Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction ❯ Arrival ❯ Slow X and X Steady ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Nobuhiko Satori 
Running might be a good idea...
Anime/Manga: Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.18.2015 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.9K | Visits: 408 | Status: Work In Progress
Running might be a good idea...
Anime/Manga: Hunter X Hunter Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.18.2015 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.9K | Visits: 408 | Status: Work In Progress
Arrival
Chapter 06: Slow X and X Steady
By: Nobuhiko Satori
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: Aaaaannnd... here's Chapter Six! Please enjoy, minna-san!
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Ten = The process of keeping one's aura nodes open, while having the user's aura flow through and around the body rather than away from it. It is the most basic form of defense against Nen.
It was late in the afternoon. A soft breeze blew through a lightly-wooded area not far from the dojo, bringing a much-needed coolness to the two youths standing some ten paces apart, standing ready and prepared to strike at a moment's notice. It was a location they often used for sparring about thirty or so meters in diameter, the clearing itself broken only by a single large boulder before ending at the treeline. For awhile they just stood there, sizing each other up and waiting for the other to make a move, the silence punctuated only by the calls of wild birds in the distance.
In an instant Zushi charged, covering the distance with ease ready to deliver a punch leveled at the other boy. Gon quickly raised his arms, crossing them in front of him to block Zushi's attack. The shorter of the two kept up the pressure, throwing punches and kicks that Gon managed to block and dodge handily. In the midst of this the spiky-haired Hunter forced back one of Zushi's punches, deflecting it with his arm, before beginning to attack himself, unleashing a series of quick blows and putting Zushi on the defensive. Zushi's smaller stature allowed him to dodge more effectively, but still his defense didn't last long under Gon's constant barrage, and landing one good, hard right straight he forced his defenses open, before landing a swift kick to Zushi's abdomen and pushing him back.
Zetsu = The ability to stop almost all outflow of Nen. Because the user is no longer surrounded by their own aura, they can become more sensitive to the Nen of others, while also hiding their own presence from them. Can be dangerous as it leaves one open to any Nen attack.
Undeterred Zushi quickly shrugged off the hit and found his footing, readied himself, and charged again. This time Gon met him with a punch aimed at Zushi's head, only to miss as the younger boy dodged to the side and circled behind him. Gon turned swinging his arm around hard in an attempt to connect with a backhand, but that one split-second was enough for Zushi, and he darted towards the trees.
Gon blinked. Zushi's presence had suddenly faded away, to the point that Gon's very perception of him was greatly diminished. Even when he was sure he'd caught sight of Zushi between the trees around him, it felt more like he was seeing a mirage, not quite able to focus on the other boy despite him being just a short distance away. This kept Gon from committing to a full-on attack; if he missed, he'd be wide open, just like what happened in their previous session. Indeed, a few times Zushi ran up close to him, baiting him into an attack. Gon steeled himself, taking a defensive stance instead. He heard footfalls to his left, then grass rustling to his right, and with realization looked up to see Zushi a few meters in mid-air, having jumped from behind the boulder just as his aura revealed itself, his leg swinging downwards to land a hard kick at his head.
Ren = The process of outputting a high amount of Nen and keeping it on the body, expanding the size and intensity of one's aura. Increases the user's physical strength and durability and provides a large pool of Nen for the use of personal or more specialized techniques.
With a sudden burst of aura Gon raised both arms, blocking the kick as it came down before deftly stepping aside to his right, letting Zushi's remaining momentum carry him past as Gon sent his left fist hard at the shorter boy's face.
Reacting quickly Zushi blocked the punch, just barely, but the impact was powerful enough to send him tumbling back by about six or seven meters, kicking up dust as he went. He managed to catch himself a second later, propping himself up on one knee, but Gon didn't ease up, and before he could fully ready himself Gon was almost on top of him, the other's right hook heading towards his head, the closed fist glowing brightly with the Enhancer's aura. Zushi winced...
"STOP!"
The two boys froze that instant, the voice loud and commanding. Zushi cracked open an eye to see Gon's fist just a scant few centimeters away from him. The two just looked at each other for a few seconds as they caught their breaths, before they both stepped back and bowed to one another.
"Osu! Thank you very much!"
It had been two weeks now since Gon had begun his re-training. That time had been mostly about getting his Ten, Zetsu and Ren down pat, only occasionally dipping into the more advanced techniques as needed. These basics were Nen's foundation, and mastering these will make the rest easier to learn. With this phase of his training over, from tomorrow onward they were to focus on those almost exclusively. Practice was mostly done alongside Zushi, seeing as he seemed to respond best when in competition with someone, and being more practiced with his Nen he could keep pace with him, keeping himself at just slightly above Gon's level as they went. Gon would freely admit that he'd missed this, wondering just how he could have even *existed* this past year without it. The lightness of his body, the power surging through every inch of his being, the feeling of being able to take on anything the world dared throw at him...
Gon felt just a little more whole now.
His progress had been quick, even quicker than when he first learned to use Nen, and his determination easily showed through, each practice, each exercise helping to remind his body how it was like to use his Nen. Zushi had been surprised with how fast the other boy was advancing, to say the least; Gon had always had an exceptional talent for Nen, but his current rate of progress was at another level entirely compared to before.
