Disclaimer: I wish I owned Hunter but it already belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi :( Sadly, I just own my idiotic OC, Hitomi... yay...

Chapter 40: My Last Song x I Love You x Eyes Burning Scarlet

When Killua opened his eyes, he found a new weight in his shoulder and smiled warmly after realizing what it was his sister's head, who was using him as a pillow. He then noticed that the sheets that once were in Alluka were now wrapped around both of them.

"Hitomi," he didn't know how, but he instantly knew it was her.

Then Killua's face flushed like mad, remembering the events of the last time he was awake. They kissed. Kissed. For real. And the worst thing is that he did like it. Ugh.

Well... At least Alluka hadn't see them... Or so he hoped.

He then felt a gaze on him, so he slowly turned her head to find Hitomi's violet eyes on him. At the sight of the girl, that certain memory was triggered again in his mind. At it, he blushed redder.

His mind ran. He had to do something, because he didn't want that awkward atmosphere stuff... Wait, he had a fever, right? A low one, but a fever nonetheless.

Good. That could work...

"Ah, you are awake," Hitomi smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine, I guess..." he carefully managed to get Alluka out of him and covered her with the sheets. "Sorry if I scared you."

Well, he did scare her with his yelling. She shook it off as the Zoldyck made his way and sat in the seat next to her. Then, Hitomi practically slapped her hand against his forehead.

"That hurt, you idiot!" he yelled at her, putting her hand away. "Why did you do that?!"

"For acting like an idiot this morning, for scaring me," she replied, with a straight expression. "And also, to check your temperature."

"Temperature?"

"Yeah, T-E-M-P-E-R-A-T-U-R-E," she spoke, like he was an idiot. A vein popped up in Killua's head at it. "You had a fever, but it looks like it broke quickly after a good nap... Without needing anything to bring it down. You know, I didn't have anything like water to do so... I guess Ikalgo was right about your superhuman immunity defense..."

Killua slowly nodded, letting the information in. They kept silent for a while, looking at the sky which was dark now, mostly because it was already night. He also noticed that they were flying above the clouds, that probably the girl had used to conceal themselves.

"Hey, Killua, I was wondering..." Hitomi broke the silence, hiding her eyes behind her bangs. "Do you remember... what happened a few hours ago?"

Well, here it came. That was the awkward question that both were expecting to be asked. Killua, being the perfect combination of Transmuter and tsundere that he was, decided to lie, to not show any hint of his attraction to her that, because of shyness he would never admit.

"Not really..." he whispered with a sigh, pretending to think hard. "The last thing I remember yelling to you about something... but I still can't recall what... And then waking up here. I guess I blacked out in the middle of the arguing, didn't I?"

"Well, something like that," Hitomi mentally thanked gods above for his answer. "You did gave me a pretty scare there, though."

"I already said that I'm sorry," Killua mumbled.

They fell silent once again, looking at the clouds that were already clearing up. Despite of that, they didn't worry too much because they were close to the hospital.

"If anyone sees Alluka when we get into the hospital, we are doomed. But if we clear the area, Illumi will have it easy," Hitomi sighed. "What to do? We obviously aren't going to enter by airship, are we?"

"Gotoh once said that we could enter directly in the hospital, I think that's the best idea," he took a phone and dialed a number. He kept still for a while. "I can't reach him."

"Call Kanaria," she suggested.

He did as she told him and called the female butler, who told him that she wasn't able to reach Gotoh either. That's why Killua asked her to manage that.

As the airship started to descend, Hitomi walked towards Alluka and woke her up. Once in the ground, they got inside the car and the butler - who Killua called Hishita - started to drive towards the hospital.

But the car then suddenly stopped, in the middle of the forest.

"What's wrong?" Killua asked.

"There are people in front of the car," Hishita replied.

Hitomi gasped at the sight of it. Indeed, there were people standing in front of their vehicle. They wobbly were walking towards them, wavering in their steps. The look in their eyes were lost.

At first, she thought she was inside some kind of zombie movie, but when she looked closer she noticed a few needles stuck in their faces.

Those were the Illumi's Needlemen that Killua told her about.

"Hishita, hit the gas!" Killua shouted at him, pointed at the men. "They're beyond help anyway!"

"I can't do that, Killua-sama," Hishita turned his head to them, showing that there were needles in his face as well. "Not unless Illumi-sama orders it."

The teenagers looked at him in shock while Alluka just kept watching with a blank look.

"Wh-What?!" Killua shouted.

Hitomi looked around and bit her lip, noticing that they were all surrounded by Needlemen. But that wasn't the worse fact, it was that someone slowly started to walk towards them from the shadows. And that someone was Illumi Zoldyck.

Great.

They reclutlanly got out the car, Killua still with an arm gripping his sister's shoulders tightly. Hitomi's eyes got red out of anger, as she let out a little of Nen, getting ready for whichever was the outcome.

"Kill," Illumi called. "You seem to be hiding something from me about Alluka."

"How did you know we were here?" his brother asked, tense.

"If I tell you, will you give me Alluka?"

"Forget it. I won't ask."

The girl then took a step closer, making all the others gave her a long look. She narrowed her cold, scarlet eyes, not leaving Illumi's body. She had come here to protect Killua and his sister, and she definitely wasn't going to step back now.

"Killua, protect your sister," she spoke, raising her right hand in front of her. "I'm going to entertain myself a little here, okay?"

Killua had no more option than agreed and step back in this circumstance, but he got terribly worried when he looked at Illumi's eyes. For the first time in his whole life, he looked angry, really angry, at the sight of Hitomi.

"Wait, Hitomi!" Killua called. "Illumi is-!"

"Yeah, going to kill me, right?" she said, with a serious expression. "I already know that. In fact, I'm the one out the three who he wants to kill the most," Hitomi then looked at Illumi. "Am I wrong?"

"You are right," he nodded. "I knew it wasn't wise to let you live when we first met, in the Hunter Exam."

Killua paled considerably after hearing that.

"Oh, that brings memories," she chuckled bitterly. "I guess it's time to solve this, right?"

Illumi turned to his puppets. "Okay, kill Hitomi. And slowly."

And when she realized, Hitomi was avoiding blows coming at her way. She stood still for a little, in the middle of a bunch of zombie-like puppets, and released a lot of Nen. Hitomi waved around her bracelet, starting to attack at them. However, after a while, she began to have the feeling that they just had not an end.

"Big sister!" Alluka wanted to jump in there, just to be stopped by her brother. Just in case, a few Needleman stood in front of them.

They didn't do anything. It looked like they were there just to avoid them to jump in the fight. Killua clenched his teeth, looking at Hitomi.

