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DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own Hunter X Hunter
…
CHAPTER 11: Home X Island X Insecurities
HEAVEN'S ARENA
It was finally their last day training in the tallest structure in the world, and they partly felt relieved that they were going to get a move on. But at the same time, it was also their last moment with their 2 good friends – Wing and Zushi.
It was a really sad goodbye, and they definitely did not expect that Wing (as he graciously revealed a little too late) was actually some sort of Hunter examiner as well. He admitted to them that he was reluctant on teaching them as a question of the dirty hands problem. They did not really get what that meant, but it didn't matter. But they were a tad offended, of course, but they knew they couldn't blame him for thinking that way of them– especially Killua. He still emitted that atmosphere of darkness, particularly when Gon wasn't with him.
In any case, they were going to miss the two and vowed to meet them again someday.
"Ja ne~!"
"Ousu! It was an honor meeting you, Ousu!"
"Likewise-Ousu!"
"See you again, soon!"
"Hai!"
And that went without a doubt. For their fates were definitely intertwined.
…
Gon and Killua went to the airport and then to docks, as soon as they arrived at a station. Gon was visibly ecstatic about her imminent homecoming, and considering how excitable she already was… it meant she became merry at the sight of anything.
"Whoa… That bird is flying much higher than before!"
"Oohh. That man's tall!"
"What an old building!"
"What a yummy ice cream~!"
"Kawaii…" she then finally said making the chuckling Killua turn to her to find out what she's gaping at this time. He blinked as soon as he did so.
She was looking at him.
When they stopped their tracks, she held out her hand and stretched her sleeves. It then paused in front of his mouth and wiped it. As she proudly showed him her ice cream-filled sleeves, she grinned.
"You are such as child, Killua." She stated making him blush slightly, but Killua was not going to back down so easily-
"Hey! I'm not the one who thought birds flying like they normally do are going unusually high…"
"Or the man just a little taller than Leorio was extremely tall…"
"Or an old building in an ancient town out-of-place…" He enumerated pompously making Gon laugh.
"I wasn't overreacting about the ice cream though, obviously." She mumbled jokingly as she looked at her sleeves, getting him flush even deeper. Gon really did have a knack for making him red without even trying. Killua sghed- he seriously wanted make her blush, but he knew that whatever he did would be a counter-productive revenge since... he'll probably feel even shyer than her. What could he do, though?
Kiss her?
He reddened-
"Yohohoho! What adorable children." An old man finally intervened. He was watching the interaction between the two children. He concluded that they were great friends, and they love each other very much – maybe even more than a friendly way. Okay- Scratch that, to a man his age it was pretty obvious.
It was really cute, especially when you've been dealing with arrogant old men for years.
So when he realized he was entering a trance, he shook his head and looked at the gaping children. "What brings you kids here in the docks?"
"We're going to Whale Island, sir."
"That isolated Island?"
"Yes, sir." Gon nodded and Killua remained apathetic. The old man tilted his head in curiosity.
"Ah… What could y-" he was cut off by a piercing scream , quickly followed by a despaired shout.
"BANDITS!"
Silence
Gon abruptly twinkled making the other two twitch. She really continued to twinkle…
"I've never seen bandits before~"
Killua batted an eyelid before laughing boisterously. "I see you get excited over that, too-"
He paused when he saw that Gon was staring at source of the shout comprehendingly. He didn't know what she was concentrating on by the look on her face, he knew it would be interesting.
"Never mind." Killua said nonchalantly and the old man looked at them alternatively in confusion.
"I want a few for myself, okay, Gon?"
Gon's expression didn't change and she just closed her eyes. She was listening, and she just developed a new ability with her Nen.
"There's at least 2 dozen of them there, Killua."
"That's the usual number-"The old man's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know that?"
She didn't answer and Killua grinned. "Awesome."
KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
And the sound of a piercing scream changed Gon's expression and she abruptly sprinted towards the source. She was gone in a blink of an eye, and the man lost his footing in shock.
