The next morning, Gon and Killua were sitting in their personal sitting room with Circe, Oito, Momoze, and Kerrin. They were sharing an afternoon tea as a light snowfall adorned the atmosphere outside with a certain heavenly grace. It was funny, Gon thought, how it hadn't snowed at all since he and Killua had arrived here. It was almost as if the weather was signaling to them that their job was complete.

"So to conclude, we are eternally in your debt," Momoze murmured with a bow of her head. Her curls slipped over her shoulders and cradled her face in a frame of golden grace. Kerrin and Circe nodded in agreement.

"It was nothing, really!" Gon said with his hands waving out in front of him. "We were happy to help!"

"Yeah," Killua agreed around his teacup. "We couldn't just leave you here in that situation."

"You boys truly are a blessing to this village," Oito said with a soft look in her eyes. "I thank you in particular, for aiding in the execution of Camilla in such an efficient manner. I am aware that it was not your intention to kill her in the same battle as with the two serpents, but it was the best course of action nonetheless. Now, we will not have to calm a panic surrounding a coup, and the Neko-Girls who were in my sister's pocket will be more likely to cooperate with the next regime."

"Speaking of which, who have you selected as the next High Priestess?" Killua asked.

Gon nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Me."

Gon and Killua gazed at Circe with eyes wide as saucers.

"Are you really that surprised?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"No, it's not that at all!" Gon exclaimed.

"I'm just surprised you guys would make such a rational decision without any drama involved," Killua said with a lazy wave of his hand.

Circe blushed at his offhanded compliment.

"You'll make a great High Priestess, Circe!" Gon declared with a grin.

The dark skinned woman smiled at him, "Thank you, truly."

She still likes Killua more than me… now I know it's cause she is interested in him romantically, but it still makes me feel all negative inside. I've decided that I won't prevent Killua from staying here if he wants… but that doesn't stop me from hurting at the idea of someone else keeping Killua at their side.

Do you like her back, Killua?

Do you realize her feelings?

Will you… stay here?

"What will you two do now? Dare I ask you stay here with us?" Kerrin asked with a glint in her eye.

Gon looked at Killua and Killua looked at Gon.

"It's a great place here, really. But we've gotta get to Yorknew City. We've spent fifteen days here now, that's more than two weeks. We've really gotta haul ass if we wanna get through these mountains before next year," Killua answered in his usual gruff way of speaking.

"I guessed as much," Circe said with a bittersweet smile. "Just know that you will always be honorary citizens of our village. You will always be our Champions, and we will have statues erected in your honor to commemorate your great service to us."

"Making a wonderful economic debut, I see," Killua quipped.

Circe smirked, "Witty as ever, I see."

Gon looked back and forth between the two of them.

They have such a great dynamic…

Killua, are you sure you are wanting to stay with me on my journey?

Is it because… you don't know if Circe likes you that way?

If she confesses, will you realize your feelings and stay here with her?

Do you have feelings for her?

Anxiety riddled Gon. He hated the idea of being separated from Killua so much. In fact, he could barely picture what it would be like to be apart from him. He knew that Killua had just stated his intention to go to Yorknew City still… but even so, he just couldn't quite shake that uneasy feeling.

"Tomorrow, on your way out, we will hold a parade celebration as a goodbye. We wish for our citizens to be able to send you off properly. It is customary, and according to the text of the Goddess will embed you with luck on your travels," Oito said with the most lighthearted smile Gon had seen out of her thus far.

"Awesome," Killua said as he took a bite out of a chocolate muffin.

He really belongs here. They treat him like the royalty he is, and accept him no matter what. Killua loves having his ego stoked, even though it is a cover up for his true feelings towards himself. Is he sure he wants to come with me? I feel like I should ask him just for closure… but I'm selfish… and I can't bring myself to. I'll just wait it out. If he leaves me then… tomorrow would be the best time to do it, I suppose.

