The mood in the elevator was tense to say the least. Gon and Killua were panting and dripping with sweat, there wasn't much time left before they would be evicted. After being awake and running about for 24 hours, the two boys were more than ready to get this whole mess over with.

Gon took a deep breath as the elevator slid to a stop.

It was time.

He tightened Killua's shirt around his previously injured palm. His hand was completely fine… but something about the fact that it was Killua's shirt wrapped around his hand, and that it was Killua that had put it there made him reluctant to take it off. It felt like a good luck charm, in a way.

Gon felt a growl raise low in his throat as the elevator door opened. His adrenaline was picking up, and a hint of his biochemical slipped into his system. A new reaction to his rising aggression was a stir in his Blood Magic. The surface of his Blood Energy pocket shivered, and that steady dripping picked up a bit.

It seemed to react to his emotions, like his biochemical did. Wing had said that now that they were Awakened and had their Ten in check, that pool of energy would constantly be building. And the more full it was, the more Magic they had at their disposal. It ran in the background, just like breathing and the beating of Gon's heart.

The dripping was like a second heartbeat.

It made the back of his mind feel a little full… it was such a strange sensation. But it was Demon Magic, and the unnatural way it clung to his mind and body made sense in that regard. Gon would get used to it, though. This was a new power, after all. He could finally get stronger.

It was finally time.

It was finally happening.

He was no longer that weak and shivering little boy from back then–

It wasn't like back then when he had–

"Gon."

The boy in question gasped, shaking a thick fog from his mind.

Gon glanced to his side, where Killua had placed his hand gently on his shoulder. Those sapphire eyes communicated to Gon what words could not. Killua was there for him, and everything was alright. The Valkyrie had his back, and he could calm down.

Gon smiled, his chest feeling a little warm.

"Thanks, Killua."

The silver haired boy nodded, hiding his eyes behind a curtain of fluffy bangs. He exited the elevator, and Gon walked along at his side.

Killua's here.

Killua's with me.

He's by my side.

He stuck with me when we ran into Hisoka's Ren and I got lost in my mind again.

He drug me out of that fog–

He saved me from that awful feeling.

He doesn't even know what's up with me… he doesn't even know what happened to make me this way.

He doesn't know… what I did. What I didn't do.

But…

He's still here. He doesn't ask about it, and he sticks with me even through all my bullshit.

I'm really grateful. That I have Killua as a friend.

I don't know what I would do if I lost this, this feeling of him by my side.

Gon snuck a glance at his friend. He looked at that fluffy crown of hair, that pale skin, those dark tattoos, and those beautiful blue eyes. The hybrid found himself smiling, and any discomfort revolving around going up against Hisoka dissipated.

Being in this tense situation with Hisoka like this…

Was bringing up some bad memories.

It was reminding him of when…

Of a time when things had been dark and cold.

From before Gon had met Killua and everything had started to make sense again.

But with Killua here beside him, Gon was able to push those feelings away. He was able to keep moving forward without those dark times clawing at him and holding him back. With Killua here, Gon was confident and ready.

He was ready to get stronger, and he wasn't afraid anymore.

Gon had a skip in his step and a grin on his face when they turned the corner, and his positivity did not leave when they came face to face with Hisoka once more.

"You seem happy~" the magician purred when the boys stopped at the other end of the hall.

"I could say the same," Gon called back. "You seem pretty happy for someone who just sat in that same place for almost 24 hours straight."

"I do have a bit of a crick in my neck, I have to say~"

"Cut the bullshit," Killua growled. "We've only got 20 minutes before we get evicted."

Hisoka's smile turned predatory. "If you say so." Gon could feel the intensity of Hisoka's gaze, and he braced himself for the confrontation. The magician didn't move a muscle from where he was sitting, but in the blink of an eye a thick fog of Ren exploded from him to fill the entire hallways once again.

Now that Gon could see what had been holding him back, he couldn't help but chuckle.

