Chapter 8
Gon takes a deep breath of the salty sea air when he emerges onto the deck, Killua still in his arms. He looks out over the crystal blue water and sees the boat that they had been on slowly making its way across the sea. It is already very far out, they must have left as soon as Gon, Killua, and the Hunters got off of the boat.
Gon shifts his gaze up to the black sails towering above him. They are being pushed on heavily by the gusting wind, forcing the rest of the ship to cut cleanly through the ocean water. Holding the sails are dark wooden masts. The masts are thicker than the other boat's because there is more stress on the wood coming from the dark sails.
"…You can set me down now…" Killua says quietly as he covers his eyes with his silver bangs. Gon looks down to Killua who had suddenly stiffened in his hold. He had been fine when they were coming out of the cabins under the boat. Gon carefully releases Killua's legs and they drop down gently on the deck. He doesn't remove his arm from around Killua's shoulders though, he rests his arm across his back waiting for Killua to decide where they should go. He still has to assist Killua to where ever they go.
As Gon looks for a new place to explore he notices the glares and stares that Killua is receiving. Is that why he got uncomfortable? Gon wonders. A few of the men are gazing at Gon, but there eyes are filled more with confusion and curiosity. Gon isn't really concerned about the stares he's given, but he doesn't like how the Hunters are looking at Killua.
Gon smiles as an idea comes to mind. "Killua, we should go fishing!" Killua looks at him and raises and eyebrow but nods his head.
"Why not," he says, a small smile gracing his lips. Gon beams brightly at this and leads Killua to the ship's railing. The Hunter's eyes follow their every step as they continue along. Gon can feel Killua tensing under their looks, it was only slightly, but Gon felt it. The other Hunters probably didn't even notice. He gives him a reassuring squeeze that causes Killua to look up in alarm.
"Just ignore them!" He says, eyes closing in a brilliant smile. Killua finds himself looking away as they finally have gotten to the railing. He brushes Gon's arm off of his shoulder and mutters something under his breath. It was quiet but Gon heard him say 'Baka.' The arm Gon had around Killua suddenly feels colder than the rest of his body without Killua under it even though Killua's skin had felt pleasantly cool. He shakes off the weird feeling and grabs his fishing pole from his bag.
"Do you even have any bait?" Killua asks curiously.
"Yeah! I just have to find where I put it…" Gon trails off as he shoves his fishing pole into Killua's hands and pulls his bag off of his back. He digs around for a while.
A long while.
The Hunters that had been watching them get bored and go back to their stations he takes so long. Killua's patience is slowly wearing away as well. He peers at him with eyes filled with growing agitation until he just can't take it anymore. He huffs and grabs the bag from Gon's grasp after placing the fishing pole down on the deck. Gon watches him with curious eyes, a slight playful glint in them. He pulls the zippers open all the way then up-turns the bag, dumping the contents onto the ground.
Random things fall out in a messy pile with a clunk. Killua's gaze falls on to a few specific items. The small one person blanket they shared, a sewing kit, and a small clear container of fake red rubber worms. There are a lot of other things but he just ignores them and digs out the container shoving it into Gon's waiting hands.
"You lasted longer than I thought." Gon says with a huge smile, his eyes full of mirth. "Defiantly longer than those Hunters." He says as he points not-so-discreetly over to where the majority of the hunters had been.
"What?" Killua says with a straight face before irritation once again fills his blue eyes.
"I was wondering how long your patience lasted."
"You!" Killua leans over to grab Gon and puts him in a head lock. He rubs his knuckles into Gon's scalp as Gon laughs and pushes at Killua. He doesn't actually summon up the strength to push him off of himself though.
"Stop, stop!" He says, but his voice has absolutely no distress or worry in it. His words are filled with a happy laughter.
"Why should I, huh?" Killua teases as he whispers into Gon's ear, momentarily stopping his rubbing. The gentle breath against Gon's ear sends a shiver down his spine. Not like when he gets scared or when he can feel someone watching him, no this was different.
"I'll… um… buy you something at the candy store when we get to Whale island!" Gon says with a smile as he turns his head to look Killua in the eye, Killua is very close to his face. He sees a brightness fill those strange blue eyes.
"With what money?" Killua says, a smirk taking over his lips.
