The Light In Your Eyes

by Maddylovesyou

A light that is so precious. A light that brings hope and can change any situation from dire to okay. A light that one would kill for. Killua would certainly kill for him.

16. Chapter 16

"And...here we are." Kurapika who had his nose in a map, looks up. His eyebrows furrow and he looks back at the map.

"...You're joking right?" Leorio walks up the hill, out of breath, his cheeks flushed. His eyes widen when his eyes fall on what the blonde is talking about.

"That's the dungeon?" Gon, who had been pushing Leorio along, comes out from behind him. He tilts his head as he takes in where Kurapika lead them to. It looks like a shed made out old and rotted wood. It stands alone, looking as if it's barely standing, as if one hit could knock the whole thing down. There's a hole in the side of the shed that was probably made by some animal that wanted to stay in for the night.

"According to the map..." Kurapika checks once more before he nods his head. "Yes. This is the dungeon."

"It looks like an outhouse." Killua crosses his arms, observing the not so intimating dungeon. "Maybe that old man down there was fucking with us."

"I don't think so. He seemed nice." Gon remembers the man with the permanent scowl in his face. He had warned them not to go this way. He said he seen some strange fellow head towards the dungeon that weren't 'normal'. He also said the people who went in a couple of days ago still haven't come back. "I think he was telling us the truth."

"So you really think this is the dungeon?" Killua grunts, glancing over at Gon. He gives him a skeptical look.

"There's no way this is it! We just climbed a whole mountain to get here!" Leorio shouts, pointing down from where they came. Gon can't help to follow his finger and look down. They really have come a long way. In order to get to the dungeon they had to get a map from the older man and hike up this mountain. They've been walking for a good 3 hours. Gon smiles. The country side looks beautiful from up here. He can see the river that they all stopped at to rest, and all the trees they passed.

Being outside and climbing like this has helped Gon's mood a lot. He no longer hears any ringing and his wrist doesn't itch. He's been able to calm down as well. The more he walked, the higher they got, the more excited he became for this dungeon and fighting the fox stealer.

For the most part Killua has been ignoring him. Always keeping behind him and having his hands in his pockets. He wore an indifferent expression as they climbed up, never breaking a sweat. Whenever Killua would say something to him it would have this bite to it. He still seems irritated so Gon just ignored him back. The air between them has been tense, like something in it is about to snap.

Kurapika and Leorio were chatting away, trying to get Killua and Gon to talk more. They seemed to be able to sense the rift between them. As they walked more Gon's, mood improved. He started to sing and excitedly tell stories of him and Killua's adventures. As Gon talked about them, the ex-assassin's mood started to shift as well. He could feel Killua looking at him and at one point Gon even got Killua to chuckle. Right after he laughed though, Killua got this scowl on his face and he looked away.

Gon won't let it get to him. He can feel his heart sinking though, thinking about why Killua is acting this way. I wonder if he's grossed out...he thinks I'm pathetic... Gon shakes his head, and he takes a deep breath. Focus.

"-I got spurs all on my shoes and that stupid bird shit on me, and it's so hot out here! Are you telling me we did all that for this?!" Leorio had been ranting on while Gon was thinking. The two teenage boys can't help to chuckle at the mention of the bird pooing on the doctor. They grin at each other, before their faces fall and they look away. Gon rubbing the back of his head while Killua digs his heel into the ground. That tension is back. A sort of awkwardness.

"I think you deserved it." Killua says with a sweet smile, his eyes closed in it.

"What the hell you mean you think I deserved it?! That bird shit on my head!-"

"Let's calm it down now. We're all hot and...surprised by this turn of events. But this is the dungeon Leorio." Kurapika eyebrows furrow.

"If this is it then lets go." Gon grins as he runs over to the wooden shack. He opens up the wooden door, surprised it's so sturdy. He tilts his head as he takes in what's inside. There's a wooden door on the floor. "I guess we just go down." Gon opens the door. He can't see anything. It's pitch black inside.

"That looks ominous." Kurapika says as he walks in, standing beside the opening, peering into it. "I don't see a latter or anything."

"Let's see how far of a drop it is." Killua grabs a rock that was on the ground and throws it into the opening. Everyone listens intently. It takes a minute before they hear a sound. "...Pretty steep drop." Killua peers down it with little interest. "I could easily make the jump."

"There might be something waiting down there for us." Kurapika glances around the shack. "I don't see any messages though. I suppose we just-"

Gon jumps into the opening, his eyes sparkling from the excitement and rush of falling into complete darkness, not knowing what awaits him. He can hear Leorio yelling something but it starts to fade away as he keeps falling. Gon focuses his aura to his feet so when he lands he won't take any damage. He falls fast and hits hard, Gon letting out a 'gah!' as he's thrown forward, falling on his chest.

He coughs slightly when dust had flown up into the air when he had landed, the young male breathing it in. He waves his hand in the air, trying to clear it up before he gets up. Gon tilts his head as he takes in this dark space. In the corner he can see a door. That's where we're going next.

Gon looks over when he hears the sound of something falling to his left. He can't help to pout a little when he sees Killua land on his feet with ease, he had crouched down, landing like a cat. He stands up and brushes himself off. He looks around for a moment before his eyes settle on Gon. The raven haired male isn't sure but Killua's shoulders looked like they relaxed a bit.

"...There's nothing in here but that door." Gon decides to the break the silence between them, pointing over into the darkness.

"Yeah. That's the next place we're going then." Killua nods his head as he walks closer to the door. They stand there in darkness and silence.

"Hey Kurapika, Leorio! Are you guys coming down?" Gon walks over to the entrance and yells up at his friends. "It's not so bad! Just use aura on your legs!"

"Does Leorio even know how to use gyo?" Killua raises an eyebrow.

"Ah I didn't think about that." Gon frowns. "Maybe that's why they haven't come down yet."

"I think the old man should have just stayed home. He won't be any help anyway. He never is." Killua puts his hands behind his head.

Gon is about to say something about Killua being mean only to hear a not so manly scream and a swishing sound. The raven haired male blinks when Kurapika lands on his feet, the concrete cracking at the weight and power of it. The blonde is holding the doctor in his arms. Leorio looks pale, grinding his teeth.

"What do you know? He did make it. Being carried by his boyfriend." Killua sneers. "I bet you don't know how to use gyo do you?"

"Gyo?" Leorio looks confused. He flushes angrily when Killua smiles smugly at him. "I've been busy with my studies! So what?! I'll catch up eventually!" Leorio gets out of Kurapika's arms, standing up taller.

"There is a door over here guys." Gon walks over to the door, smiling back at his friends, wanting to move on and not have Leorio fight with Killua. Gon opens the door and walks in. "Wow." Gon's eyes widen when he takes in the completely changed room. There's a blue carpet under his feet, with pictures of sea monsters adoring the walls. At the back of the room there's a door with writing on it.

"It feels strange in here." Killua's eyes narrow suspiciously. Gon doesn't' know if he's doing it on purpose but the other male has gotten closer to him.

"I feel it too." Kurapika glances around as he walks in.

"...Why don't I feel anything?" Leorio mumbles to himself, staying next to Kurapika.

"I think we're about to have our first fight!" Gon beams as he runs over to the door. He tries to open it but it doesn't budge. "hmm..." Gon tilts his head as he reads the message before he frowns.

" 'can you tell which one is a fake?'" Killua reads the message out loud.

"Which one of what is a fake?" Leorio glances around.

"Maybe the paintings?" Kurpaika offers as he studies a painting of a shark with its mouth wide open.

"How can a painting be fake?" Gon's eyebrows furrow as he glances over at a patient of a mermaid. Gon is all for fighting and getting his hands dirty but when it comes to riddles...he's at a lost. Gon looks over at Killua to see if he knows. The ex-assassin looks like he's thinking as he looks at the painting with a seahorse on it.

"Maybe if we take them off the wall!" Leorio's eyes light up as he grabs a hold of one of the pictures and pulls. It doesn't budge. "Are these glued to the wall or something?"

"Can you tell which one is fake..." Gon mumbles to himself as he pokes the picture with the mermaid. His eyes widen when his finger goes through the picture. "Wow!" Gon pushes deeper, amazed when he got his whole hand in. The mermaid who was still is now blinking. She smiles at Gon and grabs a hold of his hand, hugging it, wrapping her tail around his hand.

"Whoa!" Killua's eyes get wide as he looks over to see what's going on with Gon. He rushes over to be beside him, those blue eyes shining when he sees his friend's hand is in the painting and the mermaid that has come to life. "That's so cool! How did you do that?"

"I touched it and my hand just went through!" Gon looks over and smiles at Killua.

"Can you take it out?" Killua suddenly says, his amazement dying down. He seems a little worried about something but when Gon pulls his hand out easily, Killua relaxes. The mermaid frowns before it goes back to the way it was before Gon touched her.

"Am I on drugs?" Leorio rubs at his eyes, having watched all that.

"Maybe this is what the riddle is." Kurapika's eyes light up in realization after he got over the initial shock. "The mermaid reacted to you Gon...so it's real. One of these isn't real, so it shouldn't react when we put our hand in."
"I want to try." Killua's eyes light up as he touches the seahorse painting. His hand goes through easily. Gon and Killua watch together in awe as the seahorse comes to life and starts to kiss at Killua's fingers. "That's so weird. I don't feel it touching me but I see it." Killua smiles over at Gon when he sees the other male's eyes are bright from watching. Gon feels eyes on him so he looks up at Killua, catching him staring. The ex-assassin's smile falls and he looks away. Gon frowns, that familiar feeling of his heart sinking when Killua pulls his hand out of the painting and walks a couple steps away from him.

"This painting is real."

"I wonder if they can hurt us." Kurapika studies the shark painting for a moment before he summons his chains. He sends in his healing chain only for the large shark to bite it. "As I thought. I don't know if that could hurt me but I'd rather not find out." Kurapika pulls his chain out, having to struggle for a bit to free it from the shark. "The shark painting is real."

Leorio watches everyone make progress before he look at the painting in front of him. Leorio's face gets pale. It's a painting of the Kracken, it's soulless eyes peering at him, it's tentacles wrapped around the picture frame. "Fuck that."

"This one is real." Gon calls after sticking his hand into a painting of a Dolphin.

"Real." Killua grunts.

"Real." Kurapika tilts his head.

They all look at Leorio and the last painting that needs to be checked. "That one must be the fake!" Gon cheers, feeling excited though he knows his smile isn't reaching his eyes. He's starting to feel tired. The lack of a good nights rest and the long hike up here is starting to take their toll. Or maybe it's because he just doesn't feel good because of what happen between him and Killua. Gon glances over at the ex-assassin but the other male doesn't return his gaze. Gon's shoulders slump a bit. I can't think about it...not now...i'll get angry...i'll get upset...

"Why don't you go and check it out Leorio." Killua coos. "We've been doing all the work. Pull your weight why don't you?"

"I am not putting my hand in that thing! What if it's real?" Leorio shakes his head before he glares at Killua.

"Then it's real." Killua shrugs his shoulders.

