Thanks to everyone who read, favorited, followed, and reviewed this fic. They encourage me. Thanks a lot! :)

"What's a friend?"

Ging raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the five-year-old sitting next to him, holding a fishing pole. The kid's eyes were concentrated on the water but Ging knew his attention was on him. They were fishing for dinner and it was already late afternoon, the sky casting an orange glow upon the lake as a million sparkles floated on the serene water. Killua rarely asked him questions, being the last person he would likely get an answer from, so Ging was aware that this was a question Killua knew he could not ask his family. "Why do you ask?"

"Aniki said I can't have one," Killua said in a glib tone.

"Oh?" Ging's voice peaked in interest, "What else did he say?"

"He said having friends would make me weak. And that I'd be better off without it," that was what Illumi had told him while burying red hot needles into his toenails in one of his torture training sessions. It had been random, like his brother imparting one of his assassin lessons.

"Ah, typical Zoldyck logic," Ging roated his shoulders as he stretched out his legs which were starting to fall asleep on him, "In any case, better listen to what dear big brother says, brat," It would probably mean less trouble.

Killua narrowed his eyes at the butler, poking at the older man's side, "You didn't answer my question, dirty old man," which earned him an instant knuckle sandwich from the old man. Killua yelped in pain as he tried to claw his way out of the man's clutches.

"I really can't stand cheeky brats like you," Ging scoffed, "You're better off not knowing what friends are, in my opinion,"

"What?!" Alas, Killua was not a kid that could be easily deterred, "Why?!"

Ging gave a non-committal grunt before releasing him and dumping him back on his bottom, picking up his abandoned fishing pole again and continuing his commitment to dinner, "Because no one would want to be friends with a smelly pint-sized brat like you, anyway," he revealed in a nonchalant voice, shrugging his shoulders.

For some unknown reason, that brought down Killua's mood a bit. Why would anyone not want him? Is it because he's an assassin? He's different from a common murderer. He won't kill for nothing or for pleasure. If that made him better or worse, he doesn't really know. Would anyone, anyone at all in the whole wide world, want Killua Zoldyck to be their friend? Did his brother say he didn't need friends because no one would choose him anyway?

As much as Ging was an expert at ignoring people, especially the brat beside him, he can't help but sneak glances every now and then at the obviously upset child, no matter how much Killua tries to hide it. He doesn't have a poker face like his eldest brother. Killua has lots of emotions, and it was easy to tell what he's feeling no matter what kind of hard exterior he thinks he's hiding them in. Ging let out a deep breath, "That's why…I think it would take someone very special to be your friend,"

Killua instantly perked up at him, eyes gleaming with hope. Ging looked at him disbelievingly. Did this kid really believe him? Ging felt like he had approached something in a really, really bad way. Why does this kid take his words like some goddamn gospel?! Just how did that-who was he kidding, he's the most awesome person to walk the planet. Ging sighed. He better tread carefully around Killua from now on. God knows how unbearable the kid would be if he takes his values from someone like Ging.

"What should I do when I find that person?" Killua asked, shaking Ging's crossed leg as he waited in anticipation.

Ging scratched his stubbled chin as he contemplated the question. Deciding to go with what he himself had done, Ging nodded his head and grinned at the little brat, "Once you find that special someone, you should never let that person go,"

Canary sat beneath a tree near her guard post, eyes closed as she breathed in the fresh scent of the breeze as it whipped passed her. It was only mid-morning, and like any other day since Gon started his service, everything was peaceful. She rarely ever gets to confront intruders anymore, but she doesn't mind. What's important is that nobody unseemly gets past her and that's the only thing that matter, even if she can't remember the last time she got to swing her baton in real combat. Canary is in constant training along with the other butlers. She spars with Amane every morning before breakfast.

Around the tree she used as a lounge so that she didn't have to stand all day, Gon had graciously planted for her a flower garden. It had been a sweet gesture from the apprentice butler as commemoration of their friendship, as well as to give her something to look at or tend to as she guards her post all day. She smiled as the scent of the colorful flowers wafted to her nose. Her thoughts began to wander as she continued to linger in her own little piece of heaven.

