A.N. I was re-reading my story and looking for things I'll have to fx later, and in chapter fifteen I realised I was spelling Chrollo's name wrong the whole time :'-( I'm already done with the Yorknew Arc, so I have to go back and fix the whole thing! Speaking of, when we get into season three, I might slow down the updates a little as I finish season four. I'm about halfway through it, so hopefully it won't take too long! Again, a big thank you to everyone who's favorited, followed, and reviewed!
Chapter Nineteen
Hisoka glanced up as footsteps approached. He smirked, seeing all three kids with Ten surrounding their bodies. His violent aura rushed towards them, but they stood tall, walking through it Hisoka smiled and cut it off as they reached him.
"Welcome to the two hudreth floor. Seems I needn't bother with the traditional initiation." He turned his attention to Gon. "I think I can guess why you've come to Heavens Arena. You intended to get some training in before challenging me, correct?"
"That's right. But I didn't expect I was gonna find you here. That saves me some trouble." Gon said, making Hisoka chuckle.
"I wouldn't get so brash just because you learned Ten." Hisoka said, activating his own Ten and lifting two fingers. "You still have much to learn about Nen. I have absolutely no desire to fight you right now." Hisoka said, manipulating his Nen into shapes. He stopped and stood up. "However… If you manage to win a single match on this floor, I'll accept your challenge." Hisoka promised, turning to leave. He paused briefly and turned around. "Ayami." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you remember what I said?"
"September first, Yorknew City. I'll be there." Ayami nodded. Hisoka nodded back and walked away.
"Lets go." Killua said, and the three of them headed towards the reception desk, not noticing the three others watching them.
"Welcome to the two hundreth floor! Please fill out these forms." The receptionist said, handing them each some papers. "Would you like to register for a match now?" The three kids glanced at each other, unsure. "This level incorporates a self service system, so you're permitted up to ninety days of fight preparation. During those ninety days, you can sign up for a fight at any time. It's up to you! Once you participate in a fight, your ninety days start over again. However, if you don't fight by your deadline, you will be disqualified and your name will be stricken from all of the official record."
"That seems dramatic." Ayami snarked. Killua elbowed her.
"Wait, does that mean we're gonna have more than one fight on this level?" Gon asked.
"Yes! The only way to clear this floor is with ten victories. However, If you lose four times, you'll be disqualified. Also! If you win your ten fights, you'll have a chance to challenge the floor masters! The floor masters are the twenty one strongest fighters the Heavens Arena have to offer. Each one gets a whole floor to themselves. Understand? If you're able to beat a floor master, you win the honor and privilege of becoming the new master of that floor! Oh, and there's more! The floor masters get other perks! Not the least of which is you'll be able to compete in the Battle Olympia! Isn't that exciting?" The three kids just blinked at her.
"Sure, whatever you say Lady. Is there anything special about the top floor?" Killua asked.
"That's what you want to know? The champion of the Battle Olympia gets to live on the top floor. What about that? Its an incredible honor!" The kids shared a look. "A penthouse thats a thousand meters up! It's a life of luxury! Don't you get it?" She asked, pressing her face against the glass.
"But Killua, isn't your house like 3700 meters up?" Gon asked.
"Its way bigger than any penthouse could be, too." Ayami added. The receptionist fell over.
"Wait- there are other prizes-" The woman began only to be ignored.
"Well? Whadoya think? I dunno, if that's the floor's big secret, I dont care anymore."
"'S kinda lame." Ayami agreed.
"I just want to fight with Hisoka." Gon shrugged.
"I guess you'll have to win a fight then." Ayami said.
"You're gonna wait a little while first, right?" Killua asked.
"No way! I'm ready. These opponents are different, and I'm not leaving until I find out just how different." Gon said determinedly. Killua and Ayami smirked fondly.
"In that case, you'll need to fill this out as well." Said the annoyed receptionist, handing them another form. They started filling out the papers but were interrupted by three creepy men.
"You want something?" Killua demanded.
"Oh no. Not really." The man in the wheelchair said.
