Killua glanced back at his sister, and formed a grin on his face. He did not really understand why it was Kurapika (He thought Nachiru was capable of getting more 'manly men') but he understood they really needed each other. He felt something warm build up in his heart to know his sister was finally free from her curse. Her curse of the Zaoldyecks…of Illumi.

He still remembered clearly how worn and empty she looked when they met a couple of hours ago. And now, she was a breathing, living person again. Just seeing Kurapika one more time made that much change; he was sure the Kuruta would be able to heal all of the wounds and scars of his sister carried with her. He just felt like dancing around… now, even he was free. He could go to wherever the hell he wanted with Gon.

But at the same time, he also felt a pang of hurt. He was happy Nachiru found her happiness, but he was frustrated that he couldn't help her. He was supposedly her younger brother, and he knew her much more than Kurapika did. Why? Was he that unreliable? Weak?
"Killua."
Gon's voice brought him back to reality. Killua hurriedly formed a smile on his face, but quickly dropped it when he saw Gon was not buying it.
"Are you sad, Killua?"
"…I…no, I'm not sad. Why would I be sad?"
"You look sad."
"No I don't."
"You do."
Killua sighed at his friend's indignant remark. Gon could tell through any lie, and that was the last thing Killua wanted at the moment.

"Okay… I just feel… a little, okay? A little upset because…"
"You couldn't help Nachiru the way Kurapika did?"
Leorio's voice unexpectedly completed the sentence, and both boys looked up at Leorio's grinning face. Killua made a sullen face and just nodded.
"Well, you're her brother after all. Younger brother, to be more exact. You wouldn't be able to support her the way a person her age can."
"What do you know, old man?"
"Believe me, I know."

Killua gave a glare and looked away in a childish way. Leorio just smiled and said,
"You'll understand it when you get older."

xoxox

"Kurapika…"
Nachiru started as she tentatively let go of the blonde. He looked at her with a little apprehension and worry.
"…Is there anything wrong?"
"Do you really mean it? I mean… I…"
The platinum blonde shifted uneasily as she tried to continue her sentence. Things were going too well, she thought. And she was scared that it might be some evil joke they were playing on her.
"…I…don't deserve this. I really don't. I…"

She looked at the unmoving Kuruta, and was surprised to see a small bit of anger in his eyes. She pulled back, scared of what she might have done, but Kurapika was faster. He sealed her in an embrace once again…a much tighter, passionate one than the last.
"Kurapi…"
"Don't even say that. You deserve everything in the world."
"…But…"
"If you think someone doesn't deserve something, then it's me not deserving you."
"…I…"
"Stop. Don't make me angry."
Sternness crept into Kurapika's voice, and Nachiru flinched a little.
"I'm sorry."
Then Kurapika's hold loosened, and much kinder eyes looked back at her. She smiled, but a bad premonition was growing in her heart. Would this go right?

And that bad feeling wouldn't go away when she walked to the other three waiting for her and Kurapika, or when she had the last glance at her pet-turned-into-guard-dog (better known as Mike), or when she walked out of the cursed gate she was locked inside her whole life.

xoxox

The rain inside their hearts stopped, but the rain in the real world failed to cease. And that didn't help getting rid of the bad feeling that was growing in Nachiru's heart.

They caught the last train from the town down the mountain to the nearest airport. It was an overnight travel, so the five of them were lying down and sleeping. That was where the gang was to split up and go their ways…which meant these were the final moments they were traveling together. The thought of it made Nachiru feel lonely.

And, there was still the issue of…who was she going to go with? Gon and Killua were going together, obviously, to heaven knows where… Leorio was going back to his hometown to study… and Kurapika was going after the Genei Ryodan, although she had absolutely no clue how he would do that. She knew Leorio and Gon expected she'd go with Kurapika, but they did not know she had hesitations about that. One, she was not sure about Killua. Two, she was still scared of the Genei Ryodan.

She instantly shut her eyes tightly, cursing her carelessness in remembering that incident… That certain day of her life where she saw more blood than ever thought possible. The day that was covered in red, from blood and from her eyes.

"Miyo…"
She whispered into the air, mindful not to wake the people around. Then she clenched her fist as a drop of tear ran down her eyes. Miyo… The name she had used during her exams was the alias of her friend. Of her late friend, who was murdered by the Ryodan in front of her eyes. She shuddered as she recalled the pain, grief and hopelessness she felt at that moment, when a pair of warm arms embraced her from the back.

"…Kurapika?"
She turned her head and saw a few strands of gold.
"…Nachiru, is there anything wrong?"
"No, I'm fine…"
"Then why are you crying?"
"I'm not…"
"Don't lie."
Nachiru took in a deep breath and held his arms tightly. She said nothing more, and he said nothing more. And there they fell asleep feeling the warmth of each other… until the morning sunlight awoke them all.

xoxox

"Is this where we say goodbye, then?"
Gon's slightly melancholy voice sounded emptily in the airport's big hall, and it caused the other four to cast their gazes away. This was as far as they could go together, and they all knew that different paths awaited each of them. Wasn't it for those paths that they took the hunter exams in the first place?

