28/03/19 - Edited
Killua scowled angrily as he easily pushed the testing gates open, slipping through the doors a couple seconds before they automatically swung shut behind him. Blood was splattered all over his shirt, the result of dealing with a couple of stubborn weaklings who, as usual, had been threatening the gatekeeper, Zebro, when he returned. While this was a common scene, and Killua frequently just stayed by the side in the trees while waiting for the inevitable deaths of the rouges, he had just gotten back from a long, tiring job and didn't really have the patience or inclination to wait for them to die as well as for the rest of the tour group to leave.
Nevertheless, the tour group had left screaming and in a panic as usual, the tour guide exponentially calmer due to having witnessed such a scene before whenever his other brothers had gotten impatient or Mike had killed the rouges. His mood hadn't really improved though as Killua was now frustrated that he had let his emotions get the better of him when he usually had much more self-control than what he had just displayed mere moments ago.
Sighing, Killua decided that he had no need to rush back to the mansion and that he could take a quick detour. He swerved off the well-trodden path that led from the testing gates to the doors of the Zoldyck mansion, entering the forest that took up the vast majority of the Zoldyck compound. After a few minutes of travel, at his jogging speed which was more like a sprinting speed for regular people, Killua was now standing in front of a small river that originated from a waterfall from the top of the mountain.
Rummaging around in his pocket, Killua pulled out a small electronic device. Killua stared at the device for a moment. Aside from a small button in the very centre of the device, it seemed plain, with just a series of green clouds against a dark red background. However, the plain appearance hid the fingerprint sensor on either side of the device. Fingerprint sensors that would cause the device to explode with the equivalent force of a frag grenade if the fingerprint detected on the device when the button was pushed didn't match with the fingerprint of any Zoldyck family member.
Finally, Killua made up his mind and pushed the button on the device. Once done, he kept the device back in his pocket and sat down by the river, waiting silently as he stared at the crystal clear water and his own harried-looking and anticipatory yet blank expression. He didn't have to wait long and soon, the person that he had called for, that he was waiting for, had arrived.
"Killua." The sudden greeting startled the addressed male who bolted to his feet and spun around in a panic. Killua quickly spotted the person who had called out to him though and relaxed.
"Did you have to do that Sillar-nii?" Killua said reproachfully, an uncharacteristic pout on his face.
"You should have been paying attention." Sillar replied easily, jumping down from the tree branch he had been perched on and landing softly on the ground.
He was wearing a hooded mottled green cloak that facilitated his camouflage in the forest, the hood of the cloak. Sillar raised a tanned hand to push down the hood, revealing dark blue hair and sky blue eyes. He wore a plain dark green tunic underneath the cloak along with a pair of pitch black trousers and military-grade boots. Moving around, and thus shifting his cloak, revealed the knife sheaths hanging from his belt, the buckle of which had the design of a tiger standing on two legs with a long tail coiled up behind it in the air.
"Anyway, what did you need?" Sillar changed the topic as Killua continued to playfully glare at him. Killua paused for a moment, letting Sillar know that he wasn't being fooled but readily continued.
"Nothing really… It's just been a long time since I saw you." Killua said truthfully, shrugging his shoulders as he turned back around to stare at the river. Sillar hummed, striding forwards and moving up next to Killua. He sat down abruptly, patting the ground beside him in an invitation for Killua to sit down as well. Killua hesitated for a moment but obeyed and plopped down on the ground.
Sillar eyed him for a moment before he sighed, reaching out and grabbing the side of Killua's head. Killua yelped in surprise as Sillar dragged him down sideways with surprising strength, easily shrugging aside Killua's attempts at resisting, until Killua had his head resting on Sillar's lap. "Rest. You need it."
Killua blinked in surprise as Sillar started running his fingers reassuringly through his messy hair. Then, he let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes, listening to the peaceful sounds of the forest around the duo. After a while, Killua regretfully pushed himself up and off Sillar. This time, Sillar did nothing to stop Killua and Killua easily rose back up to his feet. "I should be going. Dad and the others will be wondering where I've been. I'll see you again?"
