Gon and Killua trained with Miwa for thirty days. They exclusively studied how to utilize chakra, both boys able to spar atop water, and use small ninjutsus in their chosen element. They weren't able to effectively use ninjutsu during battle, but Miwa knew it was only a matter of time.

At the end of those thirty days, Kite came to test the boys on whether they were ready to help fight the Chimera Ants.

Miwa didn't care to watch, so she opted to check up on her city while they did that. She got to take Kalluto out for lunch since he was staying in the city with Shalnark and Nobunaga helping plan out a heist. By the time she returned—three hours later—her friends were tired but pretty dang happy.

Gon and Killua had passed Kite's test.

"We're going to the Republic of East Gorteau," said Kite. "The ants are planning something there. We'll take the train and meet with others."

"Okey dokey," said Gon.

"Train leaves in an hour—take care of any unfinished business you have here."

"Will do," said Killua.

"We'll see you at the station," Miwa promised.

(≧ڡ≦*)

As the three children packed up their belongings at the hotel they were staying at, Miwa decided to brave a question.

Miwa mumbled softly, "Do you—do you two think the ants should be exterminated?"

Killua shrugged, storing his clothes in the storage scroll he had created with Miwa's guidance. "A line has to be drawn somewhere."

Gon nodded. "I mean it was fun fighting them, but it'd kinda suck if humanity was wiped out."

Miwa fiddled with her fingers. "And if they just stayed in their country? Or, um, stopped?"

Gon and Killua exchanged a look. Killua asked, "Miwa, what do you really want?"

"I—I want to see if maybe we can find a peaceful solution. When we go on this excursion, could you two—I mean—would it be—I mean—" Miwa rubbed her face. "I know they've, um, killed a lot of humans but so did—I mean—"

"Miwa, do you want to try to make nice with the human-eating ants?" Gon asked nicely. Miwa nodded sheepishly. "Okay. We can try to make nice with the human-eating ants."

"You're both insane. They're human-eating giant ants," Killua reminded them.

"And," said Gon, "if I remember right, Kurama is human-eating giant fox demon?"

"Oh," said Killua while Miwa nodded again. Killua sighed. "Fine. I might let some of them live."

"Thanks guys..."

They patted her head.

"Besides, you're making friends with the strong ones, right?" Gon cheerfully asked.

"Trying to," she said. "They're, um, pretty hard to get close to."

"You made friends with a giant human-eating nine-tailed fox though, right?"

"Uh-huh."

Gon patted her shoulder. "Then I know you can do it with a few ants. I believe in you, Miwa."

Miwa's eyes shined, her cheeks turning rosy. "Oh. Thank you."

"And if not, we'll set them on fire and make s'mores over their bodies, okay?"

He's growing up well.

"Yeah!" Miwa chirped while Killua gave Gon a look of disbelief.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Kite, Gon, Miwa, and Killua joined up with Knov, Morel, Shoot, and Knuckles on a train heading to the Republic of East Gorteau. It was a pleasant ride down; Gon braided Miwa's hair while she played a card game with Killua and repeatedly lost.

Apparently, she had a crap poker face.

On the border of the East Gorteau, the group stopped for a hearty meal. The kids ordered a lot of meat, but Kite made them include vegetables. Gon and Miwa were particularly unhappy with that, but under Kite's glare, they relented.

Kite even had the audacity to pile vegetables on Miwa's beloved pork ramen. Sacrilege!

As they ate, a news report played on in the crowded bar. It talked about how the leader of the East Gorteau—titled Supreme Leader—invited all the citizens to come to the capital in 10 days for a celebration.

Miwa wondered what was behind that motive. The ants didn't exactly talk about their plans in front of her.

She knew the "Supreme Leader" had been slain and Neferpitō was using their corpse to control the country, but that was about it.

Well... and they were still collecting and harvesting humans.

Not the humans from her country, though! Ergo: not her problem.

Technically, you've murdered more humans making your empire than they have just to eat.

Miwa loudly slurped her ramen broth instead of responding to Kurama snark.

Did she? She didn't really keep track of the numbers.

"Colt believes the celebration will be used as a screening," said Morel.

'Who's Colt?' wondered Miwa.

"We don't know what they'll do with those found to have nen, but ninety-nine percent of the humans there will die," quietly added Knov.

"We'll need to act before then," said Kite. "Our time limit is ten days."

"And where's the old man?" asked Killua.

Knov said, "He sent an e-mail saying that he's already inside East Gorteau, but we haven't heard from him since."

