Chapter 1: All Conscious

Hakuryuu could not believe his eyes, although he could only see clearly out of one of them. A humanoid cat had appeared out of nowhere, just a few inches off the ground, before crashing onto the dirt floor with a quiet thud. There was also a ruffle among the bushes, but the prince paid no attention to it. Seeing him - or was it her? Hakuryuu could not tell - so badly injured, his first thought was that it was the work of his mother and Al-Thamen. They were the only ones he knew who would such horrid things, but he could not jump to conclusion yet. Not with all the things that had been happening over the last few years.

The young prince took in a deep breath, then a step forward before stopping. He turned around on his heel to head back into the palace. The mysterious creature was not dead and would need medical attention as soon as possible if he was to survive.

Is this the afterlife? Pitou thought, No… Not while he still felt so numb and wet from blood like when he was fighting that boy, Gon. All around him, there were smells of flowers, grass, trees, and birds. Farther away, he could hear humans, their footsteps, and their tools. They felt weird, not like the rare humans or the ordinary humans though - just weird, like their souls were slightly different. Still, even with the differences, this couldn't be the afterlife... not when the smells of blood and death were so strong.

The royal guard's next thought was of his king, was he safe? Pouf and Youpi must be with him, and his king was the strongest, so he had to be - since Gon will never be able to use Nen again. Not after killing - no, defeating him - since he was still alive. Wherever this place was.

Then, the presence that had stood there since he became conscious, took a step forward; the sole of the foot crushing the blades of grass a few feet away. Pitou tensed and tried to spring up, but his body only twitched. Some of his important bones were broken, and he couldn't generate even an ounce of his Nen - although he could still feel the power inside of him. Just as he was waiting, however, the enemy turned and moved away.

Neferpitou did not have time to relax, though, for a faint existence appeared right next to him. How could he have not noticed!? Pitou's instinct took over, his eyes forcing themselves open as his body tried to move once more. All he could see was black and blurry. The boy had punched him in the face after all.

Kei was soothing the bump on his head, confused by the numbness, though that feeling was quickly consumed by dread as he took in his surroundings. He had woke up outside, near a building that certainly did not belong in his time, with his body aching all over the place. This was probably what Valentino and his gang planned, Kei determined, to send Inaba-san to another world or time. There was something odd in the air, a fuzzy feeling nibbling at his skin, that made him think of the former theory. Either way, Kei was stuck here until they find a way to bring him home. As his head cleared out of the leaves, the 16-year-old boy was met with a horrifying sight.

Sprawled on the grass-less ground was a half human/half cat creature - who appeared to be female - lying on her side covered in cuts, bruises, and blue liquid that seemed to be blood. Her arms and legs were twisted and bent in impossible angles. Layers of dried blood covered her face and hands - which only had four fingers each. Blood trailed from her mouth, indicating her organs were damaged, possibly stabbed by broken ribs. Her hair and fur dirtied by dirt and whatnots, turned into ugly shades, making it impossible for Kei to tell what color they originally were.

Although he was allergic to cats, Kei was an obsessive cat lover; the sight of Pitou scarred him even more than it would have if the one injured before him was purely human. As he approached to help, however, Pitou's eyes snapped open. His glowing, ruby-red eyes stared into him aggressively, causing the cat lover to step back instinctively. For some reason, he felt as though he was about to be suffocated.

As he stared back uncertainly, the teen noticed that the humanoid cat's gaze was unfocused and clouded - as though she couldn't see well, if at all.

Gathering his courage, Kei bent forward, his arm extended… only to jump back when invisible claws dug into his arm. With his left hand covering the deep, bloody scratch marks, the boy look at the now crimson claws fearfully. His blood slid down the three of the four fingers, dyeing the pearl color red, and painfully reminding him of his injury. He had never endured anything so painful in his life… except that one time… despite interacting almost regularly with the mafia and terrorists.

Now that I think about it, Ogi-san always took the brunt of the dangers… including Yuuta-kun..

Though the broken arm now lay motionless on the ground, Kei did not dare venture closer. A decision finalized by Pitou's sharp hiss at his slight shift in posture, which happened to be an inch forward.

It was only when footsteps and voices were heard that Kei snapped out of his daze and hid himself in the bushes he woke up among… unaware of the blood trails he left behind.

v****v

Meanwhile…

There was nothing but silence throughout the forest. Neither birds nor critters dared to remain within the range of the deep, anguishing aura sweeping through every cracks and space - no matter how tiny - that could be used as a hiding place. Yet, there was nothing. Gon could not find Pitou, although the creature had been right in front of him. It couldn't have gone far, it shouldn't have even been able to move. Not unless… not unless it... Gon couldn't compute. Months of holding in his rage, of locking everything inside while planning and training so hard, had been for nothing. That waiting, that one hour of waiting for his enemy to finish healing that stranger, had been his… Before he could identify the words struggling to form in his forcefully grown brain, Gon felt someone entering into his En range at lightning speed. Killua.

"Gon… is that you?"

"Killua, I ca… Kite is dead…" As Gon looked down into his best friend's eyes, seeing but not really registering the emotions storming within them, he couldn't bring himself to say that he couldn't get Kite back. He couldn't say that Pitou escaped, that he couldn't avenge Kite despite everything.

It would be weeks later, after waking up from his coma, that Gon learned Kite wasn't truly dead.