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


Chapter 29: NGL's True Face x Running Away? x Kite's Sad Requiem

If you thought that the pool of blood last time was bloody enough, then good thing you didn't see that panorama. Hitomi resisted her urge to puke all over it.

Lots of dead bodies were sprawled all over the floor, all splattered with blood and surrounded by more of it. And the smell was another story. Even Hitomi could smell it from kilometers.

"This is ugly..." Kite commented. "The stench alone would guide us to the corpses."

"Look at this," he waved around two huge guns he had found. "So this is the hidden side of NGL."

"Yeah, looks that way," Hitomi nodded.

But Gon wasn't paying attention at all. He noticed something else.

"Killua... Hitomi... Kite..." he called.

He pointed at something away from the cliff in where they were on, there was another cliff with peculiar openings that caught their eye.

"This is the Chimera Ant nest?" Gon asked.

"No. They don't make their nests in holes. They use mud and feces to build them," Kite explained. "Let's go. You'll understand once we're inside."

Once there, they found themselves making their way to the hallway of a cave. It was pathetically illuminated, by light balls hanging on the walls.

"There's no telling when or from where they will attack" he warned. "Be on your guard."

Hitomi tensed slightly, "Got it," she replied.

"That other Chimera Ant completely concealed his presence," Killua commented, remembering the last ant they fought, and the other two just nodded.

After a long while walking, the four of them came across a room with lots of machines and more blood everywhere. They weren't that surprised, though. It was to be expected.

"This is NGL's hidden side," Kite said.

"A drug factory," Killua nodded his head.

"Wow, I couldn't have ever imagined it," Hitomi said, sarcasm filling her voice.

"This factory produces the ingestible drug D2, which is spreading throughout the mainland," Kite explained. "There are probably nearby bila trees, which produce its main ingredient."

Then Killua noticed something and went over a box. Cautiously, he opened it and the other two peered to the items inside over his shoulders.

"They're making more drugs," he stated, picking up a gun.

"It's the same as the others," Hitomi agreed, looking inside more boxes.

"I assume that only the NGL leaders know the truth of this place," Kite concluded. "The other members joined because they honestly loved nature."

"So this facility is the center of NGL's underground," Killua said. "If it's empty..."

"Means that the ants had already paid a visit there," Hitomi completed the thought. "And that bunch of guys with guns aren't enough for them."

"What about their boss?" Gon asked.

"He either escaped or was eaten," Kite shrugged. "Either way, it's bad news."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you get it-?" Hitomi was about to explain.

But she was shut up by Kite, who told them to keep silence.

"A few are around," he told them quietly. "They're slowly approaching through the first middle tunnel. There are more in the one left and the other two right."

Hitomi blinked. The man was just incredible.

"How far away can you search?" Killua asked him.

"Everything within a forty-five meter radius," that was just... amazing. The man turned serious once again. "Here they come."

The scene was disgusting. From the tunnel, a huge centaur appeared. He had two humans tied with chains, which he held on his right hand, like they were his dogs.

"Who are you guys?" he asked. "How dare you intrude on my turf?"

"Help..." one of the human pleaded them. "Please help us!"

On the other second, the ant stepped on the human's head. Hitomi felt anger building inside her as he looked at his bloody foot with an amused smile.

"Oops, didn't mean to do that. Oh, well," he chuckled. "I'm getting bored with these guys. Guess I'll get rid of Rover too."

The other was startled for a bit, before turning around. He then started to beg for his life, much like a dog will do to its master.

"When you beg like that, I just want to kill you more," he grinned in a twisted way.

Gon tried to run there, but Kite refrained him to do so. The girl's eyes shifted in scarlet and everything else clouded. Out of instinct, she took a step forward.

A hand wrapping around her wrist snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned angrily to Killua, who was holding her back.

"What do you think you're doing?" she yelled at him.

"Cool your head down, idiot," that was his only reply.

But these words were the ones that brought her back to reality, turning her eyes back to her beautiful violet color. She released a long sigh and managed to calm down.

"There's more than one enemy," Kite told them.

From the tunnels, three different ants came out to fight. The first one was a female mosquito-like. The second was some kind of humanoid centipede and the last was a bat.

"I've got it," the centaur striked his snake-like tongue at them. "You four will be my new dogs."

The three kids just looked at him.

"Chimera Ants have always been aggressive, but it seems consuming malicious humans have made them even more evil," Kite explained.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Gon questioned.

"Phagogenesis," Killua answered.

