Everything happened in slow motion.
Gon saw Illumni walking slowly towards Killua, who was rooted to the spot. Gon knew the choices that were running through his silver haired friend's head. Stay with Gon or run. Stay with someone who was already dying or save himself.
Gon's eyes could be read like an open book. He wanted Killua to run, to get out of here, not to face the brother that he hated.
But it was then, when Gon felt nothing and everything at the same time, that he finally felt pain.
It came, rolling and shrieking, so searing white and unbearable that Gon was shaken out of his paralysis. Keeling over, his eyes wide as his entire body shook. There was nothing else, just the burn, burn, burn of that staggering pain like fire trembling around those dark blades.
He forgot his name, what he was doing, what he was trying to accomplish. There was nothing but pain. Pain that bit at his stomach and gnawed at his shoulder. Pain that ran across his sides and up into his throat so that he was gagging. Pain that heaved and clawed, roared and smeared. the entirety of his being was pain.
White. All Gon saw was white. White light everywhere. He was spiking, then fading, and finally leaving…
"Gon!"
He heard that muffled voice, so faintly famliar, buzzing in his ears like an annoying fly. Why couldn't he just slip into this light? What is this voice even yelling anyway? Why wouldn't it let hi leave this awful pain?
It was then that he realized. Gon…that was his name, wasn't it?
The memories flooded him, encompassing him, making him gasp from something other than this horrible pain.
Mito san. Ging. Kurapika. Leorio. Hisoka. Illumni. Everyone. The Hunter Exam. Trail and error. Endurance.
And the name that struck him the hardest was the one that he whispered and made the events that swirled around him stop and pause out of pure shock.
"Killlua."
Illumni stopped dragging Killua out of the cave. Killua stopped struggling. Everything stood still as the two brothers stared back at the boy they both had thought to be dead.
Gon's eyes snapped open. His blood spread out in a large pool around him, sticky and wet and crimson.
Gon slowly looked up, determination flaring in his eyes, unstoppable.
He had nothing to lose. He was already dead, Gon knew that much. A miracle would have to happen in order for him to be saved.
But at least he had his memories now. At least he could help his friend.
Gon tried to stand, leaning heavily on the stone wall of the cave. Another breeze blew, kissing his wounds. The wind caused little waves to ripple across the blood on the floor.
Gon staggered, doubling over, but he straightened and faced the two absolutely still brothers in the eye.
Killua's eyes were wide with…fear? Happiness? The best that Gon could make of it was pure emotion, naked and colorful, blooming with passion. It was so unlike Killua, Gon could only smile.
How he could smile at a time like this was of no concern to him.
But seeing the reaction of his friend was far more wrenching.
Killua morphed his hand into a claw and dug it into the hand that held him. Illumni staid expressionless, but was forced to release him.
Gon suddenly felt himself falling. He didn't know when he started to slip, but now he saw the floor fast approaching him.
Gentle hands caught him, lifted him up. Gon lifted his head.
Killua murmured to him, something about pain and death and never leaving him. Gon focused on his voice, straining.
Killua pulled out the knife in his shoulder.
Gon screamed. His vision swam again. He blinked.
Focus, he told himself. Focus on Killua's voice.
Killua muttered, soothing.
The blade in his stomach slid out.
Gon choked on the shriek that escaped from his lips. Coughing, sputtering, dying.
Killua, he told himself. Focus on him.
Gon's vision was spotted, but he could see Killua's tears. He could feel them splatter on his cheeks, as if Gon was the one crying.
Killua removed the knife next to his heart.
Gon didn't do a thing.
It was then that the blankness started to return, to sweep him off his feet and into the folds of painlessness. Gon sighed in his friends arms.
A sudden movement told him that Illumni was coming to finish it for good. Gon felt like closing his eyes, but he didn't.
At that last second, before the pin in Illumni's hand descended into his chest, Gon saw Killua clearly. His friend, this person…he had helped Gon so much. He had given up everything for him.
And now Gon drifted away, to where he did not know, but he had the lingering feeling that it wasn't quite over yet…
I am the queen of cliff hangers! I hope you liked this one! I have been working on it for a while now, so I really want your in put! Please review! Thanks!
DISCLAIMER- I don't own HXH.
