Author's Note: I do not own Hunter x Hunter!

Chapter 23 - Naizen

~ with Kurapika and Leorio… ~

The duo followed Kaori's grandfather, but Kurapika still had a skeptical look at the old man's back. The blonde kurta said he would trust Naizen soon, but there was still something that bothered him ...

Naizen noticed the blond man's gaze and sighed slightly. "I thought you trusted me?" He spoke without looking back.

Kurapika winced slightly at the old man's statement while Leorio looked at him worriedly.

"It's not that I don't trust you, but there are some questions that I would like to have an answer to…." Kurapika said cautiously. "Before we made our way here, we learned a lot from a good friend of her son ..."

Naizen stopped. "A friend of my son?" He asks.

"Your late son! Yutaru! "Leorio explains. "When they were both young, they met."

Kurapika nods. "And from this friend, we also know something about Yutaru ... his father, ... so they must have been very strict with him. He had to be on the throne, whether he wanted to or not ... but why do you want to help us now? When you've got the most out of Kaori, shouldn't you want to stop us? "The blonde kurta asks, his eyes fixed.

"Hmm, quite a few questions, if you ask me." Naizen turns to the two of them. "Besides, it sounds like Yutaru told his friend his whole life story ... almost typical for him." The old man sighs.

"Definitely not his whole life story!" Leorio assures us. "But still ... I would be honest, too, if you would enlighten us. Because ... how can we really be sure that we trust them ... without them luring us into a trap? "The man in the suit says firmly.

"Oh man ... where do I start?" Naizen asks himself. "You two are really persistent ... is this Gon Freecss like that too?"

"Absolutely!" Leorio and Kurapika called.

The old man sighs. "Well ... I'll try to be as brief as possible ..."

...

~ a few years ago ... ~

~ in front of the castle of the Himiki family… ~

A young, fifteen-year-old Yutaru was standing in front of the castle with the blue-haired girl Emiko.

Emiko stared at him in confusion. "Don't you want to go into your home?" She asks. "Or ... are you thinking about something?"

"Yes, already…" Yutaru sighs. "I'm thinking about how I should introduce you to my father." He scratches his head lightly.

"You ... didn't let him know beforehand in a letter or in such a way that I would be with you, did you?" She asks, frowning. "Didn't you say you'd do it ?" she asks, slightly indignant.

"….Yes…."

"And why didn't you do it then ?"

"… Sorry, Emiko really. But I'm really not good at writing letters. "The orange-haired boy says apologetically.

"… .." the green eyes of the fifteen year old girl looked penetrating. "I can't believe it ..." she mumbles. "I am amazed that your determination from a few weeks ago disappeared so quickly ..."

"W-what is that supposed to mean?" Yutaru tilts his head.

"You said recently that you wanted to tell your father your opinion straight to the face and finish with a few more things, but now I can see how you are afraid of even entering your own castle !" the blue-haired girl explains easily upset.

Yutaru is sweating. "Wow ... you've never been so excited ..."

Emiko shrugs his shoulders slightly. "It's the first time for everyone. Besides ... shouldn't I be the more nervous of us? "

"Huh? You? Why?"

"... .." Emiko shakes her head slightly and took a short deep breath. "Because… I'm the uninvited guest here? Because I'm not a member of this family? Because I'm a perfectly normal girl, without rank or something else? "She enumerates.

"Oh ... you mean that ..." The fifteen year old agrees with her statement with a nod. "Don't worry, I'll take care of that!" He says with a smile.

"For real? Certainly? Can you really do it ? "she asks, amazed. "Do you have your self-confidence again ?"

"Have I ever lost it?" He asks.

"... ..." Emiko crossed her arms.

"Please, don't answer that question ..." Yutaru mumbles.

The blue-haired girl giggled and kissed the young teenager gently on the cheek.

Yutaru was slightly surprised.

"I trust you." She whispered to him.

"Thank you ... let's go."

Both teenagers entered the great castle.

...

...

Emiko looked through the long corridors and many family portraits of different generations. There were also some tapestries on display, quite old-fashioned ...

'Unbelievable ...' Emiko thought as she looked at the inside of the castle in awe. 'And Yutaru still seems to behave quite normally, even though he grew up in such an environment ...'

