I stretched my back as I lifted my hands above my head. My back cracked in a few places, making me feel more limber. It was late afternoon, time to pick the kids up from school. They were going to have a blast this weekend. All thanks to me and my plan.
Tomorrow was October 31st.
Halloween.
The purr~fect time to pull a prank.
Too bad I hadn't seen Zoldyck boy lately, it would have been awesome to have him be a part of it. Meh, if they didn't learn I could always step up my game next year. I smiled as I fluffed out my bangs, and pulled the bottom hem on my blue t-shirt down farther. The weather was too perfect to bother with anything heavier.
Though… maybe I was setting a bad example for the kids? They were just getting over being sick, I didn't want them going out all willy-nilly copying me and catching another cold. Oh well. I'll just tell them myself not to copy everything their onee-san does.
I titled my head back to look up at the passing clouds as I walked; the days were getting shorter and shorter. Winter would be closing in soon, and that was my favourite time to ride. The glistening snow that can be knocked off all those Zoldyck tree branches… the frosty breath of Mike as he runs, his coat blending into the ground like a phantom, leaving nothing behind him but tracks…
My eyes were staring far away, imagining that wonderful feeling. I couldn't wait!
"Onee-san!" I heard Seiji call out followed closely by Dania's happy,
"Haru-chan!"
"Hey guys!" Haruka called back and waved with both hands high above her head. I was sitting in the shadow of the chimney on the tiled roof of the two-floored school building. I did not understand why I wanted to come down to the village today. There was no reason. Not one I was inclined to tell someone had they questioned me.
The reason was because tomorrow's date was October 31st, commonly known as Halloween. And I had promised Haruka my help with her "prank". But I was at a loss as to how to approach her about it. Was she simply expecting me to show up? Or had she forgotten about that night? Haruka had not been on Kukuroo Mountain since then.
Not that I was waiting for her. Or listening for Mike's howl. Or training outside with Kil hoping to catch a flash of sky blue hair…
"Let's go!" Her shout brought me out of my thoughts and I watched as the blue haired woman ran down the street, followed closely by a pink haired girl, and a blonde holding her hand, with a trio of boys closely behind them; one red haired, one blue haired, and one green haired.
I stood up, trailing the group with my eyes. What would it have been like to grow up in that type of environment? To be free to run simply because you wanted to, not because you had to. To be able to shout and play. Who would I be if I had experienced that the same way Haruka had?
I jumped from the roof, landing on silent feet. I flicked back the hair that had settled in front of my shoulders.
I slowed my pace, letting the kids overtake me. I wanted to hang back; I wanted to make sure everyone was okay. Someone was watching us. It didn't seem to be anyone hostile, but sometimes ill intentions aren't obvious. They can be buried so deep behind kind words and actions that you don't realize the true power of their cutting edge until it's too late; those are the acts which scar a heart forever.
"Haru-chan hurry up!" Dania called as I stopped moving altogether.
"Go on ahead! I'll… be there in a minute." I half turned back the way we had come. More than one person was watching us. But who? From where? I'm sure one of them was back the way we had come, so where was the other? Were they working together? Alone?
Questions flitted through my brain, a million scenarios playing out all at once. If I concentrated… One of the presences… I'm sure it was Zoldy-
"Haruka!" I felt someone jump onto my back, wrapping their arms and legs around me simultaneously. I started to react when they jumped off just as quickly. I twisted my body to see none other than Bekah standing there.
She was a petite purple haired woman, three years older than me. We had spent lots of time together when she had been living with Mimi. Bekah was my bestest friend in the world! I squealed in delight as I pulled her into a bone crunching hug. Between the time I left for the first Hunter Exam and my return home Bekah had gone off to explore the world. Last word I had heard on her was she was living on the 200th floor of the Heaven's Arena.
"Bekah-nee! You're back!" The two girls hugged as I instantly pulled back into the shadows. I had spotted the unknown woman running towards Haruka and nearly threw a needle, but for some reason I hesitated. My instincts had frozen for the fraction of a second they needed to, to avoid killing someone who seemed important to Haruka.
But when she had first landed on Haruka's back, I nearly… nearly what? Would I have really killed that woman because I had thought she posed a threat to the blue haired girl?
I honestly didn't know.
"I'm so glad you could make it! The kids are going to love seeing you again! How long are you staying? Have you already booked a hotel room? I'm sure we can find room for you at the house. I can sleep on the couch so you can take my bed. It's so good to see you Bekah-nee! I missed you!" I hugged Bekah again as she laughed. She was so used to my randomness, everything just rolled off her back. Most people found me irritating, but not Bekah. Bekah had told me once that it was "cute and so Haruka". I guess ever since then I haven't changed much.
"Mimi is going to be so happy to see you too! Come on, let's go back home. You'll be just in time for dinner. Have you missed Mimi's cooking? You've been gone for so long, she may not recognize you."
"I'm sure she'll recognize me, I haven't changed that much." I laughed as Haruka continued to babble on like an excited school child. If nothing else, she was the one who hadn't changed. She was still so openly sweet that you needed a dentist to check for cavities after only one bite. As she was talking, Haruka linked her arm with mine and walked with me to Mimi's. This place was also timeless.
The door shut behind us with a click as Mimi called out,
"Haruka? Can you stir the stew?"
"Okay!" She turned and placed a finger against my lips and leaned into my ear. "She's in the living room. All the kids should be there too, doing homework. Go give them a Halloween scare." I bounded off to the kitchen, even if I hadn't known this house the delicious aroma was easy to follow. I just had to worry about keeping my drool in my mouth. Damn, did Mimi know how to cook! Too bad I hadn't picked up any of her culinary genius.
