"She's okay right?" I asked with quite the panicked tone, Leorio who was sitting on her other side, sighed with relief.
"She's fine. She's just lost consciousness." He replied.
I stood up my face stern and angry, Gon doing the same.
"I'm sorry. How rude of me. I am Killua's mother, you see, and this is Kalluto."
I blinked in surprise. 'Kalluto? But Killua said that Kalluto was his brother. So that means, he dresses like a girl. How strange, I wonder why.' Yuko thought.
"Why can't Killua come to see us? Where is he?" Gon questioned, a quite irritated look on his face.
"There's no way Killua doesn't want to see us, he told me he'd be waiting for us here." I retorted.
"That is quite interesting but you see, Killua entered solitary confinement voluntarily. I wonder, what part of that makes you think he wants to see you. In any case, I don't think he'll be wanting to leave any time soo-, What? What is happening?! What are you doing, Father?! Please don't do anything hasty! He's only just returned!" She said suddenly freaking out, causing uneasy expression to grace all of our features.
"Killua was right she is a freak..." I muttered.
A knock came to the door of the torturing chamber that Killua and Milluki where currently occupying, Killua hanging from one chain by the arm ad his feet locked up, Milluki holding a whip.
"I'm coming in." Said and old a gruff voice, before the door opened to reveal and old man his hands tucked away behind his back, Milluki staring at him in surprise.
"I believe that'll do for now. Thank you. " Zeno said.
"But Grandpa Zeno, he isn't even sorry, not one bit!" Milluki outraged.
Mr. Zeno approached that beat up boy. "I'm aware of that. You may go now, Kil." He said.
"Okay." Killua said his tone childish as he broke free from the chains easily as if they where rubber bands. Milluki stared in astonishment, as Killua threw last chain to the ground, stretching his arm out.
"Man, that really hurt. Hey, Milluki, you're right. I'm not sorry." he started walking towards the door, before stopping to give his big brother a cold look. "But I do feel bad. That's why I let you slap me around for a bit." He finished before grabbing his black shirt and backpack from the floor and putting them on.
"What was that?" He seethed.
"Oh and Kil, Silva would like to see you now."
Killua stopped and turned around with a surprised look nearly out the door. "Dad said that? Okay then." He said before closing it behind him and walking down the halls.
"Oh, why must father be this way." Killuas Mom exclaimed in distraught. We all where still rather confused by the situation. "I'm afraid that something has come up. Farewell." She stated surprisingly calmly before taking off.
'She's definitely bipolar.'
"Wait a second!" Gon said, making the woman stop and turn around. "It's just that we'll be staying in town for a little while. Please let Killua know." Gon stated confidently.
'There's no way she's gonna say yes.'
"Yes, very well. I'll be sure to tell him. Good day." She said before taking off for good this time. My mouth dropped in surprise. "She's really okay with us staying? I wasn't expecting that."
Then we all realized Kalluto was still standing in front of us. Now looking at him better he looks a lot like Killua just different hair and color eyes. It was like looking at a female Killua, she was actually fairly attractive. Or he, I don't even know, at this point I'm just going to call her she, since that's what she looks like.
She was giving us a calculating expression. "Who are all of you? Tell me." She demanded.
"You're very pretty." I said. She blinked in surprise, I could see her cheeks reddening a bit at the compliment, before she swiftly turned around. That reminded me of Killua as well.
"I asked who you are."
"We're all friends with Killua." Gon responded this time, her back to us. At that she turned around her eyes widened in astonishment.
"You're his Friends?"
"Kalluto! What are you doing? Come along this instant!" Her mother screamed, to which she obliged to and vanished into the woods promptly.
"I guess everyone in this family is a little weird huh?" I thought out loud.
"So Kil." A deep voice said coming from the built figure who was sitting on a cushiony thrown, type thing. Killua was standing in front of him, his expression blank an expectant, waiting for his Father to continue.
"I hear you've made some friends."