Killua saw his amusing expression and wanted to play along.
"I'll be going now, then. Ossan." He stated making the old man tilt his unchanging shocked expression towards him.
Killua mentally scoffed.
And disappeared into thin air, as well.
...
*A few minutes later*
All the bandits were unconscious, and laid there unmoving in the ground where they stood pompously just moments prior. Gon and Killua could defeat them without Nen, but now that they had it the dozen grown men were literally flies.
They received a huge amount of thankful (but incredulous) pats on their backs and heads.
"U-Unbelievable." A law enforcer muttered, still very relieved.
"How monstrously wonderful that was!" A young lady yelled admiringly clasping her hands.
"Sugoi! SUGOI!" The children chanted in chorus.
"Do you want to be our defendors?" a formal-looking man asked in the middle of the crowd. And the others immediately made way for him hinting that he was quite an important man.
"Who are you?"
"I'm the Mayor of this town. Are you Hunters, by some chance?"
Gon nodded. "Hai."
Everyone gaped, but fortunately the mayor caught his composure before everyone looked so idiotic.
"Such young Hunters!" he exclaimed in amusement. "So what do you think of my offer? I can pay y-"
"We can't. We have to go somewhere, sir. There are a lot of Hunters, why don't you call the association?"
"Oh we did. But no one came yet."
"I don't think they'll bother with you anymore though." Killua intervened pointing at the unconscious bodies.
"I suppose so… But how can we thank you?"
"YOHOHO!"
"Ghonter. What are you laughing for?" the mayor asked but the man just looked at the children.
"Want me to take you kids to that Island for free?"
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
Kurapika stood by the river and washed his face. He was going to an interview for a perspective job. He was confident of his abilities – especially after all the sacrifice he had to make – but this particular job was hard to come by. He was applying for an incredibly rich body part collector, and this person was at the top… and hence Kurapika's target employer.
After gently placing his black contact lenses, he sighed.
He couldn't stop thinking of what Gon might say of his choices. Definitely nothing he'd like to hear...
He did just risk– no, completely dedicated his life in hunting down the members of the spider. He made the contract, and there was no taking it back- That… if he used his invincible new power on anyone but the spiders- he would die.
And he just knew Gon was going to kill him once she found out.
"AWCHOO!"
Gon and Killua had finally arrived in the Whale island, and Gon wondered if her sudden sneezing spree had something to do with it. She shrugged and just turned to the old man.
"Arigatou, jiisan!" the man smiled and shook his head.
"I should be the one thanking you, a lot of lives were saved and will be saved because of your actions. I don't think this is enough, really." He didn't know what kind of training they went through and it was all very impressive.
"Naw, it's more than enough." They smiled simultaneously. "Thanks!"
The turned around and waved their hands for farewell. They started walking slowly as they reached the town and paused. They stood there for a while since Gon thought Killua was just absorbing the atmosphere of the island – which he was, for like 10 minutes. He looked like he was waiting for something…
When Gon thought he was taking a tad too long, she finally asked.
"Do you like the sea's smell?"
"I guess…"
"Well we'll have to part with it soon, it's going to getting dark."
"I know that, but what is the bus taking so long?"
Gon batted an eyelid. "Bus? What are you talking about?"
"The bus. When's it coming?" he repeated, not quite liking where this was going.
"But there are no buses here in Whale Island. "
Killua gaped. How are they going to get to her house then? Didn't she say before the place was far from the docks?
"We're walking there." she said, coincidentally answering his thoughts. "We should be there early tomorrow morning."
Killua lost his footing.
"WHAT?"
...
The first and only civilized place there went through to Gon's village was the town by the port. It was relatively lively and the people seemed happy with their simple life. He wasn't surprised, not really, because he wouldn't be so happy in his house even if they got rich because of legal business.
He looked around as he walked, and he noticed a little too late that Gon was nowhere to be found.
"Gon!" he yelled. But his panic was only momentary.
"I'm right here, Killua…"
"Where?" he asked hiding his embarrassing anxiety and followed her voice. He walked towards it and saw that she was sitting on a somewhat depressed land mass, staring fondly at the river.
