Chapter 24 – In Love with the wrong world

''No more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undone. No more crawling like a crow for a boy, for a body in the garden…. No more dreaming like a girl so in love, so in love with the wrong world.'' ~ Florence and the machine

''Here…'' Killua handed me a piece of paper that was my train ticket. Smiling, I thanked the good boy. He nodded and turned to my brother and handed him his. ''The airship's about to depart. Let's go!'' he said and strode away. I followed the two boys, gown and all the while ignoring people's disbelieving and gaping looks.

I inwardly smirk. Ha! Be awed, you plain commoners! HAHAHAHA!

I admit, however, that it can slightly difficult to run and walk around in a ball gown. Killua has been scowling so much ever since we left the house. Why? Well…

''Killua! Gon! Help me! I can't get in!'' I cried as I tried to push myself in through the narrow door of the bus.

''Troublesome! I knew it. I knew it will give us problems soon! Urgh! Here!'' So, while Killua pulled me in by the arm, Gon pushed me from behind.

Of course, some people talked and stared but nah… I don't really care.

The blue gown the Zoldycks gave me as an apology for torturing the heck out of me was very beautiful that I almost have forgiven them already. After all, holding grudges is ever so unhealthy!

The colour of it was the same as the sky when it is summer, the dress was an off-shoulder and layered with blue glittering lace. It made me miss my long black hair and I realised now that I deeply regret cutting my long beautiful strands during my small depressed session from the Hunters exam. Damn it!

But at least I had my head-dress. It complemented the dress well, I think. Very nicely.

''Here.'' I blinked when Killua threw a deep blue skater dress, a pair of knee-high black socks and a white cardigan. I was going to smile at their cuteness when I realised what Killua was having me to do. I sighed.

''We're going to an arena, Gin. Not a ball. You're putting yourself in danger wearing that.'' He motioned with his head.

He's right, I thought. I really can't fight like this. I played with the smooth cloth of the short casual dress. Its colour was a shade deeper than the one I was wearing but the fact that it was blue brought a small smile on my face. I swallowed the lump that I didn't notice in my throat. I chuckled.

Wow…I thought and blinked multiple times to stop my burning eyes. I'm really crying over a dress? A part of me cannot believe it but then again… I'm a girl approaching her teens.

Oh man…it's gonna be hellish. I covered my face and groaned.

''its okay, sis. You can wear the dress until we reached the arena! Right, Killua?'' said Gon, looking at his friend on his left.

The other boy sighed and crossed his arms. ''Mah…Whatever. So long as she gets out that gown.'' He looked down from the window. ''The heck are those guys thinking… giving her something so useless.'' He muttered angrily to himself.

I chuckled softly at his pouting. ''Thanks for the dress, Killua. I love it!'' I grinned then checked the blue dress up and down. I laid it against me with a smile to see its length. It should reach down just above knees. ''Oh… it's pretty!''

I took a deep breath. ''One day… I'll be strong enough that I can wear a gown like this whenever and wherever I want.'' I bit my lip then because I didn't realise I said it aloud. I can feel the two boys staring. Gon laughed a little. I frowned. ''What?!''

He grinned, eyes closing and tilting his head to the side, he said; ''you're so cute, Gin.''

My face heated. G-Gon… he…said… I'm cute!

''Hmph… I wonder when that will be.'' The other cut in, his tone light and teasing.

I recovered quickly and turned my nose up. ''Soon!'' I said and he just snorted before turning away to watch the view outside.

I wonder when that will be, I thought and remembered Netero's offer. Slowly, I discreetly watched my brother as he watched the view with bright brown eyes. Killua and Gon. Best friends. They will go stronger as they go. I can get stronger with them too, can't I?

The Heavens arena was one of a hell of a tall building. According to Killua, it was the world's most popular battle site. It was located in the eastern part of the Republic of Padokea.

The Heavens arena was a very tall building – the fourth tallest in the world, again according to Killua. Once we've arrived, he had pointed it to us from afar and it stood tall, white and proud amidst the other buildings of the city. The building reached high up in the sky and tapered up into a point. According to the small leaflet I snatched from the airship's shelf, the building stood 3,250 feet tall and has 251 floors. It was the temple for warriors all around the world.