It was nothing more than a bubble gum pink cloud.

"I can't believe something like this almost killed me," he commented.

Hisoka laughed from where he sat, "Quite an interesting development, isn't it?" Those slitted golden eyes widened in ecstasy when Gon and Killua activated their Ren shields. The magician snickered, light and bone chilling.

Gon frowned, it was time to get serious.

He brushed the edge of his shield against Killua's, sending thoughts of encouragement through the Magical substance encasing their bodies. A shiver ran through Killua's shield in return, and in unison the two boys approached Hisoka's Nen.

Gon's heart pounded in his chest, memories of that horrible pain still fresh in his mind. But it was for naught, because the two of them entered Hisoka's thick field of malicious intent without issue. Gon's Magic slipped through and against Hisoka's, and the feeling of the pinkish fog sent shivers up his spine.

Hisoka's Magic felt chilling but oddly affectionate, like a snake was winding its way around your neck in a hug yet killing you at the same time.

The two of them crossed through the barrier without issue. Hisoka's Ren felt like a pressure against Gon's shield, but his own Magic was more than enough to fend it off. The chilling knowledge that Hisoka could bust through their shields with ease was uncomfortable to say the least, but the mirth in the tall man's eyes told Gon that he had no intention of doing anything like that.

Gon kept Hisoka's golden eyes locked in his own as he marched through the hall with Killua at his side. Half way through, Hisoka started to laugh. Giggles racked his body, and his shoulders shook. His eyes were wide and sparkling with a lustful yet dangerous light, and he was visibly rock hard.

"Oh, don't look at me like that~" he moaned in between snickers.

Killua growled, but the warning only served to excite the magician further.

By the time Gon and Killua were standing before him at his end of the hallway, Hisoka had stood up and had one hand over his mouth. A grin visible between those slender fingers with sharpened nails.

"Wonderful, simply wonderful~" he cooed to the two boys glaring at him. "You passed, and it seems that I won't have to go through with the usual initiation, well done~"

Killua rolled his eyes, keeping his eyes glued to the man's face and away from his tight and twitching pants. "Come on, Gon. We don't have the time to waste on this pedo."

Hisoka giggled and wiggled his fingers as Killua walked away.

Gon didn't follow, though.

The Valkyrie noticed, and turned back with his eyebrows drawn together. "Gon?"

The hybrid frowned up at Hisoka, who was more than a head taller. The magician looked down at him, and the lustful expression on his face was not lost on Gon. He felt those golden eyes wracking up his body as they always did, boldly flirtatious and slimy feeling as ever.

"Oh, what is it, Gon dear? Don't leave me waiting like this, you know how I love foreplay, but with a delectable fruit such as yourself it's impossible for me to be patient~"

"Thanks," Gon said simply, voice monotone and empty.

Hisoka quirked an eyebrow, grin growing ever wider, "Oh?"

"You didn't have to stop us like that," the hybrid explained, eyes focused and unblinking. "You kept us from walking into our graves. So I suppose I owe you one."

"Gon?!" Killua exclaimed. "Don't admit that, now you're–"

Hisoka laughed throatily, and the sound sent ripples across Gon's shield. He flinched, barely able to keep himself from leaping back several feet. The red haired man's blood curdling aura tickled against the underside of his chin, and twined around his upper thighs. Gon felt a responding aura from Killua, pressing flush against his back and pushing against Hisoka's aura.

Gon kept his aura out of it.

He was too on edge and didn't want to let any of these feelings loose.

He'd just snapped out of the trance, sure.

But depending on Hisoka like this would never stop reminding him of that time.

"Oh, sweet boy," the Sorcerer sighed. "Just put it on your tab~" He dissolved into laughter, and walked away. Hisoka ruffled Gon's hair as he passed - an uncomfortably close pass, at that - earning another warning growl from Killua.

Gon didn't like the way Hisoka's laughs echoed off the walls of the hallway.