"What are you doing?" he asked but then added before she could answer the obvious again. Too late.
"Staring at the river." she said.
'I could see that…'
"Killua… You know, this is where Kurapika was sitting when I first met him." She said and smiled out-of-nowhere, particularly at the fact that they had gotten so much closer since then.
"I see… so you're recalling how utterly handsome he was?" he said satirically making Gon gape at him in puzzlement. She never really saw it that way, but now that she thought of it…
"Actually, he was…" She mumbled getting Killua's eyes to twitch. He was about to add some sardonic comment when she sighed sadly.
"I'm worried, Killua. I have this recurring feeling that something bad happened to him…"
"Are you sure you want to tell me this?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Nothing." He answered immediately before shaking his head internally for being so spoiled. He let out a deep breath and sat next to her.
"Tell me."
"I can't, because I don't know why… I wish we could contact him."
"It'll only be a little more than a month, Gon. We should just be patient." He said reassuringly and looked at her. She really did look anxious and he wanted to change the topic.
"So, how did the two of you meet?" he asked nonchalantly and Gon laughed heartily out of nowhere. She went and told him about the details smiling affectionately here and there.
Killua loved seeing her like this… which was why he wanted to shake the feeling of annoyance he was having. And the only reason behind it was the fact that what made her laugh was a memory of that person.
He was disappointed with himself. How could he think of such thoughts?
MITO'S HOUSE, a few hours later
Killua was gaping in awe at the house. It was magnificent; being cradled by two strong trees. How weird… just like its inhabitants.
Weird in a good way, of course!
"It looks weird." He voiced out and Gon chuckled.
"I know." She answered and led him to the door. He stopped a meter away from it, and Gon started knocking.
Creak
The door opened revealing a Fuchsia-haired woman looking absolutely beaming at the sight of Gon. She grinned and stepped closer and gave her a tight bear hug. They were laughing merrily during their reunion for a while, until that moment she caught a sight of him. The woman stiffened.
"So this is Killua?" She asked getting him to wince. Killua knew that the only letter Gon sent was before she came to get him. He mentally smirked at the revelation that Gon was confident that she was going succeed in getting him out of his house.
"Hai."
"Killua's a boy?" the woman asked getting them to gape at her incredulously.
"Hai…?" Gon just mumbled as she watched her aunt scrutinize him.
And then out of nowhere- the woman yelled, making them both lose their footings.
"Mother! Gon has brought home her boyfriend!"
Gon turned red. "M-MITO- san!" she cried and looked apologetically at Killua… who was then, had steaming ears.
"Ara, Ara… Aren't you a bit too young, child?" Her grandmother, who had just arrived by the door, commented making them want to die of embarrassment. Even Gon knew what the word meant- she had seen a few friends (since she had no friends her age) go out and refer to each other that way.
But now that she thought about it- she had never thought of Killua that way, but then... that was because she didn't really know what they... do.
She just looked at her aunt pleadingly. "Mito-san… can we please go inside the house now?"
The woman flinched and then laughed awkwardly at what she had forgotten.
"Of course, Of course! Ha-ha…"
And that they did in silence.
Several minutes later, Killua sat in the table alone since Gon was forced to cook with Mito-san. It was why he was a bit startled when she suddenly joined him at the dining table.
"Finished?"
"Nope. Mito-san sort of kicked me out."
"I don't see why she would do that…"
"Er… If cooking charcoals was good then I'd say you're right."
"Oh." He mumbled and then recalled a scene.
"You cook fish, don't you?"
"Yes, but that's because I've been cooking fish since as far as I could remember. All I need to learn was the right timing and the distance from the fire…"
Then, Killua grinned. "… when did you master that?"
"Less than a year ago." She answered bluntly. And they laughed.
…
Stare
Staaaare
Killua stared at the red peppers.
"Just eat it, Killua-kun." Mito ordered sweetly, but Killua's intensifying glare directed at the food didn't falter.
