[Fic] 10 Themes

[argurotoxos]

Title: 10 Themes
Author: alchemy_hisoka
Fandom: Hunter x Hunter
Rating: G to PG-13
Characters: Various, but all pairing work is Killua x Gon.
Disclaimer: Hunter x Hunter and all of its characters are not mine; they belong to Togashi Yoshihiro and Shueisha.
Dedication: To kyokiru. And to sage_3, without whom the ninth theme would have been very different. This one is for you and only you.
Notes: It's been over a year since I've written any fanfiction. So earlier this week, I finally sat myself down, put my WMP playlist on random, wrote down the first ten song titles that came up, and challenged myself to write a short Hunter x Hunter fic based on each of them. This is the result.

The themes:

01 - Something To Sing About (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer) -- Killua
02 - Edge of the World (The Crüxshadows) -- Kuroro
03 - The Last Day (Evanescence) -- Mito
04 - I'll Be The One (Hikaru no Go) -- Killua x Gon
05 - Papercut (Linkin Park) -- Karuto
06 - Sleepwalker (Nightwish) -- Illumi
07 - Ich Will/I Want (Rammstein) -- random Ryuuseigai resident
08 - Amethyst remembrance (Yami no Matsuei) -- Kurapica
09 - Genki no SHAWAA/Energy Shower (Yu-Gi-Oh) -- Gon x Killua
10 - Ocean Soul (Nightwish) -- Killua x Gon

[Crossposted to ore_ga_inakya]



01 - Something To Sing About

Killua had never had much use for music growing up. Oh, he enjoyed listening to the CD player he had filched from Miluki every once in a while, but he had never gotten so caught up in the songs that he had wanted to sing along.

Sitting in Mito-san's bar now with Gon's sailor friends surrounding him with raised mugs as they started in on their umpteenth verse in honour of Gon's sixteenth birthday and watching Gon's bright face as he joined the chorus, Killua wished he had learned earlier.



02 - Edge of the World

'Here's another one. What do you think?'

The boy turned around and regarded the squirming ball of flesh cradled in the masked man's arms. So tiny and fragile without even enough energy to cry for the mother that had abandoned it so callously; thrown out with the garbage and dead to civilization. Dark eyes watched as the mouth opened in a scream, but no sound came out.

'Take it. Take all of them.'

Kuroro stood silent as the men of Ryuuseigai gathered the broken infants.

'After all, we need everything we can to survive at the edge of the world.'



03 - The Last Day

Mito sits at the counter, chin resting on her hand as she stares into the dim amber depths of her untouched drink. She holds the glass out in front of her, right between her and the old photograph of Jing resting on the shelf. Looking at him darkened and distorted by the liquid makes very little difference, she finds. He's always been distant and muted in her mind.

Sighing, she brings the glass over to the sink and pours the alcohol down the drain. Her bracelets jangle quietly as she cleans up, rinsing out the glass and wiping down the counters. She shoots one last glance at Jing, this one a tired look of resignation with just a hint of reproachfulness.

Before she goes to her room to change, she stops in front of the doorway that's been a witness to some of her most treasured memories. She hesitates as she pushes the door open slightly, knowing she will not find what she is looking for.

His room is dark except for the sliver of moonlight shining through the window. But even in the gloom, she can tell that all signs of her boy have gone.

And that was the worst part, wasn't it? That somewhere along the line, she had started to think of him as her own and she hadn't fully realized it until after he had left.

'Take care of yourself, Gon.'

Her only answer is the sound of the wind chimes.



04 - I'll Be The One

'This fort is impenetrable, Gon. You're not gonna win. Besides, I have tons more ammo than you.'

Well, maybe that last part's not exactly true, but it's not like Gon can tell from where he's positioned anyway. I easily dodge the next round of snowballs that come flying at me, then hurl a few back in retaliation without really paying attention to whether any of them hit their target or not.

It was all Gon's fault. Though really, that could probably be applied to most of the things I do these days. The difference is that most of Gon's plans don't end up with the two of us playing in the snow for hours on end. Apparently, it doesn't snow on Whale Island and when we had woken up that morning to find several feet of it on the ground, Gon just had to go out and see what the big fuss was all about.

I've seen snow plenty of times before. Hell, I even trained in it for a little. And the big fuss about the snow is that it's cold. Not that Gon gets that. He just keeps going on about how neat it is, soft yet packable, and how pretty it looks when the sun shines on it or some other such nonsense.

But what started out as a friendly game of snow wars has turned into 'let's see who can freeze their ass off first' and with both of us too stubborn to admit defeat, it doesn't show any signs of ending anytime soon.

I peer over the top of my snow fort, searching for Gon and spotting him only by the tips of his black hair and the puffs of breath that hang in the air like little clouds. Grabbing another snowball, I actually take the time to aim before lugging it at Gon's head. Gon, however, seems to have planned for the attack and stands, spinning around and sending his own snowball sailing through the air. It smacks against my left cheek and I hiss as a trickle of ice water slides down under my coat.