"Illumi doesn't care about Alluka that much, he just wants to kill her for being dangerous," she reasoned, flipping in the air and kicking one out."He loves Killua, in a strange, manipulative way. That's the reason he won't kill him, he wants him for himself..." she got hit, but quickly stood again to charge again. "That makes me the odd one. I think that, after Gon and I took Killua out of his house, he hates me for real. Ugh, maybe he even knows about my love for him... And thinks that I'm going to take him away from him..."

In the middle of Killua's internal battle about intervening or not, someone jumped down a tree and stood in the ground. He snapped his head towards the person, to find that it was Tsubone, Amane quickly catching up from behind.

"It's me, the fool who was completely tricked," the older butler confessed. "Your mother can see everything that I see through this scope," she then turned to Illumi. "She probably transmitted the video to you, Illumi-sama."

"Bingo," Illumi chanted, still unfazed. Hitomi's eyes opened in surprise. "Tsubone served as my spy. Well, you can't remove that scope because Mom ordered you to wear it."

That was when Alluka held her hands to Tsubone.

"Tsubone, give me the nail from your middle finger."

Everyone was shocked after hearing that, including stupid Hitomi. The distraction took a lot of her, as one of the puppets caught her off guard and pinned her in the ground, by her neck.

She coughed blood.

"Hitomi!" Killua yelled in worry, about to run to her.

But in a flash, Amane was at his side and held his shoulders, refraining him from that option. He clicked his tongue in surrender, as he caught Tsubone just ripped nail and handed it to his sister.

"Tsubone, give me the nail from your ring finger," Alluka - or Nanika, more likely - asked.

At the same time, Hitomi was lifted by the neck, at the point of almost choke her up. Killua, on the other hand, caught the last nail and placed it on Nanika's hand. The child's face changed radically, as always.

"Now, Killua-sama, make your wish," Tsubone said, looking at the girl by the corner of her eye. "Amane and I will take care of the rest. Please allow me this opportunity to make amends for impeding your mission."

Killua was about to say his wish. He just had to do it. Then, Hitomi and Alluka would be safe. Gon and Kurapika would be healed...

"Are you going to do it?" Illumi asked. "Fine. That means when you save Gon and Kurapika, you'll follow the same process, right?"

The boy clenched teeth. Hitomi wanted to do something about it, but she just couldn't. She couldn't even breath now.

"If you sacrifice those puppets to kill me, you won't have any problem sacrificing a bunch of strangers to save them," he continued. "Rule 5... The same person can't make two wishes in a row."

After all, Killua had done one before then. When he threatened his own mother's life.

At the same time, from the trees, Hisoka was watching the scene, holding tightly a card on his hand, debating about his next kill.

"Would it be more fun to kill Alluka first, earning Killua and Hitomi's wrath and then kill Hitomi to make Killua angrier or more fun to spare Alluka and Hitomi, and save both Gon and Kurapika, making Illumi my enemy?" he wondered. "Tough call..."

He looked in amusement at Illumi, who was still persuading Killua.

"If you say yes, I'll happy to die. Your inner mission will have succeeded. It's against the rules for family members to kill one another, but the thing that will grant your wish... isn't family," he smirked. "Assuming there's a secret rule that makes rule 5 not apply to Killua, if my death means no other of the family will die, that's acceptable. Killua will suffer for the rest of his life. I will live in his heart forever."

Hisoka analyzed the situation again.

"Alluka and Hitomi lives, while Illumi dies, but I don't earn Killua's wrath. So if Gon and Kurapika are healed, I neither gain nor lose anything," he thought. "In that case, I will kill Alluka to earn Killua and Hitomi's wrath, then take out Killua to earn Illumi's wrath and make Hitomi even angrier. That is the best choice."

Hitomi looked at Killua and frowned, his eyes were watering. Just at the thought of her not being able to do anything at all to help, just being strangled to death, made her eyes water as well. She took her knife from her pocket.

"I refuse... to be useless again..." in the others' surprise, Hitomi reacted to grab the hand that was strangling her. "I already said it..." Hitomi took her knife.

She then stabbed it, letting herself free. Hitomi fell into her knees, gasping for air, before standing up again. She was determined to protect everyone, even if the cost was her life.

Hitomi then decided it. She was going to use that.

"I'll do things right this time," she whispered.

"Hitomi...?" the boy worried. Just looking at her eyes... It was scary to even think about it.

She didn't say anything about that.

"Hugebone," she jokingly called the elder butler. "Can you take Killua and Nanika somewhere far from here? I don't want them to be hurt in the crossfire."

Killua's eyes opened. She only had one technique that powerful, or at least that he could think of. If he was right, he certainly had what to worry about.

She slowly started to shake her bracelet, sound waves rushing everywhere around her, like a shield.

Once again, he wanted to jump in there, but Amane tightened the grip on him. Tsubone kept silent for a while, closing her eyes.

"At once," she solemnly nodded.

"Wait, Hitomi!" Killua tried to stop her. "Don't do it, you idiot!"

She then turned around, her hair now flying everywhere. It hit him directly on the chest when her red gaze fixed on him, which remembered him from the last time he saw Gon until he disappeared in the flames.

A warm smile crossed her features.

"Killua," she called, sweetly. "Thank you for everything. Can you please say goodbye to everyone else for me?"

"Don't!" that was all he managed to say. "Hey! Wait-!"

"Take them away!" Hitomi shouted. She turned around, not being able to handle seeing them anymore. "NOW!"

And like that, Amane managed to wrap her arms around Killua's waist to lift him and take him away, as Tsubone picked up a confused Nanika.

"HITOMI!" Killua shouted.

Hitomi bit her lip, hearing that all of sudden, the forest was quiet. The girl could tell that Illumi and her were alone now.

Holding back the tears she wanted to cry right now, she fixed her gaze on Illumi. The puppets were surrounding her, as her fiery red eyes just glared at the emotionless black ones.

"In the end it looks like we are similar than we thought, right?" Illumi told her, as she just narrowed her eyes. "Both of us are Manipulators, and we both decided to give up in our lives for protecting our loved ones, am I wrong?"

Hitomi released a cold chuckle.

"In fact, the only thing I agree is that we are both Manipulators," she told him, letting even more Nen get out her body, the sound waves already going crazy. "But the huge difference is that I want to protect all the people I love... But you just want to wrap them all to yourself. That's a really sick way to love someone!"

"Oh, yeah?" his lips curved slightly. "Well, let's focus in this task first. If you end dying first by my hands or your own."

Her eyes closed as she took a long breath.

"My Last Song," she called the name.

Hitomi's Nen then burst like never before. The sonic waves flew everywhere, slicing everything in their way like millions of blades, including herself. Hitomi held back a cry of pain as it cut through her own body like paper. That was when she felt the attack slicing her chest open, making her fall in her knees, not being able to keep her ability anymore.

