8
Gon, Leorio, Kurapika and Amira had been walking for hours following Canary.
"How much longer?" Leorio asked.
"We will be there soon." Canary said ignoring his whining.
The group walked and eventually came on a hill where a building sat with lights on.
"There it is." Canary said.
"Aren't you going to get in trouble for bringing us here?" Gon asked.
Canary brushed it off. "They are aware of my actions. I am certain of that. I accept the consequences."
Amira tensed at her statement.
"I will take responsibility for the consequences." Gon said.
Canary brushed him off. "NO. I am merely serving as a guide for Master Killua's friends."
The group started walking and Amira moved forward.
"How bad is this, Canary? Please don't lie." Amira whispered without the boys hearing.
Canary glanced at her from the corner of her eyes before whispering, "It depends on what happens next and how the head butler feels. Be on your guard."
Amira nodded her head and licked her lips.
They walked out of the woods and up to the house where several people were waiting outside.
"They look like a friendly bunch just waiting to welcome us in with cookies and milk." Amira said with a perplexing look on her face.
She noticed Canary's mouth twitch, but the butler did not say anything.
Once they were close, all five bowed to them.
"Welcome gentleman and miss. I am Gotoh, the head butler. Please follow me." He said.
Gotoh led them inside the building with Gon and the boys following right behind them. Amira followed a little way away watching those around her. Her whole body felt on edge. Something was very wrong here.
'There are a lot of butlers around for us.' She noted that there were more around the room in obvious places. Walking into the room, a butler shut the door behind them.
Amira frowned as he moved forward to stand by another butler who appeared standing close to Amira. 'We're being caged in.'
There were two behind the head butler, Two with Canary beside the couch and two more moved to stand behind the boys. Amira let gyo fill her eyes as she observed the ones around her.
Color drained from her face as she saw everyone but canary and the three boys had a strong Nen. Glancing toward the boys, Amira saw they were not paying attention to what was going on around them.
"Guys…I think…" Amira said with a frown.
"I apologize for the issues. Please let me make it up to you." Goto said talking over her while observing all four.
"Taurus, Gon's injuries." Gotoh said to a different butler.
The man stepped forward and applied first aid to Gon. His eye was covered by a patch.
"We apologize for our previous discourtesy. We have been informed by the lady of the house to treat you as honored guest. Master Killua should be here soon from the main house." Gotoh said as cups of tea were placed on the table.
Amira shook her head when one of the butlers offered her a cup. She was tense as she observed how the butlers were watching them.
"This isn't the main residence?" Kurapika asked.
Amira wanted to bash her head on the wall. Canary said several times where she was taking them.
"No. This is the butler's quarters." Gotoh smiled friendly however he spoke in a monotoned voice. "Please make yourself comfortable."
Leorio frowned, "Thaks for the hospitality but when is Killua getting here?"
"Can you take us to him?" Amira asked watching the man close.
"That won't be necessary. Like I said, Master Killua is on his way here." Gotoh said.
"Really?" Gon said jumping up in joy.
"Yes. Please be patient." Gotoh said. "It would be tedious to sit and wait. How about a game?"
"Game?" Kurapika said in confusion.
The man tossed a coin into the air and asked. "Which holds the coin?"
"Left." The boys said.
"Very good." Goto said with a smile.
Amira tensed watching him. She could hear the fake niceness in his voice. She had seen it from clients of her father's.
She watched as Goto waved his hands around again. "Now which one?"
"Left again." Gon said.
Goto showed it and smiled. "Very good. I will have to try harder."
The butlers around them clapped for Gon.
The man threw the coin in the air and his hands went very fast. So, fast the four youth stared in shock.
"Now, which hand?" Goto said while staring at the boys without a smile on his face.
Amira moved her hands slowly to the blades at her waist when her both wrists were grabbed. Looking up the two butlers who were standing behind her were on either side. They had one hand on each of her shoulders and one around her wrists. They pulled her hands away from her knifes forcefully.
'How the hell are they this strong.' Amira thought fearfully.
"Right?" Leorio said looking confused.
"Left." Kurapika and Gon said with a baffled look at the man's tone.
"You see, I have known Master Killua his entire life and I care for him as I would my own son. I despise you for attempting to take him away from his home." The man said glaring.
The man opened his hand to see a crushed coin.
"My lady's voice was broken when she heard her son was leaving. It's breaking her heart. I can't forgive you." Goto said while glaring at Gon. "I shall test each of you by my own methods. You have no choice."
