A/N: When you forget to post a chapter haaaa

"Don't be ridiculous, this isn't something that friends do, Leorio."

"It isn't like that, I only need to know if I'm good at it."

"So you think I should be the one to judge that? That doesn't even make sense."

"Yeah it does! I don't know, I'd just feel comfortable if it was you. Who else am I supposed to ask?"

"I don't know, your girlfriend?"

Killua and Gon were standing outside of their old bunk, looking at each other in confusion. What exactly was going on between their old bunkmates? They'd made their way back to camp with Kaito, and though Killua had laughed with him and Kaito had spoken normally in the village, Gon felt as if they were both acting strange. He hoped being with Kurapika and Leorio would alleviate that weirdness. Killua glanced at him for a second and Gon saw that look again—why? But then it was gone and Killua spoke in a low voice.

"Let me tell them, okay?"

About Killua being his boyfriend? Aw, man, Gon had wanted to tell them. It was exciting! But Killua sounded firm, so he gave a tiny nod. Killua was probably better with words anyway.

"Leorio! Kurapika!"

Gon shoved open the door, a huge grin on his face. The two men, who were standing close together in a heated argument, froze. Their mouths dropped as they saw Gon, and when they saw Killua behind him they seemed even more shocked. And then… chaos.

The four of them were yelling excitedly, scrambling to talk, scrambling to hug each other warmly. But everyone wanted to hug everyone so in the end it ended up being one large, awkward group hug, with everyone laughing wildly. Gon hadn't thought about anything other than finding Killua when he was in the forest, but he realized now that he'd really missed Leorio and Kurapika too.

"Where were you guys? What happened? Everyone said Killua was dead!"

Gon sat down promptly and began speaking even before Killua could. He told them almost everything, leaving out the moments between him and Killua, and kind of glazing over the village. All he said was that the village had been bad and had gotten wiped out. He noticed Killua shoot him a strange look at that. Why? He didn't feel like going into detail. It all seemed kind of hazy, anyway. Before finding Killua, everything seemed hazy, even walking back to the base. Oh well; it wasn't like it mattered. He'd just wiped out a couple of enemies.

"That's… crazy. Killua, you're incredibly lucky to be alive."

Kurapika's voice was awed and he shook his head in disbelief. Gon nodded happily, and reached out to take Killua's hand before realizing he shouldn't. But if he left it indecisively in the air, it would be obvious what he was trying to do. He needed to do something not suspicious and he only had a couple of seconds… he grabbed Killua's palm and flipped it up, making a hum in his throat as he studied it.

"Well, his palm says he's going to live a long life."

Everyone stared at him. He beamed at them, releasing Killua's hand. He didn't know how to read palms, but it seemed convincing enough.

"Let me see."

To their surprise, Kurapika took Killua's hand and examined it. He frowned, shaking his head.

"I think you read it wrong, Gon. It says he's going to lose something he didn't know he could lose. Something very important, that's connected to his lover. Or maybe his lover is the one who will lose it? I'm not as good at this as Pairo was, so I'm not sure."

Oh no. If Kurapika read palms, he'd know Gon was lying and he'd figure everything out. Gon paid no mind to what Kurapika had said, though Killua looked disconcerted. Gon thrust out his palm.

"Read mine!"

Kurapika nodded—good, he was distracted—and took Gon's palm. He reached up and traced a line, then his brows furrowed.

"I don't think I'm reading this right. It can't be what I think it is."

Everyone leaned in, looking at Gon's rough, calloused hands and examining the line Kurapika was pointing to. It meant nothing at all to them, but judging from the look on Kurapika's face, it was bad.

"What is it?"

It had initially been a distraction, but now Gon was curious. Lots of people on Whale Island were superstitious, so they believed in things like palm reading. Gon was still undecided. He'd decide it was right if what Kurapika said came true. Kurapika looked up, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, almost worriedly.

