Aki (A Naruto/HxH Crossover Fan Fiction)

The Hair Ornament

Aki bowed her head slightly at the stares she was getting. No wonder. She had the eyes of just about everyone they passed, snatching 'em wigs.

"Woah~ There sure are a lot of people staring." Gon said. Mito-san giggled in satisfaction.

"Don't worry Gon, they're probably staring because of Aki. Those high-collared shirts are only good for hiding his face!" The woman gushed.

That's because I am hiding my face.

Aki bitterly thought to herself, unable to argue with the older woman who forced her to wear one of Killua's sleeveless turtleneck shirts (but not with a lot of snide comments and discomfort from both sides).

"Aki, you should try widening your wardrobe. Show that beautiful face~ Who knows? Maybe a cute guy will come ask you out." Mito-san lectured and teased at the same time, winking at the sulking girl.

The only comfort that Aki got from wearing the navy-blue top was Killua's obvious discomfort with the whole boyfriend-but-not really-boyfriends shirt situation. That's right, suffer with me.

If only Killua hadn't opened his mouth and commented on Aki's lack of fashion, then maybe he could've saved himself the trouble of having Mito-san use his shirt on Aki.

Before they boarded the ship, Mito-san carefully fixed Aki's shirt and combed her midnight black hair. It was longer now, covering the back of her neck entirely. Mito pulled a scrunchie and tied Aki's hair into a small bun. Then, she brought out a fancy looking hair pin and pinned it carefully to part Aki's bangs.

Looking at a mirror, Aki couldn't help but frown. She looked so... girly—if it weren't for the defined muscles of her shoulders and arms. Annoyed, Aki was about to take off the pony when her gaze flitted to the hair clip.

Aki gasped. It was a beautiful white pin with a black-ish red stone on one end and a cross on the other.

"Mito-san this—"

"I'm giving it to you." Mito-san cut off. The dark-haired girl pursed her lips.

"But, this looks like a family heirloom..." Aki trailed off, uncomfortable. Her fingers lightly brushed the ornament.

"Well... yes and no. It is supposed to be a heirloom, but not our family's. It's a Shinikage artifact, Ging said."

Aki's eyes widened.

"He gave it to me when I was about your age... when I started seeing the doors." Mito-san said. At the revelation, Aki couldn't help but gulp.

"Ging, as in, Gon's dad? What did he have to do with the Shinikage?" Aki asked.

"Gon's dad is... a Hunter too. He hunts these kind of stuff—artifacts, scrolls, temples. I guess he was also interested about the Shinikage clan." Mito-san explained.

"Oh..." Aki muttered. The questions in her mind floated back and forth. She hesitated to ask, losing her opportunity.

"It's a bit too girly to give to Gon... so, I thought it would suit you better. And I'm right, it fits you." Mito-san proclaimed, giving Aki a wide smile.

"I... Thank you. I appreciate it." Aki said in a small voice, a little overwhelmed with Mito-san's kindness.

"Can I ask something though?"

Mito-san nodded. "Sure. What is it?"

"Are you... are you part Shinikage?" Aki asked, her voice barely audible.

Mito-san paled. "No!! Goodness, no... I... I can see the doors, but I'm not a Shinikage." Aki seemed to deflate at Mito's response.

Mito-san softened up. "I'll tell you what, Aki... there's a better way to tell if someone is part of the Shinikage, or at least, what's left of the clan. Usually, it's in their eyes—those dark orbs, as black as the night. And... you'll just see it—a trace of Death in their eyes..." Mito-san trailed off, staring deeply into Aki's orbs.