Warning(s): Expletives.

Disclaimer: I OWN nothing of Hunter x Hunter but possible OCs that might appear in the future so do not sue please.

BETTING GAMES
by: Riseha

Chapter 2 — Thoughtfulness

Even though they were out to save the brat's ass from his own brother, Leorio still considered this as a vacation.

Because the more the merrier (quoting Gon), and because Killua needed help, they were to stay at Kukooro Mountain.

Leorio had always known that the white-haired brat's family was filthy rich, but it only started to sink in when he stepped foot in the mansion. Sure, he'd been on this property before, but he hadn't even been able to make it to the main house to inspect the area.

He was envious of that brat who did not deserve this at all.

He covered a smirk; well, at least the brat was getting it from his own brother.

As if sensing his humor, Killua turned and glared. "You're invited in as guests, but if you wander to somewhere you're not mean to, I can't guarantee our guard dogs or maids won't kill you."

Gon blinked. "Even the maids can fight?"

"Duh," Killua responded as if it was normal to have killer-maids at your beck and call twenty-four-seven. Leorio was hating the kid every minute. But he had to check out those hot chicks that they'd pass— "Oh," Killua's voice broke through his reverie. "On the side note, they can't date." The silver-haired brat shot the older male a triumphant smirk.

Leorio swore he saw the brat's nose elongating as he bragged about whatever the house had.

"So," Leorio said, mind racing to find something—anything—that could rattle the young boy. "Where's your older brother?" That sent Killua's good mood spiraling into insane rage. Leorio almost wished he hadn't asked.

"Any guesses?" Killua demanded, eyes burning as he plopped down onto the floor. His friends settled down, glancing about the common room. "Well? I'll choose the best three."

"I suggest spying on him and see what he does," said Kurapika.

Leorio cleared his throat—playing the role as the realistic one here. "That's impossible. Have you even met Illumi Zoldyck?"

Killua groaned. "He's right, we'll never find out his secret."

Every the optimistic one, Gon smiled sympathetically and patted his best friend's shoulder. "This is the second day, right?"

Kurapika toyed with the fabric of the kotatsu, not meeting Killua's eyes. "Six days left."

"Don't make it sound like an execution!"

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"I can't find him." Kurapika studied the clock. "It's three in the afternoon. And if you can't find it, you'll lose a day of three chances." He glanced at where Killua was still scribbling onto a piece of paper. "What are you doing?"

"Making a list of possibilities!" replied Killua, still deep in thought. He frowned. "Where's Leorio and Gon?"

"They went out to help find your brother."

"They don't need to," said Killua. "We can ask Pig... well, my other older brother."

Kurapika sighed. "You should've said that before I went walking around the whole mansion looking for him." Despite his complain, the blonde Kuruta followed his young friend anyway. Kurapika wondered how Killua could see in the dark. The Zoldyck mansion had no lights or any lamp to illuminate the hallways—suitable environment for assassins, he suppose.

If it wasn't for Killua's bright hair, Kurapika would've lost sight of him. As it was, it was a miracle Kurapika made his way back to the common room after his wandering expedition.

Killua headed up the stairs and after a few twist and turn, he knocked on the door. "Let me do all the talking," he warned his friend. "And... don't touch anything." There was a grumble before they were allowed to enter. Kurapika's jaw dropped when he saw his friend's brother.

Firstly, the brothers looked nothing alike; well, this brother looked a little like Illumi—same onxy eyes and hair, their similarities ended at their... waistline. Kurapika had to bite the inside of his cheek to refrain from dying in laughter. The overweight teen glared at Kurapika suspiciously, then directed his glare to Killua. "You really let people into the house?" Killua nodded, elbowing Kurapika.

"Hello..." he offered after a few beats. "Uh..."

"Milluki," sneered the older teen. "Don't expect me to remember your name though. What the heck are you two doing here anyway? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Yeah, busy gaining weight, thought Killua spitefully but outwardly, he cleared his throat and tried for a polite tone and smile. "I was wondering if you can help me... with something."