"Of course. You know what to do." Sillar agreed readily, a sad smile spreading across his previously emotionless face. Killua nodded as he turned and walked away. He stopped as he reached the end of the clearing around the river.
"Did you ever regret it? Even with the way that everything turned out?" Killua suddenly asked on the spur of the moment. Almost immediately, he cursed himself mentally, wondering why he had asked that question. He didn't take it back though, instead turning his head around to look at his older brother by a year. Sillar had donned his blank mask again and he stared back evenly at Killua. There was a long deafening silence and Killua started to turn back around, assuming that he had overstepped his boundaries and that his brother wasn't going to answer him.
"…Never." Sillar suddenly replied. Killua whipped his head back around, meeting Sillar's deep pained gaze. "I will never regret this bond." Here, Sillar raised a hand and stared down at it as bright purple flames sprang to life around it. Killua sucked in a breath as he stared in awe at the beautiful sight for the brief moment that it was visible.
Then, just as suddenly as they appeared, they vanished. Killua's eyes darted back up to meet his brother's eyes and he flinched back at the sudden empty look in them. Killua involuntarily reached out a hand and moved to near his brother but the moment he did so, dull eyes flickered up and two pairs of blue orbs met each other, one pained and the other blank.
Killua involuntarily took a step forwards, intending to help his brother but a sudden flash of light caught his attention. His eyes widening in surprise, Killua quickly whipped his head to the side as something flew past, too quickly for his eyes to track, and leaving a thin cut along his right cheek. Killua gazed at the knife embedded all the way into its hilt in the tree trunk behind him in shock, eyes drifting back to his brother slowly.
Sillar had his right hand still stretched out, the other hand resting on the hilt of the other knife. Despite the fact that it was still in the sheath, Killua had no doubts that Sillar could withdraw the knife and throw it again, too quickly for him to detect and this time, to much greater success than his previous attempt.
Gritting his teeth, Killua withdrew his hand and turned his back on his brother. Quickly, Killua ran away as fast as he could, making his way back to the mansion where his father, grandfather, and surprisingly, Milluki were waiting for him. Gotoh had likely received a notification from Zebro that he had passed through the testing gates and reported to them after he had failed to show up at the mansion within the expected time.
Killua stiffened upon seeing the two figures and slowed his sprint into a jog, stopping before the trio. "Father. Grand-"
"Did Sillar do that to you?" Silva interrupted, pointing at the thin cut on Killua's cheek, a silver of blood leaking out and slowly trailing its way down Killua's cheek. Unconsciously, Killua brought his hand up to his cheek, covering the wound. He gritted his teeth, averting his eyes as he nodded slowly, feeling oddly like he was betraying his brother as he did so.
"It wasn't his fault! I deserved it for asking him about that time." Killua tried to explain.
"It doesn't matter. You're the Zoldyck heir and Sillar should have known better than to do this." Silva waved his hand dismissively before he forcibly removed Killua's hand, taking a closer look at the thin cut. "Hmph. At least it is just a shallow wound. Even then, Sillar needs to learn that he won't be allowed to do whatever he wants without consequences. Honestly, isn't it about time for him to come back home anyway? Hasn't he had enough of sulking?"
"I volunteer to go and bring Sillar home, father! I agree that he needs to get over himself and come back to accept his responsibility as a member of the Zoldyck family! He needs to make up his mind about whether he is a Zoldyck or not, and no Zoldyck would hide away in the forest like a coward!" Milluki interjected, grinning maliciously as he rubbed his hands together gleefully.
"The one who needs to get over himself is you, Milluki! And if we're going to talk about being a true Zoldyck, then as a useless lump of fat, you are certainly not a Zoldyck!" Killua snapped. A tick mark burst to life on Milluki's forehead as he took a step forwards towards Killua, folding his sleeve back threateningly. Killua didn't back down, standing his ground and glaring right back at his older brother.
"Enough!" Zeno broke the brewing fight apart before it could take place. "Killua, Milluki, go to your room. This conversation is over."
"Grandfather! You heard what he said about me! How could you let him go so easily?" Milluki protested.
