Killua obviously wasn't himself. His eyes were glassy and blank, and he was even paler than he usually was. The sight of him like this scared Gon.
"Gon!" shouted Leorio as he and Kurapika caught up to the younger boy.
"Killua." Gon's whisper barely carried over the eerily windless landscape. He took a step closer to his white-haired friend.
"Kurapika placed a hand on Gon's shoulder. "Wait, Gon," he told him firmly. "He obviously isn't in his right mind right now. It's too dangerous." But Gon shrugged him off and continued to walk toward Killua. Taking a breath, Gon spoke to him. "Killua, I know you're not feeling right right now," Killua made no indication that he had heard what Gon said, but his hand began to slowly transform, "but we're here for you; we're your friends." Gon drew closer to Killua, and Kurapika gripped his swords, ready to defend his friend if the assassin attacked. "Come back with us," pleaded Gon. "Please."
Suddenly Killua's hand shot out at Gon. But before Kurapika could reach the pair, Gon made a move. Reaching out, he took Killua's hand. Though his friend was stronger than him and could've easily striked, instead he stopped. With tears glistening in his eyes, Gon looked straight at Killua, whose eyes were wide. The blankness that was there before was melting away, replaced by a shock more human than Gon thought he had ever seen in Killua before.
Everything stopped, the moment frozen in time. Then Gon broke the silence. "You're my friend, Killua," he said sincerely, and the last trace of inhuman apathy left Killua's gaze. He sank to his knees as if exhausted after a long battle. Kneeling in front of his friend, Gon placed his arms around his neck and hugged him. Tears sprung into Killua's eyes, and he hugged Gon back, clinging desperately to the one life he knew he could never extinguish.