Author's Note: Oh yes, because everything just has to escalate quickly. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Miwaku: I don't own Hunter x Hunter.

CHAPTER 12

Ging never had someone with him in his travels and he knew why. It distracted him...Gale distracted him. He did not even know how it came to this.

After the cheering and the crying, he had checked the Lurka Ruins and the Nen barriers one last time before he, his team, and Gale had set off to the nearest town. He had known that they deserved a decent bed to sleep on (resting on hard ground was not really ideal) and some good food (living off hunted animals and picked fruits made them hungry for real cooked food). Then, they had arrived at the town, had eaten, and had fallen asleep, still buzzing in happiness in contentment.

The next day, his allies had said goodbye for they had to get back to their own lives (and, of course, had told him to keep in touch with them - waggling eyebrows included, much to his annoyance). And so, that had left him with Gale.

They had never talked about what would happen next after the restoration. Ging knew what he had to do - there were researches waiting for him after all. He just did not know that Gale would come with him. Well, he neither agreed nor disagreed with the woman coming with him anyway.

'So why does that sound like it's my fault?' Ging grumbled inwardly and jammed his hands in his pockets.

Beside him, Gale was humming a playful tune without a care in the world. She stopped when she saw the movement. "Something wrong?"

"Oh no, nothing's wrong really." Ging smiled wryly. He hoped that the sarcasm was not that evident.

Gale pouted. "There is something wrong. I'm not stupid."

'Well, fuck.'"Could've fooled me."

"Oh, shut up!" Gale was suddenly grinning.

Ging began inching away at that when he was then grabbed by the arm and they were running fast. "What the hell, woman?!"

"You shouldn't feel so down, Ging! I'm right here after all!"

Ging had to look away to hide the small smile on his face. Slowly, but surely, he knew that he was letting Gale in his heart. It was not that he did not want to, or was scared to even ('Actually...let's get back on that one.'). He just did not know what to do with the sudden feelings in him. There was excitement (a different kind than the one he felt in every discovery), nervousness, and just plain joy in seeing Gale's own happiness.

For now, though, he would push it away. He could not think about it when Gale and him were currently running to the direction of a town they saw on a map.

"I'll race you, Gale!" Ging let go of Gale's hold on him and used some Nen to boost his speed. "See you at the town!"

"Hey! That's not fair, old man! Wait for me!"

Ging just grinned. 'I'm content with this. No more, no less.'

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

They only travelled by foot. Ging had said that he did not need transportation unless he was going to cities. To his surprise, Gale did not mind, saying that she was physically fit enough to travel by foot and that she did not want to spend her money on something frivolous like vehicles.

It was good enough for Ging. He did not mind the company. It was as if Gale knew when she should talk her heart out and when she should just keep silent. He was glad for that. It also helped that Gale was not nitpicky and pretentious with their choices of location and other resources.

However, there was a time in the month that Ging dreaded. It would last a week at most, and it made him wary of his words and actions towards the black-haired woman. And he knew, as they entered the next town they were supposed to go, that it was that time of the month.

"Let's go get a room in an inn, right now." Gale muttered.

Ging heard the urgency and scanned the town to look for the inn. Luckily, it was just right around a corner. He and Gale went in and talked to the receptionist.

"One room please. Two single beds." Ging added the last one quickly. He remembered making the mistake of not saying that and had gotten the brunt of wide grins and playful elbow jabs. Luck was on his side back then - Gale was in the bathroom, having no knowledge of what just happened.

"Here's the receipt then." The receptionist gave him the piece of paper. He gave her the money. He was then given a key. "Just go upstairs, last room on the right."

"Right. Thanks." Ging turned to Gale who was leaning by the wall. He immediately noticed the tension in her body. He did not say anything about it - 'If it's a problem, then she'll tell me.' - and just said, "Let's go."

They went up the stairs and walked straight ahead. When they got to the room, Ging immediately claimed the bed closest to the window. He always did that because it made him feel safer to know that he would sense intruders immediately if they went through the window.

He watched Gale drop to the other bed and lay down, curling up into a fetal position. And that worried him because from all the months he knew Gale (and encountered those weeks), she never was this lethargic.

"Are you all right there?" Ging called out.

"Not really." Was the mumbled response. "I feel dizzy and weak right now."

Ging went to look at Gale's face (which was scrunched up, like she was in pain) and asked for confirmation, "Is it that time of the month?"

Gale snorted. "Yeah, it is. And it looks like it's stronger this month."

"That's weird." Ging could not help but comment. "Why is it different from other months?"

"I don't know and I don't care." Gale hissed out, much to Ging's shock.

"Um, right. Uh, sorry." Ging winced. He knew he just fucked up back there. 'She's really volatile during this time of the month.'

"No, it's okay. I should be the one apologizing." Gale hid her face on the pillows. Ging had to lean in a bit just to hear her. "I just feel really shitty right now."

