Everyone, thank you for the support! Special thanks to those who reviewed, fav'ed, subscribed, and C2d so far! xD And I had this urge to making another portrait of fem! Gon lol. My update rate for this story shouldn't be negatively affected though..., given how awesome everyone here is. XD
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I own Hunter X Hunter
…
CHAPTER 18: Test X Jealousy X Departures
"Take good care of yourself, Kurapika."
Indeed. He needed to start doing that. He wasn't alone anymore, after all. He'll just worry his friends unnecessarily by being so selfish.
Which went back to why he had been heavily emphasizing that she should not use anything rash as a special ability. It had been a day since they had a one-on-one talk on the corner of a room, and they were now having discussion about their plans and their nens.
"Don't follow my footsteps, Gon." He said, when she asked about Hatsu.
"Uh… yeah." She nodded, determination evident in her eyes. Why did he have this gut feeling that whatever was on her mind was no good?
He let out a sigh and went down from the sofa and sat to her level, as she was sitting stiff in Seiza on the concrete floor below him.
"Gon…"
"…"
"Don't follow my footsteps."
She blinked. "But I won't." she said, tilting her head in ponder. Didn't she already say that?
Kurapika stared at her. Was this gut feeling just his imagination?
Well, he hoped so.
But he couldn't take his chances now, could he? So he placed a hand over her head and looked at her straight in the eyes. "What do you think I meant by 'don't follow my footsteps.', Gon?"
"Don't use my Hatsu for revenge."
"I meant don't choose a hatsu that will endanger your life."
She flinched. He did, too.
He frowned, making her jerk on her seat. "I knew it."
"B-ut—"
"Choose another one."
"No."
"What?"
"I already decided." He flinched under her gaze. It was too strong. And its full strength was showing itself at a very inconvenient time.
"You understand that we'll just worry about you, right?"
"Don't tell them." She was not planning on telling him either. It was fortunate she was a bad liar and her reaction gave her away immediately.
"I will." He said, standing up and turned. Hoping like hell she would force herself to change her mind. But instead, he felt her embrace on her leg, effectively stopping his tracks.
"Gon."
"Yadda." She said, muffling a yell. She wouldn't want anyone from the outside to hear all this shouting, right?
He let out another huge breath of exasperation and, once again, leaned down to her level.
"What are you planning to do?" And why?
She gulped, slowly opened her mouth… and told him. Kurapika's face slowly paled, and soon enough he started cursing the skies.
God, he mused in disapproval, why couldn't things just be uncomplicated with the people important to him?
Those were the thoughts that would plague him occasionally all the way until they reached his masters' home.
AIRPORT
Inside the bustling airport stood two tall figures, with a serene small one. Two of the three were carrying luggage as they were going to depart somewhere far away again. It'll be a long time before they meet the raven-haired man again. They would especially miss the kids.
"Too bad they couldn't see you off from here." Leorio said, understanding that fact. Kurapika just smiled at him.
"They're busy. Their exam for that game is tomorrow, after all. They had yet to decide how to pass." He said coolly. Since the auction was over, there was no reason for them to stay. More importantly, they had funerals to attend to. Even Neon, who had usually had 'fun' in funerals, looked quite sad as Eliza, her lady-in-waiting entered an empty shell.
Riiing
"Excuse me." Kurapika said. It was probably the boss, and he stepped away from them to have a private talk with Light. Senritsu and Leorio watched his back and smiled.
"Take care of him, will you?" He said and the small girl grinned saying her 'of course', then mumbling something about his heartbeat and how he could be a teacher instead of a doctor.
"Too bad. I'd already decided." Leorio grinned back, and Senritsu could only laugh.
…
An hour pass by, and soon, a sensation caused by flight was felt by everyone on board. They all sat still, as it was standard procedure, until the blimp stabilized. Many of the passengers, all either a member of the Nostrade family or their servants, basically moved around immediately.