He wasn't one to walk away so quickly and happy after getting so worked up and turned on.

Hisoka definitely had something up his sleeve.

But what that was… Gon had no idea.

Killua marched up to Gon's side, snarling low in his throat. "Stupid whore, why's he always act like that?" the disgruntled Valkyrie snapped. "He's so fucking sexual! It pisses me off! He's like a million years older than us, in what universe is this okay?! And he touched you with his stupid fucking aura!"

Gon chuckled in exasperation as Killua gave him a once over, complaining and bad mouthing Hisoka the whole time.

"Why're you laughing?" the silver haired boy demanded, circling Gon as he looked him up and down. Gon didn't know what he was looking for, it had just been Hisoka's aura, nothing more!

"It's okay, Killua! No need to get so freaked out. It's just Hisoka."

The Valkyrie scoffed. "Just Hisoka? Just Hisoka, huh? I can't believe you sometimes."

Killua leaned in close, and Gon hummed in surprise when he inhaled deeply at the crook of his neck. The Valkyrie snarled. "He rubbed his scent all over your hair. Why'd he have to touch it like that? Now you have pedo-cooties."

Gon was about to ask about pedo-cooties, but his breath left him when Killua placed his hands on his shoulders from behind. The taller boy stepped in close, close enough that Gon could feel his body heat against his back. Killua's tail rubbed lightly against his waist and outer thigh. For some reason Killua's closeness was making Gon's heart beat faster.

The Valkyrie then leaned in close, snarling as he took a deep sniff against Gon's hair. The throaty noise made the hairs on the back of Gon's neck rise, and he gasped inaudibly when Killua suddenly rubbed his head against the hybrid's hair. He growled all the while, wrapping his tail possessively around Gon's waist.

The hybrid found himself frozen, his heart beating really fast and a strange shiver running up his spine from how close Killua was being.

Once Killua was finished rubbing the underside of his chin all over where Hisoka's scent had been, he smelled Gon once more, and hummed in satisfaction. He stepped back, and Gon could think clearly again. That was strange. Why had his brain gotten all muddled? Maybe it was because Killua didn't get that close often, and he just wasn't expecting it.

"There," the Valkyrie muttered, still sounding pissed off. "Now his stupid scent is gone."

Killua marched on down the hallway, and Gon followed along behind him like always.

Killua just scented me. That's why he was rubbing his face all over my hair. The more territorial humanoids - Killua gets it from the Dragonite part of his subspecies - have scent glands on their necks and wrists. They use it to mark and defend what's theirs, and they get upset when something is over-scented by somebody else.

Killua doesn't like Hisoka or how close Hisoka gets with me when he's so dangerous. It must have really upset Killua that I smelled like him, so he decided to re-scent me so I didn't smell like Hisoka's territory anymore.

Scenting has never really bothered me, I may have a good enough sense of smell to detect scent markings, but I don't have those instincts so I don't worry about it. Hisoka has scented me all kinds of times before, I know he's a human and it's kinda weird that he does that, but he's just a weird guy. I've gotten so used to Hisoka's whimsical ways that I just roll with whatever strange behavior he throws my way.

But Killua stepped in and reversed the effects of his scent… and because Killua scented me, that means that he considers me his territory.

Scenting is an instinctual gesture, but a meaningful one all the same.

I've never seen Killua scent anything before, not even his soap or his chocolate.

But he scented me.

Gon felt himself smiling.

I kinda like it… that Killua cares about me enough to instinctively protect me from outsider scent marks like that. Scenting means a lot to the humanoids that have that instinct, and it means a lot to me that Killua would do that for me.

Something about knowing that Killua's scent is all over me right now… makes me happy.

But also warm inside.

A bubbly warm.

I wonder what that's about?

"What are you smiling for?" the Valkyrie asked gruffly, giving Gon a judgmental side eye.