"Yea." Killua responded calmly, although he was feeling a little weary not really having an idea of what to expect from the head assassin.
"And what are they like?"
"What are they like? They're a lot of fun to be with." Killua said, slightly looking down with a somber expression.
"I see." His father responded. "How was the Hunter exam?" He asked, to which Killua felt slightly surprised to.
"Um, it was easy."
"Sit over here by me, Kil." Killua flinched in surprise. "I want to hear all about it."
Now Killuas eyes widened, he'd never expected such a gentle request from his big and honestly intimidating father.
-
Killua was now sitting beside his father, explaining his experiences with a passion and a smile to his words reminiscing about his friends.
"And then, you know what Gon said to him?" He paused. "He said he didn't want his legs cut off, but he didn't want to surrender either!"
His father chuckled softly, Killua joining in before continuing. "He's so selfish!"
"He's interesting all right. What about that girl, Yuko was it? Illumi has told me a little bit about her."
Killua blinked in surprise giving his father and eye widened look before turning his head forward with a blank expression. "He did?"
That slightly alarmed Killua.
His father nodded a small smile on his face. "What is she like?"
"She isn't really like Gon at all, in fact at first I found her annoying. But after a little while I got used to her. She's really emotional, crying all the time like a baby, but she's also pretty smart, I guess. And she's kind of strong, she can paralyze people with something called chi blocking, she taught me some of it, she actually was able to beat Hanzo with it even if it was mostly luck. She's super weird though, just like Gon. I mean sometimes I think she can also read minds because she can sometimes guess what I'm thinking. She says really strange things all the time."
"Where is she from?" He asked. Killua stopped for a moment, feeling slightly confused by his fathers intrigue with Yuko, but continued to talk about her despite his confusion.
"She said she's from Meteor City."
Killua noticed his fathers eyes widen slightly, a small grumble leaving his throat as he placed a hand on his chin thoughtfully. And Killua couldn't help but swallow his spit that was swooshing around in his mouth, out of worry. He was starting to think it maybe wasn't such a great idea to just spill his guts about her, he thought he trusted his Father, but with the way he was only really wanting to hear about Yuko, made sweat slide down his face.
"Do you like her Kil?"
Killua blinked, his eyes widen by the sudden question.
"Wha- no way! She's way too weird, and besides girls are annoying I don't want to get involved with any of them like that." Killua defended crossing his arms, his cheeks slightly red at the insinuation. Silva chuckled at his sons reaction, before a serious expression distraught his previous light hearted features, causing Killua to flinch in surprise.
"Do you want to see your friends?"
Killua looked back down sadly.
"No need to hold back. Be honest." His father comforted, before lifting a hand back to help him explain. "Thinking back...you and I have never really had a Father-Son chat before. I was raised by my parents to be an assassin, and I raised you the same way. But you and I are different, and it took you leaving home for me to realize that." Silva said placing a loving hand on Killuas head, who was staring back at his father his face surprise, his heart beating a little faster at the affection. This was something totally knew, something he'd never experienced from his parents before. It made him respect his Dad further.
"You are indeed my son, and still, a person all your own. So, live your life. Remember, you can come home if you get tired, so... I'll ask you again. Do you want to see your friends?"
Killua nodded without hesitation this time.
"Very well. You're free to go now. But Kil..." He began before biting his thumb and placing it in front of Killua's face, a little blood dripping down it.
"You must promise, you will never betray your friends. Got that?"
Killua nodded, biting his thumb and carefully placing it up against his fathers ginormous one.
"I'll never betray them. I swear."
"There it is" Canary said gesturing to a large building sitting up top a hill. seeming to be thousands of feet away. I sighed in annoyance.
"It must suck to have to be a butler here, walking around this maze of a home everyday." I grumbled.
"You could say that again." Leorio agreed.
"Hey Canary, aren't you gonna get in a lot of trouble with your bosses?" Gon asked. She slightly turned around to look at the four of us, her expression blank.
