CALM DOWN. NOT YET KILLUA'S BIRTHDAY. Just had a lot of ideas and didn't know where to put them. So I dashed them all out. hehe. Thank you very much for reading, reviewing, and putting this fic on your alerts and favorites, cheerios! :)

For probably the nth time that day, Killua had to stop himself from running into a wall as hard as he can. It was getting harder and harder to stop himself from doing so as the day rolled by really slowly. So really, effing slowly. Alas, the only thing stopping him from making a complete fool of himself, if that's even possible, is just grinning at him stupidly like they were not embarrassing themselves in public.

In his honest opinion, his day had started out perfectly fine. In his new definition of a normal, fine day, he'd wake up early, sneak out of the house, go to find Gon, and hang out with him all day, sometimes helping him take out intruders if they seem a bit interesting. His day had started out like that, but deviated once he found out what Gon was doing for that day.

He found the apprentice butler in the kitchen of the butler's mansion in the middle of a mess Killua refused to classify as cooking. There were egg shells and plastic wrappers scattered all over the kitchen island. There was a light coating of flour dust all over the table. There were piles upon piles of steel mixing bowls containing unidentified globs Killua wouldn't dare touch. Gon had butter and some bits of blue (why blue?) slime sticking to the ends of his spiky hair. How it got there, the assassin can't figure out.

"What are you doing?" he looked at his friend inquisitively, taking a seat at one of the bar stools across the table from Gon. Indeed, it was the first time Killua saw Gon take a hand at cooking anything more lucrative than roasting over an open fire.

"I'm making you a cake, Killua," Gon answered him like he thought it was obvious. It was Killua's birthday tomorrow and he had promised him a cake. Back in Whale Island, Mito-san had always personally made him a cake for his birthdays and they were always the highlight of the party that people come over just to eat cake. He always tried to return the favor on her birthdays but with no such luck. He knew those tears in her eyes every time she eats the cakes he made were not because the cakes were 'really delicious'.

"You mean you're trying to make me a cake," Killua corrected him, eyeing the failed attempts giving off a funny smell at a corner of the counter.

"Hey, I'm doing my best here!" Gon declared enthusiastically, continuing to mix the cake batter which had long turned green. From what, Killua couldn't deduce. There weren't anything in the table that should be giving it that color. "It's gonna be the best chocolate cake ever!"

The assassin tried so hard not to shake his head in disagreement. Convincing himself that Gon always comes through with anything once he puts his mind to it, Killua settled on quietly watching his friend do his work. It made him feel nice that Gon was expending so much effort doing something he was definitely never going to be good at just to please his best friend. "Good luck with that, I guess," he tried not to sound too patronizing.

Gon grinned at him, "Don't worry! Nobody's died from my cooking yet!" he assured the unimpressed assassin. "I've got it under control!" the mixture just turned violet. Again, Killua has no idea what exactly is going on in there.

"I'm not worried," Killua yawned, and looked around the kitchen for anything remotely edible. He hadn't had breakfast yet, "I'm confident in my immunity to poisons,"

The apprentice butler pouted, "Meanie." There was a ding! And Gon went over to the oven and retrieved a steel bowl filled with the only thing right in Killua's world right now: chocolate. The melted heavenly treat was steaming, and Killua was in olfactory paradise.

Killua perked up in his seat, staring greedily at the bowl, licking his lips as he did so. The smell was intoxicating and he felt like drooling at the sight of so much chocolate. Gon pulled the bowl out of his sight. "You can't, Killua. I'm using this for the cake."

"Oh come on, Gon," Killua reached for the bowl, "Just a little," he smiled pleasantly, "I haven't eaten yet. Besides, it's mine anyway, right?"

Gon frowned and pushed the bowl away from Killua's hands, "Yes. But before I know it, you're already licking this clean,"

Killua was about to start listing off conditions upon which the apprentice butler must hand over the bowl of heavenly goodness promptly to its hungry rightful owner when there was a knock from the doorway leading to the garden. They both turned towards the sound, Gon securely keeping the bowl at his side in case Killua uses the chance to attack, and found Amane and Canary standing there with empty glass pitchers in their hands. The butlers were currently having breakfast just outside in the garden.