"I. Said. Go. To. Your. Room." Zeno glared at Milluki, patience straining. Milluki took a step back, gritting his teeth.
"Fine." Milluki spat. He glared at Killua. "This isn't over."
Killua rolled his eyes, ignoring Milluki who let out a yell of frustration and stomped back into the Zoldyck mansion. Killua followed his older brother, heading into the mansion as his father and grandfather stared after him. He paused at the entrance to the mansion. "Father, you need to decide what is more important to you. Your family, or the family business. Because, at this point, all I can tell is that you want Sillar-nii to return to the mansion. And not because he is your son, but because of his skills."
Without turning around to meet the surprised eyes of his father and grandfather, Killua allowed the door to swing shut behind him as he headed up to his room. After a short pause, the two Zoldyck patriarchs headed into the mansion as well.
"He has a point you know." Zeno finally broke the silence as they were moving through the hallway. "Killua may be young but he is smart and he also interacts with Sillar much more than anyone else. He knows what he is talking about, especially when it concerns Sillar. Not to mention that he is your best bet if you really want Sillar to return."
"I suppose. I mean, it wasn't exactly Sillar's fault that he is the way he is right now. He just… chose to follow the wrong person. He forgot the very first rule that each Zoldyck is taught and he got too attached." Silva mused. "And I do want to repair our relationship. He is my son after all, and I have always regretted blowing up at him after he returned. I probably shattered him even further after what he had just gone through then."
"That's true. Sillar couldn't really be blamed actually. No one expects that such a bond could be broken voluntarily. Furthermore, by the leader's own foolishness…" Zeno agreed.
"Besides, Sillar is too valuable to leave alone and only completing a job or two each month." Silva suddenly said, causing Zeno to stare at him disbelievingly. Noticing his father's gaze, Silva raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Yes? Did I say something wrong?"
"I think I see what Killua was talking about, what he was trying to get through your head…" Zeno sighed, shaking his head. "I think you need to think more about what he was talking about, Silva. Specifically about where your priorities are. Honestly, I don't understand you sometimes. I wonder where exactly I went wrong raising you…"
"Father?" Silva asked in confusion.
"No. Its nothing. Just, think about what Killua said earlier. It shouldn't be too difficult. There isn't really any room for interpretations, Killua put it quite literally." Zeno replied, moving faster and leaving his son to think about the problem. There was little doubt that Silva would discuss this issue with his wife but Zeno didn't think that much progress would be made, at least progress in the right direction that is.
Silva was lacking in the emotional department and Kikyo had a habit of being selectively blind to uncomfortable topics. If the two ever discussed something relating to their sons, a giant misunderstanding would no doubt be in the works and Zeno couldn't wait for the show to unfold. He had a brief momentary thought of providing assistance, but Zeno shrugged it off. He could always resolve things afterwards, nothing could go irreversibly wrong after all.
As he looked at his groaning grandson and crying, in pride not pain, daughter-in-law, Zeno Zoldyck fully regretted deciding that his intervention in family matters was unneeded. If it was any consolation, he thought optimistically, it wasn't his son that had screwed up, it was his grandson. His daughter-in-law was just collateral damage although he was half sure that Killua had only fully decided on running away because he was creeped out by the happy yet bloody tears from his mother. If that was the case, then Zeno wondered what exacty had possessed his son to want to marry this specific woman.
Sighing, Zeno stepped aside to allow the fast approaching butlers to attend to the wounds of his grandson and daughter-in-law, shaking his head as he turned and walked towards his son's office. Wondering how he was going to break the news to his son that the clan heir had just ran away and, not only that, he had decided to drag Sillar with him as he did so. Huffing, Zeno settled for brutal honesty as he pushed the door open unceremoniously.
He smirked as he silently moved forwards and startled his son from the piles of paperwork in front of him by suddenly commenting on the one that was currently being read. Oh, how he loved Zetsu. It was the best for pulling pranks and it wasn't like he had anything better to do. There was little to occupy him nowadays, with all the jobs that the Zoldyck family going to the his grandsons.
"Father? Did you need something? Or are you just getting bored again?" Silva asked, putting his pen down.
