More character development and a little more progress on the plot. Hope you enjoy!

The announcer's screaming voice and audience cheers echoed in Hisoka's ears, and thoughts were racing through his head. In spite of feeling extremely overwhelmed, Hisoka put on his usual cool face and twirled a card in his fingers while facing Killua and company.

"Congratulations on your victory, Killua," Hisoka said, emphasizing the fact he had figured Killua out. "Although I wouldn't call it so much a victory when I was preoccupied the whole time trying to fit the puzzle pieces together."

Killua smirked and dropped his disguise.

"We can do a rematch after this is over and done."

"And what exactly is it that needs to be done?" Hisoka drawled. "Gon-kun?"

"Um," Gon said, turning red remembering their last interaction. "For you, we just have a question. A decade ago, you allegedly found a Nen exorcist who helped Chrollo get his Nen powers back. We need to find that person."

"Hmmm, but why?"

Killua cut in, "We can't tell you."

Hisoka smiled at him, but they could all tell that his smile was laced with a serious poison. "Then I guess I can't tell you who or where that person is."

"How do we know you aren't bluffing that you even know where 'this person' is?" Killua accused. "If you haven't noticed, this is a pretty serious situation—"

"Killua, let's try to be calm about this," Gon reassured him.

"Yes, Gon-kun, please calm down your little friend," Hisoka purred.

Killua bristled at the way Hisoka said Gon's name and started to step forward, but Hikaru put a hand on his arm to calm him down, which inadvertently made Gon twitch.

Hisoka observed all of this with his same, cool smile. Hikaru turned to him, smiling the same cool smile.

"I don't think we've had the pleasure to meet yet. My name is Tsumegori Michiko. Nice to meet you," Hikaru said in a foreign accent, bowing politely.

Killua raised an eyebrow at Hikaru's impressive, impromptu acting skills.

" The pleasure is all mine, Miss Tsumegori," Hisoka simpered, taking her hand. He drew her in closer. "Now why would you be associated with someone like this little twerp?"

"I'm 6'2 and 24 years old, you creepy old man!" Killua complained.

Hikaru let out a little laugh. "Ah, I sensed this one's power, and now I just want to trail along for the fun. Can you blame a girl? Especially with his good looks…"

Hisoka's smile widened. "No, I wouldn't do that…It seems like you and I are more alike than I would have thought."

Hikaru's smile widened likewise. "Well I'm glad I'm not the only one in this boat who feels that way. Wouldn't you mind getting in our boat and tagging along on this journey even if you don't know the full story? Heck, even I don't know the full story, but who cares when you have these beautiful little enigmas at your disposable to unlock." Hikaru lifted a lock of Killua's hair and inhaled before turning back to Hisoka. "What do you say?"

Killua was red in the face at Hikaru's sudden brazen nature. How could this girl change characters so many times so quickly?

"I know when I'm being manipulated, and yet I can't bring myself to care in this situation," Hisoka said, stretching. "I'll go along with your charade for now until something better comes up."

He plopped onto the couch with Gon. "You still have so much more to improve, Gon-kun," he crooned.

Wing-san jumped in to diffuse the clearly escalating situation.

"The nen exorcist?" Wing-san said politely, prompting Hisoka.

"Ah, yes," Hisoka said, reluctantly extracting himself from Gon's hair. "The man with whom I interacted was named Abengane. He's a Conjurer, and his Hatsu allows him to remove the effects of Nen from himself and others under certain conditions."

Gon jumped up in excitement. "We know him! He was the one who helped us figure out how to deal with Genthru the Bomber. I'm sure he would be willing to help us in return for our help."

"But how to find him? And what conditions?" Killua followed up thoughtfully.

"The last place I saw him was when he removed Kurapika's curse from Chrollo. I wasn't able to observe his actual technique so I'm not sure how exactly he did it or what the conditions are. We'd do our best to find him by sniffing him out…" Hisoka trailed off.

"But how can we sniff him out?" Gon thought aloud.

Everyone paused, racking their brains for an answer.

"Let's think on it tonight and then see what we can do moving forward," Wing-san suggested. "We've all had a long day, and now this whole floor is ours, thanks to Killua!"

Hikaru immediately grabbed Killua's arm. "I claim a room with Killua!"

"Baaaaa-ka, why would I want to do that?" Killua said loudly, shaking his arm from Hikaru's clutch and crossing his arms behind his head walking away. "I'll have a room to myself as that's the least I can ask for after winning this floor."

