Gon is a Brat™

(≧ڡ≦*)

Miwa sat in her hospital bed, rummaging through the bag Shalnark had brought her. In addition to the tablet, he had purchased her a variety of books. He told her that he just asked the saleswoman to get whatever was popular with girls.

Miwa had found a book inside with a weird cover. It was of a very muscular man posing dramatically. The title read: Passion's Embrace.

'Looks like one of those stinky guys from Heaven's Arena,' Miwa thought as she stared at the man. She scrunched up her nose in disgust.

Maybe it's a fighting book? Kurama guessed.

Miwa thought that made the most sense. Why else would it have that cover?

'In that case... Gon might like to read this with me,' Miwa thought. Gon didn't like to read, but he liked fighting. She'd read a bit and see if it would be something he'd find interesting.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Gon returned to the hospital room after going to the bathroom to find Miwa stiffly sitting in bed, completely red-faced as she stared at a book.

"You okay?" Gon asked.

"Help," she whispered. "I can't look away."

Gon chuckled and crawled into the bed to sit next to her. "Whatchya readin'?"

Miwa shakily showed the book to him.

"His member was hot as it—" Gon started to read out loud which caused Miwa to scream in embarrassed horror.

Pouf immediately rushed into the room barely two seconds later, frazzled. "Miwa?!"

Miwa started to hit Gon with the book and he laughed. She squealed, "Don't read it out loud!"

"Hehehehe—okay—okay—!" Gon laughed as she continued to hit him. Miwa shakily lowered the book, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Miwa turned to Shaiapouf. She struggled to keep from squeaking as she said, "I—I'm okay Pouf, Gon just—just—startled me."

"Eat me," Gon whispered in between his giggles.

"Not. Now," she hissed. She felt her face immediately grow hot again. Gon howled with laughter upon seeing her mortified face.

(≧ڡ≦*)

(Killua)

Killua was nauseous.

Emotional distress wasn't something he often felt in his life. He was taught early on in his childhood how to repress and dissociate. When things got overwhelming or stressful he flipped a switch and disconnected so he could think rationally. That was what a proper assassin was meant to do.

That time he was having trouble.

There was an uncomfortable queasy stone in the pit of his stomach. Although the lunch he ate earlier was perfectly fine, it might as well have been rotten and filled with maggots with how disgusted he felt.

"This is your family home?" asked Neferpitō.

Killua did not stop moving toward the testing gates that stood tall.

"Yes," he said quietly. He shoved the gates open, taking the moment to release some of his anxiety.

"Why are they so big?" asked the cat-ant.

"Lots of reasons," he answered, not really wanting to get involved with that conversation. He held up his hand, palm-flat, as a gesture for Neferpitō to stop.

The cat-ant paused, their tail flicking side to side.

"Stay here," he said. "Do you remember the signal?"

"Mm-hmm," said the cat-ant.

One way or another Killua was taking Alluka out of there. If his parents would not let Alluka go without a fight, then he'd use Neferpitō to distract and create an opening.

Neferpitō's ears twitched. "See you soon, boy."

Killua turned back around and waved as he continued to head inside.

He did not waste any time. He moved with speed and purpose as he entered his home and went directly to his father's office. His father's office was kept in the far back of the house where Silva spent a lot of time meditating. The room was kept cold with harsh blue and white lights that made it difficult to see for normal people.

Killua opened the door, marching in with a purpose.

"Let me see Alluka," said Killua. "I need her power."

"Killua—"

"I don't have time," snapped Killua. He stiffened, quickly recollecting himself. He felt so sick to his stomach he could throw up. He wouldn't—his self-discipline was too good—but he was undoubtedly on edge. He forced his voice to even out as he coolly said, "I'll go even if you try to stop me, so come with me."

"It's useless. No one can control Alluka."

"That's wrong!" Killua said, trying—and failing—to keep the anger out of his tone. His mounting anxiety gnawed at him like a starved hound that caught the scent of fresh meat. "You're all wrong. Alluka's a part of this family, she isn't a machine. As her brother, I'm asking her for help."