Screaming laughter ensued from the living room, and I smiled. The kids needed some fun. The week before Halloween is always the worst. I had to make sure no one did anything worse than t.p-ing the house, even that I would clean up before the kids could see. But I still couldn't do anything about the bullies at school.
There had been no time this week to go to Kukuroo Mountain, no chances for me to see Zoldyck boy. Which made me really sad. I had liked Zoldyck boy (and his adorable little brother).
A knock came from the door, soft. I opened it to find the cute little brother of, who wouldn't guess, Zoldyck boy.
"Hey old lady!"
"I thought I told you I wasn't old, little kitten." I smirked.
"At least a kitten can grow into a tiger, an old lady just grows into an old hag, you old hag."
"Why you-!" I reached out with both hands and mused his hair, much to his irritation. He tried to bat both of my hands away, wanting to protect his hairstyle (which looked more like he just finished having a good cat nap).
"Oi!" He jumped backwards the second I eased up a little, an irritated look on his face. Well, more adorable than anything else. But I think that's just because of my personality. Following that thought was one of Zoldyck boy and how he might have looked when he was little… KAWAII!
"Oi, old hag!"
"Yes kitten?"
"Teach me how to ride Mike!" His hands were back in the pockets of his jeans, a scowl on his face.
"Why would you want to do that?" Haven't you and your family done it before?
"Because you said it was awesome! But Mike won't let me on his back. So how do you do it onee-san?" His violet eyes widened and he looked even more like a kitten. Before I could help myself I reached out and pulled him into a hug, repeatedly calling him cute.
Footsteps sounded in the front hallway, Mimi's footsteps.
"Haruka what are you doing? Didn't I ask you to stir the stew?" Oops.
"Shi… itake mushrooms! Sorry! Please don't tell me it's burning!" I watched very amused as the old hag ran into the house, barreling past the other old hag.
"What's your name little boy?" The hag who actually looked like a hag asked me. She was nice looking, common clothes and black framed glasses. Her graying hair was in a bun.
"I'm Killua Obaa-chan."
"Well, Killua-kun, would you like to come in? The stew will be ready, you're welcome to stay."
"Sorry Obaa-chan, I have to go back home now. I just wanted to ask Haruka-nee-chan something but it can wait."
"How far do you live Killua-kun? Are you sure you can go by yourself?" Obaa-chan was wringing her hands, they looked swollen… I mentally shrugged, old people are so weird.
"I live on the mountain."
"Kukuroo Mountain?" Her mouth dropped open with a tiny gasp, did this child live on the Zoldyck property? The son of a servant maybe? It was nearly impossible to imagine him being one of the sons, but… I have heard the name Killua before, haven't I?
"Uh-huh. My family owns the whole mountain, but I have to go now Obba-chan, my aniki's here to pick me up." The little silver haired boy ran down the path and suddenly an older boy, with long black hair, was standing there. Killua-kun jumped onto his back, mouth moving ecstatically. The older boy simply turned and walked away from the house.
"Mimi? Where did the kitten go?" Haruka stuck her head around the frame of the kitchen's doorway, a wooden spoon dripping from her hand.
"You mean Killua-kun? He said he was going home and that his aniki was here to pick him up."
"What did he look like?" She pounced down the hallway, nearly through the door before I could say a single word.
Illumi was here? Had he come down from the mountain? This was my perfect chance to see if he was really going to help me tomorrow.
"Illu!" He turned, the silver haired kid popping his head up from behind his shoulder. Mimi had called him Killua-kun, so he really was Zoldyck boy's younger brother.
"What does the hag want now?" Killua asked.
"Nothing to do with a brat." I pointedly ignored him as I needed to talk to Illumi. "Illu, are you still helping tomorrow? It's gonna be so much fun, and if all goes well those guys will be even more afraid of the mountain than ever!"
My eyes widened as Haruka talked to Aniki. She had called him Illu! No one called my brother anything other than Illumi or aniki. Not even Kaa-san. And aniki had volunteered to help her with something? This girl was weird, but I like her… And I think Aniki does too…
XXX
A/N: I swear I will be getting to this big prank eventually. I'm building it up so much but…
Want to give my thanks to the two people who have been reviewing this story Razorblade Mistress and krikanalo! You guys are awesome! (The other readers are awesome too, but I like people who review *hinthint*)
…And this is the part where I beg all my other readers to drop me a line. Seriously people, I don't care if it's a random emoticon for a review! Even that tells me that you read all the way to the end.
Haruka: Why are you writing a Halloween fic in the middle of summer?
A/N: Because I'm weird.
Haruka: Smartass.
Illumi: *blinks slowly*
A/N: Really Illumi? Back to this again? Do you hate me or something?
Hisoka: I like you Ria~chan!
A/N: Get out of here clown! You are NOT allowed to butt into this story. This is strictly Illumi!
Hisoka: I'm not here for the story Ria-chan… I'm here for you *licks lips*
A/N: ****! *runs away*
Killua: Hisoka… I thought I asked you not to scare her off again.
Hisoka: Then I'll go play with Gon~
Killua: Stay away from Gon you pervert!
Hisoka: *chuckles*
Haruka: *turns to Illumi* I think our story's A/N's just got taken over.
Illumi: *blinks slowly*
Pstscrpt: I'm apologizing for all the honorifics, but I felt the story needed them. But if anyone finds me using them wrong, please tell me! I want to keep them as accurate as possible. I'm not well versed in Japanese (or English for that matter) so if you see me using them wrong and know how to correct it, send me a pm or make it your review. I will fix any problems you guys find as soon as you tell me about them.
Arigato! ^,^