Epilogue

Where We Go

We have three more side-stories after this. The Phoito Wedding, the Machitan birth, and a five-year timeskip.

"Hey, Kurapika! Catch!"

Kurapika's eyes pop open just in time to be smacked in the face with a bottle of sunscreen. "Hey!"

"Sorry," says Gon meekly. Killua just grins, as if he isn't sorry at all, and he isn't.

"Leorio said you have to use more, or your tattoo will fade," Killua reminds Kurapika.

He's goddamn jealous of that tattoo. Frankly, he can't wait to get one and scare the hell out of Illumi.

Kurapika chuckles as he picks the bottle up from the pale, pure sand. The sea sparkles around them, and the air smells of salt and fruit.

Milluki's promised family vacation has finally arrived. Only he's invited far more than his siblings; the Spiders and Hunters have joined the Zoldycks for a special occasion.

"Allow me." Chrollo straightens up beside Kurapika, snatches the bottle from Kurapika's hands. He squeezes the sweet-scented lotion onto his hand and rubs it into the spider labeled 13 that adorns Kurapika's ribs.

Chrollo's hands move slowly and rhythmically, enjoying ever moment he can touch his fiancé's skin.

"Leorio says ribs hurt the most," Killua says, eying Kurapika.

"I'm a masochist. You know that," Kurapika jokes, drawing a chuckle from Chrollo.

"Don't make me throw seaweed on you," Gon warns.

"Now, now," drawls Hisoka's voice from behind Kurapika and Chrollo, "that sounds like a fun prank."

"If you throw seaweed on me, I will offer Nanika enough candy that she agrees to feed you to a shark," Chrollo replies.

"By stealing the candy?" Hisoka teases. "Kurapika, what will you say to your groom-to-be?"

"I would help him," Kurapika says dryly.

Hisoka rolls his eyes. "You would not."

"He's more daring than he appears," Chrollo replies. His hands linger on Kurapika's sides.

Hisoka twitters. "Lucky for you all, I have no interest in tormenting Danchou…today."

"That's a lie and you know it!" Machi calls out from a meter away. She and Feitan sit beneath an umbrella, taking turns cradling two-month-old Paku.

"You always have interest," Feitan adds, attempting to pin a magenta bow to Paku's wispy black-and-pink hair.

"Besides, wasn't one of your conditions for rejoining no more lies?" Chrollo flashes a toothy grin at Hisoka.

Hisoka pouts, though he is…somewhat…maybe…grateful for the spider numbered 12 on his arm. Not his back, because this one isn't fake. Illumi would kill him if he faked it again.

"We're back!" Palm's sing-song call breaks into their mock-fight. Kalluto, Nanika, and Alluka are sandwiched between her and Milluki, each carrying gallons of ice cream from their cabins, which are just beyond the grassy dunes that embroider the beach.

"Yes!" Phinks races back from the volleyball net to pounce on a strawberry cone for his newlywed wife Oito, who rests with Woble near Machi and Feitan.

"Thank you." Oito cranes her neck to peck her husband on his lips. His face reddens, as if the sun has scorched him.

Spider Number 6 has been engaged in a long conversation with Shizuku and her girlfriend, the new Number 9.

Who is none other than Melody, who likes to say she joined both for Shizuku and to ensure Kurapika's continual safety. For now, though, she and Oito are enjoying Woble's obsession with Shizuku's Blinky.

The rest of the volleyball players – Nobunaga, Shoot, Knuckle, Morel, and Knov – amble t over. Chrollo's eyes do not miss how Nobu's hand is entwined with his fashion twin's.

Shoot and Nobunaga. Chrollo rather likes the idea.

After Bonolenov shakes Franklin awake, Franklin drops before Woble and offers her a taste of vanilla ice cream.

"Remember Uncle Franklin gave you this," he says seriously.

Hisoka spins to look at Machi and Paku.

"She too young," Feitan says sharply.

"You're no fun."

"Neither is a sick baby," Shizuku says.