"Alright, I'll admit it; maybe you *can* do this in six weeks," Zushi said, idly running a hand through his short chestnut-brown hair.
"...No," Gon answered, a stony expression on his face. "At this rate, it'll still take me at least twice as long to even get close to what I could do last year." His right hand clenched tightly. "Again." Zushi nodded and was about to take a ready stance, eager for a bit of payback when they were interrupted.
"No, that'll be enough for today," Wing began as he approached the two, dusting off his black pants. "It's getting late enough as it is. You two should get cleaned up, Shinya-kun is probably preparing dinner as we speak."
"But, Wing-san...!" Gon started.
"Gon-kun," Wing interjected suddenly, expression stern and more than a little insistent. "That's enough. This is the fifth time you've sparred with Zushi just this afternoon, you'll be of no use to anyone if you overexert yourself and get sick as a result. Both of you." Then his usual calm smile returned. "You also need your rest, after all."
Gon was about to object further when his shoulders slumped and he sighed resignedly. "...Yes."
'Not yet...'
"Good. Let's head back to the dojo, then."
At that the two boys stood at attention and bowed to the Assistant Master. "Osu!"
~*~
"Yeaahhhhh... That's the stuff...!" Zushi said with a pleasured sigh, sinking deeper into the water as he settled into the dojo's hot spring. He leaned against the smooth rocks lining the hot spring, relaxing as he worked out the kinks in his shoulders, the water doing wonders for his stress, his trim, athletic form feeling lighter by the second. After awhile Zushi dunked himself under the hot water for a few seconds, surfacing again just in time to see Gon finish washing up and walk to the edge of the pool, wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist.
Now, Zushi was comfortable enough with his own sexuality to admit a guy is good-looking, and knew he wasn't too bad himself. His eyes trailed down from Gon's face, down his well-defined chest and over his torso, noting a prominent scar on his left shoulder, droplets of water clinging to his lightly-tanned skin. His usually spiky hair was down, the wet locks framing his face rather nicely. He had quite an amazing build; Gon wasn't overly bulky like some people, his lithe but muscular frame perfect for the kind of fighter he was, powerful but fast and agile, and despite his stature he packed quite a punch. His eyes trailed lower, lingering along the edge of Gon's towel...
It took Zushi a few seconds to realize what he was doing and he blushed deeply, sinking down into the water in hopes the water and steam would hide the redness of his cheeks. He actually had to remind himself to avert his gaze when Gon started to undo his towel, trying not to stare. The sound of sloshing water told him of Gon's entry into the pool, and after waiting a few more seconds thought it safe to look back.
"Aahhh... That feels sooo good!" Gon gave a long sigh as he settled into the water, the tension in his muscles melting away already. He leaned back, strong arms draped along the edge of the hot spring, a relaxed smile on his lips. He stayed that way for a few minutes, just enjoying himself for a bit. Cracking open an eye he noticed Zushi's eyes on him, and gave the other boy a warm, friendly smile. "Is something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing's wrong," Zushi answered, just a little bit embarrassed. Of course, that only piqued Gon's curiosity, prompting him to wade closer to his younger companion.
"You're all flushed. Are you sure nothing's wrong?" the spiky-haired boy persisted, cocking his head to the side as he moved closer.
"I'm fine! I'm fine! I-I'm just... a little more tired than I thought, that's all!" Zushi said, waving his hands insistently. Gon arched an eyebrow at that.
"If you say so..." the young Hunter said dubiously, making his way back to his original perch.
Zushi glanced to the side, scratching at his cheek nervously, but when he turned back Gon had disappeared. There wasn't even a stray ripple in the water.
"Gon-san? Gon-san?!" He called out several times, looking around and getting just a little worried. 'Did he slip or something?' He was considering getting help when the water practically exploded next to him, the hot water raining down on him as Gon suddenly burst to the surface. "Hey! What the-...?" Zushi managed to shield himself as the other boy continued to splash him with water, prompting him to retaliate in kind, lunging at Gon and pushing him under. Gon broke away and the two resorted to splashing at each other again and chasing each other around the pool, the two laughing from the horseplay. This went on for nearly a minute when a loud, booming voice stopped them in their tracks.
"NO ROUGHHOUSING IN THE HOT SPRING!!!"
At the edge of the pool was Shinya, kneeling on the ground with a small tray set next to him. The two teens could only stare back him sheepishly, the other boy with an impassive look on his face and coughing politely.
"I thought you two might like some tea while you bathe," Shinya said coolly and without missing a beat, motioning to the tray beside him. On it was a traditional tea set with two cups and a teapot. The smell of the tea was mild and calming, permeating through even the scent of the hot spring itself. "Your dinner should be ready in half an hour. Now, if you'll excuse me..." With that he gave a curt bow, stood up and calmly left, the two boys swimming toward the edge of the hot spring.
Gon reached the edge first, handing Zushi the first cup before taking its twin as his own, the two settling down among the rocks once more. "Hey, Zushi? What's Shinya-san's Nen ability like?"
"Don't know," Zushi replied, taking a sip of tea from his cup. "I don't think I've ever seen him use it before, actually. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. He seems to get a lot done even though he's the only other person here besides us." Gon downed his tea in one go, taking the teapot and refilling his cup as he spoke. "Anyway, thanks for putting up with me earlier. I know I'm pushing a little bit, it's just... I don't want to take any longer than I need to."
