Recap: Phinks is on the verge of death after his battle with the Hunter Mato.

It wasn't her turn to be out here tonight, but Machi could not sleep. Kortopi had been visibly glad when she had dismissed him to take his place at keeping watch from the moonlit rooftop. It was understandable. Spending all night gazing at nothing but desolate buildings and an occasional scurrying animal was hardly stimulating. And it wasn't like the Troupe needed someone to watch over in the first place. But old habits weathered, and this one was from their earliest days in Meteor City. Having a sentry in place was ingrained into anyone who survived to adulthood in that place.

She just had one of those feelings again—a sense of unease in her chest, a plethora of possibilities rushing through her mind. Only made worse when she failed to reach them. Either that idiot Phinks had his phone off or something had happened. Of course, she could always run out to search for them, after what had happened with Uvo it's what they should have been doing. But Machi was careful with her temperament and running out like meek worrywart was never a good look especially for a Troupe member. Besides, they had only been gone for a couple hours. The worst she could do now would be to show she didn't trust them, Phinks especially. If they were fine (which they probably were), he would mock her concerns than provide reassurance. Machi sighed and tried her phone again. Nothing.

Though before she could feel disappointment, a glint of light emerged down below. A vehicle nearing the building. The glaring light made it difficult to see, but Machi still detected the problem. It wasn't the same car they had left in this evening. Forced to change vehicles…they had evidently run into trouble. She sighed. Once again her baseless speculation had proven correct.

Shrouding herself with nen, Machi leapt down the building. Normally a greeting wouldn't be necessary at this hour, but now she felt the need to see them immediately. The twenty story drop mildly stung when she landed with a hard thud in front of the car. Its headlight flooded her vision as it shuddered to a stop. Phinks was nowhere to be seen, instead a young woman about her own age sat behind the wheel. What's going on? The stranger looked at her frantically before glancing back, leading Machi's gaze with her.

Gon burst out the rear door. Grim faced and hands furrowed with blood, the raven-haired boy immediately began to fumble for something in the back seats. Phinks.

Machi rushed towards him. "What happened?!"

Gon set Phinks down on the dirt, and for a moment Machi could only gape. His well toned body had been replaced by a skinny figure she could only recognize by the face. His clothes, wound tight around his chest and right hand, stained a deep red. Every patch of bare skin was littered by cuts and bruises. Machi knelt and checked his pulse, only to be greeted by nothing but unsettlingly cold skin.

"He needs blood," she said, undressing his chest. "Get Nobunaga. He should be in his room. Third floor. Bring him to mine. I'll be taking him there."

Shit. He was punctured right through. It was very clean, the work of a sharp blade. Machi caressed the perforation and focused her nen. Images formed in her mind as her aura rippled through Phinks' chest. His body became a labyrinth she could travel in her mind's eye. She followed the course of the wound, studying the extent of its reach. She trekked through his damaged lungs, its sheared blood vessels and thousand airways, all the way to the other side to see the blade had even pierced through his spinal cord. Next she travelled to his heart. Thankfully it seemed unharmed—the blade had just missed it. And there...thump. Machi let out a breath. Faint and unsteady—but still a heartbeat.

"I think he's...dead," stammered Gon, his voice bursting through the visions.

Machi opened her eyes and peered at the boy. His brown eyes looked to be on the verge of tears. Why are you crying? "I didn't ask for your opinion Gon," she scowled. "I told you to fetch Nobunaga. Why are you still here? Go!"

The boy looked at her diffidently before stumbling to his feet. He wiped his tears and scurried off without another word.

"Run!" Machi called after him. And he did.

She returned her attention to Phinks' thin pale figure. There was no doubt in her mind this predicament was of his own creation. He probably acted cocky, tried to show off for the boy. Took on too many enemies, played around with his opponent. Tried to "enjoy himself". They always thought they were invincible.

Which is why I don't do this for free.

Machi prepared her nen threads, their blue haze cast on the man's face. For a moment the color looked strange to her, ethereal, as if Phinks' soul escaped his body. A stab of guilt ran through Machi and she quickened her pace. He may have been a fool, but he was of the Phantom Troupe—an original member. A comrade. And she was going to save him.

"Don't you die on me."

"WAKE UP!"

It was no use. That was the fifth time. Nobunaga might as well have been dead. Slumped against a wall, snoring and surrounded by that spherical glow, he slept in a strange manner even for someone like him. The aura protecting him felt dangerous. So Gon had kept his distance.

Fine! He picked up a piece of rubble and hurled it at the sleeping swordsman. It flew hard yet the moment it grazed the sphere, it split in two.

Gon blinked. He saw the whole movement clearly, yet was still taken back. His weapon now free of its scabbard, Nobunaga at last began to stir. He yawned and looked at Gon with half open eyes as the mass of aura around him withered away.

"No way it's morn—"

This time Gon hit his mark—right on the stubble of beard at his cheek. In a different circumstance he may have smiled, but now he just said: "Phinks is going to die!"

Nobunaga was stroking his cheek with not so hidden annoyance until Gon's words immediately roused his attention.

"—what?"

By the time they reached Machi's room, Gon had given Nobunaga a run down of the mission, and the predicament they were currently in. Despite his initial shock, the Swordsman listened with a calm curiosity. He didn't fault or berate, only continued to prod about Phinks' condition and the battle. Though Gon never particularly worried or cared about Nobunaga's opinion, it was good to know he at least had no complaints. Maybe the swordsman would even defend him if things got dicey, like he did before. He felt somewhat less angry at him for not waking up.