But much in her dismay, Illumi got out the trees, with just some scratches and panting audibly. He leaned against it, searching for something in his pocket as Killua and Nanika came back.

"Watch out!" the boy tried to warn her.

The needle flew and got struck in Hitomi's shoulder, making her flinch in pain. Illumi's eyes opened considerably as she stood up for a little, grinning and taking the needle out of her body.

"I already told you, didn't I? You are out of Nen right now," she threw it at the floor. Her eyes shone redder. "Well, I can't blame you... No one can hear... when I'm talking in a ultrasound frequency..." her sight suddenly got dizzy. "... But your... subconscious mind... can... do... it..."

THUD!

Hitomi found herself looking at the sky, sucking in the air around like her life depended on it. She just lied there, her body giving up on moving anymore. She didn't want to anyway, her body ached everywhere to do so.

"I never thought in my life I would die this young..." she thought randomly. "Well, considering all the troubles I got myself into... it's surprising I survived this long..."

Memories flashed in her life at lighting speed. She remembered that she had read about that life review in near-death situations, but she had never believed in them... until now, that's it.

It pained even more, seeing the faces of her friends she never said goodbye to. First one was Leorio.

"Leorio, I guess I'll never see you fulfilling your dream of being a doctor..." she remembered her last incident with the first friend she had ever made. "Gon, I wanted to see you alright... To tell you how sorry I was..." then, her brother appeared, in her head obviously. "Kurapika, I wanted to see your smile as well again. You don't know how much I was waiting for traveling together again... Sorry..."

That was when she noticed Killua's little sister standing at her side, blue eyed. She covered her mouth at the sight of Hitomi, tears rolling down her face.

"I wanted to save you, girls. To set you both free..."

Then, Hitomi felt a pair of arms holding her and turning her around, and she looked at the boy she held feelings for. He was looking at her, at the verge of tears.

She wanted to talk, but she just couldn't. She didn't even have enough energy to do so.

"I wanted to see you smiling too for the last time... Not like this..." she managed to smile. "It looks like I was never able to say it. I never knew just three damned words... would be that difficult to pronounce... and together."

Hitomi felt the blood pouring from her wounds, rushing like thin, warm rivers through her body to drip in Killua's arms. She felt bad about tainting him with it, but she just couldn't help it. The boy didn't seem to mind about it, though.

"There are so many things I wanted... But I'll never be able to accomplish them," she chuckled bitterly. "It looks like I will end like an egoistic brat after that... Because, in the end, I didn't want... to die..."

Kurapika didn't know why, but he sure felt it. Call it brother's instinct of whatever, but he felt it. He shot up from his bed, blue eyes open in full capacity, earning both Senritsu and Leorio's attention.

But they worried even more when they watched his eyes turn red.

"Hitomi," that was his only thought, as he stood up from his bed.

"Kurapika!" Senritsu was worried.

"What's all of this?!" Leorio placed his hands on his shoulders. "You are weak and-!"

"I don't care!" he shouted at him.

He freed from his grasp and took another couple of steps, before he stopped abruptly, clutching his chest with both hands, grimacing in pain.

Before falling dead weight in the floor.

"KURAPIKA!"

Killua left the girl in the floor and clenched his fists, hiding his eyes with his bangs. Just... why did she do that? There wasn't even a reason solid enough for her to give up in her life! So... Why?...

"Big brother," Killua noticed her sister looking at him. Alluka nodded and he understood almost instantly.

Not long after that, Alluka closed her eyes, probably calling Nanika once again. Then, that dark aura surrounded the child and she opened her now black eyes, waiting for Killua to say something.

"Nanika," he spoke softly. "Heal Hitomi."

"'Kay," she then stretched her hands to her. "Hand... Hand..."

Killua took her cold hand and gave it a squeeze, before giving it to Nanika. Everyone was just surprised at the sight of the bright light that surrounded them.

"Nanika is skilled at destroying, but fixing isn't her forte," the boy explained. "When she's fixing, she must touch the target."

The shine vanished and everyone looked expectantly at the Kuruta, whose violet eyes snapped open at the same time she pushed herself into a sitting position. She blinked for a few seconds, confused.

"Hitomi!" Nanika smiled brightly at her with wide blue eyes.

"Nanika?" Hitomi looked at her own body, noticing that her wounds were missing. "Did you do that?"

"Yeah!" she nodded.

"Wow, you sure are really skilled!"

Killua just smiled at her, glad that she was okay now. It then widened when Nanika stood up, looking at him, feeling happy. She threw herself in her arms, and he hugged her tightly.

"Killua!" she exclaimed. "Pat my head!"

"Of course, I will."

Hitomi snickered at the sight.

"Hitomi said I'm skilled!" she said, happily.

"Yeah, you are," he stoked her hair, smiling. "That was amazing, Nanika."

The girl giggled softly, before falling asleep in his arms. Hitomi stood up, fixing his gaze on Killua, who was in the verge of tears.

"Healing someone is tiring, so Nanika must sleep," he picked her up. "But that's it. Nanika has never made a cruel request after healing someone!" a lone tear rolled down his face, looking at his older brother. "Nanika is kinder than anyone. The one who's cursed is the one who wishes."

Hitomi then noticed his face becoming darker.

"If you refer to Nanika as an object again, I won't consider you my brother anymore," he told him, coldly.

After hearing those words, Hisoka felt somewhat discouraged, as he put his card down. Without anyone noticing it, he disappeared from the place.

"Got it, Kill. If you can heal both Gon and Kurapika without any risk, that's terrific," Illumi raised his hand. "But that doesn't change the fact that Nanika is dangerous and that my questions remain unanswered."

Killua's stern gaze didn't leave him.

"Kill, you're still hiding something. Such as how Milluki's rule 5 doesn't apply to you," Illumi pointed at him. "Until you tell me everything, I won't let Alluka go."

And like that, Illumi walked away. Both of them looked at Illumi, as he disappeared in the darkness of the woods. Hitomi had to admit it, he was someone she didn't mess with anymore.

"Stupid! That's why I can't tell you anything," Killua said to himself. "If you knew the last rule, you'd... No, all of you... would put needles in my head again."

A hand brought him back to reality, as it tenderly wiped a tear away from his face. He looked at the owner, slightly surprised.

"My, my. There are people that says that a lot of girls looks pretty when crying, but it looks like you are not that behind," she joked, as always. "What does that say about you?"

"Shut up," he blushed a little, looking away. What the girl didn't notice, though, was a smile curving his lips. "Well, let's go."

