A/n 1: Mwahaha. You guys may hate me for this chapter. It's not as long as the previous ones, but there's a lot happening in this one. ;D Especially at the end.

A/n 2: More references in this one. Portal and sort of Narnia, mixed with a name from Aura Kingdom. Does anyone play it? I'm in Siren, Channel 4 if you want to play together.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hunter x Hunter. And I never will. *cries*

You Read Me Like An Open Book

Chapter 5: Strawberries

I wonder if Killua likes strawberries.

I hope he does.

Strawberries are fascinating, don't you think? You can never really tell if they're going to be sweet or sour until you bite into them. And when you do, it's always so fun.

A-ah, but I suppose that goes for lots of other things too. Anyway!

The name 'strawberry'! It's weird too, isn't it? Blueberries are blue, and blackberries are black, but strawberries aren't exactly straw…

Wait. That goes for raspberries and huckleberries too. I don't think things can be, uh, huckle. But are raspberries rasp?

Maybe?

No?

…

I see why Killua and Mito-san say I get easily distracted.

Oh well. The point is, Killua's sort of like a strawberry. He's like a cat, too, with that cute yet sneaky smile of his, but also like a strawberry.

And today, I'm bringing him strawberry cake from the new bakery that just opened. It's supposed to be really nice, or so I've heard, so I bet a sweet tooth like Killua would like it.

Also there was no more chocolate cake. Killua likes that stuff, I've noticed. I like chocolate too, I suppose, but not nearly as much as my friend. I like other stuff more, like strawberry shortcake.

Thus the strawberry shortcake.

Wait.

Can you bring food into the library?

…

Oops.

I… did not think this through. But it's alright, I suppose, as long as I don't eat it inside. It should be fine, right?

I glance at the plastic bag swaying back and forth slightly in my hands and smile.

Yeah, it should be fine.

I silently hum to myself (silently, because it's a library and according to Killua rule number one in being in a library is that you absolutely do not make noise in said library) and look around the first floor.

Fake swords, shields and medieval costumes are shown in glass display cases, shiny and polished and silver. Next to the cases are life-size cutouts and posters of several characters - the cast of Navea, the book series all the cool merchandise is from. It's all to promote Navea, since it is the series of the month.

Before I spoke to Killua, I used to come in every 1st of the month and wonder if Killua read the series of the month. I wasn't, ah, particularly interested in reading, but if there was a comic book out for the series I'd go look for it. Because maybe Killua liked it too! He looks really smart, see, so I thought maybe he'd be a little bit of a bookworm.

He's not, though.

He likes Regeneration! as much as I do! Maybe he's part of the Mafia!

He could be!

I laugh silently to myself at the thought of Killua in a black fedora and matching suit and tie, wielding pistols and smirking deviously with his face partially hidden. Then all of a sudden, I feel my cheeks getting warm, because m-maybe the mental image wasn't so much of 'cute' like I'd thought it'd be, but sort of hot.

''Looking for Killua?'' A cheerful, girlish voice chirps, interrupting my train of thought. My eyes widen as I face a familiar blonde librarian.

''Bisuke!'' I greet, silently hoping my blush has faded. ''Yeah, I am. How'd you know?''

''It's obvious, Gon,'' Bisuke laughs, smiling affectionately. ''You've been coming in to see him for months, and –'' she pauses to glance down at the cake bag, '' –from what I see, your relationship has been steadily improving.''

The blush comes back almost instantly, and I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Damn it. Bisuke has known me since I was a kid, so I guess it's really no surprise that she'd notice my sudden sharp increase in actually going anywhere near the library without Mito-san.

''B-but Killua– how did you–''

She gives me a sly smile. ''I know pure-hearted romance between young boys when I see it, Gon,'' she says in a tone that is very honestly kind of scaring me a little.

She turns around. '' He's on the third floor, and by the way,'' she muses, as she begins walking away, ''Killua's mind has been… Preoccupied lately. And my guess is, withyou. ''

I'm left there for a few minutes, wide-eyed and confused, before I head up to level three.

