Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction ❯ Arrival ❯ Starting X Over ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Nobuhiko Satori 
A little help can go a long way.
Anime/Manga: Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.18.2015 | Updated On: 10.18.2015 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 454 | Status: Work In Progress
A little help can go a long way.
Anime/Manga: Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.18.2015 | Updated On: 10.18.2015 | Pages: 3 | Words: 3.6K | Visits: 454 | Status: Work In Progress
Arrival
Chapter 03: Starting X Over
By: Nobuhiko Satori
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES: New installment up! I hope I'll be able to keep up this pace, as I'm still sometimes prone to just freezing at the keyboard when I want to get stuff written down. Save for a few odds and ends I actually have a lot of this story planned out already, with the next couple of chapters already in varying degrees of completion; it's the getting it all written down that's the tricky part. Story of my life... Anyway, I hope you enjoy Chapter Three!
WARNING: Before you go any further, please be warned that this is a yaoi fanfic. That is, it is about a romantic and/or sexual relationship between males. And please note that this fanfic will contain violent and disturbing imagery, as well as graphic and explicit sexual situations. Do not continue reading if any of this offends you in any way.
DISCLAIMER: The story contained within this fanfic is the sole property of the author. Hunter X Hunter and all related characters and trademarks are the sole property of Shueisha/Madhouse/Yoshihiro Togashi, and all other trademarks mentioned herein are the sole property of their respective copyright owners, and the author makes no claims as to owning them. This fanfic is made purely for entertainment purposes only and is completely non-profit. No copyright infringement is intended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
LEGENDS KEY:
"Text" = speech
'Text' = thoughts, quotations in speech
*Text* = italics, emphasis
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Midday. The Freecss household was silent. Almost eerily so.
Within it now were several shadowy figures, moving with speed and efficiency among the rooms ensuring every corner had been searched; the bedrooms, the bathroom, the kitchen, the cellar -- no corner, no space was left unchecked. This was already the third time they'd conducted the search, top to bottom, and still they'd found nothing.
The rough seas had held them back for much longer than they had anticipated, but once they made port on Whale Island they made up for the lost time on foot; what was usually a half-day's journey they'd completed in less than half the time. At first they just watched the house from a distance for another half-hour, and when no signs of movement came they entered the house. It was obvious now though that the damage had been done, and they had missed their target as a result.
"No, we just missed them. The storm caused a significant delay," one of the figures said into his cellphone. "We're doing the search again, but we've still found nothing. The surrounding area too." A pause. "No clues as to where they were headed, they covered their tracks well. No, no word from the docks. They must've slipped out while we were still out at sea." Another pause, longer this time. "Yes. Yes. Understood." Call ended he turned to the others in the room with him.
"Pack it up. We're moving out."
In an instant they were gone, not a trace of their presence left, the house just as silent as when they'd arrived.
~*~
Gon looked out across the water, standing by the railing on the starboard side of the ship. He let his red-trimmed green jacket hang open, billowing in the wind. He could taste the salt of the ocean breeze, could smell it with each breath he took, reminding the spiky-haired boy of when he first set out for the mainland, back when he took the Hunter Exam all those years ago. He was setting out on a different quest now, though one that was no less important, perhaps even more so.
It was already mid-morning when the weather cleared enough for them to head out. Luck was on their side, as they'd managed to hitch a ride on a passing pickup truck headed in the direction they were going, and so they reached the port in record time. They spent another hour picking up a few more supplies at the market, and after a quick word to a certain ship captain/preliminary-stage examiner, they were on their way to the mainland, sails at full-mast. Speed was of the essence now.
Gon took a drink from the coffee mug he held in his hand. He was anxious. Gon deeply missed his friend, had wanted to see him for awhile now. But for some reason Gon just couldn't pull the trigger, couldn't ask his friend if he wanted to see each other again, maybe go on another adventure like the old days. He regretted that now, wondering if maybe he could have made a difference, if he could have stopped all this somehow. He shook his head in frustration; what's past is past, no use worrying about that now.