She whined and whined until Killua finally caved and conceded that she could come hang out for a little bit before going to her own room. She cheered and as they walked out Gon couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Were Hikaru's powers of influence already starting to take over Killua, or did Killua genuinely enjoy her presence?

Hisoka watched Gon watch Killua, observing quietly.

"Gon-kun," Hisoka said finally, dragging Gon out of his thoughts. "Shall we share a room, as well?"

It took a few seconds for Gon to register Hisoka's suggestion before he jumped up, red in the face again. "Ah, no thank you! That is, I'm sure we both need sleep and I will be fine by myself!"

"Just for a little bit, though," Hisoka said persuasively. "We haven't caught up in ages."

"Well," Gon said cautiously. "If it's only just to catch up for a little bit, then okay…"

Wing-san watched Hisoka and Gon leave next and once the door shut he put a hand to his forehead. This was going to be a long and bumpy journey, all right. But worth it, he thought, for Zushi.

~~ Meanwhile with Killua and Hikaru ~~

Once the door shut, Hikaru raced ahead of Killua, whooping into the master suite.

"Ehhh," Hikaru complained. "This room looks exactly like your apartment. Why don't you spruce it up a bit?"

Killua shut the door behind her, dropping his disguise once more. "I added a weapons simulation training room and an office for investigative research and a couple of other things to improve the aesthetic. Isn't that enough?"

"But like, something fun?" Hikaru pressed.

"Like what?"

"Mm, how about a big in-built onsen? Or maybe a karaoke room!"

"How about no?"

Hikaru scoffed. "Ugh, fine! Go take a shower anyway. You stink."

Killua was already walking into the bathroom so he just threw up a hand acknowledging her comment before shutting the door. Within minutes, the golden tiles warmed and the room was enveloped in his Nen steam that coaxed and pushed out the muscles from his fight with Hisoka. If Hisoka knew exactly how his powers worked, he certainly be a formidable opponent. He felt a twinge of annoyance, still irritated with the way Hisoka hung all over Gon. Gon, Killua thought, but then a fierce headache ripped through his head at the thought of just Gon's name. He clutched his head, gripping blindly for the talisman that he'd left on the counter. He breathed a sigh of relief when the still cool talisman reached his forehead. But why, Killua thought. Why does this happen every time I even think of Gon? It's getting worse… But it isn't important compared to my priority to reunite with Alluka, Killua resolved, fists clenched.

It was at this moment that Killua detected faint music being played outside. He turned off the shower head and cleared the room of his steam, shower effectively ruined by the headache, and peered outside. Hikaru had decided to take advantage of his grand piano addition, and she was playing—Killua tilted his head in recognition—the Fantasie Impromptu by Chopin. Not an easy piece to play, Killua thought, observing her movements. Hikaru's eyes were closed, her softly waving red curls cascading down her back and her fingers lithe across the ivory keys. Her mouth was just slightly open, mouthing something silently outside of Killua's reach, and her back was arched forward as if expecting something to happen. The scales were mesmerizing. She was mesmerizing. Killua felt himself begin to lose track of time again like that time he first met Hikaru at the club, where everything was blurry but he couldn't stop looking at this woman. Through the blur, Hikaru's frame started to flicker, almost as if Killua could see through the Nen that was disguising her. He reached forward, watching her hair toggle between red wavy, straight black, curly brown, a blinding white blonde…

And then the music stopped. Hikaru opened her eyes and faced Killua. She looked very serious, but only for a minute before perking back up into her usual self.

"I don't usually offer entertainment for free, so you better be thankful!"

She stuck her tongue out at him, and immediately that peaceful, serene Hikaru he'd just witnessed winked out of sight.

"You can play the piano," he stated the obvious.

"Well, you have to have these tricks up your sleeves, ready to use to take advantage of pretty young men like yourself," she teased.

Killua stood right above the seated Hikaru, lost in thought wondering if this was the power of her rising influence over him from the pact they had made.

"Who are you?" Killua asked, mostly to himself before he realized he asked the question out loud.

Hikaru laughed nervously. "You know who I am? What a silly question to ask."

"No, I don't."

Killua remained serious. "This isn't your real face or full personality. You're still hiding things. Something important."

She stared back at him now, not quite resigned but somewhat sad.

"I'll see myself out now. Sleep well, Killua."

