Gon sighed as Killua withdrew into his shell again. It had become a habit for Killua lately, to enjoy Gon's company more than usual, then close up abruptly. Then Killua would sneak peeks at Gon's unsuspecting face warily, as though checking to see if Gon had noticed anything.

Gon noticed, of course, but he never said a word. He knew the reason behind Killua's... affliction, and decided that ignoring was the best way to deal with it. It would pass, he had been told when he was young.

But oh, how it was getting on his nerves!

Killua was acting the way... the way Leorio acted around Kurapika (a comparison he knew Killua would dislike immensely). All tense and awkward, unsure of his footing. Being almost totally obliging, but becoming surly everytime he thought someone noticed. Keeping a fair distance between the two of them, yet unconciously moving as close to him as possible.

Being all jokes, laughter and friendship, then stopping at halfway through a childish wrestle, suddenly retreating into a corner, and then keeping Gon two arm-lengths away for the rest of the day.

It was absurd that Killua thought that Gon wouldn't notice, wouldn't understand. They were best friends, and were most relaxed with each other. But lately, he'd become so tense; so reluctant to leave Gon's company, and yet so relieved...

There had been a girl, once when Gon was younger, who confused Gon the same way Killua was now. Ever friendly, he'd looked to help her recover from her 'sickness'. But he had needed to know exactly what she had been suffering from first.

Aunt Mito had explained it, but not as well as some of the fishermen had. They'd laughed, then; their pure, sweet Gon 'growing up', learning the facts of life.

The topic of discussion had drifted away from that chaste little infatuation then, far far away. It had been an... education, one Aunt Mito seemingly did not want Gon getting at such a young age, judging from the hell she gave the men. But that was another story altogether.

The thing was, Killua was more obvious than that girl-whose-name-he-forgot, or even Leorio! Well, Killua was reletively innocent in such matters, what with that family he had (the thought of Irumi giving Killua The Talk gave Gon nightmares). And in matters like these, it was Gon, living around fishermen, bartenders and the like for most of his life who had a distinct advantage. He'd proven it, hadn't he, with that whole dating fiasco (and Killua was hiding something with regards to that incident as well...)? Yet Killua hadn't gotten the hint, hadn't realised that of course Gon would know.

So Gon would leave it at that. An infatuation would pass with time, surely. Then he would have his Killua back once more.

He and Killua settled into the comforable routine of banter and teasing. And Killua had, expectedly, stolen his candy (Killua could be so predictable sometimes. Or maybe Gon was spending too much time around him). Indignant, Gon pounced for it, and it erupted into a full-blown wrestle. Staring straight up at Gon's wide, innocent eyes, Killua froze up, again. With a sudden burst of strength, Killua tossed Gon off, panting softly and faintly red in the face (from exertion? nah...).

It was a brilliant plan that Gon suddenly thought of, one that would have a success rate of 75... 80... 90... one that would almost definitely lift Killua's funk, yet leave enough leeway in case Gon'd gotten the signs wrong (though he seriously doubted so), or if Killua refused to accept his own feelings. They'd still be best friends no matter what happened, of course.

It was worth a shot.

Friends, especially best friends, helped one another. Killua was very important to Gon, and Gon would do whatever he could to help Killua.

A kiss! That might work! Yeah! Why didn't I think of it before...

Besides, Gon wasn't as innocent as Killua thought he was.

many thanks to Allusho for this suggestion.