Chapter One
An Improper Engagement
Kalluto Zoldyck has sensed his brother's nen since before boarding the Black Whale. Still, he was expecting Illumi to swoop in when he's alone, to lecture him about the dangers of the dark continent they're heading towards and the sin of abandoning his family.
He was not expecting Illumi to interfere with Kalluto's own partners, the infamous thieves, the Phantom Troupe.
And he certainly was not expecting Illumi to speak the words that came out of his mouth.
"Illumi, please introduce yourself and lend us your thoughts on what Hisoka's up to," says Chrollo Lucilfer, zeroth member of the Spider and the leader that, until now, Kalluto respected.
Chrollo's eyes flicker with guilt, like they have since Hisoka killed his friends.
Kalluto doesn't think anyone else notices, but he does. And Illumi does. Because they're Zoldycks, and as part of their family assassination training, they're trained in reading people's expressions.
Illumi waves his hand. "I don't have much information since we're in the middle of a game, after all."
Kalluto's ears perk up. Game is Zoldyck shorthand for assassination.
"Kalluto and Killua are my younger brothers." A moment of pride shines on Illumi's face, and Kalluto almost forgives his brother his presence.
"I've joined on Hisoka's request. He and I always thought we would kill the other in the end, and I'm here to make this reality. Basically, Hisoka has contracted me to kill him." Illumi's eyes glitter. "For our engagement ring, he gave me a pre-nup where even if he dies, I still get his inheritance."
Illumi surveys the room, as if he were discussing the weather and not his private life. "Hisoka and I are very serous about this, so I don't know where he is."
Machi Komacine, the nen stitcher with party-pink hair and one of the friendlier smiles, tries not to laugh.
"Finally," she whispers to the small but deadly Feitan Pordor. Feitan does not acknowledge her.
Phinks, a man whose strength is bigger than his brain, meanwhile, just looks confused.
Kalluto's eyes flicker to Chrollo. Their leader's face, ashen since Hisoka's murder of a defenseless Kortopi and Shalnark, remains expressionless.
"Hey. This table is taken. Move it." A bearded man approaches the troupe. No doubt he sees the spiders as bunch of misfits and Kalluto as another silly, kimono-wearing kid.
"We're using it right now," Chrollo says calmly.
"Nope. You're the Phantom Troupe, aren't you?" The man crosses his arms. "You completely destroyed the mafia in Yorknew City. We're indebted to you, but I need you to move for business."
Chrollo doesn't hesitate, as per usual. He stands. "Very well, then."
Kalluto studies the leader's face. He looks decidedly unhappy when reminded of Yorknew City, of his infamous capture at the hands of Kurapika of the Kurta clan, at his decision against killing the traitor Hisoka immediately.
Once the Troupe is alone, Chrollo spins around to face his spiders. He clenches his fist, and he looks like the Chrollo of old. "I want a party. But there's no cake. We need a centerpiece. Once we meet up again, I want to eat at a table with all of you. So … bring me Hisoka's head."
The group disperses, but not before Kalluto has sent Illumi his angriest glare.
"What?" Illumi sounds puzzled.
"Leave me alone," Kalluto mutters, shoving Illumi out of his way and racing for his cabin like the ten year old he is.
Is this real? Is Kalluto's brother truly engaged?
And how could Chrollo not tell him this? Kalluto wants to scream. Their leader is powerful, yes, and charismatic, and seems to care about them, but he knows how Kalluto feels about his family.
This is not the brother I wanted to save.
Well, to be fair, I didn't think he needed to be saved.
Ten years old might be a bit young to care for a family, but Mom and Dad and Grandpa sure aren't going to, and Milluki only cares about himself. Killua's run off, and Alluka suffers his possession alone.
And Kalluto wants to save Alluka.
"Kalluto," Illumi calls, racing after, but the youngest Zoldyck had already slammed the door to his cabin.
Kalluto locks his door, fuming to himself.
Who is he kidding? Illumi doesn't care about Kalluto. He cares about Killua, only Killua, and maybe now Hisoka. That perverted clown isn't even family!
