Author's Note: Anything is not complete without a birthday. Birthday chapter!

Miwaku: I don't own Hunter x Hunter.

CHAPTER 14

Ging woke up to the fluttering of a banner in front of him and was shocked to see the words, 'Happy Birthday, Ging!' on it. What shocked him even more were the random doodles on it (hearts, cakes, and was that a turban?).'What the hell?'

"Surprise!" Gale suddenly appeared beside him and grinned widely. "What do you think? Ickshonpe is quite an artist, huh?"

"Yeah, I could see that." He sat up, leaning by the headboard of the bed. He saw Eeta, Elena, and Ickshonpe at the doorway of the room. "How did you know it was my birthday today?"

"We saw your information, remember?" Elena stated, her face stoic.

"Or did you forget already, old man?" Eeta teased although her face was also stoic.

Harhar. Ickshonpe wrote on his sketchbook.

"You know, you three don't make a funny comedy trio." Ging muttered in exasperation.

"Anyway, since it's your birthday, I made some plans for the day." Gale told him. His brown eyes widened at that, which made the woman laugh. "It's not so bad. Trust me."

"Trust, huh?" Ging did not trust easily, even when he was young. He was always shy, wary of everyone and anyone. There were few people that gained his trust (and most of them were...dead, bluntly speaking). However, he knew that he was beginning to trust Gale. It helped that she was just too straightforward and her face showed her emotions. "Fine, fine."

"Awesome! I'll wait for you at the lobby then." Gale dragged the three Hacker Hunters out with her. "See you!" Then, the door closed.

Ging blinked and just stared at the door. 'Plans? In this town?' He and Gale were still in the somewhat-modern little town where they met the three Hacker Hunters who managed to hide their information from the public. He was the one who requested that they stay for another day (his mind was still reeling that they found the Hacker Hunter and that the information was hidden now). He just did not realize that it was already his birthday. He almost always forgot his birthday ever since he became a Hunter. He would only remember his age.

'Well, let's see what's in store for today.' Ging smirked, stood up, and stretched his body. Mid-stretch, he paused when a realization came to him. 'Wait, "I'll"?'

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

When Ging arrived at the lobby, he immediately saw Gale and became confused. "Why are we wearing the same thing?"

"I actually expected that you won't even think of dressing up for this." Gale smiled and twirled, making him feel small breezes. "So I adjusted to you. Do you like it?"

"Uh..." He looked at her from bottom to top - flats, loose square pants, flowy long-sleeved blouse, cloth around forehead just like him - and decided to comment on the one thing different about her. "...you did something to your hair."

"Yeah, I braided it." Gale showed it to him. "But you didn't answer my question."

"Uh..." Ging did not know what to answer really. Was he supposed to like the outfit? The braid? In general, her? He felt that it was a loaded question. 'Or am I overthinking this?' So, he just said, "...it's okay."

But then, Gale sighed in response, which confused him even more. "Sheesh, you're really awkward, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, nevermind." The black-haired woman then hooked her arm with his and began running, dragging him with her. "Let's go get some breakfast!"

"Hey! What about the other three?"

"They'll be following shortly."

But then, Ging felt eyes on him. Turning his head to the direction of the gazes, he saw the three Hacker Hunters actually running to follow them. 'What the hell?!'

This was the weirdest birthday he ever had in his entire life.

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

After breakfast of pancakes and bacon (which Ging had to admit were quite good), he and Gale walked in the town to do some 'sightseeing' - Gale's word choice.

"What's there to sightsee?" Ging asked. Sure, the town was more modern than other towns that looked more like big villages. If he would be specific, it was like a little city.

"Um, the whole town?" Gale laughed uncertainly.

"What?"

"Well, I wanted to buy you a gift for your birthday but since I don't want to buy something that you won't like, I decided that we'll go buy your gift together." Gale blurted out.

Ging blinked in surprise. "It's okay if you don't have a gift. Really, I'm just surprised that you know my birthday."

"No!" Gale stopped walking and faced him. "It only happens once a year and it's a really special day and it's a blessing that you were born on this day..."

"Okay, stop babbling." Ging held the woman's shoulders to make her stop. He knew he was blushing already just from the words said to him. He tried to smile gently to reassure her. "Look, that banner and the greetings? Those are enough for me. I'm really glad that you did all those. So calm down and just relax today. God knows this would be the last day where we would have ourselves to take care of, and not work-related shit."

Gale then grinned widely at that and held the hands on her shoulders. "Only you, Ging. Thanks. I needed that." After that, she tightened her hold to the point that Ging was afraid that his hands were going to become powder from the bone-grinding sound he was hearing. "But we will buy you a gift! Greetings are not enough!"

"Fine!" Ging rolled his eyes and his hands were finally released. "You stubborn woman."

"Pot meet kettle, old man."

In the end, he was given a new set of cloths that he could wrap around his head and a pair of boots. He was happy with that. He was happier when he saw that Gale was happy.

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

"Let's spar."

Ging paused before turning towards Gale, who was looking at him with a serious expression. They were now in a clearing inside the forest surrounding the town after eating their lunch. He did not realize how much time had passed with just shopping for a birthday gift...for himself.