Yutaru noticed that she was looking around and touched her shoulder with his hand. "You're not a little scared, are you? You look pretty nervous right now. "

"No ..." she whispers. "I find this space extremely impressive ..."

"Really?" The orange-haired teenager thought for a moment. "It's just a simple castle ..."

"You're used to it ..." she mumbles, frowning.

Yutaru stopped when he noticed another presence and smiled slightly.

"We're not alone anymore, Emiko." He simply says.

"… Yes, but who is that?" She asks quietly.

"We'll see in a moment." He walked in front of her. "You can come out calmly. Unfortunately, you haven't hidden yourself well, sorry. "He called out to the other person.

The person sighed slightly and came out of the shadows. A twelve year old boy with green hair and purple eyes came into view. He looked slightly gratifying to see the orange-haired teenager.

"Yahiko!" Yutaru spoke with a broad grin. "It's been a while! You grew up really big. "He came closer to the boy and patted him on the head.

"How could you notice me?" Yahiko asked, slightly disappointed. "I wanted to surprise you."

"You did!" The older brother says discouragingly. "I almost didn't notice you, but after all, you now know that I've become very vigilant."

Emiko looked at the two brothers with tender eyes, delighted with this friendly conservation.

'So this is Yutaru's little brother?'

The twelve-year-old boy noticed the blue-haired person and looked at them curiously. "And ... who are you?" He asks.

"Uhm…." Emiko hesitates slightly. "I'm ... Emiko. I'm really happy to meet you. "She says shyly.

"Emiko? … Huh? "He mumbles. "Father will be happy about that ..." he says sarcastically, with another scrutinizing look at the girl, which made her slightly nervous.

Yutaru frowns slightly annoyed at the mention of his father. "Do you happen to know where he is right now? I have a few things to discuss with him. It's extremely important. "He says seriously.

"Yes, he's in the garden. Take a walk. "Yahiko says and puts his hands behind his head. "He's been doing it a lot lately. Because ... I've been a bit busy the last few days, too. "He says mysteriously.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hmm, that'll be my secret for now." He says mischievously. "Don't worry about yourself now, you better go to our father quickly."

"Yes ... you are right." Yutaru sighs in defeat. "I delayed this conversation enough ..." then he looked at the blue-haired girl. "Are you coming with me?"

Emiko hesitated briefly at this question. She played with her fingers nervously. "I… don't really know anymore. Don't you just want to talk to your father for a moment ... without me with you ... "She mumbles shyly.

Yahiko nods in agreement. "Yes, exactly. It's a thing between you and father, big brother. Your dear ... 'girlfriend' ... can have a say later. "He says calmly.

"Okay." Yutaru sighed again, only this time deeper. "I'm going to father." He says seriously. "Please wait for me, Emiko. I'm trying to make it short for him ... "

"Just take your time." She says kindly. "Just say what's on your mind. I am sure your father will understand you. "

"Don't worry, brother. I'll keep your girlfriend company for so long. "Yahiko says reassuringly.

"Okay ... see you later ..."

With these words, Yutaru made his way into the garden to talk to his father, while Emiko and his little brother Yahiko are waiting for him.

...

Yahiko looked carefully at the blue-haired girl, this time much more penetrating than before. Emiko noticed the look and became slightly nervous.

"Are you really friends with my big brother?" He asks carefully. "How did he get to know someone like you? Will you tell me? "

"Um ... that's an amazing number of questions ..." she sweats easily. "First of all… yes. We are very good friends… "Emiko talks calmly.

"Aha. I see. "He came slowly closer. "Why talk here in the hallway ... when we can just keep talking in my room. There we can sit down and while we have tea you can continue to answer my questions. "Yahiko suggests.

"O-okay." The blue-haired girl agrees.

"Hey ..." Yahiko looks at her smiling. "You're not scared of me, are you? I'm as innocent as a lamb. Besides, I could never hurt anyone in my life. "He calms her down.

"Yes ... I'm sorry." Emiko says apologetically. "It's just that I'm always nervous around strangers. Especially ... since I've been here in this castle ... "She mumbles softly.

"The castle worries you?"

"Yes…"

Yahiko smiles. "It goes by quickly! Now come on! "His purple eyes shone.

...

With that, Yahiko led Emiko into his room to shorten their waiting time.