"They are perfectly aware of what I'm doing. I'm quite certain of that. I'm prepared for the consequences."
I looked at her worriedly. "Are you sure Canary? I don't want you to be fired or anything, this job is super important to you after all, right?"
"I'll take responsibility if you get in trouble." Gon chirped in.
Canary closed her eyes and turned back forward. "No, I am merely serving as a guide for Master Killua's friends, and a old friend of mine as well." She said before continuing to walk forward. I smiled a little bit before we all followed after her once again.
"Ahh, we finally made it." I said a wide smile present on my face, as all four of us where now standing in front of the Butlers quarters that resembled a mansion, 5 butlers standing outside in a line in a welcoming way. They bowed.
"Welcome, lady and gentlemen."
-
"We apologize for our previous discourtesy. We've been informed by the lady of the house to treat you as official guests, so please make yourselves comfortable." Gotoh said, as the four of us sat across from his in cushioned chairs.
"It's hard to believe this is only the Butlers quarters." Kurapika said, making conversation with Gotoh a small smile on his face.
"There are quite a lot of us you see, all with many different duties and purposes through the house, I do hope you are comfortable in the presence of servants."
"Listen, thank you for the hospitality and everything, but we really only came here to see Killua. So can you take us to see him?" Leorio said a little impolitely, making me grimaced. I then noticed Gotoh was staring at me from the corner of my eyes and I whipped my head back to look at him as well, however before I could he began to stare back at Leorio, making me feel slightly uneasy.
"That won't be necessary you see. Master Killua is already on his way here."
Gon jumped up from his seat slamming his hands against the table with excitement. "Wait really?!"
My mouth slowly went agape, I know it was hard to get to this point, but was it really going to be that easy? That didn't sit with me very well, I could tell there was some sort of catch, however I was having a hard time worrying about it because I had to pee so badly, actually from the moment we entered through the gate, I guess it was because I felt really anxious to see Killua again, and the urge to pee was even stronger now. I don't know why I was so nervous, I mean, it's not like he's changed or anything.
"Hey um, Gotoh guy, can I go to the bathroom really quick?"
Gotoh eyed me for a few seconds, seeming to get lost in thought staring at me once again, making me gulp down my spit.
-Flash back- "Gotoh, whenever you get the chance. I'd like you to test that girl, a little more so then Kil's friends. Silva is interested in her, and I won't allow my Kil to go on a journey with a girl who could quite possibly corrupt him! Understand? if she dies, then so be it, I don't like her anyways." Kikyo said passion entailed through out her rant, a few sobs escaping her lips. Gotoh nodded accordingly. " Yes ma'am."
"Of course, you may. The bathroom is through that door and down the right." He answered a slight smirk on his face. I stood up with a nod, but before I could leave Kurapika grabbed my arm.
"Just be careful Yuko." He said. I blinked in surprise, before nodding once more and walking through the room feeling butlers eyes on my back making me quicken my pace, opening the door that was way lighter then the ones in Mr. Zebro's house and closing it behind me.
The hallway lights where off, only the light of the moon seeping through the windows, helped me see my way. It was pretty empty, a few small tabled against the wall with flowers on it, as well as some renaissance paintings.
'Man these butlers have taste.' I said with a smile, walking down the hallway, my eyes scanning all the double doors I passed just in case they where too the bathroom.
I turned the corner like Gotoh had told me, and stopped mid walk feeling a my body tingling. I looked at my hands in awe feeling like tiny little needles where piercing through my skin cells. It didn't hurt, it was more intriguing then anything. Looking at my hands it seemed the feeling was growing more intense, not only in my hands but all over my body, so intense that it was now beginning to be painful, so painful in fact I began hyperventilating.
I groaned in pain, falling to my knees sweat sliding down my head.
"Gahhhh!" I groaned heavy breaths exiting my mouth.
'What's going on... Why am I in so much pain...' I thought before I began throwing up on the floor, completely ruining the carpets.
