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OLD STORY CAN BE FOUND HERE:
Fanfic: DRAFT Unexpected x Developments DRAFT! (Story is being rewritten) Ch 1, Hunter X Hunter | FanFiction .
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BOOK INTRO PAGES
When you look at the book intro in the link provided, you will see a lot of images at the start because it is the beginning of the first book. Each book has the book cover for that specific book as well as some character art / notes. The first chapter starts after the images and notes
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Disclaimer: This is a not-for-profit work of fiction. Any price attached by the author was set as a donation to help offset the cost for production, still with a sizable amount of loss suffered (commissions, time invested, file storage subscription, laptop, tablet, art software, data plan). The original story belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi and all whom he has deemed as his subsidiaries. The author of these fan books does not claim ownership of anything mentioned herein other than the settings, plot and characters that they have created. They are simply borrowing the original setting and characters belonging to the Hunter x Hunter world for this story.
Section Note:
It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to has power over you, if you allow it.
-Leon Brown
. Section Synopsis:
In the events that started it all, this prologue section consists of thirty-three chapters that are critical to bringing the main story into perspective. These are the catalysts for the domino effect that would weave so many lives together and rip them apart at the same time.
Section Outline:
CHAPTER BONUS? YES!
4,000 word double-sized chapter
Playlist
Three in-chapter full paintings
End-of chapter notes
.Reference: HxH 2011 Episodes' intro
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Chapter Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh0oy6_TvvCPR9U_NRMSirw6Ir57JwAKI
.•.Content Dictionary:
xxx: End of a section
"Speech"
“underlined word(s) within dialogue” P.O.V character is placing emphasis on a word or phrase
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Name: "Memory of a conversation"
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Italicized text: Thought
[[SOUND / MOVEMENT]]
[[BADUM]] An emotional reaction / beating of the heart
[[BA-DUM]] POV character is extremely overwhelmed
“Heh.” A laugh.
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. Two (or more) vertical dots represent the passage of a little time
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o: End of a dream.
Chapter Songs:
MARINA - Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land [Gon] “The walls are being broken and we’re ready for change...”
Katy Perry - Rise[Mystery person]
Bishop Briggs – CHAMPION[Mystery person]
Evangelion - "Cruel Angel's Thesis" | ENGLISH ver | AmaLee [to Gon]
Imagine Dragons – Birds[Mystery person to Gon]— “Seasons, they will change, Life will make you grow, Death can make you hard... Love will never die, die, die... Ooh, I hope to see you again
The Script - Hall Of Fame[Mystery person to Gon]— “And the world's gonna know your name,
'Cause you burn with the brightest flame...”
Hayd - Safe & Sound [Gon] "It's killing me slowly, But I'm... Safe and sound when you hold me, No more monsters in my dreams. In your eyes, I find peace..."
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N.B. Location: Whale Island (Gon has been at home for seven months so far following his meeting with Ging on the World Tree). Time: Midnight.
NOTE: INSIDE DREAM SEQUENCE...
.•.
.•. about, their blonde tips a citrus flame as they caught and reflected the moonbeams.
Their silky movement was smooth—eye catching even—and almost a blur as the looming figure stalked its grazing prey, stealthily pulled back the string of the bow and released a lightning-fast arrow.
[[FWIP]]
Soundlessly whizzing through the air, its target was none the wiser, until—
[[TUFF]]
There was no movement from the mighty beast as it was felled, barely registering the moment of its death with the headshot that had pierced its tough skull and claimed its life.
“Ah...” Gon observed this in awe and with an astute gaze, committing every muscle of movement that had resulted in such a perfect kill to his memory.
He would definitely be attempting to replicate that the next time he went hunting.
“Well?” The young woman got out of her crouching position, standing tall before him with a smirk as she tucked the bow into the holder strapped to her back. She was no longer actively participating in a hunt, yet her powerful limbs moved like the parts of a mastered machine, seeming to flow from one pose to the next—the mark of an adept huntress. “Want to give it a try?”
“Maybe something a little smaller?” Gon suggested, not fearful but aware that he lacked the strength and stature to do what she had done. After all, the animal she had killed was nearly ten times his size. “I can’t do that—”
“Yet,” she cut in, before he could doubt himself.
Walking off to where her prey lay dead, she clasped her hands and bowed her head to whisper in prayer, “I offer the kills today to the Hana gods of nature. For You, the balance of this space would not be destroyed. It is only natural that we, Your humble servants, take the surplus and not threaten the ecosystem of things…”
Lifting her head, she looked down at her little toddler who was standing beside her with his head bowed and hands clasped.
She patted the top of his head of green-black spiky hair gently to get his attention and as he looked up, she produced a hunting knife from the leather pouch at her side.
“Time to clean it,” she announced, grinning wryly. Her little one had neither reached his second birthday nor performed such a huge feat before, but he did not appear to be concerned, matching her movement to take out his own hunting knife that he also kept in a similar pouch at his side.
Seeing this made her grin wider as she was both confident that Gon could gut the beast and eager to see how he would do it.
“Let’s see how much your experience in skinning rabbits will benefit you here...”
xxx“So, what have you learned tonight?” the young woman asked.
“Mm...” Gon looked over at her and frowned. “Hunting Mountain Beasts gets easier with practice.”
“Sure does,” she confirmed with a nod, “Although you’ve been catching mostly rabbits, you did a lot of good scout work to find our prey tonight.”
“...” Gon blushed at her praise, turning his gaze up at the starry sky that sat atop the lush mountains in the distance.
It was a beautiful backdrop and part of what had become a perfect night for their hunt.
And now that they had come to a stop, sitting in the short grass after dinner, nature continued to move, conversing loudly around them.
Night birds called out to one another, crickets chirped, small animals skittered about in the shrubbery and a burbling stream muttered noisily nearby, skipping over the small smooth rocks.
“Gon,” the young woman called, chucking the wheat straw she had been chewing on into the crackling campfire, "What else did you learn?"
“Hm...” Distracted from his musing, Gon pondered briefly on her question then muttered, “It takes a long time to clean an animal that big.” The plate and cup balanced on his thighs made a tinkering noise as he stretched out his arms. “And it was big.”
“Heh...” She chuckled at his response before settling back against the trunk of the mighty tree behind her, with both arms crossed to pillow her head. “Just the kind of response I expected. Your first time gutting such a large beast, but you did not give up. You’re not a quitter.”
“Gon never gives up,” Gon replied. “No matter how big the prey is.”
“Excellent. And soon, you’ll be able to do everything I do,” she said proudly, “It’s only a matter of time.”
“So... no more hunting only rabbits?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “You’ve graduated to bigger things.”
“Un!” Gon’s eyes twinkled with much excitement at the meaning behind her words.
“Listen, Gon.”
“Ah?” At her serious tone, Gon put aside his empty plate and cup to amble toward her, climbing onto her lap as she shifted to gather him up.