"If we don't deal with them here, many more will die," Hitomi clenched fists. "We can't fail."

Kite nodded, leaking his Nen out. The other three followed him in doing so shortly after him.

"Capture them!" the ant ordered, and the three ran towards the.

"I'll take the one in the back," the man said. "You three handle the three rushing at us."

"Yes, sir!" Hitomi grinned.

"Right!" Gon said in determination.

"Got it!" Killua nodded.

"Do not hesitate," he instructed. "You must fight to kill."

"Bring it!" they three shouted, before splitting up.

Hitomi kicked the bat-ant and he instantly avoided her attack. Her eyes turned scarlet, deciding to use her technique.

After a long while, the bat came towards her. She avoided the attack by jumping and standing on her hands.

"You look tired," she spoke. "You seem that weak that-!"

She was shut up with a hit. She rolled in the floor and stared at it, for a while, sweat rolled down her forehead that she wipped out with her arm.

"It didn't work," she panted. "But why?"

Hitomi looked at his eyes, cluelessly. They were so dull... empty. Were always bat eyes that...?

Oh, wait.

"Oh, I'm such and idiot! He is a bat," she facepalmed, mumbling angrily with herself. "He's blind."

"Oh, you noticed?" the bat smiled, folding his wings. "Who would say that being blind is a bless?"

She growled, before avoiding another attack. Her gaze didn't got away from his figure though. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Bats, animals who use ultrasound to 'see'..." she thought. "That means that if I... Oh, got it."

Hitomi then started to clap softly, letting her Nen leak out her body. The bat, on the other hand, froze. He swore that he was hearing clapping almost everywhere.

"Why...?" a drop of sweat ran through his head. "Why can't I find her?"

The girl started to walk around, making him feel her steps everywhere. The ant smirked, before letting his characteristic sound ring once again through the room.

"Found her," he smirked. "I knew that no one can get away from my hearing-!"

He launched towards her, but he felt something. A sharp pain ran through his neck and his head rolled in the floor.

Hitomi gave him a cold glare, walking towards his head.

"Idiot, I can control sound," she smirked evilly. "And that includes ultrasound."

And the head was smashed as soon as she stepped on it. Her cold mode died down as she turned around to her friends with a huge grin.

But she then panicked when she saw what was happening in Gon's side. The centipide's severed head was about to attack him while he was giving it his back.

"Watch out, Gon!" she yelled.

Gon turned around just to see the thing coming towards him. Luckily for them, the ant was shot by Kite right before he could do anything.

"You can't relax after dismembering them," he said. "The head and body can survive an entire day after they've separated. You must crush the head."

"And preferably, you kill him quickly and quietly," the clown-thing said.

"Oh, it's him!" Gon yelled, pointing at it.

"The thing that shot us," Killua added.

"Creepy as always..." Hitomi mumbled.

"I got a slot machine in my mouth! It goes from 1 to 9. Each number summons a different weapon. This is my Crazy Slots! Don't forget the name!"

"Hey," she turned to Kite, pointing at it. "Does he say the same every time you summon it?"

Kite just sighed in response. "Just go away," then, the thing disappeared.

The kids just stared at the older guy.

"It talks by itself?" Killua asked.

"Apparently,"

"Apparently?" Hitomi mumbled, sweatdropping.

"If it uses a slot machine, doesn't that mean you can't choose your weapon?" Gon asked.

"Yes, and I cannot change or get rid of the weapon I receive until I use it," Kite sighed. "It's very aggravating."

They blinked because of that statement as he turned around.

"In that case… Why did you come up with this power?" they sweatdropped.

After that, the foursome started to walk, still on guard. After all, they didn't know when an ant could jump out of nothing and kill them.

"Your powers are much easier to use than mine," Kite commented.

"Compared to that thing of yours?" Killua raised an eyebrow. "No kidding."

"Gon, you appear to have incorporated Enhancement, Transmutation, and Emitter abilities into your Rock, Paper and Scissors."

"Yep, but my natural affinity lies with Enhancement abilities," Gon grinned.

"And then Hitomi controls sound waves... Are you a Manipulator by any chance?" he looked at the girl.

"Bingo!" she nodded, smirking. "I can use Specialist powers when my eyes are red... but that's a long story that surely will bore you."

"Killua used lightning. Are you a Transmuter?" Kite asked the other boy.

"Yeah, but it's not that strong," Killua commented, as a few sparks popped out from his finger, "and I lose energy fast."

