This chapter has taken so long to write... and even now I am unsatisfied. Still, I knew that if I did not just publish it now, I would not publish it... ever.
I quite like Canary. I hope I did her character justice.
Please see the end for more notes. :)
I really thought that the Zoldyck arc would be smooth sailing.
We'd walk in, grab Killua, and get the hell outta there. Easy, right?
Well, that's what I thought. But what I've been learning recently is that nothing ever really seems to go according to my plans.
I'm currently very, very lost.
I'm not quite sure how it happened, really. One minute, I was hiking up Kukuroo mountain with Leorio, Kurapika, and Gon. I'd only slowed down for a second to lean against a tree and momentarily relieve the aching pain in my abdomen, when the soil around my foot suddenly broke loose-and the next thing I knew, I was tumbling and tumbling.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to roll down a hill (not sure why you're wondering that, but I digress) I can promise you that the experience is not pleasant. Dirt gets everywhere, and when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere. I'm talking eyes, nose, and other places that you definitely do not want dirt to be. My already disheveled clothing has spawned new rips, tears, and a thick layer of dirt and grime.
When I finally stop rolling, it takes a minute to readjust. I'm sprawled out in a bizarre starfish-shape, all the wind in my body thoroughly knocked out of me, and the trees overhead seem to spin and spin like a baby's mobile.
Where am I?
Panic trickles through me as I realize that my three companions are nowhere to be seen. Actually, I can't see anyone at all, just trees, trees, trees as far as the eye can see.
I'm alone and lost in Killua's backyard.
It wouldn't be nearly as bad had I gotten lost literally anywhere else. But this is the Zoldyck family property. The house of, um, a bunch of assassins and their highly-trained butlers.
I could call for help, but I shoot that idea down quickly. Loudly announcing my location while trespassing doesn't really seem like a bright idea. Besides, all I've done so far is rely on the help of others. Surely I can do something for myself. It's only a little mountain, and I'm only a little lost. How bad can it be?
So I pick a direction and start walking.
xXxXx
As I walk, I think. Think about what's coming next. And my plan for it.
From the moment I arrived in the Hunter x Hunter-verse, my plan has been simple. I want to keep them together.
Them being Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio.
As time went on and I spent more time in this world and with its people, I solidified that loose phrase into something more coherent. Something meaning, "together until the end."
Of course, I had considered the drawbacks to this plan. If I could even convince Kurapika and Leorio to stick around, it only opened up a new Pandora's box of problems. Would the natural plot of Hunter x Hunter follow if the characters remained in a group? Should I even bother to keep the plot as is? I mean, knowing what I do from my previous life, I could pretty much stop a lot of things from happening with just a little intervention.
But a part of me remains selfish. I mean, my whole plan has always been selfish. Keeping the gang together is what I want.
Haven't I been selfish enough?
Anyway, how long have I been walking for?
I am certain that the Zoldyck staff are aware of my presence here (how could they not be? I've been maneuvering around in broad daylight, as conspicuous as always), and yet I haven't encountered any butlers as of yet. This idea somewhat troubles me; am I not even considered a threat to them?
"Ah, well, it's not like I wanted to run into anyone anywa-"
A misstep is all it takes. The toe of my boot gets caught in a vine and I face-plant, stopping me mid-sentence.
"Ouch…" with both of my hands slapped over my face to quell the pain, I hastily get to my feet. Somehow, the ground feels… different. Much flatter, with more room to stand. Have I made it to some sort of path?
I peel my hands away from my face and blink.
She stands there solemnly between two fences, her face not acknowledging my existence in the slightest.
It's Canary!
I whip my head around, but Leorio, Gon, and Kurapika are nowhere to be seen. Have I
somehow, inexplicably, arrived here… before them?
I approach her, but before I can take more than a few steps she opens her mouth.
"Leave. You are trespassing on private property. I cannot allow you to pass without permission."
"Oh, right. Um…" I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. The others will come along soon enough, and I'd rather not provoke a fight between Canary and I, since I rather like her and I do, in fact, value my life.
So, I sit down cross-legged.
