Killua, Alluka, and I had met up with Gon and Lizzy and we were walking up a mountain to get to the World Tree, where Gon's father Ging would be waiting for him at the top. Lizzy raced up the mountain and reached the summit first, and Gon got there after her. When I got to them, I took in a gasp of awe when I saw the extraordinarily lofty tree standing at a distance.

"Wow! Look at that tree!" Lizzy exclaimed, her voice cheerful as her character.

"This is it. The tallest tree in the world!" Killua remarked, and all five of us took in the awesome view of the World Tree, big, cheerful smiles gracing our faces. I had never seen anything like it. The tree stood out in a way I saw visually striking. It was so tall that it could be seen from miles away.

When we got to the city surrounding it, a tour guide explained everything about the tree while we looked around the city. It measured 1,784 meters, making it taller than any man-made structure in the world. Climbing it was not forbidden, but one had to pay a fee and sign a written agreement. One could reach the 500-meter point by stairs or elevator, but after that, they would be risking their life. That was all the information we heard before ignoring him and exploring the city some more.

Killua bought some bite-sized doughnuts and shared them with Alluka. Lizzy asked if he would give some to her, and being the selfish one he was, he wouldn't, making her whine in protest. It had been a long time since I last heard her cry like a baby. She never changed after all the trauma we had been through.

We got a kid to take a photograph of all of us, with the tree visible in the background. We strolled around the city and viewed all of the buildings, completely ignoring the tour guide as he continued explaining about the tree.

When we approached the gate to the World Tree, Gon stopped in front of us, and we did as well.

"So, this is as far as we're going." Killua said, grinning at him.

"Right." He nodded.

"You try to be careful, alright? Don't keep your dad waiting for too long, or else he'll leave you again." I added in a whimsical tone, and he laughed softly.

"Killua, Lynn, Lizzy. Thanks a lot for everything!" He said, and I let out a giggle while Killua had a pink tint on his cheeks.

"Yeah. Well, the truth is, after you told us you were gonna defeat Pitou alone, and that it was none of our business, we got very depressed!" Killua replied, putting a lot more emphasis on the word 'depressed' and making Gon groan with guilt.

"I'm really sorry..." He said weakly.

"Big brother!" Alluka yelled at him, and he only chuckled and showed her a cat face.

I crossed my arms over my chest and closed my eyes. "I have to say, you were a pain in the ass after you lost control when Kite lost his arm in the battle with Pitou. You hurt my feelings and hurt Lizzy's feelings by your harsh words when you encountered Pitou again in the palace. I held back my urge to punch the shit out of you with everything I got and despised you for being selfish."

Gon looked like he was about to pass out from hearing my pissed off tone, and I opened my eyes to show him my cold ones. "You apologized to Lizzy, did you?"

"Uh-uh-huh." He gave a weak nod.

"Good. Now apologize to me or I'll kick your ass hard until you cry in pain." I threatened, and he yelped.

"I-I'm sorry, L-Lynn! I-I'm really sorry!" He stuttered his apology, bowing down rapidly many times.

"Lynn!" Alluka and Lizzy yelled in unison, and I turned my head to face my sister.

"Lizzy, I..." I paused for a moment to round up my words before taking a deep breath and looking down. "I'm sorry...for underestimating you. I had no idea how harsh I had been to you and um...I didn't think about how strong you really are, in both mind and body, despite your appearance, and I'm proud of what you did for all of us. So please, forgive me! Forgive me for being such an inconsiderate sister!"

She stared into my ocean blue eyes for a while before looking down as well. "Lynn, I think...I should be sorry for being the inconsiderate one."

I gasped.

"I caused you to be empty and depressed after I said I wouldn't speak to you until you finally understand my true strength. That was real bitter of me to say that to you. I couldn't stand being the weakest out of all of us, and if I proved I could be stronger than any of you, I wouldn't be treated like a rookie. I wouldn't be a burden to all of you just because I had improved my power. I wanted you to know that I'm a Pro Hunter, and as long as Mom and Dad are watching us, I will get stronger every day and surpass the best Hunters in the world, including them and Ging!"

I didn't know if I should tell her that she wasted all of her Nen on trying to defeat the King and his Royal Guard Pouf and that she had no chance of becoming stronger, but to make things better, I shouldn't.

