A/N: This is the last chapter and the story is complete. I've left it open so that a sequel could be made if there is interest from readers...

I want to take the time now to thank everyone who has read this fic from front to back, i really appreciate you joining me on this journey, Gon and Killua are are two of my most favourite characters of all time! If you enjoyed this fic (or if you hated it!) please leave me a review and give me some feedback. This was a learning experience for me and I look forward to taking any feedback and implementing it into my next works. For all of you who have already left reviews and feedback, thank you, your kind words motivated me to keep pushing on and finish this fic. There were some of you that were reviewing and reading every chapter as it was posted and your feedback really kept me going, I'd like to especially thank: color2413 and KyoKyo. I lived and breathed this fic during the time that I wrote it and honestly it was a wonderful experience and I thank you all for aiding me along in that experience! Lots of love to all of you and may we all eventually find the type of love found between these two!

I hope you enjoy the final chapter.

Sincerely,

GHK.

Chapter 10 - The Rising Sun

"I'm so…tired…" Killua whispered into someones ear. He was only vaguely aware that he was kneeling and leaning in to another body that was bearing his weight. The other returned words in kind, they drifted lightly on warm breath that tickled his ear. The words did not come clearly to him, he could not separate them or form them into a sentence; but with them came a cluster of sentiment that transcended the boundaries of language. These sentiments relayed impressions of security, comfort, and warmth to Killua. His instincts were clamouring at his consciousness, trying to wrestle him alert and screaming warnings of vulnerability. Yet something else inside of him was repeating like a drum beat, drowning out the cries of his primal instincts, trust this, trust him, trust…and rest it resonated.

Killua abandoned his instincts entirely and allowed his consciousness to fade, trusting in the comforting rhythm of the message that seemed in time with his own heart beat. He was faintly aware of a hand running fingers gently through his hair while another hand pressed him close to the warm body that held his weight. The sensation seemed to melt away all of his concerns, silencing finally that part of his mind unremittingly prone to his inherent tendencies. The arms within which Killua found himself delivered complete salvation, their loving hold erected a barrier against anything that might cause harm or discomfort. For a moment, this barrier was reminiscent of Killua's common state of loneliness and the protection from feeling it awarded. But he soon discerned that here and now, this cocoon like feeling granted by the arms of his currently undistinguishable saviour, was so vastly different from the impediment to feeling that his prior retreat into loneliness cast. This barrier allowed the passage of some feelings, but only those that granted tranquility.

These were the last impressions that came to Killua before he faded completely. For the first time in his life, Killua slept without the torment of nightmares, without visitation of his painful past and somewhere outside and opposite to the numbing grip of loneliness.

Killua's consciousness came back to him in waves. At first there were simply brief sensations; his sensory abilities slowly awakening, delivering information about his surroundings but only in a simplistic manner. Killua could sense a soft surface beneath him, so that he knew he must be lying down. A warm breeze indicated that he was somewhere outside. A sound from above reminiscent of rustling foliage strongly implied that he was also beneath a tree. Killua could also sense that he wasn't alone. Although there was no one near him that he could immediately detect, there was a presence within him; something that was definitely not part of Killua's identity, either metaphysical or physical.

As Killua struggled to bring himself to see he was suddenly blinded by bright, white light. It was hot and seared his vision shut again. Killua sat up and decided that his eyes had not adjusted yet, but he could tell that he was outdoors somewhere, as he had suspected. The lack of any outline of structures within the light during his brief glimpse indicated he was not anywhere near Heaven's Arena. But he had caught sight of a figure, it appeared right at the centre of his momentary vision like a rough sketch of a shadow on a pristinely white piece of paper. It was off in the distance a fair way and had wavered slightly, as if amidst a fluid backdrop. He couldn't make out who it was. Killua opened his eyes again and struggled to draw focus to his vision but the blinding light was fierce to his sensitive eyes. As Killua gave his sight time to adjust he willed his other body parts to move, deciding to take complete account of his current physical state. His body was extremely sore but he was without major injury. Killua briefly noticed that he was only wearing a pair of shorts, his shirt and shoes had been removed.

