A/N: For some reason, I hate myself. Gag me.
After promising I'll rewrite and fix up the earlier chapters [by that I mean the first five] for improvement, I end up doing this. Dude! *smacks herself*

I am peeling away Akane's past piece by piece... well, at least I got to explain a bit of the stuff that really happened in the Zaoldyeck arc. Kinda.

The song thing you'll encounter below is completely made up... the prayer, though, isn't. But you should know that.
'Live and let live.' I've been listening to too much David Archuleta... *refers to "Something 'bout love"*

OWC: 2,803 words

Disclaimer: Yoshihiro Togashi owns the rest of the characters. I own Katarina "Akane" de Marquez Dukarra. ^^ Her name is so funny long!

[Akane's POV]

"What?"

I gasped, my poor brain cells now working a little too fast than usual. The friction in my head as I scratched it was slowly killing them all, one by one. I could feel them pop, and comprehension went down the drain as I repeated what I said.

"What?"

"I don't like it," Gon merely stated, "that I have to go through a test just to see a friend. So I'd rather come in as an intruder… which is basically what really we are now."

Oh God no… I prayed silently in my head to whatever god there really was above us. Doesn't he remember that giant dog? I sent a worried glance at Gon, hoping he'd notice. I like dogs but not that kind of dog…

"Didn't you see the paw of that giant beast, Gon? It was probably twice bigger than you, and that was just a paw!" Leorio exclaimed.

Someone gets the point!

"No! I don't think it is righteous to test just for visiting a friend! I will come in the intruders' door!" Gon said stubbornly. I was starting to think that maybe this stubbornness won't get to anything and that it would only get in the way, but I hope that's not entirely true.

When it comes to Gon, you have to be patient with him—basically it's just Push-comes-to-shove when it comes to these things concerning Gon's stubbornness. In short, it means you have to bear with it.

Geez.

Now my brain cells, with the friction they created, sent my blood pressure to the tips. I was falling over, that well-worked on calmness. I didn't like how he was acting—and like how I did with Dad, I will fight for what is right now.

"GON!"

He looked at me with eyes burning with emotion—most likely determination and anger. Yet his chocolate brown eyes still contained that childlike innocence… he surely didn't want to do with anything concerning the Zaoldyecks other than Killua. He doesn't show it, but he's fearful as well. "Akane?"

Releasing all the anger and annoyance at him, I did it all in one full blow, not allowing him to speak once between my words. "Didn't you at least think of Zebulo-san? I don't think he'll be able to bear another day of this already hellish life if you go ahead and commit suicide under his own watch. Look, he's trying to save you! He doesn't want us to go because we are Killua's friends! And at this, it is proven that he also cares about Killua! Do you see my point, Gon? Think through this clearly first. It's going to be very reckless to attack blindly. You will reach nothing!" I said with a reprimanding voice. I hope that got into him.

Gon's hard visage melted and Zebulo smiled a little. "Akane-nee-san's right… I'm sorry, Zebulo-san, I should've thought of your situation first."

Zebulo nodded a slight thank-you, and all that shouting and debate turned into a dim, tense silence. No one knew what to say next—no one dared start up conversation again.

"Gon-san, are you fond of animals?" Zebulo asked out of the blue, catching my and the others' attention. It was really out of the blue, but my slow mind caught up with the situation soon enough.

Is he really planning to—?

"Eh… Yes, Zebulo-san," Gon said hesitatingly, like he didn't want to answer.

Would he have, if he had figured out Zebulo-san's plan from the start?

"I'll open the door of verification once more, Gon, and take a good look at Mike."

Gulp.

The four-ton doors opened and Zebulo-san, Gon, Leorio, Kurapika and I came in just before it closed once more. I was looking worriedly around the surroundings—there was a very malicious, deadly aura lingering within striking closeness. I could say it was Mike.

Zebulo whistled, very lightly, and it sounded like he was saying "Mike" very softly to a kid. He was calling to the dog… I murmured, listening to him. The whistle was such a haunting tune. I shivered in fright.

Now I get it why people are so afraid of the Zaoldyecks.

From my left, a giant, white furry monster came from the shadows of the trees. His fur was almost as white as Killua's hair, but maybe a bit dirtier with the soil and dirt it had rolled on—like a real puppy? No. He was nowhere looking like a puppy, or a dog. No.

Not when he was twenty times my height.

Not possible.

Not in hell.

Oh geez, the voice in my head taunted. I figured it might be my dying brain cells. You're afraid of that?

