AN/

'Gon finds a little bit of hope in the smaller things and Kurapika finds something since the war started that actually sparks his interest.'

Contains minor OC's and I personally want to avoid using any OC's in this story as much as possible. It was just random and for minor plot development.

HIATUSxHIATUS FORCED ME TO POST THIS so i combined two chapters into one long one so enjoy or else. Check out her awesome war AU too 'Purple Heart' b: because I said so.

This is kinda pointless but there's a few parts that are relevant as the characters all start meeting each other. And to think I haven't even begun the action haha.

Thanks for reading at least haha.. *hums*

Dangling hopes by a String

4

"Gon! Run!"

"Get away from here! Please!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA."

"No! I can't, I have to save you! Leave them alone!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

"Please! STOP THIS! STOP IT! DON'T DO THIS!"

"Run!"

"Gon!"

"Get away from them or I swear I'll kill you!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA."

"STOP!"

"GON!"

"NOOO!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

When Gon had eventually broke the surface of his fleeting consciousness, he found his body snapping forward and his eyes flying open with a scream just on the tip of his tongue but not quite able to make it past his lips. The laughs that had been plaguing his mind subsequently faded into nothing but a quiet murmur granting it did nothing to calm the cold, icy chills worming its way up and down his spine. He wiped the gathering sweat on his brow, feeling the dampness beneath his loose fitted hospital garb he must had been dressed in while unconscious.

Gon immediately recognized where he was at; looking awfully similar to the small clinics his aunt took him whenever he needed a health check up. Only, this was so much larger and there wasn't cute little tapestry or calming, happy pictures hanging on the wall of baby animals and beautiful floral. It was much more plain, spacious, and noticeably more dark and quiet. Not even the low, even breaths of those gathered around him could be heard. And Gon had exceptional hearing, too.

It was a decent sized room, clean white cots spaced a few feet apart and every single one was filled with sleeping patrons. He saw familiar faces and heads of hair bundled under those thin ivory sheets, figuring they had to be some of the other Whale Island villagers that were imprisoned alongside him. There was something off about them, however, as every single one of them seemed to glow around the edges of their bodies with a thick, transparent mucus-like substance he was unable to properly describe. He guessed it may have been a trick of the light, opting to ignore it for the time being. Gon had just woken up after all. Someone had freed them and taken the courtesy to treat to them as well; that was what mattered first most.

Relief washed over him, thankful to finally be out of that cramped, sticky cell, and Gon found himself sighing contently for a change. Hazel eyes found their way to the only window in the room, seeing soft moonlight peek out from the closed curtains. It was night time. What day it was or how long he had been asleep; unfortunately, was lost to him. He glanced to his side next, noticing a glass of water left on a tiny table that was set next to each bed for their convenience. He took it without thought, chugging the cool, savory liquid in fast gulps that he started coughing as soon as he cleared the glass of its contents. It was refreshing, naturally. His throat was parched and he needed it.

Guess I was more thirstier than I thought.

Now clear of the lingering haze from deep sleep, Gon quietly slid from his bed and into the soft slipper shoes left there for him as well. They were his size. Treading on the barest of his tip toes as to not wake anyone up, Gon made his way towards the nearest door and slipped through it with the smallest of sounds. This led him into a wide open hall flooded with warm light of the florescent bulbs buzzing overhead. His bronze skin relished the change from being secluded to the darkness for so long, even if it was fake compared to the true rays of real sun shine.

"Now, to find out where I'm at!" Gon beamed, randomly walking in a direction. It took him several minutes to find another door through the winding, tunnel-like hallways but he was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a huge heap of loosely scattered belongings sitting in a pile right in the center. A lot of the goods were damaged, caked in blood, and mostly ruined. Wherever they had been locked up must have had them stowed away, not sparing a penny of a consideration to the state their things had been left in.