"You'll have the chance to improve," he smiled, before turning serious again. "Let's hurry. The nest is close."


A bad feeling made the girl stop in her tracks and tense, waiting for an attack. Her eyes narrowed, before taking a glance to her other two friends. They were in guard too, probably feeling the same as her.

"We are surrounded," Kite voiced their thoughts. "Their numbers are great."

They waited for the attack, which they had no idea where it would come from. The ants were everywhere, so it was impossible for them to foretell it. They just kept their guard on.

Seconds later, something stood in front of them and, before they could see anything, smoke started to surround the place.

"Now then... Let's decide order and methodology," the voice inside said. The smoke started to dispel and they saw a giant frog. "As for our targets, you have three choices. One, decide the order in which you will fight. Two, attempt to escape. Three, give up and let us capture you. If you chose option one, you will fight one-on-one battles with us for a chance to survive."

Hitomi smirked a little, amused. "A chance? Let's hope your pride doesn't kill you, freaking frog..." she thought.

"If you choose option one, you will fight one-on-one battles with us for a chance to survive," he continued, as the other ants came out their hiding spot. "I don't recommend the second option. You'll anger us, resulting in a brutal capture and prolonged suffering for all of you. Option three is out of the question. That would anger us even more than option two. So, what will you do?"

Gon, on the other hand, turned around to face Kite.

"Kite..." he called.

"We couldn't have asked for a better deal," he turned around. "One-on-one fights with their Captains. We'll start with whoever is prepared to fight."

"That's me!" Hitomi shouted, energetically.

"I will go," Killua declared quickly.

"No, I will," Gon said, determined.

The three shot each other a death glare, before letting this in luck's hands. They played Rock, Paper and Scissors to decide who would fight. Gon won and the other two lost.

Killua stayed there, glaring at his own 'scissors', that he had threw.

"Oh, man, it doesn't matter. The best is always the least," she grinned. "Well, Killua, I'll let you first."

The boy's eyebrow just twitched involuntarily.

The ants used luck as well. The draw was made and Gon's opponent ended up being an armadillo-like ant whose name was Baro.

"How will the victor be decided?" Gon asked innocently. Baro just looked at him like he was nuts.

"Eh? That should be obvious," he smiled evilly. "Whoever dies first loses."

"We can't just surrender?" Gon frowned.

"Are you crazy?" he was getting irritated with the boy. "If you lose, we'll fed you to the Queen. If you don't beat me, you're guaranteed to die!"

"Yeah, I'm okay with that." Gon nodded, without changing his expression. "But there's no need for you to die. If I beat you, I won't want to eat you. If you surrender, you'll live. But if you lose, you must promise to never eat another human."

There was a minute of silence and then laughing. Hitomi sighed, crossing her arms and feeling impatient. If that continued like that, she would never fight. That was getting into her nerves.

"For goodness sake just kill him, Gon!" she shouted, pissed off. "It's just a freaking ant with human genes!"

Killua gave her a long look before shaking his head with an amused tiny smile in his face. That girl's mouth was just impossible to shut up.

"I'll kill you!" Baro shouted, pissed off.

He then rolled in his belly - like a wheel - right to Gon, who jumped to avoid the attack. He then charged again at him, but when the boy was dodging, the ant pushed himself his tail and changed his direction. He then was hit against a tree.

"Gon!" Killua and Hitomi shouted in worry.

"I'm fine," he assured, standing up.

Baro, on the other hand, started to walk around the tree. Hitomi, on the other hand, just tapped her fingers against her arm, impatiently.

"Come on, Gon..." she thought. "What's taking you that long? Just end with it!"

Killua looked at her and just released a long sigh.

"Kid, I have something to tell you before I kill you," Baro said to Gon. "The main reason we kill humans isn't to eat them or feed them to the Queen."

"Then why is it?" Gon tensed at the statement.

"Because it's fun!" he smiled in a twisted, creepy way. "I love the sound as humans vomit their own organs with a plop! It's hilarious because it looks like barf."

Gon frowned, darkly. "That's isn't funny," he started to slowly walk to him.

"That's it!" Hitomi yelled, excitedly. "Kick that armadi-" she corrected herself. "I mean, ant's butt!"

"Keep it quiet, can't you?" Killua facepalmed.

It ended pretty quickly. The ant charged at Gon again, who released his Nen in anger. He then stopped his attack with his bare arms and raised him in the air while crushing his body. End of it.

"Well, we're in a hurry," Killua said. "Who's my opponent?"