Eyes turned to Miwa who was slurping her ramen noodles.

"Yeah he made me teleport him inside," said Miwa, wiping her mouth as she recalled his request. "Um, he's fine? He said he had to prepare in case I couldn't reach a peaceful resolution before the time limit."

At the time, Miwa didn't know what her time limit was. Netero had only told her to meet up with Kite and the others, and they'd give her more details.

Now she did.

Ten days. Ten days until... something happened. She had exactly that long to persuade the ants out of violence.

She wondered if it would be possible.

Knov's phone buzzed, he pulled it out. "Ah, speak of the devil. He wants us to divide into three pairs to draw the royal guard away from the king the night before the celebration at midnight."

'Oh. That's my real deadline,' Miwa thought nervously.

(≧ڡ≦*)

That night, the three friends got ready for bed. Miwa flinched upon receiving the memories of her clone that evening. Gon noticed, tilting his head as if a thought occurred to him.

"Miwa, you've only been sending in clones, right?" asked Gon.

"Uh-huh."

"Maybe it's time you go in person," he said. "How can they really trust you, if you don't give a little, you know?"

Miwa's eyes widened. "D-Do you really think I should?"

"Sure," he said with that sunny smile of his. "If we're going to get along, we can't keep sending clones now can we?"

Miwa closed her eyes, hearing the truth in his words. "You're right. But... um... would you two be okay without me?"

"We'll be fine," assured Gon. "Right, Killua?"

"Just go," said Killua. "We have your tags in case something comes up."

"Mm... okay."

(≧ڡ≦*)

10 days before the deadline

"Hello," said Miwa as she teleported to the palace.

Neferpitō's eyes widened. "Huh...? Hmm...?"

Miwa smiled at them. "Not a clone."

"No more poof?" asked Neferpitō.

"Nope," she said. "I want to be friends with you—all of you—and to do that, I want to show that I trust you."

Neferpitō's red eyes gleamed under the moonlight. "Nyow I see. Heh-heh. I guess I'll have to be more gentle with you."

"At least try not to decapitate me," Miwa giggled.

"Are you going to stay here?"

"Is that—Is that okay?"

"If the king allows it," said Neferpitō, leaning forward to sniff Miwa. "Go ask."

"Okay," agreed Miwa. "U-Um, be right back."

"Mmm."

The king wasn't hard to find, given that he didn't try to repress his aura nor hide his scent. Miwa could hear him and someone else speaking in his favorite spot to play games. The room he had dedicated to playing his games in was a wide room with marble flooring. It had a huge doorway out to the balcony, so a lot of fresh air circulated into the room.

Miwa entered it, unsurprised to find Shaiapouf with the king.

"Uwa, she's been here a while," observed Miwa. She took a seat next to Shaiapouf, peering at the game being played. Shaiapouf ignored her, per usual.

A small woman with white hair pulled into two pigtails. Miwa remembered seeing her only yesterday.

Perhaps only one day of playing wouldn't seem like a while to some, but Miwa had seen the king play with all sorts of humans, and they rarely lasted a few hours. To think the same woman was calmly playing against the king the next day—

Impressive!

She must have been a very intelligent woman.

Miwa patiently waited for their game to end.

It was oddly calming listening to the sound of their pieces moving. The king, who was normally completely silent while he played, instead called out each of his moves. The woman did the same. Maybe it was the norm for their game?

"8-8-1, knight," the woman said. Miwa found she had a very sweet voice.

The king reached forward and dropped several black pieces across the board. In a soft monotone, he said, "I guess that's checkmate."

'Wow!' Miwa's eyes widened. She had never seen the king lose.

The woman's eyes closed. She had a big smile on her face as she started to scoop up the pieces across the board. In that sweet voice, she sincerely praised him, "You're such a fast learner, Supreme Leader. I'll have to step up my game, or you'll get the jump on me."

"That's enough," the king cut in. "Go get some rest."

The woman sniffled—Miwa noticed she had a runny nose and wondered if the woman had a cold or something—and hurriedly shook her head. "That isn't necessary, I'm fine. I can play Gungi for three days and nights without sleep!"

"I have another guest," the king said, his eyes trailing over to Miwa. "Once I'm done, it'll be your turn."

The woman seemed disappointed. "Then I'll get a little rest." She bowed her head, then slowly stood up, grabbing a cane as she did so.

'Wait, is she blind?' Miwa stared in surprise at the woman who tapped the cane in front of her as she walked away.

