Stick to the Shadows (HxH)

12: Netro's Punishment

Rilluma's P.O.V

I ran until there was no where left for me to go. I was like a caged tiger trying to find my way back home. It was impossible. Eventually I ended up running into a glass corner. I looked out the window at the sparkling lights and then at my black eyes in the reflection. How? How can I get this needle out of my neck. I don't like having Illumi in control now. 

"Rilluma!" I twisted behind me at my name. There I saw Killua staring at me and heavily breathing. My claws and teeth were still extended like I was about to kill him as well. I shook my head trying to get the bloodlust out of me. 

"Go finish your game Killua." I told him turning back around and looking out the window. This was the quickest way to let Killua know that he needs to leave without going into so much detail about what happened back there. 

"I'm good. I was getting way to worked up. Plus, he never even used all of his limbs. We could chase after that ball for hours and we wouldn't be able to get it, especially now." he explained to me. I didn't really care whether or not he would play, I just wanted him to leave. 

"You mean the ball. I'm not even sure how I got a hold of it." I told him. 

"I threw it at you. You almost bit the chairman's neck and it was the only thing I could think of." he told me looking to the side with his hands in his pockets. I put my hand on the window watching him in the reflection. I looked at myself next. 

My long saber-tooth teeth hung on the sides of my chin. It was quite unladylike. The fact that on of them was now chipped in a diagonal line so they were no longer the same size. It would bug me for quite a long time now that I realised it. 

"I'm sorry Killua."  I apologized and I wasn't even sure why. Before I left home I never apologized. Not even when I burped after eating. It was just how we were raised. Apologizing is showing weakness, but I guess at this point I think I'm getting weaker. I shouldn't have ever left home. 

"Rilluma. What is going on with you? I could see you didn't want to kill him." Killua suddenly said. I shook my head trying not to answer him. He was right, I used to never care whether or not someone died by my hands. Now I don't want to care at all. What is wrong with me? 

"I'm sorry Killua. I can't tell you." I told him. I still have to follow orders so I can't really tell him anything. 

"Why?" he asked. 

"I was ordered not to. I can't break my orders." Pain started to make the back of my neck sting. I'm giving him too much information and it goes against what Illumi told me to do. I must keep the secret of the needle. Maybe I might die if I break the order. Then I saw someone in the reflection. I couldn't mistake the guy with the beard. 

"Oh my. What a child to go and try to kill the head of the chairman of hunters." he said looking at my chipped tooth. 

"I didn't kill you though." I said looking up.

"Yes, but that doesn't matter much through the law. You could be charged with attempted murder. Now does it." I turned around and narrowed my eyes at him. He was right, but yeah when you're all worked up like I am right now it doesn't really matter. My anger raged as my form shifted without me even telling it to. My form shifted to my snow leopard form. Killua hit me on top of the head and I looked up to him. 

"Hush." Killua told me making me whine.

"Now what. You going to arrest me." I growled. 

"Nah. What kind of person would I be trying to arrest a child. Instead I think you should just get some rest and continue with the exam. As your punishment, I'm going to give you a slight pass on the next exams. On the other hand I can't just have you sit out. So in return, you and Killua will act as one person." he told me. "That way you can't act on your own until you calm down a little." 

"Sounds good old man." Killua said. I just growled as he turned on his heel and switched around. He was just going to turn and leave. Without another word. What makes him think he can do that. He's not the boss. I come over him any day of the week. 

 "Rilluma. I think we should go to bed." Killua jumped in. 

"I don't need sleep." I said without taking my eyes off the chairman as he slowly walked further and further down the hallway. Watching him drop his guard against me leaving me an opening to attack. That was how the hunt was going to work. 

"I think it would help you calm down." He told me. 

"I said I don't need to sleep." We were trained to not need to sleep every night. Even If I am passed my normal amount of time to sleep, I can't just fall asleep on a plain with tones of people that could kill me at any moment. I can't drop my gaurd here. I don't trust people to leave me alone. 

"Rilluma." 

"I'M NOT GOING TO SLEEP!" Killua just stared at me with the I told you so glare. Then I looked down and nodded. Better to just give in now before I freak out again. "Fine. As long as you sleep close to me. I . . . don't want to be alone here." I said. He nodded and then smiled. 

After that we both went to bed. All of us all slept near each other including Kurapika and Leorio. It made me feel a little safer with them near me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching us. I couldn't investigate. My limbs were sore and my eyes wouldn't stay open. Soon, I was asleep and I didn't even notice.

~.~ 

"They are quite cute while they sleep." A person watched through the cracked open doorway. "It took her a long time to fall asleep. I thought that you wouldn't be able to carry out your plan." 

"I could just order her to sleep whenever I wanted. It would just blow my cover." said another person as he walked through the doorway. He walked right up to my sleeping form and put his hand in my pocket. Then, he pulled out a little bottle. It was my medication. 

"What is the point in that again?" 

"This way she can't use it during the last exam. This is the only time that I would be able to get it without her noticing me." 

"True."

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Word Count: 1180