"What do you mean?" Hitomi almost snapped at Tsubone, still in the car. "You mean I can't get a step outside until Gon is awake?"

"Exactly."

"Why?!"

"You have to convince him that Alluka-sama hasn't anything to do with his recovery."

Hitomi huffed, leaning back on her seat with crossed arms as Alluka - who had just woken up - blankly looked at her. Killua took a look at his friend as well and snickered a little at her childish attitude.

But soon he got serious when she gazed at the sky through the window, with concerned eyes.

"It has been awhile since we left the hospital," she frowned. "I wonder if they are both alive..."

"I'm sure they are," Killua stated. "Not for a lot more time, though. We have to hurry... But..."

The Kuruta looked at the Zoldyck, with a raised eyebrow.

"There's something that worries me," he confessed. "Right after a wish, Nanika goes to sleep, and since Gon is in such a critical state, my guess is that she will be out for a lot of time... I don't know if Kurapika will endure that much..."

"Then we ask for the wish now," Killua looked at the girl, like she had grown a second head. "If we do so, we'll have more time for her to wake up to heal Gon."

The boy released a long, tired sigh.

"I think I already told you that she has to touch the target to heal it..." he mumbled, in annoyment.

"Just to heal, yeah. But I remember you saying that she could grant any wish, too," she grinned at him. "And it seems that you don't remember me saying that I already had a plan. And, as you know, my plans are always perfect."

He shook his head. Humility wouldn't be bad for her to have... a little at least would help.

"Hitomi," the girl next to the blonde stretched her hands to her, palms facing up. "Give me your hand!"

Killua's face snapped at her direction, as Hitomi smirked faintly. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of her taking her dagger her pocket off and pointing at her hand with it.

Was she really going to chop her hand off?!

"Just kidding!" she stuck her tongue at Killua, annoying him way a lot. Much in his surprise, though, she placed her hand in top on hers. "Here you are!"

Nanika giggled, making Killua blink. He was completely sure that when she asked for something specific, she meant in the way of giving it for her to have...

"Hitomi," Nanika continued. "Give me your hair!"

"Okay! Just a minute."

The boy looked at the girl, who certainly didn't cut her hair. Instead, she grabbed just one hair and yelped as she took it off her head. Nanika looked really happy when she got it.

"Hitomi," the last request. "Give me your heart!"

This time, the ex-assassin flinched. This time it was something that he couldn't think of a way for her to escape. However, Hitomi didn't look fazed at all. Even more, she was smiling.

Tenderly, Hitomi took Alluka's hand on hers and placed it on her chest. The child looked blankly at the older one, as she smiled at her, warmly.

"Here you have my heart," Hitomi grinned. "It's yours as well."

That took Killua that off guard that nearly fainted, it looked like Hitomi was always quick when it came to joke around like that. He waited for the fourth quest, which Hitomi had no more option than fulfill completely or she would die.

But when he saw Nanika's black eyes, he got the urge to throw himself through the window. It was kind of bizarre. Hitomi grinned at him, raising two fingers in victory.

"All I can conclude is that Nanika makes exceptions to all the people she cares for, like she does with me. The requests I have to fulfill are at level 1, no matter how difficult was last wish," he sweatdropped at the sight of Hitomi. "Hitomi's exception is that she is allowed to joke around and fulfill the requests in whatever way she wants, even if it's not what Nanika asked for..." But then, the Zoldyck smiled. "Well, looks like she already reached the level she has a privilege as well."

Hitomi then smiled at the child. "Right, Nanika. It seems like it's my turn for asking you something..."

They had finally arrived at the hospital and they were waiting for Alluka - who had fallen asleep when Hitomi asked the wish - to wake up. She was sitting far from her, right next to Gon's bed.

"After Gon is healed, I'm off," she thought. "I need to save my only brother as well..." her gaze fixed in the little vial in her hand. "I hope this works on Kurapika. I'd have used it on Gon, but I'm pretty sure his throat is damaged enough to drink it..."

Her eyes then trailed down the boy, who was completely covered by bands. If the situation wasn't that bad like it, she surely would have joked about him being a mummy as well as a dog.

She chuckled bitterly. Hitomi missed the days in which she could just joke around and laugh with her friends, laugh with them nor risking their lives constantly to save another one's. Funny thing was though, that she used to thought that their lives were in danger enough.

If they used to risk themselves every day, now they were doing so every minute.

Their fun trip to NGL and East Gorteau was enough proof of it.

The thought of it made her stomach twist itself in guilt, because it remembered their little fight after hell broke loose and her whole, perfect word splitted apart. She clutched the covers in which Gon was using and winced even more when she realized that they were soaked in his blood.

"Where am I?" Alluka's drowsy voice snapped her out her own little world.

Alluka was awake, so Hitomi turned around and waved her hand slightly at her. She listened as Killua explained everything to his little sister.

"My friend is here, sleeping. He's very sick," Killua explained. "I want to help get him on his feet again."

The little Zoldyck sat up, still.

"You want Nanika to take over," she understood, before pouting. "Just when I was able to spend time with you!"

Hitomi chuckled. "Looks like the proverb 'if you snooze, you lose' is more literal than affirmative..."

"Don't worry," Killua told her. "Like I told you, we'll be together from now on. Please, help me."

And like that, Nanika took over. Hitomi stood up, watching them walking towards them slowly. Killua's hand that was wrapped in his sister's tightened his grip.

As always, Nanika asked for Gon's hand and Killua took it who winced along Hitomi at the sight. There was something impossible to describe. It looked burnt, skinny and rotten, all at the same time.

"Please, Nanika... Please heal Gon!"

"'Kay."

Instantly when Nanika touched, Killua and Hitomi got blinded by a strong light. The girl gasped at it, while covering her shut eyes, in order to not get her sight damaged. She felt the aura rushing out the Zoldyck's body, making her froze at it.

That girl was even more powerful than she had given her the credit for.

The light ceased and Hitomi slowly opened her eyes. She was far from marveled at the sight of her friend's hand. For the first time in awhile, it looked like it always was. Slightly tanned, solidly built, healed.

"Is he...?" Killua trailed off.

Hitomi didn't answer. She just took the inhaler off, before removing the bandages from his face. Her smile almost split her face in two when she found herself in front of a real human, sleeping.

"Gon..." she mumbled.

Gon was back to normal. Killua smiled as well and was about to say something, when the sleeping boy suddenly stirred. The albino quickly picked her sister up, who had just fell asleep on him.

"I can't let him see Alluka," he said, turning to the girl. "Make sure he believes whatever story you make up for him."

"Eh-?"

When she realized what was happening, he was gone. Hitomi's eyebrow twitched, in irritation. He always mocked her about her awful lying skills, and now he was asking her to come up with a wonderful story believable enough to save their skins?

