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✦.✦
The two were so busy on their jobs afterwards, they haven't really encountered each other.
Illumi looked at the night view underneath him, he was heading home. The long missions have been distracting him.
Cough.
✦.✦
Cough.
Yullia coughed. She hasn't been feeling well recently.
"-an."
Yullia moved her head towards the sound. Her hand moved towards her head. She applied pressure on it. She was having a headache.
Killua sat by Yullia's bed.
"Killu?!"
Yullia was shocked. She did not expect Killua here. Inside the Zoldyck household.
"Nee-chan."
Killua had rushed back home when he last met Hisoka. He had introduced the idea of Yullia and Illumi being engaged. Hisoka had told him that Yullia was not her sister by blood.
"What are you doing here?"
Yullia got up and patted Killua.
"Is it true? That you're getting married to Aniki?"
.
"I guess…"
"Aniki's forcing you in the family. He had always wanted to control you. To make you his. Now that you're really not siblings. This was his way of getting to you. Let's run nee-chan. I'm stronger now. I will definitely protect you."
He was sincere. He was sure he got stronger. Got stronger enough to protect her.
"Do you not want me as your sister-in-law?"
"Nee-chan. You're always my nee-chan. Nothing will change that!"
Killua looked to the side. He was shy from what he just said. He really wanted Yullia to get out of here. Knowing she's not a real Zoldyck, Killua only hoped she could leave as soon as she could. Killua didn't want her trapped inside a family like that. But it's not that Killua did not want Yullia as his sister. He loved Yullia. He wanted her to continue to be in his family. He didn't want the bound between them to be cut. But he couldn't let her suffer here.
…
"Killua. Thank you."
"Let's go nee-chan."
"You know that's impossible. Once it's decided, there's no way out. Let's hang out around the town today. Then after that, go back to Gon."
…
Yullia got up and grabbed Killua's hand and they went out the door.
Killua knew what his sister meant. Once it has been decided by his dad. No one in the family has a say. There was no way to revert it. He was powerless against his family. As much as he hated it. Deep down he thanked it. He wanted Yullia to be in the family. To have a connection with him somehow.
I can still save Alluka.
✦.✦
"And then Gon... Gon just jumped!"
Yullia and Killua were walking back to the house through the small town. Killua had been sharing his adventure with Gon. As much as Yullia was enjoying the story, she was too lost in her thoughts to notice the sadness in Killua's eyes.
"Heads!"
They watched a ball flying towards them. Yullia turned around and caught it with her hand. Rotating it, she brought it down to both her hands. A few of them came up to them.
"Are you guys hurt? Sorry, he put too much power to it."
One of them checked on Yullia and Killua. The ball was already in Yullia's hand.
"Good catch by the way!"
"Thanks."
"Hey, do you guys want to join? We're playing dodgeball."
"Yes!"
Yullia looked towards Killua. He had already replied. He wanted to play dodgeball. He had become more free to make his choices now. Being with Gon had made him feel normal. Yullia looked towards the group and walked towards them as well.
"Sure."
.
.
.
Whoosh.
Yullia dodged the ball that came for her. It flew past her at great speed. Killua behind her caught it. Controlling his strength, he threw the ball.
The opponent caught it in their hands and threw it another towards them again.
Yullia went ready to catch it. But, it bounced off someone on Yullia and Killua's team and changed direction towards Killua. Killua turned, catching it with one hand he threw the ball towards the other team immediately. Knocking two of them out.
"You guys are crazy!"
They had just won again. Killua and Yullia's team haven't lost once. They all got towards the center. Killua and Yullia ready to leave.
"Hey. Can we exchange numbers?"
One of them suggested Killua and Yullia. His hand with his phone extended outwards towards Yullia hoping she would take it.
"I'm sorry."
"Come on. I just want to be friends."
Yullia hesitated. She hasn't talked to anyone outside of the family like this before. They were ordinary people, in their eyes Killua and Yullia were normal people. As normal as them. These past years of them killing, torturing, and training were all unseen by the guy in front of her. He wanted to be friends simply because he wanted to. But, she knew. She knew the rule.
"I'm sorry."
"Oh.. Okay. If you want, we will be here everyday. Come join us anytime!"
The guy smiled at Yullia and Killua before his face changed.
…
"AHH"
Everyone who was watching panicked. They tried to run. They had to get out of here. Before they even got moving. They had all fallen on the floor. With needles in them.
Killua froze. Now was not the time for him to strike.
Yullia froze. Illumi was already next to her. He brought his hand towards Yullia's head and patted it. His face came closer to her on the side. His nen was dangerously wrapped around him. His bloodlust threw itself against Yullia.