In the pile, he recognized his own back-pack immediately and dug into it without haste, not caring how the thing had magically appeared there as long as it had found its way back to him. He pulled out his coveted set of clothing; hand made by good ol' Aunt Mito, and discarded the scratchy rags he had been wearing for something much more homely and personal. The long forest green over-coat fit well over his dark navy tank-top and his skin clung to the fabric, appreciating the familiarity. He pulled on his matching shorts and calf-high boots with the eagerness of a child, giddiness radiating off in him waves.

Gon was so glad to be in something actually his for once, it wasn't even funny.

Now fully dressed and feeling renewed with an adventurous vigor, Gon set off back down the path in search of something, anything to point him in the right direction. A direction that ought to answer his questions for him.

Where was he?

What happened?

And where was his Aunt and grandmother?

Five more doors and nothing but cot-filled infirmaries later found the Whale Island teen stumbling in on a much smaller room with only three beds filled, much to his surprise. There was also a woman nurse tending to one of the three men chatting among themselves in hushed voices. She had a scrawny body for someone who worked in the military, long black locks of hair that hadn't seen a shower in days; probably, with how brittle it looked. She seemed to be mumbling to herself while she worked which didn't bother the man she tended to in the least.

But it wasn't what Gon's focus zeroed in on. It was the recognizable face of one of the older men he remembered seeing visit Aunt Mito's bar on a regular basis. And they noticed him too, thin lips widening into a small smile, enough to thaw his heart of the earlier chill.

Banji.

"Gon, my boy! I'm glad to see you alive and well! Come here." The man beamed, said teen bounding over to him in all excitement to see a friendly face. "How are you doing?"

"Good, Banji-san! I'm happy to see you too!" responded Gon, both hands pressed to the mattress as he leaned forward to get a better look at the guy. And now that he did, a hard lump sank in his chest like dead weight, crushing all that pent-up excitement he was felling not more then a second ago. A right leg and left arm missing. The remaining arm, broken, hanging limp in a make-shift cast. His bare torso was littered in cuts and bruises that surely would scar.

This flung him back into the clutches of reality, reminding him that not too long ago, he too had been in the hands of that prison. Subjected to their torment, their abuse, and helpless to escape.

It hurt more then words could describe and Gon could only settle in chewing on his lip to relieve the tension. His hyper-active tone was reduced to just a feeble whisper, hurt betraying his usual cheer.

"Banji-san... I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

The elderly gentleman caught on to the younger boy's impending depression and lightly began to chuckle, nudging the youth's shoulder to snap him out of his reverie. "It's fine, Gon. Don't sweat it. I've taken more beatings from that gorgeous Mito-san of yours whenever I got too wild for her tastes." He winked, just like he always did when discussing Gon's favorite mother-in-law in his presence, earning a much needed chuckle from the boy. "Speaking of which, have you seen her?"

"No. I haven't actually." Now that he thought about it, when HAD he seen them last? It felt like a part of his memory had been temporarily erased and was nothing more then static and silence when he tried to think about it. The back of his skull ached whenever he tried to remember, so he chose not to linger on the thought for too long. Dealing with fatigue and pain right now just wasn't in his agenda. "Have you seen her?"

Banji shook his head, adjusting the sheet draped over his waist and pursued his lips, thinking. "No. I haven't been able to ask anyone yet, so I'm itching to get up and out of this smelly, uncomfortable bed and start moving!"

Again, both males shared another laugh, and Gon couldn't help but smile now. "That's just like you Banji-san. You never stop moving!"

"Indeed. I've decided to in list in the war and they promised to fit me with prosthetic limbs at no cost!" The wily old man squirmed ever so slightly in his impatience. "So as soon as we go out there and kick those creepy alien things' butts, the sooner I can get moving on my free new limbs and get back to some real good fishing."

Gon's eyes widened in shock. Why would someone as old as him enlist? It was like walking to an early grave with the condition he was in. "You enlisted?! But why?"

Banji lifted his arm in its cast, somehow managing to press a finger to those chapped lips that had started to tremble like the rest of the sun-kissed lad. "Because, Gon. I'm not getting any younger and you can't expect me to sit around and do nothing. If I can contribute at least something to get this war over quicker, then so be it! That's why I joined."

