Killugon

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Pairing
Pairing: Killua Zoldyck/Gon Freecss
Alternative name(s): Kirugon, KilluGon, Gon/Killua
Gender category: Slash
Fandom: Hunter x Hunter
Canonical?: no
Prevalence: High
Archives:
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Killugon, or Gon/Killua, is a slash ship in the fandom Hunter x Hunter.

Canon

Killua and Gon have been best friends with a complicated and somewhat codependent relationship since the first few episodes/chapters. Killua uses very heavily romantically laden terminology towards Gon which implies the ship is at least one-sided. He's also shown to blush when Gon says something about Killua being his best friend, and often delivers internal monologues about Gon, further "canonizing" the ship.

Most of the series follows Killua and Gon's adventures together. They are one another's closest friends, and develop the most next to one another. They get the largest relationship developments during the Chimera Ant Arc. Their relationship, even if platonic, is sometimes viewed as codependent. Others disagree.

“Gon, you are light. Sometimes you shine so bright I have to look away. But even so, is it still okay if I stay by your side?” —Killua, monologuing internally.

Plot Summary

Hunter Exam

Killua and Gon first meet when they take the Hunter Exam together, and grow into fast friends because they are the only two who are the same age. This is interrupted when Illumi, Killua's brother, tells Killua at the end of the final part of the exam that someone like Killua has nothing he wants and should return home. Killua states that his largest desire is to be friends with Gon. The impact of Illumi's words is devastating for Killua and he returns home.

Gon, who has been unconscious for these events, wakes up and decides he immediately has to go to the Zoldyck mansion to get Killua back. He succeeds, and a depressed Killua cheers up to hear Gon came up for him. Killua tells his father all about Gon, and he gets permission to leave with him.

Heavens Arena

After they leave the Zoldyck mansion, they decide to train together in Heavens Arena. During this arc Killua expresses his admiration for Gon, and admits to Wing, their mentor, that he and Gon are a bit similar in their recklessness.

Yorknew City

During a reconnaissance mission they get captured. Killua offers to take on the enemy alone (and die) so Gon can get away, but Gon hits him on the head and says he can't say things like that. Killua points out Gon's hypocrisy, because Gon often says things like that. Gon replies "I'm allowed to but you aren't!" They both manage to escape after.

Greed Island

The pair join a group, but after the group says some things that upset Gon he declines their offer. Killua tells the group he can't join them because 'the leader' (Gon) declined and rushes after him.

Gon thanks Killua for coming to Greed Island and doing all this with him to help him find his dad. Killua thinks to himself that no, he's not doing this just to find Gon's dad. He's doing this for... (Killua doesn't finish his thought but it's heavily implied he is doing this simply because he cares about Gon). Gon tells Killua he's glad he met him, and Killua thinks in response 'No Gon, meeting you makes me the fortunate one'.

In one of the Greed Island Tutorials, Gon tells Killua that ‘He can look through his binder any time he wants’ while smiling and seemingly blushing. This was meant to be comical, but could be an implication of flirting.

Later on they have to play a game of volleyball and Gon needs to use a powerful attack on it. Killua is the one who holds the ball for him. He hides his injuries from holding the ball for Gon, but someone else on the team discovers it and offers to hold the ball in place for the winning goal. Gon admits he knew about Killua's inuries but that 'It has to be Killua.' These words visibly surprise Killua and its clear he takes them quite to heart after. Killua holds the ball for Gon and they end up winning the game.

Chimera Ant Arc

In this arc, some people believe that Killua and Gon's codependency on one another reaches its peak.

Killua is forced to knock out Gon when they encounter an enemy that is too difficult for the two to handle, and Killua runs carrying Gon away from the enemy. After reaching town, Killua expresses regret that he left Kite, their mutual mentor, alone to die. Gon tells Killua he didn't, that Kite is surely okay. Killua then declares one of his most famous monologues on Gon: "Gon, you are light. Sometimes you shine so bright I have to look away. But even so, is it still okay if I stay by your side?"