The young woman would often use a certain tone when she had something important to tell him, and as he always looked forward to everything that she taught him, Gon never refused to go to her when she called.
From everyday tasks to hunting, gathering food and the requisite training to condition his body, she was like an endless source of knowledge that eternally intrigued him.
“If one day something happens...” she began evasively, “...and you forget all that I am, I pray that you do not forget any of my teachings. Please keep them in your heart, even if you no longer remember who taught you.”
Gon appeared to be a bit concerned at her morose words but nodded wordlessly as she went on,
“The time we have spent together, and the knowledge I’ve shared with you can be your aide.” The young woman looked down at him with an ocean of emotions raging in her intense gaze. “Something terrible is coming and Ging says that you’ll be at the center of it, but I...”
Her tough comportment crumbled momentarily, and her voice was broken by a soft sob, but she recovered quickly, steeling herself to continue.
“I will teach you all that I know so that the knowledge won’t depart from your consciousness.”
“It will stay in mind? Why?” Gon asked, “How will I forget you, but remember that...?”
“...” She stroked his hair lovingly, her smile gentle. “Nothing is as rare, powerful or as faithful as true love is, and what I’ve given to you can be a savior if used wisely. For I have poured all the love I have for you into my teachings,” she whispered this with her gentle smile now sad before continuing, “We’ve had a lot of lessons together, haven’t we?”
“Yeah.” Gon nodded avidly.
“Promise me that you won’t depart from my teachings,” she said firmly.
“Promise,” Gon replied, matching her serious tone. “Gon promises to not forget.”
“Good,” she whispered, a portion of ease now sewn into the fabric of her soul. “When you’re lost and without hope, trust your instincts and recall the essence of what you are, for throughout history, that has always worked for our people.”
“Ah...? Instincts?” Gon looked up at her with a bit of confusion in his beautiful hazel eyes before he remembered,
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[Mystery girl]: “Nothing is as rare, powerful or as faithful as true love.”
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“Hm.. trust instincts... Like... trust love?”
“Yes. You should trust love, for like time, it is endless. And your instincts will guide you. They go hand in hand. When you lose all that you are, it will hurt immensely so you should never take your heritage for granted,” she said, teaching him this important lesson just as her mother had done with her. “And remember that, as the members of our tribe tend to love strongly and faithfully, you should be careful.”
“Un.” Gon nodded. “Trust love... but be careful of it.”
“No, not love.” She shook her head. “You need to take care to not be weak. For when you love strongly, you will desire to protect what you love, so become strong enough and be willing to sacrifice all that you have for the cause that matters most to you. But if something happens to take your strength away, trust your instincts. It will bring everything that you’ve lost back to you. Use the love that you have for the important things in your life to find the strength hidden within.” The pained smile creasing her lips became warmer as she placed a hand over her chest. “That way, you won’t be on the losing end forever.”
“Hm...” Gon frowned. “Can’t stand being there! Not ever!”
“Sometimes one cannot help the way things go in life,” she cautioned.
“Well, even if Gon loses, he won’t be on the losing end forever,” Gon declared, accepting her words as his mantra. “I won’t give up until I win!”
“That’s good. As long as you know that failure is a natural part of life but not something you should wallow in.” The young woman patted his head. “Love, whether romantic, familial or platonic is a strong motivation to improve yourself. And it’s easy to know if you love someone, because every day you spend away from them would feel as though you’re being torn apart on the inside. But if you’re hurt and broken, time can save you, for each day that passes brings you closer to recovery and finding your purpose.”
“That’s why time and love are important,” Gon mumbled as he internalized her teachings.
“Yes.” She lifted one finger to instruct, “So use both wisely. Time, like love, can make you stronger if spent doing the right things. Both truly are a beautiful pain in the story of our lives. In the story of our ancestors, time and love have been an ancient burden and ultimately, our savior.”
“Savior—Heh!” Gon laughed as she poked his cheeks to make him smile in spite of her serious tone. “Heh heh, no play... talk!”
“Ah, you want me to tell you about more interesting things, huh?”
“Yes!” Gon nodded enthusiastically. “Story!”
“Hm. Your father has spoiled you with all those things he keeps telling you and now that he’s far away, you want me to fill in, huh?”
“Un!” Gon agreed shamelessly.
“Cheeky lil’ stinker,” the young woman said, pinching his cheeks and laughing as her toddler tried to squirm away.
“No pinch Gon’s cheeks!” Gon quarreled, batting her hands away.
“Okay, okay I won’t be mean to you,” she promised with a laugh, before tapping her chin in thought. “Alright. What story shall we do today? Want me to read from the book or tell you something historical?”
“Tell! History!” Gon cheered. “And scary!”
“Hm.” With a nod that shook the lemon-lime locks of her hair, she started with a secret smirk, “The world is a frighteningly vast and dangerous place filled with fearsome monsters, exotic creatures, vast riches...hidden treasures...and...”
Pausing dramatically, she made a scary face as she put extra emphasis on her next words, “...evil enclaves![Ref. HxH 2011 intro theme]”
“Eeek!” The child before her gasped in surprise when she tickled him but then giggled as she stopped to bop his nose.
“Ah Gon-kun, I love you! You make the cutest faces!” she gushed when she saw him pouting in response to her trick. He had been so focused on her vivid storytelling that her sudden movement had frightened him. “It’s so hard to not tease you when you’re like this!”
“No tease! Tell more! Tell more!”
To that demand, the woman smiled brighter, happy that Gon was always so excited to hear her stories.
“Hmm...” she smiled at him playfully, “I want to continue, but I think that I’ve forgotten where I—”
“Eeeeevel ancla!”
“You mean evil enclaves?” she asked, correcting his mispronunciation with a bit of mirth in her tone.
“Yes! What is that??” Gon asked, “Sounds bad! And danger!”
“Heh.” She giggled, noting that Gon did not appear to be scared but rather excited that this new thing he was learning of sounded dangerous. “Well, let’s see...an enclave is a part of a territory that has people living in it that are culturally different from the vast majority that naturally exist in that place.”
“Ah...?”
“Hm...” As Gon appeared to be quite a bit more confused than before, she snapped her fingers as an idea occurred to her. “I’ll give you an example! Take for instance the many tribes in our world. Each is small and some exist within bigger communities, yet they still practice their tradition and don’t mix with the more conventional population in the continents. So, they are visually and culturally different.”
“Ah!” Gon nodded avidly but then frowned. “How are they evil though...?”
“Many aren’t...” The woman paused, “That is, if they’re not unjustly interfered with by outsiders. The government of each country allows them to coexist within the land they have jurisdiction over, and the tribes expect to be respected in their beliefs and practices. Sometimes they will even meet with government representatives to discuss laws that may affect them.”
“So... that ancla—”
“Enclave?”
“Ahh...” Gon blushed a little then tried, “The awnnnclayve?”
“Yes.” she nodded, trying not to laugh at how cute Gon was whenever he was learning new words.