"You little brat-"

"Enough." Kurapika sighs as he walks over to the Kraken picture. "I'll take care of it." He summons his chains and sends one inside the painting. The Kraken doesn't move. "There's something in here." Kurapika grabs whatever it is and pulls it out with his chain. It's a yellow key.

"Cool!" Gon jumps up, a burst of excitement from seeing the key. "That's amazing! Did someone use nen to do this?" Gon look around at all the paintings, still taking it all in with awe.

"Most likely." Kurapika smiles at Gon's expression. "Maybe from a conjurer? But it's truly amazing they were able to make a painting that one can interact with and-"

"I think we should keep moving." Killua cuts in, his face indifferent when Kurapika gives him a look for being interrupted. He turns his back to everyone and walks to the door.

"Right." Kurapika exchanges a look with Leorio before he look at Gon. There's a question in his eyes that makes Gon shift under his gaze.

'what happened?'

When Gon doesn't meet his gaze, his amber eyes dulling in his guilt and his stomach does a twist, Kurapika turns his attention back to the door. Gon takes a deep breath, trying to redirect this feeling and forget about it for now. He swallows when he hears chuckling in the back of his mind, his heart picking up speed. There's a whispering in his ear.

"You're disgusting. We grew up together. We're like brothers. You're sick." Killua's voice is as sweet as honey. Gon feels ill.

Gon's eyes open when he hears a clicking sound. He looks up to see Kurapika opening the door, the yellow key that he used to open the door, fades away. Gon's eyes refocus, his lips going in a tight line. His wrist is burning, and he feels like he could just lay down and not get up. Gon pushes back the laughter and focuses. He runs up, pushing Killua out of the way so that he could be the first one through the door. He needs to start fighting someone or he'll go crazy. He needs to get out these feelings somehow.

"Careful Gon!" Kurapika scolds after him. "Don't just run into a new door. There could be a trap waiting."

"Oh no." Leorio winces when they walk in, taking in the water that surrounds them. It looks like a large underground cave. He stares at the water cautiously. "Don't tell me we have to get in there?" Leorio looks at Kurapika, a frown on his lips.

As Gon looks at his reflection in the water he sees Killua appear behind him. Gon tenses when he sees that indifferent expression, before he can react, Killua kicks his leg out. If Gon was fully with it he would have been able to gain his balance but without one of his legs he stumbles and falls, catching himself with his hurt arm. Gon winces in pain, his wrist burning before he looks up, glaring at Killua.

"Opps." Killua gives him a smug smile, he puts his hands behind his head, whistling a tune nonchalantly.

"Killua you did that on purpose!" Gon points an accusing finger at his friend, anger flaring up in his chest.

"No." Killua gives him a dumb look before he hits his hand to his chest. "Durh. Of I did stupid."

Gon's flare of anger grows, it spreads throughout his chest making it burn. His wrist itches so much.

"I know i'm stupid!" Gon shouts, his face getting red. "That doesn't mean you need to make fun of me for it Killua!" Gon grips his fist only to wince. His wrist burns so much. His heart is beating so fast and he feels too hot.

"Hey you two stop fighting!" Leorio frowns, looking between the two.

"Stay out of this old man." Killua's voice gets dark as he glares at Leorio. "You meddle too much as it is. This is our business." Killua stresses 'our', those eyes a threat in themselves. A bead of sweat falls down Leorio's cheek but he glares back at the other male. Killua turns his attention back on Gon. He walks up to him, Gon's glare hasn't fallen. "It's hard not to make fun of you for it when you're so stupid! I can't even comprehend your thought process!" Once Killua saw Gon's glare it's like it made him angrier.

"Oh yeah? Well...at least I'm not addicted to chocolate!" Gon shakes his fist he's getting so angry. He gets in Killua's face, yelling. Not caring that he just spit on him.

"Ha! Is that all you got? Pathetic!" Killua laughs in his face, those eyes getting darker in glee.

Gon flinches at his word choice. Pathetic. That's the second time he's called him that. Is Killua acting like this...because of what he's done? Because he's touched himself...Gon's anger spikes. "At least i'm not a baby who needs someone to tell him about masturbating!" Killua laughs cruelly.

"Hey!" Leorio takes a step forward. "Killua!"

"We're in the middle of this. We have to stay focused." Kurapika tries to reason.

Gon takes a sharp intake of breath, his eyes getting wide, burning with his rage and behind that fire of rage is the dullness of hurt. He lets out a battle cry before he tackles Killua, slamming him down on the concrete, hitting the back of his head hard. Killua growls, kicking Gon in the stomach sending him flying into the water. The kick had knocked the air right out of him, his mouth open, water quickly fills his lungs. There's a part of him that wants to just sink. Gon finds that his muscles don't want to listen to him. He's tried. His stomach felt like it was going through a roller coaster.

Baby. Pathetic. The sad thing is, it's true. All Gon knows, he needed help with. He always needs help. He can never do anything on his own. Gon opens his eyes when he hears something drop in the water. He looks up. Killua is swimming towards him,the water moving his white locks out of his face, those blue eyes holding a very different expression than they were up there. He looks...guilty. Gon finds his eyebrows furrowing, that anger coming back in his chest. He uses the rock next to him, grabbing a hold of it, using nen to push himself up. He comes out of the water and lands on the concrete. Without Killua's help.

"...Hey are you okay?" Leorio asks when he looks at Gon's face. Gon doesn't answer when he hears the water shift behind him and he knows now that Killua is behind him, having landed on the concrete without making a sound. Gracefully. Silently.

"I'm okay." Gon takes a deep breath but his muscles, his body, it feels as if someone has ripped all his muscles only to stitch them back together. He can't stop clenching them either. He can't calm down. "There's nothing in the water. We should be fine." Gon doesn't make eye contact with anyone. Especially not Killua.

When Leorio is about to say something, Kurapika puts a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. He shakes his head. Gon walks off to the side to stare out towards the water before peering down into it. Gon didn't hear him but he knows Killua is by his side now.

"...Did I hit you really hard?" Killua's voice is quiet. "I...I didn't mean to do that. Ah fuck." Killua curses to himself. "What's wrong with me?" Killua mumbles this. Gon barely heard it.

"It's fine. I deserved it." Gon's voice sounds gruff even to himself. There's this ringing in his ears, his reflection morphing into someone he doesn't recognize. Someone who looks like him but with such dead eyes. Gon can feel Killua's intense stare, his posture shifting. "Someone as stupid and pathetic as me needs a good kick right? You're right in everything that you were saying. I'm just a..." Killua's voice sneers in his head. "A kid, a stupid island hic who can't learn anything on his own."

"What? N-No Gon. That's not true! I was just...I got angry because..." Killua swallows, his voice sounds panicked. His aura is all over the place.

"I don't want to hear it." Gon snaps. "You made yourself loud and clear. Don't talk to me while we're here." Gon stares at those dead eyes in the reflection. If you talk to me, it hurts too much. I feel like...i'm going to go crazy. I want to dig into my wrist. My mind is so jumbled. Killua has gone silent. Gon doesn't look at him as he jumps into the water. The cool feeling of the liquid engulfing him is a relief as he swims deeper, holding his breath this time as he glides through the water like a fish. This is his element. Gon sees a light up above after awhile of swimming. He swims up and takes a breath of air. His eyes widen slightly as he takes in this cave. There's many crystals that glimmer. A beautiful sight. Gon feels a pang in his chest when he sees a purple crystal but he gets out of the water and looks around for a door.

Gon hears the water shift behind him. He glances back to see Killua come out of the water. He puts his hands in his pockets, glancing at Gon. Such an unsure look, those blue eyes hiding all emotion. Soon Kurapika shows up with Leorio. Both look unhappy and concerned.

"Are you sure we shouldn't-" Leorio starts.

"No. Leave it be." Kurapika shakes his head as he glances around the room. His gray eyes fall on a large hole in the ground. Gon had already noticed it and is now looking inside. It looks really deep. A bigger drop than the one they came in from.

"Jump." Killua's voice sneers. "I'll laugh when your brains splatter."

"By the looks of this hole this would drop us right down to the 8th floor." Kurapika studies the hole, his eyebrows furrowed. "I thought this is where the first boss battle would be but...I don't think this is suppose to be here."

"Do you think the fox stealer did this?" Gon asks, ignoring Killua in his head.

"Maybe." Kurapika thinks.

"...Should we really be doing this?" Leorio looks at Gon and then Killua. "Maybe you two should stay back. I don't' think it's smart going into this with you guys like this-"

"I'm going." Gon jumps into the hole, getting startled gasps from his older friends. He closes his eyes, focusing his aura on his legs. He won't break them. He'll land this. Then he'll be that much closer to fighting this fox stealer and breaking the curse. Then he won't feel like this. Gon lands on his feet, grinding his teeth slightly from the impact but he's okay. Gon walks out of the way, testing his feet. He's fine. "It's safe!" Gon yells up to his friends before he looks around. It looks like he just fell into another cave. But this time there's two passage ways in the wall in front of him and something written between them.

As Gon walks up to the writing he knows Killua just landed behind him. Soon Kurapika and Leorio will behind him. Gon reads the writing out loud, trying to break this tense silence. "Choose carefully, choose wisely. One is right and one is wrong. One leads to death while the other life. You can't know for sure. You have to take a risk."

"That doesn't sound good." Leorio comments as Kurapika comes down with Leorio in his arms. Both hearing what Gon was saying. He frowns. "So one of these is a trap?"

"We're going to have to separate." Kurapika says getting everyone to look at him. "If we all go down one way it could be the trap. Then we're all stuck. So it's best that we separate in pairs." Kurapika can feel the tension grow at the mention of pairs.

"I'm going with you Kurapika." Gon says quickly, grabbing the blonde by the arm.

"What?" Leorio frowns, watching Gon touch his man. "I think I should be paired with Kurapika-"

"It's okay Leorio. Why don't you go with Killua?" Kurapika looks into Gon's eyes before looking over a the other male.

"Uh..." Leorio glances over at Killua who has a blank look on his face. He bites his lip before he nods. "A-Alright. Yeah. A change of pace is always good right Killua?"

He doesn't respond.

"So who goes where?" Gon tilts his head, focusing on the mission and the mission only.

"We'll go right. Leorio and Killua you go left." Kurapika says. "If you have a trap or if you are being attacked, try to come back the way you came. If we make it out before you and we don't see you we'll go in after you."

"And we'll do the same if it's you guys." Leorio nods. Killua nods his head slowly.

"Then let's go." Kurapika gives Leorio a quick kiss on the cheek. "Be careful." He whispers before he follows Gon into the right cave, the younger male already making his way into it. His back straight. Gon still feels that anger and his heart hasn't calmed down. He feels sick. He wants to just sleep and at the same time he wants to yell and punch the wall.

Killua really is mad at him for what he's done. Killua will probably be madder Gon told him not to talk to him but it was the only way. If Killua would say anymore...Gon's eyes get watery. He doesn't think he could take it. It was hurting too much. Having Killua around but not being able to talk to him normally or joke around as they walked up the hill. Having Killua next to him knowing he's upset with him for what' he's done. Having Killua beside him, knowing that Killua thinks of him as pathetic.

Gon just needs a break before he ends up hurting himself.

