Killua interlude

"Killua!" Gon started, his eyes shining with that familiar mix of curiosity and competitiveness, "how strong are you, really? I mean compared to everyone else?"

We had just said goodbye to Leorio and Kurapika, their paths diverging from ours as we continued to explore the bustling streets of Kokoroini City. The sun was setting, as long shadows started to spread across the crowded sidewalks, the air filled with the scent of street food and the sounds of music.

I grinned, a mischievous glint in my eye. "You wanna know how strong I am, Gon?" I echoed, my voice laced with a playful challenge. "Alright, I'll show you."

I grabbed Gon's arm, pulling him towards a nearby park. Sukina, trailing behind us, yawned dramatically.

"Can't we just go get some ramen?" she complained, her voice muffled by a luxurious silk scarf she'd recently acquired from some high-end boutique. "All this walking is making me hungry."

I ignored her grumbling, my focus on Gon's eager expression. 

We reached a secluded corner of the park, a patch of soft grass shaded by a towering oak tree.

I picked up a sturdy stick and began drawing a line in the sand.

"Pretend this line represents strength," I explained, gesturing toward the mark in the sand. "The further the line goes, the stronger the person."

I paused, adding a caveat. "I'm only kinda sure about everyone stronger than Hanzo, though. The rest is just a guess."

I drew a short line in the sand. "This," I said, pointing at the mark, "is the strength of a normal, everyday guy. Someone who's never trained."

Gon nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. 

He was taking this seriously, which is good.

Sukina, meanwhile, had already sprawled out on the grass and begun doing pushups, her expensive new pants gathering dust and grass stains.

"How much is a meter in numbers?" Sukina asked, her voice muffled by the exertion. "Like, how much stronger is one meter compared to… you know… zero meters?"

"Every twenty centimeters doubles the strength," I explained, watching as she effortlessly transitioned from pushups to situps.

"That sounds about right," Sukina mumbled, her voice strained as she continued her impromptu workout.

I dragged the stick across the sand, extending the line about forty centimeters. "That's Leorio," I said, pointing at the new mark.

I drew a bit further, stopping at another 40 centimeters."This is Kurapika."

Then, I drew the line two meters further. "That's you, Gon."

I paused, extending the line another four meters. "That's where Sukina and I are."

Sukina stopped her situps, her brow furrowed in thought. "Hmm," she mused, "you didn't even try to exaggerate your strength, Killua. I'm impressed."

I frowned, do I boast too much or something? I don't think so. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Sukina just shrugged and didn't respond.

I shook my head and continued. 

I drew the line much further this time, about 7 meters. "This right here is Hanzo."

They both nodded.

I shrugged, dragging the stick five meters further across the sand, the line now a considerable distance from its starting point. "This was Menchi and Buhara," I said, my voice serious, remembering the grim sight of their mangled bodies in the airship corridor. "Before Hisoka killed them."

A flicker of sadness crossed Gon's face, Gon is too damn nice, Menchi was a bitch.

Gon's expression was a stark contrast to Sukina's bored look as she effortlessly transitioned into a handstand.

I moved the stick another meter and sixty centimeters, tapping the new mark with the tip of the stick. "And this," I said, my voice hardening, "is where Hisoka was before Rem and Tereda wrecked his shit and sent him packing to hell."

Gon's eyes widened. "Whoa! That strong?"

"Yeah," I confirmed, a shiver running down my spine as I recalled the raw power Tereda and Rem had unleashed in the arena. "They're on a whole other level."

I drew the line forward three more meters. "This is about where those two blacklist hunters, Nightshade and that conjurer dude, Harold, are."

Another two meters. "Rem and Tereda are somewhere around here."

Three more meters, my arm started to ache from all the drawing. "Nobara and Miu are about this strong."

I added an extra meter for good measure. "And Zack's somewhere around here."

I tossed the stick aside, my gaze shifting towards the moon, a pale disc hanging high in the night sky.

I smirked, pointing towards the moon. "And Netero is up there, Gon. Way up there."

The vastness of the night sky, the infinite expanse of stars, suddenly felt like a fitting representation of the power Netero wielded.

We had a long way to go but that was the fun of it.

I smirked. "Ready to get started training? Let's go to a sports shop, they probably have some good weights!"

I started moving as Sukina stopped working out and followed behind me.

Gone took up the rear and I smiled.

I was free from my family and the world's worst brother was finally dead.

I really owed those two a lot, didn't I?