CHAPTER 16
"All right." Killua said as he looked around at the members of his squad. "Today our aim is to keep watch on the rebel group that we know of. If there is any sort of movement, we will follow them in order to find out more about this anti-monarchy network. We will work in three different squads, each consisting of two members. This way it'll be easier to move around and follow them if necessary. We will wait outside the old factory that they're using as a hideout until they make a move. Are we clear?" He looked around and everyone nodded. "Ok, let's go."
Killua set off running to said place, followed by everyone. When they arrived it was dawn already and the first stars were showing in the sky. They split up in pairs, scattering around the building. He and Hayuri hid behind a small woodland next to the old factory and waited. He had consciously chosen her as a partner for three reasons. First of all, he was familiar with how she moved and fought. Secondly, she was quite strong, so together they could make the most risky moves. And lastly, he enjoyed her company. Of course he had not voiced this reason when appointing partners, but it was true nonetheless.
Killua couldn't help but let his mind wander back to what had happened a couple days ago. When Hayuri had shown up in his room half naked and clearly scared, he had felt his blood run cold. At first, he was worried, so he simply hugged her to help her calm down and asked her if she was alright. He was beyond relieved that she had managed to escape before anything else happened. However, he immediately felt rage flow through his veins. The only thing on his mind was to kill whoever had tried to assault her. When he finally found that it had been Tora, he knew that the man would not leave either of them alone. Also, he felt responsible for the situation, so he decided to take care of it. He knew he couldn't kill the man and risk suspicion falling on him; he had a mission to complete - so he decided to take a different course of action. He sneaked into Tora's room and found him sitting on his bed while cleaning up a stab on his shoulder. Killua had molded into the shadows and surprised him from behind. He had used his full bloodlust, to let the man know who he was messing with, as he told him to leave and never show himself in front of them ever again. The big man trembled as fear showed in his eyes; he clearly hadn't expected the silver haired teen to be this scary and strong. When Killua left, he was certain that the man would never bother them again. The next day, they found that he had quit the job. Hayuri looked beyond relieved and asked him what he had done. Killua just said that he had told him not to bother them again, to which she frowned, but nodded nonetheless. He knew that she had seen his eyes before he left, so she probably knew that it hadn't been as smooth as that.
Killua looked at Hayuri, who was crouching behind a bush next to him, and he smiled seeing that she didn't appear worried about that event anymore. He looked back to the warehouse and they watched two people leaving towards the city. He took out his phone and texted the other team to follow them. He put it back and, not long afterwards, three other people left, this time taking a car and heading to the outskirts of the city. Killua texted again, announcing that his team would follow them, and instructing the rest to keep guard in case something came up or more people left the place.
He put the phone away and motioned for Hayuri to follow him as he took off running. Hayuri was close behind him as they followed the car into the countryside. 15 minutes later, Killua wondered how long they would have to run. He thought that they should've brought a car, which he had refused at first because it would show too much and it hindered their movements. Thankfully, as he was thinking this, the car stopped and a man opened the door for the car to enter a property. Killua and Hayuri followed through the shadows and they were soon going up a mountain. When the car stopped, the men got off and entered a cabin. Killua looked at Hayuri and she nodded, as both quietly entered their zetsu and approached a window. The looked inside and saw that there was some sort of meeting. There were 15 people sitting around a table and Killua took out a small notebook and a pen. Not long after, a middle aged woman stood up.
"Welcome. We will soon start discussing the timing of our next move." She said as she looked around. "We don't have much time to talk this out, since it's too risky for all of us to meet up like this. So I will get straight to the point. Should we do it this week?"
"No." A man said as he stood up. "The timing is not right. We should wait until the next heir is crowned and the political scenario is less stable. If we want people to support us we have to be careful."
A couple people nodded, but then someone else stood up.
"We cannot wait any longer! Have you seen how many children are starving out there? If we wait until that, how many will die or get sick?"
"I agree." Someone else said and hit the table with his fist. "Have you seen how the king and his protégées practically shit on gold, while we work 12 hours a day and can't even feed our children properly?"
"We cannot do that." Another woman stood up. "If we mess up now, we might not get another chance in decades. We need a democracy for sure, even if it means waiting half a year."
"And let our children die?"