"Killua-sama, good morning," they both greeted, though Canary's tone were more jovial than Amane's.

"Yeah, 'morning," Killua smiled a little before waving them off to do what they were meant to do when they entered the kitchen, which was probably refill those pitchers.

"How's the cake going, Gon-kun?" Canary asked as she and Amane went over to the refrigerator to get the bottle of orange juice. "Are you sure you don't want us to help?"

"Thanks, but I can handle it," and no matter how much Killua wished he'd get somebody…anybody to freaking lend him a hand already and probably save his tastebuds, Gon just had to think he can do it by himself.

The assassin had to watch as Gon prepared to make another batter. Just how many was he planning to make, really?! Amane placed her refilled pitcher on the table and sat beside Gon while she waited for Canary to finish refilling hers with cold water. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Amane smirk maliciously at him, which threw him slightly off-guard since she was usually reserved and had rarely seen her face in any expression other than blank. Killua narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously from across the table, as if daring her to do anything. She was challenging him, he just knew it.

What's her problem? Killua thought as he tried to hide the fact that he was surveying her movements. When he dared a quick glance at her again, she was obviously leering at him already and it seriously unnerved Killua because he didn't know she was capable of teasing anybody. If anything, his first impression of her was of a cold-hearted bitch. Which was kind of cemented by the events in the next few seconds.

Killua watched with wide eyes as she deftly flipped the wooden spoon Gon had placed in the chocolate bowl, causing the spoon to catapult some chocolate…straight towards Gon's face. Killua glared at the lady butler playing innocent as Gon had a puzzled expression as to why things were suddenly flying in the kitchen.

Amane let out a small giggle before getting to her feet and turning Gon's face towards her, "Gon, silly, let me get that for you," Killua could almost feel the smirk in her voice.

And Killua bristled in his seat as Amane licked the chocolate from his naïve best friend's face. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as he watched the act. Gon was just standing there with a stupid nonchalant expression on his face like what she was doing was perfectly normal. Amane even had to the gall to look at Killua in the eye while she was running her tongue on his best friend's chocolate-covered cheek. How indecent!

"Hey, that's mine!" he yelled, chest heaving in deep breaths as he pointed an accusing finger at the lady butler.

Gon just blinks at his outburst, not fully understanding what's happening around him. Amane released Gon and sneered at the assassin. She nonchalantly pushed the chocolate bowl towards the fuming assassin, "Here. Have it, then,"

Killua scoffs, crossing his arms, and rolling his eyes, "That's not what I-," he caught himself when he saw Amane break into a knowing grin. He glared evilly at her. This bitch!

Gon looked from a smiling Amane to a fuming Killua. He just shrugged and touched his cheek, "Is it gone?" he asked to nobody in particular, but Amane turned her attention back to him.

"No, there's still some left," and she was about to lean closer to the apprentice butler again when a handful of flour hit her face. Gon and Amane coughed as the powder spread, covering them both in white.

Killua wiped his hand on a dishcloth and smiled triumphantly, congratulating himself on preventing the harassment of his best friend right in front of him. But his celebration didn't last long when a revengeful helping of flour smacked him straight in the face. He ran his hand though his face to get the excess flour off and threw a menacing glare at the perpetrator. He saw Gon laughing at him through the dust cloud. That's it! I'm never saving your ungrateful ass again! He thought before scooping up another handful of flour and sending it hurtling towards his best friend's open mouth, hoping he would choke.

Canary sweat-dropped as she watched the two throw flour at each other, enveloping the entire kitchen in a huge white dust cloud. Oh…Gotoh-san would not be pleased. Amane had silently bowed out of the melee and had scooted over to Canary's side with an accomplished smile.

They almost laughed but then they saw a spark of electricity from their young master. Amane and Canary's eyes widened, "Oh no..."

Gotoh, Hishita and old Tsubone were eating breakfast by the garden as per usual.