Briefly the young Hunter went over the plan he'd come up with, which wasn't much. He'd struggled at first, until he started asking himself: "What would Killua do?" It was a bit easier after that. Spending the past year dealing with heaps of schoolwork certainly helped too, if even a little. In the end, it boiled down to three points:
First, they had to keep moving. Easy enough, especially with the forged papers Killua had provided. He was lucky to have Killua's original instructions to use as a base in this regard, making only a few small changes to it. Gon was much better at that, changing what someone else had come up with to better suit what he needed (or more often, *wanted*) to do.
Second, he had to get his Nen powers back. He had a few ideas about this one. At first he considered calling up one of his Hunter contacts like Knuckle or Morel and just have them forcibly open his aura nodes. But that seemed too obvious, and there was no guarantee he'd be able to use his Nen as well as he was once able to if he took that route. No, he's going to need more than that.
And third, storming the Zoldyck mansion and rescuing Killua. Easier said than done. Quite so. And it was the part of his plan that he hadn't quite worked out yet. Well, outside of kicking the front door in and demanding to have his friend back.
Gon knew it wasn't going to be enough the way it was now. He only hoped he'd be able to figure the rest out along the way. He'd considered calling Leorio for help, thought of sending the others to him, but he could be being watched. And he had his own responsibilities, especially now that he was part of the Zodiacs. Plus, he had Kurapika's health to worry about...
If his aunt didn't hear back from him in two months, they were to carry out the rest of Killua's plan.
Turning back, he was about to check on his relatives when he caught sight of Alluka sitting among a pile of crates, looking down at the deck forlornly. A few steps brought him next to the poor girl, a friendly smile on his face.
"How're ya holding up?" the boy asked, taking a seat beside her. When Alluka didn't answer he pressed on. "You're worried about Killua, aren't you?" Still no answer, but Gon was undeterred. "Truth is, I am too. Even now, I can't help but wonder how he's doing, if he's okay. Sometimes, I even wonder if I were somehow to blame for it. It doesn't help that I've wanted to see him for a long time now. It's actually a little depressing." He looked down into his reflection in the coffee mug.
"You... do that too?"
Gon turned to Alluka, a small smile on his face at finally getting a response from the girl. "Uh-huh," he said with a nod. "But I guess, you can't really help it though, when it's someone important to you."
"Onii-chan is that important to you, then?" the raven-haired girl asked, looking at him out the corner of her eye.
"Yeah!" the boy beamed. "Killua's always been there for me when I needed him, trying to keep me on track even when I don't always listen -- *especially* when I don't listen -- and he's always had my back. And I just... wanna hang out with him, y'know? Like, everything just feels right when we're together, that everything's going to work out somehow. I owe him a lot, and honestly, I couldn't ask for a better friend than him." He paused for a moment then, before adding in a quiet tone, "I just wish I'd shown how much I appreciate him more..."
"Are you sure you can bring him back?" she asked.
"Absolutely I'm sure!" Gon replied with confidence. "I'll bring Killua back. I made a promise to both you and Nanika, didn't I? I always take my promises seriously." He smiled reassuringly at the little girl, eventually getting a small smile in response. It was awhile before either of them spoke again.
"...Do you like Onii-chan?"
"Of course I do!" Gon said proudly. "I mean, what's not to like? He's athletic, strong, smart, and he can move so fast. And so quietly, too! And that thing he does with electricity? He's one of the absolute coolest people I know. I admire him a lot, of course I like him!"
"I didn't mean it like that," Alluka said shaking her head. "I mean, do you *like* him? As in, not as a friend."
"Huh?" Gon looked at her in mild confusion, taking a sip of his coffee. "How do you mean?"
The tone in her the girl's voice made her meaning very clear. "Do you... love him?"