If Canary is surprised, she doesn't let it on. She merely watches me with her stern
eyes as I pick up a nearby stick and begin to draw in the dirt in front of me.
The silence is heavy, so I start talking.
"This is Gon." I say, doodling the loose shape of the green boy in the dirt. I glance up at Canary to see if she's watching, but she doesn't seem to particularly care.
I continue to draw anyway, spiking the hair on Gon's doodled head. "He's a cute kid, and I wish to protect him. Even if he is stronger than me, and even if the last thing he needs is my protection."
I move onto my next dirt-doodle. "This is Leorio. He's reeeeeaaally good looking. He has a good heart, although he doesn't always think before he acts."
Next to Leorio's doodle, I struggle a little to capture Kurapika's likeness with the tip of my stick. "Kurapika is very kind, but he has a lot of baggage. I sure hope… he ends up okay."
For my next doodle, I circle back to Gon's drawing and start in the space next to him. I draw the fluffy hair, the catlike-eyes…
"And this is Killua."
When I say this, I can finally sense the tiniest bit of movement from Canary's direction. It's not much- a sharp intake of breath from her at the most- but it lets me know that I've succeeded in capturing her attention.
"And this is me." I can't recall exactly what I look like, so the self-portrait ends up wobbly, but that's alright. "Portabella. But please call me Bella. All of us, we hang out with Killua. He's our friend. Very soon, the others will arrive, and we will come and take Killua back."
"I cannot let you do that." Something about Canary's voice is different from before.
"Why not?"
"That is my job."
Right next to the drawing of myself, I begin a new doodle.
"Then, this one is Canary. She's a butler from the Zoldyck estate. Her job is to protect Killua and the other Zoldycks." I peek at her, watching for her reaction. "She wants to take care of him. Wouldn't that make her his friend?"
"Butlers cannot be friends with the masters." Canary says curtly.
"Sure you can. So, let's see. If Canary is friends with Killua, and Killua is friends with Gon, and Gon is friends with Kurapika and Leorio and me…" I draw lines connecting each of the doodles as I speak. "Canary and I are therefore friends by association. And we all know that a good friend would let me into the Zoldyck mansion so I can go and get Killua."
"Your logic makes no sense." Canary says. She draws out her staff, and I startle away, expecting her to- I dunno, hit me or something with it- but she surprises me by pointing the thin end of the staff at the ground.
Within a few moments, Canary has drawn out her own image into the dirt. A blobby face with voluminous hair is what I assume to be a representation of herself. Then, without moving from her post between the two gates, she draws a long line from her doodled face.
At the end of this long line, Canary draws another face, cat-eyes letting me know that this is supposed to be Killua.
She clears her throat. "This is how far I am from Master Killua."
I'm caught by surprise by the gentleness of the lines in her drawing.
"You must look at Killua a lot to be able to draw him so well." I observe, getting off of the ground. I move forward to get a closer look at the doodles, but I can barely take in the faces before something slams me in the face.
The ball end of Canary's staff sends me flying backwards, and I hit the dirt.
"Ow ow ow!" When I press a hand against my cheek, I can feel hot blood.
"I hope that I don't have to repeat myself. You are trespassing on Zoldyck property. Come any further, and I will be forced to take care of you."
"Um…" I reach for my pockets, but I already know that I have basically nothing. And so I end up pulling out a tampon. "I don't suppose one of these will change your mind?"
Silence.
"They're Tampax Pearl. Medium size. Probably the most comfortable brand." I feel like a tele-marketer promoting these things. "I mean, there might be some chemicals in them or whatever, but…"
It's actually really awkward when Canary says nothing in response, leaving me, bleeding from my face, and holding up my pathetically bright-colored tampon wrappers. I guess they're only effective for periods and throwing at Hisoka.
"Okay, I get it, you must be more of a pads kind of girl." I joke awkwardly, stuffing the products back away.
"Menstrual cup, actually."
I nearly spit-take. She had said it so suddenly I can't even tell if she's joking or not. "Wait, what?"
"You try wearing pads while working as a butler. Menstrual cups are a delight."
