While Gotoh made no attempt to follow Killua, Canary insisted on driving them back to Mukuroo Town. The apprentice butler shut down every attempt the silver-haired boy made to get a taxi, instead bringing a spacious, intimidatingly luxurious car to the Testing Gate. The car allowed for six people to sit behind the driver's seat, three people per row facing each other. Once reaching the town, Canary paid for lodgings in a local hotel and produced five tickets for the express train to Gadoseine Airport that would depart at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Killua complained, but Asterra was secretly relieved because her cash supply was running low; there was no way in hell she would have been able to afford an express train ticket.
The next morning, she woke up early to use the public payphone and let her parents know of her ETA in Mereta. Once again, they didn't pick up; unusual, but nothing to be concerned about yet. After eating the complimentary breakfast, the five then set out for the train station.
As they walked, Gon flipped a gold coin—the same Gotoh had used yesterday—into the air absentmindedly. "I wonder how he did that?"
"Did what?" Kikiri asked.
"What Gotoh-san did yesterday. I was pretty sure he caught it in his left hand."
"Oh, that trick? Yeah, Gotoh got me too once with that," Killua replied. "Once you know the secret, you'll kick yourself for not seeing it."
"Really?" Gon flipped the coin once more.
Kurapika, who had been walking in front of the two boys, swiped at the coin while it fell and caught it. "He most likely did something like this." The youth flipped the coin in the air, slowing his movements to make it obvious which hand had caught it.
Gon pointed to Kurapika's left hand. "Your left."
Kurapika chuckled and opened his right hand.
Brown eyes widened. "What? How?"
For a boy with sharp eyes and a creative mind, it was surprising to see how Gon couldn't entertain other opportunities. Perhaps it was a testament to his trusting nature. "He used two coins," Asterra said.
"But it looked like he only had one!"
Kurapika proceeded to explain the trick while demonstrating. "He concealed a coin in his right hand and flipped another coin with his left. Then he used exaggerated movements to make it obvious he caught it with his left.
"Now, this is where the skill comes in. If you think back to that moment, Gotoh took care to raise his hands above your eye level before asking what hand the coin was in. After you chose which hand held the coin, he let the coin in his left hand go so it fell into his sleeve. Then he showed us the coin in his right hand."
"That cheater." Gon gnashed his teeth, lips curled in a pout.
"He wasn't doing it the whole time. I bet he just used that trick on the last turn," Killua said. "Gotoh hates cheating, even if it's just a game."
The group turned one last corner and the train station came into view. Gon looked at the clocktower. "We're still early; what should we do while we wait for the train?"
Leorio pointed a thumb at a decorative grey fountain in the middle of a square. Morning commuters sat at small outdoor cafés eating breakfast or reading newspapers. "Let's take a picture!"
"Why?" Asterra asked.
"Oh come on, don't be like that," Leorio replied. "We got Killua; our gang of five's back together! Why not take a picture for the memories?"
"I agree! I want to show Mito-san who I met at the Hunter Exam!" Gon cocked his head. "Oh wait...I don't have a phone...or an email address..."
"Convenience stores can print out phone pictures for you so they look like real photos," Leorio said. "Pretty cheap too, so no problems there."
"It would be nice to have a photo to commemorate," Kurapika nodded.
"I want a picture!" Kikiri chirped. Asterra rolled her eyes; whenever Kikiri wanted something, it was usually her that ended up being responsible for it since he didn't have a bag.
"It's settled then!" Leorio walked up to a middle-aged couple, then handed them his phone. The group of five then situated themselves in front of the fountain in various poses, the middle-aged woman tapping on the phone several times. Leorio then retrieved his phone back from the couple with a word of thanks, sitting on the rim of the fountain as the other four individuals crowded around him to see the pictures.
"Oh, this one's good!" Leorio said. "Let's print this one out!"
"Really? That one?" Asterra asked.
"It's the only one where Kurapika has his eyes open."
She scowled at Kurapika, who shrugged.
