Assassins and Thieves
Chapter 06
It wasn't too long before the group of three popped out of the ground. Killua and Chrome sighed in complete relief once they saw the night sky shining brighter than usual. Chrome had never missed the moonlight so much before in her young life. A cool breeze passed through to relief the stress that was built up during the underground event. The human-mole Tanuku didn't have a change of reaction. Though, he did seem more comfortable above ground.
"My house is not far from here. We could rest for the night and I'll take you to the Hunter Exam entrance in the morning. How does that sound?" The human offered. "It'll be a long walk, and you two must be tired from your journey here."
"I don't really care," Killua shrugged in response. The two turned to Chrome for her reply, but she gave the same response as the boy.
"A dinner and a good night sleep would be great before the exam. There's still time before the deadline." The adult insisted as he started to walk to his house. The two children didn't give a direct answer, so Tanuku decided to take it upon his hand to decide for them. All Chrome wanted to do right now is to wash her hands. They were covered in dirt. She tried to dust and pat the wet ground off her hands, but it wasn't completely effective. She could sense the dirt on her hands that only water can wash away.
As the group walked in silence, Chrome thought to herself. She's still trying to wrap the idea that Tanuku is actually the man from Star Bar. What is the chance of that happening? Very small, yet it happened. Tanuku did know the way to the Hunter Exam. If Chrome didn't decline his offer earlier, she could have been at the Hunter Exam by now. She didn't have to deal with stalking that idiotic group, answer that quiz, meeting with Killua, and walking blindly underground. She might even arrive at the Hunter Exam before him. Chrome bit her tongue in embarrassment of her action in Star Bar. That man was a ticket to skip all these tests, but she had declined it and stole his wallet. His wallet! Had Tanuku realized that his wallet is missing? If he had, he should have figured out that she's the one who took it by now.
"Hey Chrome," Killua attempted to snap her out of her thoughts. Chrome shook her head lightly in response. "We're here. Stop spacing out."
Chrome frowned in the thought of Killua ordering her around, but quickly ignored it. They did stop in front of a wooden cabin. It looked like a typical cabin that you would expect in the woods, like someone's vacation house if they are interested in hiking.
"Welcome to my home!" Tanuku welcomed us as he pushed the entrance to lead the children instead. Realizing what this looks like, Chrome immediately had her defense senses up. Two children in the woods entering a isolated cabin in the woods with a suspicious man. Ideas started to intrude her mind. What if he is just luring them inside a death trap? He could attempt to kill them as they sleep. Perhaps even cook them for dinner. Though Chrome highly doubt that would happen, she's sure that she and Killua would be able to handle Tanuku. From what she saw underground, Killua could manage himself quite well. He was able to pinpoint the exact location of the mole and had him choking in a tight grip in total darkness. Perhaps he is a cat of some sort that allowed him to see perfectly well in the dark.
Chrome and Killua did enter the cabin before Tanuku. The wooden cabin was completely clean. It doesn't have too much in it, but it was well enough for one or two people to live. For some reason, there was electricity running through the house. Lamps, ceiling lights, even a computer was plugged in to an outlet. Chrome won't ask about how he has electricity in his house, but she's grateful for it. For a while, she wouldn't have to be in complete darkness again. The cabin basically has three rooms: a living room and two bedrooms. According to Tanuku, this house doesn't have a bathroom. They'll have to take a natural leak outside if they need to. The kitchen and dining room were all located in the living room at a tiny corner of the house. It seems to have exactly four chairs in a square dinner table.
The hanging clock on the wall had notified the group that is it eight o'clock, a bit later than what Chrome had thought to be. "Wow it's getting late. Make yourself a home." Tanuku pushed the two children deeper into the house and closed the single exit to the house. "I'll be cooking dinner for you." He said so excitedly. "It's been such a long time since I had guests in this house."
Killua and Chrome looked at each other in confusion. The human mole seemed to have different personalities. Chrome was definitely confused, since the man in the bar seemed so much different from this prancing human, but they should be the same person. Does he have a multiple personality disorder, unless he's really that happy because of the children's presences? "Come on, have a seat!" Tanuku nearly skipped to the kitchen.
"This will be a long night," Chrome mumbled to herself as she took a seat on a wooden chair in the living room. Killua followed the same example, sitting in front of the girl.
"So why do you know him?" Killua asked the same question earlier.