Miwa stood up, watching the young woman walk out of the makeshift throne room.

"You," said the king. "Not a clone anymore?"

"No," she said, turning back to face the king with a big smile. "To make friends, gotta show a little trust, right?"

"Friendship is unnecessary," the king dismissed.

"Having fun is also unnecessary," Miwa pointed out. "But it adds color to life, don't you think?"

The king gave a short nod. "Do as you like."

Miwa beamed. Shaiapouf shut his book with a sharp snap, standing up to approach the king. "What do you think of this game?"

'Gungi, right?' Miwa thought. The king had played all sorts of games.

"It's only a matter of time," answered the king as he started to reset the board. "There are more options to choose from, but essentially, this game is no different from the rest. In four or five more games, she will have to use her real ability. Once that happens, I shall be able to observe her rhythm. Nothing has changed."

"Shall we dance?"

Goosebumps trailed down Miwa's arms at the whispered memory, too far gone for her to properly recall.

Menthuthuyoupī stepped into the room, holding a piece of paper. He said, "Your majesty, the Go player hanged himself."

The king bitterly laughed. "Bring that idiot woman back. Girl, you can sleep in the Go player's room."

"Oh my God, please no—" she squawked, her face pale.

Shaiapouf beamed. "I will personally escort her there."

"You are an ass, Pouf," Miwa told the butterfly-ant as he grabbed her by the arm and started to drag her away. "Nooooo, I don't wanna sleep in a dead guy's room...!"

The king let out the briefest of smiles at her woes.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Neferpitō took pity upon the crying Miwa and let Miwa stay in their room with them.

"Better to keep an eye on her anyway," pointed out Nerferpitō.

"Fine," said Shaiapouf. "She's your responsibility."

"Mm-hmm."

(≧ڡ≦*)

(Gon & Killua)

Gon and Killua were their own diversion team. They snuck into the country—Killua took lead—in the dead of night. As the boys walked through a dense forest, they quietly discussed what they needed to do next.

"We need to draw the guards away from the king," mused Killua.

"Meh," said Gon.

"What, you don't think so?"

"Miwa will succeed," he said. "We should instead be focusing on preventing casualties."

Killua frowned, looking over at Gon. "You really think she'll be able to befriend those monsters?"

"Why not?" Gon shrugged. "She can make friends with anyone."

Killua put his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the clear starry sky. "I guess."

"So," Gon said pointedly, "we should try to keep the casualties down."

"I don't think the ants are going out and mass executing the humans," Killua said dryly. "The country has been operating as normal according to the reports, which means the majority of the civilians don't even know about the ants."

"Mmm... I don't think there'd be no casualties though, right? They eat humans. A lot of humans."

"But Miwa said they could eat other food."

"She also said they were still eating humans."

The boys sighed.

"We're on the outskirts of the country right now," said Killua. "Let's see what information we can obtain and go from there."

Gon nodded in agreement. The two friends continued to quietly move through the forest until they reached a town. Killua signaled for Gon to stay hidden while he assessed it. Killua stealthily examined the first house, then motioned for Gon to come over.

Curious, Gon joined Killua at the house and the two entered. Gon let out a soft huh. "It's completely deserted. Maybe everyone already left for the capital?"

"No, something happened here," Killua disagreed. "And someone's trying to hide it. Look closer."

Gon squinted. It took him several seconds to realize there were bloodstains on the floor and a few bullet holes in the walls. "Ah... there's a blood trail. It leads out the front door."

"Mm-hmm."

"We're going to see more dead bodies, aren't we?" asked Gon as he pulled out the pine-scented bottle of oil he kept in his pocket. Then he remembered Miwa wasn't there. He slowly put it back.

Killua and Gon followed the blood trail, noting how several more houses convened with it. At the end they found a bunch of corpses half-buried in the ground.

"The whole village is probably buried here," concluded Killua.

"Ehhh? Wouldn't someone notice that?" Gon's brow furrowed.

"This is the true purpose of the national celebration," explained Killua. "It's a pretense for entire populations of towns and cities to vanish without raising suspicion. The selection has already begun. In hindsight, it would be tough to summon all citizens to the capital and make the selection so quickly. This nation has a population of around five million. Clearing out one town or city at a time is more effective. In that case, their only concern would be coworkers or family members raising a fuss over the missing. But with the pretext of the national celebration, no one will find it strange that they can't contact someone.