"Hold on." The woman who opened the meeting stood up again. "If we put this plan in motion right know, it'll probably fail. If that happens, all of us will surely be executed. What will happen to our children if that's the case? They probably will starve if we're not with them. The safest choice is to delay our strike and plan something bigger. In the meantime, I have a suggestion to help feed our people. A businessman that's part of the resistance has offered to give every child a meal a day until our strike."
Everybody seemed taken aback and surprised. Conversation was heard all around until a man stood up.
"He must be rich. Is he asking for something in exchange?"
"Yes." The woman closed her eyes. "He wants a place as a senator and he wants his company to have special treatment."
"What?! That's outrageous!" Someone shouted.
"That goes against democracy itself! Who does he think he is?"
And the discussion went on for a while. 20 minutes later, it was decided that they had no option but to accept the business man's offer. Killua and Hayuri waited between the bushed until every car had left to walk out.
"We're clear." Hayuri said and looked back at Killua.
"Come on, le-"
"Wait." Hayuri said looking at her feet. "Are you ok with this?"
"Ok with what?"
"This! Is the king really allowing children to starve?" Hayuri said tightening her fist. "Shouldn't we also agree with a democracy if that's the case?"
"It's not our duty to agree or not. We're soldiers, Hayuri. We just have to accept our orders."
"Don't say that!" Hayuri gritted her teeth. "I can't just rat out on them when their fighting for justice. They just want a better life for everyone!"
"Well, they're wrong." Killua said and watched Hayuri's confused face. "You were raised in a country with a democracy as well, right? However, there was poverty all around you, wasn't there? On the other hand, I know of monarchies that have no poverty at all. That's because is doesn't matter what kind of political system you have, the people on the top will always live at the expenses of everyone else. If the country is rich, common people won't be poor, but if it's not.."
"You're saying that there's nothing they can do?" Hayuri frowned. "You want them to stop trying because it may not end well?"
"If they go ahead, many will die and, in a couple years, will be back to where they are now." Killua commented as he leaned on a tree. "This country does not have a good economic layout. Either business men, religious institutions, the military, the state, or whatever group that gets the power, will end up living a rich live at the expense of the rest."
"But they cannot just stop trying! You heard him; they are practically starving! And we are living inside a damn palace that runs on their taxes!" Hayuri growled. "I feel like quitting this job."
"Don't be foolish!" Killua hissed. "We all do what we can in order to live a good life. Will you live in poverty just because otherwise it might be at some expense of other people?"
"Well, I have lived in poverty before and I'm not scared to live like that again." Hayuri crossed her arms in front of her. "Anyways, I don't plan to be poor again. However, I don't think I can work for someone who starves their country."
Killua sighed. Hayuri seemed like the classic idealistic person that would sometimes let ideas cloud their choices.
"Listen, Hayuri." Killua said with a serious face. "You can agree with them, but what will you do for now? Starve as well?" He said and Hayuri didn't respond. "Think about it, if you quit your job, would it help them? I suggest you stay out of this and look after yourself. For now. Please?"
Hayuri stood there for a moment and thought about it. Would it truly make any difference if she quit? Also, she would not see much of Killua if that was the case. She growled and closed her eyes.
"All, right. I will let things be... for now." She said and looked away. "I also don't want to stop seeing you... however I might change my mind."
She said and heard Killua take a sharp breath in. She wondered what his face looked like, but didn't dare look his way.
"Me neither." He said with a soft voice. "Come on, let's get going."
"Wait." Hayuri said and held his arm before he could take a full step away. "What about what we found out? What are you going to do?"
Killua cursed under his breath. He thought she had forgotten that they were actually spying on them. He agreed with what she had said; with everything. However, he knew he had a duty to fulfill. He could not just throw away this job or work against it. He needed to get as close to the king as possible. His father would not forgive failure, much less if it was due to some idealistic ideas, which an assassin shouldn't even have in the first place. Since when did he have those, anyways? He didn't remember ever questioning such things before...
"Hey!" She shook his shoulder lightly and he turned to look at her. She looked a little tense and had a slight frown on her face.
"Sorry." Killua mumbled and took a step back. "I agree with you, Hayuri. However, I promised my family I would do this. I won't let them down."