A rhino was his next opponent. Hitomi watched him with a bored expression, praying silently to gods above that match didn't last as long as Gon's.

"You won't be smiling for long. I'm about to show you hell," he said, before pointing at Baro. "I'm nothing like the trash over there."

"Trash?" Gon frowned, a little pissed off.

"Huh? I said trash because he's a trash," the rhino turned at Gon, before directing at Killua again. "I'm ten times stronger than that guy."

"Oh, that's nothing to brag about," the boy smirked.

"What was that?!"

Luckily for Hitomi, Killua defeated the ant in a flash. He used his Shadow Steps on him and tried to stab his chest with his claws, just to find out that his skin was really hard for doing so. Because of that, he started to walk around, disappearing every time the enemy wanted to land a hit and appearing to shot him in that spot with electricity.

"Oh," Hitomi smirked, amusingly. "That's kinda cool."

The skin ended up cracking, so Killua took advantage of it. Once again, he used his claws to stab it, this time successfully.

"Well, well," the girl clapped her hands to brought the attention to her. "Someone actually strong, with guts to fight me?"

They drawed again the number, and the dog looked at it.

"Number 8! 8 is up!" he called, and then blinked. "Oh, wait... that's me..."

Hitomi facepalmed... Was this supposed to be a joke?

The dog walked forward and she slid into a battle pose anyway. She then tensed, after seeing that a evil glare appeared all of sudden in his eyes. It was like his personality had changed radically.

Hitomi couldn't underestimate her opponent, that was the only thing she was sure of at that moment.

"So, I'm fighting the cute human girl?" he asked, obviously mocking her.

"Yeah," she teased him as well. "And I'm fighting the old fleabag. Wow, that's better."

"Why did you-?" he was getting really pissed off.

"What? You didn't listen? I thought dogs had an strong hearing," she grinned. "Oh well, can't help it. After all, it's losing because of age... I understand, don't worry..."

"You little-!"

At full speed, he ran to her and tried to bite her neck. She dodged the attack quite easily, and the same situation happened twice more.

She then grabbed his hands and grinned playfully. "My turn?" she asked.

Hitomi land a hit in his gut, that hurted like hell to him. His irritation was greater when she saw her there, holding a fang that had just fell from his mouth.

"Lost something?" she teased, waving it around.

He now had lost his precious, perfect fang that he was that proud of. The dog was angered at her, as he decided to use his most powerful tactic.

"Wait..." Hitomi blinked at him. "What are you going to-?"

Too late. Out of blue, the ant started to quickly dig underground. The girl on the other hand raised an eyebrow, in confusion about that move.

"What kind of bone will you hide, doggy?" she asked, mocking him. "Ah, no one. I understand, you're digging your own grave."

Then, a hand grabbed her leg, pulling her like a zombie in a cliché horror movie would do. She then used her hands as support to raise her legs, making the dog get out from his hole. He, however, was fast and dug again instantly after.

He kept attacking her like that from below, and she had no more option than jump everywhere to avoid them. After a while, she reached a tree and leaped to stood in a branch.

"What do you believe you are?" she shouted to him. "A mole?"

"I'm better," he grinned, proudly.

"Oh, is that so?" a vein popped up in her forehead. Then a smile appeared in her face. "Well then, let's see..."

Hitomi stood in a place, waiting quietly for him to attack. When she felt him close, she jumped just in time he raised his head. Hitomi took advantage of that, and kicked him, sending him again underground.

"What's she doing?" Killua raised an eyebrow. "Stop playing around!"

"But this game is fun!" she sheepishly smiled, as she did the same once again. "You should try it sometime. It's called 'Hit the No-So-Mole'!

The boy just facepalmed.

As time passed by, as the girl expected, he couldn't get away from the ground and his movement was getting slower and slower whenever he tried to move.

"Don't you get it?" she smirked as she started to follow where it was, walking calmly. "You'll never be like a mole."

All of them looked at her in confusion. She released a sigh.

"Moles can last long underground because of their high tolerance against carbon dioxide... long story," Hitomi explained lousy. "What it really matters is that you are a dog: an animal no made for low-oxygen places."

The fight ended pretty quickly afterwards. She tapped the ground, making a soft noise that broke it like a heartquake. Once the ant was outside, Hitomi took the tooth she had taken and stabbed it on his head.

"Game over," she sighed, before looking at the ants surrounding the place. "Seriously, guys, can't you get someone... I don't know, decent?"