Killua brought his hands back to his face and rubbed at his eyes realizing that some remnants of sleep remained. He cleared them of the residue and finally his eyes drove to focus. Slowly a picture formed before him.

Killua saw grass as green as emeralds sloping gently downward toward a sandy bay-front. Tempered sapphire waters kissed the shore climbing up and down the crescent of sand as quietly as nature would allow. The outer perimeter of grass was cradled by trees, framing the little cove so as to create a secluded paradise without visible access to anywhere beyond. The trees were of a species that Killua did not know the name of but they were beautiful with little white flowers expanding like crystals and reflecting light in every direction. A warm breeze snaked its way between the blooming trees and blanketed the entire space with its languid movement. Birds chirped and gave chase to each other in the clear blue sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight, the only thing blocking Killua's view of the entire firmament was one of the delightful trees beneath which he sat. Its white crystal-like blooms providing a floral canopy above him.

The entire space glittered and sparkled with an ebullient aesthetic. It was all brought to light by the most powerful piece of the picture at the centre of Killua's vision and one that he was just now able to absorb. The sun rose just above the horizon like a giant yolk of golden light, floating in such a way that it appeared as though the curvature of the bay had propped it up on the waters between. It cast its radiance directly across the placid sea toward the shoreline, laying a golden pathway upon which it seemed one could walk. The shimmering path ended at the feet of the figure that had moments ago been simply a shadow in the light. It was now that Killua realized the figure was walking toward him. Then came recognition.

Gon, Killua remembered, a flood of memory coming over him. The fight with Illumi and Hisoka's bizarre heroism. His desperate final leap to the balcony gardens. Unleashing his confession upon Gon. The other boy being entirely speechless throughout the whole confession and partial diatribe. The point of no return when he had committed to killing himself and then…

Gon, you…saved my life. Somehow you used your aura to protect me, I felt it. You held me and kept me as your own. This presence inside of me, this feeling of harmony, of not being alone, of warmth, you gave this to me. This is your light, Gon! Not only your light, this is your Nen! Killua's mind told him the truth but he could not believe it. He was still in a haze and unable to acknowledge the veracity of his thoughts. Yet at this very moment, Gon's words echoed throughout his mind, stirring him into varying states of belief. I love you too, Killua. Thank you for making me see.

"Killua! You're awake, finally!" Gon was now shouting and running up the shore toward him.

Killua could hear the soft crunch of grass as Gon's bare feet transitioned from beach to turf. As Gon came closer and into full view Killua realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt either and was only clad in a pair of purple sweat shorts. Killua recognized them immediately, they were his. This made Killua consider what the heck he was wearing. He quickly looked down at himself and realized he was wearing a pair of blue shorts himself. They weren't his but they were the kind of athletic material that he liked and they fit well in the baggy style he was accustomed to. Killua looked up again and almost fell backwards. Gon had kneeled over him and was now staring directly into his eyes. Killua could do nothing but stare at Gon. He was so beautiful, especially in his element. In the sunlight his tanned skin looked even more stunning, as if it were polished bronze. His eyes were glossy with a deep amber glow; and his jet black hair, a complete spiky mess at the moment, was tousled boyishly. Gon's appearance was still so much like what Killua had seen when they had first met. It would be easy to mistake him for twelve still, were it not for his now prominent muscular development. Oh fuck he's so adorable… Killua thought, remembering right away why he had so easily fallen in love with the boy that straddled him.

"Killua, you're finally awake! You were so tired, you slept for two days!" Gon exclaimed throwing his hands up into the air in excitement. "It wasn't easy getting you here, you kept mumbling in your sleep and then you complained about the air ship and then you said you were hungry but I couldn't wake you up to eat. Also, my back is sore! You got heavy, I mean, don't take that in a bad way, you look great, but you weren't easy to carry everywhere you know! Well, I guess you've carried me a few times so I owed you that. Do you like the shorts? I bought them for you on the way home, they're baggy the way you like them and they match the colour of your eyes." Gon grinned sheepishly.

