Note to readers: I'm going to continue this Arc. I know for some of you this isn't your favorite Arc, so this is not going to take forever. Thank you for bearing with me here.
"Look at this big fluffy bed!" Gon exclaims when they enter the King's Bedroom. "This is like a double-king-size bed."
"Ha! I knew it!" Killua sends himself flying across the room, crashing into the white mattress of the bed. "And the headboard is partially made out of gold too!"
"Killua, don't get too carried away here. You can enjoy your bed at night. Get changed and let's go." Gon says quickly.
"Aww...are you jealous?" Killua teases his friend at first, but then says. "It's alright, I'll tell them to get you a same bed in your room too."
"Hmm…" Gon nods. "Thanks."
Killua's old clothes (Navy blue undershirt, white T-shirt, and shorts) are on his nightstand to the right of the bed, folded neatly into a pile. After putting them on, Killua says. "Now...this is way more casual and comfy than that shirt and cloak. How do I look, Gon?"
"Hehe...cute." Gon jokes and smiles.
"Ehh?! I wasn't looking for that response!"
"Just kidding!" Gon laughs. "Let's go!"
"Do you want security to accompany you?" A guard asks as Killua and Gon as they step out of the main door of the castle.
"No. I just want to be with Gon."
"Understood." He issues a slight bow and backs off.
"Let's get a taxi and head over to the school area." Killua says to Gon.
After hopping into a taxi, Gon turns around and says. "You might need to wear a wig… People can still recognize you because of your iconic silver hair."
"You want me to wear a wig everytime I go out?" Killua asks.
"Uh...yeah." Gon murmurs quietly.
"No way! Number one, I have too much hair. Number two, my hair is way too messy. Number three, I hate wearing wigs, they're soooo uncomfortable."
"Well, it's your choice." Gon shrugs. "I just don't want people kissing up to you every five seconds."
"Heh." Killua smiles awkwardly. "Well, here's the school, we're here."
After paying the driver, the two boys step out of the car. "See?" Killua says. "The driver didn't notice my real identity."
"I think he did…" Gon says as he looks back at the taxi car.
"Why didn't he say anything then?"
"Curiosity is something that can be concealed."
"Whatever." Killua groans/
I'm going to ask the Guard at the front gate of the school about Owen. Maybe he has information regarding Owen's house." Gon suggests.
"Okay. I'll wait here."
"You're letting me do all the work here, Killua." Gon murmurs quietly.
"Hey, it's not like I don't want to. I just don't want them to recognize me."
Gon walks over to the guard post and asks. "Hey...Mister. I was wondering do you know where one of my classmates lives?"
"Huh? Oh it's you! I were at this school two days ago, right?"
"Yeah, that's me. I was here with….with…" Gon hesitates for a second. "With my friend."
"Yeah, I remember you two." The guard's face suddenly changes to a confused and shocked expression. "Wait! Was he… Is your friend the new King?!"
"What makes you say that?" Gon asks.
"Now that I think about it, he is, right? During his speech he said you're his friend. This makes perfect sense!" The guard shouts as he jumps up from his chair. "Where's he now? Or did he send you to do his errands."
"Nah, he's here." Gon turns around and yells. "Killua, come here. Mr. Guard wants to see you."
"Oh?" Killua says as he walks over slowly. "Hi."
"Your Majesty! What an honor to meet you!" The guard shouts.
"What's this? Two days ago you were treating me like a regular kid." Killua groans. "Stop it with the 'Your Majesty'. It's just Killua."
"Yes…" The guards nod. "How can I help you?"
"There's a kid named 'Owen' in this school." Killua says, "Where does he live?"
"Owen...Owen...there's a lot of Owens here. What grade is he in?" The guard asks as he goes through his list of students.
"Eighth."
"Aha! Found him!...Mmm...let's see...his family lives in building C, apartment number 0710."
"Uh...building C in what?" Gon asks.
"Huh? You didn't know? All of the students that go to this school live in that neighborhood." The guard points toward the group of buildings the Gon and Killua were living in a couple of days ago.
"Oh! Which means...Building C is the one that we were in!" Gon shouts as he begins to run. "Let's go! Killua."
"Oy! Wait up, Gon!" Killua chases after him immediately. "Thank you, Mr. Guard!"