Leorio checked his watch. "We've still got time; let's go get them developed. There's a convenience store right around the corner from here."
"We can get snacks too!" Killua grinned.
"Is that all you have on your mind?" Kikiri asked.
"What, I like snacks."
"We noticed." The boy had doused his pancakes with a sickening amount of syrup this morning, which made her wonder how he did not have diabetes.
Killua paid no mind and instead ran into the convenience store with Gon.
=o=o=o=
Two hours later, Atorette Express Train
Atorette Express's passenger cars consisted of two columns of seats that hugged a side of the train, separated by an aisle. Each column's row consisted of three seats, and the outermost seat of each row had a plastic loop on the corner.
Gon hopped up and down at a particular row of seats. "Here's where we're sitting!" He slid into the window seat.
"And here's our row..." Kurapika grabbed the plastic loop on the corner of one seat and pulled it to his right. With a large clunk two separate rows became two rows facing each other. Killua snuck by Kurapika and claimed the window seat across from Gon. The blonde then looked towards Asterra. When she stated her preference for aisle seats, Kurapika sat down next to Killua. Asterra sat down beside him, and Kikiri crawled into her lap.
"Seriously though, why did you come on a tourist visa?" Killua exclaimed. "You passed the Hunter Exam, didn't you? Why not use your license? You can use it to get into other countries and stay for as long as you want."
"Yeah, we told him that already," Leorio sighed as he sat beside Gon in the middle of three seats.
"I'm not going to use it until I finish what I have to do," Gon said.
"Which is...?" Killua asked.
"I'm not going to use my Hunter License until I can punch Hisoka in the face and give this number tag back to him! Until I can do that, I'm not gonna use my Hunter License or go back to Whale Island!"
Which meant the boy would be needing a visa no matter where he went. "So...you're going to risk visa trouble and possibly wasting time solving it instead of training?" Asterra asked.
Gon balked. "Uhhh..."
"And where's Hisoka?" Killua asked.
Gon grinned sheepishly. "Ummmm..."
"That's what I thought," Leorio sighed.
"Just so you know, you can stay in most countries on a tourist visa for ninety days," Asterra said. "I suppose you could show them your Hunter License if the visa expires."
Gon pouted. "No, I'm not using it until I get Hisoka!"
She raised her palms in placation. "I'm just offering advice here. Whether you take it or not is up to you. If you're not going to use your License, though, I suggest figuring out where Hisoka is quickly."
It was Kurapika that offered an unexpected helping hand. "I know where he is, Gon. Or rather, where he will be in the future."
"Really?" Gon chirped.
"How?" Leorio asked.
"I know because he told me after orientation."
"You know, I've been wanting to ask you about that. What did he tell you?"
Kurapika's eyes sharpened into knives and freezing-hot malice bloomed into existence around him. "That he'd tell me something interesting about the Spiders."
Asterra glanced around their car, spreading her awareness over their surroundings like a net. There weren't many passengers around them, and nobody reacted in an odd way or spiked malice.
"I don't recall every mentioning them to Hisoka, so he must have either overheard our conversation during the first phase or heard it from someone else," Kurapika continued. "The troupe's symbol is a spider, and anyone familiar with the troupe refers to them as such. Naturally, I was interested in whatever information he had."
So that was why Kurapika accepted Hisoka's withdrawal from the fight.
"When I asked Hisoka about it, he told me to meet him in Yorknew City on September 1st."
"That's half a year away," Kikiri said. "What's happening in Yorknew city?"
There was a moment of silence as all paused to think. The silence was broken when Leorio snapped his finger. "They're holding the world's largest auction!"
"That's right. From September 1st through September 10th, an auction will be held with rare and unusual items on par with national treasures. No doubt the greedy will come to the auction to buy and satisfy their hunger. It's the biggest gathering of wealth on the entire planet...for both legal and illegal goods."
"If a group of thieves were to appear, that would be the place," Asterra mused.
