The silence waited, ready to pounce. The darkness of the night smothered the many trees that spread out across the lonely island. Fear pervaded the shadows like an invisible smoke screen. Gon crouched; his eyes wide and lucid. He could easily see past this heavy darkness.

However, Killua, who squatted next to him, couldn't see a thing. It was almost midnight now, and clouds covered the stars and sky. Judging from the smell wafting from the slight breeze, Gon knew that it would ran in a few minutes.

Standing, Gon walked forward several steps and quickly snapped a several large leaves from some exotic tree. Killua could not see exactly what Gon was doing, but he could hear his movements. The rustling of leaves and the smack of Gon's hands shattered the silence. When Gon came back over, he held a small umbrella made of leaves. Killua raised an eyebrow when he finally saw what Gon had made.

"It's going to rain soon." Gon whispered. He brandished the homemade umbrella.

"Why would you make that?" hissed Killua.

"This way the map won't get too wet." Gon retorted. Killua nodded.

"Good thinking."

In Killua's hands he clutched a crinkled, weather beaten map that had clearly seen many years of misuse. Burned edges and stains covered its wrinkled, brown face, but the markings of treasure had still yet to fade away.

"When we find this chest, we're going to be able to buy out the next several candy shops we stop by." whispered Killua excitedly. Gon smiled.

The clouds above rumbled ominously and suddenly the sky let lose a torrent of rain. Killua was thankful for Gon's incredible nose and senses, otherwise the map would've been destroyed right then and there.

Gon coughed. He was getting sick, not because of the rain, but because of the lack of sleep that nagged at his stamina. Killua was fine, of course. However, they both needed each other to get through this mission: Killua needed Gon's senses and Gon needed Killua's support and stamina.

What would they possibly do without their friendship?

Killua thought about it all the time. About how he was before. About how he was now. All because of a single person.

Gon.

Killua looked at the sightly shorter boy next to him, a mere shadow in the pitch blackness that enveloped them. Gon gasped suddenly.

"What is it? What's wrong?" whispered Killua frantically.

That's when he saw the light up ahead.

It was dim at first, but it quickly grew in intensity. It came from above, though it was heading straight towards them.

"What is that?" asked Gon.

Killua tensed. His eyes were being blinded by the sudden change of light. It was then that he felt arms shoving him back.

"Killua, run!" he heard Gon shout. Trusting his friend, Killua began running. His vision was white, so when he ran straight into several trees, he only cursed himself and moved onward.

When his vision returned, the torrent of rain had subsided to a light pattering that massaged his face. However, it was still too dark for him to see past a few feet.

"Gon!"

No reply.

"GON!"

Killua was met with silence.

DISCLAIMER- I do not own Hunter X Hunter

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