"It's okay. I want to help Killua-san too, and if I can do that just by sparring with you, then it's the least I could do." The younger of the two took another sip of his tea. "It's amazing that you're doing all this just to help Killua-san. With what you're up against, most people would leave it to others to deal with things like this, even if it were their friend. He's lucky to have a someone like you."
"Lucky?" Gon muttered under his breath. It was subtle, but Zushi noticed Gon's shoulders sag a bit at that. "Sometimes I wonder..."
"Gon-san..?"
"Nothing! It's nothing." Gon shook his head reassuringly, leaning back against the smooth rocks of the hot spring.
Zushi gave him a quizzical look. "Aren't you worried about your relatives, though? Killua-san's sister too?"
Gon shook his head no. "My Aunt Mito is the strongest, most intelligent woman I know. They'll be fine, I'm sure of it," he said confidently.
In truth he was a little worried; it was hard not to. It had been over two weeks now since they'd separated, and more than once he'd been tempted to call them on his burn cell just to check if they were alright. But what he'd said was true; if anyone could give their pursuers the run-around, especially with the resources Killua had left them, it was his aunt. Of this he had no doubt.
'Killua, I hope you're okay...'
The two boys sat there in silence for a few minutes, basking in the relaxing heat of the water. Gon took his time finishing the rest of his tea before he spoke again.
"We should probably get out soon, dinner should be ready any minute now," the young Hunter said, splashing himself in the face a few times and running a hand through his hair.
"I'll go get the tray, then." Zushi downed the rest of his drink, reaching for the tray behind them and returning his cup to it.
"It's okay, I'll take care of it." In one fluid motion Gon was out of the water, kneeling down on the ground to set the tray in order before picking it up, rising onto his feet and taking it with him into the changing room. The fact that Gon's towel remained draped over his left shoulder the entire time wasn't lost on Zushi, his blush from before returning with a vengeance to color his cheeks a bright red.
'.....He's got me beat!'
~*~
The lights were bright, the arena hot under their glare, the gathered audience cheering loudly from the stands. The bout had been going on for a good ten minutes now. His breathing was heavy, sweat rolling off him as he gathered himself for his next attack. With a surge of energy fueled by rage he focused his Nen into his hands, ready to charge at his opponent. He stood at the center of the arena, calmly waiting for him to make the next move, a faint trace of a smile on his lips, numerous playing cards scattered on the arena floor around him. He'd been waiting for this rematch for years, the chance for revenge finally within reach, and he wasn't about to disappoint.
In a flash he charged at his opponent, covering the distance with remarkable speed. In response his opponent calmly, almost casually produced another handful of playing cards and flicked them all his way with ease. He wasn't about to let himself be done in by something that cheap, and pushing ahead he avoided and deflected them all with little difficulty, weaving left and right until the cards finally ran out. Seeing his chance he pressed forward without missing a beat, faster, arms out and hands surging with Nen. It was obvious at a glance that he'd channeled very nearly all his aura into his hands for this one final attack, his deep-seated killing intent palpable in the air. But through it all, his opponent never even moved an inch from where he stood.
"TIME TO DIE!!!" he shouted, ready to bring his hands crashing down on to tear into his target, now just a scant few meters away. Without even looking, Hisoka raised his right hand high in the air at the last moment, seemingly unconcerned for his opponent. Hisoka slowly turned towards him, the smile on his face growing just slightly.
".....You first."
With a snap of his fingers, before the attacker could even react, the cards scattered across the floor flew up towards him, slicing the man through and through all over his body, shredded flesh, severed limbs and a fine mist of blood where he once stood. The playing cards floated around Hisoka in a spiralling pattern around him, the arena lights reflecting off the bright red mist. The smile never leaving his lips, Hisoka bowed slowly and deliberately towards the audience, much like any entertainer would at the end of a performance. The crowd went wild...
Gon's eyes narrowed as the image on the screen froze, Wing pausing the video with the remote in his hand.
"So... *that* happened," Zushi said, more than a little dumbfounded at the quite sudden -- and overly theatrical, and that was saying *a lot* -- end of the fight. Well, Hisoka did like to show off.
For the past few days now, this was how they'd spent their time after training; watching and studying video recordings of Hisoka's fights at Heaven's Arena. Gon had asked Wing to bring along a few when he'd asked for his help, and now they were making full use of those videos. Too bad they couldn't find any videos of Illumi's fights there, if he'd ever even competed there at all.
"Focus," Wing said, setting the remote down beside him. They were in the older male's room gathered around the table and facing the flatscreen on the far side of the room, watching video recordings of Hisoka's fights at the Heaven's Arena. Letting the two boys study the frozen image, the older male asked, "Now, what do you see?"
"At least a dozen strings, I think, all going from the cards he threw to his right hand," Gon said after a little while. "Hisoka used In on his Bungee Gum to keep his opponent from noticing them."