“It’s good if no one bothers them?”
“Not really ‘good’, but harmless,” she replied, “However, from time to time, people get caught up in the lore of specific tribes and venture into their territory to desecrate their people and or sacred spaces in search of one thing or the other. Or they enter without permission and with nefarious intentions, something which is called trespassing, and get captured.”
“And that’s when it becomes an evil enclave!” Gon added with much excitement and when the young woman affirmed his addition with a nod, he wrinkled his nose, impatient to learn more as she patted his head, “What else is there??”
“Well... there are unexplored lands all throughout our world,” she responded, “Strange, beautiful and exciting places. And I’ll have you know that all of what attracts explorers, adventurers, Hunters – and more – today were commonplace a long time ago.”
“Really?” Gon pepped up at that, “Cool!”
There were stars of excitement in her child’s eyes, and she cuddled him a bit before continuing.
“Mhm. The word ‘unknown’ holds an addictive magic and some incredible people are drawn to that magic.[Ref. HxH 2011 intro theme]”
“Magic...!” Gon clapped, completely entranced by her storytelling and animated movements. “Those people... Hunters?”
“Correct!” she cheered.
“People like you... and Ging are adventurers! And Hunters!”
“That’s right!”
“You....” Gon pointed at her, “Chase after magic?”
“I chase after a lot of things,” the woman responded with a laugh, “That’s how I got you—”
“Stop teasing Gon!” Gon argued with his little pout underlining his exclamation. [Author: Lol, she ain’t lying...]
“Haha okay,” she promised insincerely.
“...” Gon watched her warily but continued regardless, “Have Hunters always been here?”
“They have,” the woman confirmed, “Long... long ago, before the profession had a name, people have always sought after the unknown.”
“What was the unknown like...?” Gon asked, “...long ago? Always mysterious?”
“Yes. Mysterious, but it was also dangerous, thrilling and... a very very long time ago, there were even unknown things that were considered to be beyond amazing,” she replied, “At that time, there were gods—mighty beings that lived with and were worshipped by the people. And some of the people long ago were different from the majority we see today.”
“Different?” Gon asked, “Like the Magical Beasts that could talk?”
“More impressive than those,” she said.
“So, they weren’t like humans or beasts...?”
“Hmm...” Tapping her chin as she tried to think of an easy way to explain, she paused. “Ah. Think of it this way: they were higher beings due to their unique constitution and abilities. Sometimes, they were able to blend in with human society, but most times, they lived in separate societies, far away from human civilization. This was because their bodies were able to tolerate much more than the average human.”
“Ah...” Gon was enthralled by this. “How?”
“Well, for example,” she started, “...these beings, known as the Ancient Ones, were giants that were so impressive in their stature and so fearsome in their appearance and ability that many said they resembled angels. And maybe... they were indeed blessed with a gift.”
“Eeeevil enclaves, gods…angels, creatures, treasures…” Gon counted each on his little fingers then looked up at the green-haired woman and smiled, eager to learn more. “A mystery! And adventure!”
“Yes, it would be a great adventure to go on,” she replied, her voice brimming with as much reckless excitement as Gon’s was. “But even if we go on a journey into the deepest, darkest wilderness, we will only see a fraction of what used to roam the earth.”
There was a dramatic pause as Gon seemed to be holding his breath in anticipation and waiting for her to continue.
“The only place that remains as an authentic representation of the past and our ancestry is the Dark Continent.”
“Ah?” Gon was puzzled by this. “An-cestry? Family? On that continent...?”
“Yes.... they used to be there.” The woman smiled. “Our ancestors had a lot of power. A great potential. We have a rich and complex history and a mighty inheritance. We are actually—”
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
NOTE: DREAM SEQUENCE ENDS. PRESENT DAY
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[[WHISPERING VOICES]]
“...?” Gon opened his eyes groggily and squinted at the doorway to his room.
[[LOW VOICES CONVERSING]]
“Hm…?”
The door was slightly ajar and through a tiny crack, a bit of light from the corridor filtered into the dark space where he was and with it, the sound of two people talking.
From the overall tone, it sounded as though Mito and Abe were having an intense conversation and Mito seemed to be a bit irritated.
“That book was nothing but trouble…” Mito muttered, “It was…”
Gon tuned out her voice, not really wanting to care enough to eavesdrop.
He hated that their conversation had woken him up, for this was the first time in months that he actually wanted to finish his dream.
Lately, he had been having nothing but nightmares consisting of his fight against Pitou and this was a rare instance wherein he had had a decent dream.
This sucks.
Gon sighed, pulling the frog-patterned blanket up over his head as he tried to will himself to sleep again.
He could not help but recall the way he had felt warm, comforted and at peace in that dreamworld.
Even thinking of the remnant of that dream soothed his mind.
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???: “Our ancestors had a lot of power. A great potential. We have a rich and complex history and a mighty inheritance.”
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Who was that he was dreaming about? Her aura, scent and presence all felt remarkably familiar.
With eyes closed, Gon tried to remember her face. He tried hard, but all that came to him was the memory of two-toned shoulder-length hair consisting of green and blonde shades.
From the way he had been looking up at her while she was angled to look down at him, he figured that she was not only very tall, but that he had to have been sitting on her lap.
The details of her face were blurry, but her aura was distinctly full of love.
“Why can’t I remember her face?” Gon muttered, “And why was I even having that dream??”
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Mystery woman: “We have a rich and complex history...”
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‘We’?
What’s up with that?
She was teaching me... and...
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Mystery woman: “The only place that remains as an authentic representation of the past and our ancestry is the Dark Continent.”
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Ah.
Gon sat up immediately.
Huh?
“Ancestry? Dark Continent? That strange person... She’s from there...?”
He frowned.
Or... am I from there...?
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Gon sat still, brooding over the little he recalled from his dream, blinking at the darkness of the room, thoroughly confused as he looked down at his hand.
It was the same as it had always been; slightly tanned and calloused.
From what Ging told me, I don't think that there are any humans living on the Dark Continent. It is a savage land of beasts and great S-Class danger but is filled with amazing treasure and miraculous cures.
The person in my dream knew about the Continent and the risks but said that 'we' have ancestry from there...
“I’m human,” Gon muttered, stretching out his arm, flexing his biceps, then opening and closing both hands as if to test their function, but then he paused and blushed, feeling suddenly self-conscious.
Eh...?
Clutching his blanket, he pulled it over his head and lay down again with a scowl.
This is stupid.
What am I even thinking about so seriously?
He tried once more to fall asleep, but all Gon could think about was the mysterious woman and he ended up spending the next couple of minutes trying hard to remember her.
Why would someone like that show up in his dream only for him to recall her voice, clothes, how unusual her hair was and how her aura felt?
It was frustrating to say the least, but one thing Gon knew for sure was—
She must have been... someone I knew well.
And...
