CHAPTER 3: To Wait For You

X.X.X

Too much time was passing. He'd even eaten one of the sandwiches he and Killua had prepared for lunch. Well he was always eating Killua's meal in advance if his friend wasn't already on it. But it was way past lunch hour and Killua hadn't come back…

A part of him was utterly bored. The other part was worried, because he disliked with all the expanse of his soul Killua's family. On specifics, you would not want to get Gon started on Killua's elder brother. The feral dislike that sprang inside him at his sole picture was no surprise. His presence brought to the forefront of his mind the Hunter's Exam. His rage at waking up with his friend gone. He been stolen the chance to be for Killua on their match. To try to reach him disbanding truth from lie. Even now, sensing how Killua's stance changed under Illumi's stare He-God- He hated it. It made his blood boil to frightening levels. It made him want to kill.

Gon tossed his fishing rod again to the sea exhaling with frustration. He kept his favourite colourful baits at his side...Had someone seen him there, sprawled on the ship's deck on his bright green outfit, they would be endeared. Unless they stumbled with the depth of his gaze. No boy dwelt there right now.

Gon stretched and let himself fall on his back. Where are you? He wanted to go and explore the islands beyond the sea. With Killua. No one else.

Gon looked at the brilliant blue sky, crossed by strips of white, suspended high above. With half lidded eyes he thought of Killua, feeling the warm summer breeze. He extended his arms to trace invisible words lazily with his fingers...

Killua... and all he was …...

Chocolate...

Mint...

Claws...

Silk...

Fangs...

Sparks…

Silver...

And amethyst eyes. Magnetic amethyst eyes.

Gon held his hands lazily seeing the invisible words he'd written.
Memories of adventures flashed in front Gon's eyes. They fell around Gon like photographs he'd thrown to the skies.

There'd been a time when Gon had (against all odds) poisoned Killua with his brilliant cooking. Killua, hating the hospital IVS and pulling them off whenever he was awake, had sent a sample to his family lab, with high reluctance yet worry that he was not resistant to well, all as he had thought … Gon laughed. (Don't you laugh Freecs, the boy had said at the moment…)

Or...that time they'd been trapped on the elevator. And Killua out of boredom had asked Gon- for the tenth time- if he wished he had listened to his mother's voice on the tape Ging had left him.

Gon had turned around and inquired Killua if he regretted hurting so viciously his mother and Milluki the day he ran away.

So that was settled.

That time they were camping on a meadow…and had woken surrounded by a hundred sheep.

That time someone had sent Killua a present. Gon had to admit it, he'd been slightly jealous.
He wasn't expecting the present to blow off.
Blackmail.
And that time they'd been hours on end playing with helium balloons, their voices and a camera. Kurapica had been unfortunate to walk in to the strange scene. He tried to approach the situation with an expression similar to that of Killua in front of fish.

Gon let out a soft sigh as he felt the sun warming his skin .

Where are you?

He didn't want to call the boy's cell phone. Maybe it was a stupid family issue of no importance. And he, a spiky hair boy with a frantic idiotic mind, would complicate the meeting by calling Killua. He wanted to respect Killua's independence. Particularly because he was adamant on admitting his own recent dependence on his companionship.

Maybe he could just call Killua to yell something along the lines like "It's way past lunch, I feel like an idiot waiting. I'm hungry."

But then the imaginary Killua in Gon's head kind of answered "I already ate. Why haven't you eaten?" With a isn't-it-obvious-I-already-ate voice

"I was waiting for you!"

"Why?" imaginary Killua sounding aloof. Undertone of can't-you do anything on your own.

A silence on Gon's side, and his final resignation "Ok, ok. I was making sure you were fine."

"Gon, you should let me be sometimes. I have a life of my own you know, with my own agenda" Imaginary Killua said annoyed and bored.

"Now do a favor to yourself and go eat"

Gon was aware his imaginary Killua was closer to his fears than reality. Actually it did not correlate at all to reality, but that's the way with fears and the people you loved.

He hadn't said that. He meant people he cared for.

Anyway, Killua wouldn't say anything like that at all. It was what Gon probably treasured dearly about Killua. He did not get tired of an extremely tiresome Gon.

