Killua's back, let's see what Illumi has to say. Also Happy Birthday to Leorio! Since he hasn't been introduced in this fic yet, there's nothing I can do for him sadly, but when he does come around, & if his birthday comes up again—we're gonna celebrate! XD

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Twila Star: Really? Thanks! Whew, I'm relieved to hear that. Looks like we're still on track then haha. And here's the next chapter~ Thanks for the review as always!

Disclaimer in first chapter.

Chapter 10: A New Look

Killua raced to his brother's room, ready to hear an explanation as to why the other bailed out on coming to see him. That couldn't have been too difficult given his intel and ability. So why?! The silverette banged the door open. The room appeared dimmer in light compared to his even in the mid of day. Furthermore, there were very few items in the room including the basic furniture. However, it was slightly larger than his room and there was another small door locked on of the walls. The dull maroon curtains were drawn which explained why there was hardly any light except the one radiating from the lamp. After a full inevitable examination of his brother's bedroom for the first time, Killua finally spotted the teen sitting at his desk, face turned to him in utter surprise. For a brief second, the kid thought he had encountered someone else, given the way Illumi's hair was thrown back off his forehead and his change in clothes but he recognized those eyes anywhere.

"Kiru? When did you get back? Why wasn't I informed about this?" Illumi immediately stood up from his chair and stepped towards the younger, prepared to pull him into an embrace. Although, before the teen could, the silverette trotted back, clearly avoiding to be hugged. Illumi stopped at that close distance and stared at him in question.

"When did you finish your mission?" Killua demanded.

"...I believe it was a year ago?" Illumi stood straight again and innocently gave it a thought.

"What? Then dad probably gave you some other work to do, right?"

"No, I'm afraid that never happened, why?" Illumi refuted.

"Then why didn't you come to my matches!?" The kid's eyebrows knotted on his forehead, hurt and angry at the same time. Illumi didn't have an instant response for that.

"You've grown a lot, haven't you."

"Answer my question aniki!"

"I can't have a hug first?"

"No." Killua honestly stated. Illumi sighed. What can he say? He practically saw this coming.

"I didn't come because I didn't want to." Illumi crossed his arms and answered. The younger stared at him attentively. "I didn't want to distract Kiru from his training. As the heir to the Zoldyk family, you don't expect to be dependent forever, right?" KIllua faltered at that accusation. The elder had a point.

"No...but it wouldn't have hurt to just stayed for one match." 'And see my improvement.' The silverette finished in his head.

"Now is the time to break these habits. Plus, I won't always be there to watch you Kiru." Illumi softly reasoned. Killua had his head low, eyes pointed to the ground and slowly surrendering to the other's argument. Great, now he felt like such a brat. Since his brother was a lot older than him, whatever he explained seemed to make more sense eventually. "So, am I off the hook?"

"Just this one time." The kid averted his eyes, embarrassed to admit.

"Kiru is so cute."

"Be quiet!" The younger ended up exclaiming, a faint blush washing over his cheeks. It was weird for him too: despite all the times his brother had used that word, it's effect had a somewhat different feeling this time. Or maybe because it sounded like a taunt.

"Eh? Where did you learn such naughty words?"

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to...I was just..."

"It doesn't matter now." Illumi barely said and wrapped the kid into a tight embrace. "Welcome back." Yes, this gesture elicited such a calming sensation, he didn't realize how empty he felt this past year without it. The past year without Killua felt as if he had gone back to his former days when the kid wasn't around. Nothing but darkness and hollowness outlining his heart, filled with complete boredom and a heavy sense of duty. While those things still existed and perhaps always would, but ever since the younger came around, a new window opened up that would cast some light and affection into that desolated place from time to time.

"I'm home." Kiru appreciated the warm feeling he was receiving. "By the way, your hair's a lot longer now." Killua commented.

"So are yours." Illumi petted the overgrown white fluff of hair on the small head, with strands going down as far as his neck and below his ears. The raven haired inched back and knelt on one knee as his hands shifted from the younger's head to cheeks. Just like that, in the heat of the moment, Illumi slowly brought his face a hairline away from the younger's, planting lips tenderly on one another. Killua's eyes indeed widened at the new gesture but thought nothing much of it as he gazed at the closed lashes of his brother's eyes. The moment of faze left as fast as it came for him, since his elder brother was known to enjoy being 'touchy' (to him). Therefore, he let it slide as another one of those odd ways the other showed his affection.