"It says you're going to lose your soul."

Gon swallowed, looking down at his palm with wide eyes. He'd never understood much about the soul, but he knew it was very powerful and important.

"Not only that… you'll leave this world early. You'll lose your soul, then you'll leave this world early. I guess it means you're going to die young and empty."

Woah… that was really scary. He shared a glance with Killua. Killua looked… mad. Really mad, and sort of desperate. Gon wondered what he was thinking—did he think Gon was going to lose his soul too?

"But don't take my word for it. There's something else about the whole thing that's confusing. I really don't understand this one line. Besides, palm reading is a pastime for fun, it isn't meant to be taken all that seriously."

Kurapika leaned back and offered Gon a comforting smile, as if he didn't really believe what he'd said himself. Well, if Kurapika wasn't worried, Gon wouldn't worry. He couldn't see how one went about losing a soul, so he figured as long as he was careful, he could hold onto it.

"Okay! I won't worry, then. Besides, I'm curious… what were you and Leorio talking about before me and Killua came in?"

Leorio and Kurapika shared a glance, and Kurapika's face coloured slightly. He was embarrassed? Gon leaned forward even more, nutmeg eyes sparkling with curiosity. Even Killua, who had seemed shaken by Kurapika's statement about Gon's palm, shook himself and listened. Kurapika sighed.

"Leorio wants me to kiss him."

"W-w-what? T-t-tell them the w-whole s-story, idiot!"

"Very well. Leorio met a nurse he has a crush on named Leroute. I don't believe she's as innocent as she acts—there's something off about her—but she accepted a date with Leorio."

Leorio had a date? With a nurse? That was unexpected.

"Just because she's beautiful and likes me back, doesn't mean she's a bad person!"

"Leorio… she told you she'd go on a triple date with you if you brought Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck."

Kurapika turned his eyes to Gon and Killua apologetically.

"I'm sorry about this. He agreed without even knowing if you were coming back. Next weekend, Leroute and two of her friends are going to be here to take you two and him out."

Whaaat? Him and Killua were going to go on a date with two different ladies? But, but… they were boyfriends! They shouldn't be going on dates on with other people. He wanted to tell Kurapika and Leorio right then, but he'd promised Killua he'd keep his mouth shut. He sighed internally; they would both go for Leorio's sake, he knew that. Even before Killua said anything, even before Leorio begged them, he knew they'd do it for their friend. But he didn't want to share Killua. He crossed his arms in anger, peeking at Killua from the corner of his eyes. Killua didn't seem bothered. Well fine. If Killua acted nonchalant, he'd act that way too.

"As for the kiss… Leorio thinks Leroute is going to want to kiss him on the first date. And, surprisingly enough, this idiot's never kissed a girl before. So he wants me to tell him if he's good at it. That's why we were arguing."

Poor Leorio, never having kissed someone. Killua… he really, really knew how to kiss well, but he definitely wouldn't help. Gon didn't know about Kurapika's kissing skills, but it was obvious Kurapika wouldn't do it either.

"I'll do it!"

Leorio blinked, opening his mouth and closing it again, at a loss for words. If he said he didn't want Gon to help him, it would look like he actually wanted to kiss Kurapika, but Gon seemed much too childish and… it was really weird. With Kurapika, for whatever reason, it didn't feel weird at all, but with Gon… Gon was like a little brother.

Gon raised a hand excitedly; Killua said he was good at it, so he could teach Leorio. But suddenly strong arms wrapped around his back and he let out a little oof as Killua dragged him onto his lap. He turned to ask Killua what was so wrong, but Killua pressed his lips against Gon's and kissed him with a deep, heated passion that left Gon's head spinning and his mouth half open as he panted. Kurapika coughed into his hand, turning away, and Leorio stared in astonishment, blinking rapidly.

"No you won't. Your kisses belong to me."

He looked up at Leorio as if daring him to say anything different. Leorio just blubbered, holding his hands up and shaking his head frantically in denial.