"Canary, I didn't know you had a sense of humor!" I say, delighted. Okay, maybe period jokes aren't the most elegant of topics, but at least I'm getting somewhere.
"You know nothing about me. Besides, that wasn't a joke." She says, then moves her gaze to above my head. "Ah, look. Your friends are coming."
It's true. I turn around to see their silhouettes, and joy leaps around in my stomach. I don't even realize how much I've missed them, but I start waving. "Here! Over here!"
"BELLA!" I hear the distinctive shout from Leorio, and he's the first to reach me. Before I can even think, I feel myself getting wrapped up into a hug.
My brain goes into overdrive when I feel his unshaven chin on my cheek, the scent of his signature cologne pushing into my nostrils. The moment is heaven, until Leorio quickly pulls away and shakes me by the shoulders.
"We were looking for you, Bella! Gon tried to sniff you out but your scent was all covered up by the trees, and then Kurapika suggested we keep on walking up but I thought we should go and find you, and I'm just so glad you're okay!"
He says it all so quickly and rapid-fire that I can barely process what he's saying, and all I can feel is just the heat in my face from being so near to him.
Kurapika and Gon arrive next, and after I am repeatedly asked if I'm alright ("I'm fine, I'm fine!") the attention of the group is turned to Canary.
"Leave." Canary repeats her short speech from earlier. "You are trespassing on private property. I cannot allow you to pass without permission. This is where I draw the line-"
She pauses, and I see something in her eyes. An emotion we haven't seen yet. Embarrassment?
Very quickly, Canary uses the rounded end of her cane to sweep away the dirt doodles of Killua and herself. Then she clears her throat, drawing a new line in front of her.
"As I was saying, I draw the line here. If you take one step beyond this line, I'll have to remove you by force."
Before anyone else can react, Gon puts up a hand and starts walking forward. No one says anything as his toe crosses the line-
- and a smack from Canary's cane blasts him backwards.
Leorio and Kurapika seem ready to react. Leorio has his knife out, and Kurapika prepares his wooden weapons- but Gon calls out at them to stop.
"Don't interfere. Let me handle this. Owww."
I look at Canary, but she's actually looking at me, not at Gon.
"If you want to protect your friend," it seems as if Canary is directly speaking to me, "Then all of you should leave."
"We don't intend to fight you." Gon says, rubbing his face. "We just want to see Killua."
Canary's face softens ever so slightly.
"Well, I am simply following orders." Canary says, holding her cane up in front of her. When Gon tries again, he's sent flying.
It's hard to watch. I feel the strong urge to stop him as I watch him get smacked over and over again, but I hold myself back.
The sun sets, and it is as if we are locked in a trance. How many hits has Gon taken by now? My drawings in the dirt are long gone, the dust kicked up from Canary's attacks hiding the silly doodles.
One side of Gon's face seems to be swollen shut. He looks awful. Canary hasn't broken so much as a sweat, but the expression gracing her face is much different from before.
A single tear rolls down her cheek.
"Stop it." She turns her head down. "Stay away!"
When Gon steps over the line once again, Canary takes a moment longer to bash him away.
"Cut it out! This is all futile! And you, you should be stopping him! You're his friends, right?!"
"There's no problem. I'm here to see my friend." Gon raises his fist. "I'm here to see Killua!"
This time, when he crosses the line, Canary doesn't do anything.
"You have a heart. When Killua is mentioned, your eyes get soft."
Canary ever so slowly lowers her staff, and her eyes scan the ground. I realize what she's looking at- a line from the doodle of Killua she had made earlier, the small part of the drawing remaining which she didn't finish erasing.
A few more tears spill out of her eyes. "Please… Help Master Killua."
And then a bullet slams into her head.
xXxXx
She'd only been knocked unconscious.
We're walking up, up the mountain even further. Night is falling quickly.
"Portabella…"
Her words surprise me.
"It's Bella, call me Bella."
Canary pauses before she speaks again.
"Can I really be a friend?"
I look at her in surprise. "What, to Killua? Or to… me?"
She does not respond.
xXxXx
The butler's office treats us very well.