As he continued to try hard to remember what he could by focusing on the image from his dream and the feel of her aura, he remembered something else.
It was an image of the same strange woman wearing metal armbands and some kind of brown bodysuit. She was even holding a strange weapon as though she was a fighter. Yet, despite her appearance, there was nothing harsh about her or the energy she projected to him.
Wait…
That’s not from my dream.
[[BA-DUM]]
Oh.
Gon frowned, trying to dispel that thought, but the image stayed with him.
That woman…he pondered, noting how he could now recall not just the lime green and blonde mixture of her hair, but the softness of her hair and skin, as though he had touched her many times.
[[BA-DUM]]
His eyes shot open, and he gasped.
She’s real.
I think I was a baby when I knew her…
[[BADUM]]
And...
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Mystery woman: “Okay, okay I won’t be mean to you.”
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Gon took a deep breath, focusing on calming his anxiety as he closed his eyes, ruminating for a bit on the intonation of her voice.
“She wasn’t a woman; she was a girl,” he deduced in a whisper.
[[BADUM]]
“Ah…” Gon’s heart skipped a beat as he realized, That wasn’t a dream… It was a memory!
And that person was...
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Gon: “Those people... Hunters?”
Mystery girl: “Correct!”
Gon: “People like you... and Ging are adventurers! And Hunters!”
Mystery girl: “That’s right!”
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Gon: “Have Hunters always been here?”
Mystery girl: “They have. Even before our profession had a name, people have always sought after the unknown.”
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Ah...
She was someone who knew Ging...!
Gon tried to make sense of the bits and pieces of his dream that floated around his mind.
She was a Hunter. And she not only worked with Ging, but she knew a lot of things that she wanted to teach me...
This girl must have been—
“...his mother. She was…”
“?!” As though prompted by those words and the worry in his aunt Mito’s tone, Gon opened his eyes, turned down his blanket and squinted at the doorway to his room.
“Shh. If you’re too loud, you’ll wake Gon,” Abe warned.
xxx
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MY TWITTER
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Next Chapter Title: The Beginning: Assumptions x and x Purpose… Author: This End Note Section is brought to you by Gon being totally unaware of what awaits him...
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A /N:
That's it for Chapter One... a big update! Ah, I can't believe that after a 7.3-year public hiatus I've actually put up a chapter... omg here it is! At last! You would not believe the amount of preparation and editing that went into this chapter! Then when I sat down to do the final (final) edit, I ended up writing more and it grew to almost 4,000 words :o
I thought of chopping the chapter in half but figured that I'll just post it as is. Hope you enjoyed. There was a lot of information in it!
Now for this chapter's end notes...
-1
“Shh. If you’re too loud, you’ll wake Gon,” Abe warned.
[Author: Too late, Gon’s already awake ahahaha]
-2
“Why can’t I remember her face?” Gon muttered, “And why was I even having that dream??”
[Author: The reason why will be shown in a later book!]
-3
And that person was... She was someone who knew Ging...!
[Author: Wow, Gon. Idek what to say...]
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Ao3 NOTE: THIS WAS A SPECIAL RELEASE OF CHAPTER ONE THAT I FELT LIKE DROPPING EARLY DUE TO SOME AMAZING FANS WHO HAVE BEEN CONTACTING AND MOTIVATING ME (THANK YOU!). THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THIS "PROLOGUE BOOK ONE" WILL OFFICIALLY LAUNCH WHEN THE BOOK IS SUPPOSED TO START UPLOADING - 21/12/24
GENERAL UPDATE NOTE:
Story is under construction 🚧🚧 ⚡⚠️Author is writing/ editing/painting tirelessly. Official release of Chapter II is anticipated for UxD's 10th anniversary (next year). See the Unexpected x Developments character data or Twitter for the latest news on updates and some info on the characters who will be in this story! Have a great day! Stay safe, see you soon and thank you for reading!..BACK COVER OF BOOKS 1-14:
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
A/N: It's back! Sorry I didn't get to post exactly at 10pm AST, my internet speed was acting the fool! But anyways!!
The UxD main story has officially gone live 12/28/24! Thank you for checking out the UxD Ancient Burden Series. We are currently on Book One!Series Name: Ancient BurdenBook Title: Blood Moon and Death
Let's get it to 1000 kudos! 13 to go!
P,S,: Lol I legit found out within the past 24 hours that HxH is back?? Lol I was living under a rock these past 10 months I swear. But what are the chances that Togashi comes out of his hiatus just as UxD is too?? And on the year of this story's 10th anniversary! What a lovely coincidence! Welcome back, Togashi-senpai, I can't wait to catch up on some sweet HxH content <3
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Disclaimer: This is a not-for-profit work of fiction. Any price attached by the author was set as a donation to help offset the cost for production, still with a sizable amount of loss suffered (commissions, time invested, file storage subscription, laptop, tablet, art software, data plan). The original story belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi and all whom he has deemed as his subsidiaries. The author of these fan books does not claim ownership of anything mentioned herein other than the settings, plot and characters that they have created. They are simply borrowing the original setting and characters belonging to the Hunter x Hunter world for this story.
Section Note:It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to has power over you, if you allow it.-Leon Brown
. Section Synopsis:In the events that started it all, this prologue section consists of thirty-three chapters that are critical to bringing the main story into perspective. These are the catalysts for the domino effect that would weave so many lives together and rip them apart at the same time.Section Outline:
CHAPTER BONUS? YES!
2,318 word chapter
Chapter songs
Three in-chapter edited images
Three full paintings
End-of chapter notes
One 2,323-word chapter-sized headcanon following a 700-word bonus note
Reference: Manga Chapters 1, 64, 65; HxH 1999 Episode 1.•.Content Dictionary:"Speech"Italicized text: Thoughtxxx: End of a section[[SOUND / MOVEMENT]][[BADUM]] An emotional reaction / beating of the heart[[BA-DUM]] POV character is extremely overwhelmed“Heh.” A laugh..Name: "Memory of a conversation".“underlined word” P.O.V character is placing emphasis on a word .•.
