XP: Lots of feels. Lots of Drama. With a capital D.
I'm sure maybe of you have felt feelings like Killua have. I personally have felt like Killua. Working so hard for your friends, always helping them, yet them never showing any gratitude and taking you for granted and never being there for you when you need them.
Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster because it's coming.
***Start***
"Machi, Nobu!" Hisoka put on a cheery facade to greet the two spiders who seemed extremely pissed off to see him. He did betray and trick the spiders for a few years to pretend to be one of them.
"What are you doing here?!" Nobunaga demanded, hand on the hilt of his sword.
Hisoka held his hands up to show he came in peace, the infuriating smirk still on his face which Machi rolled her eyes at. She could never stand the annoying man. "Now, now. I only came here to stalk my favorite boy. I have nothing to do with any of you."
"You mean Gon?" Nobunaga relaxed with a bright smile, glad someone finally saw his point that Gon should definitely join the spiders.
"Killua, actually," Hisoka amended.
"Oh?" Machi showed visible interest now. "You mean he's here as well?"
Hisoka eyed her for awhile, and deemed her interest as pure curiosity and nothing else. "Yes, he came here to rescue his friend," Hisoka enlightened after judging her as not a threat to his favorite snowy haired boy.
"He went with Shalnark the other way," Nobunaga traded information easily.
"Good. Thanks," Hisoka waved flamboyantly, winking at Machi who scoffed and turned away from him with a look of pure disgust. Hisoka chuckled. Some things never change. "Well, then I'll give you a fair warning as my thanks. Someone is coming here to kill you guys for the chain assassin."
"What? Who-"
Hisoka sped off into the distance before Nobunaga could ask the question. He supposed that was all he owed his ex-comrades. After all, he didn't want to sell out his business partner. Not completely, anyway. Illumi was very useful. Detecting for aura nearby, he continued ahead.
***On the other hand***
Killua's quick adaptation skills allowed him to be on his feet instantly, taking the direction he felt Gon was in. His senses were sharply honed as an assassin, and he was hardly wrong when it came to matters regarding Gon. Sprinting, he quietly took in the world of color inversion. Was it just the color? His mind spun quietly. Appearances? Direction? Elements?
He remembered Hisoka and blushed darkly. Should he wait for his companion? But he was so embarrassed he didn't want to see the clown right now. What did that mean anyway? Why did Hisoka have to steal his... his f-first kiss?! Killua wanted to tear his hair out just thinking about it because it made him cringe. Whatever, Hisoka could handle himself. He was strong enough. Gon, however... Killua felt something was terrible wrong.
Following the exit sign he knew was not and exit, Killua halted just in time to stand in front of a cliff. That's weird. He felt Gon was here... Looking down, he saw a white haired Gon holding onto his fishing rod, hanging off the edge of the cliff.
"Gon!" Killua hollered in shock. The end of the cliff could no be seen at all, it seemed like an endless drop. Killua wasn't sure if that was an illusion as well, but he sure as hell wasn't going to take his chances.
"Killua?" Gon gasped, looking happy to see his best friend, before doubt clouded his face. "Wait, are you a fake again? Why would Killua be here?"
Hurt flashed across Killua's face, before he pursed his lips into a thin line. "There's no time Gon, grab onto my yo-yo when I release it so I can pull you up."
Gon grabbed onto it, releasing the lock on his fishing rod so both he and the fishing rod were pulled up forcibly. Let's not forget that Killua can carry up to many times his weight as seen by the doors of his house, just like an ant.
"Are you alright?" Killua asked worriedly as he helped Gon up. "I was worried so I came. I'm glad I did."
"Thanks Killua," Gon smiled and hugged his best friend tightly to thank him. "I was just thinking about you."
Killua smiled and hugged his friend back tightly. This person in front of him was finally looking like the boy he first became friends with.
"Come on, let's get out of here already, I don't think your father would be here," Killua urged. "It's not safe. We can try to find more leads. Alright?"
Killua looked desperately into Gon's eyes, hoping that the boy would not reject him again. Gon was way too stubborn for his own good and Killua often had to worry for his friend's life. Gon nodded after thinking about it. He should search for information again instead of following a blind lead that a strong nen user was here. Killua gave a relieved smile, and griped onto Gon's hand tightly to lead him out of the place. "You know, Kurapika called. The old man wants to have a meetup again. He scored top in his exams!"
"Really?" Gon cheered up instantly at hearing the good news. "It's been so long! I really want to meet them. Oh, a river! I'm thirsty."
He pulled away from Killua to rush over to the river.
"Gon, wait!" Killua called out with trepidation, using his godspeed to reach the river earlier than Gon, blocking him bodily. "This place isn't what it seems to be." To prove his point, Killua released his yoyo into the seemingly blue river, and it instantly dissolved. Thank god Gon didn't stick his hand in there. Gon's eyes bulged in their sockets as they watched the yoyo disappear.
"Wow, thanks Killua. You're really smart!" Gon praised with awe.