Gon is fussed around by butlers, his swollen face treated instantly, and I find myself being pulled aside by a female butler in a low ponytail. Before I can protest, she's already yanked off my clothes and changed the bandages on my stomach, as well as shoved me into a new change of clothes; a pair of dark blue pants and an oversize white button-up. It's clear to me that these are just spare items of the Zoldyck butler's uniform, and I wonder if I'm even allowed to wear them.
Also, pants are so not my thing. I'll have to get my hands on a new skirt ASAP.
"Ah, hey, wait-" I mumble as the butler begins to paw through my old pieces of clothing, grunting at the copious amount of dirt laced with the fabric. "Can I, um, at least keep the tampons?"
She eyes me questioningly.
But those clothes and tampons are what I came into this world with. For some reason, it just feels wrong to dispose of them right now.
After a moment's thinking, she tosses the pouch to me, and I stuff it into the pockets of the pants and stand up.
The butler takes a firm grip on my shoulder. "Not done yet. I still need to treat your face."
"That's fine! It's fine." I say, holding up my hands. "I should get back to the others now."
"No, you are a Zoldyck guest." She insists, and I eventually comply, allowing her to apply a sticky bandage to my cheek. This butler is very motherly, and her rough-yet-kind treatment is reminiscent of my own mother, causing sadness to stir up in my heart. I miss my family.
When all that's said and done, I feel like a whole new person when I sit down next to Leorio on the couch in the main room. The head butler Gotoh sits across from us.
The coin game comes next. With precise hands, Gotoh sends his golden coins flying through the air. (For the record, I do terribly in the game and am eliminated almost immediately).
It all comes down to the last coin. The room is so still, you could probably hear a pin drop.
"The coin is in the hand of the person behind me."
When Gon says this, the anxious butler behind him spreads open his fingers to reveal it; the coin, sitting neatly in his palm.
And then the butlers clap, but I'm not paying attention, for the door behind us has suddenly opened up. An all-too familiar voice speaks from the gap.
"Gotoh, is Gon here yet?"
It's- it really is him- it's-
"Killua!" Gon cries.
"Hey! You're here, Gon!"
It's pretty hard to fight off my emotions right now, as I'm exhausted, so a tear springs to eye at the sight of him in all of his Killu-glory. Also, his outfit right now is really, really good. Like damn, Killua's got drip for sure.
"Along with… Kurapika!" Killua points to the blonde.
"I'm just an afterthought?" Kurapika sighs.
"And… Liorio!"
"It's Leorio!"
And then he turns to me.
He pauses, and I'm unsure of what to do. Perhaps I should wave? But then Killua opens his mouth and says something completely unexpected.
"No way. You're alive?"
I recoil at his words. Wait, what?
"Didn't I kill you?" Killua says bluntly, leaning towards me a little. "Your name was… Bell!"
"It's Bella." I nearly snap at him. What the hell?
"Oh, right. Bella. Hm, I and I felt a little bad about it, too." Killua scratches the side of his face thoughtfully. "I don't usually fail when I try to kill someone. What trick did you pull to survive?"
"Trick? I didn't pull any tricks. And I didn't get away clean either, you left me with a nasty injury and stopped me from becoming a Hunter!"
"Oh, well. So, Gon! It's been a while. I can't believe you came. What happened? Your face is a wreck!" Killua's already moved his attention away from me, and when he speaks to Gon, his cold demeanor transforms. Looking at the Killua before me, you'd never expect him to be a high-level assassin.
"Yours isn't any better!" Gon grins back at him.
"Hey, Gotoh. I told you to let me know as soon as they arrived." Killua says indignantly to his butler. "What were you doing?"
As Gotoh explains, I watch Killua's face. There's something so incredibly enchanting about it, and I mean this in the least-creepy way possible. You could look for days and days, I think, and still never really understand the true scope of everything that Killua is.
"Anyway, let's go somewhere else. Just anywhere else right now." Killua tells Gon. "If we stay here, my mom will give us an earful!"
Gon nods and smiles.
"Sure!"
xXxXx
Leaving Kukuroo mansion is much, much easier than entering.
