The building of the Hunters Association Headquarters was bustling that Saturday morning, concentrated with many of the world's most skilled professionals. Though varied in their individual talents, all were experts and well trained in at least one form of martial arts. As Gon walked unaccompanied through the grand lobby, he longed to consider himself among their ranks once more.

Since he had lost his ability to wield Nen, Gon felt amiss. He was still himself, had earned his Hunter title, and carried his Hunter license everywhere he went… but those things did not save him from his current disposition. It wasn't simply a matter of desire to "rightfully" be considered a Hunter. At the root of his being, he was compelled to always strive for something more- a characteristic that marked every great Hunter. Having been exposed to a sample of the vast possibilities of this world and of the extent his potential could carry him through, Gon knew deep down that a normal life would be unbearably stifling and unsatisfying.

Gon plopped down into one of the numerous leather chairs of the lobby, tired from his long travels and heavy from the ache that swelled inside his chest. He felt alone in the crowded room. Looking dolefully at the empty chair across from him, Gon wished that Killua were there with him. But as his friend he could only be respectful and supportive in Killua's decisions. I hope you're having a good time, Killua. I hope you and Alluka are seeing wonderful, new things, Gon tried to cheer himself up. He reminded himself of how thankful he was for Killua, who had used Alluka's power to heal and save him from the brink of death.

Gon felt a wave of embarrassment as he reflected on what Ging had told him before- that asking for more help would be impudent. He felt bad for calling Killua anyway to see if it was possible for Alluka to restore his Nen. However he could not accept the other thing that Ging had told him, which was to lead a normal life.

"Of course it's possible," Killua had stated. "But I've made a decision not to use his power anymore. After seeing him locked up the way he was," Killua paused in a moment of regret for having let the situation get so severe, "I have to do whatever it takes to protect Alluka's freedom. Even though I have special influence over him, I don't want to use it. I can't go making excuses."

"I understand, Killua. He deserves to have that kind of freedom just like any other human being, but especially after what he's been through." It was worth trying.

Killua became heated as his memories flooded his mind. "Exactly! I mean he's a person, dammit!" he exclaimed darkly. "Not a genie or a slave… or a monster! Alluka deserves to live freely, and as his brother I'm going to be the one to ensure it without anyone abusing his abilities- not even myself."

He sighed deeply into his phone. "I'm sorry, Gon. I want to help more, but you understand where I'm coming from… While I'm travelling I'll keep a lookout for an alternative solution."

"I appreciate it!" Gon responded. "But don't go too far out of your way. You're a really great friend and brother, Killua."

"Ha, I'm trying!" Killua said modestly, though he smiled with pride. "Listen Gon, even if there's nothing you can do about your Nen just remember you're no less strong as a person. And we'll always be friends, okay?"

Gon laughed heartily. "That goes without saying! Wherever we go, we'll always be friends."

Gon smiled now at the memory of that last phone conversation. Yes, this was his fight, and with his steely resolve Gon knew that he would succeed or die trying. (Although it was this kind of thinking that put him in his position to begin with.)

Gon jumped up from the seat with a new vitality. He was ready to undertake his arduous challenge. Gon knew that the Hunters Association's most adept Nen exorcist was incapable of removing his self-imposed restriction, yet he could not simply accept defeat. He was determined to ask all the Hunters gathered that day if they knew of any alternate solution to regaining his Nen.

Since the Zodiac had first begun its hunt for Beyond Netero, it had delved farther than expected into the Dark Continent. An entire year now passed. No one from the Hunters Association had been able to get into contact with any of the Zodiac members. Even the renown Lost Hunter, Loupe Highland was unable to detect any lead on the approximate whereabouts of anyone from the Zodiac, including its former members. So on this Saturday afternoon a special meeting was called to discuss plans for their rescue. Considering the strengths and talents of the Zodiac, this mission would require bolstering through numbers in force, tactical leadership, and balanced, operational units.

The meeting was about to begin and Gon had asked at least 70 of the participating members with no luck in gaining any clues. The last Hunter he solicited was a woman who seemed to be onto something when she suggested reopening his micropyles with her aura. When she tried though, she flew back five feet into the air, and the hand which sent out her aura was severely burned. Gon immediately brought a healing Enhancer he'd met earlier to help the woman, and decided to pause his endeavors for the time being.