Hayuri's eyes widened. On one hand, she noticed that Killua seemed kind of weary of what her reaction would be. She was taken aback by that and didn't like it one bit. She would never attack him or something! On the other hand, she had completely forgotten that she had promised to complete a job for the contract hunters that had taken her in. She owed them her life and her purpose and, therefore, needed to keep this job. She would not fail them. Hayuri extended her arm and took hold of Killua's hand, to which he almost jerked away.
"Don't." She said and held his other hand as well. "Don't look at me that way. I don't want to be your enemy. I will go along with this. Don't worry about it."
Killua released a breath and felt his heartbeat slow down. He had been deeply scared to be enemies with her. He knew Hayuri wasn't strong enough to beat him; he could kill her if he wanted to, with a little struggle maybe, but he was certain that he could. What had scared him was the thought of even considering doing that. It scared him that she could become an enemy to his mission. He was incredibly relieved that it had not come to that, because he would not have known what to do. At that moment, Killua realized how much he cared about Hayuri. She had grown on him to the point, in which, if it came to be, he wouldn't know which to choose; his duty to his family or her life. It unsettled him and worried him but, at the same time, it brought a warm feeling to his chest.
"Thank you." He said with the warmest smile that Hayuri had ever seen on him. She furiously blushed and looked the other way as she spoke.
"O-okay. Come on, let's go." She muttered and both sprinted away and back to the rendezvous place.
- time skip -
Hayuri sat stretched her body as she lay on her bed and looked out at the shining morning sun. She was glad that they had been given a day off for two reasons.
First of all, the last two days had been filled with work. Their discovering on the rebel network had unleashed a series of disputes within the royal guard leaders. Some had wanted to wipe every rebel away, while some had suggested to wait and have a higher chance of catching more of them. In the end, they decided to wait to have a better chance to wipe them all out and keep the monarchy save as a whole. However, they had instructed half of the guards to keep an eye on the most important monumental buildings. However, that task would be carried on by the trainees in shifts. Everyone would be assigned to a place twice a week and they would have to be undercover. After two days of planning and strategizing they had finally made all the necessary arrangements. Killua had been in charge of organizing their duties and he had put the both of them together for every shift. Hayuri wondered if he did that because he liked working with her or because they were friends.
Secondly, but not least importantly, today was Killua's birthday. Hayuri was surprised at how fast time had seemed to pass; they had met almost 6 months ago. On the other hand, she felt as though she had known him for years.
Hayuri walked to the bathroom and took a much needed long shower. She put on black leggings, brown combat boots, a long-sleeved shirt and a thick grey jacket. She tied her hair up in her usual high ponytail and picket up her wallet. She walked out to the hallway and headed towards Killua's room. She knocked on his door three times and hoped that he was already up. It was past 10 am and it was their day off, but she knew Killua was usually an early person. Not five seconds later, the door was opened by a smirking Killua. He was dressed in gray shorts and a sweatshirt. Hayuri wondered if he ever got cold.
"Hey."
"Hey." She smiled and put her arms around him. "Happy birthday."
Killua hugged her back for a second and then pulled back.
"You remembered." He said with a slightly surprised expression.
"Of course I did." Hayuri rolled her eyes. "Come on, we're going out today. Let at least the two of us will celebrate."
"All right. Wait a second." Killua walked back in and, not half a minute later, came out with his regular snickers on and a blue jacket. "Let's go."
Both got on a bus and rode into town. Ten minutes later Hayuri signaled him to get off and Killua followed her into a small street he didn't recognize.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see." She said and they were soon standing in front of a candy shop. "I decided I'd buy you something sweet. You can choose anything you like!"
"Ahh, you shouldn't have said that." Killua smirked and walked into the shop. He turned around and, before he disappearing through the door, he looked back at her. "I hope you have lots of savings, I can spend a fortune on candy."
When they walked out, Hayuri had a slightly distressed look on her face and Killua had at least four big bags filled with candy.
"Damn you, you spent half my savings." She sighed. "You better enjoy that candy."
"Don't worry, I will. And if you need money later on I can cover up for you, don't worry. Come on, I know a spot."
Both walked down the main street until they got to the shoreline and sat down. As they sat in silence watching the sea and the birds, Killua started munching on his candy like a kid, a happy smile adorning his features.
"I'm glad we got do to something different for your birthday."
