\\Annya (POV)\\

We walked the gloomy, night forest as we reached a house.

"Here we are," Zebro said. "These are the servants quarters. It's getting pretty late, so you can stay here tonight."

"Thank you mister Zebro," I said bowing my head low.

"No problem," he said while opening a door. As I noticed it seemed to be quite heavy. Since it left a mark from moving it. "Please, come on in."

We thanked him and walked in the house. It looked naturally beautiful. Reminds me of my own home, I smiled.

"Hey! Anybody home?" Zebro asked. Someone walked down the stairs.

"Guests huh? Don't see that everyday" Said a man, with an orange sweater and blunt red hair.

"This is Sequad! He works with me here, at the estate!" Zebro smiled

"Good evening!" Gon cheered as I bowed my head. He only stared at us blankly with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Hm. Zebro doesn't take a liking in just anybody. Make yourself's at home!" He said walking off. "Thought on this house it's easier said than done."

We stared at him blankly. Oh.

———

"You wanna see young master Killua?" He asked rearing by a wall, as we sat to a table with some tea. He laughed and shook his head. "Now that's pretty funny!"

"Actually we're dead serious," Leorio groaned as I nodded.

"Then let me give you some advice. Give up now and go home," he said.

"That will sadly not be happening," I said leaning to a bench we were sitting on.

He raised an eye brow at me. "Zebro did tell you about the testing gates, didn't he? If you wanna know what this place is like, that is a great example."

"It won't be easy," Gon said. "We get that."

"Yeah everyone keeps repeating that all the time," I sight drinking my tea. Then putting it back. "But still."

"We are not leaving yet!" Gon stated. "Not until we see Killua."

"We came all this way to him, after all. We're not going to give up now," I smiled.

"Before. When he was in trouble... I wasn't there for him, like I should've been..." Gon said.

I touched his shoulder, giving him a small smile. "No one is blaming you, Gon. Because I'm the only one to blame. If we're really talking. I had a chance, I could've done something. But I didn't."

Gon looked at me. "Annya, no one is blaming you either!" He beamed. "He's important to the both of us! That's why we'll keep going!"

Silence interrupted the room as I pat his head, nodding. Zebro was the one to break it with his laughter.

"I understand," he said. "In that case, why don't you do some training while your here?" He asked as I glanced at him, surprised.

"Huh? What do you mean mister Zebro?" I asked, confused.

"Hey now Zebro," Sequad interfered.

"Listen to me," the elder continued. "You 4 can try to open the door together. There's nothing wrong with teamwork. And with a little bit of training, it should be possible!" He smiled. "How about it?"

"Mister Zebro..." I mumbled, lowering my head.

He looked at me confused. I brought my hand to my face.

"Thank you!" I said with tears streaming down my face. "Your giving us so much... how can we repay you..."

Gon needed to pat my head for me to stop crying, as Zebro smiled at us.

"I don't like being tested..." Gon mumbled.

"But if there's no other way..." Kurapika said.

"I guess we'll just have to do it!" Leorio exclaimed while smiling.

"Yeah!" I yelled wiping the last tears from my eyes.

"Alright. Then I'm gonna need all 4 of you to put something on," he said. We stared at him in confusion.

———

I walked with the guys wearing a vest which weight at least 40 kilograms.

"How is this... so heavy..." Leorio said on his 4 feet.

"It weights 50 kilograms," said Zebro. "Wear it at all times. Except when your sleeping."

"Oh I see..." I mumbled, standing still. Trying not to tremble.

"I'll make it heavier as you get used to it," he smiled. Leorio screamed in despair. We were than sat to a table and given cups with tea. "Here, have some tea."

I nodded trying to take the cup. If didn't budge. I wonder how much this thing is weights...

The boys seemed to be also struggling with the cups like me.

"The cups weight only 20 kilograms," Zebro informed us. I stared at him. Only? "And this pot weights 40."

I again observed my tea cup as I lifted it. Damn I haven't done some training in a time. Guess that's why it's was so hard to lift it.

Others watched me in awe as I gulped the tea. "Mhm... that was delicious!" I said smirking at the guys. Leorio grown a thick mark on his forehead and began trying harder, while Gon and Kurapika were inspired and also tried harder.

"Also, I should mention that every furniture and tenses in this house weights over 20 kilograms each," Zebro added.