~ at Yutaru… ~

Yutaru arrived in the back yard of the castle where the Himiki family's garden was. He looked around for his father.

"Father?" He called surprisingly calm, although he was so nervous at the beginning .. "I'm back ... and I have to talk to you about something immediately."

"Discuss what?" A voice answered.

An older man with dark green hair and purple eyes came up to the orange-haired teenager. His expression was ... neutral.

"You are probably not back home after three years and you want to discuss something with me?" Naizen says skeptically. "There is something wrong."

"Three years is a long time." Yutaru spoke seriously. "And I've formed a big opinion that I have to share with you! And I tell you one thing; I don't accept no from you! "

"... you have definitely become more moody." Naizen sighs annoyed. "I thought a good training with a Nen master, far from home will do you good and educate you. ... but I think I was wrong. "

"... ..." Yutaru looked at his father seriously. "You better sit down ... there is a lot to talk about." He says in a firm voice.

"Well ..."

...

...

Yutaru tells his father about his idea, which he has been thinking about over the past three years ...

A traditional family that is only there to rule a few villages seems pointless to him. The warrior family that they used to be is no longer supposed to exist. ... it no longer needs to exist!

He tells of his encounter with a boy who was his age ... from whom he learned that you don't need any status at all to make something of your life. A buddy ... who now wants to do something for others who want to master Nen perfectly and who want to become stronger for others.

He tells of a Hunter Exam that he passed with flying colors.

And a blue-haired girl, he wants to share his life with her ... a normal girl that he prefers every other rich girl in the world!

...

After Yutaru said so much, he looked his father in the eye.

"Me and Emiko… we belong together from now on! I will stay with her! I don't care what you say! And I stick to the fact that we no longer have to be a royal family! It was already over for a hundred years! We should use the modern world and ... become normal too! "He almost screams.

"Is that all?" Naizen asked calmly, but the atmosphere had long since changed. "You know… I won't allow you to do that! You are my firstborn son! You should become king, win our fights against our enemies, create new useful allies ... and not bring a normal girl here, which cannot even offer you a good connection to other rich people! "He says sternly.

"You do not understand it…"

"No ..., Yutaru you don't understand." The older man spoke. "This… Emiko… is really here, am I right? Did I understand you correctly?"

"Yes."

...

"She has to die." Naizen says coldly.

"What?" The orange-haired teenager was shocked. "No! I won't allow that! "

"Then become king and take her out of here!" Naizen felt. "She is only an obstacle to you! For you and for our whole family! "

"... you really want to go on with this whole royal family?" Yutaru asks. "It doesn't work any more ..."

"Your so-called 'buddy' talked you into that, right? How could you even get a friend there where you were? And how did you come to do the Hunter Exam? "

"There are many advantages to being a Hunter! And the other one will remain my secret forever! "The orange-haired teenager says angrily.

"Tse, you are like a little child. I thought you had finally grown up. "

...

Yutaru was silent for a long time, idly objecting anything ... his gaze was directed downwards. He was disappointed in his father's stubbornness, but also worried about Emiko's well-being.

Naizen sighed in defeat. "Listen… how about a little deal. Without giving you high hopes. "

"?" Yutaru looked up in surprise. "A deal?"

...

...

~ at Emiko… ~

"This is my room!" Yahiko said happily when he led Emiko into a room.

"Wow ... that's really big." She says amazed. "You never lack anything, do you?" She asks politely.

"What is missing?" Yahiko thought for a moment. "Yes you are right. Rarely that I don't get what I want. "

"That ... is great." Emiko mumbles barely audibly.

"You're worried about my big brother, aren't you?"

"Yes ..." the blue-haired girl sat down on a chair in the room. "How is your father like?"

"Strict. Very strict. He's a very serious person. "Yahiko answered immediately. "But can you blame him? Since my mother's death, I have hardly seen him laugh. "

"I'm sorry." Emiko says sadly. "I know how painful it is to lose a loved one."

"..." the green-haired boy looked at her curiously. "Who knows how the conversation between him and my brother will end." He mumbles wearily.

"Hmm ..."

Before Emiko could say anything else, both people heard someone calling. It sounded like Yutaru!

"Yutaru!" Emiko woke up a little and got up quickly. She went out quickly to see him.

The orange-haired teenager had a very angry, but also worried expression on his face.