But Hisoka will be family if Illumi's words were at all serious.
And, truthfully, Kalluto hasn't ever heard Illumi joke. So he wouldn't know if his brother were joking.
He yanks out his laptop and pounds Killua's email address into the keyboard.
Gon is supposed to be doing schoolwork like a normal boy, unable to use his aura. Instead, he's daydreaming about what he wants to do with life, but no possibility really appeals. He found his father. What else is there?
Well, he supposes daydreaming is rather normal, too. He closes his eyes and listens to the gentle breeze that always blows from the sea here on Whale Island.
Gon frowns. Someone is running from Aunt Miko's house.
"Gon!" Killua appears, racing up to his friend, heart pounding, gagging almost as if he's been poisoned. But of course he hasn't, because Gon knows Killua is immune to poison.
"What's wrong?" Gon clutches Killua's sweating hands. Behind her big brother, Alluka Zoldyck watches Gon with wide eyes.
"Merp! Blech! Merb!" Killua blurts out nonsense words.
"Huh?"
"Look!" Killua finally seethes, shoving his laptop into Gon's hands.
"Huh?" Gon repeats, but he dutifully opens it. His eyes land on an email from Kalluto.
Subject: Family emergency (if you still care).
Illumi is engaged to Hisoka. Their prenup is a death contract.
Illumi has even joined the PT to see this through.
You need to stop them. Illumi will listen to you. Unlike me. Please come quickly.
We're on the Black Whale bound for the Dark Continent. I'm sure you'll find a way to board.
xo Kalluto
P.S. If you tell Mom and Dad, I'll skin you.
Gon stares at Killua, whose face is now as white as his hair.
Illumi…engaged…Hisoka?!
"Help," Killua squeaks.
"Are we sure this is really Kalluto?" Gon asks feebly.
"He referenced skinning. Mom and Dad used to do that sometimes when we disobeyed," Killua mused. "I think it's really him."
"Okay." Gon acts like that's perfectly normal, though he's certain it isn't and certain it's wrong. "But – Illumi has to know if he marries Hisoka, there's no Zoldyck babies! It has to be a joke, right?"
Gon rubs his head. At least, he's been told you need a man and a woman for babies. However that works.
"No, because he's going to kill Hisoka, or Hisoka will kill him. He can marry someone and still later make Zoldyck babies." Killua balls his hands into fists, shoving the thought of Illumi and babies far from his beleaguered brain. "If that creepy clown hurts Illumi – no, I'm sure Illumi's stronger."
"But then Hisoka will die," Gon says, with a twinge of sorrow in his voice.
"He's an ass." Killua scowls at Gon's miserable aura. Alluka narrows her eyes at Killua, too. "You're right, I know."
"Do you think," Gon says slowly, "That Hisoka is to Illumi what you are to me?"
"What?" Killua cringes. Marry Gon? No. Yes. No, he's just a kid. But they are good friends…
"I can't imagine wanting to kill you," Gon says, "but what if this is just their way of asking for help?"
"Even if it isn't, they still need help." Killua curses. "Ugh, sorry Alluka. I just don't want to see him!"
"Are you going?" Gon's eyes widen. "We're going, right?"
He's useless without his nen, but hey, he's still useful as a friend, right? Right?
"Yeah, just give me a moment to plan how we rent a speedboat…" Killua rubs his forehead. Milluki jumps into his mind, though he's unsure whether or not Milluki can be trusted to keep this from their parents.
"Say, isn't Kurapika on the Black Whale?" Gon frowns. "And the spiders, too?"
Killua's mouth opens and closes. "Damn it."
Alluka giggles, and Killua sulks at his potty mouth.
"I'll email Kurapika and just tell him to keep watch for Illumi or Hisoka. I'm sure he wouldn't hurt them, if they weren't part of the Troupe that killed his clan," Gon says.
"I'm not sure of much from Kurapika anymore," Killua says. Gon gulps.
"What about Alluka?" He nods towards the little girl.
"Aw, you're right." Killua stomps his foot. "I'll ask Leorio to take her."