Killua thought that if Gon had a tail he would be wagging it right now. "Gon, yeah the shorts are cool, but I…Uhhh" Killua began to speak trying to engage but was interrupted immediately by Gon who had laid a finger to his lips, effectively shushing him. Killua was grateful as he really wasn't ready to use his words. The sensation of Gon touching him was more than enough to handle at this point and time. Killua was also aware of his crotch becoming hot underneath Gon who was literally in his lap now, knees just to either side of Killua's hips. There were parts of Gon that he was feeling on him right now for the first time ever. Naturally, Killua's cheeks became flushed.

"Killua, I know you're probably confused right now and I want to explain everything to you, but I have an idea. Do you trust me?" Gon regarded him with a look Killua had seen before. He could trust this.

"Ok, Gon. I trust you." Killua responded.

Gon stood up suddenly and held his hand down toward Killua. "Take my hand, Killua."

Killua took the warm hand and felt Gon pull him up to his feet with one strong movement. Killua was quite grateful as another moment of being straddled by Gon would have left him utterly aroused. Gon didn't let go.

"Ok, let's go!" Gon shouted as he broke out into a sprint toward the water. Killua reacted quickly, his legs instinctively moving to keep up with the pace, his hand never letting go of Gon's for a second. They tore through the grass at breakneck pace and scrambled and slid once they hit the sand, all the while managing to keep their hands together. Gon reached the waters edge but did not stop. Before Killua could prepare himself they were splashing out into the ocean water, soft sand squishing between his toes and sea water soaking his shorts. The water was a completely comfortable temperature, cool but not cold and once adjusted it felt positively warm. Gon stopped when they were just above waist deep, they were both panting hard through smiles that had crept on to their faces. Killua almost could have laughed, this was so Gon, but a chuckle would require way more oxygen than he had to spare right now, his body still completely fatigued.

"You have to promise not to laugh at me, Killua, ok? This might seem kind of, well, you might think it's dumb." Gon gave Killua a questioning look with the words, his trademark earnestness in plain sight.

"Ok Gon, I won't laugh," Killua said hesitantly, but he felt comfortable committing to the request.

Gon stepped closer to Killua, there was only a few inches of space between them. His amber eyes were reflecting the sunlight, mixing with it and adding their own golden glow to its already radiant character. Killua stared into Gon's eyes, they had taken on a serious look, but they were still soft and kind.

"Killua it's my turn to confess" Gon began, "although I recognize this will be a much easier confession as you've already done the heavy lifting for both of us. For letting you carry that weight alone, I can never forgive myself, but I can start making amends today." Killua felt Gon put his hands on the small of his back, keeping him close with a gentle pull before he continued. The seawater lapped softy against their bodies and filled in the minuscule amount of space between them.

"Killua, I am sorry. I am very sorry. I've never been more sorry than I am for what I did to you. I never knew, I was too naive, too ignorant. When I said those words to you, out of my mind with rage over Kite, I never realized how badly I could hurt you. It didn't mean nothing to you, it meant everything, I see that now. I was so utterly selfish, Killua, for thinking that it had been all about me. It was a mistake but that doesn't mean I shouldn't own it. You were right to be angry with me. I was wrong, I was wrong the whole time, searching for Ging. It wasn't Ging I was looking for Killua, it was you." Gon let his hands fall from Killua's back and formed them into a cup reaching down into the water. He lifted them out and poured the warm sea water over Killua's body. He began at Killua's shoulders and applied his hands over Killua's skin, washing him gently. Killua would have closed his eyes and sighed but Gon's gaze held them open.

Gon continued, "I don't know how to say sorry properly, Killua. You know how I think, you'd call me simpleminded and you'd be right about that. But if I can think of that time as a mark, a stain that I put on you, then let me wash it away now with my own hands."