"So, will you forgive me for being...ignorant?"

I still had my surprised expression on my face, and my breath became shaky. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I almost burst into tears.

"Yeah. Yeah, I will." I replied, and I felt her arms wrap around my shoulders, and we both shared a long-lasting hug, letting go of the guilt hanging onto us.

"Will you...forgive me as well, Lizzy?" I asked.

"Uh-huh." She gave a nod, and I hugged her tighter until I had enough and pulled away.

"Well, I hate to say this, but you were right." I said, my eyes showing a hint of embarrassment.

"Huh? About what?" Lizzy asked, confused.

"About..." My face became flushed. "me and Killua liking each other, even though we argue and yell at each other sometimes."

She gasped with excitement. "So you told him how you feel?"

"Umm, well—" I started blushing as Lizzy cut me off.

"Oh my God! What did he say?! What did he say?! Did he like you back?! Tell me, tell me! Did you two kiii—"

"LIZZY!" Both Killua and I shouted at her, and she yelped and collapsed in an amusing way.

I heard Gon chuckle from my left, and I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment. Lizzy stood up quickly.

"Well, you apologized. And I can say I'm here with Alluka because of the time I spent with you guys. Oh, and by the way, she's the one who healed you and Lizzy." Killua told them, making Gon sit up.

"Huh?! Is that true?! Why are you telling us that now? You should have told us sooner!" The poor little boy started whining and shaking his head side to side, and I sweatdropped.

"Sorry." Killua quietly apologized. "We don't want too many people knowing about this. It's sort of a complicated family thing, you know? Come with me!"

Gon yelped when Killua got ahold of him, and we ran away from the crowd watching us with weird looks. We got into an alleyway where no one would know what we were talking about.

"Alluka, can you tell Nanika to come out?" Killua asked his sister.

"Yeah." She nodded and closed her eyes, dark aura surrounding her as she switched to Nanika.

"Oh, wow." Lizzy breathed, her eyes mixed with amazement and fear.

"So now you know. She has the power to grant any wish I make." Killua stated.

"Any wish?" Gon asked.

"She was locked in our house for a real long time for being too awesome. But she's out, because you guys gave me and Lynn the opportunity to help get her out. And now I'm going to protect her for the rest of my life."

An encouraging smile made its way to Gon's face, and I shared that same smile with him.

"To be honest, we owe you one. Thanks for everything."

"Kay." Nanika said.

"No! No way! You've got it all wrong! We should be thanking you guys!" Gon exclaimed.

"Yeah. You saved us, so we really owe you one." Lizzy replied, sheepishly grinning.

We all stared at each other for a while. Gon's smile started fading, and so did mine.

"No good. If we stay much longer..." Gon trailed off, looking down at the ground.

Lizzy started whimpering.

"Yeah. You're right." Killua replied.

We walked out of the alley and went back to the gate to the World Tree. Nanika turned back to Alluka.

"I'll be traveling to all kinds of places with Alluka. I'll be sure to text you guys every once in a while." Killua told us.

"Me, too. If anything comes up, let me know. I'll do the same." Gon replied.

"So will I. I'll keep in touch with you guys whenever I feel like it." I said.

"Since you owe us a lot, say hi to your dad for me and Lynn." Killua told Gon.

"Sure." He replied.

"I'd go with you, but I gotta stay with Alluka and watch her. And you two haven't had a chance to talk alone yet. See you around."

"I'll let my big brother go real soon, okay, after we spend some time together. So play with him again, please." Alluka told him, and Gon gave a sheepish grin.

"Hold on! I'm the one who chooses to hang out with Gon!" Killua exclaimed, pointing at her. "Isn't she great? Sorry, but you really can't compare to her."

Gon let out a cute little laugh which turned my frown into a smile. It was good to hear him laugh for one last time.

"So, what are you gonna do, Lizzy? Lynn?" He asked us, and I was about to answer when I heard Lizzy whimpering. I looked to see her sad puppy eyes boring into his confused ones.

"It's not fair. I want to go with you...to see Ging up there! I don't...want to leave you! I...want to stay by your side...until the end! I want you and I...to be together forever and never ever leave each other!" She cried, surprising all of us.

