"Oh YEAHHHH!" Gon cheered as he took a sprinting jump off the edge of the plateau. Killua followed closely behind him, throwing all common sense to the wind and just jumping off what he soon discovered was a sheer cliff face drop.
The edge of the cliff served as a shift between biomes, just like the cliff that transitioned from forest to mountains. The new biome they were entering was a huge grassy plain with a waist length golden sea swaying in the wind.
"Gon!" Killua yelled down at his friend, who was still cheering like a psycho.
"Yeah?"
"Why'd we jump off the cliff?!"
"Cause it's FUN!"
Gon then proceeded to strip his winter clothes down to just his green shorts, boots, and a black tank top. Killua shook his head and followed suit, ripping off layers and layers until he was wearing green and tan striped capri pants, a maroon tank top, flip flops, and a feather necklace. Along with black elbow sleeves (why? Because why not?).
With a wicked laugh, Gon used his fishing rod to fling himself at the cliff face, which he ran down as if it were a running track. With a chuckle, Killua changed his falling position so he was driving down towards the ground as if it were a pool of water.
He loved the feeling of the wind against his tail and in his wild white hair.
It reminded him of flying.
The Valkyrie began to right himself to land down, when Gon suddenly tackled him out of the sky, and the two of the plummeted down in a messy tumble. Killua glared at Gon, who was just laughing in outright joy.
"What do you expect us to do now?" he snapped.
"You'll figure something out!" Gon declared.
With an annoyed laugh and a roll of his sapphire eyes, figure it out Killua did. He switched their falling positions so that he held Gon bridal style. Then he used his tail to direct them through the air so that their fall slowed down. He braced his legs for the impact, pumping Valkyrie strength into the limbs. He hit the ground decisively and with grace. It hurt like hell, but he hoped he had impressed Gon with it!
Gon was still cackling like a maniac. "That was AWESOME Killua!" he exclaimed as he threw his arms into the air, kicking his legs like some sort of child as he relaxed in Killua's arms. The Valkyrie felt himself beginning to blush, and then dropped Gon, letting him fall on his ass in the sea of tall grasses.
"Ow!" he cried out, before dissolving into more giggles.
Killua rolled his eyes, and playfully acted like he was gonna step on his face, only to step over him and start walking further out into the field of swaying grass. Gon jumped to his feet and skipped to Killua's side, fishing rod in hand and a grin on his face. They walked out away from the cliff and the mountains, leaving all of their winter clothes scattered on the ground behind them. They wouldn't need them where they were going. Besides, this climate was hot and sunny.
"You're certainly energetic today," Killua commented, Gon's smile contagious as ever.
"Well yeah! I slept better last night than I have in a super long time! It was all thanks to you, Killua."
The silver haired assassin blushed and hid his eyes behind his bangs. "Yeah, me too," he admitted in a quiet voice.
"So we just keep going straight until we get there?" Gon asked cheerfully.
"Yup," Killua answered.
Circe, Kerrin, and Oito told us that if we just follow the map, we will be led to this field of grass. They said that we just have to head due north from there, and will reach our desired location. Yorknew City is secluded from the rest of the world, so anyone traveling there must find a guide. The Neko-Girls referred us to the guide they always use: a man named Satotz.
Kerrin said we'll know him by his mustache.
Whatever the hell that means.
The two boys trekked through the field of swaying grass. The sun shone brightly overhead, and the sky was a brilliant blue and shot through with wispy white clouds. The day was hot, and the cool breeze complimented the humid air perfectly. It was a perfect summer day, much better than the freezing cold mess back in the Neko-Village. Birds chirped as they flew in figure eights above Gon and Killua's heads, and Gon hummed along with them. They made good pace, and after an hour of travel the distant mountains and cliff face were no longer in sight.
Gon ran his hands along the waves of grass, and Killua swished his tail behind him happily. The sun felt great against his pale skin, and it felt so incredible to have his skin bared to the sky. The twisting vines of his tattoos absorbed the sunlight, warming Killua to a lovely degree.
Though no amount of sunlight could warm him more than Gon did.
The hybrid scented the air, and a triumphant expression crossed his face.
"Killua! I smell other humanoids! We're super close!"
The other boy then took off running, and Killua was quick to follow. The Valkyrie continued scenting the air, waiting for his senses to pick up on what Gon had found. After a couple of minutes (and dozens of meters) Killua picked up on their scent as well.