We don't linger in the town for too long, almost immediately boarding the train to get us out of there. And if I felt like a third (or fifth) wheel before, that feeling has intensified since Killua came back.
Gon and Killua really are like two peas in a pod. They barely separate throughout the trip, and there is never a moment of silence as they talk. When one boy stops, the other immediately picks up where he left off. It's fascinating to watch, even if it makes me feel… sad.
"I already decided."
We're sitting in the train car that rattles away. Killua's chided Gon for not using his Hunter license to travel, only for Gon to reply with this;
"I'm not using the license until I've finished what I need to do."
"What is it that you need to do?" Killua asks eagerly.
Gon rummages through his stuff. "It's regarding the tag that Hisoka gave me!"
I haven't heard the name Hisoka in a good week or so, and the name sends a shiver down my spine.
"I'll return this to Hisoka when I punch him in the face!" Gon explains sincerely, brandishing Hisoka's 44 plate. "Until I do that, I won't use my Hunter License. I can't go back to Whale Island either."
"I see. So, where's Hisoka, then?
Gon seems taken aback, as if he'd never even considered the possibility. "Actually…"
"Gon, I know where he is." Kurapika says.
"Really? How?" Leorio asks.
"Well, he told me."
"So that's what he said during your fight?"
"No, this was after the Hunter orientation. But I suppose it is related…"
"I've been meaning to ask." Leorio says, "What did Hisoka say to you then?"
"He told me… 'regarding the spider…'"
"The Phantom Troupe?"
"I don't recall mentioning the Phantom Troupe to Hisoka. He either overheard our conversation during the first stage, or he heard of it somewhere else. He must be familiar with the Troupe, to call them by their symbol… So I was interested in his information."
If only you knew, Kurapika… I find myself thinking. It's requiring every last fiber of my being not to blurt out the information I have. But I must think clearly.
"After the orientation, I asked him about it. And he said… that he would be waiting in Yorknew City, on September 1st."
"What's going to happen in Yorknew City?" asks Gon.
"The auction!" I can't stay silent anymore. The other four turn to look at me, and I gulp.
"Correct. From September 1st to September 10th, the world's largest auction is held in Yorknew City. Unusual items, rare goods, and national treasures from around the world are all cultivated there."
"So, the troupe will be there?"
"They're a group of bandits. They would not let this chance escape… And Hisoka will be somewhere in Yorknew City on that day, too."
"September 1st… got it, thanks." Gon grins.
Wait. this is- are they already planning their separation?
I glance over each of the boys in the train car.
Leorio. Doctor-to-be. He'll be taking the time until September 1st to study.
Kurapika. The revenger. He'll be getting a job, growing his hair out, and changing. Changing so, so much.
Killua. The ex-assassin. And Gon. The… protagonist. They'll be off at Heavens Arena.
This isn't what I want.
But am I even allowed to do what I want?
"Hey, guys, I need to talk to you all about something." I say quietly.
"Mm?" Kurapika acknowledges.
"It's about… well, how do I say it?" My heart hammers in my chest. All of this time I have been leading up to this, and yet I hadn't even thought of what to say. How am I supposed to convince them to stay?
"Umm… Leorio! Kurapika!" I stand up, as if that's going to make my point clearer. "Please!"
"'Please' what?" Leorio asks, confused.
"Yes, what is it, Bella?"
I take a deep breath. It's all or nothing.
"Please… "
Don't leave!
Hello there!
I apologize for the pacing issues of this chapter. These last two chapters have been the absolute hardest to write, and if you're wondering about the quality dip, well, that's probably why.
However, the exciting stuff happens... now! (next chapter, I mean).
The next chapter is titled, "Don't Leave!" and this is where we will see canon really breaking apart. I am also hoping to establish Bella's character a little more in this upcoming arc. I understand if people are frustrated with her (hell, I am too, and I basically AM her) but I hope you'll stick around to see what I have in store.
Because the next chapter is so crucial I cannot guarantee a quick release. I'm a rather busy person who writes this as a hobby. Hopefully it won't take too long, but I'll make no promises.
Thank you for any and all reviews. Please have a nice day and stay safe~