When I take my target down, I am always deliberate and thorough. That's what it takes to be a UMA Hunter. Here we go…now is my chance. This is the perfect opportunity!

He started to shake and sweat from nervousness.

Go….Go….!

Shoot slumped back onto the tree. You are a winner! You can do this! You can take them...they're just kids! You have to be the very best, that no one ever was. He turned his head and looked out past the tree at Gon and Killua walking slowly down the pathway. To catch them is my real test. It seems to train them is Knuckle's cause. Silent were his steps as he began to trail the kids. I will travel across this land. I searched far and wide. Each self-help meeting to understand...the power that's inside. He stopped for a moment when it seemed the white haired kid seemed to have some awareness of his surroundings. He slunk back behind another tree and wiped his teary eyes. DAMMIT I CAN'T! I know they're not on Knuckle's or my level but dammit! He whispered to himself, "First rule of the Self Earning Men's Encouragement National Symposium, you are a winner and you can do anything you put your mind to. Yes!", his gaze shot down and he tried not to sigh, "I'll get them...next time...yeah next time for sure...". He had to think to himself. What should the next move be? He hardly knew Knuckle. It was possible that he could approach him now to talk things over. He blushed. I...I can't do that. My eyes are all poufy from crying. Dammit why did you have to cry!? He heaved a sigh. Shoot McMahon...don't be a bitch.

After his internal monologue, Shoot decided to just go back to his hotel unnoticed by Gon, Killua, or even Knuckle.

Gon had only turned his head once to give Killua a quick side glance. It seemed they were both in the same condition...physically at least. He thought of saying something, yet he was unsure of what to say. Should he make a joke to try to lighten the mood? Should they talk about how they were going to do better next time? Honestly, they had to progress or else the chance to go back to NGL would slip away from them.

His thoughts went back to the moment that seemed frozen in his mind. How he was on his hands and knees and Killua was underneath him, looking up at him with wide eyes and his black tank top slightly brushed up to expose the bottom quadrants of pale abs. He thought he saw something in those ocean eyes that he couldn't pinpoint a meaning to. He bit his lip. He made a face like that in my dream last night. Now he had a slightly different problem…and the shorts were a little too short to try to hide it. He had to think of a way to get rid of a possible boner.

We're both really hurt. Ah but…I sort of like this feeling though. Oh no that's just making it worse! Uh….something really bad! Oh! Hisoka! He's always someone bad to think about. Hisoka, my last fight was actually pretty exciting…and painful. At Heaven's Arena, I could tell he wasn't trying to kill me. He was just trying to have fun. It's weird to think about, but that's what I could tell. Err….but the way he looked at me…I had nightmares for the next two days. I didn't tell Killua either. Oh wait…I'm supposed to not think about Killua. Because then I think about that face. Okay no to Hisoka. Hmm…Bisky! He shivered. Yeah that ought to do it. Biscuit training me and Killua…Killua…oh man! He looked straight ahead. It's difficult to not think about Killua when he's right next to me. Hmm okay…Knuckle! That was a good fight…oh wait no…my mind went full circle. Fine…it comes to this…, "Aunt Mito would get mad sometimes when I ran off into the woods for fun and the look on her face really got to me."

Killua turned his head and blinked, "What….!?"

Gon stopped, "Uh…"

Killua stopped, "Where in the world did that come from!?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes…yes you did Gon!"

Well the excitement is gone, thank goodness. Gon shook his head a little, "I don't know what made me think to say that." He needed to make sure Killua didn't know. Play dumb!

Killua heaved a sigh, "It hurts to even…keep walking…"

"Yeah…"

"And Shoot is still out there. We still have no idea what he looks like. What if he decided to finish us off like…right now?"

"Killua! You shouldn't think so negatively."

"You're one to talk! Randomly saying depressing things out of nowhere."

"Well I was just looking around at all the trees in this park and couldn't help but think of that. Ah there was something else that came to mind too."

"And that is?"

Gon cracked a wide smile, "Aunt Mito showed me a way to help with pain!"

Killua rolled his eyes, "Oh great, another random remedy that you're going to mess up."

"AM NOT!"

"Are too!"

Gon pouted a little, dropping the stick and walking towards his best friend.

Killua blinked and blushed a little when Gon was pretty much up in his face. He gazed in wonder when a tanner hand took his own and he felt the gentle brushing of fingertips start at his wrist and trail up his arm. He had to fight hard to not shudder. W-what the hell?