XxX

I don't like level three.

If it's, say, level four, the young adult and multimedia section, that's okay. The other levels are fine too, but just not level three. Level three is more for information, so 90% of the time the only people I see on level three are college students and adults researching on the Psychological Continuity Theory of Personal Identity or something else that confuses me to the point of… Brain explosion.

But brain explosion or not… I'm here for Killua!

And I've got cake. The cake will protect me!

Luckily, it doesn't take very long to find Killua, because… Well, because he's got silver hair! And people with silver hair are really easy to spot, ahaha…

I sneak up behind him, slowly, but hide behind a shelf stacked high with Physics notes when I realize he's talking to someone in the corner.

''You two seem to be getting along lately,'' a slightly amused voice says.

That sounds like… Kurapika?

''You know Gon?'' Killua asks, clearly surprised.

I blink. Why are Killua and Kurapika talking about me?

''Yeah,'' comes the reply from Kurapika, ''we're childhood friends. I'm kind of glad you two finally became friends. He's been going on about you for years now.''

My eyes widen.

My heart speeds up, and pounds loudly against my chest.

He knows.

My throat feels like it's run dry all of a sudden, like I can't make the slightest sound, and if I do, Killua will know I'm here.

So I don't.

I don't want him to know.

He'll be creeped out.

Ahh… I don't want Killua to hate me!

''What?'' comes the expected, astonished reply.

I feel my heart stop.

The cake was supposed to protect me.

The cake is a lie.

I glare at the plastic bag for several seconds until the conversation continues.

I hear Kurapika's voice, calm and mature as ever.

''Yep.''

It's followed by Killua's own voice, which is not so calm and mature.

''What?!''

''What's wrong?'' Kurapika asks, sounding amused. At this point, I don't really know what to think anymore, so I continue eavesdropping.

Mito-san would not be proud… Sorry, Mito-san.

''N-nothing, just…''

I squeeze my eyes shut, tightly, and brace myself for the string of curses that'll come out from Killua's mouth. He has a very cute mouth.

I wonder how it would be like to kiss it?

Ahaha… It'll probably be soft and cute. And sweet.

Like Killua.

Who curses a lot.

Apparently sweet on the outside, but sometimes sour on the inside, ahaha…~

Like a strawberry.

Will it be sweet or sour this time, I wonder…?

''I wonder why he never told me,'' Killua says, his voice soft, nearly soft enough to be considered a whisper. I can barely just hear him.

''I knew it,'' Killua continues, his voice gradually regaining volume and laughter.

He heaves a huge sigh of relief.

''He's that boy, isn't he? From the candy store? It's how he knew my name, isn't it!''

My heart seems to revive.

''I've been wondering that for ages!"

He isn't… mad?

I slink down to the floor, and rest my head against the shelves, relieved.

Yeah.

Sweet.

I decide it's probably time to step out from behind the shelves, so I do, my heart slowly returning to a normal pace.

''Do you like strawberries, Killua?'' I ask, smiling, holding up the bag and successfully catching the attention of both boys.

Killua raises an eyebrow and shoves a hand into his pocket.

''I've got a break in a bit,'' he says, and walks over to me.

As we walk away from Kurapika, I turn back and stick my tongue out at him, as if to say 'I'll get you for this later'. In return, he shrugs, smiles and carries on reading his book, at least until a certain black-haired teen comes over to tease him.

XxX

Killua listens as I tell him everything. From the day he moved in, to the candy store, the nametag. Everything. I tell him everything as he works, and he listens, thoughtfully.

''So,'' Killua starts when I'm done, ''why would I hate you? You're pretty much my… um…''

''Um?''

He looks back down, blushing. ''M-my best friend,'' he finishes.

I smile. He's awfully shy for someone who curses a lot. It's kind of cute. B-but that's not the point here!

