Author's Note: Well I went over editing the chapter and corrected the grammar, I'm not sure if I missed any but Oh my gawd / it's embarrassing how terrible I was with mistakes. I hope you enjoy the chapter! Thank you everyone for your support!

Chapter 2

It's a dream

Velvet real,

Smooth,

It's all skin deep.

The cold wall felt good against her bruised back. The ice cold water bottle she'd gotten from the vending machine caught the water vapor on the plastic surface, soaking her red palms. It soothed the burning.

She didn't realize how much he'd hurt her until after the fight was over. Her body was had just begun to feel the pain. As if all at once her muscles stiffened at the slightest movement. Did she really strain herself to keep up with him? A deep sigh escaped her pale pink lips and she slumped to the marble tiled floor. Tired. Drained. She closed her eyes.

Hisoka. His smile. His laugh. He pulled a card. Then death.

Her eyes jolted open while cold sweat ran down the sides of her face. Her heart in her throat. What was that?

"Onee-san!"

The voice of a boy called out to her. She blinked a couple of times until her vision adjusted properly. Apparently she'd been out for more than a second. Three people stood before her. Two of the three were kids no bigger than thirteen. Killua, the one with messy white hair and deep blue almond shaped eyes stood by Gon with his hands in his pockets. The kid came off as much more mature for his age. His usual laid back expression was replaced with surprise.

"You got your ass handed to you," he remarked with a taunting smirk.

With effort she managed to shrug, "Did better than you would've."

Gon, the one who'd called out to her had spiky black hair and big brown eyes that gleamed with innocence. He dressed in green shorts and a green turtle neck jacket lined in red. Usually after watching one of Scarlett's fight's he'd rush over to congratulate her with optimism and excitement. It was always amazing to watch her go all out, but this time he only managed to smile while he stared up at her with serious eyes.

"It looked like you had a lot of fun," he forced out a small awkward laugh and rubbed the back of his head, obviously anxious.

Eventually a fight between him and Hisoka was going to take place and after seeing the fight between Scarlett and Hisoka, it looked like he had no chance.

Scarlett sighed and forced her self up. With a hand on the wall to keep herself balanced she extended her hand and patted his head, "Well of course I had fun. It was a fight. That man is amazing."

It was the best fight she'd had in ages.

"And Gon, I'm 100 percent sure you can nail him in the face. He's too confident with his strength. I hope you paid attention to every thing he did. Don' let my beating go to waste."

That did the trick. He nodded at her reassurance, "Of course I won't let it go to waste Onee-san!"

"You did well."

She blinked at the man behind the boys and arched a brow, a smirk escaped her, "I know I did."

The man adjusted his rectangular shaped glasses properly on his nose and gave her a 'You're hopeless' expression. He stood about 5'9 with his hands behind his back. His short black hair was neatly cut with bangs that stuck out slightly. Despite his formal style he managed to look untidy.

"Do not let one complement go to your head Scarlett-chan. You still lost."

"I forfeited," she corrected him.

"Because you know you couldn't defeat him," he spoke as he took her arm around his shoulder and helped her walk, "Now come along and lets go tend to your wounds."

The velvet soft sheets of the bed beneath her felt comforting against her skin. Her messy black hair that reached down to her shoulders were dripping with water. The drops trickled down on her bare skin. Bruises on her arms and body were beginning to turn a deep purple since they hadn't been treated with ice right away.

She felt his careful hands move against her light olive colored skin as he wrapped the bandages tightly around her torso.

"Ow Wing-kun. That hurts." She winced as he tightened the bandages firmly over her ribcage.

"You have two broken ribs. It's necessary to tighten."

She opened her eyes revealing the hotel room she'd checked into. Damn. Who would've thought being a qualified hunter would get her such a luxurious place to stay in for free? The space was simple, unique, and sophisticated. The bed room contained a king sized bed with red and white sheets. It's pillows and comforters of silk and cotton where thrown to the floor, making more room for her to sit comfortably. Ready to go right to sleep as soon as her old friend was done fixing her up. The floors were tiled in black marble and carpeted with a fuzzy navy blue carpet. The walls were a dark navy blue with a lace texture. The living room that was connected with the bed room had all its furniture directed toward the glass wall that revealed a beautiful view of the lit city.

"Hey Killua, what's this?" she heard Gon ask from the bathroom she'd just taken a shower in. She raised a brow. They were 'exploring' in the bathroom?

"You don't know what a bra is?" Killua asked.

"Oh it's like what she's wearing right now?"

Her eyes widened feeling her cheeks warm up a bit, "Hey! Leave my stuff and get outta there!"

Upon her shouting they rushed out without a second to spare. Both glanced around as if nothing had happened. She eyed them carefully before pulling on a simple baggy pink shirt over her exposed torso.