There were little things in life that Canary had ever cared about. Being born and raised in Meteor City, she only cared about defending herself and surviving on what little scraps she managed to obtain. But that all changed when, one fine day she was fighting for her life on the streets, a ragged-looking man with the most radiant smile she had ever seen, approached her. She was standing amidst the unconscious beat-up bodies, a piece of stale bread held securely in her unbroken hand. She had glared at him and he just continued to smile at her, without a hint of fear or guard against her.

You see, I'm looking for people I could trust. I have a very important job and I think you'd be a great help. How about it? Would you like to work with me?

She was ten years old at that time. She had lived with suspicious people all her life. Trust was something she never gave to anybody and here was a man, looking as unscrupulous as they come, asking her to work with him? She heard enough of children her age getting lured and raped or killed by people who offer them a little ray of hope. He obviously doesn't have his story well thought-out when he says he's looking for people he trusts in what's probably the most unsavory place ever to exist. Really, what kind of idiot looks for trustworthy people in a city crawling with criminals, pariahs and broken things?

But there was something about the man she couldn't exactly pinpoint that made her look beyond all her doubts and take a blind leap of faith. Such a decision screamed wrong at her for every account so she had kept vigilant at all times for when he starts anything more suspicious than treat her like a normal kid all day. It took them a few days before she found herself gazing upon the majestic iron gates of the Zoldyck estate for the first time.

Go on, open it. From now on, it's gonna be your new home so you've gotta defend it with everything you've got, alright…Canary?

Her mind had been too busy processing the implications of his words for her to voice out a proper reply. It had been one thing when he was blabbering to her about the job he wanted her to do and being faced with the magnificence of the real thing. Her mind was in a daze and everything seemed to happen so fast.

She had opened only up to the second door with much effort and then she was being introduced to a bunch of well-dressed people. They clothed and fed her, and treated her with enough consideration she had only been experiencing since she left Meteor City. The first few days passed by in a blur and a whirlwind of new emotions. By the end of it, she was a human with a purpose. Canary learned to face the world with a smile.

She never bothered to tell them that Canary was not her real name.

She met Killua Zoldyck shortly after she was hired. She thought he was a cute little boy, despite two years being her junior. The little boy intrigued her, with his uncaring voice and dull stares. He looked bored, but he also seemed sure of what he was doing. Despite the fact that she should not know him because she wouldn't be working in the main manor, Ging had been pretty generous with all the information he gave her before she even started her training as an apprentice butler. Like Gon, she had been fast-tracked in the servant ladder, because while she doesn't have massive strength, she was more adept in combat than any of her peers.

She knew she had been correct in declining his offer of friendship because his mother was watching, but it was one she regretted all the time. She could never forget the disappointed look in the little boy's eyes when she said so, and she felt like she had hurt something inside him. She rarely saw him since then, and she grew more worried about him, no matter how much she tried to stop any emotional attachment with the young boy, as the years passed by and the rift in his heart grew more and more each day.

Then one day, things came to a head and she was one of the servants who gave him chase when he tried to run away from home. Things happened so fast again and she watched as her young master cried in grief as he embraced the corpse of the man he once respected above all others.

She never thought he'd recover from that, and when she saw him again, he was colder than ever, and he no longer cared about who he hurt anymore. She had resolved to forgive him for killing her, but then he was knocked to the ground by Gon.

As she watched Killua's expression soften as he gaze upon the apprentice butler, Canary knew there was nothing more to worry about. Gon would help Killua regain his smile. She knew it just like Gon had helped all of them at the butler's mansion get over the death of a dear man.

And she was not wrong in her judgment. In the past month alone, she had seen a tremendous change in her young master. He was laughing and arguing with Gon even in the presence of the veteran butlers. Sometimes they'd both show up worn out at the butler's mansion after a day's worth of training and playing around. They'd fight over their food and stay up all night playing video games in Gon's room. They were like little children and the servants delighted in observing their amusing antics.

