Nahida & Wanderer In HXH

Planning Their Next Moves

As promised, Gon and Killua left together for the park. Past the trees over the road, they spotted Knuckle and his white clothes under the street light. Arms crossed and focused on them.

Beside him was a man in lilac clothing. His left arm was completely covered under a large sleeve that reached his knee. While his right arm stayed revealed.

His light purple hair is braided from the scalp and gathered into a side ponytail. His facial features are lean and simple, unlike Knuckle's rough and sharp expressions.

At first glance he seemed weak compared to Knuckle. Killua met his black eyes, and failed to see hesitation or cowardice.

A friend of Knuckle would naturally have a similar fighting spirit.

Then again, this battle will decide who goes on the expedition. Who will fight the Ants, and whether or not Gon and Killua will fulfill their promise to Nahida and Wanderer.

Everyone had reasons to win.

Gon stood in front of Knuckle, and Killua stopped beside him. Right in front of Shoot. They parted into two groups in silence. Shoot and Killua walked to the left, towards the forest nearby while Knuckle and Gon moved right, towards the park's middle.

Gon and Knuckle stopped walking. Knuckle reached up and pulled at his white shirt. "Gon. Like I promised, I'll give it my all."

He quickly focused his Nen just as Knuckle threw his shirt away. Nen exploding out in rough, jagged lines.

"From the very beginning!"

Gon quickly went into his low stance, quiet, focused on observing. Ready to counteract whatever fast attack Knuckle did.

He needs to go on the expedition. No matter what...!

As expected, Knuckle ran to him and Gon braced himself-!

-

Killua carefully watched Shoot while walking deeper into the forest. Each time a tree obscured his view, he half expected a surprise attack. But it never came.

Shoot and Knuckle share their respect for a proper, equal fight.

One less thing to worry about. For now, Killua feels calm. Maybe his head has already secured an escape route, but he tried his best to ignore it. Even if it proved Bisky's words.

'You fight to escape, not to win.'

Despite the escape route, the water Shoot walked, his hidden sleeve and history with Knuckle was each a red flag. Each one told Killua he can't win.

But fleeing isn't an option. He can't.

Killua couldn't stop the teachings running around his head with each second.

'Never fight an opponent if you're not sure you can defeat him.' 'Run away if you don't have all the information.'

'At the slightest hesitation, run.'

Like Bisky said, Illumi trained him. These distracting thoughts had to stop if he wanted to be with Gon and Nahida...

Shoot paused in his steps, and Killua hurried to do the same. His focus changed to spotting anything. Shoot's breathing, Aura spike, a sign of movement. Anything.

Killua didn't take the first step, just watching while waiting...

But, should he let Shoot make the first move...?

When Shoot took a deep breath, Killua frowned in preparation. In a moment, Shoot turned to face Killua and released a grand, powerful green Aura.

Nothing like that Ant's, but Killua felt a line rise from his kidney to his heart. Increasing his heart rate and blood pressure.