Chapter Playlist
CLICK HERE
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Chapter Songs:
Evangelion - "Cruel Angel's Thesis" | ENGLISH ver | AmaLee [Mystery girl to Gon]
Imagine Dragons – Birds— “I know that, ooh, birds fly in different directions. Ooh, I hope to see you again...”[Mystery girl to Gon]
MAMMA MIA! Here We Go Again - My Love, My Life “Nothing and no one can break this bond… But I know I don’t possess you… With all my heart God bless you. You are still my love and my life. You are my one and only…”[Mito to Gon]
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.•..•. WARNING: N/A.•.N.B. Location: Whale Island. Time: Midnight..•..•.“Shh. If you’re too loud, you’ll wake Gon,” Abe warned.xxxdeeply apologetic. “But I just get angry every time I think about that woman.”“A bit unreasonable and judgmental, don’t you think?”“Yeah, maybe,” Mito admitted in a grumble.“‘Maybe’? Have you ever met her to make such assumptions?”“No...”“Then?”Mito’s sigh bore a bit of resignation, “Granny, you may think that I’m being unfair in hating on her for the past thirteen years, but she was the kind of person that…”Who?? Was the kind of person that what? Gon thought, despairing with much irritation that he was curious about the subject of their discussion.Regardless, hazel eyes focused on the light filtering through the door crack as though that gesture would help him to hear more of their conversation.[[INAUDIBLE WHISPERING]]"...but she didn't have to..."[[INAUDIBLE WHISPERING]]"...and then Ging went and..."[[INAUDIBLE WHISPERING]]The voices were carefully lowered beyond what Gon's superior hearing was able to decipher, and he could only pick up on bits and pieces of the conversation between his aunt's and grandmother's whispers, but after enduring his burning curiosity for a minute or two, Gon promptly sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.What are they talking about…?He tried to focus on what they were saying but it was useless.[[INAUDIBLE WHISPERING]]Gosh. Is it about my biological mother…?It was rare for his aunt Mito to entertain any talk of his mother, and this piqued Gon’s curiosity to a height that made it difficult for him to pretend to be uninterested."That’s why you shouldn't have destroyed that book, you know," Abe stated simply.Thankfully, it was in a pitch that Gon was able hear and he sat up straight, intrigued.They're talking about the book again...“I understand that you found it creepy," Abe went on, "but you can be so extreme sometimes.”"Are we going to go through this lecture again?" Mito grumbled. "That was over ten years ago and I already said I’m sorry. What’s with you and this topic all of a sudden, Granny?”“It’s about Gon,” Abe replied. “I thought that by now you would have fessed up and faced him about what you did.”“And what exactly did I do—” Mito paused briefly “—other than destroy the book of course...”“You lied to him that day when you told him of his past.[ Manga Chapter 65]”“You lied too,” Mito retorted. "You omitted information, so that's being dishonest."“Not exactly,” Abe said. “Whatever he asked, I answered. I told him what he wanted to know, but you flat out pretended to not know of the existence of the book when Gon was depending on you to tell him everything about his past with Ging. I stayed out of it because I was waiting for you to be ready to tell the truth. I didn't want to pressure you, but I'm beginning to think that you're going to handle this just like when you told him that his parents had died in an accident[HxH 1999 episode 1].”“That... well... I lie for his own good,” Mito insisted. “And not mentioning the book was for his own good too.”“Was it?” Abe pressed.“Well...” Mito sounded uneasy.“You need to work on your lying skills though,” Abe pointed out. “You can never look him in the eyes while you lie.[Manga Chapter 1]”“Ugh. don’t remind me.” Mito groaned. “I may say that it’s for his own benefit, but I don’t like lying to Gon, you know.”“I know,” Abe said softly, her voice filled with understanding. “And I know that you hate bringing up the past, but it’s just that I feel bad for not saying anything when you told Gon that the tape was the only thing that Ging had left for him[Ref. Manga 65]. His mother had…”The voices started to grow faint, showing that they were moving—most likely walking further down the corridor past his room—and Gon jumped out of bed and raced to the doorway as quietly as he could.[[BA-DUM]][[HUFF]][[HUFF]]Aunt Mito’s keeping more secrets from me?With soft breaths and this thought dominating his mind, it was very difficult for Gon to fight the desire to snoop in on their conversation.After all, he had witnessed many times how his aunt was the type of person to hide the deepest of her secrets within an ironclad will and release them only under great duress.Asking her directly would be futile. He would not find out anything unless there was a major incident to make her divulge what she knew.Spying was his only option at this point.Is this secret as big as the ones she’s kept from me before?She never admitted the truth about Ging being alive until I wanted to do the Hunters’ Exam. And even when I told her I knew that he was alive, she lied about how he had abandoned me.And...if Kite hadn’t told me the truth, she probably wouldn’t have admitted anything. Ever.I wouldn’t have known that Ging was alive, and Aunt Mito wouldn’t have told me that she fought Ging in court for parenting rights[Manga 1].So...I wonder what this other secret is about?Aunt Mito seems nervous. She’s always been very open with advising and teaching me...
...but she tends to hide the things that she thinks will be harmful....Kaito: “Ging isn’t dead! If your aunt lied to you, it’s because she doesn’t want you to follow the same path as your father[Manga 1].”.Hm.Gon's mind was made up and quietly, he shifted, pressing his ear against the wall near the small space created by the open door.With bated breath, he listened as inconspicuously as he was able, silently telling himself that he was not curious about how Mito and Abe had mentioned his mother, but about the general seriousness of the conversation his guardians were having.“...and Gon is getting older.” It was Abe’s voice. “I know you’re worried about him running off again, but I think that’s inevitable.”“Granny…”“Don’t fret, child,” Abe said. “I’m saying this not to worry but to prepare you. Haven’t you noticed that the look in his eyes has changed again? He’s thirsting for an adventure.”“I let him go wherever he wants to whenever he finishes a certain amount of schoolwork,” Mito argued. “Traveling for a long time is dangerous.”“It’s dangerous everywhere,” Abe countered. “We’ve had Gon here for a few months already. You want him to settle down, but it’s in his genes to wander.”“Tell me about it,” Mito mumbled bitterly. “It’s his genes that worry me. Just look at his father. The only children on the island were Ging and myself, yet I was always chasing after him. Always trying to play with him or follow him but he continuously escaped my sight and disappeared to be alone[Ref. Manga 65].”“Hmmm...” Abe nodded thoughtfully. “Ging has always been one step ahead of everyone and everything around him. His eyes are constantly on a goal that only he can see.”“Hmph! Gon does indeed take after Ging perfectly.” Mito scoffed. “It’s not just the fire of adventure in his eyes... The same way Ging treated me, he’s doing to Nouko....” Her expression became sad as though she was suddenly arrested by a memory from the past.