But in any case, there was a statement said and he was not going to disagree with it. He only removed his turban and long-sleeved shirt, leaving him in a sleeveless tank top, baggy pants, and boots. Gale also removed her blouse, leaving her in a camisole, pants, and flats.

They did not bother with rules. It was an unspoken agreement in between them that they would fight with all they have without killing the other. Also, the spar would not end until one of them says stop. And so, whoever was the first one to attack did not matter.

They both went into the offense at the same time.

Ging remembered the first time they fought, back at the circular clearing of the Lurka Ruins. It had been difficult for him because it had strained his senses just to know where the wind attacks were coming from. However, through the time that passed by in the restoration, he agreed to spar with Gale to keep up with his fighting form. He did not just know Gale from their talks and arguments, but he also knew her through battle.

He jumped away when he was almost slashed by the wind. He was told by Gale that she just controls the winds' movement and speed, not its shape as he first thought. However, through that, Gale could use the winds like a whip or even a blade that could inflict the same effect as those mentioned. It was no wonder it was a Specialist-type of Nen.

Ging ran to the left quickly, hoping that he would get to Gale's blind spot as fast as he could, when he was suddenly pushed back by a huge gust of wind. Luckily, he managed to block it with his Nen or he would have been blown away to the trees.

"Where's your attack, Ging?" Gale taunted with a smirk.

Ging smirked back. "Don't get cocky, woman."'I just need to get close.' It was the only way he could make Gale say stop. It was her weakness - close-range battles. Of course, it was because of her winds. Those winds made her proficient in long-range but not much on close-range.

But that did not mean she was not good in close-range. Ging had a taste of that in every spar they did. He knew how to throw punches. Gale knew how to counter them and throw her own. She was adept in fighting from her training back in her clan. All in all, she was a skilled fighter that would give anyone a run for their money.

And he was glad to know all of those far better than anyone else. It gave him an advantage and also made him feel closer to Gale than anything else.

With that, he decided to attack. Focusing his aura on his hands, forming it into two spheres, he put the power needed to boost the spheres and threw them towards Gale. He kept an eye on the black-haired woman.

As expected, Gale dodged the attacks. Ging smirked at that. 'Bingo.'

It was as if time was in slow motion. He quickly ran towards Gale, pumping as much Nen as he could to speed him up, and hit her stomach with his fist. He knew that it would make her gag and used it as a distraction. He used his other arm to punch her again but now, it was blocked by her arm.

Ging saw the punch coming towards him and automatically, he raised his arm to block it. However, in a split-second, he thought of a better idea.

He let himself become limp and fell on the ground. This unbalanced Gale since the attack did not connect with anything. And that was why Ging managed to kick her back, throwing her away from him. He steadied himself on his feet and saw that Gale stopped herself from hitting a tree. That relieved him.

"So, who's cocky now, huh?" Ging teased.

"Whatever." Gale retorted and stuck a tongue out childishly. It just made Ging snort. "It's because today's your birthday. That's why I let you win."

"Oh, so you give?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm tired from those wind attacks."

"Why did you have to use so much power on them on the first minute? You know how it tires you easily."

Gale just pouted at that and plopped down the ground on her back, which made her shout. "Ah! I forgot that you kicked me there!"

Ging shook his head and lied down beside her. "You are such an idiot sometimes, Gale."

"And you're too strong and your Nen is an endless amount. How the hell did that happen?"

"I don't know really." Ging really did not know. He just thought that his Nen grew as he grew up. And he was getting more experienced in the fighting aspect.

He and Gale were both silent then, just staring at the afternoon sky. They would sometimes murmur about something or another, but mostly, they were silent. It reminded Ging of that first meeting again, where they just stared at the sky until it became full of stars.

But then, a whisper broke the silence.

"Ging, I'm really happy that I met you. Happy birthday."

And Ging was filled with an unexplainable amount of happiness that made him turn to his side, pull a shocked Gale closer, and kiss the woman that understood him, that knew how to be blunt with him, that was just there for him and happy about it.

When he pulled away, he watched as Gale opened big, hazel brown eyes and smiled softly, a blush on her cheeks. He was pretty sure though that his were also flushed red. "Does that mean we're a couple now?"

Ging turned his fully-red face away at that, already feeling embarrassed with all the happenings. "Y-Yeah, sure."

He was surprised when he felt Gale move closer to him and hug him tightly. "You're really shy, Ging, you old man."

He hugged her back as tightly and kissed the top of her head, mumbling out, "I know, Gale, you stupid woman."

And he knew they were both smiling giddily. 'This might as well be the most interesting birthday I've ever had.' Ging thought fondly and let his fingers comb through the loosening braid of long, black hair. 'I've never felt this kind of happiness.'

It was not-so different than the happiness he always felt whenever he discovered something new and when he fulfilled a goal. It was something more though. Like it would last more than that other happiness.

'I don't know if that's good or not...' Ging smiled when Gale curled up on his chest. '...but I'll think about that later. I'm gonna bask in this happiness for now.'

He forgot about the three Hacker Hunters who were watching them and absentmindedly taking pictures of them.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: Oh yes, fight scenes. The horror of writing them.

Expect in the next chapter: Cards, Talks, Ideas

See you next time!