For the duration of the battle Hisoka hadn't even laid a finger on his opponent, not directly anyway, using only his playing cards to deal damage. No punches, no kicks. At first he'd kept one in each hand to cut up his opponent, darting in close to attack and jumping clear before he could counter, until he started just throwing them at range. But all the while Hisoka had been seeding the arena floor with cards connected by his Bungee Gum, all in anticipation of this last, all-out attack. His opponent running headlong right into it just ended the fight quicker.
"It was a trap all along," Zushi piped in, thinking for a few seconds. "Hisoka was laying a minefield." Gon nodded in agreement.
"Very good," Wing said. He rewound the video back to the scene in question, replaying it at a slower speed. "From the beginning this was Hisoka's plan. His opponent expected a more straight-up fight but Hisoka knew this, attacking from a distance with his cards and frustrating his opponent bit by bit making him easier to manipulate. Once the trap was set, all he had to do was lure his opponent in close, pull back on his Bungee Gum, and..." Wing paused the video again, at the exact moment the cards flew upward to slice through the unfortunate competitor several times over, cutting through him like so many warm knives through cold butter. He turned to the two boys. "Now tell me, what was the main cause of his defeat?"
".....He got impatient," Gon said after a moment, Zushi nodding in agreement beside him.
"Correct. He got too focused on attacking his opponent he forgot everything else," the older male said as he adjusted his glasses. "While there is merit in ending a battle quickly, if he'd taken a moment to assess the situation, it's entirely possible he could have avoided or found a way around Hisoka's trap. Instead, he let his emotions take control and he charged in blindly. You'll have to watch out for that." That last one was directed at Gon, who nodded in silence.
After a while Gon turned to Wing and asked, "Wing-san, if you were to face Hisoka in a fight, what would you do?" Wing rubbed his chin in thought.
"Well, running might be a good idea..." he said with a bemused smile. Zushi had this shocked look on his face, appalled his teacher would even suggest it, while Gon gave a nervous laugh, not at all sure how to react. Wing waved his hand in jest. "Alright, alright! Truth is, I have a pretty good idea as to what *I* would do, but it wouldn't be much fun if I just told you about it. It's much better if you figured it out on your own. Remember, this is part of your training too." That seemed to defuse the situation, but Gon still had this dubious look on his face. "Okay, I'll give you a hint. Oftentimes a person's greatest desire can also be their greatest weakness. Now, ask yourself: What is it that Hisoka wants above all else?"
Gon paused in thought, before answering, "A fight to the death."
"*Exactly*," Wing said emphatically. "Use that to your advantage."
Gon thought it over. He thought about it for awhile in fact. So much that his brain was just shy of shorting out from thinking about it so hard, when an odd calm suddenly came over him, eyes slowly widening in realization.
Wing smiled knowingly, nodding in approval. "As for any specifics, I might have a few suggestions, but that's for another time, I think." Wing ejected the disc from the player, returning the disc to its case and shutting off the player. "That ends training for today. Do you boys have any more questions? Or would you two like to watch something for a bit, wind down some before turning in?"
"Not tonight, Wing-san," Gon replied, shaking his head, the faint trace of a smile on his lips. "I think I'll turn in early, maybe do some light meditation before bed."
"Me too, Assistant Master," Zushi added in agreement.
"Then I'll see you two bright and early tomorrow morning!" Wing said, turning off the television as he stood, the two boys following suit and standing at attention.
"Osu! Thank you very much!"
~*~
The control room's lights were low, cutting down on the glare on the monitors arrayed along the console, silence over the speakers. Within, Illumi Zoldyck stood watch over the carnage shown, emotionless eyes scanning the screens around him. Blood splattered all over the walls of the sparring room, torn limbs and broken bodies scattered all across the floor. Scorch marks dotted the room and a hint of ozone permeated the atmosphere, showcasing the raw power behind them. He panned the camera to the figure standing in the center of it all, his athletic frame covered with streaks of blood that wasn't his own. He showed no signs of exhaustion at all.
The test had been a rousing success.
"Amazing! Truly amazing! Such speed... such *power*! A true heir to the Zoldyck name!" Kikyou Zoldyck beamed beside him, thoroughly impressed at what had transpired here just moments ago. Beside her Kalluto stood silently, his expression calm and neutral, having observed his brother's demonstration with her. "You're such a kind and diligent brother. I always knew you could bring out his true potential!"
"Thank you, mother. You know I've always had Kil's best interests at heart," Illumi said in response. "But a test in a lab is one thing, it's quite another to test something in the field..."
"Then, what do you have in mind?" Kikyou asked, mildly curious.
"Let's take him out for a test drive." One could infer there was a slight hint of eagerness, even excitement in his voice as he spoke, but his tone and facial expression remained the same throughout. "I have the perfect target in mind. And with a little luck, we might be able to kill two birds with one stone..."
~*~
Meanwhile, Gon sat cross-legged in his room once more, deep in meditation as his aura flowed around him. For a moment he felt a disturbance, a sense of foreboding he couldn't quite place. He pushed that feeling aside for now and went ahead with his meditation, unaware of the trials that lay before him.
