Chapter 3
Tiarut, Republic of Padokea
Alluka patiently waited a little distance from the reception desk of the hotel while Killua secured a room. Killua seemed to be having some difficulty doing so and, judging by the expression on the poor member of staff behind the counter, he wasn't very happy with the way things were going.
Alluka seemed to be talking quietly to herself again.
"That sounds a little scary." she said. "And lonely." There was a pause. "So you really think it would help?" Another pause.
"He has done so much for us already."
"I would do anything for our big brother, you know that."
"It might make him upset…"
At this point Killua was giving a death stare to the receptionist.
"Maybe things are okay as they are now?"
Killua inhaled. The receptionist flinched.
"Oh no…"
Killua let out a big sigh, and turned to his sister. "It seems like it's going to be a little while." he said. "Are you hungry?"
Alluka nodded, then whispered "Not yet."
"What was that?" Killua asked.
"P-Pizza! Can I have pizza?" Alluka asked.
"O-K" said Killua, taking her hand. "Come on then."
He led her down the hall and into to the hotel restaurant. Alluka fidgeted with her hair as they waited for a table. When they were seated, she made a show of looking at the menu.
"Can you even read that?" Killua asked.
Alluka started, then focused in on the funny characters on the page in front of her. They were incomprehensible.
"No." she said.
"Well, they have three types of pizza. Mozzarella, pepper-"
Alluka cut him off. "Please can I borrow your phone?" she asked.
Killua looked surprised. "Sure, I guess" he said as he dug into his pocket to hand it over. "What do you want it for?".
Alluka said nothing as she navigated the screen. She selected messages and then stared scrolling down. It was a while until she found what she was looking for. Gon's name. The last message in their history was from Gon, more than a few months ago. Alluka went back to the home screen and handed the phone back.
"Never mind." she said.
"Huh?" Killua looked bemused. "Is something wrong, Alluka?"
Alluka had an idea. "We should invite Zushi for dinner!" she suggested.
Killua smiled and said "It's a little late now, we're about to order! Good idea, but we don't want you to get too hungry. Let's enjoy dinner together, just you and I!"
Alluka solemnly nodded. It is because of me after all, she thought.
Soon they ordered and the pizza came. After eating their fill and then some, Killua decided it was a good time to get to bed. Luckily while they were eating his hunter's licence had been verified and he had been able to book the room.
Their suite was luxurious. A huge window dominated one side of the bedroom, offering a lovely view of the town, with the canal stretching into the distance. The two single beds were covered with enough pillows to get lost in, and the walls were panelled wood. A sliding partition zoned off the bathroom and living areas, each of which held their own wonders.
Killua whistled when he walked in. "Seems like hunters get the best. Isn't that right, Alluka?"
Alluka nodded with wide eyes. She ran up to the window and pressed her face against it.
"Alrighty, time for bed" Killua said. "We should brush our teeth."
"I'd like to play a game, first" said Alluka.
"Really? What sort of game?" asked Killua.
"H-Hide and go-seek" said Alluka with a slight tremble in her voice.
"Are you sure?" Killua asked with concern.
"Yes. And I'd like to play with Gon as well. Maybe Zushi too." Alluka turned to face her brother.
Killua started, "What are you talking abou-"
Alluka started to glow. She rose a little into the air.
"Alluka!" Killua shouted.
She went a little higher, and electricity crackled through Killua's body. In less than the time it takes to blink an eye he had closed Alluka in a tight embrace.
"What's going on?! Alluka!" he yelled.
"See you soon, Killua." Alluka replied, a tear running down her cheek.
There was a flash of light, and Killua stumbled and fell to his knees. Killua stared forward, through the sheet of glass in front of him and into the night beyond.
Alluka was gone.
The Next Morning
Killua rubbed his eyes as he stared at the computer screen. He hadn't slept, instead he'd trawled through gigabytes of data trying to figure out the one clue Alluka and Nanika seemed to have left him. Burnt into the floor where he'd last held her were a ring of nen markings. He'd already removed and safely secured the original. In other words, he had cut a panel out of the floor and stashed it in a rental unit. He'd taken numerous pictures, both in situ and under better lighting conditions. Now he was trying to find what they meant. There's got to be a nen expert out there, thought Killua, I've just got to find them.