"Did you not hear her say no?"
Illumi looked towards the guy who was asking Yullia. His face was completely unrecognized. His hands were reaching for help. His mouth was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't say anything. He couldn't scream for help.
The guy knew. The man standing in front of him was dangerous. As ordinary as he was. He felt the pressure Illumi was giving out.
I'm goi…"
His pain completely destroyed his thoughts. His brain shouted for help.
…
His heart stopped. The pain was too much for his body. He dropped his hand. His body is no longer struggling. He died.
…
"Ahh… Guess you couldn't reply."
Illumi moved away from Yullia. He turned towards Killua.
"Killu. Long time no see. It should be around time for you to come home."
…
"Come here. I won't punish you if you come right now. I won't kill your friend. I won't fight you."
…
"But. If you don't. I will take it as a sign that you wish to be my enemy. I will kill you."
Illumi threatened towards Killua. He had felt his presence while he was in town. Following it, he had watched Killua and Yullia with the group of people earlier. Now that Killua's directly in front of him. It's the perfect time to get him back home. To be trained into the perfect heir. Killua has been gone for too long.
A sweat rolled down Killua's forehead. Another one. And another one. He did not want to fight Illumi yet.
1
2
3
4
Sensing that Killua wasn't moving. Illumi took his steps slowly towards him. Stopping in front of Killua, he reached out his hand for him to hold.
.
Clap.
.
Yullia slapped Illumi's hand away from Killua. She then grabbed Killua's hand and pulled him closer to her.
"Nii-san, I believe Oto-san said to not interfere."
"Didn't you interfere at Yorknew City."
…
Yullia used her nen to isolate themself. She looked at Illumi. He knew. He knew about her helping Killua when he was captured by the spiders. He knew she interfered with his adventures. It was so long ago she didn't even think he remembered.
…
She didn't know what to say. No matter how strong Killua got, it is still her job to protect him.
"You are only wasting your own nen."
.
.
.
She didn't reply, they simply battled with their eyes.
Bzz. Bzz.
The pieces moved.
Bzz. Bzz.
It started to twist.
Illumi's eyes widened and ran towards Yullia. She was slowly losing control of her nen.
"Yulli! Wake up! Stop your nen!"
She dropped down on the floor. Illumi ran and picked her up. The time around them was twisting. It was bending.
"Yulli!"
.
A young Illumi appeared in the track dimension in images around them. He smiled towards the camera.
.
"Wake up!"
.
Another young Killua appeared. He was so small in Illumi's hands. Kikyo was behind Illumi while playing with Killua's hands.
.
"Yulli! STOP!"
.
The twisted dimension around them froze. Cracks formed. It broke and fell on the floor. Everything had resumed itself.
"Yulli."
Killua looked in front of him. Yullia was no longer by his side. She was inside Illumi's arm. Killua had never seen Illumi's expression before. As he was being brought up, Illumi was already emotionless. A complete killing machine. Someone that he respected. Someone that Yullia respected. Yet, someone they both feared. Killua had always complained about Illumi's emotionlessness to Yullia. He never saw his brother loving him. But Yullia had always been there for him. Been there to make sure Illumi was a brother in his eyes. She had always told him that Illumi used to be like Killua. Full of emotions. Killua used to always think this was Yullia's way of making him have a connection towards the emotionless Illumi. He never imagined Illumi actually had them.
But the sight in front of him told a different story. Illumi was holding Yullia intensely. Even though he had no idea what occurred. He knew something happened to Yullia for Illumi to be the way he was. His hair was all messed up. His face was tense. His eyes directly look at Yullia. Worried hung all over his face. Killua had never seen Illumi like this. This time he knew. He knew all the stories Yullia had told were real. Illumi had emotions. And he still does. He's as human as Killua.
He thought about all the times between Illumi and Yullia. Illumi was always trying to control Yullia. He always wanted her to follow his orders. Killua had always thought he was trying to take advantage of Yullia and her strength by using Killua. But, now he noticed. The times where Yullia gets super hurt are usually times where she didn't follow Illumi's orders. Times where her emotions get in front of her. He noticed how much Yullia had meant to Illumi. He had noticed Illumi's twisted sibling love for him. Illumi wanted to control Killua because he didn't want him to be killed. He wanted to protect him in his own way.
It's not me.