~*~TO BE CONTINUED...~*~
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CHAPTER NOTES: First fight scene, yay! I mean yeah, it's just a sparring session between Gon and Zushi, and a video of Hisoka utterly curbstomping some poor unfortunate mook, but still! Seriously though, I'll probably come back to fix this up a bit, but I do hope I did the characters some justice in those scenes. So please, feel free to let me know what you all think. Comments, questions, suggestions, and violent reactions are highly welcomed! 'Til next time!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Chapter 06: Slow X and X Steady
By: Nobuhiko Satori
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Aaaaannnd... here's Chapter Six! Please enjoy, minna-san!
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Ten = The process of keeping one's aura nodes open, while having the user's aura flow through and around the body rather than away from it. It is the most basic form of defense against Nen.
It was late in the afternoon. A soft breeze blew through a lightly-wooded area not far from the dojo, bringing a much-needed coolness to the two youths standing some ten paces apart, standing ready and prepared to strike at a moment's notice. It was a location they often used for sparring about thirty or so meters in diameter, the clearing itself broken only by a single large boulder before ending at the treeline. For awhile they just stood there, sizing each other up and waiting for the other to make a move, the silence punctuated only by the calls of wild birds in the distance.
In an instant Zushi charged, covering the distance with ease ready to deliver a punch leveled at the other boy. Gon quickly raised his arms, crossing them in front of him to block Zushi's attack. The shorter of the two kept up the pressure, throwing punches and kicks that Gon managed to block and dodge handily. In the midst of this the spiky-haired Hunter forced back one of Zushi's punches, deflecting it with his arm, before beginning to attack himself, unleashing a series of quick blows and putting Zushi on the defensive. Zushi's smaller stature allowed him to dodge more effectively, but still his defense didn't last long under Gon's constant barrage, and landing one good, hard right straight he forced his defenses open, before landing a swift kick to Zushi's abdomen and pushing him back.
Zetsu = The ability to stop almost all outflow of Nen. Because the user is no longer surrounded by their own aura, they can become more sensitive to the Nen of others, while also hiding their own presence from them. Can be dangerous as it leaves one open to any Nen attack.
Undeterred Zushi quickly shrugged off the hit and found his footing, readied himself, and charged again. This time Gon met him with a punch aimed at Zushi's head, only to miss as the younger boy dodged to the side and circled behind him. Gon turned swinging his arm around hard in an attempt to connect with a backhand, but that one split-second was enough for Zushi, and he darted towards the trees.
Gon blinked. Zushi's presence had suddenly faded away, to the point that Gon's very perception of him was greatly diminished. Even when he was sure he'd caught sight of Zushi between the trees around him, it felt more like he was seeing a mirage, not quite able to focus on the other boy despite him being just a short distance away. This kept Gon from committing to a full-on attack; if he missed, he'd be wide open, just like what happened in their previous session. Indeed, a few times Zushi ran up close to him, baiting him into an attack. Gon steeled himself, taking a defensive stance instead. He heard footfalls to his left, then grass rustling to his right, and with realization looked up to see Zushi a few meters in mid-air, having jumped from behind the boulder just as his aura revealed itself, his leg swinging downwards to land a hard kick at his head.
Ren = The process of outputting a high amount of Nen and keeping it on the body, expanding the size and intensity of one's aura. Increases the user's physical strength and durability and provides a large pool of Nen for the use of personal or more specialized techniques.
With a sudden burst of aura Gon raised both arms, blocking the kick as it came down before deftly stepping aside to his right, letting Zushi's remaining momentum carry him past as Gon sent his left fist hard at the shorter boy's face.
Reacting quickly Zushi blocked the punch, just barely, but the impact was powerful enough to send him tumbling back by about six or seven meters, kicking up dust as he went. He managed to catch himself a second later, propping himself up on one knee, but Gon didn't ease up, and before he could fully ready himself Gon was almost on top of him, the other's right hook heading towards his head, the closed fist glowing brightly with the Enhancer's aura. Zushi winced...
"STOP!"
The two boys froze that instant, the voice loud and commanding. Zushi cracked open an eye to see Gon's fist just a scant few centimeters away from him. The two just looked at each other for a few seconds as they caught their breaths, before they both stepped back and bowed to one another.
"Osu! Thank you very much!"
It had been two weeks now since Gon had begun his re-training. That time had been mostly about getting his Ten, Zetsu and Ren down pat, only occasionally dipping into the more advanced techniques as needed. These basics were Nen's foundation, and mastering these will make the rest easier to learn. With this phase of his training over, from tomorrow onward they were to focus on those almost exclusively. Practice was mostly done alongside Zushi, seeing as he seemed to respond best when in competition with someone, and being more practiced with his Nen he could keep pace with him, keeping himself at just slightly above Gon's level as they went. Gon would freely admit that he'd missed this, wondering just how he could have even *existed* this past year without it. The lightness of his body, the power surging through every inch of his being, the feeling of being able to take on anything the world dared throw at him...
Gon felt just a little more whole now.
His progress had been quick, even quicker than when he first learned to use Nen, and his determination easily showed through, each practice, each exercise helping to remind his body how it was like to use his Nen. Zushi had been surprised with how fast the other boy was advancing, to say the least; Gon had always had an exceptional talent for Nen, but his current rate of progress was at another level entirely compared to before.
"Alright, I'll admit it; maybe you *can* do this in six weeks," Zushi said, idly running a hand through his short chestnut-brown hair.