The ants stepped back, looking at the three kids like they were venom. "Hey... Are you kidding?" Hitomi frowned, putting her hands on her hips, as Killua raised an eyebrow at her and Gon sweatdropped.

"This is a pleasant surprise. Their Captains can be dispatched easily enough," Kite thought. "Am I worried over nothing?"

"Why are you looking at us like we are monsters?" Hitomi continued. "If you didn't notice, you are the monsters here! If you don't believe me buy yourselves a mirror or something like that because-"

She stopped in mid sentence as Kite placed a hand over her shoulder. He walked in front of her and summoned his Crazy Slots. The clown then drawn the number '2' and transformed itself into a huge scythe.

"Killua, Hitomi..." Gon called them.

"That scythe is nasty," Killua completed his thought.

"Wait... don't tell me he is going to..." she trailed off, as an eyebrow twitched in annoyment.

"Gon, Killua, Hitomi... in three seconds, jump up," Kite told them.

They did as they were told to. Three seconds later, the three jumped high in the air, and in a split of second a harsh mass of wind hit them. Because of that, the three got forced to put their arms in front of their face to protect them.

Once in the floor again, they looked at what happened. Hitomi stared at the corpses, annoyed... and stared again. Irritation made a vein pulsate in her forehead.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" she yelled, pointing at the mess. "Why didn't you do that before?!"

"Because you did want to fight them before," he replied simply, and her face fell. "Also, I can't choose this technique for myself, you know."

"Well, you have a point on that..." Hitomi mumbled, defeated, as the scythe disappeared.

"This scythe can be used only with this technique. And it won't disappear until I've used it," Kite then complained. "It's such a drag..."

"And again, why did you choose that power?" Killua and Hitomi mumbled, sweatdropping.

He didn't listen to them, he just walked away. The three exchanged a look, before following him.

"Be cautious as we advance," he calmly said. "As I mentioned, that won't be enough to kill them immediately."

"Just what I needed. Another zombie's movie reference..." Hitomi said, sarcastically. "That's the best horror movie atmosphere ever."

Hitomi then stopped talking, noticing Gon's gaze in the corpses.

"Are you okay? It's only getting worse from here," Kite noticed that too, and directed to Gon. "If you start to sympathize with the enemy, you won't be able to handle what's coming."

"I'm fine," he nodded, determination shining in his big eyes. "I have no sympathy for bugs that call each other trash."

Kite gave him a long look, but didn't say anything. Hitomi looked at the man instead, and little after realized that fact. They walked away, as she stood there for less than a second, before going with them.

"Dangerous view," she frowned. "What happens if... if we found some of these bugs that actually cared for its allies? How could we fight it?"


All of sudden, Kite stopped walking. The three kids looked at him, in confusion of what the hell was happening in his head.

"We're being followed," at that sentence, they instantly looked at their backs. "Not from there."

"Wait? Don't tell me..." Hitomi trailed off, before looking at the sky. "From above?"

He didn't say anything, just started to run being followed by the other three. They were trying to get out of their sight, but was impossible to do so.

"They're coming from the left and the right," Kite informed.

He was just right. A dragonfly-like bug flew to Hitomi and another Gon. She snapped her fingers at it but it just avoided the attack, meanwhile the boy tried to punch it in vain. Other more came in next to Killua. Blue sparks shot from his hands, but the insects just dodged the attack.

"Damn," Killua cursed.

"The trees are getting in the way," Gon added. "Shouldn't we get out of the forest?"

"For what? Falling into the trap?" Hitomi said with sarcasm in her voice again. "No, thanks."

Kite just nodded at her, before summoning his Crazy Slots. The number '2' ended up being drawn again and in a split of second Kite had his giant scythe in his hands. At his signal, the three jumped high one more time.

And when they touched the floor, they found themselves in a long praire, since the trees had been chopped down. Also, they made eye contact with the three ants behind the plan: a lion, who looked like he was the leader, a girl and a dragonfly.

All of sudden, he lion looked disencouraged. He sighed and turned around. Like that, the three of them left the place.

"He was able to understand that he was outclassed, and he calmly backed down at once. Most likely, he was a Squadron Leader," Kite explained, as they looked at their backs. "We're following them. Their nest must be nearby. If we follow them, we will find the Queen."


"They're continuing to go straight," Kite informed, as they continued to follow them. "The Chimera Ant nest must be up ahead."

The three of them gave him a look of disbelief.