…

The next morning Gon and Killua were driven through the village in a beeline for the front gates… on one the most intricate floats Gon had ever encountered. It was velvety and covered in black and white roses, it was even adorned in solid gold and silver! The two boys were dressed in their own clothes again, the same ones they had arrived in.

The two of them smiled and waved at the enormous crowd of Neko-Girls that wept and cheered in the streets. The Valkyrie and the hybrid tossed flowers to those they had spoken to over the course of the past 16 days, and occasionally reached down to slip their hands across those of the crowd's. Confetti, flower petals, and delicate snowflakes swirled in the air, and a marching band of dancers and singers escorted Gon and Killua's float through the streets. It was like a festival!

"This sure is one over-the-top spectacle, huh?" Killua commented.

"Yeah, but it's super nice of them!" Gon answered. He had to admit, he was a little on edge. Killua hadn't decided to stay here yet… and the hybrid was riddled with a mixture of hope and dread. Could he really be staying with me? I know he said that's what he'd do… but he never really did say he'd stay with me no matter what. It's a stupid anxiety, I know. But for some reason… whenever Killua is involved, my emotions are heightened in a way. It's so hard to explain. It's like… whenever anything I'm feeling has to do with Killua, I always care so much more.

"Gon!"

"Oh?" the boy in question startled as he turned in the direction of the heartbroken cry.

Is that-

"Alvara?" he asked, genuinely surprised to see her like this. She was sobbing, tears pouring down her cheeks leaving trails of runny eyeliner. The girl was dressed in a delicate silken dress in pink and gold, and a pair of fluffy earmuffs adorned her feline ears.

"Gon! I-I, do you really have to go?" she sobbed, jogging to keep up with the float.

"I, er," Gon inwardly sweatdropped. I'm so bad at comforting crying girls. Why is she so upset anyways? "I have to continue on my journey to Yorknew City! This is the only way to find my dad and discover who I am!"

Alvara sobbed gently and wiped at her tears with a lace handkerchief. "Such a noble cause," she said around a bittersweet smile. She met Gon's eyes in earnest, "Just know that I'll-I'll never forget you! You'll always be here in my heart!"

Gon's eyes widened. Wha-

The Neko-Girl suddenly leapt up onto the float right in front of Gon. With tears in her eyes and a small smile on her face, she walked up to the hybrid and looped her arms around his neck. "Goodbye, Gon." She then leaned in and kissed him right on the mouth!

Gon didn't kiss her back, honestly he was completely frozen! This had come out of nowhere!

He watched with wide eyes as Alvara stepped back, eyes lined in silver, and hopped back into the crowd. Gon held her gaze as she stayed where she had landed, and waved as the float disappeared around a corner.

"What was that-" Gon trailed off when he turned around to look at Killua.

The Valkyrie was standing all stiff, with his fists bunched up at his sides. His face was unreadable, and his aura was twisting around him in a nest of messy emotions.

"Killua?" Gon asked, confused.

"She… loves you." he mumbled through gritted teeth.

"What?! Since when?!" Gon exclaimed, jumping into an instinctual fighting stance with blood rushing to his cheeks.

"You really couldn't tell?" Killua asked, voice and face still unreadable.

"Of course not! I thought it was kinda weird that she talked about me staying in her heart, but is that why she kissed me?!"

"You are…" Killua hid his face behind his bangs. "So dense." The Valkyrie walked to Gon's side on silent feet, and stood close enough for their shoulders to brush together. "You don't… like her back… do you?"

Gon's heart flew out of his chest.

Is it possible that Killua holds the same fears as me? Does he feel the same way about me and Alvara as I do about him and Circe? If so then-

"No, of course not! She was just a casual acquaintance, I'm honestly not sure why she's in love with me!"

It's the truth… but also what I so wish for Killua to say regarding Circe.

The silver haired boy relaxed a bit, and peaked from underneath his bangs. "Good."