The distant crowd came into sight not long after, a lone island in a monotonous sea of golden grass and cerulean sky. Gon cheered and added a little leap into his stride. "Yes! We made it! Yorknew City here we come!"
"Just quit yelling like that or they'll think we're weird!" Killua scolded, though he was grinning just as widely.
The two boys picked up the pace, and reached the surprised crowd within a minute. The Valkyrie and the hybrid skidded to a halt, and immediately started bickering about who had made it there first.
"It looked like a tie to me," said a smooth masculine voice.
The two boys stopped their arguing and turned in the direction of the voice. It was a tall, lanky man with a mustache instead of a mouth.
"Mr. Satotz!" Gon and Killua exclaimed in unison.
The purple haired man quirked an eyebrow. "And who might you be?"
"I'm Gon Freecss! And this is Killua!" the hybrid declared, leaving out Killua's last name so no one would be clued in to who and what he was.
"We just came from the Neko-Village. Kerrin said to mention her," Killua clarified as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Ah! Well then, any friend of Kerrin's is a friend of mine. I am glad to welcome you to my current group. You boys arrived just in time, we are actually leaving right now."
Gon and Killua glanced at each other, and then at the crowd around them. All manner of humanoids surrounded them in a group about 25 strong. Satotz walked in long strides to the front of the crowd, and the two boys followed him out of curiosity.
Killua shoved his way past a tall and skinny male, hurrying to keep up with Gon.
"Hey!" the man cried out, immediately jumping to the offensive. "Watch where you're going, would ya kid?!"
Killua looked over his shoulder and stuck out his tongue, then disappeared after Satotz, ignoring the yells that followed him. What a total jackass.
The two of them caught up just in time to watch him reach into the grasses, and open a trapdoor, revealing a large metal staircase descending into the ground. "Wow!" Gon exclaimed.
"Follow me, everyone!" Satotz said as he projected his voice to reach the crowd. "We will begin the final leg of the journey to Yorknew City now! I commend all of you for making it to this point, however I do warn you that this stage may prove a bit uncomfortable."
Gon and Killua exchanged a glance. He was acting as if the journey to Yorknew City was some complicated test of sorts.
The two boys lined up directly beside Satotz, alongside another male. A few others sprinkled in behind the three of them, all crowding in to get closer to Satotz, who held up his hands as if announcing when a race would begin.
"What's all this about?" Gon asked the male at their side, who appeared to know what was going on.
Killua looked over at the humanoid Gon was talking to in suspicion. A pair of tawny eyes widened in surprise at being talked to, as if he had been startled out of some sort of daze. "This is just the final leg to Yorknew City," the male answered. "It is known to be an unofficial test of endurance. Since so many humanoids enter Yorknew every day, the guides have to lead their groups as quickly as possible. In other words, only those in peak physical condition make it all the way. Mr. Satotz has a reputation for being one of the fastest of the guides, so it is in our best interest to keep as close to him as possible."
"Ohhhhh! Thanks, mister!" Gon said with a grin.
The other male, an Elf as Killua identified him, smiled softly back.
"Ready?" Satotz beckoned, looking over his lanky shoulder with a glint in his eye. Everyone settled down into a running stance, Killua and Gon following suit. "Go!" Satotz declared, before taking off down the stairs and down underground.
The group hurried to keep up with him, he was pretty fast!
But what Killua was surprised to notice was that he was walking!
The man took super long steps, and the crowd had to jog to keep up!
The metal door shut decisively behind them, and just as they were plunged into darkness hundreds of automatic torches burst to light, illuminating a long and winding tunnel. The place was made entirely of overlapping sheets of dark green metal! Killua had never seen a structure built like this before! Everywhere else he had been was always built of stone and wood! This was incredible!
"This is so cool!" Gon cried out, having the same thought process as Killua.
"Yeah, for real!"
The group jogged along for half an hour, just enough time for the first straggler to stumble to a halt and get left behind. Gon looked back with an expression of mild concern on his face. He looked over at the Elf from earlier, and Killua mentally rolled his eyes. His friend sure did enjoy talking to strangers.
"Hey mister?"
"Yes?" the Elf responded, tawny eyes meeting Gon's eyes of amber.
"Do we really just leave anyone who isn't fit enough behind?"
"Yes, such is the nature of things."
Usually Killua would have ignored the elf entirely, but his know-it-all tone of voice was sort of ticking him off. "Will they die down here?" he asked darkly.
"Most likely," the elf answered without hesitation.