The butlers pulled out their knives in warning. Another butler appeared behind Amira and raised a blade to rest on the side of her throat at an angle.
"Canary. Amira." Gon said in shock and fear.
"This is Canary's punishment for defying orders and bringing you here." Goto said.
His eyes moved to Amira. "Your other friend is smarter than you three. She realized the minute you all got here that something was not right and was ready for a fight. I can not allow her to harm a member of this family or any of the residences here so she will also be used as a bargaining chip to ensure you follow the rules. If you answer incorrectly, you are out. Should you all be disqualified, you will leave and never try to contact Master Killua again. So which hand?"
Gon tried to speak but Goto silenced him.
"Your lives hang by a tread. Answer my questions. I will not ask twice." Goto said.
Goto waved his hands around so quickly. Amira watched helplessly.
"Which hand?" he said with a smirk. "You have three seconds."
Goto turned to the man holding Canary. "Once three seconds have passed, slit her throat."
The man turned his eyes to Amira. "After six seconds, if they still have not made a choice, slit Miss. Amira's throat."
The four youths' eyes widened in fear.
"Left." Leorio said.
"Right" Gon yelled.
"Right." Kurapika said.
Goto turned to Amira. "And you."
"Right." She said.
"One disqualified." The man said as he showed the coin in his left hand. He waved his hands around and caught it.
"Which hand?" Goto said with a frown.
"Right." Kurapika and Amira said.
"Left." Gon said.
Goto opened his left hand. "It was in my left. Two more disqualified."
Gon frowned as Goto threw the coin in the air. "Wait a minute."
Goto caught the coin with a frown. Gon turned and asked Leorio for his pocketknife.
Gon sliced the bulged skin on his eye until he could see out of the eye.
"That is so gross." Amira said with a wrinkled nose.
Goto threw the coin in the air when Gon said he was ready and started his trick.
'Come on, Gon. It's all up to you.' Thought Amira.
"Which hand?" Goto asked.
"Left." Gon said.
Goto stood. "Very good."
The two butlers behind him stepped forward and Goto threw the coin in the air. All three had hands moving so fast that it was impossible to see whose hand was whose.
"Which hand?" Goto asked.
Amira stared in horror as she looked between the three men.
Gon glared at him before smirking and pointing behind him. "That guy behind me."
The two butlers holding Amira let go and moved away. The third removed the knife from her throat.
She quickly moved over to where Kurapika was sitting as the butlers clapped. He pulled her over to sit on the arm rest with an arm wrapped around her waist.
"Well done." Goto said.
The door opened and Killua came in.
"Gotoh, is Gon here yet?" Killua asked.
"Killua?" Gon said in excitement.
"You were here already? Gon." Killua said with his eyes lit up. "And this guy…um…Kurapika?"
Killua turned to Leorio. "Reoilo!"
Leorio frowned, "It's Leorio, brat."
The boy snickered before his eyes landed on Amira. "Amira? You're here too?"
Amira rushed over and pulled the boy into a hug. He blushed as the other butlers watched the interaction. Goto stared in shock at the older girl's behavior.
She knelt down and cupped the boy's face in her hands. "Of course we came. We were so worried about you, Killua."
Tears and anger filled her eyes looking at the bruises on his face. "Who did this to you?" She hissed.
Killua blushed and pulled away. "It's fine. Doesn't hurt at all."
Amira stood and pulled him to her in a hug. "If you ever want me to get revenge for you, I know a way to make someone wish they were dead without being dead."
Leorio faked a cough. "Mother hen."
Killua smirked and hugged the woman ignoring the other guy.
She moved back as the boy turned to the others. "It's been so long but you guys finally made it."
Killua tilted his head looking at Gon. "Your face is messed up?"
Gon shrugged. "So is yours."
The two boys laughed while Amira and the other two shook their heads at the two in amusement.
Killua turned to Goto, "What happened to telling me when they got here?"
"I apologize Master Killua. We were simply playing a game." Gotoh said. "It was a poorly planned joke."
Killua frowned and looked at the others. "Did they try anything?"
"No. They just entertained us." Gon said with a smirk.
Killua nodded slowly like he didn't know if he should believe Gon or not. "Ok. Let's go somewhere. Like anywhere at all."
"All right. Let's go." Leorio said leading the group out.
The four headed to the door excited to be with their friend again.
Amira turned to Canary. "You could come with us. You don't have to remain here as a butler."
Canary smiled and bowed. "Thank you for the offer, miss but this is where I belong. I am proud to be an assistant butler."