Gon nodded to himself, "Aunt Mito always told me the best way to stop yourself from hurting too much is to rub the affected area. Just a little human contact is all you need! It's like magic! Um, well that's if it's not bleeding or not infected or anything…"

C-can you rub lower then? No…no no no no no no don't you do it brain! Don't you do it! Killua was too surprised to even move in response. This…is…torture…! I just want to….UGH!

Gon quirked a brow when his friend started shivering at his touch. He decided to keep going, starting with the arms, making way up to his shoulders and rubbing ever so lightly. I should stop now. I want to kiss him. What if I were to? He was getting a little lost in his thoughts, and came back to his senses when Killua actually flinched. His gaze went from questioning to worried, "Are you okay?"

SHIT I reacted again. He was touching my chest and I just can't take it. "It…just hurts a little. That guy did a number on me…seriously." Lies! I was about to...moan...just now...?!

Gon just smiled, "When I was little, Aunt Mito would also give the affected areas a little kiss, but I don't know if that works for injuries like ours." He reached to rub the back of his head sheepishly.

Oh man you could kiss me anywhere…what…NO NO! You have to keep your distance or else you'll do something you'll regret…right this second. The Zoldyck cracked his own wide grin, "What were you five? That sounds weird. I've never even heard of that!"

Gon gave a little laugh and was beaming, "Well, yeah I was little and she stopped doing it after a while. I guess it is a little childish. Sorry."

Killua, mentally, wanted to kick himself. Gon had pulled away entirely and he felt his skin was warmer at the parts where he was touched. He knew he'd ruined a good thing, but as much as he wanted to see where it would go, he felt like he was just taking advantage of innocent actions. I don't want to drag him down to my level…my head is in the gutter all the time nowadays. I just can't…he sighed to himself, following along as they resumed walking back to the townhouse.

When they went to bed for the night, they didn't face each other, both afraid of their own thoughts and rampant imaginations.

As much as Killua wanted to get sleep, he found that he really couldn't. It was frustrating, because his wet dreams came when they wanted to. He'd have preferred to have one every night if it were possible. He smiled to himself a little. Despite messing it up earlier tonight, him rubbing me like that felt so nice. Good thing I wore jeans today. But during the fight, I was going through some things. The struggle is real.

"Kil…lua…"

He blinked upon hearing the unmistakable utter of his name, "Gon…are you awake?"

There was no response.

The transmuter decided to turn over on the bed and investigate. Gon doesn't usually talk in his sleep. When he was facing Gon, he smiled at how serene the enhancer looked in his slumber. He then realized the level of creepiness on his part to watching his friend sleep…again. He whispered, "I just can't help it. You look so cute."

After a couples of minutes of staring, Gon actually responded, "C-cute…?"

Killua had to have blinked a gazillion times in the next minute, "G-Gon?"

The enhancer just slept away.

So if I say things to him while he's sleeping, maybe he'll react to it? That would be interesting. What if I asked him to picture me kissing his…wait what!? NO no no! I should play a prank instead. Yeah…an innocent prank. His grin turned mischievous, "Gon…you are walking through a park."

"Mmmm park."

"You have an ice cream in your hand. It's vanilla ice cream. The ice cream is delicious as you eat it."

"Mmmmm ice cream..."

"Suddenly the scoop falls off the cone and onto the ground!"

There was a pause before a low groan.

Pfffft this is funny. I can make him imagine all sorts of things can't I? "You decide you're going to eat the left over cone. There's still a bit of ice cream left in there."

"Mmmmm cone."

He chuckled. You're so simple. "Killua is with you. He is walking right next to you."

The smallest smile appeared on the enhancer's face, "Killua…"

The white haired teen started to blush. What's with that reaction?

"Killua…can we…", he twitched a bit, every word a sleepy slur, "Play…hide and seek?"

"Oh you. Only you would dream about playing a game with me. Okay…yes. Let's play hide and seek Gon. You go hide and I'll count to 10." He waited for exactly ten seconds before going further, "Ten…okay I'm coming to find you. You're in a spot where you can see me, but I can't see you."

"Z-z-etsu…"

"You're hiding in bushes and you see me, Killua, walking around looking for you. You put your zetsu up, good. I can't sense you as I'm looking. I'm at the playground. There's no one else there."

Gon's breaths steadied and his body stilled.

Killua quirked a brow. Is Gon really activating his zetsu in his sleep? That's a little amazing and a little scary. "I'm looking high and low, everywhere for you. Then I turn and look to the bushes."

Gon flinched a little.

"I don't see you yet, but I'm walking diagonally to check the furthest bushes and I'm making my way down."

"Mmmmmmmn!", Gon stirred a little.