'Does this mean you give up?' Gon's trying to give me the best innocent look he can pull off, but I know better; he's got that unmistakable sparkle in his eyes that appears whenever he's feeling uncharacteristically mischievous.

Enough is enough and it's time to show Gon once and for all who the better snow fighter is. Growling, I gather my remaining snowballs and toss them at Gon, then rush out from behind my fort and tackle him around the waist before he has a chance to recover. He's laughing as I push him onto his back. 'So? Does this mean you give up?' I mimic his own words back at him.

'Hmm.' He tilts his head up toward me, nose just barely brushing my own. It's cold, maybe even colder than mine, and I watch his eyes as our collective breath hangs between us. 'Yup.'

Oh no. Gon did not just say that. Especially not when he's still got that look in his eyes. I stiffen up, ready to move in a half-second. 'What are you plotting, Gon Freeccs?'

The smile he gives me then is almost blinding. 'I won, Killua.'

'Eh?!'

'You abandoned your fort, didn't you? And now, we're both in mine. So I won.'

I could yell at him and tell him that's not how you play the game. Or I could reach out for the last of his snowballs and pelt Gon in the face with it. Or I could yell at him and then tickle him until he really surrenders like I usually do, but that would be rather difficult with thick coats and fingers that are numb under snow-soaked mittens.

Beneath me, Gon is still smiling, but it's a soft, contented smile. And when I meet his eyes, I realize he knows everything I've just considered, but has already come to the conclusion that I won't do any of them.

Instead, I sigh, relaxing my body and shifting more weight on top of him. 'You're hopeless, you know that?'

'Yup.'

And with that, he leans up and kisses me.



05 - Papercut

He can still remember the look in his brother's eyes as he had left. Hard determination, an expression for them alone. Mother had been so pleased, but he had known better; he had seen that look before in the eyes of that spiked-haired boy who had come after his brother. Even though he had still been bleeding, even though one eye had been swollen shut, Karuto had known just by observing him for those few minutes that he could not win against him now. That is what they had all been trained to do, after all. Judge a potential opponent quickly and accurately and only attack if they could be killed.

Karuto stands now in the quite of the woods, perfecting his technique. He sprinkles bits of confetti in front of him with one hand, then swiftly sweeps his paper fan through the air with the other, pushing the tiny pieces with deadly accuracy into the wood in front of him. His eyes are cold and calculating as he watches the trunk snap with a sickening crunch, sending the tree crashing into the others behind it.

Killua hadn't even glanced his way before he had departed. Not this last time, nor the time before.

Funny how the smallest things hurt the most. And that was something Karuto was more than willing to use to his advantage.



06 - Sleepwalker

She believes she is dreaming. Her room is dark and silent, but she can feel the presence of someone there. Yet every time she tilts her head and peers further into the darkness searching for something solid, she finds nothing. She shifts on his bed uneasily, glancing over at the lamp sitting on her bedside table. Even if she really is asleep, surely some light would not hurt . . .

A split-second later, the back of her head is riddled with needles. Illumi rises from his crouched position and glances toward the corner where the boy has silently observed. 'Do you see, Kill? Quick and efficient.'

Killua nods, black eyes drifting back to the body one last time before following his older brother out the door.



07 - Ich Will [I Want]

He'd always been enchanted by the idea of having his own coat.

When he had finally ventured beyond the piles of rubble that outlined his home, he'd been laughed at for the apparent simplicity and naivety of his desire. And when he had wandered into his first department store, he'd been stared at incredulously for spending hours feeling the fabric of the multitude of clothing, relishing every single one. Some were thick and rubbed against his calloused fingertips. Others were soft and plush. They came in many shades and with many designs - black, tan, green, red, white, striped; decorated with dragons or strange symbols or shooting stars . . . But they were all new, pristine. Never worn by another individual. The very realization had made shivers of pleasure roll down his spine.

After he had finally found the one that was absolutely perfect, he had taken it off the hanger with such reverence and awe. Feeling it for the first time heavy on his shoulders had been exquisite, a small taste of heaven. And when the store manager had tried to stop him from walking out, he had been extremely careful to avoid getting any blood onto his new treasure.

It must have been that moment, standing in the street with the long black coat shielding him from the wind, that he had understood just why they had laughed at him for wanting a simple garment. This was a world whose mere scraps had composed his previous one. And now . . .

He smiled as he began a leisurely walk toward the next store.



08 - Amethyst remembrance

Kurapica remembers exactly when it began, the night several years after the massacre of his tribe when he had woken up scared and shaking. Dreams were nothing new to him, and nightmares even less so. But this time, no Scarlet Eyes had haunted him and no Spiders had caught him in their webs. Instead, he had been with his old companions playing in one of the rivers that ran through Rukuso. He was smiling and happy, but when he had looked up to address his friends, he discovered he could no longer recall their names.