"And you really ought to be careful," Killua chided, deflating a little. Gon never learnt some of the lessons he was supposed to. It was sapping the energy out of him to be careful enough for the both of them. He couldn't remember the last time he was with Gon that he really let go and had fun without thinking of consequences. It used to be so simple during the hunter exams, where he did things without thinking like a kid and they just went around like that together. But the real world proved to be full of dangers at every corner, yet it seemed at though Killua was the only one who got the realization, not Gon.
But when he was with Hisoka... Hisoka took care of every thing. The planning, the trip, the expenses... He didn't have to lift a finger. Hisoka allowed him to not have any considerations and to just wait and depend on someone... He didn't even have to worry about the clown's well being, and the man distracted him enough for him to stop his new incessant worries about Gon. If he let Gon meet with Hisoka, would things turn for the better? Would Hisoka help him share the burdens and even change Gon?
But what if Hisoka turned his attention to Gon instead? Killua was so shocked by the thought that he stopped walking suddenly. No, he couldn't let the two meet. Hisoka had always been so obsessed with fighting Gon, so much more than anyone else. If Hisoka transferred all his attention to Gon instead... Killua wasn't so sure he could handle that. If he treated Gon the way he treated Killua...
Killua swallowed a painful lump in his throat.
"Killua, what's wrong?" Gon asked worriedly, waving his hand in front of vacant eyes.
"Ah, no..." Killua calmed his furiously beating heart. His head hurt suddenly from the sudden rush of thoughts. Should he tell Gon? But now that he met with Gon, what happens next? Did he have to leave Hisoka and travel with Gon to find his Dad? Was it possible to travel together as a trio? Would Hisoka or Gon be willing to? Did he even want to? Gon was his best friend and he used to want to do everything together with him, but his relationship with Hisoka was something he wanted to keep for himself, but what was that relationship? Killua couldn't even define it clearly.
"You see, I came with Hisoka," Killua began with difficulty, unable to find the right solution or the right words to say. Their relationship, the past few days they shared was so complicated.
"Hisoka?" Gon's face twisted with confusion. "Why would he come with you?"
That was a completely valid question which Killua had no answer to as well. "Maybe for entertainment...?"
"Hmmm..." Gon thought hard for a while. "Maybe he wants to make sure I'm alive and progressing to become you know, a 'ripe fruit'? He kind of did that at Greed Island right? He even helped us with Razor."
Killua hadn't even contemplated the thought that maybe Hisoka came for Gon, and not him. The thought made him feel a little sick in the stomach. Hisoka never said anything like that, but what if this whole time... Hisoka was getting close to him just for the sake of finding out what Gon had been up to and where he was? Then all those moments they shared... were they even sincere? Hisoka was a skilled liar wasn't he, having the same nen type as his?
"Killua? Are you okay? You don't look good."
The sound of Gon's voice broke him out of his stupor.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Killua smiled weakly to assure his best friend. Regardless of what Hisoka came for, Killua knew he came here to save Gon, and he really ought to focus on the task at hand at this unknown place. He should look for the exit before anything else.
"I met the spiders on my way here and got separated from them," Gon updated Killua on the situation. "They're here for this treasure that's rumored to boost your nen level. I heard that this whole place was created by this really strong nen user to protect that secret, that's why so many hunters are trapped here and tricked by the illusions and die."
Like Gon might've at the cliff, Killua realized grimly. He was glad he came on time to save his best friend. "Wait, and the spiders didn't do anything to you? They know we're Kurapika's friends."
"Nobunaga was there and he stopped them," Gon explained. "I wonder how the rest of them are doing?"
That's right... Gon had this magnetic ability to pull people towards him to help him. Be it during their hunter exam, at the tower with Wing-san, Greed Island with Bisuke... he himself was no exception. Even dangerous criminals like the spiders fell under Gon's strange charisma. Killua didn't know exactly what it was, but he believed it was because how Gon was always so sure of himself and was full of unwavering determination that people followed his lead and wanted to help him. It was the complete opposite of himself, who always double-guessed himself and doubted everything around him.
"So what have you been up to for the past few days?" Gon asked curiously.
Killua hesitated for a bit, images of Hisoka showing him magic tricks, buying him chocolate, making him laugh and making him blush popping up in his heads. His cheeks dusted pink again at the images of the smug, confident man hugging him and that moment of a genuine smile... Killua didn't want to think that any of it was fake. He wouldn't be able to bear it if Hisoka was just playing with his feelings for fun. "Well, I've been... hanging out with Hisoka."
"Oh," Gon replied in a deadpanned manner, seeming slightly jealous. "Why didn't you come earlier?"
"Wha-" Killua turned around, flabbergasted. Were they really going to get into it again? He gaped at Gon's dark and accusing expression. "Gon! I already told you on the day you left. I said you can go alone if you really want to keep throwing your life into dangerous situations because I'm sick of worrying for you when you don't even care about your own life. I said that hoping you'd wise up and change your mind but you ignored what I said like you ALWAYS DID!"
"Aren't you my best friend?!" Gon hollered back, matching the tone of Killua's angry outburst. "You're supposed to follow me! You promised me on that day that you'd search for my dad with me!"