"For help, huh...?" Silva spoke slowly, firmly, as he said, "That child is not human. You shouldn't consider that thing to be a member of the family."

That was too much.

His stress, coupled with how cruelly his father was insulting his youngest sibling devoured what little patience Killua had left.

Killua's entire body shifted into a defensive posture. His nen unconsciously leaked out of him along with his murderous desire.

Killua had always respected his father.

But at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to slice his throat open.

'That's what you trained me to do, isn't it? To kill anyone who gets in my way? You're in my way. You're in my way.'

Killua's cold blue eyes stared at his father. Even if he was furious, he knew better than to immediately attack Silva. Especially since Silva had made no move to switch to a defensive posture.

'He doesn't see me as a threat.'

"That thing," Silva continued to speak slowly, "is something that came from somewhere else."

'He doesn't underst—'

Killua recalled the day he left to adventure with Gon and Miwa.

Silva had bitten his thumb, drawing blood. He held out his hand to Killua and solemnly said, "Promise me one thing. Never betray your friends."

Killua felt his fury soften.

He bit his thumb and held out his hand to his father. "Only Alluka can save Miwa now. If I ignore a friend I have the ability to help, wouldn't I be betraying her?"

Silva closed his eyes. "Come with me."

Silva stood up, walking past Killua and out of the office. To no one's surprise, Kikyo was outside the office and waiting for them. She had hurried over as soon as she knew Killua was home.

"What's going on?" she asked. "Killua, are you back home for good?"

"No," he said. "I'm here for Alluka."

"Why do you want to see that thing?" Kikyo fretted, fanning herself.

"Alluka is not a thing," Killua snapped. "She's family."

"It is an uncontrollable weapon that has indiscriminately killed many of our servants," Kikyo refuted. "You are our precious son, we cannot justify putting you at risk. Why now? What has you so desperate?"

"It's for Miwa," he said. "She's really sick. I need Alluka's power to save her."

Kikyo stopped fanning herself. She turned to Silva. "Father...?"

"I will allow Killua to see it."

"I need Alluka to come with me," Killua sharply cut in.

"I did not agree to that," Silva coldly rejected.

"How sick is Miwa...?" Kikyo quietly inquired.

"She'll—She'll die without Alluka," Killua explained.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the three.

"Father," Kikyo said quietly, softly. "I am the Mother. I handle the logistics. I weigh the risks and advantages for each mission." She slowly closed her fan. "I dislike this. I dislike this very much. Killua... you say that thing is a member of this family? Let me ask you: can you control it? Can you guarantee your safety?"

"Yes," Killua promised. "Alluka is a good girl."

"Swear it," she said. "Swear that thing will not do more harm than good in being freed."

"I swear. M... Mother, please." Killua bowed his head to her.

Kikyo shifted her weight side to side, wringing at her fan. She chewed on her bottom lip, plainly distressed.

"I dislike this. I dislike this so very much," she said. "You must be accompanied by the butlers. You must stay in contact with me. You must prioritize your safety above all. Agree to those things and—and you can take that thing with you."

"Kikyo—" Silva started to say, but Kikyo let out a shriek.

"Do you have an alternative?" she demanded. "Our son would find a way, he always does! Always, always, always finds a way around us. I want him safe. I want her safe. I want them safe. I hate this—I hate this very much—so if you have a better idea I—am—all—ears—but—if—you—do—not—then—shut—up."

Silva remained quiet, his expression was unreadable.

Most of the time Kikyo was someone who deferred to her husband to family matters. That was because she was someone who tended to get irrational and emotionally distressed when dealing with her family. She did not know love outside of control and suffocation, so she did not know how to handle her emotions when she wanted to do things outside that. A part of her felt instinctively protective of her children, but that part had become warped and twisted from the abuse faced in Meteor City, coupled with the assassination business she ran.