"...No," Gon answered, a stony expression on his face. "At this rate, it'll still take me at least twice as long to even get close to what I could do last year." His right hand clenched tightly. "Again." Zushi nodded and was about to take a ready stance, eager for a bit of payback when they were interrupted.
"No, that'll be enough for today," Wing began as he approached the two, dusting off his black pants. "It's getting late enough as it is. You two should get cleaned up, Shinya-kun is probably preparing dinner as we speak."
"But, Wing-san...!" Gon started.
"Gon-kun," Wing interjected suddenly, expression stern and more than a little insistent. "That's enough. This is the fifth time you've sparred with Zushi just this afternoon, you'll be of no use to anyone if you overexert yourself and get sick as a result. Both of you." Then his usual calm smile returned. "You also need your rest, after all."
Gon was about to object further when his shoulders slumped and he sighed resignedly. "...Yes."
'Not yet...'
"Good. Let's head back to the dojo, then."
At that the two boys stood at attention and bowed to the Assistant Master. "Osu!"
~*~
"Yeaahhhhh... That's the stuff...!" Zushi said with a pleasured sigh, sinking deeper into the water as he settled into the dojo's hot spring. He leaned against the smooth rocks lining the hot spring, relaxing as he worked out the kinks in his shoulders, the water doing wonders for his stress, his trim, athletic form feeling lighter by the second. After awhile Zushi dunked himself under the hot water for a few seconds, surfacing again just in time to see Gon finish washing up and walk to the edge of the pool, wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist.
Now, Zushi was comfortable enough with his own sexuality to admit a guy is good-looking, and knew he wasn't too bad himself. His eyes trailed down from Gon's face, down his well-defined chest and over his torso, noting a prominent scar on his left shoulder, droplets of water clinging to his lightly-tanned skin. His usually spiky hair was down, the wet locks framing his face rather nicely. He had quite an amazing build; Gon wasn't overly bulky like some people, his lithe but muscular frame perfect for the kind of fighter he was, powerful but fast and agile, and despite his stature he packed quite a punch. His eyes trailed lower, lingering along the edge of Gon's towel...
It took Zushi a few seconds to realize what he was doing and he blushed deeply, sinking down into the water in hopes the water and steam would hide the redness of his cheeks. He actually had to remind himself to avert his gaze when Gon started to undo his towel, trying not to stare. The sound of sloshing water told him of Gon's entry into the pool, and after waiting a few more seconds thought it safe to look back.
"Aahhh... That feels sooo good!" Gon gave a long sigh as he settled into the water, the tension in his muscles melting away already. He leaned back, strong arms draped along the edge of the hot spring, a relaxed smile on his lips. He stayed that way for a few minutes, just enjoying himself for a bit. Cracking open an eye he noticed Zushi's eyes on him, and gave the other boy a warm, friendly smile. "Is something wrong?"
"N-no, nothing's wrong," Zushi answered, just a little bit embarrassed. Of course, that only piqued Gon's curiosity, prompting him to wade closer to his younger companion.
"You're all flushed. Are you sure nothing's wrong?" the spiky-haired boy persisted, cocking his head to the side as he moved closer.
"I'm fine! I'm fine! I-I'm just... a little more tired than I thought, that's all!" Zushi said, waving his hands insistently. Gon arched an eyebrow at that.
"If you say so..." the young Hunter said dubiously, making his way back to his original perch.
Zushi glanced to the side, scratching at his cheek nervously, but when he turned back Gon had disappeared. There wasn't even a stray ripple in the water.
"Gon-san? Gon-san?!" He called out several times, looking around and getting just a little worried. 'Did he slip or something?' He was considering getting help when the water practically exploded next to him, the hot water raining down on him as Gon suddenly burst to the surface. "Hey! What the-...?" Zushi managed to shield himself as the other boy continued to splash him with water, prompting him to retaliate in kind, lunging at Gon and pushing him under. Gon broke away and the two resorted to splashing at each other again and chasing each other around the pool, the two laughing from the horseplay. This went on for nearly a minute when a loud, booming voice stopped them in their tracks.
"NO ROUGHHOUSING IN THE HOT SPRING!!!"
At the edge of the pool was Shinya, kneeling on the ground with a small tray set next to him. The two teens could only stare back him sheepishly, the other boy with an impassive look on his face and coughing politely.
"I thought you two might like some tea while you bathe," Shinya said coolly and without missing a beat, motioning to the tray beside him. On it was a traditional tea set with two cups and a teapot. The smell of the tea was mild and calming, permeating through even the scent of the hot spring itself. "Your dinner should be ready in half an hour. Now, if you'll excuse me..." With that he gave a curt bow, stood up and calmly left, the two boys swimming toward the edge of the hot spring.
Gon reached the edge first, handing Zushi the first cup before taking its twin as his own, the two settling down among the rocks once more. "Hey, Zushi? What's Shinya-san's Nen ability like?"
"Don't know," Zushi replied, taking a sip of tea from his cup. "I don't think I've ever seen him use it before, actually. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious. He seems to get a lot done even though he's the only other person here besides us." Gon downed his tea in one go, taking the teapot and refilling his cup as he spoke. "Anyway, thanks for putting up with me earlier. I know I'm pushing a little bit, it's just... I don't want to take any longer than I need to."