They were good friends, despite the fact that Gon was a servant. There was nothing the adults could do about it anymore, and there is nothing they really want to do about it. Even Gotoh-san and Tsubone-baa just shrugged it off and let the two have their way. They were talking about the two most stubborn teenagers in the world here, there's no stopping them from doing what they want and what they think is right. Killua is not falling short of his duties to his family anyway, he goes on missions, albeit one at a time so he wouldn't take too much time outside, and Gon was diligent in his work as always, the forest was well-tended as ever and intruders never made it past three steps the side gate.

She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Killua making his way to her post, skateboard held in one arm. She ran up to him and bowed, "Welcome home, Killua-sama,"

"No need to bow and just Killua is fine,"

He was already eight when he had met Canary. He had just come home from a mission and he was in no hurry to come back home so he took his time walking through the forest. She was the first person in the estate that he determined was just around his age. It's been years since Ging told him what friends are, but no one had really come close to him. Canary had approached him out of her own accord. Maybe she could be his friend? So he asked, and she had refused. A fang of disappointment crept at his heart.

Maybe it's because she was not a very special person? How lame.

Killua remembered going to Ging after that and asking him if Canary was not a special person so she can't be his friend. Ging gave him a funny look before smacking him blind. You don't understand at all, that's why you're still a brat.

And Killua understands that well now. He was best friends with the biggest idiot in the whole world. Gon is special to him in a way that when Gon is happy, so is he. He no longer wondered how fast Gon had melted down his defenses. Everything is just the way it should be, and Killua won't have it any other way.

It's not about special people but about making people special...to you.

"You're back early, it's like you purposely hurried home," Canary said, a meaningful smile on her lips. She knew Killua was only doing assassination jobs so his family wouldn't bother Gon.

A corner of Killua's mouth curved upwards as Canary's flower garden caught his eye "This place isn't so bad,"

"I don't think that's it, Killua-sama," Canary shook her head gently, smiling knowingly at her precious young master, "I think you just like the place where Gon-kun is,"

She enjoyed the way Killua tried to go for a scowl when his cheeks flushed as he turned his face away from her. She can't wait to tell Amane about this.

She saw Mike coming towards them from the direction of the forest. Mike was easily trained, and Gon had managed to teach him the Shadow Step. Mike no longer made the earth shake with his every footfall, and could barely be heard approaching if he's in a clearing. She heard Gon's next project was teaching him Rhythm Echo. She doesn't know if Gon is just messing around or just secretly completely evil.

"Hey, Mike," Killua smirked at the beast. Mike loomed his big head above Killua, "Where's Gon?" Gon was usually perched upon the animal's head and waiting for him at the gates whenever he comes home. Today, he hadn't seen the apprentice butler at all and had thought he was hanging out with Canary at her post. He was usually done with his job of surveying the forest by mid-morning, and just lingers around looking out for intruders the whole day, which is perfect since all Gon and Killua does is practically run around the whole forest.

As if in response, Mike opened his jaws and out tumbled Gon, covered in slobber. Killua effortlessly sidestepped the slippery apprentice butler as he fell to the ground in a heap. Mike heaved again and spat out Gon's fishing pole. Gon winced, rubbing his head as he sat up, "You could at least catch me when I'm falling," the raven teen remarked, raising his slimy hands as if that would help his case. Killua wrinkled his nose in disgust. Not only was it slimy, it also smelled horribly.

"I will catch you," was the answer that came from Killua's mouth before he could really think about it, but he just shrugged it off mentally. It's not like it has any implications, despite that little squeak he heard from Canary, "But when you're falling from inside Mike's mouth, you're certainly on your own," he crossed his arms, raising a cruel eyebrow at the miffed apprentice butler who was puffing his cheeks like a child.

"You should hurry and take a bath, Gon-kun, before the smell sticks," Canary reminded the raven teen. Gotoh-san never liked dirty things and smelly things even more so. Gon was almost always either one of the two things, occasionally both and that's why most of his interactions with Gotoh-san began with the veteran butler pointing the teen towards the bath.