"I see what your getting at," Kurapika mumbled. "So this will serve as our training."

"What's the point!" Sequad came back, with a bored expression on his face. "You know they are just gonna give up in 2 or 3 days."

"What was that?!" Leorio shouted.

"Oh Sequad. Unless I'm mistaken, then your shift has already started, hasn't it?" Zebro asked.

"Yeah, I think your right," said the man as he walked out.

"Sorry about that," Zebro sight. "He really isn't such a bad person."

"Oh by the way," Leorio said standing up. Trembling. "Where is the bathroom?"

"Right through that door, over there," Zebro smiled pointing at another door. Which was made of metal.

"Let me guess..." Leorio mumbled. "That door is also..."

"Of course! That door weights 500 kilograms!" He said as I stared at him blankly.

"50?!-" Leorio struggled. "WHAT?! YOUR KIDDING ME!"

———

I couldn't sleep.

I sat up in my bed as I heard the others snoring loudly. I looked out the window into the dark forest as I jumped out of my bed and traveled the room to the door.

I exited the little house, closing the door soundlessly.

Walking through the forest wasn't that much of scary. But something inside me was trembling and was getting angry.

This whole day I tried my best to hide the emotions I was feeling. My body was itching, as I sat to a tree and watched the stars.

Back in the Hunter Exam on the 4th phase I also watched the stars like this. Pretty it was.

I stood up and began walking again. As I walked to the big wall and the testing gate I smiled and leaned back. Then jumped high in the air, landing on the top of the wall.

I watched everything from there trying to see if I could detect the Zoldych estate. Nothing.

I groaned, sitting up, swinging my legs on the hill and getting comfy. My face relaxed as wind blew in my face.

When I was younger, I could see and feel nen, everywhere. It was so easy to feel it. But then that happened.

I closed my eyes as my hair waved behind me. I began humming a melody. A melody of a song I would sing when I was younger. I don't recall the words anymore, but the melody still lives in my mind.

Touching my palm with my finger was gentle and calming. I brushed it against my hand, as I finally started to calm down.

Killua. I hope your okay, I smiled and closed ny eyes. And even if your not. I'm here. And I'm coming as soon as I can.

...

We 4 stood in front of the gate. Gon was about to walk to the gate.

"Gon, wait!" Leorio said as Gon stopped in his track. "You and Annya should just watch ok?"

"Wha- why?" I asked.

"Your a girl. And Gon has a broken arm," he pointed out.

"So what if I'm a girl! I can still budge!" I said.

"That's not what I meant. We should try to open it and you two will join later when Gon heals. Is that ok?" He asked as I narrowed my head.

"Fine..." I mumbled showing my hands into my pants pockets.

They both walked to the door as they placed their hands to the each door.

"You ready Kurapika?" Leorio shouted.

"Yeah!" The blonde answered as they budged the door. It didn't move an inch even after their long attempts.

"Their having some trouble aren't they," I sight.

"Hm..." Gon sight whit me.

The two fallen to the ground inhaling. "No use... it won't budge..." Kurapika said breathing heavily.

"Dammit!" Leorio mumbled. "But we only just started training! If we work hard enough, I know we can do it!"

"I hope I shared your optimism..." Kurapika whined.

I smiled as Gon looked at his broken arm.

"Don't worry about it," I whispered into his ear. "I'm sure it'll heal as quickly as it broke."

Gon nodded with a small smile.

———

Our training was intense. Leorio had to lift chairs that weight at least 50 kilograms, Kurapika needed to carry tens of cups that each weight 20 kilograms.

Me and Gon were restricted from doing anything to which made me angry, so we secretly trained. Day and night.

Gon and I would do push-ups with only one hand and that 50 kilogram weighing vests. Some days the two would find us and we would get scolded.

Kurapika and Leorio kept reminding me that I already did enough, and that now was their turn, which was pretty upsetting to the point I was going insane.

Later on me and Gon would do push-ups on our one hand - our knees in the air. Kurapika and Leorio would carry big rocks, cut wood and try the gate, every time failing.

The best part of the day was sleeping for them. While me and Gon would stay up train, talk or just be.

Another day came. Leorio and Kurapika again were trying to open the door, but nothing happened.

Sequad walked up to us sighting. "I'm telling you this is never gonna work. Your just kidding yourself's you know that?" He asked frowning.