Killua was in awe of the maturity Gon was displaying. It was so romantic, so genuine, so loving. As much as Gon was clearly the same boy as always, part of him had changed. He felt Gon's hands move all over his body. They were running through his hair, over his ears, wiping his cheeks, down his chest, over his abdomen, around his sides, up and down his back. Gon washed the superficial mark from Killua's form as they stood in the sea together bathing in the morning light and each others affection.

After some time Killua began to speak, "Gon…I," but he couldn't finish, his mouth hung open slightly, lips trembling. He felt tears well up in his eyes.

"You don't have to say anything Killua, you don't owe me anything. I owe you everything. Let me talk for now, let me do for you what only I can do. You were so tired after…what happened…at the gardens, that I don't know if you heard me say it, but," Gon paused and regarded Killua with a look that he had never seen before. His eyes shimmered with a new kind of light; they were passionate and vibrating slightly. Killua felt Gon stop the washing process and step as close as was possible. Killua was pulled right against Gon, their wet bodies sticking together in the water, nose to nose, foreheads almost touching. Killua could feel Gon's breath on his lips, the steady rise and fall of their slick stomachs colliding softly, flittering upon the sensual contact. Gon wrapped him in his arms and it was then that he spoke the words again. Killua hadn't remembered the first time Gon said them, but this time he would never forget.

"I love you too, Killua. Not just like best friends. I love you more than a best friend. You're the one I want to be with. I want you to kiss me, I want you to hold me, I want you to touch me. I never knew a boy could love another boy, I was too childish to even imagine it could be that way. But after seeing you again and realizing my own feelings, I now see how simple it really is. Just like this."

And with that Killua felt Gon's lips touch his own. Killua pressed back deeply, pulling Gon even further into him, a slight moan releasing from each of them as they took joy in the pleasure of their first reciprocal kiss. Killua had his arms wrapped around Gon's shoulders, taking in the flavour of Gon; he was sweet with a mixture of salt from the ocean.

It seemed to last a lifetime, that moment. Killua wouldn't have minded if it had. This is what he had always wanted and Gon had fulfilled his greatest dreams and more. Gon eventually pulled back and wiped away a few tears that had formed on Killua's cheeks. Killua could barely contain the tears, but they were tears of joy, the first of their kind to ever grace his soft and pale face.

"No more crying, Killua. When I saw you there in agony at the balcony gardens all I could think of was how badly I wanted to save you. How badly I wanted to take away all the pain, darkness and loneliness you've had to live with. That's why I gave you my light, Killua. My Nen, my aura, is in you now. I don't know exactly how I did it, it just sort of happened, out of necessity. But I want my aura to heal you, to be with you and to remain a reminder that I'll always be there for you from now on." Gon pointed suddenly to the sun beaming above the horizon, enveloping them in its warmth. "See that? I want to be as permanent to you as the sun is to the day. I want to be yours forever, Killua. If you'll only have me, after all I've done."

Killua couldn't say a word, he was running out of tears, his body trembling. The love Gon was showing him now was beyond his wildest dreams, it was beyond anything Killua could ever have even imagined love might be like. His legs were weak and he leaned into Gon resting his head on Gon's shoulder, holding him tight and hoping that this would be enough of an answer for now. He felt Gon return the embrace, letting Killua know the message had been received.

Killua really wanted to say something romantic finally but what came out was, "Gon, I don't know if I can stand here in the water anymore, you may have to float me out of here if we stay any longer." It was true, Killua was exhausted. He laughed internally, who would have thought that Gon would be the better romantic between us? Get me out of the water before I drown is all I say to all that! Apparently my assassin upbringing did not prepare me for the art of romance. Killua was hauled from his thoughts by an immediate change in perspective.

"Loud and clear!" Gon shouted, and before Killua could object Gon had picked him up, cradling him in his arms and was taking them out of the sea.

"G-Gon! What if someone's watching? This is so embarrassing!" Killua protested habitually, but only half heartedly.

"Don't worry Killua," Gon said, "there's never anyone around here. I'm the only one who knows about this place on Whale Island. Besides, if someone did see us, I'd just let them know that I was carrying my one and only true love because he was tired." Gon's face was consumed by an enormous grin.

