Author's Note: Life continues. Development!

Miwaku: I don't own Hunter x Hunter.

CHAPTER 16

Ging immediately woke up to the sensation of two pairs of hands holding his arms and dragging him away from the bed. He almost let his Nen lash out to the people who dared to interrupt his sleep. However, his Nen also sensed the familiar and similar aura.

He opened his eyes and drawled out, "Eeta, Elena, what the fuck are you two doing to me?"

"We're going to give you a job. Ickshonpe will explain it."

"And you will fulfill it as a Hunter and as a man."

"Okay, it's official. I will never understand Hacker Hunters." Ging rolled his eyes. He did not know what was happening, but he hoped that it was nothing life-threatening or too much of a hassle.

A few weeks have passed since the day he formed the idea of the video game for Hunters. He, Gale, and the Hacker Hunters had begun writing down every detail they could think of for the game. Also, he had e-mailed his special non-profit organization about it, and in return, he was given a list of contacts they could look into that could help them with the game. Investors in video games, technicians, even Nen users...they were all in the list. And he was damn grateful for his allies.

Currently, they were in an abandoned cabin in another forest (from the amount of forests they were in, Ging already gave up on knowing which forest they were in). They decided to stay in it for it had been a while since they slept under proper roofing surrounded by proper walls.

Ging broke out of his reverie when he was pulled into sitting on a wooden stool. In front of him was Ickshonpe who looked to be meditating. He could not help but comment, "Are you impersonating the Chairman right now?"

Ickshonpe wrote on the sketchbook, I'm glad it worked.

"You just wanted someone to acknowledge it..." Ging shook his head tiredly. "Now, what's going on? It's just past midnight." He muttered as he glanced at his watch.

I don't think you know or remember, but today is Gale's birthday. Was the written response.

"And we want you to surprise her and plan something good for her." The twins said simultaneously, eerily staring at him with red and blue eyes.

Ging gawked. "You woke me up at midnight, just to say that?!"

The three Hacker Hunters nodded at that.

"Unbelievable." However, his mind was reeling with the information. He never knew Gale's birthday. But now that he did, he knew that he had to do something for her. He was the boyfriend after all. And Gale did something for him on his birthday. Give and take and all that.

Ging then flushed and ducked his head to hide it. 'Ugh, I'm still not used to it. So embarrassing.' Being in a relationship was still new territory for him. He was taking it slow and he was learning gradually.

But he could do it. He could plan something special for Gale today. He would do it because he wants to see her happy. The big smile; the shining, big, hazel brown eyes; the pink flush on the cheeks - he wanted to see those because of what he did.

Grinning, he assured the Hacker Hunters, "Don't worry. I'll do something about it."

He had time to research. How hard could it be anyway? He was Ging Freecss, Single-Star Archaeological Hunter, after all.

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

On second thought, it was really hard, despite being Ging Freecss, Single-Star Archaeological Hunter. He just managed to make the small kitchen explode.

"What the hell happened here?!" Gale appeared at the doorway, bedhead and pajamas.

Ging winced. It would seem that the explosion woke the woman up. "I was making eggs for breakfast."

"'Making eggs for breakfast'? And it resulted to this?" She meant the blackened counters, splattered corpse of the eggs, and overturned pan. "Where are the others?"

"Over there." Ging pointed to the fallen table that was used as a shield. Behind it were Eeta, Elena, and Ickshonpe.

"But the real question here is why you were cooking eggs. Were you hungry?"

Ging blushed and scratched the back of his head. He decided to be honest. "I was supposed to be making a breakfast-in-bed tray for you since today's your birthday." And his plan utterly failed because he did not expect himself to be incompetent in cooking eggs.

He waited for the laugh and the teasing remarks from Gale, but he received none of those. Instead, to his shock, he was hugged.

"I'm happy that you did that for me. But I'm happier that you're not hurt from that." Gale smiled sadly. "I thought there was an attack, to be honest."

'Trauma, huh?' There were probably explosions back then, when the Lurka Clan fought amongst themselves to death. It stuck in Gale's mind and would react much like a war soldier. Ging smiled a bit and patted Gale's head. "I'm okay. Don't worry." Gale even nuzzled closer at that.

Then, there was a flash of light.

"Elena..." Eeta sighed.

"Oops. I had it in auto-flash."

There was a scribbling sound before Ickshonpe's sketchbook appeared. At least we got a picture. Happy birthday, Gale!

"Thanks, I guess." Gale chuckled before pulling away. "I'll fix myself up then cook breakfast for all of us, okay?"

