I need to get rid of the excess dead cells I've had to replace. I'm going to burn a hole in your stomach and shove it through there.

'What?'

Don't worry, I'll keep a layer of our combined chakra over the hole so nothing will leak out. As long as I have to keep regrowing your cells I need a quick way for your body to dispel them.

'So what does—'

Miwa did not have a chance to finish that. She felt Kurama's chakra sharpen then focus inside her left abdomen. The pain of having a hole burned into her stomach elicited an involuntary shudder, her color draining away. The pain was momentary, though, because barely a second after she felt it things moved inside her.

Like feeling thousands of bugs crawling inside her organs.

Kurama was scraping and pulling the mutated, dead tissue and shoving it into her stomach with rapid precision. As soon as she felt her stomach fill—which was a very odd sensation on its own—she was hit by a powerful wave of nausea (purposefully caused by Kurama). She immediately doubled over and vomited.

She did not retch food. She threw up blood, dead organs, and piles of mutated tissue. It felt like she was throwing up pieces of a human corpse.

Kurama apparently had a lot of dead cells to get rid of because Miwa kept expelling the gunk for so long she started to struggle to breathe. She fell to her knees, her body shivering from the discomfort.

Gon and Killua were at her side. Killua had originally moved to get help, but Miwa was able to gurgle out a don't that made him stay.

They held her hair back and kept her propped up even as her legs gave way from the combination of severe nausea, not getting enough air, and feeling worse than garbage. She didn't know how long she got sick, only that it finally stopped when her head spun around faster than a ballerina doing a hundred pirouettes.

"Urgh," she mumbled, leaning heavily in Gon's arms. Killua pulled out a cloth—a handkerchief—and wiped the rotted blood from her mouth.

"We need an explanation," he said. "More than—than—"

"You can't be dying," Gon denied.

"Radiation," she rasped out, her throat raw and tender. "Kurama... havin' trouble... fixin' it."

It's intermingled with your chakra network which is causing the rapid mutations.

"There's got to be something we can do," exclaimed Gon, his face contorted with uncharacteristic anxiety. "A doctor—Leorio's a doctor—?"

"How long?" Killua sharply demanded, his own expressions mirroring Gon. He was paler than normal, his hands trembling slightly as he cleaned Miwa up. "How long do you have?"

"Two weeks... no chakra... minimal movement..." Miwa coughed, spitting out more blood. Killua grimaced when he realized his handkerchief was thoroughly soaked in blood and could no longer be of use.

"Isn't there a way to treat radiation poisoning?" Gon asked, his tone pitched higher than normal.

"Mixed... with my... chakra network," she said. "Could... make it worse. Kurama says... too much of a... risk."

"It's okay," said Killua. He reached forward and wiped the new blood around her mouth with the back of his sleeve. "I know... I know a way to heal you."

Miwa tilted her head, tiredly leaning into Killua's hand. "Mn?"

"What way?" asked Gon. "What do we do?"

"You need to stay here with her," said Killua quietly. "Protect her. I can be back here in a week." He closed his eyes for a brief moment. He let out a long sigh before he re-opened them. His pale blue gaze burned with grim determination. He kept Miwa's gaze, speaking slowly and self-assured. "Rest. Wait for me. I promise I'll be back with your cure."

Staring into Killua's confident eyes, Miwa sincerely believed him.

She weakly smiled. "Mn. Okay."

Gon let out a loud sigh. "Phew. Then everything's gonna be okay!"

"Yeah," said Killua.

"That's good," said Gon, relaxing and smiling. "Come on, Miwa, let's get you in a bed."

"Bed—?"

"Gotta rest," he said, picking her up. "Right?"

"Rest as much as you can," advised Killua. "You should stay at a hospital just—just in case."

"Okay," Miwa agreed, settling into Gon's arms. She rested her head on his shoulder, completely drained. Her eyelids were heavier than a thousand bags of sand, she found it impossible to keep them open anymore and so she closed her eyes.

Sleep while you can, encouraged Kurama.

'Mn...'

(≧ڡ≦*)

Killua and Gon silently looked at one another.

Slowly, Killua pulled out his cell phone and made a call. It wasn't a long one, and when it was over he told Gon to wait there while he made arrangements with the hospital for a private room.