---

Do you know that feeling when you're walking alone with someone who's in a really bad mood and you don't know what to say or do? The kind of tension that feels like the air could rip a part and swallow you whole. Leorio is experiencing it first hand as he walks down the left cave with Killua walking silently beside him.

Leorio bites his lip. When it comes to his friends, he can't stop himself from getting involved in their business and trying to help anyway he can. That's how he talked to Kurapika so much because he kept bothering him in till he would answer his phone. Leorio is finding himself glancing over at Killua. He tries to think of what to say, or how to bring up the fight Killua had with Gon. They were doing so well last night. Why the sudden change?

"...Killua you know you can talk to me-" Leorio starts to say. In a blink of an eye he's being pinned against the wall, a hand around his throat and Killua snarling in his face. Those blue eyes are dull and dangerous, feral like a big cat ready to kill. It happened so fast that Leorio had no time to even react. His words get caught up in his throat.

"This is all your fucking fault." His voice comes out calm, sending a shiver down Leorio's spine as he tightens his grip around his neck. "Don't you dare act as if you're here to help me. I blame you for all of this!" Killua shoves Leorio against the wall again. "Where do you get off huh? You're a dirty liar. You act as if you want me to have Gon only for you to go and tell him to masturbate to the guy he likes!"

Leorio's eyes widen in realization. Are you serious? How did he find out about that? Did Gon tell him?... "Shit." Leorio closes his eyes, taking a deep breath, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Look at me." Killua growls. Leorio opens them, Killua's eyes have gotten darker, his canines showing like fangs. "Shit is right. You've single handily fucked everything up. Gon being Gon, he told me about how he masturbated to this guy. Of course he would. He wanted to know my fucking opinion on it. And you know what I did? I snapped on him. I said something I didn't mean. Then this whole time I've just been brooding over it and Gon was ignoring me!" Killua's dark expression starts to change, his hand loosening up around his neck. He's breathing heavily.

"The jealousy made me act out, I just...even when Gon tried to smile at me, I just blew him off. I felt like...I was justified. Like I was getting back at him in some way. I mean I've finally decided to tell him my feelings, and I've had this hope that maybe he'll be mine only to hear him talk about that other man! It just...drove me crazy! Gon was blowing me off and I was feeling guilty and then the anger kept building and building." Killua looks close to hyperventilating now.

"Did you hear the shit I said to him?! What's wrong with me? Gon is...Gon is everything and I was saying...everything that I didn't mean! I pissed him off and then I kicked him! I hurt him and now he doesn't even want to talk to me. What if he doesn't want to talk to me at all?! I've ruined everything!" Killua shouts in dismay, completely letting go of Leorio, his blue eyes getting watery before a tear falls down his cheek.

"Killua.." Leorio's eyes soften.

"He didn't even want to be paired up with me. I've completely fucked everything up." Killua laughs humorlessly as he wipes at his eyes. "No. I never had a chance. He really likes this guy. Wanting to learn how to please him and how to take him out on a date. Touching himself to him..." Killua's aura spikes only for it to die down, the anger turning into tears. "I was stupid! I stepped out of bounds and now look what it's done! I got so angry I hurt Gon. I just...couldn't' stand the thought of Gon thinking of someone else while doing that. What kind of...what kind of..." Killua's chest raises and falls frantically.

He's having a panic attack. With Killua's background and his relationship with Gon, Leorio can't help to think it's because Killua has never experienced these kinds of feeling before. He doesn't know what to do with himself.

"Killua calm down. It's okay...Can you tell me what you said to Gon when he told you how he masturbated to that guy?" Leorio tries to get Killua to focus. He needs to learn the full story so he can somehow fix it. So he can heal it. He bites his lip...If I tell Killua the truth than this can all end...

"I told him it was fucking pathetic to touch yourself to someone you don't have." Killua's eyes flare with anger once again and he pushes Leorio. "Why did you do it?!...why did you do it?" Killua's tears keep falling. He can't stop them now, Leorio can see that. "You said all this shit about us being friends...Now because of what you've done, because of what I've done, Gon doesn't want me...he..."

"...I don't know why Gon would tell you about this...but you said you asked his opinion on it. He must have been feeling guilty about it. That would explain why he got so upset..." Leorio's guts twist at Killua's accusations. "I didn't tell Gon to jerk off to some guy Killua."

"Bull shit-" Killua screams, his eyes red. He looks ready to kill him.

"I told him to jerk off to you!" Leorio shouts, gripping his fists.

Everything goes deadly silent, his shout echoing throughout this cave. Leorio closes his eyes tightly...I'm sorry Gon. I just couldn't. Killua's in pain when he doesn't have to be. This has gone on long enough...it's hurting you both now. Kurapika's going to kill me.

"...What did you say?" Killua's voice is a whisper. When Leorio opens his eyes, Killua is looking at him with wide, confused eyes.

"...You heard me." Leorio sighs. "I shouldn't have said anything but damn it, I hated seeing you like that. I told you, I'm on your side. There's never been another man Killua. It's always been you."

"I-I don't understand." Killua stutters, those eyes are drying up.

"The man that Gon likes has always been you. You're the one who had it in your mind that it wasn't you."

"...You're lying. You're playing with me." Killlua's eyes flare with anger. "So help me Leorio I will rip out your throat-"

"I'm not lying! Gon came to me okay? He came to me complaining of feeling sick when he was around you. He told me his heart would beat fast and he would feel warm around you. I knew he loved you but Gon didn't see it that way. He thought something was wrong with him. He was confused. So I told him, the next time he got warm and got an erection because of you for him to take care of it. That way he could understand that his feelings for you go beyond friendship." Leorio takes a deep breath.

Killua's anger slowly faded till he was staring at Leorio with his mouth open, a soft blush spreading over his cheeks till his whole face was on fire. Those eyes have never looked so bright, so full of hope.

"G-Gon was...to me...?" Killua points at himself with a shaky finger, swallowing hard.

"Yes. After he did it he realized his feelings. Me and Kurapika have been helping him along the way. Kurapika knew of your feelings for Gon before I realized Gon was acting strange around you. That's why he acted like he was interested in Gon to make you jealous. He thought it wouldn't help you confess-"

"He acted that way?!" Killua's eye twitches slightly but his eyes are so bright. "But Gon...he really..."

"Yes. He loves you Killua."

"So...All the planning, all the asking questions...that was for me? He was planning things for me? And I was just pushing him off." Killua says quietly to himself, his blue eyes are too bright. His lips are turning in a smile Leorio has never seen before. "It's too good to be true. I can hardly believe you."

"That's why Gon got upset. He must have been feeling guilty for touching himself to you. Maybe he heard something or saw something on the internet that said that was wrong or something, i'm not sure. He confided in you and you told him what he was doing was pathetic. I thought he was looking guilty..." Leorio frowns.

Killua tenses, his eyes widening in horror. "I was such a dick! If Gon had said something like that to me...I would have flipped out. All the things I said to him...I really hurt him and all this time it was me. I'm the man he loves. I'm the man he wants to do things with. Why he's been so curious...it's been me." Killua puts a hand over his heart, his blue eyes are shaking, his blush so deep.

"Why didn't he say anything? Was it because he was scared...like me? And he thought I was into girls...shit why am I so stupid?! Gon...he..." Killua's thoughts are all jumbled. His eyes go out of focused for a moment, they get watery once again before he shakes it off. "I've got to find Gon! I need to apologize!" Killua turns on his heel and starts to run only for Leorio to grab a hold of him when Killua almost fell on his face his body going limp.

"hey watch it you-" Leorio starts only to stop when he notices how Killua is dead weight, his eyes closed. "...He passed out." Leorio stares at him with wide eyes before a smile turns his lips. It was too much for the young ex-assassin. All the feelings he felt overloaded him. He should be okay when he wakes up. Leorio flings Killua over his shoulder before he walks down the cave, his brown eyes searching for anything suspicious.

Gon and Kurapika are going to be angry at me...but I couldn't just stand there. Besides...Gon knows about Killua's feelings, so it's only fair Killua knows too right? Leorio should feel a little guilty but he doesn't. Not when he thinks of how Killua's eyes had brighten up. All the darkness had temporally left his eyes.

Killua needed to hear that. He needed to stop getting jealous over himself. It was driving him crazy, Leorio could tell. It was setting his emotions on a roller coaster and with being a teenager, with high testosterone levels, and a violent past it's no wonder he's been responding with aggression. That's the only way he's been taught to deal with a threat. Killua has probably never loved someone like he loves Gon. He didn't know what to do with it.

Leorio smiles to himself as he continues to carry the other male, his friend, through the cave. You know Kurapika, I might change my bet as well.

Killua will most likely confess first.

---

Kurapika walks behind Gon slowly, studying the back of his younger friend as they travel deeper and deeper into the cave. So far nothing has happened. Kurapika has been keeping his eye out but it seems like it's been forever with them just walking like this. In complete silence. Gon's shoulders are tense, his back straight. The blonde isn't sure what happened between Killua and Gon but he can tell that their fight has effected Gon greatly. The other male is trying to hide it, walking quickly, his fists gripped at his side.

Kurapika takes a deep breath before he speeds up so he's walking beside Gon. Kurapika isn't one to pry and if not for the curse, Kurapika wouldn't have. But this is different. Gon's emotional state could put him in danger in more ways than one. "Gon." Kurapika looks over to see Gon's eyes, that were out of focused, light up in recognition. He looks over at Kurapika. The blonde can't help to frown. He looks so tired.

"...Gon, what happened between you and Killua?" Kurapika watches as Gon's eyes shift away from him. "If you talk about it, it may make you feel better." Kurapika thinks about confessing his sins to Leorio and how he had felt like he had absolution, if only for that moment. "I'm worried about you Gon. The curse has gotten worse. I don't know if your emotional state will effect it. Talk to me."

"...Remember when I told you I saw the other Killua at the haunted house? Well, I kind of left out some things." Gon stops walking. "The other Killua said things to me that made me really upset and worried. He attacked my wrist because he was trying to get rid of the hand I touched myself with." Gon's eyebrows furrow. "I didn't know it was wrong for me to touch myself to the thought of Killua when we aren't together. I was nervous about it so I asked Killua. He called me pathetic." Gon flinches.

Kurapika takes in all Gon just said for a moment, processing it. "The other Killua made you feel guilt for your feelings for Killua?" Kurapika clarifies. Gon nods his head, those eyes downcast. "...And you told Killua you...touched yourself to him and he called you pathetic?" Kurapika's eyebrows furrow. Why would he do that?"

"...No. I just asked him if it was wrong of me to have touched myself thinking about someone I'm not dating." Gon frowns. "I wanted to ask him if he would hate me if I touched myself to the thought of him but I was...scared. The other Killua's words wouldn't get out of my head and I just couldn't admit to it."

"Gon...you know he only said that because he's jealous. Killua doesn't really think you're pathetic. His love is different from yours. He's more possessive and I don't think he knows how to deal with all his feelings. The other Killua is nothing but the curse talking. You shouldn't let it get to you. If you let the other Killua get to you, the curse is winning." Kurapika takes a step forward, putting his hands on either side of Gon's shoulder.