"Yutaru?" The blue-haired girl mumbles confused. "What happened?"

"Are you ... are you coming out with me? We have to talk ... "he sighs.

"Yeah, okay." She says calmly. "Tell me what happened."

...

Yahiko watched his older brother and Emiko from a distance. His expression was skeptical when he heard what Yutaru said.

He turned slightly into the shadows.

"Jinsei?" He asks a figure in the shadows. "Have you watched father and Yutaru?"

"Yes." A calm voice answers.

"What exactly did the two discuss? I have a strange feeling. "

"Well ... how should I put it so that you like it?"

"Just say it! I'll be fine with it. "Yahiko commands. "I definitely still have time to come up with a suitable plan. Nobody can stand in our way. "

"Well then ..." the voice had a pleased tone.

...

~ at Yutaru and Emiko… ~

Emiko followed Yutaru to a small place near the Himiki Castle, they sat down. Emiko leaned against a tree.

"And? What is important? "She asks curiously. "How did the conversation go?"

"I ... I couldn't persuade him." Yutaru says defeated. "He's just the way I left him then. Unfortunately, his character is unchanged. "

"... so you will ... the next king?" She asks hesitantly.

"Yes ... unfortunately." He says. "I made a deal with him."

"A ... deal?" She asks, confused.

"Yes ... listen Emiko ... I want us to stay together. But father wanted to kill you if I hadn't participated because you ... well ... "

"Because I'm normal, aren't I?" She says sadly. "Now tell me ...; what kind of deal is that? Does it still bring you advantages ? "

The orange-haired teenager looked at the floor. "So that you can continue to live, I have agreed to become king ... and to obey my father and his commands for my first few years." He says softly. "And when we are older ... and ... a' descendant 'is born ..., he can continue to rule when the time comes ..."

Emiko was shocked. "Then… are your hands tied? And ... you will not be able to implement any of your plans ? "

"Yes…"

"It's my fault ... because you don't want me to die ... forgive me." She says sadly, hanging her head.

"No! Emiko you shouldn't think like that! "He says quickly to calm the blue-haired girl down. "Something important occurred to me, even if it's risky. "

"Really ?" she looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"I ... I can't tell you yet. Not yet. "Yutaru says firmly. "Please, just trust me."

The blue-haired girl looked at him in surprise, but she saw his determined look in her eyes.

Emiko nods. "Yes I trust you."

...

Because Emiko knows ...

Yutaru will soon tell her about the plan when the time comes!

~ End of ... the flashback ... ~

~ Back in the present… ~

~ With Kurapika and Leorio… ~

When Naizen finished telling how cold he was with Yutaru, Leorio and Kurapika looked at him for a long time.

The old man frowns slightly. "No comments? No questions? "He asks sarcastically.

"What changed your opinion of Emiko or Yutaru's point of view?" The blonde Kurta asks.

"Actually, I could never accept this girl ..." he mumbles thoughtfully, "Hm ... I don't know. At some point I got used to Emiko anyway. It didn't take long before I noticed how similar we were. "

"Similar, how far?" The man in the suit asks.

"I noticed that she was on her own early on. She had lost her parents and a good friend at the time who had taught her Nen died of a serious illness. "Naizen talked calmly. "Also, she was pregnant at a very, really, very young age at the time. And when Kaori was born, she got weaker and weaker. "

"…" Leorio and Kurapika looked at each other.

Naizen went on to tell. "I suspect that her' immune system 'has been pretty weak for a long time, but getting Kaori at a young age ... that demanded a lot from her."

"Are you saying that that's why she was so sick?" Leorio asks, shocked.

"Yes ... and when I saw my granddaughter so sad for the first time after she had visited her mother, something had changed in me strangely." The old man sighed again. "As I said ... I will probably never be able to explain it to myself that precisely."

...

"I think ... I've learned enough." The blonde kurta says. "Thank you for telling us."

"It had to turn out like this ... let's move on. We wasted enough time. "

"OK!"

...

~ At Gon… ~

The spiky-haired boy had been on his way again for a few minutes. He still hobbled a lot, but there was no more time! He had been able to find out something that he now wants to prevent!

So it says now; Hurry Gon!

...

To be continued…

Neo-Digital: See you in the next chapter!