Author's Note: Well...ahem...it took me like what two years to update this story? *hangs head in utter shame* I deeply apologize for the long leave. I swear I never meant to do so. I just got so caught up with exams then University and all. I'm sorry and I know I should've updated sooner. I did try before, but what ever I had written before was deleted and I was greatly discouraged to rewrite everything. But I'm gonna give it another shot because everytime I get a review my heart gets filled with guilt when I saw all the positive feedback.

So basically because even after the last chapter update I've still gotten so many reviews and I thank you all so much for the encouragement. I will start o answer back to the reviews from now on as well and I will update as soon as possible. I really hope this chapter makes up for what I've done. even if a little.

I hope you all enjoy 3

Chapter 8

And when all hope had fallen

A small light was shining

But not all was well

When the light was a flame

of a mad man smiling

"We were worried about you Onee-san!" Gon's voice exclaimed from the other end of the phone, "I'll tell everyone that you're okay!"

"Worry about me? Really Gon? I'm hunter status. I'm pretty sure I can take on anything," she laughed at the thirteen year old as he defended what he meant. One handheld the phone to her ear while the other drew tiny little marks all over her face to resemble acne scars. Her curly hair was held up in a messy bun and the shirt she wore was a simple black one she planned to stain with mustered on her way down.

"You guys better kick ass you hear me? I want to know you guys can take care of yourselves without me coming to the rescue."

She heard Killua's annoyed voice in the background, obviously not liking how she'd just belittled them. She laughed. If it weren't for the mirror that distracted her she would've truly forgotten the situation around her. That everything was so messed up.

"See you on September 1st Onee-san!"

"Take care Gon, see you." With that she shut her phone and took one final glance at her terrible appearance. Perfect. All she had to do left was get the mustered-and maybe a sandwich before she went to visit her mother's room.

A knock came from the door and Scarlett decided that was her cue to leave. She took no hurry to reach the door and open it, eyes widening when she saw Revonika standing right before her. A less than friendly expression on her face.

"Couldn't put the necklace on yourself?" Hey she'd be pretty pissed too if she couldn't ever put on a necklace on her own again. Scarlett wanting to poke at the woman's open wound for having taken her most prized possession. So sympathy level was 0 after what happened yesterday.

To Scarlett's surprise, Revonika actually smiled. A smug smile. One that threw the girl completely off. What did she have to be smug about when she was missing a hand?

"Someone's acting like a morning bitch," Revonika remarked while raising her left hand and flicking back her long black locks. Scarlett only managing to stare dumbfounded at the older woman. HOW? Last she checked her left hand was swiped forever off her wrist. New hands don't just grow the hell back over night!

"Didn't know you had such freak friends," she added while pulling out Scarlett's pendant and shoving it into the girl's hands, "Your father wouldn't approve."

Scarlett had no idea what this woman was talking about. Gon and Killua being freaks? They were not!-Well to an extent they kind of were in certain angles. But ones she loved nonetheless. But she couldn't stay quiet about what Revonika was spurring so despite the mind fuck and confusion she replied, "Since when has he ever?"

"Hmp, that's how all men are. Your father wants you in the dining room," she turned and left Scarlett in total puzzlement.

After finishing her business in the kitchen she made her way up to her mother's room. Deciding that her dad could use the wait, to 'calm' his nerves.

"Morning mum~" Scarlett plopped down beside her mother's bedside with a smile. One that hid the sorrow that was in her heart and the guilt of having left her. Gently she placed her hand on her mother's paper cheek and stroked it, "How are you feeling?"

A look of confusion replaced the crazed gleam in her eyes. It made Scarlett wonder what she truly expected from her. What did Alexis say to her every morning when she walked in as Scarlett? What words did she constantly deal deep into their mother's heart. What bad guy had she created in her mother's eyes.

"…Scarlett?" her voice was weak and hesitant.

"Yes mum?" her voice as gentle as can be.

"Did Alexis talk to you?"

"Yes, mum, she did."

"S-so you forgive me?"

Her heart broke and she let her hands fall to her mother's so she can squeeze them gentle, "Yes. I do. I was so selfish and immature to act the way I have. Please forgive me."

