Chapter 11

A/N If any of you haven't realized yet, remember Aki's heterochromia? Well her left eye is the same color as Gon's, and her right eye is the same color as Killua's. It's just an idea I had. Also, joke warning: in the last few paragraphs, you're either gonna cringe or tear up a bit.

After the ride to Split Mountain, Menchi explained the rules for the exam redo. We were supposed to jump down and grab an egg from the web, which was above a deep canyon. "Seriously? You expect us to do that?" the applicants complained. "That's practically suicide!"

"Yeah, what the hell is this?!"

"Give us a more fair test!"

"Are you kidding me? That looks so cool!" I exclaimed and immediately leaped into the canyon. The wimps behind me stared at me in shock as me and my friends fell towards the giant web. Yeah- for some reason, I felt like- I knew that I would be perfectly fine. I guess it was my body's new instincts and abilities.

"WOOOHOOOO!!" I yelled, spreading my arms out. I grabbed an egg or two as I fell past some and held onto one of the thick strands of webbing. I'd gained much more confidence in my newfound physical capabilities- I was much faster, stronger, more endurable, agile, etc.

"You didn't have to take this! You passed the first one!" Menchi called from above. "It's fine, I wanted to! It looked fun!" I yelled back with a grin. A few more people began to drop down too. Some people decided to jump before the updrift came, effectively killing them. On the other hand, the rest of us waited for Gon (who's freakishly good senses could detect anything) to give the signal.

He opened his eyes. "Now!" We all let go, and a strong gust of wind flew us all up into the air. I giggled as I propelled myself towards the land with the others.

A few minutes later, my two eggs were completely cooked and ready to eat. My eyes widened as I bit into the soft egg. "Woah... this is the best thing I've ever tasted, and I usually don't even like eggs!" I exclaimed as I happily chewed my egg.

"I agree! 10 out of 10!" Gon exclaimed, standing next to me with a half eaten egg in his hand as well.

That night, we rode the airship all the way to the next phase, which I still can't remember. Something about a tower, I think?

***

"I told you you'd get kicked out," I said as a chef dropped Gon and Killua on the floor with a scowl. "Tch, shut up," Killua grumbled as they stood up, dusting themselves off.

"Woah, look at that!" Gon suddenly exclaimed. He ran over to the huge window-wall and pressed his palms against the glass. Killua and I followed him, wondering what he was talking about.

But as soon as I was standing in front of the window, I was taken away by the beautiful sight. Below us, millions of bright lights like jewels and stars twinkled below us. The city was so gorgeous.

I smiled softly and pressed my hands against the cool glass. I wished the window wasn't there so that I could feel the cool night wind. I looked over and saw Killua staring at the city, the lights reflecting in his wistful eyes.

Right, Killua... he's from a powerful assassin family, isn't he? He probably didn't get out much to see stuff like this. I bit my lip thinking about how lonely it must've been. Freedom... is something you can't just take away from something. It's a right all creatures deserve.

And sure, bad people are jailed for wrongdoing, but I mean... it's not like they were ready to become a thief the minute they were born. It was someone in their life or something that happened that caused them to become like that. And if there had been someone to comfort them after something bad happened to them, someone that really cared for them...

If they'd been raised by better parents, surrounded by better people, who knows... they could've became a doctor who saves lives. And if they're like that because of some mental illness, that's not their fault either. It was the way they were born, which they can't control because they're not god. If I could've... never mind. I can't think about it. I won't.

"So, why don't you guys tell me about your families!" Gon said, sitting on the bench next to the window. I froze. My... family, huh? I slowly took a seat, Gon on my right and Killua on my left.

"My parents are assassins," Killua said. He was sitting, but still looking outside. "Assassins, huh?" I asked. "Really? Both of them? That's so cool!" Gon exclaimed. Killua looked at us confusedly before chuckling.

"You guys believe me?" he asked. "Well... yeah, why wouldn't we?" Gon asked. "Most people only like me cause they can't tell if I'm serious or not."

"Well I believe you," I said. Gon nodded in agreement. Killua sighed. "All my family members are assassins. They have really high hopes for me... but I hate already having my future layed out for me," he said with a frown.

"So... you ran away?" I asked softly. He glanced at me. "Yeah. I stabbed my brother and mom... it's way less than they deserve." He grinned, crossing his arms. "When I become a hunter, I'm gonna turn them in someday. I'm sure they're worth a hefty bounty..." he said, smirking. We sat in contemplative silence for a short while.

"What about you, Aki?" Gon asked. I stared at the floor. "My parents... well... I don't really have anything to say about them. They're dead, just so you know." Gon's eyes softened. "Do you mind if I asked you how?"

I bit my lip. They looked a bit concerned, especially Gon, being the soft-hearted cinnamon roll that he was. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Gon said, frantically waving his hands in front of him. I shook my head. "It's fine... I would've told you at some point anyway."

"I didn't have any siblings- I'm an only child like you, Gon. My parents... I looked up to them for so long. They were always so nice and kind to me, to everyone. But when I was sevente- I mean seven... I heard that they'd been arrested. My parents were arrested for multiple charges of murder and thievery."

Gon's eyes widened a bit. I guess Killua was used to this though, because a little sympathy showed in his eyes, even though he tried to hide it as he frowned. "My loving parents, the ones I trusted for so long, the ones who lead me through life, the ones I loved... were just illusions. Everything up to that point was just a big lie."

Gon held my hand gently. "I don't think I can understand something like that, especially since I've never been through it... but you do know that you have us, right? Kurapika, Leorio, Killua, and me are all your friends now. We're not illusions. We're not lies."

I knew that he'd meant every word in that sentence. Compassion shone in his eyes. "And don't forget it, baka," Killua added with a small smile, putting his hands behind his head. He didn't say anything else, but his eyes were enough to tell me that I could trust him.

I grinned, my eyes welling up a bit, and for the first time, I let myself get closer to people. The last time I'd felt something so comforting and familiar like this... was before my parents were arrested.

After a short while, I slowly stood up and smiled, placing my hands on my hips. "Thanks guys. I feel totally refreshed now!" I exclaimed, stretching my arms and turning my back to them to hide my face. No more tears, I thought, putting on my cheerful act to get rid of the choking feeling welling up in my throat.

I promised myself that day that I'd never cry for someone else again, whether they were happy tears or sad tears. "It's... really nice to have great friends," I added, turning around, smiling to myself.

Hunter X Hunter may just be a show in my original world, but here, everything is real. I know what Killua and Gon are like from my days watching the anime. Even if I did forget the plot, I certainly didn't forget how I felt watching them. I know that I can trust them with my life.

"...Same here, I guess," Killua said hesitantly, scratching his cheek lightly out of embarrassment. "Hehe... GROUP HUG!" Gon yelled happily, grabbing Killua's arm and mine as he squashed us with a bear hug, surprising me. I laughed, letting myself be smothered by Gon as Killua got even more embarrassed but smiled a little, stuck between Gon's crushing hug and my side.

So this is what true friends are like.