Gon grinned, and slung his arm around Killua's shoulder.

He didn't pry about why Killua thought it was good, he just assumed that it was because the Valkyrie felt the same way he did. Little did he know, but had he pried… the runaway prince would have been given the emotional power to tear down the barrier in his mind.

…

Killua and Gon stood in between the two open doors exiting the Neko-Village. They waved one final goodbye to all the various courtesans that they had spent the past hour parting with. With their packs slung over their backs, they were ready to continue their journey. The Neko-Girls had even given them a detailed map and instructions on how to make it out of the mountains in only two days' time! That was much better than another two weeks!

Gon was all hyped up and ready for traveling! The past 16 days had been nice and all, he had absolutely no aversion to being treated like royalty! But still… he knew that a lot of the courtesans were just pretending to like him, because of him being a hybrid. That really rubbed him the wrong way. How many other Neko-Girls felt that way? And aside from that, he wasn't the type to settle down. He needed adventure! His thirst for danger and new discoveries was nowhere near sated!

The two boys stood side by side, with Circe standing off to the side. The trio were 50 feet away from the rest of the Neko-Court, and well out of earshot. Wind from outside the village walls ruffled Gon's hair and whispered promises of adventure and excitement to him.

"I'll really miss the two of you," Circe said with an unreadable expression on her face.

"Yeah, same here I guess. To an extent," Killua said nonchalantly.

Circe's eyes softened and lined with tears, unseen by the Valkyrie whose eyes were trained on the distant mountain peaks. Is she gonna-

"Killua."

"Hm?" The seriousness in her voice bought her the Dragonite prince's full attention.

Oh no-

Gon bit his tongue, and gripped his fishing rod in his fists to keep himself from just grabbing Killua and running off into the distance right then and there. No. I can't do that. I owe it to Circe… I have to give her this opportunity, for all the help she gave us. And also… I owe it to Killua, to allow him this choice. Because he's my friend… my best friend. And he deserves everything.

"Killua. I've come to realize that… I love you," Circe said with sparkling eyes and a voice strong as the mountain breeze.

Killua's eyes widened at the confession, and his tail twisted in discomfort behind him.

What's he thinking? Is he realizing that he feels the same way? Is he-

"Um," Killua mumbled, for the first time since Gon had known him… he had no idea what to say. "I'm really sorry but… I don't feel the same way. I only see you as a friend."

Gon's thought process stumbled to a halt.

Circe closed her eyes, a soft smile on her face. "I expected as much." She looked up and met Killua's eyes with a gaze full of love and adoration. "I figured it wouldn't be fair not to let you know… this being my only chance."

"Yeah, er. Thanks for telling me?" Killua said, stumbling over the words. He sounded so incredibly awkward, the polar opposite of the boy Gon knew so well. Seeing this new side to Killua made Gon feel so happy inside. It added on to the fire of joy burning within him, Killua really was going to stay with him!

Circe dipped into a curtsey, handling the rejection with an incredible grace and dignity. "Goodbye, Gon. Killua. I wish you luck on your journey, I truly do. May we meet again someday." She righted herself, and with a final wave, turned on her heel and walked into the village, enormous doors closing behind her.

The two boys stood and stared at the closed gates for a second.

Unable to contain his giddy energy any longer, Gon turned to Killua. "Didn't see that coming, huh~?"

Killua glared at him, cheeks turning pink. "Oh shut up! You were just as surprised as I was! If even more so!"

Gon giggled, "You ready to get on the road, then?"

The Valkyrie grinned, fangs flashing in the sunlight. "Always!"

With that, the Valkyrie and the hybrid left the Neko-Village behind them, and continued on to Yorknew City.

AN: two confessions of unrequited love, cause I seriously just can't help myself

but ANYWAYS, Neko-Village Arc is finally over! that was wayyyy longer than I had intended... but at least the plot was there!

onto Yorknew City!