It was inside one of the private blimp's cabin, that the maidservants used as quarters. While inside another one, only a few doors away, rest the young mistress that they served. The girl was alone with her other lady-in-waiting, who was not Eliza, as Eliza was in the other room in her own world. Sure, Eliza was extremely sad but it was to the point that it bothered Neon to no end. She was fond of her servant, sure, but Eliza was like a zombie!
Neon hated zombies. She liked dead things dead. Unmoving. Undead beings were just plain creepy. It simply wasn't right.
It wasn't that she didn't know what she was feeling- of course she did. She did have a brain, after all. But there was a huge difference between 'knowing' and 'understanding'. Even with the current improvements, Neon's empathy was still not much.
Especially since she saw that blonde smiling like that.
Who would have thought he could make such a…a…. face? Just remembering it made her heart beat go faster and faster and it disconcerted her. She felt more alive than ever- even more when she got her favourite artefacts.
"They must be very important people to him." The then-sane Eliza whispered beside her. Senritsu, unfortunately, confirmed that fact by blabbering about Kurapika missing those people so much.
Hmph!
She thought wrong of him- -he was also the type who dwelled on the past! Just like everybody else. Like her bodyguards, Eliza…, her father…
She frowned.
Nononono. She would not go there.
And yet, the fact that they're going to funerals only made those memories as vivid as ever.
Her mother's death. Her father nearing his insanity. Her prophecies and his new gained power eating him…
Neon frowned.
Before cursing everything around her.
…
Meanwhile, on the guard's quarters, Senritsu stared at their leader's figure as he stared blankly at the deep, dark, sky they were hovering over. She walked closer and stood beside him, joining him in front of the ship's glass curtain.
"What's wrong, Kurapuka? You seem perturbed."
"Hm." was all the blonde said. Silence ensued for a while and Senritsu remained unmoving.
Kurapika soon sighed. "I promised not to tell, gomen."
And Senritsu only smiled.
"It's about Gon, isn't it?" Kurapika scoffed, and she continued speaking. "When you two got out of that room, your heart beat was a lot of things- I was touched, scared, anxious, and sad all at once."
"Hm." Was all he could stay, looking quite apathetic even when all those things she said were true.
"Is it really worrisome? Or is it because this is Gon we're talking about?" If you know what I mean.
"Both." Kurapika answered honestly. It wasn't like he could lie to her, anyway. But in the end he just let out yet another deep breath.
"We'll just have to trust what I'm anxious about will never happen."
"Ah."
BANG!
The door abruptly opened just before they could resume staring at the peaceful clouds. It was Bancho, looking not-that-'cool', and was looking at Kurapika.
"The young missy's throwing tantrums. No one could calm her down."
Kurapika and Senritsu stared at each other. Kurapika shook his head in exasperation, while Senritsu smiled emphatically.
"Ganbatte. :)"
…
"IE!"
"I said, NO!"
"Yadda!"
Neon yelled, pushing one of the servants away. "Leave me alone!"
Kurapika stared. Why was that girl throwing tantrums when her maidservant's suffering so much? But he had to do his job.
"Ojousama." He called, and for a moment she calmed down. He was a bit surprised, but nevertheless relieved. Being friends with Gon and Senritsu, he had learned to appreciate these things and not think too much about them. But then she went back to throwing what was to be thrown. Unhampered. By experience, Kurapika knew that she was thinking no one had the right to stop her overflowing emotions. No one.
"Ojousama." Kurapika said again, this time with a more serious tone making her flinch. "Please calm down." He said and she only frowned at him. "Let's talk about what the problem is at the private lounge?"
And with that, she completely forgot why she was throwing tantrums- or the fact that she was practically convincing herself he wasn't her type, after all.
"Will there be cake?" she asked, looking quite giddy even after the outsburst. Everyone just gaped at her. She had eccentric mood swings, everybody knew that- but this? This was just too much.
"I will arrange for it."
"Yatta!"
And Kurapika could only sigh. 'This is going to be a long journey.'
A part of him wanted to return to the city for a while and maybe have a break. But of course that was not possible, nor was he the type to complain. He only stared at the girl in front of him. Giddy as if her maidservant hadn't been through hell.