"It was really all by chance…" she started. "I was looking for some information about the Hunter Exam and went to a bar." Wait, does she really need to tell a mere stranger about this? It really isn't any of his business that she just so happens to know Tanuku. Well, telling Killua about it doesn't really matter too much. If he wants to know, then he just wants to know. There isn't much of a downside on telling him. It probably just create a stronger friendship and mutual trust. That might work better for Chrome.
"Wait, you went into a bar?" Killua repeated a bit astonished.
"I know, I know" Chrome smiled and chuckled. It's no surprised that he responded the way he did. It surprised the people inside the bar, too. "So as I was saying, I went to a bar. I asked the bartender if he knew anything about the Hunter Exam, but Mr. Tanuku jumped into the talk, saying that he knew how to get there."
"Did you tell him about your father? You're still looking for him, right?" Tanuku once again interfered in the conversation. Chrome choked a bit as she had completely forgotten about the false story that she had made up. Does Tanuku really believed in that story still? Is he really that gullible?
"Looking for your father?" Killua raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "I thought you said he's the one who told you to take the Hunter Exam."
"Uhh, you see…" the girl looked down at the floor, not wanting to look at their face when telling the truth about her father. "I couldn't just say that I'm going to take the Hunter Exam to a bunch of adults. They wouldn't have tell me anything, just 'it's too dangerous for a tiny girl to go', ' you'll end up killing yourself', and things like that. It'll be easier for me if I just make up a story."
"Oh, that's why you lied." Tanuku nodded to himself in the kitchen. "Yeah, yeah, I guess that would had happened."
"I told them that Papa went to become a hunter, but Mama doesn't want him to; so she told me to bring him back home, or at least try to." Chrome continued her story. "Apparently, there were some people who believed in my story."
"Hey, you really are a good actor." The human mole complimented as he cooked.
"So Tanuku said he'll bring me to the Hunter Exam, but…" Chrome bit her lip, not wanting to tell Killua the embarrassing part.
"But, she ran out." The mole finished it. "I seriously would have brought you to the Hunter Exam. I didn't know why you said no. Really stupid idea, if I do say so myself."
Chrome signed with a hint of blush. "Well, I thought you were lying. There was a sailor earlier, saying that he saw many people heading north of the town, and you said east instead. So I thought you didn't really know where it was. That's why I said no."
"But you created a whole scene when leaving! You had a whole bar against me!" Chrome could feel her face heating up as Tanuku pressed more into her story, a story that she doesn't want to face head on. And to make it worse, Killua was sitting in front of her, listening to the whole thing.
"I'm really sorry about that. I don't really know why I did that. I-I just thought it was a good idea." Chrome said softly.
"Wow," Killua laughed. "You're not as boring as I thought you were. Lying and having a whole group of people go against a person." B-boring? Was that the first impression he had on her? Chrome puffed out in anger. "All you do is talk about your 'Papa'" Killua imitated.
"So you two aren't brother and sister, right?" Tanuku asked out of the blue.
Both children faced the host. "No, of course not!" Chrome objected defensively while Killua was having a laughing fit. "What's so funny?" She turned back to the silver haired boy a bit angrily.
Once his laughter subsided, he managed to answer between breaths. "You totally could be one of my brothers!"
"A-a brother?" An eyebrow was raised, "not a sister?"
"Well most of my brothers really do look like girls," Killua shrugged, "Yeah a brother. All my siblings have black hair, just like you, and black eyes. That's why."
"You have silver hair. Why do you have silver hair?"
Killua shrugged. "I just got it from my dad. My brothers and sister probably got it from my mom. I don't know."
"What a strange family." Chrome mumbled to herself.
"Really?" Killua asked, "Your father told you to get a Hunter License. That's not normal either."
"I guess you're right," Chrome smiled. "We do have weird families."
"Hey kids!" The cook called from the small kitchen, "Dinner is ready."
Author's Note: Thank you for reading Chapter 06 of Assassins and Thieves. I'm really sorry for the wait. I've picked up Fire Emblem: Awakening for the 3DS, and I've forgotten to update this story. Forgive me *sadface*. Anways, what do you think of the little conversation Chrome had with Killua? Chrome is starting to warm up to Killua. That's a good thing, right? As always, please review. Maybe this time I won't forget to write Assassins and Thieves. See you in Chapter 07. *wink*