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“Gon. Hold on.”
Gon paused, stopping in his tracks. All he did was take a few steps out of the hospital, but when he looked back, Ivy hadn’t exited. It was as if the exit doors were a barrier. “This is… as far as I’m gonna go.” She smiled at him, as if she was content with it. Gon had never seen an expression like that on her. But for some reason, he felt a sense of… acceptance.
“Morel invited me to join his team. I’ll become a beast hunter with Knuckle and Shoot. We’ll get going as soon as Shoot’s healed!” She lifted her left fist, given that her right was held in place by a cast.
Gon stared at her. He couldn’t help himself from smiling. “Ivy, I…”
“Gon. The battle, it… something happened. I don’t know what. But when I saw the king flying back in, I… I realized that I had underestimated him. And I felt like total shit. And I thought I- I thought everyone was going to die.” Ivy swallowed. Hard. “A-And even after I saw Pouf die with my own eyes, I still felt like shit, but happy shit because the battle was over. But when the sun rose…” Ivy felt her bottom lip wobbling. Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes. “I-I never thought… the sun rising… could be so beautiful.” She let out a laugh, as if she was in disbelief. Tears streamed down her face, but she kept on chuckling. “It was like… the sun had never risen before. I-I was so happy, even though everything else had gone to shit. You were right. The world is amazing, Gon. I wish I had been nicer to you. I-I wish I’d wanted to wake up that day, and all the days before that. And I wish I’d listened to you sooner. I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry.”
Gon stood there in silence. There was so much he wanted to say, but if he started, he’d never stop. He let out a few shaky breaths. Ivy ran outside the hospital, engulfing him in her arms. Before he knew it, tears were streaming down his face, too. “I-Ivy… I should’ve never said… all that stuff to you and Killua! P-Pitou… just made me so angry and scared!” He sniffled and sputtered and cried even harder. “I was so scared, Ivy!”
She gently cupped his face in her hands, shushing him. “But that’s because you’re a kid, Gon. You’re allowed to be scared. It’s not your fault. None of it is.”
“Ivy… I-I love you!” He hugged her tighter, refusing to let go.
“I love you, too, Gon.”
Gon kept on holding her for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he stepped away. Ivy rubbed her eyes, wiping away some of her tears with her sleeve. She chuckled. “Pretty lame, huh? Me crying.”
Gon laughed with her. “I-It’s not lame. I’m lamer.”
She took in a few deep breaths, flattening out her shirt. She finally looked him in the eye. “W-Well, I’m done being emotional. All I am is happy that you’re okay and kicking. Have you seen Killua yet?”
The black-haired boy shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “N-No. I’m seeing him after this. Then, I’m going to see Ging.”
Ivy smiled softly. “You think you’re ready?”
“I… don’t really know. But I’m gonna see him, anyway. I’ll tell him all about our adventures.”
“I think he’ll appreciate it. Just leave out Hisoka, alright?”
Gon giggled once more. “B-But Hisoka makes it fun!”
Ivy fake scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Fine, just leave out the part of me and him getting together. Can’t even think of what I saw in that creep.”
“At least we can agree on one thing.”
The two stood in comfortable silence for a while. Gon watched as her smile widened as a soft breeze came in. Her long brown hair shielded her face from his view. She brushed it aside. “I’d hate to keep you here, so… I guess this is it.”
Gon gave her his best smile, one that made her expression warm. “Yeah. I guess this is it.”
Ivy’s eyes suddenly widened. “Oh! Hold on.” She dug in her pocket, pulling out something and tossing it to him. Before Gon could study what it was, she turned around.
“See ya.”
Giving him a faint wave of her hand, she walked into the hospital.
Gon stood there for a few moments, his gaze drifting down to what she threw to him.
Her golden sunglasses.
“Ivy…”
Gon waved his hand high, yelling after her. “B-Bye, Ivy! I’ll never forget you! Thank you for everything!”
. . .
Morel raised his head, cocking an eyebrow to her. “You okay? You look sad.” She shrugged, sitting beside him on his hospital bed.
“Yeah, I…” As soon as she locked eyes with him, she crumbled. “Okay, I said bye to Gon. It hurt.” Morel smiled knowingly.
“You’re a good kid, Ivy. I trust that you knew it was time.”
“I’m 23, Morel.”
“That’s Boss to you. And I’m old enough to be your father. Now go get me some jello from the cafeteria.”
“Fuck you.”
Ivy stood up, chuckling and walking out of his room. As soon as she walked out, Knuckle turned the corner. His face went red.
“Uh… hey! I wasn’t coming to look for you or anything, but… where’re you headed?”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Getting Morel his medicine.”
"Tch. Yup, Boss is always hungry.”
“C’mon, you’re coming with me.”
“A-Alright, fine. I’m just bored.”
She kissed him on the cheek, giving him a mischievous smile. “Do you know how much of a dunce you are?”
Knuckle went beet red. “W-Well, I must be pretty smart, since I kinda defeated the Chimera ants and got you as a bonus.”
“Whatever.”
He kissed her on the side of her mouth. “I take ‘dunce’ as an offense, by the way. I’m actually really smart.”
“Then why don’t you come and punish me? You’re too scared…”
Knuckle scoffed, squeezing her sides to make her giggle. “How about this as a punishment?”
“K-Knuckle, stop it! Stop!” Knuckle grinned, continuing to do the motion as she wriggled in his strong grip.
“Never!”
Morel stood by his door, listening to everything that they said. He smiled. “Heh. Puppy love.” He muttered, knowing if he ever said that too loud he’d probably get his face messed up.