Gon spat up his coffee, blushing profusely and breaking into a coughing fit as his drink went down the wrong way. "*Wh-what?!*"
"Do you love him?"
"Wha-...? I-I, no...! I mean, as a friend, yes, but... n-not *that* way!" Gon stuttered, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "Whatever made you think that?!"
"Nothing. It's just the way you two talk about each other. Sometimes Onii-chan will get this odd look in his eyes -- like the one you had just a minute ago. I guess I always thought there was something more to it. Never mind..."
Gon silently stared into his coffee mug, face redder than a tomato. Sure, Killua was attractive, you'd have to be blind not to see that. And yes, they spent their time adventuring almost constantly together. But just because Gon wanted to spend almost every waking moment with him, or that he terribly missed hearing his voice and seeing his smile, it didn't mean he was in love with him!
...Did it?
Suddenly the atmosphere around them felt *very* awkward.
Gon just sat there for a moment gathering himself, more than a little confused and trying to figure a way to break the silence. Here he was trying to cheer up Alluka and then this happens? He was still struggling with what to say when his ear caught a familiar sound, a smile slowly forming on his face.
"Hey, Alluka? Wanna see something cool?" The boy stood motioning for her to follow him. When Alluka got close enough he took her hand and guided her towards the bow of the boat, leaning over the rail and directing her attention to the water. "Look."
What she saw made her smile the biggest smile Gon had seen her give.
"Dolphins!" Alluka said in awe, watching the animals leap out of the water and gracefully chase each other just beneath the surface.
Below them were about a dozen dolphins swimming alongside the front of the boat, riding the bow wake as the ship cut through the water at speed. The chirping sounds they made were melodious and cheerful, obviously having fun following around this alien curiosity as it traveled across their domain.
"I've never seen dolphins in real life before!" That smile and that innocent wonder in her eyes made Gon happy, fully understanding why Killua was so protective of his little sister. He would want to see her like this too. Pushing aside all other thoughts for now he watches the little girl laugh, forgetting all her worries if only for a little while. It is at this point Gon made himself a promise.
He'd always believed that no matter how bad things got, it would all work out in the end, and he still believed that. Things *will* work out this time.
He would make sure of it.
~*~
The place wasn't that large, just room enough for a bed, a desk, a table, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. A television sat recessed into a small entertainment center opposite the foot of the bed. He'd paid in advance, all in cash plus a little extra, which pleased the proprietor greatly, in exchange for a little discretion on his part. It might not be the most luxurious he'd ever been in, but it certainly wasn't the worst.
'This'll do just fine,' Gon thought as he locked the door behind him, eyeing the small motel room he'd be staying in for the next few days.
It was just after sunrise when they made the mainland. After a quick breakfast at a nearby coffee shop they bade their goodbyes, sharing one last moment together, one last embrace before parting ways.
"Be a good girl," he'd said to Alluka. She'd gotten this look in her eyes before she darted forward and put her arms around him, on the verge of tears. She was smiling when she pulled back however, confident Gon would bring her brother back.
Afterwards, Aunt Mito and the others entered one of the nearby travel agencies while Gon took a nearly two-hour bus ride into the next town. As long as they didn't stay in one place for too long, they should be fine, and their forged IDs should keep any pursuers guessing as to their true whereabouts, at least for awhile. Gon himself had taken a bundle of cash, a single debit card, his forged papers and a burner cell, giving the rest to Aunt Mito along with the other burn phone. Only he knew the number; he'd call them once it was over and it was safe for them to return.
Walking over the to desk he set his backpack on the chair, catching a glimpse of himself in the small mirror. Gon hadn't bothered with a disguise other than slicking back his hair and wearing a red turtleneck and blue jeans, while his aunt and great-grandmother went simple with dark sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats, with Alluka opting for, surprisingly, a more tomboyish look with a blue hoodie and dark-gray short pants, actually looking pretty good on her. Whatever worked, he guessed...