"It's okay. I want to help Killua-san too, and if I can do that just by sparring with you, then it's the least I could do." The younger of the two took another sip of his tea. "It's amazing that you're doing all this just to help Killua-san. With what you're up against, most people would leave it to others to deal with things like this, even if it were their friend. He's lucky to have a someone like you."
"Lucky?" Gon muttered under his breath. It was subtle, but Zushi noticed Gon's shoulders sag a bit at that. "Sometimes I wonder..."
"Gon-san..?"
"Nothing! It's nothing." Gon shook his head reassuringly, leaning back against the smooth rocks of the hot spring.
Zushi gave him a quizzical look. "Aren't you worried about your relatives, though? Killua-san's sister too?"
Gon shook his head no. "My Aunt Mito is the strongest, most intelligent woman I know. They'll be fine, I'm sure of it," he said confidently.
In truth he was a little worried; it was hard not to. It had been over two weeks now since they'd separated, and more than once he'd been tempted to call them on his burn cell just to check if they were alright. But what he'd said was true; if anyone could give their pursuers the run-around, especially with the resources Killua had left them, it was his aunt. Of this he had no doubt.
'Killua, I hope you're okay...'
The two boys sat there in silence for a few minutes, basking in the relaxing heat of the water. Gon took his time finishing the rest of his tea before he spoke again.
"We should probably get out soon, dinner should be ready any minute now," the young Hunter said, splashing himself in the face a few times and running a hand through his hair.
"I'll go get the tray, then." Zushi downed the rest of his drink, reaching for the tray behind them and returning his cup to it.
"It's okay, I'll take care of it." In one fluid motion Gon was out of the water, kneeling down on the ground to set the tray in order before picking it up, rising onto his feet and taking it with him into the changing room. The fact that Gon's towel remained draped over his left shoulder the entire time wasn't lost on Zushi, his blush from before returning with a vengeance to color his cheeks a bright red.
'.....He's got me beat!'
~*~
The lights were bright, the arena hot under their glare, the gathered audience cheering loudly from the stands. The bout had been going on for a good ten minutes now. His breathing was heavy, sweat rolling off him as he gathered himself for his next attack. With a surge of energy fueled by rage he focused his Nen into his hands, ready to charge at his opponent. He stood at the center of the arena, calmly waiting for him to make the next move, a faint trace of a smile on his lips, numerous playing cards scattered on the arena floor around him. He'd been waiting for this rematch for years, the chance for revenge finally within reach, and he wasn't about to disappoint.
In a flash he charged at his opponent, covering the distance with remarkable speed. In response his opponent calmly, almost casually produced another handful of playing cards and flicked them all his way with ease. He wasn't about to let himself be done in by something that cheap, and pushing ahead he avoided and deflected them all with little difficulty, weaving left and right until the cards finally ran out. Seeing his chance he pressed forward without missing a beat, faster, arms out and hands surging with Nen. It was obvious at a glance that he'd channeled very nearly all his aura into his hands for this one final attack, his deep-seated killing intent palpable in the air. But through it all, his opponent never even moved an inch from where he stood.
"TIME TO DIE!!!" he shouted, ready to bring his hands crashing down on to tear into his target, now just a scant few meters away. Without even looking, Hisoka raised his right hand high in the air at the last moment, seemingly unconcerned for his opponent. Hisoka slowly turned towards him, the smile on his face growing just slightly.
".....You first."
With a snap of his fingers, before the attacker could even react, the cards scattered across the floor flew up towards him, slicing the man through and through all over his body, shredded flesh, severed limbs and a fine mist of blood where he once stood. The playing cards floated around Hisoka in a spiralling pattern around him, the arena lights reflecting off the bright red mist. The smile never leaving his lips, Hisoka bowed slowly and deliberately towards the audience, much like any entertainer would at the end of a performance. The crowd went wild...
Gon's eyes narrowed as the image on the screen froze, Wing pausing the video with the remote in his hand.
"So... *that* happened," Zushi said, more than a little dumbfounded at the quite sudden -- and overly theatrical, and that was saying *a lot* -- end of the fight. Well, Hisoka did like to show off.
For the past few days now, this was how they'd spent their time after training; watching and studying video recordings of Hisoka's fights at Heaven's Arena. Gon had asked Wing to bring along a few when he'd asked for his help, and now they were making full use of those videos. Too bad they couldn't find any videos of Illumi's fights there, if he'd ever even competed there at all.
"Focus," Wing said, setting the remote down beside him. They were in the older male's room gathered around the table and facing the flatscreen on the far side of the room, watching video recordings of Hisoka's fights at the Heaven's Arena. Letting the two boys study the frozen image, the older male asked, "Now, what do you see?"
"At least a dozen strings, I think, all going from the cards he threw to his right hand," Gon said after a little while. "Hisoka used In on his Bungee Gum to keep his opponent from noticing them."
For the duration of the battle Hisoka hadn't even laid a finger on his opponent, not directly anyway, using only his playing cards to deal damage. No punches, no kicks. At first he'd kept one in each hand to cut up his opponent, darting in close to attack and jumping clear before he could counter, until he started just throwing them at range. But all the while Hisoka had been seeding the arena floor with cards connected by his Bungee Gum, all in anticipation of this last, all-out attack. His opponent running headlong right into it just ended the fight quicker.