Killua froze, thinking he might have woken up. When he noticed the enhancer still sleeping, he decided to keep going, "I'm searching through the bushes, looking for you. I'm getting closer to your spot, closer. You stay in place."

"Find…me…"

Killua smiled, not stopping himself from reaching forwards. Slowly, his hand going to touch his sleeping friend. Can I just…hug you right now? Why are you so unbelievably cute? Will he wake up? His fingertips were just before his best friend's cheek. His blush grew. No how about… he moved his hand, deciding to try touching his jet black hair instead. That had less of a chance of waking him up didn't it?, "I'm still looking. I haven't found you. I'm right next to the spot you're hiding. Then I come right over the spot you're hiding."

Gon didn't show much of a reaction.

"I part the bushes and find you."

No reaction.

Oh…it's not working anymore? Is his dream taking a different direction? Can I get him to admit what it is? Maybe I can…

No matter what gentle words he whispered, it was to no avail. Gon was definitely dreaming his own dream. In the meantime, he was blushing and trying to figure out if he wanted to lower his hand into soft black locks. But if I touch him. He stopped himself, breathing a little heavier, remembering his last dream. How he'd clutched those locks with both of his hands to have something to hang on to during nosebleed inducing actions. He pulled away, letting out a small sigh before deciding to try once again to go to sleep.

When Gon woke up, sat up, and stretched, he felt a rush of embarrassment. He wondered why his dream the previous night was playful at first, and yet took the sudden turn that it did. Not that he entirely minded that it turned out that way. What started out as a game of hide and seek turned into him blatantly pouncing his best friend and initiating kisses. Then it turned into something else entirely. The more he thought about it, the more he felt the circumstances were something that he found a little thrilling.

Outdoors where people might be able to see but can't because of how careful they were being. He had to put a hand over Killua's mouth for a moment to quiet him. Finding it much more delightful to quiet him with kisses next.

He looked back at Killua sprawled out on his side of the bed, mouth agape and drooling onto his pillow a little and Gon smiled to himself at the sight. Someone who was trained as an assassin could have such a moment of vulnerability and only be that way around him. It was a good feeling. So was the morning wood.

Oh crap!

He got up and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

When they met up to train their Ren, they were able to hold light conversations as Bisky watched nearby. Neither of them noticed the small smile she had on her face.

She turned another page of her magazine. Time to commence operation KilluGon. "Oh boys!"

They stopped their conversation to look to her.

She grinned, "Your time is almost up for this training session, but afterwards, I'd like to take you guys out for a bit. No need to stay inside all day."

"OSU!" They both shouted and resumed their training.

Biscuit noticed that Palm wasn't in their presence. It meant that she could take them out for lunch. Perfect. Hmmm Operation GonKillu? No no it doesn't sound as good as KilluGon. Besides...as a fellow transmuter, I know how we are when it comes to feelings and whatnot. She knew they wouldn't last holding their Ren for another five minutes. Three...two...one...

"GAH!", Killua leaned forwards with his hands on his knees.

Gon wiped his forehead.

Biscuit continued to grin, "Get ready and we'll go out to lunch."

The walk to the cafe was quiet. Bisky looked from one student to the other and shook her head. They are so awkward it's not even amusing! It was as they were walking in that a familiar person was walking out.

"Oh, it's you guys!"

Gon blinked, "Oh! Knuckle!"

Killua just gave a short wave.

Knuckle looked from Gon to Killua, then Killua to Gon and pointed, "Can I have a word with you?"

Gon blinked and pointed, "Ahhhh me?"

Knuckle nodded, "Yeah you. Come with me for a walk."

Gon gave Bisky a questioning look, silently asking if this was okay.

LUCK-YYYY! THIS IS IN MY FAVOR! I can talk to Killua alone! "Go ahead. He's not going to attack you or something in this type of situation. I'm sure of it."

Flipping out a small black holder, Knuckle opened it and Killua tensed a bit. Did he just bring out a knife-?

With the flick of the wrist, what would be the holder of a switch blade instead flipped out a comb, which the man brought up to make sure his pompadour was doing okay. A few quick swipes and then Knuckle brought it down to flick his wrist and sheath the comb, "It might be a while, so I'll be sure to bring him back here."

Biscuit nodded, looping her arm through Killua's and dragging him into the establishment, "That's fine. We'll be right here!" She ignored Killua's loud fussing.

Gon, on the other hand, turned to look up at Knuckle in a bit of wide-eyed wonder. He followed the man silently, wondering to himself just what Knuckle would want to talk to him about.