Kurapika nodded. "Regardless, on that day, Hisoka will be somewhere in Yorknew City."
"That makes sense," Gon said. "Thanks, Kurapika."
"Of course," he said. "I hope you find it helpful in your search."
"Yorknew City, huh...I wonder what kind of place it is. Do you know, Asterra?"
Asterra leaned forward slightly so she could see Gon better. "Never been to the Yorbian continent, but I've read about it. A big city with lots of skyscrapers, lit up so bright it looks like stars on the ground. Underbelly is filled to the brim with mafia though."
"Sounds like a cool place," Killua deadpanned.
"Sure, if you like big cities."
"I wouldn't expect a country bumpkin from Sanaar to know how to enjoy it."
"Says the one whose house is in the middle of a forest on top of a mountain."
"A house with electricity," he grinned. "I didn't grow up on a farm."
Asterra scowled.
"If you two are going to argue, sit next to each other or take it elsewhere," Kurapika said, crossing his arms. "I refuse to be stuck in between a shouting match."
Asterra growled, then leaned back into her seat. Killua stuck his tongue out then turned to Gon and struck up chatter about some game. Leorio leaned back into his seat to take a nap.
As Kurapika took out a book to read, Asterra tapped his shoulder.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Back there, about the auction—you mentioned there'd be legal and illegal goods."
"You said so yourself—Yorknew is a hotbed of mafia activity. Auctioning illegal goods is to be expected."
"What kind, though?"
Kurapika dropped his voice to a whisper. "Let's say I'm fairly certain human traffickers will be there."
Human traffickers. It was possible Kurapika would find Scarlet Eyes there, then—all the more reason for him to go. But the words set off a memory in her head—of Rutello's story about the Intaglio and the Lariats. If Lariats were so valuable, then perhaps any that still existed would appear there to be sold. Of course, the converse was always possible—if Intaglio learned of her existence and caught her, she would likely be on the auction block.
"Hunt carefully, Asterra. Your prey's got dogs everywhere that'll sniff out any threat...or profit."
Rutello's words were the last things Asterra needed in her head now—after that mugging, there were already enough unknowns threatening to send her into paranoia. She didn't need to add more fuel to the fire. "Good to know." A moment later there was a guidebook in her hands and her mind was focused on memorizing a map of all the train lines in Padokea.
Kurapika shrugged and turned his attention back to his book.
=o=o=o=
Six hours later, Gadoseine Airport
The marvelous thing about an express train was how it cut a train ride that would have taken twenty-four hours into a six-hour ride, leaving them plenty of time to purchase a ticket for a blimp flight later that evening.
"This is where I bid you all farewell," Kurapika said as they reached an intersection of terminals. Gadoseine Airport had two terminals—a smaller one for intracontinental flights and larger one with more branches for intercontinental flights. They would have to travel further into each terminal to buy blimp tickets.
"What? Already?" Gon asked.
"We all got to see Killua again, so my work here is finished. I'll be needing a lot of money if I'm going to attend the auction; I'll have to start searching for a patron willing to employ me as a Hunter."
"True." Leorio stretched. "I guess I should be heading back home too."
"You too?" Gon asked.
"I haven't given up on becoming a doctor. If I'm accepted to med school, then this License will pay for the crazy high tuition. I need to get back and start hitting the books to pass my exams, though."
"Okay then. Good luck, Leorio!" Gon beamed.
"You can do it!" Kikiri chirped.
"Kikiri and I will take our leave here too," Asterra said.
"Where are you going, Goldfish?" Killua asked.
"Back to Sanaar. I've got my Sharak'ennah, since I passed at least three phases of the Hunter Exam."
"Shara what now?" Leorio asked.
"Sharak'ennah. It's a celebration for when a child becomes an adult. I'll probably have to help out with the herds and do national service as well."
"What? More national service?" Gon asked. "Why?"
"That was part of the agreement to be Trained."
"How long is that for?"
"I can't give you the details. Just know I'm expected to serve as needed, no matter where I am."