"Thanks Wing-kun."

The old friend gave her a small nod and got to his feet, "You should get some rest. It'll be quiet awhile before you can fight again."

"I know," she remarked laying flat on her back, "What am I supposed to do?"

"Go shopping," Killua remarked nonchalantly ad then blinked as if realizing something, "Oh right only normal girls do that."

A pillow was sent spiraling in his direction which he caught with ease. He smirked confidently. Unafraid of messing with her.

"That's enough. Come on, Gon, Killua. We can get a bit more training done with Zushi," Wing stated already by the door. He waited patiently for the two boys to file out in front of him.

"Get well soon Onee-san!" Gon chirped with a wave as he walked out with Killua.

She gave them a smile and threw herself back onto the huge soft bed the moment the door shut behind them.

"GAH! Damn it!" she whimpered her hands going to her ribs. How could she have forgotten such an injury so quickly? She exhaled sharply and curled up beneath the cool sheets. How was she going to handle the up coming days? Maybe if she practiced more with her nen…she closed her eyes and nodded off to sleep.

"Hey Alexis!" a girl no older than twelve exclaimed her sister's name while she stared down the book she had in her hands, "Did you know that there are several types of pressure points? And depending on what you do to them can create a different effect. Like if you go for the pressure points in the lendons, ligaments, and muscles, it can temporarily immobilize the target."

Alexis who sat on the far end of the couch was busy applying nail polish on her perfectly shaped fingernails. There was no sign of interest to her nerdy sister's comment. The tiny brush in her hands continued spreading the nail polish on her nails.

"What are pressure points?"

The book worm jumped at the chance to explain what'd she'd just read, "They are certain points in your body that have a cluster of nerves."

"Cluster?"

The girl almost slapped her forehead. What kind of vocabulary did her sister have?

"Cluster: something that comes together; collect; gathered."

The prettier twin shrugged and examined her nails, "Whatever. Do you think I should go with pink for my toes?"

Why did Scarlett always try talking to her when she knew well enough that Alexis was never going to care? Oh right it was because she had no one else to talk too.

"….You always put pink. Pick blue. It's a cooler color."

"Pink it is!" then she paused, completely ignoring Scarlett, "Or maybe French…"

Without warning the door burst open and in ran a girl with pink long hair tied up in a pony tail. Her big round blue eyes caught sight of her best friend.

"Lexi!"

"Neon!"

Both girls ran to each other and hugged. Best friends forever. It made Scarlett want to puke.

"Your nails are so pretty! I want mine done too!"

"You guys are such girls," Scarlett muttered gathering her journals and books. Jealousy was hidden in her voice, "Do something life contributing instead of wasting your time with make-up and boys."

Alexis didn't even bother looking as her sister, feeling a sense of superiority toward her. I mean why wouldn't she? In her own eyes, she was beautiful, cute, and content with her life as a rich girl. While her sister Scarlett always had her nose in a book and lacked anything beautiful. She found her almost repulsive.

"You're just jealous that we can be pretty and you can't."

"Yes, that's definitely the reason," she remarked nonchalant, although Alexis was hitting a sensitive nerve, "I mean because me and you have exactly the same face."

Alexis glared, "Don't tell me I have the same kind of messed up skin as you do! Mine is clear!"

Scarlett's hand automatically went to her face as if trying to hide her blemishes. It felt embarrassing. Someone pointing out her flaws making them more obvious than before. She let her bangs fall over her face in humiliation. Alexis smirked glad that her words hit home base, she continued, "And my hair isn't a rest stop for birds!"

Neon bit down on her lip, feeling out of place as she watched the two sisters bicker. Her feet fumbled over each other like a shy girl in front of the guy she liked. It wasn't a secret that Alexis and Scarlett hated each other, but this time she felt that Alexis was being a bit to harsh.

Scarlett left before she heard anything else that might destroy what ever remaining self-confidence she had. Tears had begun stinging her eyes, but she refused to let them fall before her sister. She was not going to give her the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

"Mada-"

The maids and servants stopped abruptly as they saw the bright little girl zoom by with tear filled eyes. It was unlike her to just pass without a hello and a rant about what she'd read. Now she was just ran past them ignoring there calls. The halls seemed longer and the endless turns wouldn't stop. She hated the place she so bitterly called home.

Finally she came to a halt before a double door room. Usually she'd stake a moment to admire the hand carved design put into the wood painted white, but now all she could do was rub away the tears that kept threatening to come.

"Stupid Alexis," she choked slamming the door behind her, "She doesn't know that I can look just as pretty as her if I try."

She place her books in the built in shelves that stuck out of the wall beside her desk and then stood there not sure what to do next. The lavender walls that surrounded her felt strange. Alien. Everything was new to her, from the bed to the small furnished sitting area. The bigger the better. That's what her father always said. Now because of his constant obsession with moving, she found no comfort anywhere.