I gulped and stared up the white-stone building, my nerves and fear level rising up in every breath I took. Before me, Killua and Gon were busy chatting happily with each other, something about money plus training and Killua being left here to fight by his own father when he was six.

Thousands of martial artists compete inside daily in order to advance up to the higher floors. The aim was to fight and defeat the opponent using any means but weapons are forbidden to use on the first 199 floors and as you advance up, you are given increasing amount of prize money. This was bad, I thought. My greatest strengths were my knives and my speed. I knew for a fact that I wasn't a fighter. I… I was a kill or run 1type of person.

Money can't buy my life, stupids!

Uh. Actually, it can! All you need is a stronger man, woman or kid to kill you with their bare hands.

I shook my head to stop myself from creating a conversation with own self again.

''Oy. Girl! Move up!'' A tall, tanned and ragged man shouted at me. He wore ripped jeans and a sleeveless dirty white shirt. I flinched and turned away to go closer to my group.

I froze when I felt the man leaned in and touched my dress. He thumbed the cloth, estimating and deducing its worth. I pulled but then he pulled back roughly. I watched as his grin widened.

''Expensive thing you got here little miss. You lost?'' he drawled, the brown tobacco between his yellowed teeth moved up and down as he spoke. His eyes were very dark and the blue glittering gown brought a spark of greed and hatred in them. The boys behind me tensed and stepped closer to my left and right. ''Eh? You bunch of kids?''

I sighed and turned to the boys. ''Come on.'' I whispered then gasped when the man suddenly grabbed my dress so hard that I was jerked forwards too. ''Let go!'' I shouted, looking around. Some of the men near us looked up but didn't move an inch. They watched, waiting of what's going to happen next.

What…

''Bet a piece is worth thousands of Jennies. You brat.'' His grip tightened and I heard the cloth snap.

''Tch.'' Suddenly, Killua materialised beside the man's head and with a quick hand-chop to the neck, he fell. Still no one moved. Kicking the unconscious man out of the way casually, Killua then turned to me with a scowl. Upon seeing my face, he seemed to soften. He shook his head. ''Told you it will only bring trouble.''

I blinked. ''You didn't tell me that.'' I said and crossed my arms. An arm wrapped itself around me. Gon held my arm and massaged the cold exposed skin. He smiled.

''Come on, Gin.'' He said softly. I turned away and let them guide me through, feeling like an invalid.

''…It's the dress, I tell you.'' I turned and looked up (slightly) to the silver-haired boy on my left.

''What?''

''The dress' making you weak.'' I frowned at him, puzzled. Killua just sighed and shoved me forwards by the shoulder. I tripped, not expecting it. I fixed my head-dress on.

''What… What the hell is that for?!'' I turned, glowering at his rudeness whilst Gon safely moved aside, scratching his head.

''Get the hell out of that dress! And that freak of a hat!'' Killua appeared behind me and held my shoulders tight. Then, he forced me to walk forwards. I tripped again and again but he was there to push me up and shove me more.

''What the hell? Get off!'' His grip tightened as I struggled and undoubtedly leaving marks. Sighing, I eventually let him drive me forwards as I curiously scanned our new surroundings.

There were numerous televisions showing live fights of people. I turned my gaze away towards the people around us. They parted before me, looking annoyed and I smiled at them apologetically. ''Sorry… Excuse me… Sorry!...''

Killua stopped in front of a door with a female figure sign on it – the female toilets. He let go and I immediately massaged my reddened arms. Gon was smiling behind Killua. I pouted.

''Well? Go! You want me to help you with dressing too, princess?'' he mocked. I opened my mouth to retort something witty when I realised something.

''Actually, I need my Gon to do it.'' I said, tilting my chin up. Killua frowned, lips curling as if disgusted. I rolled my eyes at him saucily and turned to my brother sweetly.

''Gon…I can't really remove the gown by myself…'' I pouted, fluttering my eyes. ''You see… Kalluto-chan tied it behind reaaallly tight… And I need you to get me out of them.''