"Why did I join you assholes again – ?" Hisoka is cut off by his answer, which is a pair of cool hands – unusually cool for the beach – resting on his shoulders. Even so, Hisoka winces.

"Hisoka, you're going to need to molt if you don't put on sunblock," Illumi says calmly.

"It's fine," he squeaks.

"Mmm-hmm." Illumi blocks Hisoka's path to the ice cream. "Not until you put on more sunblock."

"You're kidding me."

"He's not," Alluka says solemnly.

"Even octopi and chameleons wear sunscreen," Ikalgo declares proudly, slurping down his ice cream as Meleoron takes savory, delicate lick after delicate lick.

"Lucky for all, I do actually know this." Hisoka grins.

Illumi howls suddenly.

Nanika has casually moved the damp seaweed from the tide-pools into his flawless hair.

"Now that's what I'm talking about." Hisoka snickers as he removes is inflamed, sunburned Texture Surprise. "You can have my ice cream, Nanika."

She cheers, and Illumi stares at his husband. "You tricked me?"

"Uh-oh," jokes Morel. "No couples fighting on the eve of a wedding."

Leorio and Cheadle saunter towards the group. He bends over to wrap an arm around her, and as an awkward third wheel, Hina their new medical apprentice tags along.

"Hina, want to go have hunt for shells with us when we're done?" Canary shoves a chocolate cone towards Hina's face.

She nods with a shy smile. Amane claps her hands.

"Can we come, too?" asks Gon.

"Yes!" Canary grins. She's always wanted to have Killua as her friend, and now she does, and so much more.


"Let's go swimming, funder of fun." Palm pokes Milluki after they've finished their treats.

"Truthfully, Grandfather released our funds," Milluki admits. "I'm not exactly the funder."

"Yes, but he didn't grant us a vacation. You did," Gon says.

Milluki flushes with embarrassment.

He and the rest of the Zoldycks have found themselves wandering more and more these last few months. Ever since the initial crisis in Meteor City faded.

Sure, Kukuroo Mountain has Mike and Maha and Zeno, but home also has memories they don't need. Not yet. If ever.

Though, to be fair, there are other people there he does need.

But right now they're here, though, too.

Tsubone, who currently indulges in her recently discovered afternoon nap, and Amane, and Canary.

Milluki is too embarrassed to remove his T-shirt, but Palm doesn't seem to mind. She tugs him into the waves, where Alluka and Kalluto wait to splash him.

With his siblings, he feels loved. With Palm, he feels inspired.

Hisoka crashes into the water besides Milluki.

"Did you throw him?" Kalluto laughs as Illumi bows for his sibling's amusement. Behind them, Machi and Feitan clap.

Finally, every Zoldyck child – whether by birth, by adoption or by servanthood – feels loved.


Kurapika is awakened in his lonely room whilst the night still settles thick around him. Leorio flicks the lights on and off and on and off and on and off, while Gon and Killua bounce up and down on the foot of his bed.

"You're still children," Kurapika mumbles, stretching slowly.

"Ha." Gon giggles. "Time to get up, lazy."

"Lazy?!" Kurapika scowls, fighting a grin.

His door is shoved open. Melody enters, with a steaming cup of tea. "Perhaps this shall entice you."

"More than Chrollo?" Killua asks quizzically.

"You're the worst friends," Kurapika grumbles, dragging himself out of bed to accept the mug from Melody's hands.

"The worst because we're the best," Leorio insists as Melody departs, shaking her head in amusement.

"You are. Best friends." Kurapika smiles as he sips his tea.

"Drink it fast. We've got to prepare," Killua orders.

"I'm not going to burn myself." Kurapika winks.

"Nanika will heal you." Killua sticks out his tongue.

"The sky is growing grey," Gon says sternly. He crosses his arms. "So drink up."

"Okay, okay." Kurapika laughs and gulps the rest of the tea while his three best friends ransack his closet for the ceremonious robes he hasn't seen in over a decade. How Nanika summoned and created them from his memory, clearer than his mind, he'll never know.

The sky glows coral over the silent, gently lapping sea. The dusty indigo of night lingers over their cabins.