I tried looking up to see if I could find the cause, and there on the ceiling their was so tubes emitting a gas. I tried to stand up knowing I had to get out of there, lifting up one shaky nee grinding my teeth and the pain of moving, before promptly falling back down. I coughed, feeling my entire body go numb, and my brain beginning to cloud up.
"She's taking a little bit, maybe I should go and check up on her." Kurapika said standing up, Gon did as well.
"Right let's go look for her, maybe she got lost."
"Please, don't trouble yourselves. I'll send a butler to go check on her, in the meantime might I interest you in a little game." Gotoh suggested, the two stood there for a second before sitting back down. Gotoh made eye contact with one of his Butlers, who went immediately putting the three teenagers at ease.
I was slowly opening and closing my eyes trying to keep my consciousness, the gas seemed to stop however my pain wasn't. I was confused, annoyed, and in a world of hurt. I wondered why this was happening to me, all I wanted was to go to the bathroom, but instead I get poisonous gas. I then started to wonder, if the butlers did this to me on purpose, or maybe If I accidentally set off a booby trap. I hoped it was the latter, I seriously didn't want to have any more problems with this family, I just wanted to see Killua.
Suddenly I felt a presence behind me, I couldn't move my head so I wasn't able to see who it was. I could no longer open my eyes now too, feeling my body being completely uncooperative. I felt two cold fingers feel up against my neck looking for my pulse. The presence was super close to my ear now, i was able to feel their breath, making chills run up and down my neck.
"Don't say anything, if you want to keep your life." And then a few seconds later, the presence was gone, and I was left in the hallway all alone, realizing this was all on purpose, making me realize that maybe I should be a little more scared of them. Because I believed the voice when it said it could kill me, I bet it could.
A butler walked up to Gotoh who was introducing the game to the three teenagers, whispering something into his ear, before he went back into position with the other butlers hands behind his back. Gotoh eye's where glistened over by the light, so you couldn't see his eyes, a small smile gracing his features.
"She's alright, she just got lost. but she was escorted safely"
Yuko started to gain feeling once again, flinching her fingers opening and closing them to regain control as well as her consciousness. She fluttered her eyes open and took in a large gulp of air, knowing that it was now clean. Yuko then sat herself up, sitting and looking around at the paintings wondering what had just happened. She felt like crying, she felt like screaming out of anger. Yuko began to wonder why stuff like this had to happen to her? Why she always ended up in these types of situations.
She sighed heavily, holding in the tears that where bubbling in her eyes threatening to fall.
'I'm not crying anymore, it's selfish and annoying and I'm done with it. I'll keep quiet for the sake of my health and Gotoh and Killuas relationship, I wouldn't feel right if Killua left his home feeling resentment for someone he actually liked.' Yuko thought, scrunching up her nose and clenching her eyes shut to get the tears to wear down, which they luckily did.
Yuko slowly stood up, feeling slightly weak but was actually able to stand up this time. She still had to pee, and the taste of throw up was present in her mouth so she walked over to the bathroom which she had previously been collapse in front of and went inside to relive herself. After doing so, she began to walk down the hallway, trying to collect her thoughts and compose herself getting ready to see her friends, she knew she had to act naturally, she had to for her and Killua's sakes.
"I mean I survived it right? It shouldn't be that big of a deal, just forget it happened Yuko." She thought playing with her fingers.
That's easier said then done.
She slowly dragged her feet along the way, watching her pale white shoes glow up from the moon light, it was the only thing comforting her at the moment, until the double doors to the side of her opened up revealing an annoyed Killua, whose eyes widened upon seeing Yuko standing in front of him.
Yuko slowly turned her head to see the boy, her light brown eyes widening as well taking him all in at once and processing him. She saw he had changed clothes and was now wearing a black turtle neck with light purple jeans as well as a white back pack. Her eyes then traveled up to his face, seeing it bandaged up as well as a few scratched here and there that where scabs.