But when it came to business, Silva deferred to Kikyo. Kikyo had a sharp mind under that insanity and could be a frightful tactician to their enemies.

Kikyo was the biggest reason why no country could ever tie the Zoldyck family down. She maneuvered politics like a swan in water. She had connections all across the world. In every shadow she had an ear; in every palace, she had a hand.

It was not something Killua got to see often with his mother. He never dealt with the customers, after all. Kikyo was the face of the family, the one who agreed to the missions and argued for prices. Killua had no reason to see that side of his mother.

Which was why he did not recognize the steel in her tone and the subtle shift in posture.

But Silva did.

Silva knew in front of him was not a frantic mother who did not comprehend her emotions.

In front of him was the tenaciously cruel woman who controlled nearly half of the underworld.

Arguing with her would either be a costly victory or a costly defeat.

Either way—

Silva nodded once, accepting the loss. He looked at Killua and said, "Do you agree?"

"Yes," he said. "Thank you."

"Thank your mother," he said. "I would not have agreed."

Killua hesitated. He did not have the best relationship with his mother, finding her mood swings difficult to deal with. "Thank you... Mom."

"You may thank me with grandchildren," she snapped. "I will prepare the transportation now. You may... prepare that... mistake."

Killua's hands curled into fists. He bit hard on his tongue to keep from saying anything else. He did not want to spoil or ruin the opportunity presented.

(≧ڡ≦*)

(Miwa)

Shaiapouf went to get food after confirming that Miwa was okay. Miwa was sick of the hospital food, so Shaiapouf wanted to find an alternative restaurant. As soon as he left, Miwa started to hit Gon with the book again.

"How—could—you?!"

"Your face," he whispered. "Hehehehe. I promise I won't say anything out loud again."

"Okay," she said, lowering the book again. Gon scooted to sit beside her.

"Can we start at chapter one?" He asked her, his eyes gleaming with mischievous glee.

Miwa chewed on the insides of her cheeks.

"Can't say it out loud?" Miwa stressed.

"Not a peep," he promised.

"Only tell Killua?" she asked.

"Yep."

"Okay. Because I really, really don't want to read this, but I—I can't seem to not," she whispered, silently starting the book over. "It's horrible."

Gon leaned into her. "Wonder if there's a movie about it we can watch."

"I hope not."

"Oooh, maybe there's an audiobook—?"

Miwa prayed to whoever was listening that Gon would never find that audiobook.

(≧ڡ≦*)

(Killua)

Alluka was a precious younger sibling with a unique ability.

Alluka could grant wishes. The only prerequisite to those wishes was that someone had to fulfill three requests prior.

Killua quietly followed behind Silva as the head of the Zoldyck family guided Killua to where Alluka was kept. Alluka had been given a heavily fortified room in the deepest part of the dungeon. Silva had to unlock dozens of armored doors.

'When three of Alluka's requests are fulfilled, she'll grant one wish. There probably isn't any limit to the wishes she can grant. My guess is that she can grant any wish. But the bigger the wish she grants the bigger the next three requests will be. In other words, an equivalent exchange. And the sacrifice isn't made by the one whose wish was granted. It's the next person who fulfills the requests. If someone denies four of Alluka's requests in a row, that person and their most loved one, meaning a minimum of two people, will die. The bigger the wish, the more people die when the requests aren't fulfilled.'

When one of the butlers had wished to be a millionaire, Alluka asked the next person to give her their liver, their spine, their brain, and their heart. Upon being rejected, sixty-seven people were instantly killed and those were just the ones the Zoldyck family knew of.

Killua entered Alluka's room, smiling kindly. Alluka's eyes lit up as soon as she saw her brother. She cried out, "Brother!"

"Alluka," Killua said softly.

Alluka rushed to Killua, throwing her arms around Killua.

"Sorry about leaving you down here so long, Alluka," said Killua. He hugged her. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I'm happy to see you," Alluka chirped, nuzzling into her brother. "I've missed your scent."