"In this nation, cell phones aren't allowed, so if they believe that the other party is traveling, it makes sense they can't contact them. The selection would go very smoothly. The capital city, Peijing, is in the southeast corner. They only need to attack the farthest towns first and work their way east. If each town is told that the government will assign its people a time to depart, there won't be any problems regarding communication between towns."

Gon sighed. "So... by preventing people from meeting between towns to travel together, they eliminate any cause for commotion. But doesn't this mean they have to run around the nation to attack all five million citizens?"

"Yeah. If one percent survives, that gives them fifty thousand soldiers."

"No, before that. There are ten—er—" Gon looked up at the sky to check that it had passed midnight. "—nine days left. If you wanted to check five million people in that time, you'd need a lot of help. Assuming that one nen user can check ten thousand citizens in ten days, ehhh... umm..."

"Five hundred nen users."

"Exactly!"

"You're getting at the fact that there's only three royal ants and not many that can use nen?" Killua asked. "They don't need nen users to check everyone. They can use manipulation. Miwa said the cat-ant could use puppets, right? More than one puppet at a time, can probably set some auto-commands, too? They're probably using puppets to command a small army or something."

"Mmm..." Gon smiled. "Then to limit the casualties, all we gotta do is stop the puppets and save the humans?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Then let's do that," said Gon.

"You sure?" asked Killua. "Don't wanna stick to the old man's plan of sneakin' in all the way?"

"No," said Gon. "I believe in Miwa." Then he grinned widely. "Let's see who can save the most."

Killua laughed. "All right. Keep in touch, okay?"

"Mm-hmm!"

(≧ڡ≦*)

9 days before the deadline

Living in the palace was rather peaceful so far. Miwa did not require much sleep, and as she soon learned neither did the ants. Neferpitō had even learned to keep up their en around the palace while dozing.

Being in the palace made Miwa acutely more aware of the other ants—and they of her.

Some would give her looks, but they always looked away when they noticed Neferpitō or Shaiapouf near her.

A few even bowed.

'It's kind of weird.'

Not really. As far as they're concern, you belong to the royal guards. Those three have gone out of their way to be touching you every time one of those weaker bugs is around you.

'They have?'

You need to pay more attention to how people treat you. You're too oblivious to the subtle nuances.

'Am not! I can spot tsunderes!'

WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

'YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHY I SAID IT.'

Miwa was delighted to learn that Neferpitō did not mind if Miwa slept on their lap or shoulder. The first time Miwa slept in the cat-ant's room, she had plopped down right next to Neferpitō. They were close enough to be touching, and when Miwa's eyes grew heavy, she leaned on their shoulder.

Neferpitō made no move to dissuade her, Miwa took it as a sign that the cat-ant was okay becoming sleep buddies.

In the morning, Miwa woke up with Neferpitō snoozing quietly, still cuddled up next to Miwa.

It filled Miwa with such overwhelming warmth she couldn't stop smiling. So delighted, so, so delighted, she even hugged Shaiapouf the next time she saw him.

He looked at her with disdain, but—he—did—not—push—her—away—!

She almost cried, she was so dang happy.

Progress! Over two months of consistently working on becoming their friends and it was starting to feel like that effort was being paid off...!

Maybe...

Maybe there was a chance for a peaceful resolution.

Fucking Therapy-no-Jutsu ruins everything.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Shaiapouf continued to watch the king play with that young human woman from the morning to afternoon. Miwa and Neferpitō dropped by, curious to see how the match was going. The human woman had been continuously playing with the king for days, after all, a feat Miwa hadn't even been able to do.

"How is she?" asked Neferpitō.

Shaiapouf reluctantly admitted in a low voice, "I am concerned. The king has not come close to defeating her... she is a true Gungi master."

"Isn't that good?" whispered Miwa. "Wouldn't be any fun for him if he won so easily."

Shaiapouf grimaced while Neferpitō nodded in agreement.

"... I'm done, that's checkmate," muttered the king. He reset the board, glaring at the blind woman who smiled serenely. "Next game."

"Yes," she chirped.

"She's kinda cute," Miwa whispered.

"Is not," Shaiapouf immediately rebuffed. "You should make yourself useful and get us more food."

Miwa stuck her tongue out at the butterfly-ant. "You're a stinkerbutt. Any requests?"

"You mentioned something called a samgyetang," said Neferpitō. "I want to try that."

Miwa brightened. "Okay! Pouf?"

"Whatever you bring will be equally distasteful," he said.

'Then why ask—?'

