Gon's fingers shook as he flipped the phone open. Slowly he brought it up to his ear. Static greeted his senses as he fought for a way to do what he knew he had to. There was nothing more that he wanted to do than break down and cry over the phone, demand that Killua come to Whale Island to see him. He knew that was the wrong thing to do, but he still wanted to do it none the less. In truth, he knew he would be dragging Killua into a death trap.

What would have been the point? Such a break down would only insure that Killua met the same demise as himself. Gon had known, not to long before Mito had died, that he himself was also sick. Dying in the worst way. A death he couldn't fight against. He bitterly took in the comfort that he was lasting longer than expected, Mito only took two weeks to die. At the rate his energy was deteriorating he could probably last another month, maybe two if he didn't push himself. However, to subject the person he loved the most to witnessing his death and then subjecting him to the same fate was the cruelest thing Gon could have done at any point in his life.

That was why Hisoka was a different matter. The red-haired man already knew the danger of the Island. He'd came of his own volition, no one had asked him, and, despite any ill-bearing Hisoka may have towards him, Gon accepted him in his home.

Because Gon did not want to die alone.

Even if Hisoka stayed until the end, he wasn't, in any way, a replacement for Killua. Even if he were to push the other man away, would Killua still come after him?

That was a loaded question filled with both hope and despair. Gon was well aware that in the whole time Killua and him had been together as friends, it had always been him that would have to chase the other down. Killua had never had to fight to keep Gon. Would he, when presented with the issue? Gon found himself torn in too many directions to really think about what he wanted the most out of the situation.

He did, however, know what was best for Killua. And, so, he would take his chances.

"Goodbye, Killua."

Hisoka sat shuffling through his deck of cards, his eyes narrowed in a calculating manner. When he came to Whale Island he had expected to have to actually convince Gon to accept him. Once again, though, the boy had surprised him, let him into his house even. Regardless, of how things had started out, Gon had unknowingly made things much easier for Hisoka in the long run. In the end he had only a little work to do before the stage was set for the final encounter, because he knew the other man was never far behind his brown haired friend. Wherever Gon was, Killua wouldn't be far. And then he could claim what he had hungered for.

A psychotic grin spread over thin lips as Hisoka brought up the top card from the deck and gazed at the back of what he knew was a joker. In the end, Gon's innocence would be his.

Flipping the card over Hisoka was met with a four of hearts (1). His eyes narrowed again. Apparently not all was well in paradise. Flipping the card over, he turned it once again so he was facing the front of a joker instead.

Fate was such a trivial thing.

Killua stared in shock at the phone held numbly in his hand. What had just happened? Was he going insane? Perhaps he was ill and was lost inside some dream world in his mind?

Nothing was making sense.(2) He wanted nothing more than to break down where he was, to have this nightmare end. Maybe if he closed his eyes all of this would go away?

This isn't a dream.

Killua's eyes flew open. That was the voice of the boy from the island. But how…? If this truly wasn't a dream and he was nothing more than some wandering spirit, how was he supposed to reach Gon? There was no actual way he could reach his friend in the state that he was in. He could sneak onto a boat, but none where heading towards Whale Island. He found that out when he had seen Gon off originally. And, even if it was possible to find one going to the Island what if he just fell through the bottom of the boat?

Head towards the pier.

"What's going on?" Killua yelled out to the air around him.

I have provided you with the means to do what must be done. Head towards the pier.

The early morning air brought with it a mist that settled over the boats of the pier. Sailor's hustled to and fro with cargo, a swank in their step that was attributable to a life at sea. Killua himself couldn't help but be disturbed as more than one person found their passage to be right through his corporeal form. His body misting and realigning in an almost fascinating manner. He'd decided that he didn't much like the experience and so opted to move out of the way of anyone passing by if he could.

Killua moved closer to one of the docks, empty of any ships and waited out at the end. "Okay, now what?"

When he received no answer he sighed loudly and glanced out around the sea. His eyes widened as fog overtook the dock and thickened to the point that he could barely see the water he was standing over. And that was when he saw it. A boat, small and wooden. It looked like a handmade fishing boat with a curve at the front most end allowing a glowing lamp to swing to and fro from a hooked notch. A man swathed in black, tattered garb pushed the boat along with a stick much like you would in a shallow river. Taking a better look as the vessel came closer, it almost looked like the fog was originating from underneath the boat itself.

The man came to a halt right before Killua, bringing the boat against the dock. Two yellow glowing eyes pierced through the darkness of the man's hood and the fog. A shiver raced up Killua's spine.

"Killua?"

"Uhh… yeah?" This was too weird. "Who are you?"

"They call me Charon… I am the ferryman of the dead."

"The dead? So, I'm dead?" Killua stared at the figure in disbelief.

"To be more precise I ferry spirits, which you are. It doesn't necessarily mean you're body has died."

"Okay…Why are you here?"

"I have an appointment to take you to Whale Island."

"Whale Island… Wait a moment. Your name, isn't that a Greek myth? How can Greek Gods exist if all this turmoil is over a Christian God?"

The cloaked man let out a raspy chuckle that sounded like the scrapping of nail on a chalk board. "There are still those in this world who retain their belief in the old Gods. And in this world, faith and belief are the holding point of all things."

Killua frowned. "But don't the religions of one God and many contradict each other? How can they all exist at the same time?"