Milluki smirked. "About the bet you made with Illu-nii?"

Killua's face dissolved in surprise. "You know?"

"Brother, you know I'll help you..." Killua's eyebrows climbed to his hairline—he didn't know his brother like him so much to help without demanding anything in return. "...just so that I'll see you fail!" Milluki finished, guffawing.

Kurapika shot Killua a look that read, is he okay? but the look was ignored. Kurapika sighed, placing a hand on the white-haired boy's shoulder to prevent him from killing his own brother. Killua's pale face had gone all red in anger. "Just... just tell me where Illumi-jerk is!"

"He left for a mission," said Milluki, waving his hand dismissively before he went to grab a handful of chips. "said he'd be back at night."

"Good luck," muttered Kurapika as he left.

With a spiteful and very reluctant goodbye, Killua stomped off after his blonde friend, seething cursing. Kurapika didn't hear much, but he was pretty sure Killua was suggesting his brothers where to shove their heads, computers and needles. "What do you want to do now?"

Killua stopped at the main entrance, crossing his arms and legs and glaring straight ahead. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"...Please don't tell me you plan on waiting for him there."

"I am! How else am I going to catch him?"

Kurapika sighed. "Just don't expect me to wait with you." There was a long pause before he asked, "Where is the training room?" If he was going to stay here anyway, he might as well do some training.

Killua frowned. "Walk down this hallway, turn left, continue, turn right and... somewhere around there. I'm not sure. I'm usually in the torture chambers—which I don't suggest you go to. There'd be someone nearby, just say you're with me and they'll help."

"Hm. Have fun waiting."

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True to Killua's words, there was someone nearby.

Kurapika hovered at the doorway, peering in curiously. There was a girl inside, yet to realize he was watching her. Her hair was cropped short, bearing a purple glint under the artificial light in the training room.

The room was twice the size of a normal dojo, with cream-colored walls and boarded with teakwood. There were various weapons displayed on the walls—of various materials and sizes but Kurapika was sure they cost a lot.

Yikes.

Kurapika followed his instincts, he ducked and rolled out of the way when he felt something coming at him. He raised his eyes, warily studying the place where he had been. A piece of paper was firmly embedded in the wall. Slowly, Kurapika turned back to the other occupant of the room.

Her eyes were a pretty violet color and she had a beauty spot below her lips. She looked nothing like her brother, Killua—Kurapika suspected they were related as she looked more like Illumi—when it came to physical appearances. But she carried herself the same way as he did, with all the grace of an assassin. Her eye shape was more like Killua's.

He raised his hands in a placating manner. "I'm with Killua. Didn't he pass the word?"

"I just got back from a mission," she answered softly, casting her glance down. "so I didn't receive the notice. I deeply apologize."

At least her manners are better than her brothers, thought Kurapika. He cleared his throat uneasily. "We've met, yes? Kalluto, right?"

Kalluto raised her head, scrutinizing him carefully; recognition lit her eyes up, but just as quickly, the light faded and she looked down at her feet again. Was she shy or did she find him so disgusting she had to avert her gaze? It was a little disconcerting in any case.

"Yes," she said softly, turning away.

"I'm Kurapika," he offered, approaching her. She glanced back at him sharply, warily. "I'm not trying to hurt you or anything..." he trailed off. What was there to say to her without her leaving? "Want to spar with me?"

Fighting was a language she was proficient in. She nodded, drawing her paper fan. He frowned, confused for a moment, but he shook it off along with his blue-red robe. He drew his wooden swords. She raised a brow at his choice of weapon but just as he didn't question her, she didn't either.

He lunged. Just because she was a young girl didn't mean he was going to hold back.

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"Gentler!"

I take back what I said about her being nicer than her brothers, thought Kurapika bitterly as he helped bandage her wound. He didn't think she was in any pain, since Killua said every member of his family could withstand pain like no other. She was just being annoying then.

Kurapika sighed, pulling back. "Done," he announced unnecessarily, placing the gauze and bottle of disinfectant back into his first-aid kit—which he brought everywhere as he was always around danger. He glanced at his watch. It was already seven.