"Hmph. I wonder what you think of me that the first thing you assume when I visit you is that I require something. Is visiting to accompany your son not a thing that I can do?" Zeno huffed in mock anger.
"No! I didn't… I mean…" Silva spluttered, wondering what to do and what to say.
"I was just joking Silva." Zeno smirked. Silva sighed, wondering why he even bothered. Then, Zeno's face grew stern and serious. "On to more important matters, however. Milluki has just very stupidly insulted and taken jabs at Sillar again. While this is not anything out of the ordinary, he went too far this time and Killua, for lack of a better word, snapped. He stabbed Milluki and slashed your wife across the face before running away. According to the gatekeeper, Killua also managed to get Sillar to go with him and the both of them are now missing."
Silva stilled, eyes slowly travelling up to meet the serious ones of his father. Then, he roared in anger, getting to his feet violently, the chair he was previously sitting on tilting over and crashing to the ground loudly. Brushing past Zeno, Silva stalked out of his office and towards the training room to vent his anger, recognising that there was no point confronting his foolish son when he was not currently thinking rationally. And so, Silva refurbished two training rooms, installing several new craters in the ground.
Meanwhile, Killua and Sillar were on a boat to Zaban City, having met a 'kind' hunter applicant while they were walking around the town and wondering what to do. Said hunter applicant had very nicely given up his registration form to them when they had asked for it. On the back of the said registration form was a riddle which the duo had quickly solved that led them to Zaban City, stating that the preliminary site was located there. Exactly where in Zaban City was still unknown but at least they had a lead and somewhere to go instead of loitering around the Padokea region which was sure to get them caught sooner rather than later.
On the boat, Killua frequently snuck glances at his brother, who was leaning on the railing and staring out at the vast ocean waters. Clad as usual in the cloak, the hood put up and casting his face into shadows, Sillar actually made quite an intimidating figure, especially with the polished wooden bow resting on a holster by his side and the quiver of gleaming arrows hanging horizontally across his hip bone. As a result, none of the other passengers had bothered them despite their obvious youth, something which Killua was happy about.
Especially because his older brother was still rather dazed and was currently spinning a knife absentmindedly around his fingers, the silver flash sending shivers down any watchers' eyes. Killua sighed, moving over and sitting on the floor of the boat beside where his brother was standing. A pair of light blue eyes darted down for a moment, causing Killua to freeze momentarily as his mind wandered back to when he had almost died, before they moved back up to examine the ocean.
Another moment later, a rough hand pressed down on Killua's head, ruffling his hair slightly before retreating. Killua placed his hand on his head in surprise, looking up at his brother who spared him a brief, weak smile. Killua grinned back and Sillar shook his head in mock exasperation. Sillar's attention soon drifted, but Killua was dancing inwardly at the progress.
Previously, Sillar rarely showed emotions, even before the incident, although it got even worse after that. Now though, Sillar was at least acting a little like the way he had used to be. The pain and loss was still lurking within him, visible in his eyes, but Sillar was already doing better after a small break away from the Zoldyck compound and the general pressure placed upon him by the Zoldyck family. Killua just had to make sure to keep at it and make sure that Sillar encountered as few as his triggers as possible.
Killua just had to keep Sillar away from the rest of the family, who would no doubt do more harm whether unconsciously or not, until Sillar was ready. And he also had to make sure that he made no mention about the past. Killua sighed inwardly, finally realising the magnitude of the task he had set on himself. One mistake, a wrong word, and Sillar would likely regress back into that blank state where he would zone out and wouldn't be able to recognise people, which would in turn lead to him perceiving everyone around him as an enemy. As far as Killua was aware, that group of people who had visited once, just after Sillar had been forcibly brought back, had been able to get near Sillar but everyone else still couldn't, even himself.
Killua was still hung up about that but he recognised that those 4 people had a special bond with Sillar and, although reluctantly, accepted it. He honestly wished that they would come back but, considering that they hadn't visited even once these past 5 years, Killua doubted that they would return. Regardless, he just wanted his nicest older brother back, the older brother who would take him out hunting regularly, who would protect him and fight his other family members to give him some time to rest.
Killua missed his brother.