Great. She should be arranging her own funeral then...

"Hitomi?" a faint voice startled her.

Slowly, the girl turned around to see the boy wide awake, sitting cross-legged in the bed. His big chocolate eyes were looking at her, blankly.

"What happene-?" he asked, innocently.

He didn't even have the chance to end the question, because he felt arms wrapping him in a tight hug. Gon looked at the girl in confusion, she was sobbing softly.

She let go and smiled warmly at her.

"Was I that bad?" Gon asked.

"'Bad' is a pretty short to describe it," she snickered. "You fell in some kind of coma after fighting Pitou and woke up out of blue-"

Her eyes widened, remembering something. She looked at the floor, in shame, feeling Gon's curious gaze casted on her.

"Sorry," she mumbled, confusing the boy even more. "Back then... I said terrible things to you. I-I called you... trash... selfish and bastard... when the only trash... selfish and bastard is me and... and... If you don't want to be my friend anymore, I won't blame you... b-but... but... but-!"

"Hitomi," he cut her down, placing his hand on top of hers. That was when she realized that it had just been shaking. "It's okay."

She looked up at him, he scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly.

"Honestly, I acted in a mean way to you all, when you wanted to help me... So..." he then grinned, like he had an excellent idea. "I know! If you forgive me, I'll forgive you! It's a great deal, isn't it? We can start over and be friends again!"

Gon didn't have to wait long to feel the pain, as Hitomi's index finger started to poke his forehead, hard.

"Don't say things like that," she released him. "We don't need a deal to be friends, idiot!"

"Well, but it was necessary in a way to start over," his smile widened. "After all, you poked me as well when we became friends at first!"

Hitomi blinked at him, before smirking. "Are you masochist?... Nevermind..." she then placed her hands on his shoulders, making him stand up from his bed. "Alright, you should go to see Leorio now. He was worried sick about you. And who knows, maybe you will find a huge surprise there."

"What surprise?"

Hitomi didn't answer, just let out a soft chuckle. In fact, she had thought about that scene many times before, since she saw that video. It was kind of logical to think that Ging was still there, and that Gon would bump on him soon.

Gently, she pushed him out the room. "I'll catch you later," she said.

"Huh?" the boy was confused. "You are not going with me?"

"I would love to do it, but I have a brother to save."

Gon's eyes opened dramatically. "Is Kurapika okay?!"

"Well, he isn't. But I assure you he will. Just go."

With a nod, Gon ran away. Hitomi glanced him bumping into Biscuit, who then leaded him to the building the Election was taking place. The Kuruta quickly turned around, finding Senritsu in no time.

"Thank goodness, Hitomi-chan. You are here," the Musical Hunter released a long sigh of relief. "This way."

Nodding, Hitomi followed the woman. "How is he?" she asked.

She suddenly felt really worried, just by looking at Senritsu's expression. She kept in silence for a couple of minutes, before speaking again.

"Not well," Hitomi kind of suspected it. "He fainted last night, and he didn't wake up since then... Leorio said that he doesn't have much time."

"Okay," she nodded. "We should hurry up, then."

Running as fast as their legs allowed them to, the female Hunters arrived at Kurapika's room. Hitomi opened the door and bursted on it, just to freeze in her spot at the sight of her brother…

Summarizing it up, he looked livelier when he 'died' on the King's Palace. That was saying a lot.

Biting her lip, Hitomi decided that she wouldn't gain anything by standing there, looking at him. She rushed towards him taking the small vial from her pocket.

"Will that heal him?" Senritsu asked, standing next to her.

"I hope so," her hand holding it started to shake a little. "It's worth to give it a try, though."

Frowning, she opened the vial and let the bluish liquid fall in his mouth. Both girls watched expectantly at the boy, waiting for something to happen.

They waited…

And waited…

… And waited…

Gon ran through the halls along Leorio, feeling a little calmer about everything. Sure, the doctor-to-be told him everything that happened when he was out - leaving out their trip to the Zoldyck state, of course - but he didn't look that worried about the situation. Don't get him wrong, he cared about Kurapika, but he also trusted Hitomi. When she left to save her brother, Gon noticed that she was confident about whatever she had under her sleeve.

That was why he knew that Kurapika would live.

However, that feeling vanished into the thin air when they stepped in the room. Senritsu had a hand placed on Hitomi's shoulder, who had just fallen in her knees, shaking slightly.

All hope he held vanished like that, at the sight of the girl. She was just destroyed.

"What happened?" Gon asked, while Leorio lowered his head.

He kind of knew what it was, and he expected it to happen.

"I was late, that was what happened," Hitomi mumbled. "I'm always late! And because of that, I lost him again!"

That was when Senritsu straightened up, eyes wide open. This, however, didn't go unnoticed by the Kuruta. She looked up to her for a while, before gasping.

Frantically, she placed her ear in her brother's chest.

THUMP!

Her eyes opened at full capacity.

THUMP!

Her brother was alive. She looked at him. Kurapika was looking at her with his bright, blue eyes. The ones she hadn't seen since long time ago.

"Seriously, next time I'm going to let you die without bothering to clean your mess," Hitomi sighed.

"You know what they say," he smirked. "A bad seed never dies."

"Hey!" both Leorio and Hitomi wanted to stop him when he wanted to sit up.

Gon just kept looking at the boy, frozen in the spot.

He just smiled at them, saying that he was totally alright now. Because of their faces of disbelief, he proceed to lift his little sister by her waist and place her over his lap, much in her surprise and dismay.

"Right, right..." Hitomi sighed, her face a little redish now. "I think I'll believe you for no-"

"... KURAPIKA!..."

Gon had just reacted, and Hitomi instantly knew. How did she do so? Easy, he basically tackled Kurapika, pushing her out the bed violently in the process. She groaned, still on the floor, feeling the pain from her head to her toes... Especially her back... Damn! It hurted like hell...

"Gon!" Kurapika said, pleasantly surprised. "You are okay!"

"Yeah!" he grinned. "So do you!"

Then, they looked at Leorio and Senritsu, who were awfully pale. They followed their gaze, just to find a killer glare coming from Hitomi, who was resting her head on her hands, over the bed.

"Damn you..." she mumbled. "You want me to be the next one to die or what?!"

After a long time, they successfully managed to stop the girl from kill Gon, the one she had just risked her life to save. When they sat next to each other, she couldn't stop glaring at him. He looked away, sweatdropping.

"Now, now, since Kurapika and Gon are okay... Why don't we try to calm down, a little at least?" Senritsu tried to cool the girl down, in vain, obviously. He looked at the two older men. "Any way to do so?"