He wondered how his friends would deal with her.
YORK SHIN
"Ne, what did you mean by cheating Killua? We didn't play a game did we?" She asked Killua, just before Kurapika, Leorio, and Senritsu left for the airport. Kurapika coughed and proceeded to the car after a short farewell, Senritsu chuckled and followed Kurapika, and Leorio flashed his trademark grin.
Killua, on the other hand, flushed and muttered something about being busy with his Hatsu with (demeaning) emphasis on the fact that she needed start working, too. She puffed her cheeks in annoyance but she calmed when Leorio patted her back and told her to.
"Mah, you can say you're kind of the one at fault here."
"EH?" She said before looking at him with that adorable puzzled face of hers. "Why? How did I cheat? I don't think we even played anything in a while."
"You didn't cheat, and there wasn't a game involved." Leorio said coolly, looking quite... experienced? Or perhaps only succeeded in appearing so. "It pertains to you not keeping your promise. Or something like that."
"Huh?"
"Did you promise him anything?"
"Of course."
"Did you break any of those?" She shook her head, and he scratched his cheek for an explanation."When it came to Killua, do you think you would dislike it if a girl who likes him romantically was to touch him the way you do?"
"I'd hate it." She said almost immediately.
"Perhaps, he was thinking of something similar?"
"But no one touched me like that yet!"
"It's kinda of complicated. He's just jealous, really."
"Jealous..." She blinked before her brows furrowed further into mystification.
"Jealousy is..."
"I know what that means, mou!" Gon puffed her cheek, dead serious. "But Mito-san said it generally happens when you're afraid to lose something. No one likes me like he does. So what could be Killua be scared of losing?"
"You." He said, ignoring the previous sentences. She's better off not knowing, right? In any case, Leorio just watched her absorb things with half-amusement.
"EHH?! WHY?" She squeaked, very much shocked. "I promised him I won't leave him unless he wanted me to!"
"But perhaps you need to show it more."
Gon soon let out a deep breath to calm herself. She stared sternly at Leorio and asked, 'How'. And once again, Leorio let out a wide grin before leaning down to whisper something.
He waved goodbye and joined the other two in the car, leaving her stiff there and watching them go.
Earlier that day, Gon nervously went to Killua's room and knocked, but he dismissed her by saying something like train already or else he was going to leave her. She puffed her cheek and did what she was told.
But she had been too distracted. Because of that it got pretty late. The exam was going to be held the next day, and Gon had yet to make an impressive technique. Obviously, her Hatsu was out of the question so she decided to use something else.
Darn it
It was obvious Killua already finished his, as she saw when she interrupted his training a little earlier. (She dismissed her blush in vain) Gon didn't want to be a burden to Killua. She needed to get this done.
She frowned, sat back up, and glared at her hand. Hand. Glare. Hers.
It was then that it hit her.
She finally got what Wing-san (she spoke to him a few hours prior) was talking about! Something about the combination of Ten and Zetsu which was the opposite.
Gyo.
Gyo on her hand.
She grinned and concentrated her aura on her hand, looked at an unfortunate random wall, and punched it.
BAM!
She stared at the damaged part of the poor building, with crumbles still fresh and falling from the hole. She wasn't fond of destruction but she inflicted this much damage. With her nen. Gon could not help but grin in victory.
Awesome.
YORK SHIN PLAZA, The Next Morning
Fluffy and soft permed tails of hair moved gracefully against the city's hardscape. She noted and imagined how everything must've occurred the previous night. It was relatively peaceful then. York Shin would soon forget the terror and look at the event objectively, as it happened everywhere else.
In the city's center stood a tall tower where a certain test was going to be held. Many formidable-looking men were congregating. Well, except for two kids, both of whom looked quite excited.
'Children, eh?' she mused, as if she wasn't in that small form herself. She gestured to enter as well, and she waved out the two long ponytails that was beautifully curved and tied up by the best hairstylist in the world. Looking at the time, she was probably the one who was one of the latest to arrive there (she called it being 'fashionably late').
