A/N: I'm back with another lame update! Sorry for taking so long because I was busy with competitions and events and other stuff. Anyway, enough about me! Havantitiana thank you so much for the review! I'm glad that the emotion I wanted to transmit was felt and I was really fretting over it. Your review calmed me. Guest thank you for that motivational review! It got me going and I hope this doesn't disappoint you. For everyone, I love you all!
Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter.
CHAPTER 20
The waves made the ship bob up and down but that didn't diminish the day's beauty. The captain barked orders to his men and the crew can be heard running all over the place.
Killua looked up and saw the sky dotted with clouds, giving the Earth a lively feel. His blue eyes spotted his friend up the mast and he decided to climb up to greet him.
Before he could even utter anything though, Gon decided to do it himself. "Look Killua, there's Whale Island! We're almost there!" he said excitedly.
"Yeah." the silver-head muttered. Looking at the iconically named island, Killua felt a knot tighten uncomfortably in his stomach.
Somewhere on the island would be the girl he did wrong. The one girl he cared about and he's scared to face her. 'What do I say? "Hi Ren, it's me again. How's the wound I gave healing up? Are you still upset that I ruined your life?" Yup. That would be it.'
"She'll be happy to see you." Gon said suddenly. He noticed that the assassin had gone quiet and he can correctly guess why.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Killua frowned.
"Ren would be happy to see you. Don't worry so much." he laughed.
The silver-head just sighed and looked at the island as if he would spot her somehow.
Soon, the ship reached the docks and both boys disembarked after they thanked the captain. They walked in silence upwards the hill where Gon's house would be.
Killua looked around and observed how the people are enthusiastic and loud, and everything was quite rural. It really is a fisherman's island. 'Was Ren this lively in town too?'
"There it is!" Gon's voice brought him back to reality and he looked at where his friend was pointing. Seeing as that it was the only house on the hill made it completely hard to miss.
The islander ran towards it, beckoning him to do the same. Killua took a deep breath before following him towards the backdoor where a woman with red-orange hair was hanging laundry.
"Aunt Mito!"
The woman startled and she looked to her side to face Gon. As if only processing that he was actually there, Mito's eyes filled with tears and she immediately reached to embrace him. "Gon, you're back! What took you so long? And you only wrote one letter! Geez!"
"Aunt Mito, this is my friend Killua." Gon said laughing at her rants. At the sudden introduction, Killua felt awkward under the woman's scrutinizing gaze as he said hello.
"Hello Killua, it's so nice to see that Gon has a friend! Come inside and I'll prepare something for you to eat. Mom, Gon's home!" Mito ushered the boys in then she rummaged the cabinets in search of something to cook. "You didn't even say you were coming back, Gon! You left me unprepared!"
The said boy just laughed it off. "Anything's fine Aunt Mito! By the way, have you seen Ren? Where is she? Where's Tasha?"
Killua swallowed hard at the mention of her name and he waited for her to answer but Mito stood there, frozen.
"Aunt Mito? What's wrong?" Gon asked, frowning.
Grandma walked in and noticed that the atmosphere was different. She cleared her throat, startling Mito, and smiled to the boys. "Why don't you two have a bath first? You must always be clean before a meal."
"But-!"
"Go on."
Gon sighed and nodded then led Killua upstairs. The silver-head looked back and saw that the two women wore grim expressions and that knot in his stomach became tighter.
In a small, dark room sat a girl of 13. Her red hair was cut recently, or rather chopped. Her face was devoid of any emotion but her eyes were as calculating as ever. She seemed to be staring blankly outside the window.
Mito walked up the stairs apprehensively, as if she would disturb. Her heart grew heavier with each step she made towards the shared room of Gon and Renée.
Slowly, the door opened and the red-head craned her neck towards it, curious but not too peeved. It can be seen that something was on her neck. Were those veins?
Mito breathed in heavily as she stood at the doorway, as if it exhausted her to do so. "Oh Renée."
Renée hopped off the ledge she was sitting on and approached the door timidly.
The woman faltered, as if the sight of it scared her, she grabbed onto the door frame as sobs escaped her body.
"What is it?" the red-head said, looking up. She noticed the cross on his forehead, unhidden from his slicked back hair. "Is it time to go, Chrollo?" The man nodded curtly, that gentle smile never leaving his lips. He draped his arm around her shoulders and led her outside.
Mito sighed as she entered the empty room and she took something from the dresser. A letter. On the front, written in red ink, were two words: 'I'm sorry'.
The woman clutched it tightly, making her way towards the kitchen. She heard laughter come from the bathroom and it ached her heart to know it would not last.
"Mito."