"...You see in the back of my head I knew this. I kept telling myself that he loves me but the other Killua's voice has been taunting me and when Killua called me pathetic, I just couldn't calm down. It was like I didn't have the ability to. Killua ignoring me didn't help either. The other Killua wouldn't stop laughing and calling me names...I began to believe them myself. Then Killua had to say those things..." Gon slumps.

"Gon, the curse is only trying to bring you down. You know Killua doesn't think badly of you. He loves you. If anything, I think it's safe to say he adores you. The curse is taking what it knows will hurt you most and throw it in your face." Kurapika grabs Gon's chin and makes him look at him. Those amber eyes slowly get bright again, they shine like the sun.

"You're right Kurapika! That's embarrassing, I was actually giving in huh?" Gon chuckles, rubbing the back of his head embarrassed. He frowns. "Killua is going to be mad at me now though. I told him not to talk to me." Gon flinches. "I just didn't want to keep getting upset. I noticed that once I get upset it's hard for me to break out of it and I would hear more of the other Killua's voice. I don't' hear him now..."

"Gon, I think you should end this game." Kurapika locks eyes with the younger male. "It's gotten dangerous. The curse will use your relationship with Killua against you. If you're more sensitive to negative feelings then maybe you should just confess to Killua. You're putting yourself in danger by prolonging this."

Kurapika is positive now that the other Killua is the curse. If not, how would this person know Gon touched himself to Killua? It's impossible. The other Killua is in Gon's head. He's tormenting him and trying to make Gon break. Kurapika feels a deep anger in his chest. The leader knows how to be cruel. To put the one you most love against you. It would drive anyone insane.

"But..." Gon looks like he's about to argue only to close his mouth. He thinks for a moment before he nods. "Ne...I guess I can try to end this in a couple of days. I have a date planned out you see?" Gon smiles and it's as bright as it use to be. Good. I redirected his emotions. We just have to keep him stable.

"When ever something happens with the other Killua you should tell me. It's best to get this off your chest. If you have any new symptoms you think is because of the curse tell me. I should be in the loop so I can help you Gon."

"Okay." Gon nods his head. He stares up into Kurapika's gray eyes that are giving him a firm look. Gon smiles softly. "I'm sorry for making you worry Kurapika."

"Just don't do anything reckless." Kurapika finds himself pulling Gon in for a hug, nuzzling the top of his head. Gon is too sweet and adorable. His light draws everyone towards him. Kurapika has always felt the need to protect him. Something about Gon reminds him of someone very important to him. A boy he lost so long ago, his first and best friend.

"I'll try not to." Gon chuckles, wrapping his arms around Kurapika to give him a squeeze. "I feel a lot better now Kurapika. Thanks!" Gon lets go of him to beam up at him. "Let's get out of here so I can apologize to Killua. He'll probably punch me." Gon scratches his cheek before he turns on his heel and starts to walk down the cave again, Kurapika by his side.

"Maybe. I think he'll just be happy that you're speaking with me." Kurapika says honestly. He had saw the look on Killua's face when Gon told him not to talk to him. He looked devastated, crushed. His mouth had opened and closed like a gaping fish.

Kurapika feels a dull pang of worry in the back of his mind when he thinks of Leorio with an unstable Killua. He pushes that back though. Killua is a friend. He wouldn't hurt Leorio. He tried to hurt me when I got in the way....Kurapika shakes his head.

"I-" Gon starts only to stop. His expression gets serious as he sniffs the air. "Do you sense that?"

Kurapika stops walking, he glances around the cave before peering into the darkness ahead of them. Kurapika tries to feel something, anything but he can't.

"The air has shifted. It smells like...metal." Gon sniffs again. Just as he says this Kurapika hears something beside them. Kurapika's eyes widen when he sees metal holes appear in the wall.

"Gon run!" Kurapika shouts as he takes off running, pushing Gon along when the holes shoot out metal arrows.

They're able to barely dodge the arrows, almost becoming a rag doll pinned against the wall. Kurapika glares when he hears something shift under their feet when they landed away from the holes. Another trap-

"Down!" Gon shouts, Kurapika immediately obeying. Just as he gets down, fire shoots out of the walls. He grinds his teeth when his back gets scorched from not moving fast enough. "Kurapika! Are you okay?" Gon looks at him in concern, untouched.

"I'm fine." Kurapika takes a deep breath. He can't help to smile. "It looks like we got the trapped filled path. AT least we know Leorio and Killua are okay then." Kuraika glances back from the way they came, his eye widening when he sees that it's been blocked by a metal wall. He can feel nen coming off of it.

"Yeah." Gon smiles, keeping low till the fire stops. "Come on Kurapika this is our chance!" Gon gets up and runs down the cave. Gon sees it. We have to keep moving forward. The longer we stay in one place the more likely we'll get caught in a trap. Kurapika stands and runs after him, ignoring the crispy feeling of his back as his muscles shift. The blonde keeps his eyes open for any traps. Just as Gon is running in front of him, the floor below him opens up.

"Gon!" Kurapika runs to the hole, summoning his chains. In a flash he sends his chains out quickly, they wrap around the boy's ankle. Kurapika breathes heavily, a bead of sweat falling down his cheek as he takes in how close that was.

Gon's nose is inches from a spike. Gon would have been impaled. He would have died. Kurapika pulls the other male up. You would expect one to be freaking out with how close he came to death but there's this look in Gon's eyes that makes Kurapika look at him with wide eyes.

Gon is having fun. There's this large smile on his face as he looks at Kurapika. "Wow! I almost died." He chuckles.

Remind Kurapika to give Gon a good hit over the head later. "This place is so cool! The only thing that I don't like is that we haven't gotten to fight anyone. You said there was a boss for each floor right? I haven't seen any of them." Gon frowns, tilting his head.

"You're unbelievable." Kurapika says more with admiration than anything else. This boy is a monster. A individual that knows fear and yet finds joy in it. He loves danger. Gon is having the time of his life. He's reckless. With this kind of attitude it's amazing Gon is still alive now...but Kurapika knows this is how Gon is so strong. He never gives up and he loves the thrill of danger. Those eyes are full of curiosity and are open to new things.

Kurapika believes, as he always has believed, that Gon can do anything.

Gon grins in response before he jumps over the hole in the floor, Kurapika doing the same. He's just glad that they got this trapped cave. Leorio doesn't' have the grace to dodge these traps. And with Killua unstable...Kurapika shakes his head. He won't think about it. They're not in danger. He needs to focus on getting Gon and himself out of this alive.

Gon skids to a stop, grabbing Kurapika before he can run pass him. Kurapika watches with wide eyes as the walls in front of them suddenly move up, bumping into each other. They would have been crushed.

"Okay now we can go!" Gon says cheerfully as he runs, Kurapika keeping up beside him. The blonde can only hope they're almost out of this.

Kurapika's eyes light up when he sees the end of the cave coming up. His senses go on high alert at the same time. He's sure there's going to be one more trap. Kurapika glances over at Gon to see if he can sense it with his instincts. Gon is running beside him with a bright smile, those amber eyes focused on the exit.

"Hehe this reminds me of the hunter exam." Gon chuckles. "When we had to run. The exit was bright like this too. We're almost there." Gon smiles to himself. If Kurapika wasn't staying focused, he would have smiled back at him. He can't get over this feeling in his chest. Something is about to happen.

All of a sudden The exit is blocked by a huge boulder that dropped from a hole in the ceiling. Gon and Kurapika skid to a stop as the boulder starts to roll down.

They're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Literally. Kurapika starts to feel panicked though he doesn't' show it on his face. They have to run-

"Rock...paper...scissors..." Gon gets in a stance, his fist lighting up in a brilliant light. Kurapika's eyes widen at seeing how quickly Gon is able to charge up his aura into his fist. He must have been training hard on this. "Rock!" Gon shouts just as the huge boulder gets on him. He punches it with his bare fist, the rock gets sent flying out of the cave, shattering into pieces along the way. "Yay! We did it!" Gon jumps, smiling over at Kurapika who is staring at him with awe. "that was fun huh?"

"...I suppose." Kurapika can't help the smile coming to his lips. He had nothing to worry about. Gon really has gotten stronger since he last saw him. Kurapika can't help to wonder if he's come across any other abilities.

Gon is rallied up. Who ever is waiting for them down below...

Kurapika almost feels sorry for them. Almost.

---

"It's time to get up Killua!~" A voice laced with honey arouses Killua into consciousness. He blinks a couple of times before he resisters that he's being held. By long arms. Not Gon's arms. Killua immediately jumps out of the stranger's hold, ready to attack only to calm down when he sees the doctor's surprised expression.

"Oh it's just you." Killua straightens himself out.

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Leorio's eye twitches before he sighs. "I'm glad you finally woke up. You were slowing me down and I'm starting to get worried about Kurapika and Gon." Leorio starts to jog deeper into the cave.

"I passed out? Why-" Killua starts to run after Leorio before it all comes back. His jealousy. The words he spoke to Gon. The fight they had. Gon telling him not to talk to him. Killua having a mental break down and then...Killua's eyes widen, his heart goes arrhythmical for a second as he remembers Leorio's words.

"There never was a other guy. It's always been you."

Killua forgets how to breathe. He has to stop everything just to breathe in and out, his eyes going out of focused for a moment. There's so many emotions flowing through him it's hard to deal with. Guilt for going off on Gon. Hurt from Gon not wanting to be around him and...overwhelming happiness and joy. Killua can't take it. He's never been this happy. There's this whispering in his head trying to bring him down but Killua ignores it.

Gon is in love with him. Gon wants to date him. Gon was trying to learn all these things for him. Gon got jealous the other day because he loves Killua, not because they're just friends. Gon touched himself to the thought of Killua. Gon wants him...

Killua has to stop himself. He feels like he could pass out, scream, jump in the air and do a dance at the same time. Killua doesn't know which one he should do or if he should do any or all of them. Killua doesn't know how to handle this. He's shaking all over.

All his life all Killua has known is pain, darkness, greed and selfishness. When it comes to torture, he's been through everything. He can handle pain. He knows how to deal with hatred and he knows how to take care of himself. He knows how to make money and to satisfy himself from others expenses. Killua is a Zoldyck. A killer. He's taken the life of so many, seen their glassy eyes staring back at him as they were robbed of that light. Killua knows how to inflict agony. He knows what hurts the most because he's been through the worst.

So how can someone like him, a being of the darkness, know how to react with love? He's loved by someone he adores above anyone else. A being that has changed his view on life and made him want to be different. A person who could make him truly smile and could read when he was lying, when he wasn't being himself. A person that has become his purpose for living...his light, his everything...and he loves him back.

It's suffocating, all these feelings. Killua feels like he could choke on them all and that would be alright. Just because Leorio told you that doesn't mean it's true. That voice whispers but it doesn't put a damper on him.

"Leorio!" Killua runs to catch up with the older male, his blue eyes are bright and his heart won't stop pounding. "...You...you weren't kidding with me right? Gon really..." Killua swallows, feeling nervous once more. If Leorio was playing with him Killua might just kill him. After being like this, that news would devastate him.

"Yeah." Leorio glances over and smiles at Killua when his face gets red. "You're not going to pass out again are you?"