"Yeah, you stink like crap," Killua added, making a show of pinching his nose and fanning his other hand in front of his face.

Gon blinked at him before a mischievous grin crept up his slimy face. He scrambled to his feet, his hands inching dangerously towards Killua, "So I stink, huh?" Killua smiled sheepishly as he slowly backed away from his best friend, who was skulking towards him with creepy grin. Gon suddenly pounced and Killua instantly took off running into the forest, tossing his skateboard at Canary as he passed her by.

Canary hugged the skateboard as she watched Gon chase after their young master with a maniacal laugh. She let out a dainty laugh, "They're so cute together," she muttered to herself. A rather large shadow whipped past her, wiping the smile off her face. She blinked as Mike disappeared in the direction the two had gone in, apparently thinking they were playing with him again.

She let out a small smile as she placed the skateboard against the tree. She used a huge leaf to pick up Gon's fishing rod and placed it near the skateboard. Canary sat back down on her previous spot, closing her eyes again as the distant yells reached her ears. It seems like Mike had caught up with them. Gon probably wouldn't have that bath until the afternoon, and judging from their previous records, Killua would be tossed into the bath along with the apprentice butler once Gotoh-san sees them.

"Woah, Mike! Easy there!"

Gon slipped on his feet again, sliding along the grass, narrowly missing being trampled by Mike's gigantic paw. He took off running again, trailing after the sound of Killua's laughter. Mike's saliva all over his body had been slowing Gon on the uptake, causing him to slip every now and then. Mike tried to pounce on him excitedly, wagging his furry tail as he went along. Gon laughed, taunting the animal to continue on his wild chase.

Soon, Gon saw Killua's back, and was surprised that the other teen had stopped, seemingly staring at something before him. "Killua!"

In his mirth, Killua had run into the edge of the top of the cliff wall, and found himself looking down a 150 meter drop to the lake below. It wasn't like he was scared of falling. This height was nothing to him, and it would always be easier to fall in water than concrete.

He had fallen off this cliff a few times before, courtesy of a certain head butler who had a habit of pushing him off high places. The highest had been at the Heaven's Arena during their short Nen training stint at the tournament. That had been the only time he ever felt a tinge scared of falling. Seriously, the man just suddenly bursted into his room, said, "Let's go eat out, brat! Wait for me at the ground floor," before the twelve-year-old found himself free-falling from the window of his assigned room…at the 230th floor. That was when he started secretly developing his Hatsu using electricity.

Ging… He hadn't told Gon about Ging.

Gon rarely mentions Ging in their conversations, and in those times, it was always added like an afterthought, like something that can be easily omitted and they can pretend like he was never mentioned at all. Killua doesn't know if he'd take it as a sign that Gon knew Killua had bad feelings concerning Ging's death or Gon didn't really know anything at all. Killua had been meaning to ask him that since he started being friends with the apprentice butler. Gon, do you know I killed Ging? Do you know that he'll never forgive me? Gon, do you still want to be friends with me?

The assassin clenched his fist so hard his knuckles trembled. He, of all people, can't muster the courage to ask his best friend a question. A freaking yes or no question. How hard can that be? Killua smiled bitterly. Because a yes or no from Gon could mean heaven or hell for Killua.

He wondered what Gon will choose.

"Killua!"

Killua's eyes widened as he snapped his gaze towards his oncoming best friend. "Gon," he uttered. Gon was beaming positively at him and Killua forgot to breathe. Before he could remember that he was supposed to be running away from Gon, who was adamant on wiping his saliva addled hands at Killua's shirt, Gon had gotten close enough to grab him at the elbow. Because of Gon's momentum and the fact that Gon's hand was slippery, his grip slid down Killua's elbow and threatened to slide completely off. It was then that Killua made an involuntary grab at his friend's hand, seeing as said friend just ran off a cliff, intertwining their fingers as he too was pulled off the edge.

Gon let out a whoop as they free-falled, spreading his arms like wings, Killua following suit. "Woohooooo! This is so funnn!"