Running a hand through his scalp Gon shook his black hair loose, returning it to its natural spiky appearance before stripping down to his dark-gray boxer-briefs. Taking his place atop the bed, Gon sat cross-legged facing the door and closed his eyes. His lightly-tanned muscular frame relaxed as his breathing evened out, his pulse slowing to a calm, steady rhythm, and soon his mind emptied of all thought, the spiky-haired boy entering a deep meditative state. It was a new habit Gon normally did before bed, a ritual he'd started not long after finding out he'd lost his Nen powers, if he ever felt ready (or worthy) enough to truly reclaim his status as a Hunter. He knew that if he kept doing these exercises, given enough time he'd be able to reawaken his powers on his own, if even a little at a time -- he'd always had an innate talent for it. Even now he could feel his Nen at the extreme edges of his consciousness, that familiar feeling of being immersed in a warm viscous liquid just out of reach.
But time was a luxury he didn't have right now.
When Gon next opened his eyes it was a few minutes before noon. Just time enough for a quick shower and some lunch before he went ahead with the next step of his plan.
~*~
He stood on the balcony of the suite they were staying in, watching the hustle and bustle of the sprawling city around him. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky and a light, refreshing breeze was blowing, altogether giving an almost relaxing atmosphere.
He'd received the letter earlier that day, the attendant at the front desk calling him over as he returned from a late lunch and handing him the piece of mail. It had been sent via priority overnight mail, paid for in cash most likely, and had no return address. Curious, he opened the envelope and read the letter inside.
"Wing-san,
It's me, Gon. I'm sorry if we haven't talked much lately. I hope you and Zushi are doing okay. I'm writing because something came up and I really need your help. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, but could you please re-train me in using Nen? I can't tell you why right now, and I didn't want to just show up, but it's really, really important. I'm in a bit of a pinch right now...
Anyway, I'll be staying at the Silverlight Motel in Kalma for about a week. The phone number's on the bottom, room six. My cell number too. Please, call me or something if we can meet up. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
-Gon
PS: And before I forget, if you can, could you please get any new footage of Hisoka's fights? And you might know him as Gittarackur, but if you can, could you find any footage of a guy named Illumi too? He probably doesn't go there, but I wanted to ask just in case. Thanks again! Bye!"
Wing looked out over the city again, adjusting his glasses as he scanned the metropolis below. Their private suite at Heaven's Arena gave him quite a view, allowing him to see quite a long distance away. Even now the faint din of the city reached him, the lively inhabitants going about their daily business as usual.
Right now though, he was focused on the presence of a fairly powerful Nen user hidden on one of the nearby rooftops.
He'd noticed that same presence as early as that morning. Whoever it was, he was good; in fact, Wing might not have noticed if he hadn't by chance caught a reflection of him in the mirror of a parked car while walking down the street. He pretended not to notice, of course, but at that point he was much more on-guard, and hadn't lost contact of him since. He wasn't an Assistant Master of the Shingen-Ryu for nothing, after all.
He'll have to do something about that...
But for now he just seemed to be watching them, for what exactly Wing wasn't sure, but after reading Gon's message he suspected it had something to do with his former student's current situation.
Wing idly fiddled with the sleeve of his polo shirt. He had some reservations about training him again; after all, he'd seen the results of Gon pushing too far, of him losing control over his emotions, and knowing he was the one to first teach him about Nen, it didn't sit well with him. Weighing his options, after a few minutes he stepped back into the suite, closing the sliding glass door behind him, and turned to his apprentice who stood in the center of the room. Wing smiled as he watched, a well-developed aura calmly but powerfully flowing around the boy's body like caged fire.
"Zushi, pack your bags. We're going on a little trip."
After taking a deep breath the young Nen user slowly opened his eyes, his aura receding into his small but well-built frame. Exuding a confidence borne of diligent training, he turned to his master and stood at attention.
"Osu!"