"What should I tell the others if they ask?"

"That she just needs rest. Don't say anything else," stressed Killua. "I'll be back in ten."

"Okay. What if she... she gets sick again?"

Killua pursed his lips. "... I don't know. I'll be back soon."

"Okay."

(≧ڡ≦*)

With a room arranged the three friends headed over to the hospital across the Hunter HQ. As it turned out, it was the same hospital the others had taken that woman to in order to be treated. While Gon carried Miwa to the fifth floor, they ran into the ants who were waiting for surgery to finish for the woman.

The group of them—plus Kite—were gathered in a waiting room that had been emptied out. Killua guessed the Hunters encouraged the hospital to give the ants some privacy.

"Hi other humans," greeted the cat-ant, Neferpitou. Neferpitou casually approached them, their gaze focused on Miwa's sleeping face. "Miwa napping already? Mm... I guess it is kind of late."

It was around two in the morning.

"Is she okay?" coolly asked the butterfly-ant, Shaiapouf. His expression was difficult for Gon and Killua to read, and his tone was the perfect mixture of indifferent politeness and coldness. The boys would have thought he genuinely didn't care if not for the fact that his gaze was entirely focused on Miwa.

"She just needs to rest for a bit," said Gon confidently. "Killua's gonna get something to help her. She'll be fine."

"That was a pretty big fight," said Neferpitou, leaning in to sniff Miwa. Their eyes narrowed slightly as if they caught a strange scent. "Was she hurt?"

"Nothing that can't be fixed," cut in Killua. "We're just being overprotective."

"Yeah... she's indulging us," Gon added slowly, catching on to what Killua was implying. "So she agreed to stay in the hospital for a bit."

"Hmm." Neferpitou clocked their head, amber eyes dubiously assessing the boys.

"We should get her to bed," said Killua. "You can visit her in the morning after she's had breakfast."

"Mm-hmm," was all the cat-ant said in response.

(≧ڡ≦*)

Miwa woke up feeling queasy again.

'Do I need—'

Yeah.

She looked around frantically, taking a few seconds to realize she was in some kind of hospital room with Gon sitting beside her. He noticed her searching and realized what she was looking for. He grabbed a bucket by her bed, holding it up to her. Miwa grabbed it, throwing up more dead tissue cells.

Miwa groaned in disdain when finished. "I feel gross."

"It is pretty gross," Gon flippantly agreed.

"Jerk," she muttered.

"But you're still cute," he quickly added with a sunny smile.

Miwa couldn't resist smiling tiredly at that.

There was a knock at the door as Shaiapouf entered the room. "Good morning, Miwa."

"Good morning," she greeted, glancing around for something to wipe her mouth with. Failing to find anything, she embarrassedly hid her bloodied mouth behind her hand.

"The king wanted to know if we were moving to Soleil today," Shaiapouf said, explaining the reason for his visit.

"I'm sorry, I, um, can't teleport you guys over to Soleil," Miwa apologized. "I'll call and have your home prepared though."

"Your... friends said you needed rest," said Shaiapouf.

"Yeah, I'll be right as rain in a couple of weeks," said Miwa with a forced smile, tentatively lowering her hand to show her smile. She believed in Killua, and so her words rang with sincerity. "The more I rest now, the better off I'll be."

"I see," said Shaiapouf. "And the stench of blood?"

"Expelling dead tissue," she said honestly, glancing down at the bucket in her arms. "I have a—um—really good regenerative ability, but gotta get rid of the old stuff somehow, right?"

"I see," he said again with narrowed eyes.

"Don't worry," she said encouragingly. "I'll make sure my friends at Soleil treat you well. In fact, I'll message them right away."

"Thank you," he demurred, but Miwa thought his polite tone did not match his skeptical expression.

(≧ڡ≦*)

[Opened Group Message with Chrollo, Feitan, Nobunaga, Shalanrk]

Message [Miwa]: (.▾.)~

Message [Miwa]: Has anyone been following the international news?

Message [Shalnark]: chrollo would kill me if i said anything but yes

Message [Miwa]: So you know about the ants?