Miwa knew better than to say that. She learned that the man would lie as easily as breathing, and would go through great pains before ever admitting he liked something associated with Miwa. Miwa figured it was a tsundere thing and didn't take it to heart... most of the time.

"Honey glazed chicken for you then," she said. "I'll go check with Youpi. Um—" Miwa looked over at the king and the young woman.

She didn't know their names. The king because he did not have a name, and the woman, because she never had an opportunity to ask.

'I'll ask when they're done playing,' Miwa promised herself, looking over at her. 'Hmm... While I'm out, I should see if I can get some cold medicine for her since she's got a runny nose.'

Taking a seat beside Shaiapouf she tried to wait out their game.

But then it started to softly rain.

Miwa found it hard to keep her eyes open after an hour of waiting.

Her head fell forward onto Shaiapouf's lap and she fell asleep.

It was a pity she missed the way Shaiapouf gently brushed her bangs out of her face while she slept.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Day 7

(Killua)

Killua had been moving for over thirty hours straight. He was completely out of breath, sweaty, and exhausted.

He had been luckier than Gon. All the towns Gon had found so far were already deserted, so Gon hadn't been able to save anyone just yet. Killua, on the other hand, already fought several squadrons and warned over a dozen towns.

'Rest now? Or keep going?'

He knew Gon wouldn't be slowing down any time soon.

'I should take up as much of a lead as I can,' Killua figured.

Gon won the last bet—and Killua still had to say eat me to Miwa because of it—so he was doubly determined to win this one.

'Right. Let's keep going east.'

(≧ڡ≦*)

'And now I'm being followed,' Killua thought in irritation. He couldn't be certain how long it started, but he noticed that there was an ant in the sky. It flew above him as he ran through the wilds. 'He's way out of range for my yo-yo, and I'm too tired to use ninjutsu.'

He was confident he could fight atop water or use chakra to cling vertically to a surface in the heat of battle, but anything more intense than that would be questionable. Chakra was a lot harder—and consequently more tiring—to use than nen.

'But if I don't lose the ant, I'll be in trouble.'

Killua spotted a dense forest at the bottom of the cliff he was running alongside.

'That should work,' he thought, leaping off the edge. 'If the ant descends to follow, it'll be in range of my yo-yo.'

Killua ran through the forest for another minute before diving in the underbrush to see if the ant would follow. He waited patiently, but to his annoyance, it was not the dragonfly-ant that would assault him, but more ants that had been waiting in the forest.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, killing them quickly. One of them tried to escape and when Killua pursued him, it exploded a fart at him with enough firepower to rival a dozen grenades.

It was more offensive than damaging—although it did ruin his sleeves.

And stank.

'The fact it even timed that explosion perfectly despite me being behind it means it received instructions elsewhere. Probably from that dragonfly-ant. It must still be watching from above, or have the ability to track me from a distance.'

Killua grimaced as he continued to run after the fleeing ant.

'I'll have to make sure to keep my abilities hidden for as long as possible then. At least until I take out that—'

Something slammed into the left side of his forehead, forcing Killua to stumble.

'A gun?' Killua thought, instantly irritated. He had been shot before, and it certainly felt like a sniper rifle. 'No, this doesn't feel like a bullet.'

Digging at his forehead, he pulled out an odd flea-shaped bullet covered in nen.

'Gross.'

He was shot at again, that time in the neck. He ripped out the flea, annoyance, and disdain making him curse as he scowled. 'Where is it coming from?!'

A third shot.

A fourth shot.

'At this rate I'll pass out from blood loss.' Killua gritted his teeth, frustrated by the assault. He forced himself to focus on his nen, expanding his aura out to act as a sensitive barrier. 'I need to find that sniper.'

As soon as the next bullet hit his aura, Killua calculated where it came from and off he went.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Killua broke through the trees of the forest, his pale blue eyes cold and glittering with malice. He hated being shot at, he especially hated being injured.

It was an insult to his pride as assassin. Moreso, he knew if he was the only one getting injured during the bet then Gon would never let him live it down. He was already impossibly smug about winning the last bet.

'And Miwa will get anxious.'

He knew she hated seeing them hurt. He saw the confliction in her expression every time she spotted a new bruise or injury on them. No matter how much she tried to hide it, or push past it, it clearly upset her.

He didn't want that.

Killua spotted a lone man standing atop one of many stone pillars.

'There you are,' Killua thought, sprinting. The man jumped down, running away. 'You aren't escaping me.'