“One day he’s going to leave without looking back at her,” Mito continued in a sad mumble, “He doesn’t even consider her as his friend.”“She is his friend, but not in the way you’d expect her to be. Nouko’s just a girl who doesn’t have much in common with him,” Abe explained, “And Gon isn’t into girls like that.”“What…?” Mito sounded thoroughly confused before she whispered in a strained tone, “You mean, Gon is into boys... or others?”“Silly goose,” Abe said, “Listen. What I meant is that Gon has always been older than his years while Nouko has been content to enjoy her childhood. Nothing’s wrong with that of course, but now their paths differ once again. Gon is looking ahead while Nouko is happy to remain here on Whale Island. They’re at odds: she’s not even into the things that he likes to do. Why do you think he considers the Zoldyck boy as his first friend and not her? He gets along with Nouko, but doesn’t really feel a connection with her.”“But what’s wrong with getting him interested so he finds something he likes about her and a reason to stay?” Mito asked but on seeing Abe’s slight frown she paused and looked away.Her grandmother was speaking from a lifetime of experience and it was only right that she listen instead of giving in to her selfish plotting.“Hm.” Seeing that Mito was respectfully silent, with an expression showing that she was far from being in agreement, Abe added, “You can keep inviting Nouko over for dinner, but if they don’t have the sort of connection and chemistry you’re hoping for, you’re just creating a complicated situation.”“But Granny…” Mito argued, “Sometimes Gon needs a little push, you know?”“Yes.” Abe nodded. “But with things like his schoolwork and taking a bath before dinner—not with relationships. Have you considered that Nouko could become miserable due to Gon’s adventurous ways? Or what if Gon isn’t happy in their relationship because she nags him all the time about his desire to travel? Do you think that would be fair to either of them?”“...” Mito was silent for a bit before agreeing by nodding her head, but then she muttered, “Although... many couples have things they disagree on all the time. If they can overcome that when one of them concedes—”“Mito...” Abe sighed. “How about this: Do you think that you would like to be with someone with Ging’s personality?”“No...” Mito grumbled, “But maybe that person would change for me—”“That’s not fair.”“It isn’t?”“No,” Abe responded. “If they change naturally, then fine. But you shouldn't get with someone, hoping that they would change for you. That’s a recipe for trouble. And besides, have you ever thought that you might be the one to be changed by an adventurous type?”“Me...??” Mito gasped as though it was the most impossible suggestion she had ever heard.“Sure.” Abe huffed. “You’re a Freecss after all. It’s in your blood. You haven't started your journey yet, Mito. Your fears have imprisoned you like a butterfly within its chrysalis; one that’s awaiting the right catalyst for the beautiful change that will set it afire.”“Change? I don't want that. I don’t want to alter any part of me for anyone.” Mito turned up her nose. “Hmph. Never.”“Yet you want someone to change for you.”“...” Mito froze at that, the realization of what her grandmother was trying to teach her hitting hard.“I hope that you understand what I’m trying to say,” Abe stated in a serious tone. “It isn’t nice to project what you feel about Ging’s abandonment on Gon and how he wants to live his life.” She paused for a moment, her next words softer and coated in reminiscence, “Being a wanderer isn’t a bad thing at all. I did it too.”“You did??” Mito asked, shocked by this new bit of information about her grandmother.“Heh heh sure I did and it was a lot of fun,” Abe replied. “For a couple years I traveled the world, lived with a few tribes and settled down when my soul was at peace. So as uptight as you think you are, it’s in your blood not just from the Freecss, but from me too, my dear.”There was a brief pause as though Abe was studying her granddaughter.“Once you overcome your anxiety, a vast world awaits you.”“It is...?” Mito’s voice sounded small but immensely hopeful.“It’s waiting for you whenever you’re ready,” Abe told her. “And just like it was with me, I believe that you will feel at peace and want to settle down when you find your own little world. The same is for Gon. When Gon finds the one thing that his heart wants to settle on, he’ll settle down. And that may or may not be where you want him to be.”“I get it,” Mito said with a sigh, “But if that’s the way our family is, then it kinda sucks that Ging ended up settling on his career. I hate him, but sometimes I wonder if he’s a little lonely.” Her voice held a rare tone of sympathy that was usually never there whenever she spoke of her cousin. “I wish I didn’t have to see that happening to Gon too.”“It is a tad bit unfortunate,” Abe agreed. “But only in terms of those who have been hurt by Ging’s ambition to live the kind of life he wants. I honestly think that Ging’s actually pretty happy. He’s doing what he loves to do and his choice and distance from others don’t mean that he has no love or sense of value for the things close to his heart. As for Gon, I believe that he will do a better job than Ging at telling those close to him how important they are to him.”“I’m in no mood to argue, so I’ll agree with you,” Mito mumbled. “Ging still sucks as a father though.”“Heh.” Abe could not help but laugh at the stubbornness of her granddaughter. “This is why I believe that having that book and knowing about his past would help Gon. He might learn something about himself that would help him to discover his purpose. And the sooner that happens would be the sooner he could settle the storm in his heart.”xxx
MY TWITTER
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Next Chapter Title:THE BEGINNING – THE BOOK OF FREAKS… .•..•.
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Author: This End Note Section is brought to you by Gon being totally unaware of what awaits him...
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Author's Notes:
“The same way Ging treated me, he’s doing to Nouko. He doesn’t even consider her as his friend.”
[Author: Ref. Manga 64, Mito was in the bushes when Gon was telling Killua that Nouko was the only other kid in the village but he considers Killua his first friend. Based on Nouko’s reaction in the 1999 anime when Gon was departing, it’s clear that she considered him a friend tho…]
“Nouko’s still a little girl,” Abe said. “Gon isn’t into girls.”
[Author: Well, granny ain’t lying. He’s only into older women and Hisoka.]
“Once you overcome your anxiety, a vast world awaits you.”
[Author: What Abe is talking about when she mentions Mito’s “anxiety” is how when Ging left, Mito was convinced that a lot of the bad things that happened was a result of him leaving the island: like how soon after he left, her parents died and her uncle (Ging’s father) disappeared at sea[Manga 65].
In UxD, this is Mito’s reason for confining herself to Whale Island and policing Gon whenever he tries to leave. She has suffocated her adventurous spirit out of a subconscious fear of leaving and hopes to suffocate Gon's as well.]
( Regarding the HxH ‘scrapped’ ending ): While doing one of the final edits for this chapter on 10/12/23 + 19/12/23, I was laughing bitterly because as I read over all the stuff I had written about Nouko, I realize that in UxD, Mito's success in keeping Gon on Whale Island would be that ‘potential’ ending in Canon.Prior to Togashi’s announcement, I had done a couple of scenes in the UxD drafts(mainly in Book 1 and Book 4) about Mito plotting to get Gon and Nouko together in order to keep him on Whale Island. So, to read that one of the endings that Togashi-senpai has revealed for HxH is a life where Gon and Nouko are the end-game is shocking 😬. In "Ending D" they got married, had a child together and grandchild. Ironic, isn’t it? Tbh, I am a bit divided between liking and not liking that ending but I’m overall happy that Togashi has shared it with us. I freaking love HxH more than I can explain, so the fact that he's shared this from his drafts makes me so immensely happy.
And that's why I'm divided in my feelings, because I'm happy for the content and also happy that it was ‘scrapped’ by Togashi because I’m not a fan of extremely huge time skips.
Finding out about Gon's future though is so in line with what I would expect of a character like Gon. And tbh that ending is kind of depressing. Gon clearly does what he does (gets married and has a family) because it is what Mito wants him to do (I say this because of how his family turns out). And it is obvious that he cannot stifle the desire for adventure because stifling it would be killing who he is.
It's such a pity that his family has to suffer for two successive generations though, since we see how Gon's granddaughter Jin doesn't seem to be happy because of her family situation.