An idea crossed Leorio's mind, making him wiggle his eyebrows. The other two sweatdropped, seeing like they weren't going to like this at all...

"So, Hitomi~" a shiver ran down her back, for an unexpected reason... "How have you... No, how have you and Killua been?"

She flinched and gave him an angry glare. She somehow had the feeling that this subject would come back in no time. And when Gon smiled, the urge to hit the old man increased considerably.

"That's true! Without me around you had a lot of time alone, together!" his grin increased. "I bet you are a couple now!"

"No," she replied annoyed.

"No confessions?"

"No."

"No romantic talks?"

"Hell, no!"

"Not even a kiss?"

When Hitomi flinched, everyone looked at her wide-eyed. She cursed herself and her inability to lie to others. Leorio and Gon grinned, the older one in a more perverted way. Senritsu smiled warmly while a vein popped up in his head.

"N-No!" she stuttered.

"You are lying," Senritsu told her, annoying her even more.

She blushed furiously. There was no way out now.

"So you did?!" Gon shouted in excitement. "Hey, why didn't you confess right then? It makes it obvious!"

"Stuff happened!" she looked away, still embarrassed. "Even more... I don't know if Killua remembers it... And I'm not saying this to protect him from Blondie's wrath..." when she looked at Leorio's perverted face, she flushed even more and pointed at him. "You! Don't go imagining things!"

"I wonder..." the future doctor went on.

Hitomi facepalmed, still unable to believe. How did that tragic situation suddenly transform in a annoying love talk? And about her love life, nevertheless. It was embarrassing...

"You should tell him," Kurapika spoke, surprising everyone. He didn't look really pleased, though. "I understand you have grown up... And I think I should let you live your romantic life however you like, even if I'm not fond of it," he smiled at her. "However, in exchange, you have to show me some courage and tell him how you feel."

Hitomi leaned on the chair, looking at the clouds through the window. After all, they would departing soon. If it wasn't now, there wasn't going to be a time to do so.

She released a long sigh.

"Maybe I can try..." she snached her bag and took something out. "But first, there's something we both have to do, brother."

Kurapika just nodded, seeing the red eyes through the vial, beneath the girl's fingers..

Hitomi looked at the flames which Kurapika had just lighten up, and closed her eyes, holding Pairo's eyes closer to her chest. She did remember taking the Hunter Exam to do this to every pair of eyes from her people, but never imagined she would do this in her life... Even if it was the first one.

"Hitomi," Kurapika called over her.

Noticing that it was time, she nodded at the boy, before giving the vial a long look. With a serious expression, she opened it and threw the Scarlet Eyes at the fire, watching them turning into ash and disappear in the heat.

Kurapika noticed Hitomi's expression and placed his arm over her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. Both siblings stared at the flames, hugging like this.

"Was it fun?" a voice echoed in the back of her head.

Her eyes opened slightly, remembering that question. In silence, she smirked.

"Awfully fun. I discovered many things, I made a lot of friends... I'm happy living like this," she told him, in her head. "So, thank you for giving me this opportunity. Thank you and goodbye..." she closed her eyes. "Rest in peace, Pairo, my friend."

She looked up to Kurapika, who looked like he was thinking about that same question as well. He glanced at her, and smiled fondly.

"Well, we should go, right?" he said to her. "The others are waiting."

Hitomi nodded, energetically, before they both walked away, before turning the fire off, of course. In no time, they found Leorio, Killua and Alluka sitting in a table, probably waiting for them both and Gon. They all agreed to meet for a last time, after all.

"Kurapika and Dummy arrived, after all," Killua noticed.

"Hey, brats!" Leorio waved his hand at them.

A vein popped up in each head of the Kuruta siblings. Kurapika released a long sigh to calm himself down meanwhile Hitomi's eyebrow started to twitch violently.

"Oh, if it's Kitty, Grampa and Alluka!" Hitomi joked back, annoying the other two. "Where is Doggy?"

"He went to talk with this 'Ging'," Leorio said, like his name left a bad taste in his mouth. "I don't know how much time he will waste there..."

Just like answering that sentence, they all heard steps coming their way. The five looked over Gon, who looked really disappointed and lost for some reason. Wordlessly, he let himself fall in a chair, looking blankly at the sky.

"Uh... Gon-?" Killua was interrupted by a piece of paper shoved in his face.

They all looked at it. There was a tree drawn on it. He also had written something:

"I'm waiting atop the World Tree."

"Well, he certainly didn't say that he would be waiting right there..." Leorio mumbled, feeling annoyed.

"Come on, cheer up," Hitomi smiled at him. "You already met him! Just a step more, and you will catch him! Wasn't that the reason you wanted to be a Hunter?"

Gon brightened all of sudden. "You are right!"

The four smiled, seeing the old Gon back again. Leorio chuckled slightly, standing up from his seat and throwing his suitcase over his shoulder.

"Well, I should be going home," he declared. "It was fun to see you guys again and meet Alluka, and I'm really glad you are all alive... But I'm not a doctor yet. I still need a minimum of two years of hard study!"

They all looked at them, smiling a little.

"Aww, it's not fun!" Gon pouted a little. "But it can't be helped!"

"You better study hard, Rioleo!" Killua joked. Leorio was about to yell at him, but was interrupted.

"It was nice to meet you, Mister," Alluka said sweetly, bowing in a slight way.

Leorio froze there, looking at the clueless girl for a little. Gon smiled awkwardly, Kurapika shook his head with a smile, while Killua and Hitomi laughed hard.

"You know..." Hitomi managed to calm down, and whispered close to her ear. "He is twenty-one right now."

"Eh?" her eyes went big, before turning to Leorio. "I'm really sorry, Leorio-san!"

"Does that run through the blood...?" he mumbled, thinking on Killua. "Well, you seem a little more polite than him at least... I can get myself angry with you."

They all laughed for a while, bidding themselves farewell. Just when he turned around to leave, Gon stood up from his seat, gaining everyone's looks.

"Wait!" he called. "Are we all going to meet again?"

Leorio thought about it a little. "Certainly, we haven't thought of a date..." he commented. "And I don't want another of you guys almost dying to meet again."

"Then, we can fix a date in which we can met, every year! It doesn't mean we can't see each other another day, but it means that we will met no matter what happens!" Hitomi exclaimed, before shuffling Alluka's head. "And with 'we', you are included, you know."

Alluka nodded, grinning along her brother.

"Sounds nice," Kurapika commented. "And when should we meet, then?"

"September 1st, how about it? It's less of a month from today, though," she almost instantly proposed. "Every year, we can met on September 1st, on Yorkshin, like we first agreed."

"If you manage to bring that idiot on date, is okay to me," Killua joked, obviously making reference of Kurapika.