Yuko couldn't help but feel a world of emotions all at once, anger and angst at his injuries that she was certain where caused by his own family. Relief that he was standing in front of her, alive. But most of all she felt sad, sad about everything and what saving him meant for her. It was all so much emotion it felt like it was carrying her away.
He blinked a few times, still processing her being in front of him. "Yuko? You're he-"
"Killua!" She yelled before running at him and throwing her arms over his shoulders, causing him to tumble back a few steps his face erratic with embarrassment and confusion.
"Oi, Oi! Get off me, what the hell are you doing?!" He protested his arms spread to his sides feeling flustered. However Yuko ignored his demands and hugged him tighter. He could've pushed her off him if he really wanted to, and he was confused as to why he didn't, but he allowed her to despite him feeling completely uncomfortable.
Yuko dug her face into the crook of his neck, making his face deepen in color. "I'm so glad you're okay." She whispered into his ear, causing his arms to slowly falter into his sides, his eyes widening.
'There she goes again, saying weird stuff.' He thought, stubbornly turning his head to the side his eyes narrowing, cheeks red.
"Yuko, are you done yet?" He asked. Yuko felt like his tone should've held annoyance, but it was calm, which pleasantly surprised her and brought butterflies to her stomach tauntingly encircling her insides.
She quickly let go of him, feeling her own embarrassment well up inside of her as she rubbed her head sheepishly. "S-Sorry...it's just, it's really good to see you." She smiled. Killua flinched and blinked shoving his hands into his pockets before turning away from her facing the doors to the living room where Gon, Kurapika and Leorio where at.
"So...is everyone here then? That's annoying, did Gotoh just forget what I told him?" Killua muttered before he began to walk down the hallway. Yuko quickly followed after him matching his pace. Sending small glances at him ever so often making sure that she wasn't dreaming, it was true, she was unbelievably relieved to see his face, a giddy feeling rumbling through her stomach. She couldn't wait to see Gon's reaction too.
Killua opened the door slowly his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Oi Gotoh, thought I told you to tell me when they got here!" Killua yelled upon entrance, making Gon Kurapika and Leorio turn around. Gon smiled wide with a loud "Killua" Making Yuko's heart sore with happiness to see him in happier spirits as the two of them ran over to the couch.
Killua was smiling as well.
"Glad you finally made it Gon it feels like it's been forever ! Also um, Kurapika!" Killua said gesturing to the blonde male who deadpanned. "Great, you remembered..." He trailed off sarcastically.
Killua then turned to Leorio with his finger as well still a smile present on his face. "And...Reorlio!"
"Leorio!" He yelled clearly ticked off, causing Yuko to laugh her arms placed comfortably on the top of the sofa watching the scene with happiness. Gon turned to Yuko with a confused face.
"Yuko did you get lost again? You took forever. " He asked.
Yuko blinked and then nodded. "Yea this place is like a maze."
"So then you too met up in the hallways then?"
Killua nodded peering over to Yuko with a small smile. "Yea, we bumped into each other when she was...wait what here you doing Yuko?" he asked her. Yuko flinched some sweat sliding down her face as she peered over to Gotoh who's face was shadowed intimidatingly, making Yuko gulp down her spit, before looking at the white haired boy with a smile.
"I was just coming back from the bathroom that's it." She said trying to be as convincing as possible. Killua stared at her a little longer holding a suspicious expression, however he but brushed it off turning to Gon again with a wide teasing smile.
"You look rough, your always getting your faced messed up huh?" He said gesturing to Gon's face with a taunting finger . That was partly Yukos fault, they had sparred a lot during their training and she may have bruised his face a few times. Gon laughed.
"Your face is messed up too ne!" They both laughed together, before Killua turned to Gotoh once again with an annoyed expression.
"Oi, what happened to telling me when they got here? What where you guys doing?"