"Aniki?" Killua only questioned casually when Illumi broke the contact, moving his hands to his shoulders. Illumi simply smiled back.

"As I thought, Kiru is such a good child." The teen stood up again and aimed towards the door. "Then shall we get you a hair-cut?" He looked back at the kid, before holding it open.

"Yeah! And some better clothes!" He cheered, picking up the pace and leaving the room with his brother who locked it from behind. "Do you wanna hear about all the floors I defeated? I actually won so much cash money!" Killua didn't stop talking for as long as they walked. He was grateful that Illumi was such a great listener.

…

"Have a great day, I shall be taking my leave then." The barber tipped his hat and exited mansion's dressing room, gathering his stuff on the way out. Killua threw the plain white sheet off him and ruffled his hair once. He immediately looked in the mirror. Yes, he liked this style. Even though his spikes whipped all over the place, they still seemed more tamed and neater than when he first arrived. His hair was much shorter now, a perfect length right above his neck, and covering his forehead. He rolled off his shirt and reached for the wet towel the barber left by the mirror. With it he massaged his whole head and neck for any excess hair to fall off. Subsequently, he wore his usual dark navy blue turtle neck before turning to the clothes on the other side of the room.

'Okay, now to find something different to wear on top.' The silverette began rummaging through the hanged clothes in the wardrobe until he was able to decide on a half-sleeved V-neck pale lavender T-shirt and grayish shorts. Somehow, he fancied the simple contrast of light and dull colors. The navy did a great job accentuating his pale skin as always and matched his big eyes, while the light T-shirt gave another relatable shade to his hair. No comment on the shorts, he just thought it was time for a change? Moreover, they highlighted his age more.

The younger came out of the room to find Illumi patiently waiting outside the door. "What do you think?" Killua presented himself. The elder eye's lifted themselves from the floor, starting from the other's sneakers, to his knees, shorts, shirt and finally all the way up to his spiky hair.

"Flawless." The raven haired confessed emotionlessly with a thumbs up.

"Hehe." Kiru grinned with pride. "What about you? Aren't you going to get a haircut?"

"No, I'm planning to keep them this way, actually."

"Eh? But that's so much work, isn't it?" Killua persuaded.

"It's nothing Kiru."

"Fine~" The silverette submitted. "If that's what you want. So, now what?"

"I assumed you were going to go back to playing in the sandbox with your toys." Illumi answered for him.

"Ugh, what, don't be ridiculous—don't you think I'm a little old for that now?" Killua deadpanned. Don't get him wrong, the sandbox was loads of fun but this current him wasn't exactly up to the idea of swimming in the sand and playing with dinosaurs. Illumi held back a laugh with a snort. "You laughed just now—didn't you?!" The younger mercilessly pointed.

"Of course not, Kiru." Illumi had the nerve to respond as expressionlessly as before, convincing that never happened. "I'm actually glad you're growing up."

"Yeah, right." The kid would bet on that. A moment of silence passed between them. 'Weird. I don't have anything to say.' Killua realized. In fact, that wasn't the only thing he realized. He also noticed that, suddenly there was nothing fun to do at home. He wanted to spend some time with his aniki—since he lacked friends or anyone from his age group that could keep him company. Oddly enough, Illumi was the one from his siblings he could pass his time with and actually enjoy it.

What the silverette wasn't aware of was the fact that the elder was quietly watching his changing expressions like a hawk. Apparently, the teen wasn't a huge talker himself, so he found simple pleasure just watching the other. Of course if he could, he would lock the younger in his lap forever—just like that, but that was easier said than done. Even so, discontent of simply standing there, he raised his large pale hand to anchor it on to Kiru's white head that was full in view. Albeit, before the hand could make it there a voice interrupted them.

"Illumi-sama, Killua-sama, your father wishes to see the both you in his chamber." A butler notified. Both of their heads whipped towards the butler ultimately coming back to one another.