"Gon, that's even worse! You can't just go around announcing it like that! People think differently about these kinds of things you know." Killua's cheeks were so hot he thought the water around them might boil, yet he didn't dare unwrap his arms from Gon's shoulders.

Gon started to chuckle he sounds exactly the same as when he was only twelve, Killua thought. It was undeniably charming.

"Ok Killua, well remember you picked me so you're going to have to put up with it. I'm bad at math, I can't remember long lists of things and usually I'm pretty bad when it comes to social etiquette and I really don't care what other people think of me! But that's a new word I learned, etiquette! Are you impressed? It's got like, over 8 letters in it!" Gon was positively beaming.

He can't be serious, Killua thought, but he couldn't stop himself from bursting into laughter. He buried his head into the crook of Gon's neck, giggling as he was carried up the beach and back to the blanket Gon had laid beneath the beautiful tree.

Gon set Killua down gently and then reached over to a basket that was off to the side. "Hey, Killua. I got you something." Gon pulled out a bar of chocolate and handed it to Killua.

Killua looked at the packaging and read the label. "Super Special Uber Delicious Choco-Peanut Butter Mega-Crunch!" He shouted. "Gon, this ones my favourite! But they don't sell it anywhere anymore! I haven't been able to find it for over a year! How did you…" Killua interrupted his own words as he began to positively drool over the chocolate bar.

"I know, you told me it was your favourite. I never forgot. See it's only seven words, Super Special Uber Delicious Choco-Peanut Butter Mega-Crunch, I can remember that! Well, actually, I couldn't, but I recognized the picture on the front! I knew you loved it so when I came across a store selling them earlier this year I bought all the bars they had. They're all in my freezer back at the house, there's over two hundred bars so…I guess you have to make that last at least a month, ok?" Gon lay down beside Killua on the blanket and reached his arm out to pull Killua onto his chest.

"I'm not sharing!" Killua protested, if he had fangs he would have probably shown them now.

"I know, I just want to hold you that's all. You can have all the chocolate," Gon said smiling.

"Ok well, I guess, as long as this isn't some sort of trick," Killua responded teasing.

"The only trick here is how you stay looking so hot after eating pounds of chocolate…" Gon mumbled quietly to himself.

"Gon! What did you say?" Killua retorted.

"nothing!…" Gon said, whistling and looking around innocently.

They stayed there for a while in silence beneath the tree. Well, it was relatively silent, aside from Killua inhaling the chocolate bar with the ferocity of a hungry jungle cat. Killua eventually broke the silence, his craving now sated. "Hey Gon, what was it you had wanted to see me about at the gardens anyway? Some words Ging had said?"

"Yeah," Gon replied. "It's not really important now, I already got my answer, actually."

"Oh, well that's good," Killua said and then he paused staring down at Gon. "Hey, those shorts you're wearing," Killua began, "those are my shorts…aren't they?"

"Yup!" Gon responded brightly. His eyes squinted and he smiled his best poster boy impression.

"Where…did you get my shorts, Gon?" Killua inquired as he curled up further into Gon, head resting on Gon's chest. He could feel Gon playing idly with his hair that had now dried into a fluffy disaster.

"When you came to Whale Island with me for the first time. You forgot these when we left for Yorknew City, and when I came back here I found them. They must have gotten lost in the laundry one day while Mito-San was cleaning up after us. I guess I started to miss you so, I began to wear them every now and then, they reminded me of you. It felt good to have part of you with me, even if it was just a pair of shorts. But these were the ones you wore when we met for the first time during the Hunter Exam, you want them back?" Gon finished.

"We can share them, besides they look good on you, but maybe just wear them when we're alone…they're a bit tight on you now Gon…" Killua was smirking while his eyes wandered down to Gon's bulge. The soft clingy purple shorts left very little to the imagination and Killua wasn't disappointed.

"Yeah, I guess I'm not twelve anymore," Gon said as he looked down thoughtfully.