"Oh." The boy looked crestfallen. "I was hoping to see everyone in Yorknew on September 1st."
"I can make it," Leorio offered.
"I can as well," Kurapika said.
"I'm just following you, so I'll be there," Killua added.
Asterra beckoned with her head at the others. "There's three out of four. That's a good number."
"But it's not everyone," Gon pouted. "It's not the same without everyone there. Can't you take a break for a month?"
"I...I don't know." It wasn't a lie; she truly did not know the details. What she knew was that she was expected to serve for twenty years after becoming an adult. She was free to take on other societal roles during that time period, but they were to be secondary to her duty as a Wraith that protected Mereta from any threats. That had been the price of becoming who she was today, and something she would have to juggle while she unraveled the mystery of her dreams and the Lariat. "Why are you so fixated on this? You don't need me to survive."
"That'll be the day I need a Goldfish to survive," Killua muttered.
Well, at least someone was on the same page with her—even if that someone was a little shit that never remembered her name.
Gon shushed Killua, then turned to Asterra. "No. But you don't have to be as ruthless if you're not alone, right?"
She blinked at him, completely taken aback by the statement, then glanced at the others. Leorio and Kurapika were smiling, while Killua looked confused. Of course he was—he had not been there when she talked about Training.
Spirits, what did they see in her? These people knew who Asterra was, what she had done, what horrors she was capable of; why did they insist on tying her to them with promises despite all of it?
Why are you all so willing to take a chance on me?
...
Why am I wanting to do the same?
Asterra took a deep breath, attempting to reign in the turbulence within her. She could not let her emotions get the best of her, not now, not ever. Not as long as she was a Wraith. "I won't make a promise I can't keep." Before Gon could interject, she followed up with another (possibly damning) sentence that her lizard brain screeched at her not to say. "I will come if I can, and I will let you know if I cannot come. How does that sound?"
Gon's face bloomed into a smile, and he nodded. "You promise?"
"I give you my word."
"Then it's settled! Let's all meet..."
Five voices became a chorus, a promise to keep. "September 1st, in Yorknew City!"
Cellphone numbers were exchanged, either directly typed into phones or written on the back of receipts and handed out. Kurapika, Asterra, and Leorio branched off towards the intercontinental terminal with a wave.
"Bye, guys!" Gon waved.
"See ya around, Goldfish," Killua smirked.
Asterra turned on her heel to face the silver-haired boy. "For the last time, it's—" Before the protest manifested, an idea interrupted that train of thought. Her lips curled into a smile.
"It's what?"
"Never mind," she replied, shaking her head. "See you when I see you...Dandelion."
The absolute look of horror on Killua's face would be something she remembered for the rest of her life. "D-D-Dandelion?" he stuttered. "Are you kidding me?! A flower?! Take that back, Goldfish!"
"Would you prefer Lamb or Q-tip?"
Killua choked, while Gon giggled next to him. Chittering sounds from her shoulder told her that Kikiri was laughing as well.
"No?" she asked. "Then Dandelion it is."
"No, it isn't!"
She turned her back and waved. "Call me by my real name and I'll call you by yours."
"Screw you, Goldfish!"
"'Til next time, Dandelion."
Much to her pleasure, it didn't take much to imagine Killua's incensed face and gnashing teeth.
=o=o=o=
Kurapika, Leorio, and Asterra headed off to the Eastern hemisphere terminal after giving a brief wave to Gon and Killua. Beyond another set of gates was a series of ticket offices. Names scrolled across the ticker tape boards over the counters. As Asterra studied the boards for available flights to Sanaar, she felt someone tap on her shoulder.
It turned out to be Leorio. "Someone's been waving at us for the last couple of seconds, and Kurapika and I don't know him. Do you?"
"Where?"
Leorio pointed behind himself with his thumb. "It's the guy by the newsstand—grey shirt, red necktie."