Kalluto seemed to realize this as well. "Dinner will be ready in a few," she said, standing up. Kurapika did as well. He had to glance down at her, she barely reach his chest. He found it amusing at her disgruntled expression.

She huffed softly, turning away and glided out of the training room.

Kurapika didn't think he'd met anyone else with such grace.

Shrugging, he exited the training room, not surprised that Kalluto was already gone from view. Must be an assassin thing.

"Ah, Kurapika, I was just looking for you!" Gon's cheerful face was a refreshing change from Kalluto's scowling one. Kurapika offered him a smile.

"Where's Killua?"

This time, Gon's grin slid off his face. He sighed loudly. "Killua's still waiting for his oldest brother to come back. He stubbornly refuses to eat anything we brought him."

Kurapika smirked. "He'll come to us if he's hungry."

That was what Kurapika said a few hours ago.

The blonde Kuruta sighed, turning on his side, unable to fall asleep. His eyebrow twitched when snores reached his hears. His imsonia problem definitely had something to do with the two synchronizing snores coming from beside him. Kurapika was tempted to clip their noses together to shut them up, but didn't went along with that plan as he didn't want to risk suffocating them.

With a sigh, Kurapika threw his blanket away, climbing to his feet. A walk wouldn't hurt, he thought as he crept out of the room. He doubted that the thoughtful move was necessary; Leorio and Gon snored so loudly that an elephant could've trumpeted past them and they wouldn't notice.

Kurapika had good memory so he was confident he wouldn't get lost in the mansion. He'd just go past the main entrance to see whether or not Killua was ready to give up.

He turned the corner, nearly bumping into someone. "Sorry," he whispered, trying to be as quiet as possible. Surprised violet eyes stared up at him. "Kalluto? What are you—"

"Shut up," The young Zoldyck elbowed him into silence, ducking behind the corner to hide; she peered out secretively. After a moment's hesitation, Kurapika mimicked her action, wondering what was so interesting. "Ssh," she said when Kurapika's next step made a creak.

Kurapika frowned; something had trickled past him, surrounding him like a blanket. He glanced at Kalluto, wondering if she'd felt something covering her or not.

A creak made him look at the source: Illumi. He's back, thought Kurapika, waiting for Killua's outraged outburst at the sight of his despicable brother. No sound from Killua. He's asleep, observed Kurapika, silently sighing at the lost opportunity. The clock would be striking twelve soon, and Killua would lost a day of chances.

Just as Kurapika was debating whether or not he should wake his friend up, Illumi moved—he'd finally stopped staring at his brother. He crouched, and with tenderness that Kurapika didn't think he had, picked Killua up. Abruptly, Illumi's black eyes turned to the two hiding in the corner.

Kurapika tensed, pulling back the same time Kalluto whipped away. Instinctively, the pair stopped breathing, waiting for Illumi's suspicion to pass.

It didn't. The older Zoldyck was too skilled to not notice their poor attempt at hiding. Illumi rounded the corner, a sleeping Killua in his arms. He unceremoniously dumped Killua in Kurapika's hold. Due to his surprise, Kurapika nearly dropped his friend. As it was, his rough movements made his friend stir.

"Un... stupid Aniki..." mumbled Killua.

Something like amusement flashed past the older's face. "It's not right to creep around in the hallways at night, even with one of your host, Kurapika. You should've known better, Kalluto." He disappeared in the next corner, leaving his the two stupefied intruders and one sleeping boy.

"I'll show you to his room." Kalluto was the first to break out of the stupor, nodding at Killua.

Kurapika shook his head. "I'll just bring him to our shared room."

Kalluto didn't argue, after bidding goodnight with a curious tilt of her head, she left. Kurapika shifted Killua in his hold. A small fist—that belied the strength of the owner—tugged at Kurapika's tunic. "Aniki..."

But Illumi was long gone.

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Questions: I'm planning on pairing Kalluto and Kurapika, just a side-pairing. Should Kalluto be a boy or a girl?