Lila tightly gripped the blanket on her bed. Nana had agreed to talk with Lila after work. If the clock on her wall has been right all these years, then work was technically over. Nana should be there any mom-

A knock on her door interrupted all thoughts but heightened all worries. Lila was surprised Nana even had the decency to knock due to the circumstances, considering in the past with similar ones, Nana had always barged into Lila's room.

Nana had quietly entered Lila's room when the door was opened for her. She stood in the middle of the room, looking back at the girl that she had mentored. "I'm assuming you wanted to speak about last night." 

Lila nodded her head while closing the door. She took her place near the door, unable to meet Nana's gaze. "You said some things last night, and I just wanted a better understanding." When she finally looked up to Nana, she was met with a blank face. Lila took a deep breath, glancing over to her window. She paused, thinking she saw a pair of honey eyes before shaking her head.

Hisoka wouldn't be there. Not after what happened earlier. "How did you know," Lila paused as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say. "How did you know what Hisoka does when he's not around?"

Nana scoffed while rolling her eyes. "I saw them, Lila. That's how a lot of us know the things we know."

Lila shook her head. "You couldn't have seen them, because that means you either had to be alone or close enough to him to be able to see everything. I would know that because he's always requested me and he has always been following me." Lila stared into Nana's eyes, wanting to know the truth now. "Don't lie, Nana, how did you know those things about Hisoka?"

Nana shook her head. "This is stupid Lila. You seriously don't believe me of all people? I saved you all those years ago. I was the one who took you in, I treated you like my own little sister!"

"Then act like a sister and tell me the truth!" Lila snapped, clutching her hands into fists. She took a deep breath in an attempt to somewhat calm herself down before continuing any further. "Are you interacting with the mafia or people from the black markets?"

Nana stared at Lila in disbelief before spitting a laugh. "Is that what he told you? That I am leaving the protection of our walls to interact with some lowlives, just so I can learn about some guy that has been showing interest in you?" Nana started taking steps closer to Lila. "Don't you remember what I've always told you? You don't trust a man that enters through those beads, because they just take and take and throw you off to the side. It happened to you once already and it'll happen again with Hisoka if you keep at it."

Lila squeezed her eyes shut as if they could block out the words that Nana was spewing out. "I want to leave so bad, and you know that." She spoke quietly, relaxing her closed eyes a bit. "Unlike you, who won't let me venture away from the city anymore, Hisoka's willing to give me a permanent solution. I could take an exam and if I pass, I'm protected. No one can hurt me."

"Big deal. That hardly means much-"

"It means that he's willing to help me and at times, I feel like I can trust him more than you." Lila finally opened her eyes and squared up against Nana. "He's been honest to me, unlike you. I'm going to ask one more time, and this time I want the truth. Have you been interacting with people from the mafia and black markets?"

Nana stared back at Lila. With a deep sigh, she took some steps away from her. "Ever since Hisoka had been popping up more at the workplace, and it was obvious he was intrigued by you, at night I would follow him and see where he would go."

Lila's legs almost gave from underneath her, only able to catch herself from the dresser that was near her door. "Why? You know about that guy and Yasu, and you know that those people would pay-"

"Yes, I know all of those things." Nana snapped at Lila, glaring at the girl. "Obviously you know those things too, which is good. I was trying to protect you from that same fate, and also prevent you from getting heartbroken again."

"What about the other girls?" Lila cringed as her voice croaked. "What about Mira and her family? Saki? Faye? What about every other girl that lives here and has been entrusted into your care? You were just going to endanger them to protect just one person? Some mentor you are."

"You know nothing Lila!" Nana snapped at her. "I have to make sure that all of you are safe, and I can't do that if you are off frolicking with the first man that gives you the attention that you want after all these years."

Lila glanced back to the window, now taking deep breaths to calm herself down. She must've been dreaming because she could've sworn that familiar eyes were outside her window. "I can't look at you the same," she mumbled, unable to force herself to look back at Nana.

"Lila,"

"I want to leave," Lila repeated herself, snapping back to Nana. Lila maintained a cold gaze on Nana. "I want to try and get a Hunter's license so that I don't have to live in fear." So that she doesn't have to feel this concern about her own safety due to another. "If you want me to keep quiet about what you've been doing, I suggest you let me go."

"A-are you blackmailing me?" Nana spluttered out.

It seemed that something had snapped inside of her. Lila nodded her head, taking steps closer to Nana. It could be that she had the upper hand now, and it was Nana's turn to have her own safety in the hands of someone.

"Indeed I am. I think especially with the treatment others have been receiving from you, they'll find it easier to believe me rather than you." Lila sat back down on her bed, looking over to Nana in the process. "I suggest you let me go unless you want to be exiled from your own home."

Nana opened her mouth before closing it, narrowing her eyes at Lila before leaving the room without another word. Lila stared at the door before falling backward on her bed. She wondered if she should've been concerned when she heard the window open and shut, but she didn't move from her spot.

Hisoka leaned over her, staring down at her. "Believe it or not, I actually didn't hear much."

Lila rolled to her stomach while Hisoka knelt down, the two of them somewhat eye level with one another. "You were right about Nana." She mumbled. "And before you ask, I don't really know how I feel about that."

The two sat in silence for a bit longer before Lila sat up on her bed. "I made a deal with Nana," she pulled her legs closer to her for comfort. "I would keep my mouth shut if she allowed me to leave."

Hisoka furrowed his brows in confusion. "It was obvious that you hated it here, but what would you even do outside of this place?"

"I was hoping you would take me to get the Hunter's license."

Hisoka couldn't help but smile at the words that came from Lila. He laid down on her bed, resting on his side. Lila laid down as well so that she was facing him. "We'll have to leave soon."

"I'll want to explain things to Saki and Yasu. Mira as well." Lila told him, adjusting herself so that her head rested against his chest. "I don't want to tell them everything but I don't want to leave without telling them anything."

Hisoka nodded his head carefully running his fingers through her hair. "What do you look forward to the most? Once you are out of here."

Lila thought about what she could potentially be looking forward to the moment she left the buildings, and wouldn't have to look back. "It might be stupid to you," there was a smile on her face as she spoke. "But it's the day that I can walk in the streets, in broad daylight, and I don't have to look for the nearest alleyway."

Lila couldn't help but smile at the mere thought. To be able to walk outside during the day, and not have to constantly look over her shoulder, or look both ways multiple times, or not have a mental map of the safest route from her location to the work building. It always seemed like a dream to her, but there she was, one step closer to being able to do that.