Once that hard finger left his lips, Gon mumbled, blinking slow. "Should I join too then, Banji-san?" Gon hadn't really taken the time to consider it, but now that he thought about it.. could he be of any use for this war?

He had been told he had exceptional senses. Gon grew up in the forest, lived and breathed wildlife. If anyone had become one with nature, it was him. He knew of all the various poisoned plant life in the forest and he even went as far as to tame pretty much any animal he had come in contact with. All the flora he knew by heart and every name of every type of tree could be repeated in his sleep. But would someone growing up from the woods be of any use on a battlefield made of gunpowder and lead? A life living in the green couldn't simply just become red.

Would it really be that easy?

"That's entirely up to you, my boy. But I know with your capabilities and skills, you can go anywhere you want to in this world. You're strong and stubborn, just like any good man should be when protecting the things he cares about. You'll make it, rest assured." Banji interrupted his thoughts, locking eyes with the other in all seriousness, "Just as long as you don't go off and die on me. I swear I will piss on your grave if that happens!"

Banji's words broke through his haze, filling Gon with great expectations for a promising future to come. The man was right. Gon couldn't give up just yet. "Ha ha! I'll really make sure I don't die then, Banji-san! That would be really gross!" He laughed, smiling down at his elder friend.

Atmosphere feeling much more lighter with that positive notion, Banji gave Gon a small pat on the back. "Get going, sonny. Can't keep your family waiting, now can you? I'm not sure where they are, but I am sure you will find them. Make sure to send my regards to that dear aunt of yours."

"Thanks, Banji-san!" He nodded, high hopes returned to top form. "I'll find them!"

"I promise!"

Thump.

Just on the verge of calling it a day after another two long hours of searching, Gon unexpectedly runs into somebody and knocks both of them backwards right as he finally landed himself outside. Clumsily, he landed on his bottom with an 'oof'. Gon had been so engrossed in finding his relatives that he dashed through corridors too fast to program them in his memory, only focused on finding the recognizable head of red hair or soft features of his grandma and aunt. As no one hence forth came remotely close to that, he was skipping through what would be his grand ' tour' of the giant fortress in in no time flat. Two hours and he finally found an exit.

It could have been worse. He could have escaped the Chimera Ant stronghold and been wandering around there, trying to find escape with tons of monsters racing to carve into his flesh. It sounded much more appealing to be getting lost in what he could only guess was a base for the war recruits who rescued them, then he could ever imagine running for your life in that hell of a nightmare-gone-real.

"S-sorry! That was completely my fault!" Gon apologized, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck while he caught a glimpse of the blonde in front of him who was disorientated from the sudden collision.

They were rather short for a dude; cropped golden locks framing an angled face that almost unmistakably appeared feminine at first sight. Gon actually had a double take just to confirm he hadn't been fooled. Quiet, small gray eyes (when did gray become an eye color?), blinked down at him, a look of concern mixed with genuine surprise gracing those balanced features. He wore very strange garb for someone working in the military; solid white trousers and long-sleeved shirt hidden by a huge decorative blue tabard. Orange designs embroidered the hems and formed a unique pattern on the front. What caught Gon's eye with interest the most happened to be the single ruby earring shaped a like a droplet hanging from his left ear. It glowed brighter then the low light shrouding his body in the moonlight.

He's kind of pretty... For a guy!

Realizing his own thoughts, Gon began laughing rather obnoxiously for someone who has just fallen on his bum and felt so guilty mere moments ago. Jumping to his feet and knuckles pressed into the small of his back, he grinned up at the new stranger. "Hello there! I'm-"

GRRRRUMBLEE.

Both boys unblinkingly shared looks of confusion becoming dawning realization in a matter of minutes when Gon's stomach rumbled noisier than the first time, it's hungry, demanding growl loud and clear for all to hear. Even though it was just the two of them.

"Ah, man! I totally forgot to eat dinner!" He blurted out, whining affectionately while rubbing his aching gut as if to soothe its feeble protests. It wasn't. "I should have checked for food first before I came running out here."

