seated themselves in front of Gon and Leorio. He gestured with his head to the back of the bus where some thugs were sitting not even bothered that their weapons were on full display, "They obviously aren't tourist"
"Yes..." Kurapika agreed quietly as he looked back enough to see them but not enough to raise suspicion. Phoenix just turned around slightly in her seat and made it so she was looking at Leorio but actually watching the thugs.
"Everyone?" Coco the tour guild called for everyone's attention, "Please look to your right" She instructed which everyone did, "That is Kukuroo Mountain, where the Zoldyck family lives. The forest surrounds the 3,772-meter mountain, and the Zoldyck estate is somewhere on that mountain. But no one has ever seen it. The Zoldyck family includes ten members: a great-grandfather, grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, and then, there are five children. All of them are assassins! Then let us approach the mountain" Coco explained to everyone.
Once the bus had stopped everyone got off it and were staring in awe at the massive gates with two stone dragons on top facing each other.
While everyone was commenting about how big it was, Phoenix was more focused on the design of the doors. If one was to look closely it seemed as if it wasn't just a single door but multiple ones.
'How strange, why do they have so many doors?' The young teen thought to herself before her attention was grabbed by a commotion near the guard's station.
One of the thugs from the back of the bus had ripped off the door and was now holding the elderly guard off the ground by the front of his suit.
"Open the gate" The thug demanded of the guard.
"I-I cannot do that. The master would not be pleased" The guard explained in a hurry.
"Don't worry. We're going to kill your master" The other thug with a giant sword resting on his shoulder spoke up ignorantly.
The guard sighed as a look of defeat came across his face as he handed over the key for the pair of doors right next to the guard's station. The thug grabbed the key before harshly throwing the elder guard to the ground.
Phoenix gasp as she quickly made her way over to the guard with Gon to make sure he was okay.
"Are you okay?" Gon asked as the two came to the guard's side as he sat up, Kurapika and Leorio close behind them.
"Yes, I'm fine" The guard reassured the two young teens as they knelt down beside him in worry.
The door slammed shut bring the fives attention to the wooden doors. "Man... now Mike's going to end up eating between meals again" The guard mumble loudly to himself before everyone heard the thugs start to scream making everyone jump and rush to the bus apart from the four friends and guard, after a giant rust coloured paw dropped the two thugs skeletons.
"Mike!" The guard yelled out, "Don't blame me if you get fat!"
"What was that?" Kurapika asked tensed.
No one answered him but Phoenix couldn't take her eyes off of where the paw retreated. The claws on that thing was not only sharp but thick and long too. It brought along a sense of a ghost she could only describe as a faded, blurred memory. Shaking her head she turned back to her friends who were telling the Tour Guild that they were staying when she told them to get back onto the bus.
A little while later once everyone had calmed down with a cup of tea in the guard's station they explained what they were doing here, and that they planned to take Killua away from here.
"I see. So you're young Killua's friends. I'm happy to hear that. I've worked here for twenty years, but this is the first time any friends have come to visit. Since I work here, I shouldn't say this, but the place is rather lonely. No one ever visits. Though we do see a lot of those..." The guard gestured over his shoulder at the skeletons in the bin behind him, "Well, a family of assassins is pretty unusual. So I supposed it's the price they have to pay. Anyway, I'm glad you're here. Thank you" He bowed his head.
"Don't mention it" Leorio waved the thanks off.
"However... I cannot let you inside. Didn't you see the large arm of the creature? Its name is Mike. It serves as the Zoldyck family watchdog. It only obeys family, and will attack anyone else. The beast still follows the order its master gave it ten years ago... To kill every single intruder. But technically, he isn't following the order. Because he keeps eating them... Anyway, I can't let you inside. I wouldn't want to reduce young Killua's friends to skeletons"
The more the guard talked about Mike the more Phoenix's frown deepened, which thankfully went unnoticed by the others. He was talking about the animal as if it was a mindless beast. It was defiantly dangerous, Phoenix won't deny it, but it was trained that way. It disgusted the young girl that they trained the rust coloured creature into a bloodthirsty animal.
