Author's Note: I deeply apologize for my absence. Believe it or not, half of this chapter has been written for months. I just hadn't gotten around to finishing it. And if any of you are still interested, I'll continue the story. Although, I haven't watched many of the new episodes so the story has literally nothing to do with the current television plot.

The train car jerked. Killua's blue eyes flew open. He began to sit up in his seat, but froze when he glanced down and saw Gon asleep with his head in his lap. He smiled to himself and resisted the urge to run his fingers through the boy's spiky hair. Maybe things are going to be fine between us after all. A throat cleared beside him, interrupting his thoughts. Killua was disturbed to find Hisoka in the aisle, smirking down at them.

"Er…how long have you been standing there?" Killua asked, perturbed. His voice stirred the sleeping boy awake. Gon's warm brown eyes fluttered open and he was slow to lift his head.

"Well don't you two look…cozy," observed Hisoka, with an edge to his voice.

"Huh?"

Without moving his head, Hisoka slid his eyes downwards and licked his lips. Killua followed the man's gaze with his own. His hand. His pale hand was still interlaced with Gon's. Gon anticipated Killua's move and gripped his hand so that he couldn't pull it away.

Hisoka chuckled. "We have arrived in Yorknew." Gon glanced out the window, as if to confirm this piece of information. Sure enough, the train was no longer moving. The man turned on his heel and departed the train, leaving the two boys in awkward silence. This time, when Killua tried to pull his hand away, Gon let him.

"We better follow him," Killua said softly, standing up.

Gon jumped up after him. "You have no reason to be embarrassed," he insisted with a smile. "It's only Hisoka."

"I'm not embarrassed," he grumbled.

"Then what's wrong? Why don't you want to hold hands anymore?" Gon smiled coyly and he took a step closer to the boy. "I liked holding your hand, Killua."

Killua shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and shrugged. "Because I don't."

Gon rocked back and forth on his heels. "Because why?"

"I just don't, Gon," he replied, flustered. Killua started to walk away, but Gon grabbed his elbow to stop him.

"You liked it too. I know you did." Killua yanked his arm forward, releasing his clasp. Gon's lower lip began to tremble. "I...I don't understand. I thought you had feelings for me."

Killua was startled by his candor. Maybe he isn't so oblivious after all. "Keep your voice down," he whispered forcefully, looking around.

"No, Killua. I want to hear you admit it."

"There's nothing to admit," he hissed through his teeth.

Gon's face hardened. "Maybe Kurapika was right about you." He pushed past Killua and took off down the aisle.

"Right about what?" Killua called out. He curled his right hand into a fist and cursed himself. "Gon, wait!" He chased after him with his hands behind his back. Bounding off the train, he scanned the platform for Gon. His face creased with worry when he spotted him face down in a pit of mud with Hisoka standing over him. Killua rushed to join them. "What did you do to him?"

"What I did?" asked Hisoka, while theatrically placing a hand over his chest. "The boy tripped," he explained in mirth. "I merely came over here to offer him a hand up." Gon grunted and pushed himself to his feet. His clothes and skin were caked in mud. He smeared it across his face while trying to clear it away from his eyes. "Well we certainly can't fight Illumi with you looking like this. Let's get you cleaned up first."

"Let us get you cleaned up?" Killua eyed the magician warily.

He nodded in the direction of the restrooms. "I do believe there are showers right over there." He rested his arm around Gon's neck and started to lead him away.

"Wha?" Killua asked in disbelief. He stalked after them, scowling. "Gon, don't be an idiot. You're not seriously about to head into the public showers with him, are you?"

Hisoka glanced back at him over his shoulder as the three of them entered the small concrete building. "Would you rather it be with you?" He cocked an eyebrow at him, causing Killua to blush ear to ear. The man smirked.

"That's enough." Gon slipped out from beneath Hisoka's embrace. "The both of you. I'm going to quickly get washed up. The two of you stay right here." He looked back and forth between them. "And try not to kill each other." He yanked open the curtain to one of the shower stalls and pulled it shut behind him.

"So what is our plan, exactly?" Killua asked, deadpan. "We found Illumi. Now what?"

"We kill him," Hisoka answered with a shrug. At the sound of the shower water being turned on, he leaned backwards subtly, trying to get a peek between the curtains. Killua smacked him. Hisoka looked back at the silver-haired boy, unabashed.

"We kill him? That's our plan?"

"That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

Killua set his jaw. "And what happens if you can't defeat him?"

"Well then I guess we all die," Hisoka replied with a chuckle.

"I'm being serious," said Killua, grabbing the front of the Magician's outfit. Hisoka's amused expression morphed into one of contempt. The boy snatched his hand away.

"So am I," Hisoka snarled, loud enough to elicit a warning from Gon. "I said I would kill Illumi and I will do everything in my power to hold up my end of the agreement. But I make no promises."

"No, that wasn't the deal-"

Gon ripped open the shower curtain, startling them both into silence. He had changed back into his clothes, although now they- along with the rest of his body-were soaking wet. Killua couldn't help but stare. It took him a moment to recover, and when he did he glanced over at Hisoka. The man was eying Gon hungrily. This time, when Killua pulled at the Magician's top, it was to lead him out of the small building. Hisoka was too stunned to put up any resistance. "We'll be outside…um…trying to find you some dry clothes."

"Oh, you don't have to do that. They'll dry up on their own. Besides, we have to hurry. Illumi could take off at any moment and then we'll never get to Leorio on time."

I need Hisoka entirely focused on the task ahead of him. Not creepily checking out my boy- my…friend. "No, stay here. We'll be right back." He closed his hand into a fist, forcing himself not to steal a final peek. "And try to stay out of sight." On the way out of the building, he closed the door-meant to always stay open for public use- behind them.

Hisoka found this humorous. "Afraid someone else might drop by and steal his affection, are we?"

"Shut up," Killua grumbled under his breath. The man was right, of course. Gon was out of his league entirely and anyone else-aside from maybe Hisoka- was more worthy of being with him. But Killua was selfish. And although he had a hard time of admitting it, he wanted Gon all to himself.