I gulped down the fear, and watched as Gon took a wary step closer. Even more terrified fear was clouding his eyes, and I could see that. But he was trying to restrain it—obviously he was trying to 'contact' whatever life and heart that demon had in his self. If he had any. Gon… he was astonished, amazed, yet frightened and cautious at the same time.

"This is Mike. Now, he's recording the faces he sees who enters the gate for the future… he's like a machine. He's a perfectly trained hound dog."

Hound dog? I gasped in my mind. You call that a hound dog? I call that a devil!

I was then thoroughly freaking out in my mind.

A very fast, very quick, fleeting image of InuYasha, one of those animes I watched when I was young, came into mind. I managed to smile at the irony the memory raised, but I wasn't about to relax my guard that easy.

"Do you think you can communicate with him, Gon-san?" Zebulo asked.

Gon shook his head. "No. Not when I saw his eyes. … They're lifeless," he said, the last statement sounding more of pity than fear.

"Do you want to fight him, Gon-san?" Zebulo continued to ask.

Of course not! Didn't you hear him, old man? I thought in my mind as Gon shook his head once more. "No, Zebulo-san. You are right, Zebulo-san. He is like a machine."

"A thoughtless monster," Leorio whispered, low enough so no one but me could hear. I nodded.

"It's a devil's hound," I said, and he nodded as well.

Mike turned away and left—how relieved I was to watch him go. If possible, I would never want to meet a kind of creature of that calibre ever again. Ever. Not in this lifetime.

Zebulo turned to talk to Gon. He invited us into his house, which was but a little cabin, but much bigger than the one by the gate. The door of the cabin looked pretty much normal… but then again, things aren't what they usually seem to be.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS DOOR?" Leorio panted as he tried to push the door. He was still weak, I could say. Sensei trained me to a weight tolerance of 700kg—after that, though, I persisted with my mom and dad and ran off the hunter exam.

So the gate was really out of my bounds—but I'll manage.

I sighed at Leorio's reddening face. "Lemme try," I said, and pushed him away from the door real hard. He stumbled but managed to get on his feet.

I pushed, and I actually tripped as the door opened. I think I used too much strength… I thought as I dusted myself after I picked myself up from the door. "I'm guessing it's a few hundred kilos?"

"The girl is WEIRD!" Leorio gasped before Zebulo could answer. Zebulo, meanwhile, let out a hearty laugh.

"She's just strong. I believe you had weight tolerance training?" Zebulo asked, and I nodded. "The doors were 200kg per side. Until what weight can you bear, Akane-san, if you mind me asking?"

"700," I answered, and leaned on the door as I breathed. "The Gate… Door…. of Verification, was wa-a-a-a-ay out of my bounds. But I believe I'll make it."

Zebulo nodded. "You will. As well with your friends. Here, take this—this is for training," he said, and handed us vests. I was guessing, 150 kilos? Around that. "We'll add the weight as the days pass." Then he gave some slippers. "These too. They're 20 kilos each."

I smiled. It was really déjà vu-ish. I did the same things with my master… almost. Only in the morning, I had to do laps with solid bricks being balanced on my head and on my hands. At night, I had to sleep with suits filled with rocks. And the bricks and the rocks got heavier and heavier as the days passed. Well, the training was worth it.

I wore the vest and slippers, no sweat, watching as Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika struggled with theirs. Maybe mine is lighter? I thought. They were men, Jesus Christ; they should be stronger than me, right?

Zebulo handed us some tea cups. "Here, have some tea." I took the cup and was surprised with the weight—but that was it. I could handle it. "Beware—the tea is hot, and the cup is heavy."

But it was too late. Leorio spilled it all over his vest, the cup slipping out of his grip. Zebulo rolled his eyes humorously as I laughed. "Le-o-ri-o the klutz!" I chanted with a laughing voice.

For some reason, I had that feeling our stay would be somehow fun.

"You're all hunters, aren't you?" Zebulo asked, and we all nodded. "I feel sorry for the news."

I nodded glumly. I know what 'news' he was talking about. "I feel bad for him. What does his family have against him?"

Zebulo shook his head. "Actually, nothing. Only that he is very important to the Family. It was rumoured that of all five children of the Zaoldyecks, he, the middle child, is the one most capable and suited for heir. That's why they want him to stay. It would be a great loss if he runs off once more. Only the last time, he managed to leave after severely injuring his mother and brother," Zebulo said.

Severely injuring his mother and brother. The words seemed to have a deeper meaning than what seems to be… like he did something worse than 'severely injuring' them.

Again, the reason for my doubt—they are the Zaoldyecks, after all.

"There are five children?" Kurapika asked.

