While a definite majority favored Taiki's offer, although for the most part insincerely, there was one boy that did not bother wasting too much time of his time musing. Indeed it seemed advantageous to agree to join L.I.G.H.T. simply in order to obtain an uncensored layout of their plans and motivations. Still, the weight of their concession could potentially mean some sort of long-term contract of compliance, so it was hardly worth reacting to without the utmost of care and tact-
"No, I won't join," Gon announced adamantly with strong, focused eyes.
All eyes magnetized to the boy, stunned at his sudden resolve.
"Why not?" Taiki asked, frowning.
"L.I.G.H.T. handles its problems by killing innocent people, and I can't feel good about myself being a part of it. I can't join a group like that, Taiki-san. You could quit if you wanted and then join us instead."
Choking back her irritation at the notion of a probably fortunate opportunity being crushed inside the palm of a little boy- (who incidentally happened to be her target)- right before her eyes, Misaki cut in with: "Don't be too hasty."
"She's right," Taiki said (misunderstanding her statement) with sad, drooping eyes. "I can't quit L.I.G.H.T. because there is only one way out, and that means death. They are not about to have the governments' secrets revealed."
"I'm sure you wouldn't tell, would you, Taiki-san?"
"No, but that doesn't matter. In order to make sure, they would kill me first."
"That's terrible…" the boy grumbled through clenched teeth, rolling his hands in to tight fists.
"If we did join," Killua broke in, "would there be any kind of initiation we'd have to go through?"
This was the question that not only played on the paler boy's mind, but also on that of the amber eyed girl. Hearing the basis of her own hindrance voiced aloud, Misaki cocked her head toward the 'Premium member' and tucked one of her deep purple bangs behind her ear with a curved hand. Taiki scratched his head through his short, auburn curls and nodded.
"A strand of your hair and a few drops of blood is the price of admission."
"It goes on file then, I presume?" Haku noted aloud.
"Right," Taiki agreed.
Gon glanced over at his friend, who was slumped low in to his seat with the heel of his hand holding up his head by the prominent bone of his cheek. He was confident that his friend would make the right choice.
"Sounds intriguing," Killua said. "I'll join."
"I second that," Misaki added, raising her palm in a nonchalant manner before lowering it again.
"I also would like to join," Haku insisted, though it was unclear whether or not his intentions matched that of the former two.
Taiki smile weakly before turning to Gon. The silver haired boy studied the look in his eyes. He still had not caught on to the basis of their acceptance, and he knew that if he did not set things straight soon, the opportunity might be lost…
"If you change your mind, Gon…"
"Gon, can I talk to you alone for a second?" Killua interrupted, reaching across for his comrade's wrist and dragging him to the rear of the plane.
After ten minutes of hardly audible murmuring and bickering, the boys returned to their seats.
"I changed my mind," Gon announced, squeezing his eyes closed as he flashed an awkwardly wide smile. "I'll join, too!"
As the pilot restarted the engine and guided the plane away over the icy shoreline, the feeling of isolation and unrequited commitment to their situation seemed to loom around their very bodies and minds. The landscape was blinding in its similarities; the sun half-shining over undisturbed, glistening snow and ice that appeared to extend on forever. Each step nearly sank its perpetrator knee-deep in to the white earth. Suffice to say it was a struggle to fight their way forth.
The wind was cruel and unforgiving, sweeping rolls of misty snow toward watery eyes and sending a chill through to the bone that refused to fade away, despite the group being practically mummified in layers upon layers of winter gear. Even Killua, who had endured torture through freezing before as a young child, had never felt such a terrible coldness.
"It's just around this next hill," Taiki's scarf-muffled voice shouted back over his shoulder after what felt like years of endless hiking.
As the group panted and grunted to clear the incline, a sudden change in scenery caught their straining eyes. A fairly large, robotic, and almost inverted ship-like structure was planted firmly in to the otherwise flat terrain. The base was composed of many intersecting trapezoids above and below a wide, spherical dome which was crafted to look as though it was encircled by an ominously dark, heavily tinted window.
Taiki placed his membership card in to a slot that had not been obviously visible amongst the many interlocking lines of metal. A low rumbling sound followed, like that of a blender being used on its lowest speed. Then the card was shot back out, and an oddly arched door appeared where there had not been one before.
"Welcome to L.I.G.H.T. headquarters," the auburn haired man announced passively, simultaneously sliding the scarf away from his mouth.
The hallways were uncomfortably snug, and in result each individual was forced to follow single-file behind the other. It was a curious set up; with no view of the outside at all despite the deceivably glass-like substance they had seen layered on to the exterior. They wondered seriously, though not all in the same instant, what would happen if someone else were approaching from the opposite direction, and whether or not there were separate hallways based on entering and exiting. Finally, the thin stream of walls gave way to a vast, spherical room which was divided into what could have easily accounted for a vast maze composed of hundreds of subsections.
"Wait here," Taiki said before disappearing behind a door labeled with a horizontal line of ten golden stars in the very center after about five minutes more of walking.
Killua braced himself, aware that it was quite possible for an ambush to be expectedly waiting for them. He did not trust Taiki and knew that he was probably lying, but something persistently encouraged him to proceed. He had already failed, by his standards, to protect Gon and (despite his difficultly in expressing it) Misaki earlier when L.I.G.H.T. had confronted them. He had forfeited before even attempting to concoct a plan of action. This time he would prove himself; he would defend Gon and show Misaki that he was capable of this level of responsibility. She would not simply think of him as a pompous fighter and a useless kid…
A blood-curdling scream sounded from within the room, clawing in to the ears of all those unfortunate enough to hear it, and then when it was through the door swung open as if by magic.
"Enter," called an elderly male's voice.
"Hands," the unmistakable voice of Miu, who had formerly been disguised as Mei, commanded as the four stepped inside.
The door closed behind them, and Haku nearly lost his balance as the floor (which was revealed to be a large conveyor belt) moved them in to the center of a circular table with a small break. Now in the center of the room, the four could see the ten 'Holy' members, whose faces were all cloaked inside of oversized hoods attached to long, flowing, tan robes. Other than the small, circular bulbs scattered here and there from above, very little light was emitted.
"I said show your hands," Miu repeated in a harsher tone than the last time.
"Where is Taiki-san?" Gon piped up, narrowing his eyes.
"Hands!" she shrieked hysterically.
"Number six," the elderly voice that had beckoned to them earlier reprimanded her calmly. From a single-sized podium built above the table at which the other members sat around, the man said to Gon, "You are standing on him."
Gon glanced down at his feet in the dark, and while there was no body to be found, his eyes eventually adjusted enough to see a generous pool of blood, organs, and the occasional protruding bone beneath them on the floor. A rusted orange scarf, soaked through with gore, was also present.
"Taiki-san…" he whispered, his body shaking at the realization. Slowly filling with rage, he murmured firmly, "How could you do this?"
"Gon," Killua called to him firmly, determined to keep the boy from acting out on his emotions.
Miu, in spite of her advantage of both cloaking her face and having never shown the four her actual appearance, revealed herself as she drew a large canon-like gun from beneath her robes. Her body trembled and her voice quivered as though she were holding back tears as she spoke.
"Show me your goddamn hands now or I'll fucking shoot them off!"