But a two lines of candle-bearing people sprawl across the beach, up until the edge of the water.

Gon, Leorio, and Killua form a circle around Kurapika as he walks between the witnesses. Beyond, towering over everyone. Hanzo, in his formal ninja gear; Biscuit, in her fluffiest pink dress.

Mito Freecs and Raissa Valdrada, acting Elder of Meteor City, arrived last night, from different directions and different motherhoods to Gon, but both grateful for Kurapika's friendship towards their son.

Morel and Knov are next, facing Knuckle and Shoot. Palm and Milluki stand next to Morel, facing Alluka and Nanika. Hina faces Melody, and Shizuku

faces Kalluto. Oito holds Woble, across from Illumi, who grasps Paku. At the end of the line, Phinks and Hisoka face each other.

Kurapika feels their smiles, their love and friendship, as his best friends lead him forward to the edge of the sea.

Cheadle stands there, holding a paper drafted by Shizuku. Bonolenov is by her side, singing a Gyudondond hymn to welcome the hastening day.

And Kurapika waits as Machi's pink hair appears on the beach. Franklin, Nobunaga, and Feitan – the other founding members of the Spider – surround their leader as they escort him through the same procession.

Because their friends are at last united.

Cheadle takes a deep breath. "We are ready."

Kurapika's friends dissipate at the same time as Chrollo's, rejoining the line of witnesses.

Kurapika inhales. Chrollo is dressed in the same rainbowed and gold wedding robe as he, the robes every traditional Kurta wears upon their wedding day.

Chrollo's eyes mist at the sight of Kurapika, who looks almost shy despite his shining scarlet eyes.

He reaches over to fumble for Kurapika's hands. The Kurta's are damp; his are shaking.

Kurapika smiles slightly at the trembles and squeezes his fingers in reassurance.

Bonolenov ends his song, and Cheadle recites the Kurta marriage vows that not even Kurapika remembered. The Hunter library, however, did.

He does, however, recall the response. He and Chrollo answer yes in unison.

Yes, we will love each other.

Yes, we will forgive each other.

Yes, we will serve each other and uphold each other in honor, hope, and kindness.

As the sun peeks over the horizon, Cheadle concludes, "And thus, by the power vested in me as Hunter Chairman, I declare you two married."

A tear rolls down Chrollo's cheek, sparkling in the orange rays. Kurapika draws him closer, and closer, and closer, as if too happy to believe it.

He presses his lips against Chrollo's, his mouth into Chrollo, the husband he loves.

Behind them, their guests cheer and clap and weep.

"Who's ready to party?" jokes Hisoka.

"It's barely morning," Illumi says.

"Kurta culture demands the drinking commences as soon as the ceremony ends," Killua reminds his older brother.

"You can't drink!"

"Guys, they're still kissing – wait – how – Illumi, we should compete with them –"

Chrollo groans, but he's smiling as he pries his lips away from Kurapika. "In case you forgot, Hisoka, you already had your wedding. In fact, your wedding was exactly the catalyst that precipitated ours."

"I'm gonna remind you of that," Hisoka warns as Chrollo resumes his kiss with Kurapika.

"We're indebted to the clown, aren't we," Kurapika mumbles between kisses.

"Let me forget that." Chrollo grins. He's as carefree as Kurapika has ever seen him.

Chrollo notices a sadness in Kurapika's expression. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Kurapika says, "Only I'm so happy, I don't want this to end."

"We'll gather back together from time-to-time. At least once a year," Chrollo promises. "And in the meantime, we'll see the world you always wanted to see."

Kurapika nods. He and Chrollo just spent last month burying Pairo's eyes and visiting his now-forgotten village. It had been made into apartments, and Chrollo held Kurapika as he wept – with indignation, and with relief.

His past no longer chains him. His clan no longer haunts him. He's free to fill his childhood heart's desire.

"That sounds good."

Chrollo nods. The more time he spends with Kurapika, the more his ghosts have faded. Kurapika is a whiff, a horizon, of freedom. "After all, where we go is up to us."