ꕥ

Standing across from each other, the group of friends stood in the center of town and glanced at one another.

Unlike the Zoldyck estate, the city was dancing soulfully with life and shone brightly with an array of colors.

'Alright, I'll be leaving now'

Eyes widening, Valentine looked towards Kurapika; the gray in his eyes as thick, prowling clouds in a thunderstorm, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes, water welling up from deep inside.

'I need money if I want to participate in the auction, so from here, I shall search for a patron willing to employ me as a Hunter',Kurapika explained.

With a smile on his face, Kurapika looked between his friend's with a bright look covering his face and his smile was like the sun, warming their souls.

'Really?',Leorio questioned, closing his eyes and looked to the side,'I guess, I should head back home then'

Looking between the two, a sharp pain jolted through the girl's chest and she felt her muscles tighten, her heart racing and pumping quickly as her thoughts began to go haywire.

She was being left again.

'Wait.. you too?',Gon questioned, chestnut brown eyes; simple, and elegant.

His eyes, that were honey with the brown of the tree gently mixed in, locked onto his friends and Gon felt a frown tug down at his lips.

'I haven't given up on becoming a doctor',Leorio stated,'If I'm accepted into med school, then this will pay for the outrageous expenses'

Holding up his Hunters License, a cat-like grin spread across the teenager's lips and his eyes gazed down at the three children.

'I need to get back and start hitting the books',Leorio stated, placing his license back into his pocket,'Til next time'

Nodding in agreement, Kurapika smiled brightly.

'Yes. That will be—'

"September first in Yorknew City!"

Taking note of the despair filling her gaze, a frown tugged at Gon's lips and he gently placed his hand upon Valentine's shoulder, causing the smaller girl to look up; eyes the color of the earth locking onto her own. When the light caught her eyes, they reflect a perfect shade of yellow; her eyes were a color of no comparison and they weren't quite to be described as yellow, but as gold as a ring on someone's finger.

His eyes resembled when the cliffs hit the water, the dark brown of the soil mixed with the beauty of the blue water. Like the color of the richest chocolate. His eyes were the colour of the earth kissed by spring rains, the hue that promised to stir life from dormant seeds, the nascent plants guided upward by the light, before blossoming into the vibrant colors of a new season.

'It's going to be okay, Valentine!',Gon reassured the small girl, Killua and his own height compared to the blonde girl's made it seem like they towered over her frame, as if she was a mouse and they were dogs towering over her.

Watching as the two began to walk away, teeth glistening like snow sunk deeply into gentle, rose pink lips and saddened eyes began to water even more; her vision blurring as her eyes stung.

"K-Kurapika, wait!"

Once the first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream as the blonde girl rushed forward and watched as the eyes of dove feathers; not the albino kind, but the ones with a hue so softly grey that they could have been pencil drawn, turned her way, connecting with her's. Rings of gold encased the pupils of her eyes, like a craftsman who made the vessel that was her body and poured pure, melted gold into that vessel leaving only her eyes to show what was held within. And yet her eyes showed that the melted gold never hardened; but rather shifted and moved as her eyes did, giving it life, showing strength as well as warmth. It was enchantingly beautiful, the mesmerizing rich color that resided in her golden eyes.

Teardrops swelled in her eyes, before flowing out of them and tracked down her cheeks like a river, coating her cheeks in an ocean of water. The tears which were on her face, broke down into a slithering stream.

As she reached him, Valentine lightly jumped up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders; while she hugged him, her hold was strong. Not strong enough to bring Kurapika pain, but it was strong enough to let him know that no matter where they went, he would always be her friend.

She squeezed him, not strong enough to break him, just strong enough so that every ounce of him was aware that every ounce of her body and emotions were dedicated to this simple task at hand.

Stiffening, Kurapika momentarily froze and glanced down at the blonde in shock, before slowly wrapping his arms around her smaller form.

With his arms around Valentine, he gave her gentle squeeze as Kurapika tried to invoke feelings of warmth, compassion and safety. He wanted her to know from this hug that this wasn't a goodbye, it was more of a "we'll see each other again" kind of hug.

There was a warmth radiating between the hug, causing them to hold one another closer.

It was like they had never been apart really, as they embraced with such intensity. Their arms clasped around each other and pressed their chests together, as warm tears flowed down their cheeks.

Neither wanted to let go.

'I promise you we'll see each other again, Valentine',Kurapika reassured the young girl as he embraced her,'This isn't goodbye'

Slowly nodding, Valentine hesitantly looked up at the blonde and her cheeks were damp as her eyelashes had been coated with tears, underneath her eyes were as red as a lava's flames once they igniting a tree or other plants ablaze.

A soft touch gently caressed the blonde's forehead as Kurapika slowly leaned down and softly pressed his lips to her skin, his hand gently laying upon her cheek.

As his lips; softly, delicately touched the skin of her forehead, it felt like a fire had warmed the young girl's cheeks and her eyes widened slightly.

Hearing a low grumble of anger, Valentine wanted to turn around to see who it was, but the hand on her cheek made her mind stop what she was going to do and her muscles slowly relaxed.

Lashes lightly tickled her skin as her eyes slowly fluttered shut, her eyelids concealing the sun-kissed orbs that were her eyes and her lips slowly twitched up into a gentle smile.

Feeling as he pulled back, Valentine slowly opened her eyes and glanced up at the blonde, watching as he gave her one last, heartbreaking smile, before pulling away from her embrace.

ꕥ

Staring up at the departing aircraft, Gon waved exuberantly and a bright smile shined on his face, while Valentine only stared at the fleeing figure of the aircraft; a frown pulling at her lips.

She had never thought that she would ever get attached to anyone so easily.

Even with her bright and caring persona and personality, Valentine had never expected to let these four; who were once strangers, into her heart and become such a important part of her life.

And that was one chapter ripped from her story.