"It was a trap all along," Zushi piped in, thinking for a few seconds. "Hisoka was laying a minefield." Gon nodded in agreement.
"Very good," Wing said. He rewound the video back to the scene in question, replaying it at a slower speed. "From the beginning this was Hisoka's plan. His opponent expected a more straight-up fight but Hisoka knew this, attacking from a distance with his cards and frustrating his opponent bit by bit making him easier to manipulate. Once the trap was set, all he had to do was lure his opponent in close, pull back on his Bungee Gum, and..." Wing paused the video again, at the exact moment the cards flew upward to slice through the unfortunate competitor several times over, cutting through him like so many warm knives through cold butter. He turned to the two boys. "Now tell me, what was the main cause of his defeat?"
".....He got impatient," Gon said after a moment, Zushi nodding in agreement beside him.
"Correct. He got too focused on attacking his opponent he forgot everything else," the older male said as he adjusted his glasses. "While there is merit in ending a battle quickly, if he'd taken a moment to assess the situation, it's entirely possible he could have avoided or found a way around Hisoka's trap. Instead, he let his emotions take control and he charged in blindly. You'll have to watch out for that." That last one was directed at Gon, who nodded in silence.
After a while Gon turned to Wing and asked, "Wing-san, if you were to face Hisoka in a fight, what would you do?" Wing rubbed his chin in thought.
"Well, running might be a good idea..." he said with a bemused smile. Zushi had this shocked look on his face, appalled his teacher would even suggest it, while Gon gave a nervous laugh, not at all sure how to react. Wing waved his hand in jest. "Alright, alright! Truth is, I have a pretty good idea as to what *I* would do, but it wouldn't be much fun if I just told you about it. It's much better if you figured it out on your own. Remember, this is part of your training too." That seemed to defuse the situation, but Gon still had this dubious look on his face. "Okay, I'll give you a hint. Oftentimes a person's greatest desire can also be their greatest weakness. Now, ask yourself: What is it that Hisoka wants above all else?"
Gon paused in thought, before answering, "A fight to the death."
"*Exactly*," Wing said emphatically. "Use that to your advantage."
Gon thought it over. He thought about it for awhile in fact. So much that his brain was just shy of shorting out from thinking about it so hard, when an odd calm suddenly came over him, eyes slowly widening in realization.
Wing smiled knowingly, nodding in approval. "As for any specifics, I might have a few suggestions, but that's for another time, I think." Wing ejected the disc from the player, returning the disc to its case and shutting off the player. "That ends training for today. Do you boys have any more questions? Or would you two like to watch something for a bit, wind down some before turning in?"
"Not tonight, Wing-san," Gon replied, shaking his head, the faint trace of a smile on his lips. "I think I'll turn in early, maybe do some light meditation before bed."
"Me too, Assistant Master," Zushi added in agreement.
"Then I'll see you two bright and early tomorrow morning!" Wing said, turning off the television as he stood, the two boys following suit and standing at attention.
"Osu! Thank you very much!"
~*~
The control room's lights were low, cutting down on the glare on the monitors arrayed along the console, silence over the speakers. Within, Illumi Zoldyck stood watch over the carnage shown, emotionless eyes scanning the screens around him. Blood splattered all over the walls of the sparring room, torn limbs and broken bodies scattered all across the floor. Scorch marks dotted the room and a hint of ozone permeated the atmosphere, showcasing the raw power behind them. He panned the camera to the figure standing in the center of it all, his athletic frame covered with streaks of blood that wasn't his own. He showed no signs of exhaustion at all.
The test had been a rousing success.
"Amazing! Truly amazing! Such speed... such *power*! A true heir to the Zoldyck name!" Kikyou Zoldyck beamed beside him, thoroughly impressed at what had transpired here just moments ago. Beside her Kalluto stood silently, his expression calm and neutral, having observed his brother's demonstration with her. "You're such a kind and diligent brother. I always knew you could bring out his true potential!"
"Thank you, mother. You know I've always had Kil's best interests at heart," Illumi said in response. "But a test in a lab is one thing, it's quite another to test something in the field..."
"Then, what do you have in mind?" Kikyou asked, mildly curious.
"Let's take him out for a test drive." One could infer there was a slight hint of eagerness, even excitement in his voice as he spoke, but his tone and facial expression remained the same throughout. "I have the perfect target in mind. And with a little luck, we might be able to kill two birds with one stone..."
~*~
Meanwhile, Gon sat cross-legged in his room once more, deep in meditation as his aura flowed around him. For a moment he felt a disturbance, a sense of foreboding he couldn't quite place. He pushed that feeling aside for now and went ahead with his meditation, unaware of the trials that lay before him.
~*~TO BE CONTINUED...~*~
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CHAPTER NOTES: First fight scene, yay! I mean yeah, it's just a sparring session between Gon and Zushi, and a video of Hisoka utterly curbstomping some poor unfortunate mook, but still! Seriously though, I'll probably come back to fix this up a bit, but I do hope I did the characters some justice in those scenes. So please, feel free to let me know what you all think. Comments, questions, suggestions, and violent reactions are highly welcomed! 'Til next time!
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