Message [Shalnark]: the giant man-eating ants tht r currently being hunted by the hunter society and xtremely dangerous?

Message [Shalnark]: yes. i know about them

Message [Nobunaga]: wait

Message [Nobunaga]: what

Message [Miwa]: (◕▾◕✿)

Message [Miwa]: Great you know! That makes this easier

Message [Nobunaga]: No, no.

Message [Nobunaga]: Go back

Message [Nobunaga]: What ants?

Message [Miwa]: I have made friends with the king of said ants and his royal guards

Message [Shalnark]: lololol u're joking right

Message [Miwa]: (ᗒ▾ᗕ)

Message [Miwa]: I promised them protection in Soleil.

Message [Miwa]: Is anyone available to help them get situated?

Message [Shalnark]: L

Message [Shalnark]: O

Message [Shalnark]: L

Message [Shalnark]: U R JOKING RIGHT

Message [Shalnark]: RIGHT??

Message [Shalnark]: cuz i know

Message [Shalnark]: i know u have

Message [Shalnark]: shit taste in friends already

Message [Shalnark]: but even u

Message [Shalnark]: would not

Message [Shalnark]: befriend

Message [Shalnark]: GIANT HUMAN EATING BUGS??

Message [Feitan]: Stop spamming.

Message [Nobunaga]: I'm so confused.

Message [Miwa]: I'm in Swardani with them right now.

Message [Miwa]: I have to stay at the hospital right now. I'm resting since my fight with the Hunter Chairman.

Message [Miwa]: Um, I killed him btw.

Message [Nobunaga]: can someone explain what's going on with the damn ants al

Message [Shalnark]: (°□°)

Message [Shalnark]: (°□°)

Message [Shalnark]: asdlfkjllksdjf

Message [Shalnark]: (°□°)

Message [Nobunaga]: WHAT

Message [Shalnark]: (°□°)

Message [Feitan]: Did you collect his bounty?

Message [Shalnark]: (°□°)

Message [Miwa]: What bounty?

Message [Feitan]: Why did you fight him if not for the bounty?

Message [Miwa]: ...

Message [Miwa]: (•x•)

Message [Miwa]: ...

Message [Miwa]: he wanted to

Message [Miwa]: um

Message [Miwa]: So can anyone help them get situated at Soleil?

Message [Shalnark]: lololol

Message [Shalnark]: (.▾.)

Message [Shalnark]: idk if i should laugh or cry

Message [Shalnark]: never boring with u around

Message [Shalnark]: nobu and i are a few hours out from swardani

Message [Shalnark]: we can meet u and take them back with us to soleil

Message [Shalnark]: but u owe us

Message [Miwa]: okay

Message [Miwa]: thank you

Message [Shalnark]: since u'll be staying put for a while

Message [Shalnark]: i'll set up a tablet for u

Message [Shalnark]: u can take care of all the pending paperwork

Message [Miwa]: What? :(

Message [Miwa]: Chrollo leave?

Message [Feitan]: He's preparing for a fight.

Message [Miwa]: (ง'̀-'́)ง

Message [Miwa]: Chrollo I'll kill whoever for you if you keep doing the paperwork!!

Message [Miwa]: Please?

Message [Miwa]: Pretty please???

Message [Chrollo]: No.

Message [Miwa]: ;;;;;;;;

Message [Chrollo]: No.

Message [Miwa]: ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Message [Chrollo]: No.

Message [Miwa]: ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Message [Chrollo]: No. Ask again and you are grounded.

Message [Miwa]: (•x•)?

Message [Miwa]: what's grounded?

Message [Chrollo]: What you will be if you ask again.

Message [Miwa]: (￣ ³￣)

Message [Miwa]: boo

Message [Miwa]: Feitan are you going to visit me while I'm in the hospital?

Message [Feitan]: Are you dying?

Message [Miwa]: (._.)

Message [Miwa]: um

Message [Miwa]: aren't we all dying a little every day?

Message [Miwa]: (◕▾◕✿)

Message [Feitan]: Will you be dead if I don't visit?

Message [Miwa]: No

Message [Feitan]: Then no.