"Yadda."
"Don't waste your food, Killua. There are people in the world left without food you know. Be thankful you have something to eat."
"I do not know such people." He spat. " And I am thankful I have something to it-" he paused. "Thank you for the food."
Mito's eyes twitched, and she pinched his cheeks. "Why you-"
"I-Itte!" He glared and massaged his swollen cheek. "W-What the hell old hag?"
"Grrrrr-"
"Whoops."
Gon smiled. Times like this when she really did feel like the horrible stuff that happened in the exam and the Zoldyck's house never occurred. What made it all even better was the fact that Killua was, too.
She loved seeing Killua like that– not the Killua who wanted to be alone and empty. It wasn't fair that he had to grow up in that place but it no longer mattered. He was with her now…
And she was determined to give him what he deserved.
That night Mito and her mother didn't have to think of the sleeping arrangements because the two kids were eager to go out and camp out in the deep dark woods. Mito was a tad worried, but Gon always did that. The only difference was that she was napping with her animal friends in the cold outdoors.
She stared at them as they stood by the door. "Aren't you two tired? You did just come from a long journey."
"We're used to it." They answered back. Besides, the control of their Nen made sure that their energies are better conserved than before. They still had the energy to explore. Mito sighed.
"Fine. Just make sure you get enough rest, okay?" she shrugged and they nodded enthusiastically.
"Hai, Mito-san!"
After that, they sprinted deeper into the woods and Gon took Killua to a small clearing beside a cliff. Killua's eyes widened when they reached that spot. The view of the night horizon was wonderful there and the sheer number of stars was unbelievable. He did not have time, nor the will, to appreciate stars inside his house…
"Ne, Killua."
"Hn?"
"Do you know why stars shine?"
"Because they're hot balls of gas."
"…"
Killua chuckled. "What did you have in mind…?"
"They shine so we could see them. And they could watch us and guide over us."
"Really?"
"Hai. Mito-san told me so."
"You believe in everything she says, huh?"
"Well everything that's the truth. She does lie, too, you know… and it's pretty obvious."
"I guess…" He shrugged and turned to her. "Why did you ask that question all of a sudden, anyway?"
"I'm saying that despite all the darkness there are still things that make everything visible. Like the moon and the stars."
"…okay…"
Gon just smiled. "The moon is my home – Whale Island. And my starts are Mito-san, Baa-san, and my friends."
"Ah…"
"Do you like my Moon, too, Killua? And Mito-san and Baasan?"
"Of course."
"Do you want to call Whale Island your home, too?"
"…" He remained silent and wore a darkening expression. He understood what she was asking, especially since he did promise he'd stay with her for as long as she wanted him to. *cough* Forever if possible *cough* But now that he saw personally how happy she was in her home, he could not help but feel guilty.
"What's wrong?"
After a moment of silence, Killua spoke. "I don't deserve this."
"How come?"
He could not answer. He was a creature of darkness, and seeing how he reacted in the past- chances were, he would stay that way.
"Killua is a good person." She stated out-of-nowhere and he blinked. Did she just read his mind? Of course, she couldn't. But still-
"Killua deserves a good home." She frowned. "Don't you think Whale Island is a good home?"
His eyes widened at her slowly tensing tone-of-voice. "Of course I do, but-"
"Why do you believe that you're bad, then?"
"Because I am."
"Why don't you believe in what I say, then?" she asked with her voice rising and stood immediately grabbed her hand.
"Gon- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" he whispered and brought her hand closer to him and he let his cheeks hug it. "I love Gon so much…" he whispered. "But… you're being too good to me."
Gon let out a deep breath and sat to his level again. She turned her hand so that her palm touches his cheeks. "What's wrong with that?"
"I… I…"
"See? You can't think of anything, can you?" she said confidently, but Killua disagreed internally. It wasn't fair that he's the one getting everything. It's like he was depending too much on Gon.
His eyes widened.
No, he really was depending too much on Gon– maybe even to the point that he could no longer live without her.
