"Whether we win or loose, hell lies ahead of us." -Kite

-o0o-

When he finally sees Killua off in the distance, Gon's heart stops beating for a moment.

Killua spots him a second later and for a good long minute, all they do is stare at each other. Gon sweeps his eyes over his best friend, taking in the muddy, torn clothes and ruffled white hair. There's blood- but not Killua's though, and Gon's grateful for that, even if it means other people had to die for Killua to survive.

At least he's alive. That's all that matters.

Killua speaks first, voice hoarse, "I have to find Alluka."

Fear speeds Gon's heartbeat up again, making it thud loudly in his chest. "Is she okay?" He loves Alluka, almost as much as Killua, and he knows a part of Killua would die with his sister if anything happened to her.

Killua bits his lip, looks away. "I don't know," he admits. "I was out of the house when- you know. It all happened so fast…I haven't gotten the chance to get back home yet. And I can't go to the airport until I find her, Gon. I won't."

Gon frowns. "I know." He wouldn't want Killua to do anything else.

Killua's face is somber with just a touch of wariness when he says, "You can go ahead if you want. I'll find you at the safe point, and-"

"What are you saying?" Gon says before Killua can go on. He hates that look on Killua's face- the look that says 'you can go on and leave me behind, I'll be fine' because it's a lie, and both of them know it.

He doesn't point that out though. Instead he just says, "Why do you always try to get rid of me when it gets hard?"

Killua gapes. "I don't- I wasn't-"

Gon stamps his foot on the cracked concrete. "You were though! You totally were! You thought I was gonna let you head back in there alone. But I would never do that! I never have and I never will. We made a promise, remember?"

Killua is very still now. He gazes at Gon with wide, crystal blue eyes and swallows. Gon glares right back, hands fists at his side. Killua is thinking about the same thing as Gon, he can tell, about that moment in the heat of summer two years ago-

"Lets stay together!"

"Huh? Why would we do that, dummy?"

"Because we're friends! And friends should help each other out! Mito says everyone has that one person, the person who's always there for you for the rest of your life, no matter what happens. You like spending time with me, right?

"…yeah. I guess."

"So why can't that be us? If anyone can do it, it would be us! Together, we can do anything."

-and they'd been together, ever since that humid night under the stars. They'd made a promise to each other, one that would never be broken even if it was the end of the world.

"I'm not gonna leave you, Killua," he says softly.

Gon grins when Killua's cheeks flare bright red. But then Killua abruptly turns on his heel and walks off. Gon yelps and scrambles to catch up as Killua says over his shoulder, "Yeah, I know that! I was just thinking about your aunt. That's all."

"Aunt Mito's okay." Gon slows as he matches Killua's pace so they're walking together side by side. "We made it to the airport last night with Kite."

Killua blinks. "Last night? But, then why would you leave-?"

"To find you, of course!" Gon chirps. He laughs out loud at Killua's scowl.

"I can take care of myself!"

"I know, but I wanted to help! I knew you were still out here and I had to find you."

Killua's eyes go soft in a way that makes warmth grow in Gon's chest like he just drank a full glass of hot chocolate. Killua doesn't say thanks and Gon doesn't expect him to; Killua explained long ago that 'friends shouldn't thank friends, looking after each other is something natural'.

And it was the truth. Being with Killua was natural, like breathing and smiling and laughing, and that's all there was to it.

-o0o-

I don't own HunterxHunter. This work was unedited so sorry if there are any mistakes! I have most of this story written out so it will update every few days. Thanks for reading!