"No!" Killua glares but it's not as sharp as he would want it to be. He really has to get a hold of himself. He can't be acting crazy when he sees Gon. They left on bad terms...I have to apologize to him. And then tomorrow I'll take him out on a date and.... Killua has to stop. He's going to hyperventilate. He has to smack himself on the cheek, wanting the pain to bring him back. He feels like he's high. This is surreal. It feels like any moment he could wake up and this would all be-

"There haven't been any traps here." Leorio's voice breaks into Killua's thoughts. The ex-assassin focuses on his friend who has a deep frown on his face.

"...Then Gon and Kurapika got the trapped one." Killua places it together. His mood going down a little bit as he thinks of Gon. Killua was unstable but Gon left angry. What if he's distracted and gets caught in a trap? What if he gets hurt? Killua allows his aura to spark, shocking himself in the process with the electricity flowing through his body as he activates Godspeed. Killua takes off running, ignoring Leorio who is yelling at him about something. In seconds he's out of the cave, skidding to a stop just as he hears a familiar shout followed by a boulder getting shot out of the cave next the one Killua came out of. The boulder shatters into pieces everywhere. Killua blocks himself from any projectiles, a smirk on his face as he lets his aura steady. His hair going back into place though static, Godspeed being discontinued.

Of course Gon's fine. The bastard can get out of anything. Killua stuffs his hands into his pockets, his heart doing an affectionate thud when Gon walks out of the cave with Kurapika, chatting away about something. He looks like he's in a better mood. Killua takes a step forward, amber eyes meet blue. The ex-assassin freezes, they both do. They stare at each other like a deer in head lights.

Killua feels his face heating up. There's so much running through his head right now as he looks at his best friend. He loves me. He wants me. He masturbated to me....Killua shakes his head, his body getting too warm. Apologize. That's what I need to do. I hurt him. For no reason at all. Gon believes I think he's pathetic...I have to clear that up.

"Gon." Killua tries to give him a blank expression as he walks towards the other male. His heart is beating so fast though he's afraid he might have a heart attack.

"Killua." Gon takes a step forward himself, the two boys meeting each other half way. They stare at each other and Killua can't help to feel like it's intense. He swallows dryly. Everything else seems to fade. Now it's just Gon and Killua. Amber and blue.

"...You know I didn't mean anything that I said right?" Killua huffs, glancing off to the side. It's hard to just talk right now and he has to think of how he would usually react in this situation if he didn't know Gon loves him. "You do dumb things some times and you're irrational but you're not stupid. You're childish but what's wrong with that? I think it's adorable. I like your innocence." Killua finds himself opening up, his words spilling out. It's easier when he isn't looking at Gon. "I like everything about you. I was just frustrated...and I guess maybe I was...jealous." Killua feels his stomach twist at saying that out loud. "There isn't anything wrong with touching yourself to the thoughts of someone you aren't with. I've done it before. You touched yourself to this person because...you love them right?" Killua's palms are all sweaty, his ears are stinging hot.

Gon is silent. He stays silent for what feels like forever. Killua feels like he could die in this silence. "...Yeah. I do." Gon nods. Killua feels like someone just shot him in the chest and he's oozing out the overwhelming amount of emotions he's experiencing. It's true. "Why were you jealous Killua?" Gon takes a step closer. Killua out of habit takes a step back, pulling at his shorts nervously. He feels too hot. He just wants to tackle Gon and kiss him senseless. Killua could do it. He could finally claim Gon but...

Maybe it's selfishness or maybe it's the fact he's a very doubtful person but...Killua wants to hear Gon confess to him. He wants to get Gon to kiss him first that way...he knows it's okay. He doesn't want to take anything from Gon that he can't give back. He doesn't want to make him angry. So Killua will take him out on the date tomorrow and if he's lucky...Gon will come falling into his arms.

"Eh I don't know. Weird huh?" Killua plays it off, chuckling lightly. I was jealous of myself this whole time. "Maybe it's' a strange side effect from eating all the chocolate eh?"

"Eating chocolate can do that?" Gon blinks with owl like eyes. Killua can't help to crack up. Gon glares. "Hey you're lying aren't you? Chocolate can't do that."

"Chocolate can do anything Gon. It's chocolate." Killua stops laughing, giving him a serious look.

"Yeah right! Can chocolate give you wings?"

"Yup."

"Ha! I've never gotten wings when i've eaten chocolate!"

"That's because you're eating it wrong."

"Eh? Really?!"

"No."

"Killlwa!" Gon whines when Killua starts to laugh again. All that tension and hurt just fades away. Gon's pout starts to change to a smile and he giggles. "The only thing i've seen chocolate do is make your money disappear."

"I know, it's magic. I don't even know how it happens." Killua grins.

"You do know how it happens. You're the one who spends all your money on it-"

"Hey. It's a sound investment."

"That will make you sick and fat."

"Have you seen these abs? Do I look fat to you?" Killua teases, lifting up his shirt and flexing his chest muscles and abs. Killua watches Gon's expression carefully, his heart flutters when he sees Gon's cheeks get a little pink. He even catches his eyes wandering his body. Gon like his body. Gon called him sexy. He wants him.

Killua finds himself licking his lips. Gon looks too delicious right now. Oh the things he will do to this boy- in good time of course. Gon is pure...he has to take this slow...yes slow... Killua's heart is beating too fast.

"No." Gon huffs, crossing his arms. "But if you keep eating it you could! And you could get sick. Chocolate isn't that great-"

"Take that back." Killua takes a step forward, letting his shirt fall. He cracks his knuckles. "or i'll have to torture you." He wiggles his fingers, Gon's face getting pale before he gives him a glare.

"I can take it! I won't take it back. You need to stop eating so much of it. It's not good for you."

"You sound like Mito!" Killua teases, his blue eyes flaring playfully as he charges towards Gon. The raven haired boy looks like he's ready to fight back, his pout turning into a grin.

"And you sound like butt!" Gon retorts back, looking proud. Killua actually snorts in laughter, not expecting Gon to say that at all. He loses his baring, falling into Gon, the other male holding him up as he laughs.

"What the heck?" Killua shakes his head, his fit of laughter not stopping. He's too happy right now. He wonders if his body will just shut down from this overwhelming amount of joy. Gon will never bore him. Seriously. "Where have you even heard that from?"

"Maybe I came up with it by myself." Gon shrugs his shoulders before he bust out laughing himself. "It just came out!" He chuckles.

"You looked so proud of it too." Killua finds himself putting an arm around Gon's shoulders, grinning at him, his blue eyes dancing playfully.

"Hey it was good!"

"Right, 'you sound like butt' what does that even mean? How is that a good comeback? I guess if you want to make the person laugh." Killua smirks.

"It means you sound bad or stupid!" Gon pouts.

"So butt equals bad and stupid now?" Killua raises an eyebrow, his smile growing when it looks like Gon is getting frustrated.

"Maybe it does." Gon huffs stubbornly.

"It looks like you two have made up." Leorio comes out of the cave, huffing and puffing from having to run. He calms down when he sees Kurapika standing against the wall, watching Killua and Gon with a small smile on his lips.

"no we haven't." Gon blinks over at Leorio. Killua tenses looking over at Gon with confusion. "Killua hasn't apologized properly." Gon grins at Killua.

"...I guess I haven't." Killua rubs the back of his neck, feeling himself blush. "...I'm sorry Gon. I really am." Killua's voice gets lower when he thinks of how he hurt Gon and kicked him. He bows his head, ignoring the bad memories it brings. "you didn't deserve all that. I was the one acting like a kid."

Killua tenses when Gon hugs him, his warmth surrounding him making his eyes widen and his heart flutter at the contact.

"That's okay. I'm sorry for being mean. I didn't really want you not to talk to me." Gon squeezes Killua.

Killua closes his eyes and smiles. He feels like he's been given atonement. Everything is fine now. He really thought he fucked everything up. Just an hour ago he was having a mental break down thinking Gon would want nothing to do with him and here he is now, with the boy hugging him and with the knowledge that Gon loves him. It's amazing. Killua finds himself wrapping his arms around Gon's waist.

Killua has him and he's never letting go.

"I'm glad that's over with." Leorio mumbles as he walks over to Kurapika. He takes in the blonde before he frowns. "Are you okay? Were the traps horrible?"

"No. They weren't. We made it out okay didn't we?" Kurapika gives him this smile but it's crooked. Leorio's eyebrows furrow, noticing how he's keeping his back to the wall.

"Did you get hurt?"

"Maybe a little bit."

"Let me see."

"There's not much you can do about it now."

"Kurapika." Leorio gives him a firm look. Concern and care in those brown orbs. Kurapika sighs, his cheeks dusting at such a look as he turns around, letting the doctor see his burn.

"You got burnt!" Leorio's eyes widen in horror as he takes in the injury. "It looks like..second degree burns." Leorio's eyebrows furrow. "I need to-"

"It's fine. I'll deal with it myself. We have the fox stealer to fight still. This is nothing." Kurapika gives him a reassuring smile before he makes his chains appear. He uses his healing chain to go towards his back and rub gently on the burnt flesh, using just enough nen to heal it to the point it will be able to heal properly with time.

"Wow! I didn't know you can heal Kurapika!" Gon beams over at the other male, his eyes wide, interrupting what Leorio was going to say. Gon's eyesbrows furrow. "I didn't know you had gotten that hurt. I was too into the moment I guess."

"That's fine. We had to keep moving. There was no time for thinking." Kurapika shakes his head. "you gave me some scares as well Gon."

"Me?" Gon points at himself, blinking.

"You were almost impaled." Kurapika points out, raising an eyebrow.

"What?!"

"Seriously?" Killua looks over at Gon. The raven haired male just sticks out his tongue.

"Oh yeah I did. Kurapika had my back though." Gon grins. Killua can't help to smile. He's torn between wanting to hit the boy for his reckless behavior and just enjoying that wonderful smile on Gon's lips. He never expected anything less but that doesn't mean Killua doesn't' have to worry.

"Okay seriously, no more separating." Leorio looks at everyone sternly, seeming to just get over this information. "I was was worried sick about you guys once I found out you got the trapped one. Let's just fight this guy and get out of here as soon as possible. I'm still recovering from the freaky room upstairs." Leorio shivers.

"You mean the paintings?" Killua raises an eyebrow smirking. "Are you afraid of paintings as well Leorio-"

"It's not paintings! They came to life! You saw that! It's not normal!"

"No. I think you're just afraid of the paintings." Kurapika can't help to smile teasingly when Leorio gives him a look.

"Screw you guys-" Leorio starts.

"i'm going home!" Gon jumps in, his eyes lighting up in mirth.

"Huh?" Kurapika and Leorio look at him strangely. Only Killua gets the joke, laughing to himself.

"Okay, okay lets get focused now." Kurapika shakes his head. "This is nice and I'm glad you two are okay now but we need to get serious."

"Yeah. The fox stealer is only a couple of floors below." Gon's eyes change. They get bright with fire, gripping his fists. His eyebrow twitches, Gon holding back a wince when he made fist with his hurt arm. "We're close."