"I suppose that's one way to come out."

Kurapika looked on the verge of bursting into laughter as he spoke, and Killua's face turned red as he realized just how tactless he'd been with it. Gon ran an experimental tongue over his lips. He could still taste Killua in his mouth, and he kind of wished they were in private so they could do some of those things. He really enjoyed them, and he was curious about what other stuff they could do, but now that they were back in the bunk, he realized that might be hard. He let out a small sigh; oh well, as long as he could be close to Killua. He wrapped his arms around Killua's pale, slender neck and let his head rest on Killua's shoulder as a satisfied grin crossed his face.

"Killua's my boyfriend."

Kurapika laughed harder at Gon's easy statement, while Leorio slowly lowered his hands and brushed a hand over his face to hide a smile.

"Gon… we already knew this was how it was going to turn out."

"Really?"

"Well, yeah. It was pretty obvious."

Killua glared at Leorio, but it was more of an annoyed glare than anything else. Gon knew he'd thought Leorio and Kurapika would put up a fuss, but Gon hadn't thought that at all. Because, even if they didn't know it yet, Gon was pretty sure Kurapika and Leorio were going to end up becoming boyfriends.

"But guys… don't forget we're in the bunk next to you. We want our sleep and these things are creaky, if you know what I mean."

Killua rolled his eyes and nodded as if he already knew.

"Obviously we aren't going to do anything."

Gon sat back, a look of utter astonishment on his face.

"Why not? I can be quiet!"

All the blood in Killua's body must've rushed to his face, because he looked like a tomato as Leorio clutched his stomach and laughed so hard tears ran down his face while Kurapika looked more amused than ever.

"Gon, shut up. It's time to go to bed. And tonight, you're sleeping in your own bed."

Killua released him and hefted him off, standing up quickly. Gon shook his head and drew in a deep, disappointed breath; he knew Killua wanted to do those things just as much as him. If they were in bed together, it would be inevitable, which was why Killua was making him sleep on his own. Why did Killua have to be so embarrassed about it? It wasn't like Kurapika and Leorio would get mad. They'd end up together soon enough and they'd probably do those things too.

But, nonetheless, Gon crawled into his own bed as everyone else did, wishing Killua would've come with him because Killua was warm. He pulled the cover (which was really only a thin, scratchy blanket) up to his chin and closed his eyes. Kaito had said they were being briefed tomorrow about training and how their side was doing in the war, so they needed sleep tonight. Okay! Back to training soon! He drew in one deep, peaceful breath and faded into a welcome sleep. His dreams, however, were not as welcome.

"Pitou!"

He was nothing. Everything he was and everything that he ever would be was swept away by a cold fury that curled around his heart and soul, squeezing like a snake around a mouse. Lips peeled back into the growl of an animal, and muscles rippled so hard as to be painful. The eyes of his prey, which had looked so self-confident before, now held a glimmer of fear. Good. They would be doing more than glimmering when he was done.

"Try, then. A kid like you? You're nothing."

It was true, but being nothing was more than his prey knew. It was the tidal wave that destroyed countries, the fire that raged through trees, the wind that tore apart houses. What were those things? They were nothing—they held no life, no soul. If that was what he was, so be it.

He lunged and his prey moved. The thing in his hand—some sort of weapon, he'd long forgotten where he'd gotten it, flashed and blood scattered. No, he'd hit something else, not his prey.

"NO!"

His prey was screaming, upset, furious. Good. If his prey wanted to run, he'd destroy everything else, break everything down and raze every house if that was what it took. His eyes passed over the face of a woman, her eyes opened, already glazed with death as she sunk to the ground. The crimson splatter on his face felt so warm. He passed a hand over his face, wiping it, smearing it into his skin.

"You or them."