Ging's hypothesis had been wrong. Gon was not reverted back to a "normal" state, nor was his Nen used up. His Nen still existed in the Covenant which Gon had made with himself, but was locked into a state where he could not utilize it. It was as Gon suspected and feared.

Gon was beginning to feel helpless. Kurapika and Leorio were God-knows-where with no ability to call for help, and Gon had no chance of being able to fend for himself, much less able to join the rescue mission. For Gon this mission would truly be about rescue, however most other Hunters were interested in their opportunity to explore the Dark Continent, a rare and lucrative opening that had historically taken years to gain access to. The label of "rescue mission" had only served to gain special permission into the perilous territory, and Gon was fuming to himself at the endless chatter of new ecosystems, treasure, and other exotic finds. I just want to get my Nen back and find my friends, Gon yearned.

As Hunters steadily streamed towards and into the main auditorium, Gon decided that his energies would be better put to use in the Hunters' library. I'll only get more upset sitting in that meeting. No one here has real experience of what's beyond the borders and no leads to the Zodiac. They'll probably just argue over how they're going to start the mission. With these thoughts, Gon consigned himself to research, briskly walking across the magnificent marble floors.

How long have I neglected to remove this? Hisoka wondered as he sat on a bench in the main hall of the 4th floor, examining a diminutive speck of blood on his shoe. A familiar figure then passed in his vision, reflected briefly amongst many others in the shining floor. It was proceeding somewhere off to his right. When he looked up to confirm, he instantly curled his lips into a sinister smile. Oh? What a pleasant surprise- one of my favorite toys has appeared, and just when I was getting bored.

Hisoka had heard of the ferocity and strength with which the Chimera Ants fought- and how although the challenge was B-rank, it resulted in Isaac Netero's death. Venturing into the Dark Continent was considered A-rank, and this time Hisoka did not want to miss out on the epic battles that were sure to take place. However, Hisoka had to keep in mind that Netero had scored a solid 100 points on his ranking system, and he was realizing before the meeting that there was virtually no information on his potential opponents' abilities in the Dark Continent.

He was not afraid to fight there- definitely not. But as someone who constantly pursued battle, he enjoyed the anticipation of battle almost as much as the actual battle itself. With no intel, there was not much to fantasize about. Additionally there was high risk of death in going- especially with these pathetic pro-Hunters. Yes, part of the excitement of fighting was the potential of death, but Hisoka also wanted a chance to live and fight another day- not to go on a damn suicide mission. Still, with Kuroro missing and few opportunities for an interesting match, Hisoka longed to fight. He had been pensively weighing his options for much of the afternoon, turning a playing card over and over in a hand. It was a difficult decision to make.

When Hisoka caught a glimpse of Gon bypassing the auditorium entrance, his decision became easy. The Dark Continent would continue to thrive and be an option for future fights, but Hisoka would not get another chance to play with a teenage Gon, and he'd already had so much fun watching Gon develop thus far. Without a trace, Hisoka stalked his prey into the Hunters' library.

Gon was now 17, and Hisoka delighted in how gracefully Gon was transitioning between youth and adulthood. In height Hisoka still loomed around seven or so inches over Gon, but it was a gap that was rapidly closing. He noted how Gon's face had lost most of the roundedness of childhood, but hadn't yet fully developed the angularities of manhood. Gon's facial features were exquisite and refined, framed by silken black hair, which was now slightly too long to be kept in its usual spiked style. Those eyes, which Hisoka utterly adored, were burning brightly with determination as they scanned over the pages of a worn copy of An Introduction to Nen Restrictions, Covenants, and Exorcism.

Gon's muscles were lean, but certainly had built and possessed a definition to them that Hisoka was encountering for the first time. Hisoka wanted desperately to test them, to see them flexed in a frantic struggle for survival, or -Hisoka bit into his lower lip at the image in his mind- in the pleasure of a climb towards orgasm. Hisoka relished the sight. Oooooh Gon, you look good enough to eat. You're not yet ripe enough to fight… but definitely ripe enough to fuck. Hisoka licked his lips, brimming with desire.