She peeked around Leorio. There was indeed a tall, heavy-set man with broad shoulders waving at them. There was a large object strapped to his back and a duffel bag sat by his feet. Shoulder-length silver hair glinted in the light. Sunglasses rested upon a hooked nose set in a tanned, square-jawed face currently cracked in a wide smile. She blinked, and the glance lengthened into a stare lasting several seconds. Is that...?
"If you don't know him, I can go see what he wants—"
A sun-bright smile crossed Asterra's face. "That's not necessary."
Leorio's eyes widened with surprise at her expression and the amount of glee in her voice. He and Kurapika could only stare as Asterra bolted towards the man, bobbing and weaving through the crowd. The man shouldered the duffel bag and walked towards her as well.
Once the two entered an area devoid of people, she leaped towards him, arms outstretched. "Uncle Morel!"
"Hey, kiddo!" The man laughed, catching her easily in his tree-trunk arms and spinning her around for several seconds. He set her down. "Look at you, all grown up!"
"It's been six years! Of course I've changed some," Asterra grinned, hugging him. She knew she looked stupidly giddy but decided not to care about it. This was the first family member she had seen in the flesh in six years, after all, and much to her relief he had barely changed. Her arms still couldn't encircle his torso completely, despite her growth spurt.
"Looks like Kikiri hasn't changed at all, though," Morel said as the Dokujo leaped onto him and rubbed against his neck.
"Why are you here? Did you have a Hunt?"
"I was in the area and your Dad called; said you'd be flying out of here today. Thought I'd see if I could meet up with you, since I'm going to Sanaar as well." He gestured towards the ticket offices. "Who are your friends?"
"Oh." In her excitement at seeing Uncle Morel she had completely forgotten about Leorio and Kurapika, who were standing where she had left them. They looked unsure about whether or not to approach. "They're people I met during the Exam. Come on, I'll introduce them." She trotted over to the others, and Morel followed with his loping strides.
Leorio was the first to speak when they returned. "Is that your dad?"
"Close—her dad's cousin," Morel replied.
"This is Uncle Morel," Asterra said. "Uncle Morel, this is Leorio and Kurapika. We met during the Hunter Exam."
"Morel Mackernasey; pleasure to meet you both." Morel shook hands with each youth.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Mackernasey." Kurapika tipped his head towards the man in a slight bow.
"Just Morel's fine. I'm not that special." He gestured at the ticker tape boards. "Have you all bought your tickets? Don't want to hold you up."
"We're still looking," Kurapika replied. "Please, go ahead if you know what flight you're booking."
"Much obliged." Morel turned to Asterra. "I'll go get the tickets; hang tight."
Asterra nodded and waited while Morel and Kikiri (who was still sitting on his shoulder) joined the rather short line for tickets. She stood next to the other two Hunters, skimming the boards for the other potential destinations since she no longer had to worry about finding tickets to Sanaar. Some cities were familiar from experience, others from books. Other names were new to her, and she made a mental note to look them up in an atlas the next time she got her hands on one. Usually the international flights had a couple floating around in their library.
"Where are you two going?" she asked out loud.
"Mistol," Leorio replied.
Begerossé Union. "That's a hike."
"Yeah, tell me about it," he replied. "Couple days, at least. Good thing I brought something to study."
Asterra turned to Kurapika. "What about you?"
"Dotver."
"...Where?"
"It's in Saherta," he replied.
That explained why she didn't know where it was—her knowledge of the Eastern hemisphere and Begerossé Union was deeper than Saherta's, by virtue of having been to more places there. In comparison, her knowledge of the Yorbian continent's geography was pitiful at best. I should really study up if I'm going to go to Yorknew...even if I don't make it to the auction this year.
"You must really like him," Leorio suddenly said.
Asterra cocked her head at the youth. "Who? Uncle Morel?"
"Who else? I've never seen you so happy to see someone."
"He's been around as long as I can remember. He and Dad work together a lot, pulling artifacts up from the ocean. Says Dad's his best customer."