As the months had past, he had found his memory slipping further. The scent of his mother, the expression his father always wore when he found Kurapica reading past his bedtime, the taste of his aunt's fruit pastries; all forgotten and lost to time.

It had been the dream where he could no longer hear his parents' voices that had undone him. As soon as he had awoken, he had gathered all of the books he carried with him (for he had no other paper), found a pen, and hurriedly scribbled as much information as he could into the covers of the volumes.

Kurapica thinks it a bitter irony that his worst memories are preserved forever within the chains on his hand while his most precious memories must be stored on paper that will crumble into dust.



09 - Genki no SHAWAA [Energy Shower]

Killua buried his face into his pillow, dozing in the light sleep where one can actually enjoy the heat of the blankets surrounding oneself without being completely awake yet. It had been quite a while since they'd been able to sleep in an actual bed, having spent most of the past month working, sleeping, and eating in a rainforest, and Killua was determined to soak up the luxury while he could.

. . . which apparently wouldn't be very long judging by the hand that had begun shaking his bare shoulder. 'Killua. It's time to get up.'

'Mmph.' And with that, he curled further into a ball and away from Gon's prodding hands, even though he already knew his actions were futile; this was Gon, after all, and Gon never gave up until he got what he wanted.

Sure enough, the hands followed him. 'Ki-llu-a. Get up.'

'Make me.' Definitely not the most brilliant comeback Killua had ever come up with, but it would do, if only to delay Gon a few minutes longer.

The fact that the hands withdrew really should have alerted him. As it was, he could only yelp rather undignifiedly when Gon's teeth scraped his neck, his protests dying into a low moan as Gon moved to suck at the sensitive area behind his ear.

When Gon finally released the skin, he had drawn back, grinning widely into Killua's now wide-awake and rather surprised face. 'Come on. We'll take a shower and then go eat breakfast at that bakery you noticed yesterday.'

It wasn't until Gon had already started climbing out of bed that Killua recovered from his shock. Like sleeping in a bed, indulging in the more physical side of their relationship had been somewhat of a luxury recently. They'd been working with another group of other Hunters, much to Killua's dislike, and had quickly discovered that making out against trees wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world. But now they were alone, in their own room, and Killua could already feel the tingling warmth of arousal start to spread over his body.

Gon's feet had just touched the floor when Killua's hands reached out to snatch his wrists. Waiting until Gon turned to him with an inquisitive look, Killua lunged forward and pressed his lips against Gon's. Gon returned the kiss eagerly, entwining his fingers with Killua's as he slowly coaxed him off the bed, kiss growing wet and open-mouthed as he began a stumbling walk backwards toward the general vicinity of the bathroom.

By the time they had traversed the room, Killua's mouth was latched onto Gon's throat, nipping and sucking in just the right places to draw sighs and half-moans out of his best friend. Gon nearly tripped twice as he made his way unsteadily to the shower, pushing at the waistband of Killua's boxers. He hummed when Killua caught on and released his neck long enough to divest Gon of his own shorts, then hauled Killua into the stall with him. Reaching back with one hand to fumble with the tap, his lips searched for another kiss and . . .

'Gon!' Killua was glaring now, looking very much like a bedraggled kitten.

'Oops.' Gon quickly shut off the ice-cold water. 'I forgot that they have separate hot and cold water taps here.'



10 - Ocean Soul

Gon takes a deep breath, letting the familiar ocean-scented air fill his body. Above his head, the seagulls cry as they hover over the small fishing boat they are traveling in. Even though he's been on practically every form of transportation in existence, Gon still feels most at home sailing over the sea.

Something scrapes against the wood next to him and Gon smiles as the equally familiar scent of Killua reaches his nose. Closing his eyes blissfully, never mind that he's currently perched on a dangerously high part of the mast, he lets a soft sigh escape his throat.

'Captain said we should be hitting a good fishing spot in about an hour.'

'Ah.'

Gon listens to Killua shifting restlessly, the soft noise distinct despite the sound of the birds above. The warmth of the hand that brushes briefly against his own is a pleasant contrast to the cool breeze that fans his face.

'Can you understand them?'

'Who?'

'The seagulls.'

'Most of the time. Right now, a lot of them are just really hungry. They'll probably follow us until we reach that fishing spot.'

Comfortable silence falls between them. It is Gon who breaks it first this time, reaching out to feel his partner's fingers curl around his again before opening his eyes. 'Killua . . .'

'Gon, we've been through this before, remember?'

'I know, but still . . . I really am glad you're here with me.'

Killua's reply is a snort, but Gon watches him as he ducks his head, bangs shielding his face, and knows that is his true answer.

'I can teach you.'

'What now?'

'How to understand the seagulls.'

The fingers clench around his own. 'You do more than that, you know.'

'Oh?'

'You can talk to the ocean.'

Gon turns his gaze to the far away point where water meets sky.

'I can teach you that, too.' It's barely a whisper, distant and holding dreams of the future they had promised to each other back on Whale Island.

Killua follows Gon's line of sight until he, too, is gazing at the horizon.