Earlier that morning, Gon had come running out to the garden where the three of them and Canary and Amane were already having breakfast. He was a bit surprised when the young apprentice had pleaded to be allowed to use the kitchen. Gotoh had raised an eyebrow at that. Hadn't he specifically forbidden Gon from going anywhere near the kitchen? He remembered Hishita's efforts to determine Gon's capacity in the kitchen. As a butler, a servant of the Zoldycks, he was required to have a certain level of competency in the kitchen. It took less than 20 minutes on the first day of training to determine that Gon should never be allowed anywhere near a stove. Another reason why he was posted outside.

That particular morning, however, Gon had specifically said that the cake he would be making was for Killua, his best friend. Because it would be his birthday, he added, and he had promised him that he'd give him a big chocolate cake.

No matter how opposed he was to the proposition, Gotoh had to give him permission. He won't allow a servant to break a promise with a master. Gon had given Killua his word and he should follow through it to the letter.

Besides, nothing especially bad could happen, right? It's not like Gon would have to use fire. An oven could be controlled easily enough, and he was sure the kid wouldn't let this particular cake burn. He hoped.

A large explosion suddenly disturbed the morning peace, and in the blink of an eye, the three of them outside were staring at the charred remnants of what used to be a food-laden table. Gotoh sighed as he set down his tea cup. The bottom had cracked due to the explosion. Hishita coughed out, but was apparently unharmed though a side of his suit was scorched black. Tsubone, who was seated facing away from the explosion just calmly sipped her coffee as if nothing happened.

Gotoh looked up as four black figures emerged from the house. The explosion had blown away the whole wall of the kitchen facing the garden. There were pots, pans and silverware strewn all around the garden. Knives were stuck against the back of old Tsubone's chair.

Two of the figures collapsed on the scorched grass coughing as Amane and Canary wiped off the soot from their uniforms. They had ducked just in time and managed to enshroud themselves with protective aura before the kitchen exploded. However, Gon and Killua were not so lucky. Though not seriously harmed, the two had been scorched by the heat and smoke.

"What happened in there?" Hishita asked in a reprimanding voice. He didn't like what they did to his kitchen.

"Killua-sama accidentally ignited the flour," Amane said, not in the least bit perturbed about selling out their young master, earning her a glare from aforementioned young master.

"Aww…the cake is ruined," Gon frowned as he stood on his feet, dusting off his suit, "And all the ingredients are gone,"

Gotoh looked over the four. Canary was smiling apologetically. Amane was a bit annoyed that her scuff was dirtied. Killua was not in the least bit sorry about the damage he did at all. Gon seemed to be thinking hard about what he should do about Killua's cake. Gotoh sighed. It would be no use talking to these four. He'd just waste his breath in a lecture. So he pulled out his wallet and took out a black card.

"Here, Gon," he placed the card in the apprentice butler's hands, "Change your clothes and have Seaquant drive you to town. Buy whatever you want,"

It would be better to get them out of the estate while he gets the others to fix the house. Who knows where Gon might attempt to make his cake again?

And that's how they found themselves wandering around town by noon. Seaquant had dropped them off at the town square and told them to call him once they're done with their business. Then he disappeared, probably off to a bar or something, they didn't particularly care. They had both changed in their casual wear with Killua sporting his light v-neck shirt over a dark blue turtleneck and baggy shorts while Gon was dressed in a simple black tank top and shorts.

After persuading Gon that he didn't really need a personally made birthday cake, they had settled upon buying a cake from the town's most famous pastry shop. However, after Killua's order of quadruple helping of all the chocolate topping and icing for the cake, they were told to wait for about four hours for the cake to be ready. The shop was already swarmed with orders as it is and Killua's was particularly demanding. There seemed to be a festival tomorrow and cakes from the shop were grossly in-demand. So with four hours to waste, Gon and Killua set off to explore the town.

It had both been their first time, with Gon not leaving the estate and Killua not one to linger around alone in a crowded town.