"Well if your so sure," Leorio yelled leaning back. "Then quit watching and go do your job!"

"Leorio is being mean," I mumbled as Gon sight standing next to me.

"Those two are one of us," Kurapika said. "And they pretty much made it clear that they want to see their friend desperately. It's only right help them achieve this goal."

I stared at Kurapika in surprise. I never thought about them, thinking of it like that...

Sequad looked away.

"Let's give it another shot!" Leorio yelled as he and Kurapika started pushing it again. Somethings not adding up here...

"Oh, give me a break!" Sequad sight. "You can't keep pushing mindlessly. Get your timing in sink. You have to push both door at the same time, with everything you've got," he said walking off. "Otherwise it will never open."

Kurapika and Leorio looked at each other as they exchanged some words and pressed their hands to the door.

"One!" Leorio yelled.

"Two!" Kurapika shouted.

"Three!" They both yelled pressing the door with everything they've got. The door started crumbling as it slightly opened.

But as soon as it did, it closed as Kurapika and Leorio flew away.

"Leorio! Kurapika!" Gon shouted as we ran up to them.

"Are you 2 ok?" I asked helping them on their feet.

Leorio chuckled. "It moved a little," he smiled.

We all cheered, big smiles on our faces as I hugged them both tightly.

We are one step closer to Killua.

3 weeks later...

Leorio was stretching his legs in front of the gates, as me, Kurapika, Gon and him stood by it. Kurapika also stretched his hands.

"Hey you two," Zebro said. "Look, why don't you try taking those vests off today," he said as the two of them smiled.

"Well, don't mind if I do!" Leorio grinned.

They took off the vests as they fallen on the ground and left holes.

"Alright! Now we will be able to open up the gate for sure!" Leorio shouted walking towards the testing gate.

"Who's your arm?" I asked standing next to Gon.

"Hm? Oh, it's way better now!" Gon cheered.

"That's a relief," I nodded smiling.

With a count I heard as the doors started budging and me and Gon both scrutinised the two.

Zebro and Sequad joined us as they watched the door slightly open.

"Damn... that's as far as it will go!.." Leorio mumbled.

Gon then suddenly took off his bandages and vest as he smiled at me. "Let's go?"

I beamed. "Of course!"

I quickly took off my vest as we ran to them, both pressing our hands to the sides.

"Gon! Annya!" Kurapika exclaimed.

"What do you 2 think your doing?!" Leorio shouted. "Your arm, remember?!"

"It's okay," Gon smiled. "It's healed now!"

"What?! Already?" Kurapika said in surprise.

"Are you sure Gon?" Leorio asked.

"Don't you two morons know that Gon heals differently from us?" I raised a brow.

"I do!" Gon cheered. "So anyway, we gotta match our breathing, right?"

"That's right," Leorio nodded.

"Well then let's push!" I said as we all agreed with glances and started counting.

"Ready."

"Get set!"

"Go!"

We all pushed. The door opened once more as me and Gon fallen through it.

As I was falling everything went to slow motion. Every time I would fall, Killua would grab me and basically save me. This time I'll need to save myself.

I fallen right onto my chest as it slightly hurt. Gon next to me was whining of falling onto his face.

"Hell yeah!" Leorio screamed.

"We really did it!" Kurapika cheered.

"Aha!" Gon smiled.

"Yay!" I chuckled. Gon was the only one to notice my small tears as I quickly brushed them off.

We smiled at each other.

Killua is now way closer than before.

We entered the forest as Zebro stood there smiling. "Now then. Just follow this path and head towards the mountain. The mansion should be up there, somewhere," he said. "Never been there myself, which is kinda embarrassing considered I've worked here for 20 years..."

"Thank you for everything mister Zebro!" I said bowing my head, almost to the ground.

"Yes, thank you!" Gon also bowed the same as me.

As we walked off Gon grabbed me by the hand and I waved with my other one.

"See you later!" Gon shouted.

"Yeah! Don't forget to pass Mike beat wishes from me!" I shouted.

"Will do!" Yelled back Zebro.

As we ran off it was the last time I saw him. In a while to be more sceptical.

...

We walked the forest as we encountered a short wall out of grass. And a girl standing in between them.

She had brown eyes and brown hair. Her skin was dark and she wore a black uniform like clothing.

"Please leave now," was what she said. I flinched at her words tilting my head sideways.