Killua caught up to the man within seconds, but to his surprise, the sniper had stopped running. Instead, he lounged against a small cave entrance. The man smirked. "This is a trap. You still wanna come?"

The man jumped into the cave at the same instant Killua leaped.

The man barely got a meter into the cave before Killua landed on his shoulders, his gaze cruelly apathetic.

Killua dug his left middle finger straight through the man's skull to pierce his brain, as his right hand gripped the man's head and snapped his neck.

"Couldn't care less," Killua said coldly. "Die."

"Wanna see hell?" cackled a voice as red tentacles shot out of the man's mouth, wrapping around Killua. Killua's eyes narrowed as he noticed that the bottom of the cave was actually an underground lake.

"No, thanks," Killua said flatly, chopping off the tentacles and using them to cling onto one of the stalactites.

The corpse of the sniper fell into the water. Killua watched it be devoured by what he assumed to be fish-ants. The tentacles belonged to a plump red octopus-ant that used its remaining tentacles to grab onto a stalactite opposite of Killua.

Killua stared at it. "Are you an octopus?"

"Don't call me an octopus!" The octopus-ant transformed one of its tentacles into a gun.

'If I got shot by another damn flea—'

"See ya!" said the octopus-ant, shooting out a stream of air and using it to rocket away.

'Pfft, what?'

Killua had to admit that was rather cartoonishly amusing. All the ants he had met before were arrogant or bloodthirsty, so seeing one comically run away from him was refreshing.

Killua jumped after the octopus-ant, easily catching it by the gun and grabbing onto another stalactite. "Hello again."

"H-Hi. L-Long time no see," the ant chuckled nervously. "Y-Ya know?"

Killua stared at it, keeping his face neutral to hide his amusement. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead!"

"Why didn't you dive underwater to escape?" Killua slyly asked. "You should have an advantage in the water." His lips curled into a sneering smirk. "Don't tell me you can't swim."

"U-Uh, w-well—"

Seeing the ant become so panicked made Killua want to smirk. He tried not to relish the misery of others, but some habits seemed ingrained in his very blood.

There was something deeply satisfying about watching the gleam in someone's eyes as they realized their life was in his hands.

Killua gleefully continued, "'Cause you're bleeding, right? When they smell blood, your buddies in the water go berserk and attack the injured, no matter who it is. With those wounds, if you went in there, you'd be torn to shreds."

"Ehhh, well, eehhhh. I suppose that's one way to, ehhh... No we're still fighting!"

Killua blinked. "Huh?"

To Killua's sadistic delight, the octopus-ant made a horrified expression. It reminded Killua like what a dog might look like when it realized it broke its master's favorite vase.

"Ri-ight," drawled out Killua mockingly. "You all communicate via telepathy. Talking to your boss? It's the guy who was flying over me, right? Let's make a deal then. If you tell me about his power, I'll spare your life."

'Probably not.'

The octopus-ant's face screwed up in intense displeasure. Tears started to build in its eyes.

Killua hadn't seen an ant cry before. That'd be fun.

"Six seconds," said Killua as he wondered if he could get it to sob before he killed it.

"I wanted to be reborn as a squid," said the octopus-ant suddenly.

'What?'

"I would've given anything to have been a Chiroteuthis imperator. Do you think octopi and squid are similar? If so, you're mistaken. Octopi are ugly. Squid are squidderific. I think they look divine."

Killua flatly said, "Two seconds."

"I won't betray a buddy," said the octopus-ant, chopping off the gun-tentacle Killua had used to catch it.

'Aha.'

Killua caught it before it made its final descent, his lips twitching as he fought back a smile.

'Damn,' Killua thought. 'That was actually kinda...'

"Wh-Why?" the octopus-ant cried out.

"'Cause you're cool," admitted Killua with a smile. "Who knows. We could become good friends."

'Plus if I spare at least one ant, Gon and Miwa will be happy, right?'

(≧ڡ≦*)

Unfortunately for Killua things didn't end that simply in the cave.

He got careless. When the fish-ants from the underground lake leaped up to attack him, he didn't notice one of them tagged him with part of a nen ability.

It was a type of long-ranged teleportation. The nen-user would throw darts at a board, and each spot on the board would correlate to a spot on Killua's body.

Killua had no way to exercise the ability. To make things worse, it took him too long to figure out what was happening and how to handle it.

He got cocky, wanting to deal with it on his own. He put his life on the line, and when the final shot was aimed at his brain, he was barely able to stop it in time and play dead to lure the nen user out.