I watched with a fixed innocent look on my face as my brother's mouth parted and nodded slowly in understanding. ''I see.'' He brightened up. ''Come on then, Gin! Let's get you out of that dress! See you Killua.'' Gon didn't see Killua's flabbergasted expression –blue eyes wide and jaws unhinged in sheer disbelief.

My beloved twin reached out to hold my hand. I pulled his arm closer and held his arm with my free hand. The plastic bag containing my new clothes hanging around my elbow.

Before the door closed, I glanced over my shoulder to Killua with an evil smirk on my face and a wink. Ha! Take that! He's mine!

We went inside a cubicle before any present woman could react.

''Thanks Gon.'' I sighed when the corset untightened. I was going to remove the thing when I stiffened, remembering something very important. Turning over my shoulder, I met my brother's identical brown eyes. Under the dim lights, they looked almost the dark brown. He blinked, instantly picking up my growing apprehension.

''What?'' he asked in his usual soft tone.

I bit my lip, frowning. ''Killua forgot to buy a bra.'' I told him. My brother looked down at the plastic bag then to my chest. He nodded.

''I'll go buy then. Will you be okay here alone?'' he asked, frowning. ''I could tie it back and we could buy one together.''

I bit my lip, thinking. ''We could but… it's really hard to walk around with this. Might take us too long too, you know… temptation.'' I grinned. ''Might get distracted and buy more than I need.''

My brother smiled sheepishly. He scratched his cheek, nodding slowly. ''You're right. What colour do you want?''

''Oooh! I nearly forgot!'' I laid my arms on his shoulders and played with his hair. ''Pink! Get a cute one, okay? With laces! Get one with matching panties too, okay?'' I scowled. ''Killua forgot those!''

Gon chuckled. ''Right then. I'll be back in less than 15 if we're lucky.'' He said. ''Since we've got a pass, we don't need to line up again!''

My face fell. ''Sorry, Gon…''

He leaned in and bumped our foreheads together. ''it's okay.'' He smiled and I smiled back. ''be back in bit!'' He said and opened the toilet's door. Some girls gasped but he was gone before they can throw things at him.

''WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!'' I giggled inside my cubicle, hearing Killua's yell. ''No way! NO WAAAAAYYYY, GON!'' Their voices soon faded.

''Oh…how I wish to see his face!'' I covered my mouth to muffle my cackling. I sighed and sat on the closed toilet. I sighed and stretched my shoulders, feeling more like myself than I did a while ago. How weird is that? Killua seemed right, the dress was somewhat depressing.

''Hm… '' I tilted my head to the side. ''I wonder if Gon remembers my bra size?'' I asked myself.

The girl's toilet became quiet after the two boys left. Soon after, I was the only one left in the room. I sat idly on the toilet seat, waiting for the two and my mind running and fleeing from Netero again and again.

In the end, I stood up and left the cubicle to pace around, holding my corset close to my chest. I sighed and stared at myself from the mirrors. Pasting a smile on my face, I reached out behind to tie the laces a little to keep the corset from falling off.

Since no one was in the room, I started humming and dancing, imagining myself somewhere else. The dress hugged my body really nicely and provided me curves that wasn't really there. I grinned and continued swaying the layered blue dress.

''I love to dance, dilly-dilly, I love to sing. When I am queen, dilly-dilly, you'll be my king. Who told me so, dilly-dilly, who told me so? I told myself, dilly-dilly I told me so…''

Did it really make me weak? I wondered while humming. I smiled sadly. Maybe…

Then, I remembered Netero congratulating me for being the only girl to have passed the Hunter exam and what he said about how most girls would like to stay at home, playing with their dolls and looking pretty. I had told him then that I love doing those things. It was partly true except for the dolls part. I hate them. They really freak me out.

I placed my hands and held on to the cold white sink. Standing in front of the mirror was a girl who looked much different than the one that left Whale Island. For some reason, my eyes weren't as bright as before and the bags under my eyes were even more prominent.

Compared to Gon and Killua, I look like hell. I tilted my head to the side and figured that it might be because of the lights and the fact that my eyes weren't really as bright as Gon's even though we were supposed to be identical. Weird. I'm pretty sure I eat more and the same foods as Gon's. I smiled, willing my eyes to brighten up a little bit then arranged my feathered head-dress.

