It isn't that Killua fancies Makoto, because he most certainly does not.

It isn't that her midnight hair is always up in a slick, high pony tail that sways with each step, or that her bottomless pits of bright eyes shift into different shades of onyx (because is that even possible?) depending on how the light refracts upon her features, because it most certainly is not.

It isn't even that she constantly dons a fitted black leather-hooded jacket that matches her black shorts and black fingerless gloves, or that she only wears a certain pair of black boots and a black belt and looks like a damned black bird all the time, because it most certain is not.

It's just-

All passengers for flight 615 to Yorkshin City please gather your belongings, we will be boarding momentarily.

Whatever the hell it is, Killua doesn't know. But right now, she is approaching him, and for now, Killua is content with just knowing what it isn't.

"Killua!" She calls, and Killua smirks to himself, sinking further into an uncomfortable seating as he enjoys her honey-coated threat-laced voice and feigns unawareness.

"Hm?" The white-haired lad hums nonchalantly, tongue prodding at a chocolate-flavored lolli that is in his mouth. Or used to be, because Makoto takes the liberty of yanking it straight from his lips, nearly pulling out his teeth in process. "Motherfu-"

Makoto's glare dares him to finish that thought.

Killua likes to think he's intimidating, being an ex-assassin turn pro-hunter and all, but then again, Killua also likes to think that it's perfectly reasonable to spend 20 million zenni all on dessert over the span of 4 years, so there goes his credit. Point is, whatever Killua likes to think he is, somehow, someway, Makoto always finds a way to make him think again.

"I called your name three times already; I thought you'd be eager to see Gon." Makoto tsk's impatiently, one hand twirling Killua's much-missed lollipop as the other reaches out, curling one finger in a 'come here' motion. "I know you heard me."

Killua sighs, but grabs her outstretched hand to lift himself nonetheless. "I am excited to see Gon, it's just that you're a pain in the ass, 's all." Makoto scoffs in amusement as she watches her silver-haired friend proceed to pat himself down and swing his favorite moss-green backpack around his right shoulder, utilizing only two of the four shoulder straps. "What is Kurapica thinking pairing me with such an annoying-"

"Your way with words is rather touching." Makoto breaks into a sarcastic smile. "Really, girls all over the world must be frothing at the mouth out of jealousy that I get to spend the next 12 hours next to you."

The corner of his lips tilts just the slightest. Alright. Two can play this game. "What can I say, I am chosen for this assignment thanks to my superior tact. Plus I'm a genius, so your presence is really unnecessary." It was his turn to reach out his hand, palm up.

Makoto raises a brow and Killua gestures towards his half-eaten lolli. "C'mon."

"Uh-uh." The raven-haired girl replies incredulously. Who does he think he is? "You're kind of a jerk."

"BB. C'mon." He repeats, taking advantage of his special nickname for her just to annoy her: BB for Black Bird.

"Oh, so you thought making fun of my clothes will get you anywhere?"

No, you massive idiot. It's a term of endearment.

"So what, you're just gonna throw away a perfectly good piece of candy? That should be an act of felony in itself - completely reprehensible." Killua says instead, pursing his lips restlessly and shoving his hands into his pocket the way he always does when he feels anything less than in control. Makoto raises her brow even more. How is it that Killua, the Killua Zaoldyeck, falls apart for a mere piece of sweet?

Instead, she looks to the lollipop in her hand, back to his face, back to the lollipop. Upon sensing the cogs in her brain turning, Killua's eyes widen comically. "No-" but Makoto has already closed her jaw around the candy, all smiles and expression cheeky as she swirls the lolli in her mouth, making small clanking noises as it hits her teeth. "I hate you so much right now."

"I know!" Makoto chirps, looping an arm around her favorite ex-assassin and leading him over to board their flight.

The cabin turns out to be quite nice, and since their boss is filthy rich, they got to nuzzle into the soft, velvety seats of the first-class cabin, a luxury they don't often get to experience.

