Mask of Innocence

Disclaimers: Hunter X Hunter and all mentioned characters are owned by the greatest mangaka of all time, Mr. Yoshihiro Togashi. Rest assured that no money is being made in writing this fanfic.
Notes: Ehe...okay, I still can't decide about the Gon+Killua thing, because no matter how I try to twist my perspective, their friendship really seems platonic. Sweet, but still platonic. Y'see, there are just some kinds of friendship that are too beautiful that you just want to watch them as that, plain friendship. No strings attached. And it's amazing how they work well. But again, I'm a yaoist, I might change my mind (it's possible, my mind changes 99.9% of the time over something anyway) ^_^'

Chapter 11 - Parting Roads

"That's good, Master Killua. Now try attacking me on the left side."

Killua nodded. Sweat due to the harsh training that late afternoon trickled down the sides of his face, but they remained ignored. The young boy could hardly care about such little things right now. All he wanted to do was to get this part of his training over with so he can spend his time on more important things. After all, being the best killer was not his top priority at the moment, and surely his family is not dumb enough not have noticed. It's been years. It's either his entire household is a bunch of irritating idiots or they know but they refused to yield to his hints.

Cat-like eyes shifted from his trainer to a small cottage-like structure a few feet away from the training ground. Inside it sat a small, but very familiar figure of a young boy with dark, spiky hair, with his feet dangling from the height of the railing from which he sat. Even if he was too far to take note of it directly, he knew that those child-like eyes were a light shade of brown, and that when they looked down at him to catch his gaze, he knew those eyes smiled at him.

That boy's smiles were contagious, and little did the light-haired Zoldick knew--despite his earlier thoughts--he himself was smiling back.

Gon...

"Master Killua."

That small smile instantly died down at the sound of that voice. How long must this thing take before he can go up to where the other boy sat so that they'll be able to spend more time together? Obviously this idiot for a trainer of his didn't understand the hints he's been making for the past hours that he wasn't at all interested in anything he says.

"You must remember that you must always keep your guard. Many professional assassins have made such mistakes and had cost them their lives. Now, if I was planning to attack you a moment ago, you would've developed a serious wound. And master, you know fully well that hurting you is the least of my intentions every time I try to train you."

"Tell me, Ichigami," said Killua, his eyes boring through the other's own. "Just when do you intend to let me go, anyway?"

One thin eyebrow rose at the young boy's question. "Let you go, master?" he asked with nothing but pure inquiry reflected in the calm, almost cold eyes.

"You know I never liked training. Do you really think I'm taking in what you say?" taunted the boy even more, a small smirk in those playful lips. "Because honestly, I don't care whether or not I become a good assassin. In fact, just between you and me, I'm going to kill everybody in this household when the right time comes." Killua paused, then shifted his gaze back at the other man. "Even you."

Surprisingly, the middle-aged trainer smiled. "But do you think you can do such a thing if you don't take training seriously?" he asked the younger boy. "I'm fine with anything you want to do in the future. And I'll be just as happy to be of help."

"Hn," Killua looked away. He didn't even look the least bit afraid of him, and the man's confidence was starting to irritate him. He gritted his teeth, and lunged towards Ichigami. "Servants and your stupid acts of nobility."

"Whatever you say, master." He then dodged Killua's kick on his left side, then coming up to catch the younger boy's fist as it intended to attack him a second time, he twisted it in a way that Killua was forced to turn around with him in an attempt to save his arm. But the trainer had anticipated this move, and with his other free hand, made contact with the other boy's right shoulder. The full impact of the blow caused Killua to be pushed back towards the ground, a cloud of smoke emanating from the path that he swiftly scratched against as he laid on his back.

"Damn!" Killua clutched at his left arm as it throbbed none too nicely hanging from his shoulder. He glared at his trainer.

"That's what I said about letting your guard down," he said. "Also, try not to be so confident of yourself, master, even if you know you deserve the self-praise. Others are weak, true. Others are lower than the legendary family of the Zoldick's, true..."

"And all these crap about the Zoldick's egocentric views of themselves are making me barf, true," added Killua sarcastically.