"Amazing..." Killua muttered. "He's been picking them up for this entire time, never losing them for an instant."

"Kite said he could use En within a radius of forty-five meters." Gon added.

"I've heard that Nen masters can handle around fifty meters... Kite is nearly there," the boy explained. "Actually, given that he's kept it up for an entire night, he's probably stronger."

"Stronger than a master, huh?" Hitomi whistled. "Then Kite's the real deal."

"Yeah," Killua nodded. "He's the first real pro Hunter we've met. Tsezgerra was a pro Hunter but we really only knew him as another player in a game. Bisky is an incredible Hunter. But to us she was our Nen mentor. And the first to teach us Nen..."

"Glasses-san," Hitomi completed.

"Yeah," Gon nodded, energetically. "He was our Nen master and savior."

"Looking back, we always meet the right people just when we need them most," Killua smiled at his friends. "And those people have all made us stronger."

"Razor, too, huh?" Gon asked and they nodded.

"It's clear that Ging really did create Greed Island to train you," Hitomi added. "And once you beat the game, he deliberately led you to Kite."

Gon grinned, thinking about his father. Killua nodded at her, looking at Kite who was walking in front of them.

"I'm not sure if Ging predicted what would happen when we met Kite. But he certainly knew that you would like the man who earned Ging's respect," he said. "And he knew without a doubt that you would go with Kite."

"He wants us to get stronger by travelling with Kite," Gon's grin widened.

"Wow," Hitomi said, sarcastically. "That's a pretty training ground, by the way."

"This is pretty brutal place for training," Killua agreed, sighing.

"That's why I keep asking if your resolve is firm," Kite jumped in the conversation. "As you mentioned, Ging-san probably had certain expectations when he sent you to me. But I do not intend to train you during this journey. We don't have that kind of time. I brought you along because I thought you might be of use. From here, it all comes down to resolve. If it's strong, you'll develop you Nen and grow strong via combat. If it's weak, the Ants will eat you."

Hitomi just narrowed her eyes, but kept silent.

"But we can't die... we are Pro Hunters. Those who call themselves Hunters always get their prey," the man continued. "For Hunters, that is the first commandment. A hunt involves both hunter and prey. It is battle of resolve. Emerging victorious from a battle of resolve is what makes a successful hunt. The loser has to follow the winner's rules and customs. Usually, this means the losers death."

"Rules..." Gon repeated.

"If you don't want that result, then win. Improving your Nen is important, of course. But to be a successful Hunter, you must understand your enemy and yourself."

"Th-That's why... That's why you hit me back then!" Gon realized. "That was the forest's rule and custom. You taught me the rules in Ging's place."

The man seemed to remember something and stopped in his tracks. Out of his pocket, he grabbed a license card and gave it to Gon.

"This is Ging-san's," he explained, surprising Gon. "Do you remember what my final test was?"

"Yeah, to find Ging," the boy nodded.

"Before the test began, Ging-san gave this to me. He said I should use it to find him..." Gon took it and looked at it in amazement. "I planned to return it to him once I did."

"Huh?" he asked. "He wouldn't take it back?"

"No…" Kite admitted. "I completely forgot I had it."

Killua and Gon's faces fell while Hitomi facepalmed.

"What kind of Hunter forgets his License?" she thought, irritated. "I think now I understand who he inherited his eventual stupidness from..."

"Gon, you said that you're going to find Ging-san on your own, right?" Kite asked, Gon nodded. "Then you have to do it. And would you return this for me?"

"Sure! But first, I have to finish this job with you to get a lot stronger. After that, I'll find Ging and give this back. I promise!"

"I'm counting on you."

Hitomi and Killua couldn't help but smile a little because of that scene.

"Well, let's get a move on before we lose the trail," and then, Kite started walking again.


A chill ran through Hitomi's back as Kite stopped in his tracks. His face was awfully pale and drops of sweat were running in his face, which it was not a good thing. She was sure, something bad was going to happen, and right now.

"That's a monster," Kite mumbled. "What's this? I can't believe it!"

The boys were confused. Hitomi frowned, still looking at the Hunter's expression. It was something between worry and fear, but she just couldn't put her finger on it.

"What's wrong, Kite?" Gon asked

"Gon, Hitomi, Killua! Run! Hurry up! Get out here!" the other three froze. Kite jumped and tried to run towards them. "GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Everything was too fast for Hitomi to realize what was happening. All she could see was blood, and Kite's arm flying out of his body. Killua and Gon were exactly as her, being shocked a couple of steps in front of the girl.