I took in a deep breath and grimaced at smelling the strong scent of putrid urine, old faeces, different hints of perfumes and cleaning substances. ''Urgh!'' I pinched my nose.

I turned to my right just as I heard the first door of the toilets open. My expectant face fell, realising it wasn't Gon or Killua since the incoming person didn't yell. With a disappointed sigh, I waited for the girl to come through the second door whilst I checked my lips. They were slightly chapped. I smoothed the rough lines. I really need to go and buy a chapstick.

The hairs on my arms stood up in alarm and I instantly stiffened upon catching red hair and a dark shirt with a fuchsia-coloured heart and diamond printed on it. I took a step back and instantly fixed my face and pasted a mostly surprised and suspicious expression while keeping the fear away at a minimum.

I frowned at him. ''What are you doing here?'' I asked, though I already know why. This pervert stalker!

He giggled and leaned his back on the wall. His golden eyes opened and slowly scanned my attire up and down. His smile seemed to widen. ''Going somewhere nice? Gin-chan?''

Hopefully not my funeral.

I shrugged, taking a deep courageous breath only to violently cover my nose when I caught a lungful of repulsive smells that normal people can only smell little. Damn sensitive smell!

I groaned as I heard him chuckle in amusement. ''A coincidence. You are in the heavens arena, dear. The perfect place for fighters. Of course, I'll be here.'' He slyly told me.

The door opened and I felt myself relax a little upon hearing some girl laughters. The second door opened and a girl froze at the door, looking at me and then the strange man by the door. She blinked, glancing over her shoulder to her two other friends as if for support. They shared a nod. The girl in the middle opened her mouth to probably tell Hisoka to please get out the women's toilets when Hisoka let out a wave of ill intent. I watched as the girls' eyes widened like saucers and how they froze up like they've been stretch up like spaghettis.

Stuttering something incoherent, they left in a dash. Hisoka's sharp look disappeared then he smiled at me sweetly.

For some reason, I remembered this short story about a couple who owned a large python. They owned the python for a while but then, one day, the snake stopped eating even his favoured meals. All it does was lie around all day on their bed and stretch. So they brought him to a veterinarian. And you know what the veterinarian said?

He advised the couple to get rid of the python immediately because the reason it hasn't been eating was because it has been preparing itself to eat the couple and the fact that it stretches on their bed was because it was measuring their height and if it can eat them. Creepy and very, very disturbing right? That's why we can't trust snakes, people!

Now… the way Hisoka was looking at me reminded me exactly of that story. Oh my god… does he want to play examiner again?! I freaked out inside my head. I'm not ready!

He laughed, covering his face. I narrowed my eyes at him. I was trapped and he and I know it. Hisoka leaned beside the door not because he happened just to do that but because he was effectively intimidating me by trapping my only means of escape.

Not that I could escape in this dress.

''Fine. That was a lie, Gin-dear.'' I scowled, heart beat starting to race. Having my corset untightened by Gon was both a blessing and a curse. First, because I can breathe easier but second, I never felt so…vulnerable.

''What's a lie?'' I managed to ask, still pasted at the other side of the room by the sinks.

He smiled, trying to look unthreatening. He let out a small chuckle. ''I followed you here.'' I felt every ounce of muscle in my body freeze up whilst many alarms rang loud in my ears. How…My eyes widened in realisation, Hunters website?

''Yes. Yes.'' He said nonchalantly, waving a hand. I moved my gaze from his high-heeled shoes to his made-up face. Then, I looked down again at his shoes, slightly interested.

''Nice boots.'' I commented.

His smile widened and he pushed one leg forwards, tilting his shoes left and right. ''You think?''

I nodded, crossing my arms. I looked down and pulled the dress up my chest. I took a breath in despite the smell.

''Nice dress, Gin-chan.'' He nodded at the dress.

I tilted my chin up. ''Thanks.''

''A gift?''

''Yes.''