~*~TO BE CONTINUED...~*~
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
CHAPTER NOTES: Yeah, I'll admit that was a bit clunky. I'll probably go back to it at some point and fix it up a little, but for now, I think it'll do. Hopefully the next chapter will, uh... "make up" for it! <wink wink>
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Chapter 03: Starting X Over
By: Nobuhiko Satori
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES: New installment up! I hope I'll be able to keep up this pace, as I'm still sometimes prone to just freezing at the keyboard when I want to get stuff written down. Save for a few odds and ends I actually have a lot of this story planned out already, with the next couple of chapters already in varying degrees of completion; it's the getting it all written down that's the tricky part. Story of my life... Anyway, I hope you enjoy Chapter Three!
WARNING: Before you go any further, please be warned that this is a yaoi fanfic. That is, it is about a romantic and/or sexual relationship between males. And please note that this fanfic will contain violent and disturbing imagery, as well as graphic and explicit sexual situations. Do not continue reading if any of this offends you in any way.
DISCLAIMER: The story contained within this fanfic is the sole property of the author. Hunter X Hunter and all related characters and trademarks are the sole property of Shueisha/Madhouse/Yoshihiro Togashi, and all other trademarks mentioned herein are the sole property of their respective copyright owners, and the author makes no claims as to owning them. This fanfic is made purely for entertainment purposes only and is completely non-profit. No copyright infringement is intended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
LEGENDS KEY:
"Text" = speech
'Text' = thoughts, quotations in speech
*Text* = italics, emphasis
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Midday. The Freecss household was silent. Almost eerily so.
Within it now were several shadowy figures, moving with speed and efficiency among the rooms ensuring every corner had been searched; the bedrooms, the bathroom, the kitchen, the cellar -- no corner, no space was left unchecked. This was already the third time they'd conducted the search, top to bottom, and still they'd found nothing.
The rough seas had held them back for much longer than they had anticipated, but once they made port on Whale Island they made up for the lost time on foot; what was usually a half-day's journey they'd completed in less than half the time. At first they just watched the house from a distance for another half-hour, and when no signs of movement came they entered the house. It was obvious now though that the damage had been done, and they had missed their target as a result.
"No, we just missed them. The storm caused a significant delay," one of the figures said into his cellphone. "We're doing the search again, but we've still found nothing. The surrounding area too." A pause. "No clues as to where they were headed, they covered their tracks well. No, no word from the docks. They must've slipped out while we were still out at sea." Another pause, longer this time. "Yes. Yes. Understood." Call ended he turned to the others in the room with him.
"Pack it up. We're moving out."
In an instant they were gone, not a trace of their presence left, the house just as silent as when they'd arrived.
~*~
Gon looked out across the water, standing by the railing on the starboard side of the ship. He let his red-trimmed green jacket hang open, billowing in the wind. He could taste the salt of the ocean breeze, could smell it with each breath he took, reminding the spiky-haired boy of when he first set out for the mainland, back when he took the Hunter Exam all those years ago. He was setting out on a different quest now, though one that was no less important, perhaps even more so.
It was already mid-morning when the weather cleared enough for them to head out. Luck was on their side, as they'd managed to hitch a ride on a passing pickup truck headed in the direction they were going, and so they reached the port in record time. They spent another hour picking up a few more supplies at the market, and after a quick word to a certain ship captain/preliminary-stage examiner, they were on their way to the mainland, sails at full-mast. Speed was of the essence now.
Gon took a drink from the coffee mug he held in his hand. He was anxious. Gon deeply missed his friend, had wanted to see him for awhile now. But for some reason Gon just couldn't pull the trigger, couldn't ask his friend if he wanted to see each other again, maybe go on another adventure like the old days. He regretted that now, wondering if maybe he could have made a difference, if he could have stopped all this somehow. He shook his head in frustration; what's past is past, no use worrying about that now.
