Author's Note: I do not own Hunter x Hunter!

Chapter 22 - Respect and Promise

~ Himiki Castle… ~

~ Basement ... ~

Naizen sat across from his granddaughter and told her what he saw. Kaori was silent the whole time while he was talking, her eyes fixed on the floor.

After Naizen finished speaking, she slowly looked up.

"Possibly ..." her voice was low, but slightly hopeful. "... Gon is on his way here ... together with his two comrades. Because Jinsei may know that, he wants to stop him and ... kill him ... "she says, but this time with a sad tone. "To be honest, I hope I'm wrong ... but my intuition doesn't say that ..."

The old man frowns. "He wants to kill him? Usually, once Jinsei gets serious, it is not easy to stop him. Do you think this boy will still make it against him? "

"Yes." Kaori nods. "If Gon is here now, it could mean ... that he used the time before to train. That's roughly how I rate him. Gon is a talented boy ... he has a lot of potential and he is learning a lot of things at a rapid pace. ... yes ... I trust him to do everything ... "

"... Hmm ... you're talking about them in pretty big tones right now, Kaori." The old man says seriously. "Jinsei is a seasoned fighter who has triumphed against evil enemies for many years, but a simple kid is a joke."

The blue-haired girl clenches her fists slightly, the chains on her wrists clink slightly. "I don't care at all at the moment ..."

After a short silence, between grandfather and granddaughter, the blue-haired girl thought of something.

Her green eyes met her grandfather's eyes. "Grandfather,… you have to do something for me without Uncle Yahiko noticing anything. Can you do that?"

"What a stupid question!" He says indignantly. "I've done a lot in secret over the past few years! Don't think that I make a mistake with every single step! "

"Of course not ..." She says apologetically. "Of course I didn't mean it that way."

...

"Well ..." The old man sighed. "What can I do for you?"

"OK, pay attention…"

~ At Gon… ~

Gon ran half a circle around Jinsei, much like he did during his fight with Hisoka in Heavens Arena. Gon jumped in the air several times and hit his fists to try to hit Jinsei's face, trying to find a blind spot in Jinsei's fighting stance.

Gon quickly realized that Jinsei was a seasoned fighter, but of course that didn't matter to him right now. He just had to get a couple of blows at him.

The black-haired man took Gon's arm and tossed it around his shoulder, causing Gon to hit the ground hard.

"Damn it! ..." Gon breathed painfully.

Jinsei just wanted to give the spiky-haired boy another kick, but Gon quickly jumped away, he first tried to forget his pain in order to concentrate completely on the fight.

Jinsei chased Gon where he jumped and gave him a push with his elbows, but Gon countered and kicked him in the face, which surprised the black-haired man slightly.

"Tse, not bad ... for a child ..." Jinsei scoffed.

"Just wait!" The spiky-haired boy turned his body to hit Jinsei again with his other foot, but he fended off this attack.

"This attack doesn't work twice, understand?" The black-haired man grins.

Gon jumped a few feet away.

...

Gon got into position for his next attack. "Saisho wa Gū!" His fist slowly filled with aura.

'This attack? Jinsei frowns slightly. 'I have to get him ahead ... He runs towards Gon at a fast pace.

'He's coming ...' Gon tried to concentrate. 'I need the perfect ... timing ... and mustn't step back ... I have to take it now!'

The black-haired man also filled his fist with a large amount of aura to incapacitate Gon, he came close to him in a flash and wanted to strike.

Gon tried, despite the time he needed to recharge with his attack, use his flexibility and quick reaction to dodge the strong attack. He tried a little jump in another direction so as not to take the attack with full force, because he knows that this attack would already be way too much for him.

Jinsei hit Gon with a firm force, who turned slightly to the side, only half hitting his stomach. The spiky-haired boy suppressed a great cry of pain, but held his aura in his fist.

"Jan ..." Gon started again in a slightly weak voice.

'Huh? Is he still conscious? How ? 'Jinsei wanted to punch another fist….

The spiky-haired boy jumped to the other side of Jinsei to take aim at his blind spot. "Ken ..."

"... Gū!" Gon hit Jinsei's back hard with all his might.

"Argh….!" The black-haired man hesitates and went down on his knees.

'Hit ...!' Gon smiles slightly, but weakly.

'I ... I ... have to go on, but I feel ... so dizzy ... he fell exhausted on the floor. 'Is it because of the amount of aura I put into this shot ... did I fight too rashly ...?'

...

"Hey, kid." Jinsei spoke softly, but still firmly. "Are you still conscious ... and your mind?"