Alluka's mouth drops open. "What?!"
"Wouldn't it be better if she comes? Nanika is from the dark continent, right? Maybe we can cure her." Gon winks at Alluka, who relaxes.
Killua's heart leaps. This is why Gon is his best friend. He's always looking out for Killua, and Killua for him. "She'll like the trip."
"So will Leorio. We can invite him too. I think it's best to have more than less," Gon adds.
Despite his dismay, Killua feels a smile emerge. "My thoughts exactly."
"I'm sorry, Illumi is what?" Safe at home in the Zoldyck mansion, Milluki shovels more potato chips into his mouth as his only comfort mechanism. Oh, forget it.
This news means it's alcohol time.
Milluki holds the phone in one hand as he shuffles over to the bottle of red wine he keeps hidden behind his action figures. It's cheap and Mom would despise him for drinking it, but he genuinely likes the shitty flavor.
Milluki pops off the cork and gulps straight from the bottle. "So Mr. Family is gay. I didn't expect that."
"Is that really what you should be thinking about?" Killua asks dryly.
Milluki shrugs, not caring that Killua can't see him. He's long suspected Killua and Gon's relationship, but not Illumi's. Maybe because he didn't know Illumi even had any friends.
"Anyways, you heard me. Now, are you gonna help me or not?" Killua demands.
"I'm gonna help," Milluki mutters. "I'll wire a million Jenny into your account, okay?"
"Okay," says Killua. A girl laughs in the background.
"Is that Alluka?"
"Oh, yes. She's coming. Family first, you know." There's no mistaking the sarcasm in Killua's voice.
Well, color Milluki surprised. Although there is some irony in the weak Alluka saving the brother who tried to kill her.
"…Keep her safe," Milluki says quietly. For whatever his word is worth.
"The Spiders are here?" Kurapika leaps to his feet. His cabin is small, but he glows with vengeance.
Chrollo Lucilfer is here. And unlike in Yorknew City, his friends are not here. He can kill that greasy-haired scum without hesitation.
"Don't get all excited," Leorio says, as Killua's disembodied voice floats through the phone.
"See, this is why I didn't want to call him."
Kurapika shoves aside the memories of those he's threatened and ruined to retrieve the scarlet eyes. They ought to have thought about it before dabbling in the products of murder.
He doesn't really believe that, not entirely, but it helps slowly his anxiety for now.
"The point is that we're going to pirate our way aboard to stop Hisoka and Illumi's engagement. Can you hide us?"
Kurapika raises his eyebrows. Well, as long as he keeps the Spiders from seeing his friends, he should be fine killing Chrollo. "Yes, but you should know the Kurkin family is having a murder contest for their succession. It could be dangerous."
"What is it with all these murder families?" Leorio bursts out.
"The world is terrible," Kurapika says dully, staring at himself in the mirror like a bad cliché. His eyes, brown for the moment, are red-rimmed with misery.
"That doesn't sound like the Kurapika I know." Now Leorio sounds concerned.
Kuapika shivers. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine, really. The important thing is helping my friends. And completing my quest."
"Yeah, I was afraid you'd say that." Leorio sighs. "Well, now's not the time for that conversation. We'll see you soon."
Kurapika hangs up before he can explode. He's always been blunt about his intent – to recover the scarlet eyes gouged from his brethren, and to end the Phantom Troupe. Why does he feel like his friends judge him for it?
He's not giving up, not now when he is literally on the same ship as them.
There's a voice that niggles in the back of his mind, telling him he's only self-conscious because he too did not know the exact price of his goal. Because he's going to drive himself to a poetic death to join his brethren, and Kurapika doesn't care – in fact, he even anticipates it.
Melody's voice echoes in his head as she regarded the chained leader of the Spiders. He is not afraid. He walks side-by-side with death every day.
Kurapika shudders.
Because he and Chrollo? They're not alike at all.
His phone rings again. "Hello?"
"I forgot to say," says Gon's earnest, ever-welcome voice. "Don't go after them yourself. Please."
"Of course," Kurapika lies.
Because like hell is he waiting.
