Chapter 25: Welcome X Back

SECCO RASVIN

Many days have passed since we started to collect money to buy the Greed Island game which costs more than a million Jenny. I didn't expect it to be so expensive! I wonder if the man Master was talking about is so rich.

We tried several ways to get money. They even decided to have a small auction on the streets and it turned out well but it's still slow. I wanted to oppose the idea but I don't want to be a hindrance to them. They all agreed on having an auction, and my personal emotions might bring them down.

Ever since my father sold me, I started to hate auctions and treasures. I hate them as much as I hate my father. They're the reason why my life was ruined. Because of their greed for money and criticism to others, I was used and gone berserk. That gave me a trauma until now.

That auction ended us up into joining criminal hunting. We will take down some wanted criminals, dead or alive, in exchange for a lot of money. We decided to join but we started to doubt when we knew who are the targets.

The Phantom Troupe.

They are already in Yorknew City and the chance that they might cause big trouble is very high since this city was known for auctions about treasures. They will surely leave the auction halls in a pool of blood with the auction items.

After that, we roamed around the streets that were full of unique items. I was so amazed by the things they're selling here. Knives of famous killers, original works of famous sculptors and painters, and even the accessories of high-status people in the past.

Gon, Killua, and I tried to use our Gyo to inspect the unique items and we found some Aura surrounding them.

"This might be the Aura left by the ones who made the items. The Aura shows their passion, will, and determination in making them." Killua said and we all agreed. That might be the reason.

"What are you talking about? I can't see them."

Leorio tried to see the Aura of the items but he failed. I guess he still didn't know anything about the special techniques in Nen. He was so focused on studying medicine he didn't finish the secret exam yet. Well, it's his goal to study, after all.

Leorio decided to track the Phantom Troupe and while he was doing his task, we decided to buy some of them and ended up meeting a man named Zepile, who was good at determining if the items selling in the streets are real or not.

He also taught us how to fool the buyers when we sell items although I didn't get some of it. But when I looked at Gon, his eyes are sparkling, willing to learn new things whether it's good or bad.

While we're having a good time with our new friend, Leorio suddenly called that he already tracked two of the Troupe so we decided to catch the criminals and leave the work of selling the items to Zepile.

There are a middle-aged man and a young woman detected, eating in a café on the other street. They have the eyes of sinners that didn't show mercy to anyone they'll be facing. Looks like they're really the Phantom Troupe.

We're tracking them on the second floor of a two-story building near the café.

"We will follow them." Gon suddenly announced in front of us with determination.

"Are you serious?! They might sense you and lure you into a trap!" I started shouting at Gon again as I did at the Hunter exam. All of a sudden, a tear fell on my cheek, followed by another and another. "And when they did that, they will probably... probably kill you. I don't want you to end up like that! You're my precious friends!"

But Gon didn't show any hesitation and still determined to go there. His golden eyes show that he wouldn't let this chance slip on his hands, and I couldn't be able to stop him even if I tried.

"Don't worry. I'm coming with him." Killua pat me in the shoulder. I don't know if I can trust his words.

"Then, I'll also—"

"No. Don't come with us."

My sentence was stopped by Killua, never letting me continue it.

"Why can't I come?!"

"Because of your freaking arm, you idiot!" Killua shouted at me with a high tone, making me speechless. "If you accidentally run wild with that monster, who knows what might happen to you! You don't want to end up in the auction hall, right?"

When he said those words, I felt like I'm being slapped on the face. So Gon told him about my past, huh?

It's true they became strong since the last time I saw them, but this enemy is too dangerous. They killed so many people with no hesitation in using their brutal ways. No one can stop them... but I also can't stop these two.

"O-Okay. I'll trust you two to be safe. Just... be careful about going back, Gon, Killchi."

I accepted their plan and pulled them together to hug them tight. After that, they left and started following the leaving Troupe.

"Do you think they can make it back safe?" I asked Leorio without looking at him. I still doubting. This task is so hard to handle.

Leorio pat me in the head.

"You don't have to worry. They might be kids, but they're strong and smart. They might stalk them untracked and if they got caught, they can think of a plan to escape."

I know Leorio tried to cheer me up but what he said actually didn't help me to not be anxious about them. If only I can go with them, I can kill those criminals using my arm. But right now, I can't still control it and my arm was like a kid who won't listen to me. I must trust them for now. Please, be safe.

***

"Gon and Killchi aren't coming back yet. Do you think they're safe?" I asked Leorio while he was playing cards with Zepile.

After we tracked them earlier, we moved to a hotel to get some rest. We met Zepile in the way so we let him come with us.