"Hello Gon," Hisoka cooed as he emerged from behind a towering mahogany shelf.

"Hisoka!" Gon said breathily. The chair behind him scuffed the floor loudly as he stood. He lifted his fists defensively.

"Do you really think you can take me on right now?" A corner of Hisoka's mouth rose into a side-smile. He loved how Gon was always ready to fight, no matter the odds. "No amount of effort or will power can help you if you can't use your Nen against me."

"How… how did you know that I can't use Nen?" Gon wondered if Hisoka had been following him all morning unbeknownst to him.

"A little birdie told me." Hisoka pointed at the table between the two. "And anyone could deduce it from the book you're reading."

"Oh…" Gon dropped his hands. A little birdie?

In their last encounter, Hisoka had greatly helped Gon win their dodge ball match against Razor, and though Gon was grateful, there was something undeniably sinister about Hisoka's presence at the moment. Gon was torn between his memories of how Hisoka had helped him and his friends and the mortal fear that Hisoka always managed to stir in him. He proceeded with caution. "Well what do you want with me then?"

Many things, Gon, Hisoka thought to himself lustfully. "Can't two old friends just catch up with conversation?"

"Not in here you can't," a decrepit woman cut in sternly. It was the librarian of the Hunters' library, and by the looks of her wrinkles, she had given many Hunters before them the same disapproving expression she now wore. Though she was tiny in stature, her presence was enormous and overbearing. "Be quiet or get out," she snarled.

"I'm sorry," Gon said, closing the volume before him.

"And don't even think about taking that book with you," the librarian warned. "I have Nen labels on every resource in here, so I'll know if you try."

"So people aren't allowed to check out books from this library?" Gon asked puzzled.

"Not since the establishment of the Hunters' web database. Most of our references were transferred, and now their original copies are considered valuable relics to the Hunters Association," the librarian explained.

"Oh yeah! How could I forget the Hunters' website?" Gon's face lit up and placed the book on a shelf indicated for return. "Thanks for the help!" he said cheerfully.

Gon's endearingly buoyant manner did not sway the librarian in the slightest, and she grumbled to herself as she walked off.

The library door squeaked feebly with Gon's egress, a sound that was now only audible because the bustle and clamor from earlier had been confined to the main auditorium. The silence of the cold, empty hall amplified the way Gon's heart was beating in his head, an uneasy throbbing. Gon was especially vulnerable at the moment and he never did know what to expect from the serpentine man, who now followed behind him with muted steps. Why do I always seem to run into him?

Hisoka remained about a meter behind Gon, waiting for his first move and indulgently eying Gon's ass, which fit snugly in faded green shorts. Hisoka clenched his jaw and took a deep breath through his nose. Patience, he warned himself. He needed to focus to remain composed and avoid moaning aloud- no easy feat as he felt he was on the verge of committing far worse acts.

Gon stopped and swiveled to face Hisoka, fists already positioned back up out of instinct and habit. He stood next to a glass display of ancient pottery, which had an extra number of security cameras pointed in its vicinity. He wanted to be sure that if something bad happened it would be recorded at least.

Hisoka grinned. "Gon, don't you know I'm not interested in an easy win? I already told you I just wanted to have a little chat."

"Well you also told me that you wanted to kill me and that Transmuters are fickle and dishonest. Do you remember that?"

"Yes, I do. But do you remember that I'm keeping you alive until you're worth killing?"

"Is that supposed to make me feel safer talking to you?!"

"Yes and no. My point is that you're not worth killing yet, so don't worry…" Hisoka's eyes narrowed as he smiled broadly. "…for now."

"If you're so invested in fighting me to the death, you shouldn't have interrupted me while I was researching." Gon's expression softened. Traces of the aching in his chest started to burden his heart once again. "Until I find a way to get my Nen back I won't be worth fighting."

"Exactly. That's why I want to help you."

UPDATE: Musical inspiration for this chapter comes from Time For Three's "Banjo Love". I can't help but think of an optimistic Gon running around when I listen to it. I hope this track is true to the Hunter X Hunter OST.