Briefly the young Hunter went over the plan he'd come up with, which wasn't much. He'd struggled at first, until he started asking himself: "What would Killua do?" It was a bit easier after that. Spending the past year dealing with heaps of schoolwork certainly helped too, if even a little. In the end, it boiled down to three points:
First, they had to keep moving. Easy enough, especially with the forged papers Killua had provided. He was lucky to have Killua's original instructions to use as a base in this regard, making only a few small changes to it. Gon was much better at that, changing what someone else had come up with to better suit what he needed (or more often, *wanted*) to do.
Second, he had to get his Nen powers back. He had a few ideas about this one. At first he considered calling up one of his Hunter contacts like Knuckle or Morel and just have them forcibly open his aura nodes. But that seemed too obvious, and there was no guarantee he'd be able to use his Nen as well as he was once able to if he took that route. No, he's going to need more than that.
And third, storming the Zoldyck mansion and rescuing Killua. Easier said than done. Quite so. And it was the part of his plan that he hadn't quite worked out yet. Well, outside of kicking the front door in and demanding to have his friend back.
Gon knew it wasn't going to be enough the way it was now. He only hoped he'd be able to figure the rest out along the way. He'd considered calling Leorio for help, thought of sending the others to him, but he could be being watched. And he had his own responsibilities, especially now that he was part of the Zodiacs. Plus, he had Kurapika's health to worry about...
If his aunt didn't hear back from him in two months, they were to carry out the rest of Killua's plan.
Turning back, he was about to check on his relatives when he caught sight of Alluka sitting among a pile of crates, looking down at the deck forlornly. A few steps brought him next to the poor girl, a friendly smile on his face.
"How're ya holding up?" the boy asked, taking a seat beside her. When Alluka didn't answer he pressed on. "You're worried about Killua, aren't you?" Still no answer, but Gon was undeterred. "Truth is, I am too. Even now, I can't help but wonder how he's doing, if he's okay. Sometimes, I even wonder if I were somehow to blame for it. It doesn't help that I've wanted to see him for a long time now. It's actually a little depressing." He looked down into his reflection in the coffee mug.
"You... do that too?"
Gon turned to Alluka, a small smile on his face at finally getting a response from the girl. "Uh-huh," he said with a nod. "But I guess, you can't really help it though, when it's someone important to you."
"Onii-chan is that important to you, then?" the raven-haired girl asked, looking at him out the corner of her eye.
"Yeah!" the boy beamed. "Killua's always been there for me when I needed him, trying to keep me on track even when I don't always listen -- *especially* when I don't listen -- and he's always had my back. And I just... wanna hang out with him, y'know? Like, everything just feels right when we're together, that everything's going to work out somehow. I owe him a lot, and honestly, I couldn't ask for a better friend than him." He paused for a moment then, before adding in a quiet tone, "I just wish I'd shown how much I appreciate him more..."
"Are you sure you can bring him back?" she asked.
"Absolutely I'm sure!" Gon replied with confidence. "I'll bring Killua back. I made a promise to both you and Nanika, didn't I? I always take my promises seriously." He smiled reassuringly at the little girl, eventually getting a small smile in response. It was awhile before either of them spoke again.
"...Do you like Onii-chan?"
"Of course I do!" Gon said proudly. "I mean, what's not to like? He's athletic, strong, smart, and he can move so fast. And so quietly, too! And that thing he does with electricity? He's one of the absolute coolest people I know. I admire him a lot, of course I like him!"
"I didn't mean it like that," Alluka said shaking her head. "I mean, do you *like* him? As in, not as a friend."
"Huh?" Gon looked at her in mild confusion, taking a sip of his coffee. "How do you mean?"
The tone in her the girl's voice made her meaning very clear. "Do you... love him?"
Gon spat up his coffee, blushing profusely and breaking into a coughing fit as his drink went down the wrong way. "*Wh-what?!*"
"Do you love him?"
"Wha-...? I-I, no...! I mean, as a friend, yes, but... n-not *that* way!" Gon stuttered, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. "Whatever made you think that?!"