"Sir" Phoenix tuned back in when she heard Kurapika, "How is it that you're safe? You go inside correct? If you never needed to enter, you wouldn't have a key"
"Quite perceptive of you. But you're only half right. I require no key to get inside. This key is for intruders" The guard explained and Phoenix suddenly understood what Kurapika was getting at.
"For some reason, eighty to ninety percent of intruders attempt to use the front gate. If I don't open the gate for them, they'll try to break it down. Such troublemakers... so we added a locked door to one side. The intruders take the key from the helpless guard, and then Mike eats them" The elderly guard told them.
"Then the door isn't locked and the wooden doors aren't even the right door, am I right, Guard-san?" Phoenix asked quietly, discreetly calling his position as a guard out.
"As the young lady realized, I'm not a guard. I merely clean up after Mike. She is also right about the gate" The elderly man answered.
"What?" Leorio asked in surprise as the four friends looked back towards the gate.
The group of five make their way out of the guard house to get a closer look at the actual gate. Leorio thinking he could open it moved up to the door while warming up his arms. But the door didn't even creak at Leorio's weight as he pushed with all his might.
It was little amusing to Phoenix as she watched as Leorio tried different ways to open it like trying to slide it across or pulling it somehow...
"I've tried pushing and pulling, but it won't budge! Are you sure it isn't locked?" Leorio shouted finally had enough of trying to open the door.
"You just aren't strong enough" The guard said bluntly making phoenix swallow her giggles.
"That's absurd! I've been using all my strength!" Leorio screamed back offended.
The four then watched as the guard took off his suit jacket and shirt so he was only in a white tank and moved over to the door.
'Why is he stripping?' Phoenix thought to herself a little creeped out.
"Just watch" Was all he said in a serious voice to the questioning looks he was getting from the group of four, "This gate's official name is the 'Testing Gate'. Anyone who cannot open this gate is unqualified to enter the Zoldyck estate" He explained as his muscles budged and he was surrender in a clear mist.
Looking at her friends Phoenix noticed that they couldn't see the mist as she could. A little confused about why that is she turned back to watch as the guard push the doors open with a little effort. As he stepped back the doors closed quickly and automatically.
The guard turned to smile at the four astonished faces staring at him, "As you just saw the door closes automatically, so you'll want to run in the second it opens. You don't need to worry about Mike. He has orders not to attack any who enter through the Testing Gate. Still, this is getting tougher as I age... But they'll fire me if I can't open the gate so I need to keep in shape" The guard explained, "I should mention that each of gate one's doors weigh two tons" He added as an afterthought.
"Two tons?" Leorio asked in disbelief, "You're not supposed to be able to open that! Wait what did you say? Gate one?"
"Yes, have a look. There are seven gate. When you go up a gate, the weight doubles"
"Doubles?" Leorio yelped.
"The number of gates that open depends on the amount of strength you use. Incidentally, when young Killua returned, he opened gates one through three" The guard told the four.
"Gate Three? That would be twelve tons!" Gon said seriously.
Phoenix looked at Gon with a slight deadpan, "Sixteen tons, Gon" She said at the same time as Kurapika.
Gon rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment with a sheepish chucked that make Phoenix giggle a little before turning back to the gates, 'I wonder how many I could open... if I can open any' She thought with a slight sweat drop.
"Do you understand now?" The guard as not noticing Phoenix's questioning gaze but Kurapika did and he knew exactly what she was thinking, "This is what's required just to get in the door. They live in a completely different world" the guard told the four somewhat gently.
"Hmm, I don't like it" Gon said honestly, "Mister, lend me the key. I came here to see my friend, not to be tested. You can consider me an intruder. So let me borrow the key. I'll use the intruder's door" He said turning to the guard.