"OUT OF THE WAY! Yeah, I'm talking to you! I'm trying to get up front, can't you tell asshole?!"
Killua sweatdropped at a familiar voice. It was that jackass from earlier!
He came up next to Killua, gasping and sweating profusely. He looked to his side and met Killua's annoyed gaze. "Hey! It's YOU!" he yelled.
"Nice to see you too," Killua drawled. The male was a Goblin, pureblooded by the look of it. He was particularly tall and lanky, not unlike Satotz. He was dressed in a full suit and carrying a briefcase. He looked absolutely ridiculous.
"Hi, mister!" Gon said in his usual friendly tone. "Are you gonna run up front with us too?"
The Goblin's expression changed, getting less hostile. "Well yeah, what's it to you?"
"It's nice to have you!" Gon answered with a sparkling grin.
The goblin blinked at the beaming hybrid, before giving a lopsided smile back.
Killua narrowed his eyes at him.
Suddenly feeling possessive of Gon and his light.
The four ran in a line for another half hour, going from left to right: the Elf, Gon, Killua, and then the Goblin. During that passing of time, no one else was left behind, but the group got decidedly more drawn out. With the two boys and their running mates in the very front of the pack, mere yards behind Satotz.
Gon broke the silence, "So, what are you guys' names? I'm Gon! And this is Killua!"
Killua glared at his friend, why was he going and introducing them to strangers?!
The Elf smiled, golden hair swishing around his face. "My name is Kurapika."
"The name's Leorio," the Goblin declared rather egotistically.
"It's great to meet you, Kurapika and Leorio!" Gon exclaimed.
"Pleasure to meet your acquaintances," Kurapika said in that smooth, know-it-all voice of his.
"Yeah, what he said!" Leorio declared in his own annoying voice.
Gon elbowed Killua in the ribs. "Yeah, yeah. Greetings and all that junk," Killua grumbled.
"You got a problem, kid?" Leorio demanded, immediately becoming hostile.
Killua smirked condescendingly at him. "Maybe."
Leorio glared at him, and then turned his attention to Gon. "Are you really with this jackass Gon?!"
"Yeah! Killua's my best friend! We've been traveling together for a while now!"
Killua hid his blushing face behind his bangs.
"What?!" Leorio sputtered. "How is someone like you with someone like him?!"
"What's that supposed to mean, huh old man?" Killua demanded.
"You're a complete jerk! And Gon over here is like God's gift to this good earth!"
Killua growled and started extending his claws, only for Gon to elbow him in the ribs again. "Killua's just a little prickly on the outside! It might take a while for him to warm up, but he's a fluffy little kitten on the inside!"
"Hey, what's with that comparison?!" Killua demanded, giving Gon an elbow of his own.
Leorio backed off, and Kurapika snickered.
"What're you laughing at?!" Killua snapped at Kurapika.
"I apologize, the two of you are quite amusing is all," the Elf said with a smile.
From there on, hours passed with Gon exchanging casual conversation with Leorio and Kurapika. Killua was closed off at first, but with enough prodding from Gon he thawed out a little more with every hour. The Elf and the Goblin were alright, Killua supposed. He didn't like them nearly as much as Gon but… he had the feeling that the four of them were becoming quick friends.
…
After what Killua estimated was ten hours (and around 75 miles), Satotz slowed to a stop. "We'll pause here for the night. Settle down everyone! I suggest you eat a proper meal and take a good night's rest, for we'll spend another full day of travel tomorrow!"
The crowd, which was only at 17 now, collapsed to the ground.
Even Killua was pretty exhausted! He and Gon stood side by side as they caught their breath. Flipflops hadn't been the best choice of footwear, and he had traded them out for his tennis shoes about ten minutes in. Anything was better than running in a full suit, though.
Killua glanced at Leorio with a mischievous look on his face. The goblin was collapsed on the ground, drawing in breath like a fish out of water. "Reconsidering your attire, old man? I think business casual would have been the way to go… but that's just me."
Leorio immediately got defensive, "Aw shut up, you little jerk! And for that last time I'm not an old man!"
Killua snickered, Leorio was so fun to mess with! He always got a reaction!
Kurpika chuckled as he leaned against the wall. He gathered the sweat off his face with his tabard, and pulled a flask of water from somewhere on his person. Several of the others in the group were making fires from various materials they had with them, and Gon noticed.
"You guys wanna make a fire?" he asked cheerfully.
"Yeah!" Killua agreed.