"I don't mind. I've never celebrated before."
"What?!" Hayuri's eyes widened. "Never before?"
"Not really." Killua shrugged. "My family always considered it to be unimportant."
"Wow. Even back with the hunters that took me in we would do a little gathering for birthdays. You'd be surprised that as strong and intimidating as they are, they really put some effort in those kind of things."
"Well, if they lose their focus doing that, they can't be that strong." Killua said thinking back to how his brother always put emphasis on how distractions would lower the chances of building strength.
"Hah, you wouldn't know. They're stronger than you; considerably stronger than you. Any of the leaders would be able to beat the crap out both us simultaneously."
"Really?" Killua seemed taken aback by that. If they were that strong, that meant that they were close to his father's level. Very few people managed that.
"Yes, now back to the topic at hand. Say anything that you wish to do and we'll do it. It's your birthday after all."
"Haa.." Killua thought for a while creasing his eyebrows. "I can't think of anything. I'm content sitting here and eating candy."
Hayuri rolled her eyes and noticed that he had already eaten a whole bag of candy. A sudden cold wind made her shiver and regret not bringing a scarf. She pulled at her hair pin and released her hair, in an attempt to cover up her neck. Killua tuned his head to look at her and felt his breath be caught on his throat. He didn't remember ever seeing her with her hair down. It cascaded on her shoulders, reaching her elbows and framing her face. Her eyes shone with contempt as a small smile built on her lips. Her brown skin looked soft to his eyes and he felt like touching it, just to make sure it felt the way it looked. Killua had to admit it: she looked pretty. She looked at him in the eye and Killua felt his heart beat faster. He felt unexplainably drawn towards her.
"Come on, how can there be nothing that you want?" Hayuri insisted. "It's your special day; say anything, even if it's stupid or ridiculous."
Killua looked into her eyes, his mind caught in a swirl of emotions. He knew something that he wanted right now. That he had wanted for a while now, even if he hadn't admitted it. He wanted to kiss her. Would it be all right of he did? Would things change between them? Would he go somewhere he wasn't sure he was allowed to go? It was his birthday... was it even all right to ask for a kiss? Could something like that between them be taken as an isolated event? Would it hurt to try? He wanted taste and feel her lips so bad... Killua gulped and opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted.
"Mister!" A small child, not older than four, pulled on his jacket. "You're eating too much candy. My mother says that you'll get cavities if you do that."
"Well, who cares what your mother thinks." Killua growled, clearly upset at the interruption. The boy was shocked at the answer and his eyes watered up.
"Killua!" Hayuri scolded him and turned to the kid. She patted him on the shoulder lightly. "Don't worry... he didn't mean it. I'll make sure he doesn't eat that much. Thank you for worrying, pal."
Hayuri gave the kid a toothy grin and the kid half smiled back. He thanked her and turned to leave. When the kid was out of hearing range, she turned back to look at him.
"Jeez, Killua. Don't you know how to treat children? The poor kid was just trying to give you some advice."
"Well... I might've been a little rude, but I didn't ask for his opinion"
"Yes, I know. But it's a frigging kid, he doesn't understand that jet."
"Well, maybe I did his parents a favor and taught him. He'll get over it." Killua shrugged.
"You're unbelievable." Hayuri sighed and turned to look back to where the kid had left. "Please be more thoughtful next time you're around a child."
"Ok, whatever." Killua said, clearly bothered by the situation.
After that, Killua's swirl of emotions had calmed down and he asked her to go sightseeing. She laughed at his choice, saying that it was out of character, but complied nonetheless. To say the truth, Killua had said the first thing that came to his mind. So, in the end, they spent the rest of the day walking around and talking about nonsense. They visited a couple museums and parks, some catching their interest, some being utterly boring. When they arrived back to the palace and Killua entered his room, he had finally some time to think. He had been upset at the time, but now he thought he had been lucky. Had not the child interrupted him, he would've asked Hayuri for a kiss. He groaned and slapped his forehead. Did he have no shame? How could he even consider that? If he had said that, he would've never been able to look at her in the face again! There must've been something messing with his head at the time, for he was not impulsive like that. On the other hand, he had to concentrate on his mission. Having friends was one thing, but anything beyond that was completely out of the question.
He had to get a grip.