And I hate that I suspected that Gon and Nouko would end up together in Canon if Gon stayed on Whale Island (hence why I had written it as a possibility in UxD... But then, that kind of scenario isn't a hard guess because Nouko was the only girl close to his age on the island so there were not many options for him. Tbh there were no options 🤷🤭lol). But staying on Whale Island is sad to me because Gon is an adventurous soul. He loses his Nen and insists that he doesn’t really want to follow in Ging’s footsteps(Manga 345), but this Ending makes one realize that he was lying to himself when he said that in Chapter 345. Did he say it just for his aunt's sake? Hm.
But whatever the reason, when I consider that his story ends with him living on Whale Island with a wife who leaves the room whenever he starts talking about his adventures...I get sad. They clearly have unresolved issues that makes Nouko bitter and makes him unable to express his desires 😞
What a poor fate for both Nouko and himself.
Mito got her wish to keep him on the island, so it's a happy ending for Mito, but him and his wife don’t seem to be too happy together. This kind of ending is a practical example of why in UxD, Abe is actively trying to stop Mito's plotting to get Gon and Nouko together.Okay. Maybe I’m overthinking this and Gon and Nouko are plenty happy outside of the Hunter thing, but to me, that kind of ending for Gon feels like the Main Character in an otome game choosing the “bad end” instead of the “good end” 😱:.•.
(Art by Ringochuu ☝️)
.•.I’m smoking some heavy copium right now, telling myself that Gon staying on Whale Island can be a “good end” because if HxH ends like that, it could mean that Gon had travelled extensively before deciding to settle down🤔.And an ending like that shows that he would most likely regain his Nen and live a very full life. Why? Because Ending D states that Gon was a famous Hunter, alluding to him having been very active in the field for many years. This could be the reason why Nouko still gets upset whenever he talks about adventuring (because he was gone for a long time and probably was always off adventuring even after they established their relationship, as evidenced by Jin stating that he would be gone for months and years at a time).
Oh.
Oh?
oh...
I feel a Headcanon forming...!
Silly Headcanon Time (about Ending D):
Ok! Hear me out... So, from the perspective that Ending D is "end-game" for Gon, this is how my imagination is seeing the ENTIRE situation (what led to it and what is happening behind the scenes):
After Gon had returned to the island to do his schooling (during the Succession Arc), he and Nouko grow closer together while he is studying (but Gon was just friendly with her while Nouko kind of fell hard for him...aw 🥺).
They spend lots of time together (because there really isn't anyone his age to hang out with), and Nouko also visits him, Mito and Granny often and helps out at the Freecss home. As they grow, so does their bond and Nouko starts visiting him almost every day. She loves spending time chatting with Abe and doing chores with Mito or helping out at the family business. She's like part of the Freecss family and his guardians love her.
Eventually, on Gon's 18th birthday, she works with Mito to make it a special day (and even bakes him a cake!) and following the little birthday party they have for him, they're sitting out in the forest on the cliff (the same one he was on with Killua) looking out at the moon.
It's a beautiful night.
They talk about how fast time has passed since they were kids playing by the swamp, running on the docks and going into town. Nouko asks Gon if he's happy now that he's been back for almost three years and he looks at her with a slight frown.
He had been mostly on autopilot and had never once considered his happiness, just the joy of being at home with familiar people and things, so hearing that question from her first has him at a loss before it makes him realize the emptiness in his heart that he hasn't been able to fill.
As Nouko is like a treasured confidante to him now, he tells her honestly that he feels something calling out to him out there. He confides in her that it is similar to what Ging had told him and how he had been ignoring it to make his aunt happy, but it turns out that he is a lot more like his dad than he thought.
Nouko doesn't quite understand, because to her, she's never traveled or had such a longing and she has no interest in the wider world beyond Whale Island. To her, spending quiet time with loved ones is all she has ever dreamed of.
But she doesn't invalidate Gon's feelings and thinks carefully about his predicament before telling him that maybe what it is he wants is security and stability.
Gon is confused about this, but Nouko tells him that security and stability brings happiness and that she could give him this and more to fill the emptiness in his heart. She tells him that she would be fifteen soon, and that unlike him she is fully aware of what she wants. When he had left Whale Island the first time to do the Hunters' Exam, she was only eight years old, but that was when she realized how important he was to her.
She admits that she wants to stay at his side for as long as possible.
Their conversation was getting very serious and sensing a change in the air, Gon is speechless as Nouko takes hold of his hand and confesses her feelings to him.
But instead of accepting and staying on the island, Gon (runs from his responsibilities,) announces that he's tormented by the fact that he cannot decipher the longing in his heart and that he needs to leave Whale Island to go on a journey to find his purpose in life. He knows that Nouko is a good and faithful girl and would make a wonderful wife, but he cannot ignore the nagging feeling in his heart that craves for something he cannot see.
So it is another tearful departure and Gon is gone for a long time (almost ten years), traveling and doing Hunter work.
Well... Gon told Mito and Nouko in his letters that what he was doing was Hunter work, but the truth is that he was not only 'finding his purpose in life'.
During the time he was gone, he had encountered Hisoka.
And very soon, he was living and traveling with him for several years. With him, he finally felt fulfilled but then tragedy strikes one day while Hisoka is on a mission. He gets himself slaughtered in a ditch somewhere and grief-stricken with nothing better to do, Gon returns to Whale Island after holding a private funeral for the man he had fallen in love with. (Hm. 🤣 now I’m laughing, I wrote this on a whim but omg why did it have to end up gay... 🙈)And worse yet, I'm thinking that when Gon returns to Whale Island, he's not alone.It is just like Ging did with him. But in this case, he returns with a redheaded toddler whom he claims has no mother because she "died" and Mito's like hmm 🤔🤨 🧐 this story Gon's telling sounds like deja vu.
It is just like the one Ging told me when he brought Gon...
Then she looks at the baby boy and notices that he has the "Freecss eyes" and a slight resemblance to Gon, so Gon definitely isn't lying about the child being his. The toddler is very cute and adorable, but that red hair and the hint of gold in his eyes...
...who could his mother be🧐? Must be a very exotic woman...
However, Gon refuses to divulge anything about the child's "mother" and Nouko (who had hurried over to meet him upon hearing that he had returned) is crushed to learn that he had fathered a child with some other girl, but she is very happy to have Gon back.
Their friendship remains strong and after a few months, she grows to love his child. The little boy is very cute, likes her a lot and they become inseparable. Eventually she agrees to marry Gon and adopt the child.
(And omg I'm imagining something more to add to the complications of their situation)
As life becomes quiet and satisfying for the little Freecss family on Whale Island, one day the arrival of a mysterious letter turns things upside down.
Gon receives an invitation to come to YorkShin to carry out a job.The details are very vague and Nouko doesn't like the sound of it.
Gon has an unsettling feeling and is determined to leave.
Nouko reminds him that he's a married man now with a family and responsibilities but despite her protests, Gon shakes his head while apologizing sincerely.