Anyway, she paused for a little while and stared at the two kids who no doubt entered the building she was going to. She actually analyzed this, and she knew everyone coming inside the building were going to take the test or they simply got lost.
'Maybe the latter…?' she mused again, but somehow those two kids' auras were not as… unorganized as those that normal people had. Okay, so they were taking the exam. But it wasn't like they were going to pass anyway, so no need worrying about it.
She took another step closer to the building, when—
RIiiiinggg!
"Moshi, Moshi?" she asked with her sweetest voice. She heard an amused chuckle on the other line.
"Yo."
She let the demure façade go immediately as if she breathed out something foul. "Old man."
"I'm not that old, y'know. Not next to you."
"You're 40 years older than me."
"But you're almost sixt—"
"Don't. you. dare."
"Hai, hai~"
"So, Netero-jiisan…" she said, back with her sweet, childish voice since someone random was passing by. "Why did you call again?"
"Ah, Bisuke-chan. I'm just wondering where you are now? I want different types of examiners this year."
"Why me?"
"It'll be interesting how they'll underestimate you." He said and she scoffed. She liked being underestimated, actually, and he knew that. Since it made those incredulous reactions that much more fun to see. Enticing, Netero was becoming, but still…
"No can do. Maybe the next year, I won't be available for a while."
"Hm?"
"I'm going to Greed Island."
"Where?"
"Oh that place—"She paused when she saw a man in a black suit looking around, presumably for the last batch of examiners coming in. "Ja ne~"
And she hung up, wore that cute innocent expression on her face, and waved her hand over to the man and ran demurely to the door.
All in slow motion.
"Maaaaatte Kuuudasaaaii~!"
.
.
And a little more than an hour later, she was walking across the carpeted floor again (after a little bathroom session), still in slow motion.
She was heading back to her seat, noting the new passers, and paused when the door was forced open, the silver-head boy abruptly standing up, and the two jumping to each other for a high-five. They did not notice that they blocked her way.
"Yeiy! YEIY!"
Two kids were literally partying right in front of her for them, they were cute, and very interesting skill-wise too. After all, they were now a room where the people who passed the test entered. It was a test to show that sharp-looking guy (His name was Tsezuguerra) how good their nen was- and if they were worthy to take those precious, expensive, memory card slots.
She sighed, decided to minimize the people staring at her pitifully, and cleared her throat. "Excuse me." She said, and went back up to her seat. Gon whispered an apology and followed Killua back to their seat.
"So~ That was you wasn't it?" Killua said cheekily, pertaining to that loud earthquake-causing sound inside the testing room. And yes, it was Gon. That powerful gyo punch of a reinforcer was impressive. But since Killua wasn't planning on telling her his Hatsu- she decided to play along.
"Secret."
"Why you—" Killua chuckled and playfully knuckled her head as his right arm held her head in place.
"Itta! Ittai!"
Meanwhile, the most other passers watched them with interest. Some remained impassive and refused to be affected by their childishness, while some were just amused.
How did these two kids pass, anyway?
"Must be nice being a kid." A cool red-head commented, and Bisuke overheard as she, too, was still watching the two kids. But Bisuke in the end, smiled as she entered lala-land.
In her long years of living in the world of Hunters, it had been rare to see something so pure. It was cute, she had been there when she was young and how she missed it.
There was even romantic love there, surprisingly, and it was strong. Observing them long enough- there was nothing that could get past her experienced eyes.
Young children who had been through a lot, and yet remained so pure. It was something to be envious of, and very entertaining to watch.
But she shrugged in the end, she had her own goals. Better not go and trouble herself with children who would inevitably make her feel her age.
So she stared at the wall, and waited for everything to finally get a move on.
TRAIN STATION,
/Several hours Later/
In the outskirts of York shin, the city's main train station was located. It was rented out for the whole day, it seemed, only for them and the insanely expensive games.