The hybrid laughed, "Oh, nothing!"

I don't want to make Killua too embarrassed if I don't have to. He clearly didn't notice what he was doing too much, it was just an ingrained reaction. I know if I bring it back up he'll realize and get super embarrassed, and I don't want to stop him from doing it again in the future. I don't want him to suppress his scenting, it's fun and kinda cute to watch.

But also… I don't wanna make him stop himself from scenting me in the future.

For some reason, I like the idea of him marking me again and don't want that to stop.

Why's that?

Before Gon could investigate his warm feelings, the two of them arrived at the sign up desk. A Vampire-female explained to them what Kurapika already had: about how signing up for 300th floor battles would always have to be done in person, and about how the 24 hour rule still stood. She asked them when they wanted to schedule their 300th floor fights, and Gon and Killua scheduled them for as far as possible. The entire three months.

Something about seeing those fights being so far off in the future didn't make Gon impatient, but excited. He knew that in three months, he'd be a whole lot stronger. And that thought made him giddy to get started.

Bubbling with energy, he slung his arm around Killua's shoulders and danced around a bit at his side. The Valkyrie acted exasperated and annoyed, but his smile betrayed him. The two boys walked back through the hallway and back into the elevators, memories of the past 24 hours dripping from everywhere they walked. So much had happened in so little time, their brains had been bombarded with so much knowledge.

Everything had gotten so crazy all of a sudden, and Gon had the feeling that things were going to stay crazy.

Standing in the elevator, the two boys leaned against the handrail and gazed out at the urban view. It was the middle of the night, and the stars were out and shining. Yorknew City never slept, and was awake as ever. Heaven's Square was milling with people and vehicles as street performers danced for money and food carts advertised their wares.

The view was interesting and all, but Gon found that Killua's eyes were even more interesting. He watched the other boy out the corner of his eye, and found himself smiling as he did. He'd been doing that a lot lately. Just sitting and looking at Killua. He always smiled while doing it, too.

And who could blame him?

Killua was really interesting and pretty!

He was really funny too.

And really cool.

And his deep sapphire eyes reflected the city lights like the greatest firefly show ever.

Gon hummed contentedly to himself, feeling that warmth tickling in his chest again. It whispered to him to step closer to Killua, and always one to act on his impulses without thought, he did. He didn't think much of it, Killua was his best friend!

The silver haired boy startled a little at the contact, looking in Gon's direction to find the boy already looking at him. Gon gave him a wide grin, not ashamed to be found staring at all. Why would he be? It was Killua!

Pale cheeks tinted pink, and a small smile crossed Killua's features to match.

The two boys turned their attention back to the city before them, although Gon kept sneaking glances at Killua. And Killua snuck glances at him when he wasn't paying attention. Their shoulders were pressed together, and they leaned their heads together as they pointed out interesting sights and funny people to watch. Killua's tail slowly wrapped around Gon's waist, and Gon pushed their hands side by side on the handrail.

He'd never been closer to anyone in his life…

And that thought never ceased to make him squirm inside with joy.

But lately… that squirming had changed a little?

It was a little more hyper, if that made sense?

Gon wanted nothing more than to investigate this slight change in his thoughts towards Killua. The other boy was never not in his thoughts, so it was inevitable that he would explore this new cavern of his psyche.

However.

Things were about to get hectic. Very hectic. And Gon would not get the chance to explore his feelings. Not for three whole months, in which the two boys' entire lives would be dedicated to training and training alone.

Gon sensed this coming, and didn't mind. He knew that he wouldn't get much of a chance to hash these feelings out until their training was over. But that didn't matter, they were almost unnoticeable anyways. And nothing could drive him and Killua apart.

Killua would always be with him, and he'd enjoy these little moments as they came along. So Gon stopped obsessing over these little hints of light flashing in his mind. He placed these thoughts on the backburner, and instead focused on the moment. He focused on Killua. Not paying attention to how the tiny flame stoked and shivered whenever Killua looked his way.