Of course, even after he killed the user, it was too late.

He had lost a lot of blood. He didn't have much strength left.

'Lame,' he thought.

The tag in his pocket, he shakily pulled it out.

'So lame.'

His fingers were coated in his blood, and his body trembled.

'I'm sorry.'

The world started to turn fuzzy and gray as the last of his strength was used to tear the tag.

'I didn't want you to see me like this.'

(≧ڡ≦*)

Day 7

(Miwa)

Miwa felt the hiraishin tag tear and she moved without thought.

She had one second to process Killua falling forward, covered in injuries as blood oozed from the holes in his body. One second to process. One second to accept.

One second to not fucking destroy everyTHING.

'NO! NO! NO!'

She caught him, flipping him over as she ripped out her emergency medical scroll. She had a reflex to take him—but where? The only hospital she knew was in Soleil and he needed help now. He needed help within seconds, not the minutes it would take to teleport there, track down a doctor, and have them rush aid to him.

'Please, no, please—please—'

She was not a doctor by any means, but she was a kunoichi. She knew trauma care like she knew how to slowly peel off human skin in a way they would not die for hours. She remembered learning it after—

After—

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, his eyes not straying from hers. "Little Dove..."

His heart stopped beating below her right hand, and she squeezed his hand with her left hand.

"Oh," was all she could say.

Her heart thumped and jumped and pounded in her chest. Each beat was painful, hot, and unbearably sharp. She trembled, her stomach heaving as her eyes burned.

She had prepared medical scrolls for each of her precious people. Killua's emergency scroll had AB blood, so she got bags of it set up and ready for insertion. She created clones within seconds, surrounding him. One hooked him up, while another immediately applied disinfectant to all open wounds, and a third prepped the bandages. A couple of the injuries were deep enough to warrant stitches, and so a fourth and fifth clone worked on them.

No matter how quickly she moved, it did not feel fast enough. She shook, anxiety and fear clawing viciously at her.

He was cold.

He was cold.

He was cold.

She shivered, unable to stop the tears as a flood of different memories bounced in her head. She hated how his blood smelled; hated how cold he felt; hated how she was too late again.

"Don't leave me again," she croaked.

Miwa herself pulled Killua's head into her lap, brushing out his bangs to soothe him—and her—that everything would be okay now. It had to be. It had to be, right? She showed up, right? He was still breathing, still—still—

"Hi," Killua quietly whispered. He was already regaining color as soon as she hooked up the blood IV.

He was too cold.

If she could give him her heart to warm up, she would have done so in an instant.

"Shut up," she told him, her voice raspy.

She was immensely relieved that it looked like none of his vital organs had been hit. He was on the verge of death due to blood loss, not because the enemy had ruptured anything critical.

Miwa wasn't the best at suturing, but it was better than nothing.

He... could be saved.

She wasn't too late.

'Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay,' she chanted to herself, her hands trembling as she held his cheeks and bowed her head to press her forehead against his.

Even as she knew—hoped, prayed, begged—he would be okay, the terror would not abate. She bit hard on her bottom lip to keep from whimpering as she struggled not to cry.

Once the immediate injuries were taken care of, her clones popped one by one. The last one to go set up a second AB blood bag since he had already taken in the first one.

She let out a long, shaky breath. She lifted her head.

"Hi," he said again.

"Shut up," she repeated, her entire body trembling. Her bottom lip quivered. She tenderly brushed the bangs out from his eyes.

"Please don't cry," he said.

"Shut up," she whispered, hating the burning tears that slipped out of her and fell on his face.

"I—"

"If you don't shut up and stay shut up, I will make you shut up. Shut up and rest."

"... is he going to be okay?"

Miwa had not moved to destroy the nearby ants that she smelled and sensed because her priority was Killua. She would not leave his side until she was certain he was stable. That being said—

Miwa coldly looked up, malice leaking from her.

"Relax, Miwa," said Killua.

She pulled back her aura, frowning at the octopus-ant that hobbled over to them.

"He's a cool guy," he said.

"Friend?" Miwa asked warily.

"Sure," said Killua.

Miwa forced a fake smile at the octopus-ant. She didn't feel like smiling at all. She wanted to weep. She wanted to scream in rage. She wanted to squash whoever hurt Killua so much. "Hi. He'll be okay. As long as he shuts up now."

Killua weakly mimed zipping his lips.

