"…and I thought we could just get people in the areas to help us out maybe, but Haku-san said that it would start an uproar like when Tanzanite was about to erupt- if they even believe us…"
"Uh huh," Killua interjected, completely distracted and peering out the slightly cracked door of the bathroom across at Misaki's closed bedroom door.
Gon continued, "…So Haku-san suggested… that we should maybe… contact L.I.G.H.T. since they know all about the eruptions anyway and are technically trying to stop it…"
"Yeah," the silver haired boy agreed, though his tone made it obvious that he hadn't at all taken in his friend's story.
The tanned boy frowned from his seat on the sink counter as he cupped some water in his hands and dumped it over his dirty arms. It had been a particularly rough work day.
"Um, Killua?"
"What?"
The slightly younger boy drew in a deep breath and then let it out slowly.
"Are you even listening?"
"Yeah; Haku-san was telling you that," Killua attempted to relay back to him, though in truth he really hadn't picked up on the main points at all.
"Do you think it's a good idea?"
"Sure, why not?"
…your friend needs to let go of this obvious infatuation he's developed for Misaki because she's not a good girl to get close to in such a manner…
Gon was conflicted. He believed Haku's warning and the legitimacy of it. Haku was his friend… but… Killua was his friend, too… his best friend, in fact. Not to mention that he considered Misaki to be his friend as well…
Still, if there was something possibly dangerous about Killua liking Misaki, he should probably mention it, at least…
"Killua?" he asked in an uncharacteristically small voice.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think maybe… it's a bad idea to follow Misaki around all the time?"
"I don't!" the paler boy protested immediately, glancing up at his friend.
"Well, then why are you watching her bedroom?"
"I don't follow her all the time," Killua corrected, his voice partially agitated. "I just want to make sure that Yuto doesn't try anything funny."
Gon smiled weakly.
"…But Killua, Misaki is strong… she even saved us before…"
"He might try something when she isn't expecting it," he snapped, becoming more irritated the closer Gon came to disputing his delusion.
The dark haired boy sighed. Perhaps he needed to simply tell his comrade the absolute truth, as much of it as he knew.
"Killua… Haku-san told me that it's not good for you to get so close to Misaki."
This did manage to catch Killua's undivided attention enough so that that boy actually stood all the way up and even turned away from his post at the door to face Gon. Unfortunately, his expression was one of notable shock and anger.
"You told Haku that I like Misaki?" he hissed incredulously.
"No!" Gon insisted, holding his palms up defensively. "He came to me and said it was obvious."
It was obvious…
"So you guys just talked about me like that while I wasn't there?"
"Killua…" the boy pleaded, his expression one of attempted compliance and hurt. "I'm just worried for you."
In his mind however, Killua could not hear Gon's concern. Instead he heard Yuto's voice, taunting him over and over:
'You like this girl, do you?'
'What's it to you?'
'It's obvious.'
Killua clenched his teeth and balled his hands in to firm fists at his sides.
"Please, Killua, don't be upset," Gon whispered softly.
'The point is she doesn't like you.'
'You don't believe that, though…'
"Shut up…" Killua whispered almost inaudibly to the scene replaying over in his head.
'If that were true, you wouldn't have felt the need to try and stop us…'
"Shut up," he said, a little louder.
"Killua…?"
'If that were true, you wouldn't have felt the need to try and stop us…'
"I said shut up!" the boy screamed while squeezing his eyes tightly closed, his booming voice echoing through the mostly empty bathroom.
When he finally opened his eyes, the sight of Gon's pained features met his eyes. His tanned shoulders were slumped inward and his brows knitted with a blend of confusion and sorrow and worry.
'I hurt him,' Killua realized, withdrawing a step. 'I hurt Gon…'
"I…" the silver haired boy started, staring pathetically at his emotionally damaged friend, "… I have to…"
Before he could even finish his own sentence, Killua bolted from the room in horror and panic at what he had done.
Stunned, Gon could do little more than watch his companion leave. He was only snapped out of his frozen state when he felt a drop of water touch to the back of his hand. Then he remembered that the sink was off.
His reflection revealed to him that of a child, alone and frightened, and the tanned boy curled in to a ball on the tiled floor and wept; wept for the pain he felt.
…But also he wept for Killua, who was in great agony too, he was certain. Yes, his friend was hurting, and as determined as the tanned boy was to discover a solution for him, he felt hopeless and weak in this moment. He hugged himself tighter and tighter as he cried, all too aware that the two had been growing apart significantly during this last week and that just maybe he did not know Killua enough now to help him.