A/N: Hi guys you were so awesome and kind to review my last chapter and I'm very grateful for that! As a result, here is an even earlier update just in time for Christmas! I'm late for work but I just need to drop this before I leave. Today is the Eve of Christmas Eve anyway and at least I'm going to work - some people at my job are skipping today, pretending to be sick lol but I'm not. This is my gift to you all :D Thanks for the new favs, follows. And to the reviewers of last chapter Thehisokalover, Yaoi-freak2580, Panda Master X, Blanc Tu, Kee-Rect, xXIvana BraginskiXx, kanakoyuki and Guest - you guys add to my drive in working on this story! You have no idea how happy it makes me that you all love to read this and that I can help brighten someone's day with an update. I will do my best to always keep updating and regularly too! And to respond to Yaoi-freak2580's mention of how Killua will react? Hahahaha *mysterious laughter* you'll see! I can't wait lol

For this chapter: Reference is made to episode 67 of the 1999 version of HxH. I'm sure you all can guess the identity of the 'loud mouthed fool' the receptionist is referring to lol XD And if anyone can guess who it is in their review, I will give another update as soon as I see the answer :D

Warning: Hisoka knows how to get a discount…

Disclaimer: I don't own Hunter x Hunter or it's characters...

Chapter Seven: Hotel Beichitaku

The two walked for quite a while until they were no longer on the outskirts of the city. Now that they were in the thick of the crowd, Gon could no longer feel the dangerous air that had been encroaching just a few hours ago, lurking scarcely on the borders of the city.

"Ok, here it is~" Hisoka said, finally stopping to look up at the building in front of them. When his statement was met with a confused expression, he went on to explain. "We'd be staying here tonight and then tomorrow we can look for something else that would be more long-term~"

Gon didn't bother to comment and simply followed mutely as Hisoka started to walk toward the building. It was getting late, he was exhausted from their long journey, and the last thing he wanted to think about was the fact that there was nothing that he could do for now, other than to go along with his new situation.

A few minutes later found them standing at the front desk inside of a fancy-looking lobby. At first Gon stood completely still but eventually relaxed but only enough that he still appeared quite agitated, looking around and restlessly shifting from one foot to the other.

What are the chances that I'd be here again…and under these circumstances?

He glanced up and noticing that the clerk was looking at him as if trying to recall if she knew him from somewhere, he beamed up at her with his usual smile before running off to the other side of the large room, leaving Hisoka to handle the arrangements.

The clerk tried not to stare too much at the duo – especially the man – but decided that she'd assist them as quickly as possible so that they could leave. The last time she'd seen some unusually dressed people come into the hotel; there'd been such a huge fracas that the incident was still fresh in her memory though it had been over a year ago.

She could never forget.

It had all started with a loud-mouthed fool in the lobby playing his radio almost as loud as he was. He kept turning it on and off as if testing the volume and trying out different stations. She was new to the job at the time and dealing with him had been a hassle so she'd eventually given up.

When he'd turned it on again after an explosive phone call she was about to scream in frustration but a few minutes later his radio finally died and she breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, the power had been mysteriously cut at the same time and they'd had a huge situation to clear up with all the customer complaints to management and headquarters talking about fights in the lobby and their organization contributing to the disorder in York Shin.

It was terrible.

Why do I always get the weird ones… she thought, sighing and sparing a glance over at the other receptionist who was too busy filing her nails to even look up – or care.

"Lady." The man in front of her called, pausing to look down at her chest for a moment. She stilled. "Clara, isn't it?"

"Um, y-yes…"she affirmed, nervously touching her name tag as he frowned.

"Is this how service is conducted in your establishment? I'd have thought better. Maybe I should write the headquarters…~"—he moved to peer over the polished cherry wood counter—"Where is the customer suggestions box? Your name is Clara right? Give me your last name, there may be more than one 'Clara' here…~" He took out a pen and slip of paper from his pocket and she put up her hands in a placating gesture.

"That wouldn't be necessary sir…"

"But you were ignoring me. I don't think that that's appropriate customer service~"

"No, I-I apologize for the delay…I was simply thinking of giving you two a room special since you seem to be travelers and new to the City," she lied, gesturing to Gon who was currently investigating every corner and fixed item on the other side of the lobby. That boy looks awfully familiar…

"Is that so?~" he asked skeptically, already thinking of taking advantage of this 'special' (there was no way that Hisoka was going to tell her that he often frequented York Shin City).

"Yes sir," Clara replied dutifully and grabbed her service book. "Tonight you get fifty percent off…"

"Really? ~" The man smiled and she shivered. That smile, reeking with latent deceit, looked like something one would see before they died.

"Y-yes," she stuttered, still affected by that flagitious smile. "A-allow me to...to complete your particulars and I hope that you enjoy your stay at the Beichitaku Hotel!"