"Gon!" Kurapika said wanting to talk to boy out of his reckless idea.
"Hey..." Leorio said wanting to do the same thing as the blonde.
Phoenix just stood there watching the boy with a searching gaze not saying anything.
"It doesn't matter if you won't loan me the key. I'll just climb the wall, if that's what it takes" Gon said ignoring the two's protests.
"Don't be stupid, Gon!" Leorio scolded the boy, "Didn't you see that monster? Its arm was bigger than your entire body!"
"I won't accept this!" Gon replied shutting Leorio up, "Why would you test your friends? I'll never enter through that door"
The guard sighed as he rubbed his balding head, "You are absolutely right. However, forcing your way through is impossible. Mike will kill you"
"I agree. We have plenty of time. Let's figure out a way to enter through gate one" Kurapika tired.
Gon ignored him and just held out his hand for the intruder's key. Leorio leaned over to Kurapika behind Gon, "It's not use. He's not gonna change his mind"
"Indeed" The blond agreed.
"Unfortunately, I cannot lend you this key. I will not feed young Killua's friends to Mike. Well please wait here for a minute" He said before making his way to the guard's station with the boys following behind him.
Phoenix stayed back and walked a little closer to the Testing Gates. She studied the gate closely while ignoring the shouting Gon was doing.
'I'm pretty sure that I can get at least gate one open' Just as she was about to try Gon came storming out of the guard's station. She watched as Gon cast his fishing line over the gate and start to climb.
"Hey! Stop it, Gon!" Leorio shouted as he came over with Kurapika and the guard.
"It's okay. You three can wait here. I'll go by myself" Gon told his friends.
"I can't let you do that!" Leorio told him.
"Neither can I!" Phoenix told him making everyone pause, "I'm coming with you!" She told him with a smile.
Leorio let out a shout of anger before looking down at the girl with watching Gon, "Don't even think about it brat!" He screamed at her.
Phoenix glared at him making him flinch slightly but before she could say anything Kurapika came and laid a hand on her shoulder stopping her from doing anything, "You three need to calm down" He told the calmly.
"Gon-kun, I'll give you the key" The guard said as he made his way over the four, "You can go through the door"
"Hold on, pops!" Leorio said not wanting to encourage Gon, "We can convince to stop!"
"Really?" He asked doubtfully "But he appears to be a stubborn boy. To make amends, I'll accompany you through the door" This made Gon stop and looked at the guard, "It's possible that Mike may recognize me and decide not to attack. Though I'm almost a hundred percent certain that he'll kill us all"
At that Gon jumped down with a worried look on his face, "You can't do that. I don't want to cause you any trouble" Gon told him earnestly.
"No, I'm coming with you. The result will be the same if I stay behind. If I send young Killua's friends to their deaths, I'll never be able to face him again. If you die, I will also die"
Gon looked down at the guard'ss words before unhooking his fishing line on the top of the gate. "I understand now. I didn't stop to consider your situation. Sorry" Gon apologized getting everyone to smile at him for his thoughtfulness.
"You must like animals, Gon-kun" The guard stated.
"Yeah" Gon nodded.
"Just as I thought. Did you grow up playing in the countryside?"
"Yep! How did you know?"
"Gon-kun, I'm going to open the Testing Gates again. I want you to see Mike for yourself" The guard explained.
"Wait" Phoenix suddenly spoke getting everyone's attention, "Do you mind if I have try at the Testing Gates?" She asked shyly.
The guard looked a little shocked and doubtful but agreed to let her have a shot.
Walking up to the gates Phoenix put her hands on either side, after taking a deep breath and letting it out she started to push at the doors with all her might. She could feel the doors moving forward as she pushed. Ignoring Gon and Leorio's shouts of shock and the guards gasp she took a step forward before throwing her weight forward to make the doors slam open.
The others quickly went inside with Phoenix coming in last so the doors didn't close on any of them.