"I can't help to notice that the hole left for us on the first floor wasn't meant to be there. I'm sure the fox guy left it there for us to get to him faster." Killua puts his hands into his pockets, calming himself down, focusing on the here and now. The mission at hand.

"I also noticed that there hasn't been any one here to fight us. The man at the front told us that others had come down here and haven't come back. I haven't seen anyone but us." Kurapika adds.

"Do you think the enemy did something to them?" Leorio frowns.

"We'll know when we ask him!" Gon's voice is laced with determination as he marches over to the only door here. "Clover don't you worry! You'll be back soon!" Gon smiles to himself as he opens the door, Killua making sure he's right by his side. The ex-assassin's eyes narrow when he sees another hole that has been left for them. While the two boys peer down, Killua notices that this one isn't as deep. But it leads down to the tenth floor. The enemy has defiantly left this for them. Is this a trap? Most likely. We should just find our own way down-

Before Killua can even voice this, Gon is jumping into the hole. Those eyes crazed with the excitement of a fight, the thrill of a battle. And maybe the thrill of jumping right into a trap. Killua curses as he jumps in after him as he always does. Even when Killua knows Gon's plans are crazy or that an action he wants to take is stupid, if he can't talk him out of it, he always, always follows him. It's always been like that and it always will be. Killua will take the burden of Gon's consciences with them. They're a team after all. If Gon goes, Killua goes.

And that's just the way it is.

Gon and Killua land on the tenth floor, one loudly, the other silently. They stand together, side by side. The ex-assassin was ready to fight, to cut, to protect Gon from the possible trap but as far as he can tell there isn't one.

Killua doesn't have to have Gon's dog like nose to smell what's in the air. His eyes narrow as he takes in the dead bodies laid before them. All cut up into tiny pieces. There's an ear by the corner and a hand by Killua's feet. Blood has pooled together, looking black in appearance around the torsos of unlucky victims. Killua takes this all in calculating. From seeing this he can tell a lot about their killer. Killua was once a professional.

Who ever killed them has no sense of self control. He tore his victims apart and flung their body parts across the room. Who ever killed them has lost their mind. This wasn't practical. They wasted time and made a huge mess. Also, Killua observes, that the killer left bloody hand prints on the walls as if he was making those childish art projects with his victims blood. Unstable mind. A killer. These people weren't' here to begin with...no. They were put in here. Maybe the murderer killed them first before he ripped them apart? A Very disturbed mind...

Killua has flash backs as he stares at the pool of blood and the smell and the feel of this room.

Killua as a young boy stares at the limp bodies in front of him, all have their throats sliced, their dull eyes staring back at him as their blood pools around them. The young boy is covered in their blood, he had silenced them for good. And he knows that Illumi is watching. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting and watching. Making sure he gets the job done. Right and effectively. The boy stares a moment longer and he can't help to wonder, who's eyes look more dead, theirs or his?

"He killed all these people..." Gon's voice snaps Killua out of his state. He intakes sharply as his eyes refocus on the light of his life, away from the corpses. He's seen enough of those in his lifetime. Gon's eyes are on fire. A rage there as he looks at the way these people were treated. "He ripped them apart and threw them around like they were nothing. I don't see their heads...do you Killua?"

"...No." Killua glances around, noticing that as well. There's no head. Everything else is littering the ground though. Killua has this urge to just cover Gon's eyes and take him away from here. Killua knows Gon has seen dead bodies. He's dealt with death and faced death time and time again. Killua still has this urge to protect him from it though. He knows how Gon hates it. Killing with no meaning. Killing the weak. Killing like this. There was no need for this.

"What's wrong? Are you guys-" Kurapika and Leorio jump down only for Leorio to tense letting out a squeak from seeing the gruesome sight before them. Kurapika's eyes get hard but he doesn't look away.

"...I suppose we know what happened to the bosses now." Kurapika summons his chains.

"He completely..." Leorio seems at a loss for words. The doctor who is all about healing and helping others in a state Gon was in. What this person did was inhumane. Who knows if they were tortured before they were killed or not.

"Ah. There you guys are, at first I thought you weren't going to come." A hoarse voice comes from their right. Everyone gets into a stance, on the defensive as they watch a black ball that was hiding in the corner stand up. He had been so silent, using zensu that they didn't even notice he was in the room with them. Killua takes in how small this man is as he turns to face them. His green eyes are dull, empty, His hands are caked with blood, his nails all look dirty. There's dark bags under his eyes and his bones seem to creak with every movement. This guy looks like he hasn't had a meal in weeks. He also looks unkempt. Unstable.

"That would have been really bad..." This man mumbles, his arms hanging limply to his side like he just doesn't want to use the energy to lift them properly.

"Who are you?" Gon is the first one to speak, taking a step forward. He grips his fists, those eyes a bright fire. "Are you the one who stole Clover? And did you kill these people?" Gon points to the dead bodies, his voice raising in anger.

"Ah..." The man eyes widen slightly. He sways his hips from side to side, mumbling to himself. "So many questions...which one should I answer first?" He thinks to himself. "I don't know who Clover is...and I guess I did kill all these people."The man glances over at the bodies. He frowns to himself. "I don't remember much of it though. And who am I?...I suppose I'm a demon."

"Clover is the white fox." Killua speaks up, wanting to get those empty green eyes off of Gon. He glares when this man continues to stare at his best friend.

"Oh the fox." The man's eyes seem to light in realization. "Yes I stole it."

"Why would you steal Clover? And why would you frame me by looking like me as you did it?" Gon takes a step forward, glaring. "And how can you not remember killing these people? What did they do to you? They were here to help people train!"

"you talk...very fast." The man shifts. He keeps staring at Gon. Killua hasn't' seen him blink. Not Once. "They were in my way. I didn't want to fight but they wouldn't let me pass. The voices...they're hard to ignore without her. I didn't...want to kill them." The man's eyes shift over to the served bodies. He frowns to himself, his eyes widen as he grabs his hair and yanks. His chest raising and falling rapidly. "What will she think? I've killed again I just...I didn't..." He shuts his eyes tightly, groaning.

"This guy is crazy." Killua can hear Leorio mumble under his breath. That's an understatement. As soon as Killua saw this man he knew he was going to be trouble. Those green eyes are shaking and dilated. He looks like a rabid animal.

"Who are you talking about?" Gon's expression shifts, his glare softening if just for a bit, his curiosity getting the best of him as it always does.

"Stay focused. You just said you stole the fox. Answer Gon's question. Why did you frame him?" Killua asks, wanting to redirect the conversation on where it needs to be. Killua doesn't care about who this guy was talking about. He doesn't care about this guy's problems. This man...they need to deal with this and get the hell out.

"Who...who am I talking about? She had blonde hair and this..." The man opens his eyes, they refocus when they land on Gon. His lips twitch. "Your eyes...I know that fire."

"Did you hear me? I said stay focused." Killua's eyes darken and he takes a step forward.

"...Why did you steal Clover and why did you frame Gon?" Kurapika takes a step closer, he has his wooden swords out, crossed over each other in front of him, those gray eyes narrowed in warning. Leorio has his knife out, he's had it out since he's seen this man.

"it doesn't matter." This man's smile is wiped from his lips. His expression goes back to being blank. His arms hang limply to his side. Killua can't help to think he looks like a broken doll, his head bowing slightly. "I stole the fox. Stay focused." His eyes move mechanically, locking on Gon once more. "Do you have the book?"

"You mean this?" Kurapika takes out the book from the sack he has hanging on his shoulder. He holds out the red book, watching this man carefully. Those empty eyes slowly focus on him. Kurapika's expression turns hard before he holds it out in front of him, gripping two sides of it tightly. "Tell us where the fox is or I will destroy this book."

"Hmm..." This man slumps, staring blankly at the book for the longest time. Drops of blood are falling from his hand and tainting the floor. Though his face is blank, Killua can tell, this man is confused. "...I don't know what to do..."

"That's simple. Tell us where the fox is." Killua's aura turns dark around him, his eyes sinking to show the side of him he's never really been able to leave behind. The side of a killer. "If you tell us we won't destroy the book and we'll let you live." Killua holds out his hand, turning it into a claw.

This man shows no fear. He just looks confused. He starts to tilt his head back and forth like he's thinking about his options. Gon watches him with his eyebrows furrowed. He looks troubled.

"Why do you want to live forever?" Gon asks, getting Killua to give him a look. He's about to scold him but he knows that it's no use. Gon is curious and he won't stop till he gets answers.

"...Live forever?" The man stops moving. His eyes once again locking with Gon's. He smiles. It's not warm or cold. It stenches his face, looking as if the edges of his cheeks could rip with how wide it is. "Oh now I see." The man taps a finger to his head. "I understand now." blood smears on his cheek from touching his face. He points a finger at Gon. "Give me the book or he's the one who's going to pay."

"No." Killua's eyes flash at the threat towards Gon. "You tell us where the fox is or you're the one who's going to pay."

"You're out numbered!" Leorio chirps in, grinning at this man. "Just give up already!"

"Don't underestimate him Leorio." Kurapika warns, his eyes narrowing when the man bows his head.

"What have I done to you to make you frame me?" Gon takes a step forward, gripping his fist tightly, that fire coming back to his eyes. "I just don't get it. I've never seen you before. Why-"

"I don't want to hear it." The man covers his ears before he bends backwards at an unnatural angle. "You will regret getting in my way...you will regret not just giving me that book..." His back cracks and he lets out a scream. Just as he took an intake of breath, Gon yelled for everyone to cover their ears. And they did.

Killua grinds his teeth as this man screams loudly, his body contorting in front of them. Killua watches with fascination as this man's bones start to break only to move and reconnect. His fingers grow longer and his nails more sharp. His jaw unhooks, his mouth opening wide, his tongue hanging out, wiggling before it grows. His teeth get jagged and his aura spikes, his aura is like a dark madness that fills the air and leaves not much room to breathe.

Those green eyes have sunken till it looks like they're nothing but black cole in his face. Now he truly looks like what he is. A monster. Killua finds himself smirking, an excitement building in him. Now this is a worthy opponent. He glances over at Gon and finds the boy is shaking. Is he afraid?...no. No he's excited. He's thrilled. Just as Killua knew he would be. This is something new. This is a new test and new opponent to defeat.

"The fuck..." Leorio curses behind them, the grip on his knife tightening at staring at this monster.

"Everyone be careful! Team work is what will defeat this man." Kurapika looks at everyone seriously before focusing on the monster.

As Kurapika was saying that the man started to charge towards them, his broken long arms dragging on the floor, his cheeks ripping as his mouth opens even wider. It's a terrifying sight. It's something you would see in a horror film.

"Scatter! Don't let him touch you!" Kurapika shouts in alarm when a dark power can be seen gathering in this man's mouth.

Killua jumps out of range when this monster gets right on him, a grin on his lips. He may be freaky but i'm a lot faster and I can fight from far away. With all four of us, this will be too easy- Killua glances over at Gon, expecting to see him in the air like everyone else is, jumping away from this man. Killua's breath catches when he sees Gon hasn't moved. Those amber eyes are dull, a blank look on his face as he just stands there. The monster is right on him, his mouth getting wider. Killua panicked.