Since the search for Gon's ever-so-elusive father has gone on for nearly three years after the Chimera Ants' incident, Killua, Gon, and Makoto have decided that it would be helpful to stick around for the Yorkshin Auction since this is not only a place where goods are exchanged, but information as well. Killua has since been convinced that, although amazing in his own way, Ging Freecss is an utter moron. He had sent his newly revived son away, to apologize to Kite, and took the chance to escape after promising Gon he wouldn't. Killua guesses it's because Gon didn't actually catch him, after all. So of course, when they made the choice to continue the hunt, they were easily able to convince Kurapica to let them join Nostrad's team, just to have eyes on the inside as well. For their first mission, Kurapica had caught wind that a high-ranking member of the rival boss's men was going to be competing at Celestial Tower, and had ordered Killua and Makoto to attend and gather data, given that both had the tact and cunning required to succeed.

"This isn't fair!" Gon had said.

"You're just too straightforward, Gon. They have a nose for rival members, and they'll sniff you out right away." Kurapica had smiled apologetically, explaining with kind eyes. "Killua and Makoto will be back in just two weeks. Meanwhile, I have other assignments for you."

And that was that.

"Ahh, finally." Makoto moans as she curls out into her seat, rubbing her cheeks against the soft fabric as she yawns loudly. "12 hours of peace and quiet."

"Speak for yourself, I'll have to hear you snore all the way back to Yorkshin." Makoto twitches and Killua promptly ignores her before sighing dramatically. "I pray every night, and yet the gods send me this, this animal!" He gestures frantically at his dark-eyed bird. "Why!? Oh just why?!"

"Maybe because you look like an albino porcupine from up top and they figured you needed a friend." Makoto shoots back without missing a beat, turning towards him easily. Ridiculous as ever, Killua knits his brows together in deep thought, seemingly contemplating her remark for a minute. Makoto rolls her eyes.

"Maybe." He concedes, lips curling up as he leans closer to Makoto, making himself comfortable as well.

As the plane starts to accelerate, the pair of friends turn towards one another with lazy smiles stretched across their face, and begin to drift off.

"Ma'am, what would you like?"

"Coke, please."

Killua stirs to the voice of a male flight attendant, taking orders from the woman seated in front of him. Yawning and stretching, the ex-assassin watches him hand the woman her soda, and proceeds to push the drink cart down the aisle towards him.

"Sir, what-" before the flight attendant can finish however, Killua has already brought his index finger to his lips, causing the man to cock his head and blink in confusion. The blue-eyed hunter quickly points to the sleeping girl next to him, and the attendant couldn't help but smile in understanding.

Killua blinks a few times when the attendant pushes the cart along. "Ah wait! I still wanted…ah screw it." He mumbles, settling back down and turning to a still unconscious Makoto before saying, "You really are a pain in the ass."

For a moment he thinks she hears him, for she switches positions ever-so-slightly, but after confirming that her breathing is still deep and even, he sighs. It is a few minutes later when he realizes that he had been staring and quickly turns away, as though she had caught him in the act.

"What am I doing?" He sighs again, shaking his head. Deep and even. "Right." He clears his throat, leans back, and is determined to fall back asleep.

...

"Hey porcupine, will you sit still!?" Makoto's voice pierces through the heavy air, jerking her four male counterparts out of their semi-sedated state.

Killua's throat lets out a guttural sound, tensing slightly as Makoto gently presses a cold towel to his scar-ridden body. "Stop it, you're making it worse! Gon, make her stop!" He hisses when she 'accidentally' presses harder.

"Killua, please. Just let her take care of you." Kurapica groans, rubbing his temple as Gon agrees with a silent nod. "Getting your family to let you come with us isn't all that easy. Your dad may have agreed, but Illumi nearly killed-"

"-ambushed," Leorio cut in.

"-us on our way out." The blond breathes anxiously as he looks out the window of the moving train they're currently on, as if trying to see whether Illumi would appear out of nowhere. "We were lucky Makoto decided to come with us, or we'd all be dead."

Leorio chuckles weakly as he swings an arm over the younger girl. "You're pretty useful that your nen can heal, y'know?" He wiggles his brows in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.

Makoto pouts slightly at their height difference and wiggles out of his hold. "You were the one who said I sucked at fighting because 'who heals other people with nen?'"