"We're waiting to register for a match." The man with a strange face added. The man standing on a metal leg just laughed.
"I get it. Gon, I think these guys wanna fight on the same day you do." Killua said. The man in red cackled again Gon shrugged and turned back to his paper, finishing it and handing them to the receptionist.
"I'm ready. Just tell me when to fight." Gon snapped.
"Well, you heard him." Killua shrugged. After some not so subtle threats they were sent to their new rooms, the three men watching them leave. They explored Gon's new room and Gon was told his match would be tomorrow. They talked for a while before Ayami yawned.
"I'm beat, I'm gonna go to bed."
"Ayami wait!" Gon called.
"What is it?" Ayami asked.
"What happened earlier? When Wing awakened your Nen?" Gon asked. Ayami sighed and sat down again.
"I think when Wing unlocked my Nen I got a whole bunch of my memories back. It was just… too much too fast. I don't remember a lot of it, but this-" Ayami opened her sketchbook to her last drawing and passed it to the boys. "-kept popping up. A spider with twelve legs."
"That's the symbol of the Phantom Troupe." Gon said.
"Yeah. Hisoka told me I'd meet my family in Yorknew City September first, and the Troupe is supposed to be there at the same time."
"You think it's connected?" Killua asked.
"It's gotta be."
"I guess we'll find out in September." Killua said.
"Wait, you think you're a Troupe members kid?" Gon asked.
"That, or they were involved with my accident somehow. Either way, there's nothing I can do about it now." Ayami sighed. She took her book back and stood. "You should get some rest Gon, you'll need it for your fight tomorrow."
"Ayami's right, get some sleep." Killua stood and headed for the door.
"Okay." Gon pouted. "Good night!"
"G'night."
"Night Gon!" Ayami called as she and Killua walked out. She smiled at him and headed towards her room, only to pause when he followed. "Kil, what are you doing? Your rooms the other way."
"I just wanna make sure you get back okay, we don't know who's lurking around here yet." Killua said, glancing around like he expected someone to jump out at them.
"It's like ten yards away." Ayami laughed.
"I just wanna be sure." Killua shrugged.
"Softie." She teased. Killua froze when Ayami suddenly leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, face slowly turning beet red. He stared after her as she unlocked the door. "See you tomorrow Kil." Ayami grinned at him before walking into her room.
The next day Killua refused to look at her for almost an hour, unable to do so without blushing furiously. When he finally calmed down the three friends spent the day eating pizza and ice cream and playing happily, trying not to think about Gon's upcoming fight. When it was finally time Ayami and Killua wished him luck before heading to their seats.
"Do you think he'll win?" Killua asked.
"It's hard to tell. His opponent seems weak but he made it this far, that can't be a coincidence." Ayami mused.
"He has to know Nen." Kkillua added. Ayami sighed as Gon faced the man with the metal leg.
"I'm sure he'll be okay." Ayami said confidently.
He was not okay. Gon figured out how to dodge Gidos spinning tops by using Zetsu, completely repressing his aura, which left his body defenseless. Gido figured that out as well and quickly beat Gon, winning their match without a scratch. Gon on the other hand…
"Your right radius and your ulna were both broken." Killua told Gon, who was bedridden. "A fractured humerus and three broken ribs. Plus twelve other minor fractures."
"It will take four months to heal." Ayami added from where she sat near Killua.
"You moron." Killua snapped, glaring at Gon.
"What were you thinking?" Ayami asked.
"I'm sorry." Gon sighed, sticking his tongue out. Killua quickly crawled up the bed to jab Gon in the forehead repeatedly.
"Well, an apology isn't going to help! Do you have any brains in there at all?" Killua yelled, grinding his finger into Gon's forehead before returning to aggressively poking it. "Didn't you see what happened to all the guys who went through it! The Nen initiation?" He flicked Gon for good measure. "One wrong move and you could have ended up just like them!"
"It could have been way worse. You got really lucky, Gon." Ayami said. "Why do you think Wing was training us in the first place?"