Ging winced again. "You don't have to do that."

"And I don't want you cooking in a kitchen again." Gale patted him on the cheek and walked out of the room.

Silence descended until it was broken by Elena.

"You better have another plan, Ging."

"I know." Ging huffed out. "I'm working on it."

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

After the breakfast fiasco, the three Hacker Hunters excused themselves to do some studying of codes for the video game. Gale raised an eyebrow at that. Ging sighed in relief.

"If you wanted it to be only the two of us, you could've just asked me." Gale grinned.

"Yeah, like I would do that." Ging grumbled out. He was still shy and awkward after all. Personalities do not change just for a day.

"Ah, true." Gale conceded with a smile. "And anyway, thanks for earlier. It's the thought that counts. Most unique birthday ever."

"And it's not over yet." Ging smirked. He just thought of the next plan throughout breakfast. He figured that if he did not want to look like a fool for trying something new, then he would do something that he really knew. "We're gonna go fishing."

When he did not receive a response, he began feeling like a fool. Of course, it was not romantic and not an activity that one would do in a birthday. But he did not know anything else. And so, he hoped that it was not that stupid.

"I think it's a great idea!" Gale exclaimed all of a sudden. "I remember you telling me about fishing all the time when you were younger. You could teach me then! I never fished in my entire life."

The sense of stupidity disappeared at that. It was replaced by excitement and glee that he would be doing something with Gale that the latter has not done yet. He could teach her the techniques, baits, types of rods...everything that he knew. He was sure that Gale would love to hear all of those.

It excited him. "Okay then. I saw this perfect spot on our way here about an hour walk. Let's go?"

"Let's!"

Barely saying a goodbye to their other companions, they were off to the fishing spot. And Ging could not be happier that at least, something was happening right.

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

When they got there, Ging first taught Gale how to make a fishing rod from the things that surrounded them. Then, he told her about reeling techniques, kinds of baits, and what to do while waiting for the fish to get caught in the hook. After all of those, they dropped their hooks in the water and waited.

The sun was high in the sky with some clouds passing by. Ging eyed the surrounding foliage and took note of the leaves. Satisfied with that, he gave his rod to Gale, careful not to jostle the string much.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just gonna collect some things, okay?" At Gale's confused nod, he jumped on the tree branches and began collecting various leaves of all shapes and sizes. He dropped down beside Gale afterwards.

"What's that?" Gale questioned as she leaned in.

Ging leaned back and grinned. "A surprise. Close your eyes first. I promise that I'll make you open them when I see a fish caught in the hooks. Just hang on to the rods."

"Fine, but that surprise better be a good surprise." Gale teased and closed her eyes.

Ging's smirk softened to smile. 'I hope it will be.' His hands twisted and pulled on the leaves. He was familiar with this, had done it many times when he was younger. It was taught to him by his grandmother and father...it made him nostalgic actually. It had been a long time since he last made one.

When he finished, he said, "Okay, I'm gonna put something on your head." He then put his work on Gale's head.

Gale opened her eyes at that and felt it. "Is this a hat?"

"Yup. Handmade from the freshest leaves around us." Ging grinned and put another hat on his own head. "It'll protect us from the sun and keep us cool while we fish."

"Awesome! How did you make this? Only leaves?"

"Only leaves."

"This is great! Thank you, Ging!" And then, he was hugged by Gale.

"Hey, the rods!" Ging took his rod from her but did not push her away. "Sheesh, woman. Be careful."

"Don't care." Gale smiled and kissed his cheek. Ging blushed at that. "Really, thank you. For doing all this."

Ging sighed and wrapped an arm around her. "Yeah, yeah."

They were quiet after that, Gale leaning her body on Ging while Ging kept a hold on her. Ging did not mind this. When he was younger, he would always feel uncomfortable when someone touched him. He would still feel that in present time, however, with the black-haired woman, he could even say that he enjoyed the touches - arm-holding, leaning, and even the kissing.

"We came a long way, huh?" Gale murmured softly.

Ging smiled and pulled her closer. "Yeah, we did." All those months of travelling, working, and meeting new friends definitely made an impact to him. He would not change it for anything else.

And that was why, he lowered his head to Gale's ear and whispered, "Thank you and happy birthday."

He was rewarded a bright smile and a kiss that took away his breath. He was happy and he hoped that that happiness would not go.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: Feels are so confusing to write. Ging is also confused. But he's happy so it's okay.

Expect in the next chapter: Land, Prisoner, Almost There

See you next time!