"… Yeah." The spiky-haired boy tried to get up and sat up slightly. "Well, can you still fight?"

"Tse, how arrogant, for a child who can hardly stand." The black-haired man scoffed. "But, your attack ... wasn't bad. I have to admit that. The fight was ... how should I put it ... once again amusing for me. "

"Really, most of the time I fought on my luck." Gon frowns. "Usually, I wasn't much of a challenge for you either ..." he admits.

"Right." Jinsei sat down with weak strength. "I also got carried away easily, I hardly paid attention to cover. Tse, pretty pathetic, right. And should I be an experienced fighter? "

Gon was silent for a moment, but then looked slightly serious at Jinsei. "I'll see Kaori again, you can't stop me anymore. I won't let you use them for your stupid plans. "

"do what you want. I failed against your iron will. I give up, as befits an honorable fighter. "Jinsei grins. "Besides, I can no longer come under the eyes of my master ..."

The spiky-haired boy is amazed. "You're really grateful to him for saving your life, aren't you? You exude such great loyalty. "He notices.

"Tse, you better try to regain your strength so that you can go to the Himiki castle, I bet you can recover quickly. Just let me lie here ... and think. "He mumbles mockingly.

"Ponder? What do you want to think about? "

"Stop asking useless questions all the time. It's really annoying ... and naive. "The man nags. "But in return ... I'll ask you a few questions."

...

"What are you going to do next after this action? Will you continue to train ... together with Kaori? "

"Yes." Gon says immediately. "But I think, first I will have to talk to Kaori ... she should tell me everything she has on her mind ..." he spoke calmly, then something occurred to him.

"Jinsei, where exactly is Kaori ? Somewhere in the castle, isn't it ? "he asks.

"Yes, in the basement of Himiki Castle. She's chained up there. "He just says. "This is her punishment for running away from home."

"... I have a déjà-vu!" Gon says, amazed. "Why do the lives of assassins and royal families count so much ?"

"What are you talking about, child?" Jinsei asks, totally confused. "Nevermind ..., now hurry up with your stupid recovery, you idiot!" He demands.

"For once, I agree with you ..." Gon smiles. "But, I promise you ... if we should ever fight against each other again, ... as a training partner ... then I will be stronger ... and not fight for luck!"

"Tse, I see ... I'll take you at your word." The black-haired man sighs.

...

'That ... boy ... Gon. I can't believe thinking about that, but it deserves my respect. The first person after Yahiko to ever do it. '

…

Gon.

A twelve year old boy with an iron will ... managed to get the respect of someone who is known as an ice cold fighter.

And soon ... if he has recovered quickly to be able to go on again ... then he will soon be at the Himiki Castle.

…It is nearly time.

~ With Leorio and Kurapika… ~

Leorio and Kurapika went ahead, while Gon faced Jinsei. There was still a short way to go, and the castle in the distance grew bigger and bigger.

But you both remain vigilant ...

"I'm worried about Gon ..." Leorio says nervously, looking behind him.

"Everything will be fine. The blonde kurta tells. "

...

Kurapika stopped and stopped Leorio too. "Wait ... we are being watched."

"... an enemy again?" The man in the suit asked.

"I doubt that." Another strange voice spoke.

An older man with dark green hair and purple eyes came out of the shadows and gave the kurta and the man in the suit a neutral look. "I suppose ... Kurapika and Leorio." He simply says, which amazed both of them.

"Where…? How do you know that ? "Leorio asks.

Kurapika frowned. "Who are you? Do you belong to the Himiki family? "

"One by one ..." the old man spoke calmly.

"First… my very dearest and only granddaughter told me about you… and the boy named Gon. Second ... my name is Naizen Himiki. Which will answer your third question, right? "He smiles mysteriously.

"Yes ..." the blonde kurta says, still cautiously.

"Still don't trust me? What reason would I have to attack you now? "

Leorio and Kurapika looked at each other.

Naizen smiles and sighs. "No reason, huh? Let's get to the point ... my granddaughter Kaori sent me. "

"Kaori ?" Leorio called. "For real? You also know where she is? "

"Sure, of course. Follow me. "He led the way. "Do you trust me now?" He asks Kurapika without turning to face him.

"... we'll see." The blonde kurta spoke.

"Good."

...

Naizen leads Leorio and Kurapika on a safe path to Himiki Castle, yet his son Yahiko has no idea ...

... and Gon will soon be mobile again ...

...

To be continued ...

Kaori: the fight was lame.

Neo-Digital: ... I know.

Gon: I'll be there soon, Kaori!

Kaori: ... he's hurt.

Neo-Digital: Well ... I'll see you in the next chapter!