After this, they practice and eventually face against Knuckle and Shoot while trying to earn the ability to go back to the Chimera Ant Arc. Killua is given an ultimatum by their other mentor Biscuit that if Killua can't beat Shoot, 'he should leave Gon's side'. Gon loses his nen temporarily to Knuckle in his fight with him, and Killua loses his battle with Shoot. Killua then comes to the conclusion 'he will have to leave Gon's side', but he decides to stay with Gon until he regains his nen to protect him.

During his time without nen, Gon promises to go on a date with Palm. Killua asks Gon if he's ever been on a date before, and Gon says he has. Killua's surprised and thinks 'wow Gon's a real adult!' but then Gon clarifies he's including dates with his mom/aunt, Mito. Gon asks Killua if he's ever been on a date, and Killua replies he's never been on one, he's only ever been with Gon, and thinks 'and I really don't want that to change'.

Killua follows Gon and Palm on their date, and feels embarrassed about the fact it looks like he's obsessed. During the date, an ant attacks and Killua takes him on solo. During the fight, Killua has a breakdown because he wants to run away but also wants to protect Gon. When he thinks to himself about his fear of losing Gon, he cries out 'Gon is my precious friend. My most precious friend in the whole world' and while reflecting on memories of Gon he manages to find that his brother, Illumi, planted a needle in his head and rip it out. Having done so, he deals with the ant and feels more confident returning to Gon.

Fandom

The ship has been the most popular in the HxH fandom since the manga started publishing in the 90s on all sides of the fandom. In fanworks, it is usually depicted alongside Leopika (Leorio Paladiknight + Kurapika). It is the most popular ship for both Killua and Gon.

Yoshihiro Togashi, the mangaka, has written multiple LGBT characters in the past which gives some precedence to believe it may be made canon by the end of the series. There are multiple nods to the ship in canon, such as the HxH 2011 adaptation including their ship name under a romantic umbrella (the same as drawing a heart around a pair of names). During the Yorknew Hunterpedia additions in HxH 2011, a kiss is added.

During the Heaven's Arena arc, Hisoka (a transmuter nen user) says that 'Gon and him have good compatibility' because Gon is an enhancer, and Hisoka is a transmuter. It's often thought this dialogue is purposefully also referring to Gon and Killua, since Killua is also a transmuter. Fandom often accepts that Killua's feelings for Gon are so clear as to be canonly romantic, but Gon's behavior may be interpreted as oblivious, willfully ignorant, and, by some in the fandom, manipulative.

Controversy

There is controversy regarding Killua and Gon's relationship, namely as a result of issues that arise during the Greed Island Arc and Chimera Ant Arc. During the Greed Island Arc, Killua is willing to be severely injured to support Gon. During the Chimera Ant Arc, Killua witnesses Gon nearly killing himself by deliberately using up all of his Nen in order to defeat Neferpitou, which is unquestionably traumatic for Killua. Killua is extremely dedicated to Gon because he is the first friend he's ever had. He grew up frequently subjected to torture and abuse by his family, and is now willing to let himself come to harm for Gon's sake. Gon, in contrast, is sometimes unaware of Killua's feelings or pain,. Some view the progression of their relationship as toxic, while others believe it is a realistic portrayal of the emotional toll that their trauma takes on them, especially given their age. This disagreement about the nature of their relationship in canon can be a source of arguments within the fandom.

Some say that if Gon is being willfully unaware of Killua's pain or manipulating his feelings, it is wrong to support their relationship at that point in canon. Others believe that it is the external stress they experience during the Chimera Ant Arc that results in their eventual decision to part. Regardless, the time they have away from one another to grown and change as individuals is a reason why future fic is so popular.

Common Tropes

  • Angst
  • Pining: Killua is often interpreted as having one-sided romantic feelings for Gon.
  • Future Fic/Fix-it: With Killua and Gon parting at the end of the Election Arc, many works explore them reuniting in the future. These works often involve the two reexamining their relationship as children.
  • Hurt/Comfort: Gon realizes how much Killua has suffered and sacrificed for him.

Example Fanworks

Fanfiction

Killua from "Words that Water Flowers" by yuki-carnation (2017)


Fanart & Fancomics

Meta

Communities & Resources

References

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