Tears came so suddenly in her mother's eyes it took Scarlett by surprise, "Oh mum don't cry I'm so sorry!" feeling herself become to sensitive to the situation as well, "Come on let me read you a story and forget this ever happened."

Little sobs escaped the sick woman's lips and she managed a feeble nod that made her look like any extra movement would cause her to break. Carefully Scarlett crawled into bed beside her and wrapped her arms tightly around the woman she had once admired so much, "I won't ever let you go again," and she kissed her mother's forehead.

Scarlett won't let Alexis near her mother ever again.

It was two hours later Scarlett made her way to the dining room on the ground floor. The entire time imagining up the thousands of terrible scenarios that were about to possibly happen. Her father was never the patient type so she knew there was going to be plenty of yelling involved.

Try to act innocent.

Yes. That will piss him off more.

She walked in making sure to close the door as carefully as possible.

"Oh, Scarlett, glad you can grace us with your presence."

She hunched her shoulders upward as she heard the hostility in her father's voice. She turned to face him and gave him one of those forced smiles, "Lucky for you I even decided to show up."

"You little…" but he held his tongue back because there was someone else standing in their presence. One that took Scarlett just a bit extra to notice since she was busy with her own battle with her father.

Her eyes widened as she stared at the man in the suit beside her father.

What the hell was HE doing there-here? The dumbfounded moments weren't ending with her today.

With his eyes and a simple movement of his finger to his lips, Hisoka, warned her not to make any sign of them knowing each other.

Like hell Scarlett could pull off doing that.

"What's HE doing here?" she snapped at her father since she obviously couldn't get a straight answer from Hisoka himself.

"Don't speak with me like that," he warned and grabbed for his drink-some alcoholic beverage. His brow scruntched a little as he realized the meaning of her sentence, "Do you know him?"

"No, he was with Revonika when she went and open fired at my friends."

"Hmp," her father laughed a little at the idea, "Good. So you've seen what he's capable of. Scarlett, meet Hisoka. He's going to be your new body guard."

…..

Her mind lagged.

Hisoka?

Her father was paying Hisoka to stick to her ass?

The world was ending wasn't it? Did the bastard even watch her fights in the Heaven's Arena or did he really eat up the shit Revonika and Hisoka must have fed him. Then it dawned to her. Revonika's hand back on her wrist. Getting her pendant back. Hisoka was behind it. However he was able to get his arms attached back when he'd lost them in the Heaven's Arena, he'd pulled the same magic trick on Revoniika for a special deal.

She laughed. The whole idea was crazy. Her father didn't even have any idea what he was doing. What having Hisoka around her would mean. Hisoka as her bodyguard! What an oxymoron! Abruptly her eyes narrowed, and the laughter was gone. Giving her a sense of madness, "I don't want a bodyguard."

"Don't worry he's just here to keep you in check. If you go out, he's to go with you. You're curfew is at seven, and he'll keep me up to date with your every move."

Well now she was definitely mind blown. Was this her father's way of trying to give her freedom? She was suddenly more upset with the idea of having Hisoka around her day and night than anything else.

"No. I'll be raped and found dead by a river."

She was sure Hisoka was holding in a laugh because his smile only grew when her words left her lips.

"Scarlett…" the warning in his voice became threatening. She knew anything else she said would throw him over the edge. But really-Hisoka? Why him of all people? She folded her arms and frowned. Eyes catching the grey ones that hadn't bugged from her since she'd walked in.

What was that clown up too?

"Don't worry boss, I'll make sure not a hair on your princess's head is out of place."

Her father held in a laugh, "Princess? Maybe to her mother."

He got up and took the last gulp of his drink, "Don't let her out of your sight. I'll want an update while I'm out of York Shin."

"Of course."

The man left, leaving the two to get reacquainted.

Author's Note: Well there was chapter 8 hope you guys like it. My writing style might be a bit different, and I'm trying to write in a way it will stay interesting. Hope you guys review because that's really how I managed to get my fanfic writing mo-jo back. I'll update soon 3