Gon was staring at her with amazement, Leorio with astonishment, the guard with shock and Kurapika was watching her with pride brimming in his eyes.
Looking back at the gate Phoenix was happy to see that she had pushed the second gate open as well as the first.
No one said anything as they made their way forward a little so they were a little ways away from the gate.
"Hey... Is it really okay for us to come in?" Leorio asked a little apprehensive.
"Yes, you'll be safe because you entered through the Testing Gate. Mike! Come here!" The guard called out.
His voice echoed around them ominously before a deep growl could be heard to the right of them. Looking over they all watched a giant rust coloured dog like creature walked toward them.
Just staring at the creature Phoenix could feel the bloodthirsty aura around it as it watched the four friends. She knew that it was memorizing their scents and the way they looked.
A happy childish giggle echoed in her head suddenly followed by the happy barking of a dog. 'What was that?' Phoenix thought confused, not knowing why she was hearing laughter and barking in her head but not with her ears.
Not taking her eyes off the creature that she could only describe as a giant dog or maybe a wolf, she observed its dull brown eyes that she thought would have been blank of any emotion but bloodlust but she could see a glint of warmth in its eyes. She didn't know why but she felt the need to take this giant dog and take it somewhere open for it to run around and be happy.
She could feel the others fear and anxiety as the giant dog laid down in front of them, she could also feel the guards stumped gaze on her, 'Probably because I'm the only one not afraid of Mike' Phoenix thought to herself.
"Gon-kun, do you understand now?" The guard ask solemnly, "This is a trained hunting dog. It's nothing like the wild animals you're accustomed to" The guard explained to them but mostly Gon who looked ready to run at any moment.
'He's not a hunting dog!' Phoenix thought angrily to herself, not sure how she even knew that.
"You must have expected to be able to communicate with him. Until you saw his eyes. Mike us currently memorizing the appearances and scents of human's he's never seem. There's nothing else on his mind. He's like a machine. Gon-kun, could you fight him?" The guard asked.
Gon shook his head, "No, I'm scared. I don't want to fight him!" Gon answered honestly.
"Well, how long will you be here?" The guard then asked.
"Until we meet Killua" Gon said fiercely turning away from Mike just like Kurapika and Leorio but Phoenix continued to stare at Mike who was staring back like the two were in a trance. "We won't leave before then!"
The guard chuckled, "Then please come this way" He said leading the other further into the forest that surrounded them.
As the others moved away Kurapika looked back at Phoenix who hadn't moved an inch, "Phoenix?" He called out questionably gained the others attention but the girls, "Phoenix?" He called louder but didn't get an answer.
The boys were getting worried now, it wasn't like Phoenix to ignore them or zone out like this. Kurapika walked over to her slowly not wanting to startle her and probably Mike as well.
Once he was next to her he noticed that she had a distant look in her eyes just like she always did when she was thinking deeply but this was different it was like she wasn't even there anymore. Worried he placed a hand on her shoulder a shook her slightly.
"Katsu" She mumble under her breath but Kurapika heard her and filed that away for later and with one finally shake he snapped her out of it. Looking at his worried face Phoenix was confused, "What's wrong Kurapika?" She asked quietly.
"Are you okay? You were really out of it just now" Kurapika asked instead.
Phoenix stared at him for few seconds before looking back at Mike then back again with a slightly shaky smile, "I-I'm okay" She stuttered slightly before making her way to her other worried friends but just gave then a small smile and they all continued on with Mike watching them go, no watching Phoenix go.
A/N: Finally finished the chapter! Sorry it took so long guys, I had massive writers block and couldn't think of anything!
Who's Katsu? What does Phoenix know about Mike? Who was giggling and barking?
Answer from last chapter: I have a few favourite animes so I'll name five: One Piece, Naruto, Fairy Tale, Death Note and Haikyuu!
Question of the chapter: What is your favourite anime Character that isn't in Hunter x Hunter?
Please follow, favourite and review I would really appreciate it.