"Mmmmhmm~"

As Clara wrote down the details in her book, she could feel the other receptionist's eyes on her. Yeah, so you're paying attention now huh? she thought bitterly. This is definitely going to take a bite out of my salary this week, but at least I won't be written up…

Relieved that she was about to be finally rid of him, Clara gave Hisoka a hesitant smile as she handed over the room key, and as he took it, he returned her smile with one that just didn't feel right before turning to head up the stairs.

He paused at the foot of the stairs and she held her breath. What is it now? she thought nervously. But he didn't turn to look at her. Instead he was looking in the direction of the young man he had come in with, who was currently examining a tribal patterned vase almost as tall as he was.

As if sensing the other man's stare, he stopped what he was engrossed in and quickly followed the redhead up the stairs. She stared after them for a moment and then relaxed only after they'd disappeared, releasing the breath she didn't even know that she was still holding.

XXX

From what they could see from the hallway as the door swung open, the room was small but nicely furnished, seemingly containing everything that they'd be needing for their one-night stay.

"I didn't know that the smaller rooms here were so nice!" Gon shouted, running through the doorway before Hisoka could. He was a bundle of energy as he excitedly looked around the room, turning over every little thing that could be picked up.

Hisoka walked in casually, observing Gon intently. "You've been in this hotel before? ~" he asked, looking at him possessively.

"Yeah, that was with Kuroro when he…" Gon trailed off when he noticed Hisoka's expression darken and quickly added, "…we were trying to apprehend him…"

"Oh…" Hisoka said, turning away. "…I remember~"

Gon noticed his suddenly somber mood but brushed it off.

"You can go first~" Hisoka muttered instead of staying on the subject any longer and when Gon looked up in confusion he added, "To the bath~"

"Oh…" Gon glanced down at himself and cringed. It was clear that Hisoka was allowing him to use the shower first out of pity.

He turned away from Hisoka and walked toward the doorway that he assumed led to the shower, trying not to think about how much he looked as if he had completed the last part of his journey to York Shin by dive rolling across the desert.

XXX

N.B. Thirty minutes later~

A happy sigh left Gon's lips and his contentment lingered in the form of a bright smile.

I think I used up all the hot water…

Oh well, too bad for Hisoka.

Too contented to care, Gon focused on the fact that his lengthy bath was definitely one of the few things – If not the only thing – happening that day that he had thoroughly enjoyed.

"Lie down and lift your vest~"

Gon froze in the doorway.

Maybe I heard him wrong...

"Gon?"

He looked over to where Hisoka was sitting on the sofa and quickly averted his gaze.

Hisoka observed him momentarily and spoke again. "Come here Gon...let me take a look at you~"

Gon felt his blood chill even more.

Oh no, he thought, realizing that he had made the mistake of letting down his guard too soon. Being naked in the bathroom was bad enough with having to constantly look over his shoulder in fear that Hisoka would have come in and done something untoward. But nothing had happened, and now after relaxing his guard...

He gasped. Maybe Hisoka was waiting out here to attack me as soon as I came out...

Sighing, Gon continued to look anywhere but at Hisoka, making no move to walk further into the room.

I'm too tired to do this tonight. But do I get to refuse? Would he give me a choice?

Gon's face reddened and he chanced a glance in Hisoka's general direction. Since his hair was still damp and weighted by the water, it hung in a shaggy muddle around his face, and Gon was forced to look out from between green-tinted bangs at the man seated on the couch.

What am I going to do?

He continued to hesitate in the doorway.

"What are you waiting for? ~" Hisoka asked impatiently, patting the empty spot next to him. "Let me see what's under there…~"

'See'?...'under there'? Gon panicked, his heart pounding fast as his reluctant footsteps took him to where Hisoka sat. Gingerly he sat down and one painstakingly long minute later he was lying back looking at the ceiling, legs hanging to the side and off the front of the couch.

"Lift your vest~"

Gon did as he was told, his hands trembling visibly.

"Higher~" Hisoka commanded softly.

"..."

Hisoka was sitting at his feet on the last third of the couch and as Gon raised his vest the rest of the way, he got up, bending over to look at the exposed skin.

Oh shit...am I going to lose my virginity tonight? Is this how it happens? Gon closed his eyes and counted to ten, trying to think of happy thoughts. Relax Gon, he told himself. Relax just relax, it would be okay, relax…it's not going to—

"What's wrong with you? ~" Hisoka asked as he reached down to touch his abdomen, observing Gon's tightly closed eyes. "…Does it hurt? I haven't even touched you yet~"

"…huh?" Gon opened his eyes, looking down at himself just as Hisoka's hand made contact with his skin. Oh…he was only checking the injury, he realized, noting that once again he'd misinterpreted Hisoka's intentions.