Her head whipped towards her right and she saw her mother waiting for her. The elder smiled, encouraging her. "He needs to know."
Mito nodded and continued making her way down. The two ladies set the table as the boys finished dressing and headed down.
"Good. Let's eat!"
The four sat down, said grace, and helped themselves to generous heaps of food. However, Gon lost his appetite quickly and he resorted to playing with his food.
Mito noticed this and she called him out for it. "What's wrong? Is what I cooked not delicious?"
"It is, Aunt Mito. It's just that... Where's Ren and Tasha? Why aren't they eating with us?"
Killua swallowed the last spoonful of his food and he felt his stomach flip uncomfortably.
The silence grew pregnant and hung heavily in the air.
"She's... They aren't here anymore, Gon."
The boy threw her a confused look, "What do you mean? Where are they?"
"When Renée came home, she was not quite herself. I worried that something happened to you and I questioned her about it. All she said was that she left you. I didn't understand what that meant and I threw a fit. I thought you'd died." Mito started.
"In all our bickering, I had forgotten to tell her a very important thing. When she entered the house, she was met by a surprise. A surprise that no one could have prepared her for."
Everyone remained silent as the woman wiped a lone tear from her eye.
"Tasha was very sick when you two left. He was terminal."
At this news, Gon and Killua's eyes widened in surprise.
"By the time she came home, he was bedridden. He was practically dead; an almost-corpse waiting for his child to come back. Saying that Renée was stunned is an understatement. She was heartbroken. Devastated by the sight her father was in."
Mito choked back a sob, remembering that exact moment when she saw the red-head's look of horror. She remembered how guilty she felt for yelling at her and not prepping her for anything. It took long for her to get a grip and continue the story, but the two boys were patient as they were trying to absorb and imagine the pain Renée was in.
"Tasha spoke with her and I left them alone. I didn't hear anything they talked about so I don't know what made her..." she stopped, swallowing some bile that threatened to escape.
Gon looked at her in worry, "What happened Aunt Mito?"
"She became so much more distant. It was like when she first came to live with us. So quiet. Renée locked herself up in her room after Tasha was buried. She never came out to eat or drink and that went on for days. Your grandma and I were so worried that we broke the lock of the room and entered but she was already gone. We found this sitting on your bed, Gon." Mito said, fishing out the letter from her dress pocket and handing it over to Gon.
"I just wish I could've helped her. She was so lost and distressed that I thought leaving her alone would be best. I'm so sorry Gon. I made her feel solitary." the woman finished, bursting out in tears.
The dark haired boy handed Killua the letter and rushed towards Mito's side.
Grandma left and came back with a tray of warm tea and biscuits in hope of soothing the younger woman's nerves.
Mito brushed them off and mustered up a smile. "I'm alright now, thank you. Gon, when you find her, please bring her back. Never let her go off alone ever again. We are family, okay? Promise me."
Gon looked into her eyes and saw the same determination he felt. He laced his pinky with hers, sealing the deal.
"Good. Now you two go into your rooms or maybe you can show Killua the island. I'll clean up."
Gon glanced towards his friend and the former assassin understood.
Killua gave a stretch and a loud yawn. "Actually I'm pretty beat, Gon. I'll go sleep in your room, if that's okay."
"Yeah it's the first door on the left. You can use the bed on the left side of the room."
The silver-head nodded and bounded up the stairs as his friend caught up with his family.
Once he reached the room, he saw his backpack already on the bed he was supposed to use. He observed that the room was immaculate, as if preserved just for this day. Killua hopped on the bed and he immediately felt the lull of comfort. He took in a deep breath and Renée's scent wafted in his nostrils.
Surprised, he sat up and took a good look at the bed he was on.
It was sturdy and the frame was similar to the bed next to it. Actually, it was similar in every way except for the quilt's color. The bed he was on had a red quilt while the other had green.
'This is Ren's bed.'
Killua felt his heart beat faster and he gently placed his head on her pillow. He inhaled and her scent filled his senses, causing his heart to go overdrive.
"Ren..." he sighed.
Remembering the letter she left, he took it out from his pocket and stared at the words written in front. 'Gon might want to read first.' he thought as he placed it on the dresser between the beds.
Killua lay down and closed his eyes to get some sleep.
'Maybe he wouldn't mind if I took a peek.' a voice in his head whispered.
'I'll feel guilty.'
'What he doesn't know won't kill him.'
'He deserves to go first.'
'So do you.'
'It's his sister.'
'That doesn't mean you care any less about her.'
"Agh!" the silver-head groaned exasperatedly, glaring at the offensive piece of paper. "Fine." he muttered under his breath. Killua picked it up gingerly and opened it.