"Leave it to me!"

"I don't need a babysitter," Kurapika muttered, annoyed.

Leorio laughed a little more.

"That's it then," he waved once more. "See you all on September 1st!"

Kurapika had said that he needed to fix a couple of things before departing, so she let Hitomi go with Gon, Killua and Alluka for the last time. That was why they all were looking in awe at the huge tree, from a far away spot.

"It's huge!" Killua exclaimed, still holding Alluka's hand. "This is definitely the tallest tree in the world."

"I wonder if you will find some giant up there, Jack-chan," Hitomi joked, placing her hands on her hips. "Okay, let's take a look around before then!"

Moments after that, the four were eating small buns, completely ignoring the guide. As he continued to talk, the four decided to take a photo. That was why Alluka stood in the middle of Hitomi and Killua, Gon standing next to the Kuruta as well.

And for the fist time in forever, Hitomi actually won in a Rock, Paper and Scissors, winning as well the right of keeping the picture.

Ending the trip, the guide walked away, feeling a little upset about not being heard at all. Gon took a couple of steps closer to the entry, before stopping in his tracks and turning around to face their friends.

"So, this is as far as we're going," Killua stated.

"Same for me," Hitomi nodded. "Take care."

"Yeah," Gon nodded as well. "Killua, Hitomi, thank you for everything."

Hitomi just grinned sheepishly at it, while Killua blushed slightly, before smirking as well.

"Well, after you told me you would defeat Pitou alone and that it was none of my business, I was pretty depressed!" Killua pressed him.

Gon felt every time more guilty as he let his words sink in, falling in his knees and releasing some kind of depressing aura.

"I'm really sorry..." he mumbled, apologetically.

"Big brother!" Alluka scolded, as Killua looked at her, in his cat-mode on.

"Way to go, Killua," Hitomi grinned.

"Big sister, too?!" the female Zoldyck scolded her as well.

The Kuruta gave her a huge grin, helping Gon up and telling him about a dozen of times to stop apologizing, at the point of annoying her.

"Well, you apologized," Killua said. "And I think I can say I'm only here with Alluka now because of the time I spent with the both of you," he turned around to face a confused Gon. "She's the one who healed you."

"Huh?! Is that true?!" he looked at Hitomi. "But you said-!"

"Yeah, I lied," she grinned. "I bet you are the only one in the world who believes a lie coming from me!"

"But-! You should have told me sooner!"

They sweatdropped, when they noticed a crowd forming around them. Hitomi released a long sigh, grabbing the boy, taking him away.

"Sorry... We don't want too many people knowing about this," Killua mumbled, while running away. "You know, it's sort of a complicated family thing..."

Once in a alley, far from the people, they decided to talk about it. Killua asked for Alluka to call Nanika and closed her eyes. When she opened them, turning completely black, Gon found himself looking at them in amazement.

"She has the power to grant any wish I make," Killua told him.

"Any wish?!" he repeated, surprised.

"Because of that power, she was locked up in our house," Killua smirked. "But thanks to you, she's outside now."

"Yeah," Hitomi placed her arm over Nanika's shoulders. "And thanks to you, I met these two girls!"

The albino boy smiled wider at the sight of the girls.

"And I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life protecting her," he continued. "We should be the ones thanking you."

"'Kay," Nanika said.

"N-No way..." Gon stuttered. "I should be thanking you!"

Hitomi smirked as well, looking at both boys, remembering the talk they once had at Whale Island. That they would travel together until Gon found his father, Killua found whatever he wanted to do and she found at least a pair of Scarlet Eyes. That alone would mean that today they would have to depart for good.

She remembered then that her true objective was to find all of them. It looked like her goal was the only one that wasn't complete yet.

The three looked at each other for a long time.

"This is no good," Gon said. "If we stay here any longer..."

"Yeah," Killua admitted.

Hitomi had no more option but agree. The three got out the place when Alluka switched back up and walked to the entrance of the World Tree.

"I'll be traveling to all kinds of places with Alluka," Killua said. "I'll e-mail you guys from time to time."

"Me too," Hitomi said and Gon nodded.

"And I'll contact you if I happen to see a pair of Scarlet Eyes, Hitomi," Gon told the girl.

"I'll too... Well, if I remember to," the male Zoldyck joked.

Hitomi shook her head. "Thanks, I think..."

Killua turned to Gon. "Say 'hi' to your dad for me," he said.

"Yeah, and tell him to avoid punches in the face," Hitomi mocked. "It's not healthy."

"That's mean!" the Freecss boy pouted.

Alluka smiled sweetly.

"After I've had my brother all to myself for a while, I'll set him free," she spoke. "Will you both hang out with him then?"

"Hold on! I'm the one choosing to hang out with them!" he then turned to Gon. "Isn't she a great sister? Sorry, but as far as I'm concerned, you're in second place."

"Is that so?" he smiled, pointing at Hitomi, who raised an eyebrow at him. "What about her, then?"

"Uh..." he pretended to actually being thinking about it, "... Probably fourth or fifth."

"Well, that's some improvement," Hitomi grinned. "I thought I would be somewhere between the eleventh and twentieth."

They all laughed, and Hitomi then noticed how much she missed laughing full heartedly between friends. Meanwhile, Gon took a step ahead looking at his friends over his shoulder.

"Kite said that no matter where we go, we'll be always be friends!" he smiled.

"Yeah!" Killua grinned.

"You bet it," Hitomi nodded.

And like that, Gon walked away.

Hitomi and Killua sat on a bench, waiting for Alluka who had suddenly said that she wanted to go to the bathroom, alone. No matter how much Hitomi insisted to go with her, she refused saying that she could take care of herself.

The girl looked at her watch and released a long sigh, standing up.

"I should be going," Hitomi mumbled. "Who knows how much time Kurapika can endure before doing something crazy on his own..."

"I see..."

Hesitantly, she took a step ahead but stopped when Killua grabbed her wrist all of sudden, probably without even thinking. She looked at him over her shoulder and he let go instantly, a little surprised at his own actions.

They both fell in a deep silence.

"Are you really going to go this time?" he mumbled.

"Yeah," she replied. "Looks like the third is the charm, after all..."

Hitomi knew that she had to walk away now, but she just couldn't. She remembered again and again what Kurapika had said to her, about confessing. The girl also knew that she had to say it, but she didn't want it to sound cheesy. She didn't want to sound like she didn't care either. Also, she didn't want to-!

Ugh, that was both frustrating and embarrassing.

"Hitomi?" Killua was confused. He sweatdropped. "Will you keep standing and shaking there or-?"

"Killua," she called, taking him off guard. "I... I..."