The future Greed island games went inside the train, most of them apart from everybody else's. Only the children were together at a cabin on the same row and they were chatting incessantly as if they weren't going to enter a world that countless had died in.
"We're one step closer, Killua!" Gon yelled, cheeks red from excitement, and Killua couldn't help but smile at how cute she was.
Killua placed his elbow on the window sill and let his chin rest on his palm, so he could watch her giddiness comfortably for an extended amount of time. She reflexively turned to him as she sat, with her hand on the air as it couldn't just lay on her lap or anywhere else. This soon made their faces get embarrassingly close.
They were slightly used to it by now, though, so after blushing, they only grinned. "Ne, Killua."
"Hm?"
"I've been thinking. I think I understand Ging a bit more now."
"How so?"
"He wants me to play a game to find him… so I thought he must not only be bored, he probably thought I am, too!"
Killua chuckled. "You don't say…?"
"Uhn!" She smiled so brightly that their current proximity was making Killua flinch. "So let us have fun on this, okay?"
"You're thinking about those warnings of people dying, hm?"
"Yeah…" She nodded, slightly turning away but eyes soon returning to his gaze. "But I'm sure Ging made that game for fun. Otherwise it isn't really a game anymore, ne?"
"Uh-huh." He chuckled again. And when silence passed by them, he saw her eyes soften as she thought of something.
"I wonder what that guy's like." She blurted out, and then blushed again. Killua grinned sheepishly, before adding "How punchable he is?"
Gon laughed. "Yeah!"
"Either way, we'll meet him in due time."
She smiled. "Together." Just for the heck of it. And Killua appreciated the emphasis. It made him very happy.
Besides, ever since the spider incident it had been a long time since he'd seen her smile so enthusiastically. And as if hearing that thought, she smiled again- making that beautiful shade of pink on her cheek much more visible.
Then her eyes glittered as if she just remembered something. She looked at him and almost (bummer) placed her lips on his, before climbing up to his ears. Killua could feel her breath sending shivers down his spine. She whispered 'Aishiteru' before kissing his ears.
"W-WHA!?" He exclaimed, feeling as if he was going to explode soon. "What the hell, Gon?!"
"You didn't like it?"
He stuttered. "Well, I- What?!"
"..."
"Where did you learn that?"
"Leorio told me to do that when you ran away yesterday. (something about sealing my words inside your ears...) Gomen nasai..." His eye twitched. That darned old man! He cursed."But he said it would help with your jealousy issue."
"Are you an idiot?!" he yelled and flicked her forehead. She let out a small ouch and frowned.
"Well, you weren't jealous?"
"...I was!" He yelled. "But it doesn't mean you should go and believe everything that old man says!"
"Why would you feel jealous?"
"W-Where did this come from?" He said, with barely enough coherence. "And why are you opening this now?"
"Because I fell asleep last night and we were late earlier this morning."
"That's not the point."
"So, why would you?" She repeated, dead serious. "Am I doing anything wrong?"
"No. You just give too much attention to Kurapika." He shook his head. "I know he needed a friend, and you were the best choice."
"Kurapika?"
"I was... that insecure, I suppose. Gomen. I'm improving."
"So, why?" She uttered, looking totally mystified. Killua felt a little guilty of confusing her.
"This isn't your fault Gon."
"B-But..."She then looked down, genuinely wanting to help Killua already. "And that kiss really didn't help?" Killua gulped, not quite sure if he should admit that he did. (who wouldn't).Gon stared at him as he remained silent.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"...you know, most people would like it when something like this happened to them." He saw that in a few soap operas he saw on some hotel television show. To... er.. get some more knowledge with these things. In a pair, one side would get jealous and the other would think it's cute and flattering.
And it wasn't like he could help it. Someone so bright... many would feel attracted to. Who was he to say she'd choose him in the end...?
"Do you like feeling jealous, Killua?" she asked in puzzlement, pulling him out of his daze. Gon assumed it was a disconcerting feeling to have.
"No." he said, whispering. "I dislike it."
Gon could only tilt her head. "Then..., why would I like you being jealous then?"