"They'll be fine, don't worry," Leorio stated.

How can I not worry? They're still not coming back yet after hours and it's already night time. What if they got caught?

"You're so anxious, you know that? You must believe in them. As I told you, they're strong. How can those criminals defeat an assassin and a son of a Hunter?" Leorio did anything to cheer me up.

"What?! Killua is an assassin!" Zepile got surprised because of what he heard.

After hearing that, I felt so ashamed of myself. Leorio tried his best to cheer me up. I must trust them. They're my friends, after all.

"I'll go out for a bit," I told Leorio and was about to left the room when he spoke.

"You're so stubborn, huh?"

I just smiled at him and left. I trust Gon and Killua on getting back safe. And besides, I might be a hindrance to them when I searched for them.

I'll just want to go out in the city, hoping to see them running towards me. And I also wanted to see him.

As I walked into the streets, I decided to enter one of the malls. I don't know what I am thinking, but since we haven't seen each other for years, I can't help myself to buy him a gift. Even though he left me for no reason, I still love him until now.

I bought the present I was going to give him but all of a sudden, I bumped into another person because of my clumsiness.

"I-I'm so sorry for bumping to you! I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to!" I kept apologizing to the person while bowing my head repeatedly, not being able to see his face.

"It's okay." When the person spoke, which is actually a girl's voice, I was speechless and shocked. Her voice sounds familiar.

I slowly raised my head to see the person I was talking to. When I see her face, my eyes widened in disbelief. I couldn't move an inch in my position. I can feel my arm move. My heart started to beat fast.

I can still remember those big eyes and blue hair. Her childish presence. It's her.

Neon Nostrade. The one who... made my life suffer in my years in their mansion. I can't forgive her. Putting me in a liquid chamber with a happy smile on her face, treating me like one of the treasures in their household. I can't forgive her.

But now that she's in front of me, I don't know how to react. Should I slap her? Should I kill her? Should I just ignore her?

"Hey." she suddenly talked as I can feel my sweat on my face started to get cold and my eyes still widened. "I think... I've seen you before."

When I heard that with her demonic eyes that came from a lewd woman, I can feel my anger in my heart. I can also feel my arm ready to attack her.

So I hold my arms so tight, trying to control my anger and stopping my arm to turn into a monster.

"I-I'm sorry but... i-it seems that you talked to a wrong per-son." I stuttered in my words.

"Is that so?" her voice that sounds like a tramp makes my ears ache and my eyebrows twitch.

"Mistress, this way." one of her bodyguards told her and dragged her out of my site.

Thank goodness. If they keep her with me, I might do something really bad. I hold my arm so tight, stopping it from growing wild.

Suddenly, I saw one of her bodyguards looked back on me. It's a short woman with exposed teeth, wearing a hat on her head. She looked at me with her pitiful eyes and went back to Neon.

I don't know how it happened but I felt like... she knows how I feel about Neon. She knows my anger. Who is she?

After that, I started to calm and I can feel my arm started to get back to normal. Well, I guess because of my curiosity about that woman.

I went to a suburban area of the city and tracked down my house. After several minutes of searching for it, I finally found it.

It looks so old and the red paint that covered its walls started to tear off. Some windows are broken and the wooden floor at the terrace seemed like it will collapse anytime.

I knocked at the door and it was being opened by a middle-aged man on the other side. When I saw his fading blonde hair, his beard with the same color, his blue droopy eyes, and his never-ending smile, I knew it was him. I can feel my shoulders getting stiff and my heart started beating fast.

There, the man named Michael Rasvin, an auctioneer and my father.

"Oh!", he exclaimed as he saw me. "Who might you be?"

When I heard those words, I sighed in relief. For now, I don't want him to know my identity as her daughter. I'll try to pretend that I'm somebody else.

"I-Is Secco Rasvin your daughter?"

When I said my name, I saw a surprise in his eyes, showing a lot of questions in it. And then, he smiled warmly at me.

"Yes. She's my daughter," he answered, still gave me the smile.

"I'm her... friend, R-Rikka. She told me to go here,~" I said while still carrying my gift and the same smile he gave me.

He let me enter our old house. I looked around and the ceiling was about to get off and the wooden floor made a sound in my every move. The sofas in the living room have scratches and specks of dust.

"I'm very sorry for not being hospitable around you. I'll go and get some drinks," he said and went to the kitchen.

When I looked around, it feels nostalgic. I was once playing around here with my father and he tried to teach me things that I didn't know. I miss those times.

I looked at the pictures framed on a top of a table and I still saw my pictures smiling with my father beside me. When I saw these, a tear fell into my cheek. A warm smile formed into my face.