Gotoh put on a sweet smile and bowed slightly along with a few other butlers. "My apologies. I had them participate in a little game"
Yuko scoffed to herself. 'Some game...' She thought looking to the side with a irked expression.
"A game?" Killua asked, a slight annoyed expression, Killua then looked at Gon who just smiled in return.
"A joke sir. thought quite a poor one, admittedly. I'm sorry for the trouble. I do hope you enjoyed yourselves."
"If it was a joke then you for sure fooled me." Leorio said with a laugh. They all had stood up now getting ready to leave. Yuko had stayed quite, she didn't want to say anything and end up jeopardizing herself, she still had to go home to Kho after all. So she put her hood up over head and shoved her hands in her pockets hoping that would indicate she wanted to leave a little more.
Killua still seemed suspicious and turned over to Gon. "They didn't try anything did they?" He asked.
Gon shook his head a smile still present on his face. "No they where just keeping us all entertained." Killua smiled slightly to the response and then turned to Yuko.
"Yuko, what about you? Did they do anything?"
Yuko waited a second before responding with a fake smile. "No how could they? I was in the bathroom or looking for the bathroom the whole time." She laughed. Killua sighed with relief and then turned back forward.
"Really? Well okay then. Let's go someplace else, like anywhere at all. If we stay here any longer my Mother will chew us out." Killua said with annoyance. And to Yuko that sounded absolutely amazing, anywhere besides here would be great.
"Yes please, let's get outta here."
"Yea." Gon said picking up his backpack from the floor.
Killua looked back at Gotoh with a demanding finger pointing at him. "Oi Gotoh listen up. No matter what Mom said, don't follow us"
Gotoh bowed. "Understood sir. Please take care."
"Come on Gon, Yuko let's get out of here. Bye" He said waving slightly to the butlers before walking out Gon Leorio Kurapika following behind him, Yuko quickly followed as well but was stopped by Gotoh.
"Please wait a second." Gotoh stated. Yuko stopped feeling her heart pace pick up before she slowly turned around to face them her hand on the door knob ready to dash at any moment.
"I apologize for any inconveniences this visit may have caused you, we had orders from the lady of the house herself to test you individually, along with your three friends." Yuko blinked in surprise.
"So all of us where tested?"
"In some way yes, you must understand that Master Killua is quite dear to this family, the fact he is allowed out of the house at this time is giving enough, but we have to ensure the people he surrounds himself with are worthy, after all he is the heir to the estate."
Yuko felt slightly better at the fact she wasn't completely singled out, however she had a feeling there was a little more to the story then he was letting her in on. Although Yuko was fine not knowing, it would most likely help forget this happened all together, and that's what she was planning on doing. it wasn't like they'd be able to find her anyways so whatever their reasons for testing her where, it didn't matter.
"I understand, and don't worry, I don't plan on telling anybody about it, I'm just happy we got Killua." Yuko said opening the door slightly, and then looking at Canary who was staring intently at the ground with a somber expression. "Canary, I also just wanted to say thank you, I never had the chance to show my gratitude before, and I don't know when I'll see you, so...thank you. And good luck." Yuko smiled. Canary didn't say anything however, she just continued to stare at the ground making Yuko frown in response feeling slightly guilty.
"Yuko come on!" Killua yelled from outside.
Yuko flinched, a small smile gracing her features hearing her name being called out by the assassin, before she gave Canary one last look and closed the door behind her.
"How did it go Gotoh."
"She survived the gas ma'am, what do you suggest we do?" "Nothing, for now. I'll have to discuss this further with my husband. She certainly shows potential, I can only hope however Kil comes back sooner rather then later, that girl has a retched personality and her looks are boring, it'd be a shame to not give others a try, there's is certainly room for changes." "Understood."
Almost reached the end of the Zoldyck arc, after I'm done with it I'm going to set up a update schedule, so these chapters are coming out cleaner. I hope you enjoyed and will comment down any thoughts or theories down below! ;) (Also sorry for such a long chapter :*) )