Killua stared at her, before a wave of laughter suddenly came out of his soul. It didn't take long for his stomach to start hurting because of laughing so much and he used her petite shoulder as support.
Soon, he finished his laugh trip and stared at the pondering Gon, probably weirded out by his odd reactions. Killua smirked and kissed her cheek, before finally climbing up to reach the periphery of her ear.
"You idiot." He said, like the tsundere that he was."But you're a significant idiot. An idiot who believes everyone. An idiot who sees the good in everything. And an idiot who happened to be the only girl I will love like this."
"Killua?::
He chuckled. And he sealed his words in.
.
.
END OF CHAPTER 18
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER 19: Game X Adventure X Team
REPLIES TO ANGELS
AsukaSaru- Lol yeah, I could see most were disappointed cuz' of that. It was so hard to sneak them in.! xD Spider arc's so friggin'... dark. And those two are too...bright. lol. And yay! GI arc~ hahaha. Thx for the review~!
Sheshe-AnimeLuver- haha. It's fine. It's fun changing pennames, esp. if you haven't published anything yet. hehe. Ah, there'll be specific twists for GI, but twists in plot won't happen any time soon. haha. Ah! I'm currently sending vibes to your parents to buy you a larger but lighter laptop~ lol. Ah, my replies to your very adorable friends (includes you of course): Funnykitty- here it is! And less than 2 weeks too! *cackles* And Eh!? Bruises? Are you wrestling there? xD Count me in! lol
dreamgirl- Here it is! Glad you liked the chapter despite it being, well, a chap on the spiders lol. And I did update quickly! Tell me you're still alive! D:
animeotaku- Mass murder?! *gasps* I'm calling Hisoka to stop you. lol. And it's fine, I read those type of sentences is SMS all the time. xD
Thanks for the reviews guys~
Papilio. Ageha- still thinking on how to go around with that Nispedana Card idea of yours. looool. And yes! Pakunoda needs more air time...! *cough* Make a oneshot *cough* xDD Thanks for the review! haha
Phoenix-Thunder - You said the same thing as Ageha (about the naming)! Darn, you two are so honest. lol. Glad you liked the Pakunoda & Goody Pair scenes. I guess they're the only scenes I really had to work on. xD Thx for the review~!
kennyricardo4- (ch11)I'll end the canon following by the end of GI arc. xD That was the plan, (for now) anyway. ;) (ch12) Really?! *blushes* Hope I can maintain that opinion! Ahahah (ch13) Perhaps. But Squala kinda stuck in my head. xD And I'll try! Many readers mention about getting bored if I don't summarize most events. I'll try to get a good balance. ;) (ch14)Ah~ I suggest Cat's Eye since it's the only one I read so far and not to mention my friend's, and my other fic 'the Hunter Club' lol (ch16) Noted~ xD I understand the Spider arc's not that good an arc to do fanfiction on cuz' it's so well-developed already. xD (ch17)yep~ Yay GI! And really? You two are friends? That's awesome! XDD And oh yeah, Before I forget (which I doubt I will), thank you for the reviewsss~!
titaniacherry- hahaha. Not sure but I'll try. There are just limited number of bishies here I'm reluctant(for now) in turning two of them homo. lol. Ah, I'm *cough* old *cough* Okay, 20. xD And yes! Consider your wish of having more Yinyang pair moments again lol. Spider arc was just too serious for me to be able to sneak them in. Haha. Thx for the review!
mowlie- So far I think it's only a love triangle. Hisoka's there for comic relief lol. And yeah.., I wrote a harem fic before and it didn't turn out that well in the end. XD Thank you for the review~
Sox- lol. Really?! A sue-disliker that likes my story! Banzaiiii~~! Hahaha. And haiii~ Antigone's one of my fav. characters in Greek lit, and the good female name w/ 'Gon' *cackles* Thank you for the review, btw!
...
Thank you so much for reading~!
Please tell me your thoughts~
And as a side note, if there are scenes in the 2011 version you wanted to see in the original, please tell me as well~~! XDD