"Nothing. It's just the way you two talk about each other. Sometimes Onii-chan will get this odd look in his eyes -- like the one you had just a minute ago. I guess I always thought there was something more to it. Never mind..."
Gon silently stared into his coffee mug, face redder than a tomato. Sure, Killua was attractive, you'd have to be blind not to see that. And yes, they spent their time adventuring almost constantly together. But just because Gon wanted to spend almost every waking moment with him, or that he terribly missed hearing his voice and seeing his smile, it didn't mean he was in love with him!
...Did it?
Suddenly the atmosphere around them felt *very* awkward.
Gon just sat there for a moment gathering himself, more than a little confused and trying to figure a way to break the silence. Here he was trying to cheer up Alluka and then this happens? He was still struggling with what to say when his ear caught a familiar sound, a smile slowly forming on his face.
"Hey, Alluka? Wanna see something cool?" The boy stood motioning for her to follow him. When Alluka got close enough he took her hand and guided her towards the bow of the boat, leaning over the rail and directing her attention to the water. "Look."
What she saw made her smile the biggest smile Gon had seen her give.
"Dolphins!" Alluka said in awe, watching the animals leap out of the water and gracefully chase each other just beneath the surface.
Below them were about a dozen dolphins swimming alongside the front of the boat, riding the bow wake as the ship cut through the water at speed. The chirping sounds they made were melodious and cheerful, obviously having fun following around this alien curiosity as it traveled across their domain.
"I've never seen dolphins in real life before!" That smile and that innocent wonder in her eyes made Gon happy, fully understanding why Killua was so protective of his little sister. He would want to see her like this too. Pushing aside all other thoughts for now he watches the little girl laugh, forgetting all her worries if only for a little while. It is at this point Gon made himself a promise.
He'd always believed that no matter how bad things got, it would all work out in the end, and he still believed that. Things *will* work out this time.
He would make sure of it.
~*~
The place wasn't that large, just room enough for a bed, a desk, a table, a bathroom, and a kitchenette. A television sat recessed into a small entertainment center opposite the foot of the bed. He'd paid in advance, all in cash plus a little extra, which pleased the proprietor greatly, in exchange for a little discretion on his part. It might not be the most luxurious he'd ever been in, but it certainly wasn't the worst.
'This'll do just fine,' Gon thought as he locked the door behind him, eyeing the small motel room he'd be staying in for the next few days.
It was just after sunrise when they made the mainland. After a quick breakfast at a nearby coffee shop they bade their goodbyes, sharing one last moment together, one last embrace before parting ways.
"Be a good girl," he'd said to Alluka. She'd gotten this look in her eyes before she darted forward and put her arms around him, on the verge of tears. She was smiling when she pulled back however, confident Gon would bring her brother back.
Afterwards, Aunt Mito and the others entered one of the nearby travel agencies while Gon took a nearly two-hour bus ride into the next town. As long as they didn't stay in one place for too long, they should be fine, and their forged IDs should keep any pursuers guessing as to their true whereabouts, at least for awhile. Gon himself had taken a bundle of cash, a single debit card, his forged papers and a burner cell, giving the rest to Aunt Mito along with the other burn phone. Only he knew the number; he'd call them once it was over and it was safe for them to return.
Walking over the to desk he set his backpack on the chair, catching a glimpse of himself in the small mirror. Gon hadn't bothered with a disguise other than slicking back his hair and wearing a red turtleneck and blue jeans, while his aunt and great-grandmother went simple with dark sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats, with Alluka opting for, surprisingly, a more tomboyish look with a blue hoodie and dark-gray short pants, actually looking pretty good on her. Whatever worked, he guessed...