He takes his yoyo's out of his pocket and in once swift moment, he knocks the monster right in the jaw. This only slows it down, his head rolling over to the side. "Gon!" Killua shouts, his face getting paler when Gon still doesn't move. He just stands there. What's wrong? Why isn't he reacting? Killua's panic grows, a bead of sweat falls down his cheek. He lands on his feet gracefully before he jumps forward, his claw aimed at this monster's heart-

I'm not going to make it! He's going to-

"Gon!" Killua screams in desperation.

Gon blinks.

Just as this monster is about to chomp down on him, Gon's eyes refocus. He side steps the monster before he kicks him in the side. The strength of the kick sends the monster a couple of feet back. Killua can't help to breathe a sigh of relief as he stops by Gon's side. He glances over at Gon, seeing his friend has that fire back in his eyes...but there's something different about him. Gon looks paler, and his chest is heaving up and down.

"What was that about?" Killua refocuses on the monster but he watches Gon from the corner of his eye.

"Eh I sort of spaced out." Gon sticks his tongue out before he grins when the monster runs towards them again, screaming. Leorio's knife is thrown, hitting the monster in his shoulder. It gets stuck in his flesh but he doesn't slow down. Kurapika appears behind the monster, his gray eyes flashing scarlet before he aims his wooden swords, aiming at this thing's back. Killua sees this and in that instant he throws his yoyo's to this thing. It wraps around his arms that are dragging on the floor. Killua's eyes flash as he shocks both himself and this monster.

It screams, finally being stunned as Killua sends thousands of bolts of lighting through his veins. Killua is careful though. He doesn't want to accidentally give this guy a heart attack and kill him. They need to know where the fox is after all.

When Killua stops shocking the monster, Kurapika kicks it in the back. The monster falling on it's face, groaning to himself. Kurapika stands on its back before he sticks his swords through its shoulders, pinning it to the ground.

"That was too easy." Gon frowns as he watches the monster settle down. It just lays there. Like a broken toy. It's flesh twitches over its broken bones, its blood tainting the ground, adding with the blood of the innocent that was spilled by this monster's hand. "I didn't even get to do anything!" Gon pouts, looking at Killua and Kurapika. He crosses his arms. "I haven't gotten to fight anybody!" He whines.

"That's so like you." Killua sighs, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He closes his eyes before opening one of them to look at Gon, studying him closely. "You may have gotten to do something if you didn't freeze up back there." Gon tenses. Killua caught it. Gon shrugs his shoulders lazily. "Did you start feeling sick again?" Killua presses.

Gon's eyebrows furrow. He opens his mouth to speak-

"This isn't over you two." Kurapika breaks into their conversation, his eyes turning red as he grabs this thing's hair and pulls. "We still don't' know where the fox is. He hasn't spoken." Kurapika's eyes narrow.

"Tell us where the fox is." Killua commands as he takes a step forward, his eyes sinking once again as he turns his hand into a claw. "We have ways of making you talk."

"What are you going to do?' Gon looks at Killua.

"Anything I have to. We need answers. You want to save Clover don't you?" Killua looks over at Gon, raising his eyebrow.

"I do but..." Gon glances at Killua's claw before looking down at the monster who is still laying like he's dead. He hasn't made any moment. "Maybe there's another way?"

"If he's not going to speak we need to make him speak Gon." Kurapika closes his eyes for a moment before he looks at Killua. "I'll do it if you want me to. You don't have to-"

"Please. This is against your morals. I can see it in your eyes. You're just like Gon in that way. I can take care of this. I know how to make him hurt. Just hold him still for me." Killua's voice has no emotion as he takes a step forward.

Gon grabs his wrist. Killua stops to look at Gon. The enhancer is giving him this look with those big amber eyes that makes Killua's heart sink. He doesn't want him to do it. But Gon wants Clover. What choice do we have? And I'm the only one who can do this. No one else has the heart to-
"Let me try something first." Gon gives him a determined look as if he could read his mind.

"...The floor is yours." Killua's hand turns back to normal and he takes a step back. Letting Gon have control, giving into Gon as he always does. And when Gon can't get the monster to talk...Killua will do the dirty work. His hands are already dirty. He can get them dirtier.

"Hey mister." Gon turns his attention to this monster, smiling gently as he walks closer.

"Don't get too close Gon." Killua warns, his eyebrows furrowing as he watches this demon closely. Killua was very aware that the whole time this thing was attacking it was focused on Gon. Gon was its target.

"It's okay." Gon turns to give Killua an reassuring smile before he gets on his knees in front of this thing. "mister, can you tell me where Clover is? I don't' know why you framed me but Clover has a family to go back to. There's a lot of people who miss her and they are very upset that she's gone. Looking into your eyes...I know you don't want to live forever." Killua and Kurapika look at each other before looking back at Gon. The monster hasn't made a single movement. "There's this sadness in your eyes...it only went away when you were talking about 'her.'. Does stealing Clover have something to do with her? Did she want you to? Or maybe she's in trouble? And you want Clover to heal her?" Gon thinks to himself before he smiles. "If you tell us maybe we can help!" Gon is quiet for his moment. "You're not a bad person...are you?"

Killua stares at Gon with his mouth slightly open. How could he figure all this out by just looking at this guy?...How does he even know what he thinks is true? Killua watches in amazement as...the monster starts to change. His bones crack back in place, his jaw re-hooks. His body keeps changing in till...he's that man again.

Is that how Gon knew Killua was okay? When they first met in the hunter exam...when their eyes met, were those amber eyes staring right through him? Looking into his very being? Despite the evil he's done, was Gon able to see everything with those amber orbs?

Killua doesn't doubt it. He has learned that Gon can do the impossible. He never ceases to amaze him. He always finds his own way out of a problem. One that suits him. He's so selfish and...incredible.

"...How can you..." This man trembles before he looks up. His green eyes are watery. "You don't get it...you can't help me. Why would you...you don't know me..." His eyes shift from side to side. "I don't know what to do anymore."

"You can start by telling us where Clover is." Gon encourages. His smile is contagious and bright. Even this man can't look at him straight on.

"I can't." This man grips his fists. "I won't give in to you..." his green eyes flash before his aura spikes, sending Kurapika flying off of him. This man stands up quickly, Kurapika's swords still stuck in his shoulders. His dark aura gathers on his back making wings. Before anyone can react he's in the air, those dull green eyes looking down on everyone. "It was fun playing with you little one." This man grins before he shoots up, going up, banging a hole in the wall, pieces of the concrete falling.

"Damn it." Killua runs over to the hole, grinding his teeth when he sees this monster has already made it out of the dungeon. "He got away..."

"That's okay." Gon waves Killua off when he gives him a look of disbelief. "He'll come back." Gon's eyes shine with this excited flare.

Killua glances off to the side seeing Leorio rushing over to tend to Kurapika who was flown across the room, hitting the concrete wall spread eagle, the air getting knocked out of him before he dropped limply to the ground. He's fine. Killua doesn't even have to ask. Kurapika is already getting up.

Killua focuses on Gon, seeing the other male is also watching their two friends. Killua's eyebrows furrow. "Do you really believe that?"

"Believe what?" Gon blinks looking at Killua.

"That man is a good person? He killed those people." Killua glances off to the side. "He ripped them to pieces. He also wouldn't give us any information. He didn't even try to really get the book. Everything about him seems suspicious to me. He just seems like a crazed man."

"I'm upset he killed them but he seemed confused about it and upset." Gon thinks to himself. "I don't think he's bad. It's just a feeling I have I guess. I could just tell by the look in his eyes when I asked him why he wanted to live forever...that he didn't. I think he wants to help that girl he was talking about. Something happened and he's going crazy because of it." Gon frowns. "He looked scared. I don't know why he framed me or what I did to make him an enemy though..."

"I still just say he's nuts." Killua grunts but as he watches Gon's eyes he smiles to himself. "There's a couple of questions that I want an answer to. If he just wanted to heal this girl than why hasn't he done it yet? Why would he need the book? And why didn't he try harder to get it?"

"Maybe he wants the girl to live forever?" Gon tilts his head. "I have to admit, there's a couple of things that don't add up."

"My thoughts exactly." Kurapika walks over with Leorio, the other male supporting him. It looks like he may have sprained his ankle. "Something wasn't right with this. You say he's a good person Gon but he admitted to stealing the fox. But he didn't show too much interest in the book. He wasn't fighting with all he had either. I could feel it. He could have did that aura spike thing from the start to get me off of him but he didn't. Something isn't adding up." Kurapika closes his eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Yeah and we've never seen that guy before right? Why would he have a thing against Gon?" Leorio frowns.

"It doesn't make sense." Killua nods. There's this twisting of his stomach that he hates. A feeling of dread in his mouth that he swallows down. There was something very familiar with that man. The way he was moving and how his arms would hang down. The way he killed...the way his eyes looked so empty. Killua had called him a broken toy but really he looked like a...

Puppet.

Killua's body tenses, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. What if this guy wasn't acting on his own? What if he's only a puppet? And the real fox stealer is pulling the strings from afar? That would make sense. The man kept saying he didn't know what to do and he seemed confused too many times. He didn't even focus on the book. If he truly wanted the book then he would have taken it from Kurapika when he knocked him down.

Maybe the girl he was talking about is the master? That's a possibility. Not once did Killua see him shift his appearance except by breaking his bones. He acted as if he was waiting for them, like he knew they were coming and not the leader. And they've never seen this man before So how could he have a thing against Gon? Someone else must have something against Gon...

When Killua thinks of puppet he can't help to have this image in his head. Those dark empty eyes, that pale face, his aura-suffocating-controlling-insane-

"It's okay." Killua flinches when he feels a pressure on his hand. Killua blinks when he sees a tan hand is holding his. He didn't even know he was sweating, his palms are wet. He glances up to see Gon smiling at him reassuringly. "We'll get our answers when he comes back! Don't' worry!"

"Yeah." Killua calms down, finding hope and light in those eyes that slows his heart rate. It's been years since he's heard anything from his brother. He hasn't bothered him at all. There's no way he has something to do with this. Why would he? What would he want with the fox? Why would he go through all this trouble to have a puppet take the blame and do his sin? It's not like having the fox puts Gon in any danger...no, it's not him. If it was Illumi, Killua would know. Illumi would have probably tried to contact him or see him. Illumi isn't here. He doesn't know where I am. It's fine.

It's just Killua being paranoid is all. He's just being cautious. As the years have gone by he's been waiting for his brother to show up to try to ruin everything. But he hasn't shown. This isn't him either. It can't be.

"Is something wrong Killua?" Gon frowns, possibly noting how Killua has gotten paler.

"Like Kurapika was saying, something doesn't feel right. What if that guys is just a..." Puppet. "...distraction from the real fox stealer? What if he's only working under the main guy?" Killua decides to tell them his thoughts. It's not Illumi but someone may be controlling him.

"That could also be a possibility." Kurapika's eyes flash before those gray eyes lower. "But we don't know for sure..." his eyes get hard. "Gon." Kurapika gives Gon a serious look. It actually surprises Killua from the intensity of it. "I know you said this guy is a good person but the next time he comes around, we aren't going to show him any mercy. We have to get answers out of him. We don't have all the time in the world." Gon's eyes lower at that. "Clover is in danger. Who knows how long we have?..." Kurapika's voice gets quiet at the end.