"One God or many does not mean they are not the same."

"I don't understand."

The ferryman developed an agitated air to his hunched stature. "Think of it in these terms. The Christian God appears in many forms, why not as separate Gods?"

"So… you're a form of god?"

The ferryman's eyes burned brighter for a moment as if with fever. "I am not a God! Merely a ferryman present for the passage of spirits. Now, get in."

"Err…don't I need to give you money or something?" Killua glanced around awkwardly. The only thing he had was his Hunter card and he highly doubted that a man who carted around dead people all day was willing to do a charge transaction. He had seen weirder in the past week, though.

"Your passage has already been paid."

Gon peered around the door of the bathroom, one hand clutched his clothes tightly into a ball at his chest and the other clung to his towel like a lifeline. He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly crept down the hall. Tip toeing silently, he didn't want to alert the other occupant of the house to his unclothed predicament. He had only a couple of feet to go to get to his room. Quietly as possible he continued down the hall passing the door in front of the room he had given to Hisoka. Being the most careful he raised one toe so as not to alert the man. He barely had three feet to go to reach the door to his own room now. Placing his toe down as gently as possible, he froze as a loud creak echoed from the floor boards.

The door to his right opened swiftly and Gon turned his head slowly to face the man who had caught him, still on his tiptoes and towel clinging dangerously low to his hips. Hisoka, on the other hand gave his trademark smirk. "Why, hello, Gon-kun."

Glancing the other man up and down Gon felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he noted that Hisoka was only wearing cotton drawstring pants. No shirt. With an 'eep' Gon attempted to flee the few remaining steps to his room. However, his feet seemed to be not as coordinated as his mind and he found himself ass up on the hard wood floor in front of his own room. Gon mentally cursed, inches away from freedom.

The presence behind him made him all that much aware of the strong hands gripping him at the waist and then lifting him back on to his feet. "T-thank you, Hisoka-san." Gon was sure his head would explode from all the blood rushing to it. Stiffly, Gon attempted to move forward into his room, only to have the same strong hands grip his towel clad hips and bring his body flush against the man behind him.

"So clumsy," came an amused comment, breath ghosting over the skin of his left shoulder. Gon's eyes widened to almost comedic proportions. Hisoka was…!

With another 'eep' Gon opened his door swiftly and closed it on the red-haired man's face, leaving the man with Gon's towel still in his clutches.

Breathing heavily and his face still feeling like it was on fire, Gon had his hands placed firmly on his door as if to keep it barricaded closed. Apparently, the arousal Hisoka had allowed to slip through in his small comment hadn't only been limited to his voice. Gon could still feel where the man had been up against his own body. And the man had definitely been aroused.

It had been like this from the very start, small touches and caresses were slowly becoming bolder and bolder, but this had been the first time he had actually felt…that. Gon blushed again at the thought. He looked down at his now completely naked form. For the life of him he couldn't seem to keep himself from responding to the man. Proudly he stood at attention, his man hood almost mocking him as a failure.

Keeping one hand firmly on the door, Gon brought his hand down to sensitive flesh. This was quickly becoming ritualistic. Slowly he moved his hand over his member, a sigh escaping past his lips. A sigh not of pleasure, but guilt.

Because, despite how much he truly loved him, his most recent endeavors in masturbation no longer brought Killua into the fore front of his mind.

Snorting softly, Gon closed his eyes. He was going to die anyway, he might as well enjoy this. It wasn't like he was cheating. Slowly he lost himself in pleasure and thoughts of a hard body pressed against his.

I was planning on continuing this chapter, but decided to break it in half. I just like to torment my readers and drag stuff out.

At least I'm kind enough to post this earlier than what I had planned since my last post. And I'll still post the next chapter next week like I originally planned.

1) For those of you who don't know, the number 4 in Japanese can be the same as the word for death. So the number four is meant as a bad sign in Japanese culture.

2) Killua is in the same boat as all of you right now.

3) I'm sure most of you already assumed that Gon was sick, but it makes my story work in the end… Don't worry. Killua gets to Whale Island next chapter and Hisoka actually gets to molest Gon.

4)I would like to thank Ironic-Sarcasm for being my only reviewer in the previous two chapters. I almost feel like this story is loosing interest to people. Until I look at my hit count. I'm almost at 5000 hits. So in honor of getting so much attention, I want to give my 50th reviewer a present! Any pairing you want in a story, it doesn't even have to be HxH. As for Ironic-Sarcasm, if you want me to write a story specifically for you, in thanks for rising my hopes for this story again, just let me know! After all, I'm pushing this chapter out early just for you!

5) Gon and Hisoka's relationship isn't getting a lot of focus yet, I'm waiting until Killua gets there so we can get an outsiders perspective. As for what happens next… I've given you guys way to many hints for you not to guess.

6)I'm curious on how you guys feel about my writing style. You don't have to leave a review, but I would appreciate a pm. Don't be afraid to be harsh! If I wish to improve after all, I'm going to need that sort of criticism.

7) For those of you who are interested, this story is extending way past what it was originally intended to be. I'm now guessing that there are going to be approximately 15 or 16 chapters.

8) I've realized recently, that I've been wrong on Gon's birth date. It's May 5, I thought it was February 5. While this won't change my story much, it will take a bit of revision. All well.

Thanks all!