Running a hand through his scalp Gon shook his black hair loose, returning it to its natural spiky appearance before stripping down to his dark-gray boxer-briefs. Taking his place atop the bed, Gon sat cross-legged facing the door and closed his eyes. His lightly-tanned muscular frame relaxed as his breathing evened out, his pulse slowing to a calm, steady rhythm, and soon his mind emptied of all thought, the spiky-haired boy entering a deep meditative state. It was a new habit Gon normally did before bed, a ritual he'd started not long after finding out he'd lost his Nen powers, if he ever felt ready (or worthy) enough to truly reclaim his status as a Hunter. He knew that if he kept doing these exercises, given enough time he'd be able to reawaken his powers on his own, if even a little at a time -- he'd always had an innate talent for it. Even now he could feel his Nen at the extreme edges of his consciousness, that familiar feeling of being immersed in a warm viscous liquid just out of reach.
But time was a luxury he didn't have right now.
When Gon next opened his eyes it was a few minutes before noon. Just time enough for a quick shower and some lunch before he went ahead with the next step of his plan.
~*~
He stood on the balcony of the suite they were staying in, watching the hustle and bustle of the sprawling city around him. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky and a light, refreshing breeze was blowing, altogether giving an almost relaxing atmosphere.
He'd received the letter earlier that day, the attendant at the front desk calling him over as he returned from a late lunch and handing him the piece of mail. It had been sent via priority overnight mail, paid for in cash most likely, and had no return address. Curious, he opened the envelope and read the letter inside.
"Wing-san,
It's me, Gon. I'm sorry if we haven't talked much lately. I hope you and Zushi are doing okay. I'm writing because something came up and I really need your help. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time, but could you please re-train me in using Nen? I can't tell you why right now, and I didn't want to just show up, but it's really, really important. I'm in a bit of a pinch right now...
Anyway, I'll be staying at the Silverlight Motel in Kalma for about a week. The phone number's on the bottom, room six. My cell number too. Please, call me or something if we can meet up. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
-Gon
PS: And before I forget, if you can, could you please get any new footage of Hisoka's fights? And you might know him as Gittarackur, but if you can, could you find any footage of a guy named Illumi too? He probably doesn't go there, but I wanted to ask just in case. Thanks again! Bye!"
Wing looked out over the city again, adjusting his glasses as he scanned the metropolis below. Their private suite at Heaven's Arena gave him quite a view, allowing him to see quite a long distance away. Even now the faint din of the city reached him, the lively inhabitants going about their daily business as usual.
Right now though, he was focused on the presence of a fairly powerful Nen user hidden on one of the nearby rooftops.
He'd noticed that same presence as early as that morning. Whoever it was, he was good; in fact, Wing might not have noticed if he hadn't by chance caught a reflection of him in the mirror of a parked car while walking down the street. He pretended not to notice, of course, but at that point he was much more on-guard, and hadn't lost contact of him since. He wasn't an Assistant Master of the Shingen-Ryu for nothing, after all.
He'll have to do something about that...
But for now he just seemed to be watching them, for what exactly Wing wasn't sure, but after reading Gon's message he suspected it had something to do with his former student's current situation.
Wing idly fiddled with the sleeve of his polo shirt. He had some reservations about training him again; after all, he'd seen the results of Gon pushing too far, of him losing control over his emotions, and knowing he was the one to first teach him about Nen, it didn't sit well with him. Weighing his options, after a few minutes he stepped back into the suite, closing the sliding glass door behind him, and turned to his apprentice who stood in the center of the room. Wing smiled as he watched, a well-developed aura calmly but powerfully flowing around the boy's body like caged fire.
"Zushi, pack your bags. We're going on a little trip."
After taking a deep breath the young Nen user slowly opened his eyes, his aura receding into his small but well-built frame. Exuding a confidence borne of diligent training, he turned to his master and stood at attention.
"Osu!"
~*~TO BE CONTINUED...~*~
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
CHAPTER NOTES: Yeah, I'll admit that was a bit clunky. I'll probably go back to it at some point and fix it up a little, but for now, I think it'll do. Hopefully the next chapter will, uh... "make up" for it! <wink wink>
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------