Actually, it sometimes surprised Gon how complete was Killua's acceptance. Because Gon was well aware of how he was... Curious. Sometimes painfully naive. Friendly, sure. But impulsive. Good-willed. And horribly stubborn. Strong headed and hyperactive in a way Aunt Mito hadn't been able to deal with properly.

Others tried to take advantage of his naivety and good will, or demeaned him for the child he was. But Killua went wherever Gon went even if the road was a bad decision..

Killlua was the only one that actually could keep up with him...

If I'm irrational, you de-anger me, de-madden me to return me to centre. He'd once spoken those words aloud, to the stunned surprise of the violet eyes.

They were so many people they'd fought for or against and still, when someone was illiterate in regards to Gon's frame of mind, and doubting his sanity when he denied to step back, it was Killua, unasked, the one to reason, to explain, as he stood silently behind him.

Who was the more stupid of the two? Because Killua trusted Gon blindly, and Gon, half the time fought ahead blind.

Gon was smiling to himself. One last thing made Killua really special.

You see, Gon hated when someone else dared called him stupid or idiot. Gon hated especially when others believed him to be weak. An unwanted memory sometimes struck him like lightning- Hisoka's punch, the paralysing venom, being unable to move and fight back-his-his inability to fight back-ugh! It made him clench his fists. He was not something to be tossed aside. He would prove the world one day he was not something to be tossed aside at all.

He was not weak.

Gon suddenly realized he'd stood from the floor and was pacing furiously. He stopped, remembering what he was doing. He was waiting...for his friend to arrive. He flopped to the ground again.

And...Well...Killua would never dare to take advantage of his good will. He did not liked Gon more if he was stronger and less if he was weaker. For that matter, he didn't relate his power to a benefit like desire...like Hisoka disturbingly did.

Now Gon usually placed value on himself in direct relation to his power... to his ability to fight...

He knew that was risky.
Possibly deadly.
And a roller coaster to his self-esteem.

But Killua... on whatever place Gon stood or was Killua... He would never dare look down on Gon. For the boy it was natural to see Gon as his equal. He actually saw him.

There was a reason Killua, being tremendously strong and skilled... had taken interest on Gon as a friend. He had waited for him in the Ring Tower without a glance of thought. For Gon it was a little unbelievable, why would someone do that. He guessed he felt the exact disbelief he saw painted on Killua's expression when he saw Gon at the gates of his family state.

Gon smiled, leaning his head... loosing himself on the sea-line far beyond, where the royal blue blurred the sky. Since long he did not question the state of affairs.

And he would never. Questioning it could open a dark door. So, that was why Killua was the only one allowed to call Gon an idiot. He was lucky to have such a friend.

"geeez! KI-LLU-A I'M BORED" Gon spoke aloud to himself.

He knew Killua was terrible at asking for help. He sighed. This time Gon decided not to care if his friend got mad. It was selfish to be thinking on self impressions. He sometimes could get very selfish when the only thing that mattered really was if Killua was alright…He'd vowed to protect him at all costs even if the white-haired boy hated him for that.

So Gon found himself with his cell phone on his ear.

Beep

Beep.

Beep

No answer. He felt disheartened...

He wrinkled his nose and dialled again the so known number. Again. And again.

Beep

Beep

Beep

And then silence.

Someone had actually picked up.

"Gon"

It was almost a whisper

"Killua?"

Silence.

"Killua? Is it you?"

There was no reply and Gon heart was now drumming.

"Are you ok? Where are you? Killua?"

The silence at the other end of the line sprung Gon from the ground. And he was running, running. And was about to ask where should he be heading.

"Killua speak! Where are you? And what happened? Where do I go?"

"...Too… much… questions..." Killua voice was a hoarse whisper.

There was a silence- too long a silence- long enough for a string to snap in Gon's chest. He thought Killua would not answer him at all again. But then the boy cleared his voice, and spoke faint

"...Hey...cool down... I'm fine. Sorry... there's bad connection. But I'm right here Gon. Don't worry"

"Where-are you" Gon demanded.

But then... Killua was talking in his usual casual self, about being in the room both shared. He'd come in for a nap. You don't nap. He did, he was painfully tired. No, he was ok. What about his brother? Actually nothing interesting. Yes Gon could come to their room to accompany him- he'd like that... but he'd be boring. He would sleep. No, he was fine. No he hadn't had lunch. He had chocolates. Too much. In what moment? Somewhere along the hours. He needed sleep. He was sorry he'd wandered off. He needed to think, that's all.