Morel returned, tickets in hand. "Not just best customer; he got me my first job as a Hunter and put me on the map. I owe him my career." Morel handed Asterra a ticket. She glanced at it briefly, memorizing the flight number and departure time—three hours away—then tucked it away into the pocket she kept her passport in.
Twenty minutes later Leorio and Kurapika had obtained their tickets and the group of four was passing through security. Leorio struck up a casual conversation with Morel, with Kurapika joining in occasionally. Asterra stayed silent and observed her surroundings, watching the tired security personnel stamp passports and tickets. One worker sorted through lacey clothing and took out a bottle of shampoo that was most definitely against regulations; another pulled out multiple vegetables from a duffel bag until it looked like he had enough to make a salad. And was that a plate of raw dumplings being set aside next to the red-colored cabbage? Who the hell had thought that was a good idea?
Spirits, what people will try to smuggle across borders.
Asterra set off the metal detectors again and ended up explaining that she had iron and aluminum in her bones to Leorio and Kurapika, like she had to Ponzu. She omitted the other minerals that were in her bones just like in the past as well. Morel just smiled and commented how nothing had changed.
Once passing security, they group reached another intersection. She and Morel were to go left; Kurapika and Leorio were to turn right.
"See you at Yorknew!" Leorio grinned.
Asterra drew an exasperated breath. "...Were you listening at all during that conversation with Gon?"
"Pay him no mind; most things likely go in one ear and out the other," Kurapika said.
"What was that, Kurapika?!" Leorio hissed.
The blonde ignored him. "Let us know whether you can make it or not. We'd like to know either way."
"We want to see you too, ferret," Leorio said. "Even if you are annoying."
Kikiri curled against Asterra's neck. "Asterra and I are a package deal. You don't get one without the other."
Kurapika gave the two a small smile. "We've noticed."
The Dokujo then straightened and bent his body forward in a bow towards the two youths. "Thanks for giving Asterra chance," Kikiri said. "Even if she can be difficult."
"Who's side are you on?" she snapped at him.
"Yours," Kikiri replied. "Forever and always."
"Now you're just fishing for fresh meat."
Kikiri chittered with a wide smile on his face, then waved with one paw as Leorio and Kurapika walked towards their gate.
Once she decided that enough time had passed, Asterra caught up with Morel and the two walked towards the gate. Her steps felt lighter, as did her mood. Up until now she had been constantly casting her awareness over her surroundings like a net, trying to detect any malice directed at her so she would not be caught off guard again like the time in the alley. But now Morel that was here, with a reassuring presence as solid and stout as an oak, her nerves were becoming calmer with every minute. Asterra would not completely relax until she was in Mereta, but for now she was extremely thankful.
"How are Mom and Dad?" Kikiri asked.
"Your mom and dad haven't changed at all. I got another job from your dad coming up next year, and he's churning out grants and papers in the meantime. Your mom's been promoted to...chair emeritus? Yeesh, I can never keep track of academic lingo. It was a very impressive title, even if I can't remember half of it."
"Isn't that where she always wanted to get to?" Kikiri asked. "T.C. something or other?"
"T.C. Venn Emeritus Chair of Sociology. I think it's maybe two steps away from tenure. I think she wanted it for something else, but I can't remember." Asterra turned to Morel. "How about Knuckle and Shoot?"
"They're doing quite well for themselves. Knuckle still tries to adopt every puppy and kitten he runs into, and last I heard Shoot is chasing down a shun-tei."
Shun-tei, or Spring Emperors, were cryptids in Azia said to range from Kakin to Sanaar. They were said to be a fusion of multiple animals—the head and body of a deer, a neck like a snake's body, and the tail of an otter—with pelts covered in moss and rare medicinal herbs. In folklore, seeing one was considered a blessing from the heavens. "Has he had any luck?"
"Some, but never enough. For every breakthrough, he experiences a couple setbacks." Morel shook his head with a chuckle. "He'll pull though, though. I know it."