"I know Kurapika." Gon nods his head, his shoulder slumping. He glares at the ground. He looks frustrated as he grips his fists, wincing slightly.

"Yeah if we want to save Clover we're going to have to hurt him. He's not going to talk any other way." Killua gives Kurapika a look though. Studying him. Something in his expression bothered him. This is just a mission isn't it? If Clover dies, Gon will be upset but it's not the end of the world. Killua didn't know that Kurapika cared so much about the fox. "You tried your way. Next time we do my way." Killua's eyes get dark.

Gon doesn't say anything. Those amber eyes look deep in thought. Killua notices he's still holding his hand. The ex-assassin find himself rubbing Gon's hand, trying to offer him comfort just as Gon's touch saved him from those dark feelings. Gon seems to relax a little bit but he doesn't look at Killua. He knows he doesn't like it. But it's going to have to be done.

"I'll do everything." Killua whispers, wanting to comfort him more. I'll kill for you. I'll do anything for you. Killua knows it's true too. "You don't even have to watch."

Gon closes his eyes. He looks so troubled.

"There's no point in standing around here. The guy is gone now." Leorio speaks up. "Lets head back to the hotel. I need to take care of Kurapika's wounds and change Gon's bandages."

"Leorio's right. We should head back to the hotel. We'll also have to tell that man about these people being murdered." Kurapika closes his eyes for a moment. "We'll discuss our plan of action later. For now there's not much to do. We don't have any information on that man. We'll have to wait for him to attack once more." Kurapika opens his eyes. "then we'll do what we have to."

Gon doesn't say a word. He closes his eyes and squeezes Killua's hand. The ex-assassin squeezes back. In a silent way saying what he couldn't.

I'm here for you Gon. Don't you worry...I'll take care of it. I love you. I'd do anything for you. I'd give you the world.

I'm all yours.

---

"Damn it. Fucking shit." Leorio curses as he follows behind Gon and Killua who are in front of him, walking down hill with ease, easily weaving their way through the trees. It's so dark out here he can barely see anything. "I forgot that we had to climb a mountain to get here! Why don't they have some sort of service to take people there and back?! We've been out here for hours, i'm hungry, Kurapika's hurt and my feet are killing me. I keep getting cut up by these stupid trees and i'm pretty sure we're lost."

"Stop complaining old man geez. That's all you've done." Killua grunts, looking back at the older male, his hand is still connected with Gon's.

"We're not lost Leorio." Gon smiles. The older male frowns when he sees how Gon's eyelids droop. "We're really close. Can't you feel the ground evening out? We'll be there in a couple of minutes."

"And maybe if you would put me down Leorio you wouldn't be so tired and your feet wouldn't be hurting as much." Kurapika sighs, his expression still looking agitated by being kept in the older male's arms against his will.

"I wasn't going to let you walk all that on your hurt ankle! Do you want to make it worse?" Leorio scolds before he glances at the back of Gon in concern. "You look really tired Gon."

"I do?" Gon blinks glancing back at Leorio. Killua studies the other male as well.

"i was thinking that to."

"I guess i'm a little tired." Gon smiles slightly. Leorio can see Killua is watching the other male closely.

"Are you feeling sick Gon?" Leorio can't help to assess. "Any trouble sleeping last night? I thought you looked a little tired when I saw you this morning."

"I'm not feeling sick. I fell asleep last night but when I woke up I kind of felt like I hadn't had any." Gon shakes his head. "That must be why i'm so tired."

"Then you better get some sleep tonight. We both know what happens to you when your sleep deprived." Killua shakes his head before he chuckles. "Remember we had that competition to see who could stay up the longest? I told you I would win time and time again. I was trained to go days without sleep but you being stubborn wouldn't take that. I have to say I was surprised you made it three whole days without sleeping but by the end of it you were as mad as a hatter. Seriously you were trying to eat the pillows calling them marshmallows." Killua laughs more, Gon's face gets red and he glares at his friend. "You put googly eyes on a rock and named him bob. It was hilarious but when you tried to go running outside naked, taking about defeating some sort of overlord I had to knock you out. You slept for a whole day before you woke up."

"Killua you cheated! I could have beat you if you didn't knock me out." Gon crosses his arms, pouting. "You always have to tease me about it. When I woke up you were laughing the whole day about it. You even took pictures!" Gon glares. "And then you blackmailed me into buying you chocolate to stop you from sending them to Brisky!"

"Ain't I a stinker?"Killua gives him a lopsided smile that gets Gon to push him, Killua chuckling.

"You do stink." Gon mumbles. "Bad." Gon glares at Killua, the ex-assassin still smiling. Soon Gon's lips wobble up to a smile and they share a laugh.

"Says the person who has the worst morning breath ever."

"Oh yeah? Well your breath stinks to! You just smell like a butt!"

"What's with you and butts Gon?" Killua chuckles when Gon's cheeks tint.

"I'm not the one who smells like one." Gon mumbles.

"You still act like kids." Leorio shakes his head. He can't help to smile. Just watching Gon and Killua go back and forth like this is like the good old times. He's glad things haven't changed. They don't need to. "But really Gon you should get some good night sleep tonight. No staying up. Doctor's order."

"Mm I will." Gon turns his attention back on Leorio, smiling at him. "i'll probably go right to bed once we get back."

"Good. Man I'm hungry. The last time we ate was this morning right?" Leorio groans rubbing his stomach when it growls. He blinks remembering something. He had extra pancakes. Gon's pancakes. "Hey Gon aren't you starving?"

"hmm?"Gon looks back, tilting his head. "No why?"

"You didn't eat anything today." Leorio frowns remembering this. Killua and Kurapika look at Gon, their eyes lighting in realization. Killua is watching Gon closely now, that playful look leaving him.

"Hmm...oh yeah I guess I didn't." Gon thinks before he shrugs his shoulders. "I'll get something to eat when we get back to the hotel."

"We should eat the meal together." Kurapika offers, watching Gon closely as well.

"Yeah and we can have a few drinks." Leorio grins but really he knows it's not as large. He can't help to feel...worry. Gon looks so exhausted. He hasn't eaten anything today and he didn't seem like he was in a hurry to eat.

"Sounds good to me." Gon beams before he looks over at Killua. The ex-assassin smiles in return. "maybe we could soak in the hot tub together!"

"Yeah." Killua nods. Leorio's glad to see Killua looks better. Those eyes still have this brightness to them that wasn't there before. Leorio is happy he was able to do that for him. He still has to tell Kurapika of how he spilled the beans but...oh well.

The blonde may be angry but he won't regret his decision. Not when he sees Gon and Killua holding hands like they are, talking to each other, smiles on their lips.

He just wants them to be happy... Leorio looks down at the man who's in his arms. Kurapika glances up before he blushes and glares away. Leorio smiles.

Like he is happy.

---

"Illumi i'm bored." Hisoka, who was pacing around the cabin after building his 10th card tower, has finally stopped to once again bother the assassin who is sitting on the couch, straight as a statue, watching TV. "Entertain me." He muses in the assassin's ear, licking the shell.

"Lick me again and I will cut off your tongue." Illumi keeps staring forward, watching TV, his expression never changing. It never does.

"Fine. I guess I will just have to find ways to entertain myself. I wonder what Gon is doing?" Hisoka smiles to himself thinking about the young man. He licks his lips. "I wonder if he's defeated the demon? Oh it gets me excited just thinking about it. Gon has gotten so much stronger. He's so close to being ripe." Hisoka plays with Illumi's hair absentmindedly, a smirk coming to his lips when Illumi ignores him. "But some times, I wonder if I'll be able kill him."

"What?" Illumi blinks, finally for the first time today, he takes his eyes off of the TV to look back at Hisoka. "Did I hear that correctly? Why do you wonder if you could kill him?"

"He's a treasure of mine. One of my favorite toys. It will be ecstasy to destroy him but at the same time I know I'll be so devastated losing such a toy to play with." Hisoka's lips turn up in a smirk. " Maybe i'm in love~"

"Oh please. You only get off on fighting the strong and ripping everything from them."

"I don't know. Gon is an easy one to fall in love with. Those eyes so full of fire and his tan flesh." Hisoka speaks seductively in Illumi's ear, his voice a whisper. "That spirit. So big and bright and ohh so tempting to break. You see it too. You even thought about taking my toy from me."

"Yes. I saw what you saw years ago. He would become strong. Maybe even a threat later on. But I know your taste." Illumi's expression doesn't change. "You get a sexual thrill out of it. I swear you need therapy."

"Oh come on. Don't tell me you haven't looked at Gon and thought 'mmm i'd tap that.'."

"...No. No I haven't." Illumi turns towards the TV again. "You seem to think I like men the way you come on to me and now you seem to think I would have some sort of sexual attraction to a kid Kil's age."

"I've never seen you with a woman." Hisoka purrs. "I'm starting to think your asexual."

"I guess I should come clean. You got me." Hisoka blinks when Illumi looks at him blankly. "You're right. When I look at Gon I can't help to think 'how nice would it be to just shove my needle through his skull, making him into a mindless zombie and then commanding him to stay still as I have my way with him and i'd force Killua to watch.'"

Hisoka's mouth slightly opens, his eyes widening. Illumi chuckles. "Ha that's a joke. You should have seen the look on your face."

"You're fucked up." Hisoka chuckles, jumping to sit on the couch next to him. "I'm having trouble believing that was a joke. It's so dirty." Hisoka licks his lips. "maybe I could join in."

"No. Now you ruined it." Illumi looks back at the TV.

"Gon's so easy to like. I wonder if he has any lovers..." Hisoka smirks. It's just on the tip of his tongue. Should he tell him now? Ohh this is going to be good-

The cabin door flings open. That man walks in with two wooden swords sticking out of his shoulders, shuffling in with his expression blank. Hisoka recognizes those swords belonging to the Kurta.

"Ah there you are. I'm guessing it went well?" Illumi tilts his head at this man.

"I didn't get the book."

"Well that's disappointing but no matter. Wait a couple of days before you strike again. You're dismissed."

"...What about her?" Those green eyes shift.

"Shes' fine. For now."

His shoulders slump and he nods as he leaves the cabin.

"He wasn't too bad off." Hisoka notes.

"I'll have you check on Gon's status tomorrow. By now the curse should be wearing on his body and his mind. He'll be close to his 2nd wave." Illumi looks back at the TV. "Sooner or later they'll have to tell Kil about the curse. It's all falling into place."

"Very easy." Hisoka looks at the TV before he leans back on the couch, closing his eyes. What can I do? What can I do to make this more interesting?

Should I tell Killua about the curse myself? Causing a fight to break out between them? Should I tell Killua of Gon's feelings? Should I contact the phantom troope and let them know Kurapika is here? And watch that broil over? Should I tell Illumi of Killua's feelings for Gon? Should I tell Killua about what Illumi is planning? Should I turn traitor in the end and get Illumi to be my enemy?

Hisoka groans, feeling himself get hard. decisions decisions...

How do I want this story to go? Who do I want to sacrifice? What will entertain me the most?