He didn't recognize the sound coming from his mouth, it was a rasp, it was death crawling across the ground towards the child who was running. The child… he spun, his hand automatically flashing down to make a sick, wet sound as it sunk into the face. More blood, this time on his clothes. He hadn't meant to. He hadn't meant to and yet… they were all running at him now and he had no choice.

His dance was death. He didn't want this, he didn't want to do this but he had no choice. His prey was running, trying to escape and his hands flashed, sometimes the weapon digging into flesh, sometimes hands, tearing at throats and veins. They were swarming like rats, covering him. He dropped the weapon and used everything, blunt nails ripping with a force the small body shouldn't have, teeth flashing out. Just get to the prey. It doesn't matter what you have to do.

"It hurts."

The voice was small behind him. Just a kid. He turned around, the blood dripping from him, pooling at his feet, soaking into his boots so every step was a squelch. Squelch, squelch, squelch. The prey was gone and all that remained was a sea of red. It rose to his knees, it reddened his skin, it moved in time with the blood in his veins. He sloshed through it, his eyes on the child. A boy.

"It hurts."

His hand was pressed over his heart and liquid spilled through his fingers. Gon sped up, fighting through the blood.

"They're going to leave."

Gon stretched out his fingers desperately, shaking his head.

"No! Killua won't!"

The kid tilted his head, watching Gon with nutmeg eyes, tears spilling onto his face.

"Yes he will."

Gon's fingers swished through the air and he was the child, clutching his chest as pain swept through his body, blood pouring like a river through his fingers. He lifted them away and looked down. There was no heart, only a jagged hole. He sank to his knees, tearing at his hair, screaming.

"Gon-nii-chan."

He looked up, broken, squinting as a young girl crouched beside him. Her eyes were light and blue, clear with concern and gentleness in them.

"Help me, Alluka."

She nodded, then cupped her hands and stretched them out.

"Gon-nii-chan, give me—"

"Nanika…"

Gon bolted up, his eyes wide, his chest throbbing. His cheeks were wet with tears and his hands were stretched out.

"Gon?"

The bed above him creaked and a quiet thump alerted him to Killua's presence. Killua climbed into the bed, sitting cross legged beside Gon, reaching out to brush away some of the tears.

"What's wrong? Bad dreams?"

Gon looked at Killua solemnly. He saw fear growing in Killua's eyes, but there were so many things going through his mind that he couldn't speak of one thing. He drew his hands back and placed one over his heart, taking a deep breath.

"Gon…? Is it one of those really vivid ones that feels like a memory?"

"No. It wasn't the past. It was… it was the future."

He glanced at his palm.

"Kurapika was right."

"Gon! Don't—"

Gon shushed Killua with one finger, pressing it to Killua's lips. It all made sense now. Everything, from what was to what would be. He smiled, a little sadly. Killua wouldn't like it one bit but…

"It's okay. I understand everything. It'll be a big sacrifice, but it'll be worth it. Just trust us, Killua. You'll see."

"What… are you…? Us…?"

There was no need for Killua to look at him like that, no need to worry because… wait. Why was there no need to worry? Who was the other person who had said that? What was he thinking about? Gon pressed his hands over his eyes and yawned.

"Sleepy. Night."

Killua tried to stop him, but sleep was calling to him and he allowed it to carry him into a darkness that he didn't come out of until dawn.

"Gon, do you remember last night?"

"Eh? Last night? You mean when you said no doing those things?"

"No. You had a nightmare and you said some strange things."

"A nightmare? That's silly! The last nightmare I had was when I bit you, I haven't even dreamt since then."

Gon walked with a bounce in his step, ignoring the strange look Killua gave him. Actually, everyone was looking at him strangely. Wherever he walked, he could feel eyes following him, and if he walked near someone, they would immediately move out of the way as if they were terrified of him. At one point, he and Killua walked past Illumi and Hisoka leaning against a tent. Illumi watched them emotionlessly, and Hisoka raised his fingers and gave them a wiggle. He ignored that too. He ignored everything; it would all go back to normal, so why worry over anything?

