Characters: Gon, Killua, Mito and Hisoka
Story: Set in a different timeline, somewhere after the Greed Island Arc and before the Chimera Ants Arc.
Gon and Killua decide to take a short vacation from Hunter work and bought a cozy little cottage on Whale Island where they spend their days lazily exploring the woods and fishing. In the meantime, Hisoka has grown bored of waiting for Chrollo to regain his nen, and is on the search for new playthings...
Chapter 1: Vacation on Whale Island
It is a Saturday afternoon and Gon is lazing atop a rocky cliff, sunbathing with only his shorts on. With his eyes closed and both his hands pillowing his head, he looked just like a young boy of twelve instead of the powerful and dangerous pro Hunter that he could be.
"Whale Island can be pretty scenic if you know the best spots huh?"
Killua's voice drifted over to Gon, as strolled over to his sunbathing friend. He stretched like a sleek white panther, reveling in the warmth of the sun before lying down next to Gon.
"Ahhh..." he sighed, "now this is truly the life!"
Killua turns to look at Gon, a small wry smile on his face as he wonders how much more he had come to enjoy living after he had met Gon.
"Hmmm..." Gon replied inattentively, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he stared up into the clear, blue sky. "Ne.. Killua...don't you think that cloud over there looks like an ace of diamonds?"
"Huhh?" Killua's eyes follow Gon's finger that was pointing upwards, "How can a cloud possibly look like a...heh?! You're right! It does resemble an ace of diamonds. Hahaha! That's pretty cool, for a cloud."
"Yeah! I wonder what other cloud shapes we can find! Hahaha!"
The two boys spent the rest of the afternoon on that cliff overlooking the sea, trying to beat each other at identifying the most number of cloud-shapes. Soon, the sun started to set and the boys ran out of clouds to identify. As the setting sun painted the sea a soft pink gold, Gon reached out to clasp Killua's right hand. He rose and pulled his silver-haired friend up with him. Side by side, they stood, warm hands clasped together as they enjoyed the breathtaking view in front of them.
Gon sneaks a peek to his left, admiring Killua's long eyelashes as his face is bathed a warm pink glow by the sun. Coupled with the look of awe on Killua's face, it was a sight Gon never failed to miss as they watched the sunset together everyday. 2 months had passed since they started living together on Whale Island and this had become somewhat of a daily ritual for Gon.
As the sun finally disappeared below the horizon and the sky darkened, Killua breaks the silence, "I guess it's almost time for dinner, Mito-san is probably waiting outside the door with her frying pan in hand huh?"
Before Gon could reply, Killua lets go of his hand and dashed off into the forest, his laughter ringing behind him, "Last one to reach the dinner table is a loooooser!"
"Ehhh?! Wait up Killua! That's not fair!" Gon dashed into the forest, keeping the bob of silver hair firmly in sight. If he lost to Killua in a race he would end up having to eat all of Killua's vegetables. And that was the last thing he wanted to spoil this wonderful day.
"Gochisousamadeshita!" Gon and Killua exclaimed after a hearty meal of potatoes, meat stew and a round of Mito-san's famed caramel pudding. Although they had a cottage to themselves in the woods, eating dinner at Mito-san's place had become a weekly occurrence after the older lady kept complaining and making a fuss that the two boys never ever visited even though they lived on the same island.
"Well, if it makes Gon happy to eat here once a week, I guess I don't mind. Besides, dinner at Mito-san's can get pretty interesting when Gon ends up fighting with her over how he wishes she didn't cook vegetables at all." Killua thought as he chuckled to himself.
Half an hour later, Gon and Killua were strolling back to their cottage. It was a little humid but since Whale Island was located in the tropics, most days were either hot or humid or hot and humid. Their cottage was not very far from Mito-san's, merely an hour's stroll away. Killua looked forward to this part of every Saturday the most. Because it is the time Gon is least active and let his guard down. Not that he was always on the alert these days. Since Whale Island is so small and inaccessible, they had nothing much to fear, aside from the rare wild boar or sun bear. Of course, even those are not really a problem, but still.
Walking slightly behind Gon, Killua's eyes sweep over the black-haired boy in front of him, from head to toe. Arms bent, hands in his pocket and head slightly tilted back. Killua knows that Gon's eyes are closed, as he immerses himself in the smells and sounds of the forest at night. This was Gon's true nature, living in the woods suited him best, with his every senses attuned to nature. Killua was different, he did not have a particular place he belonged to. Wherever Gon went, that was where he went as well, simple as that.
Soon, their cottage was in sight. Located in a clearing in the forest, not far from the rocky cliff they spent the afternoon, the small wooden lodge was bathed in moonlight. It was their haven, a place where only the two of them existed. The small cottage had two levels, or rather, the second level was more of an attic, with a slanted roof and a huge window on the eastern wall, where the sunlight would enter the room in the morning and rouse them from their slumber. The first floor consisted of the kitchen, a small room and the hall. Both Killua and Gon never saw the need to separate the attic room into two rooms and neither wished to sleep in the small room on the first floor, so they shared the attic room.
"Goodnight Killua...let's go fishing tomorrow" Gon yawns sleepily as he crawls into bed.
"Goodnight Gon" whispers Killua.
But Killua does not go to sleep, at least not yet. Instead he stares at the sleeping Gon, amazed at the calmness in his heart as he watched his slumbering friend. It was incredible how at ease and natural he felt when he was with Gon. No bloodlust or rage or shame of once being a merciless assassin. He wonders how Gon feels about him, "What am I to you, Gon? Am I more than just a friend?"