''Hm…''

Without removing his gaze from me, he tilted his head and leaned it against the wall. He crossed his arms too and I noticed, much to my growing apprehension that he was holding on to his other arm a bit tightly. I knew this meant bad. Because Hisoka only gets masochistic when he's hungry for a fight. Under the dim-lights, he seemed paler than usual, almost pale as milk.

''You look paler, Hisoka.'' I told him because I needed to have him distracted. If I kept quiet and let him have his own way, then he wins… and I might just die.

''Hm?'' He looked down on his corded arms.

''And your outfit looks absolutely queer. I don't get it. Magic?'

He chuckled again. ''Just a little. Though I don't look that different, do I?'' He raised an eyebrow. I raised an eyebrow, scanning his outfit – the same one from my visions. ''But you, Gin-dear. You look different in that dress and…'' he pointed at his red-head.

I bristled. ''It's a multi-coloured tribal feathered head-dress from the Dentora region and its super cool!'' I huffed and crossed my arms. ''Thought you'd like it! Hmph. What do you want, Hisoka?''

''You thought I'd like it?'' he drawled.

I rolled my eyes. ''Your creative and visual. Thought you'd understand but no… At least pretend you do!''

The Magician snorted and then covered his mouth as he broke out in laughter. ''What?!'' I couldn't help but yell in annoyance. I admit that I felt disappointed.

My breath hitched when I felt the change in his aura. I half-screamed when he suddenly appeared in front of me, towering. ''Oh, Gin-chan…You have no idea, do you?'' He asked, tilting his head to the side and looking absolutely the mad-bad Hisoka I know.

''No. And I think I don't want to know. Knowing you, it's probably nothing good.'' I grumbled the last part, thinking of my poor brother and he chuckled. I tensed as I felt his hand hover and play with a feather on my head-dress.

I leaned backwards to add more space between us and praying that Gon will come back soon. Actually, no. I don't want him to see Hisoka just yet. If he does now, he'll get even more worked up with punching him on the face.

''Are you going to fight like this?'' He asked, peering down. I gulped and hugged the dress closer to me. The snake was too close that I could feel his breath on my exposed shoulder. Damn it. Need to get away quickly.

I sighed and casually stepped away from him, gliding towards the other side of the room. ''I'm thinking of taking a break.'' I told him with a frown. I did? Since when?

Since now, apparently.

''Oh?''

I stopped, still keeping him at my peripheral vision. ''I... I don't want to fight anymore…'' I whispered, more to myself.

I wished I didn't though.

I gasped and my vision blurred and darkened. The hit was too quick and it was my fault for lowering my guard, even for a moment. Because in that moment of weakness, Hisoka materialised in front of me and the next thing I know, my feet were off the ground and I am quite certain I just had a concussion. I moaned in pain as the back of my head burned and tingled in pain.

''H-hisoka…'' I weakly cried while blindly clawing at his arm. I choked when his hold around my neck tightened.

I cried out when he moved me so easily down so my feet touched ground but he didn't untighten his grip. The movement brought a stabbing pain inside my head. I cried, silently calling for help. Gon…Gon...Killua!

''What. Did. You. Just. Say. Gin-dear?'' He whispered threateningly in my ear. I coughed and tried to pull his hand from my neck.

''Hi-hi…Let..go…you…''

''You don't want to fight anymore?'' He asked, his warm breath hot on my cheek. ''But you haven't even started?'' His voice twisted as if in pain. My grip slackened from his arms, hardly breathing anymore. ''This is not good.'' I saw him shook his head from my blurred vision. Vaguely, I felt two warm teardrops escaping my eyes. I looked up at the dim-light, mouth trying to catch some air. ''No…no…no…This isn't good!'' he murmured, speaking to himself.

Mad…He's gone mad…

He manipulated my neck and caught my eyes – a sharp yellow. He frowned, looking worried. ''You're losing it, Gin-dear.'' He shook his head slowly. ''Why? What's wrong?'' he whispered.

I tried to answer despite my whirling vision and the weakness in my limbs. ''hmm?'' He pinned me more against the wall, trapping and towering over me. ''Why?!'' I cried out in pain when he shook me by the neck. My vision darkened and my heart thudded loudly in my ears.