"I have to go and find Hisoka…to give this plate back to him!"
Gon said determinedly as he held a number plate in his hand, and Killua gave an encouraging nod.
"Well, now that I have a license, I can finally study to be a doctor…"
"As for me, I will continue seeking the eyes of my tribe, and go after the Genei Ryodan…"
Nachiru gave an involuntary shudder …thank goodness it was so slight nobody noticed… when she heard that cursed name. Of course… As much as she loathed the Ryodan, and would rather not have anything to do with them, she knew perfectly well that staying with Kurapika meant chasing after…and possibly even killing…them.

And she knew that there was nowhere else she belonged but Kurapika.

"Nachiru…"
Kurapika was the one who started the unspoken question in everyone's minds.
"Who will you go with?"
Nachiru drew in a sharp breath. She saw this coming. It was true that she actually did have two options; Killua or Kurapika. A quick glance at Killua's eyes confirmed how her younger brother still missed her, and would have like her to go with him. But…

"I will go with Kurapika."
She said in a steady voice, hoping that no one noticed her small internal conflict. And no one did. It did break her heart to see Killua look so crestfallen, but she knew her heart would be ripped apart if she had to part with Kurapika one more time.
"I might put you in danger. The Genei Ryodan is a very dangerous group of people…"
"Kurapika, please."
Nachiru said in a little stern voice…the tone she used to scold Killua with a long time before.
"Right now, as of the moment, I am stronger than you."
An assured smile broke into the pale boy's features, and warmness swept over Nachiru. Kurapika was so pure…so innocent…to the point of being cruel. She was scared not only for herself, but also for him.

"Oh…but Gon?"
Killua quickly replaced his dejected gaze with genuine doubt.
"Do you even know where Hisoka is?"
"Uh…um… Actually, no."
Gon looked away with a slight frown that reminded Nachiru of a sad puppy.
"Well… I actually know where he will be in September."
The group looked at Kurapika, who just said that, with utter surprise. Everyone except for Nachiru, who just widened her eyes with realization.

"What? You know?"
"...Do you know the auction held at York Shin every year?"
The rest nodded. Who hadn't heard about the famous auction where all…literally, all…the world's rarest treasures were brought into one place for those few days? And who hadn't heard about the notorious rumors that floated around that gloriously famous event?

"He will be there."
Gon looked down with disbelief as Leorio raised his voice with indignation.
"How the hell did you know that?"
"…The last exam."
Nachiru answered the question as if to defend Kurapika. They all fell silent, but doubt was still not gone from their faces.
"Do you remember when Hisoka and Kurapika fought in the last exam? How Hisoka whispered something to him right before he gave up the fight?"
It was something that seemed to have happened so long ago, it was a little foggy in everyone's memories. The three squinted their eyes trying to remember, while Nachiru continued.
"Hisoka said, 'York Shin, September. The Spiders will be there.'"
"But how did you even hear that? I mean…"
"I have good hearing. I can hear a lot of things I wish I didn't have to listen to."

The group fell silent for a while. All of this was happening so fast. It was true that they met for the first time in the beginning of the hunter exams, and that there was still so much they didn't know about the others. But then, it still felt like they've been traveling together forever. They felt like a big family. Although they all had different goals, different homes, different paths awaiting them…they just wanted to be with the other for a bit longer. Not that they could, however.

"Then… this September, at York Shin?"
Gon stretched his hand tentatively. The tension softened a little. Yes, even if they were parting now, they were going to meet each other again. And not too far in the future too. Killua grinned and put his hand on Gon's, followed by Leorio. Kurapika and Nachiru looked at each other, and managed a faint smile on their faces. The path from now was going to be a long, hard, weary one…but then, they still had each other…and the others. They were no longer alone.

"September, York Shin."
With a firm statement that served as an oath, Kurapika and Nachiru both put their hand in the circle. It was not a farewell, but a promise to meet again.

For now, they were to pursue what they had to.

Right, here I am with the next and final... (for now, at least) chapter. Yes, again I have not updated in a long, long time. I hope people haven't forgotten about me or this fic. To all you guys who kept up with me, I just cannot thank you enough.

Another thanks to my reviewers...keia mizuki, Sea-Salt Ice Cream, shinsendensetsu, girls prayer, Pan, Cherrybell, dewprism56, Ritsikas, AnimeFan918, Angelis 023, angge, and SIERRA. I love you all for taking an extra minute to stop and give me feedback!

The Epilogue (or I might call it the Interlude, since there was going to be more to the story...and I might still write it...) might come soon, probably will not. I'm sorry, but I am trying...