"...But don't let such thoughts make you stupid." Ichigami continued, undaunted by Killua's words that they almost seemed like they never was spoken at all.

"Are you being paid to insult me, you wise-ass?!" snapped the young boy as he continued glaring at the older man. It was all he could do lest he jump up to attack vainly again. Considering his arm's state, he better think of a better way to hurt the man without getting himself into a barrage of "constructive criticisms" about his fighting skills just in case he misses.

A displeased look crossed the man's face as he looked down at Killua. "Also, do remember that your temper must always be kept put when you're in battle, because it tends to block out rational thinking. You can't seem to perfect this despite your strength and abilities. Now, if only you'd look at Master Illumi--"

"Oh! So NOW you're comparing me to him again! Illumi this, Illumi that, why can't you be as good as your goddamned brother Illumi... Why the HELL can't you all just take Illumi as your stupid heir and leave my hell for a life alone, you bunch of--"

"Killua?"

The young boy's body suddenly stiffened at the familiarity of that voice. Cursing himself for his own fear, angered by his lack of reason just as well, Killua looked everywhere but the owner of that voice. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see his trainer bow down to acknowledge the presence of his other master, his low voice confirming Killua's senses.

"Master Illumi, we were just talking about you," said Ichigami, the upper part of his body still bent low in a respectful bow.

He didn't see it, but he knew that the other nodded. "So I heard," his brother said, in that familiarly ice cold voice of his. And though it was clear that their last argument was definitely complimenting him and his skills, the older Zoldick didn't seem to be pleased.

Killua heard footsteps, and he knew they were coming towards him. He gritted his teeth, and insisted on avoiding his older brother's gaze. But deep in his mind, he could picture those blank eyes that revealed absolutely nothing, the eyes that was known to strike fear in all of Illumi's victim's as if deep in those eyes rested a spell strong enough to petrify them. Not that he could blame them. If he himself can't stand looking at those eyes, what more can a common, normal person do?

Of course, there was Hisoka. But who ever said that creep was normal anyway? He was definitely everything but normal. He seems to have a certain fondness for his brother. Whatever possessed that magician to see his brother as something else instead of the usual impression others have of him was beyond him. He had known that the two have made a sort of alliance during the Hunter Exam, but he had thought that it ended there. Little did he know the huge mistake he just had thinking about it.

"Killua. Are you neglecting your training again?" he heard that voice ask him. That was when he realized that the footsteps have stopped, and his back was running cold from the sudden closeness. Whatever it was that was in Illumi's presence to make him feel him so intensely bothered was unknown to him, but he had always tried to avoid it.

And with thus said, Killua jumped up to put a few steps distance between him and Illumi before turning back to glare at the older Zoldick. "That's none of your business!" he yelled out, with a look of pure venom in his eyes.

But Illumi didn't return the glare, unlike most people would have. He remained calm. "All right then," he said as if nothing had happened. He turned to the trainer. "Your time is almost over, so you might as well leave. My friend and I will use the training ground." He then gestured towards Hisoka with a small movement of his head, who stood a few paces beside him.

Killua watched as his trainer left the training ground without as much as a look back at him. His eyes then shifted towards Illumi, who had his back to him. He was wearing a black, long-sleeved outfit and loose enough pants that he had seen often enough to notice that it was two items of the clothes his brother uses when he practiced.

Pale, almost dead white hands that held a simple band of black ribbon came up to tie back Illumi's hair into a loose hold. Seeing his deathly white brother all in black was enough to make Killua think of death himself, minus the scythe. He cringed at the thought.

Illumi made his way past Hisoka, who Killua could see was looking at him. When their eyes met, the magician smirked. "If I'm not mistaken, your friend's right there in one of the cottages," he said, pointing a slender, long-nailed finger towards the path up the hill beside the training ground. "I think the little boy there's waiting for you." And then, he laughed.

Killua couldn't see what was so funny, but then again, he couldn't care less enough to find out. He ignored the magician completely and made his way up the hill and towards the cottage that contained the familiar face of Gon. He prayed that for once, let heaven take pity on him enough to give him somebody that can at least make him feel anything but anger and loneliness.