They had bought tickets to an aquarium because Gon found a fish in the poster who looks exactly like Johnny and wanted to see the small whale so bad. They spent an hour in there, sticking their faces into enclosures and Killua holding back Gon when the latter leans too far. Killua smiled at Gon's bright face as he was awed by the different displays of jellyfishes. Gon was so childish, it was hard to figure out that he was actually a little older than Killua.

Next, they went to the arcade and spent a lot of coins on fighting games, ending in a 50-56 score in favor of Killua. Gon then decided that they compete over the toy cranes. Killua also won those, cleaning out a whole game and giving the toys away to other kids and keeping only one, which he tossed to a sulking Gon. It was a white cat with blue eyes. "It looks like you, Killua!" Gon held up the cat in his face as he grinned. Killua blushed and tried to take it back but Gon had refused.

By mid-afternoon, they were sitting in one of the benches in the town square, boredly watching the crowd pass by. They were eating the Chocorobo they had exchanged their tickets from the arcade with.

"Oh, before I forget. Killua, it's the Tanabata Festival tomorrow!" Gon suddenly exclaimed excitedly, causing Killua to look at him in confusion.

"Tanabata? What's that?"

"It's a festival celebrated on the 7th of July, though I heard it varies from place to place but apparently they celebrate it here on July 7, too!" the apprentice butler beamed at him excitedly, "We have it on Whale Island too, you know!"

Killua wasn't particularly interested in festivals. He'd never been to one, anyway. "What's it for? Festivals are some kind of celebration, right?"

"Well, let's see. The legend is about a Silk weaver and a Cow Herd. They met and fell in love instantly," he ignored the 'how stupid' remark from his best friend and went on, "They didn't want to spend a minute apart so they refused to do their work. So God got angry and separated them, only allowing them to meet once a year, which is tomorrow!" Gon had a thoughtful expression on his face, "The stars are really pretty on that day…and you can clearly see the Milky Way too!"

"Heh…that's it?" Killua smirked like he was talking to a kid.

Gon huffed, "And you also get to make wishes. You write them on colored paper and hang them on trees,"

Killua chuckled. It seems like a festival for children. How does hanging colored paper on trees grant wishes? Gon pinched him on the cheek for laughing at him. "Alright, alright. I'll do this Tanabata thing with you. Geez,"

"Really?!" Gon perked up immediately, "What would you wish for, Killua?"

Killua froze. Gon tilted his head in confusion as his best friend seemed to be stuck looking at him silently. So he made funny faces at his best friend, which earned him a wry smile from Killua. "More chocolates, of course," the assassin answered.

"Great!" then Gon stood up and pushed the stuffed toy cat into Killua's lap, "I'll just go get us some drinks," and he disappeared into the afternoon crowd.

Killua, still tickled about the notion of a childish festival, looked at the toy on his lap. He narrowed his eyes at the cat. It does look like him, even the slant of the eyes was so reminiscent it was scary. He didn't know why Gon seriously wanted to keep this particular toy. He just handed it to Gon as a joke and had expected the latter to pass it to another kid. He wouldn't admit that it made him happy that Gon wanted to keep it because he said it resembled him. It was nice to think that Gon was happy to be reminded of Killua. Secretly nice.

The assassin stared at the afternoon sky, his eyes wandering at the vast expanse, without a massive wall in sight. He looked at the town, at the faceless people milling around, not giving him a second glance. He looked at the unfamiliar establishments, at the doors he had never entered before in his life. He looked around him. There was nobody he knew, and nobody who knew him. They don't know there was a killer amongst them, sitting comfortably in broad daylight. He could slash one of their throats and he could do it fast enough that nobody would even think he moved from his seat. They were all just passing him by, not truly acknowledging he existed.

It was comforting...relaxing even.

Isn't this what he wanted all those months ago when he tried to run away from home? A life of anonymity unlike the one he has now, a life without a care about rules or tradition or expectations. Where he didn't have to trade in a life for money. Where he could have friends, when he could spend all day living his life without a care, without thinking about the dangers he'd pose to them because of his crazy family. Where no one knows of his bloody past, where he'd always get a second chance. When he could live with people who thinks he's worth a glance.