Killua was his best friend, and Gon cared about him more than anything in the world. He'd enjoy this peaceful time with him, because things were about to get crazy! And Gon couldn't wait.

He absolutely loved training, and he just knew that with Killua there it would be even better. Cause Killua always made everything better. That was just who he was.

Gon followed Killua through the door of their apartment, it was almost midnight by the time they finally returned home. The hybrid wondered if they'd accidentally wake Kurapika and Leorio up? He didn't want to bother them in the middle of the night with all this–

"Gon! Killua!"

The two boys jumped when they were swarmed by their adopted parents. Kurapika and Leorio ran straight for them, grabbing them by the shoulders and looking them up and down. Gon and Killua were trapped on the doorstep, not even able to close the door behind them before they had been swamped.

"Leorio!" Gon greeted happily, giving his dad-friend a winning grin.

"Mother!" Killua cheered, smiling as the Elf checked him for injuries.

"Don't 'mother' me!" Kurapika complained, dragging the Valkyrie into the living space. Leorio and Gon following close behind. The hybrid squeaked in surprise when the taller Goblin lifted him off the ground and carried him to the couch by his shoulders.

"Yeah!" Leorio all but yelled. "Where the hell were you guys?!"

Gon and Killua blinked owlishly, looking up at the older two from where they had been sat down on the couch.

"You disappeared for an entire day! We've been worried sick about you!" Kurapika ranted. "We thought it was strange that signing up for your 300th floor battles was taking so long, but we waited it out because we knew it was a new process. But when six entire hours passed and you weren't back we went to look for you. But you were nowhere to be found!"

Gon and Killua looked at each other, and then back at Kurapika and Leorio.

"Oh my gosh! We're so sorry!" Gon exclaimed genuinely.

"We didn't think about you guys at all," Killua added, a much less graceful apology but one just as genuine as Gon's.

Kurapika glared and Leorio spat into the corner, earning a seamless slap across the back of the head from the blonde. "Bullshit!" the Goblin snapped as he scrambled over to clean up his mess. "You can't just 'no think about us!' We thought you guys were hurt!"

"Or dead in a ditch!" Kurapika added. "Honestly," the Elf sighed, sitting down on the coffee table before the younger two. Gon was looking at him guiltily, and even Killua had guilt swirling in his sapphire eyes. He really cared about his mother, and didn't want him to be disappointed.

It was really cute, in Gon's opinion.

Leorio returned, and stood beside the coffee table with one leg stuck out.

"We're upset with you," the Elf continued, "But overall we're glad you're okay."

Gon gave a sheepish smile, and Killua looked down at his feet.

"But where the hell were you two?! And what the hell were you doing?!" Leorio demanded.

The Valkyrie and the hybrid looked at each other and nodded.

"That's exactly the thing," Killua said, the two boys fixing the older two with furrowed brows and serious expressions. Kurapika and Leorio matched their expressions, knowing that something big was up. Gon and Killua wouldn't just disappear for no reason.

"We ran into a bit of trouble," the Valkyrie began. "We went to sign up for our battles, but Hisoka got in the way. He prevented us from signing up, and stopped us with a strange power. It was invisible, but super strong and painful." Gon held up his still-wrapped hand as an example.

"We tried to get through, but couldn't do it," Gon continued. "Hisoka told us that until we could see what he was doing, he wouldn't let us pass. So we left to go find you guys."

"But in the elevator," Killua picked up, "We met this guy named Zushi. And he told us some really interesting stuff."

"There's a part of this world hidden from the common eye," Gon said, eyes burning with passion as he gazed at Kurapika and Leorio. "And in it resides an incredible power."

"We spent the past 24 hours learning this power," Killua murmured. "It's an ancient discipline called Blood Magic. And the dark secret behind how all Sorcery and Dark Magic works."

"Blood Magic?" Leorio asked skeptically.

