Disclaimer: I don't own Hunter x Hunter or the front cover.

"Oi, Komugi...are you still there...?"

"Yes, I'm still here,"

...

"...Oi Komugi...will you stay with me...?"

...

"Komugi?"

--

Meruem awoke with a start. His eyes snapped open and he felt the presence of another next to him. The thing next to him didn't radiate any kind of presence to signal it's life energy. Meruem woke with a throbbing pain in his head, similar to the amnesia he experienced after his battle with Netero. Everything came rushing back to him at once, flooding into his brain like water breaking down a dam. His brain throbbed accordingly but he was only able to make out one word...a name.

Komugi

And with that name alone, he sat up straight with wide eyes and pain all over his body.

He panted heavily, his limbs shaking ever so slightly from the effects of a deep slumber. Everything around him looked...ancient. Like he had been asleep for a century or so. Growing pale he looked at the body next to him...or should he say corpse. Beside him laid thankfully a human corpse still intact... Komugi's body to be precise. It looked like she had passed recently which could only beg the question to be asked.

"...Why am I alive?" He said outloud.

He walked slowly across the large, empty basement's floor, whilst carrying out Komugi's fresh corpse. She was so light in his arms it was frightening, frightening how pathetic these creatures could be and how malicious they could be as well. Meruem thought about one thing and one thing only when he awoke, why was he alive?

He expected his death, it was guaranteed anyway. He felt himself lose consciousness as well, succumbing to his peaceful death. Yet he was up and about as if he had merely taken a nap. He was much weaker when he awoke, probably around the strength of one of his late Royal Guards. He kept pondering about the situation at hand. How were things on the outside? Are the humans still here? Is this all a dream, or is he going to die again soon?

He stopped when he stood in front of the hallway, it would be a long walk from here. He looked down on Komugi's resting face and wondered if she would wake up as well. The poison should still be lingering within him, yet he hasn't experienced any other pain other than headaches when he woke up and even those were beginning to cease.

He confirmed the idea that all of his Royal Guards are dead since he couldn't feel any of them inside. He paused when he remembered he could find them another way.

He closed his eyes and focused on feeling the power within him, searching for the small ball before releasing it into an energy so bright that it stretched across the whole palace. He couldn't make out any other being with nen react to him, there weren't even any corpses anymore. The palace along with its outside perimeters was void of any other life, including the coccoons. This threw Meruem off for a bit, how much time had passed since he had died?

He huffed in frustration, he needed answers and he wouldn't get them from just standing in the darkness. He continued onward to his path. He didn't know where to go necessarily, but he had one motive in mind. He recalled a tradition humans did when experiencing the passing of a loved one. Meruem wondered why they did it, the person wouldn't be aware of their actions and it would be a waste of time and energy.

Yet something within him yearned to do this. It was like a sense of respecting one's body and Komugi deserved a proper burial rather than die in some room with him. His feet plattered on the cold cement beneath him and he soon grew curious about other things. His battle with Netero and how Neferpitou was holding up. He assumed for her to be dead since a lot of time had passed. Judging from the sheer loyalness and faithfulness of his Royal Guards, Pitou would've arrived already and undoubtedtly looked for him. Either the humans got to her or something is still keeping her busy.

His battle with Netero taught him many things surprisingly. The art of Nen and how far ahead humans had already advanced. Netero was praiseworthy, that much he was sure. Yet he couldn't help but feel almost cheated at the end. Netero had struck Meruem with everything he had in his final attack, though it wasn't enough to kill Meruem, it was enough to deal significant damage to him. The moment Netero was aware of Meruem's survival, he resorted to a tactic that was prepared for that moment. Meruem was a fool for not expecting it, yet it showed Meruem just how far humans would go when it comes to their endangerment or threatens them.

He sighed out his thoughts, it wasn't like Meruem to ponder so much on things that shouldn't concern him anymore. He should solely focus on burying Komugi at the moment, he would wonder what he would do after.

--

He had reached the gate and wasn't the least bit surprised when he noticed it was closed. When he was about 10 meters away, he placed Komugi gently on the ground.

He then began to stretch and wake up his body. Cracking his fingers and bending his knees to the point where he would almost touch the ground. He flexed his arms legs and tail, before ultimately sighing out.

As quickly as he had opened his eyes, he lunged towards the gate and using his right palm, blasted the gate open, launching it out to a nearby wall where a cloud of dust was formed. He closed his fist and lunged back in front of Komugi, landing soundlessly.

He picked her back up gently and continued his way to the now open gate. His feet still echoed in the empty hallway since he was the only thing there.

It was nightime, meaning that it was most likely day when Meruem awoke. During his carrying process with Komugi, he never once sped up nor slowed down. He maintained a fair pace that was meant for Komugi's comfort even though she wouldn't feel it. Right before Meruem's death, he never expected himself to grow fond of emotions, he was a King after all and things like those would only cause unecessary hindrances. Yet his time with Komugi had forced his emotions to unlock, what exactly were they?

He passed through the gate and glanced around the area. Sure enough, it was completely deserted. Not a trace of life, only destruction. The palace was decimated, courtesy of the humans and their successful plan. Meruem soon entered the palace.

He kept walking until he jumped onto the central platform since the stairs were nonexistant. He walked ahead and saw his throne room ahead. His room was in shambles, completely unrecognizable but to him, nothing had changed.

His throne was intact at the very least, but the gungi board was missing. The reason he decided to make this burial was because this place was the very first moment he encountered her. This was the room where everything began his learning from her, gungi, strategies, and emotions.

He placed her on the throne, and did nothing more other than make her sit upright with her head leaning on one side. For she was the one who remained undefeated, Meruem was never able to best her so how could he sit on the throne? Simple, he couldn't.

He sat down in front of her and closed his eyes. He recalled all the moments where she changed his persona, from the moment she placed her life on the line to when he saved her. Humans were truly fascinating, they could be as weak as a fly or become as strong as dragon. It was truly remarkable and frightening how much of a variety of humans exist.

Meruem grew slightly drowsy as he sat in front of Komugi, so much so that he fell asleep without any thoughts interrupting his mind. The next time he awoke, he was still in front of Komugi, proving that everything he had just done was very much real. Komugi's skin was deathly cold, it was obvious she was very much dead and damn it all since it still affected Meruem.

He noticed a Gungi piece on top of some rubble, a spy to be exact. As if he was drawn to it, Meruem unconsciously made his way over to it. He picked up the small piece and felt it between his fingers. It was chipped and marked ever slightly and very much easily breakable. He looked back at Komugi, pale as ever and lifeless. He flicked the gungi piece and watched as it landed on her lap. The King then stared ahead, now wondering what to do now that he's alive once more.

Should he continue to try and rule? Should he go breed another king? No, he would spend his time with Komugi for now, and then plan out his future later.

I'll be honest, I don't really know where I'm going with this. Though it can be marked a One-Shot. All grammar mistakes belong to me and goodbye.