Close.

Unbeknownst to them, under the curtain of night, familiar fighters arose to challenge the end the Requiems chose. The last remnants of Retly's military consisted of Icarus Chrollo's last living copy, newly implanted with his former clone's most recent memories. Over the highway where Naraku and Alex fought, the Jester brushed his fingers against the dried puddle of blood, then licked his extremities dry.

"I'll tear her apart. Limb from limb."

While Icarus brutally declared that into the night, Ace sat with spread legs against his sister's couch.

June walked into the room from the kitchen, holding a cup of tea.

"How're you doing?" she asked him.

"How do you think I'm doing?" He threw back at her.

She sighed, releasing her tense shoulders following her exhalation. Following her sip from the teacup, she sat beside him.

"I'm sorry about everything. Forcing you into being my companion, convincing you it was a good idea to slaughter billions. I should've just stood beside you… like a good big brother would've," Ace lamented, interlocked fingers against his forehead.

June's green eyes darted from the ceiling to her sibling. The way things were right now, it was pointless. Regardless, how could she ever hope to look upon this sight any further?

"It's alright. Everything that's happened has been really complicated and draining so you don't have to apologize," she assured him, rubbing his arm.

"You don't have to lie to me. I've known how you felt for quite some time now," he said abruptly.

June paused. Her brother could mean so many things by that, she didn't know whether to feel joy or anxiety. She waited for him to elaborate.

"You always felt left out, didn't you? Katie, Alex, Kima, and I—we were all so different compared to you. You wanted to save others. You wished to save them from the same mental turmoil Katie endured. You always wanted to…" Ace scratched his cheek while reciting June's goals.

She chuckled, sinking ever deeper into the softness of the sofa's cushions. Her laughter sent Ace's head to turn curiously toward her.

"Do women just have this specific thing where they laugh suddenly without explaining why?" He realistically asked his sister.

"No! It's just—" She paused, face brightening. "You know, I never thought you listened when I talked about stuff like that," she said.

"I always listen." He turned his head away, resting his arms over his legs. "I'm not as insensitive as everyone thinks I am," he replied.

"That's true," she quickly agreed.

Part of her felt guilty. She'd been so wrapped up in her selfishness, that she lost sight of everyone surrounding her. Their desires, their wishes, their dreams. Every one of them had feelings–was a person. Sometimes, she felt she forgot that. Then again, it was pointless to ask why. She knew… she always knew.

"I'm sorry, too."

June's abrupt apology sent Ace's head curiously raise.

"What're you apologizing for exactly?"

"Being ignorant. Irresponsible. Childish," she explained.

"Hah!"

Suddenly, Ace guffawed. Like how her older brother was puzzled when she spontaneously chuckled, she now shared that same confused expression.

"It's funny. You want to apologize for acting ignorant and childish, but it doesn't matter. Notwithstanding wherever anyone else stands, you and I are bonded together for life. Forgiving and not forgiving are irrelevant, compared to us. Especially me. I always listen. I'll always be here for you. I'll always love you. I don't need a reason or explanation. Brothers are just like that. That's all there is to it."

Tears formed at the ends of June's eyes. Ace hummed, simultaneously turning his head to spot her weeping face. Widened eyes displaying his surprise, he leaned forward and grabbed his sister by her arms.

"What're you crying for? Did I say something wrong?" His panicking speech queried.

"NOOOOooooo!" she squeaked, flailing her fists around.

"Jesus, you make no sense," Ace observed, quietly soothing his nerves and removing his hands from her arms.

He stood up from the sofa. One hand in his pocket, he used the exposed hand to pat her head. Walking past her seated figure, he aimed for the kitchen—then was abruptly halted by an ulterior force. Strength akin to Kima's had entangled his build and halted his advance. Turning around, he recognized that snowy patch of flowing hair.

Powerlessly, Ace listened to the sorrowful sounds of his sister's sobbing into his back. Only after enduring this much-needed sadness did he finally turn, kneeling before her and embracing her tight. She gasped, pupils momentarily shrunken upon her retinas' expanding. Then, she returned to crying. He silently sobbed in her neck while she loudly wept into his.

During the siblings' embrace, one thought shot through their heads.

'I wish I could stay like this forever.'

…

Walking through the Evolutionary Capital's dimly-lit destroyed streets, Azazel and Natalia stopped. After looking over their shoulders to gaze in different directions, the former Crow sighed and Natalia began unzipping her bag.

"Enemies?" she whispered.

"So soon, too. Ready your equipment."

Azazel threw a metallic band over his wrist, watching his clawed gauntlets spread over his limbs. Following her palm slamming into the ground, the concrete below her and the surrounding apartments started transforming. Their enemy's silhouette's head perked up, watching the trail of destruction slide up the buildings and detonate where he previously stood.

Trench coat moving with the wind until landing, the silhouette temporarily crouched against the road and then stood tall once more. Icarus emerged from the shadows, thus revealing his familiar face, black locks moving in front of his face.

"You're… still alive, huh?" Azazel asked, aiming his claws ahead.

"Don't act like you're surprised," the Jester arrogantly replied.

"I know I'm sure as hell not," Nat interrupted, throwing aside her jacket and slamming her sole against the street.

"Wait. I've come unarmed," he said.

Icarus's body language supported the suddenness of his passive approach. Unfortunately for them, the 'why' was redacted. And so, they were left to wonder, their eyes shivering while glaring at the Jester's face. To think the infamous Jester would dare attempt to ally with them–was unbelievable. Azazel stepped forward, unintentionally advancing past Natalia's idle build.

"If you've come to suggest we fight alongside one another, you can FORGET IT! We still haven't forgotten the sins you've committed!" The Detective retorted.

Icarus sighed. One hand scratched his nape, the other idle against his hip.

"I didn't wanna have to resort to this but—"

He vanished. Natalia did the same. Their speeds were unmatched; swift enough that even Azazel's enhanced prowess couldn't catch the blurs their bodies made. Her fist aflame with aura, the woman connected her punch to the Jester's arms which blocked his face. He was sent skidding back across the street, blood leaking down his face–originating from his temples.

'With just one punch, she–'

He looked at his palm. Then, back at his enemy. Licking his bloodied lips dry, Icarus peered through his prohibiting strands and stabilized his breath. Following his manual healing of the scar formed over his temples, he licked away the remnants of his blood from his thumb. Nat exhaled, lowering her steaming arm. While glaring through her brown-shaded hair, Icarus recognized that look aflame within her pupils.

Expressing her last breath, her lips parted and she finally said, "I'm tired… of everyone underestimating me!"

Trivia: Natalia's technique, 'Chimera Virus: Black Death', infects whatever she touches or hits with her Vita. It works differently on living organisms compared to inanimate objects. When it does work, she can limitlessly reorganize and destroy anything or anyone she wants with just a touch.