The short man's mouth opened and closed soundlessly, flapping like a fish out of water, which made Gon laugh in turn. "Sorry for running into you. Ahahah! I guess I'm just a little-" The insistent gurgling noise interrupted again and he snorted, "-A lot hungry! Hey, do you happen to know where I can get a bite to eat? I'm starving."

"...Eh?"

When Kurapika finally regained control of his thoughts and emotions, he stared at the ever present friendly face and big, honey speckled orbs intently focused on him.

It had taken him by surprise, really. The contrasting points of someone who was impossibly cheery and bright for a person who had just been saved from a torture-camp and subjected to god-knows-what kind of brutality inhumanely possible was alarming to speak the least. The adolescent had a big sunshiny grin wedging between a pair of fairly good-sized ears twitching while he talked, reminding him of an excited dog. On the subject of psychoanalyzing this newcomer, Kurapika took the childish rambling as a moment to get a better look at the one before him, seeing as he never had a good chance since he was pulled from the wreckage and carted off into the infirmary.

This teenager had large round shaped eyes, a molten gold hue that faintly glowed in the dark. They were inquisitive and innocent, a trait reminding him of a canine. If those characteristics were anything to go by; he could guess this guy might also be both incredibly loyal and incredibly stubborn to a fault. He seemed pretty simple-minded right off the bat, flitting from one subject to another with a redundancy that reminded him of a long-time friend of his. It would do well to introduce them someday.

Their skin was deeply tanned, a common trait he noticed in most of Whale Island's citizens, but never quite as dark as his. He speculated that he may have spent much of his spare time outdoors to have his skin so accumulated to that particular color. His jet black hair stood unnaturally upright for a male, jutting out and spiked at emerald tinged tips. It was giving out an earthly glow when introduced to the little bit of light provided by the building and he bet it was even brighter in the daytime. The wafting scent of pine needles and mahogany wood greeted his nose, astonishing to breathe in when he had been withheld in a place probably reeking of blood and entrails for who-knows-how-long and still retained such a natural scent on him.

The teenager was also lean and muscular, well-endowed in his upper body strength with a proportionate set of legs. He was smaller than Kurapika by default (their age gap spoke for this), but only by an inch at best even with the knee-high boots he wore. His attire was entirely forest green from the long-sleeved jacket he wore to the smaller than necessary shorts and matching footwear. His chosen style didn't give off much outwardly presence, but it suited him in a rather odd, indescribable kind of way. Green was a color of the forest and this person had obviously become one with it.

Overall, the kid just radiated innocence.. He had this look in his eyes, reflecting nothing wrongful, unjust. He carried not even a sliver of negative emotion behind that look. Garnering from his natural appearance, he didn't even appear remotely hurt or disturbed by this war or the surrounding atmosphere. But Kurapika had yet to see his face in the challenge of adversity, so he wasn't going to assume right off the bat.

Either way, he was either really naive and oblivious or he was hiding something terrible with practiced skill.

"If you're hungry," Kurapika eventually said after a small silence, gaze following as the boy spun around and ended up behind him somewhere in the midst of his childish babbling, "I can get something for you to eat. The kitchen is closed, but the nurses have access to some snacks you can munch on until the morning. I'm afraid the leader here is strict on regulating our downtime hours." He turned to face the newcomer, hands relaxing at his sides where they had been clutching a little tighter then needed on his clipboard. Instinct, he assured himself. That was all it was. "They should hold you over, I'm sure. You shouldn't actually be out of the infirmary at this hour or you'll get yourself in trouble, so why don't I escort you back? Is that okay with you?"

"Okay! Sounds great to me! Lead the way."

Kurapika giggled; the kid was just too blatantly carefree,and pointed back to the door they must had left from, being that it was slightly ajar and not closed. The Kurta mused that he must had been wandering around for some time to end up this far from where the infirmary was, meaning he had been traversing the complex for awhile without being caught. Either he was very quick or very sneaky.

Or both.

Kurapika hoped it was neither, less it be bothersome in the near future. He couldn't deal with another unruly teenager on his hands; cough cough.

