Third Person POV
As Gon and Ringo exchanged awkward glances, the weight of the unspoken tension hung heavy in the air between them. Each struggled to find the right words to break the uneasy silence that had settled over the room, their minds racing with thoughts of the intimate moment they shared the night before.
Ringo's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she recalled the events of the previous night, the memory of her drunken antics, and the subsequent mess she had caused sending a wave of heat rushing to her face. Beside her, Gon shifted uncomfortably, his own embarrassment evident in the way he avoided her gaze.
"Um... Rin, last night was..." Gon began, his voice trailing off as he searched for the right words to express the complexity of their shared experience.
"Yeah, it was..." Ringo replied, her voice equally uncertain as she struggled to articulate the swirling emotions that churned within her.
The silence that followed was deafening, each word left unspoken hanging heavy in the air between them. It was as if they were both tiptoeing around the elephant in the room, unwilling to acknowledge the intimacy that had passed between them.
Finally, Gon cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence that had settled over them like a suffocating blanket.
"I, uh... I hope you're feeling okay," he said, his voice tinged with genuine concern.
Ringo nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she met Gon's gaze. "Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
Killua's brow furrowed as he observed the strained interaction between Gon and Ringo.
"Hey, did something happen last night" he asked. "You guys are acting weird."
"Oh, something 'definitely' happened last night," Tress interjected, a playful smirk dancing on her lips as she took a swig of her beer.
"Tress! I told you it was a misunderstanding!" Gon's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment, while Ringo let out a nervous laugh, her gaze darting between Tress and Killua.
It was clear that whatever had happened the night before was a source of amusement for Tress as the girl kept laughing off her butt.
Gon, eager to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness of the moment, seized upon the opportunity to change the topic.
"Hey, Killua," he began, "how's the preparation for our trip to the Devil's Sea?"
"It's all set," he replied, "I managed to secure us a private ship. It should arrive in two days, and we can head out shortly after that."
Gon's face broke into a wide smile at the news, his anticipation for the journey growing with each passing moment.
"That's great!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable. "We'll finally be able to get our hands on the sixth ball, Rin!"
"It's about time alright," Ringo chimed in.
"Hold on just a moment," Tress said, her tone serious. "There's still so much we don't know about Ahtohallan."
Her words brought a sobering pause to the conversation, prompting the trio to turn their attention to Tress. Gon furrowed his brow, his enthusiasm tempered by Tress's warning.
"What do you mean?"
Tress leaned forward, her expression grave. "I've been doing some research," she explained, "gathering all the information I could find about Ahtohallan. But it's proving to be more challenging than I anticipated. Even the locals are useless."
Killua's eyes widened with interest, his analytical mind already racing ahead. "What kind of information are we talking about?"
Tress shrugged, a hint of frustration in her voice. "It's hard to say... Their ancient texts are filled with cryptic references and obscure symbols. It's going to take some time to unravel their meaning."
"You read ancient text?!" Ringo exclaimed, bewildered by the sudden discovery.
"Well, I have to admit, Tress, I didn't know you had a knack for ancient languages," Killua remarked, his tone laced with amusement.
Gon nodded in agreement, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "It's impressive, Tress," he said, his admiration evident. "You never cease to amaze us with your skills."
Tress chuckled, a hint of pride evident in her expression. "You never know what hidden talents someone might have."
Gon joined in the amusement, a twinkle of admiration in his eyes as he regarded Tress. "Well, we're lucky to have you on our team!"
"Tress, why don't you let me help?" Killua suggested, his voice filled with conviction. "Two minds are better than one, right?"
Tress raised an eyebrow teasingly, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Are you sure you can handle it?" she teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.
Killua's face flushed slightly at the teasing remark.
"Of course, I can handle it," he retorted a hint of determination in his voice. "I'll have you know, I'm quite the quick learner."
"But the real question is, can you keep up?" Tress chuckled at Killua's retort, a gleam of amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Oh, I can do more than keep up, Killua," she replied, her tone dripping with playful confidence. "But can you handle my brilliance?"
"Bring it on," he shot back, a playful glint in his eyes. "I'll have those texts deciphered before you know it!"
***********************
The anticipated day had finally arrived. The air was crisp with anticipation as the group of Hunters stood on the edge of the bustling port of Northuldra, their gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the sea stretching out before them. After spending ample time in the Northuldra village, they had made their preparations and were finally ready to venture forth into the unknown depths of the Devil's Sea.
As they made their final preparations, Killua turned to Knuckle and Meleoron.
"I'll leave Alluka to you," he said, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility.
"Leave it to us, we'll take care of her," Knuckle vowed, his confidence unwavering as he placed a comforting hand on Killua's shoulder.
With a nod of gratitude, Killua turned back to the group with a determined glint in his eyes when suddenly he heard someone call him out.
"Killua."
Killua paused in his tracks as Tress's voice cut through the bustling sounds of the port. As he turned towards the sound of the voice, he was met with Tress's intense gaze. There was a gravity in her expression that immediately caught his attention, causing him to pause and give her his full focus.