"Lizzy. It'll only be a while before we can see each other again. I'll tell you everything I know about Ging after I talk with him. I don't want to leave you either, but I'll keep in touch with you and Lynn every once in a while. Okay?" He told her, but his words didn't crush her stubbornness. She continued staring at him with those same puppy eyes, wanting to continue her adventures with the one she loved the most in the world.

I took a deep breath before I could say something that wouldn't change her mind, but to at least add some encouragement.

"You want to go with him to see Ging, then do it. I...already know what I want to do." I looked at Killua and Alluka with a determined look on my face. "I'm going to keep an eye on Alluka and protect her no matter what! Even if it costs me everything I have, including my own life and Killua's life!"

The silver-haired boy was quite surprised, and he gave me a smile filled with encouragement and contentment. I turned to Gon with a stern expression and spoke my next words with stiffness.

"Gon, you will take care of Lizzy and protect her with your life. If anyone does anything to hurt her, beat them up and teach them a lesson. If she goes missing, find her and never stop until you've found her. If she gets sad and emotional, lighten her spirits with your light. If you fail to make her life the way she wants it to be, I will never, ever forgive you. If you were ever to be the one who hurt her for some reason or no reason at all, I will not hesitate to beat you up with everything I got."

He put on a determined look to prove himself that he could keep Lizzy happy with all his love and fight for her. I wouldn't literally kill him, but I would make his life a living hell to remember his failure to keep her safe and sound if he were to do something unacceptable to her.

"Don't let me down. I know you can do this." My tone became gentler as well as my expression. He looked into my cool sapphire eyes and calmed down a bit. A moment later, he nodded his head in agreement, and I gave him a cheerful smile. I turned to Lizzy and gave her one last hug, and then I stared into her emerald orbs glimmering under the bright sun.

Gon turned around and walked towards the gate to the World Tree, and then he signaled Lizzy to come to him. As if the whole world was slowing down, I watched her run towards him and wrap her arms around his body while trying to hold back my tears. I would never forget the reason I let Lizzy be with him—to convince myself that she wasn't just an ordinary little girl looking for adventures, she was a Pro Hunter, and with or without Nen, she could grow stronger with him at her side. He would defend her from every attack thrown at her, and she would do the same for him. And, I would be less worried about her as long as I believed in her. I would focus on taking care of Alluka to make sure she stayed safe wherever we went. As long as she was happy, Killua would be happy.

"No matter where we go, we'll always be friends, like Kite said!" Gon told us with an energetic smile on his face.

"Yeah!" Killua replied, sharing the same smile as me and him.

I looked up at the tree and then down at Lizzy, who was giving me a reassuring grin. My eyes softened as I took one last look at her cute, innocent face.

"Stay safe, and stay strong, alright?" I said to her.

"Right!" She replied with a nod.

We turned away from each other and started walking away, our smiles fading the farther we went from each other. I held Killua's hand to feel the warmth of it, and I did not do anything to bring back those same smiles that were on our faces earlier.

Memories of our adventures together began playing in my head. The day Lizzy and I met Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio at the ship to the Hunter Exam, all five phases of the Hunter Exam we participated in, the time we rescued Killua from the clutches of his wicked family, all the battles we fought at the Heavens Arena and the training we did with Wing and Zushi, the time Lizzy and I killed Feitan to avenge our parents, the auction at Yorknew City, our experience in Greed Island and training with Bisky, fights with the Chimera Ants in the NGL when the old Kite was alive, the time I went back to Killua's house to free Alluka from the same situation he was in before we rescued him, and finally, the time Killua kissed me for the first time. I thought of home and wondered what I would say to Grandma Millie and Miri and everyone in Pharage about everything that happened during our adventures with our friends. I never met Ging Freecss in person, so couldn't say that I did. I would definitely tell them that I avenged Mom and Dad with Lizzy. I wasn't sure if I should tell them that I liked someone from the Zoldyck family really much. But Lizzy would embarrass me by telling them anyway if she were with me.

But now that I had confessed my feelings to the silver-haired Zoldyck, I wouldn't have to worry about doing it again. Because he would always say that he liked me and that I felt the same way towards him. It was total happiness for both of us.

I felt like Killua Zoldyck would make a great twist to my future.