Then, he let go and I fell weakly on the floor, my glittering dress spread out like a deflated balloon. I coughed and held my painful neck, trying to get some air. I don't want to fight. I don't want to die. I want to go home. I want to be safe again. I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared…

Hisoka crouched before me, pushing the dress to get closer. I felt his hand on my chin, pulling it up closer to his. ''What's wrong, Gin-dear? Your eyes look different.'' He whispered whilst he searched. His lips curled up and his slit eyes narrowed. ''Who took it? Who took it from you? Where is it?'' he growled out.

I continued staring at him, wondering what the fuck he was talking about and scared that he will kill me soon. I crossed my arms to hug myself, wishing to disappear.

''Ah…''

Hisoka's pale hands appeared on my waistline. He pulled. I gasped as the blue dress easily ripped. I jerked away but then the wall trapped anymore movement. I swatted his hands away. ''H-hisoka! No!'' I gasped out, my numbed mind coming up with horrible scenarios. No…No…No…

''No! Get away! You bastard!'' I screamed through my abused neck. But he continued to tear the dress away. Soon, my petticoat was thrown carelessly beside us and pieces of blue glittering clothes laid behind him in tatters.

Clad only in my corset and underpants, I forced my mouth closed to stop my cry. I held my arms close to my chest and met his eyes. He wasn't smiling anymore. I tensed up when he looked down to my chest. ''Get away…'' I gasped when the lace around my shoulders ripped. He threw them over his shoulder.

Then, he placed his hand over his eyes and groaned as if in pain. ''don't look at me like that, Gin.'' He growled. ''Damn it.'' He murmured.

The next thing I know, I was on the floor and he was right above. My eyes widened and I tried moving away.

''Damn it, Gin.'' I froze, feeling his hand on my exposed arm and my corseted waist, caressing up and down. ''You're tempting me…Don't look like that…'' he met my eyes, looking deep into them. I gasped when his eyes widened in anger and he let out a wave of malice. ''I said. Don't look like that!'' He snarled.

My feathered head-dress was pulled away and his hand gripped my hair and shook it violently. I groaned, gritting my teeth, seeing stars.

''You can't lose it, Gin! Come on, look at me like you used to! Hate me! Quick!''

I saw his right arm tense. I gasped, barely registering the pain but it was there when it knocked my stomach, possibly breaking a few ribs in the process. I took it as silently as I could. A hard hand hit my scarred shoulder. I took this one quietly too, only coughing up saliva and blood in the process. Then, he laid another weak punch on my arm.

I say weak because it didn't shatter my bones. Hisoka. He can shatter every bone in my body in one punch. He was holding back…

Even in the haze of pain, I eventually realised what he was doing. He wanted me back. He wanted me to fight back. He wanted me not to lose it. I thought about it for a minute. Lose it…My potential, I realised, remembering Hisoka from the Trick tower. I was wrong. I slipped. I let my façade slip. For some reason, I accidentally opened up to him.

A kick on my legs brought me down on the floor. I shouldn't have said that. I was shoved on the floor and heard something rip and the air met my bare chest. I swallowed a lump inside my throat and fought my instinctive urge to cover myself.

No… I won't let myself look even weaker. What are breasts anyway? They're just another part of me. Just two soft, protruding organs on the upper part of a female body which secretes milk after child-birth. Mammary glands. Only sexualised by society. I care little about them.

His face hovered above me. He tilted his head to the side. As if satisfied, his lips curled up. The contemptuous frown from on his face faded.

''There…My Gin-chan. There it is… Not quite there but it should come back soon.'' He sighed in relief, his fingers finding my neck.

''I miss your hair.'' He whispered, his voice sounding hollow in the empty room. ''Why did you cut it? The long hair made you look fragile, you know. And you know me, I like fragile things. Fragile and brittle things…'' Hisoka's amber eyes sparkled like gold. I stared up ahead behind him at the white ceiling. He leaned down and breathed against my neck. He sighed, a little shakily.

A part of me was screaming to move and push him away. But then, the more realistic part of me told me there was nothing I could do. Breathing was hard with the poor state of my ribs and my beaten body. Besides, Hisoka was heavy. Pushing him would be like pushing a boulder off you.