"I've got some left at my house that I didn't bring with me!" Killua looks at Gon for a moment more as he seems to think over the arrangement, but Gon can tell he has already made up his mind when he answers with a deceivingly uninterested voice.
"Fine, deal." Killua says as he slowly releases his hold on Gon and pulls away. Gon stands up straight and rubs the back of his neck while he rotates his head.
"Ne, you're really good at that Killua." Gon says, referring to the head lock. He bends down to grab his fishing pole.
"Yeah…" He says quietly and picks up the bait, when he bends over he stands on one foot and his hurt one extends out behind him. He grabs the container and offers it to Gon, rather than shoving it into his grasp. Before Gon takes the worms though, he begins laughing. His eyes close and his light voice rings out sweetly like bells.
That's what Killua thinks at least. However he quickly dashes the thought from his mind and contorts his face until he looks confused and irritated.
"What are you laughing at?" He says suspiciously, narrowing his eyes at the tan islander boy.
"Ha! It's nothing, it's just that when- Haha! When you bent over to get the bait you looked kinda like a- Ha! - a Chicken!" Gon spoke through bouts of his chuckling.
A chicken?
"I'm sure that I did not look like, or resemble a chicken in any way. You're just delusional." Killua said. Emphasizing the word delusional by poking Gon's forehead. Gon just smiled happily. He took a breath to say something but Killua cut him off by suddenly stating that he would catch a bigger and better fish than Gon. Gon immediately disagreed and they began debating, which escalated to arguing, which then took one last step to play-fighting.
"Uncle! Uncle! Uncle!" Gon shouted as he pounded on the deck with his free hand when Killua managed to pull his other arm far behind Gon's back at a painful angle. Gon was on his belly with Killua's knees in his back, holding his body down.
"Who doesn't look like a chicken?" Killua asked in a voice laced in sugar and coated in confidence.
"Killua!"
"And who's going to get the better fish?" He spoke with his honey sweet voice. Gon's eye flashed with a determined light from his position with his head smooshed to the side on his cheek. He wasn't going to give up quite yet.
"I am because I am a better fisherman than Killua," he said smirking. It was an odd expression on Gon's face. It looked as if it didn't really belong there.
"You haven't even seen me fish Gon. And I've only seen you fish once before. It was all luck for you then." Killua leaned in closely and spoke gently beside Gon's ear for a second time. Another shiver flooded Gon's system but he saw his chance. Because Killua had leaned closer and changed his position Gon was able to pull himself from Killua's grasp and push him onto his back on the deck. He sat on Killua's stomach and held his shoulders down to the deck, preventing his escape.
"I'll show you Killua," Gon said, leaning in closer like the pale ex-assassin had done. "I'll show you how good I am." Gon was speaking quietly into Killua's ear, his cheek almost touching Killua's. As Gon held perfectly still waiting for a response he noticed that Killua's pale ear had turn a bright red color, along with most of his face. He seemed like he was trying to breathe but was having trouble.
"Killua… Are you okay?" Gon asked as he sat up and put a hand on Killua's forehead, which was burning up. Killua swatted his hand away and pushed Gon off of himself. He scrambled away from where Gon had landed and ungracefully used the railing to help himself up. "You're really hot, are you getting sick? Should we find some shade?"
"N-No. I'm f-fine. Baka…" Killua said, turning away from Gon and looking towards the churning ocean water.
What the hell is wrong with you! He was talking about fishing! Get a grip! Killua thought to himself flusteredly.
"Oh. Okay!" Gon said after a moment. He scrambles to get up and retrieves his fishing gear from where it had been neglected during their play fight. "I only have one pole so we'll have to take turns fishing. You can go first if you want." Gon said and offered the items to Killua when he reached his side.
"No, you can start," He said, his bangs hiding his eyes. A sudden playful tune filled his voice then. "You're supposed to save the best for last after all." He says with a smile turning to look at Gon. Gon stuck his tongue out at Killua before a smile tugged at his lips. He baited his hook with a worm and casted his line out.
The red and white bobber floated gently on the soft waves. A cool breeze drifted past the two teens, gathering their clothes up and ruffling their hair. Killua and Gon leaned on the railing and watched the fishing device silently.
