*This chapter is about 1,000 words less than the last... I'm sorry! .

Welcome to chapter eight! I'm quite excited as Killua and Shizuka's relationship is starting to progress... Yay! Let's get to it!

~~~Chapter Eight~~~

"Please smile at me."

I look up at him, at Killua, and my heart is pounding. But it doesn't feel like when I'm having anxiety attacks. It feels... different.

"You... You talked!" Killua exclaims. Those are the first few words I have said in years.

He seems happy, very, but he is not. He looks down.

"I'm sorry, Shizuka. I've been... Well, a bastard," Killua mumbles. I stand up, and watch him. I write something, in the notepad, and tear the page out.

I take his hand, and his face is bright pink. I place the small letter in his palm. He reads it, and turns even more red, even his ears.

And for the first time in while, I smile.

••••

We are at Wing-san, Zushi's master's, house. But... This explanation... This is not what Nen is. It is, but it is not.

I can tell that Killua knows something is up. I am not sure about Gon, though.

Zushi is not saying anything, and Wing-san is continuing to explain. He keeps looking at me, like he knows.

When he is finished, Killua stands up.

"Let's go, guys," he says.

I feel like I should tell them about my Nen. But I will not be able to explain it to them very well. We will just have to see what happens. I know that Killua is keen on figuring this out.

••••

Killua, Gon, and I board the elevator. We have made it to the 200th floor. Gon is excited, but Killua is not showing much emotion. I know he is happy, though.

We are making our way to the reception desk, when Killua and Gon step back. I look at them oddly.

Oh. More Ren.

It withdraws and the receptionist comes up to us.

I do not listen to what she is saying. Someone else is here. And they know I know.

Killua and Gon are confused. They are such idiots for trying to fight it.

And then, he is there.

"Hisoka!"

Killua and Gon are terrified, Gon particularly, but I personally do not see the problem. I do not even know who he is.

He turns around, and studies me carefully. A smirk is prominent on his face, and he runs his fingers through his red hair.

"Who might you be?" Hisoka hisses. I do not answer him, obviously. Killua and Gon do not answer for me either.

He carries on, though, talking about how he followed us and has been waiting for us. I was not really paying attention.

I was thinking about how the receptionist must be feeling so tired when the dark aura is surrounding us again. I am fine, but Killua and Gon... Not so much.

"Don't be reckless!"

The aura instantly fades, and we turn around.

Wing-san?

"Right now, you are like someone standing naked in a blizzard, wondering why it is cold," he says.

That is pretty accurate.

"If you continue to strain your body, you may die."

"This is what Nen is!? Don't lie!" Killua yells.

"Yes. I was lying."

Obviously.

I begin playing with the ends of my hair. I really need to take a bath.

Apparently, Killua and Gon need to learn Nen by midnight. Or something like that.

We start to follow Wing-san back to this house. I can feel Hisoka's eyes on me, but I ignore him. I am pretty good at tuning everything and everyone out.

Once we are at Wing-san's place, with Zushi there as well, he begins to explain what Nen is. I am standing quietly in the corner, watching and listening.

I first learned Nen when I was about 5 or 6. Ichiro secretly taught me out at the small garden that nobody visited. It was overgrown and completely neglected, but I liked it. I spent a lot of time there practicing my Nen. I am glad I did not forget this memory.

"...and I see that someone has already learned Nen?"

I look up. Was Wing-san talking to me?

I slowly nod. I then notice the destroyed wall. How did I not notice or hear that?

"Eh!? Shizuka, you know Nen?" Killua exclaims.

"Why did you keep it from us?"

I kind of tune them out and play with my hair again. They leave me alone.

"...take off your shirts..."

I turn around. Oh.

I watch Wing-san and the two. Zushi is observing also.

Is he awakening their Nen?

Their reactions, to me at least, were pretty funny.

•••••

So this chapter was kinda... Eh. I didn't want to describe every little thing that was happening, because you guys already know. Shizuka wasn't even paying attention 95% of the time, because she knows this stuff. I apologize if this chapter was a little crummy. I can't wait to write the water divination scene... You'll figure out Shizuka's Nen type!

Thank you so much for reading, reviewing, favoriting and following! It means a lot!