Killua mumbles something and Gon interrupts quickly. "Well thanks to Makko-chan, all got away with just scratches!"

"You guys are so useless!" Killua moans as Makoto moves back over to his front side, her face inches away from his silver fringes as she began applying ointment to his fresh,whip-wounds, courtesy of Milluki. "M-Makoto! It hurts!"

"If it hurts, why did you let your pig of a brother do this?" She rolls her eyes, running her ointment-laden finger over another wound.

"Because that didn't hurt." He mumbles. "Ow!"

"Riiiiiight." She drawls. Lies. All of them. She glances up through her stray wisps of hair and studies his tense expression only to quickly look back down. How could it possibly not hurt? How long was this inhuman treatment going to last had they not stepped in? That look on his face, she knows it well – pain. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, toleration and feelings are separate things; Killua can tolerate, -in fact, he endures more an a person ever should - but he was still human, he could still feel.

If you ask anyone who knows Killua Zaoldyeck, they would all say that Killua is never a whiner. He is the child-prodigy from the Zaoldyeck family, one who's taken on the torture since the day he was born. He is also someone who, at a drop of the hat, would do anything for his friends, even if it means putting his life on the line, without a single complaint. But he is NOT a whiner.

Except maybe when Makoto is present.

"Quit it Makoto, you're not my mother!" He jerks.

Suddenly, Makoto freezes, and shadows befall her already darkened eyes.

Killua swallows.

Ah.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Ah…hahaha…I…" Killua offers lamely, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips when, very gingerly, Makoto tilts his chin with a finger, and proceeds to lean in real close.

"Listen to me, and listen well," Killua gulps, nodding. "Your mother hurt you, so no, no I'm not your mother, and I never want to be like her. Now, you will be quiet. You will stop moving. You will quit bothering the guys so they can rest. Understood?" She hisses, and with just one look from those dark eyes, Killua is in her hands.

He nods quickly.

Leorio whistles. "Whipped. No pun intended." Killua has to refrain from glaring at him.

Gon cocks his head. "What does that mean?" Kurapica merely laughs, but nobody answered the youngest of them all. "Ne, what does he mean?"

Makoto rolls her eyes, continuing her previous ministrations, and when her practiced fingers brush against Killua's stomach, a particular spot where Milluki had burned him with a lighter, he immediately throws his head back, slamming his eyes shut and biting his lower lips as to not make a sound. Makoto instantly withdraws.

"Killu?" She watches, her previously hard features softening as he takes in deep breaths. "Hey, hey…"

"Just get it over with…please." Instead of continuing, Makoto sits up, and for a brief moment they share a look, and then, very carefully, she snakes an arm around his shoulder, letting the other wander into his silvery head of hair.

"It'll be okay, I promise, I promise…" She murmurs, lightly pulling on his soft strands.

It was that moment, when Makoto feels Killua's arms around her small body that marks the true beginning of their relationship. Somehow, some way, it is a different friendship than that of Gon's, and even more different from those of Kurapica and Leorio's. Whatever it is, Killua is more than okay with it, her arms around him, and his chin on her shoulder.

...

"Killua! … KI - LLU – A!"

"Ughhh!" The ex-assassin groans, turning the other way.

"KILLUA DAMMIT!"

Another groan.

…

…

…

"I have ChocoRobo-kun."

Even in his sleepy state, Killua's eyes flutter at the mention of his favorite thing in the world. "Chocolate?" He makes a move to get up.

"Yes, come on!"

When Killua's eyes fully open, he notices that the plane is indeed securely grounded, and the surrounding seats were pretty much all empty except for a few elderly and flight attendants. "We're here."

"Yes, Sherlock, how'd you guess?" Makoto rolls her eyes, grabbing her backpack as well as his, and once more extends a hand to him. He drowsily takes it to pull himself up, not quite letting go (he ends up only gripping two of her fingers) as they walk down the aisle (or more like, she walked, and he stumbled).

As they step out of the airport, they both take the chance to suck in a deep breath of the fresh morning air before the midday cars can begin to pollute it.

Finally.

They. Are. Back.

"Wait, where's my ChocoRobo-kun?"

…

"I don't know what you're talking about."