"No…definitely not twelve from what I can see…" Killua replied, suggestively, licking his lips briefly. It caught Gon off guard and for once, Killua had managed to embarrass him.

"Killua! Don't say stuff like that you're going to make me self conscious!"

Killua burst out laughing again, "yeah right, make you self conscious. I could be so lucky."

They carried on for a while teasing each other. Eventually as they calmed down Killua brought things back to their current situation. "So, what do you want to do now?" Killua said it, almost instinctively, expecting Gon to have some sort of new adventure planned.

"Actually I was going to ask you the same thing," Gon replied. "What do you want to do Killua? I think we've done enough of what I want for a while, don't you think?"

Killua stared at Gon, bewildered. He really has grown, Killua thought. "Well…" Killua began, "how about we find a way to get you your Nen back…again."

Gon turned his head and looked back at Killua inquisitively, "is that what you really want? Won't that mean it won't be inside you anymore?"

"Yeah Gon, that's what I really want. The light you've given me can never be taken away now, and I want you to be complete. I can't imagine you without your Jajanken, especially if we get into trouble. Besides, it's not fair if I'm the only one who can do cool stuff. Just wait until you see my new attack, I almost took out Illumi with it and…" Killua continued on and told Gon the whole story of Illumi's attack and Hisoka's timely arrival. Gon's eyes drew wide when he realized that the loud thunderstorm was actually caused by Killua's new power.

"Killua! You have to do it now! Show me! I gotta see it!" Gon had stood up and was literally jumping up and down.

"G-Gon! I can't just, do it here! It would wreck this entire place!" Killua stammered.

"Oh, ok, well in that case then show me as soon as we find a place that won't be missed!" Gon concluded. They both laughed, and Gon sat back down on the blanket cross legged and facing Killua.

He pointed up to the tree above them, "Hey, Killua. See this tree?"

"Yeah, what are these trees anyway?" Killua replied.

"They're star magnolia, they're my favourite," Gon began. "This one in particular stood out to me. This is where I came to be alone, to train and figure out how to get my Nen back. When I would get frustrated I used to just stare at this tree, it reminded me of something and provided comfort. When I had finally got my Nen back I was still having problems controlling my rage. My aura just wasn't the same as before, it was wild and hard to contain. Something in it lingered from that battle with Pitou. But one day when I was staring at this star magnolia it brought back a memory, you know, that time we camped out for the first time on Whale Island together and slept under the stars? I said then, I'm happy when I'm with you, Killua. I learned to use that memory and the peace it brought my mind to calm the rage when it would surface. That night with you and how I felt, I should have known then, Killua, that I loved you in this way. Now I know that the reason this tree helped that memory to surface is because it actually reminds me of you, with it's starlike flowers the colour of your hair. It's so perfectly proportioned, beautiful and fragile, I just want to protect it and keep it safe." Gon brought himself over on top of Killua who was still lying down, staring up at the tree. Killua felt Gon's crotch brush gently against his own, he couldn't withhold his arousal this time, and he noticed that Gon was sporting one of his own. "Just like I want to protect you, and keep you safe, Killua," Gon whispered as he kissed Killua's neck gently. Then poking his head up slyly, "but hey Killua, for now do you think you could keep me safe? Without my Nen I'm pretty useless in a fight…"

Killua returned the kisses to Gon's neck while giggling, "You're lucky I'm not just some pretty tree, huh!" Then soberly, "Yes, Gon, again I'll keep you safe, like I always have. That will never change."

Killua and Gon spent the rest of the day indulging in each other. They explored their love and all the pleasures of the mind and body it could provide. Eventually, after they had literally eaten each other up to the extent that dinner was spoiled, Killua and Gon decided to set out together again, on a new quest. They would find a way to give Gon back his Nen and figure out from there what to do next. But for the first time there was no laggard. They stepped out this time together, and in parallel; their motivation joined in purpose. It was now that the real adventure began, the one that Ging had always truly wanted for his son and the one that Killua would later refer to as the beginning of his life.

Joined. Unconfined. Warm. Loved. Free…

Killua.