Killua had not spoken to Okamirei in days. She didn't understand. What was up with him? Why was he avoiding her? He had been silent all through dinner, and it had been a while since then. They had taken a blimp as close as they could to Whale Island, but then they had to take a boat to the island itself. It was days on that boat, and Okamirei was getting sick of it. To everyone, except Killua's, amazement, she walked out on the water several times to catch fish. She was quite good at it, but several times complained about not getting to the island fast enough, that it would be faster if she walked. However, no one else could walk on water, so she quieted. Gon asked several times if he could be any help to her, but she shook her head and just smiled. Gon didn't know what to think. He knew how to deal with it, but these were his friends. And they were so young... Okamirei didn't seem bothered by it, but Killua seemed depressed. Gon tried to help his friend, but Killua just shrugged him off, saying he was fine.

Finally, they had arrived on land. Okamirei raced off the boat, grabbing a tree and hugging it. "Land! Oh sweet, precious land, I missed you!" The two boys followed after her. Killua and Gon exchanged glances, then Killua stopped next to her as Gon continued on. Okamirei saw the boy leaving and quickly raced after him, but stopped as she felt her wrist grabbed. She looked at a blushing Killua, then entwined her fingers in his as they followed after the boy. After dodging through a crowd of venders and fishermen, they reached a lone path up towards a hill.

"Look, I-" Killua stopped himself. That was the first time he'd spoken to her since leaving Heaven's Arena. After a couple seconds he continued. "Nevermind."

"Nevermind? Tell me!" She squeezed his hand tighter.

"I don't know how to deal with a kid."

"That's fine! We'll make it up as we go along!" Killua sighed.

"I just hope my folks don't find out." Okamirei tilted her head.

"Why not?"

"Well, they expect me to be the heir of the family. Let's just say that I don't want to, well, they won't exactly accept that. I don't want to know what they'd do to you or my children." Okamirei nodded her head in understanding.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to protect pack as much as I can."

"Mito-san!" Gon yelled from up ahead as he started running. Okamirei looked at him, then sighed.

"It sure is beautiful here though, isn't it?" Killua nodded his head.

"Mito-san!" The house had just came into view. Killua placed his hands in his pockets and Okamirei placed her hands above her head. She glanced at her stomach and groaned.

"It's bulging..."

"You're fine. Nine months, right?" Okamirei nodded.

"And it's been five already."

"Four more then. Wanna go to a hospital?" Okamirei shook her head, glaring at her mate. "Oh yeah, you hate hospitals."

"I like to keep things natural, the way wolves live. That's how I grew up, and that's how I like it. Herbs and natural remedies, sure they aren't as efficient as some of the things out there, but it's made my body stronger and adaptable." Killua nodded his head in agreement. The two spotted Gon and an older woman. She smiled.

"You must be Killua and Okamirei!" She smiled in welcome, then led the three inside. She started pacing as she started to make things and tity up. "Shesh, you should have let me know you were coming home. I didn't have time to prepare anything." Okamirei sipped on her tea in happiness.

"It's no big deal, whatever is fine," Gon replied.

"What are you saying? Your friends came all the way out here to visit."

"No, it's OK," Killua said.

"I grew up with wolves. Anything is fine, I don't judge." Mito looked at Okamirei in surprise.

"I just thought it was your outfit, but you actually grew up with wolves? You'll have to tell me your story one of these days!" Okamirei nodded. Mito looked back at Gon. "Honestly, though, you should have said something first..." She went back to washing the dishes. Gon and Killua smiled at each other, when suddenly Mito snapped around. "Are you listening to me?" Okamirei nodded, wide eyed, while the other two froze, then smiled again. "Oh, that's right... Take a bath while I make something to eat. And put out your dirty clothes. I'll be doing laundry."

"OK. Later." Gon said.

"Now! You have ten seconds." Gon stood instantly and started running around, grabbing clothes. He pulled off Killua's shirt as well. Okamirei turned towards the woman.

"Um, mine are hand wash only." Mito smiled at her.

"That's alright. I hand wash things here normally." Okamirei nodded, then suddenly stripped, tossing her over-clothes at Gon, keeping her ears and tail attached to herself. Mito stared at her in shock, Killua blushed, and Gon ran out of there with the clothes. The old lady in the room sat, seemingly unaffected, minus the small chuckle.

"Okamirei!" The said wolf girl blinked at Mito with a 'what?' look on her face. Gon and Killua suddenly ran up the stairs to go to the bathroom and take a bath. Okamirei started to follow them, but was stopped by Mito. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Don't worry, Mito-san!" Killua said, peeking his head around the corner. "She'd run around town naked without batting an eyelash." Mito shook her head.

"She's still a girl and that's that. Okamirei, please wait until the boys are done." Okamirei nodded, and Killua ran back upstairs. Okamirei sat back down with a sigh.

"Waist of water," she mumbled.

"I'm sorry, Rei. Is it alright if I call you that?" Okamirei nodded, ears perking up. "I'm sorry, but even if you were raised by wolves, Gon and Killua were not, and I would like you to respect that." Okamirei nodded once again.

"I read a lot about human culture, so I understand." Mito smiled.

"Well, once they're done with their bath, you can take yours. I'll start making something to eat. You are a carnivore, I assume. Will you eat vegetables?" Okamirei cocked her head.

"I don't see why not. They're just roots and grasses." Mito started to cook with a smile. This girl was very interesting.

Okamirei chatted with the two ladies until her ears twitched at the sound of Gon and Killua's bath being over. She stood and headed up, meeting them halfway up the stairs. Killua smiled at her, and she elbowed him, then licked him on the cheek. She quickly went up, then took a quick shower.

She relaxed in the crisp, calm, warm liquid, letting her mind wander. Her head fell under, letting her hair consume the surface of the water. She made sure to scrub, then exited. She heard the door to the bathroom open and she lifted her nose to smell... Killua? The door opened once again, signifying he'd left. She peeked around the corner, then spotted clothes sitting on the toilet, folded up nicely. She smiled, then got dressed, pulling the blue dress on. It covered her belly nicely. She might just continue to wear this the rest of the time she was here.

The tail hid under the dress. She didn't mind. She left to go downstairs, smelling a wonderful feast.

She was right. As she got downstairs she was met with a table full of food. Killua smiled at her, and she mouthed a 'thank you' back. She sat next to him, then stared at the food, starting to drool.

"OK, let's eat." Mito, the old lady, and Gon bowed their heads, while Killua and Okamirei glanced at each other in confusion. "OK then, please help yourselves."

"Right," Killua said. Okamirei aimed for the meat, making sure to take some veggies to please Mito, then scarfed them down. Killua and Gon started having a who-could-eat-more contest, and halfway through Okmairei joined in, managing to eat more than the two combined. She won the contest, but she was stuffed.

"So, Rei, tell me about being a wolf." Everyone quieted. They wanted to hear the story too. Killua had heard about Lynch, but he never knew about how she came to be, or what her story was.

"Huh? Oh, OK. Well, I guess I should start off where my father started..."