"I'm Miwa," said Miwa, using her left hand to wipe her eyes. She sniffled. "Um, what's your name?"

"I-Ikalgo," the octopus-ant said, stumbling over his name.

"Ikalgo," Miwa repeated, trying to channel some warmth in her voice despite how distraught she was. "Can you tell me who hurt him?"

"They're already dead," said Killua.

"Killua—"

"I know, I know, shutting up now."

"I—I know a doctor," Ikalgo said. "Someone neutral."

"If you're lying," she said, "I will boil you alive."

"Weren't you the one who wanted to make nice with the human-eating ants—?"

Miwa rendered Killua unconscious.

"We're going to my hospital," she said, offering a hand to the octopus-ant. "Take my hand."

Ikalgo placed a tentacle in her hand and she teleported the three of them to Soleil.

(≧ڡ≦*)

It was... chaotic. Miwa knew it would be. Soleil's hospital was only a few months old so it had excellent equipment, but it was still adjusting to its own routine.

Thankfully, Miwa had already tended to the worst of Killua's injuries so they could afford to wait the extra few minutes it took for the doctors to recognize Miwa, find a room for Killua, and tend to him.

None of them even spared Ikalgo a second look.

Soleil was the city for the unwanted to find a home. He might have been the first chimera ant there, but he wasn't the first non-human resident.

Killua was given a private room, and Miwa crawled into his bed. She curled into his side, taking extra care not to bother any of the hooked-up IVs or touch any injuries that had required stitches.

She wished the tears would stop. She wished the memories would go away.

'He's alive. He's alive. Everything will be okay. Right?'

Everything will be okay.

'Promise?'

Promise.

She hiccuped, rubbing furiously at her eyes.

'I don't want to be alone.'

You won't be.

'I hate being alone.'

I know.

'I don't want them to leave me again.'

I know.

'Kurama, I'm scared.'

It'll be okay.

She wept, thoughts and memories bouncing around in her head like a symphony of misery. She curled into a tight ball as she remembered terrible, terrible things.

She had—

She had lived more than one life. She had looped. She had died a lot. She had failed a lot.

Sometimes she could save them.

Sometimes she could not even save herself.

Those mistakes bit into her, digging underneath her skin. They buried her under their heavy burden, suffocating her. She choked as she sobbed, unable to catch enough air.

Let go, Kurama soothed. He pulled those memories away from her. Piece by piece, he took them back, emptying her mind and thoughts. Each tragedy; each mistake; each death he consumed and hid away from her.

Focus on the present, he told her. Focus on what's in front of you.

The pain lingered, but it was less focused. She felt like she could breathe again, an unknown weight lifted from her. Her mind was fuzzy again, everything out of center and hard to focus. Her hiccups died away, exhaustion pressing upon her like waves on a beach.

She laid down beside her friend. She placed her head over his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Each time she heard it thump, some of her anxiety melted away. Bit by bit, she found that her anger and fear ebbed away.

Ba-dump.

One breath in.

Ba-dump.

One breath out.

Ba-dump.

She closed her eyes, her body relaxing.

"Please," she whispered, "don't leave me again."

(≧ڡ≦*)

6 Days until the celebration

It was before dawn when Killua woke up the following morning. Miwa stirred upon hearing his low groans.

It took Miwa several moments of confusion until she kind of remembered what happened. She couldn't recall the details, and the whole event felt detached.

"Dummy," petulantly muttered Miwa, nuzzling into his chest.

"I hurt," he whined. "Did you have to hit my head that hard?"

"You weren't shutting up."

Killua patted her back, resting his cheek atop her head. "Mmm... guess so."

"I'm not taking you back until you get the all-clear from the doctor."

"... Where did you take me?"

Miwa paused, her mind oddly fuzzy. "Soleil."

He sighed.

"Are you mad at me?" she asked.

"No," he said. "... Thank you for worrying about me."

"Always," she said. "Always, and always, and always, and always."

Killua hid his smile from Miwa

(≧ڡ≦*)

Hard to believe the end is in sight. I think this story will be done within ten chapters. Probs less. This arc is ends on chp 37~

Miwa's big fight scene finally coming up. I hate fight scenes but I mean... Gotta live up to the title, right? ;)

Answer: If I could stipulate that the wish wouldn't activate until after empire naturally fell hell yeah. If not, then nah. :)

Question: You get truck-kun'd into the last show / movie you watched in the same generation & neighborhood as the main cast at the time of reading this question. Where you at and whatchu gonna do first?