Zebulo nodded. "Yes. But only Killua-sama is the one you would be able to approach."

I think I know what that means.

After eating, Zebulo sent us to do the chores. Kurapika set out for wiping the table, Gon the sweeping, and Leorio the other small, miscellaneous chores. I set out for washing the dishes—humming a tune as I went; whispering, in a tiny voice, the lullaby-song I had long known yet my Mom professes to not knowing.

"May the sun rise on her tomorrow,
May the clouds take away her sorrow.
The birds will sing to your daughter a song of life
a reason to live in this place full of strife.
Give her a reason not to forget
Her mother and father, that day they last met
May the flowers give her hope to live
And remember the gifts she has received
And may she be thankful you have spared her soul
From that bloody place of hurt and ghouls.
Bring her the light that will shine over her way
Resound the music that will be heard on that day
Spare her from the pain and let her survive
Watch over her as she makes a good wife.
Live and let live."

I had finished the dishes when I realized my voice got a little louder that supposed. I turned red as I closed the faucet, turning around to the guys who were apparently staring at me with surprised glances. "Well, I guess that's one thing from me you haven't heard."

"You have a very sweet voice, Akane-nee-san," Gon said with a smile and I smiled back at him. "Thank you Gon."

Leorio just snorted and continued arranging things by the cupboard. Kurapika, however was still staring at me.

"I have a feeling you have an unvoiced question," I said.

"…Where did you hear that?" Kurapika finally asked.

"I… I just know it. From memory. I don't know where I heard it…" I admitted at last. "It's just in my head."

Kurapika nodded, and then turned back around to wiping the table. I raised an eyebrow before finally going to the bedroom to prepare myself for a good shower.

But I can't get that weird nodding and Kurapika's response out of my head.

What is it this time?

[Kurapika's POV]

A woman was embroidering something on a piece of light blue cloth. Her son was watching her do her work, and with a light voice, she suddenly started singing. "May the sun rise on him tomorrow, May the clouds take away his sorrow. The birds will sing to your son a song of life, a reason to live in this place full of strife. Give him a reason not to forget his mother and father, that day they may have last met. May the flowers give him hope to live, and remember the gifts he has received. May he be thankful you have spared his soul from that bloody place of hurt and ghouls. Bring him the light that will shine over his way; Resound the music that will be heard on that day Watch him grow and his life may be brightened. Watch him become a very good husband. Live and let live."

"What song is that, ma?"

"It's a song you should remember. It's a song that comes from every Kuruta's heart."

I watched Akane leave us with the chores. The song is only taught to Kurutas ten years of age. Girls' songs are a little different from Boys' songs. Besides, only their parents teach them the song. And Akane's parents aren't exactly Kuruta.

…So how does Akane know it?

[Akane's POV]

The refreshing feel of the shower onto my tired body was delightful. It was relieving. I shook my wet hair as I faced the mirror.

I wiped the vapour off of it and stared at my reflection. My hair had grown very long—almost waist now. When I left home before the hunter exams, it had only been a few past my shoulder. How long has it been?

A month and two weeks.

I wrapped my towel around my body as I stumbled out the shower room back into the bedroom. I locked the door to the bedroom before proceeding to dress. I made it a point to still wear the vest. I will be honest to this training.

Well, it was for Killua, after all.

I sat in the dark shadows of the room. I had lit only one candle, and it lay at the other corner far from me. I basked in the dark silhouettes. I felt like I was being swallowed up by it, and with Mike's howl I really felt like I was drowning in it.

Three knocks from the door. "Akane?"

I looked up. "Yeah!" I called and he opened the door. He went in already in his sleeping clothes—and the vest—and a bed head hair, for some reason.

"Hi," he greeted, and I smiled at him in reply. "Do you mind if I…"

I didn't really know what he'd do, but if it was private, he would've done it somewhere else since he was a very modest person. So I answered, "No. Take your time."

He nodded and went to a bed and sat cross-legged on it. I could hear him whisper… I muted my breathing so I could hear him more clearly.

"…our souls from the heavens. Giving this body to the wind that blows, bless god for the miracle, and the Kuruta territories. Wishing to share everlasting peace in our souls, I desire to share the mirth with my people, I desire to share their sadness. God please praise eternally, the Kuruta people. Let us use our Scarlet eyes."

For some reason I had a feeling I was supposed to know that. Or, at least it sounded familiar… striking somewhere close to home.

The doubts came back. He was hiding something from me—I could sense it. And that 'something' was vital to my goal, I could say that.

When he was done, I went beside him and asked him, "Kurapika, are you hiding something?"