Speaking of which, he wondered where Killua had gone off to and how his wounds were progressing. Granted, he would have to think of that later at a better time.

The loud, annoying stomach rumbling needed tending to first.

"That's the door you came out of, right? The one's that slightly open."

The boy nodded and Kurapika ushered him back through the aforementioned entryway. He almost didn't catch the strangest pause and the odd; weird gesture of his nose actually twitching like a dog and smelling the air, as if to pick up one's scent and track it, before they seemed to change their mind about the idea and followed Kurapika inside without another word. As weird as it was and wanting to inquire it further, Kurapika opted out and began to lead the youth down the corridors and back-track his way to the infirmary as fast as possible.

Judging by the ascending darkness in the sky, he would only guess the nightly guards were lining up along the borders; as per usual, and that would mean security was bulking up for their shifts. Common protocol to assure the safety of your own troops. Any suspicious characters would be prosecuted on the spot and Kurapika knew better then to let this freed prisoner roam free at night no less, especially when hardly any of the hunters besides a small handful would recognize him. On top of the teen already having changed back into his street clothes, he would be an easy target for them to shoot down.

History foretold it. Night was deemed the best time to infiltrate and attack an enemy base, when almost everyone was sound asleep and cozy under the covers, ignorant of the world around them. They had many brutal battles with the Ants at night because they had caught onto this fact. The tussles and scuffles of people trying to fight in their pajamas and under garments (Leorio's pink boxers were the best) might have been hilarious if it weren't for the fact that their opponent didn't hesitate to violently mutilate whomever they could get their claws into regardless of your attire.

And if this guy was the only specially confined person the Chimera Ants had held in safe-keeping, then he obviously meant something important. There was no way he would let him be shot down because the night guard was incredibly perceptive and cautious to anything that dare approach within 100 meters of the camp. He was invaluable, more so then Kurapika in this kind of situation.

He'd tread carefully not to mess this one up.

Since the passageways inside were ridiculously long in order to confuse stray, unknown characters from finding their way anywhere, there was a difficult lull as neither male spoke a word journeying back to where the least wounded had been kept. The uncomfortably heavy air around them felt pressuring and unbearable. Kurapika was glad when he finally stepped through the doors into the stuffy space; noting to open some windows before he left in the subsequent infirmary rooms.

Inside, he remarked that most of the people were already fast asleep minus one woman who was tending to her bawling child. It was a mind-boggling that it survived through that hellish nightmare. Typically, most children they ever rescued were either dead or on the verge of it, and to see one still lively and able to cry like a normal human being, was indeed a miracle.

"After you get me something to eat, can I ask you something?"

At the sound of the question, Kurapika glanced back and smiled softly, hand gesturing towards the last empty cot remaining. "Of course you can. You are more then welcome to talk about anything to any of us. We are all ears."

He walked him over to his bed and rearranged the pillow and blanket back into place (an obsessive cleanliness habit he still tried to tone down now and again to his annoyance) before allowing them to take a seat upon it.

"Wait here while I get some snacks and a drink. I won't be longer then five minutes."

"Okay. Thanks!"

He bowed his head on a whim and excused himself out, humming thoughtfully while he exited the room and began his trek back down the hall again. Upon watching so many others wrapped up in their own comforting sleep, Kurapika intended to make this quick, hoping to see his own bed and touch down for his own well-earned night of rest soon himself.

Gon took his time to watch the kind stranger take his leave before turning his attention to the only other presently awake person in the area. He recognized this lady as well; her name on the edge of his tongue yet unable to get it any further than that. He remembered having a hard time memorizing most of the common people who lived on Whale Island, a bad habit rearing its ugly head now when he kind of needed it.

She was one of the many wives married to the traveling fishermen who frequently visited the island on their usual rounds, that was certain. His aunt had spoken to her several times, especially throughout her pregnancy to present time. Now tending to her three year old daughter; who was easily as battered and bruised as she was, Gon felt an overwhelming sense of guilt invade his thoughts. To imagine all the hundreds of lives that had been damaged and destroyed by this war, demolished in the path of the Chimera Ants; sickened him to the core.