So he didn't hate me at all. He still loves me. But I must know the truth, the reason why he sold me. I still trust my father after what he did to me.

I wiped my tears off and at the same time, my father showed up from the kitchen, holding a tray with a glass of juice. I still remember him making a drink for me when I was a child.

I thanked him for the drink and took a sip. When I tasted it for the first time in a while, I felt my cheeks became warm and I was delighted by the taste. Father has still the skills on making natural fruit juices.

"It's great!~" I shouted at him without thinking and enjoyed the juice.

"I'm glad you like it," he replied with a smile. "You have the same reaction as my daughter when she first tasted."

When I heard that, I was shocked and stopped showing my happy face to him. I just sat there quietly, not saying a word. I thought he almost got me.

"O-Oh! Secco told me to bring you this." I said and gave him the gift I bought earlier in the mall.

He opened it and he was happy with what I brought him.

"Lemon cake, huh? It was our favorite," he said and we started to eat it. Every time I took a bite of the cake, I can't help but be happy I can eat this. It was my favorite, after all.

When we finished eating, my father suddenly spoke.

"You know what? I really love my daughter."

When I heard those words coming from his mouth, I was about to cry in front of him but I stopped myself and just lowered my head.

"When I let her got sold by a millionaire, I couldn't help but blame myself. I thought my plan would work, but it's not.", he added and even I cannot see his face, I know he was sad about what happened.

"Why did you let her got sold?" I asked, still controlling myself.

"Because... I want to get the money."

I was shocked by what I heard. I don't know if I'll be happy because I already knew the reason or be angry because of his greed for money.

"I can't help it. Being an auctioneer doesn't give me enough money for her to enroll in grade school. I was planning on stealing her back when I got the money but... my boss put me on a house arrest and guarded me, not giving me a chance to go out. This lasts for four years and when I went back to get her, she's not there anymore. I regretted making that plan. If I was more satisfied with what we have... I wouldn't lose her." he explained as a tear fell on his cheeks. I noticed his hands formed into fists like he was trying to stop himself from crying.

Those words coming from his mouth makes me so emotional. I want to cry, and hug him. But now, I mustn't let my emotions ruin my disguises. Although my heart wanted to say to him that I'm really happy he planned on doing that for my future and that he shouldn't blame himself, I know I can't do that right now.

"I think..." I started to speak, couldn't take his sad face anymore. I raised my head and smiled at him widely. "Secco would be happy if she finally heard your reason.~"

When I said that, I can feel his tears fell rapidly in his cheeks. He tried to wipe it out with his sleeves but it's still coming. I waited for him to finish releasing all his problems and guilt on what he did to me.

"I must leave now.~" I said with a smile and I was about to go out when he called my name.

"Rikka. Thank you for bringing this. I felt my daughter's love for me with this.", he said pointing at the lemon cake we ate together. It was also fun for me to eat with him for a long time.

"I-It's not a problem at—"

I didn't be able to continue my sentence when he suddenly hugged me tightly. At that time, my tear fell from my cheek and I hurriedly wiped it. I wanted to hug him too but I mustn't.

"Tell her that I wanted to apologize but it's okay if she cannot accept it. I understand," he said as he releases me from the hug.

"And also, tell her that I missed her, and always love her," he added with a smile.

I bid him farewell and went out of the suburban area. When I walked away from my house, tears started to fell from my eyes and that's the time I released all of my emotions.

I'm really happy that I knew that he didn't betray me, that he still loves me. My whimpers turned into cries, like a child who lost her parent for a long time.

"Papa..." I called him with my whispers.

***

NARRATION

I figured out that it was you.

How can I forget your face?

But you decided to not show up.

As Secco left in the suburban area, a teenage boy with short brown hair, wearing a red jacket and green pedals approached the same house. He knocked at the wooden door and Michael opened it.

He gave him a questioning look that tells that he doesn't know the boy. The latter read his mind and sighed because of the trouble.

"You called us to help you investigate the Philene Village, right?" the boy confirmed and Michael nodded.

"Yes, I did. But I'm pretty sure I talked to a woman on the phone, not a boy," he said.

"Well, my master has some work to do and she's very busy right now. So I'll take her place." the boy explained, but Michael still has some doubts that a boy like him can be strong. Again, the latter read his mind. "Don't worry. I may not look like one, but I'm stronger than you. Now, we're leaving so please pack your things."

Michael was about to go back to his room to pack his things when suddenly, he realized something.

"I suppose you didn't tell me your name yet," he asked.

When the boy heard it, he sighed and looked directly at Michael.

"My name is Archimedes, but you can call me Archi."