And for the first time she could remember, Hitomi's eyes shone in scarlet furiously, at the highest scale. But this time, it wasn't because of anger or something like that.

It was fear. The girl was frightened.

Despite of her clouded mind, she noticed something. The monster, a cat-like one. The monster was looking at the boys, like a predator could look at their prey.

And the next time she knew, she was grabbing her friend's arms and pulling them out the way. Blood was pouring out her stomach, as she bit her lip to bear the pain she was feeling not only in the wounded part, but in all her body. She now was cursing, once again, the lack of feeling control she held.

"HITOMI!" they yelled.

The ant withdrew her claws and Hitomi coughed a little of blood. Right before the cat could attack once again, Killua took her and got further from it.

"Idiot!" he yelled at her. "Get a grip, can't you?!"

"I would if I could, dumbass," she replied, weakly, as she tried to remain in her feet. She would be in the ground now, if it wasn't for Killua's support.

Gon on the other hand, looked at Kite and Hitomi blankly and then glared at the cat, as he released his Nen in pure anger. He cried in rage, but he suddenly shut up. Killua had just hit him hard in the neck.

And before he could fall in the ground, he placed him over his shoulder.

"Good decision, Killua," Kite said, holding his wound. "Take Gon and Hitomi, and run!"

The girl had no time nor strength to protest. Killua grabbed her wrist and dragged her out the place. And like this, they ran for a lot of time under the rain, aware that there were ants following them now.

"We were overconfident," Killua thought. "The three of us were still weaker than Kite, who'd lost an arm. That thing knew."

He then glanced briefly at the girl, who was trying to keep his pace because of her injuries.

"Things went as you thought, eh?" he frowned slightly. "If Kite had been alone, this probably wouldn't have happened. We were fools!"

Then Hitomi tripped, slipping from Killua's grasp. He turned around to help her, but froze after hearing the monsters coming closer to them.

"Forget about me, big idiot," Hitomi mumbled, trying to stand up. "Just get away with Gon."

"But-" he tried to protest.

"JUST GO!"

She tried to stand up, but she just couldn't. Like that, she blacked out.

Killua's mind was in a rush. A part of him wanted to take Hitomi and get away together. But the other part was holding him back.

"She will only slower you, Killua," the annoying voice in his head said. "You need to run away. Save yourself."

"Shut up!" he yelled, as his head started to hurt.

After a lot of effort, he managed to take Hitomi in his other shoulder and run away before something else happened.


Luckily the rain had stopped and Gon had woke up minutes before now. Killua was walking at his side, carrying Hitomi in his back, but in silence. The other boy didn't talk either. He just walked quietly, his gaze fixed in the ground he was stepping in.

"Want me to carry her?" Gon asked, a little unsure.

"No," he said dryly, between gasps. "It's okay."

They went outside NGL and Killua placed Hitomi's body in a tree meanwhile Gon called the amateurs Hunters and explained the situation.

The white-head, on the other hand, sat down tiredly and looked at the girl. She was deadly pale, what made him worry a little. Gently, he reached out her cheek and frowned more. Hitomi was freezing.

Killua released a long sigh, taking out his shirt. He then covered the girl with it, hoping that it would help, even a little.

"They are coming," Gon told him. "They said they have reinforcements."

"I see..." he mumbled.

The boy gave his friend a sad look, before sitting as well.

After a while, a truck stopped close to them. From it, three men walked out. A slender, black haired, one. A big one, who carried a huge pipe over his shoulder. And an old man that surprised the other two after seeing him.

"Chairman Netero!" Gon shouted, in surprise.

The big man looked at the three kids and smirked.

"What's this? They're just kids," he said. "If you're here to play, you'll get burned. Go back home."

Gon clenched his fists and growled, while Killua just frowned.

"Stop it, Morel-san," the other one said, pushing his glasses further against his nose. "That isn't nice. They're only children."

The kids didn't say anything. Netero, on the other hand, laughed.

"You look pretty defeated," he commented. "Was the enemy that strong?"

They clenched his teeth, in anger.

"One of them could use Nen. That was the worst aura I've ever encountered," Killua confessed. "Worse than my brother's… worse than Hisoka's…

"If Killua hasn't knocked me out, I'd be dead right now," Gon agreed.

"Now that I've learned Nen myself, I can tell. You guys are unbelievably strong," the boy looked at them. "But I still can't see you defeating that thing…"

"Whenever humans encounter the unknown, they tend to lose perspective," the black haired man said. "Currently, you're experiencing a state of panic. We'll take it from here, so go lie in bed."

