A/N: What's that? I'm back so soon!? Oh well lucky you! I've been quite inspired to write lately simply because I'm bored at work. I'm trying to upload a picture of what I think Renée looks like but the Image Manager is not cooperating with me so I guess I'll have to leave her to your imaginations! Anyway, havanatitiana your wish is my command! And since that is so, here is their meeting! Vere, you are so kind with your compliments and I agree that she has become a sort of strong character with so much badass-ery! I'll try to make her stronger but with soft spots I guess. And have I mentioned that we are at 39 favorites and 45 followers!? It makes me so happy! Anyway, this is me rambling and you don't wanna hear that! Adieu!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hunter x Hunter.

CHAPTER 22

The Troupe was waiting restlessly inside their hideout, only Machi, Pakunoda, Feitan, and Phinks were actually outside.

When Uvogin didn't return last night from his fight with the chain-user, they already listed him off as deceased.

Renée didn't particularly care for the brute but she was curious about who the chain-user was. 'Maybe that person can help me.'

This was why she behaved herself today and wore a solemn expression on her face just like the others. She wanted out from these lying and manipulative bastards and the chain-user could be an ally.

Machi and Phinks were using themselves as bait to provoke their enemy to come out but Renée thought it was highly unlikely that the person would fall for that. On the off-chance that it did though, the red-head is already coming up with a plan to escape with her newfound ally.

If everything works out in the end, she can go back to Gon and the others mess-free.

The thought of her brother made her feel nostalgic and guilty. She missed him so.

'I wonder what you're doing now, Gon.'

Just as the thought was out there, they felt the auras of the 4 members enter the premises along with 2 unfamiliar ones.

Her grey eyes looked at the entrance and they landed to a pair of familiar brown eyes. Her whole body went rigid and her blood felt like it froze over.

Renée couldn't break eye contact with him. Gon held her gaze just as fiercely.

He tried to give her a half-assed smile and the red-head knew that him being here was intentional. Her eyes shifted towards the left and saw another familiar and pale face.

Killua looked agitated but when he saw her, he became somewhat relaxed.

She didn't hear what the others were saying. She couldn't focus at any of their words. The important thing was that they were here.

Gon was challenged to arm wrestling and that put Renée out of her daze.

She watched as Nobunaga repeatedly defeated the boy by slamming the back of his hand on the table. The red-head's blood began to boil, finally gushing from its frozen state. Her hearing was still quite fuzzy, but she saw how Gon looked angry and how his mouth opened up like he was yelling.

The islander smashed Nobunaga's hand on the table, destroying the wood in the process.

Phinks got up to attack and Hisoka made a move to restrain Killua's actions.

Renée felt herself draw her sword and she pointed the blade at Phinks's throat.

"Nobody move!" she commanded.

Phinks looked at her and smirked, "Finally showing your true colours, huh?"

"I never hid them. I was just quiet."

Feitan was holding down Gon and was about to hit a pressure point but Renée saw it from the corner of her eyes. "Don't you dare Feitan. I will blast you, I swear. Move another muscle and your face'll come off."

Pakunoda walked calmly towards the girl and the red-head's body tensed up.

"Don't be stupid Rogue 0, you're outnumbered here. Besides, no one is getting hurt yet. I know your relationship with these boys and I would like to settle this normally. Now, lower your weapon, including your Nen."

The said girl glared at all of them. "How can I trust that you won't actually hurt them!? All I've seen you do is kill!"

"Alright, don't lower your weapons. Shalnark, do the coin toss." Pakunoda said as the said Spider came up between Renée and Phinks.

Killua watched this exchange tensely, not daring to move a muscle as Hisoka was still on his throat.

The coin was tossed and he felt his breath hitch as it landed in the hand of the man called Shalnark. "Tails. In favor of Godfrei."

Gon and Killua released a breath they didn't know they were holding when they heard that.

"What do we do with them?" the one restraining Gon asked.

"Well we let them go, right? According to Paku, they don't know the chain-user." Shalnark responded.

"All of them? What about Godfrei?" Shizuku piped up.

"Of course she stays. Her contract isn't over yet, right?" Hisoka leered at her.

"Frankly, I don't give a shit. Just let these two go. You guys owe me enough as it is." Renée responded coolly.

"Woah, woah, woah. WE owe you? The boss owes you. We don't have any obligation to you. Besides, I don't wanna let these two go just yet. I want them to join us. This boy Gon in particular." Nobunaga declared, looking pointedly at Gon.

"In your dreams!" the said boy retaliated, resulting in his face getting smushed.

The red-head charged her Nen and glared at Feitan, "I said not a muscle!"

"Bring it, stupid girl." he challenged.