"Okay. Let me know if you remember anything."

"Un!"

He wanted to take Killua's hand and skip to the debriefing swinging it, but apparently that wouldn't go over well. He didn't understand why. People should be too busy worrying about their own lives to worry about how he and Killua lived theirs. A lot of people who didn't live on Whale Island were strange. He definitely liked animals better. Unless the people were Killua, Leorio or Kurapika. Then he probably liked those people better.

"I hope we can start training soon."

Gon whispered it to Killua as he held the flap of the large gathering tent open so his light haired companion could slip inside. Leorio and Kurapika were already waiting with two saved seats; Gon and Killua had taken their time eating. It seemed like almost all of the recruits were there. They avoided Gon's eyes. It was like the first day he'd showed up 'marked' by Hisoka. Everyone had forgotten about that soon enough, though, so he figured they'd forget about this too. Whatever this was.

"Child killer."

It was hissed by someone in the back of the crowd, and it caused a ripple, mostly of held breaths or quiet sighs, as people waited to see Gon's reaction. Killua's eyes flashed and Leorio stood up indignantly as Kurapika searched for who had said it. But Gon waved them all off. He turned to the crowd, drawing in a small breath, and smiled.

"It's good to see everyone! I brought Killua back!"

A few people, Hanzo, Pokkle and a couple of the other recruits, grinned back at him as if they were genuinely pleased to see him.

"Oh look, the murdering Freecss faggot brought his Zoldyck bitch with him. Great."

It was the same voice as before, and this time even a few of the other recruits seemed genuinely annoyed, though another few nodded in agreement. Gon's head turned, his smile never leaving.

"Matthew, right?"

His voice was light, easy, as his eyes caught those of the guy who had been talking. Matthew's eyes widened in panic as he realized he'd been caught—he hadn't expected to be picked out of the crowd so easily. Gon took a step closer, holding out his arm to stop Killua from lunging across the room. The strange light in his eyes and the aura coming from him made everybody pause. The tension in the tent was on a knife's point and the temperature must have gone up five degrees as people began sweating and tugging on their collars.

"Don't insult Killua!"

Gon's tone turned firm and disapproving as he waved an angry finger at the nervous man. The tension diffused and Matthew's friend gave him a good swat in the head; no, they must've been imagining it. Gon was just the same as ever.

He looked around in confusion as everyone relaxed, wondering why everyone had seemed so nervous in the first place. At that moment, Kaito swept into the room along with… everyone gasped. General Netero himself, the man who came up with all of the war plans and had single handedly changed the flow of the war. Everyone shot up out of their seats, saluting, and Gon and Killua scrambled to do the same from where they stood.

"Attention. General Netero."

Kaito didn't sound as enthusiastic as most military personnel did when introducing the General of the entire army. He said it the way one would introduce a cousin or friend. Netero waved his hand easily.

"Ohohoho. At ease, boys. No need for the formalities right now, we're all comrades right?"

Yeah, they were all comrades, except for the fact that the man standing in front of them was powerful enough to order them to die, and respected enough that each and every one of them would obey regardless of what family waited for them.

"Well, now. Kaito tells me he doesn't want to be the bearer of bad news so I've come in person to tell you."

The old man reached up to rub his head thoughtfully, lifting one leg to scratch at an itch on the other. He was very odd to say the least. He wasn't even dressed in usual military garb—he wore what looked like gym clothes, white and blue with the word 'Heart' sewn messily onto his shirt. His hand dropped from his head to his pointed beard, which he began tugging on as he spoke a sentence that would change everyone's life.

"We're losing the war, and the only way to get a foot up is to send you all to your deaths as soon as you're finished training."

A/N: Yess my muses want to take over everything I swear if they had their way I would be broke and on the street. But still writing with a piece of coal on a dirty napkin or something XD