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Ray was a weird child, the oddball of the group. While Emma had her own perks, along with Don or Norman or even Anna, Ray was truly… Odd.

As a young toddler, Isabella had carried him in her arms time to time. One of the small child's ears were pressed against her shoulder blade, almost as if hearing her heart beat. When he was old enough to walk on his own, she would sometimes put him down to the earthy ground, letting him explore the fields with his tiny, baby steps.

That was when she noticed something, courtesy of the older children's observation.

"Hey, how many laps has he made?"

Isabella blinked at the statement. Following the children's gaze, she spotted a familiar mop of black hair bobbing near the house. Ray, she noted, taking down dried bed sheets and folding them up neatly.

Carrying a basket of laundry, Isabella prepared to reenter the building. Glancing to the side, she noticed how that child was still trotting, making a turn as he disappeared to the other side of the house.

Pursing her lips, Isabella made a light hum. Maybe it was just his way of entertaining himself, later chuckling as other children began to follow his march.

Just like a mother and her ducklings. She quickly looked away to ready the bell.

-.-.-

The next few years were especially odd, however. Emma, Norman, and Ray just became four.

"Ray, what you doing?" Emma had said simply, a thumb near her mouth as Norman peeked over her shoulder. Isabella, a bit curious as well, decided to take a step closer. She blinked again at the sight before her.

This time, the raven haired child was not making laps around the house as usual. He was making smaller circles around the same place, eyes glued to his feet. To Isabella, it was almost comparable to...

Some sort of dancing ritual.

"Mm," Ray made a quiet response, not sparing a glance to his peers. Folding her hands together, Isabella started to feel a bit concerned.

… Where did he pick this up?

-.-.-

A broken wire, Isabella frowned. The headquarters had provided each farm in Grace Field with decent technology, the technology mainly being the standardized testing machines. A broken wire would be dangerous, she thought. While all thirty eight of her children were bright and all…

… Emma…

Quickly standing up, she made haste to the storage room. There should be some equipment there. For now… Tape? Bandages would work, too. Afterwards, she would properly fix the machine herself.

Taking the equipment box, Isabella made her way down to the testing room. The children were all playing outside, but why did she still feel unnerved by something-

She nearly dropped the box at the sight of the familiar bob of raven.

Said familiar bob of raven, Ray, was sticking a finger near the broken wire.

(Please note, his hands were wet.)

"Ray!"

(Please also ignore the slight crack in her voice. Isabella had enough with this child.)

-.-.-

"I made shrimp cocktail, trout marinated with mustard sauce and rice," Ray said one day, arms chubby with a bit of baby fat as he lifted up the dish to Isabella. "Sushi Bourgogne Style."

"... Oh," Isabella responded, taking the plate a tad bit shocked.

-.-.-

The more she thought about it, the more she started to realize all the oddities surrounding that one, particular child.

Ray was smart, she knew that. Ray was definitely aware about the existence of common sense, but-!

"Mama, Ray caught us all in tag, again!"

"Ray's doing that weird dance thing again, Mama!"

"I think Ray broke the test machine, again, Mama."

"Mama, I can't find Ray anywhere!"

She quickly checked her watch, sighing in relief upon seeing his blinking light.

Ray was... He was bright, a bit quiet, but still, one of her precious children. As the Mama of this Grace Field house, she was well aware that Ray… There was something up with him. While she knew that Ray definitely knew the existence of… Well, logic. It just seemed as if he was deliberately… Isabella shook her head. Taking a breath, she glanced at the watch again. Mustering up some courage (and wondering why she was afraid), she decided to approach that little five year old once and for all.

… At least, this should be better than him finding out, if he ever found out.

"Ray, what are you doing?" He was sitting under the shade, his back leaning against the bark of the tree. They were near the gate.

Ray looked up from his book, eyes staring straight into the older one's. A chill went down her spine.

Danger, the word spelled in her mind as she tried to push it away. Ray was not danger.

Looking to the left, then to the right, the child made a hum. After a short moment of silence, as if deciding what to say and what words to use, he looked up again, a small spark in his eyes.

"Training," he said with a smug grin.

"... Training," she repeated.

Maybe this was all because he read too much books. He reads a lot, after all.

… But this started well before he was literate, no?

(And a year later, she found out that he was her's all along, a cursed, twisted feeling swirling in her chest.)

("Let's make a deal," he said, book opened on his lap. "A deal.")

(She agreed.)

If he were to compare his current Mama with the first one, he ought to say…

There was definitely something about moms and puffy dresses.

He still somewhat had that feeling for the both of them, though. Well, at least the Mama right now wouldn't stop him from having friends. Or poison him. Or torture him. Or separate him from Alluka or-

At least the Mama right now was giving him the most normal (well, yeah) childhood he could ever ask for.

(It was the thought that counts, he mused to himself, mildly thinking back to when…)

Killua sighed, taking a step forward with Rhythm Echo pictured in his mind. Whatever the case, life was never easy to begin with, one reality or the other.

He was definitely getting Emma and Norman out. No matter what, and no matter what it took.

(And for Gon and Alluka, he would try to save everyone.)

So like, I was rewatching hxh again so. Haha. Thanks for reading!