Ging could, and would, never understand what Gale felt during her period. But he knew a thing or two about shitty things. "Yeah, we all have those days."

To his relief, Gale released a chuckle. "Only you would say that, what with your age and experience."

"How many times would I have to tell you that I'm not old?"

"Hopefully, many times in forever." Gale turned to him and smiled a bit. Ging thought it still fit the woman even if she was sick. "Would you take care of me?"

Ging blinked in astonishment. But he already knew the answer anyway. So, he replied, "Yeah, I will." He got a wider smile for that one.

And so, he did take care of Gale. He would bring food (not feed her, of course), buy...things from the store (she took pity on him when he returned, vowing not to make him do that again judging from the flush on his face), and just talked to her about anything and everything.

Then, the week passed and Gale was okay again. Ging was relieved with that. They were now on the road once again (and they would not talk about the time Ging was almost traumatized seeing blood on Gale's pants and bedding. 'Nope. That's in the past. Nope.' Ging chanted his mind).

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Ging, don't you have some work to do?"

"Well, I do." Ging looked at his e-mails and sighed. "But the researches are still in the shaky, beginning stages. What about you? Any clients?"

"No one responding whatsoever." Gale also sighed. "I'm probably too late with the other offers."

They were in a small restaurant in the next town they got in, eating a bowl of noodles, looking like the next scruffiest thing (or was that only Ging?). Apparently, they were jobless as Hunters in present time and just living off the little cash they have (they were lucky that they did not spend it on the earlier days of their travelling).

"Hey! Can you switch it to the noontime news?!"

There were a few complaints but nonetheless, the cook switched the channel.

"-and hope that the criminal gets caught. For some good news, a renowned Hunter and his special non-profit organization have done it once again. The Lurka Ruins, which were unknown before and only lived in rumors, are now fully restored almost to its former glory!"

Ging choked on his broth and immediately drank some water to calm his throat. In front of him, Gale's jaw was dropped.

"This is all thanks to Single-Star Archaeological Hunter, Ging Freecss, and Jackpot Hunter, Gale." The television even showed pictures of them.

"How did it got out so fast?" Gale whispered.

"I have no idea." Ging had a feeling it was Pariston though. 'That blonde rat...always stuffing his nose to my business.'

Then, they felt several eyes on them. Silence descended on them. Glancing at the side, they saw that all of the people in the restaurant were staring them and at the television.

And chaos began.

"Hey! You two are the ones on TV!"

"That's a pretty awesome thing you two did!"

"Where are you going?!"

Ging was already on the run, dragging Gale - who was laughing - behind him. 'Ugh, why does this always happen?'"And stop laughing, Gale!"

"I can't help it!" Gale chuckled. "You're so shy! You're practically running away."

"I didn't sign up for this shit when I became a Hunter." Ging sighed and stopped running when he saw that they were far enough from the town. "I just want to discover."

"I know." Gale reached out to pat his shoulder. He felt oddly reassured with that. "You told me that on our first meeting. I'll never forget that dedication."

Ging smiled wryly. "At least someone understands."

"You don't need others' opinions." Gale smiled back, gentle and understanding. "You can do whatever the hell you want."

"Yeah." Ging knew that. He was just happy that there was, at least, one person in the whole world that understood who he was. He could live with that.

"But, you know, we can do something about your information."

"Really?"

"We can find a Hunter to hide your information." Gale raised her index finger. "All information about Hunters can be found in the Hunters-only website. If one Hunter from the public media leaked data from it, then it would not be for Hunters-only now, would it? That's why we have Hacker Hunters."

"'Hacker Hunters'..." Ging repeated in awe. He had not thought of that actually. Of course, he knew that any work he did, the Hunters Association knew and would put in his records. What he did not know was that he could limit the people that would see his information. And starting at the Hunter website seemed like a good idea. "That's genius!"

"I know, right?" Gale grinned. "I just thought of it while we're running away."

"I could kiss you right now." Ging muttered. When the words he just said processed in his mind, he gawked. 'What the fuck did I just blurt out?!' He cringed and looked at Gale.

Gale was wide-eyed, blinking in shock. But then, a slow blush covered her cheeks and a silly, little smile formed on her lips.

Ging did not think that was cute. That was a lie, of course.

"Who would want that from an old man like you?" Gale managed to say with a small laugh.

Ging smiled. It was not his wry grins or tired ones. It was genuine, true, and honest-to-goodness legitimate. And it was all thanks to the black-haired woman with the big, hazel brown eyes and all-smiles expression. "I told you to stop calling me an old man, woman."

He did not know who did the first move or whatever the hell happened. He just knew that they were kissing and it filled him with excitement and happiness.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: If Ging were an obnoxious guy, he would be dabbing. But since he isn't, then that's all you get.

Expect in the next chapter: Ick-what, Games, Twins

See you next time!