''Aren't you creeped out?'' I ask, giving him a worried look. '' I could've been a massive stalker that took photos of you and followed you home, you know.''

He gives me a sceptical look. ''You? Your ninja skills fail, Gon. And so do your hitman skills, for the record.''

I laugh, though I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing in this case.

''But… I'm not mad,'' Killua continues thoughtfully. ''It's actually… Kind of cool, you know. That someone's been caring so much about me all this time. Thanks for the present, by the way.''

''Present?'' I ask, confused.

''The chocolates.''

''Oh. You're welcome!'' I accept the thanks, grinning widely.

We smile at each other for a while, like a silly pair of dorks, but it's nice.

And by the time it's five thirty and time for Killua's break, I'm feeling the confidence to say something. Or do. Whichever feels right. Maybe both.

We leave the library, go round the back and sit on the quiet stone pavement where nobody ever walks. I hand him a piece of cake from the bag, and watch as his cerulean eyes light up.

''Cake,'' he says, eyes shining as he takes the slice.

''Cake,'' I agree, biting into my own. The strawberry on the top is a little sour, but it complements the rest of the sweet, creamy cake.

''This is amazing,'' he laughs, face stuffed with cake, ''it's not chocolate, but it's amazing. Is it from the new bakery?''

I nod, taking another bite. ''Yep,'' I answer, noticing a tiny bit of cream beside Killua's lip. My heart begins racing once more at the sight of it, and I think, I can do this.

Slowly, I shuffle closer and lean towards him. He freezes, and his cheeks light up a brilliant shade of red.

With my thumb, I wipe the cream off his face and lick it, before smiling at Killua's confused and embarrassed face.

I'm just as embarrassed as you are, Killua, I think.

Hope you don't hate me for this.

''W-wha–''

But he doesn't get a chance to finish his sentence, because my lips are locked with his in a sweet, strawberry shortcake-flavoured kiss.

It lasts for a few seconds but feels like hours, and when I finally pull away, I smile softly at Killua, who's a blushing, stuttering mess of cuteness.

I'm prepared for the worst, at this point.

It was a huge risk, I know, doing that – he probably hates me now. It's a wonder he didn't hate me after finding all that out before, but I possiblymayhavetakenhisfirstkiss and… and… well…

I could only hope he'd still want to be friends…?

''I…G-Gon… What?!'' Killua blurts out, blinking and blushing furiously.

Ah well, I've already come this far, right? Might as well deal the finishing blow.

… If that's the right term to describe it. I was never very good at vocabulary, ahaha…

Anyway…

I smile at Killua affectionately and intertwine our fingers, chuckling softly as he stares down at our interlocked hands and turns even redder.

''I'm in love with you, Killua,'' I say softly, tilting my head to the side a little.

''Will you be my boyfriend?'' I ask hopefully, holding his hand a bit tighter, but not too tightly.

I gaze into his eyes, his beautiful, ocean-blue eyes, and for a moment I think everything's going to be just per–

''No.''

A/n 1: *cackles*

A/n 2: Chapters may come a bit slowly. Second semester starting, but it should be alright. This story may be coming to an end soon.

A/n 3: Did I do that last scene alright? I'm not really good with romance scenes, so lemme know any ways to improve~ :D I'm really grateful for all your comments!

A/n 4:Also, you-know-who-you-are, let's do that thing with the cake. I've got some Swiss rolls in the fridge. *puts on shades like the smooth person she is and laughs evilly and madly till falls out the window and inevitable death arrives*

REPLIES TO ANONS:

Guest ( 15/06/14) : Awww, thank you! Next chapter has arrived! Hope you enjoyed this one too. Thanks for your review~

Nispedana: Not exactly an anon, but hiii, Nisp-chan! *waves * I just finished writing when I saw your reviews. Thank you so much for them, btw! I'm happy you like it. I learned a lot from you and the other admins XDD So I've got you guys to thank. Can't wait for the next chapter of your fic :D

Till next time!

-Al