Killua let out a small chuckle at that.

(≧ڡ≦*)

(Miwa)

Shaiapouf was attentive to Miwa. A quiet, but strong support, he always lingered nearby and came to her side the moment she squeaked or started to throw up. Between him and Gon, Miwa was never alone.

Miwa wondered what Shaiapouf would do after she got better. The butterfly-ant had surprised her by staying at all—even at the orders of the king—because she always thought he'd prioritize the king's safety.

The fact that he wasn't doing so was... nice?

Miwa couldn't deny that she felt happy that he (kind of?) chose her. It was a silly little ego boost that he was at her side instead of Meruem, but at the same time worrying. She knew how much he cared about the king. She didn't want him to be unhappy watching over her.

'Aside from one phone call to Soleil to make sure Meruem arrived, he hasn't tried to contact him,' Miwa thought. 'I wonder why.'

I told you why.

'Huh?'

Think back on what you agreed to do with him.

'What I agreed to do...?'

Miwa squinted as she thought. The only thing that came to recent memory was when she comforted Shaiapouf.

"Pouf... have you ever thought about what you want outside the king?" she asked.

"How could I—! To even dare to have such thoughts—!"

"I don't think it's a bad thing," she said. "What if the king no longer wants to be a king? What if he... just wants to be himself?"

Fresh tears cascaded from his eyes. "No. Don't say that. He can't—without him—without him—" Shaiapouf shuddered, hugging himself as he bowed forward. "What's the point of my existence? What's the point of this? We were born to serve the king, the king!"

"You were born to do whatever you want," Miwa disagreed. "You have an identity outside of being a Royal Guard."

"I do not!" he snapped, trembling. "I... I do not..."

Miwa continued to pat his head with one hand, and wipe away his tears with another. "You do. You just need to take the time to look."

"How could I?" he whispered. "Alone? All by myself?"

Miwa smiled at him. "Doesn't have to be alone."

Shaiapouf bowed his head, holding himself tightly as his cries turned into heaping sobs. He fell forward into Miwa's arms, unable to handle the weight of his thoughts by himself anymore.

"There, there," she said, gently patting his head. "I'm here, my friend. I'll be here for as long as you need or want me."

Could that be what Kurama was referring to?

Ah, now that Miwa was thinking about it after that moment Kurama had said he would become clingy.

His base personality will always be the obsessive type. Instead of clinging to his king, he's clinging to you.

'I don't know about that,' Miwa remarked, doubtful. 'I think he's just being a good friend.'

Give it some time. After you're healed, he'll want to stay with you instead of going to his king. Mark my words, he's a fucking yandere in the making.

'Ehhh... nah.'

You're an idiot.

'It'll be fine!'

You are such a fucking idiot.

'It's really sweet how you worry about me.'

Be quiet, Kurama snapped. Moron!

Miwa was distracted from responding to Kurama when she smelled someone approaching the doorway. Killua had arranged for a private room at the hospital so only select hospital staff were allowed to visit Miwa. The person who had arrived didn't smell like any of the staff members, but had a familiar scent of horehound to them—

Shaiapouf stood at the doorway, his voice cold as he asked, "Who are you?"

"Name's Leorio!" said a familiar voice. "This Miwa's room?"

"Leorio," Gon called out cheerfully.

"It's okay Pouf," said Miwa.

Shaiapouf stepped back, his stoic expression unreadable.

Leorio entered the room, adjusting his suit tie with a grin. "Hey you two."

"Thanks for stopping by," said Gon.

"Well I was already in town for the Chairman voting thing," said Leorio. "Say I heard your dad's on the committee, Gon?"

"That's what Kite said." Gon shrugged.

"So he's in town, right?"

"Yeah."

Leorio's brow creased. "He knows you're here, right?"

Gon smiled. "Kite said he'd mention it when he checked in."

"And he hasn't come to see you at all?"

"Nope!"