Hisoka probed the soft, tanned skin, looking up at Gon and meeting his eyes. He closely watched him for any changes in his expression that would indicate pain as he touched the fading bruise. "I can see that it's no longer hurting you as before~" he said and then continued, "Your healing ability is really impressive~"

"Y-yeah…"

Removing his hand, Hisoka straightened and stood, looking away for a moment as if lost in thought. He looked back at Gon on the couch to see that he was still lying back, gripping the the hem of his white vest tightly. The vest was pulled so high up on his chest that just the lower halves of his pink areolae were revealed, their color contrasting beautifully against the tanned skin.

Hisoka frowned, wanting to reach down and lift the vest the rest of the way to reveal the nipples that were still hidden.

I wonder if they're hard? ~

"…"

He took a deep breath and licked his lips, thinking of how much he wanted to lick what he was looking at instead.

Mmmmm...lick, bite and nibble until they get hard and then I'll roll my tongue—

Hisoka cleared his throat as he suddenly remembered his plan to make Gon come to him first.

Yes...If I act now it would be ruined.

He switched his gaze from the almost visible nipples to Gon's face.

"Um, Gon…you can…put your vest down now."

"…oh! Sorry…" Gon flushed, pulling down his vest and sitting up quickly.

I didn't even realize that he was done.

That was awkward.

Much more in control of himself now, Hisoka regarded Gon's tinted cheeks briefly. Looks like I won't have to wait much longer to get a taste of what's mine , he thought, his inner smirk vile and lecherous. On the outside though, he looked normal as he painted on a fake smile and directed it at Gon. "Hey do you want to play cards again?~" he asked.

"Yeah!" Gon nodded enthusiastically, happy for the distraction and looking forward to another victory against Hisoka.

"Ok~" Waving his hands with a flourish, a deck of cards appeared in the palm of one hand.

"Wahhh!" The pretty blush on Gon's cheeks deepened with his surprise. "Hisoka how did you—"

Hisoka put up a finger. "Don't even bother acting cute to distract me~" he said. "It's a waste of time entertaining the idea that you could beat me at Go Fish again~"

"Well we'll see about that!" Gon exclaimed, grinning as the cards were dealt; now even more excited than before to wipe that smirk off of the magician's face with a crushing defeat.

I'm going to make him admit that I'm the best!

XXX

In the end, beating Hisoka had not been easy...as usual.

Maybe Go Fish isn't my thing.

Maybe I'm more suited to fishing in real life than with cards.

Gon frowned at that connection, not finding it the least bit funny.

His gaze wandered to where Hisoka was sitting opposite him and humming as he shuffled the cards with his eyes closed.

Refusing to give up easily, Gon's conviction only grew as he was convinced that there had to be a game that he could not only learn quickly, but beat Hisoka at.

"Hey Hisoka!" he called from his spot on the couch across from the man. Seeing that he had his attention, he continued, "Teach me another game!"

"Hmmm…ready to lose some more? ~" Hisoka teased as he looked over at the clock. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"I-I'm not a little kid, I can stay up late!" Gon's face flushed. "Or maybe you're scared of losing?"

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah." Gon nodded, unable to keep the mischievous grin from forming on his lips. "I think you're afraid that I'll beat you."

"Well you're on...~"

XXX

"Snap!"

"Snap!"

The game of Snap had gotten rather rowdy and they'd ended up in Snap Pool quite often. Unfortunately, this appeared not to be a game that could be easily won when both players had excellent eyesight and outstanding reaction times.

Gon didn't even realize how fast the time had flown by as they sat there playing for hours. He had wanted to beat Hisoka so badly that as soon as one round ended, he immediately demanded another.

In the end, after fighting a long battle against the lure of falling asleep, he had fallen asleep right on the couch as Hisoka was dealing the cards for their next round of 'Snap'.

"Ready to lose again? ~" Hisoka asked and when he did not receive the customary boastful response that he was expecting, he looked up to see that Gon, his eyes closed and head lolling backwards awkwardly, was fast asleep. He stared, momentarily surprised at how fast the young man had fallen asleep.

Wow...he was awake just a few minutes ago~

"Heh," Hisoka laughed briefly, smirking and looking down at Gon's prone figure as he stood up.

Mmm...yes~

He walked around the center table between them and stopped just short of Gon's legs. I can take advantage of you right now...

It would be so easy to...too easy to...

But I won't make my move tonight~

No…not when you're like this~

"Mmm~" Reaching out to caress Gon's warm, soft cheek, he whispered, "Sleep well my beautiful Apple-chan; I'll let you rest tonight. Today was an eventful day after all~"

A/N: Hmmm Gon is stressing thinking that stuff will happen but he should know by now that things happen when he's not expecting them to lol :P. Hisoka isn't so predictable haha

Oh and is Hisoka being nice by letting him sleep or is it all part of a plan for later?

And lol poor Clara...XD

See you guys in the next update! Tell me what you think in the reviews :D