Message [Miwa]: '(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

Message [Shalnark]: so u would visit her if she was dying? awww

Message [Miwa]: ღwღ

Message [Feitan]: Do you want to die?

Message [Shalnark]: u're cute

Message [Miwa]: yes he is

Message [Shalnark]: which hospital u at?

Message [Miwa]: idk the one closest to the hunter hq

Message [Miwa]: [has uploaded a picture]

Message [Miwa]: It looks like this from my window

Message [Miwa]: [has uploaded a picture]

Message [Miwa]: And this is Gon waving hi. He says hi.

Message [Shalnark]: lmao hi gon

Message [Nobunaga]: Hi Gon

Message [Miwa]: (◕‿◕✿)

Message [Shalnark]: c u soon

(≧ڡ≦*)

Miwa set her phone down and gave the ants two thumbs up. She beamed. "All taken care of! They'll be here in a few hours."

"I see," said Shaiapouf. While she had been messaging the Phantom Troupe, Killua and Neferpitou had entered the room. Gon moved to sit on the bed so Killua could take his spot on the chair.

Neferpitou's tail flicked side to side. "In that case, we should let the king know. Talk to you again, Miwa."

"Mn!"

As soon as the ants had left the room, Gon shifted his weight on Miwa's bed. He scooted closer to her. Killua moved from his seat beside the bed to on the bed as well. The three friends huddled together.

"It'll take me about a week to travel there and back," quietly said Killua. "Gon, you have to keep her safe until then."

"I will," Gon promised, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Miwa, don't—don't do anything stupid. Rest as much as you can," Killua said sternly. "Focus on staying alive. That's all that matters right now."

"I'll do my best," Miwa assured him.

"I'll leave this evening, I've already got a ticket for one of the airships," said Killua. "If you need anything else, call."

Miwa nodded.

"You make it sound like she's dying," observed Neferpitou who was suddenly perched on the edge of the bed.

Gon and Killua were startled, but Miwa was suddenly overwhelmed by nausea and proceeded to throw up more guts in her bloodied bucket.

"You said she was only tired," harshly accused Shaiapouf who was also suddenly in the room and pulling Miwa's hair back.

"She—I—how—I didn't even smell you guys!" said Gon, flabbergasted.

"Or sense," said Killua with cold, narrowed eyes.

"We've had practice hiding from Miwa for months," dismissed Neferpitou. Their golden gaze bore into the boys'. "Tell us what's wrong with her. Nyow."

Gon and Killua exchanged silent looks.

Gon squared his shoulders back. "She's dying. The chairman's suicide bomb thing caused radiation poisoning."

"It's mixed with her chakra—her special nen if that's easier to understand—and it's hard for her to fight it off without help," elaborated Killua. "I know a way to heal her, though, so she'll be fine in a week."

Shaiapouf looked to Neferpitou. "Can you not?"

"I don't know," admitted Neferpitou. "I've never heard of radiation before. I would have to study it first."

"How certain are you that you can save her?" Shaiapouf asked Killua, his voice sharper than jagged icicles.

"100%," said Killua, steadfastly meeting the ants' gaze.

"I see," said Shaiapouf.

"Blergh," mumbled Miwa, sitting back up from her bucket and blearily looking out the window. "... I'm hungry."

"Can you eat?" asked Gon.

"Kurama says I can," she said. She sadly looked down at her blood-stained clothes. "... I reek of rotten blood though."

"Both are things that can be fixed," Killua soothed, gently patting her head.

Gon reached toward her and rubbed her back. "That's right. Come on, let's get you into a warm bath. When you're all done, you'll have a plate of food ready."

"Both sound good to me," she said quietly, looking over at her ant friends. "... I'm sorry."

"Do not be," said Shaiapouf.

"You're sick 'cause you fought for us," added Neferpitou. "Don't be sorry."

"But I—"

"Don't be," said Shaiapouf sharply. "We will bring you some food."

"Come on, Miwa," said Gon. "Let's get you cleaned up."

"... Mn."

(≧ڡ≦*)

I joined the Obey Me fandom while waiting for my Tears of Themis / A3 dailies to reset. It has been delightfully interesting.

Question: What's your dream house / living situation? Be tame or crazy with it.

Reviews are love!