"We can try, don't know what we'll make it from though," Leorio retorted, still grumpy from Killua's teasing.
"Sounds like a wise idea," Kurapika commented.
The four of them pooled together different objects from their bags/hidden pockets/briefcases. Soon a fire was blazing and the group was huddled around it. Leorio procured a pot, and together they were able to put together a good smelling stew. Kurapika doled it out using bowls and passed it around to each of them. Gon squirmed in excitement when he was given his bowl, and Killua watched the other boy out the corner of his eye with a soft expression.
"This smells great!" Leorio declared once everyone had their share, then dug in. As a Goblin, he was covered in scales. This particular male had scales of a dark green. His eyes were yellow with black irises, and his goblin ears (which looked almost like fish fins) contorted along with his emotions. Killua supposed that the two of them could initiate tail/ear etiquette, but the Valkyrie honestly doubted that the likes of Leorio was aware of those social cues.
Killua waited for Gon to get his bite ready, and with shared snickers they tried it at the same time. They eyed each other's expressions, and both barely managed to swallow without choking as their faces matched perfectly. "This is so good!" they declared at the same time.
"We make quite the team, don't we?" Kurapika chuckled.
"Yeah for real!" Leorio said around the food that he was constantly shoveling down his throat.
"Ever heard of table manners?" Killua retorted.
"I don't see no table!" Leorio immediately responded.
A cat-like expression crossed Killua's face, and he slung a spoonful of his stew into the Goblin's face in retaliation. Leorio reacted far too dramatically than necessary, flailing about like a fish and screaming all manner of ridiculous threats and curses.
The Valkyrie snickered, tail swishing behind him mischievously.
"Killua," Gon scolded.
"Just having a little fun," he said, the picture of innocence. Kurapika stopped Leorio with a look before he could dump the rest of his bowl over Killua's fluffy white head. The Goblin grumbled and settled down, and Gon distracted the trouble making mercenary with their usual foolish banter.
The rest of the meal passed uneventfully, and soon the four of them were arranging their sleeping bags for the night. Leorio lay at the north side of the fire, with Kurapika at the southwest side and Gon and Killua on the southeast. The hybrid and the Valkyrie combined their pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, and even Gon's jacket into the ultimate non-bed-bed. Once comfortable, the foursome sat up in their sleeping arrangements for a little while longer before turning in.
"So," Gon said, striking a new conversation topic. "What're you guys going to do in Yorknew City? What are your goals there?"
"I'm in it for the money!" Leorio declared with a fiendish look in his eyes. "The best place to make tons of money quick and easy is Yorknew City! I'm gonna be rich!" He made a strange hand motion next to his head, and his face contorted comically.
"Shocking," Killua yawned sarcastically.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Leorio shouted, only to be shushed by several members of their group.
"It means that your reason for traveling to Yorknew City fits so well. Greed is a lovely color on you, matches your eyes."
Before the two of them could leap across the fire at each other, Kurapika loudly asked Gon: "What about you, Gon? What are you visiting Yorknew City for?"
The Valkyrie and the Goblin settled down, turning their attention to the hybrid and the Elf. "I'm on a journey to find my dad! Cause he's the only one who can tell me what type of hybrid I am! And Yorknew City is the best place to look for clues!"
"And you, Killua? What's your noble reason?" Leorio taunted.
"I'm with Gon. I'm helping him find his dad, so where he goes I go."
Leorio pouted at the lack of insult potential he was given, and Kurapika nodded with a smile. "And you, Kurapika?" Gon asked.
The Elf's tawny eyes regained that all-too-familiar shadow. "I am traveling to Yorknew City for… personal reasons."
"Aw, don't be that way!" Leorio complained. "Tell us what it is! It's only fair!"
Killua glared at the insensitive Goblin, and Gon looked between Leorio and Kurapika, clearly agreeing with Leorio but not wanting to be rude. The blonde sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll tell you."
The other three males leaned in closer.
"My full name is Kurapika Kurta. I am the surviving member of the Elven Kurta Clan. We were recently wiped completely out because of our eyes, which turn a bright shade of scarlet whenever we get particularly emotional. When our eyes burn that scarlet red, it is considered one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. Unsatisfactory clients hired a band of thieves called the Phantom Troupe to slaughter my clan and steal their eyes. I am the sole survivor, and it is my eternal duty to retrieve my bretheren's eyes and return them to their corpses. For the power of the scarlet eyes is this: if a Kurta is murdered and their eyes removed, then the eyes need only be returned for them to come back to life. So to save my Clan from extinction, I must travel to Yorknew City and find the Phantom Troupe so I can extract the information I need from them."
