Chapter 5

Gon answered first. "I came to see if I could fix my nen." He looked nervous. Gon jolted as he realised something. "Killua, where's Alluka?"

"That is why I am here." Killua said with his head down as he walked past Gon to the Bondsmith. "You, Bondsmith, can you tell me what this is? I will pay dearly for information, extra if you don't waste my time." Killua had the floorboard, in a protective cover.

The Bondsmith sat silently for a long moment. Then he put his hands on his knees, straightened in his chair, and said "You come into my home without gift or greeting. I shall give you nothing." Killua's face clouded over. The Bondsmith continued "Until you go and sit with the other boy, and then introduce yourself."

Gon watched Killua stand still for just a second, but one so fraught with the possibility of great violence that it stretched on far longer than it ought. Then he turned on the spot, walked over to beside Gon, and sat down.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Killua." he ground out.

"I know." giggled the Bondsmith.

Killua shot Gon a look. It was impossible to determine the emotion behind it.

"I didn't tell him about Alluka" Gon said.

"Quiet!" the Bondsmith shouted. "Now, Killua, why are you here? And how did Alluka heal Gon?"

Now the look Gon received from Killua was truly venomous.

The Bondsmith cackled again. "Oh, he's telling the truth. And I think you know that, too. I've just been around a very, very long time. I'd trade experience for youth any day of the week, but it has its uses. Anyway, tell me. Now."

Killua spoke quickly, "If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I will kill you. Alluka is my sister. She shares her body with a creature from the dark continent called Nanika. She healed Gon with a nen ability we do not understand. Now Alluka and Nanika have voluntarily left me. They requested I track them down as a 'game'. They also requested Gon here join that game."

Gon's first reaction was sympathy for Killua and fear for Alluka's safety. As Killua said his final sentence, however, Gon's emotions changed. To his lasting horror, they turned to pure excitement. His face lit up involuntarily. He managed to twist it into concern a moment later. Am I really that selfish? I'm glad Killua had his back to me. I'm not sure I could face him otherwise, Gon thought.

Killua took out his floorboard. "She left this after she left. Can you decipher it or not?" he asked.

"Let me see. Yes, yes. I'm blind. Give it here anyway." said the Bondsmith.

Killua handed it over, and the Bondsmith ran his hands over it. The Bondsmith pondered for some time.

"I can't tell you exactly where she is." he said at last. "But I can tell the general direction, and how far. I'd say a bearing of about 079 degrees from where this mark was left, give or take a degree or three."

"And the distance? How far is it?" asked Killua.

"That's where it gets interesting. She went very far. Extraordinarily far, in fact." The Bondsmith smiled. "She must be on the dark continent."

Killua swore. He no longer looked angry, or sad even. As he pinched the bridge of his nose with a pained expression, he just looked tired.

Gon couldn't take it anymore. "I'll help you look for her!" he burst out.

Killua turned on Gon, then looked him up and down. He turned away. "In your current state, you'd just slow me down."

Gon hung his head. He knew Killua was right. He was useless to him as he was now.

"Gon's nen can be restored." announced the Bondsmith.

"It can?" asked Killua. "How?"

The Bondsmith spent the next several minutes explaining how it could be done.

"I'll do it." Killua said immediately. When I find Alluka she will see that I want her back - even though I've been 'adventuring' with Gon. She'll be sure to stay, Killua thought. He turned to face Gon, and started when he met his eyes. Gon had teared up.

"I don't think I'd ever have chosen to do this without you." said Gon.

"It has to be Killua."

The mix of shame, anger and heartbreak Killua felt in that moment confused him for days.