Or pushing a python when it already had you coiled around it. No matter how you push the head away, or a part of it away, another part will adjust and tighten.

So, the best choice was to just let it do what it wanted.

All of a sudden, he sighed. ''This is no fun, Gin-chan.'' He said against my collarbone. He propped himself by his elbows and held his cheek as he gazed down. I felt his sharp long nail against my temple. ''I like you better fighting.'' He said lowly. ''I left your face unscarred. Did you notice? I like it like this. Pretty…'' he swiftly ran a finger round my jaw line.

He sighed again, disappointed. ''I'm sorry, Gin-dear. You tempted me. You don't know how much I want to do much more. But mah…You'll be fine!'' He shifted and laid casually on his side on my right. A hand moved to hold his head up from the floor while he traced a finger lightly across my sternum.

''Where'd you get the cuts and bruises on your back, dear? Got into a fight with the Zoldycks?'' he smilingly asked. I remembered that I haven't taken the tablets for my muscle repair. I forgot to ask Killua about it.

I breathed in shakily and gasped when my ribs hurt.

''Did…you break my ribs?''

His smile widened and he sat up to examine it. ''Hm…'' his amber eyes fleeting back to mine, shining. ''Just bruised.'' He said, touching the sore spot lightly. I flinched.

''Are you done?''

''Are you back?'' he shot back.

I forced myself up, taking deep breaths. Tell them to take deep breaths to prevent mucus going into their lungs and avoid chest infections, I heard Shimura-sensei's calm voice in my head.

''Thanks.''

He giggled. '' My pleasure.'' He drawled and sat, bringing a knee up and using it to support his arm. His hand flicked and a card appeared between his long, nimble fingers. With another flick, it disappeared. He did this, repeatedly. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.

The back of my head was warm and the smell of my blood permeated the air. I let my mouth curl up into a dry smile. ''Looks like everyone loves hurting me.'' I spoke, voice cracking due to my injured larynx.

He chuckled. ''You are easy to hurt. That's why. And I think... your most beautiful when hurt.'' I felt him leaned in and touched his cool forehead against my temple. There was a soft sound of card disappearing.

''Or maybe you just think weird.'' I croaked out.

He giggled and fingered the small hollow of my neck, the suprasternal notch.

''Your eyes darkens like they do right now. Your face freezes up but then your eyes tell me everything. Gin-dear…You're not as good at hiding your emotions as you think you are…'' He chuckled.

''Get stronger.'' He whispered, coercing. ''Grow up and get strong, Gin. Then… only then… Will I take you.'' I felt him pause and gathered a fistful of my hair. Then, he sighed and smoothed my hair down. His hands came out red.

''Gon and Killua will come back soon.'' I felt him smile.

''I think I'd want to greet them, don't you think?''

''…You'll get to greet them soon enough.'' When they start fighting in the arena and steadily climbing up the floors.

He hummed as if thinking about it. ''You're right. After all, I got to do what I wanted.'' He said. Then, when I didn't reply, he stood up and stretched. ''Right. I'll go now. I'll see you on the 200th floor, Gin-dear.''

He paused for a moment to look me over his shoulder. ''Blue looks good on you, Gin-dear. But red will definitely suit you better.'' I heard him smirk before he pulled the door and went out.

I crawled under the sink, hugging myself and waited for my brother.

Author's note:

I just realised how many of you ship HisokaXGin and KilluaXGin. Well, in this chapter, coincidentally, we see Gin's interactions with the two. What do you think of their relationship?

I feel better now. I don't know what was up with me yesterday. Probably just hormones. LOL. I feel very sad in this chapter. But it just happened. It shocked me a little while writing it too. It feels a little weird. I am the writer but the things that happen, they just flow and even I can't stop it.

Furthermore, I want to say thank you again from all your support and kindness. You don't know how happy I am. And is it weird that I consider all of you my friends?! Even though I don't even know your names?! Anyways. Thanks so much for giving me something I love doing.

I have an extra written right after this. It just didn't fit with the ending of this last chapter. I'm thinking of posting it as another chapter...Hm..

HXH isn't mine.

xoxo

Abby D.