Great, now she was making it sound like another cliché shojo manga, but she couldn't help it. The words just died down her throat, forming a lump which didn't let her talk.

Killua kept waiting. She took a few breaths, before talking.

"I should thank you. Long time ago, I just thought love was some kind of psychological disorder," she turned around and smiled, her face burning. "Until I met you, that's it."

The boy's blue orbs grew larger and larger, a faint blush covering his face. Hitomi then regretted her decision about saying that and turned around, standing still.

"I mean a friend love! Yeah, that's it!" she nodded at herself. "I should have told Gon this, but I forgot... Okay, see you-!"

"Wait!"

Killua placed his arm in front of her, resting it on the wall. She stopped, looking at him expecting to talk... Such an awkward situation...

"Do you really mean it like... a friend love?" he asked, calmly.

"Well... no..." Hitomi looked away, before releasing a long sigh. "That's it. You know it. My job is done, so... I'm gone now..."

But before she could even leave, Killua looked at her, intensely. Hitomi stared at him, knowing that he was about to say something, which she didn't know about.

"Don't you want my answer?" he asked, softly.

"No really," she admitted. "But I think I need to hear it."

Suddenly, Killua brought his hands on her hair and pulled her closer. When she knew what was happening, he had planted his lips on hers, fitting perfectly. After a long while, the boy tried to split from her, but she reacted first and, placing her hands on his cheeks, she pulled him closer.

But that kiss came into a end, so they reluctantly let go of each other, but kept looking at their eyes for a long time. Hitomi focused in his icy blue orbs and, smiling, realized how happy she was. He felt the same for her...

She thought she could die happily now.

Hitomi then scratched it out. It sounded like something a fangirl would do, after all.

Smiling from far away, Alluka smiled to herself. She definitely knew that something was up between her brother and his 'friend', but they still needed a friendly push to them to admit it to each other, even if that meant leaving them all alone for a while.

When she noticed that all that scene was over, she decided to walk to them. She grinned at herself, looking at the teens' blushed, but happy faces.

"Well, I definitely need to go now," Hitomi said. "Take care, guys."

"You too, Big sister," Alluka smiled at her. "Thank you for everything!"

"I think that goes for you, too," the girl grinned. "You and Nanika saved Gon and Kurapika's life! Man, even mine!"

Alluka laughed shyly, before both girls noticed Killua shifting uncomfortably. He gazed at the floor, red like a tomato, placing his hands on his pockets.

"Hey, Hitomi," he mumbled, feeling every time more embarrassed. "If it doesn't bother you... if we happen to be close... Can we met?..."

"But we are going to met already in September, remember?"

The youngest Zoldyck laughed as Killua blushed even more.

"He doesn't mean it in that way," she spoke. "He wants a date."

"EH?! No, that isn't it!" he yelled angrily, turning at Hitomi, pointing at her with an accusatory finger. "Don't even go there! I wasn't thinking on taking you on a date at all! I just want to meet! I... I-!"

Hitomi snickered at him. Somehow, he looked really cute when he was that shy.

"I'll be waiting for our date, Killua," she smiled, warmly, waving her hand at him. "Until then."

When the boy calmed down, he gave her a sweet smile as well. They said their goodbye at each other once again, before Hitomi finally turned around and walked away, because she knew that if she didn't do that now, she would never be able to do so.

"You're late, Hitomi," Kurapika stood up from his seat.

"Well, well, my bad," she apologized, placing her hands behind her head. "I just had to deal with some matters..."

Taking the bag that she had left with her brother and throwing it over her shoulder, as she looked at the way she had just walked through, right after leaving her friends.

"Will you miss them?" Kurapika asked her.

"Uh-huh..." she replied, absentmindedly.

"Will you miss him?"

"Uh-huh..." there was a beat, until she faced him, pink tinting her cheeks. "Hey! What are you making me say, idiot?!"

Kurapika smiled. "Sorry, sorry... So, did anything good happen?"

"Nothing at all," she frowned. "Why?"

He chuckled at her expression and walked some steps ahead. Hitomi pouted, folding her arms in front of her chest as she felt the heat blossoming in her face, walking right behind him.

"You know that our eyes shift into scarlet when feeling intense emotions, right?" Kurapika stated, calmly.

"Yeah," she raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm a Kuruta, remember? Of course I know."

"And that happiness can count as an intense emotion?"

"I'm not an idiot, damn it! What do you mean with that?"

Kurapika stopped to turn around, smiling at her. "In this very moment, your eyes are burning scarlet, Hitomi."

Her eyes opened for a brief moment, before releasing a long sigh, feeling somewhat tired about it all of sudden. Sometimes, Hitomi hated these eyes a lot, because they kind of made her feelings that transparent.

But then smiled. She was too happy now to be angry over a small fact like that.

"Right, you win," she admitted after a bit. "Happy now?"

"Very," he smirked.

The girl rolled her eyes, before grinning at her brother. She started to walk once again, being followed by Kurapika, of course. She looked at the sky one more time.

Hitomi was a Kuruta, and her eyes were a clear fact to prove it. However, the fact that they turned scarlet was probably the only thing that it was unusual in a human.

In the end, Hitomi was just Hitomi, a normal girl. A girl who fought hard against life, found friends, laughed and fell in love with someone. A girl who was still young, and had a long road still ahead for her to walk through.

Life wasn't over, after all.

The End

Wow, I can't really believe I finished a story, for real! It's kind of sad for me to say that Eyes Burning Scarlet is over... Seriously, I don't know what I'll do without this fic but... Oh, well! That's life... T.T

It's hard to think this will the last time I ever will do this... Reviews!

JokeLover123: Honestly, that joke was something it just popped up in my head, so I'm happy you liked it despite it was that poorly elaborated... Same goes with the kiss scene, but that one gave me more trouble while thinking on it... Anyway, thank you for all the reviews and I hope you enjoyed this last chapter as well!

SoulXHunter: Sorry I wasn't able to show her powers more properly, but I'm glad you liked them anyway, same goes with the poor fluff :D Thank you for all reviews you left me and I wish you had fun in this chapter :)

Elisablackcat: I'm sorry for the lack of Killua in the ship... Anyway, thank you for the reviews and I hope you liked this update!

Kri: I'm happy you liked it :D Thanks for all the reviews you once write me and I hope you enjoyed the ending!

Guest (chapter 36): Well, he ended up keeping alive from my hands, hahaha! Thanks for the review and I hope you liked this update :D

Silent Readers: Thanks for keeping in there until the end! I hope you enjoyed it :D

Okay, I guessthis is goodbye for now.. so, I'll thank everyone who once followed, favourited, reviewed or just kept reading this fanfic! THANK YOU ALL! You all are the best :D

See you all another time!