"Do you have pictures?"
"Hm? Oh, of course; you haven't seen them in six years, have you?" Morel took out a sleek object that Asterra now knew was a phone. After tapping at it for several seconds, he gave the phone to Asterra.
On the screen were Knuckle and Shoot, all right—just older than she remembered. Their faces seemed harder, and their hairstyles were different. But she could still see the youths that used to reluctantly baby-sit her (per Morel's orders) all those years ago, and she grinned despite herself. Those six years in Training had felt like an eternity, and she had half-dreaded coming out to face whatever had changed in the world. It was apparent that technology had changed drastically. Were Mom and Dad still the same as before, like Morel had assured her? What about Nisk?
But perhaps six years had not been an eternity to the rest of the world. Morel hadn't changed, and Knuckle and Shoot were still recognizable. She could hope.
Asterra gave Morel back his phone as they sat down in the seats near their departure gate.
He pocketed the phone. "Those two you were with—Leorio and Kurapika—seemed like good people. Did you meet anybody else during the Exam?"
Asterra produced the picture that had been taken earlier in Mukuroo Town. She glanced at it once more, but no matter how many times she looked at it her opinion of it did not change.
Why had they chosen this picture to print?
On the left, Kurapika looked towards the camera with a soft smile—a standard look. Everyone to the right of him was not so standard. Gon beamed at the camera, both thumbs up in a triumphant pose. Killua had tossed his arm around the Whale Island Native's shoulders and leaned into him with a bright grin. Leorio nudged Killua's back with his elbow as if enjoying a private joke. At the very right of the photo was Asterra, looking at the chaos beside her with a freckled face frozen in an expression of exhaustion and exasperation. Kikiri lounged on top of her head, mouth wide open in a gleeful smile.
"Oh, let's have a look," Morel said. Asterra handed him the photo and the man choked back a laugh.
"What?" Asterra cocked her head.
"You look like you've had enough of their antics," he chuckled. "You did like these people, right?"
"I wouldn't keep a photo of them if I didn't."
"True. You were always selective with your company."
"Why waste time with people I don't like?" She rested her chin on her palm. "Still don't get why they insisted on printing this picture, though."
"I can see why."
"Glad someone does."
"It's—oh, what do they call it..." Morel snapped. "It looks candid. An honest representation of your time together."
She craned her neck at the photo. "But I'm scowling."
"Trust me on this one, kiddo. Keep it safe. It's a picture you'll look back on with a smile when you're older." He passed the picture back to her, and she took it in her hands carefully. "Did you guys make plans to meet again?"
"Yorknew City in a couple months," Kikiri chirped.
"I don't know if I can make it, but we set a time and place in the meantime." Asterra paused, then continued quietly, "I'd like to make it."
Morel smiled. "So who are the two younger boys?"
She turned the picture towards Morel. "This is Gon, that's Dandelion."
"Dandelion?"
"His real name's Killua. He calls me Goldfish because my hair's orange and doesn't remember my name, so I call him Dandelion because he has fluffy white hair like a dandelion."
"And what does he think of it?"
She grinned wickedly. "He hates it."
Morel shook his head, a chuckle on his face. "Where did you meet them?"
"I met Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika first. It was in Port Dolle, in front of a mapboard..."
The words flowed off her tongue after that. She recounted about Gon, earnest and trusting, that charmed all he met; about Killua, a little shit, mischief belying his abilities as an assassin; about Leorio, a doctor in the making who wore his heart on his sleeve; and about Kurapika, a paragon, similar to her but different enough to butt heads.
Morel nodded, commenting and asking questions. She gave as much detail as she could, realizing there was much she didn't know about them. But aybe, maybe that could be rectified...as long as she made it to Yorknew. But that was a problem for another day. For now, excitement bubbled within her at what was at the end of this particular flight.
Home, and all that waited for her there.
Thanks for reading! If there's any questions you have about Lattices or me, feel free to leave it in the comments or PM me.
Rhyss