"The two of you have started training to be Sorcerers," Kurapika said slowly.

Killua nodded in confirmation.

"I was aware that the Sorcerers held an incredible secret… I just never knew what it was," the Elf explained. "The two of you discovered this secret, and were granted access to their power?"

"Yeah," Gon said. "And every single fight from the 300th floor up will be a Sorcery battle. And unless you are Awakened and trained in Blood Magic, you will die."

Leorio quirked an eyebrow. "The hell?"

"We had a similar reaction, believe me," Killua said. "But it's all true. We met a Master Sorcerer named Wing, and he's training us in Magic. There's a whole lot of stuff we aren't qualified to explain, but long story short we won't be fighting for three whole months. We're going to spend that time training so that we can make it to the top."

"But we didn't want to leave the two of you behind," Gon explained. "So we asked Wing if he could train you guys also."

Kurapika gasped, jumping to his feet. "You got us a Sorcery Master?!"

Killua nodded. "Yup. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?"

"That's incredible!" the Elf breathed.

"What's so incredible?" Leorio asked, sounding annoyed that he was the only one without outside knowledge on the subject. "Sorcery is just human garbage. Why are you so excited about a few fireworks?"

"Sorcery is a whole lot more than that, Leorio," Kurapika said darkly. "I do not know nearly as much as Gon and Killua do… but the vague knowledge I do have suggests that there is much more to this ancient practice than meets the eye."

Killua nodded, "You got that right. This stuff is super dangerous, and once you start your training you can't stop until you're done. We want the two of you to train with us, we don't want to leave you behind and we certainly don't want you to die when you get to the 300th floor. Just know that if you come with us, there's no going back."

Kurapika met Killua's dark sapphire gaze with understanding eyes.

Leorio glanced at Gon, who nodded in encouragement.

"We'll do it," Kurapika agreed.

"Yeah," Leorio seconded.

"You're sure?" Killua asked, giving them one last chance to back out.

"We're sure," the older two said at the same time.

"Yay!" Gon cheered, unable to stay serious for too long. He leapt from the couch and rushed over to his room. "Hurry! We've gotta pack! We're gonna stay with Mr. Wing while we're training, so make sure you pack enough for three months!"

Gon laughed as he tossed random clothes into his backpack, not really thinking much about if they matched or not. He picked lots of shorts and tank tops, along with his jacket and several pairs of undershorts. He grabbed his phone charger (proud of himself for remembering it) as well as his favorite blanket and his fishing rod. The hybrid skipped to the foyer to wait on the others.

Kurapika was the next to arrive, followed by Leorio and finally Killua. They all had their things collected and serious expressions on their faces, but when they saw Gon dancing from foot to foot his positivity spread to them.

"Come on, guys!" Gon cheered as he opened the door and darted out into the night. "Let's hurry so we can start your Awakening Ritual!"

"Ritual?" Leorio asked, sounding concerned.

"Don't worry about it~" Killua cooed. "It's nothing to sweat over, believe me~"

"But–" Gon started, only to be pounded hard in the arm by the Valkyrie. He glared at Killua, who grinned that cat-grin back at him. Gon smiled, who was he to say no to that adorable face? Mischievous Killua was so fun!

The hybrid giggled, "Yeah! What Killua said!"

The runaway prince snickered and jostled Gon around with a spring in his step. The younger two chattered away as they walked side by side through the city, on the way to Wing's apartment. Their shoulders brushed together, and it was a wonder they didn't walk all over each other's feet. Kurapika and Leorio watched lightheartedly, sharing collaborating glances about the joyous expression on Killua's face.

The next three months would be interesting to say the least, they all were more than aware of that. They were confident about what they were walking into, and ready for the challenge of mastering Magic and completing their first stage of training to become Sorcerers.

They were not, however, aware of the dark eyes watching them from the rooftops, or the malicious plan that had already been set into motion.