"Adding him to the list, right under the chain user," Nobunaga was saying as they entered.

Lit under candlelight, Machi sat beside Phinks, who lay shirtless on the bed, looking even paler than before. The protrusion in his chest was gone and his right hand was whole again, Machi had clearly made quick work of both. Gon figured she had probably sealed the exit wound as well, though he couldn't see it. Despite his body still being ragged with other cuts and bruises, Phinks looked much improved. Just a more beaten down, skinnier version of his old self rather than a full-on corpse. Gon found himself appreciating Machi so much more. She was truly incredible.

But clearly, she didn't feel the same way, because she greeted him with the most frigid glare he had ever seen. "I expected you to be here before me."

"It's not my fault," Gon said defensively. "He wouldn't wake up!"

"Of course," Machi muttered under her breath.

Nobunaga pretended not to hear any of this, instead examined Phinks closely, rubbing the stubble of his beard. "He looks okay to me", he mused.

"Thanks to me," she said, wrestling the swordsman onto a chair. "Now sit still so we can get this over with."

She rummaged through a pack beside the bed and pulled a transfusion tube, sticking one end in Phinks arm.

"Hey is that thing even sanitary?" Nobunaga asked, exposing his arm.

"More than you," she said, sticking the other into the swordsman. Machi was clearly not in the mood for any distraction. Gon decided Phinks was still just as at risk despite his improved appearance.

Once done, Machi turned to him. "Do you need to be here Gon?"

"I guess I want to watch…"

"No you don't. You just went through a tough mission. Go and get some sleep," Machi's tone bespoke no argument. "And if you see anyone coming this way tell them to stay out. I still need to operate on his insides after this. That will take time."

"Wait, you still haven't fixed his insides?!" Nobunaga interjected.

"Hey! Stay still or it'll slip out!" Machi said, adjusting the needle. "I wanted to get some blood in him first. Give his body some strength to start repairing itself. He's an enhancer, he managed to survive this long because of it. I'm sure he'll recover relatively quickly." The last part didn't sound convincing. "Then I'll operate on his insides," she finished.

She fixed Gon another glare, and he knew it was time to leave. He wanted to stay; to show that he was doing all he could for Phinks. But there was no arguing with someone like her. In a way she was not unlike Mito. The thought felt strange. To compare Aunt Mito to someone like her—one of the Phantom Troupe.

The presence took the boy by surprise as he shut the door. He paused. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the hallway, he realized it was Chrollo strolling towards him. For a moment his all black garb made him out to be no more than a floating head. Gon clenched his fist but immediately relaxed. Getting caught off guard like that...get it together! He's not an enemy. For now.

"Hello Gon," Chrollo waved. "How's Phinks doing?"

So he already knows. "Uh, I can't say for sure." Gon responded carefully. "You should ask Machi—oh but she said to not let anyone in."

"Did she? Then it must be quite serious then," he mused.

"Yea...but Nobunaga is giving him blood now."

"I see…," Chrollo said after a moment. "Walk with me Gon," he beckoned him.

Before long, Gon was recounting the entire mission to Chrollo. Unlike Nobunaga, Chrollo did not ask questions, instead opting to listen in silence. Yet Gon found himself being very thorough, going over every detail he could remember, and back tracking anytime there was something he failed to mention. Some parts were harder to recount than others. He spoke warily when he explained how he had failed to capture the driver and had caused the disaster, or how little he had done in the battle against Mato. On the other hand, he found himself speaking with an ill pride when he retold the part where he had rescued Phinks, watching Chrollo's face closely hoping to see a sign of approval. None came, until Chrollo spoke.

They were sitting on one of the courtyard benches under a pale gibbous moon, when Chrollo said at last, "I'll have a talk with Feitan about his intel. This is unacceptable."

He gave him a look, a strange one, something on the verge of embarrassment. Though Gon couldn't imagine that was something Chrollo could even feel. "I apologize Gon," he said. "I didn't intend your first mission to be this way. But…you did well. Very well. You didn't pick unnecessary battles. You showed great resourcefulness and prioritized what mattered."

He smiled. "It's been merely a day and you have made a big step. Well done."

"But…all those people in the crash," Gon said looking down. "Some of them may be even dead. And it was all my fault."

Chrollo's face grew stern. "No. If the intel hadn't been compromised you wouldn't have to resort to what you did. That blame lies on me, don't burden yourself. Understand?"

Gon wanted to protest but nothing came but a silent nod. "I can see Killua then?" he asked instead.

Chrollo stood. "Tomorrow. But first, I want you to give everyone else the same account. It's best they hear it from the source. Can you do that?"

Gon nodded.

"Good. We'll meet in the treasure room in the morning. And we'll leave the detailed discussion about your mission 'till then," he said, turning away.

"Good night Gon. And get some rest."

Chrollo left him on the bench. There, after some pondering, Gon was fast asleep.

Yes I gave Machi the ultrasound type ability Ging showed. I figured she would have it.

ScarletEyedChainUser: Thank you so much for your amazing reviews once again! I tried my best to make sure the battle was clear and understandable. Good to know it payed off!

Guest: Thank you for the review. But I purposely left Nobunaga's name off so the summary would be clear to those who didn't happen to remember his name.

And once again thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, and favorited.