* * * * *

Dark brown eyes peered through thinly rimmed sunglasses across the table. Not that there was anything active to watch. The beautiful boy he had been watching was doing nothing but stare at the distance, as if he was far too oblivious about anything else around him. He felt like he was watching a movie that had gone on some sort of pause, and much as the actor possessed beauty unsurpassed by any living soul he knew, he felt as if he could have something more.

Maybe a small conversation was needed. After all, half an hour of utter silence can either put a man at peace or drive him insane. In his case, he knew he'll get the latter if he went on just watching. If something was bothering his companion, he was in no way in hell allowing him to take it up by himself. Never again.

"You all right, Kurapika?" he asked finally, leaning over the table to look more closely. He hoped that maybe a slight shift of movement would be enough to catch the other boy's attention.

But Kurapika remained silent and unmoved, that the doctor almost felt afraid that he wasn't heard at all. But a few moments of patience somehow paid off and Kurapika finally looked down, the first movement he's done since they got there. "Where will you go after this, Leorio?" he asked, his voice so low that it was barely audible against the gentle breeze that passed through them.

"What do you mean?" Leorio asked. He had a slight idea what the younger boy was talking about, but perhaps he was just trying to stall the time. He didn't have an answer. Well, he did, but he wasn't entirely sure if it was the right thing to say.

"One more week is all that is given to us." Kurapika sighed. "We both have dreams that are left hanging. Being a Hunter is but a step towards our goal." He stopped, and momentarily, he looked up towards the other. Blue met warm brown, enough that a small hint of a frown crossed the Kuruta's face. "Leorio...I can't go on unless I quench the anger I've built up for so long."

For a moment, Leorio remained silent. He seemed contemplative, and his gaze drifted down to his joint fingers that rested on his lap. He sat cross-legged, and he was thankful, for it forbade him to slouch despite his current state, and somehow left a kind of dignity despite his dying enthusiasm.

Thankfully, Kurapika saved him the trouble of speaking. "Now that I think about it, we're kind of similar. We both lost something dear to us, and we both went through a lot of misery because of the loss. But what separates us both is our strength to face such emotions. Your purpose to live had been the most noble thing I've ever known--" he stopped to raise a hand, for Leorio had immediately looked up, obviously to protest. This worked somehow, for the doctor leaned back again on his seat and kept his mouth closed. Kurapika continued. "And as I was saying, compared to yours, my life now seemed to have been run selfishly."

"Don't talk as if you're comparing a leech to an angel, Kurapika. You know perfectly well that there are other aspects wherein you can compare us both without making yourself sound so low--"

"Like what?" Kurapika asked, abruptly cutting Leorio off. "You're better with people, your social skills can be graded 101 in a rate of 1 to 100 while mine is worse than a 1. And you've always been so patient, and your humility surpasses even a saint, that despite how people see you, it never bothered you because you know who you really are."

"Now I know something is wrong. For the record, you're strong, you're determined as nobody else can ever be, you're intelligent as you are clever, you remain fearless no matter what the situation, you're dignified and treated with respect. I don't even have to add beautiful, but I'll list that down just as well," Leorio said, glowering at Kurapika though both of them knew his anger was never really meant. In fact, it almost made Kurapika smile, for the younger boy's lips tugged from one side despite the bitterness he seemed to have felt after he heard those words. Leorio watched all this with a confused fascination, and all he could do was go back to lean on his chair again. "Tell me what's wrong." It wasn't even a request. It was an order.

Kurapika looked down, and for a moment, Leorio thought he wasn't going to tell him what was bothering him again. He was almost insulted, but Kurapika somehow decided to redeem himself and sighed, indicating he had something to say.

"Ever since that night..." he paused. Unable to say what he had intended to, he all but blushed at the memory. So instead, he looked up with weary eyes across him to catch the other man's gaze. He felt relieved when he saw him nod, indicating that he somehow understood. "Ever since then, I've been more at ease with myself because I knew I finally found someone whom I need not hide myself from." His frown deepened. "But then I began to think. Will this last? Living isn't all about happiness and peace, there were also things like dreams and hardships one needs to go through to finally be complete."