'By the time you read this, I may have already gone and gotten myself in trouble. I know I should've at least explained myself but I'm at a loss for words how. I don't know when we'll see each other again, but when we do, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for what I did. Just know that I did it for pure intentions. Love you twerps.'
The next day, the two boys woke up early and left the house after breakfast. They were chatting nonstop about the box and items Gon's father left him, which was given by Aunt Mito the night before. The two wandered in the woods and they started to trek a little higher up the mountain.
"We have a toy store in town." Gon suggested.
"Good. Then we can buy a JoyStation there for the memory your dad left."
"Right! We can do that after this."
Killua nodded at that as they passed a large boulder and into a clearing.
They were met with the most breathtaking view of the island. It was an equal mix of civilisation and nature, and the air was really cool and comforting as it caressed them.
Killua felt his chest swell with admiration and he decided that it was the second best thing about this place, the first being the food.
In the center of it all, by the edge, was a small mound topped with a stone. The stone was carved and it read, "Tasha Godfrei. Beloved father and friend. 'Never let your past define you.'"
Gon approached the lone grave and knelt upon it. His hand rested on the stone, gently rubbing the markings with his thumb, and he cried. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I wish I could've been so that I saw you and maybe I could've understood her. I'm sorry I didn't protect her like I promised. I swear I'll find her, and when I do I will help her and bring her home. I'll set things right, Tasha."
Hearing his friend grieve made the assassin feel awkward. He didn't know what Renée's foster father was like but he seemed like a good man. 'Never let your past define you, huh? Would he have accepted me?'
Gon stood up, wiping off his tears on his sleeve. "Let's go, Killua."
The two boys made their way down towards the town through the scenic route. The islander showed his friend all the places he and Renée used to play in as well as the lake where the Lord lived.
Gon was talking animatedly about their foxbear friend, Kon, whose wife isn't fond of humans which is why he doesn't come out anymore. The ex-assassin noticed a pile of fish by the bank and pointed it out. "I think that means 'Welcome Home'." he smiled.
After grilling and eating the fish for lunch, the two continued to head for town. As the number of locals increased, Killua was surprised that many, if not all, of the people knew Gon.
"Hey Gon!"
"Congratulations, my boy!"
"Just like your ol' man!"
"It's Gon! He's back!"
Fortunately, they didn't crowd him but Gon greeted each of them by name.
"You're quite the celebrity here, eh Gon?" the silver-head muttered.
"Really? How so?"
Killua looked at the dark-haired boy incredulously. "Ha? Haven't you noticed they're all greeting you? It's like you're running for mayor!"
Gon laughed at him as they entered the toy store. "It's not that! It's just Whale Island is small and there aren't that many locals to begin with. Everyone here knows each other." he explained. "Where's that JoyStation you're talking about?"
"Oh. It's here." The silver-head led the way and, with the assistance of an employee, bought the console.
Quickly, they went home so that they can discover the message that Ging left his son.
After they set it up, Killua inserted the memory card Ging left and another one to copy the contents.
"Woah! All the space is taken up by this one game!" the silver-head exclaimed.
"'Greed Island'? Do you know what that is?" Gon asked him to which the other shook his head.
"This is the first time I've heard of it. Let's play and find out." Killua said as he clicked on the save slot. Nothing on the screen changed no matter how much he clicked or changed the buttons.
"Damn. It's just a save, it can't be loaded. Maybe we're missing something."
"Let's search the internet for clues about the game." the islander suggested. He click-clacked on the computer and, unsurprisingly, saw very little about Greed Island. There were no pictures or walkthroughs, it was simply described as 'a game for Hunters'.
"Killua look! It's being auctioned off at York Shin!" The said boy looked over Gon's shoulder and read the same article he was.
"Of course. That's where the largest auction happens once in a year. However, a starting price of 8 billion isn't exactly convenient. I'll ask 'him' if he knows anything about it. He might even have one, how troublesome." Killua sighed, reaching for his phone.
Gon wondered who "he" was especially after hearing the nickname "piggy" come from his friend's mouth. It seems all Killua called was his brother, Milluki, for any info about the game but to no avail.
"Sorry Gon, he's asking for a copy. I'll send him the other memory card."
"It's okay!"
"Well we at least know one thing, the game will be found in the York Shin auctions. What are you going to do?"
Gon smiled at the suggestive tone of his friend, "I'll go for it of course!"
The silver-head smirked, "To York Shin then."
Unknown to both of them, the same words came out from the mouth of the head of the spiders, where a certain red-head looked at the band of misfits with determination.
END OF 20.
A/N: And there you have it! Sorry I ran out of things to write but I at least posted something! See you soon! (I hope)