~~And meanwhile with Gon and Hisoka~~

Gon's moody attitude evaporated right when he walked into his new room. Killua had decked it out to mimic his home back at Whale Island, down to the quiet sound of an ocean echoing in the distance. He threw himself down onto the sofa, breathing in the smell of home deeply.

"Is this supposed to be your home?" Hisoka asked, trailing his fingers on the table, the chair, everything he could touch.

"Mm!" Gon said enthusiastically, forgetting any discomfort that came from being in closed rooms with Hisoka because he was so happy to be at his home. He grabbed his favorite blue blanket and rolled into it like a piece of sushi and stared out the window at the simulation of soft-moving tall blades of grass and old trees. Why exactly had he been so sad when Killua left with Hikaru? Yes, a great deal of it was because he didn't trust Hikaru. She had some sort of end game, something big that she was hiding from them, and of course Killua would soon be completely under her control. There was no way to tell from her description exactly how fast moving her pact was over Killua and how much she would be able to control him. Like what about his feelings for her? Gon mused, curling his toes into the sushi roll blanket. What if she forced Killua to have feelings for her? To make him do certain things with her? He clenched his fists. That wouldn't be fair at all! Wouldn't that be considered harming him? Would she consider that harm? Well, he definitely wouldn't have a say in whether or not he wanted it, so that wouldn't be okay. And she said that there wouldn't be any long-term effects after the contract period, so anything that happened then would go away anyway, right? Right?

He slumped into the sofa, face pressed against the seat and shouted exasperatedly. His brain hurt from too much thinking. Yes, he was worried about Killua. But there was something else other than worry, maybe…could it be…jealousy? What? Gon laughed to himself. Why jealousy? Well, the other part of him reasoned. Back when you and Killua were together, you would hang out 24/7. You'd live together, eat together, sleep together, train together. You felt this sort of jealousy when Killua went off with Alluka and you couldn't say anything to keep him with you, right? He relaxed a little bit before catching himself. But this is a different sort of jealousy. You're jealous because he's your friend. Mine, Gon thought to himself fiercely. Mine? He questioned.

"Argh!" Gon yelled, flinging a pillow at the glass. It bounced off and fell gently onto the rug. He yanked at his hair before spinning out of the sushi roll. Enough is enough. My head can't take anymore for now. He paused, looking around. Where did Hisoka go? Gon sniffed the air, trailing Hisoka's unmistakable, simultaneously sweet and musky scent to his bedroom. He pushed the door open and saw Hisoka…completely in the nude.

"ARRGHHH!" Gon yelled, covering his eyes. "Not again!"

Hisoka was facing away, observing the simulations in Gon's window. He simpered, turning to Gon.

"Ah, Gon-kun," Hisoka said unfazed. "I was just appreciating the view and about to take a shower. Would you care to join?"

"N-no!" Gon spluttered. "Get out of my room, Hisoka!"

Hisoka laughed, "Where else would you have me shower? This is the only one Killua figured into the apartment!"

Gon cursed and slammed the door. He ran to the kitchen and began furiously piling together the necessary ingredients to make a mean spaghetti. As he chopped up the fresh tomatoes, Gon couldn't help but reflect on Hisoka's body. Despite ten years, he was still in top condition, and there were certain things that Gon noticed in a more significant way than he would have noticed as a young boy…. He wasn't necessarily envious, but maybe was…appreciative? He shook his head vigorously while the water boiled. No thank you no thank you no thank you. Gon had spent the last ten years regaining his Nen and then caring for Mito-san, so he wasn't at all experienced in the dating sphere. But over time he had come to understand his body—likes and dislikes—enough to be able to appreciate another good body. But that's all it is, Gon said to himself sternly. Appreciation, not attraction.

At that moment, the door opened and Hisoka came from the shower, without makeup, wet, gel-less hair sticking to his neck and shoulders with little trails of water rolling down his chest leading to somewhere beneath towel that hung loosely on his hips.

"There are no clothes here that fit me," Hisoka said matter-of-fact.

Realizing that he was openly gawking at Hisoka's body, Gon lowered his eyes back to his process of forming meatballs. "Maybe go to your own room, then!"

Suddenly, Hisoka was breathing right over his shoulder. "But it seems you're making enough food for two."

Gon jumped. "That's because I thought I would bring some over to Killua and see how he was doing!"