You're a puppet of darkness, without passion. You were born to be a killer.

His brother's cold voice echoed in his head. Killua is an assassin. If he isn't an assassin, would there be anything left of him? If he didn't kill people anymore…If he lived a normal life…If he chose to cast aside what he's expected to be…

You don't have anything you want. You can't have any desire.

That's wrong. There's something he really wants. Sometimes he doesn't know what to call it. Most of the time, it confuses him. Sometimes it robs him of his breath and sometimes it becomes too bright he had to close his eyes.

Sometimes, he thinks what he's feeling is wrong. Most of the time, it's the only feeling that's right.

Sometimes, he'd be better off alone. Most of the time, it's better to be with Gon.

…They didn't want to spend a minute apart so they refused to do their work. So God got angry and separated them…

Killua grimaced, letting out a small chuckle as he closed his eyes. How ridiculous. How utterly ridiculous. There's no way he'd be affected by such a shitty story. Only kids would worry about that.

What would happen if he refused to be an assassin and Gon, a butler?

What would happen?

It's no use wishing for something he's just not meant to have. He wished for freedom once and he got shoved right back where he came from. He even ended up killing the only person he thought he cared for.

Ging wasn't different. So why would Gon be different? Why would he wish so fervently that Gon would be different?

Killua laughed bitterly, shaking his head. There's no way…there's just no way.

His wishes never come true.

He opened his eyes and found his line of vision blocked by Gon's face before Gon inched his own face away to a more comfortable distance. "I thought you were asleep or something," Gon grinned apologetically before shoving his hand in front of Killua's face, "Here's your wish!" in his hand was a chocolate crepe carefully wrapped in a cone, "More chocolate!"

Killua blinked stupidly as he accepted the cold treat. Gon placed a can of chocolate drink beside him and opened his own as he sat beside his best friend. Seeing his friend just stare at the crepe, he decided to get a reaction out of him in a sure-fire way.

With a great chomp, he took a big bite on the crepe in Killua's hands. In a second flat, he was nursing a bump in his head and Killua was fuming as he ate his crepe. Gon smiled amidst the painful tears.

"Excuse me~"

They both turned to look at a girl, quite possibly around their age, peering down at them through heavy lashes. She had badly tanned skin and her face was thick with make-up. She had a sickening smile on her face which made Killua cringe. She had her touch phone in hand, "Do you mind taking a picture with me?" there were giggles behind her, and Killua blanched at the thought that there's more people like her.

Before he could tell her, in a manner as crude as possible, how he didn't want to take pictures with ugly hags, there was a hand hovering in front of his face and Gon was addressing the girl in a serious manner, "I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to take a picture of him," his tone left no room for argument. It was the first time Killua ever heard his friend sound like that.

Killua promptly closed his mouth as he looked at his friend.

The girl scoffed, "What~~ Are you his boyfriend or something~?" she leered at Gon.

Killua narrowed his eyes. Now that was uncalled for. Gon was just doing his job. Not that they know that. "What's that got to do with anything?" Gon answered, "You can't take a picture,"

The girl placed a hand on her hip and looked down at Gon, "I'm not asking you, spiky." she batted her lashes at Killua, "So, how about it? And then you can join me and my friends for tea,"

A vein popped in Killua's forehead. Nobody is allowed to talk to Gon that way. He pulled down Gon's hand in front of his face and glared at the annoying girl, not caring that she was utterly defenseless from his malicious aura, "My boyfriend said 'no' so piss off, ugly hag," he smirked as the girl's knees buckled under the pressure of his aura, "You're an eyesore,"

When she and her friends just gawked disbelievingly at him; with the white cat on the other, Killua took Gon's hand and led him away. People were starting to stare. "C'mon, my cake must be ready," he said as he pulled his friend through the afternoon crowd.

The pastry shop was just in the vicinity of the square and Killua released Gon when they got to the front door. He realized the apprentice butler was grinning at him. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow, "What?"

