A gentle breeze ruffled Killua's hair. He stared out into the approaching darkness, determined to look anywhere but directly ahead. If he did, he would have to acknowledge the presence of his eldest brother. That was not something he was willing to do.

Illumi made no move to break the uneasy silence that stretched between them. He stared at the ground in front of Killua's feet, his normally calculating eyes vacant. The breeze turned into a strong wind that whipped his black hair about his face. He still did not move.

As the sun disappeared, Illumi spoke. "I lied to you."

Killua turned to look at him. "What?"

"I lied to you about who you are."

Killua frowned. "What do you mean?"

Illumi looked up at the sky. "I haven't been alive for very long. And yet, I feel like I know the world better than most." He looked back at Killua. "One thing I've learned is that no one is born with their fate set in stone."

"How do you know?"

"I don't. This is just speculation."

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Because you need to know."

"Do I? Even if I do, why are you telling me this?"

"You're starting to lose yourself in the lie that I've created for you. Despite what you tell yourself you're starting to believe in what I've told you your whole life. I feel a bit responsible."

"Why should you care?"

"Because I've come to terms with my own pettiness."

Killua gave him a blank stare. Illumi sighed. "Look, Kil. I've always been jealous of you. Ever since the day you were born I've harbored a deep hatred for you that I've never truly faced. You have love and admiration from our parents by just existing. You don't need to submit yourself to their ideal to gain stature. You can be loved by our family and still have a soul. I have to make a choice between the two, and no matter what I do I know I'll regret it. Every child in our family is condemned to this fate but you."

"So . . . you lied to me because you were jealous."

"I wanted to make your life has hellish as you made mine. Kalluto doesn't know any better because she was born into the role of the forgotten child, but I remember what it was like to live in the light. But now . . ." He paused. "Now it doesn't matter anymore."

"What's with this sudden change of heart?"

Illumi sighed. "I suppose that I've had some time to think, and that I've come to terms with the fact that you will always come first."

"Time to think?"

"I closed off all my client lines. I'm not taking jobs anymore."

Killua almost jumped in surprise. "Why?"

Illumi finally looked at Killua. "I'm dying, Kil."

Killua stared at him, in shock. "What?"

"About a week ago I shot on a job. The man I was assassinating was an engineer in biological warfare. I was shot with a serum for leprosy. I've only got a few more months to live and I'm sure as hell not wasting them with work."

"You're lying."

Illumi pulled back his hair to reveal his neck. There were the rotting brown spots that were the mark of a leper all over. Killua gasped.

"I decided that I shouldn't take a grudge to the grave. It'd be pointless, to do something like that. I'm ready to leave life as soon as I can and I don't want to look back." He stared at him intently. "But that doesn't mean that I forgive you."

"You're . . . really gonna die."

"Yes." Illumi stood and walked away. "Goodbye, Kil. I hope that we never meet again."