"Still…" Gon chuckled nervously. "I had a feeling I'd be okay." Killua's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I took a couple hits but he missed my vital spots, so no big deal?"His face went white and he rasped in pain as Killua dug his foot into his broken arm. Someone knocked on the door and Ayami called for them to come in. When they knocked again Ayami sighed and got up, shoving Killua off of Gon on her way to the door. She opened it, finding a blank faced Wing on the other side.
"Wing?" Ayami asked as he walked past her towards Gon, shaking with quiet fury.
"I'm sor-" Gon tried to apologize only for Wing to raise a hand and slap him across the face. Killua and Ayami shared a look, concerned. Wing could be serious, but generally he was a kind, happy go lucky man. He was pissed.
"Apologising isn't going to help! What on earth were you thinking? Didn't you see the ones who went through the Nen initiation? You could have turned out just like them!" Gon looked away, ashamed and Ayami and Killua walked closer.
"We just told him the same thing." Ayami said, sitting on the end of the bed. Wing sighed, trying to calm down., and placed a hand on Gon's shoulder.
"Honestly, I'm just glad it wasn't any worse."
"I'm sorry Mr. Wing. I really am." Gon apologised. Wing gave him a small smile before glaring again.
"I'm not letting this slide. Killua, Do you know when Gon will be fully recovered?"
"Two months." Killua replied. Ayami glanced at him curiously and he gave her a mischievous look.
"I see." Wing sighed. "In that case, I will not let you participate in any matches for two months, nor will I let you train in the use of Nen. If you choose not to abide by these conditions, then you will never receive instruction from me again. Understand?"
"Yes Sir." Gon sighed.
"Give me your left hand." Wing demanded, tying a small blue thread around Gon's pinky. "This is a promise thread, its purpose is to remind you of the promise you made. Ayami, when is your match with Gido?" Wing asked, making Gon blanch.
"You're fighting Gido?!" He yelled. Ayami laughed and scratched her head sheepishly.
"Yeah, I was pretty ticked off after your fight so I ran around the tower to track him down and challenged him. We'll be fighting tomorrow at eleven."
"Are you prepared?"
"Yes Sir."
"Very well. I'd like to have a word with you and Killua." Wing said, leading them outside. "What is the goal that you three are pursuing here?" He asked when they were settled outside.
"We don't really have a goal. Before we ran into you and Zushi, I just wanted to earn some quick cash. Gon wants to beat a man named Hisoka, so he's here to train."
"I see. And you?" Wing asked Ayami.
"I'm just killing time until September." Ayami said.
"Everyone on the two hundreth floor just wants to get to the top floor. Battle Omympia right? I'm not too interested." Killua shrugged, "I'm not so sure about Gon. He says he doesn't care about what happens so long as he gets to fight Hisoka. But after yesterday, I'm not so sure. "
"I think he just enjoys the thrill," Ayami said with a small smile.
"He could have died, and he enjoyed it?" Wing asked.
"Yeah, I would know. To be honest, I can be the same way sometimes." Ayami admitted. Killua nodded.
"Me too. Difference is, we pick and choose our battles. Gon loses sight of everything but his goal. But he's not the type to break a promise twice, so don't worry." Killua assured, smiling. Seeing Wings' apprehensive face, Killua stood. "It's too late. We already know all the facts, if you decide not to teach us them we'll find somebody else."
"Or we'll just learn it ourselves. You shouldn't feel responsible Mr, Wing. Killuas family knows Nen, as does Hisoka. We would have found out about it eventually." Ayami said, turning to leave with Killua.
"I understand, and I intend to finish what I started. There are many things that I have yet to teach you." Wing called. Both kids paused and turned back to him. "You are welcome to continue your training with Zushi, if you like." Wing offered. Killua glanced at Ayami and she shook her head.
"Nah, we'll pass." He answered.
"Hm?" Wing asked.
"We won't leave Gon behind. If he can keep his promise, we'll all learn together."
"Then tell him I said to work on Ten daily." Wing called after them. Killua waved a hand in acknowledgement as they made their way back to the Arena.