"And why would we do that?" I asked politely.

"Your trespassing on private property. I can't allow you to pass whit out permission."

"But we called the butler. And we came through the testing gate!" Gon said.

"The butlers courters did not give you permission to enter," she answered.

"What the heck do I need to do to get permission?!" Gon shouted.

"We even told we were Killua's friends and everything!" I yelled.

"Who knows. No one has ever received permission," she said as I faced palmed.

"Then I guess we'll have to trust pass!" Gon said.

Silence.

"I suppose so." Said the girl. "In any case..."

She took out a weird looking stick with a ball on the end.

"This. Is where I draw the line," she said as she actually drew a line. "Take one step passed it and I will remove you by force if necessary."

Kurapika and Leorio got into fighting positions as I narrowed my eyes at her. Suddenly Gon put his hand towards us. From his hand sign I understood he wanted to do this alone.

Alright, I guess. I won't interfere.

Gon walked to her. When he passed the line he was immediately shot back, getting a smack on the cheek.

"Dammit!" Leorio shouted as he and Kurapika took out their weapons.

"Wait." I calmly stated. They both glanced back at me.

Gon stood up. "Look. We didn't came here to fight anyone! We just wanna see Killua!"

"Your motives don't matter," she answered. "I have my orders, and it is my duty to follow them."

She's like a robot. Following the instructions she was though to follow. Seems like everyone in this place is like that.

Gon then took off his backpack and began walking to her again. He was again knocked away. Then he again walked to her, and was again knocked away.

This kept for quite some time. Once I even sensed someone in the bushes, watching us. Probably someone to take care of us if this girl fails.

The sky became red as it was getting late. But Gon was still going. I was basically holding myself back from literally freezing that girl to death.

Gon was on the ground again, covered in bruises. He again walked.

"Stop right there," the girl said. "Please go away!" She yelled.

Gon didn't turn back as he crossed the line. He was knocked off again, this time landing on his feet. His hair was getting messy, but that didn't seem to bother him.

"Why won't you just give up?!" The girl shouted. "You know it's pointless! Please stop it, your his friends why are you..."

She looked us in the eye. I guess that's when she saw how serious we were.

"What's the big deal?" Gon exclaimed. "I just came here to see my friend."

"The only reason we are here is to see Killua!" I yelled, letting my emotions slip out. "We did everything we could! And we are going to see him!" I said.

The girl looked at us very surprised.

"So why are making me go through all this!" Gon shouted breaking the grass-cement wall. The girl hoped away.

I calmly stared at the view.

"H-hey..." Gon muttered. The girl flinched at his voice. "I crossed the line. Shouldn't you hit me?"

My face coloured up as a smile creeped my face.

"I can tell your different from Mike. You may be trying to cover up your feelings, but... you still have a heart," Gon said as my smile grew. "When I mentioned Killua's name, your eyes softened. Just for a moment."

I walked up to Gon and fixed his hair with my hand. The girl bowed her head low as she trembled.

"Please..." she said tears slipping down her cheeks. "Help him... help master Kill-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence because of a shot she got out of sudden on the head. My eyes widened as I quickly cached her before she could hit the ground. I landed holding her in my arms.

"Honestly," said a women's voice. I flinched turning to it. "What was that servant babbling about? She made it sound like we were being mean to Killua," she said as I shot my eyes.

Next to her stood a child with dark hair and dark eyes, wearing a kimono.

"How rude. She's just a bloody apprentice," the woman gagged as Leorio and Kurapika ran to us. Leorio took the girl from me as he began examining her wound. "And you must be Annya! And Gon!" She said looking directly at me and the green haired male. "Killua is aware that you've been on the promises, for some time now."

I glared at her. She wore a big bonnet and a puffed dress. She had some bandages on her face, while also a weird thing around her eyes.

"I have a message from Killua that he asked me to relay to you. 'Thank you for coming, I'm happy that you did. But I can't see you right now. I'm sorry'."

My eyes widened as I stood up. This is...

...

Hello again^^ how is my dearest luvs doing? I hope that your doing great!

Thank you for the reads! I appreciate you reading and voting for this story ;)

Next chapter will future Killanny moments! So get yourself ready uwu

Thank you again! Stay healthy, eat, drink and go outside! It's very important to do so!

Alrighty! Bye~