Amira sighed and nodded her head. "If you ever change your mine, the offer is always open."
"Amira, come on. I want to go." Killua said with a frown.
"I'm coming." Amira said with a smile before glancing at the girl. "Hopefully me meet again, Canary. I think we could be great friends."
Amira walked over and wrapped an arm around Killua. "Did you eat while gone? Did you make sure to drink plenty of water while in solitary. I know you boys forget to do that stuff."
Killua groaned. "Yeeesss. I'm fine. I promise."
Gotoh watched them go as he heard the boy Leorio call Miss. Amira a mother hen again. He pulled out his phone to report what happened.
The five teens left the mountain and made it back to town. They walked to the airport to leave the country.
"All right. I'll be leaving now." Kurapika said.
Gon looked confused. "What?"
"We all got to see Killua again, so my work here is finished." Kurapika said with a smile. "I'm going to need a lot of money if I'm going to attend the underground auction. I am going to find someone who will hire me as a hunter."
"Really?" Leorio said with a smile. "I guess I should head home too."
"You too?" Gon asked looking sad.
"I haven't given up on becoming a doctor." The man said with a smile. "If I'm accepted at med school, I will be able to use this to pay for it. I need to hit the books."
Amira frowned. "My father has me mentoring under an old friend of his in another country but maybe I should stick with you two. Ya'll seem to get in a lot of trouble and forget the basic needs like eating."
Gon shook his head. "You were really excited for this experience. We will be ok together."
Killua smiled. "I will make sure Gon here doesn't do anything outrageous."
Amira smiled and pulled the two boys to her hugging them. "I am just worried about you two."
"Mother hen at it again." Leorio said with a laugh.
Amira stuck her tongue out at him.
The group smiled at each other.
"We will see each other again." Kurapika said.
"September 1st in Yorknew city." The five said with smiles.
"See you later." Leorio said as he and Kurapika headed to their air ship.
"Are you guys sure you will be ok by yourselves?" Amira said while biting her lip. "I can postpone my mentorship for a while."
Killua snickered as Gon groaned.
"Ammiiirrraaa, we will be fine." Gon said.
Amira hugged the boy. "I know. Please be careful Gon. Don't take unnecessary risks and think of the consequences of your actions before you do them."
Gon smiled at her.
Amira turned to Killua and pulled the boy into a hug. Killua smiled and hugged the girl.
She leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "Be careful, little snake. Guard yourself and Gon well and when your enemy least expects it take them out. Show no mercy. Open yourself up for different opportunities and experiences. You are meant for more in this world than just being an assassin for the Zodylks."
She moved back and the boy smiled at her.
"Remember to eat and drink plenty of water. Also don't trust every stranger you meet." Amira said with a smile.
"Final call for Balsa Islands." An announcement was heard overhead.
"I got to go but I will see you all in Yorknew City on September first. I'll even bring you both a gift from my travels." Amira said grabbing her bag.
"Bye, Amira." Gon said waving.
"See you later." Killua said with a wave.
Amira waved once more before running to catch her flight. She lost sight of the boys as she turned the corner and walked down the empty hallway.
Her eyes widened as she felt a presence behind her. She was grabbed from behind and a hand was over her mouth before she could react. A figure appeared in front of her, and her eyes widened at seeing an old woman with gray braids standing there.
"Hello, young mistress. My name is Tsubone and I'm sent on behave of Master Illumi. He has big plans for you." The woman said before taking a syringe out of her pocket and uncapped the needle.
Amira tried to break away from the person behind her, but they were two strong. A stinging situation occurred and Tsubone moved back with a smile. "All done."
Amira's head started to spin, and blackness started to appear on the edges of her vision. She slowly started to fall to her knees. The person behind her slowly lowered her down until she was lying on the ground too weak and disoriented to do anything.
"Help. Someone help me." Amira whispered with tears feeling her eyes as she slowly was loosing consciousness.
Tsubone smiled and ran a hand over the girl's hair. "don't worry, young mistress. We, the butlers of the Zoldyck family will protect you."
The older woman turned to stare at the other butler.
"Good job, Amane. You were able to restrain her without hurting her. Let's get the mistress home. Master Illumi is expecting her to be there when he returns home from his latest mission." Tsubone said as she lifted the girl into her arms.
"Yes, grandmother." Amane said with a smile at Amira.
Amira tried to stay awake, but she passed out just as she was loaded into a car where a male butler was waiting for them.