Gon

That voice. The voice Gon knew so well- a voice whose reverse seam was a plead for him not to ask any more questions.

Gon was now walking not running. Calmer. Disconcerted.

He crossed a corner. Had he done so a moment later he would have crossed paths with a wandering Leorio.

But he wasn't paying attention to his surrounding, he was in deep thought for he could read Killua's voice clearly from whatever phone across the world. And he would give him what he needed. Be it chocolates, a nap, no questions or whatever. He just needed to check if all was really Ok. If he was really fine...Gon flung the door open moments later. He saw Killua sprawled over the bed. Gon heart was hammering inside his chest a little. Ok he is here.

He slowly approached the sleeping figure and sat beside him.

"Hiya" Killua said sleepy

"Hey there" Gon whispered. He hesitated...

"You... Ok?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Killua raised his eyebrow.

Because you were gone for too long with a nut job and you sounded weird and-

But those violet eyes, they seemed to answer the real question behinds Gon's words. Killua seemed Ok. He seemed in one piece, he had been really sleeping not acting tiredness... And yet Gon could tell. He was feigning. Something.

"You sure?"

"Aha" Killua yawned.

"What did the blockhead want?"

"Nothing. Stupid stuff I couldn't help with..." He whispered bored.

"Why did you take so long then?" He persisted

"I did?" Killua frowned...

"Yes"

".. I don't even feel hunger"

"Cause you ate tons of chocolates right?"

"... Oh...Yeah"

"... "

Gon was eyeing him.

"You are really Ok?"

"Mm-mm" Killua nodded. Actually nothing bad had happened... and yet...

"Why are you tired then? It's not like you..."

"I..." And Killua stopped staring at nothingness."Well… I really don't know."

"...Ok..." Gon murmured...
He felt silence blanketing the room.

"Why did you take so long? Where is he gone"

"I don't know...And I seriously don't care" There was an edge to his reply that cut him short. Killua was sprawled on the bed, lying on one side. And somehow he looked so... defeated... But it was just probably his paranoid imagination.

"I'm sorry Killu... I was worried, you know, Illumi gives me the chills. I hate him"

The boy smiled faintly.

"Me too."

He would not admit it. But he loved when he heard stuff like that from Gon. Say more bad things about Him Gon. It's amusing... Ah... he needed distraction right now... or sleep...

"Seriously. Freaky duude" Gon commented.

"Totally" Killua whispered smiling. "And we're blood related can you believe? Ugh" Killua chuckled lightly.

Gon searched his friend's eyes.

They stared at each other for some moments.

He was hiding something.

And worst was that... Killua knew Gon could tell.

"Ok…. You sleep now" Gon broke the contact, resigned. He sat by his side, in a stance that reminded him of a guardian dog. And Killua suddenly felt he could relax against the gesture. Gon understood. He closed his eyes slowly. Trying to erase it all.

"Sorry for being so... boring...I promise you we'll go catch more-" he yawned "More adventures..." he spoke barely.

"Sleep"

"Gon"

"Yes?"

"...I'm glad you're here"

Gon smiled at this.

Moments later Killua was breathing soundly. Gon could tell the boy had been putting effort in just keeping himself awake. Killua had indeed been tired which was all the more strange…

Gon fell to his back, beside Killua. He felt protective. He was mad that just a fleeting meeting had taken all of his power over the situation. The way Illumi had controlled him on the Hunter's Exam... all the horrible things he'd said... picturing Illumi wiring Killua to the electricity tests- agh- it made him sick to his guts.

He observed the pale boy.

They'd had to discuss it… even though they'd hadn't touched the issue... but he had to ask Killua if it was OK if they did not go to Kukulu mountain at the end of the journey. He disliked the idea... and he knew his friend disliked it as well.

He sighed...looking at the closed silver lashes, his slowly rising and falling chest. He crept a little closer. Mirroring him by the bed.

And he waited.

Hi! I'm sorry if this one only focuses on Gon's thoughts and views, without much action. You'll get more later, I promise ;).

Please Read and Review :)