Killua had always thought he was going to be the one protecting Yullia when the time comes. But now he knows. This shiny knight Yullia had been waiting for was not the help of Killua. But Illumi. Illumi was the only one that was always looking out for Yullia. Yullia was the only one making sure all the siblings never felt disconnected between Illumi. Yullia was always the only one that gets Illumi the most. Illumi was always the only one that knew Yullia's limits. They both have been with each other their whole life. They know each other. They cared for each other silently in their own way.
This time he was sure. The look in Illumi's face. Him breaking his perfect assassin mask. Him doing so in the middle of nowhere. His panic towards Yullia.
He loves her…
✦.✦
Yullia shot up feeling the different environment she was in. She was not in her room. Looking towards her right. Illumi was there. Sitting by the window.
"Illu…?"
The fact that she got up too fast causes blood to instantly rush to her head making her vision blurry. The figure looking at her with gentle eyes was suddenly the younger Illumi. She unconsciously called out towards him. Hopping he was going to stay longer.
"Yulli?"
Illumi looked up from his book and looked towards Yullia. Her bangs were down. His attention was on her. She called him. His name.
…
"Did you do it on this."
…
Yullia gripped on the sheets on top of her. She was in Illumi's bedroom. Sleeping on Illumi's bed. The place he uses for all his intercourses.
…
"No."
…
Yullia paused. She did not sense him lying. She breathed in. The air only smelled like Illumi. It was as if Aria had never been here.
"Where's your personal servant?"
She wanted to ask. Yullia wanted to know. She wanted to know where Aria was. Where his sex toy was.
"Ah. She's gone."
Illumi simply replied. He had simply dispensed her. There was no need to beat around the bushes with Yullia.
…
Yullia knew this was true. He was not lying. There was no point of him lying to Yullia about that. The complete presence of Aria gone was screaming the truth. He got rid of her. She didn't know why. She didn't know why but. A heavy feeling inside her lifted off. Her shoulders relaxed.
…
"Want something to drink?"
"Hot Coffee. Black."
Yullia told Illumi firmly. Illumi had just got up towards the living room. She wanted to make sure this time that Illumi knew she no longer drank hot cocoa. She was no longer a kid following around Illumi. She has grown strong enough to drink black coffee. She wanted to catch up and be lined right next to him.
.
"Come."
.
She walked towards the living room. Two mugs on the table. Facing opposite of each other. She walked towards the empty seat in front of Illumi and sat down. Her eyes never left Illumi. She was checking if there was any reaction to what she had just requested. Illumi picked up his mug and drank his coffee while looking into Yullia's eyes. Yullia, feeling challenged, brought the mug towards her lips. Her eyes never once left Illumi's. She took a sip
.
.
.
Hot cocoa.
She paused. Putting the drink down she recalled the taste. The same taste of hot cocoa. The same taste as her memories. Nothing had changed about it. It was the same as the other day. She didn't know anymore. Illumi had still made her hot cocoa even with her request for coffee. He ignored her. Her fist clenched. A thought grew inside her. Illumi was underestimating her. He was looking down at her. He did not think Yullia had grown.
"Was it not the same?"
.
.
.
"It is."
"Then why are you drinking coffee."
Illumi had always thought the reason for Yullia to no longer desire hot cocoa was because the taste was no longer there. He no longer makes the same hot cocoa as he used to. But this was wrong. It wasn't because of that. He wanted to know. Wanted to know what made the female in front of him that hate bitterness switch to coffee. Switch to something she avoided.
"Nii-san. I am no longer a child."
Yullia's words were firm. Straight towards him. She wanted to make sure he knew she had become stronger. She changed. She had thought Illumi was still looking at her as a fragile girl. She wanted to make sure he knew. To make sure he knew that she was no longer a child.
"Just drink."
Illumi analyzed her answer while Yullia brought the mug in for another slip. Illumi knew. He knew Yullia was forcing herself. Forcing herself to drink coffee. The relaxed face she makes when she's drinking hot cocoa was never there when she was drinking coffee.
.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
.
Both their phones vibrated, getting their attention off of each other and they looked towards their phone. They had received a message from the Hunter Association.
There was an election for the next Hunter Association chairman.
.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
.
Illumi's phone vibrated again. Seeing the message he got up.
"Let's go."
He was saying it towards Yullia. Yullia wasn't sure when Illumi had just stood up. They were not required to attend an election. It didn't matter to the Zolydck family who was next in line. But she still got up. Got up to Illumi's request. She watched. Watch the man in front of her change into someone else. Illumi stuck his needles in him. His face changed. Changed into someone completely different.
"It's Gittarackur."
His voice was still the same. Informing Yullia about his fake identity. This was the face that passed the Hunter Exam. Yullia nodded. Acknowledging it.
✦.✦
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