Gon, Killua, and Leorio all stared at the Elf with wide eyes and open mouths. The runaway prince whistled in appreciation. "That's badass," he commented.
"That is such an incredible goal!" Gon exclaimed.
"Yeah.. it's super dark," Leorio muttered.
"Dark? How so?" Kurapika asked, mood darkening.
"It's nothing like that, I swear! Just… the Phantom Troupe? You mean the Spiders? Those guys?"
"Yes," Kurapika murmured through gritted teeth.
"They killed your clan?"
"Leorio-" Gon started.
"-As I just told you, yes," the Kurta interrupted.
"Those dudes are super dangerous! Sounds to me like a terrible idea to challenge them! I mean, clan life and all, but still."
"Are you suggesting that your cause is of more weight than mine? For you are gravely mistaken. Taking revenge for my slaughtered brethren by far outweighs your petty wishes for fortune and luxury," the Elf's voice was a growl.
Leorio, as usual, jumped immediately to the defensive, "Petty?! Who're you calling petty?! And you never said anything about revenge before! Covet your clan all you want, but there is nothing dirtier than taking revenge!"
"Take that back, Leorio!"
The Goblin only glared.
"I said take it back."
Gon and Killua watched awkwardly, for some reason Killua felt as if he was witnessing a fight between his parents. "Come on now, guys," Gon said sternly. When the two didn't back off, he released a hint of his aura their way. The Elf and the Goblin immediately backed down, instinctively listening to Gon's command. "Leorio didn't mean what he said, and Kurapika you know that Leorio isn't petty."
The two males looked at Gon, and then at each other.
They then glared, and looked away.
Gon sighed.
"I say we turn in for the night," Kurapika muttered.
"Yeah," Leorio agreed.
Gon gave Killua a look that said "I tried."
The silver haired boy smiled at his friend and patted his spikey nest of hair. "Good job, Gon. You did your best," he murmured so only his friend could hear. Gon snickered, and ruffled Killua's hair in return. The two of them wrestled around for a bit, before Kurapika scolded them like a doting mother and they cut it out. The two of them slipped into the nest of pillows and blankets, cushioned from the metal ground by those thick sleeping bags.
"You guys… sleep in the same bed?" Leorio asked with a quizzical look in their direction.
"Yeah, so?" Killua demanded with a bit of a snarl in his voice, face burning.
"Killua's my best friend!" Gon declared honestly. "So what's wrong with sleeping in the same bed? I sleep better when I'm next to him anyways." Killua's heart fluttered, and a spike of pain reverberated through his mind. His cheeks were so pink he had to look down at the pillows to hide them.
"Nothing! Nothing at all! Just wasn't expecting it is all! You guys do what you like, I was just a little… ya know what? I'm gonna stop rambling now. Goodnight!" With that Leorio decidedly turned away from the fire and slammed his body down onto his cot.
Kurapika scoffed, before smiling at the other two. "You two really are great friends, it's nice to know that good people still exist in this world. Goodnight." Leorio prickled at the clear jab at him, but stayed silent for once.
Gon and Killua looked at each other, sharing a silent exchange.
They both felt super awkward whenever Kurapika and Leorio fought.
The two snickered and broke their gaze before settling down. Killua laid on his side facing the fire, and Gon - assuming his usual place - wrapped his arms around Killua from behind. Using his friend like some sort of body pillow, he sighed and drifted off immediately.
The silver haired boy was a little sad that he wasn't purring this time, but knowing Gon he was suppressing it out of habit. They were around a ton of new people after all. And it's all thanks to Gon that I'm able to be around them with my face, tattoos, and tail out. He's so incredible…
Killua winced at the pain in his mind, and changed his train of thought… however, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it, his thoughts always slipped back to Gon. The Valkyrie was eventually lulled to sleep by the crackling of the fire and Gon's even breaths. With his consciousness fading, he rolled over and curled up against Gon's chest, feeling more comfortable here with this boy than anywhere else he'd been over the course of his 18 years of life.
AN: Kurapika and Leorio have entered the picture! I love writing Kurapika's dialogue so much. It's just something about the dignified way he speaks that gives me so much serotonin, lmao.
on another note! my chapter count is getting a little out of wack, so for the sake of my sanity imma start making the chapters longer