Gon scratched his cheek, "I was just thinking that Killua is so cool," and he was immediately treated to the sight of Killua's face turning red.

There was a small squeal behind them and Gon turned to see a waitress at the door hide her face behind a round tray until only her eyes were visible, "G-good afternoon! Please, come in," she gestured them inside the store. Gon pulled an utterly embarrassed Killua into the store as the waitress giggled behind her tray.

A few minutes later, Gon was walking out the shop with a small box full of pastries he bought for Amane and Canary while Killua was contended with the six boxes of chocolate truffles Gon bought for him. It was a small consolation since they couldn't take the cake home yet. "We're really sorry, sir. We cannot fulfill your requests on time today, but we could have it done by tomorrow. We could have it delivered to your house. We're really sorry for the inconvenience," the owner bowed and profusely apologized until Gon convinced her it was really okay and no inconvenience at all. Actually, it relieved him a little that he didn't have to protect the cake from Killua all night long.

He gave her the address, which really just directed them to drop the cake off at Zebro-san's guardhouse, but it still earned a few gasps from the workers, though they were polite enough to immediately shut their mouths and figure this is a matter of life and death for them. After buying a silently disappointed Killua his truffles and some treats for his fellow butlers, Gon and Killua were on their way out.

Outside, they got caught in the crowd again. Killua munched on his truffles, with the white cat toy balanced perfectly on top of his head as he walked a little behind his best friend, who kept talking about random things, "Wow! Killua, I didn't notice that earlier-," he was pointing towards a pet store, "-let's check that out next time," Gon beamed at him before throwing him a reprimanding look, "Don't sulk if you finish all those truffles before we get home. These are only for Canary-san and Amane-san," he held up the box in his hand. Killua rolled his eyes. As if Gon could protect that box if Killua seriously wanted it.

Gon turned and they continued walking. There were all sorts of noises around them, people chatting, cars honking on the road nearby, but Killua drowned out all the noise. There were all sorts of color, from the different clothes to the various stands and the lights ahead, the sky a pinkish orange as it signaled the coming of the night, but Killua perceived them all as mere shadows. Killua stopped in his tracks. Amidst the bustle and all the people between them, Gon was the only person he could see. His friend's back was like a beacon of light Killua could never lose track of.

Killua's feet started moving and rapidly closed the distance. His eye caught Gon's free hand and he almost reached for it when he caught himself and settled for clenching his fist at his side. There's a limit to how much he could ask of Gon. Killua watched as Gon walked away from him again. There's just so much between them he can't explain.

Hey, Gon. If I take your hand, will you "…run away with me?" he muttered, staring at his friend's empty hand. And then that hand stopped swaying and was raised towards him, as if asking him to take it. Killua looked in surprise at his friend, "Gon?"

Gon was smiling worriedly at him, "Seriously, Killua. If you're gonna space out, then it's better if you hold my hand," and because Killua wouldn't move, Gon took it upon himself to take Killua's hand in his, "I don't want to lose you," he beamed at his friend before pulling him along again. "C'mon, Seaquant-san must be tired of waiting,"

Killua doesn't know if he should be relieved or not. He doesn't even know if Gon had heard him. But one thing's for sure, though. No matter how many weird looks they get, he'd never let go of the warm hand holding his. The white haired teen smiled to himself as he remembered Gon's story about the festival earlier that afternoon.

Would they get punished too? Would he be separated from Gon?

He looked at their hands and the future doesn't seem so scary anymore.

I want to go to a far place, farther than I've ever been. Where no one has ever seen me or known me. And when I look at the crowd, you'd be the only one I'd see.

Because he was sure, no matter what happens, he cannot be separated from Gon.

"Ease your worries, mother. I'll take care of it. I'll be home soon,"

Hisoka pulled on the needles Illumi had allowed him to play with using his bungee gum. Illumi walked back towards him, a mere shadow against the darkened hotel room.

"Trouble back home?" Hisoka said as he flicked the needles back onto a corpse on the far side of the room.

"No. Just a troublesome little brother,"

I altered the Tanabata a bit so don't fret on the details. :)