The Journey to the Valley of Keiko-sama
By: Kaze Shinju

Chapter 3: Stone of Garlox

Killua was in a complete trance. Feeling the coldness of his brother's aura. A dark aura seeking for revenge, seeking for blood. An aura hungry for death. Killua started to back away from his place trying to leave his brother alone.

"Killua! Killua! Snap out of it!" Gon said, poking Killua's shoulder. Killua shakes his head trying to overcome the trance. Gon just kept on poking him like a weird toy/thing and wonders if that toy/thing moves or not. Gon kept on poking him.

"Hey… stop." Killua pleaded. But then Gon kept on poking Kilua. "STOP!" Killua shouted at him. (SD version )

"Gomen ne…" But then Gon kept on poking him.

"Gon… what did you find interesting about my shoulder?" Killua asked, glaring at Gon.

"I wonder… I'm just wondering why you aren't fat like your brother because you keep on eating or should I say you like to eat sweets and eat…" Gon sweat dropped.

"GON!" Killua gave an uppercut at Gon that sent him flying towards the sky…

"Oro!"

"I think it's a not a good idea to be here." Killua said at Gon.

"Why?" Gon asked.

"Because Illumi, my brother, he's here…" Killua replied.

"What? Why?"

"I don't know… I think its better to go back to the tavern." Killua said. When they turned back, they saw Illumi standing before them. "Brother!"

"Killua… It's been a while."

"Why are you here?"

"Same reason as yours, little brother." Killua started to back away from Illumi as well as Gon. Killua grabbed Gon's hand then started to run away as fast as they can. They headed east, looking for a place to hide. They bumped on people and shouting at them but then said sorry. After a minute of running there was a last place to go, a dead end. "Uh-oh… What a bad luck." Killua sighed. "I have to deal my brother then…" he gave a pouch to Gon. "Gon… please." Gon nodded at him he jumped up over the wall then disappeared. Killua was waiting for his brother wondering where he is.

Some one started to enter the alley, walking towards him. Killua can't see his face because it was dark. Then the man stopped before him. It was not a dark aura or anything it was something familiar. "Sir Killua…" somewhat Killua recognize his voice. It was Jim! "Jim, is that you?" Killua asked.

"Give me the stone!" Jim shouted.

"Stone? What stone?"

"Don't joke with me Killua! Where's that damn stone!"

"uhhh… ermm… the…" before Killua can continue someone disturbed them it was a high-pitch voice coming from the roof of the house at Killua's left side. He guessed it was a girl. "Jim!" the lady shouted.

"Gomen Nasai!" the lady jumped of the building then landed beside Jim. Killua didn't saw the woman's features but then he can see the lining of her face. Then sun was setting and only shadows, he can see. It was only a few minutes before the sun completely sets. They jumped up towards the same building where the woman was then shoves off. Killua started to wonder who was that girl, it seems it was Yanabel but Yanabel's aura is completely different from that woman's aura. He stood there quietly and wondering where Gon and Illumi are…

"AHHH!" a boy shouted. GON! That's Gon! Killua jumped from his place then passed by the dead end looking for Gon. Searching for Gon's aura he ran towards north then turned left! He jumped down from the building and landed in a weird looking place. It was circular place that has writings on the ground. Surrounded by large monuments of the powerful synthesizers. Then the place started to glow… the place was getting hot. Then he heard someone shouting above. He looked up then saw Gon. He was floating 100 feets from the stone with the stone, hanging on it! "Gon!" Killua shouted.

"Wahh! Help!"

"Let go of the stone!"

"Baka! That's the first stupid idea I heard from you Killua!"

"Just Let Go! I'll catch you!" Gon removed his grip from the stone and started to fall towards the ground. Killua caught Gon on his arms and helped him stand on the ground. "What the heck happened?" Killua asked Gon. But then Gon didn't reply he was looking up. Staring at the stone.