Hesitantly she forced herself to the mirror that hung right above her dresser. Her dark brown eyes scanned the items that she never paid much attention too; perfume, makeup, hair accessories, etc. They were all gifts her father had gotten her from his trips outside of York Shin. She glanced up.

Her eyes met her own. Blood shot and the tears hadn't even managed to brim over. Her skin olive and full of blemishes and scars- unlike her sister's pale smooth skin. Their eyes were the exact shape only she had brown while her sister had green. Beautiful hazel green. She reached out and grabbed a thin pencil of eyeliner then paused. She had no idea how to apply makeup. The only time she had it on was when Neon forced her down for a make over.

Her thick curly locks were tied back in a messy bun with strands falling out from all over the place. She'd cut her own bangs and kept them over her face to hide the acne. Long hair was pretty but it always got in the way. It was much easier to keep it tied back. That was her excuse. She untied the mess that should've gone over her shoulder blades but hardly made it to her shoulders. Guess tying hair back without brushing after a shower was a bad idea. She took out a brush from the drawer and started pulling down from the roots to the tips.

"Ow!" she yanked but her Medusa like hair had the brush in its clutches. She pouted, beginning to find herself a sight for sore eyes. Why couldn't she have long silky straight hair like her sister? For identical twins they looked nothing alike.

Clip. Clip. Clip.

She stared down at the scissors in her hands and the hair on the carpeted floor. Her eyes widened. What did she just do? Father was not going to like this. The scissors flashed in the lighting. Clip. Clip. Her hair fell like rain to the ground. She wanted it stop but her hands were moving on their own.

The tears finally over flowed. Unable to contain them any longer. Once she regained control of her hands she dropped the scissors and backed away from the mirror unable to look at herself. What she did was practically giving everyone round her a license to make fun of her.

She rubbed her eyes, smearing the eyeliner she'd poorly put on and found a beautiful woman sitting on the edge of her bed in a simple white dress. She quietly watched Scarlett with her dark brown eyes that glistened weakly. She had a kind warm face. Her pale skin and fragile frame made her look like she was sick.

Scarlett froze feeling like her heart just stopped in shock.

"What are you doing out of bed?" she gasped finally, "You know the doctor said not to move around!"

The woman got to her feet slowly, almost carefully, and walked over to the girl with such elegant steps it left the girl staring in admiration.

"How could I just stay in bed when the maids are telling me something was wrong," her voice was soft and soothing like a melody to Scarlett. She watched as the beautiful woman knelt down and wiped away the new tears that Scarlett hadn't noticed run down her face. Embarrassed she averted her eyes away unable to look her mother in the eyes.

"You shouldn't let Alexis get to you. You are beautiful. Just like her."

"How am I beautiful? Look at me!"

Her mother twisted her perfectly shaped lips to the side and stared at her daughter's face, "Hmm…I see a pair of beautiful eyes…a smart strong girl…and a face hidden beneath messy makeup."

No reply.

She sighed and pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead, "You know…I used to have acne worse than yours when I was your age? It's normal it's just beca-"

"Because I finally reached the stage of puberty and my hormones are out of control. I know."

A smile flickered on her mother's lips and she kissed her again, "They'll be gone by the time you become 18."

Scarlett didn't like the sound of that. Another six years with messed up skin? That's six more years of harassment from Alexis. Another six years of hell.

"…isn't there…anything I can do now?"

"Well…we can start with keeping you hair out of your face," she pulled back her uneven locks out of her eyes. She let a small cough, "Now go wash your face and I'll teach you how to do your make up. Okay?"

"I'm going to need more than make up to look as good Alexis, mum. I wasn't as lucky as her. She was born with the better traits of you and dad."

"We've got to work on that self-esteem of yours cupcake," She gave her daughter a warm smile as her hand went down to the silver pendant engraved with flowers and multiple jeweled rocks as the their centers.

"Well if you want luck would you like a lucky charm, Scarlett?"

Scarlett's eyes jolted open and shot up sitting up right in bed. The sudden movement killed her. Sharp pains rushed through her particularly in her ribs. She winced in pain. Her hand over her face. She exhaled deeply.

Her mother's soft voice still echoed in her head like a broken record, her sweet smile still fresh and vivid. Suddenly her eyes stung, tears threatened to come. Her hand slowly trailed down from her face to where the pendant her mother had given her hung. Only one problem. The pendant wasn't there.

"Are you looking for this?"

Her heart stopped. That voice.

She turned on the lamp beside her on the night stand and stared across the room. Right at Hisoka.

"Long time no see, Scarlett-chan."

End of chapter 2. Hope you guys liked it. And please review, it motivates me to continue the story.