Chapter 25 - Two x Friends x Separate

The first thing Gon sees when he wakes up is a broken fan hanging on a messy ceiling. The only light around them is from a wavering candle on Gon's nightstand. He's currently lying on a small bed in an old hospital. A boy sits quietly to his right, his gaze is set on Gon the whole time.

"Gon! Oh thank god! You're awake!" Killua shouts when he sees Gon's eyes open. " I was so worried."

Gon opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. When he looks down, he notices that his throat is still injured from the fight against the Phantom Troupe.

"Gon, I'm sorry." Killua quietly mutters.

Not only that, his right hand and left leg are both wearing casts. These injuries don't stop him. He takes a pen and paper from his nightstand and writes:

"No, don't be sorry. Killua, I should thank you." He shows it to Killua.

"You're hurt….so severely. You won't be able to talk for at least a few weeks. Why are you still thanking me?" Killua sighs resignedly.

"But I didn't die, right? If you hadn't been there, I would've died for sure. So thank you, Killua." After writing this sentence, Gon hands it over to Killua and smiles as he waits for his friend to read it.

Killua's lips begin to tremble after reading it, his hands start to shake. Tears quietly roll down his cheeks. He silently draws his arm forward to embrace Gon. He puts his arms around his friend's shoulders; the two stay in this position for five solid minutes, without saying a single word.

After the silent five minutes, the two boys draw their bodies apart.

"I'm just so relieved that you finally woke up." Killua murmurs.

"How long was I out for?" Gon writes.

"Four days." Killua says quietly.

"Judging by all of the empty water bottles on the shelf, you drank all of those, right? Which means you didn't leave this room once in the past four days. You didn't leave my side once, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't. I was really worried. I couldn't leave your side. I wanted to go downstairs to the restaurant to get some food. But I just couldn't leave you."

"You didn't sleep?"

"No. I didn't. Like I said, I couldn't fall asleep. Compared to all of the suffering you went through, not sleeping for four days isn't even worth mentioning."

"What are you going to do now?" Gon writes this question and presents it to Killua.

"There's a magical stone located under the Zoldyck's estate. It can resurrect the dead, and they're probably going to use it on Illumi."

"Illumi is dead?" Gon interrupts him.

"Yeah, I killed him." Killua knows Gon doesn't want him to kill, so he looks away.

However, for Gon, sensing Killua doesn't want to talk about this subject, he doesn't pursue it.

"Okay, what about the magical stones."

"I'm going to go to the estate and try to get the stone before they can. If it can revive the dead, then it can heal the wounded too. I'll use it to heal you."

"Are you saying that I can't with you?" Gon quickly writes this down and shows it to Killua.

"Gon, you can't come with me. Look at you right now. You'll get hurt even more if you go."

It pains Killua's heart to simply reject Gon. However, he this time, he knows it's for Gon's own good.

Gon tries to jot down something quickly, but Killua stops him.

"Gon, I know you want to go with me. But please! You'll put yourself in even more danger if you go. Please Gon! I'm begging you! I don't want you to get hurt even more."

All of this still wasn't enough to persuade Gon, however, once he sees Killua's tears, he falls silent.

"Okay, Killua. You can go by yourself." Gon finally writes. "Promise me you'll return safely."

"I promise, Gon. I promise. Thank you for being considerate." Killua sighs, relieved.

"When are you leaving?"

"I I don't even know the time right now. But judging by the darkness outside the window, it's probably around midnight. I'll leave as soon as possible, probably right now. I've already paid a nurse to take care of you and all of the money for the food and the medicine you'll need. So you don't have to worry about anything."

"Okay. Take care, Killua. I'll miss you."

"Don't make it sound like this separation will be forever. We're only going to be apart for a few weeks." Killua stands up from his wooden chair next to Gon's bed. "Well. See ya. I hope you get better soon."

"Bye Killua!"

Killua leaves Gon's room, however, right after the door closes, Gon writes something else onto the piece of paper:

"Killua, there's no way you're going to go back to the Zoldyck's estate by yourself." Gon gets out of his bed. He winces at the pain when he places his injured foot onto the ground. But he continues.

"Killua. I'm not going to go with you, so you don't have to stop every time I fall behind because of my injury. But I'll quietly follow you."

Timeskip (five days later)

After traveling on an airship for three days and walking for another two days, Killua finally arrives at the foot of the Kukuroo Mountain, outside the Testing gate. Gon has been following him the whole time. He's currently on the airship after the one Killua was on, which means he's still on his way to the mountain.

"Ohh! Master Killua! Welcome home!" The guard, Mike says as he sees silver-haired boy approach the gate. "I didn't expect your arrival."

"Where's Illumi?" Killua asks coldly.

"Oh. Master Illumi is in the family house like always." He points toward the top of the mountain.

"So he's already back?! Man! They're quick! So right now my goal is to get more information concerning the magical stones, and hopefully get my hands on one."

"Do you want me to tell everyone about your arrival?" Mike asks.

"No. Don't tell anyone about it…" Killua hesitates for a second, then he says, "Thanks."

He walks toward the Testing Gate. "Let's see if my strength increased over the past years."

Killua takes a deep breath, and "PUSHHHHHHH!"

Mike gasps from the side, "Woah! Master Killua! You opened the sixth door! It's 128 Tons!"

"Mmm...looks like it. I did get stronger after all…. Well, see ya." Killua waves at Mike without looking back and heads up the mountain.

It takes Killua two hours to get to the halfway mark on the mountain. There, he meets Canary.

"Greetings, Master Killua. Welcome home! It's been a while."

"This isn't my home. It certainly doesn't feel like it." Killua is just about to open his mouth to say more, but someone else appears behind Canary.

"Kil, I've been waiting for you."

"Ill….u...mi." Killua whispers.

"All of the wounds he had four days ago are all gone! He's emitting a more powerful aura than before! How?!"

"Yes, that's right, Kil. I can see the fear in your eyes. What did I teach you before? When you see an opponent stronger than you, what do you do?" Illumi says with a manically smile on his face.

Instinctively, Killua answers, "I run."

"Yes, Kil. That's right" Illumi begins to approach Killua. In response, Killua retreats backward. Illumi continues, "Yes, run away. Because no matter what you do, you will always have the soul of a killer."