His fists clenched until his nails pricked into calloused, rough palms. The warm liquid seeping through the small cracks felt hot. Tears stung the corners of his eyelids, threatening to push through, but Gon hastily rubbed the back of his wrist vigorously against them until the urge passed and left him feeling nothing but drained dry.

Why?

The question whispered on the dying wind, breaking his thoughts in two and remained suspended. Motionless. Frozen. A stand still.

It tore him up inside and Gon so desperately wanted to scream right then and there, like maybe his wailing and yelling might actually make him feel better. Solve something. Anything.

But he knew, internally, that nothing would come of it. Nothing was going to get better just throwing a temper tantrum like a child. Even as much as he wanted to throw himself on the floor and curse the heavens, the gods, everyone, he just couldn't bring himself the strength or courage to do it.

It would be just like admitting defeat, right?

The high-pitched sound of a child crying suddenly became intense, murmurs and disapproving groans now floating over the bunks in the room from those fighting to sleep. The woman cradled her daughter closer, commanding her to hush in a tone that betrayed her intentions. She looked even more on the verge of tears then Gon had been before.

Without even thinking, Gon abruptly stood and marched over to the lady, bypassing the drowsy whispers saying otherwise.

To just let bygones be bygones.

There was no hope. No light.

We're all going to die anyway.

What's the point?

Give up.

"Ah! I'm sorry! Don't be mad! I'm trying my best to calm her down, it's just-... Please don't hurt us!" The woman frantically said, spotting Gon's approaching form at her side. She squeezed her daughter tighter to her bosom, face livid with dizzying fear.

Out of instinct, Gon backed away at the first whiff of that hauntingly dark emotion trying to leech off of him if he happened to step too near. Hesitantly, he lowered himself to a low crouch, making himself appear less threatening by matching the woman's level. It was something he learned when approaching frightened animals. Become an equal or lower level to them and they would relax enough to become approachable again.

It worked, too, he knew, when her breathing evened out and she sucked in a deep, greedy breath of air. Tiny emerald eyes peeked up from past her shielding embrace, now two sets of gazes locked on him.

"Uhm." Gon started, putting on his best smiling, "Please don't be scared. I won't hurt you, promise. I just want to help."

He reached into his pocket out of habit and felt something he had long since forgotten, pulling it out. Face brightening at the idea, he eagerly held out his hand, palm facing up, and showed the small four-leaf clover resting in the center. The child's face was the first one to beam, her cries becoming playful giggles, and she pointed at the clover with interest.

"That's a lucky clover!"

"It is!" The teenager agreed, reaching forward and gently placing it into the child's offered hand, closing it himself so she lightly held it in place, "I know you're really scared right now and you aren't sure what to do or think. So, I want you to have it! That way, whenever you feel scared, you can look at this clover for luck. Then that luck will chase all the bad things away."

"Okay. Thank you, mister! I'll keep it forever and ever!" She laughed, bubbly and cute for such a small girl. Even her mother visibly eased, smiling in turn.

"Thank you, young man. God bless you. I appreciate it."

Flushing slightly, Gon resigned to rubbing the back of his neck in another one of his sheepish gestures, chuckling through the rising heat flooding his cheeks. "Oh, it's no problem ma'am. I just thought it might help. I know how everybody has been so stressed lately. But." He grinned, throwing a thumbs up her way, "It's only going to get better now. We just gotta have some faith and trust that luck is on our side. Right?" Clapping his lands as quietly as he could, he stood back up and waved, gaining two back in return himself, and started making his way back to his cot.

Feeling a little more lighthearted with a immense weight lifted off his chest, Gon paused for a moment, glancing up at the ceiling with an ever present smile still on his lips.

And with just a little luck, he hummed, I'll soon be back with my family. I just know it.

Seven minutes later; a little later then promised but he blamed the uncanny need to have a mental debate about what kind of snacks a teenage boy would want to eat at this ungodly hour, and Kurapika returned with an arm load of food and a big bottle of water. He set the scattered items on the now empty bed; again, as he glanced over at where the boy was assisting with the woman and her crying child. He watched him offer the lady something that seemed to instantly perk her up.

