The Summit:
Two figures lay on the rocky summit of Whale Island's highest peak. The morning sun had started to make its ascent west towards noon.
In the hot humid sun, the girl had never imagined a more stunning sight. She and her companion, Gon, were perched on a narrow porous boulder high above the lush and condense greenery of the forests and she could see and hear exotic colored birds, could smell pungent flowers on fruiting jungle trees. The cerulean sea was visible in all direction but barely peeking over a cinder-cone volcano to the right and in her left-field view the blue slivering above hills spotted with pale grassy farmland.
Gon's home was gorgeous. She almost couldn't believe it was real.
Gon turned over on his side to face her, "Ne— Amana-san, I never asked, how old were you when you became a hunter?" Gon chirped.
Amana smiled, carding her hand through her sweaty scalp, and replied, "Uhm… I took the exam twice, I nearly died the first time when I was 15, but finally passed when I was 17. I can't believe you made it when you just 12, and for your first time out of there peaceful paradise too."
He giggled, "I had a lot of help from my friends. You've met Killua but I wouldn't have done it without Kurapika and Leorio too." He grinned with a longing glint in his eyes.
"Ah—so you miss them a lot I see, you guys must be close." She observed carefully.
Gon nodded earnestly, "Uh huh. Those three were my first friends! But Kurapika and Leorio are so busy these days and Killua has to protecting Alluka-chan. When I get stronger, do you want to come with me to meet them?" He made a sweeping gesture towards a speck on the horizon, the mainland.
He was pouting, a cute expression that took her back to memories of an old friend from her distant childhood. I miss Shal, haven't seen him in ages... Dismissing the thought, she nimbly grabbed Gon's cheeks and tugged, pinching him.
"O-Ouch!" He complained, "Why?"
Amana nodded before looking away, glancing towards the surreal blue of the ocean and watching the white wind caps, looking for words. "Don't pout Gon-kun, you'll get stronger again and we'll unlock your Nen again soon so we can go see your friends." She said.
He shook his head, "It's been over 2 months. I don't think it's going to come back for a while, if at all."
Imitating Gon's cheer, she denied his worries, "Don't think like that. You've got to be in the right mindset okay? But you know…" She paused and then softly added, "You always have me. You've been trying to train and meditate to find your Ren all along, it'll work, I promise there's a way."
She read the confusion all over his face, man, he was an open book if she ever saw one, "Really? How?" He questioned. The kid looked like a puppy, honestly, maybe a lab.
"You've got to have faith bud, in yourself and your friends. I'm not going to tell you how 'cause you might not need my help. Why don't we just focus on training and meditating, for now, if we need it we'll figure something out."
"Osu! Thanks!" Gon eyes hardened, unfazed with the ebbing post-meridian sun reflecting in his eyes, and stared up at his older friend with resolve. Then with a newfound clarity that frankly surprised her a bit, he asked, "What are you going to do after this?"
The question was pretty unexpected from the boy, he always so blithe and preoccupied in his wants and future. But the answer was an easy one for her, after all, she had become a Hunter and been forced into circumstances where she had met Gon for this reason. Should she answer truthfully? Would the kid care? Yes, he would, that boy loves you. A little tiny voice, her subconscious told her.
It was true. She could sense that Gon had taken her in as an older sister or a mentor in his mind, something so pure and unwavering, a dangerous idea. She theorized the kid hadn't really changed in the three years since he'd taken his first step off of this very island. She knew he was using her to fill in a role, a small but significant gap missing in his heart.
You're messing with fire. She knew that. But she genuinely liked the kid, it would be hard not too, they were so similar after all. Images of the almost gaunt long white haired corpse, animated by the monster flashed into her vision, bringing a hint of pain to her which went unnoticed by the boy. But looking at the kid, reaching into his —the synesthesia hit...warm fruity woody orange—aura— honest, admiring, still, content. She could tell she meant something to him, she wasn't replacing his old friend, or at least not completely.
She would tell him. She felt she could trust the kid, and she trusted her instincts, more now than ever after what she'd just gone through months before.
"Gon? Why don't we take a break from training for the afternoon, I want to tell you a story, it'll answer your question."
He blinked innocently, trusting, accepting. "Ah ok. I'm listening."
"You care about Killua a lot right?"
He nodded.
"I had someone I really cared about too. His name was Mark. You see, I grew up really… poor in Meteor City—"
"Like the Spiders?" Gon interjected.
"Yes, like them. But, anyways, Meteor City was—sometimes a very lonely place when I was growing up. Then when I met Mark, when I was 10 and he was 9, everything changed. We were partners, keeping each other safe, and our friendship quickly became something I treasured. He's been missing for years but I have faith and… tentative proof… that he's still alive. I've been searching for him for the past coming on five years now." She explained quietly.
Gon watched Amana talk about this guy, Mark. He was special to her like his friendship with Killua. He felt something twinge in his chest. He missed traveling with his friend, he wouldn't know how it would feel if something took Killua away from him unknowingly… he'd probably lose control again—like how Gon had when he'd seen connect Neferpitou to his corpse.
He could relate to her story, and while she told her tale, Gon saw Amana for who she was.
She was beautiful.
He couldn't place how'd she looked when they first met but even after everything, she was glowing in the sun, at peace. In these weeks back home, their skin had bronzed into the islander tone. Grandma said they looked like siblings almost, if not for her striking inhuman hair most alike to the shallow water in the lagoons, shiny with oil and corded in tight plaits.
Amana wasn't like Killua. She was not cheeky, cool like his best-friend. Instead, she was warm like Aunt Mito, caring and embracing.
She lit up in his hugs, and when he was cheerful, she followed. He'd never met someone so friendly and accepting. Gon had even once mistakenly— absently— marked her as genial, civilian, someone he could trust easily.
He wasn't entirely wrong. Amana was girly and energetic and didn't have the refined aura like Wing-sensei or the harsh electrically of Killua. No, Amana was warm with something boiling underneath. When she was focused, he could feel the volcano bubbling.
Before, he couldn't place what her motives were. Why did she choose to come with him and protect him? He discovered that answer weeks ago. Why did she choose him?
Then she had told him, simply: because she could and because she felt like she must.
She shook him as Kite did years ago. And it was the same feeling, but different in a way.
Kite had expanded his world and his debunked Mito's protective evasions about Ging, Kite taught him about purpose.
Amana burned. Burned like a fire through everything, his misleading buoyancy and the fact that he didn't know how to act in these new and uncomfortable settings. Friendship, diplomacy, making people at ease, these were things he never had to do on Whale Island where everything was innate and clear.
She knew how things affected him and was fine with it. He felt like she understood him, which made him feel small, weaker than he'd grown to be, the confidence when he'd challenge Knuckle, killed Neferpitou gone.
But above all, Amana offered what Gon needed without asking for anything. Gon knew Killua needed him in a way, in a way he didn't know how to give. But she wanted to help him, and this time Gon would help in return. Because that what he'd learn was important. Like Killua went with him to help him, Gon wanted to stay with Amana and be with her.
It'd be fun and exciting and, for the first time that he could think of, he was anticipating the future and looking forward to seeing the happiness in another's eyes.
Where she watched the novelty of the alluring blue sea, he looked in the guidance of the ever-familiar sun for his new idea, "Nee—Amana? When I get my Nen back and before I meet my other friends again, can I travel to find your friend with you? I want to meet this person you love so much you've sacrificed so much for!"
And then he watched the radiant smile, listened, and for a change, he willingly gave control to float in the loving salty wind above his beautiful home on the eve of their new adventure.
END - can't write anymore without giving everything away :p