Gon gritted his teeth harder.

"You're no better than I am, Knov," Morel laughed.

"No way!" Gon suddenly stood up, angrily, ignoring Morel's comment. "After getting this far... We can't-!"

"Gon!" Killua didn't spare him a glance.

The boy gave his friend a long look, understanding what he meant. He released a long sigh, and continued to glare the men.

"Kid," Morel turned to Killua. "The minute you start talking about who can win in a Nen fight, you're wrong. In most cases, you won't know your opponent's abilities. One instant of carelessness is all it takes to turn the tables and cost a life. You can't make assumptions based on the amount of aura displayed. The battle can turn at any point. That's what fighting with Nen means."

Killua's eyes shone with pain, still looking at the ground.

"But regardless, you must always fight certain of victory. That's a Nen user's spirit," he concluded. "The moment you were overwhelmed by the opponent's aura and fled, you were disqualified. You're lower than a loser!"

Angry with the man talking that way to his friend, Gon took a step closer. They exchanged a glare.

"Morel, that's enough," Knov stopped all possible fight.

Netero, on the other hand, spotted Hitomi there.

"Is Hitomi asleep?" he asked.

Killua narrowed his eyes, looking at her by the corner of her eye.

"She protected us from the ant, and got injured. The wound itself is not dangerous, but..." his throat went dry all of sudden, remembering it. "The idiot put a strong condition in her Nen... and the risk is that she can die depending of the strength of the opponent."

"That kid shows some promise, then," Morel laughed, just before being scolded again by Knov.

Netero, on the other hand, gave her a long look.

"Don't worry, she'll live," he said, surprising the two. "Maybe, if it was a little before in time, she could have died. But you three had become stronger. She'll make it in no time."

After that, the three started to walk away.

"We sent three assassins to the nearest village. It's your decision whether you want to fight," he then threw three tokens over his shoulder. "But you must defeat them before you come. If you wish to live as Hunters…"

Then Gon took them from the floor and gazed at them with curiosity.

"We are not desperate for help," he concluded. "We only seek the strong."


"To Killua, Gon and Hitomi:

Will you fight?! Or not?!"

"Hey, Killua," Gon looked out the black board and glanced at his friend. "What do we do?"

He didn't answer, and walked away. Gon gave the boy a long, sad look before following him. Once in a room of a hotel, he laid Hitomi there and sat down next to her. Gon excused himself and went to do something else.

"The moment you were overwhelmed by the opponent's aura and fled, you were disqualified," he remembered Morel's words.

He narrowed his eyes, pained.

"I am no longer qualified..." he thought.

"Killua," a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked at the source, and found Hitomi awake, and well. "I... uh... thanks."

He was surprised, but didn't say anything else. "Why would you thank me?" he mumbled, hiding his eyes behind his bangs.

"You didn't left me behind and stopped Gon from doing something stupid," she told him. "If you didn't do so, all four of us could have died there."

"But I ran away," he gritted her teeth. "And I let Kite die.."

The girl gave him a long sad look, before grinning widely.

"Who said that?" she said, making Killua look at her. "He can be still alive. You just can't give up now."

Killua looked at her warm smile, and couldn't help but smile as well. Until now, he didn't know that he was that worried about her dying. He was glad that she was alive now, that was all it mattered.

"Hitomi, you're light," he then looked away, still keeping his smile. "Sometimes, you shine so brightly I must look away. But even so, is it still okay if I stay at your side?"

"Sometimes you are so alike Gon," he smirked.

"Huh?" she blinked.

"Anyway, let's go with him," Killua stood up. "He was worried about you too."


"To Killua, Gon and Hitomi:

Will you fight?! Or not?!

.

.

.

We welcome you anytime!"


End of the chapter! I'm sad Kite is dead, but that's how things are :(

JokeLover123: Point taken, you are right... No one is creepier than Hisoka... Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I hope you liked this chapter :D

Kri: Thanks for reviewing and I wish you had fun here! :)

Elisablackcat: Thanks for leaving a review! Hope you liked it

SoulXHunter: Sorry about that :( I'm going to do my best to improve. Thank you for leaving a review and I hope you liked this chapter!

Mr. Kohen: Good to see you around again! Thanks for reviewing and I wish you liked this update :D

Silent Readers: Thanks for paying this fic a visit! Hope you had fun :)

See you all later!