"So it wasn't just me. There is something about him that's different." Kurapika thought carefully, setting out the snacks over the sheet until they were a little more organized and not just in some sloppy pile. He would talk to Leorio about this in the morning, seeing as the boy was now awake. It would be a good time as any to let Hanzo see him. They didn't have much longer anyway before the citizens would be transferred to their respective places and this newcomer would need to be sorted as well.

"I brought you your snacks." Kurapika said when they made their way back in his direction, "Just make sure not to leave a mess. There's a trash can nearby you can throw your wrappers in."

"Cool! Thanks!" The kid chirped with glee, not waiting to dive to the bed and begin eating.

While the tan teenager tore into the wrappers, Kurapika walked around very quietly as to not disturb the sleeping patients and began sliding the window open just enough to clear the room of its humid stuffiness that was building like a dense fog. All these bodies and not enough ventilation; that was a complaint the blonde continued to berate the nurses to follow every single day. Leorio even knew better; the constant threats worked wonders on him, and would occasionally open the windows like an obsessive freak whenever he could remember or spare the time between his busy schedule.

It was something he appreciated from his hard-working friend.

Focus diverted suddenly to the soft coos of a mother murmuring to her dozing child; Kurapika looked over at the woman whom the boy was assisting to before. In her hands he could see a small four-leaf clover tucked carefully to her chest alongside her daughter; averaging between 2-3 if he guessed correctly.

Curiosity got the better of him and cautiously, Kurapika approached the lady with enough space to keep her comfortable. "Excuse me, miss?" He asked, his voice low, kind, and hopefully nothing too disturbing for her at this late of hour. "Can I ask you about that boy over there?" His finger directed her attention once he had it to the one who was devouring his snacks like a black hole. Kurapika would be definitely making a mental note that the kid ate like your typical 'starving' and growing boy. He would be clearing the cabinet empty if left to free range. He shook the scary notion for now and returned his own pearly gray eyes back on the mother, still smiling ever-so nicely.

He needed to know about this boy first before anything. It was worth a shot.

"Who is he?"

"Gon Freecs." The woman replied after a minute, eyes watching the teenager with a look only a knowing mother could give. "I couldn't forget the boy even if I tried. Him and his aunt have been so kind to my daughter and I, I don't think we'd be here if it weren't for them. I owe him so much."

"Gon Freecs, huh..? Freecs sounds familiar..." The Kurta thought avidly, watching the vibrant lad inhale food as fast as he put it in his mouth. It was entertaining to say the least. Typical teenage boys.

"Thank you miss. I appreciate it and if you need anything at all, feel free to let the nurses know. They will be more then happy to help you." She nodded, returning to her child at hand.

"Hello there, Gon." Kurapika greeted, coming within range of the other rapid eater to be heard. He offered his hand which the other eagerly shook in return; noticing Gon had a strong grip, warm even. "My name is Kurapika. It's nice to meet you, but I guess we can make more time tomorrow to get to know each other better, right? It is late and you ought to be heading in to sleep soon."

"Sure." Gon's voice was muffled by the crunching of potato chips stuffed full in his mouth, "That sounds good to me. I'll ask you my question tomorrow, too, if that's still alright with you."

"Of course. Ask anything you'd like."

He began walking towards the door before glancing back one last time with a small smile, seeing the other waving at him with the energy of a child; innocent, pure, free.

"Tomorrow it is, then, Gon?"

He saw a little of himself he longed to be reunited with in the one known as Gon Freecs; a piece of his soul that had been buried in the aftermath of war, beneath rubble and dirt coated in a layer of flesh and blood. On top laid the gunpowder, the smoke, the fire of rage and hate burning passionately, ready to reduce the world to nothingness at any given notice. But, that part of him still struggled to break the surface, was still fighting in those cracks.

Still alive.

Maybe, just someday, he would find it in himself to grasp that feeling again.

"Tomorrow it is!"

Next time he found that kindred spirit, Kurapika would make sure not to let go.