Miracles in a Lifetime

XIV • KILLUA ☓ KUKUROO MOUNTAIN

     Tap.

     Tap. Tappity tap.

     Tap. Tap.

     Continuously tapping my fingers on the table makes Ren twitch his eye in annoyance. But it's just too quiet in here. He doesn't do anything about it though, which is partially the reason why I somewhat enjoy bothering him.

     "Hm, how long has it been since Father left?" I ask aloud, my hand ceasing to drum a beat. Ren sighs in relief from the end of the irritating sound of my pattering.

     "It has been an hour and a half, Master." I don't say anything in response and clench my teeth lightly.

     "Please, Ren. Don't call me 'Master.' I dislike it," I say monotonously, "so... stop."

     Ren says nothing and pouts, turning his face away from me. I roll my eyes from his childishness.

     A few minutes later, I finally feel the presence of the applicants who've passed heading toward our location.

     Something doesn't feel right... something's off.

     I widen my eyes in realization. Gon and Killua aren't with them. Neither is the old martial arts man.

     'Where could they be...?' I ask myself. I start to think about the possibilities, and my heart starts beating rapidly from one of them. Did they...? No! No, no no, they can't. They're too strong for that...

     My eyes dart to the door as it creaks open. I scan over all the applicants, and see everyone except my two friends and that elder. I walk up to them and they give me curious looks.

     "Where have you been?" I replay my memories to try and recall who this man is, and I finally remember that he is applicant #53, Pokkle.

     "As I have said before, this applicant had been intentionally removed from the competition for confidential reasons," Netero explains, making Pokkle look at me with a suspicious gaze. "I had intended for this applicant to have a more suitable battle to test her skills, but it ended up failing horribly."

     The Chairman then starts walking towards the front of the large auditorium as the others and I settle into random seats.

     "All of you are here because you've passed the Hunter Exam — including Gon-kun who is currently being treated from his battle with Hanzo-kun. But before we continue, let's discuss number ninety-nine, Killua-kun."

     My eyebrows furrow and I sit up. Killua...? What happened with him? What's going on?

     I look around me to see the reactions of everyone else, and my eyes land on the blond teen next to me. I poke his shoulder, and he surprisingly obeys when I motion for him to lean closer.

     "What's going on? Did something happen to Killua?" Ren whispers for me. I blush when his lips nearly brush against my ear to respond.

     "Killua surrendered his first fight with Pokkle, but his next battle was with number three-o-one, Gittarackur. He's apparently Killua's older brother, and when his disguise was exposed," he pauses to look back at the front of the room, "something in him changed. During Leorio's battle, Killua interfered and killed Bodoro, getting himself disqualified."

     I scrunch my nose with this information. That doesn't make sense... why would Killua do something like that?

     "I know that Killua wouldn't do that," Kurapika continues, almost reading my mind. "I think that Gittara– I mean Illumi hypnotized him."

     The both of us turn our attention back to Netero when the door suddenly opens. We all look at the door to see a bandaged Gon. I sigh in relief, seeing as how he's okay now, though his wounds will take a while to heal.

     He walks down the aisles toward this lean man with long hair and large eyes, a definite contrast with his green, circus-like attire. I'm guessing that man is Killua's brother. A moment passes when he reaches Illumi's seat, and Leorio calls out to him. Gon doesn't respond and stops beside Illumi who paid him no attention.

     "Apologize to Killua!" Gon yells harshly. Illumi turns to him with a stoic expression, finally noticing that Gon was speaking to him.

     "Apologize? For what?" Illumi shows no interest towards Gon.

     "You don't know what you did wrong?!" Gon asks, his eyes glued on Illumi's face. Illumi replies with a genuinely confused 'No,' and Gon clenches his fists.

     "You don't have the right to be his brother," Gon says lowly, surprising me.

     "Must I earn the right to be his brother?"

     His statement infuriates me for some reason, and I guess it makes Gon upset too, since he grabs Illumi's wrist and throws him over his head. Illumi lands gracefully, but Gon keeps his grip on his pale arm.

     "Killua doesn't need the right to be my friend!" Gon's grip tightens, and Illumi is evidently surprised by his strength. Keeping his glare on the long-haired male, Gon loosens his grip, seeming to have come to a resolution.

     "Don't bother apologizing. Just take me to see Killua," Gon demands. In response, Illumi asks a question.

     "What will you do?"

     "That should be obvious," he says quietly at first. Then, raising his voice, he declares, "I'm going to save Killua!"

     I let out a sigh and shake my head. Gon...

✧☓✧☓✧☓✧☓✧

     "Come back here as soon as you're done," the Chairman whispers into my ear as he hugs me. I nod in reply.

     After the meeting about Killua's disqualification, the four of us — Gon, Kurapika, Leorio and I — decided to go find Killua together. His house is apparently at the top of Kukuroo Mountain. What a place to live, right?

     I had informed Netero about my decision to help Gon, Leorio and Kurapika save Killua, and he was disappointed at first, since he wanted to spend time and train me right after the Exam. But after a few moments of thinking it over, he gave me permission to go, knowing how much the boys mean to me.

     "Okay," I sigh in content, frowning internally when we let go of each other. He chuckles at the lack of emotion on my face.

     "Now, go! Your friends are waiting for you," he encourages, gently pushing me forward. I look over my shoulder and give him the biggest smile I can muster. In reality, however, it's just a smirk. Chairman Netero smiles back, waving me off, and I nod, heading to my friends.

     Once I reach them, they look at me expectantly.

     "So... let's go?" Gon asks, and we all nod. Everyone has grins, while a tiny smirk plays on my red lips.

EDITED ON: Monday, December 9th, 2019