But she was so good and everyone loved her. He knew she would not be in the same situation as him. So what if she no longer wanted him around? What would happen to him?
"Killua?" she asked anxiously. He did not answer. She called again, several times, yet he still did not respond. Gon flinched and immediately leaned over to wrap her arms around him.
His body moved on its own, and he hugged her back- so tightly that Gon winced.
"Please don't leave me."
Gon moved head to get a good look at him. Why would he suddenly ask that? Wasn't that already a given?
"Why would I?"
"B-Because…" his voice trailed, and Gon's expression turned sadder and sadder every second. She squeaked.
"Killua doesn't trust me."
"G-Gon…"
"Why can't Killua trust me?"
"I s-swear I trust you! It's me I don-"
SLAP!
Gon slapped herself, and Killua's eyes widened even more.
She sighed in disappointment for both of them, but she couldn't be offended by this. Not with Killua, so she mentally shook her head to be more understanding.
Gon smiled at him sadly. "I'm sorry for asking so many prying questions."
"Gon… please don't look at me like that." He implored making Gon's heart tighten in guilt. She just patted his head and kissed him in the forehead. He flinched and he just stared at her as he watched her as she smiled at him and said,
"I love you, Killua- but you have to love yourself, too."
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 11
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 12: Life X Longing X Box
REPLIES TO ANGELS:
Guest [7/22/12]- Yeiy! Hope this one did too. XD My fav. arc is greed island, too. I'm planning on extending it, in fact, like adding more cards in the limelight. Thx for the comment!
LE GUEST- Here it is! Hope you liked this but you can be honest. And D'aw. An award? For me? that's so sweet! Reviews are reward enough, though- so thank you for the review! Hehe.
chibigokugirl- I'm glad that you thought so as well! Haha. I'm glad you liked the job I did until that chappy (ch10) and thanks for the review~!
KuroHana- Thank you for the review~! And about Kurapika... there is someone who'll be linked to him, but it would depend on audience reactions whether or not they'll end up together. XD
Phoenix-Thunder - I hear it was a bug doing the forced log-outs. And yay! I hope I can continue making Gon look cute. XDD I did update pretty quickly now, and hope you liked this! Thank you for the review~!
invisible-gurl - True that! The closest ones to good female leads there are all Ryodan members. XD I'm glad that you thought so and thank you for reviewing!
randomazn- Yeiy! Another new chappie~! XD Thank you for the comment and do tell me what you thought on this one~ ;D
ChiChi- (ch7) Whew. XD Yeah, I got a lot of comments that it was short. The next chappies are longer though, and I do hope you're reading this far! lol. Thx for the review.
Guest [7/27/12]- (ch9) Kukukuku. Just how we want it, ne? XDD Thank you for the comment!
FilipinoyCJ7238- Aw, that's so sweet! I'm glad that you read this story despite your doubts, then. XD Thank you for the reviews~! (since you left 2) I read your reviews on my other stories, I really really appreciate them as well! (:D But, contrary to popular belief, I won't be quitting writing. I'll explain further in my profile, but you don't need to fret. My breaks are usually way shorter than mostly other writers. And as a reply to your review in 'Legacy': Yeah. They definitely made me happy. XD And are you here in the PH? I saw that you reviewed Legacy at 3am here. lol
mai-chan265- (ch6) We already talked about this on facebook. Ahahahaha. Especially the obsession thing with Hisoka. *wink* And yeah, Ging knew Shiva. tehee. Not sure how'd I'd use that fact but we still have a long way to go~ Thank you for the review!
NoireNightingale- Here it is! I hope you liked it but you can tell me if I disappointed you or not. ^^ Thank you for the review~!
naruke3176- Thank you for the review~! I'm happy that you thought so and I hope you continue liking it~ You can be honest, of course. ^^
CrisscrossAnime- Yep yep! You got it right. That's Ging. XD And yeah, I'm glad I didn't skim too much... I was wondering how I did on that. ;D Thank you for the review~
Thanks for reading!
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