He tells her that he is a Hunter and doesn't want to stifle who he is at his core. This would only make him grow to resent his home, so Nouko relents, promising to take care of his son with his aunt Mito while he's gone.
Gon has yet another teary departure from Whale Island but as he turns his attention to his pending task, he is filled with the determination to find out who had sent him the letter and what he is required to do.
And thus begins his newest journey that comes to a climax with the discovery that the identity of the one who had sent the job request letter was Hisoka!
He wasn't really dead to begin with!
Hisoka explains that he had faked his death and had been lying low all this time to hunt down his targets and could not contact him.
Gon's surprise and joy at reuniting with Hisoka dissolved into a blind rage. He is beyond upset as he's been through a lot in the past two years, trying to move on and start a new life while Hisoka was out playing Hide-and-Seek. He hits Hisoka and accuses him of abandoning his family.
Hisoka quietly accepts his anger, knowing that Gon was responding from a place of unresolved grief.
He then explains that he had not abandoned them willingly. He had been to Whale Island in disguise many times and had watched him from a far over the past two years but kept his distance as he did not know how to explain what had happened.
Hisoka admitted that he had even toyed with the idea of kidnapping him and his son but he did not want Gon to grow to hate him.
Hisoka was in Whale Island? Many times? Gon thought, ignoring Hisoka's confession of a kidnapping plot and the way his heart thumped in excitement at how excessive the man always was.
And then he realized... The new shopkeeper at the market, the replacement for the usual store attendant. The butcher's new assistant at the meat shop, and many other "new" people he kept encountering on his trips to town with his kid. They were all very charming and friendly and would always ask to pick up his little one and give him gifts.
Back then, Gon would always smile, thinking of how those men had a similar build to Hisoka and he often wondered that if Hisoka was alive, if he would smile as warmly as they did on seeing him.
But now he knew the truth...
They were all Hisoka??
As Gon stared at him in shock, Hisoka said that he was torn between letting Gon be happy and being selfish and taking him away again but ultimately he was beginning to feel like he was going crazy.
They argue, with Gon admitting that he'd missed him and Hisoka acknowledging the same.
Gon is shocked by the host of honesty in the usually dishonest man.
Hisoka tells him that he wants a new start with him and their child but Gon tells him that it's too late. He had already made a home with someone else in Whale Island as he was married to Nouko.
Hisoka is shocked but refuses to give up, even after hearing that his son had been adopted.
He tells Gon that maybe it is for the best as the kid will have a more stable home, but he won't give Gon up too :o
Gon is now in a pickle because he loves Hisoka and wants nothing more than to be with him, especially now that he's alive.
But what could he possibly do when he's married, Nouko has already legally adopted his child and he has a duty as a husband and father...?
He tells Hisoka that he's asking too much of him.
Too much? Hisoka laughs at that, telling him that they're married too, and since he isn't dead, the marriage contract wasn't voided so it's his marriage with Nouko that's void.
Gon is silent.
Smirking, Hisoka asks him if he wants a divorce and as Gon frowns and looks away, he continues, "Yeah. You can divorce me to legitimize your second marriage. But I won't agree to it... so I guess you're going to have to kill me so you can go live happily ever after with your wife. That's your job, Gon. I summoned you here today to kill me. End my torment of living without you and go be with your family--"
"No!" Gon shouts, but is then struck with humiliation over the fact that his response was so quick.
Hisoka's grin widened. He had won.
So in the end, Gon endeavors to keep everything a secret. Hisoka is clingy and sticks to his side (which he does not mind), but that makes it hard for him to make time for his family on Whale Island.
Still, he tries to go see his aunt Mito, Nouko and his kid whenever he could while also making up reasons to be away on 'Hunter work' so he could spend time with Hisoka.
And whenever he would visit Whale Island, he'd stay a few months at a time. However, Hisoka always deemed that that was too long to be away from Gon and would often come along in disguise and Gon would find himself in town on regular "errands" but in actuality he would be in the back room of the shopkeeper's stall "helping" organize stocks (lol, remember in this headcanon, one of Hisoka's disguises on Whale Island is the village shopkeeper so he makes Gon join him in the backroom for...uh...tea).
And the times when he brought their son to visit him, Hisoka was surprisingly very accommodating to the little one and did not mind that their son lovingly referred to him as "Uncle Hisoka". In those instances, Hisoka would say, "At least I'm his favorite uncle", to which Gon would retort, "He has no other uncles" and Hisoka would always shrug carelessly and counter "I'm still a favorite. You're just jealous~".
This sort of life together was the middle ground that both Hisoka and Gon accepted.
It was better than never seeing one another.
But as always, Hisoka was a very demanding partner and this made Gon too busy. Still, to Gon, the payoff was worth it: he had never felt so enlivened in his entire life.
Living a double life was exhausting, but he was doing his best.
But... Gon repeats Ging's failings to an extent and is away from Whale Island often (Like his granddaughter Jin states, he is gone "for months and years at a time"). But Gon thinks that his actions aren't bad, because firstly, as he never had a problem with Ging's abandonment due to the strong support he received from Mito and Abe, he doesn't see what he's doing as a problem.
Gon doesn't see that his situation with Mito and Abe is now reflected in his kid having Nouko and Mito.
To him, he provides for his kid and the child is surrounded by people who love him (Abe, Mito, Nouko and the other islanders) and he returns home as regularly as his job (and secret life) allows to spend time with his family.
But as we can see from Jin's and Nouko's perspective (and his son's lack of interest in becoming a Hunter), Gon's absences had affected them a lot.
ENDP.S.: In this headcanon, the child Gon returns with is who's mentioned as Jin's (Gon's granddaughter's) father in Togashi's Ending D.Ahaha "D" for drama 😅 🤣🤣 because in the part where Jin's mother tells her husband (Gon's son) this: " “Perhaps her [Jin's] desires will change later, but I want to know, you and Jin, why are you like this? Surely it’s because of the blood of Grandma Mito and Grandma Noko.” ", she mentions "Grandma Nouko's blood" because she, Jin and Gon's son were never told that Gon's son was not the product of him and Nouko but Gon and 🤭...
Oops 🤭🤭🤭🤭 haha I think I just made Ending D better (for me). It is illegal how much fun I had writing this thing.
Now I want this as a doujinshi... aadfghnllkfnf. Can you imagine all the shenanigans and family drama?? I want to see it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
And I don't think I have to tell you diehard HxH fans HOW Hisoka and Gon had a child together lol
GENERAL UPDATE NOTE:
Story is now being updated. However, it is still being written and art is being done for it etc so updates will not be fast but they will be coming without a hiatus ⚡⚠️
See the Unexpected x Developments character data or Twitter for the latest news on updates and some info on the characters who will be in this story!
Have a great day! Stay safe, see you soon and thank you for reading!
Warm regards,
Cherry (author)
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BACK COVER OF BOOKS 1-14: