Whispers of the Sky (Hunter X Hunter)

Killing X Is Not X Allowed!

Hands dyed in red,
Can it be cleaned so easily?
-*-

"How about we play a game?" Netero offered them, Yllina's mind barely processing what he was asking of them.

She still couldn't shake off the unbearable feeling of dread that clung to her. She should be used to it by now, the feeling of being chained and unable to escape. To resign herself to her fate for the sake of the kingdom. Two years of being free had made her too lax, something she should refrain from ever experiencing until she and Rhode found a way to fix this mess.

"What's in it for us?" Yllina could hear Killua ask him, suspicion coated his words at the chairman's rather peculiar offer. From the corner of her eye, she could see the chairman's eyes twinkle in mischief before he spoke.

"If you win then I can pass you!"

Yllina almost choked at his words, the proposition too tempting to refuse. Next to her, Gon exclaimed, "You can do that!?"

"Of course I can, I'm the chairman! So how about it? Are you interested now?"

Gon agreed in a heartbeat at the announcement, Killua agreeing not long after regardless of his suspicion towards the chairman. All eyes were on Yllina now, her hands still clammy from the previous onslaught of the presence that struck them.

Time wasn't on their side, that Yllina was sure. If she took his offer then wouldn't it make it faster for them to achieve their goals? Yllina believed that was the right way to go but her body refused to cooperate. She was still shaken and given that Rhode was nowhere close to her, there was no point in joining in regardless of the outrageous offer presented before her.

If she passed and Rhode didn't, what was the point?

"I-I refuse," She finally made her decision, each eyes widening in surprise at her response, "Eh?! But this is an opportunity Yllina-san. Why would you refuse?"

"I'm sorry, Gon. I want to pass this with Rhode even if the offer is too tempting. Besides-" Yllina smiled faintly before gesturing to her shaking hands, "I'm not sure I'll be able to win anyway with my condition. I'll just wait for you here when it's over, how about that?"

At this, Killua couldn't help but raise a curious eyebrow at her direction, noting the traces of fear in her eyes. Was the old man's presence really that frightening for her?

"Well suit yourself. Let's go, Gon," Killua brushed the thoughts away, his hands in his pockets while he called for Gon. Gon passed Yllina an apologetic smile before she saw them off, their forms following the chairman who led them to wherever they were going to do this game of his.

With no one but her thoughts to keep her company, Yllina sat back down on the long chair they previously occupied, her eyes trying to distract her with the city skylights.

'It'll be fine,' She repeated to herself in assurance, 'He can't possibly have found us here...'

--*--

"Your friend back there. Is she really alright? She looked pretty shaken," Netero questioned, feigning ignorance to the fact that it was his fault Yllina broke down like that.

Whether Gon saw through the chairman's trick or not didn't bother Killua. What pissed the ex-assassin off was the fact that Netero was playing them like fools, acting like he knew nothing when it was obvious he was the reason for that sickening gaze.

"She said she was but I'm still kind of worried... What do you think, Killua?" Gon turned his head to the side to face his friend, Killua's gaze never leaving Netero's back before he shrugged.