…

Illumi knocked on the door. "Enter boys." Silva permitted. The teen pushed the door open and allowed Killua to enter before him, closing the door behind him. "I'm glad both of you came together." He glanced at the two standing side by side each other. Killua appeared to stand stiffly while Illumi was more than used to this and stood respectfully straight. "Illumi, what would be your opinion on Killua accepting his first mission?" Killua's eyes snapped at that. 'His first actual mission? Mentioning him in a third person too—what was up with that?'

Illumi took his time thinking and keeping the younger in suspense before answering to that. "I think he's perfectly ready." Killua's shoulders slumped. 'Of course he was going to say that.' In all honestly, the silverette did not fear the mission itself. No one in the civilian world came anywhere close to his skills and ability…however, the only aspect of all this that was apprehending to think about was that if he accepted this case—there would be no turning back. He knew that as time went by, he'd have to let go of all these fleeting joyful—not to mention 'normal' feelings. He would really turn into a desolated asocial being. He hadn't been to the outside world yet (besides a sorry excuse of a battling arena) but after becoming a pro assassin, the only reason to go there would be to kill and nothing else. The thought was saddening truthfully. Is that what made Illumi expressionless? On second thought, it would be no surprise to find that he was born that way.

"Well Killua?" Their father turned the spotlight to him.

"Eh? Uh…yeah…" Kiru answered in a daze.

"Please send me the details. I'll take care of the rest." Illumi diverted their attention. And asked to be excused.

"I expected no less. Work hard you two." Silva insinuated them to leave. As soon as they exited the room, Illumi dropped a hand on the kid's shoulder.

"It's fine Kiru."

"I'm not worried about that." Killua lied.

"Is that so?"

…

A few days passed after that little chat with their father and since the details of the case hadn't been disclosed yet, Killua went back to spending time his way. Momentarily, he was standing on top of the highest hill in their territory, determined to accentuate his skateboarding skills. On the count of three, he hopped on and rode all the way down, balancing his weight a couple of times back and forth and grinning away. The sensation was absolutely thrilling—almost as if he was flying. He was doing so well until a small creature seemed to fix itself on the slanted grassy path ahead of him. 'Uh oh,' It'd be painful to take an abrupt sharp turn now and then go tumbling down the hill after. Except he didn't have to. In another second a zooming dart stunned the squirrel in the path, the intense pressure thrusting it out of the path. While that caught the younger's attention briefly, he inevitably resumed his journey until he arrived at the end of the hill.

Setting his skateboard down, he looked back at the dead squirrel…was that a needle? As if on cue, footsteps were heard behind him. "I should've guessed." Killua stated, as he found Illumi taking a stance against a tree. "Did you kill it?"

"No, I simply removed it." The elder nonchalantly responded with his eyes closed.

"What?"

"It's fine Kiru, I won't let anything get in your way or cause you harm, trust me." Illumi arrogantly promised, not a single word wavering on his tongue. Killua could only stare at him speechless. Normally one should be touched by those words, right? But why did they seem so terrifying and dreading when they came from his mouth. The kid couldn't pinpoint what exactly but there was also a peculiar aura surrounding the other…it was subtle but there and strong enough to make his small body freeze. The silverette wasn't doubting the promise itself…more like the intentions behind it that shook his heart. Geez, sometimes his brother was too unintentionally scary.

Kiru's mouth was open to rebuke, but he couldn't grasp his voice or argue against the teen this once. "Un." He hoisted his skateboard into his arms again and began to walk past the other.

"Oh, where are you going? Aren't you going to do that again?" Illumi innocently asked.

"N-no, I don't feel like it anymore."

"…Then, in that case, perhaps you'd like to hear about your job?" The moment the words left the elder, Killua stopped dead in his tracks, turning his head to face his brother. "I have the time and place, interested?"

The silverette inwardly gulped.

To Be Continued…

Oh wow, look at that ten chapters down! (that took forever) And who knows how many to go… *sweats* Huh? Why is there a mob behind me…? Did something—aw snap! The kiss! Wait was that a kiss! Now, now guys don't hate me, (I kinda forget the contents of the chapter as I go along)—No Illumi is not a pedophile and he does not have a lolita complex—unless you add the word 'brother' in there—I mean, I didn't know how that happened…but well…wouldn't you agree that the mood kinda dictated it…? No? (I'm busted)

For everyone else out there please do review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading as always! We'll meet again & hopefully just in time for Kiru's first case!