Hisoka paused with a dark, speculative look. "No need to be so defensive, then."

He trailed his fingers lightly across Gon's shoulder, and Gon couldn't help the shudder that he elicited. Hisoka chuckled. "I'll see myself out."

Gon watched Hisoka leave with a weird, unfinished feeling in his mouth before turning back to the spaghetti.

~Finally now Killua and Gon~

Gon knocked on Killua's door, a big bowl of spaghetti in hand. A few seconds later, Killua stood in the middle of the doorway, clearly half-asleep with his hair windswept and loftily hanging in several different directions. Killua observed Gon and the steaming bowl of spaghetti with a grunt of acknowledgment before taking the bowl and walking back inside. Gon followed him cautiously inside, looking for some indication that Hikaru was still in the room. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized she had left and then joined Killua at the dinner table in silence.

"Congratulations on your win against Hisoka," Gon offered to break the silence.

Killua grunted again, shoving the spaghetti in his mouth.

"Wasn't a true victory because he was so distracted," Killua said in between shovels of spaghetti. "I'll call it a win when we battle again."

They were silent save for Killua's voracious chewing until Killua said suddenly out of nowhere, "Is this the first time you've seen him these past ten years?"

"Eh?" Gon said, a little surprised. "Hisoka? Yeah I guess so. I've been training to be stronger I guess in part so I could re-challenge him, but I haven't gotten to a point where I'm consistently satisfied with my work like you."

"What sort of things have you trained on these past ten years?" Killua asked, inviting Gon to breach the subject of the last ten years.

"Mm, not as much as I would have liked," Gon said thoughtfully. "After I met Ging at the World Tree, it still took me a few years to regain my Nen, so he gave me a map of all the archaeological sites that were his favorites so I could visit. I think he wanted to keep me in places that he knew with people he knew just to keep me safe."

"How did you end up regaining your Nen?" asked curiously.

Gon paused for just long enough to make Killua wonder if he had asked a wrong question.

"I was visiting Whale Island after having gone to a bunch of archaeological sites when it happened. There was a huge lightning storm and Mito-san's cat was lost somewhere outside. We were all looking for it when a huge bolt of lightning struck me and knocked me unconscious. Of course, I was fine afterward and actually regained my Nen from it, but Mito-san was horribly injured because she was standing next to me. She had to go through a lot of physical therapy so I stayed on the island with her and started minimal training for the next years to come and before I knew it nine years had past. So for those years I mostly trained alone on Whale Island building up my Nen again and stamina. I'd say I've improved consistent-wise a little since we last met. You're far more experienced than me at this point."

"I'm sorry to hear about Mito-san. I really like her. Is she doing better now?"

" Yeah, she's completely recovered now. But it was a shock to me, a reminder of how fragile life really is. It was like Kaito all over again."

"I wish I had been there for you…" Killua said, mostly to himself.

"It's ok!" Gon said, brightening up. "You were taking care of your sister just like how I was taking care of Mito-san. I wish I could have been there for you that last year that you were all alone tracking Illumi so maybe things could have ended differently, too, but what's done is done and all we can do is move forward."

Killua smiled, but somehow he still felt sad. Is there no way we can go back to how things used to be? He thought to himself. He finished his spaghetti, so now they sat at the table in complete silence.

Gon reached up to touch Killua's talisman. "I've noticed that you've been a lot better since you started wearing this talisman."

Killua smiled. "Alluka gave it to me before I left the island to hunt down Illumi. I think somehow it's helped me fight his death wish curse a bit."

"How?"

" I would get these headaches really bad headaches whenever around you probably as a way to deter me from finding a way to get back to Alluka, and of course overall I was just down in the dumps after spending so much time protecting Alluka only to have her taken away from me all over again."

Gon frowned. Something was off with Killua's explanation, but he'd think about it later to himself. He smiled at Killua. "We'll definitely get her back, Killua."

Killua automatically smiled back. "Do you want to train? I added a cool tactical training simulator room in the back."

Gon jumped up excitedly. "Yeah!"

The two continued to smile at each other, happy to be in each other's presence once more, and raced to the training room, together.

Killua and Gon are inching toward each other slowly but surely. But will Hikaru and Hisoka put a damper on that progress? ~stay tuned, and please let me know if you like this fic/what I can do to improve in the reviews/message sections! As I've mentioned, it's my first fic, so I'm not sure if I'm doing well or not honestly haha.~