Ian's thoughts whirled as he walked, trying to maintain a nonchalant demeanor. "Want to carry me? Hey, I was just testing their trust towards me earlier," he thought, attempting to rationalize his earlier emotional display.
"Right! I was just wondering how deep our bond is now, whether they'll choose a newly met person over cute me!" Ian's thoughts were a jumbled mix of curiosity and self-assurance. He quickened his pace, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.
As he walked, Ian's mind reassured himself of his capabilities. "It's not like I'm that fragile. I wouldn't get hurt that easily, like spraining my ankle, when I can protect myself with Nen."
Gon easily caught up to Ian's side, his longer legs allowing him to keep pace with ease. Ian seemed lost in thought, oblivious to Gon's presence.
Kurapika's gaze lingered on Ian's back, a secret smile spreading across his face. He noticed the delicate jade-like ears turning a deep shade of red, a telltale sign of Ian's embarrassment.
Kurapika's smile deepened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He knew Ian well enough to recognize the subtle signs of his emotions. Gon, however, seemed oblivious to Ian's inner turmoil, his expression soft and concerned.
After hours of walking, the four finally saw a glimmer of light in the distance. Ian's eyes lit up, and he excitedly sprinted towards the exit, his feet pounding against the stone floor. However, in his haste, he failed to notice the uneven terrain, and his foot caught on a loose stone.
Ian's body tilted precariously, and he felt himself falling. His beautiful emerald eyes widened in alarm as he instinctively wrapped his entire body in Nen, protecting himself from potential harm. As he closed his eyes, bracing for impact, he felt a pair of strong arms envelop him, cushioning his fall.
When the expected impact didn't come, Ian opened his eyes slightly, peeking out to see that he was safely cradled in Gon's arms. His gaze drifted to the arms wrapped around his waist, and a confused expression crossed his face, rendering him irresistibly cute.
Gon's face was etched with worry, but as he watched Ian's adorable reaction, a gentle smile spread across his features. Kurapika and Leorio rushed over, their faces filled with concern.
Leorio's eyes scanned Ian's body, his expression softening as he treated Ian like a fragile and delicate treasure. "Are you okay?" Leorio asked, his voice laced with worry.
Kurapika's gaze met Gon's, and he nodded in silent understanding. Gon's arms still wrapped around Ian's waist, holding him securely.
Ian stood there, his face burning with embarrassment, as he repeatedly reassured the tree in front of him that he was fine. His words tumbled out in a flustered rush, his eyes darting around to avoid any more attention.
As he spoke, Ian's mind couldn't shake off the feeling of stupidity. "High intelligence score?" he thought wryly. "More like high embarrassment score!" He mentally face-palmed, doubting the system's assessment of his cognitive abilities.
"I'm fine, really, I'm fine," Ian insisted, his voice barely above a whisper. The tree, of course, remained silent and unresponsive, its branches swaying gently in the breeze.
Ian's blush deepened, his skin feeling hot to the touch. He couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever live this moment down. "Intelligent creature, my foot," he thought, shaking his head in self-deprecation.
Ian pushed aside his doubts about the system's evaluation of his intelligence and quickly shifted his focus to diverting the attention of the three people in front of him. He gestured enthusiastically towards the exit, trying to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Hey, look! We're finally here," Ian said, his voice a bit too loud, as he attempted to distract Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio from his earlier embarrassment.
Kurapika watched Ian's antics with a soft smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He seemed to understand Ian's plight and decided to help him out. With a gentle nod, Kurapika began to steer the conversation towards the exit, subtly cueing Gon and Leorio to follow suit.
"Yes, let's focus on getting out of here," Kurapika said, his voice calm and soothing. "We can discuss the details later." Gon and Leorio, still chuckling, gradually fell in line, their attention shifting away from Ian's embarrassment.
As they walked towards the exit, Ian's relief was palpable. He shot Kurapika a grateful glance, his eyes sparkling with appreciation. Kurapika's smile grew wider, and he placed a reassuring hand on Ian's shoulder, his touch gentle and comforting.
The four continued on their journey, their footsteps quiet on the forest path, until they reached a small house nestled beneath the sprawling branches of a giant cedar tree. Ian's gaze drifted to the door, his eyes watchful as he waited for the others to take action.
He knew that inside the house lived a family of magical foxes, and Ian's curiosity was piqued. He planned to observe from a distance, eager to see how the situation would unfold.
Leorio, however, took matters into his own hands, raising his fist to knock on the door. The sound echoed through the stillness, but there was no response. No one answered, and the door remained stubbornly shut.
"There seems to be no one here," Kurapika said, uncertainty creeping into his voice. "Are the guides that the grandma mentioned earlier out?" He glanced around, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Leorio's response was immediate. "I'll check inside," he said, his hand reaching out to push open the door. As it creaked open, a scene of chaos greeted them.
A massive, monstrous fox was struggling with a young woman, while an injured man lay off to the side, his face twisted in pain. Leorio's eyes widened in surprise, and the others instinctively moved forward, their faces set with determination.
Ian watched with rapt attention as the scene unfolded before him. Kurapika and Gon chased after the massive fox that had kidnapped the woman, while he stayed behind with Leorio, who began treating the injured man.
The man claimed to be the husband of the kidnapped woman, and Leorio tended to his wounds with care. After a while, Leorio left the man's side, entrusting Ian with his care while he went to search for a specific herb to treat the wounds more effectively.
Ian's gaze lingered on the man, his eyes filled with interest as he studied the man's reactions. The man, disguised as a fox, noticed Ian's intense stare and hesitated, "Golden doll, why are you looking at me like that?"
Ian's expression turned quizzical, his brow furrowing slightly. "Golden doll?" he repeated softly, memories of Captain's similar greeting on the ship flooding his mind.
A faint smile played on Ian's lips as he looked at the man. "There's no need to act in front of me, mister," he said, his voice gentle but piercing. The man's eyes flickered with surprise before he resumed his innocent act.
"What do you mean by that?" the man began, feigning confusion. However, Ian's patience was wearing thin, and he interrupted the man's pretence. "I said you can stop acting in front of me already, let's see.... this is just a test right? However I already know that all of this are just a show....so you can continue test the others to now don't worry about me here"
Ian's words were laced with amusement, his smile unwavering as he gazed at the man. The man's eyes darted about, his composure momentarily shaken before he regained his footing.