Miwa frowned. She hadn't realized how close Gon was to finally meeting his father.

'Why is here with me...?'

Leorio made a disgusted noise. "Guess we shouldn't expect that much from a deadbeat that already ran out, huh...? That guy deserves a real beat down." He shook his head as if to dispel his angry thoughts. He pulled up a seat to Miwa's bed. "How are you, Miwa?"

"Tired," she said, temporarily banishing her guilty thoughts. She'd address the issue with Gon's father after Leorio left. "But I'll be okay! Killua said he knows how to fix me up and he'll be back in a couple of days."

Leorio grinned. "That's good to hear. Eating okay? Getting enough sleep?"

"Mm-hmm! Pouf found a really nice shop that makes the best chowder," Miwa happily explained. "Puts me right to sleep afterward."

"Good. Eat lots of meat, you'll need the energy," he said. "Do they have you on any medication?"

Miwa shook her head. "No. Um, I've got my own healing factor and it gets kinda messy when other stuff is added in."

Leorio scratched at his chin. "Huh. Something nen based?"

"Similar," she said.

He winced. "Wish I could help more. Ah, I brought something." Leorio pulled up his briefcase, He opened it up and took out a cutely wrapped package. "Gon said you liked cute stuff."

"Yeah-huh!" Miwa chirped, accepting the package. She sniffed it. "What is it?"

"Open it and see," Leorio encouraged.

Miwa pulled the ribbon off, opening the package to find a bunch of little rainbow colored cubes with a dusting of powdered sugar. "Whoa, those are so cute. What are they?"

"Something called Turkish delight," said Leorio. "Don't eat them all at once while you're recovering, but a little sweet treat in between meals should be okay."

Miwa positively beamed. "Thank you, Leorio!"

"Don't mention it. I saw them on my way back from voting last night," Leorio explained with a chuckle.

(≧ڡ≦*)

When Leorio left, Miwa looked over at Gon. Worry shone in her eyes, guilt nibbling at her heart.

"Gon... you don't need to stay with me," she said quietly. "You can go to your dad. You started your journey just to meet him."

Gon frowned at her. "No."

"Gon—"

"Miwa," he said. "I will meet him one day. I'm not going to break my promise to Killua, and I'm not going to risk leaving you alone right now just 'cause I couldn't wait a bit longer."

"But Gon—"

"But nothing," he said firmly. "Your life is more precious to me than meeting him right away."

Miwa's cheeks turned red. She found it hard to meet Gon's unwavering gaze; it was unusually intense. She lowered her eyes, her heart pounding painfully loud in her chest.

"You're precious to me," she whispered.

"Mn." Gon gently patted the top of her head. "You're precious to me, too."

She leaned into his chest, closing her eyes in contentment.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Bonus:

"GON HELP ME. I'M DYING OF BOREDOM NOW!" she cried. "I hate paperwork! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!"

"Oh no, not boredom!" exclaimed Gon. "Uhh, uhh, uhhh—Rock—!"

"Paper—!"

"Scissors!"

They tied for rock.

(≧ڡ≦*)

True story. Back in middle school, I didn't have a phone or much access to a computer, so if I wasn't with friends, I was reading. I wanted to borrow a book from another library 'cause the summary seemed interesting. The library website didn't have a picture of the cover.

I got the book. Thought it was a weird cover. Read it. Immediately freaked out. Proceeded to share it with my friends. They freaked out. We shared it with the rest of the girls in our gym class via the locker room. Lots of screams, squeals, and questions. Eventually, the book made its way through nearly everyone in my year group. I got it at the beginning of the semester and I didn't see it again until the end of the year after a boy gave it back to me when he signed my yearbook.

Fun times.

Answer: Pariston. I have a soft spot for smart psychopaths in animes. ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

Question: Oh no! You're now instantly transported into one of the last three fanfics you've read at the start right next to one of the main characters. What do you do? Or are you shit outta luck?

Reviews are love!