"What are you getting at, Kurapika?" Leorio interrupted, obviously not liking the turn their supposedly "small conversation" had gone into.

"What I'm trying to say is that, in a matter of days we'll all be leaving and go on our separate ways," he said. "And all these paths lead to what we all have been living for as Hunters. But all of these paths and dreams are so far apart. If one of us goes with another, one dream will again be left hanging, and probably would be left hanging just like that."

"Look, if you're trying to tell me that you're unable to let go of this goal of yours, then fine, I'll go with you."

"You don't understand. That's exactly what I expected you to say," Kurapika said, giving Leorio a bitter gaze. "But don't be stupid. Like me, you know where you're supposed to be. You've promised yourself that you'll live a life in the memory of your best friend, and I wouldn't dare go between you and that promise."

"But I also promised to always be there for you. Wouldn't I be breaking that if I say goodbye?"

Kurapika shrugged. "I'd much rather you pay more respect to the dead than me."

"First you're comparing yourself to someone like me and now you're comparing yourself to the dead? Not that I'm insulting Pietro, bless his precious soul, but honestly..."

At this, the young Kuruta laughed, though it still came out bitter whichever way one would try to listen to it. "Of course, you're not going to give up Pietro just because of my selfish act of vengeance now, would you? Surely it's better to save people than kill them alongside a red-eyed lunatic."

"I told you to stop it already." Leorio held a scowl on his face. "I noticed that every time we get on something I actually see as nice, you'd somehow be able to twist it in a way that, no matter how happy we are, you'll find some sort of pessimistic thought about it," he said, glaring at the younger boy who only bowed his head in what seemed like a silent acceptance and apology.

Leorio let out a sigh, unable to keep himself angry for long. So instead, he gave a small smile and tilted his head to one side in a thoughtful manner. "The roads in life, no matter how many, are not straight lines. One way or another, they'll turn around and meet up with another path. I always hope that whichever path I take, I'll meet up with you on my way." He stopped. He shook his head. "Let's change the subject, all right? We'll both think about this, and we'll just settle it by the time we're about to leave."

Kurapika just nodded. A few minutes passed them both before they spoke another word. A slight change of wind made the Kuruta look up to one of the cottages right across from theirs, probably a good hundred meters away. He couldn't quite decipher what the occupants were talking about, but that wasn't what entirely caught Kurapika's attention. "I'm worried about Gon," he said, his eyes fixed on one of the two boys in that cottage.

Leorio blinked and turned back to look at where the other was looking as well. "Sillva-san said that we shouldn't worry about Killua because he already knows. But he didn't exactly tell us anything about Gon," he said. "I wonder if Killua told him yet."

Kurapika sighed. "I don't know, but I think it would be for the best if we leave Killua with what he wants to do about it," he said.

"Knowing Gon, he'll be terribly upset." At this, Leorio rose from his seat, indicating that it's time for them to leave. Kurapika did the same thing. It was inevitable for them to look at the very cottage that contained their two other friends.

"Leorio?"

The doctor allowed his eyes to remain on the two kids, now laughing over something Killua had said. "Yeah?" he asked, willing Kurapika to go on. A few minutes passed without an answer, but eventually, he felt something warm slither its way around his fingers, holding him in a loose, yet secure hold.

"Roads do twist and turn," Kurapika's voice said. "I also wish to see you again along my way," he continued. He looked up at the doctor and gave him a small smile.

Leorio smiled back. He nodded. "And who knows. Maybe there will come a time that we will be taking the same path. Even the same ending if we get lucky." With this, the slightly larger hand that held the young Kuruta's own tightened, pulling the young man close.

A gentle kiss was shared, binding the unspoken promise.

End of chapter 11

A/N:
That last part with Leo-sama and Kpika-sama was rather TOO mushy for my own tastes, but maybe some people might appreciate more than I did *sheepish grin and bows down apologetically*. I forced the last part out, I'm very sorry. I just felt that I need to finish this chapter lest I get victimized by the dreaded writer's block again ^^; Thanks for reading and your patience, minna! And thanks for everyone's support! ^0^