"What is it?" Killua asked.
Tress took a moment, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. Her words caught in her throat as she grappled with the weight of what she was about to say. She could see the curiosity in Killua's eyes, his unwavering gaze fixed on her, waiting for her to speak.
"There's something I need to tell you... about Alluka," she began.
Killua's heart clenched at the mention of Alluka, his concern growing with each passing moment.
"What about her?" he pressed, his eyes searching Tress's face for any hint of what she wanted to convey.
"She--"
For a moment, silence hung heavy between them, the only sound the gentle lapping of the waves against the dock.
As Tress's gaze met Killua's, she saw the weight of worry and responsibility etched into the lines of his face. Tress saw the resilience in Killua's gaze, the determination to protect those he cared about burning bright despite the shadows that loomed over him.
'No... I can't tell him about it yet. I can't burden him with this.'
She knew in that instant that she couldn't burden him with the truth about his sister's condition. Despite the urge to share what she knew, she held her tongue, her lips sealed tight with resolve.
'I'll find a way to wake Alluka up. I won't rest until the On is removed.' she vowed silently, her jaw set with determination.
'At the very least... they shouldn't go through what I've been through.' With a heavy sigh, Tress turned to Killua.
"She'll wake up soon... I can assure you," Tress said, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her. There was a sincerity in her words, a quiet reassurance that belied the uncertainty that still lingered in her heart.
"...!"
Killua's cheeks flushed with warmth as Tress's words washed over him, catching him off guard with her sincerity. He turned away from her, his hand instinctively rising to scratch the back of his head as he struggled to hide his embarrassment.
"Jeez, what's got into you?" he mumbled, his voice slightly muffled as he avoided her gaze. "It's kind of weird for you to be saying stuff like that."
But even as he tried to brush off her words, a strange sense of reassurance washed over him, lingering in the back of his mind like a flickering flame. He couldn't quite put his finger on why her words affected him so deeply, but there was something about the sincerity in her voice that touched him in a way he couldn't explain.
"It's not like I need reassurance or anything," he muttered to himself, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of vulnerability that lingered within him.
But deep down, he couldn't deny the small flicker of gratitude that warmed his heart, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that had begun to form between them.
With a shake of his head, Killua turned back towards the boat, his steps a little lighter despite the weight of uncertainty that still lingered in his mind.
************************
As the ship cut through the turbulent waters of the Devil's Sea, Killua's keen eyes scanned the horizon, his senses alert to any potential danger lurking beneath the waves. The salty sea air whipped around him, tousling his silver hair as he moved swiftly across the deck.
His gaze settled on Gon, who stood at the bow of the ship, his silhouette outlined against the backdrop of the roiling ocean. The weight of their impending journey seemed to hang heavy on the young hunter's shoulders, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, lost in his own thoughts.
Approaching Gon with cautious steps, Killua noted the furrow of worry etched into his friend's brow, a stark contrast to his usual carefree demeanor. Concern gnawed at Killua's insides as he reached Gon's side, his blue eyes mirroring the stormy depths of the sea below.
"Hey, Gon," Killua's voice was gentle, laced with a hint of apprehension. "You okay?"
Gon turned to him, a faint smile gracing his lips, though there was a shadow lurking behind his eyes. "Yeah, Killua, I'm fine," he replied, though the words seemed to lack their usual conviction.
Killua couldn't shake the memory of Gon lying unconscious, battered and broken, after their encounter with the E-10. The thought of his friend in danger sent a shiver down his spine.
"I know you're strong, Gon," Killua said softly, his voice tinged with sincerity. "But if things get too tough out there, don't push yourself too much, got it?"
Gon's gaze softened, gratitude flickering in his eyes as he clasped Killua's shoulder in a reassuring gesture.
"Thanks, Killua," he said, the weight of their bond evident in his words. "I'm glad you're here with me."
As Gon watched Killua retreat across the deck, his gaze drifted back to the boundless expanse of the sea, its depths mirroring the turmoil within his own soul. Memories of Rin's desperate struggle against forces beyond her control flooded his mind, a bitter reminder of his own powerlessness in the face of adversity.
As he clenched his fist, the determination burning in his eyes reflected the fierce resolve that now consumed him. The vow he had made to Rin echoed in his mind, driving him forward with an unyielding determination.
Gon's gaze lingered on the endless expanse of the sea, his thoughts drifting back to a painful memory that still haunted him. The memory of Rin, the friend he had failed to protect, weighed heavily on his heart, a constant reminder of his own shortcomings.
As he clenched his fist, the determination burning in his eyes reflected the fierce resolve that now consumed him. The vow he had made to Rin echoed in his mind, driving him forward with an unyielding determination.
'I need to protect Rin.'
"I won't let this happen again," Gon whispered to himself, his voice firm with conviction. "I'll get stronger, no matter what it takes."
'But with the way I am now, I can't protect Rin.'
The absence of his Nen, the source of his power as a hunter, felt like a gaping void within him, a stark reminder of his current limitations. But Gon refused to let despair consume him. Instead, a newfound fire ignited within him, fueled by his desire to protect those he cared about.