"Yeah! No problem!" He waves at them in return.
"Room 0710...huh...that's the tenth room on the seventh floor." Gon says as they wait for the elevator to arrive.
"I hope they're home...or at least, I hope Owen is." Killua murmurs. "All of them would be a waste if he's not."
"All of the shops, work, and school are closed today, so where can he go?" Gon asks. "Ah! The elevator's here."
"I hope you're right."
The two of them stay completely quiet on their way up the elevator ride, neither of them says a single word. The silence is finally shattered by Gon's knocking on the 0710 door.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Gon asks, then turns around to Killua and whispers. "Only come when I tell you to, okay?"
Killua nods and walks over to the side.
"Uhh...Yes! Who is it?" A first asks. Then Owen comes crashing into the door. "Oh! Gon, right?"
"Yeah. Hey Owen!" Gon smiles and says cheerily.
"I didn't expect you to visit today. You'know...cuz there's no school and stuff. And I want to congratulate your friend."
"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Gon asks as he looks inside the room. The general size is around the same as the apartment Gon and Killua had, but it's a lot messier. "Are your parents home?"
"My mom is off partying with her friends like usual. My dad...well, he's not here."
A voice suddenly pops out behind Gon. "And I'm here to get him back."
"Y-your…" Shocked, Owen tries to kneel down for a greeting. However, Killua dashes toward him and stops him halfway.
"Jeez! Stop it with the honorifics and stand up! It's just Killua. We're classmates."
"Oh...thank you." Owen murmurs quietly and reluctantly stands up.
"So.. I promised that I'd help you get your father out of prison…" Killua's voice slowly trails off as he sees Owen's face. Tears gradually flow down his cheeks. "What wrong?"
"I-it's no use." Owen whispers as he sinks into the ground.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"He's...no longer with us…" Owen sighs. "He committed suicide last night… In his cell."
"Oh…" Gon whispers behind them. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Killua mutters. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"What can you do?...My old man's dead, you can't bring him back." He says without looking up.
"If talking about it can…" Gon tries to console Owen, but he cuts Gon's words off.
"Just leave me alone."
Killua opens his mouth and tries to say something, but he is stopped too by Owen's shout.
"I said just leave me alone!"
"Okay Killua, let's go." Gon whisper as he walks toward the door. "Hope you get better, Owen."
"Whatever, bye Owen." Killua waves him goodbye before shutting the door.
"Man! His attitude changed so dramatically during the conversation. When it just started, he seemed fine, but…" Gon whispers as they step into the elevator.
"I guess he was trying to forget about his dad… But we reminded him of his dad...I think that's why he's mad." Killua explains.
"Why did his father die yesterday?! We're here to help him, but he's just...gone."
"I guess a lot can happen in a day." Killua shrugs. "Someone might be perfectly fine today, but they can be gone tomorrow."
This world can be really cruel sometime!" Gon says loudly. "What do you want to do now?"
"I don't know… That encounter with Owen really shook me up. Let's go back to the palace."
"Sure, but this time, let's walk back." Gon smiles as he looks out the window of the elevator. "Let's enjoy the beautiful sunset together."
Timeskip (Six hours later)
"Why can't I fall asleep?" Killua asks himself. "It's already midnight."
He gets out of his bed, puts on a jacket, and walks out of his room. He stops and quietly opens the door to his right.
"Gon's sleeping so peacefully, so carelessly. I wish I can be like him, free from all of the trouble in the world."
Killua doesn't notice it, but the tip of his lips go upward in an arc.
After silently closing Gon's door, Killua walks down the grand staircase directly facing his room. "Where's the kitchen. I'll stop for some snacks."
Suddenly, he hears a voice somewhere in the distance.
"Who is that?...By the sound of it, it's a man. But what can he possibly be talking about at this time of the day?"
Without another question, Killua dashes over to the location of the sound. Because he's using Shadow Step, he doesn't cause any noise.
After going through two pitch-dark corridors, he arrives at the left-wing of the palace and stops in front of a room labeled. "Director of fun".
The room is dimly lit by a candle, Killua can see the silhouette of a skinny man inside, talking to someone on the phone. Their conversation is almost finished by the time Killua gets there. However, he is able to catch the last sentence.
"You don't have to worry. I promise, the new King and his friend will surely be dead...within two days."