"Alright everybody calm down!" Shalnark came between them. "Look we have our jobs to do. The boss is planning something big tonight. Godfrei, we conceded your request and let them live. Now we will consider Nobunaga's request, given that he will watch them. If the boss approves then they are under you, if not then we let them go. It's a win-win."

Renée's gears turned in her head and she looked at everyone.

The atmosphere was tense until, finally, she sheathed her sword and lowered her Nen-infused hand.

"Okay good." Shalnark grinned, nodding upwards once.

Phinks hit her on the back of the head, knocking her out, "Damn bitch."

"REN!" the two boys yelled, trying to force their way to her.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine." Nobunaga said, leading the two away.

Pakunoda carried the girl and placed her in one of the rooms, away from the holding cell of the boys.

"Killua! Side-step!" Gon suddenly burst out.

At first, the assassin barely paid attention to what he was saying, but realisation dawned on him and he cried out in surprise.

Nobunaga cocked his head towards them, his guard rising.

The two boys stood up and prepped themselves for a run.

The Spider placed his hand at his sword, ready to take them on. "Don't be stupid, both of you. You'll only waste Godfrei's efforts to keep you alive."

They just smirked in response, not backing down.

"1..2..3!" the dark-haired boy yelled and they were off.

They leapt forward then, at the last minute, they side-stepped to each side, Killua going to the left while Gon to the right. They kept going, punching through the walls.

Killua punched the last wall but didn't go through. He waited and sensed if Nobunaga was following him.

'Clear.'

Just as he was about to exit, he glanced at the other room and saw Renée's unconscious form.

Adrenaline kicking back, he picked her up and rushed out of the room, blindly heading for the exit.

"Killua! Let's take him on!" he heard Gon say from the other side.

"Idiot! We'll surely die!"

"We can flank him!"

"Pft! As if!" he yelled back, hoping that Gon won't do anything stupid.

The ex-assassin made it outside and hid in the bushes, followed by his friend not long after.

"You found Ren." the islander said in disbelief once he got close enough.

"Yeah. Glad you didn't push through with your idea. Now let's go before he and his buddies catch us." Killua said, holding the girl firmly in his arms.

The two ran as fast as they could back to the hotel they were staying in. They made sure no one followed them and, with an exhale of relief, entered their room.

They were both surprised to see Leorio and their new friend/colleague Zepile drinking and smoking inside the flat.

Killua's eye twitched in anger.

"You guys... We were captured and running for our lives while you guys are celebrating!? Have some decency!" he scolded them, kicking the rubbish in their faces.

The two men jolted and Leorio was supposed to make up an excuse when he spotted the red-head in the boy's arms. "Y-you got her."

Zepile looked at them in confusion, then at the girl in the silver-head's arms.

"Yeah we did, so clean up and pipe down." Killua said, disappearing into one of the rooms to set down Renée.

"What happened?" the now-sober-doctor-to-be asked, concern laced in his voice.

"We followed the two Spiders remember? Well we weren't as stealthy as we thought and got caught instead. We were taken to their hideout to be interrogated about the chain-user. We saw Ren with them when we got there. At first she looked surprised and couldn't react at all. Then when things got bad, she jumped in for us. If it weren't for her, they would have murdered us. We were held captive by a guy called Nobunaga, saying he wanted us to join the Troupe-"

"Bullshit!"

"-we refused, of course, but he insisted in waiting for their boss. Ren got knocked out by then and Killua found her while we were escaping. Oh by the way Zepile, thanks! One of your lessons helped us get out of there!" Gon explained to them.

"One of my lessons?" the man asked.

"Nevermind that, you boys should rest. You've been through a lot. Zepile and I will take this outside instead." Leorio interrupted them before the islander could explain any further.

Gon nodded, eager for sleep.

"Before that though, we should call Kurapika and arrange a meeting with him as soon as possible. Let's help him take down the Troupe." Killua said suddenly, emerging from Renée's bedroom.

"What, done kissing her goodnight? How was the princess?" Leorio teased him.

The ex-assassin blushed, "O-of course not, you geezer! Just call Kurapika!"

Gon chuckled at the two and took out his phone. For once, the Kurta picked up. They were able to arrange plans for tomorrow.

A picnic.

With a smile on his face, Gon ended the call and nodded determinedly at the others. "We'll meet him tomorrow for lunch at the park!"

"Great! Now go to sleep, both of you." Leorio repeated firmly.

The two boys didn't argue and retreated back to their beds. Just as they plopped down, they were already snoring.

The dark-haired man gave them a small smile, "Let's go, Zepile."

The antique collector didn't bother asking any more questions and followed him out.

As soon as the sun shined through the curtain, Renée sat up with a start.

Due to the sudden motion, she felt her head spin and she collapsed back on her pillow. Once her head cleared, she looked around, noticing that this was not part of the Phantom Troupe's hideout.

Gingerly, she got up and tiptoed her way towards the door.