'I need to get my Nen back!'
***********************
Killua POV
As I treaded softly through the dimly lit hallway of the ship, the gentle sway of the vessel beneath my feet provided a rhythmic backdrop to the quiet of the night. The only sounds were the distant creaks of the ship and the gentle hum of the engines.
My steps were deliberate, almost silent, as I navigated the corridor. The darkness enveloped me like a comforting cloak, broken only by the occasional flicker of light from a sconce on the wall. It was in this ethereal ambiance that I spotted it—a room bathed in warm light, a solitary beacon in the sea of shadows.
'Someone's still awake?'
I approached cautiously. The door stood slightly ajar, inviting me to peer inside. As I pushed it open, the soft glow spilled out into the hallway, casting eerie shadows on the walls.
What I saw within took me by surprise. Tress was standing beside a table, surrounded by a chaos of ancient papers and scattered notes. Her intense focus was evident as she poured over the documents, her eyes tracing the intricate lines and symbols with unwavering concentration.
'Tress?'
Without making a sound, I step closer, my curiosity overriding any sense of caution. The blonde strands of her hair catch the light, framing her face in a soft glow, accentuating the intensity in her eyes as she pores over the documents. Her dedication is palpable, each movement deliberate as she sifts through the maze of information before her.
I take a moment to observe her, studying the way her brow furrows in concentration and the way her fingers trace the edges of the aged parchment. There's a sense of purpose in her actions, a determination that resonates within me.
With a gentle clearing of my throat, I announce my presence, not wanting to startle her. Tress's head whipped around to meet my gaze. Surprise flickers across her features before settling into a warm smile of recognition.
"Killua," she greets me. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"Well, just navigating through the night," I reply casually. "
My gaze locked onto the parchment before me, but it wasn't the ancient script that caused my eyes to widen—it was the sight of a stone tablet resting on the table, its weathered surface adorned with cryptic symbols and intricate carvings.
"Did you steal this from the village?! I thought we agreed that we were only going to take pictures of it!" The words tumbled out of my mouth.
"As if a picture is enough. What if we missed the smallest details?" Her voice was calm, resolute, betraying no hint of remorse.
"Besides... I wouldn't call it stealing. I'm merely borrowing it," Tress added, her tone almost nonchalant.
"Without planning to return them!" I couldn't contain the anger in my voice, the sense of betrayal gnawing at my conscience.
"Well, if we're back in one piece, I would probably return it," she replied.
"How did you manage to get all this without getting noticed?" I couldn't help but ask, my curiosity getting the better of me. Tress didn't break her focus, but instead, she reached for something and tossed it casually in my direction.
"Here," Tress replied simply, her attention still fixed on the ancient artifacts spread out before her.
I caught the object effortlessly. It was a small device, sleek and futuristic in design.
"It's a capsule technology. I can keep everything I want in this small capsule," she explained, finally tearing her gaze away from the papers to meet my eyes.
As her words sank in, I couldn't help but connect the dots. So that's where she stores all of her stuff, I realized, recalling the countless times she'd brought out a bottle of alcohol seemingly out of thin air.
"You're... really close with the Briefs, huh?" The question slipped out before I could stop myself.
At the mention of the Briefs, a palpable shift occurred in the atmosphere. Tress's gaze, once focused and determined, turned icy, devoid of any trace of emotion. It was as if a chill had descended upon the room, freezing the air between us.
Sensing the sudden tension, I immediately regretted my question.
"My bad, shouldn't have asked."
Tress remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable, before finally relaxing her stance ever so slightly. The tension in the air dissipated, replaced by an uneasy stillness that hung between us like a delicate thread.
"It's fine," she replied curtly, her tone clipped, before returning her attention to the task at hand.
But despite her words, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had unwittingly stumbled upon a topic best left untouched, a shadowy corner of her past that she preferred to keep hidden from prying eyes.
"So, how far did we get?" I inquired, eager to divert our conversation away from the tense moment earlier.
"Almost the entire thing. But Ahtohallan... is quite the riddle," she replied cryptically, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration.
As she stepped back, I leaned in to examine the notes she had meticulously transcribed. To my surprise, the text wasn't just a jumble of words—it was organized in neat rows, arranged like verses of a song.
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐥.
𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩, 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞,
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞.
𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐞,
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬.
𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧,
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞.
𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤,
𝐈𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐩.
𝐘𝐞𝐭, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐬?
𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬?
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚,
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝,
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲,
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐞,
𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐝, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐲,
𝐓𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞.
𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝,
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝?
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐥,
𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰,
𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰?
𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚,
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐞.
"It's a... song?"
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A/N
Yay! We're finally otw to the Devil's Sea! The song is strongly inspired by Frozen 2 song, All is found. Hence the similarity. But I suck at making songs so bear with me TT.
Did you like the interactions between Tress and Killua? At this point we might as well have a ship name for them. How about Killuress?
Will Tress and Killua figure out the riddle in the song? I hope you enjoy the chapter, stay tuned for the next!