"But this wasn't what I expected! You don't ever listen to a word I say and you always rush head first into stupid things! You could've died if I didn't come and save you. Can't you even remember what happened the last time you ignored my warnings? You ended up in the hospital!"
"You're my best friend! So what if I get into danger? I'm alive aren't I! Being a hunter means getting into danger and taking risks! You should be here with me instead of leaving me alone!" Gon's face was turning beet red from all the angry shouting, and so was Killua's.
"But I don't even feel like your best friend anymore! I feel like a slave always following behind your back expected to follow everything you say and you never listening to me! Friendship is not a one way thing, Gon Freecs!" Killua screamed back. His shouting made him gasp for breath afterwards from the sheer intensity and force behind the words. His eyes started to water from all the angry indignation within him. He came to save Gon, because he had been worrying for days, and Gon never showed him any gratitude or a sign of repentance. No, he was going to be as headstrong as ever, making his own decisions without caring about how Killua felt.
Gon bit his lip, suppressing his own feelings of rage as he watched Killua teeter on the edge of tears. They were obviously at crossroads here, their opinions being complete opposites of each other's. "Are you still my friend, Killua?"
"Do you still treat me like a friend, Gon?" Killua snapped back with a bitter retort as the first tear fell from his tear filled eyes. He wiped at it angrily with the back of his hand, but when he blinked, more tears cascaded down his cheeks without restraint.
"Of course you're my friend!" Gon replied like it was ridiculous to even ask.
"Really." Killua laughed emptily, gazing at the person he didn't recognize again. "Then how come I don't feel it? It's not getting through your thick skull, Gon. You never spared a thought about how I felt. Not even once. Hisoka is a much better friend than you'll ever be!"
Killua regretted his words the instance they fell out of his mouth. Gon's face contorted to an expression of pain Killua never saw before, and Killua wanted to take everything back but he knew it was too late. They had both crossed the point of no return. This was the make or break of their friendship.
"I see. Then why don't you leave me alone and just be with Hisoka then!" Gon thundered, pulling away from Killua.
"Wait Gon no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it," Killua pleaded pitifully, clinging onto Gon's arm. "I just said it in the spur of anger, Gon. You know you're my best friend."
"Let go!" Screeching, Gon spun around and punched Killua with all his strength across the face without a thought. He heaved with the adrenaline rush of anger, standing above the crumpled and sobbing figure of his once best friend.
Gon's scrunched up eyebrows relaxed as he gazed at his once best friend, before he realized with horror what he had just done. "Oh God, Killua. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." He had just hit the person who had always stood by his side, who put his life on the line for him again and again without complaints, damaging himself for his sake, like at Greed Island where his hands became an unrecognizable mess. He was the one who caused Killua to get injured worse than he ever had at the Zoldyck mansion, the one who caused Killua's smile to slowly disappear. "I... I don't deserve to be your friend, Killua..."
Gon knelt down next to Killua, who was holding his bruised cheek and crying. He reached his hand out gingerly, but retreated before it touched Killua. He didn't have to right to touch him anymore. Not when he was the one who did that to him. The image of that cheeky and mischievous boy when they were at the Tower was shattered, leaving this sorry, miserable individual on the floor.
"What happened?!"
Gon stepped back when Hisoka dashed over, kneeling down where Gon previously had. Hisoka was all over Killua in an instant, gentle hands trying to pull Kilua's hands away to see his face. "What's wrong Killua? Let me see."
Killua was sobbing like a little kid, and his cheek was a swollen lump. His hurt and anguished eyes barely registered Hisoka before he was cradled into a sturdy chest as Hisoka hushed him and whispered words of encouragement, rubbing comforting circles on his back. Realizing Hisoka had come for him, and still in the shock of what happened, Killua wailed as he clutched onto the fabric of Hisoka's shirt, feeling like a mess of relief, disappointment, fear and pain all at once. "Gon, what happened?" Hisoka asked as he rocked the crying boy back and forth.
"I..." Gon swallowed painfully.
Hisoka's eyes widened as he instantly deduced what was going on. "You!"
A strong wave of murderous nen came over Hisoka at once, and Gon shuddered from the sheer intensity of it, along with Hisoka's cold, unforgiving gaze. Gon fell back, unable to move in the face of that overwhelming and unforgiving force.
"NO!" Killua shrieked, holding onto Hisoka with all the strength his tiny body could offer. "Let him go, Hisoka!"
The sound of Hisoka grinding his teeth in fury in an effort to restraint himself could be heard. His tightly griped fists were shaking, and his psychotic eyes never left Gon as Gon scrambled out of sight quickly. He punched the ground beneath him so hard the ground shook, and he snarled with anger. "He hurt you!"
Fixing his gaze back at Killua, all the anger left his body in a quick flush as he looked at the sad mess Killua had become. Aching physically for the boy he knew was capable of such brilliant smiles, he tenderly wiped away the tear stains on those soft cheeks. "I'm here now, Killua. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
And Killua showed Hisoka the saddest smile he had ever seen.
And even that was beautiful.
***End of chapter***
XP: Poor sweetie pie ;_;
Also anyone laughed at the just like an ant joke? Because I did when I typed it. It's so ridiculous.