Killua glanced at their intertwined fingers to Gon's smiling face.

…you should never let that person go.

Gon is the most special person to Killua. He can't bear to lose Gon.

He tightened his hold on Gon's hand. "Don't ever leave me," his lips moved but no sound came out.

Gon turned his gaze towards his best friend and found Killua smiling at him. Gon smiled back at him and closed his eyes as they took the plunge.

They stared at each other after they broke back into the surface. Gon snorted and they simultaneously burst laughing.

"Ne, ne, I think that just washed off all of Mike's drool on me!" Gon proudly announced as he held up a slime free arm above the water.

"Oh, gross," Killua flailed around, "Now it's on the water," he spotted a bubbly mass floating near him and directed it away from him.

"Hey, go push it over there! I just got it off me!" Gon splashed the water away from him, unconsciously sending the floating slimy froth at Killua.

That started their water splash war which was paused when they heard Mike let out a whine. He was looking down at the two of them from the top of the clip. They watched as Mike disappeared before abruptly coming back and using the edge like some kind of diving board. "No, Mike, no!" they both yelled but it was too late and they scrambled to swim out of the line of fire, but were caught in the tidal wave Mike's splash created which sent them tumbling on the bank.

Killua and Gon were laughing as the water receded around them, leaving them lying on the ground after their close shave with possible drowning.

The raven teen wiped the tears out of the corner of his eye, "That was fun. Let's do that again!"

Killua sat up, holding his aching sides from laughing too much, "Maybe we could ride Mike next time,"

Gon laughed again before his eyes widened in realization, "Oh, we should do that on your birthday!" Gon sat up abruptly, arms raised straight up, "It's next week!"

The assassin pretended to contemplate on Gon's proclamation, "Hmm. Sounds good enough for a fifteenth birthday," he turned back to his best friend, "So what else have you planned to entertain me?"

"Well, aside from cliff-diving with Mike…" Gon moved to stand up, "I think I'd better keep everything else as a surprise. Don't wanna spoil it,"

Like a bullet, Killua saw the marble sized projectile whizz though the air towards Gon's head, and abruptly snatched it in mid-air, keeping it in his closed fists as Gon blinked at him innocently, probably wondering why he was suddenly kneeling on one knee. "Killua?" Gon tilted his head, "Are you alright?"

Killua nodded at him silently, pushing himself to his feet, "I'm starving. I'll race you to the butler's mansion,"

He knew that Gon would abruptly start running as soon as he ends his sentence. That was the only Go signal they needed. It would be a while before Gon realizes he's lagging behind. Gon rarely won any of their races. Killua paused for a second and flicked the stone back where it came from, his mother and Kalluto calmly jumping away from behind the tree they were standing in as it broke in half. "What do you want?"

"Mother just came to see what you're doing with the servant boy," his mother answered. "You've been spending all your time at home with him,"

Killua's gaze fell on his younger brother, and Kalluto knew he should put a little distance between himself and his mother for their own good, "So?" Killua snapped rudely.

"He's terribly unfit to serve," his mother scoffed, "I'll see to it that he's removed from the estate,"

Kikyo gulped nervously as Killua stood behind her, holding his morphed hand to her neck, the sharp claw close enough that it drew blood, his eyes darkened by bloodlust, "Should I make that the reason you die, mother?" he spat out the last word like venom. Her visor flashed a static and Killua took that as a sign that he had distressed his mother enough. He jumped away from her.

"If any of you so much as touch Gon, I will butcher all of you," he said in a cruelly cold voice before he disappeared from their sight.

Kikyo stared at the spot where her favorite son once was. Her lips curved into a thin smile, "How charming. He gets that from your father, you know~" she said to Kalluto.

Kalluto mentally rolled his eyes. He loves his mother a lot, but sometimes she's becoming too obsessive and annoying, even for him. Maybe he'd be better off spending his days like his older brother Killua. He could join a group of thieves or something equally cool. Maybe.

Next up is the chronicle of Killua's best birthday ever, sponsored by his one and only best friend. expect agony. Review please! cheers! :)