"Look!" Gon said pointing at the stone. The stone looks like a small sphere, small as a baseball. It was a scarlet stone. But then it started to change its color to gold. Light started to beam out from the stone. Both of them looked puzzled and confused and started to wonder what's happening with the stone. Then there was a cringing sound coming from the stone, it was cracking. Then it started to fall towards the center of the circular pattern. Then crack! They both started to walk towards it. They looked closely and saw something weird. It was a smaller piece of stone… it wasn't a stone but a forged metal that's shaped like a diamond. There were writings on it, writings that they can't understand. Killua picked the piece and started to observe it…

"Well… well…" the person started to clap. Killua and Gon turned towards the man. It was Illumi. "You've found the key? To the shrine of Garlox!"

"A key?"

"You're holding the Key of Garlox… or the Key of the Maiden."

"Key of the Maiden?" Gon said puzzled.

"There's a vault in Garlox where you put that key then that vault will open and unlock the spirit of Gardon… and opps! I said too much!"

"Brother! What do you want?" Killua asked him sharply.

"What do you think?"

"The stone!"

"Yes, and of course you! Father had been looking for you, don't you know that?" Illumi looked at him coldly. "But I know that you don't want to go back to Mt. Kururu. So I will kill you then, what do you think?" Killua backed away from Illumi.

"Gon, run!"

"What? No!"

"I promised not to leave you right?"

"Just run Gon. We'll just have a nice talk" Killua gave him the stone. Then Gon kept it and put it away he started to back away and then run. Killua was eyeing him until he was gone from the scene. He turned back to his brother who was watching him.

"Killua… Comeback…" Killua looked at him. Looking at his eyes. It was cold and dark. His brothers eyes, he wondered why its like that. Illumi was too staring back. Dark Aura started to emit from him. Killua can see it, he can feel it. While staring at him he noticed something, it was flying towards him. He dodges from it and caught it with his fingers. It was Illumi's pins. It was so small he almost can't feel it was coming. Maybe Illumi is using nen, He thought. "Good catch." Illumi said. "But next time, get ready" he said grinning. Small pins started to appear from the midst around from Illumi. Killua's eyes widen. The pins started to attack him from every side… he started to dodge every pins.

He was dodging to left and right, jumping up and ducking down. Time was so slow. He thought. Killua was getting tired and too exhausted. He stopped. And used his nen as a shield. Then it stopped the pins that are attacking him… he sighed. "Very Good, Killua" his brother said. Killua looked down and took a breath. Then he looked up. Something was coming. He jumped up but then it hit him on his right leg. Then he landed on the ground… looking at his leg. It was Illumi's pin… "Damn." Killlua swore. He looked at Illumi.

"One down… four more to go!" Illumi said. Four? What does he mean by that. Killua wondered. Killua's Vision started to darken. His eyes were getting tired. He was getting dizzy. The poison started to affect him… Then he fainted.

What was that? Gon wondered. Out of the midst Gon started to feel something weak. Inch by inch the power is going down, but that aura seems to be familiar. Killua? Gon was getting worried… so he started to go back where he left Killua and Illumi. When he reached the place. He saw Killua lying on the ground, with a pin on his right leg. It was so terrible to look at. Killua was getting paler. Then he saw Illumi there. It seems that he was waiting for him. "What did you do to him?" Gon's eyes flared. His Aura started to change.

"Oh… Hi nice to see you back" Illumi smiled evilly.

"What did you do to him?"

"Hmm… Good Question. Maybe I killed him… " he laughed evilly.

"What? No… You… You… "

"Hmm… I want to trade" Illumi smiled evilly. "Give me the stone… then I will give you this ointment to cure Killua…" He pulled a pouch from his pocket.

"What?"

"If you don't want to… oh well… you'll just leave your friend die here." He smiled. "The poison is already running in his blood stream… and look… your friend is getting paler and paler… Isn't that sad?" Gon started to pull something from his pocket. It was the stone… he threw the stone at Illumi, while Illumi gave him the pouch. Gon looked inside and saw the medicine. Then he looked up and Illumi was gone. He walked towards Killua and gave him the medicine…

Patience is a Virtue (TBC)

A/N: I'm so sorry... I haven't updated my stories... I'm so sorry... dnt mind me grammar and spelling... so sorry.. gomen nasai. Just e-mail me if you have some questions...

kaze