"Damn! I still can't believe you got a bigger fish than me!" Killua complained loudly to Gon as they walked to Gon's home. Killua had his hands resting behind his head as he walked at an especially slow pace. He had insisted that he could walk fine now that the bone in his ankle had re-centered, but he still moved with a limp. Gon walked close by though so if Killua were to need his assistance he was right there to help.
"Well if you had been more patient and left the bobber in the water longer you might have had a chance." Gon answered nonchalantly, but there was a tinge of mirth in his voice.
"Only a chance!" Killua shouted, looking over to his friend.
"Yep." Gon said without looking at him, popping the 'p' at the end of the word.
"Why you!" Killua began only to freeze before he got his hands near Gon's head. Gon had stopped suddenly and a large grin had split his face. He was looking up the hill at a small little house. There were clothes lines outside and a middle-aged woman was outside, hanging various clothes items up from a basket by her side. Gon looked over to Killua and then took off towards the woman.
"Mito-san!" He shouted out happily. The woman turned and Killua saw her brown eyes light up almost instantly when she saw Gon.
"Gon!" She yelled right before Gon pulled her in for a tight hug. Gon was just a little bit taller than the orange haired woman. That means that Killua would also be slightly taller than her.
Mito-san huh? Killua thought as he looked at the woman who was just now releasing her hold on the ebony haired male. She held him out at arm's length to get a better look at the boy. Killua heard her voice as it drifted down to him.
"You've been gone so long that I think you have gotten taller!" She said smiling.
"Mito! I've only been gone for a few weeks." Gon said.
"That's still too long!" She said. "You should have warned me you were coming too! Even though it is nice to see you."
"Mito-san." Gon whined at her. He suddenly stopped and looked around like he was missing something. "Killua!" He said when he spotted the white haired ex-assassin standing in the exact same spot as before. The only difference is that his arms were relaxing by his sides. Killua had been in mid thought when Gon's voice rang out.
"Come on Killua! Hurry up!" Gon said and turned back to Mito when Killua began limping his way the last 20 yards. "That's Killua! He's my best friend!
Killua reached Gon's side and hid his eyes with his long bangs.
"Killua, Mito. Mito, Killua." Gon said cheerily.
"Hello Killua. Are you injured?" Her eyes scanned over the boy's body. "I can tell Gon has already gone and gotten himself hurt but-" Mito suddenly gasped and pulled Killua's arm up to examine it further. Killua looked up with fear swimming in his eyes. She had seen the make-shift stitches in his wrist. Killua didn't move. He felt frozen. He didn't know why but he felt ashamed of his scars. (And yes, they were already most of the way healed and the thread would need to be removed soon.) Especially with this woman that Gon looked up to so much.
She pulled his other arm out from where he had shoved it deep into his pocket after she saw the first one.
"Killua…" She said, some emotion, unknown to Killua, lacing her voice. He looked away but was suddenly pulled closer. It took him a second to comprehend that Mito had pulled him into a bear hug. "Whatever it was that happened, I will never allow it to happen again. Gon and I will make sure of it." Mito said with a wobbly voice, her arms still tight around Killua.
Killua let the words sink in. His mind began racing and all of the emotions he had been feeling pulled to the surface. His lip trembled and his eyes got watery.
He flung his arms around Mito to return the embrace. He knows that this is how a real mother acts. He knows that he has never really had a real mother. The dam inside of Killua suddenly broke. He let all of the pent up feelings of anger and worthlessness and sadness out all at once through his tears and shouts. Mito hugged him tighter and Killua felt Gon's arms envelope both of them.
He looked over at Gon who had a big smile on his face. "Don't worry Killua! I'll keep you safe from Illumi!" Killua sniffed and released one of his arms from Mito to hug Gon. Mito and Gon held Killua there as he emptied all of his horrible emotions from his body.
Thank you Gon. You saved me.
GOMEN FOR THE LATE UPDATE!
Thank you guys so much for sticking with me and understanding my need for time and adjustment. Thank you for the advice on high school, it came in handy. I will from now on try to update at the LEAST once a week.
58 Reviews needed. (Yep we're doing this again because it actually helps force me to stop procrastinating and write the freaking story)
Thank you guys also for the kind reviews. Luv ya! ;)