The red-head peeked at the slightly ajar door and saw Gon and Killua talking by the table. Deeming it safe, Renée opened the door, catching the boys' attentions.

"REN!" they both cried out.

Gon was the first to hug her and she gladly returned the motion.

"Oh Gon. You guys got out! I'm so glad you're safe." she cooed.

Suddenly, she slapped him sharply across the face, causing the boys to pause momentarily.

"What was that for!?" her brother asked incredulously.

"Why did you both have to go and get yourselves caught up with the Spiders, huh!? Did neither of you know how dangerous it was!? And you!" she glared at Killua. "You're the reasonable one between the two of you, why did you allow this to happen!? You both could have died!"

"Did you think about that before you joined them?" Gon asked her, cutting her short.

Renée faltered and opened her mouth to say something, then closed it, looking like a fish out of water.

"Why were you there Ren?" Killua asked as well.

"I had no choice! Old man Netero gave me a clue that my sister, Mehika, was working with the Phantom Troupe! Tasha also told me that, when he kidnapped me and my sister, she escaped before she got on the slave ship! She managed to escape and he didn't know where she is! Having only one lead, I just HAD to take it. Even if it meant working with the Spiders. I needed to find her. But I guess Chrollo lied and he doesn't actually know where she is and I was too late. I didn't know what to do." she blubbered, her eyes tearing up.

"I couldn't tell anyone. I know how angry you guys would be, especially Kurapika. I thought I could get out of it before you guys found out, but I was wrong, I see that now! Now I have this-" the red-head slid one of her sleeves off to reveal the full Phantom Troupe tattoo on her shoulder, the number 0 on the arachnid's body. "-and it's a burden I'll carry forever." Renée sobbed, hiding her face in her hands.

She whimpered 'I'm sorry' over and over again until Gon came and hugged her, rubbing her back soothingly. He murmured comfort in her ear, saying it was alright and that they understand.

Killua fetched her a glass of water and gently coaxed her to drink up. "Listen, we'll meet Kurapika later for lunch."

"We will!?" the red-head squeaked.

The former assassin smirked, "Yes we will. Don't worry, Gon and I won't say anything about you joining the Spiders. It will be your decision to make, okay?"

At this, the girl nodded, wiping away her tears.

"Great. Now, let's do something about that hair."

Renée quirked an eyebrow, taking some locks of red and stared at them. "Why? What's wrong with it?"

Gon guffawed. "No offence sis, but it looks awful! It's as if it was cut with a chainsaw while you wriggled about, and you didn't shower ever since that haircut."

Suddenly feeling conscious about herself, she covered her head with her arms as the two boys laughed at her.

"Come on Ren! I'll take you to the hair salon!" her brother offered.

"A hair salon?" she scoffed.

"Or would you rather Gon cut your hair?" Killua challenged her.

The red-head shook her head at the thought, removing the possibly disastrous things that could happen from her mind. "Uhh... Salon sounds good."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Gon pouted as Renée took a jacket from his belongings.

The silver-head chuckled as he followed them out, locking the door behind him. Unnoticed by the two, he went the opposite direction of where they were going. With the little personal money he had left, Killua sifted through a clothes shop.

Gon marvelled as the hair stylist curled some of Renée's hair to frame her face.

The stylist was appalled at the sight of the girl when she came through the door and made it her mission to doll her up.

Since the dark-haired boy and the red-head couldn't provide what look they wanted, she decided to give her a bob cut. Some hair was too uneven at the front so she made it so that Renée could have a fringe.

Once she was through, Gon gave her a round of applause.

"You look infinitely better, Ren! Doesn't she, Killua?"

The red-head only just noticed him when her brother mentioned it.

He looked at her, slightly dazed, and that warm feeling grew in his chest. "You look..."

The former assassin saw his best friend grin mischievously at him, even the hair stylist was peeking through her peripheral vision, and he snapped out of it.

"You look passable as a human." he deadpanned.

Renée clicked her tongue in irritation. "You can't even say it in a decent manner."

Killua rolled his eyes and threw her the paper bag he was holding, which she caught with ease. "Hurry up and change into that, we're late."

The red-head reached in and pulled out a navy blue turtleneck. "You do realise it's 32 degrees outside, right? That isn't exactly cold."

"Yeah well it hides that stupid tattoo of yours. You do realise Kurapika would flip if he sees that, right?" he countered.

The girl glared at him for that but went behind the counter to change. She finished quick and paid the stylist for her services, then gave Gon back his jacket as they left for the park.

Renée's brows furrowed when she started to think about a certain blonde.

'What do I do when I see him?'

END OF 22.

A/N: Sorry to cut it so short! It might get too long and I wouldn't know when to stop it. I'm already starting with the next chapter so it may be updated soon. I don't know. Anyway, please review! It's very much appreciated!